BEA Recap Part 1: The Books

Book Expo America is a book lover's dream, and this year I was lucky enough to be able to attend my 5th BEA since 2009. And this year, I was not only there as press, I was also there as an author signing copies of THE MEMORY OF AFTER in the signing area (dream come true, for reals!).

Like most attendees, I had a list of "must get" books, but what I love most about BEA is the serendipity of discovering new titles. There were so many great finds this year that I ended up bringing back 37 titles with me (not including books I bought at the many bookstores I visited in the city) that I'm excited to read and cover on the blog in the months to come.  Today I'm going to spotlight some of my favorites. (NOTE: I was approved for some of the big BEA titles - such as Jandy Nelson's I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN and Scott Westerfeld's AFTERWORLDS - on Netgally and Edelweiss and so I skipped getting physical copies to save space)

Top 10 "must get" books that I snagged:

GLORY O'BRIEN'S HISTORY OF THE FUTURE by AS King (Oct 14, 2014, Little Brown) - Luckily I was invited to Little Brown's Brunch Preview where I unapologetically grabbed a copy of this before BEA even started. It's no secret I'm an AS King fangirl, so I'm super excited about GLORY.

SINNER by Maggie Stiefvater (July 1, 2014, Scholastic) - My very favorite thing about LINGER and FOREVER? Cole St. Clair. I've been saying for years that Cole needs his own novel, so when I heard about SINNER, I was struck with major book lust. I braved the galley drop at the Scholastic booth to get my hands on this pretty. I also got to chat with Maggie briefly at the Scholastic breakfast before BookCon (delicious smoothies!)

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins (August 2014, Penguin) - this wasn't really at BEA, but it was part of a raffle of all three Stephanie Perkins books at the #YAparty. Amazingly, I won the raffle and instantly became the most hated/envied person in the room. Naturally, I couldn't wait long to read this. My teasers for you? a) It's HOT. Isla and Josh's chemistry is through the roof. b) It's my favorite of the trilogy. c) I can't wait to discuss the ending with you -- squee!

STITCHING SNOW by RC Lewis (Oct 14, 2014, Disney-Hyperion) - A sci-fi fairytale retelling? Sign me up! This debut has been on my radar for some time, and when I heard (thanks Debby!) there were stacks of it sitting in a secret room in the bowels of the Javits (in reality, left over from Book Blogger Con), I dashed over to stash this in my tote.

THE BONE CLOCKS by David Mitchell (Sept 2, 2014, Random House) - Okay, so David Mitchell was signing his newest novel at 2 pm Friday after my own 1 pm signing, so I knew I'd never make it to his line and I was pretty devastated about it. But David also had a panel as part of Book Con on Saturday, and so I went about an hour early to line up for it (making me about #50 in line). A RH publicist gave everyone at the front of the line tickets to pick up galleys at the RH booth after the panel and we trembled with excitement. (Seriously, so much trembling in that line).

The panel between David and his editor was glorious. I loved his advice to "shoplift" from the best writers and his anecdotes about his writing process. And then. After the panel, I made my way to the podium to say hi. I told David it was my birthday (it was) and he gave me a birthday handshake. Here's hoping a tiny bit of his genius rubbed off on me.

ROOMS by Lauren Oliver (Sept 23, 2014, Ecco) - I acquired Lauren's adult debut thanks to our shared agent on a visit to the agency the week before BEA and thus was able to avoid one of her monster lines (I did stand in line for PANIC, however, which turned out to be quite a fun line thanks to Marlon).

MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton (available now, Tor) - I stood in a line to get the hardcover of this signed. It's an adult speculative fiction title about (possible) parallel lives, which is one of my favorite topics right now.

SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Oct 14, 2014, Candlewick) - I had the pleasure of meeting Mac at the Irma Black ceremony and lunch at Bankstreet College the week before BEA (more about that in a later post), and then I stood in line to meet Jon and get an F&G of their newest collaboration. First of all, Jon is super adorable and took the time to show me a video of his cat lounging while signing my book. (!!!) And the book is adorable too. Both Daniel and I love it and the vaguely sci-fi ending.

I'M MY OWN DOG by David Ezra Stein (August 5, 2014, Candlewick) - David Ezra Stein's INTERRUPTING CHICKEN is one of my top 10 picture book favorites of all time, so I was bummed that his signing was directly after mine and I'd never make his line. But, as luck would have it, we ran into each other in the author green room after my signing, and his lovely editor gave me a front of the line pass for his signing. #authorperks! I'M MY OWN DOG is super cute and funny, too.

THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES by BJ Novak (Sept 30, 2014, Penguin) - Yep, I was more than an hour early and the third person in line for this (behind the YA book twins), the only celebrity signing line that I attempted. Since it was at the Penguin booth, we weren't really allowed to line up early, so we just sort of hovered. I haven't actually read this yet (because only words, no pictures, ha!), but I'll report back when I do.

Top 5 serendipitous finds:

WE ALL LOOKED UP by Tommy Wallach (March 31, 2015, S&S) - Tommy and I share an editor at S&S and that editor gifted me an early copy of Tommy's debut. Then, at the #YAparty, Tommy was playing piano (he's a singer/songwriter too - check out his forthcoming album "I Meant it to be Sweet"), and we got to chat. That weekend, I went up to Bushwick where he took me to a block party. Fun! The novel looks incredibly intriguing, and I can't wait to dig in.

THE ART OF SECRETS by James Klise (available now, Algonquin) - I stopped by the Algonquin booth on Saturday and since it was so quiet, I got to chat with Editor Elise Howard for quite some time. I told her I only had room for one more book, so she pitched me several and I was won over by her pitch for this. Really all she had to say was "twists" and I was sold.

BAILEY BOAT CAT by Louise Kennedy (Sept 2, 2014, Bloomsbury) - This might have been my favorite random find at BEA. There was a small giveaway stack at the Bloomsbury booth and I was instantly smitten by this cat on a boat. Full color photos throughout of Bailey cuteness.

ONE DEATH, NINE STORIES, short story anthology (August 2014, Candlewick) - This was a booth giveaway and I was instantly attracted by the list of contributors, including AS King, Ellen Hopkins and Rita Williams-Garcia. All 9 stories are linked by the death of one 19 year old named Kevin.

EVEN IN PARADISE by Chelsey Philpot (October 14, 2014, HarperTeen) - Chelsey and I share an agent and since he has such great taste, I must read this! I got to meet her in the author green room after our signings (we were signing at the same time -- rivals!!).



If you want to see my entire book haul, check out my instagram.

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Reviews on a Theme: The Multiverse

This year on the YA scene there was a mini-boom of multiverse books. These came in two main types: 1) multiverse novels in which characters travel to actual physical universes other than ours a la the the TV show SLIDERS and 2) multiverse novels in which the main character experiences diverse versions of her own life a la the movie SLIDING DOORS.

Before reading on, you should be aware that for some of these books, their very appearance on the list constitutes a spoiler.

I read four novels this year where the characters travel to other dimensions. In each case there was a physical portal or object that allowed movement between two or more worlds. Also, there is at least one character who is able to explain the science behind what's going on in logical terms.

In TANDEM by Anna Jarzab, Sasha has long had dreams of another world in which she is a princess. On prom night, she's forced to go there by her date (who turns out to be her doppelganger's bodyguard) in order to impersonate the runaway princess. A "anchor"(which looks like a silver bracelet) keeps her in this strange new world where the US is split and war is imminent. TANDEM is full of intrigue and fun parallel Earth worldbuilding in which a simple potato might be your undoing. (FTC disclosure: Borrowed)

In 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil it's a mirror that shows Josie a one minute long glimpse (twice a day at 3:59 am and pm) into a world where her doppelganger, Jo, seems to have a much better life than she does. When Jo offers to trade for a day, Josie agrees, hoping to spend just a little more time with her ex-boyfriend Nick and parents who aren't going through a messy divorce. But once in the parallel universe, Josie discovers Jo's world is far from perfect and that Jo has trapped her there.
Thanks to Josie's aptitude for science, she's able to work out a plan to help her get back to her own world - before she's ripped apart by monsters that only come out at night. Along the way there are some awesome reveals and genuine scares though some may be put off by the insta-romance and a climax that relies on supposedly smart people doing stupid (and illegal) things. (FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy)

In RELATIVITY by Cristin Bishara, Ruby is unhappy in her own reality and longs to know the mother who died when Ruby was young. When Ruby enters a magical oak tree, she discovers it hides a wormhole that allows her to visit nine parallel worlds and she decides to explore each until she finds the perfect one. The concept and the themes explored (making the best of what you have, being careful what you wish for, the unpredictability of the universe) are top-notch. Ruby is intelligent and resourceful on her journey and the various scenarios she encounters are well drawn. This short novel aims to find a satisfying balance between exploring a meaningful breadth of worlds and doing so with true depth, and though it doesn't quite attain the latter, it is, nevertheless, a bold and impressive work. (FTC disclosure: Requested review copy from publisher)

In UNDERCURRENT by Paul Blackwell, Callum goes over a waterfall in his town and ends up in an alternate version of his world where one decision changed everything. It takes Callum most of the book to figure out that this is case, but the reader knows much, much earlier. Callum would rather believe he's the one that's gone crazy, because the existence of a multiverse is even crazier, isn't it? Blackwell has crafted a creepy thriller which explores how choices shape identity - sometimes in major ways. (FTC disclosure: Netgalley)

Other books to check out in this category:
THROUGH TO YOU by Emily Hainsworth
UNRAVELLING by Elizabeth Norris
WHEN THE WORLD WAS FLAT (AND WE WERE IN LOVE) by Ingrid Jonach
OTHERBOUND by Corinne Duyvis - coming 2014

I read three novels this year in which the main character lives out split realities. In each, the split realities diverge from a choice the character makes.

In PARALLEL by Lauren Miller, Abby has a grand plan, but due to the collision of parallel universes, she finds herself living out a reality she didn't choose for herself. Her split path hinges on something minor - what class she takes in school. I found PARALLEL to be more of a "head" book than a "heart" book. I absolutely loved the symmetry of the dueling realities and the clever way everything fit together. My inner nerd was totally into the logical sounding scientific theories explaining what was going on, and Abby's character arc is stellar. I would have liked to feel more of Abby's love for Josh + Michael though. Intellectually, I understood why she fell for them, but their connections failed to move me emotionally. Despite that, I found this to be an immersive and impressive novel with great ruminations on living in the moment and accepting that you can't plan every little thing about your life. (FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy)

In PIVOT POINT by Kasie West, Addie has the power of "searching", that is, she can see the results of a choice before she makes it so that she can make the most informed decision. When her parents announce they will divorce and her father will move to another town, Addie "lives" through both choosing to stay with her mother and leaving with her father. In both "lives" she ends up dating a boy and soon it becomes clear which she prefers, but what if staying with the boy she loves means the death of someone else she loves? By adding people with superpowers, PIVOT POINT adds a fresh twist to the split realities concept. Plus, there's a high stakes murder mystery and lots of witty dialogue. The ending let me down a bit because I wasn't aware there's a sequel coming.  (FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy)

In JUST LIKE FATE by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young, Caroline can either stay at her dying grandmother's bedside or she can go to a party. What she chooses will determine her fate. I was solidly team “Stay” throughout the entire novel. Caroline’s arc here felt very authentic, and I admired her choice to remain by her dying grandmother’s bedside. Joel, Simone and Natalie were adequately fleshed out. I really wasn’t crazy about the “Go” Caroline, and the whole escape plotline including the new school/mean girl subplot never endeared her to me. But,  I LOVED the way everything came together and the philosophical nature of the ending. (FTC disclosure: Netgalley)

Other books to check out in this category:
THE POST BIRTHDAY WORLD by Lionel Shriver (adult)
MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton (adult) - coming 2014

Any other multiverse novels you'd recommend? Let me know in the comments!

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Reviews on a Theme: Time Travel (YA)

Time travel is always one of my favorite topics in books and here are a few I read this year. I can recommend all of the following for fellow time travel fans.

AFTER EDEN by Helen Douglas

When Eden meets mysterious new boy Ryan she has no idea he's from the future - a future where a discovery of new planet by her best friend Connor has ruined the Earth's environment. Ryan's mission is to keep Connor from discovering the planet, and getting close to Eden is part of that plan.

AFTER EDEN's appealing sci-fi hook is what attracted me to the novel in the first place, but I stayed for the absolutely sweet contemporary romance between Eden and Ryan. It's a light, fun read that gets more action-oriented towards the second half, and I would hand it to readers looking to branch out to sci-fi as a great gateway book.

FTC disclosure: Lucky 13s ARC tour

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill

In the future, Em is imprisoned at a military base and it's up to her to break out, get back to the past and prevent a catastrophic time travel machine from ever being built. In the present, Marina is love with her best friend James, a genius on the verge of a major scientific breakthrough - one that could very well get him killed.

This twisty novel starts out with a big bang when Em finds a note from a past version of herself telling her that there's only one option left: "You have to kill him." This sets up a high-stakes chase through time where if Em succeeds, she will erase herself, but in doing so, she'll be able to spare her younger self a lot of pain. The characters face many impossible choices and both Em and Marina's stories are intensely compelling.

I didn't quite understand the mechanics of the ending or how it's possible with the time travel rules that the novel established early on. But otherwise, I am impressed with this one. Definitely worth a re-read!

FTC disclosure: Netgalley

LOOP  by Shandy Lawson

Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.

This is incredibly fast-paced and also pretty short, so even though it's highly addictive and action-oriented fun, there's not much time for character development. I did find myself wishing it were longer and more developed, but I enjoyed my time spent reading it.

FTC disclosure: Netgalley 

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Reviews on a Theme: Sex in YA

Sex in YA is usually of the fade to black variety. But I read three contemporary books this year that get quite a bit more graphic than that. For further reading on the topic of sex in YA, check out this excellent post at Stacked.

THE INFINITE MOMENT OF US by Lauren Myracle

Wren has always done exactly what her parents want her to. But the summer after she graduates from high school she decides it's time to do what she wants instead. That includes falling hopelessly in love with a foster kid, Charlie Parker.

What Myracle does so, so well here is capturing the all-consuming nature of first love. Wren and Charlie's get to know each other deeply on many levels - emotionally, intellectually and, yes, physically - and it's all refreshingly honest and straightforward.

But --- not gonna lie, Wren drove me absolutely crazy with her self-centeredness. It's like once she realizes she can live for herself instead of her parents she thinks everyone else should live just for her. This was especially apparent in her relationship with Charlie (who should be awarded a roomful of medals for putting up with her). His sweeping romantic gesture at the end of the book would have been swoon-worthy if it wasn't so foolhardy and if it didn't play right into Wren's self-centeredness.

Still, I would jump at the chance to read what happens next between Wren and Charlie.  Here's hoping there's a sequel (set in SPOILER).

FTC disclosure: Netgalley

WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE by Trish Dollar

Callie returns to her father after her mother is arrested for kidnapping her as a child. As she adjusts to life in a stable environment, she also falls for the town's resident charmer.

Based on the pitch, I somehow expected this to be more of an exploration of Callie's relationship with her father. While this aspect is more or less glossed over in favor of Callie's romance with Alex, I can't complain too much because their chemistry is a thing of beauty. Other pluses: Callie's fabulously understanding and uncomplicated friend Kat, the extended Greek family and detailed rendering of the tourist town of Tarpon Springs, FL. Personally I yelled at Callie a lot for the horrible way she treated her father, but at least I could understand why she behaved so badly.

FTC disclosure: Netgalley

USES FOR BOYS by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

In the beginning, it's just Anna and her mother and they are each other's whole world. But as Anna's mother starts a series of relationships with men, she pulls away from Anna - leaving Anna to look for someone else to complete her.

Anna's loneliness and neediness permeate the pages. Much of the novel is about how people use each for sex, and it's gritty and heartbreaking and depressing. Fortunately the ending is hopeful and I really do think Anna's journey is a powerful one that I'm sure many teens will relate to.

FTC disclosure: Bought

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