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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOLO WEAVER SWIMS UPSTREAM by Polly Farquhar Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: LOLO WEAVER SWIMS UPSTREAM

Author: Polly Farquhar

Pub. Date: April 25, 2023

Publisher: Holiday House

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/LOLO-WEAVER-SWIMS-UPSTREAM

“Not since Ramona Quimby has a
character marched right out of a book with so much bravado, humor, and
heart.”–Barbara O’Connor, New York Times bestselling author of Wish

A headstrong girl’s quest to steal back her family’s dog goes awry in this
humorous and compassionate novel.

Lolo is stuck in summer school with a teacher who is out to get her while her
family is still reeling from her grandfather’s death. Even his dog is mourning,
howling outside all night and every night. Finally, lovable old Hank is sent to
a farm across the lake that takes foster dogs.

And it’s all Lolo’s fault.

Lolo knows she has to get Hank back. In a tippy canoe, Lolo crosses the
almost-dried-out lake to steal her dog back. But she runs into Noah, a student
in her summer school class and Hank’s new owner—and he loves Hank as much as
she does.

As Lolo’s plan unravels and her uneasy alliance with Noah grows into a
friendship, the question of what’s best for Hank becomes muddier. Can Lolo
manage to do the right thing—for once?

Itch author Polly Farquhar returns to Ohio with a tale of a
big-hearted girl searching for answers to tough questions in all the wrong
places. Fans of Gary Schmidt will love Farquhar’s blend of honesty, humor, and
heart.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Excerpt:

Lolo Weaver Swims Upstream

By Polly Farquhar

Excerpt for Rockstar Book Tours

Excerpt from Lolo Weaver Swims Upstream / Text copyright © 2023 by Polly Farquhar. Reproduced with permission from Holiday House Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

My name is Lolo Weaver. It’s a nickname. Lolo. The summer school teacher would only call me Willow, which is my official name and the one that gets printed up on the class lists, but when she was going around the room and my friend Eddie, whose given name is Eduardo, said, “Call me Eddie,” she made a note in her grade book and always called him Eddie, even when she scolded him. When she got to me, the very last kid on the list, she called out, “Willow Weaver,” and I said, “It’s Lolo,” and she said, “What kind of name is that?”

Every kid looked at me. Most of the kids were ones I’d known my whole life, and a few were from another school in the district, across the lake. The kids I’d known my whole life didn’t know Lolo was a strange name. I didn’t, either.

The teacher said, “That’s like calling you Low-Low with a W.” She lowered her voice when she said it. Low-Low. “It’s a name with low expectations.”

The teacher’s name was Mrs. Cryer, and I thought maybe her name was exactly right since she’d make all her students cry because she was so mean. Not tough, but mean, because there’s a difference. But I wasn’t brave or stupid enough to say that, though I always wished I had. I might as well have, because I was going to get into other kinds of trouble that summer, anyway.

Because it was summer, the building was mostly empty and mostly quiet, but it still smelled like a school—like glue and pizza, and canned peas and dirty feet. The only difference was the hot summer sunshine that shone in, even when the blinds were closed, and how a person can’t just sit inside a classroom without knowing that everyone else was on summer vacation. We were all there because we were the only ones who hadn’t passed the state test.

At least the lake was closed, and at least that wasn’t my fault.

About Polly Farquhar:

Polly Farquhar is the author of Itch. She earned her MFA in Creative
Writing from Ohio State University, and her short stories for grown-ups have
been published in literary magazines. She is also the recipient of multiple
Individual Artist Grants from the Ohio Arts Council. She resides with her
husband and daughters in the Columbus, Ohio area. Originally from upstate New
York, her favorite place to canoe is the Adirondacks.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads
| Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of  LOLO WEAVER SWIMS UPSTREAM, US Only.

Ends June 13^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 comments

Hi YABC Community!

YABC is under construction!  Sorry you missed us the week of 8/30/21 but we will soon be back better than ever!

Did you know that YABooksCentral started in 1998? It was the first kidlit-focused review site of its kind! In the 23 years since its founding, it has changed locations twice and has been rebuilt from the ground up once. Through those changes, we’ve remained true to our mission of keeping our readers up-to-date on new releases, cover reveals, interviews with authors, and giveaways of titles that just might become your next favorite book. 

Now, it’s time for YABC to be remodeled once again. We’re super excited about the new site that’s under construction and will be unveiling it (along with a really awesome giveaway!) soon. Keep watch here, and we’ll update you as soon as our brand new site is ready for visitors!  While you hear construciton hammers in the back you may see gaps or glitches on the current website location.

In the meantime, we’re still hosting cover reveals, interviews, reviews, giveaways and more on our social media platforms! Be sure to follow us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yabookscentral/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YABooksCentral

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yabookscentral

Comments closed

Hello YABCers. Happy March! I have some bad news and some good news for you. 

The Good News: I am now a published author! My debut The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare releases this week on March 4th from Strange Chemistry. Woo hoo! 

The Bad News: Now that I have a book out, that means I have deadlines and Book 2 drafting and promo responsibilites and guest posts to write and and and and and…. There’s so much to do that I can’t seem to find time to film my monthly YABC Mailbox videos. *sad face* 

I have truly enjoyed chair dancing and being truly gooftastic for you all over the past three years. These videos have been a highlight of mine, and I will really miss doing them.

However, this doesn’t mean I won’t be sharing the YABC Mailbox with you each month. I’ll just be doing it in a different (less time-consuming) format.

I’ll be showcasing the new titles we received for review right here on the blog! And don’t worry, I will still offer a giveaway at the end as well. So you’ll still have a chance to get your hands on a book from the Prize Shelf.

Ready to see what Santa brought us the past few weeks? 

Let’s get to the books!

You’ll be happy to know I didn’t get one paper cut while opening these happy packages.

That’s a first for me!

Lookie at my book up there on the top right of the last pic! This is a dream come true, folks. Always wanted to add my own book to the YABCmailbox haul. *flails*

Which books are you most excited about? Fill out the rafflecopter form below and leave your picks in the comments. I’ll pick one of you to choose a book from the current Prize Shelf. 

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

23 comments

What do readers want to see from authors on their blogs and social media feeds? 

That’s the question I posed to YABC’s Twitter audience this past week. They gave some great answers, which I’ll post below. Overall, I saw a trend for the same five topics over and over. 

Here they are, in order of most-suggested by our readers:
 

Personal Tidbits 

If a reader enjoys an author’s work, chances are they have things in common with the author, or share the same tastes. Readers told us they like it when authors post about music, books, films, and TV shows they are currently enjoying. Got a photo of your cat? Post it! Authors who share bits of their personal lives with their readers appear more real and accessible. Readers who enjoy feeling connected to their favorite authors will appreciate the personal touches. They love to peek inside the life of an author. Tell readers a story!

Behind the Scenes 

Those deleted scenes scattered on the edit room floor? The playlist or song most listened to while writing? The main character’s favorite book or film or band? Photos and art that inspired certain scenes or characters? (Pinterest boards are great for compiling these for easy access.) Novellas, short stories, prequels from secondary characters? Alternate ending? Photos of the book cover design process? Slap it up there for all to see!

Industry Tips 
Especially if you have a lot of aspiring writers as your audience 

Why do you write? What was the editing process like for you? How did your story grow from a fledgling idea to landing on a bookshelf? Do you use beta readers or critique partners? How important are they? What are your thoughts on getting an agent? The submission process? Writing prompts? Any insider info you feel comfortable sharing, share it! Aspiring writers like to feel like they’re not alone and that everyone has to start somewhere. 

Giveaway Opportunities

This one is probably a no-brainer, but readers want to hear about the contests and giveaways authors have running. Readers love it when authors give back. And they don’t have to win much. A bookmark is an awesome prize! Authors don’t have to break the bank to make readers feel appreciated. (Bonus tip: Respond to @ replies! And always say thank you! Simple gestures like these that take a fraction of a minute can make a reader’s day and forge a fan for life.)

News and Updates

Another no brainer. Appearances, release dates, events, conferences, book signings, new book deals, and any other announcement pertaining to the author’s work. These items should be easily accessible on an author’s website. Maybe a list of upcoming events and important dates on a sidebar?

Just remember: don’t pepper your social media outlets with too many promotional announcements. Many of our readers expressed a strong dislike of promo tweets/facebook statuses. A few are OK, but they all agreed that social media should be for cultivating personal connections, first and foremost. 

So what’s the take away? 

What I see here (and I hope you do, too) is a lovely mixture of the personal, the artistic, and the business side of things. Authors who are too heavy on one topic will cause reader burnout. A balance between all five hits the magic sweet spot and feels new and refreshing from week to week. 

Also? Notice how the promotional posts and giveaway posts are at the bottom of the list. The other topics were far more popular. It could be that these are the no-brainers of the bunch, so our readers didn’t think to suggest them, but it’s interesting to note that the personal posts and the behind-the-scenes extras were at the top. So it definitely doesn’t hurt to add these to any author’s repertoire. 

One final tip: Don’t force it. If an author doesn’t enjoy posting about a certain topic, it will show. It’s best to leave it out instead of forcing that sweet spot balance. Social media and blogging should be enjoyable. If it feels too much like work, or it’s taking too much time away from writing the next great novel, then scale back. A tiny bit of quality work is better than a whole load of crap. 

(Words to live by.) 

What do you think? Did we miss anything? Have anything to add? Let us know in the comments!

As a thank you for your comments, which are heartily appreciated, commenters will be entered for a chance to pick a book from the YABC Prize Shelf! I’ll choose a winner August 1st. 

13 comments

Here are the top five reasons why I plunked my money down for HOUSE OF SECRETS by Ned Vizzini and Chris Columbus (in no particular order):

1) It’s Chris Columbus for goodness sake. How could my Goonie-lovin’ heart say no?

2) It’s Ned Vizzini for goodness sake. A powerhouse of YA lit, he’s one of our faves over here at YABC. And now he’s delved into the world of middle grade? *grabby hands*

3) The blurb from J. K. Rowling: “A breakneck, jam-packed roller coaster of an adventure about the secret power of books, House of Secrets comes complete with three resourceful sibling heroes, a seriously creepy villainess, and barrel loads of fantasy and fear.”

4) The main characters, three siblings, get sucked into a creepy author’s stories — stories that come to life! Um… yes, please?

5) Look at the cover. Just look at it. Look at that creepy house. It begs to be explored. 

While I wait, rather anxiously, for this to arrive at my doorstep, enjoy the trailer and order a copy of your own now! Then, yanno, we can chat about it. 🙂

5 comments

If you’ve been wondering what YABooksCentral.com is all about or you’re new to the community, you’ve come to the right place. I hope to answer all your immediate questions in as few characters as possible. (Although there might be gifs, because that’s just the sort of folks we are.)

What is YABC?

YABC is the only social network devoted to the young adult reading audience. That means that if you love YA books, then this is the community for you. We also discuss adult crossover books that are relevant to the young adult audience, as well as middle grade books all the way down to picture books. There’s even a new section to review film adaptations based on books. Basically, we’re a community of book lovers: from readers to authors, teachers to students, librarians to book bloggers. 

Oh yeah, and it’s free to join. 

What is the “young adult reading audience?”

Young adult literature isn’t “just for teens.” The YA reading audience spans all ages, and everyone is welcome and encouraged to post reviews on YABC. This site is for books lovers; there is no age limit!

What do I do here? 

– Share your reviews! Write new ones or copy/paste reviews from your archive. You’ll automatically be entered to win a Bag O’ Books!

– Add books to our database

– Comment on other reviews or thumb them up as helpful

– Start discussion groups with fellow readers in the Community

– Enter our montly book giveaways (new ones posted every month!)

– Add books to your favorites list by clicking the red pennant at the top of the book’s profile page:  

– Easily and quickly buy books through Amazon or Indiebound widgets on any book’s profile page

– Click on any genre tag on a book’s profile page to find similar titles:

– Find other books that have similar elements by scrolling down the the “similar section” on any book’s profile page:

How is YABC different from the other social networks centered around books?

1) We’re 100% volunteer run by a handful of authors, readers, teachers, parents and librarians. YABC is not a profit-focused corporation. We’re just a group of passionate folks who do this solely for the love of reading and spreading the love of books. I know that sounds sappy, but it’s true! We’re happy getting “paid” in galleys from publishers because free books = feeding our reading addiction. We all have regular day jobs to pay the real life bills. 

2) All advertising revenue goes straight into making YABC better for our members. We are continually improving the site, adding new features, and providing you with awesome giveaways and author exclusives. The rest of the revenue goes toward our hosting costs and keeping those pesky server zombies at bay. YABC has been around since 1998, so we get a lot of traffic! Keeping the site running smoothly under such traffic numbers requires a rock-solid, custom server, which is pretty expensive.

Being volunteer run also means that new features are added only when we have the resources. Sometimes we wish we had deep pockets, mostly so we could hire programmers to bring you better features more than once per year, but right now we’re small and intimate, and we kind of like it that way.

3) No data mining! While we realize selling back-door user data to publishers and retailers could be a lucrative business for us (like your physcial location, which book profile pages you frequent, which genres and keywords you’re looking for), we don’t like having our personal data mined, so why would we do it to you? We don’t share your behind-the-scenes info to anyone, that most certainly includes your email address. YABC is a kid-friendly site and we think exploiting kids in that manner is wrong. The only things made public on this site are the things you decide to make public (the name you use, your reviews, your comments, your favorites list, etc.). 

4) No trolling or author bashing! While we know bashing a book is cathartic for some, it’s not allowed on YABC. Our motto is that every book is someone’s favorite book. We’re here to gush about our favorites, not bash something that wasn’t our particular taste. There are other sites for that. We promote the love of reading and authors here. Plain and simple!

That doesn’t mean that you can’t write a negative review. All we ask is that your review is helpful, well thought out, and adds something of value to the reading community. If you would like to rant about a book, I’m available for coffee. 🙂

What are the rules? 

– No swearing or vulgar language, please. YABC is accessed by classrooms and libraries all across the world. If we allowed swearing, then schools and libraries would block our site, and that wouldn’t help spread the love of reading very much, would it?

– No flaming reviews that attack authors, other reviewers, or give away too many spoilers. If this rule is violated, we’ll ask you to edit your review first, but if edits are not made in a timely manner, your review may be deleted at our discretion. Sorry! When we say we love authors and our community members, we kinda mean it. 

That’s it!

The bottom line: books make us happy, and YABC is our happy place. We hope it can be yours too. 

Got questions? Leave a comment or email Mandy at [email protected]. 

1 comment

There are several official Editors (staff reviewers or Review Ninjas, if you will) at Young Adult Books Central, and they all have their own taste in books. While one might give a certain book 5 stars, another might only give it 3. We like that kind of diversity here, because we know every reader is different. Every reader’s opinion is valid.

But we also know it’s helpful to read reviews by those who share your same interests, especially when you’re looking for recommendations.

So which YABC Editor has your taste in books? Find out in this new blog series, Meet Our Editors! Each month, I’ll be spotlighting one of our editors. When you find one that shares your same taste in books, movies, TV, even food, then make sure to check out the books that editor has reviewed favorably.  

See how it works? Great! 

~~~~~

First up, I did a Fast Faves interview with Kim Baccellia, who has been with YABC the longest. 

Second was a Fast Faves interview with our newest editor, Christina Franke. 

Then we did a Fast Faves interview with CJ Redwine.  

Here is the Fast Fave with Megan Kelly. 

~~~~~

This month’s Editor is Jason Gallaher, our new YABC Intern. Actually, Jason is our first intern ever, and I couldn’t be more pleased that he’s around. He’s an amazing and enthusiastic writer and reviewer, and I’m always impressed with his proofreading skills. I don’t think I’ve caught a single typo in his reviews yet. That alone makes me want to bake him a truckload of cookies. He has a natural gift for easily explaining what worked for him in any given book, and I think YABCers are going to love his take on middle grade and “boy” books. I’ve already added a ton of his recommendations to my TBR pile. And I’m secretly devising a way to keep him working for YABC indefinitely. *maniacal laughter*

Tell us a little about yourself, Jason.

I started reading to outsmart Maggie Yates in kindergarten. She was certain she could read faster than I could, and I was not about to be shown up by this smarty pants. For the record, Maggie won, but I haven’t put a book down since! I now plan to turn my book nerdiness into a career, hopefully as a children’s book agent or publisher. I can’t think of a sweeter life!

Which types of books are your favorites to read/review? 

I love reading Middle Grade books in the fantasy/sci-fi genres. I love how these books get young readers’ imaginations rocking, and how a developed fantasy MG world can provide such a whimsical and healthy escape. On the opposite end of that spectrum, I love literary works with a male protagonist. I think so many boys today are challenged by gender stereotypes to not express their feelings, and reading literary works are such a great way for teenage boys to get in touch with their emotions in a more private way.

Which types of books do you hate to read?

I’m such a book nerd, it’s hard to pick a genre I hate. I just love the act of reading! I don’t hate the genre, but I’d say my least favorite genre is graphic novels that focus on contemporary life. I feel the art of a graphic novel is intended to express the action, fantasy, and spectacle of extraordinary events, so to just have a graphic novel set in a high school or in everyday life seems kind of dull. 

What do you think about writing negative reviews?

Just say no. It goes back to that age old cliche, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” You don’t want to be known as a grumpy guss mean reviewer. If you don’t like a book, just don’t write anything about it. I think an absence of reviews in the media can signify to readers that maybe people aren’t jazzed about a particular book.

I think readers relate way more to reviews from other people just like them as opposed to the book reviewer of a major newspaper or publication. Book tastes are so subjective, and it’s much easier to find others with your similar taste online than it is in a newspaper. I love geeking out with other online reviewers who have the same tastes as me. Anytime I find somebody who has a love for “Animorphs,” I go ballistic!

Now it’s time for Fast Faves with Jason! 

Most loved – “Mean Girls”

Most hated – “Saw 2” – There was just so much blood!

Haven’t seen, but probably should – “Casablanca”

Can recite by heart – “Mean Girls” and “The Little Mermaid”

Wish more people had seen it – “Anonymous” directed by Roland Emmerich. It’s a brilliant story that suggests William Shakespeare was not the author of any of his stuff!

~ Books From Childhood ~

Most loved – Every single “Animorphs” book ever!

Most hated – “American Girl” books. I just couldn’t relate.

Haven’t read, but probably should – “Big Nate” books. They’re such a big MG craze right now. I need to catch up!

Can remember where you were when you first read it – “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” My favorite, favorite, favorite book of all time!

Wish more people had read it – Anything by Linda Sue Park. I have such a historical fiction crush on her. She teaches about such important moments in history that are barely taught in school. For example, I had no idea that Japan occupied Korea until I read Park’s “When My Name Was Keoko.”

~ Foods ~

Most loved – Steak. I’m a red meat kinda guy.

Most hated – Uni – I don’t understand why I should be eating sea urchin.

Haven’t eaten, but probably should – Fried butter. I don’t know how it fries without melting, but I’m in!

Would eat anytime, anywhere – Again, steak. I like it rare, so I pretty much could eat it anywhere!

Best fuel for writing – I’m a coffee guy through and through. I’ve probably burned a giant hole in my stomach from how much coffee I drink.

~ TV Shows ~

Most loved – “Alias!” I miss my weekly dose of undercover Jennifer Garner so bad!

Most hated – “Dance Moms.” I just can’t. I’m sure they’re all wonderful women, I just can’t watch them.

Haven’t watched, but probably should – “Homeland”

Can remember where you were when you saw it – The very first airing of the very first episode of the very first season of “Survivor.”

Wish more people had seen it – “GCB!” I am so sad this got cancelled after one season. The writing was brilliant!

~ Items in Your Closet ~

Most loved – Shoes! I go crazy for flashy loafers!

Most hated – If I hate it I give it away. I love everything in my closet!

Haven’t worn in forever, probably should throw it out – I honestly wear everything I’ve got! Is that crazy? That’s my Type A personality coming through. I always clean out my closet.

Wish you’d never thrown them out – A onesie I wore one Halloween dressed as Rose from “The Golden Girls.” It was hilarious!

Why do I have so many – Random buttons?! I have this stockpile of extra buttons that I’m not sure go to anything I own. But I’m keeping them just in case!

~ Life ~

Best moment/memory – Moving to Los Angeles from Spokane, Washington. That was my dream my entire life, and to move here when I was 22 was so overwhelming I cried!

Worst/most embarrassing moment – My swim shorts split open in the back at a water park! I was flashing my cheeks to everybody!

Haven’t accomplished yet, but one day I’ll – be associated with a New York Times Best Seller. Whether I’m the agent, publisher, or writer, that’s what I want!

Childhood toy you’ll never get rid of – Uh oh. They’re already all gone.

Wish I had more time for this guilty pleasure – Each Kardashian series. I love those ladies! I just can’t keep up with them all! (I didn’t mean for that to be a pun just now, but now that I see it, I’m definitely keeping it!)

Tweet Jason: @JasonGallaherLA

So? How much do you have in common with Jason? Let us know in the comments. And stay tuned next month for another editor interview!

3 comments

There are several Editors (staff reviewers) here at YABooksCentral.com, and they all have their own taste in books. While one might give a certain book 5 stars, another might only give it 3. We like that kind of diversity here, because we know every reader is different. Every reader’s opinion is valid.

But we also know it’s helpful to read reviews by those who share your same interests, especially when you’re looking for recommendations.

So which YABC Staff Reviewer has your taste in books? Find out in this new blog series, Meet Our Editors! Each week, I’ll be spotlighting one of our editors. When you find one that shares your same taste in books, movies, TV, even food, then make sure to check out the books that editor enjoys. 

See how it works? Great! 

First up, I did a Fast Faves interview with Kim Baccellia, who has been with YABC the longest. Her dedication to YABC and her unwavering team spirit always puts a smile on my face and encourages me to keep going. 

Here’s a little about Kim: 

I’m an educator, reviewer, YA author, and currently a Cybil’s panelist. My father once told me that writing was in my blood and there was no escaping the urge to write. I’m related to the author of Tarzan. Though I haven’t achieved my ancestor’s acclaim, yet, that is, my own novels include: No Earrings of Ixtumea, Crossed Out, and soon to be released No Goddesses Allowed.

In my spare time I like to run, practice yoga, read, and watch the latest chick flick. I’m a huge Buffy fan and have been reading the comic book series since it first came out. Also totally fell in love with Audrey Hepburn while researching her for my upcoming book! Plus, I have the philosophy that dark chocolate can brighten any day.  

A current member of SCBWI and RWA, I’m currently writing the sequel to Crossed Out and working on a YA multicultural dystopian. I live in Southern California with my husband, son, and two parrots.

Which types of books are your favorites to read/review?

I love to read! My favorite genre has to be YA paranormals and fantasy. I love a good romance with an intriguing love twist. I can’t resist a good historical romance either. Also, I love to read nonfiction pieces on fascinating people and places I’d love to visit. Right now it’s Paris, France.

Which types of books do you hate to read? 

I admit I’m not too keen on omnipresent POV in a story. There are not many types of books I don’t like. If the book is engaging with a character I love, then I’ll read it. A confession though: I shy away from books with over the top explicit matter or show animals being harmed. 

What do you think about writing negative reviews?

I believe in constructive criticism.  I use the Oreo review that I learned from my former UCI writing professor, Lou Nelson: start with something positive, constructive criticism on what didn’t work for me and why, and then end on a positive note. I see no purpose in posting a hate review. You know the one that states, “This book sucks.”  I think reviewers need to realize that others do read those reviews, including editors, publishers, and yes, even agents.  This biz is small. You don’t want to burn any bridges.

Why are reviews important to share online?

I strongly feel that reviews are important. I read them but not before I do my own review on a book, as I don’t want that to influence me. I have to admit some ‘hate’ reviews have lead me to read some pretty amazing books.  

Now it’s time for Fast Faves with Kim! 

5 comments