Wendy Toliver’s new book is timed perfectly, as I was just talking with my friend Ann about this topic the other day: shoplifting. I told Ann that I learned my lesson early on. One day my best friend and I were shopping with her older sister, who was staying with my friend because her parents were away. It was probably sixth or seventh grade. Anyway, my friend saw a bracelet she wanted and slipped it into her pocket. Only, she wasn’t terribly good at it, because two seconds later a security guard was standing next to us telling her to empty her pockets. He escorted us into a back room, and they paged her sister over the intercom. Boy, was she pissed!!!! Watching my friend to through that certainly cured me of any desire to ever go through it myself.

Here’s a little about Wendy’s book LIFTED. And make sure to check out the book trailer and Wendy’s contest. Wendy is running a contest on her website, www.wendytoliver.com, the entire month of June. Simply click on the “contact” button and send her a message including the word “contest,” your name, and your U.S. mailing address. (If you’re under the age of 14, please get permission from your parents/guardians first.) She will be giving away gift cards to Border’s, signed copies of Lifted, as well as other fun prizes. One entry per person, please.

Poppy Browne had never stolen anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres, Texas and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she’s hooked.

Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge—it’s never about the merchandise, it’s always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, the girls in Poppy’s clique turn on one another. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie … and how far she’ll go to protect herself.