Yearly archive for 2014

Triple Threat Giveaway

Shelby Bach is the author of the series The Ever Afters, a fast-paced combination of middle school realism and fairy tale fantasy. (Shelby likes to think of them as Frozen with a twist of Maleficent!)

Bach - Ever Afters 1 - No wingsBach -Ever Afters 2

Bach - Ever Afters 3

Shelby’s doing a giveaway of all three books, signed, as well as some “swag”, to one lucky winner. To whet your appetite a little more, check out this recipe kindly provided by two of the characters, Gretel and Ellie:

Ellie's Recipe Card v2

Shelby’s bio:  Shelby was born in Houston TX and raised in Charlotte, NC, but while writing The EverAfters she moved almost as many times as her main character. She came up with the idea for the series right after she left New York City, and she finished the first book in Montana and the second in North Carolina. Driving up the west coast to research the third book, she fell in love with Portland OR and settled there. She would love to set up a Door Trek system in her apartment to visit her friends and family around the country, but she makes due with much slower and less fictional transportation.

You can find out lots more about Shelby and her books, as well as link to a discussion guide, at  http://shelbybach.com/

To be eligible for her amazingly generous giveaway, please leave a comment below, and here’s hoping you too Live Happily Ever After!

 

 

 

November New Releases

Starting to feel the chill in the air? Curl up in a chair with a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa… and one of these great new books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul   by Jeff Kinney

A family road trip is supposed to be a lot of fun . . . unless, of course, you’re the Heffleys. The journey starts off full of promise, then quickly takes several wrong turns. Gas station bathrooms, crazed seagulls, a fender bender, and a runaway pig–not exactly Greg Heffley’s idea of a good time. But even the worst road trip can turn into an adventure–and this is one the Heffleys won’t soon forget.

 

 Rogue Knight  by Brandon Mull

Magic and danger abound in the second book in a series of “fanciful, action-packed adventure” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series.

 

 

Keeper Lost Cities: Everblaze   by Shannon Messenger

Sophie uncovers shocking secrets—and faces treacherous new enemies—in this electrifying third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

 

 

 

Who Was Gandhi?   by Dana Meachen Rau

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 in British-occupied India. Though he studied law in London and spent his early adulthood in South Africa, he remained devoted to his homeland and spent the later part of his life working to make India an independent nation. Calling for non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights around the world. Gandhi is recognized internationally as a symbol of hope, peace, and freedom.

 

Alex Rider: Russian Roulette  by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider’s life changed forever with the silent pull of a trigger. Every story has a beginning. For teen secret agent Alex Rider, that beginning occurred prior to his first case for MI6, known by the code name Stormbreaker. By the time Stormbreaker forever changed Alex’s life, his uncle had been murdered by the assassin Yassen Gregorovich, leaving Alex orphaned and craving revenge. Yet when Yassen had a clear shot to take out Alex after he foiled the Stormbreaker plot, he let Alex live. Why? This is Yassen’s story. A journey down the darker path of espionage.

 

Absolute Truly  by Heather Voegel Frederick

 

An unsent letter in a first edition copy of Charlotte’s Web leads to a hunt for treasure in this heartwarming middle grade mystery from the author of The Mother-Daughter Book Club.

 

That’s Sneaky!  by Crispin Boyer

 

Do you think spies are stupendous? Ninjas are neat? Mysteries are more than meet the private eye? Then you’ll love That’s Sneaky, the most surprising and suspenseful information that we’re legally permitted to print. Jam-packed into this top secret title is the most classified and downright dangerous information you’ll ever get your amateur detective hands on. Want to escape one of history’s most heinous prisons? Consult chapter 7. Dare to dodge ocean predators by slipping into a sharkproof suit? Check out chapter 1. Prefer to gear up with spy gadgets? Flip to chapter 5. With stealthy Agent ’Stache as your partner, you’ll face elements of surprise and masters of disguise. Embrace the adventure and listen well—you never know when this book may self-destruct!

 

Bayard Rustin: The Invisible Activist
by Jacqueline Houtman, Walter Naegle, and Michael G. Long
 Revised bayard cover

To many, the Civil Rights Movement brings to mind protests, marches, boycotts, and freedom rides. They often think of people like Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks.  They seldom think of Bayard Rustin.

Raised by his Quaker grandmother to believe in the value of every human being, Bayard made trouble where ever he saw injustice. As a teenager, he was arrested for sitting in the whites only section of a theater. More arrests followed, for protesting against segregation, discrimination, and war.  His belief in nonviolent action as a means for social change gave him a guiding vision for the Civil Rights Movement, which he used to mentor the young Martin Luther King.  When A. Philip Randolph needed the best organizer on the planet, he turned to Bayard Rustin to bring 250,000 people to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Thomas Paine: Crusader for Liberty   by Albert Marrin

Dubbed ‘The Father of the American Revolution’, Paine began his written reign by fervently proposing the idea of American independence from Great Britain, where he lived before emigrating to the United States in his thirties. As one historical event led to another, Paine continued to divulge his ideas to the public, risking his reputation and even his life. Award-winning author Albert Marrin illustrates the hardships and significance of a man’s beliefs and its affects on our nation in a way that all ages can comprehend.

 

  Amazing Feats of Electrical Engineering   by Jennifer Swanson

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Engineers design our modern world. They combine science and technology to create incredible vehicles, structures, and objects. This title examines amazing feats of electrical engineering. Engaging text explores the global positioning system, solar power plants, and self-driving cars. It also examines the engineers who made these projects a reality and traces the history of the discipline.      

Introducing…

We’ve added new members to our blog! Please join us in welcoming the following new Mixed-Up Authors:

Julie Artz
Dori Hillestad Butler
Dorian Cirrone
Barbara Dee
Laurie J. Edwards
Louise Galveston
Mike Hays
Michelle Houts
Katharine Manning
Stacy Mozer
Andrea Pyros
Joanne Rocklin
Valerie Stein

We are so excited about the talent and enthusiasm these new people bring to From the Mixed-Up Files. You’ll be seeing blog posts from them in the next month or so, but until then, please check out their bios in our About Us section.

Welcome aboard, new blog members!

Also a public thank you to members who have left our blog for other adventures. You’ve each brought something special to From the Mixed-Up Files, and you will be dearly missed.  We wish you all the best of luck.