iBookstore Book of the Week–I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler

May 22, 2013 by 2 Comments

Janet Gurtler is a wonderful  YA contemporary author, and Sourcebooks Fire is excited to announce that Janet’s book, I’m Not Her, has been chosen as the iBookstore Book of the Week! (Click the link to get to the book.)  This means that I’m Not Her is FREE to readers right now through the iBookstore.  You can’t be free, right?!  To help promote this exciting event, I have 10 fun facts to share about Janet Gurtler’s book.  Feel free to spread the love by tweeting this post with the hashtag #BookoftheWeek :)

I'm Not Here cover

10 Fun Facts About I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler

  1. In a hospital scene in I’m Not Her one of the nurses is named Tracey and she takes Kristina’s flowers home to her daughter, Carly.  Tracey is the name of my sister, Carly is her daughter in real life.
  1. Every single one of my books has a character named Carly in it. This is a tribute to my niece, Carly. The characters are not based on her per se, but there has to be a Carly in my books. Like a superstition or good luck charm or something.
  1. This book is dedicated to my sister Tracey.  I was able to keep it a secret until Final Page Proofs came in.
  1. My niece Ciara plays volleyball and her nickname is CEE. She got recruited by a university in the States and is playing there. None of the volleyball players in the book were based on her though. She is a cool like a rock star.
  1. I thought Clark Trent was a funny name because of Superman’s secret identity. The Superman cape Clark wears in a scene cracked me up.
  1. I named a couple of the teachers in I’m Not Her after dogs I’ve had.  Peppsy (Mr. Pepson) and Meeko (Mr. Meekers)
  1. In a scene Tess listens to Hedly on her iPod. I LOVE Jacob, the lead singer for the band. He was on the only season of Canadian Idol I watched.
  1. I named the golf course that Nick works at and Tess’s Dad plays at after my husband. Largurt (Larry Gurtler)
  1. I’m Not Her was originally called The Weight of Bones, but when I first started writing it I titled it Dance Big Sister.
  1. Tess’s love of the Discovery Channel and Myth Busters were inspired by my son

If you didn’t already know, Janet Gurtler’s newest novel, How I Lost You (Goodreads), was just published this month.  She has a fantastic interview with Entertainment Weekly’s Shelf Life blog: http://shelf-life.ew.com/2013/05/05/how-i-lost-you-janet-gurtler/ .   Janet is also hosting a month-long  “YA Authors Talk BFFs” celebration on her blog where she’s posting interviews with other YA authors about their relationships with their best friends from their teen years to today.  It’s actually really fascinating: http://janetgurtler.blogspot.com/

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WriteOnCon 2013 Pitch-fest

January 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I’m very excited to help bring attention to the 2013 WriteOnCon pitch-fest!  Read on for details! :)

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We here at WriteOnCon have decided that we sleep too much. To rectify that, we’re organizing a mid-winter “Luck ‘O the Irish” pitch-fest, where agents, book bloggers, and authors will team up to read and vote for the best pitches of 2013.

You read that right! A pitch-fest! At WriteOnCon!

But you won’t need a pot ‘o gold–or a lucky leprechaun–to participate, because our goal is to make sure you’re well prepared. After all, we have bonafide literary agents coming to this thing! Yes, they will be reading the pitches, and yes, they are looking to sign clients. It could be you!

Not a writer? WE STILL NEED YOU! We’re recruiting book bloggers and readers to spread the word and to vote for their favorites. Advocate for the books you want to see published–contact us at writeoncon@gmail.com to become an official WOC 2013 Pitch-Fest Blogger. You’ll even get a special button. Ooooo. Shiny buttons.

The details:
–Pitch-fest runs from March 18-22. Authors, book bloggers, readers, and our fabulous literary agents will be voting on the pitches. The favorites in each category will win prizes, including some great agent feedback or membership in the official WriteOnCon mentorship program!

–There will only be a limited number of pitches accepted. That number is unknown at this time, because it depends on how many agents attend. We’re still recruiting agents and will let you know the final numbers as soon as we do! Pitches will be selected randomly, so it doesn’t matter what time zone you live in.

–The agents have selected their top three genres, and pitches will ONLY be accepted in those genres. Again, all genres are unknown at this time as we’re still finalizing agents, but don’t worry. We will make announcements about genres and numbers as things solidify (sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing!). At this time, we are only focusing on the children’s market, so you can know now that this pitch-fest will focus only on middle grade and young adult genres.

–We’re announcing this now, before all details are finalized, because we’re running a “perfect your pitch” workshop in February. This will take place in the WriteOnCon forums, and will work much the same as the query critique boards do during the annual WOC. You will post your pitch, and your peers will critique it. We will have posts from industry professionals on writing pitches and genre classification.

We’re doing this for a good reason. We want your pitch to be as perfect as possible once the submission window hits in March. We will only be accepting your entry for the pitch-fest one time. We will not change your genre or edit your pitch after it has been submitted. This workshop during February is the time for you to fine-tune your pitch and get feedback about which genre your novel really belongs in.

–Only one pitch per person. Put forth your best work.

–Pitches should be for polished and query-ready novels only. That means if you haven’t finished your novel yet, you shouldn’t pitch. Still revising? Don’t pitch. The agents attending are looking for material, and when they request, you want to be ready to send out your novel. We’re announcing early to give you time to finish!

Dates to know:
February 18-March 10 – Forum peer pitch critiques (Carolin has the forum boards built! Check them out HERE)
March 11-13 – Submission of final pitches (this will be done through a Google form, NOT in the forum–details to come!)
March 14-17 – We build the boards in the forum (they will be hidden until March 18)
March 18-22 – Voting and commenting by literary agents, mentor authors, and book bloggers

We can’t wait to see you at the Luck o’ the Irish Pitch-Fest! Watch the WOC newsletter and site for more updates as we get closer to liftoff. Yeah, that was totally a mixed metaphor.

 

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Filed Under: Awesome Authors

Waiting on Wednesday–The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

January 9, 2013 by 4 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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Sarah Ockler is a popular author in my classroom, and with good reason, too.  My students and I love her characters, the plot lines, the romance, etc.  The book club I run chose Fixing Delilah as one of our books two years ago and last year we read Bittersweet.  We chatted with Sarah over the phone after reading Fixing Delilah, and last year we made cupcakes and Skyped with Sarah after reading Bittersweet.  I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll be reading The Book of Broken Hearts together this spring :)

The Book of Broken HeartsTitle & Author: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Release Date: May 21st, 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary (From Goodreads): When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Filed Under: Awesome Authors, Book Club, Upcoming Releases, Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: , , ,

Book Trailer Thursday (94)–Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder

January 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Lisa Schroeder is one of my favorite authors and I adore all of her books.  She’s honestly one of the best verse novel authors out there.  I’m surprised her newest book Falling for You, which just released on January 1st, isn’t written in verse, but I’m also excited to read her prose.  If you love her verse as much as I do, you’ll be happy to know that there’s still some poetry in this book :)

Falling for YouSummary (From Goodreads):

Rae’s always dreamed of dating a guy like Nathan. He’s nothing like her abusive stepfather—in other words, he’s sweet. But the closer they get, the more Nathan wants of her time, of her love, of her…and the less she wants to give.

As Rae’s affection for Nathan turns to fear, she leans on her friend Leo for support. With Leo, she feels lighter, happier. And possessive Nathan becomes jealous.

Then a tragedy lands Rae in the ICU. Now, hovering between life and death, Rae must find the light amid the darkness…and the strength to fight for life and the love she deserves.

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Favorite Books of 2012

December 31, 2012 by 3 Comments

To be honest, this has been kind of a tough reading year for me.  I finished my Masters, I’ve been working on feeling better and getting healthier, and I’ve been working my butt off in my classroom (new classes, new units, etc.).  I’ve still read a large amount of books, but I’m hoping 2013 will be a smoother, easier reading year.

Putting this list together wasn’t any easier this year than it was last year, but I’m happy with the group of books I’ve decided on.  This is a list of the ten books that have stayed with me this year.  They aren’t numbered in any particular order.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Goodreads)–I’ve blogged about this debut quite a few times this year and it’s because it’s just that good.  I love the time period, the romance, the magic, the characters, etc.  The sequel doesn’t release until later in 2013 unfortunately, but it will be worth the wait.

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington (Goodreads)–I still enjoy reading paranormal fantasy, but it’s not as alluring as it used to be.  Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace series, however, has held my interest because it’s exciting, mysterious, and oh-so-swoonworthy.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads)–Maggie Stiefvater is a rock star.  I love the magical realism in this story and even though I read this over the summer, I’m still thinking about the characters and the awesome ending.

Born WickedEmbraceThe Raven Boys

Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen (Goodreads)–This actually released in 2011, but I didn’t read it until this year.  If you haven’t read it yet, and you can handle a gut-wrenching story about bullying, I highly recommend you get a copy.  It recently released in paperback which helps a book budget.  The characters in this book are sure to stay with you for a long time after you finish reading it.

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King (Goodreads)–I just read this a couple days ago, and I knew it had to go on this list.  There’s a reason A.S. King is one of my absolute favorite authors and Astrid’s story is now one of my top reasons.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (Goodreads)–This is technically a middle grade title, and I did read it with my ears, but Auggie’s story is for everyone of all ages.  This is an incredibly touching story that begs to be read by everyone.

LeverageAsk the PassengersWonder Book Cover

Easy by Tammara Webber (Goodreads)–If you’re new to the world of New Adult like I am, I suggest starting with Easy.  This book is seriously awesome and one I could not put down.  I love the character growth, the steamy romance, the setting, everything.

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin (Goodreads)–Sometimes I need a lighthearted book that will make me smile and laugh.  This debut did all of that and more.  I love reading it to my YA Lit classes because it works well as a read aloud and it’s that much fun to read over and over again.

Boy21 by Matthew Quick (Goodreads)–I’ve praised this book over and over again and I won’t stop.  It’s a great story about friendship, loyalty, self-discovery, and family.  I hope you read it.

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller (Goodreads)–As soon as I finished this debut I knew it was going to be a 2012 favorite.  But let’s be honest, it’s an all-time favorite.  I’m still thinking about Travis and Harper and I read this back in the spring.  Trish Doller is an author to watch.

easyFreshman Year & Other Unnatural DisastersBoy21Something Like Normal

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Audiobook Review: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

December 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Some Girls AreTitle: Some Girls Are

Author: Courtney Summers

Narrator: Katie Schorr

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Interest: Author / Contemporary

Release Date: July 11, 2011 (audio format), January 5, 2010 (paperback)

Source: Purchased audio via Audible

Summary (From Goodreads): Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard—falling from it is even harder.  Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High… until vicious rumors about her and her best friend’s boyfriend start going around.  Now Regina’s been “frozen out” and her ex-best friends are out for revenge.  If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day.  She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully.  Friendship doesn’t come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend… if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don’t break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

Audio Review:

I have more to say about the actual book than the audio, so this portion of the review will be short.  Overall, I liked it.  It’s not the best audio performance I’ve listened to, but it’s still good.  I don’t want that part of the review, however, to keep anyone from reading the book.  Katie Schorr is a good choice for Regina, but she isn’t as talented at changing her voice for different characters.  Considering the amount of character interaction in Some Girls Are, this became an issue for me because I had a hard time distinguishing when Regina was talking and when, say, Michael or Kara were speaking.  I also don’t know if this is the best choice for audio because of how clipped some of the narration and dialogue are.  I think hearing it, as opposed to seeing it, took away from the effect the clipped, sparse lines were supposed to have.  I recommend reading Some Girls Are traditionally over listening to it.

Book Review:

Courtney Summers is an author who deserves more attention and more of a fan base because she is seriously talented.  I still have to read This is Not a Drill, but I’ve read all three of her other books and in each one she develops characters who are both hard and easy to like.  Regina is the epitome of this.  I did not want to like Regina or feel sorry for her because to some degree she doesn’t deserve pity.  She’s not a nice person–at all.  But I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her because she is treated horribly by Anna, Kara, and all of her old “friends.”  Still, Regina doesn’t completely learn from this because the cycle continues as Regina retaliates and is equally brutal.  It’s alarming how much this hate spreads from person to person in the book.  It’s alarming because this actually happens outside of books.

At times, I wondered what else could possibly happen to Regina.  What more were Anna, Kara, and the rest going to do to her?  How was the story going to end?  But it still went on.  Summers creates this slow, bubbling of brutality on every page.  One question I kept asking myself is “Where are Regina’s parents?”  They are so completely oblivious and out of the picture, it’s sickening.  I want to say it’s unrealistic, but I know that’s  not true.  I can’t tell you how many times I started saying things out loud to Regina like, “Tell your principal!”  These characters are ruthless and horrible and need to be punished by an adult.

I know Regina isn’t forthcoming with her parents because she is embarrassed, but I’m not completely sure why she doesn’t go to another adult or principal or something.  Yes, she fears retaliation, but I think she also fears that no one will believe her.  It’s messed up that we preach against bullying, yet there’s still this fear that no one will believe it when someone accuses another of bullying, especially when the bully is a “good kid.”  I have a lot of say about the reason why Regina is thrown from the group, and I’m not sure if I should say because it’s slightly spoilery, but it’s also right at the beginning of the book, but I’m saving those thoughts for another post I’m currently drafting.  Anyway, Some Girls Are brings up so much about school culture that needs to be addressed and changed.

I’m simply not doing this book justice, but it’s a book that needs to be read and discussed with other people who have read it.  It’s hard to write a review for it because there are so many layers and feelings to discuss.  I hope you read it.  I hope you read all of Courtney Summers’ books.

Similar Books: Speechless by Hannah Harrington, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

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Top Ten New To Me Authors of 2012

December 11, 2012 by 4 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

I’ve read some pretty fantastic books this year written by some pretty fantastic authors.  I love reading debut novels, so many of the authors featured on my list are debut authors.  I’d love to know which “new to you” authors of 2012 are your favorites!

1. Trish Doller–I’ve been raving about Something Like Normal since I read it this spring.  It’s a stunning debut and I absolutely CAN’T WAIT until Trish’s new book, Where the Stars Still Shine, releases next year.

2. Matthew Quick–I know his YA debut released in 2011, but I didn’t read one of his books until this year when I read Boy21.  This is another book that I rave about on a regular basis.  I love Boy21 so much I’m reading it out loud for the second time this year since I have a brand new group of students this trimester.

3. R.J. Palacio–I was late to jump on the “Everyone needs to read Wonder!” bus, but peeps, Everyone needs to read Wonder!  I’m so impressed by how Palacio wrote this book and has been able to reach so many readers across age levels.  I have sophomores reading Wonder and singing its praises.  I’ve been telling teachers I work with to buy it and read with their kids.  I will buy R.J. Palacio’s next book without a doubt.

4. Tammara Webber–Sigh…I LOVED Easy.  I hope Tammara Webber writes more New Adult novels because I had the worst book hangover after reading Easy.  I want more of her books!

5. Jessica Brody–I’m way late on this one!  I was asked to be part of the 52 Reasons to Hate My Father blog tour, so I was lucky enough to receive a copy to read.  And it was so much fun to read!  Since adding it to my class library, a few of my students have requested that I buy more of Brody’s books which I’m happy to do because I want to read all of them.

6. Jordan Sonnenblick–Again, he’s been around for a few years, but only this year have I been aware of his books.  I read Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip, and since then I’ve been reading more and more of his books.  They’re great as audio and great as a traditional read.  His writing is engaging and his stories are heartwarming.

7. Jessica Spotswood–I bought Born Wicked on a whim and then read it straight through.  I’m usually hesitant to read historical fiction, but Jessica Spotswood wrote her debut in the best way.  Her historical fiction is romantic, magical (hence the witches), and engaging.  The language of the time isn’t overdone, but balanced and easy to read.  I can’t wait to read the sequel; I wish I didn’t have to wait until this summer!

8. Miranda Kenneally–I’ve read both Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker and love them both.  They’re incredibly popular in my classroom which made me eve more excited to find out that Kenneally is signed on to write six more books with Sourcebooks.

9. Rae Carson–The Girl of Fire and Thorns released in 2011, but I didn’t read it until this summer.  I love Rae’s writing style and the characters she’s included in this high fantasy trilogy.  The sequel, The Crown of Embers, just released this fall and its been receiving lots of rave reviews.

10. S.J. Kincaid–I read Insignia last fall, but it didn’t release until this summer.  S.J. Kincaid is an exciting new voice in YA with the Insignia trilogy.  It’s exciting and refreshing and full of guy-appeal.

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Our Ellen Hopkins School Visit

November 6, 2012 by 5 Comments

Ellen Hopkins visited our school today!  In September she held a contest for teachers and librarians to enter to win a free visit during Teen Read Week.  Our school was one of four that won a free author visit.  Unfortunately our visit had to be rescheduled due to flight cancellations and issues, so she made time to visit us yesterday (Nov. 5th).  As part of the contest we had to have books available for the students to buy and provide her with two hours of speaking time.  The amazing Schuler Books and Music in East Lansing provided books for our students to buy.  We broke up Ellen’s visit into two one hour presentations so she could reach more students.

Ellen ended up getting to school earlier than she expected, so she hung out in my classroom during my 2nd hour.  The kids were star struck!  She listened to me finish reading a chapter of Unwholly out loud and then told us about her friendship with the author, Neal Shusterman.  She commented on the student-made poster on the wall for Michelle Hodkin’s debut The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.  She told the class about Michelle and how she helped Michelle work on the sequel, The Evolution of Mara Dyer.  Talk about cool!  We also found out that Heather Brewer’s (the author of the Vladimir Todd series) husband is from Clio (the town where our school is located).  Small world, right?!  She took some time to answer my students’ questions and talk to them about the books they’re reading.

Before the presentations, Ellen offered to hang out outside the cafeteria so students could meet her, buy some books, and chat with her in general.  Some of them were nervous to approach her (so cute!), so I nudged them over.  I had a sub in my room at the time who I asked to bring my class down to meet Ellen.  We took some pictures, had books and bookmarks signed, etc.  She offered some writing advice to some of my aspiring authors, too.

Ellen’s presentation was fantastic!  She took time to tell the students about her life growing up, her life as an author, and the inspiration for her books.  The kids loved learning more about her daughter who inspired Kristina’s character in Crank.  Her books have inspired and helped so many of my students, so I know her presentation really resonated with them.  She did get some boos when she told us what a big SF Giants fan she is! ;)   One of my favorite parts of her presentation was how much she stressed that students can be successful writers and make a living.  I really hope the aspiring authors in the room heard her say that.

We had a number of students pre-order books to make sure they received the book(s) they really wanted.  I was amazed how many more students came up to the stage after the presentation to buy a book or two.  Some asked to take a picture with her, which of course Ellen did, and some who didn’t buy books received a bookmark from Ellen which she signed and personalized.  I’m pretty sure Schulers ordered 175 copies of Ellen’s books and that there were only about 50 or 60 left at the end of the day!

**Side note–Ellen signed all of the extra copies, so if you’d like a signed copy of one of her books stop by your local Michigan Schuler Books and Music to get one! :) **

The day was wonderful.  The students were excited and engaged and pretty much everything went smoothly and according to plan.  I couldn’t be more thankful for Ellen and her books; it’s so generous that she did this for us and a few other schools.  A huge THANK YOU, Ellen, from me and the rest of the staff and students; we were thrilled to meet you!

Filed Under: Awesome Authors, Teaching :) Tagged With: , , , ,

Book Trailer Thursday (82)–Tilt by Ellen Hopkins & Every Day by David Levithan

September 20, 2012 by 2 Comments

I love both of these authors big time.  Really, they’re two of my all-time favorite authors.  I love everything they write, and I’ve read positive review after positive review for both Tilt and Every Day, so I know I’ll love both books.  Have you read either of them?  What do you think of these two titles?

Summary of Tilt (From Goodreads): Love—good and bad—forces three teens’ worlds to tilt in a riveting novel from New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins.

Three teens, three stories—all interconnected through their parents’ family relationships. As the adults pull away, caught up in their own dilemmas, the lives of the teens begin to tilt….

Mikayla, almost eighteen, is over-the-top in love with Dylan, who loves her back jealously. But what happens to that love when Mikayla gets pregnant the summer before their senior year—and decides to keep the baby?

Shane turns sixteen that same summer and falls hard in love with his first boyfriend, Alex, who happens to be HIV positive. Shane has lived for four years with his little sister’s impending death. Can he accept Alex’s love, knowing that his life, too, will be shortened?

Harley is fourteen—a good girl searching for new experiences, especially love from an older boy. She never expects to hurdle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be.

Love, in all its forms, has crucial consequences in this standalone novel.

Summary of Every Day (From Goodreads): In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a “wise, wildly unique” love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

Filed Under: Awesome Authors, Book Trailer Thursday Tagged With: , , , ,

Waiting on Wednesday–Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

August 1, 2012 by 16 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Unwind by Neal Shusterman?  If not, now you know! :)   I love Neal Shusterman’s books, and geeked out quite a bit when I met him at my first NCTE in 2010 (I’m still kicking myself for not having a book signed by him though…).  Anyway, Unwind is a mysterious, exciting, adventurous, awesome sci-fi/dystopian that is a MUST READ.  Unwholly is the sequel.  I didn’t even know there was going to be a sequel when I first read Unwind, so again, I geeked out a little bit when I found out about Unwholly.  So if you haven’t read Unwind, then you must do so soon.  If you have, then please join me in my geekiness about Unwholly!

Title & Author: Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Release Date: August 28th, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary (From Goodreads): It’s finally here. The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling Unwind, which Publishers Weekly called a “gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller.”

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa—and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp—people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simltaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live

Filed Under: Awesome Authors, Upcoming Releases, Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: , , , ,
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