Want My YA

Eyecatcher: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Darker Still
by Leanna Renee Hieber

Sourcebooks Fire
http://www.leannareneehieber.com
ISBN: 9781402260520
Release Date: November 8, 2011

from the author's site:

New York City, 1880.

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing... Lord Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

why it caught my eye:

Leanna Renee Hieber is one of my absolute favorites. I've been meaning to feature this book for a while but sadly, I have not blogged at all in a while. I can't wait to pick this one up and read it. :) I already know it is going to be amazing.

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

Wow it's been a long time since I last posted. Apparently that's what full-time school does to you. Well I'm on break so I shall do my best to get back to blogging regularly. Once school starts again in January, I make no promises. :)

In the meantime, it's Wednesday which means it's your turn to make a recommendation to me. What are you reading that I should be reading? What are you hoping to receive as a gift for your chosen holiday this year? Tell me what you'd like to see on the blog in the coming year. Come on, recommend something.

Foreign Friday: Maggie Stiefvater in Russian and Lithuanian

2011-10-07T13:41:00.005-05:00

Ok so if you've been reading my blog you know that last week I proposed the idea of a new feature, Foreign Fridays. I've decided to just go ahead with it and see what you think. So please, leave a comment and let me know.

For my first Foreign Friday, I'm sharing the Russian and Lithuanian editions of a couple of Maggie Stiefvater's books. Why these? Well first of all it's Maggie Stiefvater! I love her. :) Plus my personal interests lie with the Russian and Lithuanian languages.

Russian edition of Shiver.

Russian edition of Linger.

Lithuanian edition of Shiver.

I always find it interesting to see which publishers/countries keep the cover the same or similar and which ones change it up completely. I love the look of the Russian covers, but they have an entirely different feel to them than the Lithuanian or US cover.

What do you think about these covers or any others you've seen?

And now for some more questions....

Readers: Which authors do you want to see covers for? Which languages are you interested in?

Authors: Do you want your books to be featured on Foreign Fridays? Send me an email at wantmyya at gmail dot com and we'll set it up. :)

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-10-05T15:22:00.002-05:00

It's Wednesday again! Time for you to tell me what to read. I'm in a witchy mood, tell me about your favorite witch stories. I don't think I've read too many witch books in YA so I'm open to anything. Come on what should I read?

Foreign Fridays?

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

So I've got it in my head to start a new feature on the blog and I want to know what you think. Recently, I've been on a mad hunt to find out which of my authors are published in Russian and potentially Lithuanian. (Not that I speak either language yet, but I'm studying Russian in school right now.)

Many authors do have a special section on their site with pictures of their foreign covers. I've always found these fun to look at, even if I can't understand the words (after all there's no guarantee that the title is the same). Sadly, not every author out there does this.

So here's what I'm thinking... I would like to have a special feature each Friday where I display the foreign editions of YA books. Here are my questions for you:

1. Does this sound like a cool idea to you at all?
2. Which format do you prefer?
a. Feature multiple foreign editions of just one author in each post.
b. Feature multiple authors/books of just one language in each post.

Leave me a message in the comments, or email me at wantmyya at gmail dot com.

Authors, if you're interested in having your foreign editions featured please send me an note at the same email.

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday again and that means I need your help. Tell me what to read. What do you think is noteworthy? What are you loving that you don't think is getting enough attention?

I used to find all kinds of fabulous books at work, but alas, the bookstore I worked for is no more. This means that I'm depending on you, yes you my lovely readers, to tell me what's new and hot. For the next few months I'm going to have my head buried in text books so it's your job to help me find the good stuff and retain my sanity. :)

So come on, leave a comment and tell me what you're reading.

Eyecatcher: Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Dearly Departed
by Lia Habel
http://www.liahabel.com

Del Rey
ISBN: 9780345523310
Release Date: October 18, 2011

from the author's site:

Almost two hundred years in the future, Nora Dearly lives in a world of bustled gowns, fake manners, watery tea, and uppity lords and ladies.

Thank God the zombies came to rescue her.

Dragged into the night by the living dead, Nora soon finds herself fighting for the father she thought long gone, the friend she was forced to leave behind – and the love of a handsome, noble young army captain.

Who just happens to be a walking corpse.

why it caught my eye:

Gorgeous cover, don't ya think? How could it not catch your eye? I'm a sucker for steampunk and this one looks like a good one. I can't wait for it to come out. What do you think? Anyone else looking forward to this release?

Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

2011-09-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Ghost and the Goth
by Stacey Kade
http://www.staceykade.com

Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423124870
Release date: May 10, 2011
(above info is for the paperback version)

from the author's site:

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star…and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

my thoughts:

The Ghost and the Goth is a fun quick read. Stacey Kade's characters are people that you enjoy reading about - even queen bee Alona. The book is also set up in an unusual format: each chapter is told in first person, but they switch from Alona's perspective to Will's. It's not as confusing as it sounds since each chapter clearly labels who's talking.

I liked the way the friendship (maybe romance?) develops between Alona and Will. These are two people who never spoke to each other at school, they wouldn't dream of it (ok, maybe he dreamed about it). Now that Alona's dead, her choices are rather limited. While you still occasionally see Alona's popular girl side come out, you also see who she really is inside. Turns out that Alona isn't that bad after all. She and Will are good for each other; I'm looking forward to watching them team up again.

Now that I've finished The Ghost and the Goth, I'm really looking forward to reading The Queen of the Dead. I've already grown attached to Alona and Will and I want to see what they're up to next. Book 3, Body and Soul releases next spring and you know that one's going on my wishlist too.

Highly Recommended for anyone looking for a light-hearted book that they can fly right through. Check it out!

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

2011-09-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Fallen

by Lauren Kate

http://www.laurenkatebooks.net

Ember

ISBN: 9780385739139

Release Date: September 28, 2010

(above info is for the paperback version)

from the author's site:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

my thoughts:

It took a little bit for me to get into Fallen, but once I was hooked, I was hooked. I need to get a hold of Torment and Passion, pronto. Fallen reminded me of my favorite gothic stories where you're never sure who to trust. And in typical gothic style Luce has two guys to choose from and you're not sure who the safe choice is. Both seem dangerous and appealing at the same time.

If you like a good gothic tale with a classic love-triangle then I strongly recommend reading the Fallen books by Lauren Kate.

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-08-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

It's that time again. :) I know, I know....it hasn't been that time in a while. I've been slacking. Anyway..... It's time for you to recommend some books to me. You tell me what's new and hot. What should I add to my must-buy list?

Eyecatcher: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

2011-08-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Juliet Immortal

by Stacey Jay

Delacorte

http://www.staceyjay.com

ISBN: 9780385740166

Release Date: August 9, 2011

from the author's site:

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But Romeo didn't anticipate that Juliet would be granted eternital life, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light.

For 700 years, Juliet has struggled to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent, while Romeo has fought for the dark side, seeking to destroy the human heart. Until now.

Now Juliet has found her own forbidden love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy their happiness.

why it caught my eye:

This popped up as a recommend on Amazon and I was so excited because I really like Stacey Jay. Somehow I hadn't known this book was coming, but once I saw it and read the premise I knew it was an instant add to my wishlist. I'm really excited for the release of Juliet Immortal and I hope you are too. :)

Author Interview: Jo Ramsey

2011-05-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday my lovely readers! Can you remember the last Monday Interview? Yeah, me neither. lol Today we have the fabulous Jo Ramsey visiting and we are so happy to have her.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I started telling stories when I was two or three, and started writing them down when I was five. I was bullied throughout school, so writing became my way to escape that. I have a drawer full of spiral notebooks containing stories I’ve written, most of which will never see the light of day. My first YA publication didn’t happen until I was 39; that was Connection, the first book in my Reality Shift series, which came out in January 2010. Since then, two more books in Reality Shift have been published, and my new series The Dark Lines launches in May.

I used to teach special education, and have taught at all grades from kindergarten right up through high school. I live in Massachusetts with my two daughters, my husband, and two cats, one of which likes to try to get me to play fetch with her when I’m supposed to be writing.

2. What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

Like I said, I used to make up stories before I even learned to write. I had a lot of ideas bouncing around my imagination, and I had to get them out somehow! I started writing stories that I would consider YA when I was a young adult myself; well, actually, when I was about 13. That’s kind of where I got stuck.

3. Tell us about your most recent/upcoming release.

My upcoming release, The Black Bridge, is the first book in my urban fantasy series The Dark Lines, about a group of teenagers with psychic abilities who unintentionally become involved in the universal war between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. In The Black Bridge, we meet Topher James, who starts fighting the forces of darkness after one takes his best friend from him.

4. Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

For my series books, I have to do some plotting in advance or I run the risk of breaking continuity. I have to make sure I don’t contradict anything I’ve written previously, and that I remember important details. But once I take care of that and maybe make a few notes about what I think is going to happen in the story, I just start writing and see where the characters take me.

5. Many authors have told me that their characters talk to them, or sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

Oh, good grief, they never shut up! LOL. Honestly, in writing The Dark Lines (I’ve written the first drafts of all the books in the series), there were times I felt like the narrators were writing the stories and I was just the one with my fingers on the keyboard. When I write, my characters often take over the story and steer it in the direction they want it to go, and if I write something they don’t agree with, they tell me.
I think writing is the only career in which you can say you hear voices and not be thought crazy.

6. Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Hands down, Blake Walker, who readers will meet in book 2 of The Dark Lines. He’s an adopted former foster child whose mother physically abused him because of his psychic abilities, but he has a good heart and strong loyalty to his friends and his adoptive mother. And he’s something very special, but I can’t tell you what because that would be a spoiler.

7. What hobbies do you have when you’re not writing?

I don’t have any hobbies…unless you count learning Japanese, which I’m doing because my husband learned the language so he could watch anime, and sometimes he throws in Japanese words and phrases to confuse me, so I want to learn what he’s saying.

8. If you had not become a writer, what would you have done instead?

I never had plans to be anything other than a writer, and a teacher, but I don’t teach anymore.

9. Where can readers find you online?

My website is http://www.joramsey.com. I’m on Twitter as @JoRamseyYA, and I have a Facebook profile as well.
My two urban fantasy series Reality Shift and The Dark Lines can be found at Jupiter Gardens Press http://www.jupitergardens.com, as well as on Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and probably other third party sites.
I’m working on a website for The Dark Lines and one for Reality Shift, so stay tuned for those!

10. Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

What do you look for in the characters you read about? What makes a character someone you would want to get to know better?

Thanks so much for visiting Want My YA today, Jo. :) It was great having you here. Readers be sure to post your answer to her question in the comments. It's great to hear from you.

Winners!!!

2011-05-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

With the help of random.org I have selected the winners for copies of Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. And the winners are.....

Ted S. and Beth S.

Please contact me at wantmyya at gmail dot com with your mailing info. If I don't hear from you by Saturday I'll have to choose new winners. (you don't want me to do that do you? lol)

Thank you again to everyone who entered. I hope you'll keep checking back for more reviews, interviews, features, and hopefully more giveaways as well.

Eyecatcher: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

2011-05-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Wake Unto Me

by Lisa Cach

Speak

http://www.lisacach.com

ISBN: 9780142414361

Release Date: March 31, 2011

from the author's site:

Caitlyn Monahan knows she belongs somewhere else. It’s what her dead mother’s note suggested, and it’s what her recurring nightmares allude to. Desperate to flee these terrifying dreams—and her small town—she accepts a spot at a boarding school in France. Only, when she arrives, her nightmares get worse.

But then there are her amazing dreams, so vivid and so real, with visits from an alluring, mysterious, and gorgeous Italian boy from the 1500s. Caitlyn knows they are soul mates, but how can she be in love with someone who exists only in her dreams?

Then, as her reality and dream world collide, Caitlyn searches for the real reason why she was brought to this school. And what she discovers will change her life forever.

why it caught my eye:

This was another title that popped up as an Amazon Recommend. I like the dream angle. I'm already wondering what all of the connections are. :) This one is definitely on my never-ending wishlist. Anyone out there read it yet? What did you think?

Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

2011-05-07T12:24:00.000-05:00

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Philomel (Penguin)

http://www.rutasepetys.com

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com

ISBN: 9780399254123

Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site:

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?

my thoughts:

I'm not sure I can properly put everything Between Shades of Gray made me feel into words. The emotions of Lina and her family were so palpable that I sometimes had trouble separating myself from the story. Reading the story of Lina and her family I felt their fear, anger, and confusion. Even writing about it now, it's all coming back.

Lina is a fabulously strong character. Despite everything she and her family endure, she holds onto herself and her hope and finding her father again. Strong as Lina is though, it is her mother's strength that astounds me. Through it all, Mrs. Vilkas is a pillar of strength for all of the deportees. She holds everyone together when they are ready to fall apart.

I don't think there is a single character in Between Shades of Gray that I didn't find myself caring about in some way. Everyone's fate mattered to me; they felt that real.

This is a story that needs to be read. This is a history that needs to be told. Lina and her family may be fictional, but these things did happen, and we should honor the memory of those who suffered and died by sharing their story. I'm so glad that Ruta Sepetys sat down to write Between Shades of Gray and share these events with the world. I admit being of Lithuanian ancestry makes me even more emotional about this story; it felt very personal, even knowing that my family came to America prior to Stalin and his atrocities.

And now for the fun part:

Because I believe so strongly that this story needs to be read. I'm giving away not one, but two copies. To enter to win just leave a comment on this post. You can talk about this book, you can talk about another book that really touched you, just say something. I'll announce the winners sometime Tuesday May 10 (specific time will depend on when I get up). If you're like me and you think you'll forget to check back please leave your email in your comment so I can contact you.

Eyecatcher: Die for Me by Amy Plum

2011-05-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

Die for Me

by Amy Plum

HarperCollins

http://www.amyplumbooks.com

ISBN: 9780062004017

Release Date: May 10, 2011

from the author's site:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

why it caught my eye:

Die for Me popped up as a recommend on Amazon. I love the catchy title and gorgeous cover. I'm intrigued by the plot. I love paranormal stories and this one sounds different from the typical. I can't wait for Die for Me's release so I can check it out further.

Review: Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

2011-04-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

Hyperion

http://www.katiealender.com

ISBN: 9781423108771

Release Date: June 22, 2010

(ISBN & Release date are for the paperback edition)

from the author's site:

When Alexis’s little sister Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own Goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Kasey is changing, too. Her blue eyes go green and she speaks in old-fashioned language, then forgets chunks of time.

Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey’s shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll-loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister — but what if that green-eyed girl isn’t even Kasey anymore?

my thoughts:

I read Bad Girls Don't Die for the YA book club that I run at work. I'm so glad this one won the vote, because it was an awesome book and I love that I finally got a chance to read it. Bad Girls Don't Die is an intense read, but it's a quick read. I flew through it. I was up until 1:30 in the morning finishing it. I told my boyfriend how freaky the book was and he tried to get me to stop reading it so late at night. My response: "I can't stop now!" Yes it was that good. I don't normally like being scared, but I wasn't about to put Bad Girls Don't Die down for anything. I can't wait to read Katie Alender's future releases. I highly recommend Bad Girls Don't Die to anyone and everyone!

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-04-21T11:19:00.002-05:00

Hey there lovely readers! What's everyone reading this week? I need some suggestions for my Tuesday Eyecatcher feature. I know there are plenty of books out there that I want to read, but with my airhead brain I don't have any of them written down. :) So I need your help. What do you want to recommend to me?

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-03-30T05:15:00.001-05:00

Hey there lovely readers! How's things? I know I've been a little MIA lately and I'm sorry. School tends to get in the way of everything. :) I'm working on getting caught up. If you sent me an email that I haven't responded to, I'm sorry about that also. I'm hoping to get caught up on those in the next week or so here.

Ok, now to the point, it's You Recommend Wednesday, which means it's your turn to tell me what to read. So let's have it. What are you reading that I need to check out?

Eyecatcher: When Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

2011-03-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

When Stars Go Blue

by Caridad Ferrer

St. Martin's Griffin

http://www.caridadferrer.com/

ISBN: 9780312650049

Release Date: November 23, 2010

from the author's site:

A dancer driven to succeed.

A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.

The summer they share.

And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad’s affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

why it caught my eye:

As usual, this was a title I found while shelving books at work. I honestly can't remember at this point if it was the title or the cover that caught my atention first. I was a dancer when I was younger and dreamed of dancing professionally, so yeah, that's another plus. :) When Stars Go Blue is another addition to my wishlist. I'm looking forward to checking it out. Anyone read this one? Any thoughts?

Eyecatcher: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

2011-03-15T11:19:00.000-05:00

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Philomel (Penguin)

http://www.rutasepetys.com

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com

ISBN: 9780399254123

Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site:

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?

why it caught my eye:

I read about Between Shades of Gray in Publisher's Weekly, while on lunch break at work. The minute I finished the article I ran out to the sales floor and pre-ordered my copy. I don't normally read books of such a serious nature, but I know this is one I need to read. Part of the reason for such interest on my part is that I'm of Lithuanian descent and it's not often that I find books about Lithuanians. Not only that, but Ruta Sepetys is writing about a part of Lithuanian (and Latvian and Estonian) history that many people know nothing about. I think it's great that this story is being told. I can't wait to get my copy and start reading it. I recommend you check it out today, or rather, a week from today when it releases. :)

Review: The Line by Teri Hall

2011-02-10T09:00:00.001-06:00

The Line

by Teri Hall

Dial

http://www.terihall.com

ISBN: 978083734661

Release Date: March 4, 2010

(above information is for the hardcover edition)

from the author's site:

Rachel lives with her mother on The Property. The good thing about living there is that it’s far from the city where the oppressive government is most active. The bad thing, at least to most people, is that it’s close to the Line—an uncrossable section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire country.

She can see the Line from the greenhouse windows, but she is forbidden to go near it. Across the Line is Away, and though Rachel has heard many whispers about the dangers there, she’s never really believed the stories. Until the day she hears a recording that could only have come from across the Line.

It’s a voice asking for help.

Who sent the message? What is her mother hiding? And to what lengths will Rachel go in order to do what she thinks is right?

my thoughts:

The Line is my current book club book for my Young Adult book club, but I've been curious about it for awhile now. It's a very interesting, engrossing read. Teri Hall's writing is very smooth and it's so easy to sit down with The Line and become immersed in the story.

I was so immersed reading about Rachel, Vivian, and Ms. Moore that I was a bit jarred by the ending. I had a moment of "Wait where's the next page?" Thankfully book 2, Away will be releasing in September. Here's hoping I have the patience to wait that long.

If you're a fan of dystopian stories or really just like books that look at our world a little differently I strongly recommend checking out The Line. It's a quick read, and I imagine once you're done, like me, you'll find yourself wishing September would get here faster. And even better The Line will be available in paperback very soon - current release listed on Amazon is April 14th.

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-02-09T09:00:00.001-06:00

Well readers, it's that time of the week again. It's time for you to tell me what to read. So come on, out with it, what are you reading and loving right now?

Eyecatcher: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

2011-02-08T00:24:00.000-06:00

The Iron Witch

by Karen Mahoney

Flux

http://www.kazmahoney.com

ISBN: 9780738725826

Release Date: January 25, 2011

from the author's site:

FREAK. That’s what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna’s own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

why it caught my eye:

This was one that I started hearing about online before coming across it at work. I was intrigued simply because the word "witch" was in the title. I can't help it. I love all things witchy, especially stories. Granted the description talks more about Faeries than witches but that's okay too. I like faerie stories also.

Anyone out there read this one yet? What did you think?

You Recommend Wednesday

2011-02-02T13:20:00.000-06:00

Hey there lovely readers! Well, like most of the Midwest I'm snowed in for the day. Which makes today the perfect day for reading and blogging. :) So what do you all have for me? What's everyone reading these days? Me, I'm in a big Steampunk mood right now so that's what I'm reading.

And for your viewing pleasure here's the view outside my basement bedroom window:

Review: Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-01-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

Infinity

Chronicles of Nick book 1

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

St. Martin's Griffin

http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com

ISBN: 9780312599072

Release Date: May 25, 2010

(above info is for the hardcover)

from the author's site:

At 14, Nick Gautier is an average kid who runs with the wrong crowd. But on the night he decides to go straight and refuses to mug an innocent tourist, his crew turns on him and just as he thinks his life is over... a new one begins.

Kyrian of Thrace isn't just a vampire slayer, he's a Dark-Hunter and he introduces Nick to a world that he never imagined.

With new enemies who make his old ones look like wimps, Nick must either measure up or get sized for a body bag. It's kill or be killed and this kid who was born on the wrong side finds a strength inside him that he never knew existed.

Now if he can only find someone to help battle the demons that don't reside inside him.

my thoughts:

I've loved everything I've ever read from Sherrilyn Kenyon (or her alias Kinley MacGregor) and Infinity did not disappoint. It did, however, surprise me. As she, herself, says on her site, every time you think you know a character you're going to learn that not everything is as it seems.

I read this one for the YA book club that I run, though I'd have read it anyway because I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's work. I had some familiarity with Nick because of reading the Dark Hunter books, but Infinity really gets inside his head. (I also learned I was mis-pronouncing his last name) I really felt for Nick throughout the story. I think to some extent everyone can relate to being bullied or having the people around you not listen to what you're trying to say. It's beyond frustrating and Nick's frustration comes through the page very clearly.

I can't wait for Invincible to come out. It's going to pick up right where Infinity left off and I definitely want to know what's going to happen next.

Eyecatcher: The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

2011-01-25T11:14:00.005-06:00

The Marbury Lens

by Andrew Smith

http://www.ghostmedicine.com

Feiwel & Friends

ISBN: 9780312613426

Release Date: November 2010

from the publisher's site:

Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.

There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.

Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.

Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.

But it’s not.

why it caught my eye:

This is another cover that caught my attention at work. It's currently displayed on a table, so I noticed it when I walked by. I'm intrigued by the premise and can't wait to take a look at it. So yes, I have yet another addition to my ever-growing wishlist. :)

I'm back!!!

2011-01-06T17:54:00.002-06:00

Hey there lovely readers! I'm sure you've all missed me. lol November and December were insane. Here's hoping January calms down so I can get back to our regularly scheduled blog. :)

If you sent me an email and haven't heard from me, I'll be working on responding to those in the next week here. Just bear with me while I get back into the swing of things.

Here's to a fabulous 2011!

Blame it on NaNoWriMo

2010-11-04T18:11:00.002-05:00

You're probably not going to see or hear much from me for the rest of the year. I'll try to stop in when I can and post reviews as I get books read. However, for the month of November I'm participating in NaNoWriMo - that's National Novel Writing Month for the uninitiated. It's going to be writing madness for the rest of the month. :)

After November is the madness that is December, also known as the holiday shopping season for those of us in retail. Again, I'll try to swing by, but December will be full of work, finals, research papers, and most importantly sleep.

So I'm apologizing in advance for my potential absence. If you send me an email and I don't respond, I'm sorry. Tweet me at @heathermriley or find me on Facebook (also Heather M. Riley) if you really need to get in touch with me. I'm usually pretty good about checking those on a daily basis.

And lastly.... Good luck to all my fellow NaNoWriMo writers! Let's all hit that magical 50k!

Author Interview: Beth Fehlbaum

2010-10-25T07:00:00.006-05:00

Happy Monday lovely readers! Today my guest is Beth Fehlbaum, author of Hope in Patience. And here she is:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been married for 25 years to my high school sweetheart. We have three grown daughters who are all off pursuing their dreams of being a college professor, writer, and nurse, respectively. During the school year, I teach 5th grade Language Arts in a bilingual education program in a small district in East Texas. I live in a house our family built several years ago, right on the edge of the Piney Woods of East Texas. I write books during the summer and whenever I can carve out the time. I love both my jobs!

2. What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

I’ve been writing all my life. I wrote mostly poetry when I was a child and young adult. I really began writing short stories when I was going through recovery for childhood sexual abuse. It helped me process the excruciating pain I was in as I struggled to accept that people who were supposed to love and protect me had not chosen to do so. At the same time, I had also started working out (I used to weigh about 100 pounds more than I do now, and one of the first things I worked on in therapy was no longer stuffing myself with food to numb my feelings). I would read books while on the treadmill, and one day I went into my daughter’s room to check out her bookshelf to see if she had anything interesting to read. I saw a book called Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, 2003).

Reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes was an epiphany for me! Here was something unlike anything else I’d ever read: a gritty, realistic story for teens, told in a way that spoke to my heart. One day my therapist suggested I try writing a novel. It took me about 4 months of being stuck inside my head, unable to pull myself out of my own feelings of grief, disbelief, and rage. One day, I decided to try imagining someone else’s story. What if the main character was a teen girl who got out of her abusive situation much earlier than I did? What if the story focused more on her first tenuous steps into recovery, and how she carved out a new life for herself with the father she’d never known until CPS removed her from her home? That’s how I met Ashley Nicole Asher, age 15, and ended up creating the fictional small town of Patience, Texas.

3. Tell us about your most recent/upcoming release?

Hope in Patience is coming from WestSide Books in late October, 2010. It’s already available for preorder on Amazon and Barnes & Noble! Hope in Patience is the story of 15 year old Ashley Nicole Asher, who has been sexually abused by her stepfather, Charlie, since the age of 9. At the point that Hope in Patience starts, Ashley’s been living with her dad, David, stepmom, Bev, and stepbrother, Ben, for about six months. Some readers may be aware that before Hope in Patience, I wrote Courage in Patience. It was published by a company that is now out of business, called Kunati Books. Courage in Patience is the story of Ashley’s first tenuous steps into recovery from childhood sexual abuse, right when she is removed from Charlie and Cheryl’s home. The book I wrote when my therapist first suggested it was Courage in Patience. It’s still available from private sellers on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but it’s officially out of print. Hopefully at some point WestSide will want to reissue it. You don’t have to have read Courage in Patience in order for Hope in Patience to be meaningful to you, however.

Hope in Patience finds Ashley at a crossroads. She’s recovering from Charlie breaking her arm when he and Ashley’s mom, Cheryl, tried to take Ashley from Patience back to Northside, the suburb of Dallas where they live. Ashley has to face Charlie and Cheryl in court because of him breaking Ashley’s arm. Ashley’s mom is very devoted to Charlie, and this is a very hard reality for Ashley to deal with. She’s working through the pain with her therapist, Scott “Dr. Matt Matthews”, and using cross-country running as a way to relax and cope. Another reason she likes cross country is Joshua Brandt, a cute guy on the team that she admires from afar, but she doesn’t know what she’d do if he asked her out.

Ashley’s friends include Zaquoiah “Z.Z.” Freeman, whose family is one of the few African-American families in Patience. Roxanne Blake is 4’6” tall, and she has scars on her face from a car accident that killed her parents when she was ten. Roxanne’s boyfriend is Kevin Cooper, who is a gentle giant. He’s not the brightest crayon in the box, but he’s crazy about Roxanne. T.W. Griffin quit the Patience Panthers football team, and his dad, the head football coach, is still angry about it. Krystle “K.C.” Williamson is newly arrived from Houston, and dealing with parents who think that K.C.’s being a lesbian can be cured by a quick trip to J.C. Penney’s to get some skirts for her instead of the jeans and Nirvana t-shirts she usually wears.

When a horrific accident occurs, Ashley is brought face-to-face with the reality of her situation, and she must decide whether to embrace the new life she has with her dad and his family, or retreat to hiding in the pine wardrobe dresser that is the closest thing to a closet she has in Patience. (When Ashley was a child, when she was scared or trying to keep Charlie from molesting her, she’d hide in her closet. She slept there most nights.) Hope in Patience is the story of hope triumphing over fear, and it is a story for everyone. It is a survival story.

4. Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

It’s a combination of both. I know what the ending will be, and I know the major plot points. I map out a basic idea of what is most important to me to communicate through the story. As I write, it may change, or I may drop some plot points if they do not contribute to the strength of the story. For example, with my current work in progress, the third Patience book called Truth in Patience, I intended to include a sub plot of church burnings, based loosely on a series of church burnings we had in the East Texas area last spring. However, once I began plotting out the book, I realized that the church burning story would take away from Ashley’s story—so out they went.

One thing I heard from readers about Courage in Patience was that anytime the story took them away from Ashley, they were mildly irritated—which is great because it means that they connected to her so strongly, they didn’t want to leave her storyline. I listened to them and kept that in mind when I wrote Hope in Patience. When I get stuck, I ask myself what happens next. Sometimes it’s quite surprising!

5. Many authors have told me that their characters talk to them, or sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

I do hear them in my mind; they usually sound like the people I had in mind when I crafted the character. My characters are usually combinations of people I’ve known, but not always. Marvella Brown, for example- the Patience High School secretary and mischief maker—I have no idea where she came from, but I know exactly what she looks and sounds like!

6. Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Oh, gosh, that’s like asking a mom to say which of her children is her favorite! I love all of them , with the exception of Charlie, because of what he put Ashley through.

7. What hobbies do you have when you’re not writing?

I am traveling more and more, since all three of my kids are going to college out-of-state. Around the house, I like to garden. I have a flower garden every spring and summer. My husband and I planted a bunch of pine tree saplings a few years ago, and I nurture those. Because we live in the woods, we have a lot of wildlife come up to eat, and we enjoy watching them. We have two dogs that I like to walk, and I just enjoy nature. I also like doing things that support the East Texas Crisis Center, which provides services and shelter to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and I’m on the Advisory Board of Survivors in Action, which likewise provides help to abuse victims. I also support Lavender Power, a support organization for abuse victims and survivors, the Texas Freedom Network, and the Human Rights Campaign.

8. If you had not become a writer, what would you have done instead?

I’d have stayed a teacher, because I love it so much. I also really loved being a stay-at-home mom when my kids were small.

9. Where can authors find you online?

My website is http://www.bethfehlbaumya.com ; I’m on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ beth.fehlbaum ; and Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bethfehlbaum

10. Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

What is most important to you when you read a novel? Is it characters? Voice? Whether its told in 1st or 3rd person?

Thanks so much for stopping by Want My YA today. It was great to be a part of your blog tour. :) I hope everyone takes a moment to check out Hope in Patience. It sounds like an inspiring read.

Have a great blog tour, and readers, don't forget to leave a comment and answer Beth's question.

Eyecatcher: The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

2010-10-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Exiled Queen
by Cinda Williams Chima

Disney Hyperion
http://www.cindachima.com
ISBN: 9781423118244
Release Date: September 28, 2010

from the author's site:

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, hunted by the powerful Bayar family, Han Alister makes a devil’s bargain with the clans. If they sponsor his schooling at Mystwerk Academy at Oden’s Ford, he will become their magical sell-sword against the power-hungry Wizard Council.

Han and his clan friend Fire Dancer undertake the dangerous journey south through war-torn Arden. Once in Oden’s Ford, it doesn’t take long for the smoldering feud between Han and Micah Bayar to kindle into flame. After several attempts on his life, Han knows he has to find a way to defend himself.

In the magical dream world of Aediion, Han meets the mysterious Crow, a wizard with a long-standing grudge against the Bayars. Crow offers to tutor Han in wizardry in exchange for his help. Han agrees, once again forced into a bargain he hopes he won’t regret.

Meanwhile, Han’s friends Fire Dancer and Cat Tyburn struggle with their own demons. Dancer is determined to become a clan flashcrafter, despite his charmcaster status. Cat carries a load of guilt, as the only survivor of the slaughter of the gangs in Ragmarket and Southbridge.

Resuming her disguise as gently-born Rebecca Morley, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna travels with her friend Amon Byrne and his triple of cadets to Wien House, the military academy at Oden’s Ford. There she hopes she will find both temporary sanctuary from a forced marriage and the education she needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

Much of Raisa’s education takes place outside of the classroom. As she mingles with students of all classes from throughout the Seven Realms, she forges the kind of friendships that don’t happen amid the cut-throat politics of the Gray Wolf Court. She also struggles to deal with her attraction to Amon—an attraction he seems determined to discourage.

When Han Alister asks the girl he knows as Rebecca to tutor him, she agrees. The streetlord turned wizard with the complicated past fascinates her, and he makes it clear the interest is mutual. But Han blames Queen Marianna and the Bayars for the loss of his family. As their relationship deepens, Raisa suspects that if Han knew her true identity, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her.

why it caught my eye:

Aside from the beautiful cover on this one, The Exiled Queen is a title I've been waiting for since I finished reading The Demon King. Cinda Williams Chima writes great fantasy so I can't wait to get my hands on this one. I swear my wishlist grows by the day. :)

Review: The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan

2010-10-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

The Mermaid's Mirror

by L.K. Madigan

Houghton Mifflin

http://www.lkmadigan.com

ISBN: 9780547194912

Release Date: October 4, 2010

from the author's site:

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach—walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves—the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.

But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.

Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman—with a silvery tail.

Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …

my thoughts:

The Mermaid's Mirror is an enchanting tale about growing up and self-discovery. Lena thinks she knows who she is, but as her sixteenth birthday draws near things start happening and Lena fears she's losing her mind. The reality is nothing Lena could ever have imagined.

Anyone who's ever felt like they don't belong or can't fit in, will relate to Lena's struggle. After reading The Mermaid's Mirror, I really hope there's more. There are characters from the story that I would like to revisit.

Check out The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan for yourself and let me know what you think!

Eyecatcher: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

2010-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Low Red Moon
by Ivy Devlin

Bloomsbury
http://www.ivydevlin.com
ISBN: 9781599905105
Release Date: September 14, 2010

from the author's site:

It's the story of Avery Hood, who is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.

She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before.

It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...

But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben?

why it caught my eye:

That bright red cover acted like a beacon drawing me to the display table where Low Red Moon rested. I picked it up to check out the blurb and it sounded exactly like my kind of book. :) So yes, it's yet another title to add to my ever-growing wishlist.

Your Turn Thursday! Reader Interview with Abbey

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's something I promised all of you a long time ago: Reader Interviews! Here's the first (and hopefully not the last) of my new Your Turn Thursday feature. The questions for this interview come from the Your Turn question from my Author interviews. The author name in parenthesis is the interview the question came from. Please note that some questions have been edited slightly so that they make sense outside of the author's interview.

Name: Abbey

Brief Bio:

I'm 15 and live in northern Illinois. I've been reading almost my whole life. The other day I counted my books and I had about 230 but, I have gotten more since then. I have a younger sister, Alayna, and a kitten named Jerry. One of the only two older boy cousins I have just got married in a town in southern Illinois. I got my Learner's Permit in July so I can drive with a parent! Haha. I'm pretty bad at writing biography's of myself, so I'll stop now.

Who do you think would win in a fight – Edward Cullen or Batman? (Saundra Mitchell)

Edward Cullen. Duh! He could read Batman's mind and then outrun him or blind him with his cuteness. :)

What do you think about your own nose? Oh and for extra credit: where is the best chocolate in your hometown? (Sydney Salter)

I like my own nose most of the time! And in my hometown there's not a lot of chocolate shops... If you like dark chocolate then it's probably Chocolat by Daniel.

I'd usually ask the typical: Team Edward or Team Jacob (lol)...but I'd like to know what kinds of stories you enjoy reading the most (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Historical, Coming of Age, Romance, etc). (Leigh Brescia)

Team Edward! Haha. I enjoy reading stories that I can relate to.

What element in a book makes you most want to turn the page: Is it suspense, caring about what happens to the character, humor, romance, emotion, or something else? What makes you turn the page?(Cheryl Renee Herbsman)

What makes me turn the page is caring about what happens to the character, romance, emotion, and suspense!

I would love to know if teens want to read serious books or comedies. (Simone Elkeles)

Lots of teens that I know, want to read serious books that have humor in it so they aren't completely serious.

I would love to know what one quality about an author and/or their work turns you into full-fledged, card-carrying, lifetime fans! You know, the kind that makes you tell all your friends and really spread the word about a book and/or its author? (Michelle Zink)

I'm made into a lifetime fan when the books by the author are good and the author tries to connect with their readers.

Are you a fan of happy endings, suspenseful endings, surprise endings or bittersweet ones? And what is your favourite ending and why? (Samira Armin Hodges)

I'm a fan of happy endings. It's my favorite because I get so into my books that I feel what the characters do a lot of the time so if something sad happens I get sad and so on.

What book is at the top of your re-read list, the book that's a total classic for you, and why? (Rhonda Stapleton)

The book at the top of my re-read list is Dreamland by Sarah Dessen because it could happen to anyone.

I'd love to know whether your readers' reading habits are seasonal? I've often heard that lighter fare is great for the summer. Is that true for your readers? If so, what are some book fall/winter books that you enjoy reading? As for me, I prefer to read inside, so I'm partial to the rainy day reading mode and of course, I tend toward darker fare. (Swati Avasthi)

I read anything at anytime. If I see a book that I like I'll pick it up and read it whenever.

I'm curious about what attracts you to a book. Do you browse the bookstore or head in knowing what you want to read? (Shair Maurer)

I have a list currently. But I will go in and find a book that looks really good and get it even if it isn't on my list.

Thanks so much for your responses Abbey! It was great having you here this week. :)

Remember, if you want to be interviewed as a reader for Your Turn Thursday you just need to send an email to wantmyya at gmail dot com and I'll send you the questions.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hey there lovely readers! What's everyone reading this week? Got any good books to recommend to me?

I'm finally preparing to read Mockingjay. lol I was so impatient to get it and then it seemed like everything got in my way whenever I wanted to read it. I can't wait. :)

Eyecatcher: Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

2010-09-28T11:31:00.002-05:00

Dead Beautiful
by Yvonne Woon

Disney Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423119562
Release Date: September 21, 2010

from the publisher's site:

A haunting love story about desire, danger, and destiny. After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California's Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, "crude sciences," and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It's here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can't seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee's life. Dante's not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own... Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why. Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

why it caught my eye:

I'm just loving YA covers these days. There are so many beautiful eye-catching covers that make me want to pick up a book and get lost in it. I think part of what makes Dead Beautiful's cover so appealing to me is that it reminds me a bit of my Senior pictures from high school. :) All I know is I've found yet one more book to add to my wishlist.

Review: Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer

2010-09-26T13:14:00.000-05:00

Twelfth Grade Kills

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod book 5

by Heather Brewer

Dutton

http://www.heatherbrewer.com

ISBN: 9780525422242

Release Date: September 21, 2010

from the author's site:

It all comes down to this.

Vlad’s running out of time. The Elysian Council has given him weeks to live, and that’s if the Slayer Society doesn’t kill him – along with all the citizens of Bathory – first. Then there’s the issue of Vlad’s father, who may or may not still be alive after all these years, and oh yeah, that tiny little detail in the Pravus prophecy about Vlad enslaving Vampirekind and the human race. So much for college applications.

In this epic finale to Heather Brewer’s heart-stopping Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, dark secrets will be revealed, old friends will become enemies, and warm blood will run cold. Just be careful it isn’t yours.

my thoughts:

Oh my freaking goodness! Talk about going out with a bang. :) I don't want to say too much because you really have to read this book for yourself. Twelfth Grade Kills is full of surprises and betrayals. You won't believe it until you read it. And read it you must. I mean that.

I've loved The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod from the very beginning. I was both elated and saddened to see this final volume released. At the same time, I know Auntie Heather has more in the works and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with. I just know she can only get better from here.

Author Interview: Denise Jaden

2010-09-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday lovely Readers! Today's guest is Denise Jaden, author of Losing Faith. Denise is stopping by today as a part of her official blog tour. To see her other blog stops and find out about the contest Denise is hosting stop by Denise Jaden's website at http://www.denisejaden.com. What I can tell you is that leaving comments on today's post would be a very good idea. :)

1.Tell us a little about yourself.

I've been writing for close to six years. Aside from writing, I'm a professional Polynesian dancer and a homeschooling mom. I've held a wide variety of jobs over the years, including church secretary, fried chicken cook, and mushroom farmer.

2.What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

I started journaling just over six years ago, and somehow, accidentally, turned my journal into a story. Once the story and characters became fictional, I had so much fun I couldn't stop.

Even though my first novel was officially written for the adult market, I've come to realize that my writing voice has always leaned toward YA. The inner teen in me is very strong!

3.Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

LOSING FAITH is about a teen, Brie Jenkins, who is on a quest to solve the mystery of her sister's death. Through her journey, clues about her late, so-called predictable sister lead Brie to some very unexpected places.

4.Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?
I've been a plotter and a panster, but now I prefer plotting. Even though my outlines are very long and involved (the last one was 33,000 words), I'm not afraid to stray from them, even if it takes me in a brand new direction. I do like having the outline to come back to when I'm stuck though.

5.Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?
I'm very close to my characters. I have a theatre background, and I'd say I "become" my characters more than "hear" them. I slip into character. This is one reason that I hate being interrupted while writing.

6.Who is your favorite character (of your own)?
Unfair question! I really, really love all my characters, but okay, if I HAD to name one, I'd say Tessa Lockbaum. Tessa was not in my very involved outline for LOSING FAITH, but just showed up in the writing and took over every scene she was in.

7.What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?
As I mentioned, I'm a Polynesian dancer, which I love. Aside from that, parenting, and reading, there really isn't time for much else.

8.If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?
I think I'd be living my life in quite a similar way. Except I'd have more free time.

9.Where can readers find you online?
My website is the best place to find me - www.denisejaden.com and readers can also find links to my Facebook, Blog, and Twitter on there.

10.Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?
I love to hear about recent favorite books. I'm always on the lookout for great reads.

Thanks so much for the interview, Heather!

Thanks for visiting Denise! Remember readers stop by Denise's website to find out where else she'll be in the coming days. And leave those comments! :)

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-09-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

School's back in session. Which probably means that the rest of you, like myself, have less time to read what you want because you're spending all of your free time with homework and required reading. But nonetheless I'll bet that, like me, you're still finding time to read those books that you just can't ignore. :)

So tell me what are you reading these days?

Eyecatcher: Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott

2010-08-31T12:50:00.000-05:00

Delcroix Academy: The Candidates

by Inara Scott

Hyperion

http://www.inarascott.com

ISBN: 9781423116363

Release Date: August 24, 2010

from the author's site:

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that’s not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia’s mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just … happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to people, believing this way she can suppress her powers and keep them hidden.

When recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy offer her a full scholarship, Dancia fears her days of living under the radar may be over. But Delcroix is a school for diplomats’ kids and child geniuses — why are they treating Dancia like she’s special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome. And then there’s her mysterious new friend Jack, who can’t stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at Delcroix, and he wants Dancia to help him figure out what…But neither Jack or Dancia could have imagined what’s really going on behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

why it caught my eye:

This is a title that kept grabbing my attention because it's currently on display at work. I finally decided to see what it was about, and knew right away that I had to add Delcroix Academy to my wish list. Anyone out there read this one yet? What did you think of it?

Eyecatcher: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2010-08-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

Nevermore

by Kelly Creagh

Atheneum

http://www.kellycreagh.com

ISBN: 9781442402003

Release Date: August 31, 2010

from the author's site:

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

why it caught my eye:

What teenager hasn't gone through a Poe phase? I know I did. :) Heck my first pet rat was named Edgar. Thanks to my fascination with Poe (and I'm sure many others), I can't wait to get my hands on Nevermore. Plus you've just got to love that striking cover.

Review: The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

2010-08-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Secret Year

by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Viking

http://www.jenniferhubbard.com

ISBN: 9780670011537

Release Date: January 2010

from the author's site:

Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal Julia left behind. But Colt is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.

my thoughts:

The Secret Year was a different kind of book for me. It was like getting just a little snippet of Colt's life. Jennifer R. Hubbard's writing is absolutely compelling. I read nearly the entire book in one sitting. I couldn't stop reading about Colt and what he was going through. How do you handle grief when you can't show it?

The Secret Year is a book to make you think. I'm glad I read it, and I recommend you do so too.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-08-18T11:59:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday lovely readers! So what's everyone reading this week? I, as usual, am reading multiple books at once, but I'm always up for more recommendations.

So come on, what have you got for me this week?

Eyecatcher: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

2010-08-17T11:57:00.000-05:00

The Replacement

by Brenna Yovanoff

Razorbill (Penguin)

http://www.brennayovanoff.com

ISBN: 9781595143372

Release Date: September 21, 2010

from the author's site:

Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with an oddly intriguing girl named Tate. But when Tate’s baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

why it caught my eye:

How does a cover like that NOT catch your eye? I've been seeing The Replacement over and over again on peoples' GoodReads shelves, so I was really excited when an advanced copy of it came in at work. I can't wait to check it out.

Eyecatcher: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

2010-08-03T14:37:00.000-05:00

Wicked Girls

by Stephanie Hemphill

HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780061853289

Release Date: June 29, 2010

from the publisher's site:

What started out as girls' games became a witch hunt. Wicked Girls is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials told from the perspectives of three of the real young women living in Salem in 1692.

Ann Putnam Jr. plays the queen bee. When her father suggests that a spate of illnesses within the village is the result of witchcraft, Ann grasps her opportunity. She puts in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of the people around her forever.

Mercy Lewis, the beautiful servant in Ann's house, inspires adulation in some and envy in others. With a troubled past, she seizes her only chance at safety.

Margaret Walcott, Ann's cousin, is desperately in love and consumed with fiery jealousy. She is torn between staying loyal to her friends and pursuing the life she dreams of with her betrothed.

With new accusations mounting daily against the men and women of the community, the girls will have to decide: Is it too late to tell the truth?

A Printz Honor winner for Your Own, sylvia, Stephanie Hemphill uses evocative verse to weave a nuanced portrait of one of the most chilling and fascinating times in our nation's history.

why it caught my eye:

This one was sent to me in HarperTeen's HipLit newsletter. As soon as I saw that it dealt with the Salem Witch Trials I knew I had to check it out. I've always been fascinated by that whole event. It's a sad, disturbing time in our history. I'm really curious to see how Stephanie Hemphill handles this story.

Author Interview: Shari Maurer

2010-08-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Another Monday, another author interview. :) This week our guest is Shari Maurer, author of Change of Heart.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in the suburbs of NYC with my husband and three kids. There's a lot of laughing in our house. My favorite TV shows are The Gilmore Girls and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Travel is a big part of my life--I've been to France, The Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Israel, England, Indonesia, Mexico, several Caribbean islands, many of our 50 states and a few provinces in Canada. I drink far more coffee than I should and my ultimate luxury is staying in bed in the morning and reading.

What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

I've been writing in one form or another my whole life. Senior year of college, on a whim, I had applied to NYU film school to study dramatic writing. Even then, when given the choice I chose to write for children. I think I wound up writing YA in part because I wanted to write something my daughter would want to read and partially because it's what I like reading. What a great excuse I have to read all the wonderful YA books that are out there.

Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

Change of Heart is about Emmi, a sixteen year old soccer player who struggles to maintain a normal life, while waiting for a heart transplant, and learns about life, loss and the meaning of true friendship in the process.

Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

For Change of Heart, I kind of knew where I wanted to go and started writing. So I don't have an official outline, but definitely a sense of where I'm heading.

Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

My characters often talk to each other while I'm driving or in the shower. I'm not sure they address me directly, but they certainly chat amongst themselves plenty.

Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Emmi. It's her story and her journey.

What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

Reading, playing tennis, rollerblading, watching Duke basketball and driving my kids around.

If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

Before my kids were born, I worked for the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) on international productions of Sesame Street and other children's programming. When I was home with my kids, I became the PTA guru (I even have a PTA Lifetime Membership) , Girl Scout Leader and charity event planner (my family has coordinated events benefiting the American Heart Association and Hoops 4 Hope). Somewhere in the middle of television production and all the volunteer work lies the perfect job for me--perhaps Event Planner of some sort?

Where can readers find you online?

My website: www.sharimaurer.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/sharimaurer Facebook: www.facebook.com/shari.b.maurer

Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

I'm curious about what attracts you to a book. Do you browse the bookstore or head in knowing what you want to read?

Thanks so much Shari! Your book sounds great, looks like another one to add to my ever expanding wishlist. :) I had to laugh when I read that your characters talk in the car and the shower, that's exactly when mine start talking too. My problem is I can't remember their conversations very well after...lol.

Personally I do a fair amount of browsing, but I also have my list that I buy from. I try to stick to the list so I don't accidentally double buy. I own so many books that sometimes it's difficult to remember if I've already bought something.

Review: Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

2010-07-30T08:39:00.000-05:00

Tagged

by Mara Purnhagen

Harlequin Teen

http://www.marapurnhagen.com

ISBN: 9780373210077

Release Date: March 2010

from the publisher's site:

Can Kate Morgan stand up for herself—without being labeled a snitch?

Kate is just as confused as her best friend, Lan, when she arrives at Cleary High to find the building's been "tagged" with a life-size graffiti mural. Could the culprit be one of their friends or classmates? And is the kind-of-amazing creation really vandalism, or a work of art? She's tempted to stay out of it—mostly because, as the police chief's daughter, she's worried about being labeled a snitch. But when the same mysterious graffiti starts appearing throughout the state, putting more pressure on the authorities to catch the vandal, her investigative instincts kick in.

Now Eli, Kate's favorite coworker at the local coffee shop, is MIA. With Lan preoccupied with her own boy troubles, Kate needs to figure out some things on her own. Like why she can't stop thinking about Eli. And what she will do when all the clues about the graffiti point to someone she's close to…

my thoughts:

Reading Kate's story brought me right back to high school. I could relate to her desire to fade into the background and not be noticed. Tagged tackles some interesting questions regarding art. What is art? Who decides if something is art or vandalism? Not only does Kate come to terms with finding a definition for art, but she also realizes how to define herself.

Overall I think Mara Purnhagen's Tagged was a fun quick read that I easily immersed myself in. It's an enjoyable story of growth. Kate is a really nice girl, and even though she starts out as normal as she believes herself to be, by the end of the story she starts to come into her own.

I like Mara Purnhagen's writing and I'm already looking forward to her next book Past Midnight coming in September.

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2010-07-23T05:12:00.001-05:00

Catching Fire

Hunger Games Book 2

by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic Books

http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com

ISBN: 9780439023498

Release Date: September 1, 2009

My thoughts:

I'm skipping over a description of the book because I don't like to give spoilers and telling you what happens in book 2 reveals some things about book 1.

Catching Fire was as much of a jaw-dropping good read as book 1. The action and the drama is seriously ramped up for book 2 making it darn near impossible to put down. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for Mockingjay to release.

I don't want to say too much here because I don't want to give anything away, but trust me, The Hunger Games is a series that you have got to read.

Your Turn Thursday

2010-07-22T05:08:00.001-05:00

I haven't gotten any takers for Your Turn Thursday interviews yet. Remember if you're a reader and you'd like to be interviewed for Your Turn Thursday send me an email at wantmyya at gmail dot com.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-07-21T05:01:00.000-05:00

It's your turn again....

What's everyone reading this week?

I just finished Catching Fire (review to come soon), and I'm getting ready to start Tagged by Mara Purnhagen.

Eyecatcher: Other by Karen Kincy

2010-07-20T16:44:00.000-05:00

Other

by Karen Kincy

Flux

http://www.karenkincy.com

ISBN: 9780738719191

Release Date: July 1, 2010

from the author's site:

Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate–into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and–most importantly–stay alive.

why it caught my eye:

The fabulous cover is an eyecatcher for sure. And the story sounds like an intriguing one. Other by Karen Kincy is definitely one to add to the wishlist.

New Polls

2010-07-18T12:37:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Got some new polls on the side. Make sure you get your votes in. This is your chance to have a say in what I review. :)

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-07-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic Press

http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com

ISBN: 9780439023481 (hardcover)

Release Date: September 14, 2008

ISBN: 9780439023528 (paperback)

Release Date: July 3, 2010

from the author's site:

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.

my thoughts:

Why oh why did I wait so long to read this one? I was immediately sucked into Katniss' world. It was very easy to feel what Katniss felt; her emotions, along with everyone else's, leapt off the pages. The entire story was so visual it was difficult to put down.

Honestly I'm almost at a loss for words to describe how I feel about The Hunger Games. It is an intense reading experience and I'm already looking forward to finishing the next two books.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-07-14T11:17:00.001-05:00

Well, I got some great recommends from everyone last week. Thank you! :) What's everyone reading this week?

I'm finally reading the Hunger Games books (I'm behind, I know, but look for a review of The Hunger Games tomorrow), and I'm absolutely loving them. Can't wait for Mockingjay to release.

Eyecatcher: Gimme a Call by Sarah Mylnowski

2010-07-13T10:59:00.001-05:00

Gimme a Call

by Sarah Mylnowski

Delacorte Books

http://www.sarahm.com

ISBN: 9780385735889

Release Date: April 27, 2010

from the author's site:

Devi's life isn't turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted three years going out with Bryan - cute, adorable, break-your-heart Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn't join any clubs...and since Bryan broke up with her right before senior prom, she has nothing left. Not even a working cell phone - she dropped hers in the mail fountain.

Now it only calls one number...her number. At age fourteen, three years ago!

Once Devi gets over the shock and convinces her younger self that she isn't some wacko she realizes that she's been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do because she's already done the wrong ones! If freshman Devi takes her advice, she can hold on to her friends, get into a good no, incredible college, be an extracurricular superstar, and most importantly, spare herself the heartbreak of Bryan.

Fourteen-year-old Devi isn't so sure, though. She likes Bryan. She's happy. But who better to listen to than your future self. . . right?

why it caught my eye:

This one is another Twitter find. I first heard about it when Sarah Mylnowski asked people what they would tell their fourteen-year-old selves. I thought the whole idea sounded like a really interesting concept. I've heard nothing but great things about Gimme a Call so I can't wait to get started on it. Though I will have to wait since I haven't picked up my copy yet. :) Gonna have to remedy that soon.

Your Turn Thursday

2010-07-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

So I mentioned doing this once before, but nothing ever came of it. It's time for me to try again. I'm going to start a new feature called Your Turn Thursday, the reason for the name is two-fold.

One since it's going to be all about reader interviews, it's your turn to talk. Two, I will be using the Your Turn questions from the author interviews I've conducted. I figure this is the best way for all of those authors to get those questions answered, plus I'm really curious about what you lovely readers have to say.

If you're interested in being interviewed please email me at wantmyya at gmail dot com.

I'll be compiling the questions over the next few days, but if you email me, I'll get them to you as quickly as I can.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-07-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

It's another Wednesday which means it's your turn to tell me what to read. So go on, get talkin'.

Eyecatcher: All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

2010-07-06T11:41:00.001-05:00

All Unquiet Things

by Anna Jarzab

Delacorte Books

http://www.annajarzab.com/aut/

ISBN: 9780385738354

from the author's site:

All Unquiet Things centers around the murder of teen heiress Carly Ribelli, who was found shot to death a mile from her house in a wealthy Northern California suburb. Carly’s uncle, a dissolute alcoholic, was convicted of the crime, but a year later his daughter still doesn’t believe her father is guilty. Determined to prove his innocence, Audrey Ribelli contacts Carly’s ex-boyfriend, Neily Monroe, the boy who found Carly’s body. She is convinced that he knows more than he thinks about the events that led up to Carly’s death. Despite Neily’s initial reluctance, he and Audrey begin their investigation at the posh private school they attend, identifying prime suspects from among their spoiled classmates and digging up secrets about Carly’s past to get to the truth behind her murder.

why it caught my eye:

This one that caught me by the title rather than the cover. I dunno, maybe it's just me, but something about the words All Unquiet Things just draws the attention. This is definitely another one to add to my wishlist.

Author Interview: Swati Avasthi

2010-07-05T09:00:00.015-05:00

It's another Monday and I have another fabulous author interview for you. Allow me to introduce Swati Avasthi, author of Split. (photo credit Ann Marsden)

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a mother of two, teacher of many, and aspiring toward having a long, long writing career.

What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

I started writing when I was 5 when I read Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods. I was pretty committed to being a writer until I was 16 and my oldest sister graduated from college. When she met the real world of needing to earn a paycheck, I quickly came to the conclusion that I couldn't possibly become a writer and eat. So, I ventured away from writing and took a couple of detours (theater and law) before I returned to writing when I decided to stay home to raise my kids.

The novel, Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, brought me to YA. It was the first YA novel I read since I was a teen and I was blown away by the book and by how much the genre had changed. I read Godless by Pete Hautman immediately after Speak and fell head over heels in love with the genre -- the honesty of it, the play in the language, how voice-driven it is, how it is geared toward story and character development.

Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

Split (Knopf, 2010) is narrated by 16 year old Jace Witherspoon who drives straight from Chicago to Albuquerque on the night he finally hits his father back. He arrives on the doorstep of his brother, Christian, who he hasn't had any contact with in five years and who receives Jace less than enthusiastically. Jace tries to make a new life for himself -- connecting with Christian, finding a new job, meeting a new girl. But all of his changes can't rescue his mom, who is still trapped with his dad, or erase the secret he has been harboring.

Split is about what happens after. After you've said enough, after you've gotten out. How do you begin to live again?

Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

I plot out some in advance. I know my start and have a sense of my climax. Other than that, I start writing.

Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

Yep, I'm one of the nearly-crazies. In fact, I know I've hit my stride in a book when my characters surprise me. In Split, there's a point at which Jace gets really angry and I was shocked to discover 1) that he was mad and 2) why he was mad. My writer's group thought that was so funny because they knew he was mad all along. It's like I get sucked so deeply inside my protagonist's head that if he has a blind spot, I do too. It takes me a second or even a third draft before I can step back out and see the book as a whole.

Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Probably Dakota. She's smart and centered and has far less baggage than any of my other characters and I really enjoyed writing the flirtations between her and Jace.

What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

Maybe, once the second book is done, I'll get back to knitting and playing the piano. But for now, for downtime, I tend to play too many facebook games.

If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

I'd have been an attorney. I love the law. I really liked working at the domestic violence clinic and enjoyed the first year of law school. I think law and writing are closely related: you tell a story, are steeped in the uses of language, and hope for a specific outcome.

Where can readers find you online?

www.swatiavasthi.com

www.swatiavasthi.blogspot.com

www.twitter/swati505

www.facebook/swatiavasthi

Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

I'd love to know whether your readers' reading habits are seasonal? I've often heard that lighter fare is great for the summer. Is that true for your readers? If so, what are some book fall/winter books that you enjoy reading? As for me, I prefer to read inside, so I'm partial to the rainy day reading mode and of course, I tend toward darker fare.

Thanks so much for stopping by today Swati. Personally I don't notice a change in my reading from season to season, but I certainly do have moods where I want something dark or light, or moods where I switch from one genre to another. What about the rest of you? What do you think?

And for a treat, here's the book trailer for Split.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-06-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday lovely readers!

What's everyone reading this week?

Eyecatcher: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

2010-06-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

The Ghost and the Goth

by Stacey Kade

Hyperion

http://www.staceykade.com

ISBN: 9781423121978

Release Date: June 29, 2010

from the author's site:

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

why it caught my eye:

The Ghost and the Goth is a book I heard about forever ago while talking with Stacey Kade on Twitter (we'd suddenly realized we'd met each other before). I'd completely forgotten about it until I saw it on the new release carts at work this weekend. Then I got excited because I remembered wanting to read it. With so many paranormal titles out these days it can be hard to decide which one to read. Precious few are ghost stories however, which makes The Ghost and the Goth all the more intriguing. Once again I find myself waiting for payday so I can pick up a fun new read.

Review: Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

2010-06-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

Perchance to Dream

Theatre Illuminata Book 2

by Lisa Mantchev

Feiwel & Friends

http://www.lisamantchev.com

ISBN: 9780312380977

Release Date: May 2010

from the publisher's site:

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

my thoughts:

With her previous release, Eyes Like Stars, Lisa Mantchev quickly became one of my favorite new authors. Perchance to Dream did not disappoint. One thing that really stands out to me is Lisa's ability for visual descriptions. I never have any problem feeling like I'm right there with Bertie and her friends

Perchance to Dream picks up right where Eyes Like Stars leaves off, so if you haven't read Eyes Like Stars yet (What's wrong with you?) I highly recommend reading that one first. Sure you can probably understand the story anyway, but why wouldn't you want to read every fabulous word of Bertie's story?

This book has it all, action, adventure, romance; there are emotional highs and lows. Perchance to Dream is the kind of book you want to fly through because you have to know what happens, and yet you want to savor it because you don't want the story end just yet. I'm completely hooked on Lisa Mantchev and I can't wait for book 3.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-06-16T09:50:00.001-05:00

It's Wednesday and it's time for another round of your recommendations. Tonight will be the second meeting of my new Young Adult book club at the store. We'll be discussing Lisa Mantchev's fabulous Eyes Like Stars and voting for August's book club selection (July has been taken over by corporate's required events).

So here's what I want from you. I have August's nominees and some other possible suggestions for future months, but I'm wondering what you are reading and what you recommend. I know I've asked for some book club recs already and you've given me some wonderful ideas. But hey it's been a few weeks, new stuff has come out, you've probably read some old stuff that you hadn't gotten to yet... Come on, what've you got for me? :)

Eyecatcher: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

2010-06-15T09:39:00.001-05:00

Forgive My Fins

by Tera Lynn Childs

Katherine Tegen (HarperCollins)

http://www.teralynnchilds.com

ISBN: 9780061914652

Release Date: June 1, 2010

from the author's site:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

why it caught my eye:

It's about mermaids! Need I say more? I was in first or second grade when Disney released The Little Mermaid and I've been fascinated ever since. Tera has been tweeting about this book for a while now and ever since I first heard about it I've been looking forward to the release of Forgive My Fins and the subsequent books. I can't wait to pick up my copy, payday just needs to get here. :)

Author Interview: Janet Fox

2010-06-14T09:21:00.001-05:00

It's another Monday morning and I have another great interview for you. Today at Want My YA we are visited by Janet Fox, author of Faithful.

And here we go....

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a mom - my son just graduated from high school! I'm also a former English teacher, and I still keep in touch with my students. I've been writing for children for the past 8 or 9 years, and FAITHFUL is my debut novel, with a sequel to follow next year (FORGIVEN). I'm just finishing my MFA degree in Writing for Children at Vermont College of Fine Arts, so I'm a student, too.

What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

My son got me started. He has dyslexia, and at first I tried writing things for young kids, and specifically for kids who struggle with reading. But I had a hard time finding the right voice in younger fiction. It wasn't until I tried my hand at middle grade and young adult that I found myself as a writer. I think I'm mentally frozen at about 14 or 15, so I write for the teen reader that I was then.

Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

FAITHFUL is historical fiction set in 1904. Maggie arrives in Yellowstone National Park thinking that she and her father are there to find her mother...but there are secrets and lies and heartbreak in store. And romance. And adventure. And a happy ending, because I believe in happy endings.

Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

I just start with a vague idea and a character. Then I begin writing. About halfway through I usually have to stop and create a vague plot plan. But I know that my best writing comes out when I don't plan too carefully. When I let it flow, my writing comes from my heart, and that's when it works.

Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

I hear their voice. But generally they don't "tell" me what they want to do...I'll try something and if it doesn't feel right I'll try something else. Once I put the character in a scene, it's pretty clear how they will act. When they act "true to character" I know it's right.

Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Each time I write something new, my favorite character is the character I'm living with. I tend to live deep inside my character's heads. So at the moment my favorite character is the protagonist of FORGIVEN. I have to like my characters in order to write them - they may not do likable things, but they need to be likable at heart.

What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

I love to garden. I also love to hike - we have a little cabin in the mountains of Montana and I do a lot of hiking. When I'm out in nature I get my best writing done!

If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

I actually have a masters degree in geology - I wanted to be an oceanographer. I went to sea a bunch of times...but I needed to do something more creative and internal. And being out on a ship can be exhausting, and it's awfully hard to have a family. I'm happy with the choices I've made.

Where can readers find you online?

My blog: http://kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com
My website: www.janetsfox.com
Twitter: @janetsfox
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/janetsfox

Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

What do you want to see in a historical YA novel? Is a happy ending important to you?

Thanks so much for your answers Janet! It was great to hear from you. Beyond a fair amount of accuracy, I'm not sure what else I'd look for in a historical YA. I honestly can't say that I've read much of the genre though. Most historicals that I've read have been Romance novels. As for the happy ending, oh yes, I much prefer a story that ends happily. I've read and even enjoyed a few that didn't have very happy endings, but those were definitely the exception for me.

Eyecatcher: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

2010-06-08T17:23:00.000-05:00

Sea
by Heidi R. Kling

Penguin Putnam
http://www.heidirkling.com
ISBN: 9780399251634
Release Date: June 10, 2010

From the publisher's site:

Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.

But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts.

why it caught my eye:

Heidi R. Kling is another author who I've been following on Twitter. The gorgeous cover had me intrigued initially, but then I stopped by her site and the publisher's site for more information. Now the story has my attention too. It's kinda funny because I just read a Romance novel all about tsunami's that I'm sure was inspired by the events in Indonesia also. Sea is most definitely on my wishlist and I recommend you take a look at it too.

Author Interview: Tom Leveen

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday lovely readers! Sorry I was absent last week I accidentally left my laptop behind at work and that threw me off for a whole week. But nevermind all that....We have an author visiting us today. Let me introduce Tom Leveen!

1.Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m an Arizona native, desert-rat born and raised. I’m back in school after a long hiatus -- there’s my Finish School pitch. It’s never too late to go back, and if you’re in it, stay there! I’ve been married for almost four years, and came up with the idea for my first published novel PARTY while on our honeymoon. (Nine months after we were married.) :)

2.What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

I’m a storyteller by nature, and started writing in second grade. I just never really stopped! I write primarily YA because, looking back, I had the best time of my life in high school, where I met the guys who would become my best friends. We’re still best friends all these years later. There are so many stories to tell, and young adults generally have more exciting tales to tell than any other age.

3.Tell us about you

r most recent/ upcoming release?

PARTY is set in Santa Barbara on the night of a raging end-of-year party. It’s told from 11 different perspectives, with 11 teenagers getting one chapter to tell their version of what happened that night. The topics range from racism and violence to faith (or lack thereof) as well as, of course, getting the guts to talk to your biggest crush…

4.Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

Generally I just start writing; lately I’ve started plotting out a little bit more than I used to. But I would never sacrifice story for an outline. Sometimes the characters have a different tale to tell, and I follow their hearts rather than mine. If that makes sense.

5.Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

…I should have read all the questions first, I see. :) Yes, they do talk to me. Not all of them, not all the time, but I’ve noticed if I try to force them into a plot, or even a theme, they will rebel, and I get nowhere. It’s a very strange phenomenon.

6.Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Don’t make me pick! Oh, all right…Beckett. There’s a part of me in all the characters, of course (for better or worse), but Beckett’s voice was one of the strongest in my head. I think she’d been in there for a long time - years, I think - and it was great to finally meet her. So to speak.

7.What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

Up until recently, I’ve been running a nonprofit mixed-use arts venue and directing plays there. Theatre has been my other great love along with writing. But now I’m looking forward to hanging out with my friends more often, playing with my dogs, pretending to play guitar, and spending more time with my wife and her family.

8.If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

Probably something in library science. I still might, actually.

9.Where can readers find you online?

www.tomleveen.com. There’s links there to my Facebook and Twitter, too. And of course I’m on www.classof2k10.com with all the awesome debut authors of this year!

10.Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

How old are you? Seriously. Because I’m starting to wonder how many YAs read YA anymore! :)

Thanks so much for your responses Tom. I've been looking at Party at work, now I see this is definitely another title to add to my wishlist. I really like the idea of a story from so many different perspectives.

And to be the first to answer your question, I'm 26. I didn't start reading YA until I hit my 20's. I read a bit of it in High School, but back then I was reading more Romance than anything else (and I still read a lot of Romance). :)

Eyecatcher: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

2010-05-25T10:24:00.002-05:00

Shade

by Jeri Smith-Ready

Simon Pulse
http://www.jerismithready.com
ISBN: 9781416994060
Release Date: May 4, 2010

from the author's site:

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

why it caught my eye:

This is a title I've been waiting for. Jeri Smith-Ready is one of my many Twitter friends and I was excited when I learned she had a YA novel coming out. And again we have here another gorgeous purple cover. I think you all know how I feel about purple at this point. :) Shade is another book I'm adding to my wishlist and I recommend you take a look too.

Author Interview: Jennifer R. Hubbard

2010-05-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday lovely readers! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. :) It's Monday again so I have another wonderful author interview for you. Today we are visited by Jennifer R. Hubbard author of The Secret Year.

1.Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m the author of The Secret Year, a YA novel that came out in January. I live near Philadelphia, hike a lot, and eat a lot of chocolate.

2.What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

A love of reading came first, but a love of writing quickly followed. I’ve always like YA. The teen years are an important time in life, that transition from childhood to adulthood.

3.Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

The Secret Year: After his secret girlfriend's death, seventeen-year-old Colt finds the notebook she left behind, but he is unprepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship.

4.Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

I do just a little bit of plotting, but mostly I let it fly. I do most of my outlining during the revision stage.

5.Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

I hear their voices, telling their stories. They don’t address me directly; they speak in the narrative voice of a book, as if they’re speaking “to whom it may concern.” In fact, I don’t start writing a book until I have a voice for it. A good plot or situation isn’t enough for me to write from; I need the character’s voice.

6.Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

I like Colt, the main character of The Secret Year, which is good because I spent the most time with him. But I’m also fond of his older brother, Tom. I think Tom would be an especially good friend.

7.What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

Hiking, reading, attending the occasional concert.

8.If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

I actually do have another job; it’s in the sciences. It’s very difficult to make a living as a writer.

9.Where can readers find you online?

My website: http://www.JenniferHubbard.com/

My blog: http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JennRHubbard

10.Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

If you ran the publishing world, what would you want to change about books? Fewer headless models on the cover? More paranormal? Less paranormal? What??

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for stopping by Want My YA today. :) It was great to have you here and read your responses. I'm starting to think I may need to grab my copy of The Secret Year off my shelf and move it up the TBR. Readers be sure to leave a comment and answer Jennifer's question. :)

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-05-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, you know the drill by now. It's Wednesday, which means it's time for your recommendations. :) I've started seeing a ton of new YA novels come in at work so I want to know which ones you're excited about. What should I be reading and telling my customers to read?

Oh and while we're at it, help me out with this tie-in. I had a customer earlier this week looking for books that were along the same lines as Ellen Hopkins' books. I suggested Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert and apparently the customer thought this was suitable because she bought the book. What other authors or books would you have suggested also? Ellen Hopkins is really popular and I'd like to have some good tie-ins.

A new YA Book Club

2010-05-18T13:15:00.002-05:00

While I frequently make mention of being a bookseller I don't typically talk about which store I work for. Well, today I will because I'm very excited to announce that our Borders store is starting a new Young Adult book club, with yours truly heading it up. :)

I've been wanting to get this going for a while now, so I'm so glad that my manager and I have finally settled on a date to start hosting the meetings. The first meeting will be held Wednesday June 2nd at 7:oo pm. Our first book discussion will be held Wednesday June 16th at 7:00 and we will be discussing Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev.

We do have a "fan" page on Facebook (yeah I know they aren't calling it that anymore, but I don't know what else to call it). You can find us by searching Rockford Borders Young Adult Book Club. A mouthful I know, but it's the best I could come up with. :) And while you're at it, Want My YA also has a Facebook page so be sure to "like" us too.

I hope if you're in the Rockford or Northern IL area you'll be able to make it to the meetings, but if not you can always participate though the Facebook page. :)

pssst...YA authors and publishers....I'm looking for goodies for my YA book club members like I have for my Romance book club members. If you want to send bookmarks, postcards, or even promotional copies of books to the store email me at hriley at bordersstores dot com for my mailing info.

Eyecatcher: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

2010-05-18T09:00:00.001-05:00

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

by Morgan Matson

Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9781416990659

Release Date: May 2010

from the publisher's site:

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

why it caught my eye:

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is one of the few books that caught me by the title rather than by the cover. Not surprising, it was the word "epic" that grabbed me. Once I picked it up to read the inner flap I knew I had to add this one to my wishlist. Check it out, tell me what you think.

Has anyone read this one already? Got any thoughts on it?

Author Interview: Leah Cypess

2010-05-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Hello my lovely readers! Join me in welcoming Leah Cypess, author of the newly released Mistwood. I'm so excited to have her here today, I've been meaning to feature Mistwood as an Eyecatcher, but this is even better. :) So here we go....

1.Tell us a little about yourself.

I used to be a practicing lawyer in New York City, and am now a
full-time writer in Boston. I much prefer my current situation. I
write fantasy, mostly YA; I sold my first short story when I was in
high school, to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine, and have
been trying to sell a book ever since. I still haven't gotten over the
rush of adrenaline from finally hearing "yes."

2.What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

I wrote my first story at the end of first grade, about half a year
after I learned the ABCs, so I think it must have been inborn. And I

write the kinds of books I love to read, which is about 70% YA

fantasy.

3.Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

MISTWOOD, which was released on April 27, is a fantasy novel about an immortal shapeshifter bound to protect the members of the royal family. At the beginning of the book, she is in her woods with no memory of her past or her powers. When the current prince summons her to his castle, she will have to protect him while keeping her powerlessness a secret and trying to find out what went wrong... until she begins to suspect that the prince knows more about her past than he's telling her.

4.Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where
things go from there?

I start writing and see where things go. When I wrote the first
chapter of Mistwood, I didn't even know if it was going to be a novel
or a short story.

5.Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and
sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than
the author. Do you hear your characters?

I would say they talk to me, but they do definitely sometimes take
control of the story. Including challenging my preconceived ideas
about which of them are going to be minor characters.

6.Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

My main character, Isabel.

7.What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

I like reading, hiking, and biking. Upon occasion, I also like cooking.

8.If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

I might be a lawyer, since I do have a law degree. On the other hand,
if I hadn't been so focused on needing a practical "day job," I might
have chosen something equally impractical as my vocation. Possibly
academic history.

9.Where can readers find you online?

At my website, http://www.leahcypess.com/. I'm also a member of a group blog
for writers of YA Fantasy, The Enchanted Inkpot
(http://community.livejournal.com/enchantedinkpot).

10.Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

I'm curious about what kinds of features make you most interested in
checking out a book - reviews, interviews, author guest blogs,
excerpts, or contests?

Thank you so much for being with me here at Want My YA today, Leah! Love your responses. :) In answer to your question....for me it's usually a review that first calls my attention to a book. I try not to be too swayed by opinion (though I do get caught up in the excitement if someone is gushing), but reviews do tend to tell me about books I might not have heard about otherwise.

Susane Colasanti Booksigning

2010-05-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hey all! So I'm a little late posting about the fabulous booksigning I attended at Wonderland with Susane Colasanti. (do I ever get anything posted on time?)

For those who don't remember me talking about it, last Tuesday local independent Wonderland books and toys hosted Susane Colasanti for a dinner, discussion, signing event. It was an evening of food and fun.

Susane was so sweet and she was fabulous about answering everyone's questions. I love informal get-togethers like this. I've been to other signings where there are so many people vying for the author's attention that you can barely say "hi" and "bye". At Wonderland we spent a full two hours just chatting with Susane. Everyone got their books signed and got pictures taken if they so wanted.

All in all it was a fabulous evening and I'm so glad I went.

Me and Susane Colasanti!

Review: Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

2010-05-10T14:55:00.000-05:00

Waiting for You

by Susane Colasanti

Speak

http://www.susanecolasanti.com

ISBN: 9780142415757

Release Date: April 6, 2010

(above information is for the paperback edition)

from the author's site:

Derek is clearly the boy Marisa has been waiting for, but there's just one problem. He has a girlfriend. Nash, Marisa's neighbor and childhood friend, is totally geeked out, with zero boyfriend potential. So of course Nash wants to take his friendship with Marisa to the next level.

Beyond her boy drama, Marisa is also dealing with overcoming a major problem from her past, a family that's falling apart, and a best friend who won't stop talking to sketchy guys online. Only the anonymous DJ, who has the school hooked on his underground podcasts, seems to get what Marisa's going through. But she has no idea who he is...or does she?

my thoughts:

Where was Susane Colasanti when I was in high school? Waiting for You touched me in a way few books have. I can remember feeling the way Marisa feels throughout the story. I remember the constant searching and waiting for "the one".

This book brought me back several years to my own family drama, and seeing similar (though thankfully not identical) events from an outside perspective really helped bring me to a new understanding of things.

I'm normally all about paranormal stories, but there's something to be said about a straight-forward, emotional, coming-of-age story. I can't wait to read more from Susane Colasanti. (and I really can't wait to meet her tomorrow!)

Susane Colasanti is coming to town!!!

2010-05-06T08:38:00.008-05:00

Or at least, she's coming to my town. I don't know about yours. Here's the official blurb that I received in my email from Wonderland Books & Toys (and yes I have permission to post this):

Please join us in welcoming

SUSANE COLASANTI,

author of When It Happens and Take Me There,

as we celebrate the release of her newest book Something Like Fate.

Tuesday, May 11th

5:30 p.m.

for dinner, dessert and discussion at Wonderland Books

There is no charge for this event and dinner will be provided.

Please RSVP to Wonderland at 815-394-1633 or by email at wonderlandbooks@sbcglobal.net

Susane has been praised for making her books "read, charmingly, like a conversation." Her books will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen. You can learn more about Susane at her website www.susanecolasanti.com. She is visiting Wonderland on her "Boyfriends and Best Friends" book tour. Susane lives in New York City.

I've already sent in my RSVP. Make sure you get yours in today. Even if you can't make it in to meet Susane Colasanti I recommend stopping by Wonderland sometime. The ladies there are awesome and so super friendly. I hope to see you Tuesday night!

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-05-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hello my lovely readers. Once again I find myself trying to get back into the swing of things. I'd forgotten how difficult it was to blog, work, and go to school. Thankfully the semester is nearly over and I can get back into my normal routine (such as it is).

Naturally I have many, many books awaiting review. However, I'm always up for more recommendations, especially since I'm in the process of setting up at YA book club at the bookstore I work for (more on that later).

So tell me everyone, what are you reading? What should I be reading? What should my future book club members be reading?

Eyecatcher: Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

2010-05-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Whisper

by Phoebe Kitanidis

Balzer and Bray (HarperCollins)

ISBN: 9780061799259

Release Date: April 27, 2010

from the publisher's site:

Joy is used to Hearing Whispers. She's used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people's deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good—to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people's lives—especially Joy's—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears Jessica Whisper I want to kill my Hearing dead, and kill me too if that's what it takes, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car, and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

why it caught my eye:

This is another one I spotted while reshelving books at work. Then I picked it up and read the blurb and my attention was fully snagged. I'm really curious about this one and it's definitely going on my wishlist.

How about you readers out there, have any of you read it? What did you think?

Crossover Review: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

2010-04-18T08:23:00.001-05:00

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

by Leanna Renee Hieber

Dorchester

http://www.leannareneehieber.com

ISBN: 9780843962963

Release Date: August 25, 2009

from the author's site:

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…

my thoughts:

I'm calling this a crossover review because The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is not actually marketed as a Young Adult novel. In most stores you'll probably find this in the Romance department, but I can also see this being shelved with the Fantasy books. Despite that this book is a great story for fans of Young Adult fiction. As the story opens, Percy is only eighteen and is attending a new school - an experience many of us can relate to.

I was hooked on Strangely Beautiful from the first page. Leanna Renee Hieber has a writing style that keeps you hooked to the story. I hated to put the book down. Percy is a gentle character and one who is easy to like. Alexi is a dark and brooding hero, but I don't know that I'd quite call him your typical tortured hero. The secondary characters are overall good people, though there are some scenes where I wanted to smack some sense into them. However that's pretty much due to a case of the reader having more information than the characters.

I actually feel the need to comment on the title here too. I really feel The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is very much the perfect title for this book. Having a longer title evokes a more classical feel which Strangely Beautiful definitely has.

I highly recommend Leanna Renee Hieber's Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and I'm anxiously awaiting book 2, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker. Book 2 is due out in just over a week on April 27. I know I'll be ready to grab a copy on release day, I suggest you do too.

Eyecatcher: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-04-13T17:57:00.000-05:00

Hex Hall

by Rachel Hawkins

Hyperion

http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com

ISBN: 9781423121305

Release Date: March 2, 2010

from Amazon:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

why it caught my eye:

I love books dealing with magic, especially witch stories. :) I heard chatter about this one on Twitter so I knew I had to check it out for myself. Hex Hall has definitely made its way onto my wishlist.

You Recommend Wednesday

2010-04-07T12:13:00.001-05:00

It's that time of the week again.....

What's everyone reading? What should I be reading? I'm getting behind on my YA reading again, so I need all of the recommendations you can throw at me. :)

So come on, whatcha' got for me?

Eyecatcher: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

2010-04-06T11:45:00.002-05:00

The Dark Divine

by Bree Despain

EdgmontUSA

http://www.breedespain.com

ISBN: 9781606840573

Release Date: December 22, 2009

from the author's site:

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

why it caught my eye:

If you haven't figured it out just from reading my blog, purple is my favorite color. So naturally The Dark Divine caught my attention immediately. The story sounds rather intriguing as well; I can't wait to read it. Thankfully I received a copy of Dark Divine for my birthday. Yay!

Anyone else read this one yet?