Larkin's Book Bloggers

Courtesy of Teen Book Scene, I had the opportunity to read a copy of Kristen Simmons’s debut novel, Article 5.  Futuristic, dramatic, and suspenseful, Article 5 had me hooked right from the beginning.

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.  The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.  There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don’t come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Article 5 is one of those books that – in the beginning – you really have to wrap your head around.  Federal Bureau of Reformation?  Moral Statutes?  Moral Militia?  As with any futuristic novel, there’s a lot to digest and understand at first.  But Kristen Simmons does a great job throwing you right into the action and having the reader live the story with the characters.  After Ember is sent to Rehabilitation for an Article 5 Violation (no hints here, read the book!), she is thrown into a non-stop, horrific adventure – one featuring an evil Ms. Brock, the Sisters of Salvation, and tons of scary MM soldiers.  And Chase Jennings, Ember’s childhood crush, is one of those MM soldiers.  Yup – that’s definitely a twist, especially for Ember!  Who is Chase, really?  Where is Ember’s mother?  And how will Ember survive her own dramatic escape from the Girls’ Reformatory and Rehabilitation Center?  You will definitely want to read Article 5 to find out!

Mrs. L., EMS Blogger

Courtesy of Teen Book Scene, I had the pleasure of reading Cobbogoth, Hannah Clark’s debut novel.  Haven’t heard of it?  It’s amazing – a great mix of fantasy with action adventure – I’ll be reviewing it next month!  But what I reallyloved was doing an interview with Hannah – and to put a creative twist on it, Hannah answered all of our questions with song lyrics!  Totally cool, and extremely difficult…enjoy!

1. As an author, what inspires you?

I see trees of green, red roses too                                                                         

I see them bloom, for me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, dark sacred night

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces, of people going by

I see friends shaking hands, sayin’, “How do you do?”

They’re really sayin’, “I love you”

I hear babies cryin’, I watch them grow

They’ll learn much more, than I’ll ever know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Oh yeah

-Louis Armstrong, What a Wonderful World

2. When you aren’t writing, what do you love to do?

“Let’s go to the movies, let’s go see the stars!” -Annie

“…There’s a place we like to drive, way out in the country, five miles out on the city limits we’re singin’ and your hands upon my knee.” -Indigo Girls, Power of Two

“Yes, and I wonder, where she will stay-ay, my little runaway, run, run, run, runaway.” -Del Shannon, Runaway

3. As a YA author, tell us about your teenage years! What were you like then?

“Brother’s in the backyard diggin’ in the dirt

Mama’s in the kitchen in an old t-shirt

Daddy’s diesel’s coming up the street

And she’s in her bedroom growing her wings.

Ready to run in her headphones

Pretty in pink (blue—I NEVER wore pink) on all ten toes

[…] outside her window there’s so much

More room for running and space to discover

A whole wide world to see

She’s dreaming about the girl she’s gonna be

Stuck in [Millard County], growing her wings.

-Lauren Alaina, Growing Her Wings

4. As someone who grew up in a small, rural town myself, I can relate to your childhood! What was small town life like for you?

Well I was born in a small town

Educated in a small town

Taught to fear Jesus in a small town

Used to daydream in that small town

Another born romantic, that’s me.

But I’ve seen it all in a small town

Had myself a ball in a small town

Married a [Boston boy] and brought him to [that] small town

Now [he’s semi]-small town just like me.

No, I cannot forget where it is that I come from

I cannot forget the people who love me.

-John Mellencamp, Smalltown

5. What does it feel like to have your first novel – something you’ve been working on for years – finally published and released?

My heart is like an open highway

Like Frankie said, I did it my way.

-Bonjovi, It’s My Life

6. For people who haven’t heard of Cobbogoth – can you describe what the story is about?

(This is a tough one, but this song is what inspired me, particularly the ending of Cobbogoth)

Far away

This ship is taking me far away

Far away from the memories

Of the people who care if I live or die

Starlight

I will be chasing the starlight

Until the end of my life

I don’t know if it’s worth it anymore

Hold you in my arms

I just wanted to hold

You in my arms

My life

You electrify my life

Let’s conspire to ignite

All the souls that would die just to feel alive

But I’ll never let you go

If you promised not to fade away

Never fade away

Our hopes and expectations

Black holes and revelations

Our hopes and expectations

Black holes and revelations

Hold you in my arms

I just wanted to hold

You in my arms

Far away

This ship is taking me far away

Far away from the memories

Of the people who care if I live or die

And I’ll never let you go

If you promise not to fade away

Never fade away

Our hopes and expectations

Black holes and revelations

Our hopes and expectations

Black holes and revelations

Hold you in my arms

I just wanted to hold

You in my arms

I just wanted to hold

-Muse, Starlight

Thanks, Hannah!  And to celebrate the release of Cobbogoth, we will be giving away an autographed copy of the novel!  To enter, just post a comment here telling me why you want to win.  The deadline to enter is Monday, March 5th – winners will be announced on March 6th!  Good luck!

Have you heard about the debut novel from author Kristen Simmons, Article 5?  Here’s a little blurb if you haven’t…

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.  The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.  There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don’t come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.  Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

We are thrilled that Kristen Simmons has dropped by to visit Larkin’s Book Bloggers!

Hi Jennifer!

Thanks for letting me stop by!

Below is a list of Emergency Items for any citizen who’s been charged with an Article Violation and is on the run from the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Your local resistance branch thanks you for your service.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:

These common items should be placed in a bag and hidden in a secure location, not commonly searched during routine FBR home inspections.

1. A three-day supply of non-perishable food, light to carry, and easy to consume. Options may include: government-issued granola bars, MRE’s from soup kitchens, or dehydrated camping foods.

2. Sturdy shoes. Hiking boots are preferred, but running shoes can also work. No bright colors. Extra shoelaces recommended.

3. Two complete changes of clothes to be worn in cold/rainy weather. No bright colors or flashy material. For a list of Gender-Approved Clothing, see Article 4 (Section C, Part a) of the Moral Statutes. You DO NOT want to attract the attention of the FBR by wearing Contraband. In addition, a heavy winter coat should be easily accessible, especially for travel after curfew.

4. Hair dye and scissors to change your appearance.

5. A small, sturdy camping tent. If you do not have access to a tent, two tarps will do – one for the ground, one to position overhead. Heavily wooded areas are good places to hide overnight.

6. A sleeping bag. Not all safe houses are equipped with boarding accommodations. You may be asked to sleep on the floor until a more permanent shelter can be established.

7. A First-Aid kit, complete with bandages, rubbing alcohol, scissors, matches, and a small sewing kit for stitching open wounds.

8. A map of all designated Green (Civilian), Yellow (FBR), and Red (Evacuated) Zones. You do not want to be caught accidently crossing over into a Red Zone without the proper approved documentation. Also, steer clear of Yellow Zones, as they often support FBR bases.

9. An improvised weapon, inconspicuous to FBR officers performing an inspection (forks, kitchen knives, keys, nails, screwdrivers, etc.). Contraband items, purchased or traded for on the black market (guns, hunting/fishing knives, archery gear), are highly inadvisable in the event that you are caught.

10. A fake Identification Card featuring a different name. Few people generate a convincing fake ID. BE CAREFUL. Officers will examine your photo closely; saying you lost your card is better than getting caught with a stolen one.

Thanks for visiting with us Kristen!  And readers of our blog, check back next week for our review of Article 5!

Just announced on the Scholastic Blog, a release about Maggie Stiefvater’s new series, The Raven Boys. 

Filled with mystery, romance, and the supernatural, The Raven Boys introduces readers to Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find him will be granted a wish—either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart. Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there—known as Raven Boys—can only mean trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But now she’s not so sure.

Set to be released on September 18th, I cannot wait to get my hands on the first book!  Since the end of the Shiver trilogy and the release of Scorpio Races in October, I’ve been in Maggie Stiefvater withdrawl!

Mrs. L., EMS Blogger