The Pact by Mitchell S. Karnes Review and Giveaway

 

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The Pact by Mitchell S. Karnes has a timely message about bullying.   Bullying is defined by Stopbullying.gov as, "unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose."  Middle School is a breeding ground for this type of behavior and parents are often unaware of the ramifications of this serious issue.   Karnes takes this topic and makes it accessible to both teens and adults.  Yes, this is a book for both audiences.  Karnes allows this issue come to life with his likable protagonist, Scott Addison.  When Scott's mother, a single parent, moves her family to the small Southern Illinois town of Meadowbrook all Scott wants to do is to blend in, but life has a way of forcing people to stand up for what they believe; in so doing, Scott must face the attention of a pack of bullies at his new school, which is the last thing he wants.  Hey, are you hooked yet?

Within the story Karnes addresses such questions as why children bully, how bullies pick their victims, and how standing up to a bully alone might not be the best way to address bullying due to the unforeseen repercussions.  The Pact is a cautionary tale, which educates and entertains at the same time.  Give the book some breathing room.  The more you read the more intriguing the story becomes.  In my opinion, a must read for teens, parents, and educators alike. 

As an educator, I have strong feelings about this topic and its long-term effects on bullied children; I feel the sensitive subject matter was deftly handled by the author.  I often worry that bulling is a silent threat in our schools, which often goes unreported.  I plan on donating my copy of The Pact to my school library in hopes that the book will speak to the students at my middle school.

I'd like to thank TLC Book Tours and the author, Mitchell S. Karnes, for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.



Others blogs on the tour this week include:

Monday, February 17th:  Seaside Book Nook

Wednesday, February 19th:  Shelf Full of Books

Thursday, February 20th:  Savings in Seconds

Summary Courtesy:  Goodreads

The Pact by Mitchell S Karnes

Scott Addison never set out to be a hero. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't run away from destiny. On the heels of his father's death, Scott and his mother move from Iowa City, Iowa to the small Southern Illinois town of Meadowbrook. Scott just wanted to blend in...to observe quietly...to be one of the kids. Unfortunately for Scott, his instincts, heart, and integrity took over on his first day at his new middle school. Scott stood up to and faced down three larger boys torturing a wiry little boy named Paul. This simple act of kindness and chivalry put Scott in the midst of the conflict and on the receiving end of the bullies' antics. Paul introduces Scott to two high school friends who just happen to play Warriors & Thieves, Scott's favorite role-playing fantasy game. The game and his new friends provide a much needed escape from both his past and his present troubles...at least for a while. But no matter how hard Scott tries to blend in at school, his pet peeve of bullying and his overwhelming sense of right and wrong continue to push him into the limelight, bringing praises from many, but more opposition from the bullies. When the hazing goes too far Scott decides it is time to take a stand...no matter the cost. Of course, sometimes, that's the price heroes must pay.

I have two copies of The Pact to giveaway.  Here's what to do...

1	FOLLOW The Things You Can Read on Google Friends Connect (GFC), by Email, or Bloglovin.  If you already follow us, let us know in your official comment.
2	To enter, write a comment on the official February 18th Review Post
3	The winners will be chosen by using the RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR. The winners will be contacted by email on February 23, 2014.  I will post the winners name and blog(s), with their permission.  However, you don't have to have a blog to participate.
4	The winners names will be posted the week of February 24, 2014.  Again, you don't have to have a blog to participate.
	Do you have any thoughts on bullying?  Does a book that grapples with this social issue interests you?  If so, let us know here at The Things You Can Read! Happy reading to all! ☮ Happy Reading☮ The Things You Can Read! Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Literary Blog Hop: February 8-12, 2014

 

The Things You Can Read is proud to be joining The Literary Blog Hop hosted by Judith@Leeswammes' Blog.  What does that mean?  It means you have a chance to win some great books or book related prizes, but not just from The Things You Can Read, but from all those participating in The Literary Blog Hop.

We here at  The Things You Can Read will be giving away a free literary Audible.com book of your choice (you must be a member of Audible.com to receive the book) or a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com to be used for a literary book of your choice .  Here are the rules:

1	The Literary Blog Hop starts February 8-12, 2014
2	To enter write a comment on the official February 8th post and fill out the entry form: Click Here.
3	Now, FOLLOW The Things You Can Read on Google Friends Connect (GFC), by Email or Bloglovin.  If you already follow us, let us know in your official comment.
4	The winner will be chosen by using the RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR.
5	The winner will be contacted by email after the contest has concluded (February 12, 2014 Eastern Standard Time.)  We will post the winners name and blog (with their permission) when we announce the WINNER.  However you don't have to have a blog to participate.

Don't forget to checkout the other The Literary Blog Hop participants and Good Luck!  The Literary Blog Hop is from February 8 until February 12, 2014! Enjoy, and let us know what new blogs you discover as you hop around the blogosphere!

Here is a list for your hopping convenience:

Leeswammes Seaside Book Nook Booklover Book Reviews Biblionomad Laurie Here The Well-Read Redhead (US/CA) River City Reading GirlVsBookshelf Ciska’s Book Chest The Book Stop Ragdoll Books Blog Nishita’s Rants and Raves Lucybird’s Book Blog Reading World (N-America) Journey Through Books Readerbuzz Always With a Book (US) 52 Books or Bust (N.Am./UK) Guiltless Reading (US/CA) Book-alicious Mama (US) Wensend Books Speak Volumes Words for Worms The Relentless Reader A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall (US) GOOD LUCK! Happy Reading The Things You Can Read! Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Fourth Street Review Vailia’s Page Turner The Little Reader Library Lost Generation Reader Heavenali Roof Beam Reader Mythical Books Word by Word The Misfortune of Knowing Aymaran Shadow > Behind The Scenes The Things You Can Read (US) Bay State Reader’s Advisory Curiosity Killed the Bookworm Lizzy’s Literary Life Books Can Save a Life (N. America) Words And Peace (US) The Book Club Blog

Win a Signed Copy of Ripper by Isabel Allende

Happy Reading☮ 

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Simon & Schuster's 90th Anniversary Library Sweepstakes

Enter each day until April 9, 2014 to win:  Click Here

 

 

Let us know if you win one of the great books on the Simon & Giveaway list.  Good Luck!

Happy Reading☮ 

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Giveaway: Goat Mountain by David Vann

Georges d’Espagnat (1870-1950), Liseuse sur un canapé
Via: pieterdebruijnkops

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Giveaway: This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

Artist: Ben Giles

     

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Giveaway: The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani

Georges d’Espagnat (1870-1950), Liseuse sur un canapé
Via: pieterdebruijnkops

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Is Jane Austen Back in Business? Joanna Trollope's Sense & Sensibility

 

 

Is Joanna Trollope channeling Jane Austen?  Find out by reading her retelling of Sense and Sensibility.  Don't have a copy?  Well, enter the giveaway [Click HERE].  Remember it won't be on bookstore shelves until October 29, 2013.

 

Let us know what Jane Austen tale you'd like to see retold here at The Things You Can Read.

 

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 

 



Burial Rites: Giveaway

"They say I must die"-Burial Rites by Hannah Kent 

I posted about this wonderful historical fiction selection last week on Book Beginnings on Friday, [Click HERE to see my POST] and I'm still enjoying this one.  It is set in Iceland in 1829, and I am not too familiar with this era of Icelandic history, but I'm learning a great deal as I move through the novel.  As I said, it is a historical novel, but it is based on a true story.  I can't wait to see where this one will take me.  I'm about 50% done, so I've got a bit more reading to do.  If this first line strikes your fancy click on the giveaway link below and try your luck.  Little Brown Publishing is giving away a limited number of Advanced Readers Copy of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.  GOOD LUCK!

Let us know if you are successful here at The Things You Can Read!

Happy reading to all! ☮  

Happy Reading☮  

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Win a Signed Copy of THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman

 

Click HERE to enter the Shelf Awareness Giveaway!  Don't know if you want to enter, well check out the Goodreads summary of Neil Gaiman's new book.

 

 

 

Good Luck to all those who enter!  Take a moment and let us know if you enter! 

 

Happy Reading and Happy Blogoversary to

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!



Pulseit.com by Simon & Schuster: Free Books

Simon & Schusters is offering a new FREE book program for TEENS!  Click HERE to checkout this new program.

Let us know what you think here at The Things You Can Read!
 

Happy Reading and Happy Blogoversary to
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Click

Road Trip Prize Pack from Random House Audio & 

Shelf Awareness

Did you enter?  Better yet, did you win?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!

Happy Reading and Happy Blogoversary to
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

SOHO Teen Giveaway! Interested?

Soho Teen is offering a giveaway, are you interested?  If you are click HERE to enter.

Happy Reading and Happy Blogoversary to
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Request an Advanced Readers Copy of Reboot by Amy Tintera

Request an Advanced Readers Copy of Reboot by Amy Tintera: CLICK HERE.  Not sure if you'd be interested, read the summary below:

Summary Courtesy of Goodreads:

Reboot (Reboot #1)

by Amy Tintera (Goodreads Author)

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders

What do you think?  Is this a book for you?  The ARCs are available for a limited time, if you are interested, act now!  Let us know if this is a book you think Teens might enjoy! 

Happy Reading!

Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

.

Macmillan's 12 Days of Christmas in November!

Hey, Macmillan is offering 12 Days of Christmas, but not in December.  This spectacular giveaway started on November 12 and ends on November 29, 2012.  What's that you say?  Well, for twelve days during the month of November Macmillan is offering wonderful giveaways of children's books.  Unfortunately, we are a little late in participating, so there are only seven days of giveaways left, but take advantage of the remaining offers.  Take a peek.  It's not too late to enter!    

Macmillan Children's has a book for everyone on your list!

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Are You Hopping?

Image Credit: Graphics Fairy

Has it been awhile, since you hopped?  Well, here is your chance to hop all over the Internet.  The Things You Can Read is participating in our first blog hop.  Starting September 1 through September 15, The Things You Can Read, and the participating sites below, are hosting a blog hop!

Happy Blog Hopping!

Participating Blogs:

1.	Romance At Random	2.	Ruthie Knox
3.	Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews	4.	Reading Reality
5.	Storm Goddess Book Reviews	6.	Manga Maniac Cafe
7.	Full Moon Bites	8.	Reading with Holly
9.	Bookie's Book Reviews	10.	All Things Books
11.	Good Choice Reading	12.	The Write to Make a Living
13.	The Book Diva	14.	Bea's Book Nook
15.	Shawntelle Madison	16.	Elisabeth Barrett
17.	Socrates' Book Review Blog	18.	Shelley Munro
19.	Insane Hussein Reviews	20.	Books R Us
21.	Jessica Scott	22.	Book Flame
23.	Manic Readers Guest Blog	24.	My Book Addiction and More
25.	SOS Aloha	26.	Pump Up Your Book
27.	Under the Covers Book Blog	28.	The Book Tart
29.	Reviews by Molly	30.	Laurie's Thoughts & Reviews
31.	Seductive Musings	32.	Romance Junkies
33.	Love To Read For Fun	34.	Cassandra Carr
35.	BookHounds	36.	Otterwise
37.	From the TBR Pile	38.	Love Saves the World (INT)
39.	Sharon Cullen	40.	So You Think You Can Write
41.	Babbles From Scott Eagan	42.	Bronwyn's Writing
43.	TE Garden of Book Bloggers	44.	Bookshelf Confessions
45.	Review From Here	46.	Celticlady's Reviews
47.	Romantic Reads and Such	48.	In Love with Romance
49.	The Bookpushers	50.	Reviewing Romance
51.	Queen of The Night Reviews	52.	Queen of All she Reads
53.	Romantic Crush Junkie Reviews	54.	Saucy & Sinful Reviews
55.	Romancing the Book	56.	Book Faery
57.	Harlies Books	58.	Love, Laughter, Friendship
59.	Ramblings From This Chick	60.	My Secret Romance
61.	Rambling Reads	62.	Delighted Readers
63.	suzy henderson	64.	Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance
65.	Blackraven's Erotic Cafe	66.	HEA Romances With a Little Kick
67.	AJ's Reading Nook	68.	The Readers Roundtable
69.	Dark Divas Reviews	70.	T B R
71.	Romance Book Club	72.	Seaside Book Nook
73.	Cheeky Reads	74.	Mimmi's Musings
75.	Kindle Fever	76.	Not Now...Mommy's Reading
77.	herding cats & burning soup	78.	Kindles and Wine
79.	Harlequin Junkie	80.	Caribbean Accent Book Reviews
81.	Sara Jane's Eclectic Reading Blog	82.	Sharon Hamilton Author
83.	Coffey Brown Books	84.	From the Bootheel Cotton Patch
85.	Teena in Toronto	86.	Me and Reading
87.	The Romance Dish	88.	Amber Kallyn
89.	Book Review Diva	90.	Leigh Ellwood
91.	Me Want Food	92.	One Word At A Time, Joan Swan, Author
93.	You've Been Hooked	94.	The Things You Can Read
95.	The Autumn Review	96.	Day Drmzzz
97.	The Book of Terrible	98.	Between the Bookcovers
99.	Charlene Blogs	100.	Julia Antoine-author
101.	Ex Libris	102.	Labor Day Hop

The Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

If you are a fan of The Leviathan Trilogy this giveaway might be of interest to you.  Click on  to enter.

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