News You Can Use

Hello TBF readers,

I hope you all had a wonderful start of the new school year. There's a lot of TBF news I have to share with you!

First, the TBF Read-a-thon (RAT) Fundraiser is just around the corner. The fundraising challenge this year is: $9000. If we, the readers, meet this challenge, the "godmother of TBF" (Terry Trueman takes the credit of creating this title) Stephanie Squicciarini and the rest of the TBF Committee will dress Steampunk Style at the festival. Here is all the information about RAT.

Now, I'm happy to announce more TBF authors! Here we go:

• Kami Garcia: co-author of the Caster Chronicles and author of the Legion series.  That's right guys, your eyes have not deceived you. The magical duo, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl will be together at TBF. If you've read all of four of the Caster Chronicles and miss the Caster world, have no fear, the co-authors are planning on writing a spin-off series called Dangerous Creatures. And guess when that will be out by...right on time for TBF!    *Unbreakable will be released October 1 & Dangerous Creatures will hit the shelves May 6, 2014* (Food for thought: maybe you guys can wait until the RAT to buy Unbreakable. Why? So you can contribute to the fundraiser and have a fantastic book to read.Win-win for everyone!)
• Michelle Madow: author of the Transcend Time trilogy (Remembrance, Vengeance, Timeless) & The Secret Diamond Sisters series.    *The first book in the Secret Diamond Sisters series will be released February 25, 2014*
• G. Neri: author of Chess Rumble, Surf Mules, Ghetto Cowboy & Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices
• Meagan Spooner: author of the Skylark trilogy & the Starbound trilogy    *The first book in the Starbound trilogy,These Broken Stars, will be available December 10*

The author list is almost complete. Check back for more author news, book reviews, author interviews and giveaways!

Miranda

A special message from Stephanie Squicciarini

Hi TBF Fans!

It is hard to believe that planning TBF 2014 is well underway…our NINTH year! It has grown to be so successful thanks in large part to YOU! Thanks for your support and for attending TBF and spreading the word about TBF. We need you to continue to spread the word…so feel free to send this email along to friends and let them know to save the date for TBF 9: May 17, 2014! 

We are adding new authors often and have a goal of 30 again this year…so be sure to check www.teenbookfestival.org for our latest lineup and keep checking for new additions. Our list should be finalized VERY soon!

It is also the time of year that we kick off our fundraising. We continue to work hard to keep TBF FREE to attend. But we cannot do it without the help of dedicated fans and generous donors. Our main fundraiser is our TBF Read-a-Thon (RAT) that we hold each October. This year the RAT is on October 12th, 4:00pm-8:00pm at the Barnes & Noble in Pittsford Plaza (Pittsford, NY). If you are in the Rochester area (or are willing to drive a bit) we would LOVE to have your help in raising funds during the RAT. If you are not familiar with it, the RAT is like a walk-a-ton or marathon…except instead of finding sponsors to support your walking or running efforts…they will be supporting your reading efforts! If you want to take part in the RAT…AND can commit to raising a MINIMUM of $20…let me know and I will send you a RAT packet so you can start getting sponsors (please let me know by September 25th so I have time to get you your packet). Include in your email the name/location of your school so I can also check to see if your school librarians already have the info for you. If you are a teacher or librarian and you have a group of readers who want to be a part, let me know and I will get you all you need for your group! 

The teen who raises the most for the RAT will get TWO tickets to the TBF Author Welcome Dinner the night before TBF J If amounts are really close, we have been known to award two sets of tickets J The adult who raises the most gets $25 in TBF Certificates. We will also have door prizes, Advance Reader Copies of some books, and TBF shirts to give away to readers at the RAT.

As if that were not enough…we will also have a special guest this year! TBF Alum author A.S. (Amy) King will be in the area beginning on October 12th and she will kick off her tour at our RAT! At around 6:00pm Amy will join us for pizza (donated by TOPS Markets…along with snacks!) and then at 7pm she will be doing a reading/presentation followed by a signing. If you want to read more about why A.S. King will be in the area, take a look at the voucher.

If you cannot take part in the RAT and still want to help…you CAN! The same day, October 12th, we will also have a Barnes & Noble Bookfair. Everyone who shops at a B&N…ANYWHERE…and shows the attached vouchers will be supporting TBF…a portion of all sales that day (that come with a voucher) will be go to TBF. Cannot shop that day? The Bookfair is also valid from 10/13-10/18 online at www.bn.com Just enter the bookfair ID # that is on the voucher when you check-out. 

All money raised for TBF 2014 will go to the TBF Fundraising Challenge. If we raise $9000, in honor of our 9th year, I and several TBF planners will need to dress Steampunk Style for TBF!

Thank you again for your support of TBF. Let me know if you have any questions! 

With gratitude,
Stephanie A. Squicciarini, TBF Founder and Director

Book Review: Beauty by Nancy Ohlin

Welcome back to school everyone! I know we have a ways to go before TBF 2014, but it's never too early to start getting excited -- especially since the earlier you start, the more time you have to read! If you're looking for a book that'll be fun but not too strenuous as you're getting back into your school schedule, you ought to check out Beauty by Nancy Ohlin.

Ana has made herself as ugly as possible. By all means, she should be gorgeous -- after all, her mother, the Queen, is the most beautiful woman in the entire kingdom. But maybe if she makes herself ugly enough, Ana's mother will actually give her the love she craves. When a new royal academy is created, Ana (along with her best friend) are selected to be enrolled. But upon arriving, Ana discovers that all the girls at the academy are beautiful, and that there might be more behind the academy than the headmaster is letting on...

I really enjoyed Beauty. Even though it's short (less than 300 pages), it's very engaging -- I read it all in one sitting and in less than three hours. Nancy Ohlin's story reminded me a lot of Princess Academy and other fairy tale books I really loved when I was younger. So even though this fairy tale-like novel can be read by younger teens, older readers will be able to find it just as likable. Make sure to check out Nancy Ohlin's Beauty (and her website too) as soon as you can!