Buzz Books 2016: YA Fall / Winter

Ellen: Here we go again. . .

We're halfway through the year and that means new books on the horizon. Biannually, once in the winter and once in the summer, Publishers Lunch cooperates with big and small publishers alike to put out Buzz Books, an e-book featuring information on and excerpts of twenty upcoming titles. Ellen loves feels compelled to pick up their YA editions to see what's coming out in the following months on the Young Adult scene.

In this post, Sierra and Ellen are going to give a mini-review of all twenty of the featured 2016 YA titles in Buzz Books: YA Fall / Winter. That's about forty opening chapters of 2016 YA books.

Ellen: Why do I do this to myself?

Sierra: BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ANGEL IN THE POOR DISGUISE OF A HUMAN. But actually ;). I want to publicly thank my dear Ellen for formatting this whole post, which made my contribution quite measly as her co-blogger.

Ellen: I object your "measly" assessment of your contribution. You have been a fantastic battle buddy! I'm impressed every new day by how much co-blogging rocks. But anyway, onto these samplers!

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The First Ten Samplers » Ellen's Thoughts

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 David Arnold » Kids of Appetite » Viking Books for Young Readers

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[caption id="attachment_3269" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 20[/caption]

The bestselling author of Mosquitoland brings us another batch of unforgettable characters in this tragicomedy about first love and devastating loss.

Ellen: Chapter One of Kids With Appetites unfortunately references a line from Walt Whitman's Song of Myself that John Green has already picked as a rallying cry — "I contain multitudes." Unfortunately, I have to say... Green got there first. Sorry David Arnold. It may not have been your intention, but you're coming across as redundant.

Elly Blake » Frostblood » Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

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[caption id="attachment_3270" align="alignleft" width="150"] January 17, 2017[/caption]

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a fireblood who must hide her powers of heat and flame from the cruel frostblood ruling class that wants to destroy all that are left of her kind.

Ellen: Many elements of Blake's writing caused me concern, from the stiff, expository dialogue to the abrupt transitions. That being said, it was a very exciting first chapter.  The action starts almost right away and makes me curious to know what happens next. I strongly suspect, however, that the rest of this book will exhibit novice-level writing.

Kendare Blake » Three Dark Crowns » HarperTeen

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[caption id="attachment_3271" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 20[/caption]

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic.

Ellen: Wonderful! It took me a while to catch on to how the political system worked in this fantasy world, but once I did, I was utterly hooked.  The prose is impressive as well — lush, almost decadent.  I can safely say that I will be reading this novel the moment it is released.

Irena Brignull » The Hawkweed Prophecy » Weinstein Books

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[caption id="attachment_3272" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 6[/caption]

 

Poppy Hooper and Ember Hawkweed couldn’t lead more different lives. 

Ellen: Wow! The Hawkweed Prophecy has one hell of a prologue! I love the premise — to ensure that her own daughter becomes a coven queen, the witch Raven Hawkweed switches her infant niece with another, ordinary baby. If the rest of the story is as gripping as this sample, I definitely want to get my hands on this book.

Sharon Cameron » The Forgetting » Scholastic Press

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[caption id="attachment_3273" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 13[/caption]

Nadia lives in the city of Canaan, where life is safe and structured, hemmed in by white stone walls and no memory of what came before.

Ellen: Another dystopian, enclosed city.  Another "divergent" heroine living inside of it, with the potential to free its citizens. The premise is just too familiar. Maybe if the writing had been spicier, I would have forgiven these redundancies, but as it was, I was eager to finish this sample and move onto something more interesting.

Traci Chee » The Reader » Putnam

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[caption id="attachment_3274" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 13[/caption]

 

 Sefia knows what it means to survive.

Ellen: I wasn't exactly impressed by this sample of The Reader, but the book has seen great reveiws from early readers.  I'll most likely read this one soon after its release, even though nothing in the sample really caught my interest. It's quite possible that the book picks up after the sampler endpoint.

Jessica Cluess» A Shadow Bright and Burning » Random House RFYR

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[caption id="attachment_3275" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 20[/caption]

 

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. 

Ellen: A Shadow Bright and Burning has been marketed pretty well. Excitement is high over this fantasy novel. However, some elements of the sample make me leery.  For one thing, the story looks to have WAY too many love interests.  By the end of chapter one, a young man is already in contention and the summary promises even more to come. That geometry is not to my taste, but I will give points for the creepy "Ancients," introduced as our story's all-powerful villains.

Melissa de la Cruz » Something In Between » Harlequin Teen

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[caption id="attachment_3276" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 27[/caption]

 

When your country doesn't want you there, how do you know where you belong?

 

Ellen: This sampler doesn't begin with chapter one and it really shows.  I was thrown into the story with too little information, and as such, I really didn't feel connected to the MC.  That being said, I am interested to read a story featuring Filipino characters... but maybe in a book not written by Melissa de la Cruz?

Keira Drake » The Continent » Harlequin Teen

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[caption id="attachment_3277" align="alignleft" width="150"] January 3[/caption]

For her sixteenth birthday, Vaela Sun receives the most coveted gift in all the Spire—a trip to the Continent.

Ellen: Bad news — this sampler didn't start with Chapter One. Yet again, I didn't get to see that crucial "first page." Good news — the summary and the premise have me utterly hooked. I am a true sucker for action, adventure, and survival stories and The Continent promises all three! Now let there be a solid cast of characters and my excitement will overflow.

Stephanie Garber » Caraval » Flatiron

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[caption id="attachment_3278" align="alignleft" width="150"] January 31[/caption]

Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game . . .

 

Ellen: I am excited to read Caraval. I just wasn't totally enraptured by the sample. I wasn't shocked or astounded like I hoped to be, although there are definite threads of promise dangling. For one, I think Legend will be a great character. Already, from one short letter, he appears mysterious and alluring. Also, it shows that Garber isn't afraid to go dark, as we see from Scarlett and Tella's cruel and manipulative father. I do like it when authors go bold places.

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The Second Ten Samplers » Sierra's Thoughts (With Some  Intrusions From Ellen)

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Jeff Giles » The Edge of Everything » Bloomsbury USA Childrens

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[caption id="attachment_3279" align="alignleft" width="150"] January 31[/caption]

 

It's been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who's still reeling from her father's shockingly sudden death in a caving accident and her neighbors' mysterious disappearance from their own home.

Sierra: The author Jeff Giles is an editor at Entertainment Weekly, which I read religiously. But a star-crossed YA romance series isn't exactly my style. That being said, I am SOLD on this book. While the prologue showcased some of the humor between Zoe and X, the excerpt itself was all about Zoe. The setting was also magnificent. The summary called this novel cinematic, and I can definitely see why! Giles has a wonderful writing style that immerses you into the story with Zoe as she makes her way through a blizzard on a mountain. This is a must-read for me.

Ellen: I read this sampler, even though I didn't have to. Technically, at this point, Sierra's large and in charge.  But my curiosity regarding the teenage assassin, X, was acute. I LOVE assassins in fiction.  I think they make for such complex and gripping characters. Even a terrible writer is hard pressed to ruin an assassin. They transcend bad writing! So, I read this excerpt.  I'm pleased to report that while The Edge of Everything is weird, it's also kind of wonderful. 

Kathleen Glasgow » Girl In Pieces » Delacorte Press

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[caption id="attachment_3280" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 6[/caption]

 

Charlotte Davis is in pieces.

Sierra: This sampler made me sad and nauseous all at the same time. As Ellen said (below), the subject matter is very heavy, and the prose is broken and raw. The first chapter is set in a psychiatric facility, and seemed to be a pretty realistic account of what happens in there. Trigger warning for cutting and descriptions of scars/burns from self-harm. I think I will read this book when it releases, but I will need my dog and cat by my side to brave through this one.

Ellen: Uugh. To be honest, I skipped this sampler. The subject matter is quite heavy, as is the prose (what little I read) and the cover... my GOD, the cover is really triggering.  This is probably too much for me to handle.  

Nadia Hashimi » One Half From the East » HarperCollins

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[caption id="attachment_3281" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 6[/caption]

Obayda’s family is in need of some good fortune.

Sierra: I adored this sampler. Age-wise, I would call in a crossover between MG and YA, with subject matter lending it towards the YA end of the scale. I think these kinds of books, especially those set in the Middle East are incredibly important. It shows readers out there that there isn't such a thing as 'them' and 'us'. We are all one people, trying to survive, and doing our best for our families even if the way we go about them might not be the exact same. I will DEFINITELY be picking up this one.

Ellen: This book is aimed for a bit younger of a YA audience (but that doesn't exclude anyone from reading it in my opinion). One thing I noticed straight off — the sentence structures  and diction were very simple, but also quite lovely in that simplicity.  The subject matter is heavy, but Hashimi manages to make the sad stuff readable with her incandescent, yet sparse prose.

Katharine McGee » The Thousandth Floor » HarperCollins

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[caption id="attachment_3291" align="alignleft" width="150"] August 30[/caption]

 

Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.

Sierra: The excerpt followed three perspectives, that of Avery, Leda, and Rylin. While the concept and the world-building didn't blow me away, I think I would still give this one a chance. However, this contains two of my most HATED tropes, a love triangle, and the potential for a sister and adopted brother romance. I adore platonic relationships, especially those between siblings or regular people. It's a pity that doesn't take a little more prominence in YA.

Mindy McGinnis » The Female of the Species » Katherine Tegan Books

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[caption id="attachment_3282" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 20[/caption]

Alex Craft knows how to kill someone.

Sierra: Yes, yes, and YES. This has made it on my must-read list. We follow the perspectives of three teenagers, Alex, Jack, and Peekay. Alex is a killer. And I will leave it at that. Alex and Peekay form a friendship while working together at an animal shelter, which I wholeheartedly approve of, considering that's what I do as well. I'm absolutely dying to get my hands on this one.

Ellen: Woah. I was curious about this sampler after Sierra proclaimed it a must-read.  So, I read it. Again, woah.  My first takeaway was that the cover kind of looked like The Perks of Being A Wallflower, but the opening paragraphs, where Alex lets us know that she's a hard candy killer, tell us that this books is going to be something else entirely. The second thing that shook me is how the language is quite sexually coarse. This isn't going to be a precious book. Lastly, I decided that, like Sierra, I really want to read this novel. 

Lauren Oliver » Replica » HarperCollins

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[caption id="attachment_3292" align="alignleft" width="150"] October 4[/caption]

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals since she was born.

Sierra: I have never read any of Oliver's books, so I don't have anything to compare this sampler with. This is supposed to be a 'flip' book which allows it to contain two narratives simultaneously. One side with be Lyra's story, flip it upside down, and it will be Gemma's story. I didn't get a chance to see it in action in this sampler, so I'm not sure how that would actually work. But looking at just content, I found myself bored. This is another YA Sci-Fi book dealing with clones and the issue of identity. Haven't we all been there and done that? A lot?

Sarah Porter » Vassa In the Night » Tor Teen

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[caption id="attachment_3283" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 20[/caption]

In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived.

Sierra: Now this one, is just plain weird. It's a dark Cinderella fairytale retelling with Baba Yagga, that has been blurbed by Leigh Bardugo. I don't even know what to say about it, except that I'm still confused by what is going on. I think I would consider it worth a read, but only if I could get it from the library.

Chelsea Sedoti » The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett » Sourcebooks

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[caption id="attachment_3284" align="alignleft" width="150"] January 3[/caption]

A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend.

Sierra: The blurb of the book reminded me of Stephanie Tromly's Trouble is a Friend of Mine, which I really enjoyed. I was hoping for another witty yet serious teen detective story. Unfortunately that wasn't the vibe I received. It's written in first person, and hence the language used is a little too immature for my tastes. I do already have an ARC from Netgalley so I will certainly be reading and reviewing it prior to its publication. I just hope it gets better from here.

Josh Sundquist » Love and First Sight » Dial

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[caption id="attachment_3285" align="alignleft" width="150"] January 17[/caption]

On his first day at a new school, blind sixteen-year-old Will Porter accidentally groped a girl on the stairs, sat on another student in the cafeteria, and somehow drove a classmate to tears. High school can only go up from here, right?

Sierra: This was such a refreshing surprise! I tend to dislike the use of first person when it comes to teen male protagonists. Maybe it's because I've never outgrown the 'boys have cooties' stage. They're just gross, okay! But I actually really enjoyed Will's perspective as a blind student. I was sorry to see the sampler come to an end.

Booki Vivat » Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impeding Doom » HarperCollins

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[caption id="attachment_3286" align="alignleft" width="150"] September 27[/caption]

Meet Abbie Wu! She’s about to start middle school and she’s totally in crisis.

 

Sierra: This is definitely a MG book, similar to The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It was cute and enjoyable, detailing the story of Abbie Wu, the middle child dreading middle school. While I doubt I would pick this up for myself, I'm sure lots of kids would enjoy this.

Ellen and Sierra's Recap

Ellen: Do you know what it does to a person... to READ TEN SAMPLERS IN A ROW?!?! I legit feel crazy right now, like I don't know up from down. Let me try to make sense of my recap...

My standout faves were Three Dark Crowns and The Hawkweed Prophecy. 

Despite being frustrated by the chosen excerpt, I'm incredibly eager to read The Continent, as I think it's a great premise.

Caraval and The Reader will be books  I pick up as soon as I'm able to see if the buzz is true.

I'm more hesitant than ever over A Shadow Bright and Burning and as for the rest of the first ten samplers...



 

Sierra: I will say that I am most excited for The Female of the Species, followed by One Half from the East.

I was most surprised by Love and First Sight, and I was most disappointed with The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.

Now to request some ARCs!

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Readers, had some of these featured books escaped your notice? What are you most excited to read for the rest of the year?