Young Adult Books

This is a weekly post to spotlight some YA/MG books that will be releasing during this week. All content © by Sab H of YA Bliss

Olive died for a little less than three minutes following a car accident. When she awakes in a hospital - her world has drastically changed. Three weeks later, she's beginning to understand.Her mother no longer trusts her. Her boyfriend never came to the hospital to check up on her. The only people standing by her are her best friend and her younger brother. People talk about her at school. She can't sleep.Her mother believes she needs to talk to a professional. She decides to travel outside her area to attend a Near Death Society support group. It's weirder than she ever imagined, but that's where she meets Nick.Nick makes her feel things. The more time she spends with him, the better she feels. She might be neglecting her best friend and making her parents unhappy, but she's trying to find herself. Should she try to fall back in line or make her own path?My Thoughts: I loved this book - I loved unraveling Olive's story and the layers of relationships. I liked the relationship between Olive and Annie. I like how Annie supported Olive, but wasn't afraid to tell her the truth. I enjoyed the side story of Annie's photography and Olive learning to like taking pictures. Nick and Olive's relationship is adventurous, soul-searching, and sweet. I like how Olive's parents and her understanding of them changed throughout her journey. Cover Thoughts: Cute, but doesn't match the book, which is darker.Source: My LibrarySimilar Read: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Destiny, Rewritten. Kathryn Fitzmaurice. 2013. HarperCollins. 176 pages.I really enjoyed The Year The Swallows Came Early, and I loved, loved, LOVED A Diamond in the Desert. How did I feel about Destiny, Rewritten? I really, really liked it. I appreciated so many things about the heroine, Emily Elizabeth Davis. She's a heroine who needs to believe in happy endings, who writes out her favorite happy endings from books, who checks to see that there is a happy ending before even reading books, who regularly writes Danielle Steel. She's presented as smart and kind, a girl you want for a best friend, a sister, a daughter. But her life isn't perfect. Emily feels some slight pressure from her mom to live up to her destiny. Emily doesn't embrace poetry; she doesn't feel called to BE a poet just because her mom named her after Emily Dickinson. The inspiring story about how her mom found a first edition complete poems of Emily Dickinson just days before she was born? Well, it makes her love and appreciate her mom--the book of poems is updated in the margins with details from her life--but it doesn't make her want to write poetry or even write about poetry.One day, this treasured book is LOST, donated by accident. Emily and her friends and family come together to search the city for this one-of-a-kind book. Her mom is relaxed, reassuring. If the book is meant to come back to her, then it will. Her mom is all about how destiny can't be forced or rushed, that you just have to accept it, embrace it one day at a time. Emily NEEDS the book, NOW. Why? She's just learned that the name of her father is hidden inside its pages. She never discovered this because she's never read it cover to cover. (Her mom won't tell her who her father is, won't explain why he's not a part of their lives.)So will Emily get her happy ending?!I definitely recommend this one! I really love Kathryn Fitzmaurice's writing. One of the reasons I love her writing is the great characterization. © 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book ReviewsIf you're reading this on a site (other than Becky's Book Reviews or Becky's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

House of Secrets (Book 1) by Ned Vizzini & Chris Columbus The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult. Suddenly the siblings find themselves launched on an epic journey into a mash-up world born of Kristoff’s dangerous imagination, to retrieve a dark book of untold power, uncover the Walker family’s secret history and save their parents . . . and maybe even the world. (goodreads.com) Ever since I heard Ned Vizzini speak at the 2010 Teen Author Carnival in NYC I have been a huge fan of his. I loved It’s Kind of a Funny Story and The Other Normals very much so when I heard he was co-authoring a middle grade novel I was beyond delighted! I broke my book buying ban to get this book because I needed something fun in my life and the book was just so GORGEOUS. See below! I packed this monstrosity of a book in my suitcase as soon as I picked it up from the post office. It was coming with me on my weekend trip to Toronto whether or not we could fit it in the baggage. (I was going to make sure it fit!) The book was SO GOOD that I almost didn’t want to go and do the things we’d gone away to do because I wanted to stay in the hotel bed and read! However, we didn’t spend all that money and promise to visit people only to have me locked away in a hotel room, so I sucked it up and did what I needed to do. heh This book was just so much fun. So. Much. Fun! I like stories where siblings get along and discover magical, fantastical places and have to work together – each with their own strengths! – to save their lives or the world, or whatever. I just love those kinds of stories. And this story and the house in San Francisco, is magical and adventurous and there are giant bugs and warriors and pirates and, unfortunately, sharks (my only negative about the entire book. THAT FIN ON THE COVER GAVE ME NIGHTMARES!) This story has something for everyone, girls, boys, kids, adults… you name it! I think that’s part of what I loved so much about the story, there’s mystery, magic, adventure, action and you can laugh and be scared at the same time. It was certainly a quick and enjoyable read and just hit all the right spots when it comes to middle grade adventure! I liked all three of the kids in this book, too, which surprised me. Normally there’s at least one that I won’t like (and sadly, it tends to be the brother almost all of the time!) but in The House of Secrets I liked all three siblings, but I didn’t care much for the additional “friends” that were made along the way. I didn’t hate them, but I thought the Royal Airforce dude was a little snooty for my liking. I even liked the pirates and I’m not normally a pirate fan. As scary as they were, I found them very enjoyable. So, yeah, imaginations have full permission to run wild with this story and I can’t wait to read more from these two authors. I gather what with this one being all “Book One!” and everything that there will be more adventures lurking around the corners in Kristoff House and I cannot wait to find out what those adventures will be! © 2013Beyond Books | House of Secrets originally published by Cat for Beyond Books . | This post cannot be republished without permission of the author. If you're reading it anywhere other than a feed reader (or my own blog!) you are in violation of copyright. Illegal is wrong! Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I am so, so, SO excited to have Erin McCarthy on my blog today. She is one of my favorite romance writers. I've been reading her books since her first book published way back in 2002. Erin McCarthy is a busy author. She writes young adult books, romance (both contemporary and paranormal), and now, she has made her debut in the New Adult field with her first book, True. Here's a little more information about True: When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…(Goodreads.com)I have a review of True coming tomorrow, but in the meantime, here is a fun post from Erin where she shares her five favorite YA novels of all time.1. Harry Potter (any of them) because the world building is so immense, yet the characters so real and likable. You root for Harry and his friends from day one all the way through their coming of age, while confronting the universal theme of good vs. evil.2. Go Ask Alice. This book is over forty years old and yet its subject matters of drugs, rape, and peer pressure are still relevant. The diary form is haunting and intimate.3. The Book Thief. The story of a young German girl during the war, it’s a beauty story of friendship and integrity.4. The Hunger Games. Say what you want about the violence, but it’s a book that has created a dialogue among teens regarding ethics, government, classism, and the value of life.5. Speak. Compelling story about bullying. Erin McCarthy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 40 novels and novellas in the paranormal, contemporary romance, and young adult genres. The author is a RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader award. She lives with her family in Ohio.Find Erin on Twitter | Goodreads | Website | Facebook

To Stand Beside Her by B. Kristin McMichael Release Date: January 24, 2013 Publisher: Self-Published Pages: 348 Series: n/a Review Source: ebook for review through Tasty Book Tours Synopsis: (from Goodreads) To be the best courier in the world, eighteen-year-old Benét Leila follows three simple rules: always work alone, never stay in one place too long, and never fall in love. Too bad she didn't follow her own advice. Leila is a courier. To the people she takes from, she is seen as a common thief; to the people she helps, she is a savior. Nalick is your typical king. He's rich, powerful, and always assumed to be right. When Leila crosses paths with King Nalick, she finds herself trapped. In a rush to save her best friend Kay from a prison sentence for a crime Leila committed, Leila trades her hand in marriage in exchange for Kay’s freedom. Tomboy Leila does not want to grow up, but in three months’ time, she will be married to King Nalick, if Nalick can keep his end of the bargain. First, Nalick must make Leila fall in love with him, a hard task since Leila is not ready to love again after losing her first love to a greedy king. Second, Nalick must keep her safe. He is not the only king trying to hold onto her. Leila has made many enemies over the years, and even more admirers that want her as a prize. Lastly, Nalick must convince Leila that ten years of love is better than a lifetime without. Unless Leila can trust her destiny, she might not reach her wedding day at all.EXCERPT: “And where should we put her, Nalick?” one of them asked. Leila was surprised to hear the man address Nalick so casually. “Leave her here,” he ordered. “But, but . . .” the tracker sputtered. “If you just put my captive back in jail she will escape.” “Don’t worry. She will not be going anywhere. She is not the ghost courier,” Nalick replied as Kay was escorted out of the room. “Now, I’d like to be left alone with this one,” Nalick said, referring to Leila. “Bring the seer,” he ordered. The men beside him rose and left the room. One of the men from earlier escorted the tracker out. The second man shut the door and stood at the back of the room. “So everyone out did not include him?” Leila asked. She had no chance of leaving if both men stayed in the room with Nalick and her. One, she could possibly overpower, but two would be foolish to challenge. Nalick rose and walked over to her. Leila stood her ground and did not move. Nalick circled around her, inspecting her like a wolf getting ready to pounce on its prey. Leila knew what was coming next. She had this same encounter with five other kings before. Though, in her opinion, they were all lesser men than the man in front of her. She still did not happily anticipate the next words out of his mouth. Leila stood in silence as he returned to his table and leaned against the tabletop. Just like all the other kings, he looked at her like she was a trophy. Leila refused to be a trophy to any king. Like any man in power, Nalick had committed acts against innocent people. Intentionally or not, Leila did not approve of hurting innocent people. She had been in several battles over the last four years, and luckily escaped with her life each time, but never once had she killed anyone who attacked her. Even those who would try to kill her did not deserve to die in her opinion. As she stood there, the door in the back of the room opened and the seer, Gabor, walked in escorted by the man who had just left. Leila stared blankly at Nalick, trying her best to read his expression. “I really don’t think you understand the word alone,” she commented to Nalick sarcastically, as the door shut and there were now five people in the room. Gabor walked past her and bowed his head slightly to the king. Nalick nodded his head, and Gabor returned to Leila. Extending his hand, Leila knew what he was planning to do. Trying to stay in control of the situation, Leila gave the old man he

Hitting Shelves this Week: Now in Paperback:

Letters From the Closet by Amy HollingsworthIt was an improbable relationship from the start—a high school English teacher, still in the closet, and his best student. From the confines—and protection—of his closet, Amy’s teacher wrote these letters, letters that were read, cherished, answered, and then locked away for years.Now Amy looks back at the decade of intimate letters that preceded her teacher’s untimely death, collects the shards left by their clumsy, sometimes violent attempts to unmask each other, and counts again the cost of knowing and being known. Recommended for older teens. Add your review of "Letters From The Closet" in comments!

Publisher: OrionFormat: PaperbackReleased: February 28th, 2013Rating: 8/10Amazon summary:Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor and Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love. Review: Eleanor and Park is one of those books I'm still thinking about a week after finishing it. It left me a little but heartbroken, strangely happy and very much in love with Eleanor and Park and their unlikely pairing.Set in 1986, Eleanor and Park features many references to my favourite 80's music, including Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Smiths. There isn't a mobile phone or laptop in sight; instead our characters communicate via landlines, mix tapes and actual real-life conversation. I loved that this book was set in the 80's - I felt that I got to know Eleanor and Park better, and I also got to live in my favourite musical era for a while. Everything was different back then, and this book really shows that. Now, I need to talk about Eleanor and Park. At first I didn't particularly like either of them: I thought Park was mean and I thought Eleanor was quiet and irritating, but I quickly changed my mind on both counts. These two belong together, and that's evident in the way they help each other and make each other's lives better. It all started with X-Men comics but it ended with a lot more than that.Eleanor's home life is a big part of her story, allowing author Rainbow Rowell to cover some very serious issues while somehow managing not to make it too bleak or overly dark. The contract between Eleanor's and Park's parents is stark, and definitely made me extra grateful for my family. I felt sorry for Eleanor but at the same time I felt empowered by her and the way she wanted to change and make a difference.Eleanor and Park is one of those books you just have to read. You'll be transported into another decade where life was slightly simpler, technology was a luxury and the comics were just being published for the very first time. In this decade you'll meet a boy and a girl who mean everything to each other, and who understand the importance of friendship and love. You'll read it and be part of their lives for a few hours, and you'll still be thinking about them long after closing the book. Do yourself a favour and meet Eleanor and Park, and then never forget them.Watchmen

I've been absent on social media for the last month, as some of my friends have noticed, but online activities went ahead minus me and most were none the wiser. And my inbox grew...a lot. It's like the emails were bunnies and bred. During this time I was holed up with my laptop editing like a fiend. I had to take an early version of my manuscript and mash it together with a newer version and then weed out all the inconsistencies. Two rounds of editing later and I'm back in the real world...for now. My manuscript is now in the hands of my editor and will probably undergo a few more rounds of content edits before it under goes line edits. So I'm bound to disappear into the editing cave again soon enough. So if you have a writer friend who goes MIA it's not that they don't love you or care anymore. They're probably in crazy editing mode and neglecting friends and family in person as well as online.So: what makes you disappear offline? And how do you handle your editing?YAtopia is a blog with ten writers talking about MG, YA, and NA books, writing, publishing, and teens. Check out http://yatopia.blogspot.com for information about the contributors and special features.