And the Answer Is...

 I apologize for not posting this on Friday, but between the snow days and a family emergency, I was unable to do so. Consequently, I am doing it now and will also post a new question after this.

Last week's question was...

In which book does El Nino affect the protagonist’s family? 

And the answer is...

Hide and Seek  by Katy Grant

Here is the list of school who correctly answered Question #5

Hazelwood North Middle

Rockwood South Middle

Oakville Middle

Hazelwood Northwest Middle

Wentzville

Congrats to all who answered correctly this week.

Feature Book of the Week Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Feature Book of the Week

Fablehaven 

by 

Brandon Mull

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

About the Author

Brandon Mull is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journalbestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Brandon resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal.

I’ve always secretly wanted to write books.

I often kept the desire secret, because I knew that succeeding as a novelist would be a challenge, and I didn’t want people worrying about me or thinking I was crazy. As a kid, I lived in my head a lot, making up adventures, and sometimes sharing my imaginary games with siblings and friends. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always spent a huge portion of my free time daydreaming and making up stories. As I aged, those stories became more elaborate and compelling, and I decided that I wanted to share them with others. That was when I became serious about writing.

I figured that if I could learn to write a good scene, I could eventually write a good novel,

so through high school and college I mostly practiced by writing short fiction. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 2000, I started working on my first full-length novel. It was rejected by many agents and publishers before an editor at Shadow Mountain Publishing found promise in it. Shadow Mountain did not purchase that first book, but they asked to see something else, and the book I wrote for them was Fablehaven. So Fablehaven was published by the first publisher who saw it, after I did a lot of work shopping around that first book. The first book has not yet been published, but I expect to rewrite it someday and show it to publishers again.

Fablehaven surpassed my expectations

with how quickly it found an audience. It seemed that wherever the book got a start, good word of mouth followed, and soon I had a career. I had been working writing marketing copy to pay the bills, but was able to quit my day job about six months after the first Fablehaven was published. By then I had already written the sequel to Fablehaven, so I started on The Candy Shop War, since my publisher didn’t want more than one Fablehaven title per year.
I am now contentedly living my dream. Between writing and promoting, I work more hours in a week than I ever have, but I am passionate about the work. I love my wife and kids a ton, and am relieved to be supporting them by doing a job I adore.

Information retrieved from author website.For more information about Brandon Mull visit his website.

This will be the last Feature Book of the Week for this year. Comments Contest will close Friday, March 1, 2013. Contest winner will be announce at the book battle in May.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in this year's Feature Book of the Week and the comment contest.

Question of the Week #6

Welcome to another Question of the Week.

This Week's Question is...

In which book does El Nino affect the protagonist’s family? 


Remember to include the title and the author's name along with the name of your school when leaving your answer.

The list of schools correctly answering the question will be list on Friday morning.

And The Answer Is...

This week's question was...

In what book does a character believe he has found war plans in some secure computer files? 

And the answer is...

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Hazelwood North

Ladue Middle

Hazelwood Central Middle

Wentzville Middle

Oakville Middle

CrossKeys Middle

Wildwood Middle

Rockwood South Middle

Pattonville Heights Middle

Hazelwood Northwest Middle

Congratulations to all the school who participated and knew the title and author of this week's Question of the Week.

Feature Book of the Week Soulbound by Heather Brewer

Feature Book of the Week

Soulbound

by 

Heather Brewer

Tril is a world where Barrons and Healers are Bound to each other: Barrons fight and Healers cure their Barrons' wounds in the ongoing war with the evil Graplar King. Seventeen-year-old Kaya was born a Healer, but she wants to fight. In Tril, and at Shadow Academy, where she is sent to learn to heal, it is against Protocol for Healers to fight. So Kaya must learn in secret. Enter two young men: One charming, rule-following Barron who becomes Bound to Kaya and whose life she must protect at all costs. And one with a mysterious past who seems bent on making Kaya's life as difficult as possible. Kaya asks both to train her, but only one will, and the consequences will change their lives forever.

About the Author

Heather Brewer was not your typical teen growing up. She wore black, danced under full moons and devoured every book in sight.

She hasn’t changed much.

Today, Heather can be found wandering cemeteries, lounging on her coffin couch, devouring every book in sight, and attending renaissance faire in costume (and in character). 

When Heather's not writing, dressing up, or reading, she's hanging out with her Minions, whom she adores right down to their lil black hearts.

Heather is the author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, The Slayer Chronicles, and The Legacy of Tril series. She's penned several short stories, consumes entirely too much caffeine, and will not stop until she has achieved world domination in the name of her Minion Horde.

Once again Heather Brewer will be at the Book Battle, signing books and meeting with all of the teams.

Question of the Week #5

We had lots of school participated last week and I tell the you all have been reading the books because everyone go the right answer.

Good luck with this week's question...

In what book does a character believe he has found war plans in some secure computer files? 

As always remember to leave the title and author of the book and the name of your school when leaving a comment.

AND THE ANSWER IS...

This week's question was a bit different than the usual as you had to come up with a specific answer instead of the title of the book and the name of the author.  Thankfully, many of you rose to the challenge and answered correctly.

Here was this weeks question...

In Belly Up, Teddy believes that someone tried to scare or possibly kill him by letting a snake escape from it's exhibit in The World of Reptiles.  What kind (species) of snake is it?

And the answer is...

Black Mamba

Here are all the schools who correctly answered this week's question

Hazelwood Central

Valley Park Middle

Wentzville Middle

North Kirkwood Middle

Cross Keys Middle

Wildwood Middle

Oakville Middle

Hazelwood Northwest Middle

Bernard Middle

Rockwood South Middle

Hazelwood North Middle
Ladue Middle

Congrats to all the schools who got this week's answer. See you next week!

Feature Book of The Week Palace Beautiful by Sarah Deford Williams

FEATURE BOOK OF THE WEEK

PALACE BEAUTIFUL

by 

Sarah Deford Williams

When sisters Sadie and Zuzu Brooks move to Salt Lake City, they discover a secret room in the attic of their new house, with a sign that reads ?Palace Beautiful? and containing an old journal. Along with their neighbor, dramatic Belladonna Desolation (real name: Kristin Smith), they take turns reading the story of a girl named Helen living during the flu epidemic of 1918. The journal ends with a tragedy that has a scary parallel to Sadie and Zuzu?s lives, and the girls become obsessed with finding out what happened to Helen after the journal ends. Did she survive the flu? Is she still alive somewhere? Or could her ghost be lurking in the nearby graveyard? Sarah DeFord Williams has created a gripping read that covers two time periods, many fantastic characters, and a can?t-put-it-down ending, all with delightful, extraordinary prose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah DeFord Williams lives in Salt Lake City, UT with her husband and three kids. She has been writing all her life and has a special fondness for children’s literature. In addition to writing and spending time with her family she loves being outdoors-especially in the mountains. She plays guitar sings and enjoys songwriting. She has many hobbies and loves all things creative. To read more about the author checkout her website.

Question of the Week #4

Welcome back for another Question of the week. This week's question is a little different. Instead of requiring the title and the author the question requires you to answer a specific detail from the book.

So here is this week's question...

In Belly Up, Teddy believes that someone tried to scare or possibly kill him by letting a snake escape from it's exhibit in The World of Reptiles.  What kind (species) of snake is it?

Don't forget to include in your answer the name of your school. All answers will remain hidden until Friday when the correct answer is revealed.

Good reading!

And the Answer Is...

This week's question was...

In which book does a character  swallow a contact lens?

And the answer is...

Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell

Here is the list of school who correctly answer Question of the Week # 3

Hixson Middle

Bernard Middle

Hazelwood Northwest Middle

Oakville Middle

Washington Middle

Parkway Northeast Middle

Rockwood South

Cross Keys

Hazelwood Central

Hazelwood North Middle

North Kirkwood Middle
Ladue Middle

Congratulations to all the school who correctly answered this week's question.