Early March 2016

Hello Teenreaders!

As Shara noted in the last newsletter, I have joined Teenreads.com as the new Editorial Coordinator. I’ve interned with The Book Report Network for the last two years, so you may recognize my name from various blogs and reviews, but I’d like to take a moment to officially introduce myself.

To start…I was born and raised in New Jersey and attended Bennington College in Vermont where I studied literature and art history. I’ve always loved reading, but for a long time I had no idea how to turn that love into a career. Unfortunately, no one was willing to pay me to sit in a pile of books and read all day --- shocking, I know. In lieu of that grand plan, I started interning at a few magazines and then made the switch to books by interning at The Book Report Network. Since then, I’ve interned at two publishers, Viking and W. W. Norton & Company, and now here I am! I’ve officially been on board for two weeks, and I am loving it. I’ve attended lots of publisher previews where they present upcoming titles, so I already am planning summer features and reviews. It’s been really rewarding to learn more about the industry while having delicious snacks and great conversations with other booklovers. You can see pictures of some of my bookish adventures above.

Now for the fun stuff! My favorite books are PETER PAN --- seriously, my nickname in high school was “Tink” and I just got a second star to the right tattoo --- THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Phillip Pullman and the Anne of Green Gables series. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and a certified Ravenclaw (thank you, Pottermore!), but I also love new series like Snow Like Ashes, Red Queen, and what feels like the adult version of Harry Potter, The Magicians. I recently became obsessed with Rainbow Rowell and think she is just the funniest, sweetest author alive --- I read CARRY ON in a day! As far as genres go, you’d probably guess that I’m a huge fan of fantasy, and you’d be right, but there’s a very special place in my heart reserved for realistic fiction about teens dealing with tough issues. I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN is a favorite of mine, as is IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY --- basically, if a book makes me cry, I know it’s good.

What about outside of books, you ask? Well, that’s a great question! I have a nearly unhealthy obsession with "Supernatural" (I’m a Dean girl) and most binge-worthy television shows, if we’re being honest. Other obsessions include crying about puppies, planting succulents, baking cupcakes, eating way too much pasta, drinking an unhealthy amount of coffee, sampling any and all varieties of Asian cuisine and, when possible, enjoying any combination of these things by a body of water. I think that about covers it, but if you’d like to learn more, you’re welcome to check out my personal bookstagram at @vivalabookshelf.

Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s talk books for you! To start off, there’s this month’s Teen Board question, which asked our members about favorite opening lines of both new and classic books. As you all know, first impressions can make or break a title, so we wanted to know more about what makes a great opening line or scene, be it an intriguing setting or an outlandish statement. Click here to see what our Teen Board had to say.

Speaking of first impressions, I’d like to direct you to our newly updated Instagram account. Although it’s been active for a while, we’re really focusing on stepping up coverage with way more updates, cover reveals and even some behind-the-scenes looks at our office antics. If you’re on Instagram, check us out at @teenreadsdotcom and don’t forget to say hi!

While we’re on the topic of social media, it’s becoming clear that teens are really sharing what they love (and don’t). Thriving communities like bookstagram and BookTube have way more influence on potential readers than ever before, and it’s all because of YOU! With that in mind, I’d like to draw your attention to the Children’s Book Council Teen Choice Book Awards, which are now open for voting. Take the time to vote before April 26th, as this is the ONLY national book awards program where kids and teens decide all of the winners. If you head over now, you can vote on the best book of the year as well as your favorite debut author. No time now? Don’t worry --- I’ll give you more reminders as the deadline date gets closer.

Looking forward, keep an eye out for our Spring Fling Feature/Contest, which will go live next week. With spring break right around the corner (or maybe it already started for you; we have found that breaks run anywhere from early March to late April), this is the perfect chance to discover some great YA books to bring on vacation with you!

Thanks for reading, and, as mentioned earlier, please feel free to email me to say hello and ask questions. I am beyond excited to begin working with you booklovers and can’t wait to learn more about you and your interests.

--- Rebecca Munro (rebecca@bookreporter.com)

The Children's Book Council Teen Choice Book Awards are officially upon us and open for voting! This is a big deal in the publishing industry, as it is the only national book awards program where kids and teens decide all of the finalists. From now until April 26th, you have the chance to choose not only your favorite book of 2016, but your favorite debut author as well.

This is your chance to make a difference, so click here to show your favorite books and authors some well-deserved love!

THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SISTERS by Luanne Rice (Fiction)
When Ruth Ann (Roo) McCabe responds to a text message while she's driving, her life as she knows it ends. The car flips, and Roo winds up in a hospital bed, paralyzed. Everyone thinks she's in a coma, but Roo has locked-in syndrome --- she can see, hear and understand everything around her, but no one knows it. Mathilda (Tilly) is Roo's sister and best friend. She was the one who texted Roo and inadvertently caused the accident. Now, Tilly must grapple with her overwhelming guilt and her growing feelings for Roo's boyfriend, Newton --- the only other person who seems to get what Tilly is going through. Reviewed by Hafsah Khalid.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys (Historical Fiction)
In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all 10,000 people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

Told in alternating points of view, and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, Erik Larson's critically acclaimed #1 NYT bestseller DEAD WAKE, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book CODE NAME VERITY, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff --- the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity can prevail, even in the darkest of hours. Reviewed by Hafsah Khalid.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

UNBECOMING by Jenny Downham (Fiction)
Katie's life is falling apart: her best friend thinks she's a freak, her mother, Caroline, controls every aspect of her life and her estranged grandmother, Mary, appears as if out of nowhere. Mary has dementia and needs lots of care, and when Katie starts putting together Mary's life story, secrets and lies are uncovered. As the relationship between Mary and Caroline is explored, Katie begins to understand her own mother's behavior --- and from that insight, the terrors about her sexuality, her future, and her younger brother are all put into perspective. Reviewed by Laura T., Teen Board Member.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME by Natasha Friend (Fiction)
The first month of school, 13-year-old Anna Collette finds herself...DUMPED by her best friend Dani, who suddenly wants to spend eighth grade hanging out with different people. DESERTED by her mom, who's in the hospital recovering from a suicide attempt. TRAPPED in a house with her dad, a new baby sister, and a stepmother young enough to wear her Delta Delta Delta sweatshirt with pride. STUCK at a lunch table with Shawna the Eyebrow Plucker and Sarabeth the Irish Stepper because she has no one else to sit with. But what if all isn't lost? With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna just may find herself on the road to okay. Reviewed by Juliette G., Teen Board Member.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

RIDERS by Veronica Rossi (Fantasy)
Eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, an aspiring U.S. Army Ranger, is definitely dead from an accident that leaves him with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny of becoming War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse. Now, he and the other horsemen --- Conquest, Famine and Death --- must help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence. When they fail, Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for, he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger. Reviewed by Kate F., Teen Board Member.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig (Adventure)
Nix's life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, modern-day New York City and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix's father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he's uncovered the one map he's always sought --- 1868 Honolulu, before Nix's mother died in childbirth. Nix's life --- her entire existence --- is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. Reviewed by Brynn S., Teen Board Member.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

FIRSTLIFE by Gena Showalter (Fantasy)
Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is an average 17-year-old girl…who has spent the past 13 months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Her refusal to let her parents choose where she'll live --- after she dies. There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death. In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Reviewed by Isabel C., Teen Board Member.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

Teen Board Question: With spring just around the corner and a new Editorial Coordinator on staff, we've been thinking a lot about new beginnings. First impressions are very important, especially when you're making the time to pick up a new book amidst school, family and friends. Keeping that in mind, we asked our Teen Board Members about some of the most memorable and instantly gripping first lines of their favorite books. Author Rick Riordan clearly knows how to make an entrance, as he scored big with members Cat S., Hafsak K., Isabel C., Harleen K. and Chris C., who all raved about the opening lines of his various books. Check out the rest of the great books mentioned here.

Reviews: Our Teen Board members reviewed a bunch of terrific YA books this month from various genres. Cat S. really enjoyed LONGBOW GIRL, stating, "Author Linda Davies employs an interesting parallel structure in this novel with the past and present conflicts. The time travel and female hero will keep pre-teens engaged." Bryn D. raved about THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES --- one of Shara's new favorites --- and said "THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES was like a punch to the gut --- in a good way." To read all of their reviews, check out the reviews section towards the bottom of the newsletter!

Perhaps you’re looking for something even more action-packed. If so, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is perfect for you. Gotham City’s formidable and dark vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior in this thrilling, fast-paced film featuring earth’s two most powerful (and attractive) superheroes. Following the comic book theme, "Daredevil" season two premieres March 18th on Netflix! This adaptation follows a blind lawyer who fights crime by day in the courtroom and defeats villains by night with his extraordinary senses.

Grab a light jacket, some popcorn (I like mine buttery) and be prepared to find yourself on the edge of your seat as you watch this month’s new books on screen!
 

This month’s Cool and New roundup includes LADY MIDNIGHT, the first book in Cassandra Clare's newest series, Dark Artifices, a sequel to her bestselling Mortal Instruments series; A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE, the start of a fun new trilogy by Brittany Cavarallo featuring the imaginary teen descendents of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson; and SCAR GIRL, the powerful sequel to Len Vlahos's bestselling book, THE SCAR BOYS.

In paperback titles this month, we have COMPLICIT, a gripping psychological thriller from Stephanie Kuehn; IMAGE & IMAGINATION, a rich source of writing inspiration for teens by Nick Healy and Kristen McCurry; and THE START OF ME AND YOU, Emery Lord's heartfelt novel about high school love and second chances.
 

THE FORBIDDEN WISH by Jessica Khoury (Fairy Tale)
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years --- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes. 

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity --- only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart? Reviewed by Carly Silver.

KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky (Fiction)
Just know from the start that it wasn't supposed to go like this. All we wanted was to get near them. That's why we got a room in the hotel where they were staying. We were not planning to kidnap one of them. Especially not the most useless one. But we had him --- his room key, his cell phone and his secrets. We were not planning on what happened next. We swear. Reviewed by Jeanna Michel.

THANKS FOR THE TROUBLE by Tommy Wallach (Fiction)
Parker Santé hasn’t spoken a word in five years. While his classmates plan for bright futures, he skips school to hang out in hotels, killing time by watching the guests. But when he meets a silver-haired girl named Zelda Toth, a girl who claims to be quite a bit older than she looks, he’ll discover there just might be a few things left worth living for. Reviewed by Ariel G., Teen Board Member.

THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (Fiction)
Ruth has a secret that she can’t hide forever. Dora wonders if she can ever truly escape where she comes from, even when good luck strikes. Alyce is trying to reconcile her desire to dance, with the life she’s always known on her family’s fishing boat. Hank and his brothers decide it’s safer to run away than to stay home --- until one of them ends up in terrible danger. Reviewed by Bryn D., Teen Board Member.

LONGBOW GIRL by Linda Davies (Historical Fiction)
Set in the wilds of the Welsh mountains, the brave and beautiful longbow girl, Merry Owen, discovers a river that takes her back in time to the autocratic kingdom of King Henry VIII. While there she finds she must compete in an archery tournament to save her ancestors' land from being seized by their aristocratic neighbors the de Courcys. Merry's best friend James de Courcy (and heir to the de Courcy wealth) follows her back in time and the two get tangled up in their families' ancient histories. There are forces working against them both in the past and the present. Will they be able to survive their pasts to save their futures? Reviewed by Cat S., Teen Board Member.

INTO THE DIM by Janet B. Taylor (Science Fiction)
When fragile, 16-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. And she's alive, though currently trapped in the twelfth century, during the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Hope has 72 hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Passing through the Dim, Hope enters a place where any serious interference could alter the very course of history. And when she meets a boy whose face is impossibly familiar, she must decide between her mission and her heart. Reviewed by Jeanna Michel.

CHARACTER, DRIVEN by David Lubar (Fiction)
With only one year left of high school, 17-year-old Cliff Sparks is desperate to "come of age"―a.k.a., lose his virginity. But he's never had much luck with girls. So when he falls for Jillian, a new classmate, at first sight, all he can do is worship her from afar. At the same time, Cliff has to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, since he's pretty sure his unemployed father plans to kick him out of the house the minute he turns 18. Time is running out. Cliff is at the edge, on the verge, dangling --- and holding on for dear life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE by Brittany Cavarallo (Mystery)
Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices --- and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she’s not looking for friends. But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe --- and the only people they can trust are each other.

IN REAL LIFE by Jessica Love (Fiction)
Hannah Cho and Nick Cooper have been best friends since 8th grade. They talk for hours on the phone and know everything there is to know about one another. There's just one problem --- Hannah and Nick have never actually met. Hannah has spent her entire life doing what she's supposed to, but when her senior year spring break plans get ruined by a rule-breaker, she decides to break a rule or two herself. She impulsively decides to road trip to Las Vegas, her older sister and BFF in tow, to surprise Nick and finally declare her more-than-friend feelings for him. Hannah's surprise romantic gesture backfires when she gets to Vegas and finds out that Nick has been keeping some major secrets. Reviewed by Brynn S., Teen Board Member.

HOLDING COURT by K.C. Held (Mystery)
Sixteen-year-old Jules Verity knows exactly what's in store at her new job at castle-turned-dinner-theater Tudor Times. Some extra cash, wearing a fancy-pants dress, and secretly drooling over the completely unavailable Grayson Chandler. Except that it's not quite what she imagined. There's the dead body she finds that just kind of...well, disappears. Oh, and there's the small issue of Jules and her spontaneous and uncontrollable outbursts of seemingly absurd prophecies. The only bright side? This whole dead body thing seems to have gotten Grayson's attention. Except that the more Jules investigates, the more she discovers that Grayson's interest might not be as courtly as she thought. Reviewed by Hafsah K., Teen Board Member.

YOU WERE HERE by Cori McCarthy (Fiction)
Jaycee is dealing with her brother's death the only way she can --- by re-creating Jake's daredevil stunts. The ones that got him killed. She's not crazy, okay? She just doesn't have a whole lot of respect for staying alive. Jaycee doesn't expect to have help on her insane quest to remember Jake. But she's joined by a group of unlikely friends --- all with their own reasons for completing the dares and their own brand of dysfunction: the uptight, ex-best friend, the heartbroken poet, the slacker with Peter Pan syndrome, and... Mik. He doesn't talk, but somehow still challenges Jayce to do the unthinkable --- reveal the parts of herself that she buried with her brother. Reviewed by Kate F., Teen Board Member.

GIRL LAST SEEN by Heather Anastasiu (Mystery)
Kadence Mulligan's star was rising. She and her best friend, Lauren DeSanto, watched their songs go viral on YouTube, then she launched a solo career when a nasty throat infection paralyzed Lauren's vocal chords. Everyone knows Lauren and Kadence had a major falling-out over Kady's boyfriend. And nobody believes Lauren when she claims she had nothing to do with the disappearance. Or the blood evidence… As the town and local media condemns Lauren, she realizes the only way to clear her name is to discover the truth herself. Reviewed by Linnea P., Teen Board Member.

THE GREATEST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER by Jeff Strand (Fiction)
After producing three horror movies that went mostly ignored on YouTube, Justin and his filmmaking buddies decide it's time they create something noteworthy, something epic --- the Greatest Zombie Movie Ever. They may not have money or a script, but they have passion. And, after a rash text message, they also have the beautiful Alicia Howtz --- Justin's crush --- as the lead. With only one month to complete their movie, a script that can't possibly get worse, and the hopes and dreams of Alicia on the line, Justin is feeling the pressure and must face the sad, sad truth. He may actually be producing The Worst Zombie Movie Ever… Reviewed by Vaishnavi S., Teen Board Member.

FACSIMILE by Vicki L. Weavil (Science Fiction)
For a ticket to Earth, 17-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is ready to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Her mission is easy: escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann's determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants. This is the story of a girl who must choose between fulfilling the dream that has always sustained her or save the planet she’s never considered home. Reviewed by Aliza M., Teen Board Member.

THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY by Cat Winters (Historical Fiction)
1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him --- who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather. The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night. Reviewed by Asia H., Teen Board Member.

ALL BETTER NOW by Emily Wing Smith (Memoir)
All her life, Emily has felt different from other kids. Between therapist visits, sudden uncontrollable bursts of anger, and unexplained episodes of dizziness and loss of coordination, things have always felt not right. For years, her only escape was through the stories she’d craft about herself and the world around her. But it isn’t until a near-fatal accident when she’s twelve years old that Emily and her family discover the truth: a grapefruit sized benign brain tumor at the base of her skull. Reviewed by Leanna R., Teen Board Member.

THE SERPENT KING by Jeff Zentner (Fiction)
Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life --- at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace. He and his fellow outcast friends must try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self. Graduation will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is content where he is thanks to his obsession with an epic book series and the fangirl turning his reality into real-life fantasy. Their diverging paths could mean the end of their friendship --- not before Dill confronts his dark legacy to attempt to find a way into the light of a future worth living. Reviewed by Megan B., Teen Board Member.
 

In what format do you read books? (Please check as many as apply!)

• Hardcovers
• Paperbacks
• Dedicated eReader like a Kindle or Nook
• Tablet
• Phone
• Desktop
• Laptop
• Listen on my phone or MP3 player
• Other (Please specify)

Last month, we asked whether or not you listen to music while you read. About 45% of you combine these two hobbies sometimes, while 40% of you never listen while you read. Polling third, 27% always listen to music while you read. To see the full results, click here.