First thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-galley of this book…I already bought the paper version of it as this book is so far one of my favorites of 2013. And it´s my first Debut Author Challenge Review!
There are books that make you smile, or cry, or feel so full of emotions you´re not quite sure how the writer managed to instill those into the novel.
And then you have the books that do all those things not and stay with you for long after you turn the last page (or click the last “next” on your Kindle). IF YOU FIND ME is one of them.
Summary by Goodreads: A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.
Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.
If I close my eyes and think about Emily´s story, I see people. Not characters but people and then I simply feel. Emily managed that elusive magic of making me fall in love with her characters, even though the situation they find themselves in is so difficult. Carey and Jenessa found a place in my heart. They made me think, made me tear up but there´s also hope in those pages. Yes, their situation is tough. Yes, they suffered and there were moments where I cringed, where I clutched my sides and where I closed my eyes. But they are both so full of life still, so full of love. Their love for each other. Their love for others. Despite everything.
I will pick up everything Emily Murdoch writes after this heart-wrenching, beautiful and powerful debut!
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Warning: I cannot re-blog something directly from blogger so I am basically copying and pasting a blog post from Peggy Eddleman. But her words are so true and brought tears to my eyes. Help spread the word!
I have always been so amazed at how supportive, loyal, encouraging, and helpful the writing community is. Writers rock, big time. Whenever someone’s in need, writers rally the troops, which is why I’m posting this. Guys– we need to rally the troops for two of our own.
First: Chad Morris.
I’ve gotta say, a debut year is extremely busy and stressful. But there are a lot of very rewarding and fun parts of it, too! Chad Morris, a blogger many of you might know, has willingly given up all the fun and rewarding parts of his debut year for something infinitely more important– his 9 year old daughter. Last Tuesday he and his wife Shelly (a writer who many of you might know, too) took her to one of the best neurosurgeons in the nation to get a tumor removed from her brain. Dang! I’m getting teary-eyed just typing this! *deep breath*
Chad is in a hospital, being there for his daughter as she recovers. He can’t promote his book, but we can! We can give him the book launch that he deserves. His book releases tomorrow. If you feel so inclined, think about mentioning his book on Twitter, Facebook, on your blog, on Pinterest, or on whatever other form of social media you enjoy.
Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don’t read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn’t around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar.
Welcome to Cragbridge Hall, the most advanced and prestigious school in the world. Twin siblings Abby and Derick Cragbridge are excited as new students to use their famed grandfather’s inventions that make Cragbridge Hall so incredible. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, the twins begin following a trail of clues left by their grandfather. They must find out where their family is, learn who they can trust, and discover what secrets are hidden within Cragbridge Hall.
Abby and Derick soon realize they are caught in a race with a fierce adversary to discover their grandfather’s greatest secret–a dangerous discovery that could alter both history and reality.
About Chad:
Chad Morris grew up wanting to become a professional basketball player or a rock star. (Inspired by Animal from the Muppets, he’s been banging on drums since he was eight years old.) After high school, he wrote and performed sketch comedy while going to college, and eventually he became a teacher and a curriculum writer. He lives in Utah with his wife and five kids. Chad would love to teach at Cragbridge Hall.
Unlike Oscar Cragbridge, however, he hasn’t really invented anything, though his son once sketched out blueprints for a machine that would turn celery into cookies.
Bridget’s debut novel, POISON, releases a week from tomorrow. Sadly, Bridget died from cancer in May of 2011, and never got to hold her book in her hands. Being published was her dream, and her husband and friends would love some help putting the finishing touches on her dream. Her husband has set up a website that talks about all the ways you can help. It’s a pretty awesome thing. You can find his plea for help here: http://bridgetzinn.com/help/index.php
Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.
About Bridget:
Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the “summer of love” and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was “Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect.”
Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers’ copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.
Whenever I get approved for a book in NetGalley, little butterflies put on their reading glasses in my stomach and fly around happily. When I received the email about ALSO KNOWN AS, they were not only flying around, they were drawing banners saying “Reading is cool”.
Summary: Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.
Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She’ll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school’s security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.
Expected publication: February 26th 2013 by Bloomsbury Juvenile US
Last year, after several bloggers raved about AUDREY, WAIT! by Robin Benway…I decided to see what all the enthusiasm was about and wow, two words: THE. VOICE. Robin Benway managed in Audrey, Wait! to show how a voice can carry a book. Don´t get me wrong, I loved the story of AUDREY, WAIT! too but like with Courtney Summers, I fell in love with the characters due to their voice.
ALSO KNOWN AS doesn´t disappoint. The voice of the main character, Maggie, is spot on. Again. The entire cast of characters leaps from the pages. I loved her best friend from school Roux. Roux has so many different facets and she´s the type of friend you want to have by your side. Jesse Oliver is definitely aggravatingly cute and the story moves at a fast pace.
The entire spy angle is more Spy Kids than Hanna and it is not always present as Maggie discovers who she is in that book while making friends, exploring New York City.
ALSO KNOWN AS is the type of book that you want to pick up when you want something different but still familiar, when you want a light clever read, and words that make you laugh.
What are you reading right now?
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The choices were tough (see all the wonderful books I´ve read this year?)…so yep…hmmm sometimes there may be more than one…Today I am proud to present BEST IN SHOW.
YA books released and read in 2012
Favorite Cover(s)
I’m really wondering about the bird, and the mystery, and the boys, and it’s shiny!
So pretty, and dark, and ohhhhh I want to know what’s going to happen.
I don’t know why but this one really appealed to me even before I read it. Must be the boots, or the desert…
Cutest Couple
Samantha and Jase – they are simply adorable!
Augustus and Hazel – they broke my heart, but at the same time their love for one another shone through the pages, and they’re funny, and they’re courageous, and they’re simply real.
Most Likely to Succeed (Or, pick a Printz Winner.)
Gorgeous writing, story that pulls you in…Even though the storylines are completely different, they both managed to create a world that felt like the reader was walking beside the characters.
In one of the books, you will mourn and grieve and fall in love with them. While in the other, you will want to know what happens next, and what is it about this place that makes everything so magic, and you will want to go hang out with The Raven Boys and Blue and her family.
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime (Book you just couldn’t put down!)
Even though Noah was sometimes a bit too much, I still got lost in the story and…missed my bedtime for it 🙂
Best Repeat Performance (Your favorite sequel or follow-up.)
Romance Most Worthy of an Ice bath
Okay. So I know this is NA…but STEAMY!!!!
Breakout Novel (Your favorite book by a debut author.)
Loved the story, and on top of that Huntley has been so sweet in helping with my giveaway of her book and by granting me an interview. Definitely getting her next book.
Best Old-Timer (your favorite read of the year, published before 2012)
You guys. That book. So. Many. Feelings.
The characters, the story, the setting, the writing, how everything works together, how I fell in love with all of them.
Most Pleasant Surprise (Best book you didn’t think you’d like, but totally did.)
I know. Weird. But the topic is so heartbreaking. Cancer is a bitch. And I didn’t know if I would put a wall between me and the book, or if I would think it was written too off-track, or if I would even pick it up afraid it would be too sad. But the characters were so real, their story, their words resonated so loudly, that I fell in love with it. Without Tracey and her book club, I know I probably would have not read it. So thank you!
Most creative use of a Love Triangle
The love triangle is there, not there, but there…and wow…can’t wait to know what happens next!
Sleeper Hit (Book you found so awesome you wish it had been hyped more)
While that book was hyped a bit before its publication, I don’t think it got lots of press afterwards.
Favorite Outlier (Your favorite middle grade or adult 2012 book)
It’s technically an adult book, no?
Reading ON WRITING was really a delight. The voice in that book is just amazing, and Mr. King gives wonderful tips, and digs into his own experience as a writer.
And now, we need to pick our own superlative category.
Favorite Lines
(not just first line, but any lines, the ones that stayed with you long long loonnnng after you closed the book).
Disclaimer: I have more than one favorite line, and I’m sticking to the books I talked about in this wonderful blogfest (not all the ones I’ve read in 2012)
“Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn’t know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves.”
“He asked for a specific. I gave him a specific. I’m sorry it wasn’t puppies.”
“Maura had decided sometime before Blue’s birth that it was barbaric to order children about, and so Blue had grown up surrounded by imperative question marks.”
“We were playing Rock, Paper, Scissors,” she told him once. “I was paper and she was rock so I lived and she died.”
“If you weren’t driving, I’d kiss you senseless,” I tell him. He swerves to the side of the road and stops the car abruptly. “Not driving any more.”
People will say it’s sad that she leaves a lesser scar, that fewer remember her, that she was loved deeply but not widely. But it’s not sad. It’s triumphant. It’s heroic. Isn’t that the real heroism? The real heroes anyway aren’t the people doing things; the real heroes are the people NOTICING things, paying attention.
“Headline?” he asked. “‘Swing Set Needs Home,'” I said. “‘Desperately Lonely Swing Set Needs Loving Home,'” he said. “‘Lonely, Vaguely Pedophilic Swing Set Seeks the Butts of Children,'” I said.”
“You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you.”
”His bed´s really comfortable and he never pees in it”
“Why do all the hot girls want the jocks and the good boys? We losers are the ones that need you.”
You have to kiss me,” I find myself saying. “Yeah.” He leans closer. “I do.”
Tell me, what is your favorite line from the books you’ve read this year?
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The choices were tough (see all the wonderful books I´ve read this year?)…so yep…hmmm sometimes there may be more than one…Today I am proud to present ELEMENTS OF FICTION.
YA books released and read in 2012
Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.)
Really, I’ve read AMAZING books this year, and I’d love to have thought of some plots myself. Like THIS IS NOT A TEST, I’m a big WALKING DEAD fan, and the way Courtney Summers created a mix of honesty, horror, love, hope and everything in between is quite amazing in my view.
And all the books with the wonderful romances (I write a lot of kissing scenes)…My Life Next Door, Meant to Be, Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight….
Then, there are the plots I absolutely LOVE and the prose I found magical and amazing but the books I wouldn’t write. At least not right now. Does that make sense?
Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)
I mean I’d love to go to see FOUR and see the world for a little while, but then can I just come back home? 😀
Some of the creatures in there are pretty scary.
Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting you’d happily travel to.)
I really need to go back to London soon 😀 (dear hubby, if you read this, we should plan a trip there next year…and go see a musical…are you still reading? Come back!)
Loveliest Prose
Most Dynamic Main Character
Tris.
Most Jaw-Dropping Ending
I need to know what happens next…
Best Performance in a Supporting Role
All the Garretts in MY LIFE NEXT DOOR but especially George. I mean, that kid is SO cute and funny 😀
Some of his best lines:
”His bed´s really comfortable and he never pees in it”
George gives me a smile, the same dazzling sweet smile as his big brother, although at this point, with green teeth. “I might marry you,” he allows. “Do you want a big family?”
I like that. You look like Sailor Supergirl.
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The choices were tough (see all the wonderful books I´ve read this year?)…so yep…hmmm sometimes there may be more than one…
Today I am proud to present POPULARITY CONTEST.
YA books released and read in 2012
Class Clown
Jason – he’s funny, sweet, endearing and loves the attention he gets by being his clown-self…And he’s also so much more than that.
Most Likely to Become a Rock Star
Bev – she might not really become a Rock Star but she´s got the attitude, and the band.
Most likely to start a riot
Noah – I think he would do anything for his siblings, including starting a riot.
Tris – she would definitely be the one to start a riot…But at the same time, can you blame her?
Fashion King and/or Queen
Harrison – He loves fashion, and he’s supportive and funny and smart and encouraging.
Emma – here again, she knows her fashion, and she seems like a fun/nice/supportive person to have around!
Girl You’d Most Want For Your BFF
Quinn – Because she had such a hard time, and still managed to stay true to herself and the ones she loved.
Blue – So we can go on adventures together, and talk about the Raven boys, and life, and all those mysteries swirling around. And to be immersed in Maggie’s magical writing.
Biggest Flirt
Parker – Flirting is a coping mechanism for her.
Catherine Howard – she flirts to get ahead, to climb the social ladder, and for the pretty dresses. But she also flirts to feel alive.
Boy You Wish You’d Dated in High School
Can I just tell you that list is ridiculously long and leave it at that?:D
Most Likely to Become President
Elder – I mean he’s already a leader. And on a ship. And without the you-know-what-I-won’t spoil-it-for-you.
Favorite Parental Figure
The Garretts – They’re supportive, loud, funny, and simply there.
Hazel’s parents – they love their daughter, and are there for her. Their suffering and their heartbreak is visible and though they try to also simply be there for Hazel.
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The choices were tough (see all the wonderful books I´ve read this year?)…so yep…hmmm sometimes there may be more than one…Today I am proud to present HEAD OF CLASS.
YA books released and read in 2012
Favorite Dystopian
INSURGENT by Veronica Roth – I had no issue getting back into that world. And cannot wait to see what happens next.
Favorite Science Fiction
A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis – I loved, loved, loved that one. The ship becomes another character for me, and the way the entire cast is developed is just brilliant in my view. I even found this one a tad better than the first book of this trilogy (and I already couldn´t put it down :P)
Favorite Contemporary
Okay I´m sorry but I´ve read way too many contemporaries to play favorite. Can I go with 3—in no particular order?
For the way the story touched my heart, made me cry, made me hope: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green. I’ve read this book while spending a few days at my Mother-in-law’s. And I think she still wonders why I cried so much reading a novel. For my full review, and for all the reasons why I think this heartbreaking book is also a book full of love and hope, see here.
For the way the romance made my heart beat faster, and the secondary cast of characters: MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick. And to share the love, I had decided to hold a giveaway for that book back in July, I also thought I’d ask the author if maybe she would be interested in doing an interview. I was so happy when she said yes! And even included a signed copy of the book as giveaway! 😀 (Happy Friday – Interview and giveaway)
THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers. As I wrote in my review of this book back in August, Sloane is a tortured character and whose pain rages through the pages, gripping and sad. The drama with her family broke my heart. It´s definitely not the type of drama easy to resolve in normal circumstances, so if you throw zombies into the mix? You get an unforgettable story, exploring the weaknesses, strenghts of each character.
So, tell me who was Head of Class for you this year?
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Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This week’s topic: About how many books do you read in a year?
Do you want to read more? Or, less?
So far, I´ve read about 72 YA (and NA) books this year (about 86 books in total). Yes. 72. And the year is not over. That seems like a lot. I see my husband rolling his eyes at the number. But…I spend a lot of time in commuting, and I´m a fast reader. You combine the two and you get a whole lot of books in a year. My commute is for both reading and writing, and when I´m deep into a draft, there will be less reading.
The YA books I’ve read so far in 2012
I don´t set a number per year, I don’t have a goal of books I feel like I need to be reading. But, since I’ve become serious about my writing, I also believe that reading a lot does improve my writing. After all, even Stephen King explained: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” It also helps me to know what’s already out there, what works for me, try to touch the elusive point on the reasons why I get lost in a book. That magical moment when it’s simply you and the story. It always leaves me in awe at the way a writer was able to create that chemistry through words.
A lot of times, I also simply enjoy reading for reading. You know getting the butterflies when a book pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It helps me de-stress, it makes me smile, and yes even when it makes me tear up, I welcome all the feelings. I even have some books, I will re-read because I know they will lift me up.
I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of books.
Sorry hubby, the shelves will continue to overflow.
So, tell me: do you set yourself a “reading goal” per year?
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A while back, YA highway and a lot of wonderful bloggers decided to share their shelves.I´m a tad late to the party, but here are mine (plus some other places I seem to think books are absolutely needed).
Books – everywhere
What is the most original place for your books?
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Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This week’s topic: What was the best book you read in September?
This month, I breathed, dreamed, smelled, ate my revisions. But I also read quite a lot of great books…
The wonderful books I read in September…
RULES OF ATTRACTION and CHAIN REACTION by Simone Elkeles were both very enjoyable even though I have to admit the first book in the series is my favorite.
IF I LIE by Corinne Jackson was heart-breaking, and I felt with many of the characters.
TEN by Gretchen McNeil takes on one of my favorite novels of Agatha Christie (and I´ve read a lot of her books when I was a teenager :-)) and she does it very well, building up the tension and creating a creepy setting.
And then there´s BUTTER…this book made me FEEL so much.
Summary by Goodreads: A lonely obese boy everyone calls “Butter” is about to make history. He is going to eat himself to death-live on the Internet-and everyone is invited to watch. When he first makes the announcement online to his classmates, Butter expects pity, insults, and possibly sheer indifference. What he gets are morbid cheerleaders rallying around his deadly plan. Yet as their dark encouragement grows, it begins to feel a lot like popularity. And that feels good. But what happens when Butter reaches his suicide deadline? Can he live with the fallout if he doesn’t go through with his plans?
Disclaimer: there is one scene I COULD NOT read. Could. Not. Simply. Could. Not. It´s the scene which shows how Butter got his nickname. It wasn´t overly visual but it just made me feel so much and it was difficult because I almost had the feeling to be a by-stander when I was reading. It´s difficult
This book does an uncanny job at instilling the way Butter feels, and the way people are cheering for him to go through his plan. I´ve read that some readers have an issue identifying with Butter because why doesn´t he do something to lose weight? I didn´t have that question. For me, it´s clear Butter suffers not only from his body weight but that he has many unresolved issues and that he doesn´t have the tools to deal with them. Getting bigger for him isn´t something he likes, it´s something he does, it´s part of who he´s become. Bulimia is an illness. And Butter is sick.
Butter is so much more though. He´s talented, he has an attitude, he has dreams, he does have some friends, and he longs for many things, including popularity.
You wonder how it can go that far, but at the same time, you know it could. You get to know Butter, his family, the people surrounding him. And you want to tell him: “You´re not alone. Simply look around you.” You want to reach out to his classmates and tell them: “Open your eyes.” But then again, you have the insight of being in Butter’s mind, you know exactly what he’s going through. This book broke my heart as I was reading it.
Scary? Yes.
A book I would recommend? Definitely.
So, tell me what was your favorite book(s) of the month?
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Elodie Nowodazkij 