In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is inspired by Alea and hosted by Kristi. Check out Kristi's post for links to others' IMMs!

The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander

(Feiwel and Friends / Sept. 1, 2009)

Almost-15-year-old Austin Gray is tired of standing at the curb and watching the parade pass her by. Literally. She decides this is the year she’ll ride on the hood of a shiny pickup truck in the annual parade, waving to the crowd and finally showing the town bully that she’s got what it takes to be the Sweetheart of Prosper County.

But far from simply being a beauty contest, becoming Sweetheart involves participation in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), raising an animal, and hunting or fishing. Austin will do almost anything to become Sweetheart, and has the support of her oldest friend, Maribel, her new FFA friends (including the reigning Sweetheart, and a quiet, cute cowboy), an evangelical Elvis impersonator, a mysterious Cajun outcast, and a rooster named Charles Dickens. If only her momma would stop overprotecting her, and start letting Austin live her own life. But Austin can’t move on until Momma moves on, too—and lets the grief of losing Austin’s daddy several years before out into the open.

This book was ADORABLE. I can't wait to share my review with you all.

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

(Scholastic Press / Oct. 1, 2009)

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?

This book was a surprise, and I was delighted. Originally I was put off by its obscenely pink cover and unwieldy title, but after reading Maggie Stiefvater's glowing review of it on Goodreads I've been wanting to check it out.

Once a Witch by Carolyn McCullough

(Clarion Books / Sept. 14, 2009)

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

The incredibly nice Jenny from Clarion offered to send me an ARC of this book after seeing it on my August wish list. Thank you so much!

Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney

(Bancroft Press / Oct. 1, 2009)

Ever since his mother left, life has't been easy for Heath Wellington III. Between his father's (Junior's) bouts with alcoholism and literary rejection, and Heath's own wrongful suspension from school, there hasn't been all that much to be thankful for.

But following the tragic death of estranged grandfather Senior, father and son alike stand to inherit a life-changing fortune . . . with one catch.

Heath and Junior must spend the next three months managing Senior's bed and breakfast, located in the same Massachusetts home Junior has spent the last eight years trying to escape. As Heath adjusts to his new world, what he needs most is to start anew with his father, to understand that Junior, too, is dealing with loss, and to realize that, even in the most tragic of times, there's a lot in life to be thankful for.

I've had good experiences with Bancroft Press (they sent me Back Creek by Leslie Goetsch for review, which I loved), so I'm curious to see how I will like this one.

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby

(Ecky Thump Books, Inc. / Sept. 1, 2009)

Enter the magical, festive world of the Christmas 'Tree-Dwellers', as Larry, a Christmas snowman, and his pet companion Tinsel, wake up after the long sleep in the Christmas box, to find his brother is missing. Unable to accept his loss, Larry, along with Tinsel, his girlfriend Debbie, and a newcomer Splint, break the laws of the 'Tree-Elders' and escape down the tree and away into the house, to look for clues to his brother's disappearance. Away from the safety of the tree, and desperate to piece back their families in time for Christmas, the small Tree-Dwellers stumble upon a dark and sinister secret, that threatens their whole way of life. However, they soon realize it's not just time that's against them, as they begin to unravel the 'Secrets of a Christmas Box'.

It sounds like it could be interesting!

Really, though, what's with all the holiday stuff? I haven't yet started my fall semester, and we're in the middle of a heat wave--I haven't even thought about the start of school, let alone the holiday season! :)

I also bought like a ton of books and received books from swaps but keeping track and describing every single book that I obtain would be a nightmare, so my IMM posts usually feature just books sent to me by publishers or authors.

What did you get this week??