An American reading the British editions: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

(SPOILER ALERT: I’m sharing details of the Harry Potter series in this post, and in every post on the last Sunday of the month for the next two months. Just so you know!)

This is a blog series about an American girl reading the Harry Potter British editions. If you missed the previous posts, well, to be honest you’re a bit behind. But there’s still time to catch up! Here are the links: Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire.



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

First Line: “The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive.”

British vs. American English: I’ve been overseas so there are some things I read in these versions and don’t even recognize as different. Like car park vs. parking lot or garbage vs. bin. But here are a few differences that popped out to me. 

(British edition word/phrase = interpretation/definition)

trainers = sneakers

holidaymakers = vacationers

mollycoddling = to coddle or pamper

dottiness = crazy, eccentric

taking the mickey = to tease or make fun of

frame-up = set-up

at loggerheads = in dispute with

gibbering = to speak inarticulately

 

Laugh-Worthy Moment: After the Divination exam…

            “’We shouldn’t have taken the stupid subject in the first place,’ said Harry.

            ‘Still, at least we can give it up now.’

            ‘Yeah,’ said Harry. ‘No more pretending we care what happens when Jupiter and Uranus get too friendly.’

            ‘And from now on, I don’t care if my tea-leaves spell die, Ron, die—I’m just chucking them in the bin where they belong.’” (page 633)

 

Cry-Worthy Moment:  Sadly, there were a few in OOTP, including when Mr. Weasley was attacked and when Sirius fell into the veil. However, even though those were both sad, I only truly teared up at the very end, during this scene…

            “’Bye, then, Potter,’ said Moody, grasping Harry’s shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.

            ‘Take care, Harry,’ said Lupin quietly. ‘Keep in touch.’

            ‘Harry, we’ll have you away from there as soon as we can,’ Mrs. Weasley whispered, hugging him again.

            ‘We’ll see you soon, mate,’ said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry’s hand.

            ‘Really soon, Harry,’ said Hermione earnestly. ‘We promise.’

            Harry nodded. He somehow could not find words to tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side.” (page 766)

 

Notable Quote:  “’Yes, yes, one of these days you’ll write more horrible stories about Harry and me,’ said Hermione indifferently. ‘Find someone who cares, why don’t you?’” (page 499)

            This quote is eerie now that Rita Skeeter’s article about the old DA reuniting at the Quidditch World Cup was posted on Pottermore earlier this month.

 

Last Line:  “Instead, he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around and led the way out of the station towards the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dudley hurrying along in his wake.”

 

Thoughts:

Even though Harry’s been a teenager for two years, he hits it full force with a few cringe-worthy episodes of angst in Order of the Phoenix. But who’s to blame him? If you were at the center of a situation such as this (however unlikely, but imagine for a moment that you’re in the midst of a wizarding war), wouldn’t it be frustrating if everyone was treating you as though you’re an outsider? If you were the ONLY ONE who had seen the darkest wizard return, wouldn’t it be aggravating to be cut off from news of said world?

Of course it’d be maddening. However, Harry may have taken it out on the wrong people. And even though he has moments when he knows this, he still can’t seem to stop himself from blowing up at his closest friends and supporters, Ron and Hermione. He doesn’t, however, seem to take it out on the adults (mostly). Is he nervous that they’ll put him in his place? Does he not want to be viewed as an insolent teenager? Or does he just feel most comfortable with Ron and Hermione, knowing that even through it all, they will still be his friends?

I seem to be asking a lot of questions, so I’m going to switch gears. Order of the Phoenix is by far the longest book of the series. It has a mingling of subplots (just as the previous books) but there are two things that stand out to me in these 766 pages. Umbridge and the DA. One of them is the absolute worst and one of them is probably the best thing about this book.

After my boyfriend read OOTP for the first time, he told me that he hated Umbridge more than Voldemort. I wouldn’t be surprised if many people in the Potter fandom feel the same. For all Voldemort’s done to Harry, namely kill his mother and father shortly after his birth, there is something so supremely frustrating about Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. She believes whole-heartedly that Harry’s delusional and that Voldemort hasn’t returned. Since Harry refuses (rightly so) to deny Voldemort’s return, they are at odds. Umbridge banning Harry from Quidditch still makes me grind my teeth. Blatant favoritism (for Malfoy and the Slytherins), utter ignorance and a pompous attitude all equal one of the most hated characters of the series. Luckily, since she was the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, she only lasts one book.

And the best thing about OOTP: Dumbledore’s Army, Harry’s secret society in which he teaches a couple dozen Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students defensive spells. There is inspiration in solidarity and in youth taking it upon themselves to do something about an injustice. Umbridge’s method of teaching Defense against the Dark Arts isn’t teaching at all. It could be argued that Hermione’s motives in pressuring Harry into teaching them defense were selfish. She wants to pass her OWLs, after all. However, I think that although Hermione may have came upon the idea with that in mind, she never would have opened it up to people outside the trio if she was indeed being selfish.

In the end, Dumbledore’s Army gets very little page time in OOTP, but the society plays an important role in Harry’s happiness (until it’s disbanded) and in the incidents leading up to the climax. If the DA hadn’t been discovered, Dumbledore wouldn’t have taken the fall for leading the society and Harry would have had someone to go to (with Hagrid sacked and McGonagall at St Mungo’s) when he dreamt that Voldemort was torturing Sirius in the Department of Mysteries.

Per what happened at the Department of Mysteries: the fandom saw two things they had been dying to see. 1) Action. (Fully-trained wizards in action against Death Eaters.) 2) Dumbledore vs. Voldemort. (No explanation needed). Within the setting of the DoM and the Ministry of Magic, the climax is spine-tingling, exciting yet terrifying and ultimately devastating. Sirius’ death comes as quite a shock and we barely have time to process before Dumbledore and Voldemort are dueling. Then the Ministry Aurors arrive to catch a glimpse of Voldemort, alive. Even though there are good things that result from Harry’s trip to London, namely the wizard community discovering that Voldemort has returned, it’s cast in the shadow of Sirius’ death. A double-edged sword, that one.

In the aftermath, the most notable piece of information that Dumbledore divulges is the prophecy. It defines Harry’s path for the last two books. If neither can live while the other survives, then eventually Harry and Voldemort’s path will converge with a climatic, potentially heart-breaking result.

Up next month: Half-Blood Prince, the tale of a textbook, teenage love and bits of Voldemort’s soul.

A Short Note on Moving

Tomorrow I’m moving a zip code away. This is the first time in two years (which is a long time for me) that I’ve packed my bags and moved apartments. The last move was a big one—from Bloomington, IN to Indianapolis, IN. This move is a big one too, but the important factor this time isn’t the where, it’s the who.

Two year ago, I wrote this short note on leaving when I moved an hour north to Indianapolis. I have to admit it’s different here. Bloomington is a liberal college town, full of students, eclectic restaurants and bad traffic patterns. Indianapolis is a metropolitan area (though I live in the ‘burbs)—it’s a big city with distinct neighborhoods, spread over a whole county and extending into every surrounding county.

The move to Indianapolis was a great one and I’ve loved the past two years. I’ve spent my time focusing on what I love: writing, reading, blogging, talking to people about books, writing, writing. Did I mention writing? My apartment had a wall with two bookcases, three bins of books and hundreds of YA novels filling the shelves. There were posters and bookmarks and mugs and enough YA swag that I had to start a Swagbox (made from a shoebox). But now that’s all packed away. And when I open the boxes at the new place, I’m sure I’ll set it up differently.  

Because I’m leaving behind the bachelorette pad.

And moving in with my boyfriend.  

Now my living situation won’t be centered around what I love, but who I love. Yes, I’ll still have my bookcases and books and swag but it might not be all together in a big display, screaming to anyone who enters which fandoms I fangirl over and what I love to read.

Our new place will be a meeting of the minds. My books and my boyfriend’s music and movies. We have our similarities—Harry Potter, Friends, Firefly, Mumford & Sons. But we have our differences too. He’s more It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and I’m more Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. He’s more Coheed and Cambria and I’m more The Fray. 

I’m excited and scared. (Don’t worry, he knows this and feels the same.) It’s a great mixture of feelings. The happiness that swells my chest. The anxiety that edges around, poking little holes. Both of them keep me balanced. Because in the end, I don’t want to be too excited, nor do I want to be too scared. I want to walk forward into this new era knowing that it will be different. Knowing it won’t be perfect but that we will do our best to keep it close.

As Monica Gellar would say, “Now I have to live with a boy!”

15 Must-Read Teen Books: 2014 Update

Shortly after I started this blog two years ago, I compiled a list of 15 must-read teen books. It's highly subjective and based on what I’ve read, but it also represents a variety of genres within the YA category. I’ve updated the list twice since then, in 2013 and now, in this 2014 update!

For those new to YA, this list provides an introduction to YA. Which books on the list would you pick up? For avid YA readers, what are your must-reads? Do we share ten, five or possibly even none?

Anna and the French Kiss: Stephanie Perkins (new)

Anna’s senior year in a Parisian boarding school is an adventure, especially when she meets Etienne St. Clair, a Parisian/English boy with a great accent. Their friendship and budding romance is a swoon-worthy YA relationship with an equal balance of realism and fairy tale. This is Anna’s first year on the list.

Boy Meets Boy: David Levithan

This is an expertly crafted book about a boy who loves another boy and the crazy unique high school that they attend. Its ground-breaking impact continues to be felt in YA, especially as it reached the 10th anniversary of it's publication last year! This is Boy Meets Boy’s second year on the list.

 

Code Name Verity: Elizabeth Wein (new)

This historical fiction novel isn’t your typical WWII tale. A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France with two best friends, the pilot and the passenger, on board. What follows in this Printz Honor Book is a fierce, forward, expertly plotted story. Code Name Verity is a new addition to this year’s must-read list.

 

Divergent: Veronica Roth

When Tris Pryor chooses to leave her family behind for the danger of the Dauntless, she has no idea the hard work, controversy and consequences that will come. Roth creates a magnificent dystopian tale where Tris, Four and others are not only in the midst of the action, they are the action. This is Divergent’s second year on this list.

Eleanor & Park: Rainbow Rowell

The relationship of Eleanor and Park is not only moving, but makes for an astounding and unputdownable read. It's ground-breaking in its realness and their love is relatable in its imperfection. A Printz Honor Book and the newest book on this list (published in early 2013), Eleanor & Park is a YA gem.

 

Graceling: Kristin Cashore

Katsa is a strong, Graced but flawed girl struggling to break from her uncle's control. Her world is medieval fantasy and full of magic and mystery. This novel is one of my favorite YA reads, and due to the fact that I’ve loved it for over four years, Graceling has graced this list since the beginning.

Heist Society: Ally Carter

Kat Bishop is from a family of thieves but strives to use her skills for good, which equals an intriguing yet mischievous female Robin Hood. Carter writes light-hearted novels that are fun yet entrancing reads. Heist Society is the first in her second series and has been on this list since its conception.

If I Stay: Gayle Forman

Mia is in a coma after a devastating car accident that took the lives of her family. In an out-of-body experience, she relives past events and watches her friends and family gather around her. Will she join her family on the other side or wake to the everyday struggle that is life? This is a profound, moving YA book about the importance of choices and the will to fight. The movie adaptation's coming to theaters on August 22!

 

Levithan: Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld writes an alternate version of WWI in a story that pits the Darwinists (British, French) and their living creatures against the Clankers (Austro-Hungarians, Germans) and their war machines. Imaginative, full of action with sprinkles of history, this tale is on the forefront of YA steampunk and has been on this list three years running.

Shadow and Bone: Leigh Bardugo

When Alina, a lowly mapmaker in the nation of Ravka, discovers an ancient and terrifying power, she's whisked away by the mysterious yet alluring Darkling. Bardugo crafts an intriguing, new tale with layers of Russian legend and lore. This debut for Bardugo is the first in a trilogy and it’s appearing on this list for the second time. 

The Book Thief: Marcus Zusak

This historical fiction novel has quickly become a modern classic. Narrated by Death during the Holocaust, the story follows Liesel and her life in Nazi Germany. This is a fascinating, powerful tale and a new take on this time in history. The Book Thief has been on my must-read list since the beginning.

The Fault in Our Stars: John Green

Hazel and Augustus are both teens dealing with cancer. Theirs is a love story for the ages and is already a record-setting bestseller for YA. With the movie release just over a month ago, this novel has cleared a place in pop culture history. I added TFIOS to this list last year, shortly after I read it for the first time.

The Giver: Lois Lowry

A classic dystopian novel, this is a quick, intriguing read that leaves the reader thinking. A precursor to today's dystopia and a permanent fixture on this list, Lowry created a classic in her telling of Jonas and his seemingly perfect world. The movie adaption will be in theaters next month.

The Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games will likely be immortalized as the poster-child for YA dystopia. In a televised fight to the death in a futuristic world where the U.S. has fallen and the Capitol controls twelve districts in a grueling manner, one girl starts a revolution. With the Mockingjay: Part I in theaters this November, this series is now a household name. It’s been on this list three years running.

Throne of Glass: Sarah J. Maas (new)

Celaena Sardothien is an assassin brought before the king not to be sentenced to death, but for a chance to win her freedom in a competition to become the king’s champion. But there’s evil lurking at the edges of the castle, and possibly even inside. Throne of Glass is one of my favorite YA fantasies and I’m thrilled that the third book in the series is less than two months from publication! It’s new to the list this year. 

 

Thanks for reading!

Six Star Reviews: Kiss of Deception

The highest rating a book can get on Goodreads is five stars. Five stars means the book was awesome, worthy, well-written, etc. But sometimes I wish I could give six—YES 6—stars. These instances are rare, but there are some books that stand out that extra inch. They are truly unputdownable. They are not just great, but extraordinary. They speak to me, and I love them.

Here’s a book that deserves six stars:

Kiss of Deception—Mary E. Pearson

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Every now and then I start reading a book and just can’t stop. This is one of those books. I engulfed the DRC in one day—one afternoon/evening, really—because it contains one of the biggest who’s who mysteries I’ve read in YA.

A prince and an assassin follow Lia, a runaway princess, to her hideaway town. One's named Kagen and the other's Rafe, however the reader doesn't find out who's the prince and who's the assassin until halfway through the book. It’s simple but brilliant to keep their identities a secret, so the reader’s guessing: Is Lia falling in love with the prince or with the assassin? When she’s alone with Rafe/Kagen, is he the jilted prince or the assassin who’s trying to kill her? Pearson does a great job keeping the reader guessing, with hints and misleading and general confusion. It drove me positively insane, in a good way. It’s a marvelous yet frustrating ploy. And just when not knowing became unbearable, the secret is divulged and it’s AMAZING.

Of course, this isn’t the only great feature of Kiss of Deception. This writing is solid and clean with clear descriptions. Lia’s strength, stubbornness and forthrightness make her an exceptional, fierce yet relatable female lead. The intricacy of the world—it’s nations, peoples and religion—make it seem real and interesting even while the cloud of coming war make it dangerous. The play of the characters and the depth of their relationships with each other made me cringe and cry. There were sisterhoods and sibling relationships and new-found loves and each one was deep, real and expertly weaved into the overall plot.

Also, I tear up plenty at the end of books and every now and then I cry during a heartfelt climax, but I can’t remember the last time I outright bawled at the end of a book. Kiss of Deception made me ugly cry, which is a true feat. No spoilers, but the moment was emotional, heart-wrenching and unexpected but as I reached for the tissues, I kept reading. 

This novel is a strong start to a planned series and the cliff-hanger at the end already has me clamoring for the sequel even though Kiss of Deception has yet to grace the bookstore shelves. However, I only have TWO DAYS to wait for its release, as it will be on shelves this Tuesday, July 8^th. Yay!

Kiss of Deception is a 6 out of 5 stars book, and I can’t wait to stroke its spine and smell its pages and wrap it (carefully) in my arms and yeah, I’m a book geek. But I’m a passionate, unapologetic book geek.

My recommendation: READ THIS BOOK. (Especially if you like fantasy and/or well-done love triangles and/or big reveals and/or fierce female leads.)

 

An American reading the British editions: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(SPOILER ALERT: I’m sharing details of the Harry Potter series in this post, and in every post on the last Sunday of the month for the next three months. Just so you know!)

This is a blog series about an American girl reading the Harry Potter British editions. Read my reviews of the first three books to catch up: Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban! Now to the book at the very middle of the series…

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

First Line: “The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it ‘the Riddle House’, even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there.”

British vs. American English: I’ve been overseas so there are some things I read in these versions and don’t even recognize as different. Like car park vs. parking lot or jumper vs. sweater. But here are a few differences that popped out to me. 

(British edition word/phrase = interpretation/definition)

gaol = jail

cottoning on = catching on

plus-fours = a pair of trousers that extend four inches past the knee

chivvied = to move by small maneuvers

kip = sleep

prat = fool

quailing = losing heart; shrinking

 

Laugh-Worthy Moment: “They all stood there, in a tight circle, as a chill breeze swept over the hilltop. Nobody spoke. It suddenly occurred to Harry how odd this would look if a Muggle were to walk up here now… nine people, two grown men, clutching this manky old boot in semi-darkness, waiting…” (page 69)

Cry-Worthy Moment: When Harry returns from the graveyard with Cedric’s body, and there’s shouting and crying and chaos and feels. (page 582-584)

 

Notable Quote: “… How could they have believed I would not rise again? They, who know the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death.” –Voldemort (page 562)

Last Line:  “As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come… and he would have to meet it when it did.”

 

Thoughts:

This is the first book in the Harry Potter series that begins with a chapter where Harry isn’t present. Chapter One takes place at the Riddle House, where Voldemort and Wormtail are camped. It’s told from the point of view of the gardener, Frank, but at the end, Harry wakes with the scene in his mind as he had just dreamt it. Even though that chapter opened the main mystery of Goblet of Fire, it also begged the question: How can Harry dream what’s really happening to Voldemort?

Goblet of Fire is the first giant-sized volume (which also happens to have the first in-depth mention of giants) which is great for intricacy and subplots. While there is the main Triwizard Tournament/ Who’s trying to kill Harry this year? plot, there are also many subplots that are strung through the book. Some of them start and end with Goblet of Fire, some of them start but don’t end with Goblet of Fire and some of them started before Goblet of Fire and continue through it. This is one of JK Rowling’s greatest feats: being able to weave together the numerous subplots along with the overarching series plot and the major plot line for each book. Not just being able to do it, of course, but doing it well, with just the right amount of mystery and detail. Some of the subplots that line the pages of Goblet of Fire include: Fred and George’s joke shop and blackmailing, Rita Skeeter’s sneaking and stories, Dobby and Winky’s employment at Hogwarts, Mr. Crouch’s madness and secrets, Hagrid’s ancestry and the beginnings of romance (Harry/Cho, Cedric/Cho, Hermione/Krum, Hermione/Ron).

At the end of Goblet of Fire, the thing which we have been dreading (but didn’t know we were dreading until it happens) happens. Voldemort returns. Harry witnesses his rebirthing, his re-assembly of the Death Eaters and participates in duel with Voldemort before escaping back to Hogwarts. If Voldemort hadn’t used and played with Harry, then Harry wouldn’t have survived the night. But Voldemort wanted Harry to die grandly and make it into a spectacle with his Death Eaters watching and Harry with his wand in hand. The moment Wormtail gives Harry his wand, he gives him means to escape. Voldemort proved himself vindictive, powerful and evil but not adaptable. Priori Incantatem proved a surprise that Voldemort was unable to recover from before Harry had reached Cedric’s body, summoned the Triwizard Cup and transported back to Hogwarts. I’m sure Voldemort’s anger after Harry disappeared was menacing. Also, I’m sure there are plenty of things (including the notable quote above) that Voldemort wouldn’t have said in front of Harry if he knew Harry was going to survive the night.

One of the most powerful chapters I’ve read so far is Chapter Thirty-Six: The Parting of the Ways. After Harry recounts what happened in the graveyard for Dumbledore, he is taken to the hospital for some well-deserved rest. However, he’s awoken by Fudge and McGonagall fighting in the hallway because the Dementor’s Kiss was performed on Barty Crouch Jr. and his testimony was lost. Somehow Dumbledore’s word that Voldemort has returned, even seconded by McGonagall and Snape, isn’t good enough for Fudge. He’s in denial and refuses to take any of Dumbledore’s sage advice about removing the dementors from Azkaban or sending an envoy to the giants. So it’s a good thing that Dumbledore’s willing to do what he can on his own. He sends Bill and Sirius to inform their allies and gives Hagrid and Snape special, mysterious missions. Dumbledore’s control of the situation is fierce and inspiring. It shows that when people believe in someone (two someones actually—Dumbledore and Harry), they will rally around them in support and allegiance. As Hagrid says in the last chapter: “Great man, Dumbledore. S’long as we’ve got him, I’m not too worried” (page 623).

Next up month: The allies come together and Harry experiences a little teen angst in the Order of the Phoenix.

The Purpose of Vacation

Last Saturday I returned from a week-long family vacation to Charleston, South Carolina. There was sand and sun and ocean and relaxation and reading. There was family time and beach time and even a little time for history and shopping. It was fabulous! But now that I’ve been back to the grind for a week, I’ve been thinking: why do we vacation?

 

To Escape

This is not how Indiana looks. There are no palm trees or plantations in my home state (that I know of).  

 

 

To Relax

Nothing says relaxation like a beach chair and the ocean.

 

To Explore

While kayaking down a backwoods river I counted one owl, two alligators and just about a million dragonflies.

 

To Experience Something Different

Charleston is a lot of things I’m not used to. It’s the South. It’s a city that’s older than this country. It’s a harbor town which seemingly has more water than land. There’s seafood, brightly-colored shorts, miles of beaches, cobblestones and lots of “y'alls.”  

 

To Experience Something Risky

Like HOLDING A SHARK. (Don't worry, we threw them back.)

 

To Experience Beauty

*still in awe*

 

To Let Go

Dance with the wind in my arms, the sand and surf between my toes and not a care or worry in my head!

 

 

Why do YOU vacation?

Most Anticipated Teen Releases: Summer 2014

There are many amazing things about summer and one of my favorites is reading by the pool, beach or even just with the window open. Here are eight YA summer releases that I’m excited to dive into with the summer breeze fluttering through the pages!

 

July 8

Kiss of Deception—Mary E. Pearson

What it’s about: In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met. On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Why I’m excited: Because (FULL DISCLOSURE) I’ve already read and LOVED this book. I got my hands on the DRC last month and devoured this book in just one evening/night. It was one of those I-don’t-need-sleep-I’d-rather-read reads. I am so excited for it to be released in July so I can grab my own copy and start (continue really) recommending it!

 

July 15

Earthquake—Aprilynne Pike

What it’s about: Tavia Michaels is an Earthbound—a fallen goddess with the power to remake the Earth. The rival faction of Earthbounds, the Reduciata, has created a virus that is literally wiping swaths of the planet out of existence. But before Tavia can act, she’s captured and imprisoned, along with her eternal lover, Logan. Huddled in a claustrophobic cell, they lose track of the days, their attempts to escape proving as ephemeral as Tavia’s newly gestating powers. But then Tavia and Logan are mysteriously rescued and brought to the underground headquarters of the Curatoria, another group of Earthbounds Tavia doesn’t fully trust. When Benson—Tavia’s former best friend and romantic interest—appears at Curatoria headquarters, Tavia will again have to make a choice about who to be with even as she tries to stop the virus that is destroying the world and uncover the truth about the two Earthbound organizations that have her tangled up in their webs.

Why I’m excited: Because I was pleasantly surprised by the first book in the series, Earthbound. It ended in a way that made me want SO MUCH MORE and I have a feeling Earthquake will give me what I want (to a certain extent, and then I’ll be right back in the same position). This is a love triangle (Tavia-Benson-Logan) that will no doubt be ripe with history and possible distrust. Yay!

 

July 24

Like No Other—Una LaMarche

What it’s about: Devorah is a consummate good girl who has never challenged the ways of her strict Hasidic upbringing. Jaxon is a fun-loving, book-smart nerd who has never been comfortable around girls (unless you count his four younger sisters). They've spent their entire lives in Brooklyn, on opposite sides of the same street. Their paths never crossed until one day, they did. When a hurricane strikes the Northeast, the pair becomes stranded in an elevator together, where fate leaves them no choice but to make an otherwise risky connection. Though their relation is strictly forbidden, Devorah and Jax arrange secret meetings and risk everything to be together. But how far can they go? Just how much are they willing to give up? 

Why I’m excited: Because this book is an old story with a new twist. Devorah and Jaxon are two teens in Brooklyn when a hurricane traps them in the same elevator, forcing them together when they never would have met otherwise. Connections and secret meetings = star-crossed love! 

 

July 29

The Young World—Chris Weitz

What it’s about: 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 excited: Because teens run the world in this post-apocalyptic future where a plague wipes out the rest of the world. From the description, it seems that NYC will be a character itself and I’m interested to see the overall eeriness of a Manhattan split into tribes.  

 

August 5

Gates of Thread and Stone—Lori M. Lee

What it’s about: In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her. Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

Why I’m excited: Because there are so many good words/phrases in this description that I just can’t contain myself! Magic! Threads of time! Labyrinth! Scandalous reputation! A revolution centuries in the making! LABYRINTH! I think you get the idea. *winks*

 

August 14

Isla and the Happily Ever After—Stephanie Perkins

What it’s about: From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren't always forever. Their romantic journey is intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Why I’m excited: Because after Anne and Etienne in Paris and Lola and Cricket in San Francisco, I know Isla and Josh back in Paris is going to be a gorgeous, swoon-worthy love story. (That’s right: I KNOW this.) Perkins writes love that both feels real and feels like it only exists in books and movies. I’m sure this series finale will live up to its predecessors and I very well expect it to surpass them!

 

September 2

Heir of Fire—Sarah J. Maas

What it’s about: Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak—but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth…  a truth about her heritage that could change her life—and her future—forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

Why I’m excited: Because this is one of my favorite YA series and I’ve been on edge for almost a year waiting for the third book! The second book, Crown of Midnight, ended with a gasp-worthy cliffhanger and I NEED TO KNOW what happens next. That is all.

 

September 16

The Vault of Dreamers—Caragh M. O’Brien

What it’s about: The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students' lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show and the students' schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What's worse is, she starts to notice that the ridges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there.

Why I’m excited: Because dystopia-meets-reality-TV has been a big hit in the YA world with the likes of Hunger Games and The Selection so I’m eager to see how The Vault of Dreamers does the Forge Show. Plus, dreams to enhance creativity, after-hour adventures and (as always) secrets!! I’m intrigued!

 

*Book descriptions were adapted from those on BN.com.