Currently Reading: Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, not Bombs in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson

My grandmother has this wonderful saying: “If one man’s meat is another man’s poison, one man’s book is another man’s boredom.”

I love this quote (I don’t know where she originally heard it). It’s so true. Reading is a very individual, personal thing–what one person might love, another might not like at all.

So my personal policy, on this blog and elsewhere, is that I don’t review books. I might recommend books, but no concrete reviews. And here is another reason why: I am not a critic. I am a reader and a writer. What I might love, another might hate. And I like to feel safe when I give my opinions. Because I have them. I really do.

But I do try to spread the word about books. I link to other authors in my sidebar. I like to put books that I am reading at the top of my posts. And, beginning next Monday and continuing periodically throughout the next few months, I will be promoting (but not reviewing!) other books in the Penguin Five (five books coming out this summer/fall from Penguin Young Readers). We are taking turns spotlighting one another’s books on our blogs. It should be fun. And Penguin is providing copies of books for giveaways, so be sure to check back. Because free books? Always five stars.

P.S. Remember last week when I said someday I would like to be part of the Writing For Charity event when I grew up? Well, apparently I am now grown up. Because I get to be on the evening panel with Brandon Mull, Bree Despain, James Dashner, and Jessica Day George. I’m so excited. This is a really wonderful event in which you get your work critiqued and the proceeds to go charity.