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Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

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Brighton is the girl everybody likes, which is good because she strives to be liked. To be nice. Except today she’s not feeling quite like the “nice” girl she’s always been — her heart aches the day before the anniversary of her father’s death and the memorial that her family will be having.

Jonah is the new boy in school this year, but he’s not bothered trying to fit in. It’s senior year, and he’s feeling completely out of place in Cross Pointe. He’s not rich like these kids, and he’s just not one of them. He doesn’t have the spirit, and since he gave up baseball, he’s just focused on getting out as fast as possible. Of course, there’s much more to him than that —  his mom has recently remarried, his father moved away, and he’s adjusting to living apart from his girlfriend and long-time friend Carly. And tonight, well, he and Carly might not have a relationship anymore.

Brighton wants nothing more than for Jonah to like her. Jonah wants nothing to do with this and nothing to do with Brighton, and Brighton cannot figure out what it is she’s done to upset him. And even though Brighton sounds like she’s in this for the reason of wanting to be liked, it’s more than that: she wants something from Jonah and she’s going to go after it however she can. 

No, it’s not a relationship. He’s standing between her and achieving the goal of having everyone at school complete in a service activity for the year. If she does that, she’ll achieve what her father did before her. And she’ll feel like she’s really done something . . . nice. 

Over the course of one day, Brighton and Jonah’s worlds will continue to collide in Tiffany Schmidt’s Bright Before Sunrise. First on purpose, then by accident, then on purpose. Each of these instances happens authentically and naturally. And over the course of that night, Brighton and Jonah will discover why they are who they are to one another, as well as why this may or may not matter. 

Schmidt’s sophomore novel is a knock-out. This is a story about what it means to play into the roles that you believe you should fit into, whether you need to or not. Brighton falls into the trap of believing she always needs to be nice and always needs to be liked. Jonah believes he has to shut out all of the things from his present life and live in the past of who he once was, even though he’s also shut out so many of the things in his past that made him who he is. Together, the two of them will challenge each other to dig into those roles they’re playing and figure out why it is they’re playing them. Why can’t they just be who they are, rather than be somebody they think they need to be? 

This isn’t a romance. At least not an initially. There’s nothing instant about their connection, and frankly, there’s not necessarily a connection that happens between Brighton and Jonah. In the very end, though, Brighton lets down her guard after telling Jonah she’s never taken a chance on something — and she chooses to take that chance on him. Will they end up being together for the long term? Or will this be a short term experience for the two of them? There’s nothing clear cut about the end except that it’s precisely what Brighton does because of how Jonah convinces her it’s something she should consider doing once in a while: taking a chance. 

Bright Before Sunrise is a story about examining those roles you choose to play and the reasons you may be playing them. Is it the world around you? Is it your past? Can you shake them off, cast them a middle finger, and then be your true, authentic self? Can all of this happen in one night? What if the right person is begging you to strip down to your barest self? This is much more of a character-driven story than it is an action- or plot- driven one, and both Brighton and Jonah are at times tough to like. But that’s what makes them compelling and what pushes the story forward: despite maybe not being the most likable characters (Brighton, I suspect, will endure this label far more than Jonah will by most readers, much in part to her being a female who strives to be liked), it’s hard not to care about what it is that drives them both. Brighton’s not just mourning, but she’s also desperately seeking approval. Why does she need that? What validation does it give her? Jonah, new in school and okay with just skirting by, has not just a tough family situation to contend with, but it’s clear that he’s also not used to fitting into the social world of the kids in his new school. Schmidt does a good job giving a glimpse into some realistic socioeconomic issues here in a way that never feels like a message nor does it feel like Jonah’s a stereotypical “poor kid” now in a “rich kid” school. 

The writing is strong, the story moves quickly, and the setting and dialog ring true. It’s funny in parts, and there’s great romantic tension in parts. There are no world-changing events that happen; the characters bring that with them to the story already. Instead, it’s the dissecting of those world-changing events of the past that allow the characters to see one another as they really are — and that allows them to see themselves as who they really are. It’s a story that takes place in one night and one night only, but the revelations from that night have long-lasting ripples. It is hard not to pull for both these characters and what it is they may or may not have with one another. 

The tagline to Bright Before Sunrise is “One night can change how you see the world. One night can change how you see yourself,” and it’s perfectly fitting. If you didn’t know, there’s been a really enjoyable blog series for Schmidt’s novel going on over on Tumblr, where authors and bloggers have all shared the one night that changed their lives. If you’re curious, you can read mine here. There’s a perfect opportunity to talk the book with that topic, since everyone has one night that they can think of that changed their lives or the way they see themselves — which is precisely what the book is about.  

In many ways this book is reminiscent of Lauren Myracle’s The Infinite Moment of Us, where Wren challenges her “good girl”/”nice girl” life by choosing to follow the plans she wants for herself, rather than those expected of her. It’s also a little reminiscent of David Levithan and Rachel Cohn’s Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Schmidt’s novel will certainly appeal to readers who like contemporary realistic YA that feels real. This lands more on the “actual reality” rather than “perceived reality” side of the scale, if there is such a thing. Readers who like romance in their stories should certainly pick this up, as should those readers who love a book that’s set in a tight time frame. But again: while there is romance in this book, it’s not a cut-and-dry romance, and I emphasize that because what this book is really about is how we challenge ourselves to see ourselves and our lives through different lights — and how we can choose to make things different. 

Bright Before Sunrise will be available tomorrow. Review copy  received from the author, with whom I have a relationship. 

Series Conclusions

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I love book series. They’re a staple of fantasy fiction, and almost all of my favorite books are actually series of books. I have a (probably) huge post brewing in my mind about book series and fantasy, which I’ll write one day (you’re all very excited, I’m sure).

This is not that post. Instead, I wanted to highlight a few series conclusions being published this year that I actually plan on reading. As the years have gone by, I’ve become much more likely to abandon series I don’t love. Much like standalones, there’s no obligation to read until the end – life is too short. This is especially true for stories that are made up of three or more books.

But 2014 is looking good for some exciting series conclusions. Below are a few I’m looking forward to.

Infinite by Jodi Meadows (January 28)
This is a rare series where the second book is better than the first. I love the concept of a people whose souls never die, simply being reincarnated into new bodies – memories intact. Ana, as a newsoul with no previous lives, is a fascinating protagonist. Meadows handles the relationships between Ana and the other centuries-old people in a deft way, without eliminating the necessary complexity. I’m interested to see where the third book goes. Previous reviews: Incarnate, Asunder

The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen (February 25)
This
is standout upper middle grade fiction, fantasy without magic or
fairies. Jaron has a great voice, sarcastic and vulnerable at the same
time. He’s saddled with an incredible amount of responsibility as a
teenager. Sometimes he’s smart, and sometimes he’s just smart-mouthed.
Previous reviews: The False Prince, The Runaway King

 
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (April 8)
Confession:
I have yet to read the second book, Days of Blood and Starlight. I’m
going to; I’m practically guaranteed to love it, based on friends’
reviews. But for many months, I’ve been yearning for more light-hearted
reads. Daughter of Smoke and Bone drew me in so fully, made me feel so
deeply for these characters who are put through so much. It can be
difficult to handle sometimes. I’m waiting for the right time to dive
back in. Previous review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

The Klaatu Terminus by Pete Hautman (April 8)
I’m
such a cheerleader for these books, which are among the most creative
and strange I’ve ever read. This third and final volume will be written
from Kosh’s point of view as a teenager in the 90s, and of course it
will overlap with Tucker’s and Lahlia’s stories from books 1 and 2 in
interesting and important ways. Worth reading is Hautman’s brief essay on what kind of trilogy this is, as compared to other trilogies (like the Hunger Games). Previous reviews: The Obsidian Blade, The Cydonian Pyramid

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau (June 17)
I love
these books, probably more than they deserve. They’re fast-paced,
exciting, and thoroughly engrossing. They’re perfect readalikes for
Hunger Games fans – possibly because they are so similar, but also
because they cause the same sort of frantic page-turning,
can’t-look-away, try-not-to-breathe feeling in the reader. Previous
reviews: The Testing, Independent Study

What series conclusions are you excited about?

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: A Discussion and Reading Guide

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Did you know that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month? I had no idea until I saw someone talking about it, and I thought it would be more than worthwhile to talk a bit about why having a month of awareness of this topic is important, as well as offer some discussion fodder and a reading list of YA fiction that delves into teen dating violence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a 2011 survey of teens found that 9.4% of teens reported having been in a romantic relationship that resulted in them being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose in the last twelve months. Sit with that a minute: in the last year, almost 10% of teens reported having been in a relationship that involved violence. If we believe that at least that much did not report violence in their relationship — and anyone who went to high school and took one of these surveys knows what they involve — that is a huge and startling statistic.

In addition to that, 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males report having been sexually assaulted, raped, physically hurt, or stalked by a romantic partner; those statistics are for those aged 11 to 17.


Twenty percent of women between the ages of 11 and 17 have reported being raped, assaulted, or stalked by a romantic partner and fourteen percent of men between the ages of 11 and 17 have reported being raped, assaulted, or stalked by a romantic partner. 

These numbers were reported in a survey separate from the one above, so considered separately and considered together, those numbers are frightening.

Starting a conversation about this topic can be difficult, but I think it’s one that’s important to keep aware of and know the statistics about because it should be informative in working with teens. Whether you’re an educator or a librarian or teen advocate in some capacity (which includes writers for teens, readers who appreciate YA fiction, bloggers, and so forth), being ignorant of what teens experience or are familiar with because of their peers’ experiences can be more harmful than helpful. Fortunately, aside from the statistics that exist, there are excellent resources for building your awareness of teen dating violence, as well as excellent teen novels that tackle this delicate issue in ways that are not only helpful, but can be the door that invites important conversation.

Despite what we can think as adults, teens are aware of these issues and not only are they aware of them, they’re not afraid to talk about them. It’s us as adults who are more fearful to broach the issues for fears we may do or say wrong or — in a worse case scenario — we fear that we might put ideas into “impressionable minds.” Let’s be real though: teens know. Teens aren’t impressionable in that way. What can and does make an impression is being willing to be an advocate and an open conversationalist to, for, and with these teens. That knowledge that you care can change their world.

Select Resources 

Last April, I wrote a guide to discussing sex, sexual assault, and rape, so I won’t go too much into that here. But I do want to point to a project being built by Teen Librarian Toolbox, called the Sexual Violence in Young Adult Literature Chat. The ongoing project, which is supplemented by the linked tumblr account, is meant to foster conversation about sexual violence in a manner that helps empower readers and teen advocates in not only their ability to think about this challenging topic, but also to foster conversation with teens themselves.

Become familiar with Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month’s site. This online hub is a space for discussing and advocating for the efforts of promoting and raising awareness of teen dating violence. There are a wealth of resources, including dating abuse helplines and a wealth of public awareness campaigns. Those campaign sites will offer even more great resources and helpful tips for raising your own awareness, as well as for becoming a stronger advocate for teens.  

The Teen Dating Violence site is an arm of love is respect, which is another site you should have on your radar. This resource is one that would be especially useful for teen themselves, as it offers a tool defining what dating violence is. Again, the statistics are that roughly 10% of teens reported being in a physically harmful relationship; it’s not always obvious to teens (just like it’s not always obvious to adults!) when a relationship is abusive.

Although I don’t think that the US Department of Health and Human Services site offers the most useful information, I’m linking to it because it does offer tips and help as to cultivating conversations about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This is the toolkit for adults to talk about this month and what the purpose behind the campaign is. It offers some downloadable and printable fact sheets that could be valuable in displays, on social media, or on physical bulletin boards.

Dating Violence in YA Fiction

Since I covered sexual violence last spring, I’m focusing this list more specifically on dating violence. All of these are YA titles, and each has some component of relationship violence — and I’m not going to shy away from it: some of these books can be really challenging to read because of that. But I think knowing about them, talking about them, and having them available for teens can be invaluable in fostering important conversations, if not for helping a teen in one of these situations realize what’s going on is not okay.

All descriptions come from WorldCat, and I know this is far from a complete list. Please feel free to add more to this list, especially books where the male main character may be suffering from dating violence. I find that there is often a lacking in stories about relationship violence — verbal, sexual, or physical — of the male being the victim. Which isn’t to say the stories of females being victims aren’t important (they definitely are, and as noted, they are more frequently the victims), but I think it’s just as important to show the other side, too, as it’s often the one that’s talked about far less. Likewise, there’s a dearth of LGBTQ relationships presented.

Since my knowledge is heavier on realistic fiction, that’s reflected, but I am aware dating violence shows up in other genres within YA fiction, as well. 



Bad Boy by Dream Jones: Devastated to find herself back in a group home after a peaceful year of living with loving foster parents, a Brooklyn teenager striving to become strong and independent soon falls prey to the dangerous affections of a good looking but shady young man.

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown: When seventeen-year-old Alex starts dating Cole, a new boy at her high school, her two closest friends increasingly mistrust him as the relationship grows more serious.

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf: Allie is overwhelmed when her boyfriend, Trip, dies in a car accident, leaving her scarred and unable to recall what happened that night, but she feels she must uncover the truth, even if it could hurt the people who tried to save her from Trip’s abuse.

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn: Sent to counseling for hitting his girlfriend, Caitlin, and ordered to keep a journal, sixteen-year-old Nick recounts his relationship with Caitlin, examines his controlling behavior and anger, and describes living with his abusive father.

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace: Traces, through the course of a year, Ann’s transformation from a happy A-student, track star, and popular senior to a solitary, abused woman whose love for the emotionally-scarred Connor has taken away everything–even herself.

Dark Song by Gail Giles: After her father loses his job and she finds out that her parents have lied to her, fifteen-year-old Ames feels betrayed enough to become involved with a criminal who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen: After her older sister runs away, sixteen-year-old Caitlin decides that she needs to make a major change in her own life and begins an abusive relationship with a boy who is mysterious, brilliant, and dangerous.

Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder: Very good friends, her poetry notebooks, and a mysterious “ninja of nice” give seventeen-year-old Rae the strength to face her mother’s neglect, her stepfather’s increasing abuse, and a new boyfriend’s obsessiveness.

Panic by Sharon Draper: As rehearsals begin for the ballet version of Peter Pan, the teenaged members of an Ohio dance troupe lose their focus when one of their own goes missing. (From description it doesn’t sound like it’s about dating abuse, but that is a storyline among other characters in the book). 

 

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters: At the end of high school, Johanna finally begins dating the girl she has loved from afar, but Reeve is as much trouble as she claims to be as she and her twin brother damage Johanna’s self-esteem, friendships, and already precarious relationship with her sister.


Shattered by Sarah N. Harvey: After March shoves her boyfriend and he ends up in a coma, she tries to figure out what it means to have a perfect life.

So Much It Hurts by Monique Polak: A teen actress gets involved with an older director, whose explosive temper and controlling behavior threaten to destroy her life.




Stay by Deb Caletti: In a remote corner of Washington State where she and her father have gone to escape her obsessive boyfriend, Clara meets two brothers who captain a sailboat, a lighthouse keeper with a secret, and an old friend of her father who knows his secrets.


Teenage Love Affair by Ni-Ni Simone: Seventeen-year-old Zsa-Zsa is torn between her current boyfriend who is abusive and her first love, Malachi.

Things Change by Patrick Jones: Sixteen-year-old Johanna, one of the best students in her class, develops a passionate attachment for troubled seventeen-year-old Paul and finds her plans for the future changing in unexpected ways.

Mini-trend: Circuses

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I’ve noticed that circuses have become a bit of a thing in YA fiction lately (two of the seven Cybils finalists feature a circus). While I was never one of those kids who dreamed about running away to the circus, I get the appeal for characters (and readers) who feel like they’ve never quite fit in the “normal” world. Perhaps the circus, traditionally seem as a place that showcases outcasts, would provide a more welcoming home.

It’s possible that the Night Circus is the forerunner to this trend, though I didn’t include it here on this list. Darren Shan’s Cirque du Freak may also be a predecessor. All descriptions are from Worldcat. What other recent or upcoming YA titles feature circuses heavily?

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst
Haunted by disturbing dreams and terrifying visions, a teenaged girl in a
paranormal witness protection program must remember her past and why
she has strange abilities before a magic-wielding serial killer hunts
her down. [This description is no good for this post, so I’ll elaborate: the terrifying visions are of a circus.]

Pantomime by Laura Lam (plus its sequel, Shadowplay)
Gene, the daughter of a noble family, runs away from the decadence of
court to R.H. Ragona’s circus of magic, where she meets runaway Micah,
whose blood could unlock the mysteries of the world of Ellada. [This description is terrible in general. I’ll talk more about this book in a week or so.]

That Time I Joined the Circus by J. J. Howard
After her father’s sudden death and a break-up with her best friends,
seventeen-year-old Lexi has no choice but to leave New York City seeking
her long-absent mother, rumored to be in Florida with a traveling
circus, where she just may discover her destiny.

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
In a future where genetic engineering has cured humanity of all diseases
and defects but has also produced a virus that kills all females by age
twenty and all males by the age twenty-five, teenaged Rhine escapes her
forced marriage and journeys back to New York to find her twin brother. [Another description that’s not particularly useful for this post. On her journey, Rhine is captured by the head of a sinister circus/carnival.]

 
Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step inside Mosco’s Traveling
Wonder Show, a menagerie of human curiosities and misfits guaranteed to
astound and amaze! But perhaps the strangest act of Mosco’s display is
Portia Remini, a normal among the freaks, on the run from McGreavy’s
Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would
always find Portia, that she could never leave. Free at last,
Portia begins a new life on the bally, seeking answers about her
father’s disappearance. Will she find him before Mister finds her? It’s a
story for the ages, and like everyone who enters the Wonder Show,
Portia will never be the same.

Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck
Seventeen-year-old Oregon teenager Kelsey forms a bond with a circus
tiger who is actually one of two brothers, Indian princes Ren and
Kishan, who were cursed to live as tigers for eternity, and she travels
with him to India where the tiger’s curse may be broken once and for
all.

Middle grade is also experiencing the trend: 

 
Circus Galacticus by Deva Fagan

Trix’s life in boarding school as an orphan charity case has been
hard, but when an alluring young Ringmaster invites her, a gymnast, to
join Circus Galacticus she gainss an entire universe of deadly enemies
and potential friends, along with a chance to unravel secrets of her own
past.
The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
Aboard “The Boundless,” the greatest train ever built, on its maiden
voyage across Canada, teenaged Will enlists the aid of a traveling
circus to save the train from villains.
 

The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas by David Almond
Stanley Potts’s uncle Ernie has developed an over-the-top fascination
with canning fish in the house, and life at 69 Fish Quay Lane has turned
balmy. But there’s darkness in the madness, and when Uncle Ernie’s
obsession takes an unexpectedly cruel turn, Stan has no choice but to
leave. As he journeys away from the life he’s always known, he mingles
with a carnival full of eccentric characters and meets the
legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims in a tank full of perilous
piranhas. Will Stan be bold enough to dive in the churning waters
himself and choose his own destiny?
 
Chained by Lynne Kelly
To work off a family debt, ten-year-old Hastin leaves his desert village
in India to work as a circus elephant keeper but many challenges await
him, including trying to keep Nandita, a sweet elephant, safe from the
cruel circus owner.

Hardcover to Paperback: Six YA Redesigns to Consider

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Cover redesigns are maybe my favorite thing to think about. Obviously, I like to blog about them since I think I do one of these about once a month. Let’s call today’s installment cover redesigns with a bit of a twist. The twist is two out of the five not only got a cover makeover, but they also got title makeovers in the process as well. Some of these are great makeovers and some are maybe not as great as the original.

Melissa Marr’s Carnival of Souls got a new look in paperback in September, along with a new title. Rather than being Carnival of Souls, it’s now Untamed City: Carnival of Secrets. You may or may not remember, but this is a book that had a lawsuit brought upon it by someone who claimed to have trademarked the title Carnival of Souls. So it’s not really a surprise that the paperback got a new title all together to avoid the mess (if you haven’t read the story linked above, I suggest you do because it’s a doozy).

In terms of the cover change itself, I didn’t have an issue with the original, though it’s not necessarily original or memorable. The paperback on the right, I think, is an improvement, though it certainly changes the entire feel of the book itself. In many ways, the redesign reminds me of the cover for Amy Garvey’s Cold Kiss. I like how the cover does feel a little bit cold, which fits with the book’s title and “secrets,” if you will. In many ways, the paperback redesign also feels a little bit older to me, and it might have appeal to more adult readers than the hardcover design.

Abigail Haas, who you may know better as Abby McDonald, will see her psychological thriller Dangerous Girls get a new look in paperback this summer. I’m reading this book right now (which I’ll talk about in a post later this week) and part of what attracted me to the book in the first place was the really standout hardcover image. It’s so different. I love the use of sand, as it not only gives a sense of the story’s setting — it’s on a tropical island — but there’s also something mysterious, intriguing, and maybe more than anything, there’s something unsettling about the impermanence of the sand letters and handcuff. This is a story which looks as trust and mistrust, and I feel like the hardcover does a good job portraying that.

The paperback, which will be available May 6, gives a very different image on the cover and yet still somehow captures the feel of the story well. In many ways, it’s more telling of what happens in the story (there is a dead girl) though I’m not sure it’s different enough to stand out on shelves in the same way that the hardcover is. Is that a bad thing? Maybe or maybe not. Readers who like thrillers will easily see that in this cover, and maybe even more noteworthy, readers who like female-driven thrillers in adult fiction, like Megan Abbott or Gillian Flynn, may be tempted to pick this up because it’s reminiscent of their covers. I love the font for the title a lot: it’s fun in a way that is almost uncomfortable in context of the story and words themselves.

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler was one of my favorite reads last year, and I’m really excited to talk about it a little more now that the Outstanding Books list is out and this book is on it (that’s a spoiler for a future post). The cover on the left is the hardcover. It’s not a bad cover, but I don’t think it’s the kind of cover that has people clamoring to pick it up by looks alone. It’s pretty basic, and it doesn’t give a whole lot of insight into what the story is about. You know the title — which, while a great title, also doesn’t tell you much — and the tagline, “My one-way ticket to salvation” suggests this is a book about a person coming to terms with their faith.

That paperback though.

That paperback.

This redesign might be one of my all-time favorite redesigns because it nails the book perfectly, and not only does it nail the book, but it has massive reader appeal to it. Readers see this and they want to know the story. The boy on the cover just did something bad by cutting his tie. And his tie has a cross on it, so you know this is something serious. The tag line for the paperback changed quite a bit, too, and for the better. Rather than claiming this is a story about the author’s salvation, it’s instead “A true story about growing up gay in an evangelical family.” That absolutely nails the story, and not only does it nail the story, it does so in a way that’s really appealing and allows readers to know exactly what they’re getting into. Perhaps they relate! Perhaps they’re just curious! It’s much more enticing and engaging than the prior one.

Also added on the paperback is a blurb from Maria Semple. What’s interesting is her book, Where’d You Go Bernadette? is adult fiction, but it earned an Alex Award. So there’s a less-than-subtle attraction to this YA memoir for adult readers, too. The image and tag line are completely teen friendly but that blurb invites older readers into the story too.

Rapture Practice will be available in paperback on June 10, and I think even though I bought a copy of the hardcover for my library’s collection already, I’ll also be picking up a paperback because it’ll bring the story to even more readers.

Here’s the second of the six books in this roundup of cover makeovers that not only got a new look in paperback, but it also got a new title. Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff came out last summer, and the cover is on the left. Again, not a bad cover at all. The tagline doesn’t tell us a whole lot about the story, but the image on the cover itself does a good job explaining what the story is about. It’s action adventure and this has definite appeal to male readers (though I don’t think in any way it is a cover that would turn off female readers).

The paperback, which will be available May 13, has a new title: I Am The Weapon. I think I like the new title, as it does a much better job telling readers what the story is, and as can be seen on the cover, there’s no longer a tagline. Perhaps this is because the title is explanatory enough without further elaboration. The image on the cover changed, but it’s not so drastic a change that the feel of the cover or story is different. Rather than being black, it’s got a blue hue to it, and the character who is running is much more in the forefront than on the hardcover. There is a blurb from the Publisher’s Weekly review on the paperback, and while I don’t tend to love blurbs on covers, I feel like it works really well here. That it highlights the story is hard-edged and entertaining should sell the story to the exact right readership. This paperback also tells readers this is the first in a series, “The Unknown Assassin,” which itself is printed on the cover.

The sequel to the book also got a bit of a title change, too, and it’ll fit with the new one for this book: I Am The Mission.

Would you ever guess by the title, tag line, or image that the hardcover on the left was not a dystopia but instead a psychological thriller about a cult? Because I wouldn’t, and that’s why when I was given a copy of Amy Christine Parker’s Gated, it fell and fell and fell to the bottom of my pile of reading. I love cult stories, but I am not huge on dystopia. And the cover didn’t compel me in the least either. Simply stated: it blends in. It’s boring. I think the tagline doesn’t do it any favors either: “She thought the evil lived outside the walls. She was wrong.” It’s generic.

But the paperback. I love the paperback. It has an entirely fresh feel to it and it feels like a psychological thriller, rather than blending into the sea of dystopians. I love that it’s a font-driven design, and yet, I also love the girl who is on the cover. She’s in a dress, but it’s not a fancy one. It looks pretty generic, like the kind of thing a girl in a cult might be forced to wear. I love how the blue font plays against the orange-hued wheat field the girl is standing in, and I also think that the blurb use on the cover is a huge enhancement. You know immediately it’s a psychological thriller.

We’ve seen a million covers with girls who have hair blowing in their faces, but it works here so well. You know there’s something more going on here. That it’s purposeful. This cover also seems to have a lot of crossover appeal to it, and again, like the Haas cover, I think that it is being done in a smart way. I’m much more tempted to pick this book up now than I was with the original cover. And since I don’t think I bought this one for my collection when it was out in hardcover, I’m eager to get this series going at the library with the new look.

Gated will be available in paperback on May 27.

I don’t even know what to say about this cover redesign, so I’ll keep it pretty simple: why? Why did they insist on putting a girl doing duck face into the background of the paperback edition of Mindy Raf’s Symptoms of My Insanity? It is not only scary but it also almost undermines the title, as well as what the book itself seems to want to be tackling. I’m positive there’s some humor in this story, and perhaps that was the thinking behind it, but no. No. This was a real huge step back and makes little sense. I like the addition of the tag line, the removal of the oddly-darker-than-the-rest smiley face, but that girl. It kills the paperback cover for me.

I really wish the US edition of this book had gone with this look because I feel like it captures the feel of the story so much better without being a little … horrifying.

What do you think? Which cover and title redesigns nailed it and which ones fall flat?