Between The Lines

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Ghost Week Day Four: Guest Post by Megan Crewe; How I Got Through High School, Breathers Only

When we think YA, we think teens. And when we think teens, we think high school. Wherever you are, whoever you are, if you are a teen or have survived through adolescence, it's likely that high school is common ground for us. On that note, Megan Crewe, author of Give Up the Ghost tells us how she lived through high school without any ghost friends. Here's how:

How I got through high school, breathers only In my book, GIVE UP THE GHOST, Cass feels her ghostly friends are pretty much essential to getting through high school. Without them, she feels she'd have no one to talk to, and be dismissed or harassed by everyone. Thankfully, my teen years were a lot less traumatic than Cass's! I never had a friend stab me in the back, and while I did get teased some in junior high, I always had friends for support, too. I was particularly lucky in high school, because I went to a school with a strong academic focus. I was the kind of kid who got her essays done a week early and was on the honor roll every term, and I talked to people (especially girls) who went to other high schools and felt they had to play dumb or they'd be made fun of. But at my school most of the popular kids were doing well academically, too, and people would congratulate you for being on the honor roll. So I could just be the sort-of-nerdy person I was and most people respected that. My high school wasn't very clique-y either, which was a relief after all the teen book and movie portrayals I'd seen. I had a couple of close friends I almost always hung out with, but I had lots of not-so-close friends who hung out with a variety of different people, too. There were any number of people I might end up eating lunch with, talking to in class, or joining up with to do a group project. You could chat up just about anyone in your grade and no one would think anything of it. I don't know if it helped or not, but I was active with a lot of different groups in high school as well. I did a brief stint in the drama club, a couple years on the school newspaper, and participated in both the speed swim and synchronized swim teams throughout. I got to know a lot of people that way I might not have otherwise--either because we didn't share many classes or they were in different grades. And of course it's easier to feel happy at school when you're involved in activities you enjoy there! So that was my high school experience--maybe some of you reading this can share yours? How do you get on at school? Do you wish you had ghosts to confide in or spy for you? :)

Labels: Ghost Week, Guest Post, Megan Crewe, Surviving High School

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Monday, September 14, 2009

Ghost Week: Day Three--Tête-à-Tête with YA Author Megan Crewe

Okay, so today I talk to Megan Crewe about...all sorts of random stuff. But I promise, it's good stuff:P Read on to find out more.

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your book.

GIVE UP THE GHOST is about a girl who's turned her back on the living in favor of ghostly friends--partly because she's been afraid to trust her classmates ever since her ex-best-friend turned on her in junior high, and partly because the ghosts can dig up the popular kids' dirty secrets so that Cass can expose them for what they really are.

How did you come up with the plot? Was it inspired by your own> experiences

The story started (like most of my stories do) with a 'what if': what if there was a girl who preferred hanging out with ghosts instead of living people? I came up with the plot as I figured out why she felt that way, and what might make that change. Thankfully, I never experienced any bullying as severe as Cass has, but I was teased now and then in junior high, and I witnessed other kids being ostracized or gossiped about behind their backs. And I've never seen a ghost, myself. :)

What’re your favourite book/s?

Far too many to list! You can see my all-time faves at my GoodReads account: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2270302 As a kid, my favorite book was THE CHANGELING by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and as a teen my favorite was BIRTH OF THE FIREBRINGER by Meredith Ann Pierce. I still love both dearly.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

I love animals of all kinds and am a bit of a pet fanatic. Right now I have two cats, but in the past I've owned ferrets, hamsters, mice, and fish, and I've considered getting rats. At some point, once we get a house, we may get a dog. And I used to want to have a horse (isn't that a typical girl thing?) and took riding lessons, but now I don't think I'd be able to commit enough time.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

I doubt I'd ever write one, but imagining I did... Maybe A PRACTICAL DREAMER.

Any other things you’re passionate about other than writing?

Well, reading, of course! I always have a book on the go and it's a thrill getting wrapped up in a new story. I also love traveling--have visited Britain, China, and Italy and hope to see much more of the world.

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

I've always seen myself as like Martha from THE CHANGELING (mentioned above)--shy but creative as a kid, slowly coming out of my shell in my teens.

If you had to wish upon a falling star right now, what would it be?

For a long and joyous writing career. :)What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?

When I was in junior high hanging out with a couple of my friends from choir downtown, we started an impromptu performance of various songs from Les Miserables for everyone walking by. We were just having fun, but I'm sure lots of people thought we were weird!

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

I find books make excellent company! :) As people go, I'd have to say my husband, because we can always find stuff to talk about for hours.

Frankenstein resurrection and world invasion! What does Cass do?

Get her ghost friends to find out as much info as they can, and use what they learn to locate and secure a safe place for her and her family--and Tim, if he wants to come along.

Would you prefer ghosts to breathers as friends?

Nope. Ghosts like the ones in my book are great, don't get me wrong, but as Cass discovers, there's some things you can only get from living, breathing people. Like hugs. Or the ability to remember what's been going on in your life.

Three words to describe yourself and three more to describe your book.

Me: Imaginative, dedicated, practical.
GHOST: Quirky, thoughtful, emotional.

Labels: Ghost Week, Megan Crewe, Tête-à-Tête

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Ghost Week: Day Three--Giveaway!

So, in honour of the release of Give Up the Ghost, Megan has been kind enough to let me host a giveaway on this blog! How cool is that?
Here is what you could win in the Give Up the Ghost swag pack:

-A ghost scent sample
-A friendship bracelet
-A mini paper lantern
-A Give Up the Ghost bookmark
-A Give Up the Ghost sticker set
-A Give Up the Ghost button

So hurry up and enter! You must be a follower to enter.Here's how you can get entries:
+1 for leaving a comment on this post with your email address
+2 for already following my blog (thanks guys!)
+1 for becoming a follower
+1 each for leaving a comment on any of the posts on this blog
+1 for leaving a comment on any post on Megan's blog
+1 for following me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ProdElektra)(leave your username please)
+1 for blogging, tweeting, or posting this somewhere (sidebar is okay).

Whew! Giveaway ends October 10th midnight EST, so you guys have plenty of time. I'll choose a winner using random.org on the 11th and Megan will send the winner his/her prize pack directly:)

Labels: Ghost Week, Give Up the Ghost, Giveaway

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Friday, September 11, 2009

Ghost Week!-Day Two: WorDissection: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Did I like it? Yeah.
You'll love it if you liked: Stories with ghost characters, or stories about the backstabbing of friends.
Aura: Slightly Intense
Read If: You're looking for a fresh read with literary and entertainment value.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Cass McKenna, high school junior.
Themes: Social outcast, revenge, breaking of trust, trust issues, healing, redemption, friendship, support.
Plot: 9/10
Narration: 8.5/10
Characterization: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Slightly when character development seemed a tad bit stagnant.
Did any part confuse me? Nope. it's a neat story with no scope for confusion.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5. Not much.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal, Self-discovering.
Uniqueness: 8.5/10
Predictability: 1.75/10
Favourite Quote: "I have friends, I wanted to tell her. You just wouldn't believe they exist."
Cover: 9.5/10. You gotta love the cover.
Song(s) to go with book (from author website, click here for source):
1. Trouble By Lisa Germano Ringtone | Buy Song 2. How Soon Is Now- Love Spit Love Ringtone | Buy Song 3. Geek The Girl By Lisa Germano Ringtone | Buy Song 4. Texarkana By R.E.M. Ringtone | Buy Song 5. Smoke By Natalie Imbruglia Ringtone | Buy Song 6. Understand The Dream Is Over By The Juliana Theory Ringtone | Buy Song 7. Country Feedback By R.E.M. Ringtone | Buy Song 8. Displaced By Azure Ray Ringtone | Buy Song 9. Elsewhere By Sarah McLachlan Ringtone | Buy Song 10. Wise Up By Aimee Mann Ringtone | Buy Song 11. How To Save A Life By The Fray Ringtone | Buy Song 12. Into The Dark By The Juliana Theory
Ending: Hopeful, satisfying, very realistic.
Reading priority: Should Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 5 hours, Slow readers- Approx 7 days.
Synopsis:
Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance….

WordVore Prod's Review:
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t anticipated this book much—I was dying for it! So when it first landed on my lap, I literally squealed. So naturally, I had a lot to expect from this book. And believe me, I wasn’t disappointed.
Cass McKenna is a social pariah, made so by the overreaction and revenge taken by her ex-best friend just because Cass got a place in the debate team that she wanted by chance, and got to be around the guy that she liked. Now, this idea may seem inflated at first look, but it wasn’t. It was made to be a story that could happen to anyone and everyone. Neither is this book a typical “ghost story”. Even the ghosts have well-crafted characters, which serves as a fresh breath of air. Cass’ desire for revenge is human and not something that turns her into an abominable character. But we can’t help but notice how she also realizes that it wasn’t worth it after all. The trust issues that hold Cass back are very neatly justified, not like an essay in itself but gradually as the story progresses. That is exactly why when she hesitates from being a friend to Tim, her defiance does not annoy us—rather it makes us empathize with her. Tim is one heck of an adorable character. The death of his mother along with his realization that his “friends” aren’t exactly his true friends makes him miserable at best. He feels utterly lonely at this point, and the emotions that he feels are amazingly communicates with the reader. You can’t help but feel like going over and giving him a tight bear hug. I was really glad that Cass came around and offered her friendship and support—and the way their relationship wasn’t all mushy and all-over-the-place. The way Cass takes baby steps towards giving people a chance and not be so stereotyping and opinionated made me admire her. None of the characters are too clichéd or exaggerated. She also gradually but awkwardly comes to terms with the fact that she genuinely cares about Tim. Danielle, Cass’ ex-best friend, showed hopes of redemption near the ending and the fact that she was worried about Tim shows us that she’s not completely disloyal or uncompassionate. Imagery is very well done, as it succeeds in pulling the reader into the book’s own world.
The best parts of the book were the fresh outlook, the hope of redemption and healing that each and every character showed and the well-drawn reasoning behind the characters’ actions. The book certainly had a neat quality about it. What I felt could have been better were: 1.) the character development felt a little stagnant at times—however, all the characters did end up in their proper positions by the end of the book; 2.) The characters could have used a little more depth—especially Cass. I would’ve loved to know more about her. Same goes with Tim.
Everything put together and weighed out against each other, I would recommend this book as a good reader to any reader looking for a spanking new plotline and outlook. The book also has high entertainment value and should keep you occupied throughout the entire read.

Labels: Ghost Week, Give Up the Ghost, Megan Crewe, WorDissection

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Ghost Week!-Day One

As I had mentioned before, leading upto the release date of Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe, which is September 15, this blog will undergo a celebration of 6 days! So today, I initiate...
The Ghost Week!
We'll kick off the first day with an awesome trailer for the book:

Like what you see? Then head for the bookstore on September 15th!

Labels: Ghost Week, Give Up the Ghost, Megan Crewe, Peek in Motion

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