Cover Reveal + Excerpt: Doomed by Tracy Deebs

I am so excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for Tracy Deebs' next book, Doomed! I heard about the premise of this one last year at a signing for Tempest Rising, and it totally got into my head. So without further ado, I bring you the Doomed cover:

Isn't that an awesome cover? I love the blue and greens, as well as the cyber/virtual feel, and then the destruction in the background. Heck. Yeah.

So what's this book about? Great question!


Beat the Game, Save the World.

One Stuxnet type worm,

One Greek-themed MMO,

One real world scavenger hunt,

Three teenagers on the run

And a ten-day countdown to total nuclear annihilation .

Pandora’s Box isn’t just a myth anymore …

When seventeen-year-old Pandora Walker opens an email attachment, she uploads the most frightening worm ever invented—and in doing so, brings about total technological Armageddon. Everything from the internet to communications to utilities collapses and suddenly Pandora finds herself on the run from Homeland Security, the FBI and every police department in the country, all of whom blame her for the technological wasteland sweeping across the U.S.. With the help of stepbrothers Eli and Theo, her neighbors and the two hottest guys in school-- plus codes encrypted in a world famous MMO-- she sets out on a real life scavenger hunt that only she can solve. A scavenger hunt that pits her against one of the most brilliant men in the world—the maker of the Pandora worm. Her father. Only by unraveling the clues left by him in the MMO, and in real-world places around the U.S., can they hope to beat the clock ticking the days off until the entire planet is Doomed.


Yeah. This book sounds so freaking awesome! I mean, oops on, you know, being the reason for world doom but... yay for being able to solve it? Yes. That.

So if you're as excited for this book as I am, head over to Mundie Moms where you can enter to WIN an ARC, and read an awesome excerpt of the book!

Doomed is coming January 8, 2012 from Bloomsbury Walker, so make sure you add it to your Goodreads shelf today so you don't forget about it!

Book Review: Counting Backwards by Laura Lascarso

SUMMARY: Three weeks ago I tried to run away from home. Now all I want is to go back.

When troubled Taylor Truwell is caught with a stolen car and lands in court for resisting arrest, her father convinces the judge of an alternative to punishment: treatment in a juvenile psychiatric correctional facility. Sunny Meadows is anything but the easy way out, and Taylor has to fight hard just to hold on to her sanity as she battles her parents, her therapist, and vicious fellow patients. But even as Taylor struggles to hold on to her stubborn former self, she finds herself relenting as she lets in two unlikely friends-Margo, a former child star and arsonist, and AJ, a mysterious boy who doesn’t speak. In this striking debut, Laura Lascarso weaves together a powerful story of anger and self-destruction, hope and love.


OPINION: 4 STARS

This is one of those books that takes a different sort of look at not only family dysfunction but coming of age and figuring yourself out. Though Taylor is adamant that there is nothing wrong with her, and she doesn’t belong at Sunny Meadows, and in some respects she is right, there is also such a deep rooted anger in her that there’s plenty of reasons why the place can help her. Still, Lascarso creates a beautifully dissonance between the two, of true more easily recognizable and quantifiable mental problems with that of anger and the effects of not so stellar parents. Watching Taylor navigate through all this and learn to trust people is what makes this book, standing it out against other similar books in a great way. Rich in character development and rapt with emotions, Counting Backwards is definitely not just another psych ward book.

Taylor has such a deep love for her mother, even through the anger and disappointment, you can’t help but not only feel for her, but understand her as well. Stuck with a drunk mother after her father walked out on them, and harboring an unending amount of anger at him for it, but also at her mother who is too weak to overcome her alcoholism, it’s so easy to understand why Taylor not only acts the way she does, but thinks the way she does as well. Even when she wants to curse and scream at her mom, however, it’s also clear to see how much it hurts her to do it, and how hard it is to stay strong in taking a stand against her mom. Add in the harder to pinpoint issues with her father, that hint at simply a conflict of personality but end at something much greater, and she is a force of a mess that will drag you in. Determined to escape from Sunny Meadows, and not completely caring about who she might hurt in the process, there is a selfishness to her that goes far to develop her character. Her path is a heartbreaking one, yet a stunningly well done one as well, and she is definitely a character readers won’t easily forget.

Given the length of the stays in Sunny Meadows, both Taylor and readers get to know several other characters very well. From clearly not totally right in the head Charlotte, who is happiest when she’s coloring and sees the world in a different sort of beautiful way, to mute but intense and perceptive A.J., Lascarso has built each character vividly and individually. Adding in some romance, yet having it be far from the focus, she has crafted a realism into the book that shines. Though possibly coming off as a bit overdramatic at times, given the situation and the overall play out of the book, it’s easy to fall into this one and not want to put it down. With strong writing, and a well designed high security psych unit, the attention and effort put into this book shows easily. Intense at times, but sweet at others, this one is raw in all the best ways. Taking a different path to recovery and therapy, and pulling in some unique elements, Counting Backwards will capture readers.

Details:

Source: ARC gifted 

Reading level: Ages 14 and up 

Hardcover: 288 pages 

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

Book Review: Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown

SUMMARY: Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.

Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.

With undeniable grace and humor, acclaimed author Jennifer Brown explores OCD, the pressure for perfection, and the emotional highs and lows of a complex sibling relationship.

OPINION: 5 STARS

This book is stunning and bold, with the emotional depth and soft flair that all of Brown’s books have. Having far more to it than just a sibling with OCD, Perfect Escape beautifully ties in a sibling relationship with coming of age and just trying to figure everything out. There are some breaking scenes in this book, but plenty of fun and sweet ones as well, with a vivid realism to it that will keep readers completely hooked.

Kendra is a phenomenally done character, someone who seems to have everything together yet has plenty of faults hidden underneath. With a painful drive to be perfect and a skewed view of her family, she has made some mistakes before the book even opens that propels her throughout. Struggling with her brother’s disability, yet loving him so completely, there an authentic note to her character that shines. Caught up on some things from the past, and terrified at least for awhile to move forward, Kendra is a very relatable character with a strong drive and motivation behind her.

Grayson is an equally stunning character, painful to read about and watch. Though a genius, he is hindered in most every way by the compulsions that lock him in, rendering him useless in a lot of ways. Both stuck on numbers/counting, with a germophobic element as well, it is easy to see not only how frustrating the disability is for him but for those around him too. Determined in all the ways that truly matter, despite his seeming inability to just ignore the compulsions, Grayson is a great guy and an even greater brother. Adding poignancy and realism to his character is the fact that plenty of times, both through Kendra’s eyes and those of the people they interact with, Grayson is viewed as less than everyone else, and unable to understand, simply because of his compulsions. Far from that, he is perceptive, intelligent, and has plenty of emotions and empathy underlying it. This makes for some gutting scenes, but also some beautiful ones, with a smack in the face kind of realization about him.

With a strong driving force behind the plot and pacing, and enticing characters, Perfect Escape is hard to put down and even harder to forget. Tying in multiple notable elements, from a fear of what’s to come to just trying to love someone as they are without expecting more from them, Brown seamlessly weaves together each little nuance in the most perfect of ways. I fell in love with both Grayson and Kendra as the book progressed, seeing the faults in both of them but also the ways they figure out how to help each other. Coming from a family that loves them very much, yet still has it’s issues that seem largely due to Grayson but not entirely, there is a wrenching dissonance between doing something for yourself and doing it for others in this one. Beautifully written with a strong voice, a great blend of humor and pain, and a fitting and comfortable ending, Perfect Escape is daring, captivating, and a complete must read.

Details:

Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reading Level: Young Adult  

Hardcover: 368 pages 

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: July 10, 2012

Book Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

SUMMARY: Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.


OPINION: 4 STARS

Funny and witty, yet having quite a bit of depth to it and tackling some great concepts, Team Human will appeal to both fans and haters of vampires. This one takes a different approach to the entire thing, and puts friendship and love first and foremost, while still leaving plenty of room for the characters to work things through on their own. Smooth in pacing, and alluring from the start, Team Human is a quick but highly enjoyable read.

Mel is, in a lot of ways, headstrong and brash, but her intentions behind it are nothing but honest. Protective of her best friend who generally has her head in the clouds, and seemingly more realistic when it comes to love and life than Cathy, Mel still has quite a few strides of her own to go through, which are tackled beautifully in this book. Keeping her dislike of vampires upfront, but also not being simply an inbred dislike, Mel is a multifaceted, flawed, but likeable character. She has some great views and takes on things, and there is a big emotional component to her that completely works.

With a relatively small, but very strongly developed cast, readers will fall in love with more than just Mel. Though Cathy certainly tests Mel, and some readers might feel an inherent dislike towards her for that, and the fact that she is that girl who falls totally, hopelessly in love almost instantly, there is still something driving and real behind her. Her relationship with Francis is fun to watch, even through Mel’s eyes, and okay, I admit it, I love watching Mel make Francis squirm. Then there’s Kit, who throws in a few challenges of his own, and definitely brings plenty to the table. He is downright hilarious, and the banter and fun between him and Mel is my favorite thing about this book.

Having a touch of mystery, a pretty fun and awesome world that is easy to fall into and has all the right elements of being both straight up and toying, and with the right amount of romance and friendship, Team Human is the kind of book you pick up when you need a laugh but don’t want pure cheese. Wonderfully writing, with a spunky narrator and some stellar descriptions, this one should definitely be put on your list.

Details:

Source: TLA

Reading level: Ages 13 and up

Hardcover: 352 pages 

 Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: July 3, 2012

Droolworthy Upcoming Books

Once again, I've been lucky in the reading department lately, and have had the chance to read ARCs of upcoming books that just totally blew me away. Since my reviews for all of these won't be coming for awhile, here's some quick reasons why you need to add them to your lists pronto and drool over how much you want them.

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger: This book is hilarious. There is such a natural wit, even with all the rougher, more emotional stuff. Shannon straddles that line perfectly, and totally drew me in from the start. I love Vane. He's that bumbling, awkward, but totally sweet guy you want to hug, and will also have you laughing out loud. Audra is just as fabulous, with a more dry sort of humor to her and a lot on her plate. The characters are stunning in this one, but so is the execution and plot, and I absolutely cannot wait for more.

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson: This book is totally emotional, and kind of breaking, but also so beautiful. It's one of those books that, I think, nearly everyone will react differently too, due mainly from how Corrine has set all of it up. Characters that I didn't like, others will empathize with better with, and I really love that about this book. But mostly, I love how it all plays out, the potency in some of the scenes, and the way Corrine doesn't hold back. I ached so much reading this one, yet I couldn't stop turning the pages. This book is utterly breathtaking.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken: I finished this one a few days ago, and I am still in shock. In some ways, this book totally broke my heart. But more than that, it totally made me think, and I think Alexandra has done an exceptional job of weaving together existing concepts and notions into something that is truly all her own, and something that packs a powerful punch at that. The characters are fantastic, the romance soft yet totally believable, and the story line well paced and intriguing. Add in the solid writing, and the humor that is perfectly placed, and this is a knock out book.

34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues: You know those books where every part of just aches, because the characters are such a mess, and it's almost a trainwreck, and you know they might not come out of things okay? This is one of those books, and I couldn't put it down. Carmen alternates not only in the perspective, but in the timeline as well, building this story that will both tear you apart and put you back together. I absolutely love these characters, how messy they are, how lost at times they are, and I really appreciate the stunning realism that is on every page of this book.

Dualed by Elsie Chapman: West is totally one of my favorite characters ever. She has such a strong drive in her, even when she's seemingly breaking apart. I think Elsie did a truly amazing job with the characterization in this book, but also with the concept and it's execution. It's in a world that, in a lot of ways, is easy to believe and understand, even though it's far different from our own. But what really got me with this one, truly, was how well Elsie played out the notion of which Alt should live, which one deserves to live, and what qualities go into that deserving to live. Breeding a nation of killers is the ultimate goal, but Elsie quietly explores the implications of that without taking away from the bigger plot. This book had me gripped, and played out in a fantastic way.

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin: I love mysteries, and this one did not disappoint. I also completely love Jay. He is a loner, even if partly by choice, yet he's also this amazing hacker. He has an interesting view on the world, and this huge heart that just totally made me melt. He's awkward at times, but perfectly smooth at others, and he's just that perfect blend that will get to you. The mystery part of this story also had an amazing execution, with some huge twists and a ton of clues left while still leaving readers unable to totally piece things together. This is a book I couldn't put down, and was sad to see the characters go at the end of it.


So those are the books that I totally recommend to everyone! Click the links of the titles to add them to your Goodreads shelves so you don't forget.

And because this post wouldn't be complete without some books that I am currently drooling for, here are ones that I definitely hope to get my hands on soon!

Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan: This book just totally grabbed me from the short summary listed in the Harper catalog, and I cannot wait for it. I expect this one to totally break me apart, and pack a huge punch, but to also be breathtaking and amazing.




Pivot Point by Kasie West: There is something about this one that just has me completely enamored. I completely love the idea of different futures, but more importantly, that though the main character can Search them, and even live them out, she ultimately has to choose. I am so excite for this one in a huge way.

Nobody but Us by Kristin Halbrook: This one is dual POV, which is a total favorite of mine. I love this cover. But mostly, I think this one is just going to be so raw, and honest, and utterly amazing. I love the notion of Zoe wanting to save Will, and Will wanting to save Zoe. I want to know what they need to be saved from, and I want to know what happens. Not to mention, there's a road trip. I love road trip books.

My Beautiful Failure by Janet Ruth Young: I LOVE the concept of this one. Teen boy working at a suicide hotline, and falls for a caller? This has potential heartbreak written all over it, and I totally love that kind of story line. I think this one is going to tackle suicide from a different perspective, and I am so excited to see it play out.



So those are some of the books I need in my life like my dog needs his toys. And if anyone wants to help a girl out.... that would be much appreciated.

Author Interview: Denise Jaden

Dropping in today is Denise Jaden to celebrate the upcoming release of her sophomore novel, Never Enough!


As a teen, what was the most notable when you felt like you were "never enough"?

One of my big frustrations and insecurities as a teen was my singing voice. I was a trained dancer, and had been pretty involved in theater, but when it came time for the spring musical at our school, it took all of my inner strength to make myself sing for an audition, and I’d be lucky if I got a bit part. I’ve come to terms with this insecurity over the years—my poor son will tell you how I belt out off-key songs in the car. Besides that, I had all the usual insecurities about my looks and body and fashion sense. Those ones still come and go 

With Never Enough being your sophomore novel, what part about the entire writing process from start to finish was easier for you this time around? Harder?

Um, quite honestly, I wouldn’t say any part of the process was easier. Never Enough was a work in progress for close to eight years, and possibly because I was very close to it, nothing about it seemed easy to fix or problem-solve with. I had to completely rewrite the beginning and the ending when I felt like I’d already written every single version I could possibly come up with. The editorial revisions of this book were very difficult on me, compounded by the fact that I was going through a brutal year in my personal life. When I look back on the revision process of Losing Faith, I want to smile and laugh. When I look back on the revision process of Never Enough…well, I try not to look back on it too often.

Given that Never Enough is about two sisters, how different do you think the story would be if it were about brothers, or a brother and a sister?

I think the story could be similar if it were two brothers (except, perhaps, for the giddiness over boys). I can’t see a brother and sister for this story as easily, since so much of the character growth comes out of their comparisons as part of being the same sex. This story definitely came more naturally to me in the head of a girl, but I do have another work in progress that will be from a boy’s point of view, dealing with different family issues.

If you could pair Loann and Claire with any character from any book, who would you pick for each?

I like Loann with Marcus, the boy she befriends in Never Enough, and honestly, I don’t want to imagine her with anyone else. But I could picture her being good friends with other fun and offbeat characters. Maybe someone like E. Lockhart’s Ruby Oliver would be a good friend for her.

Claire is a little on the superficial side, and I’d love to find her someone who would root her and make her realize what’s most important. Maybe a boy like Jacob from Justina Chen Headley’s NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL.

What god/goddess would be your nemesis?

In Polynesian dancing we learn about a lot of the ancient gods the Hawaiians once believed in. The most well-known of these is Pele, the goddess of fire. She would be my nemesis because I’ve caught on fire (accidentally) more than any other person I know! The worst of these experiences was when I was performing with my Polynesian dance troupe on national television, and stood too close to a flash pot when it went off. My costumes (and hair) went up in flames!

What kind of farm animal would you describe yourself as?

I’d probably be a sheep dog. I’m very goal-driven and I like to make sure everything is happening as it should be.


Thank you, Denise, for stopping on, and congrats on the release! And now check out the trailer:




Never Enough is a wrenching but beautiful story that I highly recommend. It hits shelves July 10, so make sure to watch for it.

To celebrate the release, Denise is giving away a ton of books to 6 lucky winners! Full details will go up on her blog tomorrow for ways to win, but you can check out the prize packs here. Definitely, though, commenting on the various posts throughout this entire blog tour is a great way to be entered (Click the banner below for full details).