★+★+★+★+★
I feel like thanking the whole world right now. Thank you, whole world.
I get this question a lot: What's a starred review?
Also this one: Isn't five stars better than one?
And this one: Why is it so cool to get a starred review?
A star is something a traditional trade review venue gives a book that it thinks is of particular quality. For example, Booklist will review X number of books in their October issue, but only a few of those reviews will be starred reviews.
When you think of five-star reviews, you're thinking consumer reviews on Amazon or other reader websites. Those are cool places to review and keep track of books. But it's not quite the same as a trade review, because a trade review is published and sent to subscribers.
Deirdre-who-rocks. |
Why is it so cool to get starred reviews? Because it's nice to know I'm creating good work. Some people measure their success in gold coins. I can't do that, so stars mean a lot to me.
All this defining aside, there are a lot of books that are awesome and do not get starred reviews. And there are books plenty of people don't particularly like that get them. And so, we're back to the same old review conundrum which is: The beauty is in the eye of the reader and you have to find out for yourself.
I don't ever expect a star. Hell, I don't really expect nice reviews. It always seems like a fluke to me because I can never tell if what I'm doing is working. <---author brain. And so, I am very grateful that reviewers have enjoyed ASK THE PASSENGERS this much so far. And so, we're back to thanking the whole effing world. Thank you, whole effing world.
So here's your snippet for the Oct. 1 BCCB review:
★ “For kids still struggling with their own truths, it can be hard to believe how much light there is once you come out of the cave. This is a book that knows and understands that, and it’s one that readers will believe.”—Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books
And here's your chance to win a signed ARC of ASK THE PASSENGERS.
- Write me a powerful five-word-long sentence.
- Five words only.
- Don't forget to leave me your email address (at) (dot) if your entry doesn't have a link to a way to contact you.
- Contest ends October 2, 2012 23:59EST.
- If you tweet, blog, FB or spread the word in some other cosmic way, you will get an extra entry. Let me know under you entry.
- We need 50 entries to make it happen. Spread the word!
Here's my entry: I should be writing now.
56 comments:
Surprise: my power is me.
Also, congratulations! You are an amazing writer and deserve the stars!
"He woke up, desperately unhappy."
Aaron
aaronpound4@gmail.com
Tweeted, Facebooked, and G+ed
Freedom makes my life beautiful.
Happiness is what you make. :)
Erin D.
Erin.dubrock(@)Comcast(.)net
Donegal's new library embodies diversity.
sara.cantor@donegal.k12.pa.us
Here is a powerful sentence:
"Life should be a musical" =D
It really should, that would have been brilliant. Have FB-ed about this contest-thingie :)
Yay!
karo_reader@hotmail.com
Gimme that fucking book, Amy.
Truth is hard; lies aren't.
anniemoorebooks@gmail.com
I will always forgive them!
jenbibi@hotmail.com
Shared with Facebook too!
Oh, crap. I forgot my email. So much for following directions.
thegeekinside (at) yahoo (dot) com.
Ahrens family gatherings always rock?
I can’t stop reading books.
elsdeclercq[at]gmail[dot]
Linked on facebook and tweeted (@RingoTheCat_1), but I don't really have another sentence. That one pretty much says it all.
I can't stop reading books.
I facebooked and tweeted (@RingotheCat_1), but I don't really have another sentence. That one pretty much says it all.
elsdeclercq[at]gmail[dot]com
I read, therefore I am.
Retweeted and shared on Facebook
charlesthereader(at)gmail(dot)com
She hesitated, unable to decide.
sarahsulliv@gmail.com
Cannot wait to read this book!
Ummm, I vote for Steve. Nice try Marsha!! lol
Rule Number 4: Do Something.
(I know saying it before made it powerful enough to become a shirt)
Beth
detailsforyou - at - yahoo (dot) com
Oligarchy equals years of neglect
(that was for laughs)
Beth
detailsforyou - at - yahoo (dot) com
I’m lonely, but not alone.
damageddamsel(at)yahoo(dot)com
Only five stars so far.
:) Beth
I also shared on facebook.
detailsforyou - at - yahoo - dot - com
My orientation is my soul.
yhsciet (at) yahoo (dot) com
All I need is time.
Aimee : aimee.n723@gmail.com
retweeted (@akimomo_3)
Everybody is just background noise.
Aimee: aimee.n723@gmail.com
blogged
akimomo3.tumblr.com
She cried over her baby.
jhbogran at gmail dot com
My gynecologist prescribed an affair.
five words broke her forever
amandafriedman413@msn.com
I love you too, Mommy.
Brandydetwiler@gmail.com
The sun will rise tomorrow
Mtouet at Popejohnhs dot org
This totally violates the rule by being two sentences and too many words. But you have to sing it to the tune of Call Me Maybe in your best cookie monster voice.
"Here my email. Give me book maybe?"
sashikauf@gmail.com
You make my job easy.
(Thank you for your fantastic books...you make it easy for me to jump start my students' reading lives!)
The children are always watching.
He lives on, inside me.
email: book lover 07202 at yahoo dot com
Twitter: @RachaelfromNJ
I need to love again.
damageddamsel(at)yahoo(dot)com
I make my own destiny.
Thanks for always being an amazing author. I've read your first two books, have ANTS on my bookshelf and pre-ordered PASSENGERS already. :D
I live internationally, and since I've already pre-ordered anyway, THIS IS NOT AN ENTRY. I just wanted to tell you I really appreciate you and your books. :)
I am the music - listen.
elisesommers(at)usfamily(dot)net
I also posted this on my blog!
Life is art: Make it
kathleenelizabeth@live.com
and I posted it on tumblr at http://blamethegoat.tumblr.com/
Today was his last tomorrow.
I laughed, Tabby's smile fading.
Jared
reckj@sgasd.org
Retweeted
Dust covered my signed copies.
Jared
reckj@sgasd.org
"The mouse takes the cheese."
*snort* had to use that one b/c I read your tweets (rants) today--HAHA!
MAJOR CONGRATS, Amy!!!
Everything old was once new.
I love your perfect imperfections.
- Karen Faith
xxkarenfaithxx(at)gmail(dot)com
I also retweeted (@xxkarenfaithxx) and blogged (xxkarenfaithxx.tumblr.com)
I am not Iron Man.
Awesome entires so far.
Thank you!
Ask about my shadow self.
Stacy
rat914@gmail.com
I am awesome danish dynamite.
Frida
ekstremekstrom@gmail.com
"Hello" is harder than "goodbye."
And I tweeted about the contest too @mfumarolo
Thanks for the amazing giveaway opportunity, but even more than that, thank you for your incredible stories!
mfumarolo(at)gmail(dot)com
You're the reason I love.
(also, because I'm a cheat: You are the only reason).
Iffath
deariffath@gmail.com
I also tweeted about this! @JenAnsbach
She hid, but she lived.
Can't wait to meet you in Collingswood on Saturday!
hptrumptr22(at)aol(dot)com
Congrats, Amy! Five starreds are way better than a hundred five-stars. If that makes any sense.
She gave my heart back.
Congratulations!!!
thedharmadiva at gmail dot com
Congrats!!
And:
Rain makes my kid laugh.
Sophie
longdidread at gmail dot com
Students eat books w/forks n'shovels
Bent the rules. But they are carnivorous readers!
rcicchetti@colonial(dot)net
Student review blog:
http://cchsyagalley.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/cchsreads
I wrote this sentence in my manuscript a few minutes ago: "It was just past midnight."
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