One of the cool things I found out on the Leviathan tour was that the libraries of Howard County in Maryland are doing a little experiment called Pass the Book.
Here’s how Pass the Book works:
Step One: Obtain six hundred copies of Midnighters.
Step Two: Tag each one with its own unique tracking number.
Step Three: Release them into the wild!
Step Four: Let people read the books, register them online, and pass them on as they see fit.
Step Five: Monitor them using the internets!
That’s right, six hundred copies of Midnighters: The Secret Hour are being given away free and are traveling across the country right now. They look like regular copies, except for this sticker:
There’s also a page inside with detailed instructions on how to register the book online. To check out where the registered copies are right now, just click here.
I was given one of these books at my appearance in Baltimore. To be precise, it was Midnighters number 130, a multiple of 13! It flew with me to Los Angeles that very night, where I gave it to a bookseller. So hopefully it will appear on the map soon.
If you find number 130, let me know! There are also three other copies that I autographed, all of which are multiples of thirteen.
Click here to read more about Pass the Book.
Touring Update: Justine will be in Philly tomorrow, Thursday, to talk about her new book Liar. I’ll probably come along to say hi, so maybe see you there.
Thursday, 29 October, 7:00 pm
Justine Larbalestier
Big Blue Marble Books
551 Carpenter Ln
.
Philadelphia, PA
Click here for the rest of Justine’s appearances. And here for my remaining tour details, including Canada. And click here to buy my new book, Leviathan!
In other news, it’s time for a special Halloween Walker Wednesday!
October 29th, 2009 01:46
1 comment!!
October 29th, 2009 01:48
w00000tt!!! ive been waiting sooo long to do that!!!!
the trick is refreshing at the right time!!!! hahahaaa
happy-making dayy!!!
on the other hand, my dad got arrested. oh well he had it coming…
October 29th, 2009 01:58
At first I hoped i could get my hands on Midnighters(since my libary doesn’t have it), now i hope i can get my hands on one of the pass the book copies
and that is an AWESOME pumkin dance
hahaha
October 29th, 2009 01:59
ooo – I hope a copy comes my way. If it goes well, they should do it with Uglies and Leviathan as well.
maybe other books too eventually.
October 29th, 2009 02:06
Kewl! And awesome pumpkin thingy!
October 29th, 2009 02:21
Awesome idea with the book tracker thingy. I wonder how that will turn out.
Bubbly pumpkin thing!
October 29th, 2009 03:02
They should really put that pumpkin to music! =P
That is a really neat idea with Pass the Book, but what happens when someone doesn’t want to pass it? I know I wouldn’t want to pass on a signed copy of your book. Wouldn’t want to give it up.
That pumpkin made me smile =D
I hope you have an awesome Halloween, Scott.
October 29th, 2009 03:43
That is so fawesome!! I hope I get passed one of those books!!
October 29th, 2009 04:08
have to get a pass the book!
maybe then my friends will discover the wonders of scott-la…
luv da pumpkin! so cool! i
October 29th, 2009 04:12
WOAH! That’s freaky how the 3 books you signed, Scott-la, is all multiples of 13! And I really hope I can get a copy! And wow was that pumpkin getting down or what!?
October 29th, 2009 05:05
How can I get a book? HOW CAN I GET BOOK 13? That would be sooooo cool! And that pumpkin was a great dancer. LOL
October 29th, 2009 06:37
so cool!!! they tried doing the tracking thing with dollar bills, its amazing how far they can travel. I already own copies of all the midnighters series but if i happen upon a multiple of 13 i will be buying another copy. btw i read so yesterday and loved it!!!! it inspired me to try to be an innovator. i rly think i can achieve it now. XD
anywho, thats awesome!!!!
October 29th, 2009 09:53
It’s just like BookCrossing! I love BookCrossing! Except it’s a mass release of Midnighters to the wild! So cool.
October 29th, 2009 16:09
The pumpkins kool(:
October 29th, 2009 16:19
That is soo cool! (I can’t see the video because YouTube is blocked at school) They have these ‘Where’s George?’ dollar bills, and it’s kind of the same thing, except this is slightly cooler because you get to read stuff. Woot! (I just noticed sab-wa said the samething about the dollar bills, oops)
What’s everyone going to be for Halloween, if you celebrate it?
I’m going as a…ZOMBIE!!!
Because Zombies beat unicorns.
: D
October 29th, 2009 16:32
First off, that halloween walker is too entertaining. I watched the whole movie, and it generally repeats after a few seconds.
Anyway, I hope I get a copy! I’ve already read the books, but I’d like to know I got a copy just because I’m special like that.
Jay-way;; I’m gonna be a porcelain doll, like from the 19th century? I have a cute white-with-blue-rose-patterned dress, and long knee-high socks, and I’m gonna make my face pale and curl my hair. It’ll be cute~
October 29th, 2009 18:32
wow pass the book sounds super awesome
ill keep my eyes peeled;D
October 29th, 2009 19:47
Thanks to everyone for the enthusiastic responses to Pass the Book!!! I hope the books travel far and wide and reach as many of you as possible. We’ll be tracking them for a whole year…so keep your eyes peeled. And I’ll make sure to check back when book number 130 surfaces….
October 29th, 2009 22:22
Ping to Jay-wa,
I’m being a ladybug! And unicorns so beat zombies!
October 29th, 2009 23:29
Ping to Jay-la,
My dog is going to be Moggle the hovercam. 
I’m being a flash-tattooed fairy princess. (my 6-year-old neighbor managed to talk me into being a fairy princess, but at least I get to have Special-inspired flash tattoos!)
Ping to Jessie-wa,
TEAM ZOMBIES!!!
October 30th, 2009 02:14
HAH the pass the book thing is really cool! Halloween is almost here! omg yay! i love this time of year.
October 30th, 2009 02:21
Ping to Team Toshi Banana,
And as for the zombie thing; whatever. 
Lol awesome! Flash tattooed fairy princess! I love Moggle!
Ping to everyone,
It is fricken COLD where I live! Its 26 degrees and snowing and we’ve had 2 snow days in a row and a 2 hour delay this week. We’ve had 1 full day of school this week! Crazy, right?! I just watched my favorite movie ever! Across the Universe! I love that movie! lol bye everyone
October 30th, 2009 02:31
I want snow!!! It barely snows down here… Only a once every few years or so….
That is soo cool! Flesh-tattoed fairy princess
October 30th, 2009 02:44
Guess I iz not d only 1 who nos about d george dollar bills!
plus I added a (be afraid…) to my name 2 day! I’ll probs change it back to something else latur!
October 30th, 2009 02:46
I guess my nickname would be tOty(ba) now! haha! Just kidding tOty works just fine for me!
October 30th, 2009 03:07
Ping to Christina~wa,
That sucks! It snows so much here!
Ping to tOty (OTHER tally),
1st of all whats with the (be afraid…) Oh I just read your comment, but still why? lol! What are you being for Halloween, well if you ‘celebrate’ Halloween. The reason I put quotes around celebrate, well cuz you dont really celebrate it you just dress up. Okay that was random. Oh and the last part is for everyone. So everyone same question. (If you dont remember look up! lol!) bye bye
October 30th, 2009 08:00
I love when the pumpkin dances up and down lol and you’re right Nat it really should have some music.
YOWZA! I really wish I could get my hands on one of the 600 copies. I’d love to see how much they’ve traveled after a few months. I realllly hope I get 130
or 117 would be rad too.
I’m being Smurfette though now I’m kinda thinking of tacking on an awesome flash tattoo
♥ to all the westerlies!!!
October 30th, 2009 08:09
I love Pass The Book! Such a brilliant idea.
October 30th, 2009 16:15
Idk what ima be… Someone give me ideas?
October 30th, 2009 17:16
I hope I can get a copy:)
It’d be kinda pointless though, I have all the books already
October 30th, 2009 19:26
I’ve heard of authors leaving random copies of their books in public places, before. I guess this is a modern, more organized version. I like it
.
You should have people sign the books as they get them. Who knows… maybe some day they’ll have historical value…
Anyway, I’d love to get my hands on one– I’d share it with my sister, then I’d mail it to my cousin in Hungary when we were done with it
. Then maybe I’d have her send it to my cousin in Israel…
October 30th, 2009 19:28
Hmmm…
I guess this is the positive alternative to passing the buck, lol.
October 31st, 2009 06:09
Ping to Stephy-la,
Any costume is better with flash tattoos!
October 31st, 2009 09:34
Wow, it’s insane how far those books have gone! I totally want to be passed one – although I’d be rather reluctant to pass it on, ESPECIALLY if it has Scott-la’s signature.
November 2nd, 2009 00:53
Awwww that punkin walker is soooo cute. i wish they would have put funny music in the backround cuz it looks like its dancing half the time
November 3rd, 2009 01:45
Loved The post found it to be very interesting and entertaining
November 6th, 2009 04:53
Mr. Westerfeld…I think the pass the book program is a great way to promote reading in teens. I have a teen daughter and had bought her the Uglies series, although I think I read it faster than she did! I enjoyed them and want to thank you for sharing your creative stories with the public. Please continue to do so.