In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.
Paranormalcy was one of my favourite books last year, so I've been really excited to read Supernaturally! I already read it earlier in the week and absolutely loved it!
I've heard lots of praise for Thirteen Reason Why but, for some reason, I've never picked up a copy and read it. I saw the paperback at Costco for just under $8 and thought I couldn't pass it up again when it was at such a great price!
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.
My Thoughts: I probably would have read Hourglass just for its cover alone. I mean, the girl is walking down a wall which is too cool for words! But, I guess, it also really helps that the novel turned out to be just as good too because I enjoyed every moment of reading Hourglass! Suspenseful and utterly mysterious, Myra McEntire's debut novel is a welcome escape into a world where there are people capable of manipulating time.
There was definitely a lot to cover in Hourglass in 400 pages and I thought McEntire did her best to balance every aspect that she could. While Michael and Emerson did seem to have an instant, electric (literally!) connection, I could understand their strong feelings given the context. A friend of Michael's, Kaleb, also played a surprising role by acting as another would-be suitor for our teenage heroine... but again, the introduction of another love interest was also within reason as I came to learn. (And really, Kaleb could make me giggle and blush with his flirty lines while also showing off a deeper, more emotional side to him... so I was hardly complaining.)
The pacing for Hourglass did slow down at times for me. McEntire has an eye for description and making her Southern town setting come to life was an important part of her storytelling. I think there are definitely readers who will have more appreciation for McEntire's attention to detail at times, but I was more ready to impatiently jump right into the action right away. I was very eager to learn about the objectives of the Hourglass organization and about Michael, himself, because I could tell he was definitely hiding some secrets...
Myra McEntire's debut novel is an awesome mix of science fiction and romance all wrapped up in a pretty package! The build-up to the end is full of plenty of twists and turns which sure surprised me quite a few times! I love not being able to predict what's going to happen next and while Hourglass doesn't leave off on a major cliffhanger (thank goodness!), there are still questions to be answered and loose ends to worry about. I already can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.
Release Date: November 29, 2011 Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Summary (from Goodreads):
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.
Legend has been gaining tons of early buzz and I have totally fallen into all the excitement as well! Ever since I first saw the cover and read the plot description, the first thing that came to mind was probably something along the lines of, "This sounds epic!". Anyways, in case you didn't already know, Legend is the first in a new dystopian trilogy by debut author Marie Lu. The novel sounds so exciting... and it doesn't hurt that there is romance too. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Legend!
And the book trailer for Legend was just released the other day, so I thought I would include it below as well. Enjoy!
Title: Reaching Through Time: Three Novellas Author: Lurlene McDaniel Release Date: August 9, 2011 (hardcover) Publisher: Delacorte Press Pages: 240 Source: Copy provided by publisher Overall: 3.5 Stars
Summary:
What's Happened to Me? Sarah finds herself in a strange place, and she can recall only one thing—her name. A young man, Heath de Charon, explains to Sarah that he found her unconscious on the grounds of his family's estate and has been caring for her. Sarah is thankful, but when she starts hearing voices that whisper for her to come back, she is confused, and desperate to find out where she really belongs.
When the Clock Chimes Drake Iverson lands a summer job on Sandstone Mountain. There are no computers; he has to do all the work by hand in a large leather-bound book. He doesn't mind, as long as he can be near Gina, who is pretty and kind. But when Gina falls ill, Drake is asked to leave. He is determined to find out what happened to Gina and to uncover other mysteries he encounters on Sandstone Mountain.
The Mysteries of Chance Dylan Sorenson offers his help to a girl who seems to be in distress. The girl, Maura, explains that she's simply overwhelmed by the heat and quickly runs off. But Maura is soon drawn back to Dylan and a friendship and budding romance begins. However, Maura doesn't reveal the whole truth about herself, and Dylan has secrets of his own. Can their relationship withstand the deception?
My Thoughts:
Out of the many novels Lurlene McDaniel has written, I had only read Heart to Heart before now. I practically cried the entire time I was reading it but I loved how McDaniel could easily evoke such deep emotions in no time at all. Keeping that in mind, I was looking forward to reading Reaching Through Time, hoping to find another story I could lose myself in right away.
I’m not always a huge fan of anthologies or novellas because I always seem to find that as soon as I finally get into the story, I’ve reached the end. While I love how they can be fast-paced, there’s usually a sacrifice when it comes to developing the characters more. Reaching Through Time is composed of three novellas, and in each one, time is of the essence. They’re very much individual stories, not interconnecting ones, so I was always interested to learn what was going to happen next!
It’s rather difficult to talk about each story though because there were little unexpected twists discovered and I feel like I could easily give something away by mistake! So I’ll just tease you by saying that you shouldn’t read the plot description (or judge the cover!) and simply take each story by face value only, thinking they’re strictly romance tales. Lurlene McDaniel really does go beyond writing quick tales of love! If I had to order them though, I liked “The Mysteries of Chance” the most, then “What’s Happened to Me?” and finally, “When the Clock Chimes.”
If you enjoy reading Lurlene McDaniel’s novels, then I’m sure you already have Reaching Through Time on your to-read list. It's a quick contemporary read, with hints of the paranormal in each story, and I seemed to finish the novel in no time at all!
Thanks so much to Random House Canada for sending this review copy!
Title: Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) Author: Maggie Stiefvater Release Date: July 12, 2011 (hardcover) Publisher: Scholastic Press Pages: 400 Source: ARC provided by publisher Overall: 5 Stars
Summary:
The thrilling conclusion to #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater.
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.
My Thoughts:
I began reading Forever with a nervous anticipation of the events to come. If Shiver was about developing the romance between Sam and Grace, and Linger focused on learning more about the Mercy Falls wolves…then, surely, Forever was going to be the final showdown. And after the tense, emotional turmoil that filled me once I finished Linger, I had no idea what to expect reading the final novel in the trilogy. I could only hope (and cross my fingers!) that everything would turn out alright in the end.
Sam and Grace are probably among one of my favourite literary couples. I have always loved the easy companionship these two slipped into in Shiver when they finally met face to face. They trust each other completely with no doubts at all and confide in one another when they’re unsure of themselves. In Forever, their relationship is facing one of their greatest tests yet as fate has threatened to break them apart… After the short time of bliss, once again, one of them must remain human as the other becomes a wolf in a reversal of roles that has made the future become uncertain for the pair.
Another favourite aspect of mine for this series has always been Maggie Stievater’s absolutely beautiful writing. She describes everything with such lyrical prose and soul that I can only call it utter perfection. I’m so proud of the growth we’ve seen in all the characters too! I know I’ve only mentioned Sam and Grace until now, but Cole and Isabel have also grown on me over time as well and taken more pieces of my heart along with them.
I finished reading Forever in a daze, nearly in tears and saddened that the trilogy was over, but I loved how Stiefvater left the ending open to our own interpretations of how the future would continue to unfold for everyone. And true to previous fashion, Forever was ever the unpredictable read, shadowed in desperation and longing until the very end. I just have a feeling that the characters are continuing to live on… despite the fact there are no more pages for us all to devour.
Thanks so much to Scholastic Canada for sending me this review copy!
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.
Thanks so much to Random House Canada and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending these novels to review!
I've just heard of Hooked recently and I've only read one novel by Lurlene McDaniel so far. (I read Heart to Heart last year, practically crying the whole time I was reading it.) As for the others, I'm not familiar with them at all, so I hope they turn out to be good reads!
Title: Love Story Author: Jennifer Echols Release Date: July 19, 2011 (paperback) Publisher: MTV Books Pages: 256 Source: ARC provided by author Overall: 4 Stars
Summary:
SHE’S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE’S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.
For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions—it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.
My Thoughts: Jennifer Echols is among my favourite YA contemporary authors... so it really came as no surprise when I found myself instantly falling for Love Story! I always find her writing ever so addictive and it's only with great difficulty that I can even put her novels down for a moment! She gets right into the minds of her characters, building up the tension steadily and throwing complications into the plot that bring out the drama I crave in her stories.
Erin and Hunter. Oh my goodness, they could both be so stubborn and infuriating at times! Just when you think Erin and Hunter will finally work things out, something new happens to sway one of their opinions of the other for the worse... and then it's like you're back to square one. A hot and cold relationship between characters can really grate on me sometimes... but for Jennifer Echols, it always seems to work. I get so swept up in the story, and with an almost desperate nature, I'll flip through the pages eagerly hoping for the best possible outcome for everyone.
For all their faults though, there were no doubts about the chemistry between Erin and Hunter! It might not be so apparent to the pair that they should be together, but for everyone else, it was quite obvious to see. They share a complicated past together and Erin's loss of her inheritance, due to her Grandmother recently deciding to give it to Hunter instead, certainly isn't helping. Erin is determined to make her dreams of becoming a writer come true though and hoping to escape from tragic memories rooted at her home back in Kentucky. But with Hunter's arrival at her creative writing class, she may have to confront the past to move on in the future.... something she's afraid to face.
Going Too Far may still hold the title of being my favourite novel by Jennifer Echols, but I certainly wouldn't count out Love Story as being another dramatic, angst-ridden romance novel which I could easily lose myself in. If you've never read a novel by Jennifer Echols, what are you still waiting for?
I'm so happy today to be helping take part in the Canadian blog tour for Karsten Knight's upcoming debut novel Wildefire, the first in a trilogy, which will be officially hitting shelves on July 26! If you love novels that are mythology-influenced with a dash of romance and a feisty heroine leading the way... then I'm sure you'll be wanting to get your hands on a copy right away! Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada, I was able to ask Karsten a few questions...
Every flame begins with a spark.
Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.
1) Who was your favourite character to write about in Wildefire?
2) If you could have any special abilities or powers of a god, what would you want them to be?
Teleportation. It would make it so much easier, quicker, and cheaper to travel for instant vacations—er, I mean, book research. Definitely book research.
3) What kind of research was done to learn more about the different world mythologies found in your debut novel?
I had to research a lot of world mythologies—Polynesian, Zulu, Shinto, Egyptian, Norse, Greek—before I found the right gods and goddesses for Wildefire’s cast. But since the characters in Wildefire are reincarnations of those gods, and not the gods themselves, I really wanted them to move beyond their histories and be able to carve their own stories, while remaining spiritually true to their mythical origins. After all, it’s a work of fiction, not a mythology textbook.
4) Wildefire has a refreshing, diverse cast of characters with different ethnic backgrounds. Would you say there is enough diversity found in YA novels?
I think the YA genre is definitely moving in that direction; we’re starting to see even more diversity in main characters, rather than just the supporting roles. What’s even more important, however, is for YA to have books with diverse characters whose stories and lives aren’t singularly defined by just their race, or just their religion, or just their sexual orientation—characters who live a whole and comprehensive journey toward adulthood. In Wildefire, Ashline Wilde is a Polynesian-American, and a young woman, and a teenager, and a Jew, and an athlete, and a volcano goddess—many facets that shape her, but none of these things solely define her.
5) Can you tell us any hints about what will happen in book two?
All I’ll say for now: Tropical. Atlantic. And one very attractive Aztec.
*****
Thanks so much for answering my questions Karsten! You can also check out yesterday's stop on the Wildefire Canadian blog tour at Dreaming of Books.
And if you'd like to learn more about Karsten Knight and Wildefire, why not check out his author video created by Simon & Schuster below? (You can also watch more of Karsten's funny vlogs on his website too!)
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.
Release Date: December 13, 2011 Publisher: Philomel Books
Summary (from Penguin Canada):
A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.
Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.
I've had my eye on Shattered Souls for quite some time now and I'm still sad that we all have to wait until December to read this novel! I believe it was sold as a stand-alone, which is a nice change of pace for the genre as most novels these days with any supernatural elements tend to be part of a series. It sounds like we have a love triangle in store for us... and I'm definitely eager to learn more about Lenzi's abilities to help lost souls!
On Saturday (July 16), I was able to attend the first of three stops on the Canadian stretch of Maggie Stiefvater's author tour promoting the release of Forever, the final novel in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy.
I arrived at Chapters Oshawa just over an hour early, quickly grabbing a seat and settling in for the wait. The stage was already prepared, music was playing, and everyone around me was chatting excitedly! While we were waiting, many people were admiring the Sharpie guitar that Maggie had brought to give away during her Canadian stay and filling out ballots for entry. (I read on Twitter that the guitar has since been won by a teen girl during the last event at Chapters South London... ) And I was excited because I got to meet two fellow book bloggers! After missing them at the Dystopian Tour at Indigo Yorkdale in May, I finally got to meet Mel from He Followed Me Home... Can I Keep Him? and Jackie from My Ever Expanding Library! It was so nice meeting both of them and getting to chat with them in person!
In no time at all, it was 12 p.m. and Maggie Stiefvater was greeted enthusiastically to the front of the stage with plenty of applause! Maggie was all smiles as she began talking about the epic road trip journey she was partaking with her best friend Tessa Gratton, whose debut novel Blood Magic was released only a couple months ago. Maggie then jumped into telling us some stories that had everyone laughing and eyes glued up front as she spoke with lots of animation. She was absolutely hilarious and when I wasn't laughing, I couldn't stop smiling!! She seemed so comfortable on stage speaking to everyone, moving around and gesturing wildly with fun expressions as she talked about past book tour experiences and the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy.
Maggie began telling us about a time when she was in the UK on tour and how students from several schools had come by bus to see her. When the time came for questions, no one would speak up! And when questions did come, they didn't ask about her novels... they asked about more mundane things like how her flight and hotels were... and that she had a cool accent. So she first wanted to point out that she was: a) driving to all the events, b) their hotels were great, and c) she was aware she had a cool accent. She told us not to be afraid to ask questions when the time came!
Next, Maggie told us about the first time she heard Linger, the second novel in the trilogy, had become a New York Times Bestseller. She was boarding a small plane with her family and waiting for any news if the book had made the list via phone from her editor. The flight attendant was telling everyone to turn off their cell phone's but Maggie got the call at the last moment and heard the novel had landed at the #1 spot! She wasn't supposed to be using the phone so she had to contain her excitement...
Afterwards, Maggie talked about writing Forever and the kind of research she did for the novel. She searched online about wolves and found a website where they talked about the different ways that wolves had died in the past (there are many!), and found a particular one that she thought would be a terrible way to die. So, of course, she thought it would be a good idea to base some of what she read and use it in the novel knowing it would probably shake up some of her readers. She also told us about her cool experience meeting some wolves up close in Hungary where she got to see the pack hierarchy in action for herself.
Continuing to chat about Forever, she said she had submitted Forever two weeks before her deadline but she wasn't satisfied with what she had written.. so she ended up re-writing her draft of Forever and changing the ending. Originally, there had been a scene where Sam woke up to find gasoline on himself and his house was about to be set on fire by Shelby!
Maggie began taking questions from the audience afterwords! A question was asked about the book titles for the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, and we learned that Shiver had originally been called Still Wolf Watching. Scholastic, her publisher, didn't really like the title though so they asked her to change the name and it became Shiver. We also learned an interesting fact about the cover for Forever! The cover used to be a brighter red and featured maple leaves, but Maggie thought it made the book seem like it was set in Canada when it wasn't, so the cover was changed in that regard. She also thought Sam's jeans looked too skinny and he wasn't the type to wear skinny jeans... but they didn't change that though. It's nice to hear that Maggie had some involvement with how the Forever cover came to be!
Maggie also said that she had always wanted to be a writer since a young age and shared some earlier story ideas that she had. One of the earliest stories she had ever written involved two Scottish terriers who were driving a red Porsche. Another story she wrote as a teenager involved soldiers, bystanders and a dog in place in front of a flag pole. She turned the tables by asking us a question, wanting to hear who we thought the POV was written in. Everyone began shouting answers, with many of them being the dog... but then she quieted the audience and said, "The flag!" It was so unexpected! She remembered how she had ended the story saying how the flag didn't care what was happening to the others because it was, well, a flag. A question was also asked about her characters and Maggie said that she liked to write about Cole because he reminded her of herself when she was in college. She talked about how Isabel is the opposite of Grace, and how Shelby (wants to be a wolf) and Cole (bad boyfriend) were opposites of Sam (holds onto humanity, good boyfriend).
Before I knew it, it was time for the book signing! I had barely noticed the time flying by because I was enjoying myself too much listening to Maggie to notice! I wasn't as nervous as I usually am (an improvement!) but I don't think I'll ever get over being rather shy. Maggie was so kind and friendly though when it was my turn to get my books signed! She was also giving away some swag to everyone patiently waiting in line too.
And I couldn't leave without saying "Hi!" to Tessa Gratton! She was incredibly nice and friendly too... and she signed my copy of Blood Magic! I was also able to ask her about The Blood Keeper, the companion novel to Blood Magic, which is set for release next year. She told me that it was set a few years after the events in Blood Magic but it wouldn't center on Nick and Silla this time around. However, some of the characters will be making a return!
Thanks so much to Maggie Stiefvater and Tessa Gratton for making the journey up North to visit some of your fans in Canada! Also, lots of thanks definitely go out to Chapters Oshawa and Scholastic Canada for hosting such an awesome event!
Here are some other recaps from more Canadian bloggers you can read too! If I see more summaries of the Ontario events pop up, I'll be sure to add them below:
Jackie's recap of the Chapters Oshawa event on her blog at My Ever Expanding Library
Mel's recap of the Chapters Oshawa event on her blog at He Followed Me Home... Can I Keep Him?
And I did mention there would be a giveaway, right? I'll be giving away ONE SIGNED COPY OF FOREVER! To enter this giveaway, you must be a FOLLOWER and it will be open INTERNATIONALLY. The last day to enter will be AUGUST 8, 2011 after which point I'll choose a winner using a random number generator. I will send an email to the winner for their mailing address and they'll have 48 hours give or take to respond back. (And yes, you'll get an extra entry just for commenting on this post!)
To enter, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM and you'll be all set to go! Good luck!
-GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED- -> Winner has been announced! <-
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.
I was able to meet Maggie Stiefvater yesterday at Chapters Oshawa as part of one of her three Canadian book tour stops to promote Forever! One of the copies is for me, but as for the other one, I'll be giving it away in my recap post of the event! (I should have the post up for the event sometime tomorrow...) There was also some swag (a couple postcards, bookmark, and a Forever Maggie key-chain) given away at the event, so I've included in the picture above.
Switch, the latest YA novel by Canadian author Tish Cohen, is an absolute great take on what would happen if two polar opposite girls suddenly switched bodies! Thanks to HarperCollins Canada, I was able to take part in the Switch blog tour and ask Tish a few questions!
Good girl, honour-roll lifer, Berkeley-bound, mildly neurotic, high strung twelfth grader Andrea Birch just wants a bit of privacy. Oh, and perhaps a bit more of a social life. Or just a life in general. But when your mom and dad are foster parents who can’t turn away a child, trying to carve out a little space for yourself while tending to the needs of everyone from twin toddlers to angst-ridden adolescents is nearly impossible. And then Joules Adams, daughter of internationally famous rock star Nigel Adams, jumps into Andrea’s car, setting off an improbable car chase and ending in detention.
For Andrea, it’s the last straw. Why is it that Joules, breaker of all rules, living a life of luxury, gets off so easy? Why does she have everything, including a cool famous dad, and Andrea has nothing, not even her parents’ full attention?
In a modern, hip take on the classic Freaky Friday story, Tish Cohen delivers a fresh look at wishing your life was someone else’s.
1) If you could switch lives with one of your characters, who would you choose?
I would choose to switch lives with Zoë Monday Costello from The Invisible Rules of the Zoë Lama because she gets to be the ruler of all people.
2) In Switch, Andrea and Joules have their fair share of embarrassing and memorable moments. Could you share one of your own from high school?
The scene where Joules drives the car through the campus—I actually did that. The bald teacher actually came running toward me. I got caught, but not before I made skid marks in front of the Geography room to prove what I did to my teacher.
3) How do you approach writing a young adult novel compared to one of your adult ones?
The process is pretty much the same. The writing may be a bit more energetic but most of the elements are fairly similar. The characterization, the plotting, etc…
4) What is it about the contemporary genre that you enjoy the most?
I am fascinated by the problems that people face today and how they manage to forge a life for themselves in spite of whatever they may be facing.
5) When not writing away at your latest novel, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Working out, traveling, antiquing, and long walks.
6) What are you working on next for your readers to enjoy?
I am currently writing my fourth adult novel.
*****
Thanks so much to Tish Cohen for taking the time out of her busy schedule for the Q&A!
If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would you switch with? You can find my answer along with the bloggers participating in the tour at The Savvy Reader!
The cover for Shatter Me, the first in a new dystopian trilogy, by debut author Tahereh Mafi was unveiled today on MTV's Hollywood Crush this morning!
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary (from Goodreads):
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.
I've been really looking forward to seeing what the cover of Shatter Me would be like ever since the book was getting early buzz around the time of this year's Book Expo of America. If what the plot description is saying is true, that Shatter Me will appeal to both fans of The Hunger Games and X-Men, then I'm sure I'll definitely be falling in love with this book!
I think after anticipating the cover for so long, I had built up some expectations in my head but I really do like this one for the most part. The strike-through on the title and tagline are cool and I love the simple colour scheme they've used along with the shower of light that seems to emanate from the model. As for the model, herself? I like her fierce pose and how her hair arranges around her face, but it's not her fault that she's wearing a dress that's not so appealing from the waist down.
What do you think of the cover? Are you excited to read Shatter Me?
Title: Switch Author: Tish Cohen Release Date: May 9, 2011 (paperback) Publisher: HarperTrophy Canada Pages: 254 Source: Copy provided by publisher for blog tour Overall: 4 Stars
Summary:
Good girl, honour-roll lifer, Berkeley-bound, mildly neurotic, high strung twelfth grader Andrea Birch just wants a bit of privacy. Oh, and perhaps a bit more of a social life. Or just a life in general. But when your mom and dad are foster parents who can't turn away a child, trying to carve out a little space for yourself while tending to the needs of everyone from twin toddlers to angst-ridden adolescents is nearly impossible. And then Joules Adams, daughter of internationally famous rock star Nigel Adams, jumps into Andrea's car, setting off an improbable car chase and ending in detention.
For Andrea, it's the last straw. Why is it that Joules, breaker of all rules, living a life of luxury, gets off so easy? Why does she have everything, including a cool famous dad, and Andrea has nothing, not even her parents' full attention?
In a modern, hip take on the classic Freaky Friday story, Tish Cohen delivers a fresh look at wishing your life was someone else's.
My Thoughts: Have you ever heard that saying, "Be careful what you wish for..."? I'm sure you have. It's the immediate tagline that entered my head the first time I heard about Switch, the latest YA novel by Canadian author Tish Cohen. We've all had the time when we wished we could switch lives with someone else... and that's exactly what happens in Switch when Andrea and Joules, two very different teenage girls, switch bodies (thanks to a rather unexpected source!) after wishing to be each other.
Andrea really did draw me to her side right away. I could understand her frustrations with her parents for their lack of attention in a household filled with many foster children and one in which she has always been expected to lend a helping hand without very much time (or attention!) for herself. I felt really bad for her, and it was easy to see why she would wish to be Joules, the beautiful daughter of a rock star and girlfriend of Andrea's longtime crush, Will. So when she switches bodies with Joules, you'd think she was catching a break, but Joules' life is less than perfect too and it's only with some time that Andrea will realize just how lucky she's been all along... The novel is told solely through Andrea's point of view, but a part of myself was definitely curious to see how the perspective would have changed if we had the chance to view some of the events through Joules' shoes. My first impression of her was a teenage girl who was used to getting everything she wanted but she did eventually show some depth in her personality. I would have loved to have seen how her personal thoughts compared to how she carried herself around others. Don't get me wrong, Andrea's narration perfectly pulls off the novel... but I think seeing the effects of the switch on Joules through her point of view could have been great too.
The only other novel I've read by Tish Cohen is Little Black Lies but I would definitely say I enjoyed Switch a whole lot more. It was nice to see Andrea grow as a character as she gained an appreciation for her own life and family. Heartwarming and full of laugh out loud moments, yet still touching on more serious topics, Switch will prove to be a wonderful contemporary read.
Thanks so much to HarperCollins Canada for sending this review copy!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.
Release Date: January 3, 2012 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Summary (from Goodreads):
The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.
Refreshing plot where the MC gets caught in the past trying to save his girlfriend? Check! Male POV, a type of narration I don't read enough of? Check! An awesome free-falling cover? Why, yes... check! As you can tell, I'm really loving the sound of Tempest, the first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Julie Cross!
The book trailer for Hades, the second novel in Alexandra Adornetto's Halo series, was unveiled yesterday! After thinking about it for awhile, I'm still on the fence if I'll be reading Hades because the first book was rather disappointing despite my major love for its cover. (You can read my thoughts on Halohere.) However, I do have a soft spot for giving books a second chance and Hades does seem to be promising more action...
Release Date: August 30, 2011 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Summary:
Even the love of her boyfriend, Xavier Woods, and her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep the angel Bethany Church from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly her loved ones as well. Can he be trusted in this wager? And what does Jake have Xavier believing about Beth’s fate that may result in an act of betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if Xavier is so good after all?
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.
I couldn't help buying a couple more books this week! I've been looking forward to reading Sometimes It Happens for awhile now and I thought First Grave on the Right would be a nice, little break from YA. There was only one copy left of Sirensong at my local Chapters, so I thought it would be a good idea to buy it before it was gone. (Also, it looks like I had a theme of buying books with white backgrounds this week.)
And I'm getting excited about Maggie Stiefvater's upcoming visit to Canada! She'll be signing and discussing Forever at three different Ontario locations next weekend and I'll be able to go to one of them! You can find details on the events here.
Title: Between Here and Forever Author: Elizabeth Scott Release Date: May 24, 2011 (hardcover) Publisher: Simon Pulse Pages: 256 Source: Bought Overall: 4 Stars
Summary:
Abby accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.
Until the accident.
Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.
She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she'd never seen.
Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...
My Thoughts: It's no secret that Elizabeth Scott is among one of my favourite YA contemporary authors. She can take an ordinary plot and make it her own in a very special way. And all the while, it seems so easy for her to do so. I always get excited reading a new novel of hers because I always know she's going to offer her own little twists that could leave me laughing in stitches or really sympathetic to her characters.
Between Here and Forever leans toward the sad and serious side this time around, but there are definitely small moments that lighten the mood to break the tension. Abby's sibling relationship with Tess is a very complicated one. Half of Abby hates Tess for always being the one with all the attention while she remains in the shadows... and the other half just wants her big sister back. But the bottom line is that Abby is an insecure teenage girl who can't seem to stop measuring and comparing herself to Tess. She has always thought of her sister as the perfect, golden child... but as the novel progresses, we learn that Tess has been keeping secrets from everyone in ways that will shock both Abby and readers alike.
Almost every day, Abby visits her older sister, Tess, at the hospital where she spends much of her time urging Tess to somehow awaken from the coma she's fallen into after she was in a car accident. It's also at the hospital that Abby meets the gorgeous Eli, who has some of his own problems troubling him as well. It was heartwarming and sweet to see these two support each other as their relationship- and self-esteem's- slowly grew stronger.
If you've never read a novel by Elizabeth Scott, I think that's a fact which should change very soon. Her previous novels, like Perfect You, Bloom, and Stealing Heaven, are among my favourites of hers and are a great place to start. (And if you've read Bloom before, I'm sure you'll be able to recognize the return of some of the characters in this novel too.) I consider Between Here and Forever as just another welcome addition to the wonderful and heartfelt novels Elizabeth Scott consistently writes!
Kim Harrington officially revealed the cover of Perception, the sequel to Clarity, today on her blog along with the plot synopsis!
Release Date: March 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Summary (from author's website):
This hotly anticipated sequel to CLARITY delivers another dark, paranormal mystery.
When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?
Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.
Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.
But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?
One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.
I think I like the cover of Clarity better still but this one has a nice look to it as well. They've changed the model to someone else, which kind of saddens me, but the background forest is really pretty with those colours! The plot description sounds awesome though. I can't wait to see how Clare will use her abilities to solve another crime!
If you haven't read Clarity yet, I highly recommend you read it! Here's my review if you'd like to hear my thoughts on it.
What do you think of the cover? Are you excited for Perception?
Edit: I had to choose another winner. I know you can get really excited entering a giveaway, but please try to follow the rules as carefully as possible, especially when the publisher is providing the copy as they have their own specifications I have to follow too.
The winner of Lesley Livingston's Once Every Never, as part of the Canada Day Blog Hop, is:
Today is my one year blog anniversary! On this day last year, I posted my very first blog post on Midnight Bloom Reads with the thought that no one would ever want to really read anything that I wrote. But my oh gosh, how a year flies by!
Thank you so much to everyone who reads and comments on the blog... it means so much to me to have a place to share my book addiction! The YA blogging community has been so kind to me and I'm so proud (and honoured!) to be a small part of it. And it doesn't hurt that I feel like some of the nicest people in the world are part of the book community too.
I can't wait to see what my second year of blogging will bring but I'm glad I get to share it with all of you!
