Win a signed copy of HUSH HUSH!

Win a signed copy of HUSH HUSH!

Win a copy of HUSH HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick at book reviews by Jess!

http://bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com/2009/10/contest-hush-hush-by-becca-fitzpatrick.html

Jess has a great review site and she's always got new and exciting (and easy to enter) contests going on! Check her out even if you don't want to enter this one!

-L.J.

Nathan's Great First Paragraph Contest

The uber-agent Nathan Bransford from the uber-agency Curtis Brown is having a first paragraph contest and he already has close to 2000 entries so join in the fun. The deadline is Thursday at 4p so read the rules on his blog and get to posting!! Just follow this link and good luck!

Attention Educators! Say NO to book banning!

It is Banned Books Week folks, and Author Laurie Halse Anderson (WINTERGIRLS, TWISTED, SPEAK, and many more) needs your help! If nothing else, SPREAD THE WORD and support your freedom to read!

From the author:

TWISTED still under threat in KY - you can help

The English teacher in KY who has been dealing with the challenges to several books, including TWISTED, has to jump through new hoops before the books will be allowed back in the classroom.

Three of the books: TWISTED, LESSONS OF A DEAD GIRL, and RAPTURE OF CANAAN have again been banned by the superintendent. According to the teacher, he does not feel they are appropriate for college level work, i.e. they do not belong as literature circle selections in an AP English course.

The teacher writes: "The superintendent wants to know that other schools are using these books in the classrooms, not in their libraries. If you all know of ANY schools where any of the listed books are being used, or if you have any evidence that they are "college level" and prepare students for college, PLEASE send it ...."

Here is my plea.

If you use any of these three books in your classroom, please email us.

If you can provide your rationale for any of these three books, please email us.

If you are a college professor and you have knowledge of the teaching of these books, please email us.

If you are or were a student who was taught any of these three books please email us.

Send all your information and comments to my assistant, Queen Louise. Her email is queenlouise AT writerlady DOT com . We'll forward everything to the district in questions.

Thanks so much for all your help with this, my friends.