Thursday, April 7, 2011

April Book Giveaway

Author Anjali Banerjee will autograph a personalized bookplate to the winner!

Eleven-year-old Poppy, the protagonist of Seaglass Summer by Anjali Banerjee, wants to be a veterinarian like her Uncle Sanjay. Too bad her mother is allergic to anything with fur and Poppy has never had a pet. So this summer, instead of accompanying her parents to visit relatives in India, Poppy travels from LA to an island off the coast of Washington State, armed with her Deluxe Veterinarian First-Aid Kit, to be Uncle Sanjay's helper at his Furry Friends Animal Clinic.

The episodic chapters serve this type of story well. The book is sweet without sugar-coating the sometimes gross and sad realities of pet health care, and without skirting issues such as disagreement by Uncle Sanjay's father with Sanjay's career choice. Multicultural without making multiculturalism the issue, enriched with lovely setting details, the novel will greatly interest animal lovers. Poppy is a conscientious, appealing girl who learns that growing up isn't instantaneous, that dreams don't always match reality, but that she can do more than she thought, too.

To be entered in the drawing:
  • Comment on this post anytime from now through Sunday, April 17.
  • For an additional entry, become a follower of this blog and mention that in the comment. Ditto if you already are a follower.
  • For additional entries, post links to this contest and give the URLs.
Winner will be announced Monday, April 18.

So, come one, come all--and meanwhile have a great day in the world of books.

17 comments:

Bish Denham said...

Okay, I'm putting my name in the hat. And I'm a follower. I'll also had this to my sidebar!

Vijaya said...

Since I've already won a book from you, I won't put my name in the hat, but I'm going to pick this one up for my daughter. She will love this! Thanks for the review.

LifeLongLearner said...

I'd love to enter for a chance at the book.

mjantzi@rockingham.k12.va.us

Teacher/Librarian

Marcia said...

Bish and LifeLongLearner, thanks for entering!

Vijaya, I bet she WILL like it.

Anne Spollen said...

Another great review! I wonder, do the authors ever contact you after you publish these?

Anjali Banerjee said...

I am the author. Thank you, Marcia, for a lovely review, and I'll be happy to send an autographed, personalized sticker (bookplate) to the person who wins a copy of Seaglass Summer.

Eileen said...

I have read this book and enjoyed it and am enterting to win the book so I could pass it on to my mom for mother's day. She would love this book, she has two dogs.

Marcia said...

Anne -- Little did we know that the comment after yours would answer your question. :) It's happened a couple of other times, too.

Anjali -- Thanks so much for visiting, and for the wonderful offer of a signed bookplate. I'll be in touch...

Eileen -- What a great thought for a mother's day gift.

Anonymous said...

If I win please have Anjali make the book out to Abigail :)

Anne E. Johnson said...

Hi, Marcia! I've been busy writing (and publishing) since our ICL class. I'm following your blog now and have linked to your contest on my blog at http://anneejohnson.blogspot.com/2011/04/win-copy-of-seaglass-summer.html

Nora MacFarlane said...

Hi Marcia - I'm in, and I'm a follower!

Marcia said...

Abigail -- Will do. :)

Anne -- So glad to hear you're writing and publishing! Thanks for visiting and entering.

Nora -- You're in!

Anonymous said...

Please enter me too! Thanks so much!

Amy C.

Marcia said...

Hi Amy! You're in!

Laura Pauling said...

Hey Marcia,
Even though you can comment through Kindle and transfer them to your computer, while beta reading, I still take notes on paper with a pencil! It's so nice to step away from the computer when spending hours reading someone else's work!

Mary Witzl said...

What Vijaya said. This sounds like a book I'd have devoured as a kid, gross bits and all. I'm writing this one down: I'll definitely read it and so will my girls!

Marcia said...

Laura -- I agree. It's no wonder agents and editors moved to e-readers so long ago. As for notes w/ paper and pencil, that would be fine.

Mary -- I'm certain I'd have liked it as a kid too. Even though I didn't have pets or much experience with animals, that never kept me from reading about them.