Mr. Book Wonder

Book Finds: Fate of Flames & A Shadow Bright and Burning

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 04 May 2016 12:12:00 +0000

Inspired by the weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine, BOOK FINDS is a regular feature here that spotlights upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to read.

I haven't done a Book Finds post in a long time now, and I miss it so much that it hurts. So, I have today two fantasy books that I cannot wait for you to wait. Add away friends.

FATE OF FLAMES by SARAH RAUGHLEY

PUBLICATION DATE. November 22, 2016

PUBLISHER. Simon Pulse

SYNOPSIS. Four girls with the power to control the elements and save the world from a terrible evil must come together in the first epic novel in a brand-new series.

When Phantoms—massive beasts made from nightmares and darkness—suddenly appeared and began terrorizing the world, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Since then, four girls across the world have continually fought against the Phantoms, fulfilling their cosmic duty. And when one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power as a replacement.

But now, with technologies in place to protect the world’s major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have stopped defending humanity and, instead, have become international celebrities, with their heroic feats ranked, televised, and talked about in online fandoms.

Until the day that New York City’s protection against the Phantoms fails, a man seems to be able to control them by sheer force of will, and Maia, a high school student, unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy.

Now Maia has been thrown into battle with three girls who want nothing to do with one another. But with the first human villain that the girls have ever faced, and an army of Phantoms preparing for attack, there isn’t much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together.

Can the girls take control of their destinies before the world is destroyed forever?

WHY I'M WAITING FOR FATE OF FLAMES? The fact that this book has a cover to die for and an exciting blurb pitched as Pacific Rim meets Sailor Moon already makes me a happy kid. But you know what's so common with this book and other books out there? It's written by another Sarah. Have you ever notice how some brilliant young adult and fantasy books were all written by authors whose names begin with Sarah? Because every Sarah book I've read hasn't let me down. Please, let this not be the first Sarah book that would fail my Sarah hypothesis.

A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING by JESSICA CLUESS

PUBLICATION DATE. September 20, 2016

PUBLISHER. Random House BFYR

SYNOPSIS. Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.

Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.

Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.

As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves?

Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces Henrietta Howel, a powerful, unforgettable heroine, and an entertaining world filled with magic, monsters, and mayhem.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING? The Infernal Devices anyone? I think this book and I will have a great time together.

What books are you looking forward to read?

Book Review: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 13:00:00 +0000

TELL ME THREE THINGS by JULIE BUXBAUM

PUBLICATION DATE. April 5, 2016

PUBLISHER. Delacorte Press

PAGES. 336

FORMAT. ARC

AGE GROUP. Young Adult

GENRE/S. Contemporary Romance
SHELFABILITY. Covet

BUY FROM. Fully Booked | National Book Store | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Julie Buxbaum mixes comedy and tragedy, love and loss, pain and elation, in her debut YA novel filled with characters who will come to feel like friends.

THOUGHTS. I approached this book blindfolded, with zero expectations at all. I read this book for the sake of reading (and for the heart-shaped waffles on the cover) but I didn’t know that I would swallow this book whole—pardon the pun—in one sitting. Now, I feel lost. Terribly lost on this book hangover I’m still reeling in. Terribly lost at words. Oh man, where and how do I even begin? But honest to goodness, I’d never exchange this feeling for another. Tell Me Three Things is a mouthful of waffles, the delicious and warm kind, topped with fresh berries—lots and lots of berries—and drizzled with honey.

To begin with, Tell Me Three Things is a multilayered story. I am greatly impressed with Buxbaum’s writer skills. She’s able to contain several elements and subplots into the story without overwhelming one another. There’s a mystery added into the plot that didn’t overarch the other elements. Although the mystery was not mind-blowing or surprising to be exact—I had a few whodunits and already had an idea on the onset of the novel—it was gripping enough to keep me turning the pages. And, although the author deliberately prolonged the conundrum it didn’t feel dragging at all. There’s also romance, though which have taken the most part in the story, like the others, worked very well with the other elements. It’s undeniably exuberant and tangible enough that will leave readers with long-lasting feeling of kilig—yes, even boys do feel kilig IRL. I’d also like to stress the underlying message about internet trust in the book. It’s hard to trust anyone anymore over the internet. Anything and everything can be easily manipulated especially if someone is not in the right state of mind. Buxbaum fiddled with grief and internet trust which was done honest-to-goodness. I hand it over to Buxbaum for writing a believable apropos of what’s happening today.

The novel wouldn’t be quite perfect as it is if not for the pitch-perfect voice of Jessie Holmes, the lead star of Tell Me Three Things. Her voice seemed to sing and soar as I was tout de suite pulled into her world. Jessie Holmes has one of the most endearing and genuine teenage voices I’ve ever read. She’s unpretentious, raw, honest, fallible, and resilient, a real person with real issues. Her humor is wry and rings true to the heart. This girl, Jessie Holmes, she gets me. She resonated to me and for sure will resonate to all readers, teens and adults alike. Buxbaum perfectly captured her character and her beautiful, funny, and at times painful narrative of adolescence, loss, and love.

There is so much honesty in this novel that is also evident in other characters in the story who are equally adorable and well-developed. There’s the cliché set of friends but remarkably so whom you'd wish to be squad with; dysfunctional blended families; a sardonic stepbrother who you can’t decide to love or hate but love still; charming and unpredictable suitors; and the enigmatic tongue-in-cheek virtual guardian. Buxbaum crafted lifelike characters with diverse and complicated personalities that added more life and color to the story.

Tell Me Three Things is a familiar world. It delves into serious issues which everyone can relate to: grief, blended families, high school, bullying. But it doesn’t let us wallow in sadness or drama. The author injects humor that is spot-on and genuine, that carries the story to a whole new experience. Unlike other books that tackle the same hard issues, it doesn’t read as heavy and dark. It’s comfortable to lose yourself into the story because it makes you feel light and unladen in the inside.

With an absorbing kilig-to-the-bones mystery romance, unabashed portrayal of teenage and family issues, unforgettable and charming band of characters who matters, humor-filled dialogues, Tell Me Three Things is set to win many readers’ hearts in a whim. Fans of Jennifer E. Smith and Rainbow Rowell will love this book.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Julie Buxbaum is the author of the critically acclaimed THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE and AFTER YOU, and her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. TELL ME THREE THINGS is her first young adult novel. Her writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two young children, and an immortal goldfish.

Book Finds: Truthwitch & Hunter

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 06:20:00 +0000

Welcome to another edition of BOOK FINDS where it spotlights upcoming book releases that everyone's excited about!

There are so many books that you dream you can get your hands on impromptu! Sigh. But for now let us just drool over the gorgeous covers of these upcoming 2015 books and their wicked synopsis and perhaps shout Accio with me! Don't forget to add them to your Goodreads list so as not to miss them!

TRUTHWITCH by SUSAN DENNARD

RELEASE DATE. January 2016

PUBLISHER. Tor

SYNOPSIS. On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble--as two desperate young women know all too well. Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her--but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

HUNTER by MERCEDES LACKEY
RELEASE DATE. September 1, 2015
PUBLISHER. Disney-Hyperion

SYNOPSIS. Centuries ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were slashed open allowing hideous fantastical monsters to wreak havoc; destroying entire cities in their wake. Now, people must live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the evil creatures constantly trying to break in. Only the corps of teen Hunters with lightning reflexes and magical abilities can protect the populace from the daily attacks.

Joyeaux Charmand is a mountain girl from a close knit village who comes to the big city to join the Hunters. Joy thinks she is only there to perform her civic duty and protect the capitol Cits, or civilians, but as cameras follow her every move, she soon learns that the more successful she is in her hunts, the more famous she becomes.

With millions of fans watching her on reality TV, Joy begins to realize that Apex is not all it seems. She is forced to question everything she grew up believing about the legendary Hunters and the very world she lives in. Soon she finds that her fame may be part of a deep conspiracy that threatens to upend the protective structure built to keep dark magic out. The monsters are getting in and it is up to Joy to find out why.

What books are you looking forward to read? Share your thoughts below.

Blog Tour - Guest Post: Vivid by Andrea Murray

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 04:31:00 +0000

The Paranormal Cravings is stopping over to promote a young adult fantasy novel Vivid from author Andrea Murray. In addition to Vivid, she’s also the author of Omni, a young adult dystopian novel.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS

Andrea Murray

In my first book Vivid, my initial favorite was Vivian, the protagonist. She is a dichotomy, like so many teenage girls. She’s powerful and insecure, courageous and scared. She doesn't realize her own strength until she’s forced to see it. However, as the series progressed, I developed another love, Wyck. He’s that delicious bad boy we females love, pretending to be tough but needing love as badly as the rest of us. He’s irreverent and just a little corrupt. My new book crush is Pierce, the protagonist in Omni. He’s my knight in tarnished armor. Pierce is a Drudge, the lowest level in Omni society, and he has spent the past three years paying his dues, looking forward to the day he will escape his slavery. He’s fiercely loyal and honorable to a fault. But I also love Acumen, one of the goddess characters I used in Omni. She is my version of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and military prowess. She turned out to be a motorcycle-riding, sarcastic, get-out-of-my-way-and-let-me-do-it powerhouse.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Andrea Murray has been teaching English for longer than most of her students have been alive. She lives in a very small town in Arkansas with her husband and two children. When she isn't watching bad science fiction movies, she spends her time reading. In addition to the VIVID Trilogy, she has written OMNI, a young-adult dystopian novel.

VIVID by ANDREA MURRAY

RELEASE DATE. November 13, 2014

PUBLISHER. Booktrope Publishing

BUY FROM. Amazon

SYNOPSIS. Her entire life she has feared her power and its connection to her mother’s murder.

When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death. Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life, hard to accomplish when you possess the power to control energy. She has kept her ability a secret from everyone except her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder.

Her secret is safe until Vivian defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and demanding to be used. This increase in power also brings dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man associated with it. In her desire to unlock her past, Vivian is forced to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother.

Book Stand: Jacqueline Woodson wins National Book Award, The DUFF Trailer plus Cover Unveils and Book Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:00:00 +0000

BOOK STAND is a blog feature that provides a digest of latest news and information on book releases, book launches, book deals, book trends, author sightings, film adaptations and anything else happening behind and beyond the world of literature.

JACQUELINE WOODSON WINS NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR 2014

Jacqueline Woodson wins the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for her story, Brown Girl Dreaming. She bested Eliot Schrefer for Threatened, John Corey Whaley for Noggin, and Deborah Wiles for Revolution.

Jacqueline Woodson is a writer of children's and young adult fiction best known for books including Miracle's Boys, which won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2001 and her Newbery Honor titles After Tupac & D Foster, The Other Side, Feathers, Show Way, and Locomotion.

BROWN GIRL DREAMING by JACQUELINE WOODSON

PUBLISHER. Nancy Paulsen Books

RELEASE DATE. August 28, 2014

SYNOPSIS. Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

THE DUFF TRAILER IS HERE

CBS Films has finally released the much anticipated trailer of The DUFF. The Designated Ugly Fat Friend, or The DUFF is based on a best-selling young adult novel of the same title from author Kody Keplinger. Check out the trailer:

The DUFF is set to release sometime in 2015. The film stars Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Ken Jeong, Skyler Samuels and Bianca Santos.

COVERS UNVEILED
Here is a selection of recent cover reveals of upcoming titles in the young adult and new adult literature.

MAYBE NOT by COLLEEN HOOVER
RELEASE DATE. November 24, 2014

PUBLISHER. Atria Books
PRE-ORDER. Amazon

SYNOPSIS. Colleen Hoover, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe Someday, brilliantly brings to life the story of the wonderfully hilarious and charismatic Warren in a new novella, Maybe Not.

When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.

Or maybe not.

Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.

Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

THE HEART OF BETRAYAL by MARY E. PEARSON
RELEASE DATE. July 7, 2015
PUBLISHER. Henry Holt and Co.
PRE-ORDER. Amazon

SYNOPSIS. Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception.

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country . . . and her own destiny.

ROGUE by JULIE KAGAWA
RELEASE DATE. April 28, 2015

PUBLISHER. Harlequin Teen
PRE-ORDER. Amazon

SYNOPSIS. Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her--Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day . . . or start an all-out war?

BOOK DEALS

Here is a selection of recent book deals.

Liesa Abrams at Simon Pulse has acquired world rights to Christopher Pike's young adult novel, Strange Girl. The novel is told from the perspective of a boy in love with a mysterious girl who seems to have an unearthly ability to heal, but the ability carries quite a cost. Christopher Pike is a best-selling children's and young adult fiction author. He is represented by Jennifer Unter. Strange Girl is scheduled for December 2015 publication.

Andrew Harwell at HarperCollins has acquired world English rights to Karen Hattrup's Pretty Boy and a second untitled novel. The novel begins as Frannie eavesdrops on her parents fighting, she discovers that her cousin Truman is gay, and his parents are so upset they are sending him to live with her family for the summer. When he arrives, they embark on an extraordinary eight weeks, a summer marked by slowly unraveling secrets. Karen Hattrup is represented by Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency. Pretty Boy is scheduled for a 2016 publication.

Regina Griffin at Egmont USA has acquired Cindy Trumbore's debut novel, The Innkeeper's Daughter. The novel is set in the mid-sixth century, when the clash between paganism and Christianity was at its height. It retells an epic Irish legend, in which an innkeeper's teenage daughter is swept up in court intrigue, a dark prophecy, and a choice between honor and love. Cindy Trumbore is the co-author of the Sibert Medal-winning Parrots Over Puerto Rico. She is represented by Susan Cohen at Writers House. The Innkeeper's Daughter is scheduled for Spring 2016 publication.

Stephanie Lurie at Disney-Hyperion has bought North American rights to Sarwat Chadda's middle grade fantasy, Shadow Magic and its untitled sequel, writing under the name Joshua Khan. The story is set in a world ruled by six ancient Houses of Magic where the princess of the House of Shadow joins forces with an outlaw boy and a giant bat on a dangerous quest to save her land. Sarwat Chadda is the author of the Ash Mistry Chronicles. He is represented by Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency. Shadow Magic is set for summer 2016 publication and its untitled sequel is set for summer 2017 publication.

Emily Easton at Crown has bought world rights for Sarah Beth Durst's young adult novel, Fire and Heist. The novel is about a girl with a big secret who comes from a family of were-dragons and must steal their first treasure hoard to gain power and acceptance. But while attempting her first heist, she uncovers a dark truth about the were-dragon society that is more valuable--and dangerous--than any gold or jewels. Sarah Beth Durst is a children's and young adult fiction author. She is represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger. Fire and Heist is set for summer 2016 publication.

Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has bought world rights for Matthew J. Kirby's debut young adult novel, A Taste for Monsters. The novel is about a disfigured teenage girl who befriends real-life Elephant Man, John Merrick in 19th-century England while the Jack-The-Ripper murders are taking place. Matthew J. Kirby is a PEN and Edgar Award winner. He is represented by Stephen Fraser at the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. A Taste for Monsters is set for spring 2016 publication.

Kristen Pettit at HarperCollins has acquired world rights for Robin Talley's As I Descended. The novel is a retelling of Macbeth set at a contemporary Virginia boarding school. It centers around a lesbian couple who set out to dethrone the school's resident Mean Girl, only to find themselves struggling to hang onto their sanity and their lives when they accidentally summon a trio of brutal, manipulative ghosts. Robin Talley is the author of Lies We Tell Ourselves. She is represented by Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. As I Descended is scheduled for summer 2016 publication.

Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired world rights for Stacie Ramey's debut novel, The Pact. The novel centers on two sisters who vow to take their lives together. Told from the perspective of the sister who lives, the teen spirals into grief, prescription pill abuse, and mysterious visions, which lead her to uncover unexpected secrets. Stacie Ramey is represented by Nicole Resciniti at the Seymour Agency. The Pact is scheduled for fall 2015 publication.

Ruta Rimas at McElderry Books preempted world English rights to Sarah Fine's two untitled young adult fantasy novels. The novel is about a sixteen-year-old who has been training her whole life to become queen and finds that, when coronation day arrives, she has not inherited the magical powers of her predecessor. She is cast out and powerless; her only redemption is to search for the person who did inherit the former queen's magic. Sarah Fine is best known for her novels Of Metals and Wishes (Simon & Schuster) and Scan (Penguin). She is represented by Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. The untitled first novel is scheduled for spring 2016 publication.

Andrea Cascardi at Egmont USA has bought the North American rights for Amy Allgeyer Cook's contemporary young adult debut novel, Water for Starfish. Pitched as an Erin Brockovich story set in coal country, the novel revolves around seventeen-year-old Liberty who is sent to live with her grandmother in Kentucky after her mother is arrested during a protest. Liberty discovers that the water has turned orange and starts questioning whether the new mining process might be the cause, opening a pandora's box of problems. Amy Allgeyer Cook is represented by Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow. Water for Starfish is set for 2016 publication.

Julia Maguire at Knopf has bought the world English rights for Sarah Everett's Everyone We've Been and a second untitled novel. The novel is about a girl whose heart is broken so badly she resorts to having her memories erased. Sarah Everett is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary. Everyone We've Been is set for fall 201 publication.

Sources: Galley Cat, Goodreads, Publishers Weekly, and YA Interrobang.

Book Finds: Joyride & Mosquitoland

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 04:22:00 +0000

BOOK FINDS is a regular feature that spotlights upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to read.

JOYRIDE by ANNA BANKS

RELEASE DATE. June 2, 2015

PUBLISHER. Feiwel and Friends

SYNOPSIS. A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to not do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR JOYRIDE? Joyride speaks for itself. Even though I haven't read Anna Banks's previous novels, I am so excited to read Joyride. Because it isn't only about joyride, it involves pranking, chasing and more chasing!

MOSQUITOLAND by DAVID ARNOLD
RELEASE DATE. March 3, 2015
PUBLISHER. Viking Juvenile

SYNOPSIS. I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange.

After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the wastelands of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland.

So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane.

Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, Mosquitoland is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR MOSQUITOLAND? "I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange."

About three things I am absolutely positive. First, Mosquitoland isn't dystopian. Second, that quote explains how potent my thirst for beautiful, strange words. And third, I am irrevocably in love with the book and its cover art.

What books are you looking forward to read? Share your thoughts below.

Book Finds: The Sin Eater's Daughter & Magonia

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:31:00 +0000

BOOK FINDS is a regular feature that spotlights upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to read.

THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER by MELINDA SALISBURY

RELEASE DATE. February 24, 2015

PUBLISHER. Scholastic Press

SYNOPSIS. A startling, seductive, deliciously dark debut that will shatter your definition of YA fantasy.

Sixteen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn't a member of the court. She's the executioner.

As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

WHY I'M WAITING FOR THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER? The Sin Eater's Daughter makes me think of a high fantasy adaptation of Shatter Me with elements of a Maria V. Snyder story! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I can die with a huge grin on the face if this book ever reaches me!

MAGONIA by MARIA DAHVANA HEADLEY
RELEASE DATE. April 28, 2015
PUBLISHER. HarperCollins

SYNOPSIS. Aza Ray is drowning in thin air.

Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live.

So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.

Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia.

Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?

Maria Dahvana Headley's soaring YA debut is a fiercely intelligent, multilayered fantasy rich with symbolism and steeped in allegory. Her John Green–meets–Neil Gaiman approach to character development and world building will draw readers of all genres, who will come for the high-concept journey through the sky and stay for the authentic, confused, questioning teen voices. Jason and Aza’s fight to find each other somewhere between sky and earth is the perfect anchor for Headley’s gorgeous, wildly vivid descriptions of life in Magonia.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR MAGONIA? Just read the synopsis and take delight of the glorious cover art! I call upon the gods of literature, I demand you release this book already! Please?

What books are you looking forward to read? Share your thoughts below.

Book Blast: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 07:10:00 +0000

Mr. Book Wonder is thrilled to feature Adi Alsaid on the blog today as part of a promo for his debut young adult novel, Let's Get Lost, made possible by the efforts of Harlequin Teen and YA Bound Book Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

RELEASE DATE. July 29, 2014

PUBLISHER. Harlequin Teen

PURCHASE. Amazon | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named Leila. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's Hudson, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And Bree, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday--and a few stolen goods along the way. Elliot believes in happy endings . . . until his own life goes off-script. And Sonia worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth--sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

PRAISES FOR LET'S GET LOST

"Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns and road trip novels that feature a teen paving the way to adulthood, Alsaid’s debut is a gem among contemporary YA novels." -- School Library Journal

"Five love stories, beautifully woven together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss." -- Justine Magazine

"Moving and poignant." -- Glitter Magazine

"An entertaining and romantic road-trip debut." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Leila's quest to find the Northern Lights takes readers on a captivating cross-country journey, where four strangers' adventures collide into one riveting tale of finding yourself." -- YA Books Central

"This will likely be a popular summer hit, especially for older teen about to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery." -- Booklist

GUEST POST BY ADI ALSAID

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Adi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, then studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While in class, he mostly read fiction and continuously failed to fill out crossword puzzles, so it's no surprise that after graduating, he did not go into business world but rather packed up his apartment into his car and escaped to the California coastline to become a writer. He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list. LET' GET LOST is his debut novel.

FAVORITE SPOTS TO READ

THE BEACH

I don’t think this one requires an explanation. When I lived in Israel, I would start reading as soon as I arrived at the beach. When I started to get nice and sweaty, I’d get into the water and swim around until I was ready to go back to read. Over and over again until the sun set.

ROOFTOPS

Anywhere with a view. It makes those little breaks between chapters or at the end of a particularly good scene or even a great line so much more enjoyable. And finishing a book on a rooftop? Oh man. It’s so cathartic.

COFFEE SHOPS

Because who doesn't like a little people-watching to go along with their reading? Books are great covers (no pun intended) when you want to eavesdrop. People assume you’re in your own world, rightfully so.

AIRPORTS/PLANES

I’ve never understood why people are so anti-airports. It’s a thrill for me to have two hours to wait for a plane where I’m not expected to be productive except for in my reading. All the time you’re waiting until your plane boards, all that time in the air, it’s the world granting permission to read (not that we need permission). It’s a booklover’s ideal world, hidden among security lines and overpriced bottles of water everything.

HAMMOCKS

That’s what they were made for, right? Naps and reading?

GIVEAWAY

Harlequin Teen is sponsoring a giveaway that includes a signed finished copy of Let's Get Lost, a Let's Get Lost luggage tag, and a Let's Get Lost satchel, plus Harlequin Teen notebook and tote bag. All you need to do is to enter through the Rafflecopter. Giveaway is open to US residents only. It ends August 19, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Finds: Vanishing Girls & Red Queen

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:55:00 +0000

BOOK FINDS is a regular feature that spotlights upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to read.

VANISHING GIRLS by LAUREN OLIVER

RELEASE DATE. March 3, 2015

PUBLISHER. HarperCollins

SYNOPSIS. New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR VANISHING GIRLS? Because of her beautifully and soulfully written stories about love, freedom, friendship and redemption, I have since pledge love and fealty to Lauren Oliver, that I'd read anything that has a Lauren Oliver name printed on it. With the upcoming publication of her adult book, Rooms, and now this, Vanishing Girls, I have to stop myself from singing and dancing praises in here!

RED QUEEN by VICTORIA AVEYARD
RELEASE DATE. February 10, 2015
PUBLISHER. HarperTeen

SYNOPSIS. Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own--an ability she didn't know she had. Except . . . her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard--the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince--and Mare against her own heart.

From debut author Victoria Aveyard comes a lush, vivid fantasy series where loyalty and desire can tear you apart and the only certainty is betrayal.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR RED QUEEN? Oh, I badly need the Red Queen in my life. Divergent, The Selection, Game of Thrones, and The Hunger Games everyone is comparing Red Queen to these awesome books, and I only hope that it won't over-hype Victoria Aveyard's debut novel because I'd kill just to have it--but of course I don't necessarily mean literally.

What are you waiting for? Share your thoughts below.

Blog Tour - Book Review: More Than Music by Elizabeth Briggs

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 13:27:00 +0000

SERIES. Chasing the Dream

RELEASE DATE. June 17, 2014

PUBLISHER. Elizabeth Briggs
PAGES. 303
FORMAT. eARC

AGE GROUP. New Adult

GENRE/S. Contemporary Romance

FIND IT. Amazon | Goodreads | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. Music major Maddie Taylor just finished her junior year of college and has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, yet every night she practices guitar and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation – and that he’s just as big a geek as she is. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but when the show pressures them to stay single they’re forced to keep their relationship secret.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

THOUGHTS. When it comes to books in the new adult variety, these are the sort of books that usually I am fastidious about. It could take several considerations before one could convince me. Surprisingly, something on Elizabeth Briggs’ debut novel had me on a tight grasp, that instead of the need to escape from it, it drew me closer and made me want to hold on. Truth be told, More Than Music is too good to let go. Simply too good.

With a plot that is heavily designed against the backdrop of music, it’s easy to associate with the More Than Music. Even if you aren't an artist yourself or musically inclined or a fan of bands and music competitions, you'll surely get lost into More Than Music. Briggs’ creativity and knowledge of music is impressive and has truly reflected on the intriguing band names to beautifully titled songs—which would have been much better if the lyrics of the songs were actually composed to render a more beautiful setup into More Than Music—to the apparent influences of actual music competitions, even more with how Briggs was able to capture the pretense and glamour of these competitions. The addition and mentions of familiar songs also offer readers more engagement and interest into the story.

But More Than Music is literally more than music.

There is romance, romance that had me in deliquium for most of the time. While music plays a heavy role into the story, it doesn't overpower the true desire of Briggs to tell a love story of two people brought upon by their dreams and passion. It’s unexpected that the romance doesn’t at all tread in the same pavement where most of the books in the new adult variety right now are: over-sexualized to the point of becoming erotic. The romance in More Than Music begins in a mutual understanding and lets you relish on that feeling—of yearning and hopefulness—until it builds up and intensifies without becoming too revealing or too shocking, just the right amount to leave satisfaction to the readers.

Although the story of More Than Music draws comparison to a few new adult books, the characters aren't who you would expect as character tropes. Maddie’s character is a standout among the throngs of new adult heroines. Even though she is a student of classical music, it doesn't feel like she is socially unwanted or a character close to perfection. Most readers may find her simple but when it comes to decisions and choices she makes, she lets both her heart and mind be involve. She's a character that anyone would surely love. Jared, on the other hand, is Maddie’s opposite. A musician by heart, his is a persona of a Casanova, evidence of a trend in the new adult genre, but Jared’s character is a latch down compared to other new adult heroes. Broken and angst-filled don’t hugely apply to his character. Sure, he's a rock star--tattooed and imperative and another new adult hero girls would be dreaming about--but don't think of him as a bad boy either. He's more careful and more balanced in handling decisions and Briggs does a great job in making that believable. Among the other characters in More Than Music, Kyle and Hector are two other characters that are unforgettable and noteworthy. In all honesty, More Than Music wouldn't work without them. If called for, Briggs could even write a separate story for either of Kyle or Hector, or even both.

Beautiful and blistering, Elizabeth Brigg's More Than Music is a fresh addition to the new adult variety. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Elizabeth Briggs is a Young Adult and New Adult author who lives in Los Angeles with her British husband and a bunch of fluffy white rescue dogs. She's a guitar-playing geek who loves books, rock music, and video games, goes to Comic Con every year, and is still hoping to be a Jedi when she grows up.

Elizabeth currently works with WriteGirl to mentor at-risk or pregnant teen girls in writing, to help them get through high school and into college. She also volunteers with Bichon FurKids to help rescued dogs find a new, loving home. She previously worked as an intern for literary agent Jill Corcoran of Jill Corcoran Literary Agency, an intern for Entangled Publishing, and an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.

Elizabeth is represented by Kate Schafer Testerman of KT Literary and is a member of SCBWI and RWA.

GIVEAWAY

Elizabeth Briggs is sponsoring a giveaway as part of the tour that includes a signed finished copy of MORE THAN MUSIC, an eBook copy of MORE THAN MUSIC, and a $10 Amazon gift card. All you need to do is to enter through the Rafflecopter. Giveaway is open to everyone. It ends July 20, 2014. MORE THAN MUSIC tour is made possible by the Oops! I Read A Book Again Blog Tours. Follow the rest of the tour here.

Book Stand: Looking For Alaska, Mockingjay Film Updates plus Cover Unveils and Book Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 11:00:00 +0000

BOOK STAND is a blog feature that provides a digest of latest news and information on book releases, book launches, book deals, author sightings, film adaptations and anything else happening behind the world of literature.

AFTER TFIOS AND PAPER TOWNS, COMES LOOKING FOR ALASKA

Fans all over the world have long hoped for the film adaptation of John Green's debut novel, Looking For Alaska. It has been nine years after Paramount acquired the film rights to Looking For Alaska. No developments were announced since then. But John Green announced in his Twitter account that award-winning director Sarah Polley will write the screenplay and direct the film adaptation of Looking For Alaska.

So excited to announce that the brilliant filmmaker Sarah Polley will be writing and directing a film adaptation of Looking for Alaska.
— John Green (@realjohngreen) June 26, 2014

Even with the announcement of a writer and director, everyone are madly excited about it. Looking For Alaska's release date has yet to be announced since it is still under developments.

MOCKINGJAY MOVIE CLIP RELEASED

"Together as one . . . . Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever." That is the daunting concluding statement of President Cornelius Snow (Donald Sutherland) as he addresses the nation of Panem while Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) uncomfortably stands still at his side in this first Mockingjay movie clip revealed on The Capitol's official website, TheCapitol.pn. As though addressing the real Panem, it resembles a televised political attempt to convince the people that no one can stand against The Capitol and President Snow. It also features a stylish President Snow with his white fleece blazer and a stylish Peeta in a white suit jacket against a white background with The Capitol's emblem.

Mockingjay is the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. It's film adaptation, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, is set to release sometime in November 2014. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Jeffrey Wright, Donald Sutherland, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

GAYLE FORMAN'S NEW BOOK, I WAS HERE

Fans of Gayle Forman rejoice after the description for her latest book, I Was Here was released in Goodreads. I Was Here is set for publication in January 27, 2015 by Viking Children's.

Cody and Meg were inseparable.

Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren't anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, and some secrets of his own. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

COVERS UNVEILED
Here is a selection of recent cover reveals of upcoming titles in the young adult literature.

RELEASE DATE. February 15, 2015

PUBLISHER. HarperTeen

SYNOPSIS. There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go.

RELEASE DATE. March 10, 2015
PUBLISHER. Katherine Tegen Books

SYNOPSIS. Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

RELEASE DATE. February 17, 2015

PUBLISHER. HarperTeen

SYNOPSIS. Ever since the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher’s son, sophomore Hallelujah Calhoun has been silent. When the rumors swirled around school, she was silent. When her parents grounded her, she was silent. When her friends abandoned her . . . silent.

Now, six months later, on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains, Hallie still can’t find a voice to answer the taunting. Shame and embarrassment haunt her, while Luke keeps coming up with new ways to humiliate her. Not even meeting Rachel, an outgoing newcomer who isn’t aware of her past, can pull Hallie out of her shell. Being on the defensive for so long has left her raw, and she doesn’t know who to trust.

On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie’s former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to band together.

With past betrayals and harrowing obstacles in their way, Hallie fears they’ll never reach safety. Could speaking up about the night that changed everything close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she traveled too far to come back?

BOOK DEALS

Here is a selection of recent book deals.

Sara Pennypacker

Donna Bray at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has acquired world English rights, at auction, Sara Pennypacker's middle-grade novel, Pax. The novel tells the story of a boy, the fox he rescued, and their struggles to return to each other in the face of war. Sara Pennypacker is the award-winning author of the Clementine and Stuart books. She is represented by Steven Malk at Writers House. Pax is scheduled for winter 2016 publication.

Aimee Friedman at Scholastic Press has acquired Alan Gratz's young adult thriller, Code of Honor. The novel tells the story of a Persian-American high school senior who goes on the run from the Department of Homeland Security to prove that his older brother--an Army Ranger captured by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan--isn't a terrorist. Alan Gratz is the author of Prisoner-B3087. He is represented by Barry Goldblatt of Barry Goldblatt Literary LLC. Code of Honor scheduled for fall 2015 publication.

Jocelyn Davies

Sara Sargent at Simon Pulse has acquired the North American rights, at auction, to Jocelyn Davies' young adult novel, The Odds of Lightning. The novels tells the story of the lives of four teens intersect by chance during a freak thunderstorm in New York City. When they are struck by lightning, they embark on an epic all-nighter to follow their dreams, fall in love, reconcile the past, and ultimately realize they were brought together to help each other break free of everyone else's expectations--including their own. Jocelyn Davies is the author of A Beautiful Dark trilogy. She is represented by Jessica Regel at Foundry Literary + Media. The Odds of Lightning is scheduled for summer 2016 publication.

Laura Shovan

Wendy Lamb at Random House has acquired the North American rights, at auction, Laura Shovan's debut middle-grade novel in verse, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, and another middle-grade novel. The novel follows the story of fifth graders after learning that their school will be torn down and replaced by a supermarket. They take their teacher's 1960s political teachings to heart and fight to save it. Laura Shovan is an award-winning poet. She is represented by Stephen Barbara of Foundry Literary + Media. The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementery is scheduled for spring 2016 publication.

Sarah Landis at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has acquired the world English rights to Cathy Lo's debut young adult novel, This Is How It Ends. The novel tells the story of Jessie who always felt that high school is something she had to survive, until Annie came along. Told through the girls’ alternating points of view, the story tells what can happen when friends choose assumptions and fear over each other. Cathy Lo is represented by Mackenzie Brady at New Leaf Literary. This Is How It Ends is scheduled for spring 2016 publication.

Diane Landolf at Random House has acquired world rights, in a preempt, to Susan Maupin Schmid's One Hundred Dresses in a three-book deal. The novel is set in a fantasy world about a hundred magical dresses in a castle built by dragons, aimed at fans of Gail Carson Levine and Jessica Day George. Susan Maupin Schmid is the author of Lost Time. She is represented by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger. One Hundred Dresses is scheduled for spring 2016 publication.

Zoe Sugg

Jhanteigh Kupihea at Atria has acquired the North American rights to Zoe Sugg's Girl Online in a two-book deal. The novel follows a 15-year-old whose relationship with a handsome American boy is exposed after her private blog is discovered, which Atria called a Notting Hill for teens. Zoe Sugg shot to fame in the U.K. via the video-sharing site YouTube in which her fashion and beauty vlog currently has 4.9 million subscribers. Girl Online is set to be published on November 2014 by Keywords Press, a newly announced imprint that aims to release books by established online personalities. A second book is planned for 2015.

Elizabeth Bewley at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers has acquired the North American rights to Estelle Laure's This Raging Light in a six-figure, two-book deal. The novel follows a teenager and her younger sister as they try to deal with their mother’s sudden disappearance. Things become further complicated when older sister Lucille falls for her best friend’s brother. According to the publisher, it is a luminous portrait of two young girls enduring hardship. Estelle Laure lives in New Mexico and received an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is represented by Emily Van Beek at Folio Literary Management. This Raging Light is scheduled for fall 2015 publication.

Elizabeth Tingue at Razorbill has acquired world rights to Michelle Rowen's new high-fantasy series--A Book of Spirits and Thieves to be the first book--to be written under the pen name Morgan Rhodes, in a three-book deal. The series will be a spin off of her bestselling Falling Kingdoms series that follows two sisters in modern-day Toronto who get their hands on an unreadable book after it’s delivered to their father’s antiquarian bookstore and being sought by a secret society that will stop at nothing to retrieve it. According to the publisher, it provides a portal to a faraway world rich with valuable magic. Michelle Rowen is the author of the Vampire Academy: The Official Guide. She is represented by Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Katelyn Detweiler

Leila Sales at Viking Children's Books has acquired world English rights to Katelyn Detweiler's young adult duology--Immaculate to be the first book. The novel follows a pregnant 17-year-old named Mina who shocks her small Pennsylvania town when she claims that, despite her circumstance, she remains a virgin. The assertion elicits a mix of reactions, with some calling the girl a heretic and others believing she carries the second coming of the Messiah. Katelyn Detweiler is an agent at Jill Grinberg Literary since 2010. She is represented by Jill Grinberg. Immaculate is scheduled for summer 2015 publication.

Liesa Abrams at Simon Pulse has acquired world English rights to Suzanne Young's young adult novel, The Remedy. The novel follows 17-year-old Quinn McKee who has the unusual job of helping grieving families with their loss by playing the role of a recently deceased loved one, working alongside grief counselors. The line between work and life begins to blur, though, when Quinn begins acting the part of the girlfriend whom fellow teenager Isaac has just lost. Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program and The Treatment. She is represented by Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. The Remedy is scheduled for spring 2015 publication.

Namrata Tripathi at Dial Books for Young Readers has acquired North American rights, at auction beating out four other bidders, to Cassie Beasley’s Circus Mirandus, in a two-book deal. Pitched as Peter Pan meets Big Fish, the novel follows a circus that alters the life of a young boy named Micah and his grandfather. When his grandfather becomes sick, he goes in search of the magical circus, and a special performer, that he has only heard about in family stories. What Micah finds is not what he expected. Cassie Beasley lives in Georgia and has an M.F.A. in children’s writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties. Circus Mirandus is scheduled for summer 2015 publication.

Lisa Papademetriou

Kristen Pettit at HarperCollins has acquired North American rights to Lisa Papademetriou’s middle-grade novel, A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic in a six-figure, three-book deal. A fable set in a realistic world, the novel follows an American girl and a Pakistani girl who separately discover a magic book that, when they write in it, connects them to the story of the book’s creation. Lisa Papademetriou is the author of the Confectionately Yours series. She is represented by Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio. A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic is scheduled for 2015 publication.

Jessica MacLeish at HarperCollins Children's Book has acquired world English rights to Lindsey Klingele’s debut young adult novel, The Marked Girl in a three-book deal. The book is about a group of royal teens who are ousted from their Game of Thrones-esque world and dropped in modern-day Los Angeles. There, they befriend a street-smart girl who is torn about helping them find their way home, since she’s fallen for the charming bad-boy prince of the group. Lindsey Klingele is a writers’ assistant on the ABC Family show Twisted. She is represented by Reiko Davis at the Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency.

Sources: Cynthia Hand, Epic Reads, Hypable, Jean Book Nerd, Jodi Meadows, John Green, Publishers Weekly, and Publishing Crawl.

Book Hoards: May 2014 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 12:40:00 +0000

BOOK HOARDS is inspired by the In My Mailbox of The Story Siren. This feature showcases the books I've received, bought or borrowed.

How are you dear readers? Just want to make sure your bookworms are still alive and still kicking in your system. I haven't been reading lately and the bookworms are surely hungry right now--not to mention the lack of reviews. Oh, well, this is life as we know it! Always remember to keep spreading the bookworms and keep sharing its awesomeness!

FOR REVIEW

TEASE by Amanda Maciel

THE TOMB OF SHADOWS by Peter Lerangis

SLEEP NO MORE by Aprilynn Pike

AFTER THE END by Amy Plum

PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG by Anne Blankman

THE THINGS YOU KISS GOODBYE by Leslie Connor

A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES by Soman Chainani

THERE WILL COME A TIME by Carrie Arcos

THE POLARIS UPRISING by Jennifer Ibarra

ESSENCE by Lisa Ann O'Kane

THE GIRL FROM THE WELL by Rin Chupeco

STONE OF DESTINY by Laura Howard

PURCHASED | WON

THE RECKONING by Alma Katsu

IF I SURVIVE by Andrew Klavan

A MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo

POISON STUDY by Maria V. Snyder

MAYBE ONE DAY by Melissa Kantor

TALL STORY by Candy Gourlay

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to HarperCollins International, Simon Pulse, Jennifer Ibarra, Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again, Strange Chemistry, Sourcebooks, Laura Howard, HarperCollins UK and Book Sale.

Blog Tour - Excerpt: The Polaris Uprising by Jennifer Ibarra

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:57:00 +0000

As part of a blog tour hosted by Pinoy Book Tours, Mr. Book Wonder welcomes Young Adult author Jennifer Ibarra who happens to be Filipino, to share an excerpt from her 2013 debut dystopian book, The Polaris Uprising.

RELEASE DATE. October 30, 2013

PUBLISHER. Tiwala Books

PURCHASE. AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

SYNOPSIS. No citizen shall be left behind.

Life in Neress is simple. For nearly four decades, people have known exactly what’s expected of them. Obey the rules, follow the path that’s been laid out, and everything will be provided for: food, shelter, education, safety. No need goes unmet.

But the cost is steep: you lose all rights to make your own choices in life.

In seven years, eighteen-year-old Ryla Jensen will come of age and take over for her father as president of this idyllic nation. Groomed since childhood to take on a role she’s not even sure she wants, Ryla’s only escape from the pressures of duty is her sister, Alanna. But when her eyes are finally opened to the oppressive regime her father built, she begins to question everything she’s set to inherit—and finds herself at odds with her sister’s blind allegiance to their father.

Torn between loyalty to her family and the fight for freedom, Ryla must decide just how far she’s willing to go to make a stand and risk losing the person she loves most in the world: Alanna.

EXCERPT
Sirens blared all the way along Barden road, down the long stretch of highway that connected the center of Meridian City to the compound. Ambulances collected in the runways, which were already clogged with the dozens of fighter jets that had crashed in today’s ill-fated mock raid. Medical personnel streamed out of transports, coming in steady waves to sift through the debris and wreckage strewn all around in the surrounding airfield.

Alanna knew they were hoping to find survivors.

Fire bloomed and raged, taking its anger to the skies. Alanna had seen the blaze from miles away as they approached the downed jets, dreading what kind of damage they’d find at the scene. Firefighters had managed to put it out before any of the rescue teams got there, but smoke still rose from the charred, mangled pieces of aircraft that lay on the ground, scattered haphazardly like a child’s toys after a long session of play.

She thought she might vomit from the stench of burnt acid, her lungs protesting each gulp with a cough. She couldn’t expel the corrupted air from her body soon enough. The grass glistened with splatters of blood, torn bits of clothing. Severed limbs. The instinct to turn away was so strong, but she couldn’t afford to lose her composure. She was here to do her job and make sure people got the care they needed. She couldn’t do that if she let her emotions get the best of her.

But it was hard to keep the panic from mingling with adrenalin when she’d yet to see any sign of Owen among the dozens of people being pulled out from under the smoldering pieces of twisted metal.

PRAISES FOR THE POLARIS RISING

"The morals and relationships are complicated as the two sister protagonists fight for family, love, and a deeper understanding of the world their president/king father has set them up to inherit. Ibarra gives us two sides of familiar and contrasts them against each other to present a thought-provoking, politically savvy whole." — K.M. Weiland, author of Dreamlander and Behold the Dawn

"[Ibarra] blew my socks off, not once but twice." — Buried Under Books

"Pick this up if you enjoy well-written dystopian fiction with strong female characters! You won't regret it." — Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

WEBSITE | TWITTER | TUMBLR | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Jennifer Ibarra grew up on a steady diet of books, Star Wars, and other fantastic feats of the imagination. Her debut novel, THE POLARIS UPRISING, is the first book in a trilogy and mixes dystopia with family drama, romance, and political intrigue.

She lives in Silicon Valley, where she does marketing for a tech company and spends her time running, cooking, baking, and keeping up with celebrity gossip.

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM JENNIFER IBARRA

Cancer has touched all of us in one way or another. Those who have read The Polaris Uprising will know that I dedicated it to my dear friend, Brittanie Siobhan Hanson, whom we lost to stage IV ovarian cancer in 2010. She was only 26 years old. In her memory, I am pledging to donate $1 out of every sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society from now until October 6--the day she was diagnosed with the disease that took her life. Every donation up to $2,000 will be matched by my employer, so your generosity will be doubled. Thank you in advance for helping me in this special cause. With all of us banding together, we can stop this disease from taking any more of our loved ones.

GIVEAWAY

A COPY OF THE POLARIS UPRISING

AN E-COPY OF THE POLARIS UPRISING

To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter.
Giveaway is open to Philippine residents only.
You must be 13 years old or above to enter.
Winners will be notified via email.
Giveaway ends June 22, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 12:32:00 +0000

As part of the tour organized by Pinoy Book Tours, I have the first part of an excerpt from one of the most awaited books of 2014, Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern (published in the UK under the title Amy and Matthew).

RELEASE DATE. June 3, 2014
PUBLISHER. HarperTeen
FIND IT. Amazon |
Goodreads | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

EXCERPT
CHAPTER ONE

Amy’s emails started in late July and kept coming all summer. Each one made Matthew a little more nervous:

---------------------------------------

To: mstheword@gmail.com
From: aimhigh@comcast.net
Re: I’m happy!

I just slipped into my mother’s office to look at the names of my new peer helpers, and I’m so happy! Your name is on the list! I thought maybe I’d scared you by coming right out and asking you to apply. I realize it’s an unusual setup, but try not to think of it as my parents offering to pay people to be my friend. I know there’s something unsettling and prideless in that. I prefer to think of it this way: my parents are paying people to pretend to be my friend. This will be much closer to the truth, I suspect, and I have no problem wit this. I’m guessing that a lot of people in high school are only pretending to be friends, right? It’ll be a start, I figure.

The note made him anxious, but still he wrote her back:

To: aimhigh@comcast.net
From: mstheword@gmail.com
Re: I’m happy!

I don’t mind, Amy. It’s a good job, plus your mother says we might get community service credit.

Best,
Matthew

---------------------------------------

To: mstheword@gmail.com
From: aimhigh@comcast.net
Re: I’m happy!

Community service credit? For a paid job? I’m trying not to take this personally, Matthew, but does the job sound so onerous you should get both money and volunteer credit for doing it?

READ MORE

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Cammie McGovern was born in Evanston, Illinois, but moved to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. She is the author of three adult novels, THE ART OF SEEING, EYE CONTACT, and NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. SAY WHAT YOU WILL is her first novel for young adults. She currently lives in Amherst, MA, with her husband and three sons, the oldest of whom is autistic.

Blog Tour - Author Interview: There Will Come a Time by Carrie Arcos

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Fri, 30 May 2014 16:10:00 +0000

Today on Mr. Book Wonder, as part of a tour organize by Pinoy Book Tours, I have a highly special treat for you dear readers. I was able to get an interview with the award-winning author of Out of Reach, Carrie Arcos for her latest book, There Will Come a Time. Don't miss out her fun interview as well with Dianne from Oops! I Read A Book Again.

ABOUT THE BOOK

RELEASE DATE. April 15, 2014

PUBLISHER. Simon Pulse

PURCHASE. Amazon | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. Mark grapples with the loss of his twin sister in this heart-wrenching novel of grief and resilience from National Book Award finalist Carrie Arcos.

Mark knows grief. Ever since the accident that killed his twin sister, Grace, the only time he feels at peace is when he visits the bridge on which she died. Comfort is fleeting, but it’s almost within reach when he’s standing on the wrong side of the suicide bars. Almost.

Grace’s best friend, Hanna, says she understands what he’s going through. But she doesn’t. She can’t. It’s not just the enormity of his loss. As her twin, Mark should have known Grace as well as he knows himself. Yet when he reads her journal, it’s as if he didn’t know her at all.

As a way to remember Grace, Hanna convinces Mark to complete Grace’s bucket list from her journal. Mark’s sadness, anger, and his growing feelings for Hannah threaten to overwhelm him. But Mark can’t back out. He made a promise to honor Grace—and it’s his one chance to set things right.

INTERVIEW WITH CARRIE ARCOS

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Carrie Arcos is the author OUT OF REACH, which was a National Book Award finalist. THERE WILL COME A TIME is her second novel. She lives in Los Angeles, California with her family.

Before becoming an author, how did you see yourself in the future when you were a kid?

It’s funny, I just found a letter I wrote to my high school English teacher when I was graduating senior year. In it, I said that I wanted to be a writer and a teacher. Well, I was actually a high school teacher and college professor before I became a published writer. So there you go! Is that weird? I accomplished what I wanted to be. Now I have other dreams I’d still like to pursue. And in the writing field, what’s great is that it changes all the time because you’re telling different stories. I’m so grateful to be doing what I've always wanted.

Why did you choose to write about a Filipino character?

I was intentional about that. My original muse for Mark was a former student of mine: Filipino, tatted up, skater, plug wearing, and ripped jeans, musician kind of guy. When I set the story in Eagle Rock, CA that also solidified it for me because it has a high Filipino population. I live in Eagle Rock and many of my neighbors and friends are Filipino, my kids’ friends are Filipino, etc . . . . So I’m very comfortable with the culture, well I should say the American-Filipino culture. I've never been to the Philippines, though I’d love to visit one day.

Did you do a lot of research for There Will Come a Time?

I did some. I interviewed people regarding the Filipino cultural aspects of the book. The book is not about Mark’s cultural identity, but his culture informs him as a character. So I wanted to make sure I got the details right. I also followed a girl around an arts high school for a day. I researched twins and how they grieve the loss of a twin. There is actually a group called Twinless Twins. They offer support online and through groups and have conferences each year.

Do you know any Filipino words?
Salamat - Thank you!
Kumusta - How are you?
Haha. That’s it!

Which of the characters in There Will Come A Time do you most identify with and why?

Mark for sure, although I am so not a seventeen-year-old guy. I didn't realize it at the time, but I channeled some of my own personal grief through Mark. I had lost a friend before I started writing the book to suicide and I think writing a book was a way I worked through that.

The second person is Jenny. I put a little of myself into her, especially the Italian, Keanu Reeves loving part.

Are there any issues related to adolescence that you are particularly passionate about?

I don’t know about any specific issues per say, but I’m very passionate about teens themselves. I loved being a high school teacher and the influence I was able to have with young people. I think ultimately when I write that I hope they see themselves reflected in the pages and that the words always lead them to hope. There’s so much darkness, so much struggle, and we need to go through it. I want them to know they’ll make it though.

What would be one best song to describe There Will Come a Time?

I don’t really know of one song, but I did have Out on the Town by Fun on repeat a lot. I think that one captures the whole Mark/Hanna thing going on in the book.

What would you like your readers to remember from There Will Come a Time?
That even when you go through the most devastating loss, you will find hope again, you will find love, you will live and it’s okay not to feel guilty about that.

What advice can you give to aspiring authors?

Read. Read. Read. Write. Write. Write. You will experience failure at every turn. You will experience success in least expected places. Plant your feet, but be ready to bolt. Go out and get rejected ten times and work through that rejection. And then repeat. You’ll need to get your strength up. And courage. Always courage.

What is next for Carrie Arcos?
Oh man, I don’t know. I’m writing, that’s for sure. I have another YA contemporary that’ll hopefully be published one day. I’d just like to keep writing stories. I hope I keep getting better with each one and that they continue to touch the people that read them.

GIVEAWAY

2 SIGNED COPIES OF THERE WILL COME A TIME

To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter.
Giveaway is open to Philippine residents only.
You must be 13 years old or above to enter.
Winners will be notified via email.
Giveaway ends June 15, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Finds: Falling Into Place & The Young World

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 07 May 2014 05:00:00 +0000

BOOK FINDS is a regular feature that spotlights upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to read.

FALLING INTO PLACE by AMY ZHANG
RELEASE DATE. September 9, 2014

PUBLISHER. Greenwillow Books

SYNOPSIS. On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn't understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn't understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR FALLING INTO PLACE? I've known Amy Zhang for quite sometime through a writer friend, like I've been following her writing journey since I saw the news of her getting the deal. The book was untitled but I was sold by it's premise which went like this: "about a teen girl who commits suicide, told from the perspective of her neglected childhood imaginary friend." And she's only seventeen when she got the deal! Such genius girl!

THE YOUNG WORLD by CHRIS WEITZ
SERIES. The Young World
RELEASE DATE. July 29, 2014
PUBLISHER. Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

SYNOPSIS. Welcome to New York, a city ruled by teens.

After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos. But when another tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure to the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip to save humankind.

The tribe exchanges gunfire with enemy gangs, escapes cults and militias, braves the wilds of the subway and Central Park . . . and discovers truths they could never have imagined.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR THE YOUNG WORLD? The premise of The Young World does sound familiar and yet I couldn't keep my eyes away from the cover. And I expect a lot of action-packed scenes here. Hopefully, this won't disappoint.

What books are you looking forward to read? Share your thoughts below.

Blog Tour - Excerpt and Giveaway: Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Sat, 03 May 2014 12:05:00 +0000

For today's stop for Elizabeth Fama's Plus One blog tour hosted by Oops! I Read Again, I'm sharing to you an excerpt from Plus One. And don't lose the chance of joining the raffle for a copy of the book!

ABOUT THE BOOK

RELEASE DATE. April 8, 2014

PUBLISHER. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
PURCHASE. Amazon

SYNOPSIS. Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.

EXCERPT

Stardust

One night when I was still a freshman I came to class and there was a new drawing on the desk: an exquisitely rendered human heart. It was not the kind of heart that little kids draw and cut out to make valentines, with two plump cheeks at the top and a pointy V at the bottom. It was an anatomically perfect sketch, tipped slightly as real hearts are, showing the aorta, the pulmonary artery and veins, and the vena cava—although I wouldn’t have remembered the location of any of those if they hadn’t been carefully labeled. My desk partner had drawn the heart as if it had been sliced almost all the way in two by a sharp knife, which was no small feat since the drawing was three-dimensional and looked like real muscle tissue. Below it was a poem. But it wasn’t one I would have ridiculed, or forced Poppu to dissect to expose its pretentiousness. It was raw, an open wound, and it brought tears to my eyes.

I am empty
I am released from a ship
In space
I am unmoored
Vast nothingness
Aching for what was lost
Wanting what will never be
And suddenly
The after-moment of now versus then
The paradigm shift
The world in too sharp relief
The past and future overlap
In front of my eyes
Death and life
Love and its mysterious absence
A knowledge
I am not a player
I am a spectator

I read it again and again until I had it by heart. I heard nothing my teacher said the entire period, not a word. I had no com-fort to offer my friend, even though it’s what I most wanted to do, and in that way I felt an impotence that matched the tone of the poem itself.

A worry forced its way into my mind. Was it a girl he was talking about? Wasn’t that a broken heart he had drawn? Had he fallen in love with someone? Wanting what was lost. Love and its mysterious absence.

I felt socked in the chest, and I didn’t know why. He was the equivalent of a pen pal, after all; a confidant at most. Nothing had changed: if our paths crossed in the hall I still wouldn’t recognize him. If he saw me, I would seem a stranger. He wouldn’t wrap his arms around me, his beloved friend.

The bell rang, and every other student got up to leave, scraping chairs, laughing, stuffing books in backpacks, drop-ping papers. My time to help him was up, and I felt a rising panic that I would fail him.

I was no poet, I had no right to even try. But I hastily added these four lines, and I left the room without allowing myself to reconsider.

Powerless
But for the stardust
Unknowing
I trail through her heart

WEBSITE | TWITTER | TUMBLR | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Elizabeth Fama is the author of PLUS ONE, MONSTROUS BEAUTY, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection and Odyssey Award honor winner, and OVERBOARD, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, Inc.

GIVEAWAY

A COPY OF PLUS ONE

To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter.
Giveaway is open to everyone.
You must be 13 years old or above to enter.
Winners will be notified via email.
Giveaway ends May 8, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOLLOW THE PLUS ONE BLOG TOUR

Book Review: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Thu, 01 May 2014 07:03:00 +0000

RELEASE DATE. February 14, 2014

PUBLISHER. HarperTeen

PAGES. 384

FORMAT. ARC

AGE GROUP. Young Adult

GENRE/S. Contemporary

FIND IT. Amazon | Goodreads | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. Critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship, the agony of loss, and the unique experience of being a teenager in this poignant new novel about a girl grappling with her best friend's life-threatening illness.

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might not be something that is actually happening to you. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe's unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

THOUGHTS. It’s nearly impossible and nearly hopeless to write the proper words after reading a good book, that your mind becomes . . . unstable and incoherent, almost to the point of leaving you . . . clinically dead. But experiencing Maybe One Day is worth the momentary emotional instability and mental incoherency.

Following a similar path to John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars, Maybe One Day is another dramatic prose about dealing with cancer. Somehow, it isn't centered on a love story but built on a foundation of friendship. It’s refreshing to see another side of the story and learn how other people deal with the ordeals of cancer. As expected, Maybe One Day is a tough book to read—a challenge even. You don’t know how many times I had to stop reading the book due to the intensity of emotions reflected by this book. The story is too engaging and too honest, almost powerful enough to make you believe in the story’s and the characters’ existence. Kantor can turn a heavy subject matter into something remarkably readable allowing readers, both who have and haven’t encountered such ordeals, to easily establish a relationship with the story and form a bond with its characters.

It’s impossible to tear away from a book especially when it features some of the best characters you’ve seen in such a long time. Zoe and Olivia are the characters that brought in a gamut of emotions in me. Their story isn’t your average story of friendship, sharing secrets, exchanging clothes, or fighting over boys. Actually, it’s indescribable. At its simplest, omit your own knowledge about the word perfect because perfect would be the only word to describe their friendship, in a sense that amidst the terminal illness that had struck in between them and how it change them and their lives, they remain intact. It’s both awe-inspiring and a struggle to see how they brave and battle the inevitable together. There isn’t a page that doesn’t radiate the love they have with each other. Zoe and Olivia want to teach us that there is a greater force other than the powerful force of fate and that is the immense power of friendship and love.

As we journey along with Zoe and Olivia, we also get to know other significant characters along the way, characters that didn’t only strengthened the arc of the story but provided other faces in the battle. Their authenticity as characters, their relationships, their reactions, their simple actions, their sincere words, meliorates the entirety of the story but didn’t overpower the core strength of the story. You could only wish for Kantor to write more scenes with these characters (I need more Zoe and Calvin moments). Despite how minor their scenes were, in some ways, they made an immense impact not only to the lives of Zoe and Olivia but to me as well. Oh, if only I can leap inside the story to rip them out from these pages of heartbreaking sadness!

The reasons I read books in the contemporary genre are the simple reality, the profound depth and the stellar emotions that they emit. In reading Maybe One Day, I found myself treated to a tragic story but it should be emphasized that this is also a story of hope; hope that kept me riffling through the pages. I've never read previous works by Kantor but I suppose Maybe One Day would be her greatest work yet.

With boldness and rawness, Melissa Kantor’s Maybe One Day is a beautiful and unforgettable masterpiece, another important story that tackles on almost every aspect of adolescence in the face of a powerful ordeal. But for the most part, it is the outstanding portrayal of the immense power of true friendship amidst the far-reaching impact of cancer that sets this book apart. I couldn’t stressed more how profound my love for this book, and sometimes I think there should be more. To those having second thoughts, you need only to be brave to experience this powerful story.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Melissa Kantor is the author of CONFESSIONS OF A NOT IT GIRL, an ALA Booklist Best Romance Novel for Youth in 2004; IF I HAVE A WICKED STEPMOTHER, WHERE'S MY PRINCE?, a YALSA Teens Top Ten Pick in 2006; THE BREAKUP BIBLE, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults nominee in 2007; and GIRLFRIEND MATERIAL. She is a teacher in Brooklyn, New York, where she lives with her family.

Maybe One Day is now available in National Book Store and Powerbooks. Shop online and buy eBooks at nationalbookstore.com. Follow National Book Store on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@nbsalert) for updates on the latest events, promos and contests.

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 12:24:00 +0000

RELEASE DATE. January 10, 2012

PUBLISHER. Dutton Books

PAGES. 318

FORMAT. Hardcover

AGE GROUP. Young Adult

GENRE/S. Contemporary Romance

FIND IT. Amazon | Goodreads | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS. Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault In Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

THOUGHTS. John Green has already established himself in the world of literature. He made us cry the first time in Looking For Alaska. He followed it up with Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns. We fell in love and forever will fall in love with all of his characters. In his most recent book, The Fault In Our Stars is a reminiscent of the brilliance of each of his previous works. But for the most part, The Fault In Our Stars fairly reminds me of Looking For Alaska

Losing someone has an immeasurable emotional weight and the weight of it depends on the situation, on our relationship with them, and on how we can cope with it. Looking For Alaska and The Fault In Our Stars both addresses the matter of death and how it impacts life and the people in between. In Looking For Alaska, Green brought us into the life of Miles Halter and how a sudden devastating loss affected him and how he endured the loss. In the part of the reader, it was truly a devastating and emotionally intense book. A different weight of emotions was bore in The Fault In Our Stars. Unlike Miles Halter, Hazel Grace Lancaster was given the opportunity of time to fall in love and prepare for the inevitable. The inevitability of death was ever-present in the story that readers were being given the idea and were being prepared for what’s bound to happen. When it came, the impact of death was less affecting and it’s not enough to be powerfully depressing unlike Looking For Alaska. But that is something to be considered in this kind of book. Actually, it was very surprising that it was not at all seriously depressing—or even excessively happy. With a theme that is quite sensitive, The Fault In Our Stars might be taken as a heavy drama which obviously (and thankfully) is not. Green manages to balance his writing knowledge without sacrificing his familiar offbeat voice to create a soundproof genuine story that will not only resonate to readers who can relate with the story but to every individual as well who wish to encounter the story.

It is impossible—hardly impossible—for a John Green book to be called a John Green book without its characters. The characters who brought us the tears and joy and hate and love (and a film adaptation). Who would ever forget Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters? Not me and not in a million years. Hazel reminds me of Miles Halter. While Miles had an obsession with famous last words, Hazel had been curious on what befall on the characters on her favorite book. She has the same sarcastic wit and thought-provoking articulation of Miles. Her voice is flawlessly believable to the extent that you almost won’t believe that a man wrote the book. Despite the fragility inside of her, she remains real to herself and everybody. If she’s weak, she’s weak. If she’s strong, she’s strong. Hazel is a living, breathing person who knows when to let go. Sometimes, I find Hazel to be too smart for her age but I love smart people and I love being surrounded by them. Besides, Green loves to write about smart people and in return makes his readers feel smart too.

It’s a different story for Augustus Waters. Augustus’s brightness is comparable with Alaska Young’s. While Alaska couldn’t live without cigarettes, Augustus had a metaphorical way of using cigarettes. Augustus is a rather complicated character but in an exceedingly good way. His character actually defies description. Let’s put it this way, when Augustus starts talking, you simply don’t want him to stop and you could listen to him all day. Although this is Hazel's narration, his character shines luminously throughout the pages.

Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters are two inevitable, endearing and extraordinary fictional figures. Theirs is not a tragic story but a genuinely beautiful heartbreaking story. Sometimes it’s hard not to think that their story is true because you know they are a result of a creative mind like John Green but then again, your mind insists it’s real and your mind insists to believe. Good thing they aren't because it gives me the reason to go back for more. Although I was truly hoping that Hazel and Isaac would end up together and although Green ended the book like An Imperial Affliction, I will always go back for Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters because that's how I dearly love them.

The Fault In Our Stars is one of the most important stories of this generation. Even before the film adaptation, it already felt cinematic on its own white pages and black ink. I couldn't be happier and more privilege than to be part of that generation. Perhaps, without The Fault In Our Stars, it would be an incomplete generation because The Fault In Our Stars, along with other important books, started a revolution and a burning desire to read. It is only right to send our heartfelt gratitude to every author who continues to expand realms into infinities, who continues to make us believe in the impossible, and who keeps molding us into better persons.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. John Green is an award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author whose many accolades include the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. He has twice been a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. With his brother, Hank, John is one-half of the Vlog brothers, one of the most popular online video projects in the world. John lives with his family in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Book Finds: The Iron Trial & Of Scars and Stardust

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:39:00 +0000

BOOK FINDS is a regular feature that spotlights upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to read.

THE IRON TRIAL by HOLLY BLACK & CASSANDRA CLARE

SERIES. Magisterium

RELEASE DATE. September 9, 2014

PUBLISHER. Scholastic Press

SYNOPSIS. From New York Times bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.

A dazzling and magical middle-grade collaboration centering on the students of the Magisterium, an academy for those with a propensity toward magic. In this first book, a new student comes to the Magisterium against his will--is it because he is destined to be a powerful magician, or is the truth more twisted than that? It's a journey that will thrill you, surprise you, and make you wonder about the clear-cut distinction usually made between good and evil.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR THE IRON TRIAL? I am such a die-hard fan of Cassandra Clare that any book she writes is a must-read for me. And just look how her first non-Shadowhunter series resembles that of the Harry Potter series--though it really doesn't matter to me if it sounds as the Harry Potter series or any other fantasy series. As long as there are wizards, witches, and magic involve, count me in! If you're still not convinced, you can read an exclusive excerpt from USA Today.

OF SCARS AND STARDUST by ANDREA HANNAH
RELEASE DATE. October 8, 2014
PUBLISHER. Flux

SYNOPSIS. After her little sister mysteriously vanishes, seventeen-year-old Claire Graham has a choice to make: stay snug in her little corner of Manhattan with her dropout boyfriend, or go back to Ohio to face the hometown tragedy she's been dying to leave behind.

But the memories of that night still haunt her in the city, and as hard as she tries to forget what her psychiatrist calls her "delusions," Claire can't seem to escape the wolf's eyes or the blood-speckled snow. Delusion or reality, Claire knows she has to hold true to the most important promise she's ever made: to keep Ella safe. She must return to her sleepy hometown in order to find Ella and keep her hallucinations at bay before they strike again. But time is quickly running out, and as Ella's trail grows fainter, the wolves are becoming startlingly real.

Now Claire must deal with her attraction to Grant, the soft-spoken boy from her past that may hold the secret to solving her sister's disappearance, while following the clues that Ella left for only her to find. Through a series of cryptic diary entries, Claire must unlock the keys to Ella's past—and her own—in order to stop another tragedy in the making, while realizing that not all things that are lost are meant to be found.

WHY I'M WAITING FOR OF SCARS AND STARDUST? Seriously, just look at that cover! It's so simple yet so dramatic and I think it does capture the story well. Based on what I've heard about this book, it will make you cry. Literally make you cry! I surely hope this will live up to my expectations since I am into this kind of stories. Something that will break the heart. Something that is tragic. Oh, I badly need this book!

What books are you looking forward to read? Share your thoughts below.

Cover Unveil: Sleeping Jenny by Aubrie Dionne plus Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 09:21:00 +0000

RELEASE DATE. TBA

PUBLISHER. Spencer Hill Press

FIND IT. Goodreads

SYNOPSIS. As the daughter of multimillionaires, Jennifer has everything she's ever needed, except time. Diagnosed with a form of incurable cancer, she has only months to live, and her dreams of working for National Geographic to save African elephants and polar bears are shattered. Her only hope is an experimental cryogenic freezing program, which will keep her in stasis until doctors can find a cure. The cure comes three hundred years too late, and she wakes to a futuristic world where animals are all but forgotten.

Descendants of her brother adopt her, and she's thrown back into high school. Exara, the class beauty, calls Jenny the Neanderthal girl, and she becomes more of a sideshow than a member of the senior class. Only Exara's gorgeous boyfriend, Maxim sympathizes with her. Her developing feelings for Maxim are only the beginning of her problems. There aren't any more animals to save, so Jenny involves herself with a rebel group called the Timesurfers, explorers searching the galaxy for another planet to inhabit to clone long-dead animal species. Soon, she must choose between her blossoming feelings for Maxim and her lifelong dream.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over again until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation, and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.

Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be "A concert flutist" when she grew up. When she made that happen, she decided one career was not enough and embarked as a fantasy, sci-fi author. Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.

GIVEAWAY

Aubrie Dionne has offered to give away A PAIR OF FRANSESCA'S AQUAMARINE EARRINGS to one lucky reader. To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter. Giveaway is open to US residents only. You must be 13 years old or above to enter. Winner will be notified via email. Giveaway ends April 8, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think of the cover?

Cover Unveil: A Vault of Sins by Sarah Harian

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 06:51:00 +0000

I am elated to be part of this reveal for the much anticipated sequel to the Chaos Theory series which is as stunning as that of it's first book! I've been hearing a lot of mixed reviews about The Wicked We Have Done and I really can't wait to get a hold on this book. Plus, the Chaos Theory books have been classified as New Adult books that thankfully doesn't fall into the tropes of New Adult. Without anything else to do, here is the much awaited cover for A Vault of Sins.

SERIES. Chaos Theory

RELEASE DATE. September, 2014

PUBLISHER. Penguin/InterMix Books

FIND IT. Amazon | Goodreads

SYNOPSIS. In her stunning New Adult debut, The Wicked We Have Done, Sarah Harian introduced readers to the Compass Room: a twisted experimental jail where the guilty and the innocent suffer alike. But breaking out was only the beginning . . .

Even though she’s escaped, twenty-two-year-old Evalyn Ibarra is anything but free. She’s desperate to return to a life that no longer exists, but prying reporters continually draw her back into nightmarish memories, using the tabloids to vilify her. Bad press is the last thing she needs during the trial of the year: the case that she and her fellow survivors staked against the Compass Room engineers. A case that could terminate the use of the inhumane system forever . . .

But in her dreams, she is still locked in that terrifying jail.

When she wakes, someone is trying to communicate with her in secret, through strange and intricate clues. As Evalyn follows their signs, she uncovers a conspiracy that goes so much deeper than her own ordeal. A dangerous intrigue that only she can bring to light. One that will force her to work with the one person she doesn’t want to see.

The person who owns her heart . . .

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Sarah Harian grew up in the foothills of Yosemite and received her B.A. and M.F.A. from Fresno State University. When not writing, she is usually hiking some mountain or another in the Sierras, playing video games with her husband, or rough-housing with her dog.

OTHER BOOK/S IN THE SERIES

RELEASE DATE. March 18, 2014

FIND IT. Goodreads

SYNOPSIS. Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice.

If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent.

Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random.

She doesn’t plan on making friends.

She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either.

Book Hoards: March 2014 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:05:00 +0000

Book Hoards is inspired by the In My Mailbox of The Story Siren. This feature showcases the books I’ve received, bought or borrowed.

Due to my unintentional negligence to this blog, I wasn't able to post anything for several months that left it dormant for infinity. It's really hard to keep up with everything when you're absolute life is not doing well. That even when you try to come back, no matter how reliable or creative your brain is, not a single drop of words, thoughts or images will leak out. Only oblivion.

Well, today is different. A huge chunk of difference (you might've perceived the difference already). Blogger is my new home now. I made the switch last month and I'm very much elated with my decision. With this switch, I'm not only hoping to get more followers and readers but I'm hoping too of knowing and meeting more friends to fanboy books with me and I'm beginning by sharing these books I got during the blog's long period of hiatus (and warn you, there are lots of them). You might also want to check out my Instagram account as I post lots of photos of books there.

FOR REVIEW

It's truly a humbling and unforgettable experience every time a box of books is delivered on your doorsteps without you knowing. I just want to stress out how awesome and thankful I am to every single person working behind in perfecting the magical and dangerous fictional worlds every reader dreams to travel. You know who you are!

ELUSION by by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

MAYBE ONE DAY by Melissa Kantor

HER DARK CURIOSITY by Megan Shepherd

DREAMER, WISHER, LIAR by Charise Miracle Harper

RUINS by Dan Wells

LOST IN BABYLON by Peter Lerangis

FAKING NORMAL by Courtney C. Stevens

FROZEN by Erin Bowman

SEA OF SHADOWS by Kelly Armstrong

THE RITHMATIST by Brandon Sanderson

STORMDANCER by Jay Kristoff

ANTIGODDESS by Kendare Blake

SOLSTICE by P. J. Hoover

UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody

EXTREMITIES: STORIES OF DEATH, MURDER, AND REVENGE by David Lubar

CINDER by Marissa Meyer

SCARLET by Marissa Meyer

SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo

SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo

TEMPEST by Julie Cross

VORTEX by Julie Cross

THE HUNT by Andrew Fukuda

THE PREY by Andrew Fukuda

INSURGENT by Veronica Roth

ALLEGIANT by Veronica Roth

THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass

THE ELITE by Kiera Cass

THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING by Robyn Schneider

OF MONSTERS AND MADNESS by Jessica Verday

TABULA RASA by Kristen Lippert-Martin

GET HAPPY by Mary Amato

DARK DAYS by Kate Ormand

IN THE END by Demitria Lunetta

PURCHASED

WICKED by Gregory Maguire

SCRAPPED PRINCESS: A TALE OF DESTINY by Ichiro Sakaki

ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin

FLYAWAY by Lucy Christopher

BOG CHILD by Siobhan Dowd

LOST IN TIME by Melissa De La Cruz

THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith

THE ALCHEMY OF FOREVER by Avery Williams

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

I was also able to attend a book signing event sponsored by National Book Store where I got to meet and hug Gayle Forman, author of the international bestselling books, If I Stay, Where She Went, Just One Day and Just One Year.

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman

WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman

JUST ONE DAY by Gayle Forman

JUST ONE YEAR by Gayle Forman

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN by J. K. Rowling

PRETTY DEAD by Fransesca Lia Block

BREAKTIME by Aidan Chambers

GRACE by Elizabeth Scott

THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES by Carrie Ryan

SHINE by Lauren Myracle

ASH by Malinda Lo

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

THE THINGS A BROTHER KNOWS by Dana Reinhardt

GLIMPSE by Carol Lynch Williams

THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo

DEPARTMENT 19 by Will Hill

IN HONOR by

THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST by Emily M. Danforth

PASSION by Lauren Kate

INTERIM GODDESS OF LOVE by Mina V. Esguerra

QUEEN OF THE CLUELESS by Mina V. Esguerra

ICON OF THE INDECISIVE by Mina V. Esguerra

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to Egmont USA, HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan Asia, Sky Pony Press, Tor Books, National Book Store, Gayle Forman, Book Sale, and Mina V. Esguerra

Book Chat: The Art of Disappearing by Elena Perez

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 02:43:00 +0000

Today's book chat is with Elena Perez author of a young adult contemporary mystery book, The Art of Disappearing to tell us more about this seductively alluring literary work of hers.

RELEASE DATE. July 17, 2012

PUBLISHER. Alloy Entertainment

SYNOPSIS. Delia can see the future … but can she change it?

All Delia wants is to be popular. She has the perfect plan: join the cheerleading squad with her best friend, Ava, and rule the school from the coolest table in the cafeteria. But everything changes the day she watches a boy die—before it actually happens.

After dreaming about a classmate’s demise, she’s shocked when she witnesses his last breath—just like she dreamed it. Ava insists Delia stop acting so strange, but Delia worries her abilities are beyond her control.

Torn between who she is and who she wants to be, Delia wishes she could simply disappear. She doesn’t get her wish, but when someone close to her vanishes, Delia must use her gift to solve the mystery, before it’s too late.

EXCERPT

BOOK CHAT WITH ELENA PEREZ

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Born and raised in New Jersey, Elena Perez discovered a love for writing early on and was often crafting poems and stories. The author went on to major in English as an undergraduate and was then awarded a graduate fellowship in Creative Writing from Temple University. Today Elena lives and writes on NYC’s Lower East Side with her boyfriend (also a writer) and her dog (who prefers naps to writing).

Why did you write The Art of Disappearing?

Well, there’s the simple, kind of cliché fact that I feel like I have to write as, well, an extension of breathing. So that had something to do with it! But I decided to write a novel—and particularly this novel—in a moment of clarity I had 38,000 feet in the air. (Yes, I was in an airplane.) I had been considering my history as a writer and while I had spent time in so many genres, including poetry, short stories, short film and lyrics, I realized I hadn’t yet written a novel. It was always part of the plan, but I had put it off because I was . . . scared.

As I’m staring out at the wing of the airplane, it’s sinking in that writing a novel would be a truly terrifying pursuit and that if I tried to do it and failed, I would no doubt hate myself forever and maybe even never write again. (Nothing like keeping the stakes low!)

The characters began as loosely based on my friends, but there’s not much of them left by the time you get to a final, published book. Still—they’re in there. It’s always fun to listen to them debate which one of them is which character in my books!

So I decided I better get started immediately. And I did, right there on the plane.

Of course everything I wrote during that flight was fairly horrible and didn’t make the cut for the final project. But you have to start somewhere, right?

Elena, in writing The Art of Disappearing, where did you start? Where did you find inspiration for the characters or the story?

The first thing I had to work with in The Art of Disappearing, besides complete trepidation, was Delia Dark, the protagonist. Her name came to me in an instant and in that same instant I knew who she was: a young girl trying to find her path but struggling with a blurry and maybe misplaced identity. I knew she started out in a comfortable place—isn’t that usually the moment life throws its curves at us? And I knew that something major would happen to force her to look more deeply into her own identity. That something turned out to be two things—the witnessing of her classmate’s death and the realization that she dreamed about it the night before. I had to make sure her world was totally shaken up.

Because so much of The Art of Disappearing is about a girl figuring out who she is, the other characters emerged based on their position in the same journey. For example, Ava, Delia’s best friend, seems to know herself all too well. She has a plan to be a star cheerleader and she is so vigilant about it that she drags Delia along for the ride—or tries to, at least, until things fall completely apart. Trisha, the other friend in their trio, is more like Delia; she seems to be satisfied with tagging along with Ava but, when Delia goes off course, so does Trish. It’s like there’s a ripple effect of change that’s triggered by that one terribly tragic moment in the beginning.

Did you do a lot of research for this book?

The cool thing about writing about a psychic means that every time in my life that I had ever visited one suddenly qualifies as research. But one day in particular, when I had smashed into a merciless creative roadblock, I came across a reader in the East Village with a $5 dollar special. I stepped into that small little room with the small little table with tarot cards and crystals and a woman came out from behind a curtain. I was just a typical interruption as she kept house and cared for her kids. She instantly gave me the hard sell for the more expensive reading and was disgruntled when I stuck to the $5 special . . . . Of course, if you've read The Art of Disappearing, you might recognize some of this. My experience wasn't as eventful as Delia’s visit to Linda, but when I got back to my machine, the words started flowing again.

What is it like being a novelist?

Well, first—I absolutely love that I get to answer that question! As I mentioned before, I had always planned to write novels so having achieved such a specific life goal makes me really, really happy. But that lasts for a few seconds and then it’s time to think about the next steps in my current project. That’s the work part of a novelist—you are your own source of discipline, so you have to do whatever you can to keep yourself focused.

But by far the best thing about a writer is being able to connect readers. As a teenager, I always had a novel in hand and even got up early so I could get some reading time in before school started. I seriously devoured books like some crazy-hungry bookworm, always looking out for the next great escape. Now I aspire to provide that same kind of nourishment for other hungry readers. And when I hear from someone who connected with The Art of Disappearing, I kind of explode inside. But in a good way, you know? With happiness.

Who are your favorite contemporary YA authors and why?

My favorite list is always changing as it’s built from the books I most recently enjoyed.

For instance, I read Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park this summer and it blew my mind. There’s something so exceptionally fresh in her approach—she captured a rawness of relationships in a way that had me clinging to every word. I’m so looking forward to reading more of her work.

Another great was Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. I don’t really think of myself as a historical fiction fan, but yet I keep finding myself drawn to this time period. And Wein’s story about a young female spy in World War II had me hooked. It’s suspenseful and she gives us a unique, realistic take on what is a really wonderful trend of strong female characters. And the level of detail that Wein brought to the story is phenomenal.

Which of the characters in The Art of Disappearing do you most identify with and why?

Delia Dark, for sure. Sometimes I think I remember that period of life, that fourteen-going-on-ugh days, better than I remember last week. The story is certainly not autobiographical—and not just because I don’t think I’m psychic. But I can relate to the moment where you suddenly discover that you aren’t who you thought you might be, before you necessarily understand who you actually are. I think a lot of people can, though. Isn’t it kind of what happens when you’re growing up?

Which of the characters in The Art of Disappearing do you least identify with and why?

It would have to be Delia’s cousin Zach. Zach looks the way he wants to look, he listens to what he wants to listen to, he pursues knowledge beyond what’s given to him. He isn’t the type of person who will lose sleep thinking about who he is or how other people think about him. He’s very different from Delia in that he’s ‘science guy’ and Delia is driven more by emotion. Zach is probably the most level-headed character in all of The Art of Disappearing, and that includes the adults. I wish I were more like him.

Are there any issues related to adolescence that you are particularly passionate about? Are those issues addressed in The Art of Disappearing?

There’s a ton of emphasis on romance in YA, but I think equally—if not more—important are the relationships between friends. When you’re younger, you don’t really get to decide who you go to school with or where you live, so in many ways your choices of friends can be very limited. At the same time, it’s a critical time to build connections with people that have similar interests and can help lay the foundation for a strong and happy life. So, I think it’s safe to say that I think a lot about the role of friendship in these formative years. Delia’s story is interesting to me because she starts out on what is essentially the wrong path—she isn't really meant to be a cheerleader or dwell in someone else’s shadow (Ava). Ultimately, she’s forced off the path because of who she is, deep down inside, even if she doesn't realize it yet.

Another element is the importance of self-expression—as Delia’s world falls apart, she finds solace in her illustration. Creative pursuits—whether it’s writing, illustration, producing music, film, apps, etc.—can be such an important survival tool in adolescence and well beyond those years. It’s imperative that kids get the support they need to discover and connect with their own creative outlets.

Can fans of The Art of Disappearing expect to see Delia Dark again in a future book?

Hopefully! I’m working on a different project now, but I’d love to hear from readers that want to find out what happens next for Delia Dark. I can be reached via my website or on Twitter.

Book Review: The Beautiful and The Cursed by Page Morgan

noreply@blogger.com (Von Peralta) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 05:25:00 +0000

SERIES. The Dispossessed

RELEASE DATE. May 2, 2013

PUBLISHER. Hot Key Books

PAGES. 343

FORMAT. Paperback

AGE GROUP. Young Adult

GENRE/S. Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Supernatural

FIND IT. Amazon | Goodreads

SYNOPSIS. Ingrid Waverley is a young woman to be reckoned with. Faced with her brother’s mysterious disappearance after an abrupt move to Paris, she is determined to discover what has happened to him. Soon she and her sister Gabriella are drawn into a Parisian underworld more terrifying than they could ever have imagined, but watching over them are two impossible (and impossibly handsome) young men. Luc is a Dispossessed, an ancient gargoyle whose sworn duty is to protect the humans who inhabit his abbey. Nolan has secrets of his own too. He is a member of the Alliance—a shadowy group dedicated to keeping Paris safe from the demonic forces that threaten to destroy it.

Secrets, danger and hidden powers stalk the girls in this beautifully imagined paranormal romance that will keep readers gripped from beginning to end—and one thing is for sure—you’ll never look at a gargoyle in the same way again . . .

THOUGHTS. In the remarkably vast sea of otherworldly beings; angels, demons, fays, mermaids, reapers, werewolves, warlocks, witches, vampires and anything else you call otherworldly, it is quite impossible to cling on one kind alone as each presents its own fascinating mythology, origin, and story. But overtime, due to their popularity and appeal, they have become overused subjects to the extent of becoming tedious and sometimes turn out as failures. Thank God for bright authors like Page Morgan because The Beautiful and The Cursed marks the beginning of, somewhat, an evolution of the supernatural genre with her introduction of gargoyles into the realm of fiction.

We have known gargoyles as simply stone-carved ornaments, embodying hideous figures of human bodies with animal heads and wings, found mostly in abbeys, churches, cathedrals or sometimes in old mansions. In The Beautiful and The Cursed, Morgan diverges us from that common knowledge and welcomes us with a fresh and original concept. With her brilliant use of her creativity and imagination, Morgan has brought these terrifying stone figures to life with an impressive and intriguing mythology. We are introduced to a whole new world of gargoyles literally flying over at night, of gargoyles transforming into beautifully tortured humans, and of gargoyles who think, feel, and even fall in love. Probably, many have tried to bring these creatures to life but Morgan’s is highly a standout.

Morgan’s breadth of ingenuity doesn’t cease on gargoyles alone. Along with the idea of gargoyles, Morgan aptly incorporated familiar elements of angel lore, demonology, and a secret society; the way she brought them out was most certainly a surprising delight. Though there were foreboding signs, the great foreshadowing of Morgan ultimately paved way leaving me openmouthed. Without being too complex, they effectively (and significantly) aided in the creation and existence of gargoyles.

As we become absorb in the enthralling underworld of gargoyles, angels, and demons, we become aware of the setting upon which the events unfold. Set in the nineteenth-century Paris, France, The Beautiful and The Cursed captures that time compellingly. Despite with my ignorance of the country, I could easily navigate my mind through the Parisian rues and alleys of Latin Quarter, unto the tall spires of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and back to the rooms of L’Abbaye Saint-Dismas, because of Morgan’s lush and alluring and sometimes fear-inducing descriptions. It was like traveling and discovering a whole new world all at the same time without leaving the confines of your humble abode.

While the novel encompasses multiple characters, the distinct personalities and clever dialogues of each of the characters practically leap off the pages. Even with their refined demeanors as classic men and women, they are easily relatable and highly likeable; they too can be reckless, liberate, and unreasonable given with their circumstances and all. But beyond all of it, the twistedly intense (and at times comic) relationships and the uncontrollable passionate interests of each of the characters were the reason for my great amusement. Even, it’s hard to name a favorite character because each one is unforgettable and stood out in their own way.

At closely three hundred fifty pages, The Beautiful and The Cursed is one book that you can experience all the new things at once: a deeply imaginative plot about gargoyles, an atmospheric historical Paris, and a refreshingly vibrant set of beautifully tortured characters. Along with whirring actions, daunting suspense, billows of romance and a curious ending, this is yet another dangerous world that you will love to lose into—a definite must-read.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Page Morgan has been intrigued by les grotesques ever since she came across an old, black-and-white photograph of a Notre Dame gargoyle keeping watch over the city of Paris. The gargoyle mythologies she went on to research fed her imagination, and she became inspired to piece together her own story and mythology for these complex stone figures. Page lives in New England with her husband and their three children.