The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

There has been this mass amount of talk about this book called The Hunger Games. All I have heard is praise and without really knowing what it was about, I went out and bought the book. I was hoping to read it during Dewey's Read-A-Thon, but was simply unable to get to it. After another personal friend recommended that I read the book, I decided it was time! I set aside my few remaining review books, picked up this book, and rarely put it down!!!!

For those who do not know about the book, here is my quick summary . . . Chaos. Controlling goverment. People doing what they can to survive. Children as tributes. Fascinating, yet disturbing games. Possible resistance and maybe even a glimmer of love? Beyond those few things, I really cannot say any more!

I became completely absorbed in the main characters. Katniss is your main female character who demonstrates great strength (and I'm not talking physical!) and who is willing to step up and hold her own and protect her family. Yet, she is one that this very strength can hinder the most obvious of situations. Then, there is Peeta, an eloquent young gentlemen with a different kind of strength . . . physical, but yet one that is sweet and sincere. Now put them in an arena filled with their peers to fight to their death!! Who will win these Hunger Games?!?

After finishing this book, I was very intrigued! I wanted to know more of the characters. I wanted to know what happened after the completion of the games. Would I say that this book was great? No! Good? Yes! Afterall, I did find it interesting enough to read the sequel right away. I really connected with the characters. I thought the symbolism and topics raised would be great conversation. And, I simply don't like NOT KNOWING!! So, I moved on to Catching Fire the very next day . . .

I have now completed the second book in this series!! The review is next to come. Stay tuned to find out if I felt the series got better or worse. In the meantime, I want to hear your predictions . . .

Do you think I enjoyed the second more or less? Would I be so bold to put it up in line with my other favorite young adult books, such as Harry Potter?!?!?

UPDATED Review Policy

Effective December 1, 2009, I will no longer be accepting books for review from publishers or authors. Though I will be continuing with reviews, all books hereafter will be those that I receive as gifts from family and friends, win in giveaways, or ones that I purchase myself (all of which will be noted within my Sunday Synopsis report).

For more information on my change in policy, please refer to Remembering My Roots!

As always, my reviews will be honest feelings expressed as my love for reading!!

If you wish to contact me with further questions, please send me an email at tiftalksbooks (at) gmail (dot) com.

Remembering My Roots!!

Approximately two and a half years ago, I started this blog as a way to keep track of the books I read and to chat about them with those who were interested. Before I discovered this whole wide book blogging world out there (about a year ago), I often felt that I was talking to myself!! BUT, I continued to write because I enjoyed it! My motivation was simply the joy of book talk and the relaxation I felt writing.

After discovering this online book community, I also began accepting books for review from publishers and authors. I have discovered some authors that I would never have discovered otherwise. I have explored some new avenues. And, I have enjoyed it!

However, I feel that it is time to remember my roots, of where and why this blog began. This past year has been an exciting ride . . . BUT, it has come time to re-evaluate as the new year comes to a close. This is what I have come to realize . . .

With my Type A Personality, I feel that I need to be able to provide those who have requested reviews a quick turnaround time in regards to my thoughts.

When I do not follow through on this quick turnaround time because life simply gets in the way, then I feel bad . . . horribly bad.

And, this has not been motivating me to get through them faster!!! Normally, it would actually . . . but this year has been a very chaotic one for me!! My normal has simply turned to abnormal!!

Maybe it has been all this chaos . . . maybe not!! BUT, whatever the case may be, I have decided to return to my roots! I am going back to reviewing those books that I acquire through personal purchases or as gifts (I include giveaways in this category). I will no longer be accepting copies for review from publishers or authors.

The weight that has been lifted off my shoulders has been amazing! I feel that I can now sit back and enjoy the ride instead of screaming at the top of my lungs through all the dips and dives, just trying to hang on to all the craziness and fulfill all the roles and duties in my life.

Blogging has been my release. It has been my way to de-stress after a long day. It has been my constant through a multitude of moves, a place I can turn to relax and release, and share my joy with others.

Many may also be asking if this has something to do with the new changes being implemented by the FTC. Honestly, it was not a huge factor, but it may have been what has pushed me over the edge.

Now for just a couple of final thoughts . . .

For my readers . . . I will be sticking around for quite some time! I will be posting on a more regular basis again! And, I will be here to talk books, my favorite topic next to my family!! And, I have some new changes coming in the new year that you will not want to miss, including a meme, monthly giveaways, and maybe even a little surprise!

For authors or publishers . . . Please do not consider this an end to our personal communication! I encourage you to still send me information on your books! I may not know of you otherwise!! If your book intrigues me, I will be adding it to my Wish List (my list of books that I wish to read). I will be revising my review policy in the next week, and all of this will be listed in my permalink in the menu above. This is a positive change! Afterall, I am one of those who likes to own the books I read . . . this could lead to my support by actually purchasing your books instead of you sending me free ones!! All in all . . . money in your pocket, NOT out!! If you have already sent me a book, ALL books will be reviewed by the end of the year.

Well, now that I have rambled enough, it is now time for me to sign off for the evening. I will be heading up to my favorite reading spot, curling up with a good book, and getting lost in the world of Panem! Until next time . . .

HAPPY READING!!!

Sunday Synopsis: November 15, 2009

For my little Sunday Synopsis this week, I am going to give you a very shortened version . . . simply because I have not gotten a lot done!! I did do a little bit of reading, adding to my ever-growing list of reviews that need to be done. I have started the arduous process of working through my Reader. After two hours of reading through posts this afternoon, it still stands at 1000+ though. I guess you could say that I have officially dug myself a hole that is going to take a while to get out of!! But, I am now feeling a bit more rejuvenated!!! My busy time of year at working is waining down and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!! And, my reading is getting back up to par thanks to Suzanne Collins!! If only there was a way that I could personally thank her for giving me a little more motivation and letting me successfully escape from my stressful world for a while. And, to think that I will be starting Catching Fire as soon as I post this only puts my heart at ease even more . . . not to forget the big ol' smile on my face!!! Thank you Suzanne!!! :)

So, I am going to leave you with two things . . . my one post from this last week and my disgustingly LONG list of books I need to review. Wish me luck this week!! :)

GIVEAWAY: Don't forget to check out Giving My Thanks!!!, featuring a giveaway of a family pack of *NEW* books for your whole family!! It's my way of showing my appreciation for all the support from my readers (despite my random presence this year)!!

REVIEWS TO COME:

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust
• King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
• Arthur's Audio Favorites Volume 2 by Marc Brown
• A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
• Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker
• George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder
• Fool by Christopher Moore
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Facts in the Case of in M. Valdemar by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Spectacles by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Some Words With A Mummy by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Ulalume by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Oblong Box by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)

Giving My Thanks!!!

I know I have not been very good about posting lately!! However, I am still alive and kicking!! In fact, I have been reading quite a bit, causing me to be even more behind in reviews . . . BUT, am determined to get back to writing very, very soon!! In fact, I have a goal to get a few written this weekend in fact!!

In the meantime, I want to say thanks to all my readers during this season of giving; therefore, I am having this wonderful GIVEAWAY from my family to your's!!! I will be giving away a four pack of brand spankin' NEW books!!! The other day, my family went book shopping and we each picked out one of our favorite books. I have listed each of our faves below . . .

Daughter J chose Hug by Jez Alborough

A very adorable board book of Bobo and his Mom . . . and of course, hugs!!

Son C chose Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett

A paperback copy of a favorite childhood classic. Townspeople of Chewandswallow are one lucky folk . . . They never have to cook, prepare meals, etc. because their meals rain down on them! But, what happens when the "weather" takes a turn for the worse?

Husband C chose The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Another classic, but in a much different sense!!! Enjoy the great adventures with the fun-loving Calvin and his ever-present friend, Hobbes. A book that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!!

Tif chose Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

One of my personal top five favorite books of all times, Wicked introduces you to Elphaba, or better known as the Wicked Witch of the West, the girl that we always grew up hating because of her pure evil. BUT, looking at life from the green side may just give us a whole other perspective on her life (and maybe our own)!!

Now for the GIVEAWAY details . . .

To enter . . . You must leave a comment with a valid email address along with something you are thankful for. BOTH the email and your item of thanks must be in the comment in order to qualify for this giveaway!

Deadline . . . Entries will be accepted through Monday, November 30, 2009. One winner of all four *NEW* books will be notified and announced on Tuesday, December 1, 2009.

Extra entries . . . You can earn extra entries by any of the following (please include these in your comment):

• +1 . . . If you follow, subscribe via a reader, or subscribe via email, you can earn one extra entry.
• +1 . . . If you are a follower of Tif Talks Books on Twitter (@tiftalksbooks), you can earn another additional entry.
• +1 . . . If you help to spread the news by tweeting or posting on your blog, you can get one more. Please note that you can receive only one additional entry for spreading the word, NOT one for each way of spreading.

UPDATE: This giveaway is open to US & Canada residents ONLY!! If you commented before 5:00 pm Central Time on November 13, 2009 and do not meet the resident requirements, you will still be entered due to my lack of notification. All others past this date must have US & Canada mailing addresses!! Sorry for the confusion and thank you for your understanding!!

And, last but not least . . . .

THANK YOU!!!!!

Sunday Synopsis: November 8, 2009

Yet again, it has been a while since I posted, so my little synopsis is for another couple of weeks! I have had family in town and I also took my first ever trip to New Orleans!! This has been a much needed break and I have had the opportunity to think long and hard about this site and my purpose behind it. And, after all this thinking, I have come to a decision . . . I will be making more changes to this site! I like to think that I am constantly making changes to improve. I have loved maintaining this particular site, but with some recently nagging feelings combined with a new role in my life, I've decided to take a step back and go back to my roots. I don't want to give away too many details here . . . afterall, I am still working on ironing out the creases . . . but I will be posting my changes in the very near future. Be watching for it as well as a GREAT, BIG GIVEAWAY in the next week or so!!!! Now, moving on to my synopsis . . .

DISCUSSIONS:

• Literary Locals: October 2009

AUTHOR HIGHLIGHTS:

• You're Only As Young As You Feel by Cayla Kluver

REVIEWS: None

BOOKS RECEIVED: None

CURRENTLY READING:

• Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust (Disc 3 of 4)

REVIEWS TO COME:

• King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
• Arthur's Audio Favorites Volume 2 by Marc Brown
• A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
• Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker
• George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder
• Fool by Christopher Moore
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Facts in the Case of in M. Valdemar by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Spectacles by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Some Words With A Mummy by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Ulalume by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)

AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE: I really have nothing to post here this time around! I'm a little behind in my Google Reader these days . . . okay, not a little . . . a lot . . . like 1000+ lot!!! I'll be working on getting caught up there this week and hopefully, share many great links with you next week!!

ADDITIONAL UPDATES: I've included all my additional updates above, so I will leave you with this . . . .

Have a wonderful week!!!!

Literary Locals: October 2009

Happy Halloween!!!

All I have to say is . . . where in the world has the month gone?!?! I cannot believe that it is already time for another Literary Locals. Needless to say, I have had a lot more going on this month than I had ever originally planned and I have another trip that has completely snuck up on me where I leave tomorrow. I have not read as much as I would have liked this past month, even despite the read-a-thon. When I return from New Orleans in a few days, I hope to play a lot of catch-up in both the reading and writing realm. Who knows, I may even decide to participate in yet another read-a-thon!!

In the meantime, please know that I am postponing my personal Literary Local post this month. However, I know that many out there have already posted your's or intend to. If so, post it here and I will post your link and highlights when I get back. And know that next month, I'm hoping to have a double-good highlight of my locals, past and present!!

Guest Post: You're Only as Young as You Feel by Cayla Kluver

Allow me to introduce Cayla Kluver . . . author of Legacy, her debut novel that she wrote at the age of 14 years of age. Amongst the usual teenage experiences, she now is working on book tours, publishing endeavors, and writing the remainder of her trilogy. Please read on and enjoy!!

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You’re Only as Young as You Feel

A Guest Post by Cayla Kluver

When I was fourteen years old, I decided to start writing a book. It was supposed to be a small, first novel, around a hundred pages. When it was done, I named the 440-page beast Legacy.

I didn’t know if it was any good — I mean, I liked it, but I was what you might call a biased audience. So my mom read it, my sisters read it, my English teacher read it, my best friend read it, and they all said, “Cayla — you’ve got a long way to go.”

And that’s when the editing started. Seven months of it, of rewriting, reorganizing, fixing plot holes, of scratching out the dumb parts and adding better ones. I tried to get an agent, but had no success, in part because of the slush pile all authors battle, and in part because of my age. Out of hundreds of queries received each week, why would anyone read a fourteen-year-old’s writing over that of an experienced, credentialed adult? I couldn’t blame them.

But I could circumvent them. My mom and I started our own publishing company and released Legacy to a small audience ourselves. Through vigorous online marketing, the visiting of schools, libraries, and bookstores, and a lot of good fortune, we managed to catch the attention of AmazonEncore, Amazon.com’s new traditional publishing arm, who put Legacy out in hardcover for the first time this August.

I’m freshly seventeen now, and have had a lot of experiences for someone my age. I won’t say they’ve all been good, but they have all been educational.

From self-publishing, I learned what it’s like to effectively be a struggling artist; I learned what it’s like to be stepped on, to feel like you’re insignificant and overlooked. I also learned that you don’t just give up on something you love, and that the most important thing in life is to surround yourself with the right people. I wouldn’t be who or where I am without those people.

Since the Amazon deal, I’ve had a bucket-load of new trials and joys — my book has been handed to a wider readership, I’m now signed with my absolutely wonderful agent Kevan Lyon, and Legacy has even been sold in foreign countries. In addition, I’ve had to figure out how to deal with fame on a small scale, and it hasn’t all been candy and roses.

At first after signing the contract, I was exhilarated. Two days passed, and I was terrified. Would I get a slew of wretched reviews? Would my book be the subject of (metaphoric) burnings? But my biggest fear stemmed from my age: was the world going to hate me? There are a lot of people who are excited by the prospect of a young author, but there are also a lot of people who don’t think teenagers can cut it. I was completely aware of this going in, but completely unsure how to deal with it.

Today, I still have no idea how to deal with it. Today, I’m still terrified. But today, I’m also still alive, and I’m still writing, and I’ve realized that’s all I need to do. What I’ve always wanted is to be an author. The written word is my passion. I was never looking to be published as soon as possible. I was never looking to be some kind of phenomenon, and I don’t think I am. Hundreds of young writers have come before me and hundreds will come after, and probably thousands will be better at it than me. But I’m happy. And if my work can make even one other person out there happy, then I feel like I’m accomplishing all that I need to.

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Do you want to read more about Cayla? Visit her personal blog, Offkey, or her official website!!

Thank you Cayla!!!

Sunday Synopsis: October 25, 2009

I have not posted a Synopsis in a couple of weeks because of my travels, so this is two weeks worth of posts!! Please bear with me!!

DISCUSSIONS: See my read-a-thon posts below!!

REVIEWS:

• Legacy by Cayla Kluver
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld
• Possible Futures: Creative Thinking for the Speed of Life by Jude Treder-Wolff

READ-A-THON POSTS:

• NEEDED: Read-A-Thon Relaxation! (my reading list)
• Reading With The Kids!! (includes reading charts & logs, along with my idea of how to involve the kids!)
• Kickin' It Off!!
• Read-A-Thon Check-In #1
• Read-A-Thon Check-In #2
• Read-A-Thon: Mid-Event Survey
• Looking For An Easy Read-A-Thon Snack?
• I'm Out . . .
• Read-A-Thon Wrap-Up

BOOKS RECEIVED:

• Baby Owl's Rescue by Jennifer Keats Curtis (received from publisher)

CURRENTLY READING:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (page 126 of 309)

REVIEWS TO COME:

• Arthur's Audio Favorites Volume 2 by Marc Brown
• A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
• Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker
• George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder
• Fool by Christopher Moore
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Facts in the Case of in M. Valdemar by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Spectacles by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Some Words With A Mummy by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Ulalume by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)

AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE: I'm still a little behind in my Google Reader from my trip, so you can expect some more great blog highlights next week!!

• J. Kaye's Book Blog had a great conversation regarding the latest FTC ruling and how it applies to book bloggers. It has made me do some thinking and I may or may not be making changes here at Tif Talks Books. I will keep you posted on what I decide!

ADDITIONAL UPDATES:

• I participated in My Friend Amy's Fall Festival Recipe Exchange by including three of my family faves!! Have you tried one of them yet?
• I shared a little bit of information about myself in Tif's ABC's, a fun little meme that was passed on to me by Alexia's Books and Such.
• I traveled out to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit my Grandfather after his surgery last week. In my post, Leaving On A Jet Plane, I listed the books I took with me along the way. I ended up finishing two of them and starting a third. Reviews will be on their way soon!!
• I'm excited to announce that I will be reviewing a bookcase from CSN Furniture and Herman Miller in the near future!! I can't wait!!
• I've got another trip planned this next week and am looking for those interested in possibly guest posting here at Tif Talks Books. I've already got one author lined up and cannot wait to share her with you! If you are interested in writing something yourself, please contact me! And, just for the record, this can be at any time . . . not just while I am traveling!!
• One final update: I've added some more ways for my readers to follow me, including email subscriptions, subscriptions in a reader, or through Google Follow. In addition, I added a new Contact Me button on the menu bar. More changes will slowly be coming and I will keep you posted as these go into effect!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Read-A-Thon Wrap-Up

I am so proud to say that I have completed my very first read-a-thon!! I really had a great time, despite the fact that I did not meet my goals and had many distractions! We have an amazing piece of artwork that the kids are proud of, hanging in what will be our new reading area. I was able to relax and enjoy some books, and ultimately de-stress (at least a bit) from a stressful few weeks. All, and all, it was a great time and I have every intention of coming back (hopefully stronger!) in the next one. Oh, and did I mention I even won a prize?!?! Yep! It's been good!!

Well, here is our wrap-up numbers along with a picture of our final reading tree . . .

Tif's Progress Report

Time Spent Reading: 4 hours, 4 minutes*

Pages Read: 189 pages*

Posts Written: 9 (6 read-a-thon related, 2 reviews, 1 wish list)

Stories Completed: 1*

*These three numbers I was not personally happy with! I surpassed my goal of the 7 posts written, but the rest was very disappointing. I simply feel that there were too many distractions, even after the kids went to bed! BUT . . . check out the kids' progress!!

Kids' Progress Report

Books Read: 13

Leafs Complete: 15

Even though I was not happy with my personal progress, I am VERY happy with the kids' progress!! They did such a great job and I am so proud of my little readers!!!

When I post my Sunday Synopsis later this evening, I will include a full listing there of my read-a-thon posts. Until later . . .

Did you meet your personal goals for the read-a-thon? What was your favorite part of the event?