Most Anticipated Teen Books: Summer 2013

Here are eight novels coming this summer that will be perfect reads for the beach, pool or anywhere the sun's shining! (Okay, they're good for dreary days too...)


July 9

Half Lives – Sara Grant

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 21^st 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!

Two Boys Kissing – David Levithan

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 10^th 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.

 

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

Thanks for reading!

 

*Book descriptions are adapted from those on the Barnes & Noble website.

A Day with Dessen

Okay, so I didn’t have a whole day with Sarah Dessen. (As if I could be that lucky!) More like a minute or two while she was signing my books and a half hour of Q&A and trivia with dozens of others. But the trip did encompass my day, and I was happy *cough* ecstatic *cough* to journey two hours to Cincinnati for Joseph-Beth Booksellers discussion & signing with Sarah Dessen. Her newest book, The Moon and More, was released this past Tuesday and is her 11^th published novel. She is known for her heart-felt portrayal of teens with real issues set in Carolina beach towns, and is a bestselling author many times over. During the discussion, I extracted these pointers for an aspiring author such as myself.

I love how animated she is!

Read your Weakness

Struggling with plot? Read a book that has a great, well-written plot. Struggling with writing dialogue? Read a book that has masterful dialogue. Or, as Dessen did in college, take a playwriting class, as it can help improve dialogue writing skills. Basically, if you feel you are inadequate in a certain aspect of writing, read a novel that does it well. It can show you how to be great. 

Plot Sense

When Dessen begins writing, she has to have some sense of where the book is going, so she writes a few notes in what she calls a book ‘skeleton’. It’s not an outline, but something simpler which gives her more freedom. Her skeleton consists of the first line, first scene, climatic scene and the last scene, but all of these are subject to change as she writes. It gives direction without keeping the writer beholden to a detailed outline, which is a good medium between being a pantser and a plotter.

Be Disciplined

Discipline is a key point for an aspiring author, and an experienced one. Writing is about training yourself to sit down every day and put words to paper. Dessen writes at the same time each day, as she has for years. And on days when she can’t write (when she’s on tour and such), she can feel in her bones that she’s supposed to be writing. In her own words, “A lot can be said for just showing up every day.”

 

Just after she signed the books!

 

Thanks again, Sarah, for coming to the Midwest! I finished The Moon and More last Thursday and recommend it highly. It's not just a feel-good beach read but is also a real-life, heart-wrenching novel that will pull you in like warm sand between your toes.

Oh yes!

 

DISCLAIMER: This post in an unofficial account of the event with Sarah Dessen on June 7, 2013 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH. The views that I present in this article are my interpretations of the event. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of Sarah Dessen, Viking Press (an imprint of Penguin) or any affiliates.

Reviews: Upcoming Releases

Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to have access to DRCs (Digital Review Copies) of books that are going to be released this fall. I have already devoured two, with many more on my reading list. Here are my reviews of two great YA books that are coming to a shelf near you!

The Shade of the Moon: Susan Beth Pfeffer

Release date: August 13

There was something about this book that entranced me, as I devoured all 300 pages in just one day. However, there were some aspects that disappointed me as well.The Shade of the Moon is book four in the Last Survivors series, and was preceded by Life As We Knew It, The Dead and the Gone and This World We Live In. It’s been three years since the third in the trilogy was released, and when this story picks up with Jon, Miranda’s younger brother, it’s been two years since the tornado that devastated their plans at the end of This World We Live In. Now, Jon lives with his stepmother Lisa and half brother Gabe in the Sexton clave but the rest of his family (his Mom, sister Miranda and brother-in-law Alex) is stuck in rundown White Birch outside, where food, wages and fairness is hard to come by. Relations between those living inside the clave and those who work for them from White Birch are ridden with tension, and when riots erupt during a soccer match, Jon and his family are caught on opposite sides.

            The plot was well-written, keeping me on the edge of my seat. However, I did feel that the romance of this book, the love between Jon and Sarah wasn’t fully developed, as I struggled to feel their passion. Sarah is a doctor’s daughter and member of the clave who argues for fairness and tries to stand up for the people of White Birch. Her character was strong and uncompromising, which was a great offset to Jon’s feigned indifference to some of the clave/community relations. But I do wish the beginning of their romance was explored more thoroughly as to be more believable. Also, Jon’s family in White Birch seemed to lack a presence in this novel. I understand that Jon’s position inside the clave made his a powerful story when the riots began, but as a reader I missed Miranda and Alex, who were the main characters of the previous three books. I won’t spoil the ending, but I felt like it was a well-written conclusion but open enough to allow for a variety of (hopefully happy) futures for Jon, Sarah, Miranda, Alex and Gabe. Even with the touches of disappointment, I was satisfied with this conclusion and am glad that I read it.

Tandem: Anna Jarzab

Release date: October 8

Days after finishing this book, I was still thinking about it. I was still thinking about the spectacular, heart-wrenching ending, and still struggling to decide just how much I loved this book. The concept (parallel universes) is something I’ve never seen/read before, and I was incredibly intrigued right from the beginning. The story takes place in Aurora, which is a planet similar to Earth except that history diverged during the Revolutionary War when, on Aurora, George Washington was killed prematurely. So even though Aurora has Shakespeare and Homer and the inhabitants speak English, the United States is the United Commonwealth of Columbia and the Kingdom of Farnham, both monarchies. At the start of this story, Princess Juliana of the UCC is kidnapped and the General reaches into Earth for her analog (who looks exactly the same but is otherwise different). Sasha, with the help of handsome bodyguard Thomas, is forced to fill in for Juliana and even host her betrothed, Callum the Prince of Farnham. But when Sasha discovers Juliana left of her own accord and the General turns on Thomas, Callum and her, it appears Sasha may be stuck in this parallel universe forever.

            As I mentioned, the premise of this story is amazing, creative and (in my experience) one-of-a-kind. The story was well-organized, and I especially adored Thomas’ strong yet mysterious character as well as the set up of a love triangle (Sasha/Thomas/Callum) which I hope will be explored further in the sequels (as this is a planned trilogy). I have to admit that Sasha, the main character, was slightly more dramatic and whiny than I usually prefer, but since she was thrown into another world without warning, I suppose she’s allowed to be a little over emotional. Also, I noticed in some scenes there was more telling than showing, and I do prefer the latter. I had high expectations for this novel (as I’ve been anxiously awaiting it for months) and I would say that those expectations were fulfilled. Tether, the sequel is due out in just about a year, and I am already eager to get my hands on it!

Happy June!

The Elements of Dystopia and Apocalypse

Dystopian and post-apocalyptic YA novels are all the rage right now. Hunger Games may have kickstarted the fascination with these sub-genres, but books like Divergent (with the finale Allegiant coming this October) and The Fifth Wave (released earlier this month) are keeping these sub-genres on the forefront of YA fiction. As readers and writers, we should be aware that the line between dystopia and the apocalypse can be hard to draw (as I discovered after my Rise of Dystopia post last August). These sub-genres are separate entities, no matter if some YA novels have elements of both and no matter how similar they may appear.

Definitions & Descriptions

Dystopian books are often characterized by dehumanization, totalitarian governments or the general cataclysmic decline of society. The elements of dystopia may vary from political to social to environmental, and are commonly undesirable or frightening. Dystopia can come in the form of totalitarianism, political repression, societal collapse, poverty or pollution. It should be noted that a dystopian society is the opposite of a utopian one.

Post-Apocalyptic books are about the end of human civilization as we know it. The apocalypse can come in many forms, including but not limited to: nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, divine judgment, runaway climate change, resource depletion, ecological collapse or any environmental disaster. Usually this event results in the crippling or destruction of the political structure and its ability to aid its citizens.

Classifying the Bestsellers

So how do we classify our favorite science fiction/fantasy/adventure novels into these two sub-genres? They appear similar, at least when it comes to applying their characteristics to books on the shelves. However, there are important differences, usually involving the existence, presence and strength of the government. Whereas dystopian societies are usually orderly (sometimes to the extreme), post-apocalyptic worlds tend to be quite chaotic. Also, in dystopian novels, the political regime is usually overly present, visibly strong and often restrictive of its citizens. But post-apocalyptic novels, the apocalypse usually results the crippling or outright destruction of the government, often leaving citizens to fend for themselves. It should be noted that in some dystopian novels, an apocalypse may have been the catalyst for that political regime to eventually take power and over-reign its citizens. However, the key word here is ‘eventually’ as it can take decades or even centuries for society to rebuild after an apocalypse and transform into a dystopia.

Some examples:

Matched/Crossed/Reached by Ally Condie

Cassia’s world is one of pristine order, where the streets are clean and everything runs like clockwork. The Society even selects her mate for her in the Matching ceremony. When Cassia is matched with her childhood friend Xander, she can’t be happier until another boy’s face flashes where Xander’s should be. Ky is an aberration who has been cast out from Society and when Cassia falls for him, she starts to realize that the Society she lives in may not be as infallible as she thought.

The world Cassia lives in is a DYSTOPIAN one. The government can be described as totalitarian as it controls its citizens extensively and promotes a high level of order. Also, the government labels and outcasts those that are not up to its standards.

Ashfall/Ashen Winter/Sunrise by Mike Mullin

When the Yellowstone super volcano erupts, Alex’s normal high school life in Iowa suddenly becomes one where he is struggling to survive. Looters and cannibals roam free in the land west of the Mississippi River, since the government has abandoned those states due to their inability to the lack of resources and their inability to restore and enforce order.  

The world Alex lives in is a POST-APOCALYPTIC one. The super volcano is the apocalypse as well as the inciting incident to the series. The government was crippled by the volcano, and with the Corn Belt under feet of ash, a main food source for the world is no longer available. The government pulled back from the very area in which Alex lives, leaving him struggling for food, shelter and safety.

Wither/Fever/Sever by Lauren DeStefano

In a futuristic society, a genetic error leaves men with the lifespan of 25 years and women with not living past 20. With geneticists seeking the antidote, the world is close to anarchy and orphans wander the streets while only the rich remain protected from the surrounding chaos. When 16 year old Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride to a wealthy doctor for his son, her world does not extend past the doctor’s mansion and his desperate, maniacal attempt to find the antidote.

The world Rhine lives in has elements of both DYSTOPIAN and POST-APOCALYTIC. It can be argued that the genetic error was the apocalypse that led to the world descending to near chaos. However, I would argue that Rhine’s immediate world, the one inside the doctor’s mansion, is a dystopian one, where he is the totalitarian leader of a society in which even his son has no say. Even though this series has elements of both sub-genres, I would argue that Rhine’s world is a DYSTOPIAN one.   

This was a bit more research papery than my normal posts, but I hope it helped differentiate these YA sub-genres. I know I learned something, and I hope you did too! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Blog-iversary

One year ago, I began this blog by declaring myself a writer. That post was revolutionary for me. Not only did I tell the world (or the 34 people who viewed that post) that I was a writer, but I was admitting it to myself. I was allowing myself to be a writer. Officially. This year, I want to take a look back over the year since I posted that dirty little secret, remind myself that I can still legitimately call myself a writer and consider all there is still to accomplish.

Over the past year, there have been some changes in my life. I moved to Indianapolis. I started a new job, left an old one and transferred an even older one. (If that doesn’t add up, it might help to note I have 2 jobs.) Also this year, I wrote the first full draft of my WIP, one of my biggest writing accomplishments to date.

On the blog, I shared my NaNoWriMo journey and I resolved to write as well as to read in 2013. I shared my most anticipated new releases for each season and my must-read teen books. I started traveling through fiction (so far just to London and Chicago). I wrote about love, sex and leaving. I wrote to my 15 year-old self. I wrote about lessons I learned from Neal Shusterman and Libba Bray. I made discoveries and shared adventures. And I took my declaration to the world.

Shout out again to my camera guy/boyfriend.

 

This year has been one giant leap forward in the me-being-a-writer-for-real scheme of things. I’m proud that I’ve been writing weekly on the blog since September. I’m proud to say that I’m a NaNoWriMo winner. I’m proud that I’ve been reading a ton, tweeting a lot and writing a reasonable amount. (Not enough though. Never enough.)

However, I still have more to accomplish in the coming years. I’d like to write more yet keep up with my reading. I’d like to keep posting every week on this blog. I’d like to work more towards the resolutions I set out to accomplish in January (to complete by June, but I’m not focusing on the deadline). I’d like to double my NaNoWriMo wins. And eventually I’d like to be published. (Fingers crossed that it’s sooner rather than later.) Mostly, I’d like to keep dreaming and keep working toward those dreams.

Wish me luck! (I may need it.)

A Year in Numbers

Posts: 46

Views: 2549

Most-Viewed Post: Teen Books-to-Movies 2013 &Beyond (244 views)

Least-Viewed Post: The Definition of Unputdownable (5 views)

 

The Surge of YA Novellas

You know that feeling when you discover something you probably should have known about already? The confused, surprised, berating yourself feeling, because you really just should have known? That’s what I’m experiencing right now. I was researching recently published YA short story collections when I stumbled onto a few YA novellas. And then there was a few more. Then a dozen more. And suddenly there was a GoodReads list of 224. Umm... how did I miss this?!

Okay, so I knew some companion novellas to popular teen series existed. I saw the Delirium Stories by Lauren Oliver on the shelf when it was released (though that is a rare print version). I even have a few on my iPhone Nook App. But I had no idea that the number was so large. I had no idea that the trend was so popular.

It makes sense. We live in the digital age, and authors can get novellas to their fans without actually having a publisher make a print version (though some do). Novellas can be distributed as e-books to smart phones, tablets, e-reader devices and basically any computer that can download apps. Sell the e-book novellas for a couple of dollars, and VOILA! Readers can indulge in these stories relatively cheaply and relatively quickly.

So, the question is: why a novella?

1.       The author can share the main character’s back story. What happened to the character before we pick up their story? It’s likely this story didn’t have a place in the book’s plot and doesn’t have enough gusto to fill an entire book by itself. So, novella it is! Examples: Sarah J Maas’ Assassin novellas, Rae Carson’s The Shadow Cats

2.       The author can tell the story of secondary characters. What happened to them before/after they made their usually brief appearance? This character’s story doesn’t have a place in the main plot, but a novella is a great way to extend their history to readers. Examples: Stephenie Meyer’s The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Tahereh Mafi’s Destroy Me

3.       The author can tell the same story from another character’s viewpoint. Some novels are written in first person, meaning that the reader only sees the main character’s perspective. Writing a novella from another character’s point-of-view gives another take on the same story. Examples: Veronica Roth’s Free Four, Alex Flinn’s Lindy’s Diary

4.       The author can write a prequel, epilogue or side-story to the current series. Sometimes there’s just more to the story and a novella is the perfect place for it. Examples: Leigh Bardugo’s The Witch of Duva, Dan Wells’ Isolation

Most of the novellas seem to be attached to a paranormal or fantasy series, but I noticed some standalones as well. Novellas give insight where it might not have normally been given. They are a great way to further engage readers, especially since they are usually quick reads! Here are a couple lists of available YA novellas:

·         Barnes and Noble

·         Amazon

 

I’ve added some novellas that I stumbled upon to my reading list:

·         Life before Legend: Marie Lu (prequel to the Legend series)

·         The Assassin & the Pirate Lord: Sarah J Maas (prequel to Throne of Glass)

·         Stupid Perfect World: Scott Westerfeld

 

Time will tell, but it appears that the YA novella is here to stay!

 

Finding my Plotting Method

I am an organizational freak and a cleaning mad woman. (Just ask my boyfriend!) So when it comes to organization while writing, you can imagine I’m a bit particular, which may be an understatement. Once upon a time, I made an attempt at being a pantser. (Pantsers fly by the seat of their pants and tend to write without planning, for those of you who may not be familiar with the term.) This didn’t work for me. Too often I lost track of the plot line or went off on an unnecessary, unexpected tangent. Ultimately I would get so frustrated and disgruntled that I had to take a step back from the story, whether that was for an hour, a day or even longer.

So I’ve become a plotter. (Also known as a planner.) However, it took me a while to figure out *cough* happen upon luckily *cough* the plotting method that works best for me. I tried the snowflake method, organizing my scenes in extensive Excel sheets and I even bought poster board in hopes I could come up with some sort of plotting diagram. (I couldn’t.) I’ve read books and blog posts on the topic. I even just tried writing it out, one paragraph for each chapter. (But that was almost a novella in itself.) I needed a method that would allow me to view the entire plot on one page for easy access while still being detailed and thorough enough to make sense.

The prospect of finding a method like this seemed far-fetched and nearly improbable. So imagine my pleasant surprise when a potential method turned up in a YA Stands blog post a few weeks ago. They posted about the 9 Step Method for Plotting Fiction which they discovered on Query Tracker, who borrowed the idea as well. (Apparently its origins are unknown.)  Nine steps to a structured plot that will fit on one page (preferably 8.5x11 or larger) and includes guidance as to how the plot should be organized?! I swooned.

Even though I wanted to dive right in to see if this was the method for me, I took my time with it. The instructions call for a tic-tac-toe board-like diagram, except with words inside the boxes instead of X’s and O’s. It gives names to each step and connects the boxes so the plot is one cohesive story. (Luckily my story fits this plot structure, but I can see how it wouldn’t work for all novels.) So far, it’s working for me. *crosses fingers* Hopefully this will remain true.

(Yay, green post-its!)