Teens@Random

The Buzz

Archives for Jun 2009

• Featured Buzz Blogger: BookReader4

  Jun 30, 2009

  The summer has just begun and our Buzz Blogger team is here in full force to deliver some great reviews and showcase some of their thought-provoking writing. Our next featured Buzz Blogger is your very own Bookreader4. Take a look at how she got started with the world of books, her favorites, and more. We'll be chatting with BookReader4 for the next few weeks so make sure to stop by, say hello, and leave your comments for her! Without further ado, we present BookReader4:
  
  URL of Blog: http://bookreader4.blogspot.com
  
  Name/Location: The Book Reader
  
  How did you first start blogging?: I had already been reviewing for some book publishers & I thought it'd be a good idea to keep my reviews together.  And it looked like fun!
  
  When/how did you discover Random Buzzers?: I found the link to the Random House site on a book and I found the link for Random Buzz almost immediately afterwards. 
  
  Which author/book has been your Random Buzzers favorite so far and why?: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.  I haven't read it yet but I'm VERY excited to read it.  I've heard a lot of book thinkgs and I'm sure I'll love it.
  
  What are your favorite three books of all time? Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
  
  If you could interview one author (dead or living) who would it be? Sharon Creech (She was my favorite author all through elementary and middle school!)
  
  If you could only ask them one question, what would you ask them?: "Can you sign my copy of Chasing Redbird?"
  
  Do you want to become a published author one day? If so, what will the first title of your first book be?: Yes!  I don't know the title yet, but it's going to be amazing!

  by HeadBuzzer | 3 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Blogger Team

• Feeling a Bit Greedy? Snatch Your Copy of Rapacia Today!

  Jun 26, 2009

  Welcome to Rapacia, where the greedy kids go.

  
  Although Random Buzzers isn't a place like Rapacia and we think our members are quite friendly and helpful, we are going to get a tad bit greedy today. For this week's giveaway, we are giving out copies of Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck, and we simply ask you the question, "Why do you think you are most deserving of this ARC?"
  We're all entitled to be our own hype-men and give ourselves a little boost every once in a while and we want you to indulge this Friday! Let us know why you think you are the member who deserves a copy of this ARC the most, and you might find yourself as one of the five winners for this week's list. Are you ready to let the greed consume you today?

  Winners List: Friday June 26, 2009

  Winner	Responses
  JediTears09	Well now, this is an odd approach to a giveaway... I'm probably not the most deserving person, there's a lot of swell people around here. But, I mays well enter on the off-chance the better people don't.
  kiskasnow	I think I deserve this ARC because many bad things have happened to me lately. I have lost one of my closest friends (had a huge fight months ago and we still havent spoken) and recently both my parents got laid off. So I dont have the money to go out and by new books! Thats my story. Short and not sweet
  berriesrbest	I love to read. I'm a good reader that loves to read just about anything. I spend most of my free days reading for many hours a day. I think I'm deserving of it because I love the name and the premise of the book and I really, really want to read it. I can read fast and always need more books to read. I also deserve it because I'm going to be forced to go somewhere with my dad, and he said that he'd really like it if I went, and that I can spend the entire time reading if I want to. I'm going with him and I think I deserve a good book to read while I'm there.
  macymac	Haha, I love this topic. Hmmm, I deserve this book because I've done great in school and it'd be a nice little 'good job' treat. I mean, I got six A+'s and one A. And a GPA of 4.4 Not too shabby I'd say. Plus, my soccer team and I have been doing great in tournaments and we've been playing in older age divisions. It'd be nice to get a little treat for all of my hard work. Plus, next year I'm taking AP Euro and I need to have some fun before that class kills me. haha :)
  Ambear	I love this book and I've not won anything from Random House before even though I participated in everything activities that I could. And I contributed lots of reviews to the website too :)

  by HeadBuzzer | 6 comments |
  Filed under: ARC Friday Giveaway

• Author E. Lockhart Visits this Monday June 29th!

  Jun 25, 2009

  

  This coming Monday June 29th, Random Buzzers will be chatting with author E. Lockhart of The Treasure Map of Boys the third release in the Ruby Oliver books and we're very excited to have her here to talk about a wide variety of fun topics! If you haven't already checked out the Ruby Oliver books, they follow the trials and tribulations of a girl going through the confusion and mystery of understanding boys. The third book starts us off at Ruby's thirty-seventh week of Noboyfriend land and right off the bat we are thrown in her world of mayhem. Beginning with a poem lodged in her locker from one of the boyfriends from The Boyfriend List to an unpleasant conversation with the unavoidable Ariel, Ruby is in for another exciting semester at Tate Prep. To read an exceprt from The Treasure Map of Boys, click HERE.

  
  

  

  Random Buzzers is very excited to have E. Lockhart join us for some fun times and good chats. Please stop by the forums now and ask her any questions you may have about the Ruby Oliver series, life, boyfriends, and more!

  E. Lockhart has written you a special message before her arrival - enjoy!

  Hey there!
  
  I'm psyched to be here on Random Buzzers to answer your questions, read your boyfriend lists, and make our own treasure maps.  You can find me online at www.e-lockhart.com, which includes links to amusing
  

  online quizzes related to the first two Ruby Oliver books and an FAQ. 
  
  
  The Treasure Map of Boys is the third in my series of books about Ruby Oliver. The first is The Boyfriend List and the second is The Boy Book. 
  
  I'm finishing the fourth (and last) right now. It's tentatively called Real Live Boyfriends. 
  
  
  Treasure Map was very fun to write, because I had written three stand-alone novels right before it (Dramarama, How to Be Bad and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks) -- and I had missed Ruby!  Obviously the big issue on the table for her is NOEL. If you remember [spoiler alert!], he asked to kiss her at the end of The Boy Book, but she ran away, thus missing out on serious romantic possibility, but preserving her friendship with Nora. 
  
  
  I wanted to throw Roo together with Noel as much as possible, so I put them in a Chemistry class where they were partners, shoved in a romantic rival (the awful Ariel Olivieri), put Jackson (Ruby's ex) up to no good whatsoever, and put Roo in charge of the school bake sale. The rest of the book just followed from there.
  
  
  There are marshmallow snowmen. There are unfortunate undergarments. There are pygmy goats and romantic notes and sexual politics and some truly disgusting feet. Naturally, Ruby still sees Doctor Z, still has crazy parents, and still footnotes her every thought.
  
  
  Come ask me questions!  There are no stupid ones.
  
  
  --E. Lockhart
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 2 comments |
  Filed under: e. lockhart the treasure map of boys

• Fat Cat by Robin Brande reviewed by GirlwiththeBraids

  Jun 25, 2009

  At the tender age of 8, Catherine Locke realizes that she is overweight. But her best friend, Matt, has always been there for her. When seventh grade arrives and Cat overhears a conversation between Matt and a different classmate, she's changed forever. How could she be friends with someone who thinks of her that way? Four years later, Catherine is still trying to get over Matt. She has a different best friend now! Cat doesn't need Matt anymore. Being a Science 'geek', Catherine decides that her Science experiment will be life-changing. Maybe she can lose a few pounds along the way. After losing a drastic amount of weight, all she needs is a boyfriend. But what if the person she is in love is the one she has been avoiding for four years?
  
  Fat Cat is another weight loss book, the theme that is a little over used nowadays. It's hard for a book like that to seem unique, but with the eye-catching cover and the writing of perfection, I have a feeling this one will make it far in the Reader's World. Catherine is a likable main character (something every book needs) and the challenges she faces aren't all due to being overweight, which I find is a nice twist. To make it more interesting, Cat's logic is completely the opposite of mine so whatever she does or says is surprising for me. I think the author could have done a better job with adding Cat's relationship with her younger brother into the chapters she's with her friends and such but, overall, I enjoyed this book. I am sure others will too!
  
  Contains:
  
  *sensuality
  *inappropriate touching (which is portrayed as wrong)
  *some crude humor

  You can also check out this review and more at Reading to Myself.

  by HeadBuzzer | 2 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Blogger Team

• Random Hour #41: These are a few of my Favorite Things... about Summer

  Jun 24, 2009

  Summer is officially here! In celebration of my favorite time of year, I thought it would be fun if we made a top 10 list of things we love most about summer!

  10. Sunny day

  9. The ice cream truck

  8. Flip-flop

  7. The smell of coconut sun tan lotion

  6. Pool parties and barbeque

  5. July 4th firework

  4. Beautiful tanned skin

  3. Driving with the top down

  2. The beach

  And last but not least...

  1. My birthday!
  What are the 10 things you love about summer? I can’t wait to hear yours!

  by Buzzgirl | 6 comments |
  Filed under: Random Hour

• Summer Has Officially Arrived – Let the Shows Begin!

  Jun 23, 2009

  The summer is officially here and for some of you, school has also officially been let out! How many of you are excited?

  The warm weather is on the rise and there is no sign of the good times stopping now, especially here on Random Buzzers. One of the best things about summer is the chance to kick back, hang out with friends, read more books, and check out some summer concerts! There's nothing like the thrill of going to a good show, and they're even better if you can enjoy one at an outside venue when the weather is nice.

  Are there any summer concert series that you are looking forward to? Have you already pre-ordered your tickets to a show that you just can't wait to go see? Let us know what and if you have any shows lined up among your summer plans!
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 9 comments |
  Filed under: summer plans

• Show Us Your Sass & Win a Copy of 30 Days to Finding & Keeping Sassy Sidekicks ARC!

  Jun 19, 2009

  

  It's finally Friday and we say it's ok to show a little sass and let ‘em know what you've got! For this week's ARC giveaway, we are giving away 5 ARCs of 30 Days to Finding & Keeping Sassy Sidekicks to five sassy members.
  
  Whether or not you've already got some sassy sidekicks or you are the sassy sidekick to one lucky friend, we want to hear what all the sass is about! What makes a fun, confident, and reliable friend? Let us know and you could be one of five lucky winners to win a copy of the ARC. Check back here for winners list.

  
  

  
  

  Winners List: Friday June 19, 2009

  Winner	Responses
  fayeflame	What makes a fun, confident and a reliable friend is someone who is comfortable in their own skin. really funny and down to earth, understanding and there for you when your upset. Someone you can talk to with just about anything, random things, share the same interests like READING BFF RACHEL AND DAISY!!!
  KACPDrummer	A reliable friend is the friend that you can call at all hours of the night and the first thing that come out of their mouth is "Ok what happened and who do I need to hurt?” They are someone who can keep all of your secrets no matter how small they are. They know what needs to be done and when you can just kick lose and have fun. They have sass and class and most, of all they will do almost anything for you.
  chloecullen	The best friends are those that are similar enough to you that you can relate to each other easily, but different enough from you to keep things interesting. If you have slightly different tastes you can enjoy lots of different things and mix things up from time to time, which makes things more fun
  Caprubia	A fun, confident, & reliable friend has these characteristics: fun to talk with, is always there if there is something wrong, you can borrow each others clothes, and be the sibling that the other never had. Your best friend/sidekick will be there each step of the way.
  TechnoPoet	I think the thing that really makes a confident and fun friend, is for them to be trustworthy, and for them to trust you. You need to be able to share just about any secret or story, without fear of being ridiculed. Another good thing is for them to have just a bit of hyperness or insanity, seeing as that usually gives friends a different look on life. A more energetic spirit, and definite confidence. I love all of my friends, and just about all of them have those qualities. They can think of things at a moments notice, and solve problems easily. They're very good to talk to, and always understand. That's what truly makes up friendships, I think. People who really care about each other, almost as if they were sisters!

  by HeadBuzzer | 3 comments |
  Filed under: 30 Days to Finding & Keeping Sassy Sidekicks ARC Friday Giveaway

• Before You Die…

  Jun 18, 2009

  It may not be the easiest thing to think about, but life takes unexpected turns that can force you to face reality and the inevitable that is to come. Near-death experiences can be the biggest eye-openers in life. Whether you have gone through one of these experiences, or someone near and dear to you has, we can all admit that it's extremely scary. Your mind begins to wander and you think about the fragility of life and perhaps, how it can be taken for granted.
  
  Tessa in Before I Die is forced to face her fate and decides to compile a list of things she'd like to feel, experience, and see before she dies. If you were forced to face this fate, what would your list look like? Do you think you could imagine the initial emotions you'd have finding out that you only have a few weeks to live? Make sure to check out our latest activity to share your thoughts and let author Jenny Downham know your thoughts as she visits us here on Random Buzzers through June 29th!

  Many of you have already been buzzing about this with some wonderful responses:

  Fulfillment #4:

  I'd like to fall in love and have my heart broken. ~ Liviania

  Fulfillment #1:

  I want to travel; see Venice and Rome ~ Hallia

  Fulfillment #1:

  I would like to go up in a hot air balloon. ~ Cmeister3
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 3 comments |
  Filed under: Before I Die Jenny Downham

• Death of a Fictional Loved One - A Discussion with GirlwiththeBraids

  Jun 17, 2009

  Death isn't the most pleasant thing to think about. There have been countless times that I've cried because my pet died, or a relative passed away. But do you want to read about that in a book too?
  
  Some people say that they read because they want to get away, live a different life as a different person. When they read, they become attached to the characters. (Really. Who can let go of Edward?) What if one of your favorite characters dies? Maybe you curl up in a ball and cry until you let it all out. Maybe you think it's a good twist or a fitting ending for the book or series. Sometimes, it's even bittersweet. What happens then? Did you give up the Harry Potter books after Sirius Black died?
  
  Many judge a book by its cover (which I admit, I still do), but many more judge books by their endings. Which side are you on? When your favorite character dies, what do you do?
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 12 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Blogger Team

• Random Hour #40: The Unique and Special You!

  Jun 17, 2009

  When I was in sixth grade I desperately wanted blonde straight hair like my best friend Jessica.  I would spend hours under the blow dryer trying to straighten my curly brown locks, while Jessica merely stepped out of the shower looking perfect.  I begged my mom for highlights but she claimed my hair was beautiful the way it was. “You’ll appreciate your hair some day,” she would say.

  Last week’s Random Hour Post about 15 Random Things got me thinking about people, and the things that make us unique. On our quest to fit in we sometimes follow what our friends are doing, saying, or wearing. As we grow up, do we later realize that our differences are what defines us and makes us special? That gap between your teeth or nose that once seemed way too big becomes the thing we love most.

  My mom was right; I have grown to love my hair. The truth is, the grass is always going to look greener on the other side; there are always going to be those times when we want what someone else has, but the key is embracing what we have and learning to love ourselves, flaws and all.  After all, life would be pretty boring if we were all carbon copies of each other.

  What about you? What is something that makes you unique?
  
  

  by Buzzgirl | 9 comments |
  Filed under: Random Hour