If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
('Stead of going to the store)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor
Maybe they won't let you
Dry the dishes anymore

- How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes by Shel Silverstein

I selected this poem in honor of Banned Books Week.

In 1985, Silverstein's poetry collection A Light in the Attic was challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, Wisconsin because the aforementioned poem "encourages children to break dishes so they won't have to dry them." I think that if children or adults feel the need to break dishes after reading that poem, they ought to read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books by Patricia McDonald and/or attend a wedding ceremony at which breaking dishes is a tradition.

Dancing Queen by Erin Downing is as fun as the title song by ABBA.

Olivia can't wait to go to London. Not only will she be working at the hottest music television station in England, but she'll be following in the footsteps of her late mother. She brings her enthusiasm and her music knowledge - and, unfortunately, her tendency to spaz.

She hoped to be rubbing elbows with the pop elite at her new job. The first celebrity she runs into - almost literally so - is Josh Cameron, a singer who is as charming as he is famous. He is cool, calm and collected, standing upright; she is flustered, having issues with a revolving door and has fallen on her rear. She is embarrassed; he is amused. No one is more surprised than Liv when Josh keeps in touch with her and asks her out.

London life has a lot to offer Liv. She loves her job, but must work long days for a demanding boss. The small-town American girl also has to deal with her roommates: one high-maintenance girl from Texas, the other a sweet soul from Sweden. Then a VJ contest is announced at work, psyching up all of the interns. Will Olivia think of something that will get her noticed, or will her performance fall flat? When Josh finally finds the time to pencil her into his busy schedule, can she admit to him - and herself - that their relationship is headed nowhere?

Dancing Queen is filled with music references, making readers want to get up and dance. A song title is assigned to every chapter, and the title song Dancing Queen by ABBA plays a major role throughout the story. The author even created an iMix on iTunes - Erin's Dancing Queen Playlist.

If you love music -
If you wish you could work at MTV -
If you truly listen to your heart -
If you like the film What a Girl Wants -
Get Dancing Queen by Erin Downing and prepare to boogie!

My favorite line of the book: "Is it because of the song about pancakes?"

Bonus Tracks
Erin posted the list of chapter titles:
( Read more... )

Read my interview with Erin Downing.

Learn more about the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies.

Erin Downing's books are fun. So is she. After reading her debut novel, which made me sing ABBA songs all day long, I had the chance to interview her.

Dancing Queen is a romantic comedy that is "clean" enough for younger teens to enjoy. Was that, er, cleanliness a conscious choice on your behalf, or due to protocol for the line of S&S romantic comedies?

The book sounds so prissy when you call it "clean"! But yes, the cleanliness was a somewhat conscious choice. ( Read more... )

Read my full-length review of Dancing Queen.

Visit Erin at her official website and her LiveJournal.

Learn more about the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies.