Waiting on Wednesday (110)

Blood Song (Lharmell, Book 1) by Rhiannon Hart

I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares? [summary from Goodreads]

I've been following Rhiannon's blog since before she landed an agent, and I am so glad that her book FINALLY sold, and has an eerily mesmerizing cover, and I can WoW it! I am a proud high fantasy fan forever, and so I can't wait to see how Rhiannon tells her story. Hmm, maybe it'll be easier to acquire Australian books over in China...?

Blood Song will be published in paperback by Random House Australia on September 1, 2011.

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Variant by Robison Wells

Benson Fisher thought a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible. [summary from Goodreads]

I have only the vaguest idea of the what this story is going to be about from its summary, but... whoa. Is it paranormal? Thriller? Mystery? A combination of them all? I want to know!

Variant will be published in hardcover from HarperTeen on October 1, 2011.

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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong. [summary from Goodreads]

Okay, so that summary doesn't tell you very much, maybe, but here: read the first chapter and then come back and tell me whether or not your interest is piqued. Because mine is!!! There is something very hypnotic and creepy about Michelle's no-frills narration. I love it. I want more.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer will be published in hardcover from Simon & Schuster on September 27, 2011.


In the meantime, you can go follow Michelle on Twitter at @MichelleHodkin!

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The Inquisitor's Apprentice by Chris Moriarty

Being an Inquisitor is no job for a nice Jewish boy. But when the police learn that Sacha Kessler can see witches, he’s apprenticed to the department’s star Inquisitor, Maximillian Wolf. Their mission is to stop magical crime. And New York at the beginning of the twentieth century is full of crime, with magical gangs ruling the streets from Hell’s Kitchen to Chinatown.

Soon Sacha has teamed up with fellow apprentice Lily Astral, daughter of one of the city’s richest Wall Street Wizards—and a spoiled snob, if you ask Sacha. Their first case is to find out who’s trying to kill Thomas Edison.

Edison has invented a mechanical witch detector that could unleash the worst witch-hunt in American history. Every magician in town has a motive to kill him. But as the investigation unfolds, all the clues lead back to the Lower East Side. And Sacha soon realizes that his own family could be accused of murder! [summary from Goodreads]

I was browsing the authors who would be signing at BEA, and the books that would be featured there, when I came across this. Historical fantasy? Check. Steampunk-esque feel? Check. Mmmmmagical gangs? Checkkkk! I'd like one serving of The Inquisitor's Apprentice, please!

The Inquisitor's apprentice will be published in hardcover from Harcourt Children's Books on October 3, 2011.

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Prized (Birthmarked, Book 2) by Caragh O'Brien

Note: there may be spoilers for the first book, Birthmarked.

In the thrilling follow up to Birthmarked, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone has fled from the Enclave and now must fight for her baby sister’s survival in the matriarchal society of Sylum.

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, 16-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

So Birthmarked was one of the most impressive books I read last year, and I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the sequel. And it sounds like it will be just as good, if not better, than the first book. Escaping a dystopian society, only to be thrown into another dystopian society! Women ruling men! (But this being dystopic?) I can't wait to read more about Gaia, and wonder if a certain hot gentleman will make a reappearance...

*grin*

Prized will be published in hardcover by Roaring Brook Press on November 8, 2011.

On a related note, they changed the paperback cover of Birthmarked. Check the hardcover vs. paperback covers below. What do you think? I think I like the change. The hardcover was a bit too...random, in my opinion. I like that the paperback moves away from a model's face and instead focuses on a significant artifact in the story.

Hardcover     ||     Paperback

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The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas

A romantic and heartfelt celebration of both memories and new beginnings.

When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.

As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?

I'm in the middle of rereading 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (one of my favorite books when I was younger) in preparation to review The Last Little Blue Envelope. The Survival Kit kind of reminds me a bit of 13 Little Blue Envelopes, at least from the synopsis: using objects to enlarge one's life and understand something that's hard to comprehend, like death. Plus, I LOVE that cover. Wow. And finally, Donna's last book, This Gorgeous Game, was astounding, so I am all the more looking forward to what she has for us next!

The Survival Kit will be released in hardcover from Farrar, Straus and Giroux on October 11, 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday (104): Penguin's Fall 2011 Catalog

So, when Penguin released their Fall 2011 catalog a couple weeks ago... talk about an explosion on my wishlist! I'm going to highlight several that I'm really excited for:

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
(Razorbill / Dec. 8, 2011)

Cameron Cooper, a cynical teenage girl dying of cancer, is told by her doctors she needs a miracle to survive. In a last-ditch effort to save her daughter’s life, her mother takes her to a small town in Maine rumored to be magical. If there’s a shot for Cameron, her mom believes, it’s here. But for Cameron, believing in miracles would mean believing she has another chance at life ... and that’s dangerous for someone who knows better than to get her hopes up.

As the girls settle into Promise, amazing things start happening: it snows in August; there’s a rainbow when it doesn’t rain; a flock of flamingos takes residence in the pond behind the high school, even though they’re not supposed to live this far north. Cameron, a scientist at heart, searches for explanations for these bizarre occurrences, refusing to believe they’re miracles.

But soon, the magic of the town—and her feelings for Asher, a local boy who seems to know Cam better than she knows herself—become impossible to deny. Over the course of the coming months, Cameron lets go of her cynicism and opens herself up to life and the world. In the end, Promise is a magical place, but for Cameron becoming a believer might just be the biggest miracle of all.

This has all the right elements for a sap-fest: cancer, a small town, a romance... plus this little magical twist that I'm very intrigued by.

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
(Viking Juvenile / Oct. 13, 2011)

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she’s deeply lonely—until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem’s muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she’s chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

Okay, so the intrigue in this is probably coming off of watching Black Swan in January. And here's a YA where the MC questions whether or not romance fulfills her. Add to that that lovely cover... me wants!

Fox and Phoenix by Beth Bernobich
(Viking Juvenile / Oct. 13, 2011)

The king of Lóng City is dying. For Kai Zu, the news means more than it does for most former street rats in the small mountain stronghold, because he and the king’s daughter are close friends. Then the majestic ruler of the ghost dragons orders Kai to travel across the country to the Phoenix Empire, where the princess is learning statecraft. In a court filled with intrigue, Kai and his best (female) friend Yún must work together to help the princess escape and return to Lóng City. A refreshing mixture of magic, wit, and action, Fox and Phoenix is an auspicious debut!

An Asian-inspired fantasy! We don't have enough of those. I also really like that cover: it's a wonderful blend of the colorful, the exotic, and the mystical.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
(Dutton Juvenile / Sept. 28, 2011)

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Would a WoW featuring Penguin's Fall 2011 books be complete without mentioning this gem? Steph's first novel, Anna and the French Kiss, was one of my favorite debut reads of 2010. There can be no doubt that her sophomore novel will be just as charming and romantic.

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Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas. With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

I adored Jill Alexander's first novel, a sweet and unfortunately little-known book called The Sweetheart of Prosper County. It reminded me of the Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Dairy Queen books, which are some of my favorites. I can't wait to read her upcoming book, to see if it has the same small-town, country-girl charm as her first one did.

No real fan of that WTF cover though.

Paradise will be published in hardcover by Feiwel & Friends on July 5, 2011. 

And just because I can, have a look at the hardcover vs. paperback covers for The Sweetheart of Prosper County:

Which do you like more? I think I still love the idiosyncracy of the hardcover. It makes me giggle every time I look at it. The paperback's...okay, but doesn't capture the quirkiness of the book for me.

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Multiples this week because I keep on missing previous weeks and then realizing that, as a matter of fact, I have too many books I'm looking forward to that I can't stick to just one a week. Oh the tragedy.

Legend by Marie Lu

The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....

Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.

The truth they'll uncover will become legend.

That is just about the most badass synopsis I have read in maybe the past year. There's also a little excerpt from the book in the Penguin Fall 2011 catalog, which makes me think that, yes, maybe this will book will live up to its exceptional synopsis. I'm not sure if that's the final cover yet, but AWESOME also. Simple and iconic and reminiscent of The Hunger Games' covers, just the way I like them.

Legend will be published in hardcover by Putnam Juvenile on November 28, 2011.

Sisterhood Everlasting (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Book 5) by Ann Brashares)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one.

So who else here practically grew up on this series? I definitely did, throughout middle school and into high school. They're a little hit or miss for me, especially as I got older, but I still like the idea of revisiting old beloved characters in their adulthood. This could be very disappointing... or totally, bittersweetly wonderful.

Sisterhood Everlasting will be published in hardcover by Random House on June 14, 2011.

Okay, I'm stopping myself at two. But still...these two! Want!

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The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do. [summary from Goodreads]

I'll let you in on a secret: I've been eagerly looking forward to this book ever since I read the synopsis. Fortunately, its cover was recently released, and now I can officially WoW it! Or more like... wowwww it.  Politics and danger and romance and rebellion and courtly life. It sounds epic. I can't wait.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns will be published in hardcover by HarperCollins on Sept. 20, 2011.

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The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

London, December 1871

Orphaned and picking pockets in London’s Charing Cross station to support not only herself, but her ‘family’ of orphans, sixteen year-old Tiki steals the Queen’s ring and thinks she’s solved their problems. That is, until Rieker, a pickpocket from the North End, suspects her in the theft and tells her that the ring is really a reservoir that holds a truce between the British and Faerie courts.

When he warns her that the fey will do anything, including murder, to recover the ring, Tiki is unsure whether to believe him or not. To complicate matters, Rieker seems to know something about the unusual birthmark on Tiki’s wrist. But when Tiki and her family are threatened the game changes.

In a dazzling debut that takes you from the gritty slums of Victorian London to the glittering ballrooms of the Royal Palace to the menacing Otherworld, you won’t want to miss this thrilling tale of mystery, adventure and romance.

What more is there to say? I am just bouncing so hard in my seat that I'm practically vibrating with anticipation. The glowing reviews on Goodreads, and that synopsis, and that cover... please please pleeeease be exactly my type of book! *hyperhyper*

The Faerie Ring will be published in hardcover from Tor Teen on October 1, 2011.

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The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

She thought there was something wrong with her. She was right.

Finley Jayne has known for quite some time that she isn’t ‘normal,’ but when she beats up the son of her employer and is forced to flee, she stumbles into a world where there are bigger freaks than her. They take her in, treat her like family and demand her trust. How can Finley trust them when she can’t trust herself? And why is she drawn to the powerful Griffin as well as the dangerous Jack? She has to get herself under control before she gets into trouble she can’t get out of.

Griffin King is one of the most powerful men in Britain but he couldn’t save his best friend from almost dying. He is determined to save Finley and help her become the person he knows she can be, but there’s evil afoot in London. Machines have attacked humans under the orders of a nefarious criminal called The Machinist. He has sworn to protect his country against such a threat, but he’s never faced any foe like this. However, when he discovers The Machinist’s connection to his past, Griffin vows to end the villain once and for all — but he’ll need the help of all his friends, including the beautiful Finley Jayne – the girl in the steel corset.

So, after reading and loving The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook recently (plugplugplugplug--but, oh yes, warning! 'tis not a YA novel), I think I am going to love all things steampunk. Not only does The Girl in the Steel Corset have a drop-dead gorgeous cover, but that is a synopsis that is worthy of a good historical romance novel. I'll be interested to see how this one is marketed as YA.

The Girl in the Steel Corset will be released in hardcover from Harlequin TEEN on May 24, 2011.

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My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff

Life can’t be lived behind the scenes.

High school sophomore Adam Zeigler thought the best way to live life was behind the spotlight. When his father died two years ago, Adam retreated into the world of the theater, ultimately winning a coveted place on the theater crew and finding (what he thought) was his place in the world, high above the theater floor in the lighting grid.

But then a young actress, Summer, appeared in his view. Instantly smitten, Adam is determined to win her over. But to do so, he'll have to defy his best friend and break the golden rule of his school: techies and actors don't mix.

Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, MY LIFE, THE THEATER is a theater story, a love story, and a bromance in one. The complexities of life, death, and high school are revealed as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light. [summary from Goodreads]

I very much enjoyed Allen's first YA book, Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have, and have been looking forward to his future books ever since. If this contains his usual amount of humor and heart, then it is sure to be a delightful read.

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies will be published in hardcover by EgmontUSA on May 10, 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday (97): The Sequel Edition

There are so many sequels I'm anticipating that I think it's better off if I just put them all here, in one WoW post!

All summaries from Goodreads. And, uh, I suppose you might not want to read them if you haven't read the first books yet:

We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, Book 3) by Jenny Han

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

The love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah is to die for. Seriously. It is incredibly well written and I have no idea how it'll all turn out, since I love both boys. Can a happy ending exist for all three beloved characters? We'll find out soon enough!

We'll Always Have Summer will be published in hardcover by Simon & Schuster on April 26, 2011.

Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman

Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled "Emperor" Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power--and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .

Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic only Alison Goodman could create.

The first book, Eon, bowled me over, first with how incredible a world Alison Goodman had built, and then by how much it reminds me of timeless fantasy classics written by greats such as Robin McKinley, Gail Carson Levine, Tamora Pierce, and Sherwood Smith. If any of those authors appealed to you, then get thee a copy of the first book immediately!

Eona will be published in hardcover from Viking Juvenile on April 19, 2011.

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

Well, that synopsis made the series sound like another ditzy little ditty in the paranormal romance department... but Shift is so much more than that. Beautifully strong characterization and world-building--how does Jeri do it?--will lead you an ardent fan of her writing. Maybe the publishing gods will be kind and gift me with an ARC somehow, somewhere...?

Shift will be published in hardcover from Simon Pulse on May 3, 2011.

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The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young

Everyone has weird thoughts sometimes. But for seventeen-year-old Dani Solomon, strange thoughts have taken over her life. She loves Alex, the little boy she babysits, more than anything. But one day, she has a vision of murdering him that's so gruesome, she can't get it out of her mind. In fact, Dani's convinced that she really will kill Alex. She confesses the thoughts to keep him safe, setting off a media frenzy that makes "Dani Death" the target of an extremist vigilante group. Through the help of an uncoventional psychiatrist, Dani begins to heal her broken mind. But will it be too late? The people of her community want justice . . . and Dani's learning that some thoughts are better left unsaid. [summary from Goodreads]

Whoa. Sounds absolutely intense, in a psychological thriller kind of way. I'm looking forward to seeing if this is as good as its synopsis makes it sound!

The Babysitter Murders will be published in hardcover from Atheneum on May 3, 2011.

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My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

Vanessa is wise beyond her years. She's never really fit in at school, where all the kids act and dress the same. She's an artist who expresses her talent in the wacky colors she dyes her hair, her makeup and clothes. She's working on her biggest art project, and counting the days until she's grown up and can really start living. That adult world seems closer when Vanessa gets her dream job at the art supply store, Palette, where she worships the couple who runs it, Oscar and Maye. And she's drawn to a mysterious guy named James, who leads her into new, sometimes risky situations. Is she ready for this world, or not? [summary from Goodreads]

A few years ago I stumbled across a slim YA gem called The Opposite of Invisible. (Also, that was back in the day when I wrote 4-paragraph summaries and one-paragraph reviews, so please excuse the review's youthful unhelpfulness.) Ever since, I have constantly kept one eye out for Liz Gallagher's further writing, so I'm excited for her next book to come out! She has a way of writing quirky, relatable, and utterly sympathetic characters. Her books may never be that long, but "less is more" definitely applies to Liz Gallagher's writings!

My Not-So-Still Life will be published in hardcover from Wendy Lamb Books on May 10, 2011.

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Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future.

When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else? [summary from B&N.com]

I don't know about you, but I overlooked this book when I first heard of it. I thought the premise was a bit too...ritzy-drama-y? But somewhere, somewhere on the Internet (and I'm sorry I can't think of it now!) someone had posted an excellent review of this book and now I'm intrigued! It could go one way or the other, and I'm hoping it blows me away.

Other Words for Love will be published in hardcover by Random House on January 11, 2011.

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Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her. [summary from Goodreads]

Everything about this book screams, READ ME, STEPH! From that epic cover, to the dystopian premise, to the slight hint of romance that does not overwhelm the rest of the premise, to the mention of something special about Lucy. Wow.

Ashes, Ashes will be published in hardcover by Scholastic on June 1, 2011.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

And can I just state for the record that I am SO CLOSE to being done with my semester? Last night I was on an essay-writing roll and worked pretty much nonstop between 10pm and 3am on my two final papers and by the time I got into bed was pretty much done with my paper on The Hunger Games. It's at a fat 26 pages right now, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with myself. I didn't realize I had so much to say, even about one of the greatest YA series of the 21st century, lol.

Tomorrow night it will be all over!!!

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Because I missed a few weeks, I figured I can pick more than one for today, hey? :)

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space. [summary from Goodreads]

I can totally see this potentially being our future, which is rather tragic, in my opinion. I've heard some good things about this book, so I'm interested to see if it lives up to my expectations!

Awaken will be published in hardcover from Houghton Mifflin on May 23, 2011.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris, and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together, they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes-fascinating, sometimes-exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen.

But Tris also has a secret: one she’s kept hidden from everyone, because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly-perfect society, she also learns that her secret might be what helps her save those she loves . . . or it might be what destroys her. [summary from author's blog]

I was initially a bit wary of Divergent. I mean, the premise is so ambitious! There's a lot of room for error and disappointment. However, I keep on hearing praise for this debut novel, so now I'm definitely curious and want to see for myself what this book is like!

Divergent will be published in hardcover from Katherine Tegen Books on May 3, 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday (91)

The Hunt of the Unicorn by C. C. Humphreys

Elayne thinks the old family story that one of her ancestors stepped through a tapestry into a world of mythical beasts makes a great fireside tale. But she lives in the real world. In New York City. And she's outgrown that kind of fantasy.

Until she finds herself in front of a unicorn tapestry at the Cloisters museum and sees her initials woven into the fabric. And hears a unicorn calling to her. And slips and falls—into that other world.

Suddenly the line between fantasy and reality isn't so clear. But the danger is real enough. Almost before she can think, Elayne is attacked by a ferocious beast, rescued by a unicorn, and taken prisoner by a tyrant king. Each of them seems to have an idea about her—that she's a hero, a villain, dinner!

But Elayne has a few ideas of her own. She wants to overthrow the king; she wants to tame the unicorn. She wants to go home! And she's willing to become both hero and villain to do it. [summary from Goodreads]

With that badass cover, and a synopsis that promises the potential of both fantastical action adventure and a little bit of contemporary humor and snark thrown in, I think this book is really promising!

The Hunt of the Unicorn will be published in hardcover from Knopf Books for Young Readers on March 8, 2011.