Bookanistas: Trauma Queen and...We have a Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON by John Green & David Levithan (bought at my favorite indie, Third Place Books)...   LOGAN!

NOW, ON TO TRAUMA QUEEN

Plot without spoilers...Marigold Bailey is sick of being the daughter of a performance artist.  Her mom's "art" presentations have even driven a wedge between Marigold and her best friend Emma.  Can Marigold ever forgive her mom for ruining her life--and is her mom even the person who needs forgiveness in the first place?

Of literary merit...From nail polish, to textile art, to vegetarian foods, Trauma Queen is a richly textured middle grade novel inhabited by unique, yet very relatable characters.  Marigold's prairie-days worshipping younger sister Kennedy and "good/bad girl" classmate Layla were particularly well-draw.

Finally, just gotta say...I especially enjoyed the description of the improv games and the way various characters related to their onstage work.  Coming from an arts background myself, these moments rang with authenticity for me.  A delightful middle grade novel that I read in one sitting!

What are the other Bookanistas belting about this week...?

Elana Johnson adores A Need So Beautiful

LiLa Roecker is gaga for Are You Going to Kiss Me Now?

Christine Fonseca interviews YA Fiction for Dummies author Deborah Halverson – with giveaway

Beth Revis interviews A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie author Matt Blackstone

Carolina Valdez Miller is wowed by Wildfire – with giveaway

Shana Silver and Veronica Rossi gush over Hourglass

Jen Hayley delves into Divergent

Rosemary Clement-Moore thinks Chime is divine