From Drafts: Recap of the Texas Teen Book Festival 2017!!

 Disclaimer & Note: The Texas teen book fest has been discontinued and has not happened since before 2020 now there is a small teen section at the Texas book festival in downtown Austin instead of having its own separate event and day.

 Also this post was created in 2017 and is now being updated years later because I was clearing out our drafts

Last year in 2017 Melissa, and I got the chance to volunteer at the Texas Teen Book Fest . This was my (Jessica's) first time ever volunteering at a Book Fest, Melissa attended the fest the previous year. Needless to say neither of us were prepared for our lovely 8:00 am shift we decided to volunteer for. Here we are at 8:00 am pumped and ready to.....we actually just signed up for shifts, and hoped for the best. By far one the most awesome things that happened, I saw JASON REYNOLDS across the way. We HAD a MOMENT! He doesn't know but ehh, he totally waved which means he acknowledged I was there. How did I know it was him...the hair! The bigger the hair the closer to GOD, they say. This probably kept me going through the entire day, even when I got a chance to meet Renee Watson, I was still on a high from waving to Jason. What did I do in front of Ms.Watson, I fan-girled, super hard. Like " you don't know me, but I am a huge fan, you're awesome, can't wait to read your book, now I'm done talking..." I also got a chance to meet Renee Watson, she is amaz-ing!

This was my(Melissa's)second year attending the Texas Teen Book Fest, and first year volunteering at the fest. I had a blast despite getting up earlier than needed for our 8 am volunteer shift. It was a bit rough at first neither Jessica, and I are what you would call morning people. Luckily we were placed at the info tent with some pretty cool people,who we befriended. I even got to hold a giant lollipop looking sign that said ask me...which doesn't sound that cool but where I was placed was directly where a lot of the authors walked by for the first keynote speaker. I got to see Adam Silvera, Jason Reynolds, E.Lockhart, and Stephanie Perkins all walk by, unlike Jessica I did not wave to my favorite authors but that's fine I got to meet Adam Silvera later on...It was hella awkward and I word vomited all over him.I told him that I loved his books and followed him on twitter  and was a huge fan*sigh* I never know what to say to authors. It was great but I was a total weirdo and it didn't help that Jessica was being her usual self (a mess) and helped make things weird.

Just like the year before  the Texas Teen Book Fest in 2017 had awesome panels, keynote speaker, and pretty kick-ass cosplay.The majority of the day was spent volunteering but on our down time we got to browse all the vendor stands,check out the books for sale,and meet all the authors at signing/just walking around!! We even got to check out a few panels and see the last keynote speaker JASON REYNOLDS  !!!One thing that was not like the year before was the fact that I spoke to more than one Author!!!

All in all It was a good time.

Rip Texas teen book fest

Awkward

 Title:Awkward 
Author:Marni Bates
Published:January 1,2012 
Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp


Mackenzie Wellesley has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disastrous - not to mention unwelcome - attempt at CPR.

Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an Internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting...

 I killed him, I thought numbly. I killed him with my awkwardness!

So the quote above pretty much sums up the book...Well not really but its one of many that make the book hilarious.  

Mackenzie is a hardworking, spastic,quirky awkward girl whose life changes after a mishap with a football player. The horribly awkward scene gets put on youtube then life starts to change drastically or poor sweet awkward Mackenzie.She's a instant hit famous celebs are talking and tweeting about her and then a famous band uses her video in a music video.From there she get thrust in a world of rock stars,designer cloths,and miscommunications with hot boys.Watching Mackenzie try to figure out her new life is absolutely hysterical. 

The characters were relate able and the book felt current.I loved Mackenzie's best friends Jane and Corey, who stood by their friend no matter what.I would love a buddy like Corey to help pick out my clothes.Then there is Jane who seemed just super sweet and bookish in a good way.I liked the fact that Mackenzie's younger brother was so embarrassed of her but also really protective of his older sister even though he's in middle school.The romance was actually quite adorable plus sweet and slow. I loved Logan he seemed like a actual nice guy. I enjoyed ReadySet and the twist with the lead singer Tom and his crush.The author made the band seem relaxed like just a group of talented guys who are famous.I like the fact that the band wasn't cliche. 

The cover to me ties in with the whole book its colorful,cute and quirky.

The whole attitude of the book was light and fun and entertaining, nothing serious or heavy.I read the book in one siting i found it entertaining and at times I found myself cringing at Mackenzie and her awkwardness but she ended up growing on me.This book has a chill vibe to it i would recommend this book to any one wanting to have a light fun read. 3/5

So the video is by a band called the Readyset not really the band in the book Btw...