First Page Panda

Home

About

Contact

Tue 28 Dec 2010

Posted by annastan [3] Comments

Chapter One “Oh. My. God. My parents are so going to kill me.” I couldn’t take my eyes away from the mirror in Mario’s House of Hair. The alien landscape that was now my head seemed to hypnotize me. Taunt me. And tell me what a complete idiot I was for having done this. My best friend, Beth Pizzano, gave me no sympathy. “Stop it, Lucy. You know you look hot.” I don’t know how Beth could judge how hot I looked because she was busy adjusting her tank top so that it revealed even more of her chest. Until she could charge implants on her $1,000 limit VISA card, she constantly observed, adjusted and overly-obsessed about that part of her anatomy. Much like I did about my hair. The dark brown, almost black, canopy I had just deliberately obliterated in total defiance of my mother’s refusal to let me get highlights. “I’m not thinking about whether I look hot or not. I’m wondering whether my parents will notice if I walk around the house wearing a paper bag on my head for the next year.” The grandmaster of my new look appeared beside me. With his black, shiny hair pulled into a ponytail and a wide grin pulling at his face, he reminded me of some sleazy magician ready to make me disappear. I wish. Excerpt © 2010 Nelsa Roberto

Chapter One

“Oh. My. God. My parents are so going to kill me.”

I couldn’t take my eyes away from the mirror in Mario’s House of Hair. The alien landscape that was now my head seemed to hypnotize me. Taunt me. And tell me what a complete idiot I was for having done this.

My best friend, Beth Pizzano, gave me no sympathy.

“Stop it, Lucy. You know you look hot.”

I don’t know how Beth could judge how hot I looked because she was busy adjusting her tank top so that it revealed even more of her chest. Until she could charge implants on her $1,000 limit VISA card, she constantly observed, adjusted and overly-obsessed about that part of her anatomy. Much like I did about my hair. The dark brown, almost black, canopy I had just deliberately obliterated in total defiance of my mother’s refusal to let me get highlights.

“I’m not thinking about whether I look hot or not. I’m wondering whether my parents will notice if I walk around the house wearing a paper bag on my head for the next year.”

The grandmaster of my new look appeared beside me. With his black, shiny hair pulled into a ponytail and a wide grin pulling at his face, he reminded me of some sleazy magician ready to make me disappear. I wish.

Excerpt © 2010 Nelsa Roberto

About the book:

When seventeen-year-old Lucy do Amaral comes home with newly bleached blonde hair she expects a major lecture and another grounding from her strict Portuguese parents. What she doesn’t expect is the shocking news that her parents are illegal aliens who’ve just been told they’re being deported in less than a week. Lucy’s furious at her parents and has no intention of leaving her boyfriend and missing prom and grad to go live in some backwater village with no cable, no movie theatre and no life in some country she knows nothing about.

But, as Lucy discovers, intentions and reality are sometimes worlds apart – or, in Lucy’s case, at least an ocean away. Lucy’s desperation to return to her ‘real’ home ensnares her in a web of illegal activity that threatens more than her journey home. But it’s when she unexpectedly falls for a guy whose connection to his home is centuries old that she finally realizes you can never really run away from your roots – not even if you bleach them.

What people are saying:

“Roberto’s firm grasp of dialogue and understanding of teenage feelings makes this a good addition to young people’s fiction.” – Winnipeg Free Press “The dialogue and Lucy’s interior self-talk is absolutely excellent. Because Roberto has captured perfectly the vocabulary, tone and emotions of the characters, the story flies by with the reader eagerly turning pages. From the rigid upper middle class kitchen of Joel’s parents to the cramped home of Lucy’s loving relatives, the settings not only reflect the characters’ values but also evoke a palpable love of Portuguese culture. Exceptional descriptions of the land and village in Portugal are woven seamlessly into the plot. The themes of controlling one’s impulsivity and supporting one’s family ahead of one’s immediate desires will not be lost on the intended reader.” Recommended. -Joan Marshall, CM Magazine .

“It’s refreshing to see a Portuguese-Canadian protagonist in YA fiction and Lucy do Amaral is an appealing newcomer … author Nelsa Roberto has taken a true story from the news headlines (about Portuguese-Canadians deported when their citizenship was called into question) and skillfully crafted an enjoyable and well-written tale. Lucy do Amaral is a welcome addition to the YA scene.” -Gillian O’Reilly, Canadian Children’s Book Centre News (Summer 2010)

Released: March 2010 from Great Plains Publications

About the author:

Nelsa Roberto is a mild-mannered civil servant by day and a ferocious teen-fiction writer/hockey mom/van driver by night. Born in a remote logging community in northern Ontario, Nelsa spent much of her youth in a small, rural farming community in southern Ontario before moving to Windsor, Ontario to earn her combined Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication Studies.

Nelsa lives in Toronto, Ontario with her husband, three children and a slightly hyperactive Golden Retriever, and is busy writing – mostly on the subway and at hockey arenas – her next young adult novel.

Tags: Cultural Identity , Immigration , Realistic , Young Adult

Julia Karr says: December 28, 2010 at 1:07 pm This book sounds fabulous! Bridgette says: December 28, 2010 at 3:11 pm What an interesting story. I’m making my 2011 reading list now and am adding Illegally Blonde to it. Thanks!

This book sounds fabulous!

Bridgette says: December 28, 2010 at 3:11 pm What an interesting story. I’m making my 2011 reading list now and am adding Illegally Blonde to it. Thanks!

What an interesting story. I’m making my 2011 reading list now and am adding Illegally Blonde to it. Thanks!

Linda G. says: December 31, 2010 at 9:45 pm I loved Illegally Blonde! I was hooked from page one. 🙂

I loved Illegally Blonde! I was hooked from page one. 🙂

Subscribe to posts by email:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Featured Authors J. Anderson Coats Andrea Alban Crystal Allen Sarah Aronson Monica S. Baker Hannah Barnaby Rebecca Barnhouse Hilari Bell Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman Julie Berry Lauren Bjorkman Jan Blazanin Ellen Booraem Hélène Boudreau Julie Bowe Robin Bridges Leslie Bulion Marissa Burt Erin Cashman Lara Chapman Sheela Chari Julie Chibbaro Lena Coakley Kristi Cook Kate Coombs Leah Cypess Carole Estby Dagg Karen DelleCava Amy Fellner Dominy Marissa Doyle Deva Fagan Beth Fehlbaum Greg R. Fishbone Janet Fox Sonia Gensler Cole Gibsen Hilary Weisman Graham Tessa Gratton Alissa Grosso Lia Habel Teri Hall Kiki Hamilton Janice Hardy Kim Harrington Merrie Haskell Danette Haworth Cat Hellisen Karyn Henley Leanna Renee Hieber Tess Hilmo Amy Holder Elissa J. Hoole Jennifer Hubbard Kirsten Hubbard Denise Jaden Terry Lynn Johnson Mike Jung Julie Kagawa Julia Karr Stasia Ward Kehoe Lynne Kelly Miranda Kenneally Derek Taylor Kent Kami Kinard Jessi Kirby Jo Knowles Ron Koertge R.L. LaFevers Helen Landalf April Lindner Nikki Loftin Natasha Lowe Susan Lubner Elisa Ludwig Jenny Lundquist Michaela MacColl Christina Mandelski Jessica Martinez Shari Maurer C. Lee McKenzie Gretchen McNeil Kate Messner Dawn Metcalf Erin Moulton Erin E. Moulton Kate Kae Myers Anne Nesbet Jennifer Nielsen Kristin Wolden Nitz A.J. Paquette Rosanne Parry Mitali Perkins Gae Polisner Cindy Pon J.L. Powers Joy Preble Cheryl Rainfield Michelle Ray Jenn Reese Diana Renn Bettina Restrepo Laurisa White Reyes Nelsa Roberto Joanne Rocklin Lisa and Laura Roecker Caroline Starr Rose Randy Russell Jeanne Ryan Chris Rylander Kimberly Sabatini Peter Adam Salomon Jeff Sampson Tiffany Schmidt Lisa Schroeder Victoria Schwab Mindi Scott Ruta Sepetys Medeia Sharif Kristen Simmons Angie Smibert Clete Barrett Smith J.A. Souders Jessica Spotswood Anna Staniszewski Kiera Stewart Lauren Strasnick Sarvenaz Tash Sarah Tregay Audrey Vernick Danette Vigilante Sara Bennett Wealer Dianna Winget Jennifer Shaw Wolf Allan Woodrow Brian Yansky Lara Zeises Jennifer Ziegler part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

J. Anderson Coats Andrea Alban Crystal Allen Sarah Aronson Monica S. Baker Hannah Barnaby Rebecca Barnhouse Hilari Bell Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman Julie Berry Lauren Bjorkman Jan Blazanin Ellen Booraem Hélène Boudreau Julie Bowe Robin Bridges Leslie Bulion Marissa Burt Erin Cashman Lara Chapman Sheela Chari Julie Chibbaro Lena Coakley Kristi Cook Kate Coombs Leah Cypess Carole Estby Dagg Karen DelleCava Amy Fellner Dominy Marissa Doyle Deva Fagan Beth Fehlbaum Greg R. Fishbone Janet Fox Sonia Gensler Cole Gibsen Hilary Weisman Graham Tessa Gratton Alissa Grosso Lia Habel Teri Hall Kiki Hamilton Janice Hardy Kim Harrington Merrie Haskell Danette Haworth Cat Hellisen Karyn Henley Leanna Renee Hieber Tess Hilmo Amy Holder Elissa J. Hoole Jennifer Hubbard Kirsten Hubbard Denise Jaden Terry Lynn Johnson Mike Jung Julie Kagawa Julia Karr Stasia Ward Kehoe Lynne Kelly Miranda Kenneally Derek Taylor Kent Kami Kinard Jessi Kirby Jo Knowles Ron Koertge R.L. LaFevers Helen Landalf April Lindner Nikki Loftin Natasha Lowe Susan Lubner Elisa Ludwig Jenny Lundquist Michaela MacColl Christina Mandelski Jessica Martinez Shari Maurer C. Lee McKenzie Gretchen McNeil Kate Messner Dawn Metcalf Erin Moulton Erin E. Moulton Kate Kae Myers Anne Nesbet Jennifer Nielsen Kristin Wolden Nitz A.J. Paquette Rosanne Parry Mitali Perkins Gae Polisner Cindy Pon J.L. Powers Joy Preble Cheryl Rainfield Michelle Ray Jenn Reese Diana Renn Bettina Restrepo Laurisa White Reyes Nelsa Roberto Joanne Rocklin Lisa and Laura Roecker Caroline Starr Rose Randy Russell Jeanne Ryan Chris Rylander Kimberly Sabatini Peter Adam Salomon Jeff Sampson Tiffany Schmidt Lisa Schroeder Victoria Schwab Mindi Scott Ruta Sepetys Medeia Sharif Kristen Simmons Angie Smibert Clete Barrett Smith J.A. Souders Jessica Spotswood Anna Staniszewski Kiera Stewart Lauren Strasnick Sarvenaz Tash Sarah Tregay Audrey Vernick Danette Vigilante Sara Bennett Wealer Dianna Winget Jennifer Shaw Wolf Allan Woodrow Brian Yansky Lara Zeises Jennifer Ziegler part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

J. Anderson Coats

Andrea Alban

Crystal Allen

Sarah Aronson

Monica S. Baker

Hannah Barnaby

Rebecca Barnhouse

Hilari Bell

Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman

Julie Berry

Lauren Bjorkman

Jan Blazanin

Ellen Booraem

Hélène Boudreau

Julie Bowe

Robin Bridges

Leslie Bulion

Marissa Burt

Erin Cashman

Lara Chapman

Sheela Chari

Julie Chibbaro

Lena Coakley

Kristi Cook

Kate Coombs

Leah Cypess

Carole Estby Dagg

Karen DelleCava

Amy Fellner Dominy

Marissa Doyle

Deva Fagan

Beth Fehlbaum

Greg R. Fishbone

Janet Fox

Sonia Gensler

Cole Gibsen

Hilary Weisman Graham

Tessa Gratton

Alissa Grosso

Lia Habel

Teri Hall

Kiki Hamilton

Janice Hardy

Kim Harrington

Merrie Haskell

Danette Haworth

Cat Hellisen

Karyn Henley

Leanna Renee Hieber

Tess Hilmo

Amy Holder

Elissa J. Hoole

Jennifer Hubbard

Kirsten Hubbard

Denise Jaden

Terry Lynn Johnson

Mike Jung

Julie Kagawa

Julia Karr

Stasia Ward Kehoe

Lynne Kelly

Miranda Kenneally

Derek Taylor Kent

Kami Kinard

Jessi Kirby

Jo Knowles

Ron Koertge

R.L. LaFevers

Helen Landalf

April Lindner

Nikki Loftin

Natasha Lowe

Susan Lubner

Elisa Ludwig

Jenny Lundquist

Michaela MacColl

Christina Mandelski

Jessica Martinez

Shari Maurer

C. Lee McKenzie

Gretchen McNeil

Kate Messner

Dawn Metcalf

Erin Moulton

Erin E. Moulton

Kate Kae Myers

Anne Nesbet

Jennifer Nielsen

Kristin Wolden Nitz

A.J. Paquette

Rosanne Parry

Mitali Perkins

Gae Polisner

Cindy Pon

J.L. Powers

Joy Preble

Cheryl Rainfield

Michelle Ray

Jenn Reese

Diana Renn

Bettina Restrepo

Laurisa White Reyes

Nelsa Roberto

Joanne Rocklin

Lisa and Laura Roecker

Caroline Starr Rose

Randy Russell

Jeanne Ryan

Chris Rylander

Kimberly Sabatini

Peter Adam Salomon

Jeff Sampson

Tiffany Schmidt

Lisa Schroeder

Victoria Schwab

Mindi Scott

Ruta Sepetys

Medeia Sharif

Kristen Simmons

Angie Smibert

Clete Barrett Smith

J.A. Souders

Jessica Spotswood

Anna Staniszewski

Kiera Stewart

Lauren Strasnick

Sarvenaz Tash

Sarah Tregay

Audrey Vernick

Danette Vigilante

Sara Bennett Wealer

Dianna Winget

Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Allan Woodrow

Brian Yansky

Lara Zeises

Jennifer Ziegler

part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

Adapted from Wordpress Theme: Connections Reloaded by Ajay D'Souza . Header image designed by Sheryl DePaolo .