Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books discussion

The group has been approached by authors Erin Callahan & Troy H. Gardner for a Read 4 Review of their book Wakefield (Mad World, Book One).

Orphans Astrid Chalke and Max Fisher meet when they’re sent to live at Wakefield, a residential and educational facility for teens with psychiatric and behavioral problems. Astrid’s roommate cuts herself with anything sharp she can get her hands on and Max’s roommate threatens him upon introduction.

Just as Astrid and Max develop a strong bond and begin to adjust to the constant chaos surrounding them, a charming and mysterious resident of Wakefield named Teddy claims he has unexplainable abilities. Sometimes he can move things without touching them. Sometimes he can see people’s voices emanating from their mouths. Teddy also thinks that some of the Wakefield staff are on to him.

At first, Astrid and Max think Teddy is paranoid, but Max’s strange, recurring dreams and a series of unsettling events force them to reconsider Teddy’s claims. Are they a product of his supposedly disturbed mind or is the truth stranger than insanity?

The authors will be giving out 20+ copies in pdf, prc/mobi, epub, and html formats via email. To request, please post your email address AND the format you would like. It is your responsibility to check for the book and download it. It is also your responsibility to contact me immediately if you do not receive the book or have a problem. In exchange for the free book, the authors request an honest review of their book not just on Goodreads, but also on Amazon USA, UK, and any of your blogs or reviewing sites. Once you are finished with your review and have posted it on Goodreads, you are REQUIRED to post your Goodreads link to it on this thread.

Even though this book is being gifted to you please do not share it with anyone. It is unethical, disrespectful and illegal to share books provided to you for reviews.

Further Info from the group, not the author: If you do not complete the e-book within the time given, and you do not post your link on this thread or I do not hear from you stating that you intend to finish and review the book, you will not be allowed to participate in future Read 4 Review events. This is to prevent people from getting complimentary books over and over without fulfilling their obligation.

Do not message me nor the author requesting the book. All info is to be posted here. This for the ease of the author and the mods and fairness to all. If you do not wish to share your email publicly, please do not request.

If there are any other authors looking to do this with our group, please message me. You MUST be willing to provide copies, free of charge, to the reviewers.

REVIEWERS: PLEASE read the topic titled "Reviewers." All the rules are listed under there. We will not allow any excuses of "I didn't know" because the rules are listed and if you have any questions you can always message me. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Deadline for review is 11:59pm EST on 6/6/13 (June 6th).

Reviewers:

Crystal: crystaldtadlock@gmail.com epub COMPLETED
Brenda: yeshellothisisme@gmail.com epub COMPLETED
Manda: staycalmandreadon@gmail.com mobi DID NOT COMPLETE
Tammy: tammymleblanc75@gmail.com PDF COMPLETED
Jason: scriptor.capitonis@gmail.com mobi COMPLETED
Shirley: Shirley.harris.yclass@gmail.com epub COMPLETED
Emily: daylighter78@yahoo.com.au epub DID NOT COMPLETE
Trinity: srpeniket@hotmail.com mobi COMPLETED
Jordan: jordantuxford@hotmail.com PDF COMPLETED
Heartling: karlig@vodamail.co.za epub COMPLETED
Jenna-Marie: earthhare@gmail.com mobi COMPLETED
Kiley: kiley.random@gmail.com epub COMPLETED
Eteresa: gayoba@gmail.com PDF COMPLETED
Kasey: kaseyj88@gmail.com mobi COMPLETED
Dina: Crystalhealer1111@hotmail.com mobi COMPLETED

Me please! crystaldtadlock@gmail.com epub please

Love orphan stories, all the greats started out as one!

yeshellothisisme@gmail.com
ePub

I'd love to read this! mobi please! staycalmandreadon@gmail.com

I will

I will. PDF please....tammymleblanc75@gmail.com

Mobi please. scriptor.capitonis@gmail.com

Epub please. Shirley.harris.yclass@gmail.com

Epub please. daylighter78@yahoo.com.au

Mobi please. srpeniket@hotmail.com

I haven't received the file for review.

I haven't received the file for review.

Vrinda wrote: "I would like to review this one. Please could you state the deadline? I'm new at this, and reading this on my phone and may just be glazing over here, but can't seem to see it, sorry!"

Deadline for review is 11:59pm EST on 6/6/13 (June 6th).
:)

pdf please jordantuxford@hotmail.com

Hi there :)
First timer. Would love to do this.
Mobi please earthhare@gmail.com

Thank you :)

Tammy M wrote: "I haven't received the file for review."

Tammy...give the author some time, when you sent your message it would have been close to 1:30am for her and I'm going to guess that she was sleeping. I know I was. :)

Crystal wrote: "Vrinda wrote: "I would like to review this one. Please could you state the deadline? I'm new at this, and reading this on my phone and may just be glazing over here, but can't seem to see it, sorry..."

Thanks Crystal!

Vrinda wrote: "I would like to review this one. Please could you state the deadline? I'm new at this, and reading this on my phone and may just be glazing over here, but can't seem to see it, sorry!"

If you would like to review this book, we need your email address and format needed.

Marni wrote: "Tammy M wrote: "I haven't received the file for review."

Tammy...give the author some time, when you sent your message it would have been close to 1:30am for her and I'm going to guess that she wa..."

I was indeed sleeping. :) I'm at my day job today until 5pm eastern time, but I will send out the files as soon as I get home. Thanks so much to everyone for their interest!

I'm really excited there seems to be so many newcomers doing this one!

Any more takers? If you're not yet convinced, check out our website - www.madworldseries.com. We've got all sorts of goodies, like character interviews and playlists.

Epub please! kiley.random@gmail.com

I would love to read and review this book. My email is gayoba@gmail.com. PDF would be great.

Here's my review for goodreads and Amazon

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2E9LR7B...

Wow Shirley that was quick! :)

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read and review. Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, and blog links:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

http://www.amazon.com/review/R39PCJ86...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wakef...

http://cleverfoilhat.blogspot.com/201...

haha lol yea!!

Thanks for letting me review this book. Here are the links for my reviews, hope I did this right.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
http://www.amazon.com/Wakefield-World...

Eteresa,

You linked to the book's page (it happens all the time). Here is the link to your review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... ;)

Cheers!
Jason

Jason wrote: "Eteresa,

You linked to the book's page (it happens all the time). Here is the link to your review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... ;)

Cheers!
Jason"

Thank you so much Jason.

Here is my review on goodreads and barns & noble. Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wakef...

I absolutely loved this book. Can't wait for the second!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'll be posting to all the sites that hosts the book and that I have an account on.

Thanks so much for the reviews so far - such an interesting and mixed reaction! We love critiques (even harsh ones) because they help make us better writers, so keep 'em coming.

A few people expressed interest in reading the next book, Tunnelville, which will be out in late June / early July, depending on how quickly our line editor gets through it. For details you can check our our website (www.madworldseries.com) or like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/madworldseries).

A few questions have come up in some of the reviews (particularly about the mental health of the main characters). I'm happy to answer any questions to the extent that I can in either a discussion thread or via email. Just let me know, and thanks again for reading.

Here is my r4r review on goodreads...... http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Erin wrote: "Thanks so much for the reviews so far - such an interesting and mixed reaction! We love critiques (even harsh ones) because they help make us better writers, so keep 'em coming.

A few people expr..."

Erin...you are more than welcome to answer any questions here, if you would like. The reviewers enjoy author participation.

I'll take a copy if one is still available! kaseyj88@gmail.com .mobi

Erin wrote: "Thanks so much for the reviews so far - such an interesting and mixed reaction! We love critiques (even harsh ones) because they help make us better writers, so keep 'em coming.

A few people expr..."

Thank you so much for letting me read your book :)

I'd like to know the answers to those questions!

Kasey wrote: "I'll take a copy if one is still available! kaseyj88@gmail.com .mobi"

Kasey...format?

.mobi please!

Brenda wrote: "I'd like to know the answers to those questions!"

Excellent! I believe at least two reviewers wondered whether Max and Astrid (and perhaps some of the other characters) are actually mentally ill. Max was sent to Wakefield following an alleged suicide attempt after the simultaneous death of his parents. At least one reviewer questioned whether this is a realistic reason for a teen to be institutionalized (good question!) - given that he's become a ward of the state, in my experience, the answer is yes. Whether the suicide attempt was, in fact, a genuine suicide attempt is answered very early in book two.

Astrid sank into a deep depression following her mom's death, became confrontational towards adults, and stopped participating in life. Whether that is the only reason she ended up at Wakefield remains to be seen, but will be answered...eventually. :)

At least one reviewer noted that not knowing whether the teens are mentally ill makes it harder to root for them. I agree, but the ambiguity is intentional. We want readers to wonder if there are legitimate reasons for some of the characters to be at Wakefield and whether there's a reason why the "they" behind Wakefield chose a mental health treatment facility as a means of containment. I tend to be drawn to fiction that doesn't have completely clear cut good guys and bad guys. Life is usually more complicated than that and I like fiction that reflects that.

More questions? I love talking about this stuff, so ask away.

Kasey wrote: ".mobi please!"

Thanks Kasey - your copy has been emailed.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I really enjoyed it. I have posted reviews to GoodReads and Amazon.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1N9IXRK...

Is it purely contained to their ward? I assume no because of Tom, but I'm still curious

Brenda wrote: "Is it purely contained to their wars? I assume no because of Tom, but I'm still curious"

Your assumptions are correct -- the "containment" is facility wide. The volleyball game against the kids from Lancre also drops some hints about that.

I would Love to read this book! Sounds just up my alley of books I like. If you have any more left, plz send me one. Consider it a belated BDAY gift (it was Monday). :)

Mobi format plz. Crystalhealer1111@hotmail.com.

Thx!

Erin wrote: "The volleyball game against the kids from Lancre also drops some hints about that."

Erin, I also like writing subtle information into passages, but it is possible to be so subtle as to be obtuse, which I'm afraid may be the case in that passage.

Also, you describe a boy as having "Down's Syndrome," while the correct spelling is Down Syndrome. http://www.ndss.org/

Cheers!
Jason

You're absolutely correct that the more modern way to refer to Down's syndrome is without the apostrophe s. But given that most people who don't know much about the disorder, including teens, still refer to it with the apostrophe s, I chose to err on the side of realism instead of technical correctness. I think it's similar to having a character say who or nauseous, even though whom or nauseated would be grammatically correct.

Excellent point about that scene and it's one that I struggled with. Some readers of early drafts got it, some didn't, but I thought leaving it subtle (or even obtuse :) ) might make it one of those bits a reader would pick up on the second time around. Whether it was the right call is anyone's guess.

Erin wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Is it purely contained to their wars? I assume no because of Tom, but I'm still curious"

Your assumptions are correct -- the "containment" is facility wide. The volleyball game agai..."

I figured as much! I feel like this is one of those books that on a second reading I'd find a lot more subtleties. This doesn't strike me as a bad thing; some of my favorite books are ones that reveal new things each time I read it. And I am definitely a person that rereads my favorites.

Erin wrote: "You're absolutely correct that the more modern way to refer to Down's syndrome is without the apostrophe s. But given that most people who don't know much about the disorder, including teens, still..."

I certainly understand your reasoning. I am a biology professor in real life, though, so several times a year I have to re-educate dozens of students on the correct spelling of that condition. On the other hand, I'm also a writer, so I'm aware of how artificial dialogue sounds when the characters are grammatically correct. It's a fine line to walk.

Continue to be subtle and obtuse. As a profligate abuser :) of subtlety, I sympathize. It never ceases to please me when readers come to me and say, "I see now what you meant by..."