HOLIDAY BASKET OF CHEER CONTEST
Chase away the winter blues with Teenreads.com's Third Annual Holiday Basket of Cheer feature and contest! From November 14th through December 10th, you can enter to win a "Basket of Holiday Reading and Fun."

Five winners each will receive a basket that includes 8 books --- AIRHEAD by Meg Cabot, KENDRA by Coe Booth, LOVE IS HELL by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin and Laurie Faria Stolarz, THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen, MELTING STONES by Tamora Pierce, ONE MILLION THINGS: A Visual Encyclopedia by DK Publishing, THE POSSIBILITES OF SAINTHOOD by Donna Freitas and RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE by Shannon and Dean Hale.

Along with the books, winners will find their basket stocked with the hottest holiday goodies --- a kit to make a mini gingerbread village, Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate mix, red and white fur-trimmed tall socks, a snowman mug, a snow globe that lights up and plays 11 songs, candy cane taffy, snowman tissues, cute red gloves, photo-frame gift cards and a cinnamon holly-scented Illuminations candle.

» Click here for all the contest details.

WHAT TO GIVE, WHAT TO GET
Sometimes deciding what to get is as hard as deciding what to give. So we've created a special What to Give, What to Get Guide --- a list of books just for teens that will give you tons of gift-giving ideas (and maybe a few to put on YOUR list). Happy Holidays! » Click Here.

Nominate Your Favorite Books of 2008 for the Children's Book Council's Teen Choice Book Award!
In association with the Children’s Book Council (CBC), Teenreads.com is giving you a very special opportunity to let your voices be heard by telling us your five favorite books of 2008. The five titles that receive the most “votes” will serve as the finalists for the CBC’s 2009 Teen Choice Book Award. Later we will tell you where you can go vote for them once the five finalists have been announced. The winner will be announced in May 2009.

» Click here for all the details.

G. P. Taylor
G. P. Taylor, bestselling author of SHADOWMANCER and WORMWOOD, recently published THE FIRST ESCAPE, book one of The Dopple Ganger Chronicles. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Michele Howe, Taylor discusses what inspired him to create the book in a new format called the "illustra-novella" --- a combination of graphic novels and illustrated plain text --- and explains the real-life influences behind the main characters. He also describes where he sees the series going in future installments and shares what he hopes young readers will take away from his work.

THE FIRST ESCAPE: The Dopple Ganger Chronicles, Book One by G. P. Taylor (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
From the bestselling author of SHADOWMANCER comes an enthralling new series of illustra-novellas.

THE FIRST ESCAPE is the first book in the Dopple Ganger Chronicles, a six-book series following three children --- Sadie and Saskia Dopple and Erik Morrissey Ganger. Sadie and Saskia are mischievous identical twins living at an orphanage, where Erik is their only friend. They are separated when Saskia is adopted by Muzz Elliott, a wealthy woman searching for her long-lost family treasure. While Saskia stumbles into the center of a crime only she can stop, Sadie and Erik embark on a quest to find her.

» Click here to read a review of THE FIRST ESCAPE.
» Click here to look inside THE FIRST ESCAPE.
» Click here here to read our interview with G. P. Taylor.
» Visit the official website of the series, www.dopplegangerchronicles.com.

November 7th marked the release of the highly anticipated The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. This incredibly moving (and, let's face it, insanely depressing) adaptation of John Boyne's award-winning novel about the Holocaust is told from the innocent eyes of a Nazi officer's young son and promises to meet the high standards setby the soon-to-be classic book. Keep the tissues handy, though --- the surprise ending will leave you sobbing long after you leave the theater.

One of our goals each month is to inspire you to read --- and to keep reading. We have found that required reading lists for school --- especially summer reading lists --- are not exactly inspiring. Thus we have created what we think is the Ultimate Teen Reading List --- more than 300 titles that we believe are perfect choices for reading and discussing. Our dream is that schools will use this list to help them make their own for summer reading or, even better, suggest that students just read what they want from this list.

November and December’s roundup of Cool New Books includes PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY, a thrilling tale of love, loyalty and illusion from the bestselling author of the Kiesha’ra series, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes; LOVE IS HELL, a collection of supernatural stories courtesy of Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin and Laurie Faria Stolarz; LILY DALE: CONNECTING, the third installment in Wendy Corsi Staub’s paranormal suspense series, in which Calla finally uncovers the mystery behind her mother’s death; HERE LIES ARTHUR, Philip Reeve’s retelling of the legend of King Arthur, who is portrayed as the leader of a ragtag war band; DEATH’S SHADOW, book seven in The Demonata horror series by Cirque du Freak author Darren Shan; and DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, a story of paranormal romance from Laurie Faria Stolarz that revolves around a fairly ordinary 16-year-old protagonist whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious new guy starts junior year at her high school. » Click here

November and December’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X, James Patterson's sci-fi adventure about a boy who uses his unique gifts to hunt down the killer who brutally murdered his parents; WYVERNHAIL, the fifth and final installment in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s The Kiesha’ra series, in which readers find out what happens after Princess Oliza abdicates the throne of Wyvern’s Court; UNBELIEVABLE, book four in Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars series that marks a return to the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania; COVER-UP, a John Feinstein mystery that finds Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson sitting on the biggest sports scandal of the decade; RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Gail Giles, a psychologically complex novel in which a boy learns that sometimes your own past can be the scariest thing of all; and THE NIGHT MY SISTER WENT MISSING, a suspenseful mystery from Carol Plum-Ucci involving a summer night, a group of teens --- and a loaded gun. » Click here

CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson (Historical Fiction)
Freedom and loyalty are commonly discussed in histories of the American Revolution. In CHAINS, a finalist for this year’s National Book Award, Laurie Halse Anderson examines the very different implications of these notions for one often-overlooked group: slaves. Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.

GOSSIP GIRL, THE CARLYLES #2: YOU JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH created by Cecily von Ziegesar (Fiction)
Blair, Serena, Nate and Dan may be confined to their television show, but the Upper East Side still exists in novels --- and now it's ruled by the Carlyle triplets, the newest students at Constance Billard and St. Jude's. This second Carlyle adventure is chock-full of spite, status and dating. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

REVELATIONS: A Blue Bloods Novel, by Melissa de la Cruz (Fantasy/Horror)
The Blue Bloods are dealing with darker forces in this third volume of Melissa de la Cruz’s series. Most have completed their change into vampires, but they continue to train to hone their skills with The Committee. Some are even preparing for their Bonding. Still, the danger of the Silver Bloods lurks, and plenty of secrets are uncovered in REVELATIONS. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

GRACELING by Kristin Cashore (Fantasy)
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight --- she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. Her uncle, King Randa of the Middluns, sees her as nothing more than a weapon with which to threaten and torture those who oppose him. Into Katsa’s life comes another Graceling, Prince Po, who challenges Katsa to dig deep and discover her own heart. Reviewed by Usha Reynolds.

WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell (Fiction)
It’s 1947 and World War II has ended. Fifteen-year old Evie Spooner is just an average girl from Queens, New York, until everything changes on a family trip to Palm Beach, Florida. Written like a film noir, WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED --- the winner of this year’s National Book Award in the Young People's Literature category --- is a coming-of-age novel set against a backdrop of mystery, lies and shattering reality. Reviewed by Kristi Olson.

THE SMILE by Donna Jo Napoli (Historical Fiction)
In the 1490s, the women of Florence don’t have much say in their lives. Most likely, Elisabetta’s father will arrange a suitable marriage for her when she turns 15. However, an acquaintance of the family, a famous painter named Leonardo da Vinci, introduces Elisabetta to a young man who instantly steals her heart --- and calls her Mona Lisa. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

CREEPERS by Joanne Dahme (Horror/Suspense)
From moving to a new house to making new friends and preparing for high school, life for the new girl in town can be unsettling. But Courtney is unprepared for how creepy life in Murmur, Massachusetts turns out to be. She finds herself thrust into a full-fledged haunted adventure after meeting Christian and Margaret Geyer, a strange father and daughter with unfinished family business. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman and excerpted.

THE INDIGO KING: The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, Book Three by James A. Owen (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
On a September evening in 1931, John and Jack, two of the Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica, discover a cryptic warning on a medieval manuscript --- which is not only addressed to them but seems to have been written by their friend, Hugo Dyson. But before they can discover the origin of the strange book, Hugo walks through a door in time and vanishes into the past. And in that moment, the world begins to change. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

THE GATE OF DAYS: The Book of Time II, by Guillaume Prevost (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
In the first installment of The Book of Time trilogy, 14-year-old Sam Faulkner began his quest to find his missing father. In Book II, THE GATE OF DAYS, Sam’s 12-year-old cousin Lily joins him in his time travels to rescue his father from the dungeon of Dracula’s castle. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

DEAR JULIA by Amy Bronwen Zemser (Fiction)
Elaine Hamilton is a master cook of French cuisine, but she is also shy and self-deprecating. Then Lucida Sans (self-named after a computer font) enters her life. Lucida's goal is to be famous at something. Elaine and Lucida are unlikely friends who impact each other's lives in startling ways, propelling this charming tale. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

DIARY OF A CHAV by Grace Dent (Fiction)
Shiraz Bailey Wood is a chav --- or so others say. A chav is a "British insult for white working-class people fixated on street fashions derived from American hip-hop such as imitation gold and fake designer clothing." So, not surprisingly, she loves to wear hoodies, go shopping and text her friends. Shiraz also likes to write in her diary, where she can be as loud-mouthed as she wants without getting into trouble. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

FREEFALL by Anna Levine (Fiction)
Aggie is about to enter her mandatory two-year enlistment with the army, like every other Israeli citizen. Enlistees are able to choose what section of the military they’d like to try for, but Aggie is undecided. She does know for certain that she doesn’t want to be stuck behind a desk for two years. Does she dare make an attempt for a combat unit? Aggie digs deep for the courage to face her future. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

Welcome to Teenreads.com's Japanese manga section! Japanese manga, or Japanese print comics, are fast becoming the most popular comics for teens. Full of wacky humor, intense action, blossoming romance and true observations on everyday life, manga covers every kind of genre and taste. Manga tells their stories in their own unique combination of text, images and symbols (half the fun is figuring it all out). Aside from the stereotypical giant robots and cute schoolgirls, you'll find everyone from stealth government agents to spacy classical musicians to historical legends brought to life in these titles.

The reviews we're posting are courtesy of the graphic novel review website for teens No Flying No Tights. We update this feature every month with new manga reviews, so be sure to check back to see what's new!

BOUND BEAUTY, Volume 1 by Mick Takeuchi
Chiyako can see the mythical connection known as the red string of fate, the invisible thread that ties each person to the one they're destined to love. When she is told by a stranger that she had better stop using her vision or pay the price, she is not about to back down. Reviewed by Robin Brenner.

MUHYO & ROJI’S BUREAU OF SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATION, Volumes 1 and 2 by Yoshiyuki Nishi
Muhyo is an Executor, the highest ranking practitioner of paranormal law, and the youngest one at that. Roji is his assistant, a mere second clerk, who helps run their business. Together the two can help anyone out with their supernatural problems --- from a girl who is killing people on a subway platform to a haunted piece of furniture. Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith.

TWO FLOWERS FOR THE DRAGON, Volumes 1 and 2 by Nari Kusakawa
Shakuya is next in line to rule her desert country, she is the descendent of a dragon and tends to turn into one when she gets riled, and her long-lost fiancé has just returned from the dead. The fiancé part wouldn't be so bad, except that when he disappeared, she got another fiancé. Now she has two. Reviewed by Eva Volin.

THE LONGEST TRIP HOME: A Memoir, by John Grogan (Memoir)
Long before Marley entered John Grogan's life, the Catholic Church was the center of his parents' lives. They expected the same from him. But when John realizes he's a skeptic, this knowledge tears a rift in the family. That chasm adds thought-provoking layers to this poignant love letter to his mom and dad, detailing the author's often hilarious upbringing, the sorrow he feels as his parents decline, and his love for them. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon and excerpted.

GRACE by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
Fourteen-year-old Eric Welch, with some help from his younger brother, hides a runaway girl named Grace in the clubhouse in their backyard for two months. In due time Grace’s secret is revealed, and Eric grows up all too quickly while trying to protect her. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

SONGS FOR THE MISSING by Stewart O'Nan (Fiction)
It was the summer of her Chevette, of J.P. and letting her hair grow. It was also the summer when, without warning, popular high school student Kim Larsen disappeared from her small midwestern town. Her loving parents, her introverted sister, her friends and boyfriend must now do everything they can to find her. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

Holly Black
After publishing several popular children's and young adult titles such as The Spiderwick Chronicles, TITHE, VALIANT and IRONSIDE, Holly Black tries her hand at graphic novels with KIN, the opening book in her trilogy The Good Neighbors. In this interview, Black discusses what prompted this change in genre and highlights the major similarities and differences between writing prose and comics. She also recalls the historical event that inspired the plot of this first installment, describes the step-by-step process of collaborating with artist Ted Naifeh, and explains how seeing his visual representations ultimately influenced the direction of the story.

» Read the interview and the review.

Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins, author of the children's series The Underland Chronicles, recently published a novel for young adults called THE HUNGER GAMES. In this interview, Collins discusses the various sources --- ranging from Greek mythology to reality television --- that inspired the plot of this futuristic sci-fi tale and explains how her father's stories from her childhood helped her with elements of the story's plot, themes and characters. She also reveals how she tastefully handled the book's violent scenes, shares her thoughts on writing for different age groups and lists some of her favorite books she read as a teenager.

» Read the interview and the review.

Thinking about starting a Book Club? Trying to find new ideas for your Club? Wondering what the heck a Book Club is? Never fear, Teenreads has all the answers to your Book Club questions, and some guides to help you lead a good discussion with your friends. Book Clubs are easy to start and lot of fun, so if you love books, this is for you!

» Click here for more

• October: Twilight, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist are just a few of the movies based on books that are out in theaters this season. Name up to three of your favorite books that you would like to see turned into movies and who you might want to see cast in the main roles.
  
  
• September: Works by J.K. Rowling, William Shakespeare, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury and J. D. Salinger are among the many challenged or banned books in the U.S. Name up to three of your favorite books that are considered "controversial" by others.
  
  
• August: If you could organize a "midnight madness" event for any book that either already has been published or has yet to be released, which would you choose? What kind of activities would you plan for it?
  
  
• Click here for more past questions of the month.
  
  

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