MY LIFE IN THE FISH TANK by Barbara Dee - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!

Welcome to the My Life in the Fish Tank Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee on September 15th, blogs across the web are featuring original guest posts from Barbara, plus 5 chances to win My Life in the Fish Tank and swag!  Sounds FINtastic, right?  That's what I thought too, so here's my stop along the tour with a post from the author herself, and of course a proper introduction to the title in the spotlight...

My Life in the Fish Tank

by

Barbara Dee

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop | Indiebound

Add on Goodreads

From acclaimed author of Maybe He Just Likes You and Halfway Normal comes a powerful and moving story of learning how to grow, change, and survive.

When twelve-year-old Zinnia Manning’s older brother Gabriel is diagnosed with a mental illness, the family’s world is turned upside down. Mom and Dad want Zinny, her sixteen-year-old sister, Scarlett, and her eight-year-old brother, Aiden, to keep Gabriel’s condition “private”—and to Zinny that sounds the same as “secret.” Which means she can’t talk about it to her two best friends, who don’t understand why Zinny keeps pushing them away, turning everything into a joke.

It also means she can’t talk about it during Lunch Club, a group run by the school guidance counselor. How did Zinny get stuck in this weird club, anyway? She certainly doesn’t have anything in common with these kids—and even if she did, she’d never betray her family’s secret.

The only good thing about school is science class, where cool teacher Ms. Molina has them doing experiments on crayfish. And when Zinny has the chance to attend a dream marine biology camp for the summer, she doesn’t know what to do. How can Zinny move forward when Gabriel—and, really, her whole family—still needs her help?

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  Abnormal Standard Time in My Life in the Fish Tank
by Barbara Dee

Sometimes when you write something that's highly personal, you wonder if anyone else will get it. This is what happened as I wrote the Abnormal Standard Time chapter in My Life in the Fish Tank.  In part it was based on my family's feeling of disconnectedness the year my oldest son was in treatment for cancer. My two other kids still went to school every day, we ate dinners together most nights, we shopped for groceries and walked the dog--but even as we all did our best to carry out our normal routines,  life for our family was surreal.  No matter how hard or how well we "coped," we were in a different world from everyone we knew.  Time for us was measured by hospital routines and doctor appointments, not by the calendar or the clock.

In My Life in the Fish Tank, ZInny's world is similarly split into a "before" and "after" her brother's car accident and diagnosis of bipolar disorder. After that accident, in a chapter called "No Month, No Date, No Time," Zinny considers how life has gotten weird for her family:   

Sometimes I think we could have different systems for telling time. I mean like one system for when you go to school, hang out with your friends, play soccer on weekends, blahblahblah. We could call it something like Normal Standard Time.

But there would also be another system, another calendar completely, for when things get weird, or when bad things happen.

Because one thing you notice, when those bad things happen, is that calendars and clocks stop making any sense. Even if they work perfectly okay, even if the batteries are good, and the cords are plugged in, and all you need to do is turn the page on the cute Rescue Dog of the Month calendar that's hanging on the fridge, they don't communicate anything useful. Or even anything your brain can understand.

At least that's how it seemed in our house.

It was like, after it happened, we were in a different time zone from everybody else.

A parallel universe.

And we needed some kind of new, not-yet-invented time measurement. Abnormal Standard Time.

Also a compass and a map.

I decided to use a fractured timeline in My Life in the Fish Tank for two reasons. I wanted to show Zinny gradually coming to terms with her brother's illness as certain events trigger memories--some good, some painful-- of his behavior.  Also, I wanted to dramatize the concept of Abnormal Standard Time, making everything that happened in the past part of the family's very intense present.  

As I've shared Advance Review Copies of My Life in the Fish Tank with educators, librarians and bloggers this past spring and summer, one reaction I've heard repeatedly is how the Abnormal Standard Time passage rings true in our new Covid reality. Nobody knows what day it is. Weeks are endless.  Months bleed into other months. Time has gotten weird--for everyone.

One day (and I hope soon), most of us will be back on Normal Standard Time. As Zinny notes, the normal can seem boring and mundane--"you go to school, hang out with your friends, play soccer on weekends, blahblahblah." But when those routines are taken away from you, you realize how precious they are, and how much you miss them.

My greatest wish is that we'll emerge from the pandemic in good health-- with a new and abiding appreciation of Normal Standard Time.   

***********

About the Author...

Barbara Dee is the author of eleven middle grade novels published by Simon & Schuster, including My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including the The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, the ALA Notable Children’s Books, the ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Barbara lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a sweet rescue hound named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Blog Tour Schedule:

September 14th - Crossroad Reviews

September 15th - BookhoundsYA

September 16th - Good Choice Reading

September 17th - Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

September 18th - Word Spelunking

GIVEAWAY

• One winner will receive a hardcover copy of My Life in the Fish Tank, bookmark, and button
• Check out the rest of the stops on the tour for 4 more chances to win!
• US/Can only
• Ends 9/27 at 11:59pm ET

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Special thanks to Casey at Media Masters Publicity for the chance to bring this tour to you and the author Barbara Dee for the fabulous Guest Post!  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys by Barbara Dee

Hi guys!

Welcome back to another year here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Wow, can you believe it?  It's 2015!  Woo hoo!  Here's hoping your New Year's Eve/Day celebrations went well.  Wishing you only the best throughout the coming year and I'm hopeful you'll make a stop at my site part of your daily ritual.  ~cheesy grin~  Anywho...

Today, we're diving back into the review arena with a new Kids Fiction title from an author whose work we've come to know and love.  I've reviewed several of her titles, including Trauma Queen, and This is Me From Now On, right here on the site and I gotta say, I've yet to be disappointed.  So, are you ready to read all about her latest and greatest?  Get ready to leap back into those awkward middle school years because here comes today's book of choice....

The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys

by

Barbara Dee

9781481405638

Aladdin Mix

About the book...

According to Finley and her BFF, Maya, middle school boys can be put into three separate categories: tadpoles, croakers, and frogs. Per their official Life Cycle of Amphibian Boys, while tadpoles are totally not developed yet (read: boys who still love fart jokes and can’t have a normal conversation with girls without making fun of them), a frog is the top of the boy food chain—evolved and mature. Sadly, not many boys have reached that elusive frog status at Staunton Middle School.Finley thought she had everyone pegged, until Zachary Mattison enters the picture. After suddenly leaving the year before, Zachary’s surprise reappearance at SMS forces Finley to see him in a new light. And when the official life cycle list falls into the wrong hands, it causes a battle between the boys and girls that turns into an all-out war—one that Finley isn’t sure anyone can really win...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ultimately, this is a story about growing up.

We start in the shallow end of the pool and wind up in the great big beyond...but along the way, there are bumps, bruises, and lessons to be learned.  Perhaps it would be better said then that this story is about those bumps and bruises because poor Finley is in for quite a few.  It all starts with the rating system that she and her friend Maya created to help sort out the boys from the...well, those that were taking the next step in their path toward manhood.  It's fine and dandy until the information falls into the wrong hands.  ~dun dun dunnn~  Things get out of hand as the boys turn against the girls in a battle of whit's to see who can out frog the other.  Trust me...my wording may be funny but the back and forth between them is even funnier.

Aside from the back and forth bantering between the sexes, we also have a little girl to girl rivalry.  The story delicately explores the intricate nature of the relationship between best friends, in this case girl friends.  It reveals the unspoken competitions, the hurt feelings, and the overall sense of leaving one another behind that can (and sadly does) happen as we grow up.  Is it all preventable?  To some degree...and that's where the tale is reassuring for those that are going through that pothole riddled road in their own lives (or have little ones that are headed that way).  Don't let the lessons fool you though, there is plenty of fun to be had between the pages and the life cycle of the frogs, I mean boys....is just the beginning.

In conclusion, another great read to grow with from an author who has become a well recognized name in her chosen genre.  Her stories feature relatable characters in realistic situations that make it easy to step right into, whether you be the target audience, or somewhere beyond. 

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About the author...

Barbara Dee is the author of the tween novels Just Another Day in my Insanely Real Life, Solving Zoe (2010 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year), This Is Me From Now On, and Trauma Queen. She lives with her family in Westchester County, New York. You can visit her on the web at BarbaraDeeBooks.com.

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Review copy received courtesy of  Kate at Deb Shapiro and Company.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Aladdin Mix, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Ready, Set, ACTION: Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee

Here's hoping that your weekends are filled with nothing but fun and relaxation....and if not, you at least get a little me time.  Don't forget TODAY is the FINAL DAY to enter for your chance to win a copy of The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander with a SIGNED bookplate!  Entries accepted through midnight CST tonight (04/29/11).  Also, TOMORROW marks the end of our second contest running right now.  You're chance to win a copy of Song of the Silk Road by Mingmei Yip ends 04/30/11 so don't delay.  Just click on the links in the right hand tool bar under "Current Contests" to be whisked right to the entry pages.  Anywho, moving on....

I myself had a rare day off yesterday though I was still unable to be anywhere near a computer (darn running around...and stressful events....*grumble*) but I did manage to get in a little extra reading (whoo-HOO!).  Ironically, both books deal highly with emotional situations and display the role families play in the successful overcoming of such events for better or worse.  It got me to thinking about a title I read not so long ago that I have yet to share with you.  It came to me from the author herself, Ms. Barbara Dee.  For those that have been to my site previously, you may remember my review of another title from this author's repertoire last year (This Is Me From Now On) and while the stories are different, the positive family elements remain the same.  Ready for the "big reveal"?  Today's book of choice is....

Trauma Queen

by

Barbara Dee

Marigold Bailey wants what every other thirteen girl desires....to simply fit in.  Middle school can be a rough time for anyone growing up but for her, things are a bit complicated.  Let's see, for starters, this is her third school in the past few years and not because of her lack of academic potential either.  Her mother is a performance artist and while her acts may be entertaining to some, they are not to all (and embarrassing to a child to say the least)...and sometimes, just sometimes get a bit TOO personal.  "Actions may speak louder than words" and "names may never hurt you" but combined they can and do harm those they are aimed at....such as Mari's friend Emma and her mother.  Oh what's a parent to do when everything they try to accomplish turns out so horribly wrong?  Running away may work for the time being but uprooting your family no matter how small can be taxing on everyone especially those whose bonds of friendship are already stretched to the limit.  Will Marigold and her mother find that common thread to pull them through?  Or are mother and daughter destined to be at odds forever more?  Sounds to me like someone has a lot to learn....but who?

With an easy flowing writing style, this book falls into the "quick read" category perfect for a weekend reminder of what being a family truly means.  I saw a lot of my own mother in Ms. Bailey, ironically enough...especially in the opening scenes with Marigold's wardrobe malfunction (her mother thought it was Spirit Week making it Pajama Day and whoops....it wasn't...).  Her mother rushes to her rescue, just not quite the way Mari would have liked.  You can see that her mother sincerely loves her but in all the embarrassment of the moment her eyes are blinded to her efforts.  I think that happens a lot as we are growing up to each and every one of us.  We love our parents but we never truly appreciate them for all that they do until time passes and we can see those old situations in a new light.  Grant it, they never truly shed their embarrassing undertones, but they do help us gain a new insight into the love shared within a family. 

Aside from the mother daughter aspect of the story that takes most of the center stage, there was much more to be pondered.  On the fun side, I loved the theater aspects woven into the story.  You really got a feel of what life as a performance artist would be like...as well as learned a few fascinating techinques to try on your own time.  On a more serious note, I really appreciated the way that her friend Emma was portrayed.  Her feelings were really hurt by what happened and the fading away for a time was realistic to what might have occurred in real life should the same situation be encountered.  Often times things of this nature are glossed over for the stories sake but here it was used as a lesson to be learned from and built upon.  Also, the family structure wasn't all good nor all bad.  There was a real history of that initial spark and its being extinguished over time as well as fireworks (not always the good kind) upon future meetings.  Again, it reflected real life and makes it that much more accessible to readers as it showed love in its many forms. 

In the end, it was a heart felt story about growing up and seeing your family for all its worth not just what you want it to be.  Acceptance of all our supposed flaws for better or worse, and understanding that our parents more often than not are simply doing the best that they can.  It's not like we were born with an instruction manual you know, though I'm certain they'd love it if we were.  Some are better prepared than others, but it doesn't mean that the "free spirit" can't be the parent of your dreams.  Love goes a long way in healing those unintentional wounds caused by merely trying to get things right...as does a little understanding.



Barbara Dee



Recommended read for young readers through adults.  It touches on issues of growing up and family from a realistic point of view without an inclusion of controversial topics or language.  This book was released earlier this month from Simon & Schuster, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  Review copy received courtesy of author Barbara Dee.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this inspiring author, feel free to visit her website, blog, follow along on Twitter, or check out the new VYOU site/feature where you can ask the author a question and get a VIDEO response!  (How cool is that, right?)

Until next time...have a great weekend...and happy reading!

WINNERS: This Is Me From Now On CONTEST

Hi everyone!

Today is the day!  What day?  Why the day This Is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee hits shelves AND the day we find out whic of you lucky readers scored a copy of your very own and/or an Evie-licious swag pack!  Entries were approximately when all is said and done....let's get this show in the road!  The winners as selected and randomly drawn are as follows....

Book & swag...
#82 - Angie D

Swag pack...

#69 - Kate the Book Buff

 

Congratulations!  You now have 72 hours to respond to the email I sent you to claim your prize.  If a response is not received in the allotted time frame...no worries!  I have two back up numbers drawn...
Didn't win?  Did you enter on my "partner-in-review" 's site?  If so, check out her post today (There's A Book) to see if you snagged a win there!  For those that did not win this round in either locale, but would like another chance, no worries!  Hop on over to The Cajun Book Lady and check out her review and contest for this title starting today!

Special thanks to author Barbara Dee for the opportunity to participate in the early review of this title and to "the1stdaughter" at There's A Book for teaming up with me for the review and giveaway!  Remember...the book hits shelves today so be sure to keep an eye out for it!  Thank you to all those that entered (and those that merely thought about it...you lurkers you...)!   Don't forget we still have two open contests on the site and Friday is the big BLOGMANIA event!  There's lots more fun to come...stay tuned...

Until next time....happy reading!

REMINDER: This Is Me From Now On CONTEST Ends Tonight!

Just a quick reminder....

...a contest at SFIR is ending tonight at midnight CST!

Enter now for your chance to win your very own copy of ....

 

 

This Is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee

and/or Evie-licious swag pack...

...courtesy of author Barbara Dee and There's A Book!

For more information and to enter, click here!

This is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee - Review + CONTEST!

Hi everyone!

Happy Monday to you!  Hopefully your weekend went well and you are ready to start another stretch of 7 days (okay, well technically 6 since Sunday is already over...but anywho...).  If not, no worries...I'm aiming to help you start it off right!

Today we are celebrating the upcoming release of a great new YA title with a review and contest...but before we get into that...let me tell you how this story came to pass (the story of the ARC not the story behind the story....only the fabulous author knows that).  I was going about my usual daily online doings and low and behold I see a tweet from an author looking for book blogs to review her upcoming release!  Well, I scrambled to see who this author was, her current works, and what I could uncover on the new book (I know, too thorough, but I'd rather be thorough then get a big not-so-good surprise on a title).  Once I did my little research, I immediately responded to the tweet and the rest as they say is history!

There was one catch though.  There was only one ARC for review so it had to be passed around.  Sounds easy, right?  Yes, and no.  Getting it all coordinated was a little tricky, but in the end everything went as planned and that brings you up to speed on where we stand today...on the verge of a review.  This is not just an ordinary review though nor is it just a chance to win a little swag.  Along the way, the book made a journey out to one of my book blogging friends (small world, huh?), thus we are both featuring this book today...so once you're done reading my post, hop on over to There's A Book and see what she has to say!  You never know...there might be extra entries in it for you too.  Let's get this show moving...today's book of choice is....

This Is Me From Now On

by

Barbara Dee

Meet Evie.  She is your typical girl next door...good friends since kindergarten, worried about her grades but not overly, and trying to figure out school and life as it comes at her.  One thing she didn't expect was the arrival of Francesa, a relative of their former actress neighbor.  If you are anticipating a bit of flair due to the actress aspect, you would be correct.  She is full of the confidence and self-importance that Evie needs, but my goodness some of the things she gets into!  Their very first excursion to the I Scream shop (love the ice cream shops name there) just after meeting ends up leaving Evie paying for two since Francesa conveniently forgot her wallet.  Oh wait, no, she didn't forget, she planned on having it taken care of in some way.  Hmm...a little self-confidence can go a long way, but an over dose can take it one step too far and land you in trouble in so many ways.  Let's see between revealing Evie crush on Zane (who she could do so much better than), to playing matchmaker to two unexpecting teachers (yeah, the story behind that is rather interesting, but I'm not spoiling it for you), if you don't find youself gasping in laughter or in shock, you might want to check your pulse. 

Where oh where to begin...the beginning ...what a great suggestion!  Evie is the star of the show as she tries valiantly to unite her old friends and her new friend, even though she's not 100% certain how she feels about her inclusion just yet.  She still tries to make everyone feel welcome.  Now Franscesa...everyone needs a friend like her.  She is someone whom you can be the version of yourself that you hold back due to your fear of rejection....even from your closest, and dearest friends (admit it...there are some friends that you are less guarded around than others even though they are considered one of your closest).  A friend like Francesa is definitely worth making a spot for in your life.  Check out the author's thoughts on this very subject!

Another aspect that I want to draw attention to a moment is a quote that was very true in it's statement.

"History is a story we tell ourselves."

Think about it a moment.  History is truly what we make it despite facts or opinions presented.  If your parents and their parents told you your family history in one tone only to discover years later another version listed elsewhere....you are still more apt to believe what you grew up being told.  It's kind of like opinions...everyone has one, but they are not all the same.  Our take on history is based off facts, but also our own thoughts and perceptions.  We write our own stories....no one else.  (Yes, Barbara Dee...your characters impart some wonderful sentiments there.)

I have to say though, overall...I did enjoy this book; definitely recommended for younger teens since the story itself isn't that complex, and the writing style (due to the ages of the characters narrating the story) is set to match that level.  Adult readers can enjoy it as well, but just go in expecting that so you don't get a surprise.  Who knows?  Maybe you were like Evie or had a friend like Franscesa....if not, you'll get to live out their adventure though you remain safe in your home (no worries...I was a goody-goody too....no rebel rousing here...but now you can live out those aspirations through reading!).

So I was lucky enough to participate in a recent ARC tour of Barbara Dee's newest addition to the YA genre.  To help usher in this fun read, she has created and supplied two little gift pouches filled with the three things the new Evie would not be caught without....lip balm, bubble gum, and her amber necklace (okay, so it's not real amber, but it is still fun for sure).  That's right!  These cute purple bags contain your very own fun set of Evie-esque items PLUS a bookmark and you have a chance to win one of your very own!  You have until midnight CST on Monday, April 26th, 2010 to enter, and the winner will be announce Tuesday, April 27th, 2010...what do you know...that's also the day this new book hits shelves in a store near you!  (total coincidence...or not...hehe)  How do you enter?  I'm glad you asked.....

The prize:

1 of 2 Evie-esque prize packs containing:

(1) cutesy purple bag

(1) Lip Smackers lip balm

(1) amber colored necklace

a piece or two of bubble gum

(1) bookmark

PLUS...

...thanks to my "parter-in-review" over at There's A Book, one lucky swag winner will also receive a copy of the book!

How to enter:

Fill out this FORM and TADA, your entry will be complete!

Extra entries:

(Come on...you know you love extra entries!  Since this is a joint post, I'm gonna add in an extra option or two for you to earn more.  All of these will be listed on the form but I'll give you sneak peek.)

+4 - Visit author Barbara Dee's site and tell me one interesting fact you learned about the author (your choice...just curious to see what you find)

+3 - Leave a comment on this post

+3 - Leave a comment on the post at There's A Book

+2 - Follower (new or old) of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

+2 - Follower (new or old) of There's A Book

+1 - Follow ME on Twitter

+1 - Follow There's a Book on Twitter

+1 - Tweet about the contest

+1 - Link to the contest (blog, sidebar, or other social site...your choice)

+1 - Tally your entries

(That's 20 possible entries you can earn (including your initial one)!)

The rules:

*Open to US mailing addresses only!  No P. O. Boxes please.  (Sorry guys, but I'm footing the mailing bill on this one and my-funds-are-low.  Promise there is a super fantastical contest open to all followers coming later this month!)

* Entries will be accepted from Monday, April 19th, 2010 through Monday, April 26th, 2010 at midnight CST.  The entries will be tallied and entered into the random.org randomizer, after which a random number will be picked by their number generator.  (This way all the entries are mixed up nicely.)
* All entries must be submitted using the form accessable through this post.  You MUST include your email address in order to be counted as well as contacted should you be chosen as the winner!
*The winners will be announced and contacted via email on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 (which happens to be the book release day too!) and will have 72 hours to respond with their mailing address.  Should they fail to respond in the given time, a new winner will be chosen.
*Winners name and address will be used by me for prize send out only and then discarded.

Special thanks to author Barbara Dee for the opportunity to review this book and for the adorable gift packs!  For more information on her bookish life, check out her website or follow along on Twitter!

Good luck to all that enter!

Until next time....happy reading!