Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A Book Lover's Christmas Gift Guide: Part II (with a Starbucks e-gift card giveaway!)


As I said in part one of A Book Lover's Christmas Gift Guide, books make the best of gifts. And there's a book that's right for absolutely everyone you know! You simply have to give some thought to their interests, passions and preferences. And don't forget to consider an e-book for those who prefer them. I know my mom has trouble holding books now with the arthritis in her hands. She prefers e-books.

Seeing as I have an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, this second part to my book lover's guide focuses on books for teens and preteens. There are few things that make me happier than seeing a child put aside technology to indulge in a great book! It was my favourite pastime as a child.


For the Preteen/Teen:




Among the Giants: How One Underdog Pursued His Dreams & You Can Too! by Jesse LeBeau


I find it more difficult to find books for my son. I guess it's because, 1) I am a girl and 2) He doesn't like to read as much as his sister does. I know he loves basketball - he likes to play the game and he likes to watch videos of others playing the game. So I think he'll enjoy Among the Giants, in which Jesse LeBeau, once a 5'8" kid from an Alaskan fishing town, tells how he came to play against NBA superstar Kevin Durant for the Warner Brother's movie Thunderstruck. Far from being a primer on how to be a celebrity, Among the Giants offers inspiration and motivation to work hard and follow your dreams. Using his own experiences to provide narrative, LeBeau shares life lessons to help kids gain new energy and pursue their dreams.

Buy Among the Giants in Canada. Buy Among the Giants in the U.S.



Guinness Book of Records for Gamers


Who doesn't love to read Guinness World Records? It's fascinating stuff. And I know my son will be thrilled with this 2016 Gamer's Edition! It's packed full of new and updated records regarding all kinds of videogame titles. There's a whole section on Minecraft. It also looks at the success of certain gaming consoles and the hacking of huge gaming networks. The Guinness Book of Records for Gamers explores the evolution of Mario, the history of PAC-Man and the videogames spawned by LEGO. The book has loads of colourful pics and it's just lots of fun.

Buy Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer's Edition in Canada. Buy Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer's Edition in the U.S.




The Trouble in Me by Jack Gantos


Geared to ages 12 to 15, The Trouble in Me is an autobiographical novel capturing a pivotal couple of weeks in the life of 14-year-old Jack Gantos. The author reveals the moment he began to go off the rails as a teen who would a few years later find himself locked up in a federal penitentiary for the crimes detailed in his memoir, Hole in My Life. This cautionary tale seems like just the stuff to absorb a teen boy's interest. The New York Times Book Review says, "This is a tale of courage and redemption, proving that a bad start in life does not have to lead to a bad life story."

Buy The Trouble in Me in Canada. Buy The Trouble in Me in the U.S.





The Novice: Summoner, Book One by Taran Matharu


This is another eventful and exciting book for teens. The protagonist, Fletcher, is working as a blacksmith's apprentice when he learns he has the ability to summon demons from another world. Chased from his village for a crime he didn't commit, he must travel with his demon, Ignatius, to an academy where the gifted learn the art of summoning. The grueling lessons he is to endure will prepare Fletcher for a war against the savage Orcs. This is sure to captivate young readers.

Buy The Novice: Summoner: Book One (The Summoner Trilogy 1) in Canada. Buy The Novice: Summoner: Book One (The Summoner Trilogy) in the U.S.





Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah


Suitable for children ages 9 to 12, Dream On, Amber tells the story of Amber Alessandra Leola Kimiko Miyamoto, a half-Japanese, half-Italian girl with a "ridiculous" name. Amber isn't feel molto bene about having to make friends at her new school. She's also struggling with the absence of her father, who left her family when she was little and isn't coming back. Amber must dream up a way for her and her sister to make it on their own. Great for anybody going through those emotionally challenging pre-teen years.

Buy Dream on, Amber in Canada. Buy Dream on, Amber in the U.S.





My First French Bakery by Barbara Beery


My little girl has this book on her Christmas wish list. She loves to bake, but also to set up shop in the kitchen, pretending to sell her crafts and baked goods. Who knows, maybe she'll have her own bakeshop one day! My First French Bakery offers plenty of inspiration with gorgeous full colour photos of French baked goods, sandwiches and savoury dishes and more. Recipes are identified as simple, a bit harder and a bit challenging. Creator Barbara Beery is the bestselling author of The Pink Princess Cookbook.

Buy My First French Bakery in Canada. Buy My First French Bakery in the U.S.




Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate


Geared to ages 10 to 14, Crenshaw is a story of family, friendship and resilience. Author Katherine Applegate is a winner of the distinguished Newbery Medal. In Crenshaw, she tells the story of Jackson, whose family has fallen on hard times. There's no money for rent or food and they're in danger of living in their minivan...again. Crenshaw is a large, outspoken and imaginary cat. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him with his troubles. But will Jackson's imaginary friend be able to help save his family from losing everything? Whether real or imaginary, friends matter.

Buy Crenshaw in Canada. Buy Crenshaw in the U.S.





Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks


Tuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday's mother, famous author Serendipity Smith, is missing. The two set out on a magical adventure to find Serendipity. Along the way they discover the mysterious place that stories come from, learning what it means to be a writer and how difficult it can be to get to The End. The pair encounter challenges and adventures on their journey, making for a magical tale that's perfect for kids in the 8 to 12 age range. I think my daughter's really going to like this one.

Buy Finding Serendipity in Canada. Buy Finding Serendipity in the U.S.

What kind of books do you enjoy getting or giving as gifts?


Starbucks $20 e-gift card giveaway!


You need to enjoy your new books with a cup of tea or coffee. That's why we're giving one Woman in Real Life reader in the U.S. or Canada a $20 e-gift card for Starbucks. Enter below until January 12th. This giveaway is not affiliated with Starbucks.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



*This post contains affiliate links.

114 comments:

  1. Action or romance books

    ReplyDelete
  2. I enjoy getting any sort of book! I love fiction (action, mystery, etc) to non-fiction, biographies, etc!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cozy mysteries, Urban Fantasy, and YA.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love cookbooks, mysteries, and best-sellers

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love getting funny books. I just got the new Jenny Lawson (aka The Blogess) book and I'm so excited to read it because I know she can really make me laugh! (Suzi)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love to read autobiographies and historical fiction. I love inspiring stories.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love thrillers and mysteries the best.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like Romance and Mystery Novels.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like most books. I enjoy receiving nonfiction histories and science fiction.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Leslie:
    I like hike to lots of historical romances on my shelf waiting for me. A fun gift for me is a cookbook.
    leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love getting cookbooks, puzzle books and funny books.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love cook books. I can never have enough cook books. They inspire me and I love giving cook books with a recipe highlighted and I fill a basket with items that the recipe needs to give away.

    ReplyDelete
  13. all the cookbooks!! rhonnamarie@net7.us

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love to give cookbooks and receive them also

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really enjoy books about gardening and nature
    jan

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a huge historical fiction fan! My favorite to gift are children's books.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like to give teen books to my grandson and nonfiction to my hubby.
    Florence C

    ReplyDelete
  18. I really enjoy reading biographies, I love giving books about nature to my children

    ReplyDelete
  19. I think that biographies are really interesting, and not something I'd normally get myself!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love reading historical fictions

    ReplyDelete
  21. Mystery books!

    ReplyDelete
  22. My go-to were cook books, but this yaer, I've bought a lot of colouring books for adults!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am a big fan of mysteries, usually cozy, humourous or medical thriller ones.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love mysteries and cookbooks.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like disaster books. I like to read about real life people surviving extraordinary circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I like mysteries and romance!

    ReplyDelete
  27. My favorite type of books to get as gifts are beautiful knitting or sewing books. I prefer to buy my romances myself.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I like receiving Science Fiction books.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love getting cookbooks or non-fiction books.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I like giving human survival stories that capture the human spirit as gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love romance and suspense novels. I love giving kids educational books

    ReplyDelete
  32. I like any kind of book there is but if i have to choose 1 i'd say mystery.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I read a lot of books. I mostly read fiction. I love being surprised with favourite reads from friends. Sometimes it's not a book I'd pick out myself but I've discovered some gems from gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like to gift history or art books...i find them to be both interesting to read and beautiful to look at.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I like cookbooks and mystery books.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I enjoy receiving fiction with quirky, real-life stories.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love giving hockey biographies to my hubs and I like fiction about womens lives

    ReplyDelete
  38. i like non-fiction books the best!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love giving, and getting cookbooks.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love giving and getting funny or adventure based books.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love giving and receiving Fantasy and Young Adult Fiction books as gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I like getting dramas and sci-fi books.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I like getting and gifting all kinds of books. I often gift cook books and fiction books.

    - amber y

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love to give a new book by someone's favourite author, and I love to get cozy mysteries.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Cookbooks and auto biographies :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love reading books that transport me to other places. I like to give books that support a cause.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I enjoy getting Stephen King or Nicholas Sparks books, or any books that are on my wish list. I also like YA dystopian.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love to give and receive books. Any book is good!! Lately I have been giving wordless books to my friends kids and my son. They inspire such imagination!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Biography, History, or Comedy.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love receiving anything from vegan cookbooks, coloring books, fictional novels and some Mid-Century Modern design books. I have a nice sized wishlist on Amazon.com. =)

    ReplyDelete
  51. I enjoy mysteries and sci fi

    ReplyDelete
  52. Enjoy to read suspense thrillers and sometimes YA series.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love reading paleo cook books!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love almost all books - books have been a HUGE part of my life.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I like a good novel, something funny and light. And I like a good cookbook too.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I love women's lit! Usually Canadian authors but I'm always up for a great fiction recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a unique sensibility that I love about Canada authors too!

      Delete
  57. i like reading true storys or mysteries

    ReplyDelete
  58. I like paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi books.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I like Jackie Collins books

    billiondollarprincesss @hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. i like books that are true stories

    ReplyDelete
  61. I like to get a I if books and give whatever books the person receiving the gift likes!

    ReplyDelete
  62. The kind of books I like reading are thought provoking books, and mystery thrillers. I like giving top seller and cook books as gifts as well as the best books of the year I had read.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I like Suspense & historical book.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Sci-fi, Self help, cookbooks, best sellers, classics, fantasy and adventure

    ReplyDelete
  65. i like fiction

    my rafflecopter is aarone mawdsley

    ReplyDelete
  66. Entered wrong link for share - correct one is https://www.pinterest.com/pin/486388828486329510/

    ReplyDelete
  67. Mystery is my favourite genre and always has been. Thanks for giving.

    Besos, Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo

    ReplyDelete
  68. I love personal finance books - can't read enough! (I recognize the weirdness of this).

    ReplyDelete
  69. I love all kinds of books! I like cozy mystery books, clean romance, YA, dystopian.

    ReplyDelete
  70. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  71. I really love self help books and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books too!

    ReplyDelete
  72. I like receiving books that have/are being made into movies, I like to read them before watching the movie interpretation.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I like watching books that have a movie based on it. I always enjoy seeing the visual representation of what I read. (even when the movie is awful lol)

    ReplyDelete
  74. I really like all kinds of books - usually anyone makes me happy :)

    ReplyDelete
  75. I'm all about a good murder mystery! I love when I'm surprised by the ending!

    coriwestphal at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  76. I love great romantic mysteries

    ReplyDelete
  77. I love thrillers; I can't get enough of them.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I am here to know it is rubbish. I won't hold it about the inexperienced younger folk who have confidence in such nonsense. There are several very good reasons why Senior Citizens will buy a great deal of Christmas gifts online this current year, and this short article demonstrates to you why. gifts

    ReplyDelete