I had another post idea planned for today until these covers were revealed this week. I’m so excited about them, I had to share!
Original Post Links:
Where the Stars Still Shine (reveal link + giveaway)
Smoke (reveal link)
Isla and the Happily Ever After (reveal link)
I’ve been eagerly awaiting for the cover reveal of Where the Stars Still Shine for months! I’m a HUGE fan of Something Like Normal, and after meeting Trish and reading the summary for Where the Stars Still Shine and falling in love with Trish’s writing, I simply can’t wait to read her sophomore release. (Phew, that was a long sentence…) And this cover? SO. BEAUTIFUL. Have you ever seen a book cover and feel the need to hang that cover up in a frame on the wall? No? Well, this one is worthy of that.
Summary (From Goodreads): Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She’s never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love–even with someone who seems an improbable choice–is more than just a possibility.
Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.
I really like Ellen Hopkins’ covers because they all have a similar look despite not all sharing the same characters, settings, etc. My copy of Burned is pretty beat up, so I’ll need to buy a fresh new copy before buying a copy of Smoke because I know my students will be all over this when I add it to my classroom library. The cover is eye catching and slightly unsettling, which I love.
**Note, this summary has Burned spoilers**
Summary (From Goodreads): Pattyn Von Stratten’s father is dead, and Pattyn is on the run. After far too many years of abuse at the hands of her father, and after the tragic loss of her beloved Ethan and their unborn child, Pattyn is desperate for peace. Only her sister Jackie knows what happened that night, but she is stuck at home with their mother, who clings to normalcy by allowing the truth to be covered up by their domineering community leaders. Her father might be finally gone, but without Pattyn, Jackie is desperately isolated. Alone and in disguise, Pattyn starts a new life, but is it even possible to rebuild a life when everything you’ve known has burned to ash and lies seem far safer than the truth?
My students and I simply adore Stephanie Perkins’ stories. She writes fantastic love stories that are full of swoon, while featuring strong characters and solid settings. I was expecting that the cover for Isla and the Happily Ever After would be similar to the covers for Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door since they’re all companion novels, but I guess I should have expected something different since Penguin is the publisher. (If you aren’t familiar with this, Penguin has become known from changing cover designs mid-series.) I have to admit that I really like this new look. I shared the new covers with my students and the majority of them agreed. They described the new covers as “dynamic” and “more appealing.” What do you think?
Summary (From Goodreads): From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.
Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
Reading Crank was a different experience for them after hearing Ellen speak about her life and the story behind the book.**
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.
