YA Book Pick: The Siren

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review.  We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors.

This month's book pick is The Siren by Kiera Cass.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

You must never do anything that might expose our secret.  This means that, in general, you cannot form close bonds with humans.  You can speak to us, and you can always commune with the Ocean, but you are deadly to humans.  You are, essentially, a weapon.  A very beautiful weapon.  I won't line to you, it can be a lonely existence, bt once you are done, you get to live.  All have to give, for now, is obediance and time..."

The same speech has been given hundreds of time to hundred of beautiful girls who enter the sisterhood of the Sirens.  Kahlen has lived by these rules for years now, patiently waiting for the life she can call her own.  But when Akinli, a human, enters her world, she can't bring herself to live the rules anymore. Suddenly the life she's been waiting for doesn't seem nearly as important as the one she's living now.

First line:     It's funny what you hold on to, the things your remember when everything ends.

Highlights:    Interesting premise and characters.  The relationship between the Ocean and Kahlen is intriguing. The story has great beginning and good ending. 

Good read for:  Those interested in mermaid tales, those wanting light romance, and those self publishing. 

YA Book Pick: WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI by Sandhya Menon

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's book pick is When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

First Line: "Dimple couldn't stop smiling." 

This is a good intro to the story, which is, at its core, a romantic comedy. You immediately want to know what's making her smile, right?

Highlights: I'm a rom-com junkie from way back, so I have high expectations for the genre. This book definitely delivered! It managed to be light and funny while tackling some heavier topics (parental expectations vs. following your passion, feminism, first love, etc.). I loved the trope-busting detail that the guy was the one looking for a long-term commitment, not the girl. It's easy to see why this book was a NYT bestseller.

Notes for Writers: This is a great example of a "diverse" book that isn't about diversity—the protagonists happen to be Indian-American, but the themes are universal. One thing I loved, though, was that the author didn't shy away from peppering the story with plenty of interesting details about Indian culture. I was glad I read this book on my Kindle app and could easily click a word or phrase to read more about things that interested me.

A Good Read For: Romantic comedy fans and anyone looking for a light, fun read.

YA Book Pick: THE GIRL I USED TO BE

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!
This month's Book Pick is THE GIRL I USED TO BE by April Henry.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

When Olivia's mother was killed, everyone suspected her father of murder. But his whereabouts remained a mystery. Fast forward fourteen years. New evidence now proves Olivia's father was actually murdered on the same fateful day her mother died. That means there's a killer still at large. It's up to Olivia to uncover who that may be. But can she do that before the killer tracks her down first?

First Line: "The only sound I can hear is my own panicked breathing."

From just this line, you know that this is going to be a suspenseful book and the main character is going to find herself in some kind of horrible danger. 

I don't always love the technique of starting off with a scene from later in the book and then flashing back, but it's done really well here, with just enough details to make the reader curious.

Highlights: Ms. Henry is local to me and was a faculty member at an SCBWI workshop I attended last weekend, so I picked up several of her books before the event. She is a master of page-turning suspense and cliffhanger chapter endings. I thought I'd guessed who the murderer was—but I was wrong, which always makes me happier than when I'm right!

I enjoyed the law enforcement details of this book and several others I read, so it made sense when the author talked at the workshop about her meticulous research into these areas. She goes out of her way to speak with experts, try out weapons and methods of escape, and take classes relating to her writing.

A Good Read For: Ms. Henry has written many stand-alone books and several series, but I think this one is an excellent introduction to her work for someone who wants to see how to do life-in-danger suspense and mystery for YA.

YA Book Pick: WANDERLOST by Jen Malone

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's book pick is WANDERLOST by Jen Malone.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.

But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.

First Line: "I'm wedged into the pantry, between forty-seven rolls of toilet paper and an industrial-sized box of Raisin Bran." 

This line does a good job of setting the tone for the rest of the book—funny and intriguing! Why is the narrator stuck in the pantry? What kind of person buys toilet paper in  >47 roll quantities?

Highlights: There were so many highlights in this book! First of all, the main character is endearing and likable. I winced in sympathy throughout the first few chapters as Aubree's life went horribly wrong. I desperately wanted her to redeem herself—and I cheered when she did.

The romance was great. There was enough character development for the love interest so you understood why she'd fall for him, but it never felt like insta-love. Finally, the book was so funny! The elderly tour guests especially were hilarious.

Notes for Writers: One of the best things about this book is its amazing scene descriptions. You can see Amsterdam, or Salzburg, or Monte Carlo in your mind's eye as the action unfolds. If you want to improve your setting descriptions, this is an excellent book to study.

Top Reads of 2016

Another year down, another mountain of books devoured.

I'm a nerd and get an unnecessary amount of satisfaction from tallying my book count for the year and comparing it to previous years. With three weeks left in in 2016, I'm pleased to say that I've read fifty six books--eleven more than the forty-five I read last year. And I think I'll finish at least another one to two before year end. Huzzah!

In addition to bragging rights, reading lots of books means I get to recommend lots of books. And it's that time of year. 

Without further ado, here are my top reads of 2016 by category, in no particular order. All of them were good if they made my list, but the ones noted with a ** are not to be missed (IMHO.)

Historical Fiction

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah** 

The story follows two sisters as they struggle to survive in Nazi-occupied France. This was easily my favorite read of the year.

Salt to Sea by Ruta Sepetys**

I loved Between Shades of Gray so my expectations were high, but Sepetys second historical fiction didn't disappoint. Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, Sepetys introduces us to well imagined characters struggling to hold onto hope (and their lives), while weaving in the events of a shockingly little-known event in World War II.

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

Described as Code Name Verity meets Gone Girl. The description slightly over promises, but I enjoyed the fast pace, the Nazi-occupied Amsterdam setting, and the relateability of the MC.

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

Set in a small East Texas town in 1937 where race is just one of the many dividing lines. This book received loads of early critical acclaim, and for good reason. It is as beautifully written as it is heartbreaking. 

Memoirs

Scrappy Little Nobody, by Anna Kendrick  

Full of snark, laughs and showbiz growing pains. If you are an Anna Kendrick fan, you will be an even bigger one after reading this.

Girl Walks Into a Bar, by Rachel Dratch

I loved reading about Dratch's improv days and her time at Saturday Night Live. I'm a former improv geek and actually studied at the same Chicago theaters as Dratch (Second City and IO) so it was fun to hear her talk about her time there. But what really makes the book is Dratch's personal journey.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer*

If you are an Amy Schumer fan, be prepared to love her even more. Her memoir is funny at times and surprisingly honest and heartfelt at others. I especially loved hearing about her comedic perseverance. There's a lesson for everyone trying to break into a creative industry--you need thick skin and a never-give-up attitude if you want to be successful. 

Thrillers

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Scott Burroughs, a down-on-his-luck painter, hitches a ride on a private jet flying from Martha's Vineyard to New York. Sixteen minutes after takeoff, the plane and all but two of it's passengers - Scott and the son of two wealthy passengers - disappear into the ocean. Filled with twists and turns, this story will keep you guessing right up until the end.

I'm currently listening to Dear Amy, by Helen Callaghan, and if it continues at its current pace it will likely get a place in my 2016 Thriller section as well.

Middle Grade

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

The story interweaves several tales together - from WWII Germany to Depression-Era Philadelphia - all connected by a harmonica. The unique format and heart warming story rightfully won the 2016 Newberry Honor Award.

The School for Good and Evil (The School for Good and Evil, #1)

Every few years, two children are kidnapped from the village of Gavaldon and forced to attend the fabled School for Good and Evil, where kids are trained to become the things of fairytales. A fun read for any age.

11 Birthdays (Willow Falls, #1) by Wendy Mass

Described as Groundhog Day meets Flipped--Amanda must relive her eleventh birthday until she can get it right and break the curse.

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

This book is a perfect example of how to successfully develop a fun, charismatic MG voice. Twelve-year-old Felicity tries to bring the magic back to Midnight Gulch and mend her mother's broken heart so that they can finally call one place home.

Fantasy & SciFi

Replica by Lauren Oliver

Oliver is one of my favorite authors, and her latest release did not disappoint. After an attack on the Haven Institute - a military-run covert facility that clones hundreds of children - Lyra, a clone, escapes and bumps into Gemma - a girl with surprising ties to Haven's secret past.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Because it's a play, it lacks some of the colorful world building you expect from a J.K. Rowling novel. But once I got used to the format I really enjoyed it--it was great to see familiar characters and meet some new ones along the way. And I love that Harry Potter grows up to be a father struggling to raise and understand his children--just like any other father, magical or muggle.

An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1) by Sabaa Tahir**

A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2) by Sabaa Tahir**

This series will likely end up ranking up there with Daughter of Smoke and Bone for me, which is high praise. An Ember in the Ashes was my February YA book pick. You can read the full review here. Book two is just as good as book one, and book three can't come out fast enough.

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

After spying on her father, Faith discovers his secret--a tree growing in a dark cave. Tell the tree a lie, and a fruit will grow. Eat the fruit, and it will reveal something true. The greater the falsity and the further it spreads, the greater the secret the tree will reveal. But Faith soon discovers that learning the truth is not always worth the cost.

Alive (The Generations Trilogy, #1)by Scott Sigler

Alight (The Generations Trilogy, #2) by Scott Sigler

This Sci-Fi series gets better with each book. It starts with M, a teenage girl who wakes up in a coffin with no memory of how she got there. She soon discovers more kids like her, and the fight to learn how they came to arrive in the coffins becomes a fight for survival. I can't share details of Alight without giving away the plot to Alive, but I will say that the ending to Alight (book 2) is one of the best cliffhangers EVER.

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4) by Maggie Stiefvater* 

If you've been following this blog for a while you know about my obsession with Maggie Stiefvater and her The Raven Boys Series. The final book in Steiefvater's epic series is all the things I wanted and needed. I had a book hangover for at least a month afterward.

Contemporary

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero* 

Gabi chronicles her last year in high school: college applications, Cindy's pregnancy, Sebastian's coming out, boys, her father's meth habit.  If I were giving out an award for best voice, this would be the winner of the 2016 prize. Funny, poignant and heartbreaking all at once--I found it hard not to cheer (and sometimes cry) for Gabi.

Life by Committee, by Corey Ann Haydu

Tab discovers a note in the margin of a book that leads her to LBC (Life By Committee.) The rules are simple: share a secret, complete the challenge, find comradely with the other members of the site. Fail to complete the assignment, and your secrets get revealed. At first, Tab believes the assignments are helping her to become a braver, happier version of herself. Until they threaten to tear her family apart.
Me Before You (Me Before You, #1) by Jojo Moyes*

If you're thinking of skipping the book in favor of the movie, don't. The movie does not hold a candle to the book. But regardless, have the tissues ready. This book will break your heart in all the right places.

YA Book Pick: THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL ESCAPES

Note from Triona: Since my current WIP is upper MG rather than my usual YA, I've been immersing myself in the world of MG lately. So I'm cheating a little with this month's YA Book Pick and making it an almost-YA book pick instead!


Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's book pick is THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL ESCAPES by Wade Albert White.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): A thrilling debut novel where fantasy and science fiction meet, dragons aren't as innocent as they look, and nothing is quite what it seems.

Anne has spent most of her thirteen years dreaming of the day she and her best friend Penelope will finally leave Saint Lupin's Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children. When the big day arrives, a series of very curious happenings lead to Anne being charged with an epic quest. Anne, Penelope, and new questing partner Hiro have only days to travel to strange new locales, solve myriad riddles, and triumph over monstrous foes—or face the horrible consequences.

Packed with action, humor, and endless heart, this debut novel marks the first volume in an irresistible and original fantasy series.

First Line: "At Saint Lupin's Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children, every orphan is treated with the same amount of disdain and neglect."

This is a great first line because it clearly telegraphs what type of book you're about to read—funny and irreverent.

Highlights: The book featured several things I absolutely love: interesting fantasy elements, humor, action/adventure that kept me turning the pages quickly to find out what was going to happen, and a really cool twist at the end that turned it all on its head.

One of my other favorite things about the book was that it features a diverse protagonist—but the story isn't about her diversity. That doesn't seem like it should be such an unusual thing, but I haven't encountered it much in my reading.

Notes for Writers: The reader is rooting for the main character of this book, Anne (short for Anvil), from page one. If you're looking for an example of how to create a likable protagonist, this is a great one.

Interview with ALL LACED UP author Erin Fletcher, plus a chance to win a signed copy and $10 Amazon giftcard!

Hi everyone! Please join me in welcoming author Erin Fletcher to Thinking to Inking. She's here to talk writing advice, current reads and of course her latest release, ALL LACED UP. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for a chance to win a signed copy of All Laced Up and a $10 Amazon giftcard!

Hi Erin! Thanks so much for coming to Thinking to Inking. We're so excited to have you here! Tell us a little bit about ALL LACED UP.

Thank you so much for having me! I appreciate it! ALL LACED UP is a contemporary YA romance novel about talented figure skater Lia Bailey and hockey superstar Pierce Miller. There are plenty of ice skating scenes, an online secret identity, and lots of romance.

How did your writing process for ALL LACED UP differ from other books you've written?

My writing process didn’t differ very much for this one. I have a good system worked out where I plot all of the major events, put them into Scrivener, and then fill in the scenes and chapters as I progress through those events. It works for me!

How do the ideas for your stories come to you? How did you come up with the idea for ALL LACED UP?

It depends on the book. Sometimes my ideas are random, like when I walked into my parents’ garage, sneezed, and that gave me the idea for my first book, WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME. For ALL LACED UP, I’ve always wanted to write a hockey player/figure skater romance. I was a figure skater most of my life, and therefore was around a ton of hockey players, too. It’s a natural match!

What (if anything) surprised you most about the publishing process for this book vs. your first book?

It happened really super quickly! My first book took more than three years to write, revise, submit, edit, and publish. This one took less than a year from the day I started working on it until the day it was released!

What advice would you give writers still working to make their publishing dreams a reality?

Don’t quit. My first published novel was the fourth manuscript I’d written. ALL LACED UP is my third published novel, but the eighth manuscript I’d written. Be willing to face rejection and keep going!

What are you reading now?

Right now I’m reading THE BAD BOY BARGAIN by Kendra C. Highley. I am loving Faith and Kyle’s story about a bad boy who might not be so bad after all! I’m also reading THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR by Katharine McGee. I don’t read a lot of sci fi, but the premise of this one sucked me in!

Who's your favorite character from All Laced Up?
My favorite character from ALL LACED UP is Pierce Miller’s younger brother, Carson. I’m slightly biased, but he’s an adorable little brother. He struggles with sensory processing disorder, and I love how good Pierce is with him.

If you could be one character from any book or movie, who would it be?

I would be A from David Levithan’s EVERY DAY. Jumping from one person’s life to the next every day would be so fascinating! I imagine you would learn a lot about the world and about yourself.

Congrats on the launch of your latest and greatest, and thanks so much for stopping by!

Great questions! Thank you for having me!

About All Laced Up by Erin Fletcher

Publication Date:  October 10, 2016

Publisher:  Entangled Teen Crush

Everyone loves hockey superstar Pierce Miller. Everyone except Lia Bailey.

When the two are forced to teach a skating class to save the rink, Lia’s not sure she’ll survive the pressure of Nationals and Pierce’s ego. Not only can’t he remember her name, he signed her bottle of water like she was one of his groupies. Ugh.

But if there’s one thing Lia knows better than figure skating, it’s hockey. Hoping to take his ego down a notch—or seven—she logs into his team website under an anonymous name to give him pointers on his less-than-stellar playing.

Turns out, Pierce isn’t arrogant at all. And they have a lot in common. Too bad he’s falling for the anonymous girl online. No matter how much fun they’re starting to have in real life, she’s afraid he’s going to choose fake-Lia over the real one…

Disclaimer: This book contains a swoony hockey player (and his equally swoony friends!), one-too-many social media accounts, kisses that’ll melt ice, and a secret identity that might not be so secret after all…

Goodreads | Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

About Erin Fletcher

Erin is a young adult author from North Carolina. She is a morning person who does most of her writing before sunrise, while drinking excessive quantities of coffee. She believes flip-flops qualify as year-round footwear, and would spend every day at the beach if she could. She has a bachelor's degree in mathematics, which is almost never useful when writing books.

Website | Twitter

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Book Blitz! Enter to win a copy of BECAUSE I LOVE YOU and an Amazon gift card!

Hello all!  We are excited to host another book launch and giveaway, this time for BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, by Tori Rigby.  Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for a chance to win a copy of your own!

Eight weeks after sixteen-year-old Andie Hamilton gives her virginity to her best friend, “the stick” says she’s pregnant. Her friends treat her like she’s carrying the plague, her classmates torture and ridicule her, and the boy she thought loved her doesn’t even care. 

Afraid to experience the next seven months alone, she turns to her ex-boyfriend, Neil Donaghue, a dark-haired, blue-eyed player. With him, she finds comfort and the support she desperately needs to make the hardest decision of her life: whether or not to keep the baby. Then a tragic accident leads Andie to discover Neil’s keeping a secret that could dramatically alter their lives, and she's forced to make a choice. But after hearing her son’s heartbeat for the first time, she doesn’t know how she’ll ever be able to let go.

Because I Love You by Tori Rigby Release Date: May 17, 2016 Publisher: Blaze Publishing

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

What Readers Are Saying:

 

“emotional and heartfelt read” – Laura H (The Voluptuous Book Diva)

 

“one of the most amazing books I have ever read and a great contemporary read” – KittyKat (Goodreads Reviewer)

 

“It's one of those books where everything worked really well together. The story. The characters. The relationships. And the writing. It was just so beautiful.” – Nicole (Bookish Thoughts)

Excerpt:

Jodi squeezed my hand. “Do whatever you think is right. Your gut won’t lie. Mine sure didn’t, and look how you turned out.”

I smiled.

After a few more questions, like did I have any siblings—no—and where did my cousins live—just over the border into New Mexico—the guard announced our fifteen minutes were up. I fought the urge to cling to Jodi’s hand as she stood. I hadn’t spent nearly enough time with her.

“You write me. Let me know how you’re doing, ‘kay?”

I nodded, my mouth drying, and she backed out of the room with a wave. When the door from the visitation area to the cellblock closed, I covered my mouth, my chest hitching. Mom put her arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into her. I’d been so afraid that Jodi would have considered me a burden, that she would’ve hate me for ruining her life, like I originally loathed my baby for messing up mine. But that was so far from the reason she’d placed me for adoption.

“She had loved me, Mom,” I said, my voice shaking.

About the Author

 

Adopted at three-days-old by a construction worker and a stay at home mom, Tori Rigby grew up with her nose in a book and her fingers on piano keys, always awaiting the day she’d take her own adventure. Now, she goes on multiple journeys through her contemporary and historical romances. She longs to live in the Scottish Highlands, and her favorite place in history is Medieval England—she’d even give up her Internet and running water to go back in time! Tori also writes high-concept genre fiction as Vicki Leigh, and when she isn’t writing, she’s kicking butt in krav maga or attending classes to learn how to catch bad guys.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instragram | Tumblr | Goodreads

 

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YA Book Pick: ALL IN by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's book pick is ALL IN (THE NATURALS, #3), by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Three casinos. Three bodies. Three days.

After a string of brutal murders in Las Vegas, Cassie Hobbes and the Naturals are called in to investigate. But even with the team's unique profiling talents, these murders seem baffling: unlike many serial killers, this one uses different methods every time. All of the victims were killed in public, yet the killer does not show up on any tape. And each victim has a string of numbers tattooed on their wrist. Hidden in the numbers is a code—and the closer the Naturals come to unraveling the mystery, the more perilous the case becomes.

Meanwhile, Cassie is dealing with an equally dangerous and much more painful mystery. For the first time in years, there's been a break in her mother's case. As personal issues and tensions between the team mount, Cassie and the Naturals will be faced with impossible odds—and impossible choices.

First Line: "New Year's Eve fell on a Sunday." While this isn't a terribly hook-y line by itself, it becomes much more interesting when you add the next few sentences:

"This would have been less problematic if my grandmother hadn't considered 'Thou shalt gather your family for Sunday dinner an inviolable commandment, or if Uncle Rio had not appointed himself the pourer of the wine.

"There was a lot of wine."

Highlights: This book is the third in an excellent series of YA thrillers. There's a cast of very interesting characters (who you find out more about with each new installment), genuinely baffling mysteries with satisfying endings, and plenty of exciting action/danger scenes.

Another highlight is the romance that's woven throughout the three books. Unlike many YA series, it's very subtle and takes a backseat to individual character development and the main plotlines of each book.

Notes for writers: The author does a very good job of doling out fascinating background information over the three books. Because of this, she accomplishes the feat of making each book even better and more interesting than the last one.

A good read for: I'd highly recommend these books to anyone writing thrillers or mysteries. In addition, they're a good example of a well-planned series that keeps readers hooked.

YA Book Pick: The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

 

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review.  We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors.

This month's book is The Eye of Minds by James Dashner.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

An all-new, edge-of-your-seat adventure from James Dashner, the author of the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner Series, The Eye of Minds, is the first book in The Mortality Doctrine, a series set in world of hyper-advanced technology, cyberterrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams . . . and your worst nightmares.

Michael is a gamer.  And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the Virtnet than in the actual world.  The Virtnet offers total mind and body immersion, and it's addictive.  Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun.  Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason.  Some technology is too dangerous to fool with.  And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before:  he's holding players hostage inside the Virtnet.  The effects are horrible - the hostages have all been declared brain-dead.  Yet the gamer's motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.

And they've been watching Michael.  They want him on their team.

But the risk is enormous.  If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the Virtnet grid.  There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can't even fathom - and there's the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.

Highlights:

Book had mixed reviews, but our family enjoyed the book.  It was both entertaining and fast-paced.  Here's some of things we enjoyed:   pacing, plot, and premise.  It was a page turning adventure novel filled with action and just the hint of romance.  Dashner is a strong world builder when it comes to creating a high tech world and his characters are very real.  He is a master at creating both flawed, but likeable characters like the antagonist, Kaine.

Good read for:

Middle school boys, reluctant readers, Mom's of boys, Gamers, or anyone wanting to be entertained.

YA Book Pick: Not If I See You First

Once a month we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors.

This month's book is Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

The Rules:

Don’t deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.

Don’t help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.

Don’t be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I’m just like you only smarter.

Parker Grant doesn’t need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That’s why she created the Rules: Don’t treat her any differently just because she’s blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.

When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there’s only one way to react—shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that’s right, her eyes don’t work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn’t cried since her dad’s death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened—both with Scott, and her dad—the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

Combining a fiercely engaging voice with true heart, debut author Eric Lindstrom’s Not If I See You First illuminates those blind spots that we all have in life, whether visually impaired or not.

Highlights: I like that this is a novel whose protagonist is blind, but it's not about her blindness. She's just a normal spunky teenage girl who is navigating friendship and love the way any of us do. Cluelessly!

Diet Coke, a pedicure, and some fun reading

Notes for writers: I noted how much dialogue was used pretty quickly. While I was initially concerned that the novel would suffer due to a lack of imagery and interiority, I quickly came to believe that the heavy use of dialogue enhanced the work. There was enough interiority to keep me connected to the protagonist and the lack of visual imagery made sense in this case as the protagonist is blind (a fact that we mostly forget when so heavily immersed in dialogue and comes back occasionally when grounded in interiority).

A great read for: Anyone who wants to see someone who has been knocked down a bit get back up and fight for love and friendship.

Happy spring & happy reading!

*Note: I received an arc of this and reviewed that copy.

YA Book Pick: AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors.

This month's book is AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Highlights:  I put off reading this book for a while, and I wish I could go back in time and slap myself.  My main hesitation was the amount of press the book was getting--I'd been similarly lured into reading another recently-released fantasy book that was garnering a lot of attention, only to be way waaaay waaaaaay let down. Thankfully, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES was nothing like that book that will remain unnamed, and deserves every ounce of attention it has received and then some.

The story is told in alternating perspectives: Laia and Elias.  After witnessing her grandparents slaying and her brother arrest, Laia seeks the help of rebels, hoping they will rescue him. As payment for their help, they send her to Blackcliff, the Empire's military training center, where she poses as the Commandant's slave.  Elias is a student at Blackcliff and the son of the Commandant, training to become one of the brutal soldier/assassins known as Masks. Except Elias doesn't want to be a Mask.

Things I loved:

1) The setting.  The Rome-like empire felt very different from many of the fantasies I've read as of late, and the world-building was stellar.  

2) The Commandant.  She is hands down one of the best villains I have read. She is brutal and yet totally believable. I also loved that the bad guy was not a guy at all.

3) Elias. While I loved both Elias and Laia's stories, I found Elias' the most intriguing.  The juxtaposition of his desire to escape Blackcliff while at the same time being one of the best and brightest soldiers makes for a very compelling read.  

4) The plot. This is not your classic slave-meets-royalty story as I'd originally thought when I read the description. This is a twisty, turny, you-won't-want-to-put-it-down read. 

In short, Tahir is a genius, and I really hope we hear more from her in the very, very near future. So go read it, K?

A good read for: fans of fantasy who are looking for something unique and different.  Writers looking for world-building inspiration. And well, everyone. Everyone should read this book.

Happy reading!

YA Book Pick: Popular: A Memoir by Maya Van Wagenen

Once a month we choose an outstanding YA book to review.  We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors.

This month's book is Popular: A Memoir by Maya Van Wagenen.  Maya is a teen author and thus has a refreshing point-of-view.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Stuck near the bottom of the social ladder at "pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren't paid to be here," Maya has never been popular.  But before starting eight grade, she decides to begin a unique social experiment:  spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell.  The real-life results are hilarious, painful, and filled with unexpected surprises - but through it all, Maya's positive approach helps her to reveal a new understanding of self-confidence, kindness, and acceptance.

First line: "School is the armpit of life," my best friend Kenzie once told me.  Amen.

Highlights:  The book is fun, entertaining, and hilarious.  Maya has such a strong voice and really opens up to her readers and pretty much holds nothing back.  In addition, to have such an authentic, raw quality, the book also has an even stronger message on what it means to be "popular."  Some critics doubt that a teenage writer could be this wise and write so well, but then what published book hasn't been reshaped and polished by countless helpful hands?!  Don't most books pass through a series of Beta Readers, agents, and editors?  Whatever the case, this book does shine - its both funny and insightful. 


Notes for Writers:  Voice. Definitely the voice.  Maya also provides a great message along with her story, but this book's strongest attribute is the voice. 

A great read for:  YA and tween girls and their parents.  Boys would learn much from the book as well, but some of the subjects are just too girlie.  I would say this is a good book for girls entering Junior High and even High School.  Wish I could have had a book like this for when my eldest went to school.  At our school, the "popular" girls were asked to buy Michael Kors purses and carry their lunches in brown paper bags.  This book will help to put some of this into perspective. 

YA Book Pick: THE WALLS AROUND US by Nova Ren Suma

Once a month we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors.

This month's book is THE WALLS AROUND US by Nova Ren Suma. 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

“Ori’s dead because of what happened out behind the theater, in the tunnel made out of trees. She’s dead because she got sent to that place upstate, locked up with those monsters. And she got sent there because of me.”

On the outside, there's Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement.

On the inside, within the walls of the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center, there's Amber, locked up for so long she can't imagine freedom.

Tying their two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls' darkest mysteries…

What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve—in this life or in another one?

In prose that sings from line to line, Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and of innocence, and of what happens when one is mistaken for the other.

First Line: We went wild that hot night.

The first few pages of this book are an interesting read given the use of "we" instead of "I" for the first person narrative. The story starts from Amber's perspective, but in the beginning she speaks for the entire group of forty girls incarcerated at the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center. Amber tells us about a night when the girls find the guard stations unmanned, the doors open, and the prison suddenly not a prison anymore. It's the start of a page-turning and haunting mystery that will have you furiously flipping the pages to find out what the heck is going on and how in the world all of these events connect together.

Highlights: The writing. Oh, man, the writing. The prose is beautiful, atmospheric and haunting. This is also unlike anything I have read before. The twists are unique, unexpected and incredibly well executed.  It was my first Nova Ren Suma book, and I now plan to go back and read everything she's ever written.

The story is told from the perspectives of Amber and Violet. Violet is on the verge of graduating and making her ballet dreams a reality. Amber is cellmates with Orianna, Violet's former best friend and former fellow ballerina. At first, the choice of Amber as the second narrator felt like a strange one. Why not give Orianna a chance to tell her side of the story? Why Amber, who seems like a peripheral character to the conflict between Oriana and Violet?  But that is part of the brilliance of this story, and it all comes together in an expected and imaginative way.

Notes for writers: If you're considering a dual POV, this is a must read. The unexpected choice of Amber as the second POV is a fascinating one, and shows how sometimes the less obvious characters can make for a more interesting narrative. And as mentioned above, this book is beautifully written and can serve as great inspiration for those of us working to build our atmospheric prose muscle. 

A great read for: Anyone looking for a unique and beautifully written paranormal mystery. Writers looking for inspired dual POV narratives and beautiful prose.  In short, everyone needs to go and read this book right now!

Hope you love it as much as I did. Happy reading!

YA Book Pick: The Wee Free Men

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's book pick is THE WEE FREE MEN by Terry Pratchett, the first in the Tiffany Aching series.

I'm cheating a little with this one, because it's not a recent book (it published in 2004), but there are now four books in the series and the fifth one comes out next week in the UK (September 15th in the US). I thought it would be nice to spotlight the first book to introduce some new readers to the series.

This upcoming release is particularly bittersweet for me. Terry Pratchett, who has long been my favorite author, passed away a few months ago. This will be the last new book I ever get to read from him. I'm re-reading the rest of the series in preparation for the new one and am amazed all over again at how good it is.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): "Another world is colliding with this one," said the toad. "All the monsters are coming back."

"Why?" said Tiffany.

"There's no one to stop them."

There was silence for a moment.

Then Tiffany said, "There's me."

Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds - black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors - before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone....

In a riveting narrative that is equal parts suspense and humor, Carnegie Medalist Terry Pratchett returns to his internationally popular Discworld with a breathtaking tale certain to leave fans, new and old, enthralled.

First Lines: "Some things start before other things. It was a summer shower but didn't appear to know it, and it was pouring rain as fast as a winter storm."

Highlights: Gosh, where to start? Terry Pratchett's writing is gorgeous in this book, as usual. Tiffany is the exact kind of practical, no-nonsense girl I identified with when I was younger—not always an easy type of character to find in YA books.

Incidentally, this book also includes one of my favorite lines from any book anywhere:

“If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”

Notes for writers: One of the more interesting things about this book for writers to note is that although this series is considered young adult, the protagonist of the book is nine years old in the first one. (As the series goes on, she becomes a teenager.) A nine-year-old main character would usually indicate a book that's intended for middle grade readers, but this is an exception.

I think the main reason for considering this book YA is the way the protagonist is relating to the world around her. While MG books are usually about the protagonist finding out who they are and how to fit in with the world around them, Tiffany is already an independent, competent young lady when the book begins. The problems she's facing are more adult problems—how to get her kidnapped brother back, how to save her world from the evil Queen—so it's easy to forget how young she is.

If you're writing a book with a protagonist who's not the "right" age for the genre, I'd definitely suggest giving this book a read!

A good read for: Anyone who likes adventure stories or great writing. This is also an excellent "gateway book" for anyone who wants to try out a Terry Pratchett book before diving into the rest of his long-running Discworld fantasy series (the last book will be #41!).

YA Book Pick: LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's book pick is LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE by Jessica Knoll. An interesting read since it walks the fine line between adult and YA fiction.  The protagonist is a 28 year old woman but spends half of the novel as her teenage self. 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve.

But Ani has a secret.

There’s something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy everything.

With a singular voice and twists you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Aliveexplores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it all” and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than it first appears. 

The question remains: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for—or, will it at long last, set Ani free?

First Line:

"I inspected the knife in my hand." 

This first line invokes so many questions.  Why does she have a knife in her hand?  What does she intend to do with it?  It sets a dark intention and tone and gives us insight into the protagonist.  She is one that is meticulous and pays attention to the objects and people around her...now. 

Highlights:

The surprise turn of events is definitely the highlight in the novel.  Without giving away too much, the event helps the reader to understand the character at a deeper level and to feel a level of empathy and understanding of why the character is who she is at the end of the day.  It turns what could be an unlikable protagonist to once that is complex and layered. 

Notes for Writers:

The writer has done a very good job of presenting a single protagonist's story using two distinct time periods in her life.  She deals with very serious issues in a way that does not appear flippant or irresponsible but impacts the way the protagonist has chosen to live her life and feels authentic to the suspense/thriller nature of the novel. 

One interesting highlight is the effective use of marketing for the novel that has propelled it to the New York Times Bestseller's List.  While the book is strong enough to stand on its own, the marketers have created buzz around the launch by tying it to recent successes such as Gillian Flynn's GONE GIRL.  There are striking differences between the two books and it's questionable how similar they really are, but regardless, LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE has definitely benefited from these comparisons.  

A Good Read For:

Anyone who likes a good YA suspense/thriller with older characters and a touch of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS/GOSSIP GIRLS.

Path to Publication Lessons from Author Suzanne van Rooyen + Giveaway!

I'm thrilled to have Suzanne van Rooyen, author of I HEART ROBOT, joining us today to share her advice and lessons from her road to publication.

Please join me in giving her a warm TTI welcome, and make sure to scroll to the bottom for a chance to win your own copy of I HEART ROBOT.

Guest Post by Suzanne van Rooyen

Everybody's road to publication is different. There is no single map of how to get there, but a multitude of routes and some may meander while others might lead to a few dead ends before ultimately getting you where you want to go. There are quite a few things I wished I'd known though before starting out, as it may have helped me better choose my route.


1) Writing is rewriting

I was not prepared for the amount of revising and editing that was required in order to get published. I've never had a problem editing my work, but I was still shocked to discover that I would have to go through at least one round of content edits before line edits and finally proofreading before signing off on the polished manuscript. If you're new to writing, best you make friends with Track Changes because writing is rewriting.

2) You can get picked from the slush pile

I had my first book published without really understanding that agents are awesome and I should've maybe queried agents first before publishers. I also didn't understand that I, as a mere mortal, could even get an agent by sending out queries. You do not have to be connected or well-known or have anything other than a good book to get an agent. If you want to go the traditional publishing route, having an agent is essential.

3) Having an agent doesn't guarantee success

To be honest, once I signed with an agent I thought that was it. In a few weeks, we'd be hitting up publishing houses and a few weeks later I'd have a three book deal and life would be grand. Not exactly. Having an agent is often only the first step toward success and does in no way guarantee a sale of that or any book. Having an agent does, however, open a lot of doors and is vital for when deals are eventually offered to help you understand the small print so you don't up selling your soul.

4) Writers need a thick skin

I thought I understood this. I thought I knew what getting a crit back on work would feel like because I'd had teachers squiggle red pen on my essays in high school. I thought I understood how getting negative reviews would feel because I'd read a bunch of negative reviews about books I loved by other authors and even that hurt me, a mere fan. I had absolutely no clue just how brutal this industry could be. If you want to be a writer, you need to be brave enough to show your beloved work to others, to accept that some might not like it (they may even hate it) and won't be afraid to tell you before or after publication exactly what they think of your word-baby. But that's okay because you can learn from it – or ignore it – and become a better writer for it either way.

5) Writing is hard

Writing as a hobby, as something you love to do in your spare time isn't the same as having to crank out words with a deadline approaching, and it definitely isn't the same as trying to write something commercially viable in a saturated market when next month's rent depends on it. Writing professionally is hard and there will be days when you'd prefer to be gored by an angry hippopotamus than look at blinking cursor on another blank page.

That said, I'm fairly proud of the journey I've taken toward publication and I'm glad I've got this far, because I'm fully aware that there's still a very long way to go.

ABOUT I HEART ROBOT:

Publication date: March 31, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Suzanne van Rooyen

Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who won’t belittle her musical aspirations.

Q-I-99 aka ‘Quinn’ lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power.

Tyri and Quinn’s worlds collide when they’re accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn’s love of music brings them closer together, making Tyri question where her loyalties lie and Quinn question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, Tyri and Quinn make a shocking discovery that turns their world inside out. Will their passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?

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ABOUT SUZANNE VAN ROOYEN:

Suzanne is a tattooed storyteller from South Africa. She currently lives in Sweden and is busy making
friends with the ghosts of her Viking ancestors. Although she has a Master’s degree in music, Suzanne prefers conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. When she grows up, she wants to be an elf – until then, she spends her time (when not writing) wall climbing, buying far too many books, and entertaining her shiba inu, Lego.

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