NCTE: Day 3 - Mistakes & Madness

Today was the last day of the main conference portion of NCTE.  Today was also the day the exhibitors left.  Needless to say, it was a bit of a mad house!

My Schedule:

Session L: 8:30-9:45
L.25 21st Century Literacies

Stephanie Perkins Signing 10:30-11:30

Session M: 11:30-12:45
M.49 Teaching Literacy for Love & Wisdom

Session N: 1:00-2:45
N.01 Reports from Cyberspace

At least that's how my day was suppose to go.  It didn't work out that way.

I was running late this morning, so I didn't even make it until 8:45.  I suppose I could've gone to my first session still, but I feel it is very rude to enter late.  Therefore, I went to wait to get into the Exhibit Hall.  I had a really great conversation with a librarian from Chicago (I love talking to librarians who are my age to learn how they got their job).  I'm actually really happy that I went to wait for the Exhibit Hall because were the teachers going crazy.  Penguin waited until the last day to put out some amazing ARCs, as did some of the other publishers.  Additionally, some publishers had immediately discounted books to super cheap or were giving books away!  It was pretty amazing, but a nightmare for someone claustrophobic as there was a lot of squished bodies reaching for books.

After that I asked the amazing ladies at Penguin when they were starting the line for Stephanie Perkins, as Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler were signing that morning.  That's when I found out my program LIED to me!!  At the beginning of the conference, we were given an Author Signing program; inside it says Stephanie was suppose to be signing at Penguin at 10:30. Lies!  Then I thought I had gotten the booth wrong, as I didn't have my schedule.  To investigate I headed over to the Anderson's Bookshop booth where many authors were signing.  Nope, not there either.  Come to find out, after reading her tweet response to someone else, she's not going to be here until tomorrow!  Grrr NCTE!  Get things right!  Anyway, by that time I was caught up in the discount frenzy, so that's how I spent the next 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Then I went on to my last two sessions, both of which were fantastic!  My favorite topics to focus on during conferences are GLBT lit, 21st Century Tech, and Censorship.  I was lucky to get to go to all three.  Then it was definitely time to lug my books back to the hotel.  I can't wait until tomorrow for ALAN (which Stephanie will be at, along with an AWESOME YA Author panel at Anderson's Bookshop, which I am going to!!!).  I've never been to ALAN, but I've heard it is utterly amazing!

And here's my loot from today (when I get back home I'm doing a IMM like no other).

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NCTE: Day 2 - So Many Signatures!

Second day of NCTE down, and I am exhausted,  a good exhausted.

My Schedule:

Session F: 8:00-9:15
F.51 Zagat Guides, the New Yorker, & Cartoons

Session G: 9:30-10:45
G.45 Chicago Pride: The Streets of the Windy City

Session H: 11:00-12:15
H.08 Secondary Level Gallery of Posters

Veronica Roth Signing 12:00-1:00

David Levithan Signing 2:00-3:00

Laurie Halse Anderson 2:30-3:30

Session K: 4:15-5:30
K.01 Censorship Alive, Well and Showing

More awesome up there.

Today was a real focus on the authors for me, as many (MANY) amazing authors were signing.  In addition to the ones I planed on meeting above, I also got signed books from David Mccinnis Gill, T. A. Baron, Arlaina Tibensky, Jennifer L. Holm, Alan Sitomer, Kiki Hamilton, and Jackson Pearce (see, MANY author signings).  They were all lovely and couldn't have been more excited to meet us!  I love that about authors, especially YA authors.  Almost every time I meet one they are super pleasant and excited that you read their book.

I also sat in on a fantastic panel (all of them are awesome, but I especially loved this one) on Chicago itself. The panel had John Green, David Levithan, Simone Elkeles, Jillian Larkin, and James Klise on it; they've all written books which have been set in Chicago.  The panel examined how setting can play such an important part in a story, and what process/how much work it takes to place a character within an already established location.  It was very interesting to here from the people who live/have lived in Chicago (Simone, James, & John) and the ones who have visited (David & Jillian).

Overall, a very productive day.  I spoke with some awesome teachers, learned some awesome stuff, and can't wait until tomorrow!

Oh, here's a picture of my books from today!  Lots of stuff for my followers in here!

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NCTE: Day 1 - John Green, ARCs, and Crowds Oh My!

Today was my first official day of NCTE.  It was so fun, but a little crazy.

This was my schedule:

Session A: 9:30-10:45
A. 40 Modern Media Meets Masterpieces

Session B: 11:00-12:15
B. 28 Bullying - Reflecting on the Past

John Green Signing: 12:30-1:30 (OH YES!!)

Eric Luper Signing 1:00-1:30

Nathaniel Fick Signing: 1:45-2:45

Session D: 2:30-3:45
D.35 Creating Space Today For All

Session E: 4:00-5:15
E.34 Bisexuality and the Identifiable

LOTS of awesome up there!  Luckily everything was at the Hilton Chicago.  Not having to travel down to the Palmer House in this freezing Chicago weather made me very happy!

First off, meeting John Green was the highlight of the whole day.  He is so nice and awesome.  I brought all of his books except Let It Snow for him to sign and he jokingly said "Thank you for buying my entire collected works."  Of course I thanked him for writing them!  I also got a special something for all of you to give away for my birthday, so get excited!

Secondly, I really loved going to the panels on bullying and GLBT fiction (Sessions B, D, & E).  It is so nice to be in a room full of like-minded teachers, who want to go past simple tolerance and reach acceptance.  Such an important difference.  I also have a list of books to check out that have GLBT characters.  Can't get enough book lists!

Thirdly, teachers be crazy!  There were SO many people, mostly because this convention is NCTE's 100th anniversary (debating wether or not to buy a t-shirt).  Also, a bigger venue means more people.  I got hit with so many bags today it became routine.  One time as I was bending down, fixing my bags, hiding in the wall nook, I got beaned in the head.  I had such a big headache after that.  Jeez!

Lastly, I am over this cold weather.  I have a sore throat, super chapped lips, and dry hands and I've only been here TWO days!  Argh!  Also, what the F is up with the drivers here?  We almost get into accidents 5 times a day because people are constantly cutting you off, or driving partially in your lane or BLOCKING ONE WHOLE SIDE OF A STREET WHICH ALREADY HAS CARS PARKED ON IT!!  Deep breaths...but downtown is pretty cool.  I got to go to the Hersey Store and ate at Pizzeria Uno.  Love me some deep dish pizza.  All in all a pretty cool day!

Oh and did I mention I got 47 books today?  Yes that's right.  NCTE is definitely worth the free books.

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NCTE & ALAN

Tomorrow I'll be flying to Chicago to attend the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference and the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN), which I am SUPER excited about!!!!!!

Last year, NCTE was held in Orlando, FL so it was really easy for me to go.  I stayed at a cheap hotel by Disney and drove to the convention center every morning.  This time I have to fly, and still stay at a cheap hotel and still drive to the convention, but it will be IN POSSIBLE RAIN AND VERY COLD WEATHER!  And yes, I'm sure some of you are like "Pshhh, Chicago isn't cold right now", but let me tell you that the WARMEST it will be all week is on Saturday at 57°.  I'm going to be freezing my figurative balls off.  This Florida girl is seriously unprepared for the cold, what with all the flip flops I own.

Anyway, the reason I'm bringing this up is that I possibly won't be around much, and I figured I'd give a heads up rather than just disappearing like I did a couple weeks ago.  Though hopefully, as I'll have internet at my hotel, I will be able to blog about the conference, perhaps even vlog a little.  We'll see what happens.  Either way I'll be writing up a full report when I get back!

I hope you guys end up doing something really fun this weekend as well!

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TAG, You're It!

Some Stuff I Talked About:

Teaser Tuesday: http://dft.ba/-16tr
Nerdfighteria: http://dft.ba/-vlogbro
Ministry of Magic: http://dft.ba/-16tK

If any of you want to do this tag here are the questions!

1. Name a book you would take on a long flight
2. What is your guilty pleasure?
3. Name three characters from any books that you would want to be friends with?
4. What is your shoe size?
5. If you were going to write a book, what would it be called and what would it be about?
6. Favorite ice cream flavor?
7. What book are you currently reading?
8. Where do you film your vids?
9. What is the best YA series in your opinion?
10. What is your best physical attribute?
11. Do you like manga/comics? If so, what are your favorites?
12. Do you sleep on your side or on your stomach?
13. What is your favorite bookmark?
14. What are you currently listening to on your MP3?
15. What is your worst summer job?
16. What is your favorite band/type of music?

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Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we seriously can’t wait for.

 Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait for:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24, 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.  

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.  

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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How gorgeous is this book?  I usually have a problem which pretty girls in pretty dresses, but the cover just seems to fit the description so perfectly that I am okay with it.  The premise sounds really interesting, and has potential to be beautiful and dark.  Of course I love royalty tales, and the caste system in place seems interesting.  Like I really want to know if there is an equivalent thing for boys.  April can't come soon enough!

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Teaser Tuesday (24)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following!

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share a few teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• MAKE SURE NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (you don't want to give too much away and ruin the book for other readers)
• Share the title and author too, so that other readers can add your book to their TBR list if they like your teaser!
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  First Test by Tamora Pierce
  
  

           I want to be like that, she told herself as she always did.  I want to protect people.  And I will.  I will.  I'll be a hero one day, just like Mama.  Just like the Lioness.
       Nobody will kill two kittens in front of me then.

  (Page 25)

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Since I just finished reading Mastiff, which is the last book in the Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce, I'm back in a little bit of a craze with her books!  I get this way sometimes; I'll not have read a book by an author in a while, then all of sudden BAM! I have to read all there books over again.  This is why I can't ever get rid of my books!  First Test is a great female empowerment book, and has fantastical elements along with a lot of knight stuff.  All things I love.  Check out all of Tamora Pierce's series if you haven't already!

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Top Ten Tuesday (4)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

The topic this week is: Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read (Not in order at all)

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
2. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
3. Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer
4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
5. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
6. Matched by Ally Condie
7. Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
8. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
9. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
10. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

The sad part is ALL of these books were ones I was really really excited about reading, but I just got distracted or haven't had the gumption to read them.   So I was thinking I really need to work on this list, and remedy this atrocity.  Which book should I start first?

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The Hunger Games Trailer is HERE!!

I'm sure many of you have seen this already, but I can't help reposting it!  I am so excited after watching the trailer.  I think that from what they've shown us that the movie is going to be very close to the book (well as close as a movie can be to a book).  I must admit I was not a fan of the casting when it was first announced, especially Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss.  But I must admit, for the short time in the trailer she seems to be doing a good job.

Of course I'll have to save judgement until the movie!

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Enter to win a copy of Inheritance

I'm sure many of you have either read or heard of the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini.

If you haven't, I'm talking about the books below:

Yep those books!

Anyway, that one at the end, Inheritance, just came out this month to complete the series.  We lucky readers get to finally learn the fate of Eragon and Saphira.

Well over at Read. Breathe. Relax. you can enter to win your own copy of Inheritance, and close the last chapter on this epic tale!

The giveaway is over in 5 days, and only open to the U.S. (sorry international followers!)

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