Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Scarlett Martin's family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her siblings, Spencer, Lola, and Marlene. When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn. Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

In the sequel, Scarlett Fever, Scarlett ends up at the beck and call of a Broadway star (her own age!), dealing with territorial doormen, and walking a small dog with insecurity issues - all while starting her sophomore year at one of New York’s most rigorous high schools.

Meanwhile, her older brother Spencer has become New York City’s most controversial TV villain, her ever-reliable older sister Lola is sliding off the rails, and her younger sister Marlene, most worryingly, has suddenly become . . . nice. But somehow Scarlett will prevail . . . right?

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ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2009 (Suite Scarlett) "Utterly winning, madcap Manhattan farce, crafted with a winking, urbane narrative and tight, wry dialogue." - Booklist, starred review (for Suite Scarlett) "You'll never want to check out of Suite Scarlett! Maureen Johnson writes with a deft and clever hand. I can't wait until my room at the Hopewell is ready." - Meg Cabot "Maureen Johnson has a magical writing unicorn in her desk drawer who crafted this delightfully witty, madcap, and thoroughly enchanting tale of love, family, weird hotels, burned food, New York City, DIY theater, and finding yourself where you least expect it. (Unless, of course, MJ is herself a magical writing unicorn, which I have long suspected.)" - Libba Bray "The sequel measures well above its predecessor . . . the characterizations are a dream." - Kirkus Reviews (for Scarlett Fever) "Charming, smart, and laugh-out-loud funny, Scarlett Fever is the kind of book you give to your best friend and say, 'Please hurry up and read this, so we can talk about it.'" - Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan a.k.a. The Fug Girls "Very, very rarely, I read a book that makes me want to live somewhere other than Maine. Even less often, I read a book that makes me want to live somewhere urban. This series falls into both categories - the trials and tribulations of Scarlett Martin make me daydream about living in New York City. Thumbs up, yet again, for Maureen Johnson." - Bookshelves of Doom

Maureen Johnson

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On the nightstand: Large pile of books and an ABBA coaster.

Favorite drink while you write: As many as possible. I drink a lot. Hydration, hydration, hydration!

Favorite library: The New York Public Library

Pet: Sadly, I don't have one. I travel a lot. I WOULD LIKE to have about 17 pets and plan to at some point.

Place to write: Not where - with. With my friends.

Dream book tour: We all go to the Caribbean together. Let's make this happen!

Writer buddies: Many. Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, John Green, Libba Bray, Robin Wasserman, Cassie Clare, Holly Black, E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, Lauren McLaughlin, Ally Carter, Sarah Rees Brennan, David Levithan... I'm missing people. We all know each other. It's like HIGH SCHOOL, but more awesome.

Cure for writer's block: Deadlines, banging head on desk, snacks.

Favorite outfit: Just a simple ball gown. I'm not fancy.

Laptop or longhand? Laptop. I can barely hold a pen anymore.

Stilettos or Uggs? Surely, there are other choices. Like tap shoes.

Other YA novels: The Key to the Golden Firebird, The Bermudez Triangle, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Devilish, Girl at Sea, Let it Snow (with John Green and Lauren Myracle)

Next up: I'll be in the Zombies vs. Unicorns collection coming out in September. The sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes, The Last Little Blue Envelope, is coming out next May. And next fall, I'm launching a NEW MYSTERY/PARANORMAL SERIES I am VERY excited about.

Also check out Maureen's vlog from the day Scarlett Fever was released.

Other Interviews: Seventeen CosmoGIRL! Interview, Young Adult Books Central, Kids' Right to Read Project, Teen Book Review

Website: http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com

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Discuss the book with the author herself. Join us at Twitter #rgz on Wednesday, September 22nd at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST to chat live with Maureen Johnson. The chat will last for one hour.

 

If you'd like to honor Esther's memory, please visit Friends of Esther, where donations will help Esther's family with expenses related to her care. Checks may be sent to:

Friends of Esther Earl
118 Billings Street
Quincy, MA 02171

You may also make donations in her name:
The HP Alliance
PO Box 441640
West Somerville, MA 02144

 

This month's theme is Family. We recently lost a young member of our extended internet family. As posted by John Green on Vlog Brothers:

The following tunes were hand-picked by the author to accompany her book. You must have Flash to see the playlist below. Click here to open the playlist in a new window.

Some of Maureen's selections weren't available to stream. Here's her full playlist:

1. Grace Kelly (Mika)
2. Beautiful Dreamers (Grant Lee Phillips)
3. April Fools (Rufus Wainwright)
4. Nobody Cares (The 88)
5. Who'd Have Known (Lily Allen)
6. Sitting in my Hotel (The Kinks)
7. I Hope I Get It (from A Chorus Line)
8. A Girl's Gotta Do (The Waitresses)
9. Something 4 the Weekend (Super Furry Animals)
10. Of course . . . Dancing Queen (ABBA)

 

Discuss the following questions (and more!) with other readers at the readergirlz blog.

Suite Scarlett

1. Scarlett has less money than her friends. Is this an advantage or disadvantage?

2. If you had to hide an entire production of Hamlet, where would you put it?

3. Spencer and Scarlett are normally very close, but he gets very angry with her when he finds out about Eric. Why do you think this is?

4. Marlene gets away with a lot of bad behavior. Do you think she's entitled?

5. Mrs. Amberson never explains the "Mrs." part of her name. Any theories on who she might be married to, if she is married at all?

Scarlett Fever

6. Scarlett becomes obsessed with Eric, to the point where her friends want to sit on her and shake her to make her stop talking about him. Have you ever felt that way about someone, or have you had to sit on/shake any friends who were behaving like Scarlett?

7. Eric or Max?

8. Chelsea has been chasing fame all her life. Why do you think people want to be famous? Why do you think Chelsea's brother Max rejects the quest for fame?

9. How do you stop a little dog from getting the tinkles?

10. Lola makes a very big decision at the end of Scarlett Fever. Do you think this was a good or bad move?

 

Planning your own book group get-together? Here are some party ideas from the author.

Invite: 1930s, stylish, Art Deco

Food: Cake. There must be cake. Also, doughnuts. And weird herbal teas.

Décor: Art Deco or Theater Shabby. Your choice.

Movies: Anything set in New York. (Except Cloverfield, maybe.)

Game: Unicycle riding.

 

Recommended by postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council

Fiction
The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It by Lisa Shanahan (previously titled My Big Birkett)
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
Girl, 15, Charming But Insane by Sue Limb
The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas
Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Non-Fiction
Shaking the Family Tree: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist by Buzzy Jackson

 

 

Get ready for next month's book discussion:

October: Lips Touch by Laini Taylor, illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo