STACKED

books

In my suitcase: ALA edition

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I’m not going to talk about the things I’ve already talked about. Instead, I’m going to talk about the books I picked up at ALA Midwinter. Organized by publisher and publication date, along with links to GoodReads and any other relevant information. If you’ve read any of these, I’d love your thoughts on where I should start.

Bloomsbury Walker


Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby (February 28, 2012): This book looks like it’ll fit perfectly into a book list on photography.  
The Mapmaker and the Ghost by Sarvenaz Tash (April 24, 2012): Sarvenaz has stopped by STACKED before to talk about this middle grade novel, so I was really excited I could pick it up.
Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy (July 3, 2012): Another debut middle grade. 
Candlewick
Ruby Redfort: Look into My Eyes by Lauren Child (March 2012): This one’s by the author of Charlie and Lola (the books which inspired the tv series). 
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta (March 2012): Marchetta and I have an interesting relationship. One that can get a little violent maybe. But I liked Finnikin of the Rock enough I am eager to dive into the second installment of the series. I’m not a big fantasy reader, but Finnikin worked for me, and I’m eager to see what Froi does.
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough (July 2012): The publicist sold me on this one with the words “Do not read this at night.” It’s a horror novel and looks completely up my alley.

Disney Hyperion

From What I Remember . . . by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas (May 2012):  If I’m remembering right, this one was kind of compared to The Hangover but for teens. Which doesn’t mean much to me, since I wasn’t a huge fan of that movie.

Sway by Amber McRee Turner (May 2012): Another middle grade debut. I saw this one buzzed by a number of teachers I respect.

Rebel McKenzie by Candice Ransom (June 2012)

Lucky Fools by Coert Voorhees (July 2012): This one’s by the same author as The Brothers Torres, for those of you who know that one!

Flux

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace (available now)

Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert (available now): I’ve been curious about this one for a while not just topically, but because Lisa’s a local author to me.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti (March 2012): This one’s a debut and the start of a series.

Radiate by Marley Gibson (April 2012): I don’t know why I pick up cancer books, knowing how much I don’t care for them. But this one sounds like it offers a bit more than the cancer plot. This is the author of the Ghost Huntress series, for those familiar with that one!

The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell (April 2012): I really liked the first book in this series, The Vespertine. It’s historical and magical with great writing.

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky (May 2012): I feel like there’s a post coming soon about 2012 covers featuring the almost-kiss.

Invincible Microbe by Jim Murphy (July 2012): So where I can’t handle cancer stories, apparently I’m a fan of tuberculosis stories. This non-fiction work looks like a winner.

Harper Collins

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith (available now): This one’s gotten comparisons to Simone Elkeles, who writes the kind of romantic tension I really like. Not to mention those books are impossible to keep on the shelf. This is a debut novel.

Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker (available now): Another debut novel. I talked about this one over at The Hub last month, and I was excited to see it at ALA.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (February 7, 2012): This is another debut, and I just finished reading it this morning. It’s a story of grief and sexual awakening. Longer review to come. This is a tome at nearly 500 pages.

Cruising Attitude by Heather Poole (March 6, 2012): This is an adult non-fiction about life as an airline attendant. I love these kinds of books, and as someone who prides myself on being an easy airline passenger, I’ve got a perverted curiosity about those who just aren’t.

Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli (May 5, 2012): It’s Jerry Spinelli, middle grade staple.

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick (May 8, 2012)

Macmillan (imprints)

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda (May 2012): This one was sold to me at the book battle between Sterling and St. Martin’s Press. Looks like an adventure. 

The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci and Nate Powell (May 2012): I think this book is near the top of my most-excited-about pile. It’s part prose and part graphic novel.

Penguin

The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg (available now): Another debut author!

There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff (available now): The publicist at Penguin, who was so eager to talk books with me, said this was one of her favorites of the season. And it looks totally up my alley.

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson (February 2012): I heard Woodston read a bit from this at Anderson’s in September, and I’m eager to have a copy of it now.

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour (February 2012): I’ve read this one already, and it’s an interesting story told from a male point of view. It reminded me a little of Gayle Forman’s Where She Went.

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield (July 2012): Of all the books I’ve picked up, I think this is the one I’m most looking forward to. It’s a contemporary mystery/thriller of sorts. This is Rosenfield’s debut novel.

Random House

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (available now)

Sisters of Glass by Stephanie Hemphill (March 27, 2012): This one’s by the author of Your Own, Sylvia, and it’s a novel in verse.

Happy Families by Tanita Davis (May 8, 2012): Siblings are THE trend this year, if you read through the descriptions of the books I’ve linked to. But this one looks at coming to terms with a family member’s life choices and how they impact you as a teen.

Scholastic

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick (March 2012): I really like Sonnenblick’s writing, and after hearing him perform this one at the Scholastic preview, I’m even more excited for it.

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg (April 2012): Eulberg’s third novel will be the third novel by her I read. It’s also one about the performing arts.

Simon and Schuster

The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez: This one’s out already and it was the story which inspired the Lifetime film.

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams (May 2012): Williams’s Glimpse was her first novel in verse, and I really loved how her writing worked with the format. I’m looking forward to seeing her do this again.

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle (May 2012): This was a direct sell from the publicist. It’s a twist on Romeo and Juliet.

A Certain October by Angela Johnson (August 2012): This looks heartbreaking and I trust Johnson will do it very well.

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A non-related update I thought I’d throw out just because. Kim, Jen, and I have been working really hard on a feature that we’ll begin posting once a week starting in April. Part of me wants to keep it very quiet and let it be a surprise, but I can’t. 
Over the last few months (years, really, but months in particular), I’ve been asked repeatedly by people where to begin when it comes to reading YA fiction. I have my go-to lists, but it’s a question that can be interpreted a million different ways, and so I thought I’d reach out to a variety of folks in the ya world to weigh in on. We’ve got not only our posts, but we’re collecting posts from other bloggers, librarians, teachers, authors, and editors in the field, in hopes of offering a really diverse and interesting look at the question of where to begin reading YA fiction. The response has been overwhelming, and the posts we’ve already seen have been outstanding. Keep your eyes peeled.

In My Mailbox: ALA Edition

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Last weekend, I ventured down to New Orleans for the annual American Library Association conference. My “what I did” post is up here, but in the mean time, I thought I’d share what I picked up on the expo floor, much in the way I did for Midwinter and BEA (part 1 and part 2). I was much more conservative in picking up books this time because many I’d already picked up, but hopefully this helps you in your future reading/collection development needs. One of the things I like doing at ALA conventions, as opposed to BEA, is asking the publicists for their favorite titles. When I got the chance to ask, I did, and I’m noting the publicist favorites — often (and again, I emphasize this is at ALA vs BEA) they are midlist titles or those that might not get quite the buzz as other titles.

The list is organized by publisher, with cover art as found, and links going to Goodreads. Without further ado:

Random House

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris (July): I read this one on the plane home, and it’s a funny romp in a zombie-filled world.
Sass & Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler (July)
The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall (October): I love the cover, the title, and the premise of a murder and the trial that follows/the exploration of whether the person accused is guilty or not.

All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky by Joe R. Lansdale (September): The cover is historically inaccurate, but the book sounds pretty good!
Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder (September): A publicist at Random House gave this one to me as her favorite of the forthcoming season.
The Sharp Time by Mary O’Connell (November)

Penguin


As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott (September): I am in awe of how quickly Scott puts out books. This one’s a thriller, rather than a straight up contemporary.
Stay With Me by Paul Griffin (September)
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff (November)

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder (December): This debut looks promising.
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John (April 2012)

Harper Collins

Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (September)
Enthralled edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong (September)
Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka (September)

Deep Zone by Tim Green (September)
Vanish by Sophie Jordan (September)
Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones (September)
There is No Long Distance Now: Very Short Stories by Naomi Shihab Nye (October)

Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala (October)
Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard (October)
Always Neverland by Zoe Barton (October)
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs (October)

Macmillan

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto (August)
Dark Passage by MJ Putney (September): I read and liked the first book in this series, so I’m eager to see where this book takes the story.
Lie by Caroline Bock (September)

Amplified by Tara Kelly (October)
The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas (October): I’m in love with this cover. I have really liked Freitas’s prior books, so I’m eager to dive into this one.
Without Tess by Marcella Pixley (October): This was the one the publicist we talked with said was her favorite.

Tempest by Julie Cross (January 2012): This one’s gotten huge buzz already, thanks to being picked up by Summit Entertainment (yep, the folks who did Twilight). You can read about that here.

Disney-Hyperion

Fashion Kitty and the B.O.Y.S. (Ball of Yellow String) by Charise Mericle Harper (October): A middle grade read!
Fetching by Kiera Stewart (November)
Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom (January 2012): This is a 2012 debut novel.

Little, Brown

Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray (July)
Dark Parties by Sara Grant (August)
The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill (August): A middle grade read!

Simon and Schuster

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (September)

Scholastic

The Healing Spell by Kimberly Griffins Little (July)
Bronxwood by Coe Booth (September)
Under Dogs by Markus Zusak (September)

Candlewick

Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet (October): Historical fiction set during the nuclear arms race era seems to be emerging as a trend.

Sourcebooks

Darker Still by Lenna Renee Hieber (November)

In My Mailbox (26)

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Welcome to another edition of In My Mailbox, a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is a weekly look at the items received for review, purchased, or picked up at the library.

For review:

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike: This is the third book in a series, I believe. I haven’t read the first or second ones yet, but I know the covers pretty well.

Blood and Flowers by Penny Blubaugh: I think this one is about fairies. I’ll be passing it on to my book club kids since it’s not really my genre.

Purchased:

The Girl Who Couldn’t Come by Joey Comeau: A collection of short stories about sex. That’s all it is. They’re bizarre and funny and sad. I read this one really quickly and liked it quite a bit.

Fart Party 2 by Julia Wertz: I loved the first one so much that I had to pick up the second edition. So far, it’s not disappointing me!

I Saw You . . . Comics Inspired by Real Life Missed Connections by Julia Wertz: The title pretty much gives the description. I am on a comic kick, actually.

Recovery Road by Blake Nelson: What I am loving about my nook is the ability to have the book when I have the unquenchable desire to read something right now. Friday night I decided I couldn’t wait any longer for the new Nelson book, so I bought it and read it straight through. This is a book about a recovering party girl, Maddie, and the way she beats her addictions. I’ll be reviewing it soon — it is incredible.

It’s Too Late to Say I’m Sorry by Joey Comeau: Another collection of Comeau short stories. I love these so much.

From the library:

Essex County by Jeff Lemire: After the CBC/Canada Reads discussions, this book really piqued my interest. Perhaps it was the drama over the idea of a graphic novel having literary merit or value. This looks really good!

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter: This creepy looking (in a good way) book is one I want to read for my middle grade book talks and as part of the Cybils reading challenge.

Yummy by G. Neri: This graphic novel is based on the story of Yummy, an 11-year-old in the south side of Chicago who got caught up with the Black Disciples. I read this one in one sitting and know it’ll go over really well in my book talks with the high schoolers.

In My Mailbox (25)

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Welcome to In My Mailbox, a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s a weekly look at the books received for review, from the library, or purchased in the last week.

This looks like a quiet week, but I did check out about 6 books from the library. I left them there, though, since I’m going to be reading them next week in preparation for a middle school book talk.

On another note: next week, come back for Guys Read Week here at STACKED. Abby will be hosting AudioSynced again so we can bring you a collection of book reviews, resources, and guest posts all about the importance of guy reading. You are in for a treat!

Without further ado.

For Review:

Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams (St Martins, available now): I think Carol Lynch Williams is on my top ten authors list, so to say I’m excited about her new book would be an understatement. Main character is 13 again and the story revolves around her mother’s mental illness. It sounded a little reminiscent of Holly Schindler’s A Blue So Dark.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Molton (Harper Collins, available now): A fantasy. I know it’s gotten some rave reviews, but it’s not really my thing, so I’ll be passing this one off to my teens at work.

Abandon by Meg Cabot (Scholastic, April 27): Cabot’s new book is billed as way different in tone than her others — edgy and sexy. The cover reminds me a lot of her adult novel.

In My Mailbox (24)

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Welcome to another edition of In My Mailbox, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s a weekly showcase of the books received for review, picked up at the library, or purchased in the past week.

It was another quiet week here, though I did do quite a bit more shopping than originally planned. I did pick up a few titles through GalleyGrab, including the forthcoming Elizabeth Scott, Hannah Moskowitz, and Jenny Han, which I’m loading up on my Nook now.

For review:

Father of Lies by Ann Turner (available now from HarperTeen): Little gets me more excited than coming home to a hard copy of a book! This is a retelling of the Salem Witch Trials and it sounds like it’s up my alley.

Purchased:

As you’ve likely heard, a number of Borders stores are closing. I went to the nearest one to me closing (which, ahem, also happens to be the nearest large book store to me, period) to see what I could pick up. I picked up quite a few things.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: Herein I admit to never reading a full Jane Austen novel in my life, despite majoring in English (my specialty was more writing than British Lit). This little ditty will show up again on the blog — Jackie and I have a little project up our sleeves to help other readers who haven’t read this one pick it up (and to leave those who have read it enjoying it a little bit differently).

The Last Good Place of Lily Odilon by Sarah Beritia: This is a mystery I’ve been wanting to read for a little while, and when I saw it sitting there on a near empty shelf, I decided there was no better time.

Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick: I read Strasnick’s first book, Nothing Like You, and reviewed it here, so I’m interested in seeing what her second has to offer.

Dangerous Angels: The Weezie Bat Books by Francesca Lia Block: I’ve never read any of her books, and Block’s one of my best friend’s favorite authors. Since I’ve inflicted a ton of books upon her, I thought it would only be fair to return the favor. I also love that it’s an omnibus.

Roses & Bones: Myths, Tales, and Secrets by Francesca Lia Block: Again, same reason as above. Block’s really sort of a ground breaker in YA lit and was the rage when I was a teen. But I never read her.

Split by Swati Avasthi: I don’t own this one and since it won the Cybils award, I keep thinking about it. I want to reread it, which in itself says something about the power of this book. I snagged the last copy.

I like to call this small selection my comfort reading collection.

The Essential Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson: Have I ever mentioned that Calvin and Hobbes is my favorite cartoon ever? Well it is. I have a few books on my shelves and am excited to add another. Calvin and Hobbes always cheer me up.

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker: I love this book, and I love Quinn. I cannot wait to revisit this one on a bad day (or on one of the inevitable cold days still in my future).

The Pigman by Paul Zindel: My husband and I got into a good conversation about how this was THE book we both read in middle school. It’s such a classic and still shows up in tribute in other ya books.

And finally, I bought one more book….

A Shore Thing by Snooki: After I laugh my way through it, this will make one heck of a white elephant gift, won’t it?