July 9
What it’s about: Half
Lives follows two unlikely heroes as they fight to survive, centuries apart
but with surprising ties. Icie’s parents have news of an imminent viral attack,
so they give her cash, a map to a secret bunker and tell her to get there by
any means necessary. Along with three other teens, Icie lives locked away for
months with no news of the outside world. Decades into the future, a mysterious
cult worships on the same mountain where Icie’s secret bunker was located, and
they’re ruled by a teenager with surprising ties to Icie.
Why I’m excited: Because Grant’s from Indiana (though now
she lives abroad), and the concept behind the book is particularly intriguing. I’m
curious about the cult and their teenage leader, since the book description is
particularly vague on that aspect. I read Grant’s YA debut Dark Parties, which is a thrilling dystopian book and although this
new release seems more post-apocalyptic, I bet she will shine just the same.
July 30
Boy on the Bridge –
Natalie Standiford
What it’s about: American Laura Reid studies abroad in
Leningrad during the height of the Cold War in 1982. A young Russian artist
named Alexei becomes her guide and she is soon immersed in the real Russia, but
their relationship must remain a secret. If found out, Laura could be sent home
and Alexei could be punished for associating with Americans. When Laura’s
return to the United States approaches, Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She’s
not ready to settle down, but what if Alexei is the love of her life? Can she
leave him behind?
Why I’m excited: Because I have a soft spot for well-done YA
historical fiction, and I’m betting this will be quite well-written. I’m not
familiar with too many Cold War era teen books, and I’m interested to see how
Standiford will write the love of a young American and Russian in the midst of
such deep tension. Also I adore that this is a historical romance novel set
barely thirty years ago, so even though it will feel like long ago, it isn’t
quite outside of my life span and therefore closer than one might think.
Earthbound –
Aprilynne Pike
What it’s about: After Tavia Michaels is the sole survivor
of a plane crash that killed her parents, she starts having visions of a boy
she’s never spoken to in real life. Tavia searches for answers, but when she
discovers that the aunt and uncle who took her in after the plane crash may
have been responsible for her parent’s deaths, she flees for safety of Maine,
where the boy in the visions tells her to go. Suddenly, Tavia is on the run
with no one to trust, and is torn between Benson, the boy who has been by her
side the whole way and the mysterious boy who appears to her at night.
Why I’m excited: Because Pike impressed me with her debut
series, Wings, and I’m curious to see
how she’s grown as a writer. This is her second new release in just a few
months, though I haven’t gotten to Life
After Theft yet. The book description is detailed and vague at the same
time (isn’t that intriguing?) which will surely make the read full of
surprises, twists and turns. I’m expecting a mysterious, cross-country
adventure with life-changing decisions that will surely make this an
unputdownable read!
August 20
Doon – Carey Corp
& Laurie Langdon
What it’s about: Veronica starts seeing a mysterious blond
boy wherever she goes, and soon she realizes she’s the only one that can see
him. When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in
Scotland, Veronica jumps at the chance. But when the imaginary boy follows her
to Alloway, she and Mackenna discover a strange set of rings and an unnerving
letter, they soon find themselves transported to a land that defies
explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, but the girls learn it has
a dark underside as well. If they break the enchantment, they might end up
trapped in a world that has quickly become a nightmare.
Why I’m excited: Because it’s a retelling of Brigadoon, only
updated and YA-ified. Scotland plus a fairy tale-like hidden village and the potential
for love? It all adds up to Brigadoon come to the 21st century,
which is a fairly unexplored concept in teen fiction in my experience. I’m excited
to see these authors collaborate to take on this legend, and I’m sure the read
will be fun and fantastical!
August 27
Love in the Time of
Global Warming – Francesca Lia Block
What it’s about: Penelope has lost everything—her parents,
younger brother and her home. This world is on the edge of destruction, but
still beautiful and lovely at the same time. As Pen navigates this dark world which
is full of strange creatures, she gathers companions and loses them, finds love
and loses it, and comes face-to-face with her mortal enemy.
Why I’m excited: Because Block is a YA mainstay, with over
30 novels to her name. The title itself is intriguing (remember Love in the Time of Cholera?), and even
though the book description is short, I have a feeling this will be a full-tilt
adventure, maybe with a little social commentary on global warming mixed in. I’ll
be sure to pick this one off the shelf come late August!
What it’s about: Based on true events, this novel tells the
story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-old boys who take part in a 32-hour
marathon of kissing in hopes of setting a new Guinness World Record. While the
two teenage boys are locking lips, they are trying to figure out their own
feelings for one another. But they manage to become the focal point in the
lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships,
coming out and gender identity issues. This novel comes as the 10th
anniversary of the publication of Levithan’s ground-breaking, Boy Meets Boy, is being celebrated.
Why I’m excited: Because Levithan is a YA master, and I’m
sure this will be another revolutionary read. I’ve been trying to catch up on
his collection ever since I read Boy
Meets Boy last winter, and even though I have a ways to go, I think this
will be my next selection. It sounds like a great exploration of gay teen
culture and I’m expecting a read full of realness and relatability no matter
your gender, age or orientation.
September 10
Fangirl – Rainbow
Rowell
What it’s about: Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Well, the whole
world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan isn’t just part of her
life, it is her life. Cath and her sister Wren ensconced themselves in the
fandom to get them through their mother leaving, but while Cath’s sister has
grown up and away from Simon Snow, Cath can’t let go. Now they’re going to
college and Cath is on her own, with a surly roommate, a fiction-writing
professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the world and a handsome
classmate who wants to talk about words. Can Cath let go of Simon Snow and
start living her own life?
Why I’m excited: Because I adored Eleanor & Park for its realness and freshness (enough to read
Rowell’s adult fiction novel), and I’m expecting the same from Fangirl. The concept is relatable—who hasn’t
gotten a little over-obsessed with a book, movie or band? Cath could easily be
a Potterhead or Twihard, which I think is exactly what Rowell is going for. I’m
sure this story will suck me in and become quite unputdownable in its reality
and relatability.
Relativity – Cristin
Bishara
What it’s about: Ruby Wright knows that wishes can’t come
true and that some things can’t be undone. But if she had her way, her dad
would never have married her stepmother Willow, her best friend George would be
more than a friend, and of course her mom would still be alive. When Ruby
discovers a tree in the middle of an Ohio cornfield with a wormhole to nine
alternative realities, suddenly Ruby is seeing what could have happened if her
wishes came true. Her ideal world—one with everything and everyone she wants most—could
be within reach. But is there such a thing as a perfect world?
Why I’m excited: Because parallel universes are in, at least
in my world (see my review of Tandem, coming this October). I think it’s an
up-and-coming niche for YA, and Relativity
sounds like a well-done take on this concept. The idea that Ruby has not
just one parallel universe but nine to explore will surely make this a complex tale.
This is Bishara’s debut effort and I’m eager to dive into what will hopefully
be an intriguing yet heart-wrenching story.
Thanks for reading!
*Book descriptions are adapted from those on the
Barnes & Noble website.
Since you are interested in learning about good teen reads, you might enjoy following this Tarzana, California teen’s blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://tarzanareader.blogspot.com/