Late January 2017

January 25, 2017

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And the Winners Are...

Hi Teenreaders...

Monday was one of the biggest days of the year for young adult and children's literature: the announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards. Each year the American Library Association honors the books, videos and other outstanding works that have released that year for kids and teens and are recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent.

We've compiled all of the young adult awards announcements here, but we'd like to take a moment to congratulate the winner of the Michael L. Printz and Coretta Scott King Awards: MARCH: Book Three, written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell. As you may remember, I was on the scene when MARCH won the National Book Award, and it’s so wonderful to see its success continuing into this year.

Speaking of award-winning books, this is your reminder that this is the last week to nominate your selections for the Teen Choice Book Award. You can select up to 15 books that were published in 2016. Voting for nominees closes on Wednesday, February 1st at 11:59pm ET; this will be your last newsletter reminder, so vote here NOW!

Last night I attended an event for CITY OF SAINTS & THIEVES by Natalie C. Anderson. This timely, thrilling book deals with the refugee crisis in Africa. While Anderson doesn’t hold back on realistic descriptions of hate and violence, she still manages to paint a balanced, vivid portrait of Congo and Kenya. Natalie was absolutely lovely and told us all about her background in refugee work --- work that she felt gave her the go-ahead to write about these people with tact and respect. We have a rave review below, and I’ll be blogging about the event later this week, but you can see a photo above.

Also in attendance at the CITY OF SAINTS & THIEVES event was author Tiffany D. Jackson, whose book, ALLEGEDLY, also is now in stores. Jackson and Anderson are “book birthday twins,” as Jackson says, so she came out to show support. In a really funny twist, I was already planning to head to Jackson’s book launch tonight, but it was great to meet her early. You can read our review of ALLEGEDLY below, but click here for an outstanding article from Jackson on what makes female protagonists so powerful.

Our Teen Board members have also been having a big month as far as author events go. First, Teen Board member Mikenzie R. had the amazing opportunity to meet author Len Vlahos, who owns her local bookstore, Tattered Cover, in Colorado. Mikenzie reviewed Len's book, LIFE IN A FISHBOWL, earlier this month, so she was expertly poised to ask him all about his writing style and bookstore. Click here to read her post about meeting Len.

Teen Board member Jeremy H. also had the chance to speak with an author when he reviewed UNFOLDING by Jonathan Friesen. Friesen actually used to be Jeremy's writing coach, so it was really cool to get these two together for an interview, which you can read here.

Another one of our featured titles this week is CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber. I read this book earlier this month and it’s already one of my favorite YA books --- ever. In this magical fantasy, two sisters journey to a dangerous carnival-like live action game to escape their abusive father. But when the youngest sister goes missing and it becomes clear that Caraval revolves around finding her, the older sister, Scarlet, must give herself to the game or risk losing her sister forever. If this sounds like the book for you, be sure to check out this sneak peek of the audiobook, which is narrated by Rebecca Soler and includes an interview with the author.

As always, we have some exciting Books on Screen news to share. First, we have a new trailer for Before I Fall, the movie inspired by the book of the same name by Lauren Oliver. The release date for this movie has changed a few times, leaving fans of Oliver’s a bit worried, but this trailer is incredible, and it looks like we’ll definitely be heading to the theater on March 3rd when the movie releases.

We also have an official release date for “13 Reasons Why,” the Netflix series inspired by Jay Asher’s award-winning book. 13 REASONS WHY is one of my favorite books, so I’ve actually been avoiding any spoilers, but you can bet I’ll be sitting right in front of my TV when this series launches on March 31st.

Looking ahead to next month, click here to read an excerpt of KING’S CAGE, the third book in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series. Needless to say, we are always ready for more Aveyard, so February is already looking like a great month.

Happy reading,

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

Vote NOW for the Best Teen Book of 2016!

In association with the Children’s Book Council (CBC) and Every Child a Reader, Teenreads.com is giving you a very special opportunity to let your voices be heard by telling us up to 15 of your favorite books of 2016. The five titles that receive the most votes will serve as the finalists for the CBC’s 2017 Teen Choice Book of the Year.

Once the five finalists have been determined, we will tell you where you can go vote for them. The winner will be announced in May 2017.

Click here to vote for the 2016 Teen Choice Book Awards!

Featured Review: CARVE THE MARK by Veronica Roth

CARVE THE MARK by Veronica Roth (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Austen Butler and Emily Rankin.
On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not --- their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world? Reviewed by Hannah C., Teen Board Member.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review: CITY OF SAINTS & THIEVES by Natalie C. Anderson

CITY OF SAINTS & THIEVES by Natalie C. Anderson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Pascale Armand.
In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it. With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. Reviewed by Bryn D., Teen Board Member.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review: CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, narrated by Rebecca Soler.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to listen to an audiobook excerpt.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review: THE EDGE OF EVERYWHERE by Jeff Giles

THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING by Jeff Giles (Paranormal)
It's been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who's still reeling from her father's shocking death in a caving accident and her neighbors' mysterious disappearance from their own home. Then on a terrifying subzero, blizzardy night in Montana, she and her brother are brutally attacked in the woods --- only to be rescued by a mysterious bounty hunter they call X. Reviewed by Makayla H., Teen Board Member.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review and Interview: UNFOLDING by Jonathan Friesen

Conspiracies and conspiracy theories make for great stories --- who is hiding the truth, and why? In UNFOLDING, by Jonathan Friesen, a teenage boy named Jonah must investigate these and other questions when his town falls to chaos after a dangerous premonition made by his best friend, Stormi. With so many questions and complicated layers, UNFOLDING makes for a real page-turner, and we had to learn more from Friesen about his inspiration. Teen Board member Jeremy H., who reviewed the book, actually knew Friesen from his former writing course, so we were delighted when he agreed to answer some questions for us. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Jeremy H., Friesen discusses his writing style, which character he would love to meet and offers advice to up-and-coming YA authors.

UNFOLDING by Jonathan Friesen (Fiction)
Jonah wishes he could get the girl, but he’s an outcast and she’s the most perfect girl he knows. And their futures seemed destined to fork apart: Jonah’s physical condition is debilitating, and epileptic seizures fill his life with frustration. Whereas Stormi is seemingly carefree, and navigates life by sensing things before they happen. And her most recent premonition is urging her to leave town. Reviewed by Jeremy H., Teen Board Member.

- Click here to read a review.

Click here to read the interview.

Books to Add to Your Guy-Brary Bookshelf

We're bringing you Part 5 of our Guy-Brary feature, which focuses on boy-friendly books releasing in November and December. Whether you're looking for a fun winter read, a hard-hitting story full of drama, or yes, even a romance, you're sure to find something great on our "Books to Add to Your Guy-brary, Part 5" Bookshelf.

Check out our "Books to Add to Your Guy-Brary Bookshelf - Part 5."

Teen Board Update

Teen Board Question: New year, new books, same Teen Board. To kick off the new year, we asked our Teen Board members to tell us some of their read-solutions, whether they involved reading a certain number of books, finishing a series or trying out a new genre or author. Since we have a whopping 50 members for this cycle, we have split up their answers into two parts. Click here to see part one and click here for part two!

Reviews: Our Teen Board members reviewed a bunch of terrific YA books this month from various genres. Danielle F. got thrills and chills from THE SILENCE OF SIX, a book she calls a "perfectly executed package." Jeremy H. was able to read the final book in one of his favorite series, Endgame. He calls RULES OF THE GAME an "emotional roller coaster, a lightning-paced novel with fights to the death."

Blog: We're kicking off the new year with a very special blog post from Teen Board member Aliza M., who spent some time with a coloring book based on Keira Cass's Selection series. Click here to see what she thought of the book and see some of her colored pages!

January's Books on Screen

Happy New Year, Teenreaders! In honor of the new year, we have compiled a list of new book-to-film adaptations to help you celebrate the start of 2017. In New York, we have already had one snow storm and we knew exactly how to spend it --- watching everything on our Books on Screen list. So start heating up the hot chocolate and get the marshmallows ready!

Coming to a Netflix account near you is Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," which arrived on January 13th. Just because it's a new year doesn't mean you can't go back in time to revisit an early childhood favorite. Join the Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, as they navigate life after their parents' deaths and under the evil eye of Count Olaf. The dark and twisted series of, well, unfortunate events that the Baudelaire orphans experience will be the perfect entertainment for when it's just too cold to leave the house.

In theaters this month, A Dog's Purpose comes to life in a movie that is sure to tug on everyone's heartstrings. The movie takes viewers on the journey of one dog's path through several different lives to uncover the purpose behind his own. This heartwarming story of a dog and the humans he touches is sure to warm you up on any winter snow day.

Click here to read more in January's Books on Screen feature.

January's Cool and New Roundup

This month's Cool & New roundup includes a lot of great series updates, including RAGING SEA by Michael Buckley, book two in the Undertow Trilogy, which is a post-apocalyptic series set in Brooklyn; Kami Garcia's AGENT CHAOS, an X-Files Origins novel which is based on the hit TV show and follows a young Fox Mulder after his sister has gone missing; and, lastly, THE DARK DAYS PACT by Alison Goodman, which picks up after the events of THE DARK DAYS CLUB as Lady Helen learns to fight the Deceivers and struggles with her own past.

Click here to see the rest of January's Cool and New roundup.

January's New in Paperback Roundup

This month's New in Paperback roundup includes TRUTHWITCH by Susan Dennard, which follows Safiya and Iseult, two witches who are desperate for freedom but end up getting dragged into a war; Jenny Han's P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU, which picks up where we left off with Lara Jean and her adventures in falling in love; and, lastly, A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE by Brittany Cavallaro, a suspenseful mystery retelling of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in which Holmes is a headstrong teenage girl and Watson is her goofy guy friend.

Click here to see the rest of January's New in Paperback roundup.

More New Reviews

EVER THE HUNTED: A Clash of Kingdoms Novel by Erin Summerill (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, narrated by Helen Johns.
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, a legendary bounty hunter --- that is, until her father is murdered. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings and dark magic to find the real killer. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a force to be reckoned with. Reviewed by Caitlyn K., Teen Board Member.

WAYFARER by Alexandra Bracken (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld.
When Etta inadvertently stumbles into the heart of the Thorns, the renegade travelers who stole the astrolabe from her, she vows to finish what she started and destroy the astrolabe once and for all. Instead, she's blindsided by a bombshell revelation from their leader, Henry Hemlock: he is her father. Suddenly questioning everything she's been fighting for, Etta must choose a path, one that could transform her future. Reviewed by Brynn S., Teen Board Member.

UNDER ROSE-TAINTED SKIES by Louise Gornall (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Phoebe Strole.
Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. When groceries are left on the porch, she can’t step out to get them. Struggling to snag the bags with a stick, she meets Luke. He’s sweet and funny, and he just caught her fishing for groceries. Because of course he did. Norah can’t leave the house, but can she let someone in? Reviewed by Rebecca D., Teen Board Member.

FACTORY GIRL by Josanne La Valley (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Tavia Gilbert.
In order to save her family’s farm, Roshen, sixteen, must leave her rural home to work in a factory in the south of China. There she finds arduous and degrading conditions and contempt for her minority (Uyghur) background. Sustained by her bond with other Uyghur girls, Roshen is resolved to endure all to help her family and ultimately her people. Reviewed by Zoe I., Teen Board Member.

TEEN HYDE: High School Horror by Chandler Baker (Horror)
Cassidy Hyde is NOT having a good year. Her boyfriend cheated on her, killed her best friend's date during homecoming, and was then murdered in turn by a serial killer, and that's without counting the thing that no one knows about. (But Cassidy doesn't like to think about that.) The point is, anyone would be a little depressed and no one can blame her for looking for a little bit of help. That's where Sunshine comes in. This new experimental drug makes Cassidy feel like everything is good and she's the golden girl once again. A little memory loss feels like a small price to pay to get her life back. Reviewed by Ashley D., Teen Board Member.

THE RADIUS OF US by Marie Marquardt (Fiction)
What happens when you fall in love with someone everyone seems determined to fear? Ninety seconds can change a life --- so how will the ninety seconds of Gretchen and Phoenix’s first encounter change theirs. Reviewed by Grace P., Teen Board Member.

THE DARK DAYS PACT by Alison Goodman (Paranormal)
Audiobook available, narrated by Fiona Hardingham.
After the scandalous events at her presentation ball in London, Lady Helen has taken refuge at the fashionable seaside resort of Brighton. She must learn to fight the dangerous energy-wielding Deceivers and prepare to face their master, the elusive Grand Deceiver. As she struggles to put aside her genteel upbringing, Helen realizes that her mentor, Lord Carlston, is fighting his own inner battle. Reviewed by Becca Watts.

BY YOUR SIDE by Kasie West (Romance)
Audiobook available, narrated by Caitlin Kelly.
When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her. Only he doesn’t come. No one does. Reviewed by Niraja S., Teen Board Member.

DREADNOUGHT (Nemesis Book One) by April Daniels (Science Fiction)
Danny Tozer has a problem: she just inherited the powers of Dreadnought, the world’s greatest superhero. Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to her, and those secondhand superpowers transformed Danny’s body into what she’s always thought it should be. Now there’s no hiding that she’s a girl. It should be the happiest time of her life, but Danny’s first weeks finally living in a body that fits her are more difficult and complicated than she could have imagined. Reviewed by Kat Szabo.