So, if you weren't aware, the lovely Adele from Persnickety Snark has been hosting a 5 challenge from the 21st until the 31st. She explains it better than I would, so here she is describing the challenge: "For the remaining days of December I have decided to post daily on different elements of YA. I will choose my top five titles/series/moments for each day and you can give your two cents worth and tell me what I forgot. It's purely subjective and completely opinion based but I thought it might be fun."I myself have decided to join in on the merriment and I shall post all my 5's collaborated in this one post. I am not going to list 5 for each category, I skipped around. Make sure to check out Adele's post here for the whole list of topics! Please note, while my challenges are numbered, they are in no particular order.
5 Great Debuts
1.) As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.
Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.
Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.
Absolutely amazing debut! It was funny, fun, and soooo cute! Also, the nice little romance in there was really good too!
2.) Willow by Julia Hoban
Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy—one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.
Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.
Heartbreaking, raw, and simply amazing. Alomost a little surprising this a debut! Review here.
3.) The Dark Devine by Bree DespainGrace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.
The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.
The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.
Oh my word, I looooved this book! I think the synopsis is a little misleading because about half-way there is a turn of events that made me go, "Woah!" But I mean this in a totally good way, because I was totallt stunned and couldn't stop until every last page was devoured.
4.) Hush, Hush by Becca FitzpatrickFor Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. I know theres a lot out there that agree with me when I say, "Holy smokes, this is a debut? It was awesome!" Very well developed and will leaving you in desperate need of sequel.
5. Candor by Pam Bachorz
Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape
Candor, Florida before they're transformed into cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.Completely en-grossing! This was a totally mind-blowing, 100% unique debut that left me speechless. I loved it!
5 Best Covers of 2009
Hush, Hush--- Uhm, do I need to elaborate? Just look at that winged fallen angel of awesome! I looove the feathers, too.Shiver--- That design is beautiful! And fitting, especially with the wolf! B-e-a-u-tiful!Beautiful Creatures--- Sooooooo pretty! Its so unlike anything I've seen before too!Ash--- I saw this in Borders the other day and my jaw literally dropped, so stunning! (Haha, even the ARC is gorgeous!)Pride and Prejudice and Zombies--- Epic! There is no other word to describe it, it is just the epitomy of epicness.5 Great Series
The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne CollinsRead these! They are awesome, definitely one of my all time favorite series! I have never seen anyone not like this book, and its not surprising because it is absolutely amazing!
The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle MeadSoooooo good! About the only rival for The Hunger Games to take the place as my favorite series! These books are chalk full of action, romance, heartbreak, friendship, and an awesome strong female protagonist!
The Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara ShepardAwesome, awesome series! These are literally the most addicting books I've ever read! While reading one, you are in absolute need to find out what happens next, and will most likely finish in one sitting! Don't even get me started on the wait between books, it is so agonizing, it is almost like pure and brutal torture!
Private Series by Kate BrianAnother totally addicting series! Over the summer I got the first nine books and the prequel and I read them in 3 days! I could not stop, they leave you wanting more. Also, I love trying to find out who attempted to kill Reed next, I would like to put it on record that I am amazing at getting these gut feelings of whos bad and whos genuine!
Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra ClareCompletely original series, that it addicting and wonderful in its fantasy embarks. Oh, and Jace, the leading male, is totally awesome, I am in love with his sense of humor!
Most Anticipated 2010 Titles---Debut Releases
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus {July 13th}Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.
After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.
But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.
Want, want, want! No scracth that, I need, need, need this book!
The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell {May 11th} Damien Locke knows his destiny--attending the university for supervillains and becoming Golden City's next professional evil genius. But when Damien discovers he's the product of his supervillain mother's one-night stand with--of all people--a superhero, his best-laid plans are ruined as he's forced to live with his superhero family.
Going to extreme lengths (and heights), The Rise of Renegade X chronicles one boy's struggles with the villainous and heroic pitfalls of growing up. This sounds sooooo good! I am in love with all things superhero and this basically looks like the epitomy of all awesome!
Other by Karen Kincy {July 1st} Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.
When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.
This sounds amazing, totally original, and I love saying "pooka"!!!!!!
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken {Mar. 23rd}Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.
In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.
Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.
This already sounded amazing and I couldn't wait to read it, then some bloggers started to review this raving on and on about it, and now I am literally dying to read it!
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White {Mar. 2nd} When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.
Have you ever heard of something quite like this? Me either. I really want to read it. I love the sound of it!
---Sophmore Releases
Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison {Mar. 4th}THE TRANSFORMATION
Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.
THE LOVE AFFAIR
When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?
THE HEARTBREAK
The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.
I read the first few chapters online about a month ago, and I've been pining over it ever since! It was sooooo good!
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers {Jan. 5th} 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.
I haven't read Cracked Up to Be yet, though I really want to, but this one sounds amazing! And there has been constant praise for this book! I can't wait until my copy comes in, in about a week!
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater {July 20th}In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.>
I'm reading Shiver right now and its amazing! I can't wait to read Linger! Lucky for me its *cough, cough* sitting on my shelf! :)
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce {June 7th}Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.
Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.
Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.
I looooooved As You Wish, so its natural that I am dying for her next book (which is part of a series, yay!) especially when it sounds as good as this one does! And look at the cover---- cover love for this one right here!
Scorch Trials by James Dashner {Oct. 2010}
Technically its not his sophomore release, but in the YA genre rather than MG genre I guess it is! Also, there is no cover or synopsis yet, but the cliff-hanger of the previous novel has me dying for it!
---Established Author Releases
Hunger Games #3 by Suzanne Collins {Aug. 24th}
If you've read this book you know that no other words are needed to express my want for this book!
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead {May 18th}
Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…
After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere.
She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.
I neeeeeeeeeeeeeed to know what happens next! Rose, Dimitri, Adrian... need to know! So heartbreaking!
Heartless by Sara Shepard {Jan. 19th}
The newest installment in Sara Shepard’s bestselling Pretty Little Liars series is packed with juicy drama and delicious surprises that will keep readers guessing to the very end.
Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer have been telling some outrageous tales; only, the proof always seems to go missing. The friends insist they’re telling the truth, but all of Rosewood thinks they’re just out for attention—and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after them, will anyone believe the girls. . . or will they be the next to disappear?
Scandal by Kate Brian {Mar. 9th}After her harrowing kidnapping, Reed returns to Easton to find the worst thing she can think of—Billings has been torn
down. Finally, after years of controversy, the school’s wealthiest female alumni have been overruled, and the historical dorm is gone from Easton Academy.
How will Reed and the rest of the Billings Girls handle it? Will they still be as powerful, as popular, and as wicked—with literally no ground to stand on?No Billings? What the heck is going to happen? How bad will Noelle flip out? These are the questions that have been haunting me!
Sweet Deceit by Kate Brian {June 8th}Kate Brian's Privilege series shows what happens when the really rich and the really crazy will do anything to get what they want.Not really the best summary, but trust me Kate Brian's Privilege series is just as addicting as her Private series! Except this one is more eerie because the main character is a murderer! Love it!
The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
