Life After Mockingjay: Fall Books to Look Out For

Now that arguably the most highly anticipated book of 2010 has been released and, for a large part, devoured, the question turns to... what do we look forward to now? Which upcoming books would be worthy of our high standards for literature?

Luckily, I've read a few fall releases in a range of genres that I'm an evangelist for. Here are some that you should definitely keep an eye on, whether online or in stores in the next few weeks or months:

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
(Little, Brown / Sept. 7, 2010)

One-sentence summary: Bianca Piper feels inadequate next to her beautiful best friends, and so she starts hooking up with Wesley, whom she hates, only to discover that she might not hate him after all.

Why I Love It: I had the extraordinary fortune of reading this back in May, around BEA. I say extraordinary because this book deserves the label: it's edgy, in your face, and sexy in a way that the latest generation of teen readers will respect and appreciate. Definitely not for the innocent and pure, but powerful and relatable to others. Best of all, it comes out real soon!

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
(Little, Brown / Nov. 2, 2010)

One-sentence summary: With her friends' support, Alex approaches the secret student justice society at her prestigious boarding school after she is date-raped.

Why I Love It: Sexual assault awareness and prevention is something I care very deeply about, and Daisy Whitney presents this tough issue in a way that is straightforward and gut-wrenching. I cried throughout, and put the book down at the end with an enormous sense of empowerment and the motivation to go out in the world and make a difference. Now that's what I call powerful.

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Oct. 18, 2010)

One-sentence summary: Death visits anorexic Lisabeth and informs her that she is the next Famine, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Why I Love It: It has the mythic "vastness" of a fairy tale in its narrative style, with the too-real contemporary issues of eating disorders and body image. This is urban fantasy author Jackie Kessler's first YA book, and her UF skill of weaving a thoroughly convincing alternate world along with the movement of her storytelling is apparent through Hunger. Plus, there's a wise-cracking Death who's like the guy your mother told you you should never date. What's not to like?

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
(Razorbill / Sept. 21, 2010)

One-sentence summary: Mackie Doyle is a changeling who is forced to deal with his "heritage" when his classmate's baby sister dies.

Why I Love It: A fan of Maggie Stiefvater's beautiful writing? Holly Black's dark and crazy imagination? Then you may enjoy Brenna Yovanoff's debut novel. It's not perfect, but I was enthralled by her way with words, and the way she set up Mackie's mindset and the quietly creepy, Tim Burton-esque world that is the town of Gentry. Well worth your time!

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
(Little, Brown / Sept. 7, 2010)

One-sentence summary: Nastasya is an immortal who is tired of her meaningless partying life, and so she goes to a "reform farm" for immortals, where she realizes big things about her past and her future potential to be a good vs. evil immortal.

Why I Love It: I have had paranormal overload for a while now, but this is this genre done right. A snappy, disenchanted, irreverent protagonist; elaborate world-building with flashbacks that are not awkwardly placed in the narrative but that actually contribute to building suspense; and a hot-hot-hot forbidden romance. I devoured this in one sitting. It's not fantastic literature or anything, but I was still duly impressed, and am going to read the second book when it comes out.

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Now it's your turn! Have you read any great ARCs you're raving about, or are there are fall titles you're waiting anxiously on?