May Giveaway

** SORRY, THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER**

NEXT GIVEAWAY:  JUNE 2

 

 In case you missed the newsflash, the first Monday of every month features a NEW GIVEAWAY on the blog! Take your pick of any of the books I've reviewed the previous month. This month's theme was Yippee! YA! Here are your haunting choices for this month. Click the links to read the reviews of each:

THE DIVINERS
by Libba Bray
YA historical  / paranormal 
a ghostly murderer haunts Jazz Age Manhattan

17 & GONE
by Nova Ren Suma
YA contemporary / paranormal
a teenage girl is haunted by visions of missing girls

JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS
by Katherine Marsh
YA historical
a 16th-century boy appointed as a court dwarf is haunted by his own fate

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY
by Jay Asher
YA contemporary
a teenage boy is haunted by the last words of the girl he loved 















GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. U.S. entrants only, please.
2. Be sure to note the book you want to win AND WHY.
3. Giveaway prizes will be brand-new books delivered to you via Amazon.com. They will be paperback editions unless the book is still available only in hardcover. 
4.  This giveaway ends 12:01 AM MAY 13.
5. There's a new giveaway every month! CLICK HERE to receive a brief email every time a new giveaway is posted on the blog. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Pub info: Razorbill / Penguin, 2007; 304 pp
Genre: YA contemporary

I've heard so much about this book since its publication and yet I've put off reading it. Was I afraid of it? Yeah, maybe a little. Those of us who have been through the teen years and have struggled with depression don't relish going to that place again. But this is an important book, and ultimately, not a "downer" book. I'm so glad I took the plunge.

Goodreads summary:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Status: finished 5/2/14

My impressions:
This is an important enough book that I shoehorned it in to my Yippee! YA! Month. Yeah, technically I finished it in May, but so what? I really want to give away a copy, and it's my blog, so there.

Why would I do that?

Because Thirteen Reasons Why is not only compelling, readable, and real, it's important. It's important for teens because it opens their eyes to the consequences their actions have. I love kids--I love teens--but I remember what it's like to be so absorbed in my own stuff that I didn't realize how many others out there were hurting. That's not your fault, teenagers--it's part of the biology. But that's why books like this one are so crucial. Jay Asher's expert capture of Hannah's voice puts you right in her head. You'll live her life along with her, and at the same time see what effect her life had on Clay Jensen, who only wishes he had reached out to her in time.

But if you're an adult, thinking, Thank God that part of my life is over, you should still read the book. As adults we get complacent, so happily sheltered in our bubble of grown-up-ish-ness that we also can ignore the people around us who are hurting, whether they're kids or other adults. Remember, fellow grownups: What you think "isn't that big a deal" in a kid's life isn't yours to judge. It's impossible to see ahead to those years when you can look back and think, What was I so worried about? It is a big deal. Read Hannah's story. You'll be very glad you did.

About Jay:

Jay Asher was born in Arcadia, California, and worked in libraries, bookstores, and a shoe store before becoming a full-time professional writer. Besides the award-winning Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay is the co-author of The Future of Us (Razorbill, 2011) with Carolyn Mackler and an independently published e-book novella for adults called Brighton Beach Murder (CreateSpace, 2012). Jay is a dynamic speaker and visits schools all over the country.

Online:
You can follow Jay's news on his website here, including updates on the film adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why. The book has its own website here as well as its own Facebook page. Jay blogs regularly on his website and also connects with readers on his Twitter account and author's Facebook page.

Want to win a free copy of this book? The first Monday of each month features a giveaway of any of the titles I've reviewed the previous month. Pick your fave, enter, and win! Next giveaway: This Monday! May 5.


SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE A BRIEF EMAIL WHENEVER A NEW GIVEAWAY BEGINS.

To follow my progress as I bulldoze my way through a stack of 51 to-be-reads this year, search for the tag 2014 TBR Shelf. Read all the reviews here.

Review: JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS by Katherine Marsh

Title: Jepp, Who Defied the Stars

Author: Katherine Marsh

Pub info: Hyperion, 2012; 384 pp

Genre: YA historical

I'm a sucker for a good historical novel, and this one's premise was so unusual that I just had to pick it up. You should too.

Goodreads summary:

Fate:
Is it written in the stars from the moment we are born?

Or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands?

Jepp of Astraveld needs to know.

He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in a luxurious prison: Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish Infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them; but it breaks Jepp’s heart to see his friend Lia suffer.

After Jepp and Lia attempt a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe in a kidnapper’s carriage, Jepp fears where his unfortunate stars may lead him. But he can't even begin to imagine the brilliant and eccentric new master—a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars—who awaits him. Or the girl who will help him mend his heart and unearth the long-buried secrets of his past.

Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the tale of an extraordinary hero and his inspiring quest to become the master of his own destiny.

New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2012
The Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Books of 2012

Status: finished 4/20/14

My impressions:

Katherine Marsh tells this unusual story of a court dwarf in lush detail, bringing the end of the sixteenth century alive without overwhelming the reader with a history lesson. Jepp is an endearing character to follow, and while he suffers cruel treatment, his humiliations are tempered with judicious editing. At first I was reluctant to call this a YA novel, though that's how it was marketed, because it could be a story for anyone, despite the main character's age (16). But I can imagine another sort of author dwelling on the unsavory details of Jepp's life instead of the hope. The story is compelling, the pace quick, and the entire narrative believable, despite how removed it is from our current experience. If some elements of Jepp's story seem a little contrived, a bit deus ex machina, it's a small complaint for an otherwise wonderful novel.

About Katherine:

Katherine Marsh was born in the suburbs of New York City and began her career as a high school teacher and journalist. Today she lives in the Washington, DC, area with her husband and two cats. She is also the author of The Night Tourist (Hyperion, 2008), which won the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, and its sequel, The Twilight Prisoner (Hyperion, 2009).

Online:

Check out Katherine's website here. Follow Katherine on Twitter here, and on her Facebook page here. You can listen to an interesting interview with Katherine about Jepp and its origins here (NPR's All Things Considered).

Want to win a free copy of this book? The first Monday of each month features a giveaway of any of the titles I've reviewed the previous month. Pick your fave, enter, and win! Next giveaway: May 5.

SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE A BRIEF EMAIL WHENEVER A NEW GIVEAWAY BEGINS.

To follow my progress as I bulldoze my way through a stack of 51 to-be-reads this year, search for the tag 2014 TBR Shelf. Read all the reviews here.

Posted with Blogsy

Review: 17 AND GONE by Nova Ren Suma

Title: 17 & Gone
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Pub info: Dutton Juvenile, 2013; 354 pp
Genre: YA thriller/paranormal

There's nothing more interesting than following an author from her debut novel through her career and watching her take off. As soon as I read Nova's first book, Dani Noir, I knew I'd found a keeper. Her third book, 17 & Gone, did not disappoint.

Goodreads summary:

Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost.

Status: finished 4/10/14

My impressions:
This is a tough book to review without giving away too much. Suffice it to say that Lauren's journey of getting to know--and obsess over--the many lost girls she discovers is complex and utterly believable. A thread that runs through Nova Ren Suma's books is an exquisite balance between what is known and what is unknown; the real world and the world just beyond. A strong theme in this book is that 17-year-old girls are all too often left to chance. It seems harsh, even unrealistic, to ask, Who cares about another 17-year-old runaway? And yet it's a fair question. When a 10-year-old goes missing, a neighborhood mobilizes. But a 17-year-old is on the cusp of adulthood, and if she runs away, well, maybe there's a good reason. Suma doesn't want us to leave these girls by the roadside. They matter, and Lauren matters. You'll read this book and come to know Lauren intimately, and what she cares about, you'll care about. It's a fascinating journey we take with her.

About Nova:

Nova grew up in small towns across the Hudson Valley and now makes her home in New York City. Her YA novels Imaginary Girls (Penguin/Dutton, 2011) and 17 & Gone were both named 2014 Outstanding Books for the College Bound by YALSA. She also wrote the middle-grade novel Dani Noir (Aladdin, 2009), reissued as Fade Out for a YA audience (Simon Pulse, 2012).

Nova's next book, The Walls Around Us, is due out in spring 2015 from Algonquin YR. Like a few other authors on my TBR 2014 list, she is a contributor to the YA horror anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys, coming from Dial/Penguin in fall 2015.



Online:
Check out Nova's distraction no. 99, which is one of the best writer blogs out there. Her news and events can be found here, on her website. You can chat with her here on Twitter, and watch a video interview with Nova right here. 


Want to win a free copy of this book? The first Monday of each month features a giveaway of any of the titles I've reviewed the previous month. Pick your fave, enter, and win!  Next giveaway: May 5.

SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE A BRIEF EMAIL WHENEVER A NEW GIVEAWAY BEGINS.

To follow my progress as I bulldoze my way through a stack of 51 to-be-reads this year, search for the tag 2014 TBR Shelf. Read all the reviews here.

Review: THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray

 Title: The Diviners
Author: Libba Bray
Pub info: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012; 578 pp
Genre: YA historical paranormal

The glitzy streets of Manhattan may be the duck's quack to Ohio native Evie O'Neill, but a restless spirit has her fighting for her life before you can say sloe gin fizz. This book is a must-read if you love your thrills mixed with a bit of history. Welcome to April! It's Yippee! YA! month on the blog.

Goodreads summary:

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Status: finished 4/2/14

My impressions:
Okay, I was a little biased going into this book. I love Libba Bray's writing, so I was prepared to enjoy the book. I also love the 1920s time period. And I love New York City. So, win-win-win.

But wow.

Part of this book is like cruising through a noisy speakeasy, meeting character after character who you'd love to know better. You get just enough of a taste of each life to become invested, and then you're whisked away to the next. Each character is interesting and multifaceted; each is linked to the others. All of them kept me turning pages, from gutsy flapper Evie to the scholarly Uncle Will, orphaned poet Memphis Campbell and his psychic brother, and Ziegfeld Follies girl Theta Knight and her sweet piano man, Henry.

Then there's Bray's stunning, detailed picture of 1926 New York, from fashions to cigarette ads to catchy slang and hot jazz. This tumultuous time period--a whistle in the dark between the tragedy of the Great War and the devastating Depression to come--is the perfect setting for the rise of an evil spirit.

And that's the final piece: The ghost story. This isn't a pretty haunting, and the murders are quite grisly, but they're kept firmly in PG-13 realm. (Picture a ghoul coming at a young girl with a bloody hatchet, and ... fade to black.) The creeps are genuinely chilling, and the story flies by as if unencumbered by its massive page count. I stayed up late several nights to finish it and now absolutely can't wait for the sequel. Additional plus: This story is self-contained and completely stands on its own--no cliffhangers here--but the stage is set for more evil to sprout in the next volume.

About Libba:
Libba Bray is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing); the Michael L. Printz Award-winning Going Bovine;  and Beauty Queens, an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist. She is originally from Texas but makes her home in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, son, and two sociopathic cats. The sequel to The Diviners is called Lair of Dreams and is due out from Little, Brown in August 2014.


Online:
Catch Libba online at her website here and the separate website for The Diviners series. She is also active--and very funny--on her Twitter account here. You can see two fantastic trailers for The Diviners: The official one is here; this other one was created by a fan but is absolutely fantastic. (I know it looks like a movie trailer, but as of this writing, The Diviners has not yet been produced for the big screen. Paramount Pictures has optioned the book, which Libba will adapt, but no word on a release date yet.) 


Want to win a free copy of this book? The first Monday of each month features a giveaway of any of the titles I've reviewed the previous month. Pick your fave, enter, and win!  Next giveaway: May 5.

SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE A BRIEF EMAIL WHENEVER A NEW GIVEAWAY BEGINS.

To follow my progress as I bulldoze my way through a stack of 51 to-be-reads this year, search for the tag 2014 TBR Shelf. Read all the reviews here.