Teenreads.com Updates

July 2011

noreply@blogger.com (--- Jordana Frankel) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:33:00 +0000

REVIEWS

FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater (Supernatural Romance)
In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER --- the conclusion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy --- the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

» Click here to see Maggie Stiefvater read an excerpt from FOREVER.

THE HIDDEN CORONET: Relic Master, Book Three by Catherine Fisher (Fantasy)
Anara is in trouble; its climate has become unstable, and its seven moons are slowly falling out of orbit. A golden coronet is rumored to be the only thing that can stop the destruction that's occurring in Anara. But the coronet is the stuff of legends, lost for centuries. Raffi and Galen must find it before the Watch does, if it exists at all. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.

THE SUMMER I LEARNED TO FLY by Dana Reinhardt (Fiction)
Drew is a bit of a loner. She has a pet rat, her dead dad's Book of Lists, an encyclopedic knowledge of cheese, and a crush on Nick, the surf bum who works behind the counter. It's the summer before eighth grade, and Drew's days seem ordinary. Until one night after closing time, when she meets a strange boy in the alley. Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.

WITHERING TIGHTS by Louise Rennison(Fiction)
Tallulah Casey is ready to find her inner artist. And some new mates. And maybe a boy or two or three. The ticket to achieving these lofty goals? Enrolling in a summer performing arts program, of course! Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter (Urban Fantasy)
Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds her and welcomes her in. All of them lost girls like her, they surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez and excerpted.

WELCOME TO BORDERTOWN edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner (Urban Fantasy)
Bordertown: a city on the border between our human world and the elfin realm. Runaway teens come from both sides of the border to find adventure. Elves play in rock bands and race down the street on spell-powered motorbikes. Human kids recreate themselves in the squats and clubs and artists' studios of Soho. In this volume of all-new work, the original writers of the Bordertown series are joined by a new generation. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

THE DEAD by Charlie Higson (Horror)
THE DEAD is the second book in Charlie Higson's terrifying and action-packed horror series, in which everyone over the age of 16 has been infected with a disease that turns them into flesh-eating monsters. Set one year before the events that occur in THE ENEMY, it fulfills the promise Higson made in his interview with Teenreads.com last year: "More zombies! More blood! More flesh-eating!" Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.

THE DAUGHTERS TAKE THE STAGE by Joanna Philbin (Fiction)
The daughter of chart-topping pop star Holla Jones, stylish and sensitive Hudson Jones is on the brink of her own musical debut. She has inherited her mother's talent, but hasn't yet embraced Holla's love of the megawatt spotlight. Can Hudson find a way to perform that reflects her own low-key style? Or will Holla see to it that her only daughter becomes a pop music sensation? Reviewed by Joy Held.

IMAGINARY GIRLS by Nova Ren Suma(Mystery)
Chloe's adored older sister, Ruby, retrieves Chloe from Chloe's father's house, where she went to live after discovering a dead girl at the town reservoir. Back in her hometown two years later, Chloe is stunned to see that very same girl --- the one whose dead body once floated in the reservoir --- attending parties, dating boys, and hanging out with Ruby. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

MERCY by Rebecca Lim (Supernatural Mystery/Romance)
Mercy is a fallen angel haunted by her past. With skin "pale like milk," she never gets sunburned or feels cold, no matter whose body she occupies. When she wakes up in the body of 16-year-old Carmen, a talented singer unsure of her gift, Mercy must discover why she's been dispatched to her new host. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre (Dystopian Fantasy)
Deuce has achieved her dream of becoming a huntress for her enclave, which exists deep underground. This includes finding food and fighting horrible creatures called Freaks. When Deuce is partnered with the mysterious hunter Fade, she soon learns that the safety of the enclave may be in jeopardy. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche and excerpted.

PAPER COVERS ROCK by Jenny Hubbard(Fiction)
At the beginning of his junior year at a boys' boarding school, 16-year-old Alex is devastated when he fails to save a drowning friend. When questioned, he and his friend Glenn, who was also at the river, begin weaving a web of lies. Plagued by guilt, Alex takes refuge in the library, telling his tale in a journal he hides. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

SPOILED by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (Fiction)
Sixteen-year-old Molly Dix has just discovered that her biological father is a world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular. Intrigued (and a little terrified) by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Los Angeles and plunges headfirst into Beverly Hills celebrity life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BELLADONNA by Mary Finn (Historical Fiction)
Ling enchants a boy named Thomas with her wild spirit and tales of a circus, where she danced atop her beloved horse, Belladonna. But the horse has been sold, and Ling must fetch her back. Now, Thomas's life as a clever but unschooled wheelwright's son is about to change. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

BALTIMORE, Volume 1: THE PLAGUE SHIPS written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, illustrated by Ben Stenbeck
After a devastating plague ends World War I, Europe is suddenly flooded with vampires. Lord Henry Baltimore, a soldier determined to wipe out the monsters, fights his way through bloody battlefields, ruined plague ships, exploding zeppelins, and submarine graveyards on the hunt for the creature who's become his obsession. Reviewed by Michael Hicks.

GENKAKU PICASSO, Volumes 1-3 written and illustrated by Usamaru Furuya
Hikari Hamura, nicknamed Picasso because of his natural artistic abilities, survived a horrible accident, but his friend Chiaki wasn't so lucky. Suddenly, Chiaki appears in front of him and tells him in order to keep living he must help the people around him. Can Hikari save people with his sketchbook and a 2B pencil? Reviewed by Casey Brienza.

TALE OF A WHITE NIGHT written and illustrated by Tooko Miyagi
In this collection of horror vignettes, living spirits called "oni" use corpses to make dolls, a girl wanders into the realm of the gods without realizing how she got there, and a curse causes people to kill. Reviewed by Danica Davidson.

ADULT BOOKS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

SISTER by Rosamund Lupton (Psychological Thriller)
When Bee learns that her sister, Tess, is missing, she expects to have to give her the usual bossy big sister lecture. But then Tess is found dead, apparently by her own hand. Bee is certain that Tess didn't commit suicide. As she gives her statement to the lead investigator, her story reveals a predator who got away with murder --- and an obsession that may cost Bee her life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

ONE SUMMER by David Baldacci (Fiction)
The tables are turned when a man with a terminal illness loses his healthy wife just days before entering hospice himself. On death's doorstep, Jack says his goodbyes, but then something happens to bring him back. He sees a spark of life and spirit in his defiant teenage daughter, a girl who has just lost everything but lets down her guard long enough to let her dad really see her and to show that she still needs him --- and always will. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

DON'T BREATHE A WORD by Jennifer McMahon (Paranormal/Psychological Thriller)
Jennifer McMahon, the New York Timesbestselling author of ISLAND OF LOST GIRLS and PROMISE NOT TO TELL, returns with a dark and twisty tale in which a couple finds themselves in a seemingly supernatural web that ties them to a young girl's disappearance 15 years ago. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

NOBODY'S PERFECT: Two Men, One Call, and a Game for Baseball History, by Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce, with Daniel Paisner (Sports)
The perfect game is one of the rarest accomplishments in sports. No hits, no walks, no men reaching base. In more than 130 years of Major League Baseball, it has only happened 20 times. On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga threw baseball's 21st perfect game. Except that's not how it entered the record books. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

UNTIL TUESDAY: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, by Luis Carlos Montalvan with Bret Witter (Memoir)
A veteran returning from Iraq feels such despair that he begins to welcome death --- until he finds a miracle in a Golden Retriever who needs the man as much as the man needs him. In this stunning memoir, retired Army Capt. Luis Montalvan describes an incredible journey of healing and friendship. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS

Win a Copy of THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE by M.T. Anderson
To celebrate the release of THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE, Teenreads.com is giving 75 readers the chance to win a copy of this third book in The Norumbegan Quartet by M.T. Anderson. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 18th at noon ET.

THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE by M.T. Anderson (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
The land of New Norumbega is an unusual one --- an empire of gut and bone, a kingdom of blood and mucus. At its dark, dry heart is a ruling class that doesn't care about much besides itself...and a ruler who is (literally) a one-eyed stump of flesh.

Brian and Gregory have come to New Norumbega for a reason --- to get the Norumbegans to help them thwart an alien attack back home on earth. But instead, the two boys find themselves caught up in both a robot rebellion and a murder mystery after one of the Norumbegan leaders is sent to sleep...permanently.

» Click here to read all the contest details.
» Click here to read a review of THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE.
» Click here to read an excerpt from THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE.
» Click here to read M.T. Anderson's bio.

Win a Copy of ASHES, ASHES by Jo Treggiari
To celebrate the release of ASHES, ASHES, Teenreads.com is giving 20 readers the chance to win a copy of Jo Treggiari's young adult debut novel. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 18th at noon ET.

ASHES, ASHES by Jo Treggiari (Post-Apocalyptic Fiction)
Epidemics, floods, droughts --- for 16-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

» Click here to read all the contest details.
» Click here to read a review of ASHES, ASHES.
» Click here to read an excerpt from ASHES, ASHES.
» Click here to read Jo Treggiari's bio.

Grab Bag of Books Giveaway
Every month in our Grab Bag of Books contest, five readers are awarded a Teenreads.com signature tote bag filled with some of the hottest books --- and may even include a sneak peek at titles that haven’t been released yet!

This contest period's winners will each receive a copy of BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray; CLARITY by Kim Harrington; DOUBLE TAKE by Melody Carlson; THE SEER AND THE SCRIBE: SPEAR OF DESTINY: A Medieval Murder Mystery, by G.M. Dyrek; and SUMMER SANCTUARY by Laurie Gray. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 19th at noon ET.

» Click here for all the contest details.
» Click here for the winners of our past giveaways.

BOOKS INTO MOVIES

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

Many of you have grown up alongside Harry, Ron, Hermione and even Draco --- even if you can't wave a wand quite like they can --- and so this year marks the end of an era. But shed no tears. You can keep reading the books and watching the movies to your heart's content!

» Click here to read more about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2.

Beyond Harry Potter

While Harry Potter fever is still at an all-time high, several other movies based on books are landing in theaters in July. Beyond the magical wizarding world, multicultural films such as Sarah's Keyand Life, Above All can transport you to unknown places and time periods. But if you're on the hunt for another action-packed, fantastical adventure where good must prevail, Captain America: The First Avenger is for you.

» Click here to read more about these films.

The Help

On August 10th, one of the most talked-about books in years will grace the big screen. THE HELP is a deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor and hope, and the film version will surely bring this widely-read tale to even more people. The story takes place at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, when three Mississippi women are about to take one extraordinary step.

» Click here to read more about The Help.

COOL NEW BOOKS

July's roundup of Cool New Books includes FOREVER, the conclusion to Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, where love is even harder to hold onto as death comes closing in; THE HIDDEN CORONET, the next-to-last installment in Catherine Fisher's Relic Master series (which wraps up with the August 9th release of THE MARGRAVE); THE SUMMER I LEARNED TO FLY, Dana Reinhardt's novel about a loner who meets a strange boy in an alley and enters into her first true friendship and adventure; TWISTED, the ninth book in Sara Shepard'sPretty Little Liars series, which finds the four girls desperate to forget one fateful night when they did something utterly unforgivable; and LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter, a wildly original tale about a tribe of mermaids that marks the beginning of a captivating trilogy. » Click here

NEW IN PAPERBACK

July's roundup of New in Paperback titles includes MISGUIDED ANGEL, the fifth book in Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series, which finds Schuyler Van Alen nearing a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart; HERO by Mike Lupica, an action-packed tale of a 14-year-old who discovers that his dad was a superhero --- and that he has some pretty incredible powers of his own; TOKEN OF DARKNESS, a stand-alone addition to Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's The Den of Shadows, wherein a young man wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side; and THE GRIMM LEGACY by Polly Shulman, a contemporary fantasy about a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales, which leads an ordinary girl on an exciting but dangerous magical adventure. » Click here

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Click here to read July 2011 Teenreads.com Newsletter.

June 2011

noreply@blogger.com (--- Jordana Frankel) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:25:00 +0000

REVIEWS

PASSION: A Fallen Novel, by Lauren Kate(Supernatural Romance)
Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn't need to be that way. Luce is certain that something --- or someone --- in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime, going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel and finally unlock the key to making their love last. Reviewed by Florence Seymour.

THE LOST HEIRESS: Relic Master, Book Two by Catherine Fisher (Fantasy)
THE LOST HEIRESS is the second book in Catherine Fisher's Relic Master series, which is being released in four consecutive months this summer. Set in a world that meshes magic with ancient technology, Raffi and his master, Galen, are keepers of an ancient and forbidden faith, which reveres the relics left by their vanished makers. Their mighty empire may have fallen, but they seek the lost heiress, glimpsed in a prophetic vision, whose life is in danger from the brutal regime of the Watch. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.

EVERLASTING: The Immortals, Book 6 by Alyson Noël (Paranormal Romance)
Their darkest enemies now defeated, Damen and Ever's fight to be together will lead them into the most formidable terrain yet: into the dark heart of Summerland. Here, in a land of scorched earth and endless rain, Ever and Damen discover their relationship's hidden origins, expose a secret history they never imagined, and come face to face with the truereason fate keeps tearing them apart. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman and excerpted.

TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE) by Sarah Mlynowski(Fiction)
If given the opportunity, what 16-year-old wouldn't move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny untruth to make it happen. But she and housemate Vi are totally responsible. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4) and "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) is a mystery to them. Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.

THE WARLOCK: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 5 by Michael Scott(Fantasy)
There's so much that Twins of Legend Josh and Sophie Newman don't know. Who's good? Who's not? To whom should they swear allegiance? To make their choices more difficult, Josh feels his sister betrayed him in the worst way possible, and he's chosen sides in the battle. And it's not with her. If they can't make peace and unite, they will fail and the age of Humani will end. Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens.

ABANDON by Meg Cabot (Paranormal Romance)
Though she tries returning to the life she knew before her accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone --- someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

TIGHTER by Adele Griffin (Psychological Thriller)
When 17-year-old Jamie arrives on the New England island of Little Bly to work as a summer au pair, she's stunned to learn of the horror that precedes her. Seeking the truth surrounding a young couple's tragic deaths, Jamie discovers that she herself looks shockingly like the dead girl --- and that she has a disturbing ability to sense the two ghosts. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER by Elizabeth Scott (Fiction)
Abby already accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful sister Tess, and she knows exactly what she is: second best. Until the accident. Now Tess is in a coma --- it may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her. Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always as it seems, and life holds more than she ever thought it could. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

THE MIDNIGHT PALACE by Carlos Ruiz Zafón(Historical Fantasy/Horror)
Mysteries, ghost stories and Indian legends merge in this tale of two orphaned children growing up in Calcutta. Readers will find much adventure in this classic story of a haunted house and the spirit that dwells inside. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

THE GATHERING: Darkness Rising, Book 1 by Kelley Armstrong (Supernatural Thriller)
Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted frequently around Maya's home. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya --- her paw-print birthmark. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

SOMETHING DEADLY THIS WAY COMES by Kim Harrison (Paranormal Suspense)
When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back --- to be alive again --- she faces her most difficult decision yet. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier (Urban Fantasy/Science Fiction)
Gwyneth's sophisticated cousin, Charlotte, has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth who takes a sudden spin to a different era! She must now work with Gideon --- another time traveler whose presence, as time passes, becomes less insufferable and more essential. Together, they journey through the 18th century in contemporary London. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman and excerpted.

THE RETURNING by Christine Hinwood(Fiction/Action & Adventure)
Cam Attling, having lost an arm, is the only one from his town of Kayforl to return after 12 years of war. All his fellow soldiers were slain, and suspicion surrounds him. When his betrothal to Graceful Fenister is called off and his role in the community questioned, Cam leaves to find the lord who maimed him but spared his life, seeking answers and a new place in the world. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Purcell.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

UNCANNY X-FORCE: THE APOCALYPSE SOLUTION written by Rick Remender and illustrated by Jerome Opeña
The ancient mutant Apocalypse has been resurrected, and X-Force, led by Wolverine, takes it upon themselves to kill him. Rick Remender launches Uncanny X-Force in grand, bloody fashion, reintroducing Marvel's band of murderers and mutants with an epic story arc that takes the black-ops team to the moon to stop their oldest foe before humanity is wiped out. Reviewed by Michael Hicks.

THE UNWRITTEN, Volume 3: DEAD MAN'S KNOCK written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Peter Gross
As with volumes one and two of The Unwritten, the art is strong and the story well-conceived in DEAD MAN'S KNOCK. Mike Carey and Peter Gross have provided enough visual and narrative attributes in all three editions to maintain reader interest and highlight the diversity and talent for which the Vertigo imprint is recognized. Reviewed by Nathan Wilson.

LEWIS & CLARK written and illustrated by Nick Bertozzi
Beginning in 1803, as Meriwether Lewis receives notice that Congress has approved of his exploration and he recruits his partner, William Clark, LEWIS & CLARK masterfully relives one of the most epic journeys in history. Reviewed by John Hogan.

ADULT BOOKS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

EXPOSURE by Therese Fowler (Fiction)
Amelia Wilkes's father does not allow her to date, though that doesn't stop the high school senior from carrying on a secret romance with her classmate, Anthony Winter. But the couple's passion is exposed sooner than expected when Amelia's father finds naked pictures of Anthony on his daughter's computer. Just hours later, Anthony is arrested. As events spiral out of control and the scandalous story makes national news, Amelia and Anthony must risk everything to clear their names. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE STORY OF BEAUTIFUL GIRL by Rachel Simon (Fiction)
It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution. They escape and find refuge --- along with their newborn girl --- in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE CAPTAIN: The Journey of Derek Jeter, by Ian O'Connor (Biography)
Ian O'Connor draws on extensive reporting and unique access to Derek Jeter that has spanned some 15 years to reveal how a biracial kid from Michigan became a beloved sports figure in New York and the enduring symbol of the steroid-free athlete. He takes us behind the scenes of a legendary baseball life and career, from Jeter's early struggles in the minor leagues, to his heady days as a Yankee superstar. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

THE WILDER LIFE: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie, by Wendy McClure (Memoir)
Wendy McClure is determined to immerse herself in the world of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE author Laura Ingalls Wilder. She retraces the pioneer journey of the Ingalls family --- and whether she's churning butter or sitting in a replica log cabin, McClure comes to understand how Wilder's life and work have shaped our ideas about girlhood and the American West. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

AMERICA PACIFICA by Anna North(Dystopian Fiction)
Darcy lives in a future we can't even imagine, taking place after another ice age has destroyed North America. America Pacifica is a desolate island in the Pacific Ocean where Darcy and her mother eke out a miserable existence, made bearable only by their closeness...until Darcy's mother vanishes. Darcy's yearning to find her brings a breathless urgency to this page-turner. Reviewed by Terry

CONTESTS

Win a Copy of THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE by M.T. Anderson
To celebrate the release of THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE, Teenreads.com is giving 75 readers the chance to win a copy of the third book in M.T. Anderson's The Game of Sunken Placesseries. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 18th at noon ET.

Teenreads.com's Fifth Annual Beach Bag of Books Contest
It's time to think about Summer Reading --- and we're not talking about the list of books you'll be receiving for Required Summer Reading from school. What we're talking about are the kinds of books that you're glad you now have time to kick back with and enjoy. The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf, and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Fifth Annual Teenreads.com Beach Bag of Books Contest.

From May 17th thru July 18th, you can enter to win a "Teenreads.com Beach Bag of Books." Five winners each will receive a beach bag that includes 16 books: BEASTLY MOVIE TIE-IN EDITION by Alex Flinn, BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray, CLARITY by Kim Harrington, DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth, HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson, I'M NOT HER by Janet Gurtler, THE IRON QUEEN by Julie Kagawa, LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young, NIGHTSPELL by Leah Cypess, PROM AND PREJUDICE by Elizabeth Eulberg, RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier, SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater, STARCROSSED by Josephine Angelini, SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White and TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE) by Sarah Mlynowski.

Along with the books, winners will find their striped canvas beach bag stocked with an assortment of summer goodies: a blue polka-dot beach towel, a Mega Fling Toss Game, a deck of invisible cards, an inflatable beach ball, Coppertone Sport Sunblock, H2O+ Mineral Spa Shower Gel, Crystal Light Drink Mix, a metallic sports bottle to keep your drink cool, and a terrific cap that turns any can into a bottle to prevent sand and bees from finding their way into your drink.

» Click here for all the contest details.
» Click here to read more about our featured titles.

SPECIAL FEATURE

HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter (Fiction)
For as long as she can remember, Katarina has been a part of the family business --- thieving. When Kat tries to leave “the life” for a normal life, her old friend Hale conspires to bring her back into the fold. Why? A mobster's art collection has been stolen, and Kat's father is the only suspect. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

UNCOMMON CRIMINALS: A Heist Society Novel, by Ally Carter (Fiction)
Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months, she's simply been known as the girl who robbed the greatest museum in the world. That's why Kat isn't surprised when she's asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

» Read more about HEIST SOCIETY and UNCOMMON CRIMINALS.
» Read reviews of HEIST SOCIETY and UNCOMMON CRIMINALS.
» Read excerpts from HEIST SOCIETY and UNCOMMON CRIMINALS.
» Click here to read our interview with Ally Carter.
» Click here to read Ally Carter's bio.
» Click here to visit the official website of the Heist Societyseries.
» Click here to visit Ally Carter's official website.

BOOKS INTO MOVIES

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

On July 15th, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, the long-awaited final film in the magical world of Harry Potter --- and the very last time you'll fly alongside Harry --- lands in theaters.

Many of you have grown up alongside Harry, Ron, Hermione and even Draco --- even if you can't wave a wand quite like they can --- and so this year marks the end of an era. But shed no tears. You can keep reading the books and watching the movies to your heart's content!

In this epic finale, Harry Potter and the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world will escalate into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher, and no one is safe. But it is Harry who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here, and you won't want to miss a second of it.

» Click here to read more about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2.

COOL NEW BOOKS

June's roundup of Cool New Books includes PASSION, the third installment in Lauren Kate's unforgettably epic Fallen series, a paranormal romance that sweeps across centuries; THE LOST HEIRESS, a continuation of Catherine Fisher's Relic Masterquartet (Book Three, THE HIDDEN CORONET, releases in July!); THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE, a third visit to the world of The Game of Sunken Places created by M.T. Anderson, which finds two boys caught up in a robot rebellion and murder mystery; and WITHERING TIGHTS, a laugh-out-loud coming-of-age tale from the author of the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series, who introduces a brand-new heroine poised to discover plenty of opportunities for (mis)adventure. » Click here

NEW IN PAPERBACK

June's roundup of New in Paperback titles includes TORMENT, the second installment in Lauren Kate's highly addictive Fallenseries, where love never dies; TANGLED by Carolyn Mackler, which finds the good girl, the jock, the beautiful one and the geek all tangled together; ELIXIR, Disney star Hilary Duff's first novel (and the start of a series), in which a powerful secret holds the fate of a photojournalist and the man who begins to appear in her photos; NIGHTSHADE, Book One in a thrilling world created by Andrea Cremer, where an alpha female of a shape-shifting wolf pack saves a human boy who captures her heart; and THE DUFF (DESIGNATED UGLY FAT FRIEND), young Kody Keplinger's debut about a 17-year-old who throws herself into an enemies-with-benefits fling with the boy who nicknamed her "the Duff" --- just before she threw her Coke in his face! » Click here

May 2011

noreply@blogger.com (--- Jordana Frankel) — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:13:00 +0000

REVIEWS

WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE by Sarah Dessen (Fiction)
Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been on the move. Estranged from her mother, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself --- whoever that is. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to see Sarah Dessen talk about WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE.

THE DARK CITY: Relic Master, Book One by Catherine Fisher (Fantasy)
Catherine Fisher's new series is being released in four consecutive months this summer. The first installment, THE DARK CITY, is set in a world crumbling into disorder and darkness. The Order once guarded ancient relics with mysterious powers, but these relics --- and the Order itself --- are now outlawed by the Watch. A Relic Master and his apprentice set out on a journey to uncover a relic powerful enough to save their world. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.

- Click here to see Catherine Fisher talk about the Relic Masterseries.

BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray (Fiction)
You've seen "Lost," you've read LORD OF THE FLIES, you've at least heard of "Gilligan's Island." And there may be a ton of other plane-crashed-on-a-desert-island books and movies with their stock characters --- a doctor, maybe, and a girly girl who can't handle being shipwrecked. But you've never read BEAUTY QUEENS, and now you must. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth (Dystopian Thriller)
Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior faces the biggest decision of her life when she must choose which of the five factions to join that make up their society. She has to decide whether to follow in her parents' footsteps or turn her back on her family and dare to be courageous. But unbeknownst to most, a mutiny is brewing beneath the surface, and their well-ordered society is about to implode. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

- Click here to see Veronica Roth talk about DIVERGENT.

WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman(Fiction)
It's been three years since the devastating accident --- three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. But when Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

SKELETON CREEK #4: THE RAVEN by Patrick Carman (Mystery/Suspense)
Strange things happen in Skeleton Creek --- and when they do, Ryan writes them down and Sarah captures them on video. They've solved old mysteries. They've followed clues all over the country and underground. They've investigated secret societies. They've found their answers. Or so they thought. Because there's still a shadowy figure standing in their path who doesn't want Ryan and Sarah digging up any more of the past. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

PLAGUE: A Gone Novel, by Michael Grant(Dystopian Thriller)
Eight months have passed since the beginning of the FAYZ, where all people over the age of 14 disappeared and kids had to learn to survive on their own. But fresh, even scarier terrors surface every day. A deadly flu-like virus has attacked, forcing the inflicted to literally cough out their lungs, and Lana, the healer, doesn't seem to have any effect. But maybe even worse, the evil Darkness is resurfacing, and he never plays nice. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

RED GLOVE: The Curse Workers, Book 2 by Holly Black (Urban Fantasy)
Being a transformation curse worker should have made Cassel's life easier. Instead his older brother is murdered, and both the Feds and the mob have taken a special interest in the case --- and Cassel. There's also a girl madly in love with him, but Cassel can't trust that it's real. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.

MORPHEUS ROAD: THE BLACK by D.J. MacHale (Supernatural Fantasy)
In this second book of the Morpheus Roadtrilogy, Cooper Foley finally gets to tell his side of the story. Being dead isn't all that bad. But once he becomes entangled with the supernatural being Damon and his quest for world domination, Cooper realizes the afterlife is more dangerous than he thought. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.

THE MAGNOLIA LEAGUE by Katie Crouch(Paranormal Mystery)
After her mother dies, Alex Lee must leave her home on a Mendocino commune to live in her grandmother's Georgia mansion. Her culture shock is compounded by the supernatural shenanigans of the debutante society she's expected to join. Alex's story has it all: magic, atmosphere, romance, and laugh-out-loud, fish-out-of-water situations. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

JAKE RANSOM AND THE HOWLING SPHINX by James Rollins (Thriller/Action & Adventure)
Jake Ransom survives a near-death experience during Tae Kwon Do practice, and then is rescued from a botched burglary and a kidnapping attempt. But when the middle-grade student and his older sister visit the American Museum of Natural History in New York, they're plunged into a strange and dangerous world. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

THE LUCKY KIND by Alyssa B. Sheinmel(Fiction)
Nick Brandt is in a good place in life. He's enjoying his junior year in a private high school in New York, and newly reveling in the realization that he's just won the girl of his dreams. But while he knows he's lucky, it's dawned on him recently that things are not always as perfect as they seem. Secrets have cropped up, and they usually have a way of coming back to haunt you. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE WORLD by Henning Mankell (Fiction)
Now that he's getting older, Joel Gustafson has a lot to consider. He turns 15 next month and can't stop thinking about the new liberties that come with it. Maybe his father will finally agree to leave their small Swedish town and the two of them will become sailors. Joel's life does take a turn, but it's nothing like he anticipated. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

WRAPPED by Jennifer Bradbury (Historical Mystery)
Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings. But reality for a 17-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels --- or even dust. Agnes can only see the mummy when she's wearing a new silk gown at Lord Showalter's estate. This is the start of Agnes's debut season, but it's also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn't just a mummy. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

TEETH: Vampire Tales, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (Horror/Urban Fantasy Anthology)
Fascinated by vampires? Then feast on 19 tantalizing, bite-sized tales exploring the intersections between the living, dead and undead. The vampires in these stories range from romantic to chilling to gleeful --- and touch on nearly every emotion in between. The one thing they have in common is their desire for blood! Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

GRAPHIC NOVELS & MANGA

STEPHEN KING'S THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER, Volume 1: THE JOURNEY BEGINS written by Stephen King, Peter David and Robin Furth; illustrated by Richard Isanove and Sean Phillips
THE JOURNEY BEGINS continues hero Roland Deschain's quest for the Dark Tower, an iconic and mysterious place where different realities converge, and which seems to be the only way that Deschain can reclaim what he's lost during his impossibly tragic life as a Gunslinger. Across a desolate Old West landscape, peppered with weird machines, mutants and talking animals, the adventure resumes. Reviewed by Collin David.

SPIDER-MAN: GRIM HUNT written by Fred Van Lente and J.M. Dematteis; illustrated by Michael Lark, Joe Kelly and Phil Jimenez
Firmly tangled in the complex continuity of Spider-Man's last 30 years, GRIM HUNT resurrects one of Spider-Man's greatest foes over two decades after his death, while also exploring Spidey's much larger, unusually spiritual role in the universe through the bevy of unusual spider-related characters who surround him. Reviewed by Collin David.

UNWRITTEN, Volume 1: TOMMY TAYLOR AND THE BOGUS IDENTITY written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Peter Gross
Tom Taylor's father created the Tommy Taylor fantasy series, boy-wizard novels with popularity on par with Harry Potter. When an enormous scandal reveals that he might really be a boy-wizard made flesh, Tom comes into contact with a very mysterious, very deadly group that's secretly kept tabs on him all his life. Now, to protect his own life and discover the truth behind his origins, Tom will travel the world. Reviewed by Nathan Wilson.

UNWRITTEN, Volume 2: INSIDE MAN written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Peter Gross
In this volume, Tom Taylor arrives at Donostia prison in Southern France and falls into the orbit of another story: The Song of Roland. Unfortunately for Tom, it's a story that ends with a massacre. Tom discovers the true meaning of "out of the frying pan" after his escape from Donostia jail takes him to Stuttgart in 1940, a ghost city inhabited by the master liar of the Third Reich, Josef Goebbels, and a tortured soul who's crying out for rescue --- or death... Reviewed by Nathan Wilson.

MADMAN ATOMICA! written and illustrated by Mike Allred
The second absurdly colossal collection ofMadman comics by Mike Allred is a beautiful one, collecting all of Frank Einstein's adventures with a heroic team of mutants called The Atomics. MADMAN ATOMICA! is delivered with a charming retro sensibility and captures the very best of Mike Allred's ongoing creative peak. Reviewed by Collin David.

KAMISAMA KISS, Volumes 1-2 written and illustrated by Julietta Suzuki
Nanami is so poor that her fellow high school students call her Broke-nami. Her dad, the gambler, ditches her and their apartment in order to avoid paying up, and now she's alone and homeless. But Nanami manages her life okay. Soon, she's a god! Reviewed by Danica Davidson.

CONTESTS

Win a Copy of BITE CLUB by Rachel Caine
Everyone knows there are vampires in Morganville, and for the most part, people are happy to leave them alone. But someone wants to stir the pot, getting the vamps all riled up with an Internet brawl that pits vamps against vamps --- and humans.

To celebrate the release of BITE CLUB, Teenreads.com is giving 15 readers the chance to win a copy of Rachel Caine's latest addition to her Morganville Vampires series. The deadline for entries is Thursday, June 9th at noon ET.

BITE CLUB: The Morganville Vampires, Book 10 by Rachel Caine (Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)
After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble. There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare-knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other --- or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire --- accompanied by her friends and frenemies --- to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville...

» Click here to read all the contest details.
» Click here to read a review of BITE CLUB.
» Click here to read an excerpt from BITE CLUB.
» Click here to read our interview with Rachel Caine.
» Click here to read Rachel Caine's bio.

STRINGS ATTACHED by Judy Blundell (Historical Fiction)
When Kit Corrigan arrives in New York City, she doesn't have much. She's fled from her family in Providence, Rhode Island, and she's broken off her tempestuous relationship with a boy named Billy, who's enlisted in the army. The city doesn't exactly welcome her with open arms. She gets a bit part as a chorus girl in a Broadway show, but she knows that's not going to last very long. She needs help --- and then it comes, from an unexpected source.

» Click here to read more about STRINGS ATTACHED.
» Click here to read a review of STRINGS ATTACHED.
» Click here to read an excerpt from STRINGS ATTACHED.
» Click here to read our interview with Judy Blundell.
» Click here to read Judy Blundell's bio.

Teenreads.com's Fifth Annual Beach Bag of Books Contest
It's time to think about Summer Reading --- and we're not talking about the list of books you'll be receiving for Required Summer Reading from school. What we're talking about are the kinds of books that you're glad you now have time to kick back with and enjoy. The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf, and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Fifth Annual Teenreads.com Beach Bag of Books Contest.

From May 17th thru July 18th, you can enter to win a "Teenreads.com Beach Bag of Books." Five winners each will receive a beach bag that includes 15 books: BEASTLY MOVIE TIE-IN EDITION by Alex Flinn, BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray, CLARITY by Kim Harrington, DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth, HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson, THE IRON QUEEN by Julie Kagawa, LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young, NIGHTSPELL by Leah Cypess, PROM AND PREJUDICE by Elizabeth Eulberg, RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier, SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater, STARCROSSED by Josephine Angelini, SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White and TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE) by Sarah Mlynowski.

Along with the books, winners will find their striped canvas beach bag stocked with an assortment of summer goodies: a blue polka-dot beach towel, a Mega Fling Toss Game, a deck of invisible cards, an inflatable beach ball, Coppertone Sport Sunblock, H2O+ Mineral Spa Shower Gel, Crystal Light Drink Mix, a metallic sports bottle to keep your drink cool, and a terrific cap that turns any can into a bottle to prevent sand and bees from finding their way into your drink.

» Click here for all the contest details.
» Click here to read more about our featured titles.

Grab Bag of Books Giveaway
Every month in our Grab Bag of Books contest, five readers are awarded a Teenreads.com signature tote bag filled with some of the hottest books --- and may even include a sneak peek at titles that haven’t been released yet!

This contest period's winners will each receive a copy of DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum, DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth, HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson, ILLUSIONS by Aprilynne Pike, SOMETHING DEADLY THIS WAY COMES by Kim Harrison, and STARCROSSED by Josephine Angelini. The deadline for entries is Monday, June 20th at noon ET.

» Click here for all the contest details.
» Click here for the winners of our past giveaways.

SPECIAL FEATURE

GEEK FANTASY NOVEL by E. Archer (Fantasy)
Be careful what you wish for. Really. Because wishes are bad. Very bad. They can get you trapped in fantasy worlds full of killer bunny rabbits, evil aunts, and bothersome bacteria, for example. Or at least that's Ralph's experience. He's been asked to spend the summer with his strange British relatives at their old manor house in order to set up their Wi-Fi network. But there's much more to it than that, of course. It's just that nobody told Ralph. He's a gamer, sure. But this game is much stranger --- and funnier --- than anything to be found on his xbox.

» Click here to read a review of GEEK FANTASY NOVEL.
» Click here to read an excerpt from GEEK FANTASY NOVEL.
» Click here to read our interview with E. Archer.
» Click here to read E. Archer's bio.

BOOKS INTO MOVIES

Thor and The Priest

On the big screen this month, two adaptations of popular comic series yield two unique superheroes who must righteously battle --- though not one another.

Thor, an epic adventure inspired by Stan Lee's creative genius, spans from present-day Earth to the legendary realm of Asgard, the capital city of the Norse Gods. Thor is a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. He is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once there, the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth --- and this is when he must step up to the plate and become a true hero.

Priest --- based on the graphic novel series by Hyung Min-woo --- sees another legendary warrior beginning a crusade, after a murderous pack of vampires abduct his beloved niece. Priest is joined by his niece's boyfriend, a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former warrior Priestess who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.

So you better shine up your hammer and your crucifix and get ready for the battles. But wait! Say we pit Thor against Priest in an all-out death match like no other. Who do you think would win? Our vote's on Thor; after all, he is a god. But we're sure Priest has some tricks up his sleeve. FIGHT!

» Click here for more details about these films.

COOL NEW BOOKS

May's roundup of Cool New Books includes WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE, Sarah Dessen's novel about a nomadic girl who, for the first time, discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself --- whoever that is; THE WARLOCK, the fifth installment in Michael Scott's series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, in which the twins of prophesy have been divided and the end is finally beginning; the hilariously sinister BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray, which finds teen beauties awakened to savage brutality after being stranded on an island; and Book One in Catherine Fisher's Relic Masterseries, THE DARK CITY, which introduces the mysterious world of Anara where ancient relics emit technologically advanced powers. » Click here

NEW IN PAPERBACK

May's roundup of New in Paperback titles includes the fantastical and harrowing LINGER, the second book in Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, in which three characters find that life is a constant struggle between two forces --- wolf and human; DEMONS & DRUIDS, a continuation of James Patterson's series featuring Daniel X, who in this installment is transported back to the most traumatic event of his life --- the death of his parents; GIMME A CALL by Sarah Mlynowski, a hilarious account of an 18-year-old whose life takes a bizarre turn after she drops her cell phone in the mall fountain; and ALL UNQUIET THINGS, Anna Jarzab's psychologically probing debut novel that centers on the murder of a teen heiress who was found shot to death a mile from her house in a wealthy Northern California suburb. » Click here

April 2011

noreply@blogger.com (--- Jordana Frankel) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:35:00 +0000

REVIEWS

DONT MISS: THE TWILIGHT SAGA: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED GUIDE by Stephenie Meyer(Horror/Romance)
This must-have hardcover edition --- the only official guide --- is the definitive encyclopedic reference to the Twilight Saga and provides readers with everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in all of her books. This comprehensive handbook --- essential for every fan --- is full-color throughout with nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs and with exclusive new material, character profiles, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more.

SUMMER AND THE CITY: A Carrie Diaries Novel, by Candace Bushnell (Fiction)
Seventeen-year-old Carrie Bradshaw is finally in New York. But can she manage to prove herself as a writer so she can remain in the city of her dreams? As the countdown of her summer ticks away, she grapples with writer's block, men and friendships in another delightful installment of her adventures. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon and excerpted.

THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES by Carrie Ryan (Urban Fantasy)
There are many things Annah would like to forget: the look on her twin sister's face when she left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as she found her way to the Dark City, the day Elias left her, and her barbed wire scars. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again. But can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman and excerpted.

STAY by Deb Caletti (Fiction)
Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she's ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is --- and what he's willing to do to make her stay. No matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough. Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.

VIOLA IN THE SPOTLIGHT by Adriana Trigiani (Fiction)
Viola is back home in Brooklyn where she's free to be her spunky self. But the excitement of getting to hang with her two best friends comes to a screeching halt when Andrew starts acting strange and Caitlin ditches her for a new boy. Amid Viola's confusion --- should she stay or leave Brooklyn? --- a tragic event proves that friendships are her true foundation. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

WE ALL FALL DOWN: Living with Addiction, by Nic Sheff (Memoir)
In his memoir TWEAK, Nic Sheff took readers on an emotionally gripping roller-coaster ride through his days as a drug addict. In this powerful follow-up about his continued efforts to stay clean, Nic writes candidly about eye-opening stays at rehab centers, devastating relapses, and hard-won realizations about what it means to be a young person living with addiction. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

THE LAST LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPE by Maureen Johnson (Fiction)
Ginny Blackstone spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack --- and the last little blue envelope inside --- she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end. Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

TEN MILES PAST NORMAL by Frances O'Roark Dowell (Fiction)
Janie Gorman wants to be normal, but she's far from it. Her parents have involved her in their “let's-live-on-a-goat-farm” experiment, and now she has to milk goats every day. It would be nice to return to her safe suburban life, but in this new life, Janie just might find that being “normal” is overrated. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BLINK & CAUTION by Tim Wynne-Jones(Thriller)
All Blink wanted was to steal some breakfast for his empty belly, but instead he stumbled upon a fake kidnapping and a cell phone dropped by an "abducted" CEO. Now Blink is on the run. Enter a girl named Caution, who is also on the run. The two forge a fated, tender partnership while creating a blackmail scheme that is foolhardy at best and disastrous at worst. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

WITHER: The Chemical Garden Trilogy, Book 1 by Lauren DeStefano (Fantasy)
In Rhine Ellery's world, a botched effort to create a perfect race has left humans with very short life spans. At age 16 --- and like many other young girls --- Rhine is sold as a polygamous bride to bear more children. Though she vows to do all she can to escape, her new husband opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed. Will she escape before her time runs out? Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

THE PIPER'S SON by Melina Marchetta(Fiction)
Five years since SAVING FRANCESCA, it's now Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone who mattered, including the girl he can't forget. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BEST OF THE BEST: A Baseball Great Novel, by Tim Green (Fiction)
Josh is still flying high from his baseball team's win when his parents start talking divorce. Now his dad is challenging him to play the best of the best at the Little League World Series. Does he just want Josh out of the way? With the help of two friends, Josh races to get the facts that can help keep his family together. Reviewed by Joy Held.

THE BETRAYAL OF MAGGIE BLAIR by Elizabeth Laird (Historical Fiction)
In the religious world of 17th-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment --- or worse. Accused of being a witch, 16-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged like her grandmother. Maggie escapes, but now she must try to save her uncle and his family from the king's men, even if she has to risk her own life in doing so. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

THE QUEEN OF WATER by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango (Fiction)
Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, seven-year-old Virginia lives in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her village, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day for members of the ruling class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When Virginia is taken to become a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

GRAPHIC NOVELS & MANGA

THOR: SIEGE AFTERMATH written by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Richard Elson and Doug Braithwaite
The Marvel Universe has crumbled and is reborn again from the ashes. Thor, once a part-time resident of Earth, has seen his entire kingdom crumble and witnessed the death of many of his people. Now, every Norse god is in danger of being eaten alive during the aftershocks of Siege. That is, of course, if Thor can't venture to Hell and back to save them.Reviewed by Collin David.

THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER written by Roger Langridge, illustrated by Chris Samnee and Matthew Wilson
Forget everything you ever thought you needed to know about The Mighty Thor. No more complicated Norse mythology, no more complex familial relations, and no more flowery pseudo-Victorian speeches. THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER is a complete reboot of Thor, existing independently from the rest of the Marvel Universe. Reviewed by Collin David.

BATMAN & ROBIN: BATMAN REBORN written by Grant Morrison, illustrated by Frank Quitely and Philip Tan
The new Dynamic Duo hit the streets with a bang in their new flying Batmobile as they face off against an assemblage of villains called the Circus of Strange. They also tackle their first mission investigating a child who's been abducted by the mysterious Domino Killer. But will everything go smoothly? And who exactly are the new Batman and Robin? Reviewed by Collin David.

MORNING GLORIES, Volume 1 written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Joe Eisma
The Morning Glories academy is the nation's premiere prep school, but as a group of new students will quickly learn, there is a much darker, sinister force at work deep behind the scenes. Answering to a mysterious headmaster, the teachers run a strict, murderous regimen designed to break their students and reveal the truly gifted among them. Reviewed by Michael Hicks.

RED ANGEL, Volume 1 written and illustrated by Makoto Tateno
Mika, a transfer student, is a girl as beautiful as an angel. She invites her new friend Nana to her house, where Mika's brother Koryu fascinates her. But between these beautiful siblings lies a hidden secret: they are actually vampires! Reviewed by Danica Davidson.

NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, Volume 1 written and illustrated by Hiroshi Shiibashi
While the day belongs to humans, the night belongs to yokai, supernatural creatures that thrive on human fear. Caught between these worlds is Rikuo Nura, who's three-quarters human. But his grandfather is none other than Nurarihyon, the supreme commander of the Nura clan, a powerful yokai consortium. Reviewed by Casey Brienza.

CONTESTS

Win a Copy of STRINGS ATTACHED by Judy Blundell
Broadway isn't easy on teenage chorus girl Kit Corrigan. After leaving her Rhode Island home, she needs a helping hand. Preferably one with cash in it. When help comes, it's from Nate, the father of her hothead ex-boyfriend, who offers her the keys to a perfect, rent-free apartment. But in exchange for what?

To celebrate the release of STRINGS ATTACHED, Teenreads.com is giving 100 readers the chance to win a copy of Judy Blundell's latest historical novel. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, June 8th at noon ET.

STRINGS ATTACHED by Judy Blundell (Historical Fiction)
When Kit Corrigan arrives in New York City, she doesn't have much. She's fled from her family in Providence, Rhode Island, and she's broken off her tempestuous relationship with a boy named Billy, who's enlisted in the army. The city doesn't exactly welcome her with open arms. She gets a bit part as a chorus girl in a Broadway show, but she knows that's not going to last very long. She needs help --- and then it comes, from an unexpected source.

» Click here to read more about STRINGS ATTACHED.
» Click here to read a review of STRINGS ATTACHED.
» Click here to read an excerpt from STRINGS ATTACHED.
» Click here to read our interview with Judy Blundell.
» Click here to read Judy Blundell's bio.

Win a Copy of DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA #2: MAY by Kathryn Lasky
May is different from what her mother and father would have her be. She wants to go swimming in the summer, to whoop and holler running off the wharf and into the seawater. She wants to read books (other than the Bible) late into the night. She wants a freedom that they just don't understand her need for; even she can't quite grasp it. That is, until she realizes her true nature as a mermaid.

To celebrate the release of MAY, Teenreads.com is giving 100 readers the chance to win a copy of this second book in Kathryn Lasky's Daughters of the Sea series. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 4th at noon ET.

DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA #2: MAY by Kathryn Lasky (Fantasy)
May feels her life drying up. The sea calls to her, but her parents forbid her from swimming. She longs for books, but her mother finds her passion for learning strange. She yearns for independence, but a persistent suitor, Rudd, wants to tame her spirited ways. Yet after her 15th birthday, the urge to break free becomes overpowering and May makes a life-changing discovery. She does not belong on land where girls are meant to be obedient. She is a mermaid --- a creature of the sea.

» Click here to read all the contest details.
» Click here to read more about DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA #2: MAY.
» Click here to read a review of DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA #2: MAY.
» Click here to read an excerpt from DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA #2: MAY.
» Click here to read our interview with Kathryn Lasky.
» Click here to read Kathryn Lasky's bio.

Win a Copy of NUMBERS #2: THE CHAOS by Rachel Ward
Adam is cursed. Who would want to look into the eyes of a friend and not only see the date of their death, but feel the pain of it as well? At first, it was Jem's death day. Now, Adam has moved to London with his great-grandmother, Val, and there's a new number that's showing up: 01012027 --- New Year's Day. And it's not just one person. How many people can he save from the catastrophe that awaits?

To celebrate the release of THE CHAOS, Teenreads.com is giving 100 readers the chance to win a copy of this second book in Rachel Ward's Numbers series. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 4th at noon ET.

NUMBERS #2: THE CHAOS by Rachel Ward (Urban Fantasy)
When he was a little boy, Adam learned about the numbers. The first ones he saw were Jem's. That was how he knew she was going to die. Adam has more than inherited his mother's curse: When he looks in someone's eyes, he not only sees the date of their death, he feels the searing, shocking pain of it. Since Jem died, Adam has lived by the sea with his great-grandmother, Val. But when rising tides flood the coast, they return to London. The city is an alien, exciting, frightening place. Most disturbing of all, Adam can't help but clock how many people's numbers are in January 2027; how many are on New Year's Day. What chaos awaits the world? Can he and Sarah stop a catastrophe? Or are they, too, counted among the "twenty-sevens"?

» Click here to read all the contest details.
» Click here to read a review of NUMBERS #2: THE CHAOS.
» Click here to read an excerpt from NUMBERS #2: THE CHAOS.
» Click here to read our interview with Rachel Ward.
» Click here to read Rachel Ward's bio.

Grab Bag of Books Giveaway
Every month in our Grab Bag of Books contest, five readers are awarded a Teenreads.com signature tote bag filled with some of the hottest books --- and may even include a sneak peek at titles that haven’t been released yet!

This contest period's winners will each receive a copy of AFTERLIFE: An Evernight Novel, by Claudia Gray; ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre; THE GATHERING: Darkness Rising, Book 1 by Kelley Armstrong; INSIGHT by Diana Greenwood; PLAGUE: A Gone Novel, by Michael Grant; ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE by Amy Clipston; and SUMMER AND THE CITY: A Carrie Diaries Novel, by Candace Bushnell. The deadline for entries is Monday, May 23rd at noon ET.

» Click here for all the contest details.
» Click here for the winners of our past giveaways.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Soul Surfer and Water for Elephants

The semester is more than halfway over, and this month Teenreads.com is spotlighting two must-see movies that are guaranteed to help you gear up for the final stretch.

First up is Soul Surfer, an awe-inspiring flick about the story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton. Based on her stunning memoir of the same name, the film follows Bethany's incredible journey from the moment a 14-foot tiger shark threatened to shatter her future, to her astonishing and entirely unexpected comeback.

And if that isn't enough to push you towards the finish line, there's Water for Elephants. This adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling novel is a touching circus tale about extraordinary friendships (and equally amazing animals), the trials of growing up, and making the most of life in spite of everything. With a star-studded cast that includes everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Twilight's Robert Pattinson, it's going to be one of the most highly anticipated movies of the season.
» Click here for more details about these films.
COOL NEW BOOKS
April's roundup of Cool New Books includes Meg Cabot's ABANDON, a dark and fantastical story about a girl who might find herself back in the place she fears most --- the Underworld; STAY by Deb Caletti, a love story in which romantic devotion quickly turns into unhealthy obsession; WHERE SHE WENT, a sequel to Gayle Forman's much talked-about debut, IF I STAY, in which chance brings Mia and Adam together for one last night, three years after Mia walked out of Adam's life; VIOLA IN THE SPOTLIGHT, a continuation of Adriana Trigiani's first YA series, which finds Viola in the midst of a conundrum about where she truly belongs; and the eye-opening memoir WE ALL FALL DOWN, a follow-up to TWEAK that sees Nic Sheff through rehab, relapse and ultimate stability.
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NEW IN PAPERBACK

April's roundup of New in Paperback titles includes WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON, John Green and David Levithan's collaborative novel about two teens who share the same name, setting the stage for an otherwise unlikely friendship; ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sarah Dessen, a girl-meets-boy love story involving a couple of insomniac bicyclists who bond over their emotional traumas; RUNAWAY, the final installment of Meg Cabot's Airhead trilogy, in which Em Watts is being held captive by the son of an evil billionaire entrepreneur, whose top-secret venture she must reveal to the public; THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT by Patrick Carman, a nail-biting novel of mystery and dark intrigue about an indestructible boy who is gifted with the power to keep death at bay; and THE PRINCE OF MIST, a ghost story from Carlos Ruiz Zafón that takes place in a mysterious house whose previous owner's son died by drowning.
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