Last year, Robin Wasserman held a contest related to her book series Seven Deadly Sins. Entrants were to create soundtracks based on the seven sins. I came up with the following playlist:

Lust: Don't Stand So Close to Me by The Police
Gluttony: Fatso by The Story
Greed: I Want It Now by Veruca Salt (from the musical film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)
Sloth: Sleep All Day by Jason Mraz
Wrath: Pain by Jimmy Eat World
Envy: Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
Pride: Soldier's Daughter by Tonic

Hidden Track: In the Absence of Sun by Duncan Sheik (representing the overall series)

Read my interview with Robin Wasserman.

There are plenty of books - and movies too, for that matter - which focus on athletes training for the big game or competition, only to have accidents! injuries! obstacles! interfere in act three. Luckily, they tend to pull through and win the championship or gold medal, and everyone lives happily ever after. Right?

Thankfully, GIRL OVERBOARD by Justina Chen Headley is more thoughtful and less predictable than those stories. Instead of striving for the win, GIRL OVERBOARD encourages readers to strive for their personal truths.

For Syrah Cheng, recovering from a snowboarding accident and overcoming self-doubt is just as difficult as climbing back up that mountain. Syrah is the daughter of a self-made billionaire whose face is splashed on the covers of magazines and newspapers. Her mother is dutiful and strict, and her older half-siblings, with lives and careers of their own, are distant.

Syrah doesn't want to just be thought of as somebody's daughter - she wants to make a name for herself in her own way. While nursing her injured knee, Syrah begins visiting kids in the hospital whose injuries and illnesses are more life-threatening than hers.

When she was snowboarding, Syrah felt free and powerful. She now finds solace in scribbling in her manga journal, but it can't compare to actually hitting the slopes - or to confessing something that happened to her last year. Something that she hasn't told a soul.

As the story continues, she learns something unexpected about her family which make her look at her parents differently, and she attempts to bond with her older brother and sister with varying levels of success. Finally, she thinks of a way to give back to the community while bringing attention to an important cause. A charity snowboarding event brings her back to the place where she has to confront what happened to her, both physically and emotionally.

GIRL OVERBOARD is an engrossing story not only about overcoming personal injuries, but accepting your family and yourself. Readers will hopefully walk away with the urge to give back to their own communities and to try something new that they've always wanted to do!

Playing By Your Own Rules: A Girl Overboard Playlist
Anthem by Superchick
Que Sera, Sera by Doris Day
Rockstar by Prima J
Wine Red by The Hush Sound
Burgundy by Common Rotation
Go Ahead by Rilo Kiley
Open Your Eyes by Bonnie McKee
Split Chick by Mandy Moore
Because I'm Awesome by The Dollyrots
There's Hope by India.Aire
The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

The last two tracks were selected by the author herself.

You may listen to four of these songs at Girl Overboard MySpace page.

Having Her Say

I spoke to Justina about the book, and here's what she had to say:

Girl Overboard: "I wrote about the dark side of the rags-to-richest story because I was so concerned about the glamorization of uber-wealth. Syrah finds herself and her power and her voice when she spearheads a charity snowboarding event. Isn't that the amazing power of community service? You give, and goodness boomerangs right back at you."

Giving back:"I committed to tying every book I publish with community service. So with Girl Overboard, I've created the Go Overboard Challenge Grant with Burton Snowboards and Youth Venture to rally today's youth to change the world. My hope is that thousands of young adults will apply for the Go Overboard Challenge Grant -- and rock the world with their ideas!"

Regarding the tour: "Hannah and I have two totally different passions -- hers for snowboarding and mine for writing -- and yet what's been so much fun to see is how we're both absolutely committed to community service and to rallying today's young people to make the world better."

Go Overboard Challenge Grant

Have an idea to change the world? Do something about it! NOW.

12 grants, up to $1,000 each. Available to people ages 12-20. Click here to learn more!

Read my interview with Justina Chen Headley.

By request, a playlist for This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen:

If I Am by 9 Days
Shoes by Stretch Princess
Out of Order by Duncan Sheik
Indifference by Jessica Riddle
This Side by Nickel Creek
Truthfully by Lisa Loeb
I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
I've Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher
Your House by Jimmy Eat World
Lullaby by Jonatha Brooke

Check out Author Spotlight: Sarah Dessen, with a complete list of her works and my reviews of her novels.

Last fall, I got to know Liz Gallagher when she gave me the opportunity to design her website.

Next week, Liz will officially become a published author when her debut novel The Opposite of Invisible hits the shelves on January 8th. I'm so happy for her. The book is delightful, and I just know it is going to find its way into a lot of hearts.

Liz and I both like to talk - to others or to ourselves - so here we are, talking to each other, and letting you listen in!

Your book begins with the line:
"Some girls have journals. I talk to my poster."
How about you?

I talk to myself! There's a pretty constant dialogue going on in my head, between me and . . . some other version of me. My conscience? Maybe, but it's more like a best friend in my brain.

( Read more... )

Read my review of The Opposite of Invisible.

Visit LizGallagher.com

See what Liz has to say at her LiveJournal.

Attend Liz's upcoming signings:

Saturday, January 12th
Chester County Book Company
975 Paoli Pike (West Goshen Center)
West Chester, PA
@ 1:00 PM

Saturday, January 19th
THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE release party!
All for Kids Books & Music
2900 NE Blakeley St
Seattle, WA
2:00 PM -- 5:00 PM
with live music by Rachel Harrington

This playlist consists of contemporary songs with lyrics which fit the themes and characters of Frank Wedekind's play Spring Awakening.

She Runs Away by Duncan Sheik
New Dress by Jonatha Brooke
Your Girl by Jessica Riddle
Ten Cent Wings by Jonatha Brooke
Come On Get Higher by Matt Nathanson
Pretty When You Cry by VAST
All My Sins by Mandalay
Little Hands by Duncan Sheik
Witness by Sarah McLachlan
Gun for a Mouth by David Poe
Gone by Matt Nathanson
Girl by Tori Amos
What I Wouldn't Give by Holly Brook
If Only by Amy Studt
Oh Father by Madonna
Still I Can't Be Still by Idina Menzel
Steps in Sand by The Rocking Horse Winner
Uneasy by Laika
In the Rough by Anna Nalick
Drifter by David Poe
Halo by Bethany Joy Lenz
Come Rest Your Head by Tonic
Awakening by Skye Sweetnam
Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World

Ready? Okay!

Janette Rallison's novels for teens are, in a word, fun. They tend to be fueled by comedy, romance, and drama both at school and home. They also have undeniably catchy titles. Who could resist a book called Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List, or one entitled All's Fair in Love, War, and High School?

All's Fair came out in 2003. The sequel, Revenge of the Cheerleaders, hit the shelves this October. The Cheerleaders appeared at my workplace a few months early, singing in preparation for their debut. You see, Revenge is all about a high school singing competition which is similar to American Idol, but being held exclusively for teens. Chelsea and her friends want to make sure it's a clean competition, even if Rick, her little sister's rude rocker boyfriend, tries to trip them up.

Despite popular opinion to the contrary, revenge is a dish best served warm and WITHOUT mean spirit. This book is cute and cheery. If you liked Janette Rallison's previous novels, if you can quote the movie Clueless, or if you enjoy lighthearted dramedies, then Revenge of the Cheerleaders will make you grin and giggle.

While discussing the book, Janette and I came up with this playlist. I've combined the songs mentioned in the book -- including those used in the High School Idol competition, of course! -- with a few cheerleading staples, a few pop anthems, a few angsty tracks, and some of Janette's current favorites.

Revenge of the Cheerleaders Playlist
Because I'm Awesome by The Dollyrots
The opening cheer sequence from Bring It On
I Want to be a Rock Star by Nickelback
Mickey by Toni Basil
Dirty Little Secret by The All-American Rejects
Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson
On Her Mind by Duncan Sheik
Prodigal Daughter by Jonatha Brooke
Chelsea by Stefy
Be True to Your School by The Beach Boys
The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) by Cher
Bonus track: The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) by Betty Everett

At the readergirlz forum, Justina put forth a question that someone had recently asked the authors: "If readergirlz were a movie (no specific book), what might be on the soundtrack?" I answered with the following playlist.

The Sound of Your Voice:
a readergirlz soundtrack

Just a Little Girl by Amy Studt
On Her Mind by Duncan Sheik
32 Flavors by Alana Davis
For Wowser by Jessica Riddle
Fall Away by Velvet Chain
Sharada by Skye Sweetnam
Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Teachin' Myself To Dream by Katy Rose
Free to Be a Woman by Jennifer Love Hewitt
Who We Are by Hope Partlow
Rinse by Vanessa Carlton
(There's Gotta Be) More to Life by Lucy Woodward
All Will Be Forgotten by Holly Brook
Futures by Jimmy Eat World

E. Lockhart's novel DRAMARAMA offers a solid, realistic storyline - and plenty of toe-tapping musical references. Set among the glitz and glamour of a modern-day musical theatre summer program, it has all of the backstage drama you'd expect, but the focus is on the friendship of Sayde and Demi - a tall, insecure teenage girl and her lively, exuberant best friend.

I was delighted and dazzled by DRAMARAMA. I was feeling so generous while reading it that I even gave the movie Center Stage a second chance. (It didn't take.) Shortly thereafter, I had the opportunity to speak with E. Lockhart about all things theatrical and bookish.

( ACT ONE: Musical Theatre )

( ACT TWO: Romantic Comedy )

( BONUS: Books and Films )

( BONUS: Original Dramarama Soundtrack )

For more information about E. Lockhart, visit her website and read her blog.

Related Posts at Bildungsroman:
Book Review: Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Book Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Book Review: How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle
Interview: E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle

literaticat needed suggestions for NYMBC's special Goth Prom event with Holly Black and Cassandra Clare, and this playlist was born.

I Want to Kill You by Darling Violetta
Paint It Black cover by Vanessa Carlton
Bury Me With It by Modest Mouse
Little Sugar by Velvet Chain
Pain by Four Star Mary
Coming Up Roses by Curve
Bound in Blood (Insomnia Mix) by Hungry Lucy
Out of This World by Bush
Volcano Girls by Veruca Salt
Flames by VAST
Sleep by Azure Ray

Sixteen-year-old Eva Ortiz dazzles viewers every week on a hit television sitcom. Her younger sister, Jessica, does not have any acting aspirations, preferring to lead an average life off-camera. When accidents start happening on the set and things start to go missing, Jess decides it's up to her to solve the mysteries.

Such is the life of The Hollywood Sisters. This book series will keep young readers them giggling and guessing. (Learn more about the series at my booklists But I Don't Want to Be Famous! and But I DO Want to Be Famous!) Author Mary Wilcox was able to avoid the paparazzi long enough to answer a few questions here at Bildungsroman.

Jess and Eva have a good relationship, and their differences compliment one another. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have a younger sister -- and some of our history is in the books. There is a photo of me rocking a Mickey Mouse guitar while Julie shakes a rice box that I straight-up lifted for the book. More than specific incidents, though, I think what I've taken from my real-life relationship is that sense of my sister always being there in some way -- whether or not we are actually spending lots of time together; whether we even want the other one there! -- and how she is the other person with an inside view of how my family works. That just seems to get more meaningful over time.

I also have a younger brother who was born when I was about Jessica's age. He hasn't shown up in the books...yet. :)

( Read more... )

Visit Jess and Eva (and Mary!) at hollywoodsisters.com

Bonus! At the close of On Location, Eva gives Jess the following playlist:

Songs for Getting Over Boys
You Had Me by Joss Stone
Hole in the Head by The Sugababes
Fighter by Christina Aguilera
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
All I Have by J.Lo (Jennifer Lopez)
How You Remind Me by Nickelback
These Boots are Made for Walkin' by Nancy Sinatra