Happy 1st Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear TMLB,
Happy Birthday to you!!

Yup, you guessed right, it's The Mile Long Bookshelf's first birthday!! Aww. I can't believe it's been a whole year since I started this. It's been really difficult in places, but overall running this blog has been soo fun :) I hope to carry it on for years to come! I just want to say thank you to all the kind publishers and authors that donate books and prizes to me - without you, this blog would be....well, it wouldn't be anything! Anyway, to celebrate I'm having a big competition....

There will only be one winner  and this is INTERNATIONAL. The prizes are:

• Lottie Biggs is NOT Desperate by Hayley Long
• Della Says: OMG! by Keris Stainton promotional postcard
• Seriously Sassy by Maggi Gibson promotional postcard
• Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper double-sided poster
• Troubadour by Mary Hoffman double-sided poster
• Brand new signed paperback copy of Breathing Underwater by Julia Green
• Brand new signed paperback copy of Seriously Sassy by Maggi Gibson
• Luisa Plaja bookcover sticker sheet
• Orange 'Nuffin Like a Puffin' tote bag

Cool or what?! I'd keep these goodies myself if I could, haha! Anyway, just fill out the form HERE for a chance to win.

The closing date is 10th December so you have ten days to enter. Hurry, and good luck!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman

Title: Boys Don't Cry
Author: Malorie Blackman
Published by: Corgi Children's
Publication date: 28th October 2011
Pages: 320
Genres: Young Adult
Format: Hardback
Source: Gift.

Click here to buy the book

You're waiting for the postman - he's bringing your exam results. University, a career as a journalist... a glittering future lies ahead.

But when the doorbell rings, it's your old girlfriend; and she's carrying a baby... your baby.

She's had enough and now it's your turn.

What would you do?

What if.

She's had enough and now it's your turn.
What would you do?
What if you were left holding the baby?

The main characters are Dante, his younger brother Adam and Dante's newly discovered baby daughter Emma. I love the way that the chapters switch between Dante talking and Adam talking - you get better insight into what the different characters are feeling. There are some amazing twists in this novel, including a mental breakdown and, of course, the new baby.

You're never bored when reading this. It was so good that I did an all-nighter on a school night....which was really bad of me, and I suffered for it, but it was worth it because it meant I got to read the whole book. Even though she is so famous and well known, this is actually the first Malorie Blackman book I've read; it left such a good impression that I really want to read more of her books!

I really like the cover - the neon pink writing looks really good, and the book probably wouldn't stand out if it wasn't for the bright pink.

This book is FANTASTIC. I can't say how much I enjoyed it - it was brilliant, amazing, cool, awesome, excellent, fantastic, fabulous, good, great.....wow....it really was all that I just said and more. It's good because it makes teenagers more aware of how one night can change the rest of their lives. I give this book a rating of 5/5 and I think it's more suitable for readers aged 12+, although there is some mild swearing in this.

GREAT BOOK! :)