Thursday, April 5, 2012

SBBS: Day 14 ~ Megan Bostic

Spring Break Blog Spectacular ~ Megan Bostic Interview & Never Eighteen review


Today's Spring Break Blog Spectacular guest is Megan Bostic. Megan's debut novel, Never Eighteen, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was released in January. Keep reading after the interview and review for the giveaway of Never Eighteen and some swag that Megan is so graciously offering - it's international!


Interview:


Ideal spring break destination: ski chalet or tropical beach villa?
Tropical beach villa, definitely. I hate being cold.

In high school/college which was more likely spotting you on MTV’s Spring Break or just you and your friends enjoying the week off? Enjoying the week off.

What was your favorite Spring Break ever (where and/or why)? Or if you didn't go on spring break trips, where did you always want to go?
I don’t remember any specific spring break trips, but more than likely, Lake Chelan would have been a favorite. My friends and I went there whenever we could, a week in the spring, a week in the summer. We had a blast just laying out in the sun, swimming in the lake, hanging out, and picking up boys. Lol.

Fly and have the fun be at the destination or road trip and have the journey be at least half the fun?
The journey is always the best part of a trip.

Do any of your Never Eighteen characters take Spring Break trips (not necessarily in the book but maybe before)?
In the book, Austin talks about hiking with his parents. They would hike the trails on Mount Rainier.

Where would their ideal Spring Break destination be? (Together or on their own.)
Austin and Kaylee talked about taking a trip to the ocean, which is about two hours away. Kaylee had been there before, and wanted to take Austin, so I think that is where they’d like to go together.

Which of your characters (in Never Eighteen or something upcoming/in progress) would you most have liked to have met on a Spring Break trip?
I would love to have met Austin’s friend Jake on a spring break trip. He’s a gorgeous, super fun free spirit, and I’m sure we would have had loads of fun together.

Best book to read on Spring Break or a road trip?
Very hard question. I’d probably go with something funny, like Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore, or romantic, like The Notebook. May I also suggest a romantic weepie, like Never Eighteen? Lol.

Thank you!


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Review:


Never Eighteen
HMH Children's Books
January 17, 2012
202 pags
add to Goodreads/buy on Amazon/or Book Depository 


Austin knows he's not going to make it to his eighteenth birthday. He might not even make it through the rest of this year - his cancer's seeing to that.

One thing he can see to, though? Help those he loves most. Even if Austin can't, maybe he can help them understand them do it. Live.

It probably won't work.

He still hast o try.


Never Eighteen is simple - mostly Austin's visits to different people or places. But it's also never exactly simple because we learn a lot about Austin, his past, his friends, his family, and the different things they've all gone through (the major events and some tiny ones as well) in the past.

It seemed, at first, that Austin had too many people in his life with issues, problems, major drama. Then I realized two things, first those were only the people we saw - Austin is helping people who aren't really living their lives so anyone who has things figured out isn't going to be a part of things. Second, we all have some drama, it might just take someone like Austin to notice just what it is and/or call us on it.

Never Eighteen never drags, there aren't unnecessary or filler scenes. It has emotion - without being melodramatic or too emotional - and is sad at times (of course) but still has humor and some romance.

Bostic's debut touches on a great principle - taking full advantage of life - and  includes thoughts, from Austin , that seem very true for someone who's dying of cancer/dealing with any prolonged illness ("It bugs me when people don't take care of their bodies, because sometimes your body doesn't take care of you." pg 32).

I'm very interested in reading any future books by Megan Bostic - and so glad I read this one!

Rating: 8/10

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find Never Eighteen on Goodreads, Amazonor Book Depository 

find more about Megan Bostic on Goodreads, her website, @MeganBostic on Twitter, her blog, or Facebook



a Rafflecopter giveaway

19 comments:

  1. Oh wow that's morbid. XD Umm...I would probably do the cheesey thing and tell the most important people to me how much they mean to me. :) Oh and totally try and stalk Veronica Roth down and tell her how much I LOVE HER BOOKS. And that she needs to write faster. ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Maybe I should add a lighter option, too! (I was trying to keep the questions somehow related to the book and made this one right after I'd read it.)

      Thanks for answering - both seem like good things to do :)

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  2. I think I'll answer the lighter option! :P If I had a blue car, I'll name it BLUEY! :P Well, that's a really creative name! XD

    Thank you for the giveaway!

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  4. Never Eighteen sounds sad but hopeful. I'd really love to read it :)

    I'll have to go with the lighter option as well. So.. My Blue car would be called baby smurf :)

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  5. hmm i'm gonna have to go with naming my blue car. i guess i'd name it something like sky : )

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  6. I have so many things that would need to be said. Some personal things.

    If I named my car blue, it would be cerulean. lol

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  7. I think I would definitely want to say a few things to the important people in my life and do those things I always wanted to do but haven't yet. :)

    If I had a blue car to name, I would name it... Smurf! :P

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  8. I would probably make sure that I leave behind things in order: make sure my family is okay.

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  9. I'd probably tell them some personal things and that they're important and also that I want them to be happy.

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  10. I would take my Mom to Germany because that's where she was born (moved to the US when she was 8 or 9, I forget) and she's always wanted to go back.

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  11. if you had a blue car to name, I would name it buble (sounds like bu-b-leh) XD

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  12. If I had a blue car to name, I would name it blueberry like on Psych.

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  13. Every car I've had, I've named Bumblebee, and would continue to do - even with a blue car ;)

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  14. I'd probably tell my parents to just get along. They're married still, but they argue all the time. Hey, guys, my dying wish is that you be nice to each other, so stop with the squabbling already! k thx die.

    I would name the car...Aqua Man.

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  15. My Dad has cancer and I would tell my dad how much I love him and how strong he is being for everyone and that I wish I had his courage.

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  16. I try to live every day so that I show those I know and care for that I love them. I also tell them in words. That way, even if I don't know I'm ready for those unexpected moments. Believe me, I've had them!

    Hard. To. Swallow.

    Thank you for the opportunity to win/review this book. It's on my TBR. And, if I named a blue car, it would depend on if it's male or female. If male, Lightning. If female, Sapphire.

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  17. I'm gonna skip the first question, if you don't mind. 'Cause I really don't know what I'll do.

    Anyway, if I have a blue car, I'll name it Azure. Yeah, yeah. :D

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