Waiting on Wednesday: Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

06.23.2009 from Delacorte Books for Young Readers

(Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill from Breaking The Spine)

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future. 

Doesn’t that sound fabulous? Unique, too; usually fairy books involve someone falling in love with a fairy, not someone being in love with a fairy. This sounds like an interesting place to start a romance. Also, isn’t the girl usually the one who mysteriously finds out she’s a fairy? It’s a unique twist on something I already love, plus the cover is fantastic, so I really, really can’t wait to read this one!

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Waiting On Wednesday: Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt

Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt

08.05.2009 from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Remy Walker has it all: he found the love of his life at home in crumbling little Dwyer, West Virginia, deep in his beloved Appalachian Mountains where his family settled more than one hundred and sixty years ago. But at seventeen, you’re not supposed to already be where you want to be, right? You’ve got a whole world to make your way through, and you start by leaving your dead-end town. Like his girlfriend, Lisa. Lisa’s going away to college. If Remy goes with her, it would be the start of everything they ever dreamed of. So when a fascinating young artist from out of state shows Remy his home through new eyes, why is he suddenly questioning his future?

The author vividly depicts a rich and beautiful place in this powerful novel about a young man who, over the course of a summer, learns how much he has to give up for a girl, and how much he needs to give up for a mountain.

Doesn’t this look really, really good? It sounds powerful, and interesting, and plus it’s written by Melissa Wyatt, who I already know can write good books. I really like Raising The Griffin, and I can’t wait to read this one.

 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

 

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Coming from Simon & Schuster on 06.02.2009

And then the best summary I could find, from the 2009 Debutantes website:

Two brothers are hunted throughout England by a powerful magician’s circle after their mother steals a charm, and when the eldest is marked by a demon, the younger uses swords and dark arts in an effort to save him but unwittingly uncovers the darkest of secrets.

Doesn’t that sound intriguing? Also, the blurbs on the author’s website are from Scott Westerfeld, Holly Black, and Cassandra Clare. Triple awesome. This sounds like great fantasy, and I can’t wait to read it! Put it on your wishlists.

 

Waiting On Wednesday: Girl to the Core by Stacey Goldblatt

Girl To The Core by Stacey Goldblatt

07.14.2009 from Delacorte Books for Young Readers

What kind of person is at your core?

Molly O’Keefe’s boyfriend, Trevor, is moving too fast, but when she catches him kissing his ex, Molly thinks it might be her own fault. After all, it was her idea to take things slow. In fact, her best friend, Vanessa, recently talked her into buying a neon spandex Halloween costume, and her nine-year-old neighbor, Claire, somehow got her to participate in a sixteen-mile walkathon. Despite Trevor’s apologies and Vanessa’s attempts to hook her up with rebound guys, Molly is utterly heartbroken. Then she finds comfort in a most unusual place: Girl Corps, a club Claire belongs to. As a fifteen-year-old, Molly hardly fits the Girl Corps profile. Still, she can’t deny that being with the little girls in the group gives her a sense of confidence and identity. 

But now Molly’s newly enlightened self is at odds with almost everyone in her life. As for Trevor, he won’t leave Molly alone, and that means trouble, because whether she likes it or not, Molly still has feelings for him. Will Molly turn her back on what she has learned, or will she stand her ground and embrace the strong girl at her core? 

This looks like a solidly good book about a girl trying to figure herself out. The cover’s fun, and Molly sounds like a great character. I can’t wait to read this one.

 

Waiting On Wednesday: A Map of the Known World

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

04.15.2009 from Scholastic

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother’s secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl’s journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

I loved Lisa Ann Sandell’s book Song of the Sparrow, so I absolutely can’t wait for this one. It sounds really different, and really intriguing, and really awesome. And don’t you just love the cover?

Read my review of Song of the Sparrow and my interview with Lisa.

 

Waiting on Wednesday 01.07.2009

Vamped by Lucienne Diver

05.01.2009 from Flux

Hey, all, it’s me… Gina Covella, fashionista of the damned.  Yeah, I know, I managed to get almost all the way through high school without cracking a book  and now here I am immortalized in one.  Well, actually, the immortalization process might have started a bit earlier, like in the broom closet at the after-prom-party, somewhere around the time Bobby-freakin’-Delvecchio started gnawing on my neck.  Anyway, this is one book I’d maybe even phone a friend about, since it covers all my adventures going from chic to eek. Because, let me tell you, eternity without a mirror or tanning options—totally uncool. And they don’t tell you in, like, Vampirism 101 about crazy conspiracies, psycho-psychics and other hazards of unlife. But I will, so stay tuned.

*Summary from author website.

Looks awesome, doesn’t it? Vampires! The author also describes it as Buffy meets Clueless, which sounds like lots of fun to me.

 

Waiting on Wednesday (Again, on a Thursday)

I wasn’t at the computer Wednesday; I was out and about with friends.  Anyway, this week’s pick:

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

05.14.2009 from Dutton Juvenile (Penguin)

Growing up in a world of wealth and pastel-tinted entitlement, fifteen-year-old Carly has always relied on the constancy—and authenticity—of her sister, Anna. But when fourteen-year-old Anna turns plastic-perfect-pretty over the course of a single summer, everything starts to change. And there are boys involved, complicating things as boys always do. With warmth, insight, and an unparalleled gift for finding humor even in stormy situations, beloved author Lauren Myracle dives into the tumultuous waters of sisterhood and shows that even very different sisters can learn to help each other stay afloat. 

How could you not want this book? Check out the cover and title! How very, very awesome. I can’t wait!

 

 

Waiting On Wednesday 12.24.08 Super Edition

Because it’s Christmas Eve, I’m doing a super special edition of Waiting On Wednesday. Why so special? Because instead of one book, I’m featuring three! (And, yeah, that really does have more to do with my inability to pick one than Christmas Eve, but it’s still fun). 

No More Us For You by David Hernandez

01.27.2009 from HarperTeen

 

For a life to come together, sometimes it first has to fall completely apart.

Isabel is a regular seventeen-year-old girl, still reeling from the pain of her boyfriend’s tragic death exactly one year ago.

Carlos is a regular seventeen-year-old guy, loves red licorice and his friends, and works at a fancy art museum for some extra cash.

The two have no connection until they both meet Vanessa, an intriguing new transfer student with a mysterious past. While Vanessa is the link that brings these two very different lives together, will she be the one that can also tear them apart?

In his stunningly beautiful second novel, David Hernandez gives his readers a poetic and profound story that tells of two completely different teenagers and how through everyday life and monumental tragedy lies endless possibility.

 

I haven’t read David Hernandez’s first novel, but doesn’t this sound intriguing? 

Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger

02.03.2009 from HarperTeen

 

For most kids, fifteen is the year of the optional summer job: Sure, you can get a job if you really want one, but it isn’t required or anything. Too bad Dave’s dad doesn’t agree! Instead of enjoying long days of biking, swimming, and sitting around, Dave and his two best friends are being forced by their fathers into a summer of hard labor.

The friends have something else in mind, though: Not only will they not work over the summer, but they’re determined to trick everyone into believing they really do have jobs. So what if the lifeguard doesn’t have a tan or the fast-food worker isn’t bringing home buckets of free chicken? There’s only one problem: Dave’s dad wants evidence that his son is actually bringing in money. And that means Dave, Curtis, and Victor will have to get some . . . without breaking the law and without doing any work!

Project Sweet Life is designed for the funny and lazy bone in all of us—a true comedy of errors (without any effort!) from seasoned storyteller Brent Hartinger.

I love Brent Hartinger. He’s just awesome. So I trust that this book will be awesome, even though it doesn’t sound like my usual taste. 

 

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols 

03. 17.2009 from MTV Books

 

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far…and almost doesn’t make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won’t soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won’t be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge—and over… This sounds like quite a departure from Jennifer Echols’ previous books, and I can’t wait to see how she handles it. Plus, it just seems interesting. And that’s it for the Christmas Eve (or Wednesday for those who don’t celebrate Xmas) Super Special Edition of Waiting on Wednesday! Enjoy!

 

Waiting On Wednesday 12.17.2008

(What I’m really waiting on this week is an acceptance and loads of scholarship money from my favorite college. Cross your fingers for me. However, what you want to hear about is a book, so here you go:)

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

04.28.2009 from Random House

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog—a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won’t let anything—or anyone—jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won’t be enough for Beka be her usual “terrier” self. She’ll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals—to be a Bloodhound. . . . 

This is the second book in the Beka Cooper series, and I absolutely loved the first. Also, I just love Tamora Pierce in general. Here’s to hoping this one will be awesome! Although I kind of hate the cover. The original was way more awesome.

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday on a Thursday

I know, I’m late. Oops! Better late than never, though. 

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

7.21.2009 from MTV Books

Amazon hasn’t posted a cover or summary for this one yet (which is why I included a picture of the author rather than the book’s cover) but here’s Stephanie Kuehnert‘s inspirations for the book, from her website:

 

Greek myths (the epic fall and rise out of the ashes that makes you a person) 

Suburbia (the place and the 80s movie)

Punk Rock 

Family (the one you are born into and the one you chose, which often mirrors the problems of the original family but also fills the void) 

“Fitting in”/Jenga/house of cards 

And then the main characters:

Adrian is imagery of the worn cuff of your jeans slowly being worn away as you walk without you even knowing it. 

Maya is scarlet lipstick stains on a cigarette butt. 

Liam sang Johnny Cash as a little kid not the Beatles like everyone else. 

Kara is the bastard child of a PJ Harvey song and a Screaming Trees/Mark Lanegan song. 

 

Doesn’t that sound great??? And knowing what an awesome writer Stephanie is (I loved her first book), I’m sure it’s not just great but FANTASTIC. I absolutely cannot wait for July!

 

Waiting On Wednesday 11.05.08

Love Is Hell by Scott Westerfeld, Melissa Marr, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin, and Laurie Faria Stolarz

11.25.08 from HarperTeen

Sure, love is hell. But it’s totally worth it.

In these supernatural stories by five of today’s hottest writers—Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Scott Westerfeld (Specials), Justine Larbalestier (Magic or Madness), Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere), and Laurie Faria Stolarz (Blue is for Nightmares)—love may be twisted and turned around, but it’s more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all.

From two students who let the power of attraction guide them to break the hard-and-fast rules of their world to the girl who falls hard for a good-looking ghost with a score to settle, the clever, quirky characters in this exciting collection will break your heart, then leave you believing in love more than ever.

Great stories from some of my favorite authors–what’s not to love? I absolutely can’t wait to read this.

 

Waiting On Wednesday 10.29.08

I’ve seen this on several blogs, most recently Reviewer X, and I’ve decided to try to participate in “Waiting On” Wednesday, which, as far as I can tell, means posting every Wednesday about an upcoming book that I’m looking forward to. I believe it originated at Breaking the Spine. Anyway, this week’s pick:

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

12.09.08 from Delacorte Books For Young Readers

Sixteen-year-old Erin Misrahe just wants to be like everyone else in her new school. But Erin has more to worry about than passing AP Chemistry or making friends. In times of stress, she has always been overcome by her alter ego, Shevaun, whose violent behavior wreaks havoc on those around her. Erin can never remember anything about these episodes, and she’s grateful to have been spared them for a while.

But when a protective friend comes back into Erin’s life, he insists that Shevaun is a vampire who actually exists apart from Erin. Shevaun has dangerous allies, like the handsome witch Adjila—and they’re determined to sever Shevaun’s connection to Erin once and for all.

(From Amazon)

I love Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. She writes great books, and she started writing and publishing them when she was just fourteen. It’s both inspiring and discouraging, and totally awesome. Check out my interview with the author here.