Review: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: The Impossible Knife of Memory

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Viking Juvenile (Penguin)

Pub. Date: January 7, 2014

Genre: Young Adult

Rec. Age Level: 12+

More by this author: Speak, Wintergirls, Catalyst, Prom, Twisted

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Things haven’t been easy for Hayley Kincaid since her father’s return from Iraq. Hayley’s dad is a trucker and, for the past 5 years, she’s traveled with him from state to state, never staying long in one place. Plagued by addiction and the memories of his time at war, Hayley’s dad is always trying to stay one step ahead of his demons. When Hayley’s dad decides to return to his hometown so Hayley can attend school and maybe attempt to have a somewhat normal teenage experience, Hayley thinks her father will finally be able to conquer the memories that constantly threaten to drown him. Hayley and her father finally have a chance to start over – to put down roots – but her father’s addictions and PTSD aren’t easily battled and Hayley might have to reach out for help or be pulled under too. Told with an intensity and candor that bonds the reader to Hayley and her father, THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY is an unforgettable story about the psychological aftermath of war and the strength of family and love.

The novel is primarily from Hayley’s point-of-view, though there are small sections from her father, Andy’s, POV as well. These passages from Andy are what ultimately allow the reader to connect with him. I think it’d be easy to minimize or struggle to understand what Andy is going through and how little control he has without these passages, but, their presence, allowed me to forgive Andy’s more manic moments. Instead of feeling angry, I, instead, felt hopeful that he would get the help he needed to overcome his demons.

Hayley is remarkably resilient and strong. She wants so badly to be able to protect her father from his experiences and to be able to fix things on her own, but realizing that addiction isn’t something you can battle for someone or on your own is a lesson she must learn through growth… and some trial and error.

In the midst of all darkness and struggle in Hayley’s life, she’s also falling in love for the first time. This aspect of the novel might seem out of place, but Anderson’s skill and deft hand reminds readers that in darkness their is hope… and love. The Hayley’s romance is incredibly tender and a perfect foil to her home life.

As expected, Anderson doesn’t disappoint. A great book to start off 2014.

Review: Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Title: Uninvited

Author: Sophie Jordan

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pub. Date: January 28, 2014

Genre: YA

Rec. Age Level: 13+

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Musical prodigy Davy Hamilton is popular, has an amazing boyfriend, and a bright future… until she gets the results of a simple blood test that change everything. Davy is a carrier of the kill gene. Those with Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTC) might seem normal, and Davy certainly doesn’t feel or act any different than before her diagnosis, but those that carry the gene eventually turn into killers, no matter who they were before. Davy loses everything: her boyfriend, her acceptance into Julliard, her family. She’s uninvited from the private school she’s attended for years and transferred to a public school, where she locked away and forgotten with other HTC carriers. Just as Davy starts to adjust to this her new, harsh reality, and maybe even connect with some of the other carriers, she’s sent to a special government camp where things take a violent and unexpected turn. Soon, Davy begins to question everything she knows about the HTC gene and the kill gene carriers and their supposedly inevitable fates.

I love Sophie Jordan’s books. She’s a fantastic writer, always has employs an engaging premise, and writes really great romance. I often find the romantic plot lines in YA lacking, but I can always count on Jordan to deliver a swoon worthy romantic interest and satisfying tension between characters. Sean, the love interest in UNINVITED, is no exception to the rule. He’s complex, protective, and has a dark edge

I’m also a fan of UNINVITED being the first in a duology. I often leave the third book in trilogies unread. I always mean to read them, but I worry that I won’t feel the full effect of the trilogy if I don’t reread the first and second books, which I never seem to have time to go back and read, so I never finish the last book. A duology is much more realistic for me, plus, you skip over the troublesome middle/bridge book that happens with trilogies. I’m, obviously, a huge fan of the duology and hope to see more in 2014/2015!

UNINVITED has a fast-paced plot with plenty of thrills, which was awesome, but what I really liked about it was the lingering ideas it leaves readers with. Pre-diagnosis Davy and, for the most part, the rest of the uninfected world, believes that those who carry the kill gene are fated to become killers. There is no escaping this destiny, no matter who you are before violent and homicidal tendencies develop. But, readers meet Davy before her diagnosis. She is a well-adjusted, talented, loving, normal teenaged girl. After her diagnosis, everything she does is viewed through a kill gene-colored lens; innocent actions suddenly have a sinister undertone, everyone is always waiting for her to snap. Even Davy worries about her feelings, her emotions, her actions. Davy is still the Davy she was the day before her diagnosis, so are these changes due to the gene or due to the expectations and societal pressures put upon those with the kill gene? Are the ensuing violent actions a product of an unhealthy psychological cycle and self-fulfilling prophecy?

UNINVITED has romance, action, and thrills in addition to being a though provoking read. Highly recommended! Plus, check out that gorgeous cover! Notice the strands of DNA in her hair? Love!

SOLD! Recently Acquired, Forthcoming Reads for your TBR

Stressed about the future? Check out the rights report and feel your anxiety melt away. More amazing books to read, that’s what your future holds! Don’t forget to add these forthcoming titles to your Goodreads to-read and wishlist shelves!

Young Adult

That Monstrous Thing by Amanda Panitch

Michelle Nagler at Random House has bought, in a pre-empt, a debut novel by Amanda Panitch, called That Monstrous Thing; Chelsea Eberly. The book was pitched in the vein of a YA Gone Girl, about a girl who survived her twin brother’s murderous rampage only to discover that her dark secret survived as well. Publication is set for spring 2015; Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights. Add to Goodreads.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Daniel Ehrenhaft at Soho Teen has acquired world English rights to Adam Silvera‘s debut novel, More Happy Than Not. Pitched as a YA Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the story follows 16-year-old Aaron Soto’s growing up in the Bronx (where Silvera also grew up), just after the advent of a procedure that folds memories to soften the blow of traumatic experiences – of which Aaron has many. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015. Brooks Sherman of Fine Print Literary Management brokered the deal. Add to Goodreads.

The Trouble with Destiny and My Unscripted Life by Lauren Morrill

Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Press has bought North American rights to two books by Lauren Morrill, author of Meant to Be. In the first book, The Trouble with Destiny, described as Pitch Perfect meets A Midsummer Night’s Dream on a cruise, a drum major must save her school band and navigate romantic disasters when their ship gets stranded at sea. In My Unscripted Life, a sarcastic girl finds herself falling for a celebrity who is filming his next movie in her small town. Publication is planned for fall 2015 and fall 2016, respectively. Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media did the deal on behalf of Paper Lantern Lit. Add to Goodreads.

Your Machine Anatomy by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson

Tamra Tuller at Chronicle has bought world rights to Your Machine Anatomy by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson. The YA novel follows the unlikely friendship of two young women forged via fan fiction and message boards, and is told entirely in texts, chats, and blog posts. Publication is planned for 2016; John M. Cusick of Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal. Add to Goodreads.

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte Press has acquired Teresa Toten’s The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B, winner of Canada’s Governor General’s Award. Pitched as Eleanor & Park meets The Rosie Project, the story combines romance and whodunit elements but also features teens dealing with OCD. Publication is set for spring 2015; Marie Campbell at the Transatlantic Agency did the deal. Add to Goodreads.

All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

Wendy Lamb at Random House has acquired U.S. rights, at auction, to We Are All Made of Molecules and an untitled YA novel by Susin Nielsen, winner of Canada’s Governor General’s Award. The story is told by brilliant but socially challenged Stewart, 13, and Ashley, mean queen of the ninth grade. Stewart’s mother died two years ago, and he has just moved into the home of his father’s new girlfriend and her daughter – Ashley. Publication is scheduled for spring 2015; Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists was the agent. Add to Goodreads.

Tansy Summer by Amber Kizer

Stacey Barney at Putnam has acquired North American rights to Tansy Summer, YA author Amber Kizer‘s first foray into middle grade. After she is sent away from her home, Tansy, a selective mute, gains the confidence to speak again through a friend, her loving aunt and uncle, and a project raising free-range chickens. Publication is set for summer 2015. Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the two-book deal. Add to Goodreads.

Invincible Wild by Jessica Taylor

Alison Weiss at Egmont USA has bought debut author Jessica Taylor‘s YA novel, Invincible Wild. In the story, a teenage girl from a family of Wanderers must choose between the rambling way of life she’s always known and the townie boy she falls. Publication is set for fall 2015; Sarah LaPolla of Bradford Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights. Add to Goodreads.

The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonne-Sue Hitchcock

Wendy Lamb at Random House has acquired The Smell of Other People’s Houses, a debut YA novel of interlocking stories set in 1970s Alaska by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, a third-generation Alaskan and journalist for Alaska Public Radio. Cassie misses her father, lost in a plane crash. Her sister Ruth has a secret. Hank and his brothers have stowed away on a ferry that will put them all in danger. And Dumpling Moses is missing, but no one will find Dumpling until these teens – and others – put their stories together. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015. Molly Ker Hawn of the Bent Agency did the deal for USCPOM rights. Add to Goodreads.

Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel

Margaret Raymo at HMH has bought North American rights to a new YA novel by Anne Heltzel, a former editor at Razorbill. Charlie, Presumed Dead is the story of two teenage girls who meet at the funeral of Charlie Pryce, presumed dead after an explosion on a college campus. When the girls realize they both thought they were Charlie’s one true love, the secrets of his double life are unraveled – and it’s possible they’ve walked into a trap he’s laid for them. Publication is scheduled for spring 2015; Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media did the deal. Add to Goodreads.

Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers

Jill Davis at HarperCollins’s Katherine Tegen Books preempted North American rights to two books by debut novelist Jackie Lea Sommers, in a six-figure deal. The first novel, Truest, will be published in 2016 and tells the story of Westlin, a pastor’s daughter, and her complicated relationships with Silas, a young writer new to town, and Laurel, his mysterious twin sister. It’s billed as a novel of “summer love, small-town secrets, and the darker side of philosophy.” Steven Chudney from the Chudney Agency brokered the deal. Add to Goodreads.

dotwav by Mike A. Lancaster

Alison Weiss at Egmont has acquired dotwav, a YA sci-fi thriller by Mike A. Lancaster (Human.4 and The Future We Left Behind). In the book, a female hacker joins forces with a member of a secret teen government agency to uncover a sound embedded in music that’s being used to control fans. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; Becky Bagnell at Lindsay Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights. Add to Goodreads.

Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by Various (anthology)

Jessica Garrison at Dial bought world rights at auction to a YA horror anthology, Slasher Girls & Monster Boys. The collection features a large number of authors, including April Tucholke, Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Kami Garcia, Carrie Ryan, Nova Ren Suma, A.G. Howard, Cat Winters, Stefan Bachman, Jay Kristoff, Kendare Blake, McCormick Templeman, and Megan Shepherd, and tells tales of gritty girls fighting back, seeking revenge, and claiming their victims. Publication is planned for fall 2015; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights. Add to Goodreads.

Middle Grade

The 8th Continent by Matt London

Gillian Levinson at Razorbill acquired world rights to The 8th Continent, first in a middle-grade series by debut author Matt London. The story – pitched as Despicable Me meets Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego? – follows a brother and sister who are working to turn the Great Pacific Garbage Patch into a utopic eighth continent where their family can start afresh and plants and animals can thrive. To do so, however, they must outwit bumbling bureaucrats and the villainous Condo Corp, who want to take the eighth continent for themselves in order to create New Miami. The first book is set for September 2014; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger negotiated the three-book deal. Add on Goodreads.

The Oakwood All-Out Yard War and The Tidings Tree by Taylor Kitchings

Wendy Lamb at Random House bought two middle-grade novels by debut author Taylor Kitchings. The Oakwood All-Out Yard War, scheduled for publication in fall 2015, is set in Mississippi in 1964. When 12-year old Trip Westbrook invites his housekeeper’s son Dee to play ball in their front yard, their game reveals the angry racism simmering in their town. The Tidings Tree, to be published in fall 2016, takes place two years later and is told by Trip’s younger sister. Molly Ker Hawn of the Bent Agency held the auction for North American rights. Add to Goodreads.

Confessions of an Imaginary Friend by Michelle Cuevas

Nancy Conescu at Dial has acquired Confessions of an Imaginary Friend, a middle-grade novel by Michelle Cuevas. Nobody likes Jacques Papier besides his sister; when he comes across a cowgirl at the park and she informs him that he’s an imaginary friend, just like her, Jacques’s world is forever changed. It’s scheduled for publication in 2015; Emily van Beek of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal for world English rights. Add to Goodreads.

The Poet’s Daughter by Garrett Freymann-Weyr

Sarah Dotts Barley at HarperCollins has bought Printz-Honor winner Garret Freymann-Weyr‘s first foray into middle-grade fiction, The Poet’s Daughter. It tells the story of a young girl and an old dragon who meet in a hotel bar in Vienna and develop an instant camaraderie – and together learn how to live in the space between how the world is and how we wish it would be. Publication is scheduled for 2015; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties did the two-book deal for North American rights. Add to Goodreads.

A Better Kind of Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

Nick Eliopulos at Scholastic has acquired A Better Kind of Truth and a second, untitled middle-grade novel from debut author Dan Gemeinhart. When Mark discovers that his childhood illness has returned, he runs away with his dog rather than go back into treatment. Only after turning his back on everything he knows does he find the will to live and the strength to fight – but is it too late? Publication is planned for spring 2015. Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary did the deal for world rights; Foreword retains film and TV rights, which are being managed by Brandy Rivers of the Gersh Agency. Add to Goodreads.

Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den by Aimee Carter

Catherine Onder at Bloomsbury U.S. and Ellen Holgate at Bloomsbury U.K. have acquired world English rights in a combined six-figure pre-empt to Simon Thorn, an action-adventure middle-grade fantasy series by Aimee Carter, author of YA novel The Goddess Test. Simon Thorn is a bullied 12-year-old boy who discovers he is part of a secret race of humans born with the ability to turn into animals, and who may be the key to peace among five warring animal kingdoms. The first title, Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den, is scheduled for a simultaneous U.S./U.K. publication in fall 2015. The three-book deal was brokered by Rosemary Stimola of the Stimola Literary Studio in the U.S., and Alex Webb of Rights People in the U.K. on behalf of Stimola. Add to Goodreads.

Which of these YA and MG titles are you most excited about?

**All rights reports are taken directly from PW**

Review: The Edge of Falling

Title: The Edge of Falling
Author: Rebecca Serles
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Pub Date: March 14, 2014
Genre: YA 
Rec. Age Level: 14+
More by author: When You Were Mine

 

   
Caggie lives every day haunted by her failure to save her little sister from drowning. Even though no one ever says it, Caggie knows that her parents blame her just as much as she blames herself. Everyone at school thinks she’s a hero after saving a classmate from plummeting to her death at the beginning of summer, but only Caggie – and the girl she saved – knows what really happened on the rooftop ledge. Caggie has formed a wall of secrets and lies to keep everyone at arm’s length, including her best friend, who keeps pushing her to move forward, and her ex-boyfriend, who can’t seem to understand that Caggie isn’t the girl she used to be anymore. Then new boy Astor enters Caggie’s life and he seems to understand the darkness that threatens to overwhelm her every day and, best of all, he doesn’t push her to talk about what happened or to move forward. But Astor has secrets of his own and his demons might be hungry enough to swallow both of them… dead or alive.

Last year I read and very much enjoyed Rebecca Serles’ debut novel, When You were Mine, but I must admit that it pales in comparison to The Edge of Falling. Caggie’s story of grief and guilt is remarkably powerful and painfully captivating. It begins slowly but builds with a steady intensity that leaves the reader completely invested in Caggie and her search for meaning and redemption in the aftermath of her sister’s death. 
  
Notable Quotes:

“If I could go back to that night in May, I’d do things very differently. I’d never end up on that rooftop with Kristen. I’d never save her. I wouldn’t have to.

But even stories with the biggest impact, perhaps particularly these, don’t have the power to be re-written. If if if if… would everything be different? It doesn’t matter though. What’s done is done.”

“I’m trying hard to remain composed. His face slackens, smooths out, and I can’t help but run my eyes over his cheeks, his ears, the freckle on his face. I think about how many times I’ve kissed that exact spot. When someone breaks up with you they should take their memories with them. It shouldn’t be possible to remember someone when they’re no longer there.”

“Sometimes this happens without warning. Like the magnitude of the past – of all that has happened – creeps into the space and inflates. One minute it’s this little thing – contained, pocket-size – the next minute it’s a creature. With legs and arms and scales. That’s how grief works. It’s there even when you forget about it. It doesn’t disappear, but just morphs, changes form.”

Review: The Museum of Intangible Things

Title: The Museum of Intangible Things
Author: Wendy Wunder
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin BFYR
Pub Date: April 10, 2014
Genre: YA 
Rec. Age Level: 14+
More by author: The Probability of Miracles

 

   
Hannah and Zoe haven’t been given much in life, except each other, and they don’t have anything particularly wonderful waiting in their future. Unless you count enrolling at the local community college, which they don’t. The only worthwhile tie the girls have to the New Jersey town they grew is Zoe’s autistic brother, who relies on Zoe and Hannah to help him navigate the world and all the intangible things within it he struggles to understand. After climbing out of a dark depression, Zoe bounds into mania, declaring that Hannah might not have the best grip on the intangibles either. Hoping to recover the real Zoe in the midst of her cycles of depression and mania, Hannah agrees to ditch New Jersey and embark on a cross country road trip in search of those difficult to understand but absolutely essential intangibles: Loyalty. Envy. Obligation. Dreams. Disappointment. Fear. Negligence. Coping. Elation. Lust. Nature. Freedom. Heartbreak. Insouciance. Audacity. Gluttony. Belief. God. Karma. Knowing what you want (there is probably a French word for it). Saying Yes. Destiny. Truth. Devotion. Forgiveness. Life. Happiness (ever after).
  
The Museum of Intangible Things is, at its core, a love story. Not the typical romantic love story (though there is one of those within its pages as well), but the story of the strong and enduring love between two girls who have always been and always will be there for one another. True best friends with a wild streak… Bonnie & Clyde Bonnie. Wendy Wunder gives readers an unforgettable story of two girls who take to the road and commit the occasional crime in an epic quest to ensure the others’ happiness.

Notable Quotes:

“I am a freshwater girl. I live on the lake, and in New Jersey, that’s rare. The girls on the other side of town have swimming pools, and the girls in the south have the seashore. Other girls are dry, breezy, salty, and bleached. I, on the other hand, am dark, grounded, heavy, and wet. Fed by springs, tangled in soft fernlike seaweed, I am closer to the earth. Saturated to the bone. I know it, and so do the freshwater boys, who prefer the taste of salt.”

“I come from a long line of downtrodden women who marry alcoholics. All the way back to my Lenni Lanape great-great-great-(lots of greats) grandmother, Scarlet Bird, a red-haired New Jersey Indian who married William Penn. I know this to be true because of the red highlights in my hair, and because, if you ever see the statue of William Penn in Philadelphia, the one that dictates the height of all the buildings in its perimeter, you will notice, if you look at him from behind, that he and I have the exact same rear end.”

 “My best friend Zoe has a perfect rear end and stick legs, and long, silky black hair. She is obviously not descended from William Penn. There are no dowdy pilgrims in her ancestry. Whereas I am grounded and mired in this place, she’s like milkweed fluff that will take off with the first strong breeze. Stronger than fluff, though. She’s like a bullet just waiting for someone to pull the trigger.”

Review: The Vow by Jessica Martinez

No one has ever believed that Mo and Annie are just friends. How can a guy and a girl really be best friends?

Then the summer before senior year, Mo’s father loses his job, and by extension his work visa. Instantly, life for Annie and Mo crumbles. Although Mo has lived in America for most of his life, he’ll be forced to move to Jordan. The prospect of leaving his home is devastating, and returning to a world where he no longer belongs terrifies him.

Desperate to save him, Annie proposes they tell a colossal lie—that they are in love. Mo agrees because marrying Annie is the only way he can stay. Annie just wants to keep her best friend, but what happens when it becomes a choice between saving Mo and her own chance at real love?

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The Vow is Jessica Martinez’s third young adult novel, following her debut, Virtuosity, and her sophomore offering, The Space Between Us. If you’ve never read one of Martinez’s novels, what are you waiting for?? Like her first two books, The Vow is impossible to put down and incredibly intense.

 Annie and Mo have been best friends since Annie came to Mo’s rescue in elementary school after an unfortunate pants wetting incident. Ever since, the two have been inseparable. Mo is sarcastic and super focused on his future. Annie is the good daughter, careful to never upset her parents, who keep her close after the violent loss of Annie’s older sister years before. When Mo’s father loses his job, the entire family faces deportation back to Jordan. Despite the fact that Mo has grown up in the US and considers himself American, he will be forced to return to Jordan as well. Annie can’t imagine life without Mo and Mo can’t imagine leaving Annie, not to mention everything he’s worked so hard for in the US, so they devise a desperate plan: marriage. Perhaps unsurprisingly, their solution isn’t as simple as they first assume. Marriage is never simple, especially when it’s done secretly and in less than legal circumstances. The fallout of their actions affect Mo and Annie’s lives in ways they hadn’t expected and may not be ready to handle.

 This book deals with so many different important themes, from platonic relationships to romantic relationships and marriage, familial love and interaction, sibling bonds, racism, prejudice, bullying, loyalty, betrayal, lies, and hard truths. It might sound impossible to make all of these big, complicated things fit together, but Martinez does so in a beautifully complex way. Every issue feels right, nothing is forced, and nothing feels overlooked or unresolved. To me, that would have been a complete disservice to any of the issues within the novel – to have one of these big issues made to seem small next to another issue – but Martinez gracefully sidestepped this potential problem and artfully wove the various themes together to form a story both endearing and compelling. 

While I’ll never say that Annie or Mo is perfect, I really loved them together. Their imperfections make them the perfect friends. One of the shining achievements of The Vow was the fact that Annie and Mo are not romantically involved. While they do love one another, it is the love born of friendship and understanding rather than crushes and romance. I really feel like this kind of friendship and love is rare to find in literature and, often, in real life… especially between a guys and girls. 

I was deeply affected by the prejudice and judgement Annie and Mo must endure from the people they encounter in their small southern town. I’m from a small town and I am all too familiar with the racism and prejudice that can fester in these slow parts of the country. Annie doesn’t really seem to understand… or maybe she just doesn’t want to understand… what Mo’s going through. She defends her parents when they make completely horrible and uncalled for comments about Mo and his family… and I cringed every single time. At the same time, Mo’s family makes some off color assumptions about Annie that caused me to tense. Throughout everything, the judgement and comments, the stares and whispers, Annie and Mo stick together. They may not always do the right thing, but they persevere and try to communicate and understand what the other is going through. To me, this attempt to understand and communicate despite the mistakes and misunderstandings are paramount to overcoming prejudice and judgement within the novel and in real life. Annie and Mo, despite their shortcomings, set a fantastic example.

Obviously, there’s a lot more I could say about The Vow. This book tackles so many different things that it’s impossible to read it and not find something within its pages to connect with, which makes it an emotional and engrossing read. I highly, highly recommend this novel to contemporary fiction readers, regardless of age.

Audiobook Review: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

New York Times  bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS.

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

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Sometime in these past few years, David Levithan has become a bit of a rockstar in my head. His books always begin with a simplicity and quiet, but, suddenly, they’ve escalated to a roar. I actually listened to his newest book, Two Boys Kissing, on a road trip to pick up a friend (Katie, of the blog Sophistikatied). Upon arriving at her house, I immediately asked her if she’d read Two Boys Kissing yet, to which she responded no. Of course, I launched into a rant about how amazing I thought it was – after only 2 discs out of 5!

Two Boys Kissing tells many different stories, but all are tied to Harry and Craig, two boys who used to date and are attempting to break the world record for longest kiss. The boys are trying to make statement and are inspired by a friend who was attacked and beat for being gay and alone on a dark street. The stories of other boys are interwoven, including that of two boys who have just met (one of whom is transgender), two boys who have been dating and are dealing with the everyday difficulties of long-term relationships and secrets, and another boy who has yet to come out and struggles with self-loathing. Throughout the novel, a greek chorus composed of gay men who died of AIDS, offers insight into the past, present, and future of gay individuals and the gay community.

The audio of Two Boys Kissing is narrated by Levithan, which I very much enjoyed and appreciated. I always feel that there is something more real about hearing a book in the author’s voice. Levithan in particular has a certain strength in his voice that added to the novel. He knew exactly how his characters were supposed to sound and were feeling, which I think is very important in a novel like this. In fact, it was this short clip from the very beginning of the book that made me decide to listen to Two Boys Kissing rather than simply read the novel.

I will admit that, within the various stories being told, there were some that I was less interested in than others. I just didn’t click with the two boys who had just met and were getting to know one another. In theory, I loved their story: the difficulty of knowing how much to tell when you meet someone new, the rush, the connection, the fear. In reality, I just didn’t connect either boy. I did however, love Craig and Harry and was transfixed by the greek chorus that interjected stories and comments throughout the novel.

I’m very glad that I chose audio for Two Boys Kissing. My drive was, at various times, filled with laughter, happy smiles, and all-out sobbing. I suppose that last one might not be the safest for a road trip, but you can always pull over!

Two Boys Kissing deserves to win awards and is a book that needs to be read. As I listened, I kept thinking, this is life. These boys are living life, messy, difficult, crazy, happy life, just like everyone else – how can anyone argue that there is something wrong with being gay? Two Boys Kissing is about acceptance… life… love. It is incredibly real and utterly unforgettable.

Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

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Antigoddess is unlike anything I’ve read before. A fresh, creative, and engaging take on mythological gods and goddesses in the modern world, this third novel from Kendare Blake is sure to both wow current fans and earn her many more.

It’s normal and completely expected to see novels and films that feature mythology, gods, and goddesses set in places and time periods that fit the stories and legends on which they are assumed to have taken place. Blake departs from this expected and well-established pattern, instead putting the gods and goddesses of myth into the modern world. A world in which they clearly do not fit in and where their meddling and use of humans garners very different reactions than during the historical periods in which they flourished. In one passage, Hera wreaks destruction on Chicago. The attack is speculated to be terrorist related; there isn’t even the smallest mention of the wrath of a goddess as a potential cause of leveled buildings and multiple deaths.

I’ve always had an interest in mythology, but, at the same time, gods and goddesses have always seemed rather one-dimensional. They were motivated by simple desires and their personalities were very straight forward. They didn’t have the complexity of, for example, human heroes featured in their stories. In Antigoddess, Blake gives these characters more malleable shapes and complex personalities, in a way, humanizing them. They are still very much set apart from humans, having living countless years and experiencing the invincibility of eternal life, but Blake creates a situation in which they are brought down from the throne of godliness. Suddenly, these timeless beings are forced to face the possibility of an end… of death. Death not only humanizes them, it makes them feel small… vulnerable… emotional… accountable. Through this unique premise, Blake’s novel says something very important about the nature of humanity.

Even a reader who knows very little about mythology will enjoy and be able to understand the importance of the gods and goddesses featured in Antigoddess. Blake weaves a significant amount of detail, leading the reader to bits of information and background deatil without becoming overwhelming or falling into the habit of dropping large amounts of overwhelming information on the reader.

I highly recommend this first installment in The Goddess War series. With Antigoddess, Blake sets the scene for the series to reach epic proportions and I can’t wait to see where she takes readers next.

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Tor Teen, September 2013, Hardcover, ISBN:9780765334435, 336 pgs.

Review: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

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When people ask me why I loved Wild Awake, I have a difficult time putting my reasons into words. This book is very different than any other contemporary YA book I’ve read, in a good, but indescribable way. For me, the most notable aspect of Hilary T. Smith’s debut was how incredibly real it felt… so real, that, during the most intense passages when Kiri is in the depths of a mental breakdown, I had to take a deep breath, calm myself and steady my shaking hands.

Wild Awake tells the story of Kiri, a budding classical pianist who also plays keyboard in the band she belongs to with her best friend, Lukas. Years prior, Kiri’s sister, Sukey, the black sheep of the family and Kiri’s hero, died in an accident. Kiri knows little about the event, only remembering her sister through girlhood memories, because Sukey is a taboo subject in the eyes of Kiri’s parents and older brother. When Kiri’s parents leave her home alone while on vacation, she thinks she’ll accomplish all sorts of things in her time alone: she’ll take her relationship with Lukas from friends to more than friends, she’ll perfect the piece she must learn on piano, and she’ll rock Battle of the Bands with Lukas. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when Kiri receives a call from a man claiming to be a one-time neighbor of Sukey… a man who says he has her “stuff.” Though Kiri tries to write off the call, she’s drawn to the things her sister has left behind. In no time at all, she’s discovered that there’s more to Sukey’s story than anyone admits… and more to her own as well.

I’ve attempted to find other books to compare to Wild Awake to better explain the tone and style of the novel, but the only acceptable comparison I came up with was the film Juno. Still, Juno is different in that it has laugh-out-loud moments. Wild Awake has a humor of sorts, but I never laughed aloud… But, as I read, I did picture scenes from the novel in the same sort of style as Diablo Cody’s film. It tells the same sort of truths.

The romance in Wild Awake felt different than anything else I’ve ever read as well. Again, real. The boy Kiri eventually falls for is far from perfect. To me, it didn’t even feel like Smith romanticized anything. The romance, like the entire novel, just was. Kiri’s experience like something that could happen to me, my best friend, or any other girl. 

I feel like I’ve completely failed at explaining how worthwhile of a read Wild Awake is, but, like I mentioned before, it’s a book that truly defies simple explanations… which I suppose could quite possibly be reason enough to read it.



Katherine Tegen Books, May 2013, Hardcover, ISBN:9780062184689, 375 pgs.

Review: If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

There are some things you can’t leave behind…

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.

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Emily Murdoch’s If You Find Me is unique in that it has a slow burning intensity that pulls the reader in until they’ve completely fallen in love with Carey and Jenessa without even realizing it was happening.

If You Find Me tells the heartbreaking story of Carey and her little sister, Jenessa, who have been kept away from people and civilization – and often completely alone in the wilderness – by their addict mother. The girls often fend for themselves, as their mother regularly disappears for long stretches of time, but, as the novel opens, they’re nearing the end of their food stores and Carey is starting to worry about what will happen if their mother doesn’t reappear. Things take a turn when a social worker and Carey’s estranged father find the girls, as directed in a letter by Carey’s mother, and take them back to live with him. The girls are thankful that they’re still together and that they’re warm and fed, but things are still complicated. Jenessa still refuses to speak (she’s been selectively mute since something happened to the girls during their time in the wilderness) and Carey finds that, while she isn’t behind academically, socially she’s an entirely different wavelength from her peers. She’s either too mature or too naive and she often struggles to adjust to the new world she’s so suddenly entered.

Carey and Jenessa are two of my absolute favorite characters. They felt so real to me that I often forgot that they weren’t real people. I was so caught up in their story that I found myself telling anyone who would listen about what was happening to them as the story progressed and I often referred to them as if they were real people. 

I loved Carey’s complexity. I think part of the reason that she felt so realistic was that she was complicated and unsure and often contradicted herself, as I imagine someone who grew up like she did would. At different points in the novel, she either hated, felt love for, or missed her mother. As an outside observer, I had no love for Carey’s mother and what she put the girls through, but I could definitely see how things wouldn’t be so easily black and white for Carey. After all, though she knew on an intellectual level that what her mother did was wrong, it’s often extremely difficult for an individual, especially a young person, to completely hate their parent, especially when that parent is one of the only people they’ve ever had contact with.

I really enjoyed the novel’s secondary characters as well, especially Carey’s father. He’s definitely an important character, but he never really says much nor does Carey talk about him extensively, but every time he is mentioned or appears in the book, the passage had weight and meaning. 

Even if I hadn’t been tied to the novel by my love of Carey and her sister, the mystery element – which is directly tied to Jenessa’s selective mutism – would have made it hard for me to set If You Find Me aside. I had to know what happened to the girls that had affected their lives so deeply, especially when their lives were already so difficult and unusual. I felt that I had to know, yet I was afraid to find out because I was so emotionally invested in the characters.

Lastly, I have to mention the romantic aspects of this novel. It might seem that their is no place for romance in If You Find Me next to the novel’s premise and emotional weight, but that isn’t the case. The romance in this novel isn’t at all random or an attempt to appease or attract romance readers – it has meaning and fits beautifully. 

I highly recommend Murdoch’s If You Find Me and will definitely be reading her future offerings. This is a book that I’ll no doubt be constantly pushing on my fellow readers!

St. Martin’s Griffin, March 2013, Hardcover, ISBN: 9781250021526, 256 pgs.