Today we have a new novel (released May 1st) by debut author, Karen Schreck. Hooray for debut authors!
It's kind of strange to think about how long war has been in the background of American teenagers' lives, and yet, there aren't that many books about it. I'm glad to see more YA novels exploring the topic, including this one - WHILE HE WAS AWAY. Isn't that cover just smoking hot?
Description from Goodreads:
All she wants is for him to stay. She's been doing pretty well, pretending he doesn't have to go. But one day, after one last night to remember, she wakes up and there's not denying it anymore. He's gone.
When Penna Weaver's boyfriend goes off to Iraq, she's left facing life without him. As summer sets in, Penna tries to distract herself with work and her art, but the not knowing is slowly driving her crazy. Especially when David stops writing.
She knows in her heart he will come home. But will he be the same boy she fell in love with?
Kirkus says: "Strong characterization, the vivid setting of a small Oklahoma town and the clear depiction of present life, with Skype, e-mail and phones with their inadequate promise of instant communication, strengthen the narrative and ground it in the present. A strong entry in the growing genre of fiction about the Iraq war."
I was lucky enough to get an Advanced Review Copy of IN HONOR and I actually dog-eared pages that I thought were especially well written.
It's a beautiful book, with characters I loved.
Here's the description from the back of the ARC:
Honor receives the last letter from her brother, Finn, three days after his military funeral. Devastated, she makes the impulsive decision to take a road trip in order to fulfill his final request. as she pulls Finn's old Chevy Impala out of the driveway, her brother's estranged best friend, Rusty, insists on coming along. Rusty is the last person to Honor would have picked to travel with -- he's obnoxious and and infuriating, and it doesn't help that he's distractingly good-looking. Somehow, though, as the two log the miles from Texas to California, they're able to communicate over their shared loss and the love they both have for Finn. But when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?
What people are saying:
VOYA says: The characters are entertaining, and their budding relationship is believable. Readers will find themselves rooting for the two to see past their differences and get together. This title is recommended for middle and high school readers of light romance, and those who appreciate accompanying characters on an emotional journey with interesting stops along the way.
Author Sarah Ockler says: A beautiful, engaging journey with heart, humor and just a pinch of Texas sass. Hands down my favorite contemporary of the year.
Author Lauren Barnholdt says: An amazing novel about first kisses, last goodbyes, and what it means to finally let go. I absolutely loved it.
Cat Patrick's done it again and this time, (dare I say?), even better. Her debut Forgotten was a mind-bender in its own right, but Revived takes the reader even further into a character's world which feels almost, but not quite, real. And that's what makes her writing so special. It is real - it's our world, as we know it - but it's the character's unique experience in our world that is fantasy-esque. Her stories center around contemporary characters who we come to really care for, but that live lives that make us scratch our heads and wonder, "What if this really were the case?" And the writing is good enough that for a while, you are so absorbed in the main character that you can forget that her circumstances are fictional.
You should go buy this book. And I'm not the only one who thinks so...
A well-done exploration of a teen’s growing understanding of death, even though she herself has died five times. - Kirkus
With its suspense, romance, and life-and-death drama, Revived kept me up half the night. - April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Night She Disappeared
As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.
A
secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can
bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has
been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary
risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a
new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy
begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she
discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of
something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.
Be sure to check out more about Cat at her Twitter, Facebook, and website.
And if you're in New York City, come see us read together with Jen E.
Smith, Jen Calonita, and Kody Keplinger on Wednesday, May 16th at 7pm at
the Barnes & Noble on 86th Street between Lexington & 3rd Aves.
I'll be honest. I chose to spotlight this book simply because Tom was a co-member of the Class of 2k10 with me, and I like to spotlight author friends whenever possible.
At first.
But then I got a hold of an early copy of this book on Net Galley. I LOVED it! I'm not kidding. Zero warmed my heart and made me think in new ways, both personally and artistically. Amanda/Zero is such a refreshingly truthful person (and please note, I feel the need to call her a person and not a character). Plus, even though there's rock music and band antics involved, how often do you get to see someone fall for the drummer? But that's the kind of book this is--not the female artist who goes on to fame and fortune, or the guitar hero who is swamped with adoring fans. They're both just finding their own little niche in the world, and it's wonderful to watch. Here's what it's about (from GoodReads):
For aspiring artist
Amanda Walsh, who only half-jokingly goes by the nickname Zero, the
summer before college was supposed to be fun—plain and simple. Hanging
out with her best friend Jenn, going to clubs, painting, and counting
down the days until her escape. But when must-have scholarship money
doesn't materialize, and she has a falling out with Jenn that can only
be described as majorly awkward, and Zero's parents relationship goes
from tense to relentless fighting, her prospects start looking as bleak
and surreal as a painting by her idol Salvador Dali. Will life truly
imitate art? Will her new, unexpected relationship with a punk skater
boy who seems too good to be real and support from the unlikeliest of
sources show Zero that she's so much more than a name.
Huge congratulations to Tom Leveen on a wonderful second novel!
I'll definitely be buying a copy to keep on my shelf. And here's where you can get yours: Ask your local bookstore if they have it or can bring it in for you. Or your local library. Or you can order it through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly.
Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life.
Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.
Publisher's Weekly says, "Debut novelist Coriell shows sparkling wit and great skill in creating complex characters with memorable personalities. Chloe’s emotional growth is believable, and her attraction to a quiet, mysterious boy at the radio station adds spice and tension to the story."
A professional journalist, Shelley Coriell has worked as a newspaper reporter, an award-winning magazine editor, and an association executive. She is a six-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Prize. This is her first novel. She lives in Tempe, Arizona. Visit her online at www.shelleycoriell.com
When a humiliating picture of Blythe goes viral, she's instantly the target of ridicule at her new school. To salvage her reputation, Blythe teams up with Luke to win the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt. But Luke is an unlikely ally and potentially can't be trusted.
Perhaps it's his Shakespearean witticisms that reel Blythe in despite her better judgment . . . or maybe she just craves the thrill of the game. But as the hunt progresses, their relationship heats up. Soon their madcap mischief spirals out of control. Blythe is faced with arrest and expulsion, among other catastrophes - until Luke shows her what the Scramble (and love) is really about.
What People are Saying:
"In this hilarious account of a girl's reluctant adjustment to new circumstances...Walker (A Match Made in High School) focuses on Blythe's regrets and changing attitude... The vibrant, first-person narrative captures the humor and heartache of Blythe's predicaments." - Publishers Weekly
"7 Clues to Winning You is a definite winner for any contemporary fan! I loved it! This is exactly the kind of YA I need more of in my life. I want more of these kind of stories. Funny light yet deep and thought provoking. I hope you'll all give this book a try!" - Princess Bookie
"A clever, well-woven plot with a loveable cast of quirky characters and a sprinkle of Shakespeare. Kristin Walker's latest laugh out loud book will leave you wanting more." – Kristina Springer, author of The Espressologist and My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours
My Thoughts:
Yep, that last blurb was from me. :-) I adored Kristin's newest book! It's on the longer side at 317 pages but reads fast because Kristin has such a great and hysterical voice. She first won me over with her debut book, A Match Made in High School, which is a tears rolling down your cheeks from laughter kind of book. And her latest did not disappoint. While I loved her main character Blythe, I have to say the two elderly woman she befriends at the nursing home are by far my fave. Just read it; you'll love it. Promise.
Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.
When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.
"Emotional, wrenching, and hopeful, BREAKING BEAUTIFUL is a perfectly blended coming of age and murder mystery."--Kari Olson, A Good Addiction
“A mystery, a tragedy, a love story—Jennifer Shaw Wolf draws you in and keeps you guessing until the very last page.”—Holly Cupala, author of Tell Me a Secret and Don’t Breathe a Word
"A fast-paced, heart-pounding mystery. I can't wait to see what this debut novelist does next." —Kirby Larson, Newbery Award Winning author of Hattie Big Sky
Early reader reviews are buzzing!
"Breaking Beautiful was an amazing debut novel and Jennifer Shaw Wolf is definitely an author I look forward to reading again." ~ Turning the Pages
"It isn't often that I am brought to tears while reading, but the level of honest emotion that this book evokes was beautiful and breathtaking. A fantastic Young Adult Read." ~ E + K Family Book Reviews
"An emotional, heartbreaking story. I recommend Breaking Beautiful as a must read." ~ I Heart YA Books
"The air of mystery, the creepiness, the plot, the characters, they were all great.I just loved so much about this story that it really is hard to put my finger on any one thing." ~ My Guilty Obsession
"I wanted to jump inside the book and give this girl a hug! A fabulous debut novel. I loved everything about it!" ~ I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
Breaking Beautiful releases today from Walker Books for Young Readers. Request it at your local library and/or purchase from your bookseller of choice. And please give Jennifer a big DEBUT CONGRATS on Twitter!
I started Belles yesterday and finished it today. That ought to tell you how much I enjoyed this read. The story takes place in North Carolina and at the last author event where I saw Jen Calonita, she said, "You being from Kentucky, I'm eager to here if you think the Southern stuff rings true." Well, Jen. It does. It most certainly does.
Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy, privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous life of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and in, addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, Isabelle finds out a secret about her new family that she can't ignore.
I really enjoyed getting to know the two "belles": Isabelle and Mirabelle. I love the juxtaposition of their histories and discovering the things they actually do have in common as well. And I love that we discover those similarities at the same time that the girls do. I thought that the characters were fun and loved the range. To me, Belles reminded me of Gossip Girl season one set in the South, with Mira's friends being the Upper East Siders and Izzie's friends being the Brooklynite Humphries – and yet with so much more depth. There was one point mid-way through the book that I found myself choked up and my eyes filled with tears. I did not see that one coming and at that point realized that I was totally invested in these characters' lives.
I hope you get a chance to pick up a copy soon as it just hit bookshelves! Also, come meet Jen herself, along with me and three other Little Brown Young Readers authors at a book reading/signing at the Upper East Side Barnes & Noble on May 16 at 7pm. (cross streets are 86th between Lexington & 3rd Ave)
Hannah Moskowitz is one of my favorite authors, both her books and her Twitter personality, so when a new book of hers comes out, I jump at the chance to spotlight it. Her latest release is GONE, GONE, GONE, out this month from Simon Pulse.
Summary from GoodReads:
In the wake of the post-9/11 sniper shootings, fragile love finds a stronghold in this intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer.
It's a year after 9/11. Sniper shootings throughout the D.C. area have everyone on edge and trying to make sense of these random acts of violence. Meanwhile, Craig and Lio are just trying to make sense of their lives. Craig’s crushing on quiet, distant Lio, and preoccupied with what it meant when Lio kissed him...and if he’ll do it again...and if kissing Lio will help him finally get over his ex-boyfriend, Cody.Lio feels most alive when he's with Craig. He forgets about his broken family, his dead brother, and the messed up world. But being with Craig means being vulnerable...and Lio will have to decide whether love is worth the risk.
This intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer is a poignant look at what it is to feel needed, connected, and alive.
The subject matter of this book may not have been my normal reading fare, but I'm so glad I picked up this book. Hannah Moskowitz's writing style is a treat--so different, so inside the heads of the main characters it's almost a stream of consciousness. Plus, I love a good real-world book, and what is more real-world than living life in the midst of local sniper shootings? Something you can't do anything about, but are forced to live with. I couldn't have imagined what it would be like to live through something like that, but now I can. The underlying sniper fear that each character deals with in their own way was so delicately woven into the story of two boys and their very strong relational fears.
Every time I read a book by Hannah Moskowitz I feel like it stretches my understanding of the world. You can pick up a copy of GONE, GONE, GONE now from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your local independent retailer.
I love discovering a new author. I bought Antony John's FIVE FLAVOR'S OF DUMB some time ago, but it's still waiting on my TBR pile. I moved that book up and added his next offering, THOU SHALL NOT ROAD TRIP, after listening to this podcast Antony did with Sara Zarr. If you are a writer or a reader (you're here, so you're at least one:)), I recommend checking out Sara's podcast series. Antony was wise and witty in his episode, and I'm sure his books are as well. Learn more about Antony at his website and read an excerpt from the book.
Also, I love this book description. Adding a book tour for a sixteen-year-old to the road trip trope? So brilliant.
When sixteen-year-old Luke's book, Hallelujah, becomes a national bestseller, his publishing house sends him on a cross-country book tour with his older brother, Matt, as chauffeur. But when irresponsible Matt offers to drive Luke's ex–soul mate, Fran, across the country too, things get a little crazy. On the trip, Luke must loosen up, discover what it truly means to have faith, and do what it takes to get the girl he loves.
Told with Antony John's signature wit and authenticity, and featuring smart, singular characters who jump off the page and into your heart, this story is a spiritual awakening and rockin' road trip in one
Reviews:
"A highly readable balance of humor, heart, self-discovery, and shenanigans."
(The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books )
We're the Contemps and we are passionate about realistic fiction because these are the books that remind us we're not alone in this real world. Our mission is simple - to spotlight contemporary fiction for young adults. We'll spotlight a new or fairly recent contemporary title every Tuesday and Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by and we hope you'll spread the word and come back again and again. We'd love to be THE resource on the web for contemporary young adult fiction.
