Nina Malkin's first novel for teens, 6X: The Uncensored Confessions, was about a band riding the fame rollercoaster. It was followed up with 6X: Loud, Fast, & Out of Control. Now she has a non-fiction book about the cats that have touched her life, plus another teen novel coming out this summer. Read on to find out more about her cats, her fashionable past, and her writing style.

It sounds as though a particular (purrticular) kitty prompted you to write An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle. what is your favorite story about Flaca?

My favorite story about Flaca was the day we met. I was sitting alone outside on the front stoop; it was a quiet morning, not a creature was stirring . . . until . . . whoa! Is that a cat? A cute little calico cat? Right on my block? I knelt down and called to her, and she came running up. She was so lovey-dovey. We became friends instantly. Never happens for me like that with human beings . . . ( Read more... )

From the author of The Girls (a realistic look into the inner workings of an all-girl clique) comes a novel about an almost-fifteen-year-old who is diagnosed with lymphoma. The once-healthy Izzy is suddenly hospital-bound. The faces of the nurses, doctors, and counselors who surround her blur as she undergoes chemotherapy. Meanwhile, her mom is a mess, her father is fairly steady, her little brother doesn't quite understand what is going on, and her best friend isn't allowed to visit her.

While her body battles cancer, Izzy's tongue stays as sharp as the needles that the nurses stick in her arm. Instead of a book riddled with angst, the story details Izzy's treatments and her physical and emotions reactions bluntly. Instead of being a sob story, this is the story of survival. Izzy refuses to give up, and readers won't give up this book until they've reached the final page. Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss is, in brief, well-done.

Visit the official website of Amy Goldman Koss at http://www.amygoldmankoss.net

Related Posts: Interview: Amy Goldman Koss, Tough Issues for Teens

Lost It has a perfect title. Yes, the book IS what you think it's about, but it's not ONLY about that. It's about losing your keys. It's about losing your focus. It's about losing your fears. It's about losing your heart.

Kristen Tracy populates her debut novel with memorable, unconventional characters, from the impulsive mother to the somewhat saucy grandmother, from the unpredictable and seemingly sinister best friend to the leading character herself, the unassuming Tess, who has exploding shoes and a tremendous fear of the outdoors.

The most stable character is Ben, the boy who comes into Tess' life during her junior year of high school. He is the catalyst for many of her changes, but in fact, these changes come about due to her own choices and actions. It is she who lets down her guard. It is she who fibs, just a little bit, then trips and falls on the snowball eventually created by that lie.

Lost It will make readers laugh out loud from the very first page. The word 'pageturner' is typically reserved for mysteries and thrillers, but it applies in this case as well. The narration zips along at the speed of thought, and as Tess hints at past and future events, readers will be anxious to find out what happens.

Utterly quirky, totally fun, and surprisingly engrossing, Lost It is a book you should find and keep.

Recommended for older teens and adults.

Have a moment? Give this review a positive vote!

Read my interview with Kristen Tracy.

Visit Kristen Tracy's official website at www.kristentracy.com

Visit the website for Kristen's second novel at www.CrimesoftheSarahs.com