Something to Blog About [Hardcover]

Shana Norris (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Boys, bullies, and blogs come together in a book that brings the popular online diary format to print.

For fans of Lauren Myracle’s ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r, this fun, fast-paced book introduces an unforgettable and relatable heroine and features chapter openers designed to look like the pages of an online blog. An innovative debut, Something to Blog About is filled with the memorable missteps and heartfelt emotions of growing up.

Libby Fawcett decides to start a secret blog so that she can have an outlet to vent her feelings and frustrations. When Seth Jacobs (her crush since eighth grade) witnesses her tragic (and comic) run-in with a Bunsen burner in chemistry class, or when she finds out that her mother is dating the father of her arch-nemesis, Angel Rodriguez, she’s able to keep a level head and make it through school each day with each blog posting. But when her entries get posted all over for the whole world to see, will Libby be able to walk the halls—or face Seth—ever again?

Debut author Shana Norris will win over a whole new generation of teens as she hilariously chronicles the pitfalls and triumphs of the life of a high school girl.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8–10—Sophomore Libby Fawcett decides to forgo a traditional journal and use a password-protected online blog to pour out her heart instead. She blogs her thoughts about her friend Keisha; her cousin Roger; her crush, Seth; and her tormentor, Angel. In spite of a chemistry-class disaster in which she catches her hair on fire, Seth asks her to tutor him, and she jumps at the chance. Meanwhile, romance seems to be in the air; Roger is playing secret admirer to win Keisha's love, and Libby's mother is dating a lawyer who turns out to be—gasp!—Angel's father. Of course, Angel discovers Libby's password and posts her blog entries all over the school, threatening her friendships and her budding relationship with Seth. The first-person narration inevitably leaves character motivation unexplored: If Seth is such a nice guy that he takes his grandmother dancing, why is he best friends with Angel? Why does Angel feel the need to torment Libby? Why does Libby's mom keep her boyfriend a secret for seven months? Nevertheless, short chapters and plenty of drama make this a snappy, breezy read for girls who long for the boy next door-or at the next locker-to notice them.—Laurie Slagenwhite, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Shana Norris is a Web designer by day and a writer at night. She lives with her husband in Kinston, North Carolina, where she actively posts on her own blog. This is her first novel. Visit www.shananorris.com for more information.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Amulet Books; Library Binding edition (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810994747
• ISBN-13: 978-0810994744
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,249,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've always loved books. My parents would read my favorite books to me so often that I'd memorize them before I had learned how to read. Some of my favorite memories as a kid are of my mom taking my siblings and me to the public library. I'd always check out a big stack of books and then have them all read within a week.

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a writer. Well, actually I wanted to be a ballerina, an archaeologist, a teacher, AND a writer, all at the same time.

I'm a web designer by day and write my books during my lunch hours and at night. I write contemporary and paranomal young adult books. I currently live in North Carolina with my husband and our menagerie of pets: two dogs--Chloe and Zoey--and five cats--Elmo, Bandit, Kit, BC, and Butter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 28, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something to Blog About (Hardcover)

Sometimes you just have to have a place to vent, ya know?

That's why Libby Fawcett started her blog. She wrote about her most embarrassing moments, like when she caught her hair on fire in chemistry class right in front of Seth Jacobs! She posted an entry the day she found out her mom was dating someone and that it had been going on for months. She blogged about her morning breath that tasted like she'd "been eating socks" in her sleep and the pimple on her earlobe. And she wrote about her cousin, Roger, who was crushing on her best friend, Keisha. She wrote about everything. And why not? She'd taken precautions. The blog was set to private. No one else could see it. Could they?

Angel Rivera, Libby's sworn enemy, torments Libby on a daily basis at school. When the girls discover their parents are dating one another, the harassment escalates. When Libby finds herself suspended after one of Angel's pranks, she realizes that she's being used to help break up their parents. Does she really want to cause her mother that much pain? Doing the right thing becomes even more difficult after Angel manages to turn the entire school against Libby.

SOMETHING TO BLOG ABOUT by Shana Norris is funny and engaging, a wonderful glimpse into the topsy-turvy emotions of a teen in love, who's also dealing with a parent who's dating and in love. I was only a few chapters in when my twelve-year-old daughter snagged my copy and read it straight through. She loved it! This first novel by Shana Norris is definitely "SOMETHING TO BLOG ABOUT!"

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is April, not Lorna. (her daughter), May 14, 2008

By 

Chocolate lover "Chocolate lover" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something to Blog About (Hardcover)

At 1st, the book was ok in the 1st chapter. Not very interesting, but after that I couldn't stop turning the pages! I had to know what happenes in the next chapter.

The ending was expected... but I still loved reading on the details of what happened.

I would recomend this to freshmen, or sofmore highschool students. It seemed a bit young for me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally Found A Book I've Been Looking For, April 15, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Something to Blog About (Hardcover)

When I first picked up this book I thought it would be just another book that I would lose interest in. But after the first blog I couldn't put it down. I actually could picture and understand what I was reading! I really felt connected to Libby. I felt sad for what she had to go through sometimes, but not as sad as when the book was over. I recommend this awesome book to anyone who is looking for a super fantastic read!!!!
I really, really hope that this will become a series, because finding this book helped me enjoy reading!