The Queen Of Cool - Cecil Castellucci

The Queen of Cool
Cecil Castellucci
Candlewick Press
ISBN 9780763634131

Meet Libby Brin. She has everything - she in the 'IN' crowd at school, she has academic success without even really trying. She has friends, and status and clothes, and yet she realizes she is bored out of her skull. Her life seems to be perfect but inside she is screaming. Then in a moment of personal insanity she signs up for an internship at the Los Angeles Zoo. She gets paired with Tina (aka Tiny), a little person, and Sheldon the school geek. Each day her life seems to be getting less and less satisfying. The only thing she is really enjoying is her job at the Zoo, but her clique mocks it and keeps pressuring her to quit.This second book in Cecil Castellucci's LA Trilogy is a lot about relationships, a little about science, and about what is true friendship. It follows Boy Proof and is followed by Beige. Well-written and entertaining, this book will transport you back to high school and maybe help you to challenge your underlying thinking and approach to life. Castelluci has a flowing style of writing; she captures the nuances of a person who is learning to be, or learning to be good at being. I know that her books are among those I will read again and again.

Books by Cecil Castellucci:
Boy Proof (2005)
The Queen of Cool (2006)
Beige (2007)
The P.L.A.I.N. Janes (2007)
Janes in Love (2008)
Geektastic (Editor & Contributor 2009)
Rose Sees Red (2010)
Grandma's Gloves (2010)
First Day On Earth (2011)
Odd Duck (2013)
Tin Star (2014)
Stone in the Sky (2015)
The Plain Janes 3 in 1 (2020)

...

Music By Cecil Castellucci
Twist Her - Nerdy Girl (1996)
Whoever - Cecil Seaskull (1998)

A Visual Bibliography for Cecil Castellucci
Author profile interview with Cecil Castellucci

Janes in Love - Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Janes in Love
Cecil Castellucci (Author)
Jim Rugg (Illustrator)
Minx a abandoned division of
DC Comics
ISBN 9781401213879

This graphic novel continues nearly a year after The P.L.A.I.N. Janes. Where the first in this series dealt with the Janes learning to have confidence in themselves, and doing something they believed in, this one takes place a year later and as Valentine's Day is approaching the Janes realize they want to find love and happiness.

The Janes are:
Jane - DramaticJane
Jayne - BrainJayne
Polly Jane - SportyJane
Jane - MainJaneMainJane is still dealing with the aftermath of being near ground zero of a terrorist attack. She is getting better but her mother is getting worse. All of Janes' art is an attempt to bring her mother back out of her shell. I liked this story but enjoyed the first one more. This one does go into greater depth about relationships and overcoming adversity. It is a good story by a gifted writer. It really is a pity that DC Comic discontinued this MINX line; they were supposed to be heralding in a new era of graphic novels, novels written with girls as the main audience, with strong female characters that could be role models. The line was announced in 2006, with much fanfare, but was cancelled part way into 2008, thus leaving that target audience again under-represented in North America. But the 13 books in the line that were released all look interesting, and like the type of book I will want to share with my daughter as she grows up. This is a shining example of that sentiment.

Books by Cecil Castellucci:
Boy Proof (2005)
The Queen of Cool (2006)
Beige (2007)
The P.L.A.I.N. Janes (2007)
Janes in Love (2008)
Geektastic (Editor & Contributor 2009)
Rose Sees Red (2010)
Grandma's Gloves (2010)
First Day On Earth (2011)
Odd Duck (2013)
Tin Star (2014)
Stone in the Sky (2015)
The Plain Janes 3 in 1 (2020)

...

Music By Cecil Castellucci
Twist Her - Nerdy Girl (1996)
Whoever - Cecil Seaskull (1998)

A Visual Bibliography for Cecil Castellucci
Author profile interview with Cecil Castellucci
MINX Graphic Novels:

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg (May 2 2007)
Re-Gifters by Mike Carey, Marc Hempel, and Sonny Liew (Jun 6 2007)
Clubbing by Andi Watson and Josh Howard (July 11 2007)
Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim and Jesse Hamm (Aug 1 2007)
Confessions of a Blabbermouth by Mike Carey, Louise Carey, and Aaron Alexovich(Sep 12 2007)
Kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovich (Nov 7 2007)
Burnout by Rebecca Donner (Jun 24 2008)
Water Baby by Ross Campbell(July 8 2008)
The New York Four by Ryan Kelly (July 22 2008)
Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci (Sep 23 2008)
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki (Oct 14 2008)
Token by Alisa Sheckley (Nov 4 2008)

All Nighter by David Hahn (Unreleased)
Janes Go Summer by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg (Unreleased)

Boy Proof - Cecil Castellucci

Boy Proof
Cecil Castellucci
Candlewick Press
ISBN 9780763627966

I read this book in two sittings. I could not put it down and already have plans to reread it. What blew me away most was that after reading it, I discovered it was Castellucci's first published novel. The level of skill and insight in this debut novel truly astounds me. Often, authors I enjoy - even those I consider gifted writers - disappoint me in some of their writing and usually in their earlier stuff. I have now read all of Castellucci's novels, graphic novels and some short fiction and I think it is all excellent. But Boy Proof is my new favorite.

This is the story of a girl named Egg. She named herself that after her favorite character from a Science Fiction movie, Terminal Earth. She believes she has life all figured out and she prefers not to have to interact with other people, or if she does, only on her terms. She has a shaved head, piercings and painted- on eyebrows. She is cold and frosty and keeps people at a distance. Her mother came up with the term but she likes it and owns it - she has made herself 'boy proof'. But then Max Carter shows up at her school, and her life is turned upside down.The story captures some of the angst of being alone in a crowd, of putting on a front so as not to be vulnerable, and open to being hurt. It also is a story of self-discovery, of finding your place in the world, finding out who you are and what you want to do with your life. It is the first book in Cecil Castellucci's 'LA Trilogy'. Each of the three books explores a different element of life in and around Los Angeles, one focusing on movies and film, one on science and one on music, each set in and around a different neighborhood in the city. This is an amazing book and would make a great movie. But as a piece of the whole, in the trilogy it is even better. So read it and find out what Egg discovers about herself, and about life.

Books by Cecil Castellucci:
Boy Proof (2005)
The Queen of Cool (2006)
Beige (2007)
The P.L.A.I.N. Janes (2007)
Janes in Love (2008)
Geektastic (Editor & Contributor 2009)
Rose Sees Red (2010)
Grandma's Gloves (2010)
First Day On Earth (2011)
Odd Duck (2013)
Tin Star (2014)
Stone in the Sky (2015)
The Plain Janes 3 in 1 (2020)

...

Music By Cecil Castellucci
Twist Her - Nerdy Girl (1996)
Whoever - Cecil Seaskull (1998)

A Visual Bibliography for Cecil Castellucci
Author profile interview with Cecil Castellucci

Cecil Castelluci - The Cover Artwork

Cecil Castellucci this year has become one of my all time favorite authors. I have read all of her books once and most of them more than once this year already. She is a novelist, musician, and all around artist. This short post a small homage to her. A sort of visual Bibliography and Discography.

The Books:

Boy Proof
Cecil Castellucci
Candlewick Press
ISBN 9780763627966
2005

The Queen of Cool
Cecil Castellucci
Candlewick Press
ISBN 9780763634131
2006

Beige
Cecil Castellucci
Candlewick Press
ISBN 9780763642327
2007

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes
Cecil Castellucci (Author)
Jim Rugg (Illustrator)
Minx
ISBN 978140121158
2007

Janes in Love

Cecil Castellucci (Author)
Jim Rugg (Illustrator)
Minx
ISBN 9781401213879
2008

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
Ed. Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Little Brown
ISBN 9780316008099
2009

Rose Sees Red

Cecil Castellucci
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545060790
2010

Grandma's Gloves
Cecil Castellucci (Author)
Julia Denos (Illustrator)
Candlewick
ISBN 9780763631680
2010

First Day On Earth
Cecil Castellucci
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545060820
2011

Books Cecil Contributed To:

Magic in the Mirrorstone

Ed. Steve Berman
Mirrorstone Press
ISBN 97807869473424
2008

First Kiss (Then Tell)
Ed. Cylin Busby
Bloomsbury
ISBN 9781599902418
2008

Girls Who Liek Boys Who Like Boys
Ed Melissa La De Cruz amd Tom Dolby
Dutton
ISBN 9780525950172 2007

The Music:

Twist Her
Nerdy Girl
AISN B000E99UQC
1996

Whoever

Cecil Seaskull
ASIN B00000K01T
October 1998

A Visual Bibliography for Cecil Castellucci
Author profile interview with Cecil Castellucci

Fitness Friday The Blogs I Read

Primal Paleo
Primal Chat - Resolve to Evolve
Mark's Daily Apple
Paleotron
ReadGRice
Tabata This
Robb Wolf
Girl Gone Primal
Primal Toad

Authors
Dr. Kevin Vost
Dr. Oz
Body for Life
Sylvester Stallone
Steve Shaw's Muscle & Brawn

P90X/Beachbody Types
Tony Horton
Beachbody
Carl Daikeler
The Straight Dope
Steve Edwards
Ultimate Fitness Gear Blog
Chalene Johnson
Real Fitness Nerd
Life Isnt Over at 40
Dysfunctional Parrot

Misc.
MovNat explore your true nature
Mitzi Dulan
Healthy Lifestyle Design
Educated Vegetable
Body Fat Calculator
The Good Health Blog
IART
CanFit Pro

Other Fitness Articles:
Fall 2011 Programs
Workout program March 2012
My Gear February 2012
Fitness My Retrospective

TRX Articles:
TRX an Introduction
TRX Force
TRX Force Tactical
TRX Essential Flexibility

My P90X Series:
Phase I, Phase II, Gear, Phase III, Fitness Options, P90X at 120 Days Out

Health & Fitness Book Reviews:
The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Total Body Transformation - Mark Sisson
The Ten Commandments Of Lifting Weights - Jared Zimmerer
Toadally Primal Smoothies - Todd Dosenberry
Caveman Resurection - Jeff Pickett
40 Days to Optimal Health - Dr. Scott Morris
Eat Stop Eat - Brad Pilon
The Primal Blueprint - Mark Sisson
The New Rules of Lifting - Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove
Bench Press by: Sven Lindqvist
Sly Moves by: Sylvester Stallone
Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul by: Dr. Kevin Vost
Body for Life 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strenght by: Bill Phillips
Lose Fat Not Faith by Jeremy R. Likeness
Living The Good Life: Your Guide to Health and Success by: David Patchell-Evans
Dump your Trainer by: Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen

A Creepy Case Of Vampires - Barnes & the Brains Book 6 - Kenneth Oppel

A Creepy Case Of Vampires
Barnes & the Brains Book 6
Kenneth Oppel (blog)
HarperTrophy Canada
Browse Inside
ISBN 9781554685332

This is the last book in the re-released series by Kenneth Oppel from Harper Collins Canada. These books were originally published between 1994 and 2004 by Scholastic Canada. With new covers and artwork interspersed in the books, these books are intended for young readers and they are fun reads. Barnes & the Brains books will easily be enjoyed by young readers and their parents. Unfortunately it appears there will not be any new titles, just the re-issue of the original 6 stories, but it is great to have these books back in print again.

Barnes and Kevin Quark are on their way home one night when they notice a dark figure in the church belfry. The figure disappears in a cloud of fog and soon hundreds of bats are emerging from the church steeple. Kevin and Giles convince Tina Quark to help them investigate. When they approach the church, Father Peter informs them that the infestation started about 2 weeks ago and keeps getting worse. Tina as usual tries to solve it with inventions and when that fails, Barnes must try to find a more reasonable solution. Can he do it one more time? Read and find out.

Barnes & The Brains Books
A Bad Case of Ghosts
A Strange Case of Magic
A Crazy Case of Robots
An incredible Case of Dinosaurs
A Weird Case of Super-Goo
A Creepy Case of Vampires

Books by Kenneth Oppel:

Half Brother (2010)
The Devil's Cure (2000)
Dead Water Zone (1992)
The Live-Forever Machine (1990)

Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
This Dark Endeavour (2011)
Such Wicked Intent (2012)

The Silverwing Saga
Silverwing (1997)
Sunwing (1999)
Firewing (2002)
Darkwing (2007)

Airborn Series
Airborn (2004)
Skybreaker (2005)
Starclimber (2008)

Children's Fiction:

The King's Taster (2009)
Peg and the Yeti (2004)
Peg and the Whale (2000)
Emma's Emu (1995)
Galactic Snapshots (1993)
Cosmic Snapshots (1993)
Follow That Star (1992)
Cosimo Cat (1990)
Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure (1985)

Barnes and the Brains
A Bad Case of Ghosts (1993)
A Strange Case of Magic (1994)
A Crazy Case of Robots (1994)
An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs (1994)
A Weird Case of Super-Goo (1997)
A Creepy Case of Vampires (2002)

Goth Girl Rising - Barry Lyga

Goth Girl Rising
Barry Lyga Blog Twitter
Haughton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 9780547076645

Prior to reading this book I had only read short stories by Barry Lyga, yet this book exceeded all expectations. It is incredibly witty, full of surprises and unique tools. I picked up this book because the cover and title attracted my attention. I had read one of Barry's stories in Geektastic and since then I wanted to pursue some more of his writings. I was expecting a story of revenge, anger and destruction. What I got was a story about life, love, loss and change.

Kyra Sellers has just spent six months in the Maryland Mental Health Unit. While she was gone, life seems to have gone on for her friends. But now she is back, back in black, back at school and plotting how to get revenge. Fanboy is going down and so is anybody who gets in her way. If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, then Goth Girl takes that that fury and amps it up.

The writing in this story is incredible. One of my favorite features is Kyra's letters to Neil Gaiman. Interspersed throughout the book are letters from Kyra, written, but without the intention of being sent. This is the story of Kyra's goal of revenge and her self-discovery along the way, so that revenge was amazing to watch. This book was so well written that I have picked up all of Barry's other books and plan on reading them soon.


Books by Barry Lyga:
I Hunt Killers:
I Hunt Killers (2012)
Game - I Hunt Killers #2 (2013)
Blood of My Blood - I Hunt Killers # 3 (2014)

I Hunt Killers Short Stories:
Down Time (2018)
Lucky Day (2014)
Career Day (2012)
Neutral Mask (2013)
Blood Boy (2014)

Brookdale High:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (2006)
Boy Toy (2007)
Hero Type (2008)
Goth Girl Rising (2009)
Bang (2017)

Archvillian:
Archvillain #1 (2010)
The Mad Mask - Archvillian #2 (2011)
Yesterday Again - Archvillian #3 (2013)

The Flash Series:
Hocus Pocus (2017)
Johnny Quick (2018)
Tornado Twins (2018)

Other Books By Barry Lyga:
Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A definitive Guide (with Alison A.W. Lyga - 2004)
Wolverine: Worst Day Ever (2009)
MangaMan (with Colleen Dorren 2011)
Unsoul'd (2013)
After The Red Rain (2015)
The Secret Sea (2016)
Thanos Titan Consumed (2018)
The Hive (2019)

...

Short Story Project 2017
The Ghosts at 95
Loving The University
The Ideas of March
Four Minutes
Pulse vs. the Killing Fiend
Her Decade
The Life Cycle of Stars (Ignition)
Bobby
Trading Worlds
When I Die
The Autopsying of Michael Edward Morgan
Meet Me Tonight
...

Contributed to:
Geektastic (2009)
Who Done It? (2013)

Author Profile and Interview with Barry Lyga
Author Profile and Interview with Randall Banner

What Am I? Little Scholastic - Salina Yoon

What Am I?
Little Scholastic
Salina Yoon
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545178532

My kids and I love the books in the Little Scholastic Series. I wish the construction was a little more solid. My son is two and he pulled the slide card right out of the book in under a day. But even with having to glue it back up, these are great books. In this one, there are blacked-out images of 6 vehicles with clues about what it is. Once the child guesses, you slide the pull out card and reveal the picture. Great fun over and over again.

The Tweets I Follow for Mind, Body and Spiritual Fitness

Fitness Fridays - The Tweets I Follow for Mind, Body and Spiritual Fitness

Primal/Paleo
GirlGonePrimal
PrimalChatTaryn
rsgrice
startbeingfit
jpickett1968
PrimalChat
Mark_Sisson
MdrnCavemanDiet
tarynrom
PrimalHomemaker
scdkat
MattGartland
thriftymom
ModernPaleo
GastleGrok
KettlebellWitch
Paleotron
CrossfitDawg13
PrimalFamily
PrimalToad
PaleoHacks

Authors for Mind, Body and Spirit
reginadoman
kshaidle
artofmanliness
RealSlyStallone
Bruxy
erwinmcmanus
_robin_sharma
pwDan
noahbenshea
DrKevinVost
ransomedheart
DrOz

Health
chadwaterbury
MuscleandBrawn
fitinthebalance
teaopia
Beachbody
P90X
Tony_Horton
PhillyCT8
CarlDaikeler
Dys_Parrot
republicoftea
stashtea

These are in no particular order, and some of them are in more than one list on my twitter account. It should give you some good jumping off points on people to follow on twitter for this weeks Fitness Friday.










Other Fitness Articles:
Fall 2011 Programs
Workout program March 2012
My Gear February 2012
Fitness My Retrospective

TRX Articles:
TRX an Introduction
TRX Force
TRX Force Tactical
TRX Essential Flexibility

My P90X Series:
Phase I, Phase II, Gear, Phase III, Fitness Options, P90X at 120 Days Out

Health & Fitness Book Reviews:
The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Total Body Transformation - Mark Sisson
The Ten Commandments Of Lifting Weights - Jared Zimmerer
Toadally Primal Smoothies - Todd Dosenberry
Caveman Resurection - Jeff Pickett
40 Days to Optimal Health - Dr. Scott Morris
Eat Stop Eat - Brad Pilon
The Primal Blueprint - Mark Sisson
The New Rules of Lifting - Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove
Bench Press by: Sven Lindqvist
Sly Moves by: Sylvester Stallone
Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul by: Dr. Kevin Vost
Body for Life 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strenght by: Bill Phillips
Lose Fat Not Faith by Jeremy R. Likeness
Living The Good Life: Your Guide to Health and Success by: David Patchell-Evans
Dump your Trainer by: Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen

Instructions - Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess

Instructions
Neil Gaiman (Author)
Charles Vess (Illustrator)
Harper Collins
Browse Inside
ISBN 9780061960307

This book took me completely by surprise. I was expecting something darker, with more of a twist. But Gaiman once again gives us something new and different. On the dust jacket it says it is for 'All Ages', and it really is. It is instructions given as you journey out in life and come back home. It is magical, whimsical, enjoyable and fun. Wonderfully illustrated and written, the words of Gaimen and art of Vess present a single story that complement each other completely.

Dead Water Zone - Kenneth Oppel

Dead Water Zone
Kenneth Oppel (blog)
Harper Collins
Browse Inside
ISBN 9780006485612

This book is very different from anything else from Kenneth Oppel that I have yet read. It is a speculative fiction that reminds me of much of Robert A. Heinlien's works that I read years ago in High School, or Frank Herbert's non-Dune books. It is intriguing and sublimely written.

The story is about Paul, a young athlete, has gone in search of his brother, a genius who has gone missing in Watertown, a dilapidated floating second city of those who live outside regular society. Paul is looking for Sam and keeps feeling like he sees him or feels him but has yet to actually find him. Paul meets a young woman named Monica who helps him navigate this world he has never known. Can Paul find his brother and save him? Does Sam want to be saved? Or will the Dead Water Zone consume everyone who enters its area of influence? No one knows where the Dead Water comes from, only that those who drink it are changed. They seem to be stringer, faster, have better eye sight and they also seem to go crazy.

This book was an incredible read. With twists and turns you do not expect, and surprises around every corner, it has the flavor and feel of classic science fiction. It is a stunning story compressed into just under 200 pages. Like many classic science fiction stories this one deals with themes of evolution, ecology, politics, power and human survival. It reads like it could fit into Frank Herbert's The Eye's of Heisenberg, The Dosadi Experiment or The Green Brain. If it was written as homage to some of the masters of Science Fiction it achieves its effect in a spectacular way. Oppel draws you into a story that has layers you will not unravel until the very end. It is an excellent book by a great Canadian author.

Books by Kenneth Oppel:

Half Brother (2010)
The Devil's Cure (2000)
Dead Water Zone (1992)
The Live-Forever Machine (1990)

Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
This Dark Endeavour (2011)
Such Wicked Intent (2012)

The Silverwing Saga
Silverwing (1997)
Sunwing (1999)
Firewing (2002)
Darkwing (2007)

Airborn Series
Airborn (2004)
Skybreaker (2005)
Starclimber (2008)

Children's Fiction:

The King's Taster (2009)
Peg and the Yeti (2004)
Peg and the Whale (2000)
Emma's Emu (1995)
Galactic Snapshots (1993)
Cosmic Snapshots (1993)
Follow That Star (1992)
Cosimo Cat (1990)
Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure (1985)

Barnes and the Brains
A Bad Case of Ghosts (1993)
A Strange Case of Magic (1994)
A Crazy Case of Robots (1994)
An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs (1994)
A Weird Case of Super-Goo (1997)
A Creepy Case of Vampires (2002)