Sunday, August 12, 2012

An Apology to GWAATP

There was a point in the series where I made Nancy promise me there'd be no more pink Sammy Keyes books. I think it was after Hollywood Mummy came out. (An early version was pink.)

The poor boys who read the series complained. Pink! No! You're killin' me! they said, and I agreed and discussed the gravity of the situation with Nancy and we agreed--no more pink books! Sammy and pink belong in opposite universes.

Like Sammy and that pink angora sweater!

And yet, 10 books later, here we are, looking at the very pink artwork for the paperback version of Sammy Keyes and the Showdown in Sin City. 

I might have protested more than I did (it was really just the raising of a little white flag) if I didn't like the cover so much. And pink seems so appropriately Vegas. Plus, all the menfolk in my family seem to think the artwork is awesome .

So, sorry Guys Who Are Allergic To Pink--I guess you'll have to read the hardcover.

The paperback artist is Karl Edwards, in case you've forgotten / didn't know, and I like the way he works. He's very generous with preliminary sketches, giving the art team at Random House lots of options, and he seems to have a lot of patience with all of us. I like him. Here's an example of some of the Elvi he submitted in the early stages. Varied, and very funny!



And now, switching from art to text, I'm so happy to report that I've reached the "payoff" phase of Sammy Keyes and the Killer Cruise. Yippiddiy-dappidy-dooo-ooo-oooh! It's all coming to a head, and watch out, world, here she blows!

I was hoping to keep it to 250 or 275 pages, but no, we'll be at 300 before we're back in port. I should be able to tell you next week if I keep up this full speed ahead.

Meanwhile, I'll see you in the comments. I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek at the art--thanks for checking in!

79 comments:

Gabrielle said...

Pink is defenitly not what someone would picture for a Sammy Keyes book,but I like it. And those Elvi are so funny. And I don't know much about the process of a book but,what's the payoff?

Gabrielle said...

Pink is defenitly not what someone would picture for a Sammy Keyes book,but I like it. And those Elvi are so funny. And I don't know much about the process of a book but,what's the payoff?

Yusa said...

Pink... interesting. Well surprising cover for the book with the most surprises.
Nice Elvi...
I read the hardcover versions more anyways. Don't want anyone to get the wrong idea if they see me with a pink book...
Don't write to fast. The last book can still wait...

Oh and Steph, i finally got Virals from the library and i'm reading it...

--Yusa

Unknown said...

I'm definitly not a fan of pink, but i think the cover looks funny=) The pink surprisingly goes with it, but i think ill stick to hard cover=) thank you 4 showing us!=)

Anonymous said...

Damnnn I love it, what a dope cover!! I like pink, I choose not to LOVE it generally because I've been a blue-person since the day I was a fetus but hey, this is nice, it WORKS. And I'm not being biased because it's Sammy Keyes, if I didn't like it I'd say so. I don't mind being seen with a pink book, and I know if I saw a dude reading this in public I'd probably go up to him & kiss him on the lips for being a BOSS because a) it's Samny freakin Keyes and b) it's pink. Anyway even if I saw a guy or actually, ANYONE reading any SK book, I seriously would approach him and give him a high-five or fist-bump or thumbs-up...Maybe I'd take a photo with him/her.
Anyway I sincerely love it, yes, Karl Edwards does a fantastic job making them unique. He takes a simple subject & gives it character.
And I know pink isn't really a Sammy Keyes thing, but it never hurts to keep your mind wide open. Think of it on the good side: If a total girly-girl didn't pick up a Sammy Keyes book before, because of its gender-neutral covers, she might pick this one up now because its pink, and learn she loves it. ;)))
xoxo
And Yusa: Tell me what you think of Virals! :)

Kylie said...

At first I was like PINK? But I like it! It fits Las Vegas.

And was that a Elvis with a baby? What! Dies Sammy have a little sibling? Or is Lana pregnant! Or was Sammy's dad a guy that dressed like Elvis when he was a baby? So many ideas right now! Ooo maybe Sammy saves a baby's life! I am so excited!

Ky

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's a baby to represent the daddy/daughter thing. It is, after all, the DAD book. I think I'm going to burst out into tears when I have the real copy in my hands. I've waited ALL MY LIFE guys.
I've spent actual hours thinking this through: When I finally found out, will I be totally mind blown, or will I be like "I knew it!" or will it be completely something I never even guessed?
Ever since Jessica said the mayor, I've loved that theory.
But why Vegas??? How does Sammy uncover life's mysteries (her dad, Heather's psychopathical tendencies) in Vegas?
Is Marissa's dad involved? Is Mr McKenze Sammy's dad? Does he KNOW Sammy's dad? Is Elvis-from-Maynard's Sammy's brother or something? What about the prologue, when it said she got the call from Casey?
What does CASEY have to do with it!? What did he say that made Sammy snap? And who, WHO is the Nightie Napper?
Okay. I'm done.

Gabrielle said...

I know in the prologue I wondered what did he say? I cannot wait until sin city!!! And I did t notice the baby until you guys pointed it out. So many questions!

Gabrielle said...

I know in the prologue I wondered what did he say? I cannot wait until sin city!!! And I did t notice the baby until you guys pointed it out. So many questions!

Anonymous said...

It's so interesting to look at the different possibilities for the cover art...how do you pick just one??? Now, while pink's not high on my list of favorite colors, it fits the cover perfectly!
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT WHO SAMMY'S DAD IS! AHHHH!
Which got me thinking of characters who could never actually BE Sammy's dad, but just IMAGINING it makes laugh...
Like Officer Borsch!
Or Mr. Vince!
Sammy would probably have a Heather-esqe meltdown—I wouldn’t blame her!
Did you ever entertain the idea of making Sammy's Dad a character we already know and love (or hate)?

Yusa said...

I told my friend it was pink and she's like, "PINK! A Sammy Keyes book PINK?!? I'm in shock right now."

Millers said...

Funny, the first thing I thought wasn't about pink, it was like whoa that is one cool car. Actually I didn't notice it much until you said so, because it really IS fitting to me. Like it just belongs there!

Jessica said...

I'd probably be a little embarrassed to carry a book that pink around, except for the giant "Sammy Keyes" and the smaller "Edgar award-winning." And the cool, manly Elvis and car. It's funny that I'd be more embarrassed that the book is pink than that it's a kid's book, but Harry Potter has made it more acceptable for adults to read kid's books. Besides, I've always preferred books with good character growth, and children's literature is more likely to have that.

Which Elvis is Santa Martina's Elvis? I'd guess #2, but he looks kind of mean. I suppose it could be #5, too.

I doubt Sammy's dad is any of the people Sammy's interacted with (and definitely not those Lana has), because you'd think they'd at least blink a little at the last name. Certainly not Marissa's dad, since they've been best friends for so long and Lana's sure to have met him. That leaves the mayor. Or TJ's dad. Or someone we've never met. Probably someone wealthy, if he took Lana to fancy brunches, and can take his newfound daughter on a cruise. Okay, so not TJ's dad.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for this book to come out it is what we've all been waiting for. And actually I like to read the hardcover and then the paperback because it has an excerpt of the next book in it. So I'm still waiting for the JJ paperback to come out. I was like NOOO when you said that SK and Killer Cruise might only have 250 or 275 pages, but then I went YES!!!! when you said it will be more like 300. The more Sammy the better. I can't wait but I'll have to. Come on JJ paperback I need that excerpt!!!! Pink is perfect for this cover eventhough I'm not much of a fan. And what exactly is the payoff? SK all the way! ( <-- hey that rhymes!)

~Noelle

Millers said...

@jessica: but wouldn't have grams seen mayor Hibbs on tv and recognised him? I mean, he did go and issue a reward and stuff and wouldn't the last name ring a bell?

Hmm... I think Sammy's Dad is someone we havent met yet... (or possibly the elvis impersonator)

And guys? I'm sorry I'm so blind but where do you see the baby?

Jessica said...

The baby is in Elvis #4's arms; I didn't figure out what it was until I read the comments.

Grams knows who Sammy's dad is, and she knows Sammy doesn't know. So even if she saw him around town, she would try not to show that she knows who he is. On the other hand, the dad doesn't know Sammy exists (at least that's what I gleaned from Grams's non-answers), but he obviously knows he had a relationship with Lana Keyes. Since Santa Martina is a small town, if he met a girl named Sammy Keyes, he might react a bit -- especially if he did the math on her age. At the very least, he might ask whether she knows Lana. So I think it can't be anyone at school or around town who has interacted with Sammy. There are very few characters whom she hasn't interacted with directly, and the only one I could think of who meets the "rich man" category is the mayor.

The fact that her dad is a big secret implies, to me, that he was either married to someone else and/or a mover and shaker for whom having an illegitimate child with a teenager would be a scandal (Lana's exact age is unclear, but Grams said Sammy came shortly after she finished high school). If not the mayor, perhaps a college professor (it's unclear whether Lana started college, because Grams changed the subject). I'm leaning towards someone we haven't met yet, but if we have met him, my money is on the mayor. Further totally circumstantial, wildly speculative evidence: Grams made Sammy pay attention when the mayor was on the news.

Jessica said...

P.S. I know J.K. Rowling got a kick out of reading fan speculation, so I hope our guesswork is amusing to Wendelin -- especially since the book is done and she knows how far off we all are!

I have a feeling I'll be re-reading the series again after Sin City, just to study the Nightie Napper case more closely.

Unknown said...

didn't grams say lana dropped out of college? hmm, gotta re-read that one. And lana seems pretty embarrassed by who it is, and the mayor is a little cooky sounding (softball statue..) but wouldn't she be proud to be the mayors wife? I don't know, maybe not... he's barley mentioned in the books . That would be a little ironic don't u think? Mayor's daughter livin' in a Senior only Building who uses the fire escape to get in.=)

Gabrielle said...

I don't think it's someone we met yet,I just can't picture the Mayor as Sammy's dad.

Anonymous said...

I also dont know if the rich dude from Killer Cruise is necessarily her dad. It didnt directly say. At least thats how I remember it. Or not? I'll look back.

Anonymous said...

Also, I thought she was saving the infamous Nightie Napper for la libro del fin?
(I hope that means "last book" in Spanish)

Optimistic4ever said...

I love the cover! Im a huge fan of the paperback versions, and while this one is pink, it is in no way a letdown.

More than the dad mystery, I'm confused as to how this is the Heather book (have I said this already?) I mean, how does she learn about Heather in Vegas? Does everyone go for a Darren Cole concert or something?

Looking forward to the book, like always.

Anonymous said...

At first I thought number 1 and 4 elvi both had babies but then Jessica said it was only in 4. Then I thought it looked like a bird or something. But after I zoomed in I realized it was really an ice cream cone or a Double Dynamo. Anyway great sketches though. Awesome!

~Noelle

Anonymous said...

Optimistic4Ever I just wanted to say your Darren Cole concert comment made me actually quite literally laugh out loud

Yusa said...

In all the books Sammy could usually tell when Grams was hiding something and she becomes all 'flustered' if she's lying so it's probably someone Sammy hasn't met. He probably doesn't even live there.
And maybe Sammy gets her sleuthing from her dad...
Hmmmm...
--Yusa

Anonymous said...

Obviously her dad's Sherlock Holmes. And he lives at 221B Baker Street, London. How could we have not realized before!? Lana left him because she though Sherlock and Dr Watson were in an affair, which they so obviously never were. Besides, Lana is Hollywood and Sherlock is private detective. Complete opposites, but he's SO like Sammy. :)
^^^But seriously, how cool would that be

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

This has gotten very wild! Love your imaginations!

But you really don't want to know until you read it, so if you think you might really truly know...

Sssh....

Unknown said...

in wedding crasher didn't grams say lana told warren she was livin' with her dad? And Sammy asked if he dose live in Santa Martina, and she changed the subject quick.
Also, maybe her dad won the lottery!=) That's kinda a wild idea though...

Gabrielle said...

I was kinda thinking that last night also that maybe he one the lottery,or maybe he's an actor.

Jessica said...

Oh, man, you guys are cracking me up! Sammy and Casey should totally see Darren Cole while they're in Vegas. I think everyone's in Vegas because Lana has created some major drama and dragged Warren and both their families into it. Maybe they get jobs there? Visit a drive-through chapel? Maybe Sammy's dad is there? We don't know if Lana and Sammy's dad ever married; it wouldn't surprise me if Lana accidentally became a bigamist given her track record.

Or maybe this being the Sammy's dad/Heather book is just a red herring, and Vegas actually is related to Marissa's dad. After all, we don't know what percent of the book takes place in Santa Martina vs. Vegas. Except... Sammy flies there, so who paid for her ticket? Maybe Grams won the lottery!

I don't actually want to know before I read -- I've gotten to the point where I don't even want to read the book description for a Sammy Keyes book. I like to find out things just as Sammy does. But like Sammy's, my brain can't help but work on all the partial puzzles we've been given!

Steph, I like the idea of her dad being some kind of detective. And Lana never actually said he was the one who treated her to strawberry-cheese tarts, but he is indeed the one on the cruise with her (see the post from 4/15/12). The question is, is he a Kensington? Have we met any Kensingtons so far?

Unknown said...

Gram's winnin the lottery! That cracked me up 2!=) She dose have money from The Wedge, but that's for college. Lana must have done something, like, BAD cuz it said Casey called 2 tell her something and Sammy snapped. The last time she went 2 check on her mom, it was cuz she went overboard with the lies and stuff, like saying Grams was lana's grandmother. lana just went a little... 2 far.
I dont remember any Kensingtons before, but that name reminded me of The Crocodile=)
I love Sammy's nicknames!=)

Yusa said...

You know one mystery i keep wondering about is Billy's dad. They talk a little about him but not much...
You'd think Billy and Marissa would relate because of their dads. I kinda hated Marissa in JJ because of what she did to Billy...

Anonymous said...

Marissa did indeed act moronic. Still, she's 13/14, and a girl. Just because Sammy's mature for her age in some things doesnt mean everyone has to be! I was pretty stupid in 8th grade, too, and had my fair share of falling for the jerk guys. One of which was, ironically named, Danny Briggs. Har-de-har.
But I like Marissa! She's realistic.:)

Anonymous said...

And yes, I just called Sammy mature. She's changed a lot hasn't she? For the better though.

Jessica said...

I wonder how Warren's going to take it when Lana's cardhouse of lies comes tumbling down. And seeing Sammy get to know her dad is going to be huge; we've spent a lot of time trying to figure out who he is, but how weird would it be to suddenly meet your dad for the first time at 13? You'd miss out on that whole "my daddy's perfect" stage. Casey was originally "Baggy Boy"; I hope her dad doesn't start out as "Muffintop Man" or something.

Marissa annoyed me a bit in JJ, too, especially after her awesomeness in NoS. I had friends who changed a lot when they became interested in boys. I tried the confrontation thing, like Sammy, but we never were able to become as close again, and we completely lost touch when we went off to college (though we didn't have quite as many years as Sammy-Marissa, either). So yeah, that little subplot read very real to me. But Marissa at the end of the book cracked me up! She's helped Sammy work things out before (like with the lovebird), so hopefully she'll be strong again in SDiSC. Sammy's going to need her.

And Billy! Billy beasta deserves some love. As does Holly. (But not with each other. Hmm... maybe? Nope, can't see it.)

Gabrielle said...

How Marissa was acting in JJ,she really annoyed me,I can't believe she believed Danny again! I was like NOOOO!!! And Sammy is very mature. And I'm really nothing like her,like all the stuff she does I could never do!

Anonymous said...

Holly is too...raw to be with Billy.
Besides, I don't like how in some books, everyone ends up with someone. Like, what is this? E-Harmony.com? Holly and Billy don't work in my eyes, at least.
And Sammy's dad better not be overly possessive. I actually hope he's awkward, like Harry and Shawn's relationship from the show Psych-- Awkward dads are funny. :)
My dad is awkward. He loves babies, but doesn't understand teenagers at all. Or girls. He's a total computer-tech engineer-nerd, and poor guy, he has 4 daughters. Whenever I'm pissed at him I like to take a moment to realize he has no idea how to deal with girls.

Gabrielle said...

My dad defentely knows girls,he grew up with six women in his house,and he still lives with all girls. Hahaha E-Harmony.com! Good one! And steph,your right it's so cliche when everyone is with someone.

Jessica said...

Yeah, I don't necessarily want Holly to find love during the Sammy Keyes series. And a "sequel" starring her would be totally cheesy, but... I don't know, I just wish we saw more of her (probably because I recently reread Runaway). She acts so normal* in Sammy Keyes that it's easy to forget how tough a life she's had, and that leaves deep scars. I think she'd have a lot of difficulty trusting in a relationship, especially if she ends up dating guys (and it'd probably still be an issue even if she dates girls). I just think it could be interesting to see her work through that, probably in late high school or college.

*Normal, but she never mentions any crushes or flirts with the boys; nor do the boys flirt with her. Then again, neither does Dot. But when relationship talk comes up, Holly's always very matter-of-fact about it, while both Dot and Marissa can be more playful.

Kylie said...

Yeah, I think that two couples is enough. Because one they are still in 8th grade (well except casey) and I don't think that there are seriously that many 8th graders in a relationship (well at least where I live).

I love Henry's and Shawn's relationship. It is great. I need that show to come back! Especailly with the ending of the last show!

I feel bad for my dad. He has 5 girls and 1 boy. But at least he now has 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter to balance it out.

Norma said...

Wow, all this speculation is so cool! As of now, I'm liking Steph's theory that Sherlock is Sammy's dad. If fits so well. :)

Seriously though, I'm actually thinking that whoever Sammy's dad is cannot be someone rich or powerful. Lady Lana would not let go of that kind of meal ticket, at least in my mind. Who knows, maybe she did have an affair with a married man, and that's why she's so clamped up.

I actually have a really good idea of who Sammy's dad is after making a chart (yes, I made a chart; you may commence laughing) unless we've never met him before or he's never been mentioned. If he is who I think he is, I understand not just Lady Lana's reasons for keeping her mouth closed on the subject but also Gram's reasons.

That being said, I'm keeping quiet 'til the book comes out less I totally end up being so wrong! Oh! This is all so exciting!

Unknown said...

Norma, wat r u trying 2 do kill me!!!!!! Then i wont be alive 2 find out!!!=) is it cisco? my friend thinks so=)

Jessica said...

Norma, can you at least tell us who was on your chart? Now I'm dying of curiosity!

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

No chart sharing! :-)

Gabrielle said...

Awww!! Dang it!! I want to know who you think it might be!!! Guess we'll have to wait.

Jessica said...

Wendelin's responses are making me think it is someone we've already met. Oh, man, now I want to reread all the books again, but I don't really have time for that right now.

I didn't want the actual chart, just a character list from all the books (so I could make my own chart from it, since I only own one of the books). I could just wait until January... Or I could try to read one book a week, and pace myself, diving into both the Sammy's dad and Nightie Napper mysteries... Decisions, decisions...

Anonymous said...

My sister and I once said we'd start from Book 1 and write down the name--or Sammy-nickname--or description, if no name was given--of EVERY man in the whole series. Like even like the average Joe on the streets, etc, etc. We never did it, but I might sometime before January! School starts tomorrow so basically I have no time either. :(

Gabrielle said...

Ugh!! You have to start school tomorrow! I thought I started early! And I'm thinking to because of what you said about what Wendelin said,maybe it is someone in the book?.... Hmmmmmm....... I guess we'll find out in January.

Millers said...

@Jessica: Oooh that makes so much more sense now. Okay.

But uh... are the Elvi here all supposed to be ONE character? Or are they part of the Elvis impersonator army? ...'cause at some point I thought Elvis no.4 was a lady. Were those boobs? Haha sorry!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that Marrissa was kinda annoying in the last book... Phew!


And guys I just LOVE how there are tons of possibilities! Funny though, I never even considered the fact that Lana had an affair, I always just figured she and Grams were ashamed or something because Lana was too young to have a kid... Then I remembered that in Hollywood Mummy she was supposed to be, uh, 34 I think? So then 22 is not that young so no.

But ever since she mentioned the baseball glove, I wanted to think that her dad went on and became a softball star or something and that's why they can go on a cruise!

Norma said...

You heard our favorite author: No Chart Sharing. :) I'm probably wrong as it is. Ugh, dying of suspense here. How can we wait until January???

Speaking of Marissa, I was re-reading Sammy Keyes and the Power of Justice Jack, and ugh, I was really annoyed with her. But, I guess everyone is like that in the right situation.

Question though, I can't find it in the books or recall if it was ever mentioned: Does anyone know how Sammy met Hudson?

Gabrielle said...

I know! Janurary see s so far away!! And no one knows how Sammy and Hudson met,it was never mentioned in any of the books.

Optimistic4ever said...

Mysteries I hope the books will shed a little more light on before the end of the series:

How Sammy Met Hudson
Hudson's Past
Why is Billy afraid of his father?
Who is Sammy's dad?
Why was Lana ashamed of him? (prob goes with the Sammy's dad thing)
Why is Heather the Way She is?
What happened to the side characters in the books?

Anyone else want to add?

And if something doesn't get answered, we can resort to fanfiction and share theories to put our souls to rest.

Anonymous said...

I just realized if a big jailbreak happens in Santa Martina, Sammy is beyond screwed.

Anonymous said...

...In the most lighthearted way of it saying it. :)

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

O4E: Checks on (almost) all of those! And you didn't even have the Nightie Napper!

The rest of you Wowzer! Just love you guys! I am, of course, dying to comment on all you comments but I CAN'T.

Little News Flash for everybody: Look forward to Sunday! Nancy asked if she could help get me through the writing of KC (she even sent me cookies!) (So I wouldn't leave m y desk ?) (No, 'cause she's sweet.) And I asked her if she'd guest blog for a couple of weeks...and she will ! We discussed some topics we think you guys would find interesting and she'll get me the first one for this weekend. Rare insight into The Editor's world. Especially interesting (I would think) for those of you who are aspiring authors.

Millers said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yusa said...

Ahhhh first day of high school was.... tiring. Some idiot out a sticker on my locker saying it was unregistered and they would cut the lock off without further notice if i didn't register it. I worried about that for three periods. I went to the attendance office to recheck that i did, and i did. They told me to take it off but the sticker would not come off so i had to cross it off with a sharpie. On top of that i only have like 2 friends at this high school and they are each in only one of my classes so i know no one. IM GOING TO FAIL HIGH SCHOOL.

--Yusa

Optimistic4ever said...

No Yusa! We must stay strong and pass! Twas my first day of high school too!

I'm always looking forward to Sundays, but the guest post thing sounds pretty awesome, and my excitement meter is pinging :D

Yes, the Nightie Napper! Also, will we ever find out the story behind "loopy noogies"? Or is it just one of those things that you put into the story because it sounds right?

Gabrielle said...

It'll be okay Yusa,you'll make new friends. It must be hard going into High School. I know I start school next week,and there's only one girl I know that's in my classes,and I really don't know her that well. And "loopy noogies". That's so funny,and yeah,I wonder what that means.

Yusa said...

Ahh high school is harder in it's first two days than middle school ever was. I'm going to do horrible in honors english...

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

YOu will do great Yusa. It's just overwhelming at first. And some English teachers can be very intimidating, but he/she may well be your fav by the end of the year. Believe! (And study!)

Unknown said...

At least ur not a stupid 6th grader in a sea of 7th an 8th graders, and ur used 2 switching classes=)
as some of my wacko teachers say, If you fail school, then u get a job at McDonalds. (or at leastif u fail CST testing) no pressure=)

Yusa said...

Thanks! Oh and has anyone read the Kite Runner? I need to read it for school...

--Yusa

P.S. Virals was really good.

Yusa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yusa said...

Hah Bella, i wish! I went to a K-8 school where in middle school you have two teachers and two classrooms. There was 58 kids in all of 8th grade and my school was really small. I'm anything but used to so i've been rushing around capus all day...with a map. Tiring!
Oh and a sea of softmores, juniors, and seniors is WAAAY worse. Half of them hate you.

--Yusa

Gabrielle said...

It's weird in my school it 6th and 7th in middle school,and 8th grade is high school,I mean they try to keep them kinda separate,but still that's weird.

Jessica said...

Yusa, you'll get used to it soon, and then it won't seem nearly so overwhelming. Just being in a new environment is exhausting, whether it's a new school, college, or even a new job. But it always gets easier. And the upperclassmen will get over themselves soon enough. :)

And yes, I read the Kite Runner this year as part of my "reading the classics" new year resolution, on the encouragement of my brother (an English teacher). You're reading it in 9th grade? There were parts that were pretty intense, though I guess they weren't too graphic (i.e., you knew what was going on, but they left most of the details to your imagination -- unfortunately, I have a very vivid, visual imagination). It was a good read, not too complicated or anything. But it covers periods of war, so it was pretty emotional. Not quite as gut-wrenching as Mockingjay, but up there with Night by Elie Wiesel. (I don't know why Mockingjay seemed worse to me than an actual biography of the Holocaust, but no other book has ever left me so drained emotionally. Maybe that's just me being weird...)

Unknown said...

ok, now i no why ur freaking out, that is harsh. i do no how it feels a little, cuz everyone of the 7th, 8th graders look at u like they hate u, cuz all the 6th graders look like 5th graders, and 7th, 8th, graders look like mini high schoolers. still no reason 2 get a job at mcdonalds! =)
the maps barley help u 2 =P, i was trady on first day, even had 2 ask some kid 4 help, and all they said was, there is a map. really! i have a map and it dosent help at all!!! and i specificly had the map in my hand!!
i hope ur map helps u more then mine did=)

Kylie said...

Read kite runner and loved it! It was such a great read! I had to read it for my AP World History class last year for extra credit and I really enjoyed it! And I read night for English 2X last year and I also liked it! It was very sad, but I enjoyed the view it gave of the war. And mockingjay was upsetting. I am guessing you mean the last in the hunger games series? I hated how that one person died at the end that didn't deserve it. (Sorry didn't want to give it way) but I think you know who I am talking about. It just ruined the book for me. I wish they had survived!

Ky

Gabrielle said...

I hate how the upperclassmen are full of themselves,it's stupid,your just like everyone else! And I'm a little nervous,because I've been homeschooled my whole life,and I'm going into 7th grade,witch is my first year of public school,so it's gonna be kinda weird for me.

Unknown said...

I love how we SK peole say Elvi.
Maybe that's just me, but I think that's so honestly WVD that I crack up every time Elvis comes up in a conversation (which actually happens sometimes; I have weird friends).
I like Elvis number five XD.

Yusa said...

@gabrielle - I homeschooled in 6th grade. How do you stand the isolation. I was os bored i had to go back to school. Good luck!

Gabrielle said...

Thanks Yusa! And that's why I'm going to public school ,because I made no friends being homeschooled.

. said...

Maybe if they cover the book with a book cover to hide the pink. ;) Just a thought.

Yusa said...

I had to beg to go to public shcool in high school because my parents didn't want it. My test session is for the next 3 months...
Eid today for me. Yay! 1 of my 2 holidays for the year.

--Yusa

Unknown said...

I'm actually kinda confused by all the hints that were mentioned in JJ, and then never came up again. Like, Lars and Sasha. And the phone call Sammy got right before Mrs. Wedgewood died. Was that Mrs. Wedgewood, or someone else? All she heard was, "Sah--," right? Somebody could have been trying to say Sasha. Of course, it was probably. Mrs. W, but why didn't she bang on the wall instead of phoning? And what was that hunch that Sammy had about not telling Marissa about the candy money? And why did Elvis tell Sammy who he was? And of course, who's the dad, who's the Nightie Napper, what's up with Billy's dad, what's going on with Marissa's dad,and WHAT happened to Lars and Sasha?!?! I think I'm forgetting some other hidden hints . . . Oh, and I love the cover art. I have nothing against pink, and it looks awesome!

Unknown said...

Oh, right! Will we ever find out what Hudson used to do?

Jessica said...

Corazon, yes, it was Mrs. Wedgewood on the phone -- Sammy heard the thud both through the phone and through the walls. I think she called because it was right there and she could barely move (heck, she could barely speak by that point), let alone bang on the wall.

The candy money secret is open to interpretation. Maybe Sammy was worried Marissa would (inadvertently) pressure her to spend some of it on "must-have" experiences. Or maybe she felt like she needed to keep that motivation locked in her heart; maybe she felt that sharing it might make her less resolved. It's almost like once you tell a story, you can kind of forget about it, but if you keep it only in your head, you think about it more. (Totally my own interpretation. But for whatever reason, Sammy felt like she might waver if she told Marissa -- she knows herself better than anyone else does, so if she thought it was better not to, she was right.)

Lars and Sasha were caught. Presumably, they'll go back to their lives, with more punishment and less freedom.

Elvis... I guess because he was leaving, and he wanted to have one moment of "realness" with someone he was a bit friendly with.

Jessica said...

Wow, just after posting the above, my little brother posted the following quote to Facebook:

"And I know an eighteenth charm, and that charm is the greatest of all, and that charm I can tell to no man, for a secret that no one knows but you is the most powerful secret there can ever be." - Neil Gaiman, American Gods

Much more eloquently put.