Book Drive Update~ Donations Still Being Accepted!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you that live in the US!  I'm guessing not many will be reading blogs today, but I know that the rest of the world is out there who doesn't have a holiday and I thought it might be a good day to post an update for the Pine Ridge Reservation book drive. 

I posted about the Reservation needing books desperately bad and I got a pretty good turn out.  Honestly, I'm happy to get them whatever we can.  First of all, if you are interested in learning more about Pine Ridge and the people who live there, I encourage you to check out A Pine Ridge Story, a website that is all about Pine Ridge and the people who live there. 

Pine Ridge is over 7,000 square miles in size and has been called America's Third World.  Unemployment is at around 80%, 30% of homes don't have electricity or plumbing.  There's no library outside of the college library and the schools have some of the nations lowest funding rates.  I really could go on, but there's no need, I think you all get the point that they can use some books.  In addition, if you happen to have hats, coats, mittens, blankets, etc, they can really use them.  Can you imagine living without electricity in freezing temperatures?  I'm not going to turn this into a coat drive, just keep that in mind if you have some.  They can be sent to the college as well to be distributed.

So far I have received $20 cash and $25 Amazon Gift Card.  I will send these to the librarian to choose the books she feels they can use. Thank you to the two awesome people who donated them!
It appears to be well over 100 books, likely closer to 200 and maybe even 300 (one person said she has a garage full, so I have no idea how many she'll be sending).   Getting an accurate number turned out to be impossible, but it sounds like quite a few have been sent out.  In addition I have sent about 100 of them myself.

Once again, here's the donation information.  You will have to email me to get the mailing address as they wish for it not to be posted publicly.

Here are the options:

• Grab books around the house that are in good condition, not soiled or with tears or water stains.  ARC's are okay.  Put them in a box and ship them out media mail. (This is inexpensive as I shipped two HUGE boxes, over 100 books, and it was less then $20. Of course you have to be in the US to do this.)
• Buy books from the LLC Bookstore; these are books to help keep the Lakota language alive.  They need many, many more of these books.  You can order here: http://stores.languagepress.com/StoreFront.bok and have them shipped to the college. (They had them on Amazon, so I added them to the wishlist there as well, but they are more expensive, it looks like.)
• Gift an Amazon gift card. At this time I'm taking them and then will send one large one, instead of all the small ones. If you prefer to send one directly to them, that's okay too. This way teachers and librarians can pick the books they think are most needed.  {You can also send paypal to me so I can purchase the gift card, this works fine for me.}
• Choose a book off of the wishlist on Amazon and have it shipped directly.  This wishlist was just thrown together by me.  I wasn't given one but I know how much easier it can be to order stuff from a wishlist.  The address is included so when you order it will ship directly to them.  I put up a variety of children's, middle grade and young adult books.  If there are adult books they are non-fiction/self help type, but if you want me to add some, let me know. I know buying directly from a wishlist can be easiest. The wish list is found HERE.  I have giftcards on there, but I'm not sure how that works.  I would say that you can send it to me and I'll send one large one to them, but if you want to send directly to them contact me for their email address. (mine is candacesbookblog(at)yahoo(dot)com)

If you have recommendations  for books to be added to the wishlist, please tell me!  I've been adding books randomly. I sometimes get some that pop into my head, but much of these are just by me clicking for age groups. 

Please feel free to share on your blog, social media and everywhere you possibly can!  The more people that know, the better!

Authors: Your books are welcome!  I have had authors send copies of their books before.  From board books to adult books, they'll take them all!  Send one, send twenty. It's totally up to you, but they'll love whatever they get!

I was asked to please not share the address publicly, that is why it's not listed here.  Please email me at candacesbookblog(at)yahoo(dot)com with your donation info (approx number and type, you don't have to be precise) and I'll send you the mailing address.

Book Drive for Pine Ridge Reservation- DONATIONS NEEDED!

A few years ago I put together a book drive for Pine Ridge Reservation.  The reservation has nearly 30,000 people and no public library.  They depend on a the Oglala Lakota College, which is not accessible to most since it's such a large area.  The reservation is in two of the poorest counties in the US and many families live without running water, electricity, phone or sewer.  The unemployment rate is over 80%. Teen suicide is four times the national average.  The schools are in the bottom 10% for funding and teacher turnover is over 800% of the US national average.  Most live in rural and isolated areas, unable to reach the college to get books.

I grew up in SD near the reservation.  I had friends from the reservation. I know that books can change lives, so I want to help bring more books to the reservation and maybe bring a smile to some faces.  I firmly believe that a book can do a lot for the spirit and can really warm the heart. 

The Oglala Lakota College has programs where they get books out to the children and adults in isolated areas.  They can use many, many more books, the need is really unlimited, they have not nearly enough for everyone.

I would like to set some goals, but I really don't know where to start.  I want to say that we can raise hundreds, but I'm really not sure what the interest is.  Or ability, as I'm sure everyone wants to donate but not everyone is able.

Here are the options:

• Grab books around the house that are in good condition, not soiled or with tears or water stains.  ARC's are okay.  Put them in a box and ship them out media mail. (This is inexpensive as I shipped two HUGE boxes, over 100 books, and it was less then $20. Of course you have to be in the US to do this.)
• Buy books from the LLC Bookstore; these are books to help keep the Lakota language alive.  They need many, many more of these books.  You can order here: http://stores.languagepress.com/StoreFront.bok and have them shipped to the college. (They had them on Amazon, so I added them to the wishlist there as well, but they are more expensive, it looks like.)
• Gift an Amazon gift card. At this time I'm taking them and then will send one large one, instead of all the small ones. If you prefer to send one directly to them, that's okay too. This way teachers and librarians can pick the books they think are most needed.  {You can also send paypal to me so I can purchase the gift card, this works fine for me.}
• Choose a book off of the wishlist on Amazon and have it shipped directly.  This wishlist was just thrown together by me.  I wasn't given one but I know how much easier it can be to order stuff from a wishlist.  The address is included so when you order it will ship directly to them.  I put up a variety of children's, middle grade and young adult books.  If there are adult books they are non-fiction/self help type, but if you want me to add some, let me know. I know buying directly from a wishlist can be easiest. The wish list is found HERE.  I have giftcards on there, but I'm not sure how that works.  I would say that you can send it to me and I'll send one large one to them, but if you want to send directly to them contact me for their email address. (mine is candacesbookblog(at)yahoo(dot)com)

If you have recommendations  for books to be added to the wishlist, please tell me!  I've been adding books randomly. I sometimes get some that pop into my head, but much of these are just by me clicking for age groups. 

Please feel free to share on your blog, social media and everywhere you possibly can!  The more people that know, the better!

I will be doing an update post, or possibly several, depending on the turn out and if there's much to say.  So if you send a box of books (for example) we'd love to see a picture!  Or if you have a favorite book and your child is holding it up or something, you can send that.  I will credit you for the photo.

Authors: Your books are welcome!  I have had authors send copies of their books before.  From board books to adult books, they'll take them all!  Send one, send twenty. It's totally up to you, but they'll love whatever they get!

I was asked to please not share the address publicly, that is why it's not listed here.  Please email me at candacesbookblog(at)yahoo(dot)com with your donation info (approx number and type, you don't have to be precise) and I'll send you the mailing address.  I removed the form as I was afraid my emails were ending up in spam and not everyone was getting the information.

Vlog- I have an announcement

Hello lovelies!  I finally got my webcam to work so I decided to try it out and do a video about my upcoming contest.  Watch the video and below it is all the details in case you can't watch it or if you can't hear it, or for a reminder. 

Please excuse my baby.  He mistakenly thought we were doing a video of him.  Also, I just woke up and look like crap.  But this is the one that turned out best.  


Contest will start in the beginning of December-
Contest consists of one winner getting a bag of books (between 5-7) from a list of about 20 (winner picks!)
One winner getting signed books (3)
One winner getting a gift card or books from The Book Depository for $25 (International)

Get extra entries by donating to the Pine Ridge Reservation!
Every $5 (via paypal or gift card) = 5 entries
Each book donated = 5 entries
You don't HAVE to donate.  They'll be the normal entries of following, subscribing, tweeting, etc.  But PLEASE help these people get some books before Christmas!  You can find out all about The Pine Ridge Reservation and their situation here.  They don't have libraries like us, nor do they have bookstores or the access that many of us have to books. 
Email me at candace_redinger at yahoo dot com for mailing address or email for GC or paypal.  I will save all the emails so I can give you credit when the contest starts in the beginning of December. 
THIS IS NOT THE CONTEST!  I just want to give you all time to look through and find some books and even get them mailed so they get their BEFORE Christmas!
Thanks everyone!

Books that are heartbreaking, but yet full of hope and inspiration

So an author friend of mine, (I feel I can call her a friend, we've chatted often enough now) gave me this link (she happens to be an author of one of those books) and it lists books that are about being a teenager and the struggles one has.  I really thought this was brilliant and loved how the writer of the article pointed out the different depths of the books.  I haven't read them all yet, but the ones I have read are certainly books that will stick with me.  I wanted to share the link with all of you since it's so great and is a great list of recommended reading if your looking for something in particular.  So go here and check it out! 

I'm also hoping maybe some of you would be up for donating some of these books, or any others in new to gently used condition, to the Pine Ridge Reservation book drive.  You can find the info about it here.   I think all of these books would be fantastic as the struggles that the teens go through on the reservation are more frequent.  More alcoholism, more drug use, more suicides.  Sometimes a book can make a world of difference. 
Even if your not able to donate you really must get your hands on these books and read them!
After posting the above bit I got some great comments with MORE inspirational books!  So I thought I would add them to the list here.    Karen says Split by  Swati Avasthi should be on the list.  I recognize the cover but really don't recall reading any reviews on it.   I'm definitely going to be watching for it though!

 Angel says Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala should be on the list.  I have heard good things about this one! 
She also says A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler.  It's another one I've heard many great things about.  Both of these books are ones I can't wait to get my hands on!
Do you have some that should be added to the list?