Sunday, September 22, 2013

Most Anticipated Teen Books: Fall 2013

Autumn is upon us! Leaves are falling and the breeze has turned cool, so grab your favorite pumpkin-flavored drink and curl up with these new YA releases!


October 1
Perfect Ruin –Lauren DeStefano
What it’s about: Morgan Stockhour knows getting too close to the edge of Internment, the floating city in the clouds where she lives, can lead to madness. If she ever wonders about the ground and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in her best friend, Pen, and in Basil, the boy she’s engaged to marry. Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city and Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially once she meets Judas. Betrothed to the victim, he is being blamed for the murder but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find—or whom she will lose.
Why I’m excited: Because a floating city in the clouds makes me think of the Cloud City and all the awesome developments and devastation that took place there. The concept behind this new series is intriguing (even minus the Star Wars correlation): murder mystery in a floating city. Yeah, I’ll be reading this one, especially since DeStefano has already hooked me with her Chemical Garden trilogy and hilarious Twitter feed. 


October 8
Tandem –Anna Jarzab
What it’s about: Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson never believed her grandfather’s stories of parallel worlds—until she finds herself thrust into one against her will. To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives and two young men vying for her love—one who knows her secret and one who believes she's someone she's not.
Why I’m excited: Because I adore Jarzab’s previous two novels, and consider her debut one of the best teen books of 2010. All Unquiet Things and The Opposite of Hallelujah were realistic fiction novels, so I am thrilled that this novel is fantasy. Okay, I’ll admit that I’ve already read the DRC, but I’m still excited for this book’s release, so I can grab my own copy and shout its greatness to the world!


October 10
Just One Year –Gayle Forman
What it’s about: After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem's story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson's own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.
Why I’m excited: Because Just One Day grabbed my heartstrings and pulled in all the right places. I devoured Allyson’s story and I’ve been waiting for Willem’s side ever since. I feel that these books are two parts of a whole, and this companion novel will help fill in all the missing pieces of their engrossing, relatable yet foreign love story.


October 15
Unsouled –Neal Shusterman
What it’s about: Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard. They’re running toward answers, in the form of a woman Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her, they may discover the key to bringing down unwinding forever. Cam, the rewound boy, knows that if he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human. With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, the paths of Connor, Lev, Cam, and Risa will converge explosively—and everyone will be changed.
Why I’m excited: Because I had no idea this was coming so soon! I was expecting another many year wait (which was the case between Unwind and Unwholly.) So the fact that the final novel in this evoking trilogy is nearly within my grasp makes me want to dance down the teen aisle of my local bookstore! Don’t worry, I won’t… probably.


October 22
Allegiant—Veronica Roth
What it’s about: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties and painful memories. But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.
Why I’m excited: Because… well, do I really need to explain? The cliffhanger at the end of Insurgent made me want to throw the book across the room, in a good way. The possibilities for this trilogy-ender are outstanding, and I can’t wait to dive into what will surely be a thrilling, heart-wrenching, provoking novel.


November 26
Pawn—Aimee Carter
What it’s about: Kitty Doe can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. If she says yes, Kitty will be surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous, adored and for the first time, she will matter. There's only one catch. She must stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered and the same one that got her killed. She must decide which path to choose and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game.
Why I’m excited: Because tough choices are what makes good books into great ones, and there are many such choices laid out for Kitty in this novel. Therefore, I’m expecting Pawn to be a nail-biting, edge-of-my-reading-chair, great story. I haven’t read Carter’s Goddess Test series, but I’ve heard wonderful things, so I imagine that her foray into dystopian fiction will be captivating in its own right.


December 3
Rebel Spring—Morgan Rhodes
What it’s about: Auranos has been conquered and the three kingdoms are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. Cleo is a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people. Magnus stands to inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia, while she is haunted by the deadly outcome of her magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms. Jonas watches at the palace gates, a troop of rebels behind him, planning to overtake King Gaius. When Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will forever change the face of this land.
Why I’m excited: Because Falling Kingdoms was an epic tale of four teens poised to change their world, which was already on the brink of war and revolution. I loved flying across the kingdoms to the adventures of each Cleo, Magnus, Lucia and Jonas, and I’m anxious to see how their paths cross in this sequel.
 

Happy Fall!


*Book descriptions were adapted from those appearing on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.

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