Tuesday, October 27, 2020

STRONGMAN: THE RISE OF FIVE DICTATORS AND THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY by Kenneth C. Davis Official Nerd Blast and Giveaway

 



Grade Level : 5 - 9
Hardcover : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250205646
ISBN-13 : 978-1250205643
Publisher : Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Illustrated Edition (October 6, 2020)
Reading level : 12 - 18 years
Language: : English 

Praise for STRONGMAN: THE RISE OF FIVE DICTATORS AND THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY

* "History’s warnings reverberate in this gripping read about five dictatorial strongmen. A pitch-perfect balance of nuanced reflection and dire warning." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Strongman is a book that is both deeply researched and deeply felt, both an alarming warning and a galvanizing call to action, both daunting and necessary to read and discuss." ―Cynthia Levinson, author of Fault Lines in the Constitution

"A wake-up call to democracies like ours: we are not immune to despots . . . Strongman demonstrates that democracy is not permanent, unless it is collectively upheld. This book shakes that immortality narrative." ―Jessica Ellison, President of the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies

"Rarely does a history book take such an unflinching look at our common future, where the very presence of democracy is less than certain; even rarer is a history book in which the author’s moral convictions incite young readers to civic engagement; rarest of all, a history book as urgent, as impassioned, and as timely as Kenneth C. Davis’ Strongman." ―Eugene Yelchin, author of the Newbery Honor book Breaking Stalin’s Nose

"[I] . . . found myself engrossed in it from beginning to end. I could not help admiring [Davis's] ability to explain complex ideas in readable prose . . . very much a book for our time." ―Sam Wineburg, author of Why Learn History (When It's Already on Your Phone)

"At a time when dictators are rampant in such countries as North Korea, Turkey, China, Russia, and others, Davis’ deep dive into the lives of five of history’s most notorious dictators (or strongmen as he calls them)―Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Hussein―is apposite and timely." ―Booklist

OFFICIAL NERD BLAST FOR STRONGMAN: THE RISE OF FIVE DICTATORS AND THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY 

This is a Nerd Blast, you will post the promotional info we provide you with, including the giveaway. No reviews required. Please mark your Calendar.


From the bestselling author of the Don’t Know Much About® books comes a dramatic account of the origins of democracy, the history of authoritarianism, and the reigns of five of history's deadliest dictators.

What makes a country fall to a dictator? How do authoritarian leaders—strongmen—capable of killing millions acquire their power? How are they able to defeat the ideal of democracy? And what can we do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

By profiling five of the most notoriously ruthless dictators in history—Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Saddam Hussein—Kenneth C. Davis seeks to answer these questions, examining the forces in these strongmen’s personal lives and historical periods that shaped the leaders they’d become. Meticulously researched and complete with photographs, Strongman provides insight into the lives of five leaders who callously transformed the world and serves as an invaluable resource in an era when democracy itself seems in peril.

You can purchase Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Credit: Nina Subin

Kenneth C. Davis is the New York Times–bestselling author of America’s Hidden History and Don’t Know Much About® History, which gave rise to the Don’t Know Much About® series of books for adults and children. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed In the Shadow of Liberty, which was an ALA Notable Book and a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, as well as More Deadly Than War, which was named a Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Month. A frequent guest on national television and radio and a Ted-Ed Educator, Davis lives in New York City.
      

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Monday, October 26, 2020

A TIME FOR MONSTERS by Gareth Worthington Official Nerd Blast and Giveaway

 



Paperback: 332 pages
ISBN-10: 1645480690
ISBN-13: 978-1645480693
Publisher: Vesuvian Books (May 11, 2021)

Praise for A TIME FOR MONSTERS

"A hell-raising revenge tale for fans of Gillian Flynn, Stieg Larsson and Karen Slaughter that forces readers down a dark road with an unexpected twist." ―Monique Snyman, Bram Stoker Awards Nominee


Only a monster can do the wrong things for the right reasons. 

Do you remember the first tape or CD you ever bought? Perhaps you waited for the local station to play the top forty songs on a Sunday so you could record your favorite band. Maybe you downloaded a certain track that reminded you of your wedding day or a graduation. 

Reyna Blackburn remembers. Every single song for every horrific event in her life. She remembers what song was playing on the radio the first time he hurt her. And she remembers what was playing through her headphones the first time she killed.
You can purchase A Time For Monsters at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Content from Gareth Worthington

Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World's doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts - he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction.

An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time.

        

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Friday, October 23, 2020

RURAL VOICES Edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter Official Blog Tour

 





Hardcover : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1536212105
ISBN-13 : 978-1536212105
Publisher : Candlewick (October 13, 2020)
Language: : English

Praise for RURAL VOICES

The writers bring authentic voices to their work in addition to their biographies, shared at the back of the book. This collection will be a high-interest read for middle and high school students...This book is a must-purchase for libraries serving middle and high school readers. —School Library Connection

The compilation successfully meets the challenge of serving as a cohesive whole while providing readers with enough variety of tone, pace, and voice to keep the reading experience interesting. A fresh and highly accessible contribution. —Kirkus Reviews

From laughing out loud to holding back tears, readers who enjoy emotionally resonant books will not be disappointed. Those from similar geographic areas will be nodding their heads while every reader, regardless of location, will connect to the universal triumphs and tribulations of teen life. Fans of Rainbow Rowell will dive headfirst into this collection. A great addition that explores an often misrepresented portion of readers. —School Library Journal


Think you know what rural America is like? Discover a plurality of perspectives in this enlightening anthology of stories that turns preconceptions on their head.

Gracie sees a chance of fitting in at her South Carolina private school, until a "white trash"-themed Halloween party has her steering clear of the rich kids. Samuel's Tejano family has both stood up to oppression and been a source of it, but now he's ready to own his true sexual identity. A Puerto Rican teen in Utah discovers that being a rodeo queen means embracing her heritage, not shedding it. . . .

For most of America's history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors' real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors - diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status - explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you'll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed - and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own.

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Nora Shalaway Carpenter, David Bowles, Joseph Bruchac, Veeda Bybee, Shae Carys, S.A. Cosby, Rob Costello, Randy DuBurke, David Macinnis Gill, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Estelle Laure, Yamile Saied Méndez, Ashley Hope Pérez, Tirzah Price and Monica Roe 

You can purchase Rural Voices at the following Retailers:
        

Ten Random Things About My High School and College Experience 

Shae Carys

 

1) I was called out often by my beloved Algebra teacher for wearing combat boots. He was a great guy and despite my dislike for math, I really liked him as a teacher. He would point out that I wore combat boots and remind me that when I was old, people would be able to say to my grandchildren that I wore combat boots (ala "your grandma wears combat boots!," which was a thing in the '90s). This was also the class where I often got caught reading.

 

2) I had purple hair for my graduation, wore a dress with Renaissance paintings on it and fishnets along with my combat boots. The school had sent home a letter stating that I needed to "dress appropriately," so I had my Dad dye my hair and I picked the rest. Our graduation gowns were green, so I looked a little like a reverse Joker.

 

3) I sang Tori Amos' "Winter" at my high school graduation and shocked a lot of people who didn't know that I was a singer. I was accompanied by my Spanish teacher on piano. I got so nervous that I missed my cue and she had to play me around again.

 

4) When I was 16, I started LARPing with my sister. LARPing (live action role playing) was a completely nerdy thing, but it was the first time I found my "people." During the time I did it, I appeared in two different articles in local newspapers about the hobby.

 

5) I was not popular in high school, but I wasn't an outcast. I floated in the middle and was mostly bullied by the kids who had troubled home lives. The popular kids and I were on mostly good terms - but then, there were only around 30 of us in my class! I did go goth, and it made my high school experience a lot easier, ironically.

 

6) I only applied to one college -- it was close to home and my sister was already there. We ended up rooming together for my first two years at college.

 

7) I missed a History class so that I could be the first of my friends to beat the Omega Weapon in Final Fantasy VIII. I don't condone nor recommend it, but it did feel good.

 

8) My Mom started college at the same school the summer right before I was to graduate. We shared two classes together, which I found to be a lot of fun.

 

9) It was my original intention to get a degree in Graphic Design. When I was told that my drawing talents were a bit average, I decided to go for a degree in English, instead! The irony is that I was doing Computer Graphic design, which was only JUST becoming a thing.

 

10) I added an extra semester to my collegiate experience so that I could go to England during the summer before my final semester. It was worth it - I got to see Oxford, London, and York, as well as spend a week in Edinburgh to see the Fringe.

 

ABOUT SHAE CARYS




Shae Carys has been writing for as long as she can remember (probably longer, since time can get a little fuzzy around the edges). She holds and MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a regular contributor to HorrorHound magazine. She can usually be found at her laptop, guarding the space from her jealous Jack Chi and doing all manner of things (some of which actually constitute writing). She takes pride in being a member of both the rural and disabled writing communities and in bringing awareness to both.

 


Photo Credit: Chip Bryan

Nora Shalaway Carpenter grew up on a mountain ridge deep in the West Virginia wilderness. A graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program, she is the author of the YA novel The Edge of Anything and the picture book Yoga Frog. Before she wrote books, she worked as associate editor of Wonderful West Virginia magazine, and she has been a certified yoga teacher since 2012. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, three young children, and world’s most patient dog and cat.

        
WEEK ONE - EXCLUSIVE EXCERPTS
OCTOBER 12th MONDAY JeanBookNerd GUEST POST
OCTOBER 13th TUESDAY A Dream Within A Dream GUEST POST 
OCTOBER 13th TUESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books GUEST POST
OCTOBER 14th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW 
OCTOBER 15th THURSDAY BookHounds GUEST POST 
OCTOBER 15th THURSDAY Books and Zebras REVIEW & GUEST POST 
OCTOBER 16th FRIDAY Kait Plus Books GUEST POST

WEEK TWO - EXCLUSIVE EXCERPTS
OCTOBER 19th MONDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW & GUEST POST 
OCTOBER 20th TUESDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW & GUEST POST 
OCTOBER 21st WEDNESDAY TTC Books and More GUEST POST
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OCTOBER 22nd THURSDAY The Phantom Paragrapher REVIEW 
OCTOBER 22nd THURSDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW 
OCTOBER 23rd FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW & GUEST POST 
OCTOBER 23rd FRIDAY My Fictional Oasis REVIEW

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