Waiting on Wednesday: The Girls of No Return

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 





The Girls of No Return
by Erin Saldin
Published by: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: February 28, 2012












CUT meets HATCHET in this lacerating debut about girls, knives, and redemption.

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area stretches across two million acres in northern Idaho. In its heart sits the Alice Marshall School, where fifty teenage girls come to escape their histories and themselves.

Lida Wallace has tried to negate herself in every way possible. At Alice Marshall, she meets Elsa Boone, a fierce native Idahoan; Jules, who seems too healthy to belong at the school; and Gia Longchamps, whose glamour entrances the entire camp. As the girls prepare for a wilderness trek, Lida is both thrilled and terrified to be chosen as Gia's friend. But everyone has their secrets--their "Things" they try to protect; and when those come out, the knives do as well.
(image and summary from Goodreads)

I just found this book after looking over the titles compiled for The Story Siren's 2012 Debut Author Challenge. This one immediately caught my attention. It sounds both emotional and dangerous - a combination that will definitely take me on a roller coaster. The book is described as a combination of Cut - which I have read, and Hatchet - which I haven't. I guess maybe I now I should. But The Girls of No Return is a definite read for 2012!!

Waiting on Wednesday - Stupid Fast

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:







Stupid Fast 
Geoff Herbach
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
on June 1, 2011








Fifteen-year-old Felton Reinstein has always been on the smallish side, but in his sophomore year he starts growing...and growing.

During gym one day he smokes the football jocks in a 600-yard race. Felton has never been interested in sports, but there's no doubt-he is "stupid fast." As he juggles his newfound athletic prowess, his mom's sudden depression, an annoying little brother, and his first love, he discovers a shocking secret about his past which explains why he's turning out the way he is. (from Goodreads)
It's pretty funny that I don't care that much for football, but I like movies, tv shows and books about football (or football players).

Interview: Angie Smibert author of Memento Nora

Memento Nora is the debut dystopian novel by Angie Smibert. I was lucky enough to receive a copy for review. If you missed my review, you can read it here.

I am thrilled to have Angie here at Actin' Up with Books to answer my questions about Memento Nora, her writing habits and some thoughts on books.

 
Welcome Angie!



About your book:

What was your inspiration for Memento Nora?
I was reading some current research in the area of post-traumatic stress disorder. (Yes, I'm a geek.) Scientists are looking at medications that could help break the stranglehold that traumatic memories have on PTSD sufferers. So I thought what if the pill erased those memories. I know it's not a new idea, but I had a vision of those pills then being available in Starbucks-like shops on every corner. I built the story out of that idea.

One of my favorite parts of Memento Nora is how the different chapters are told from the first-person perspective of 3 different characters. Why did you decide to write the story this way? 
Actually, I wrote the first draft (s) of MN solely in Nora's point of view. However, she didn't know the whole story. So then I added Micah and Winter's POV's, and the story really came alive. Also, using several POV characters let me play around with how each interpret what's going on in a particular scene or plot point. The reader can put all those together and get a better picture than the characters do.

In Memento Nora, Micah and Nora create a comic to tell their story. Did you ever consider having your book published as a graphic novel? 
No, but that's not a bad idea.

My favorite scenes is between Nora and Micah in the waiting room at TFC at the beginning of the book. Micah thinks he is just messing with Nora and doesn't realize what the one small act would lead to. What was your favorite scene (or your favorite scene to write)?
I like that scene, too, because you see how Nora interprets what's going on as some big act of rebellion on Micah's part. Then Micah reveals he's just trying to mess with the popular girl that he has a crush on.

On writing:

What is your favorite writing environment?
My office. This is my full-time job. So I roll out of bed in the morning, feed the critters, grab a cup of tea, and park my behind in front of the computer for many hours. However, every once in a while, I do need a change a scene. I go down to my favorite local coffee shop with my netbook and write there for awhile. Working there has it's drawbacks (or perks, depending on how you look at it). The chocolate croissants are way too good.

How did writing your first novel differ from writing your many short stories? (I will be checking those out soon!)
Memento Nora actually started off as a short story, which was published in Odyssey magazine. The story was really about the decision Nora makes during her first TFC visit. That decision served as the starting point for the novel. In a short story, you can focus on a moment of change or a call to action whereas in a novel you have play it out and show that change or action. (You can do that in short story, too, of course.)

Do you save everything that you have written? Or do you delete/trash anything that you consider unusable?
If it's made it to the computer stage, I do save the story. I don't necessarily look at it again, though. I have saved notebooks where I started working on story ideas or research but never did anything with the information. Someday I may come back to those ideas.


You are of a member of Class of 2k11 and The League of Extraordinary Writers. Can you tell me how being a part of the groups has helped you prepare for your novel's debut? 
Being a member of those two "collectives" as well as the Elevensies has really helped in a number of ways. The Class of 2k11, of which I'm an officer, is a group of debut YA/MG authors who've banded together to market each others' books. (Elevensies is a community of YA/MG debuts as well, but the emphasis is less on marketing.) Working together gives each of us more opportunities and exposure for our books than trying to go it alone. The best thing, though, is that we have each other to talk to about the whole process. We vent. We commiserate. We advise. We celebrate. Together.

The League of Extraordinary Writers is a group blog where each of us have a YA dystopian book coming out this year. The League is more geared to talking about YA dystopian and science fiction in general. We do celebrate each others' debuts, but it's cool just hang out online and talk about the stuff we love.

Random questions about books:

Do you have any comfort reads? - a go-to book that you read because it will make you feel better or is filled with characters that you loved or want to revisit?
I have comfort genre: paranormal mysteries. I love Charlaine Harris and Kelley Armstrong. I just read the Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.

Searching for new books to read is a small part of my love for books. What are some determining factors when you are selecting new books to read? Current favorites?
The story has to grab me in the first few pages. I like a fresh voice and setting as well as story that promises to reveal something really interesting along the way. Some of my recent favorites are the Adoration of Jenna Fox and the Book Thief.

Is there one book or author that you wish you would have read and can't believe that you haven't yet? (Mine is Jane Austen)
I couldn't believe I waited so long to read Markus Zusak! The Book Thief was astoundingly good. The Messenger is on my to-read list.

Can you tell me about your latest novel or any works in-progress? 
I'm working on the sequel to Memento Nora. The Forgetting Curve will be coming out next Spring.

Memento Nora will be available April 1, 2011 from Marshall Cavendish publishing. More information can be found on the Memento Nora website at http://www.mementonora.com/

I am currently hosting a giveaway for a signed copy of Memento Nora. If you would like a chance to win, ENTER HERE. The contest is offered to US and International entries and ends April 2, 2011.

Review: Those That Wake by Jesse Karp

Those That Wake

by Jesse Karp

Publication Date: March 21, 2011

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Pages: 336

Source: Requested from Netgalley

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Amazon / Indiebound







(from Goodreads)


New York City’s spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. They’ve never met. Seemingly, they never will.
 
But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.

My Thoughts


After an event termed Big Black occurs in New York City, a sense of hopelessness and fear is overwhelms the people of the city. Subliminal messages on cells, television and other electronic devices that contributed to the despair of the city. Crime, murder and suicide is increasing at alarming rates and there doesn't appear to be any slowing down. Those That Wake by Jesse Karp takes a look at the disconnection between people perpetuated by the one thing that is supposed to keep them connected - Technology.

I must admit that I had a difficult time getting into this book at the beginning. Characters were introduced without any connection and I was instantly trying to figure out how everyone would know each other. I was trying too hard to figure out why everything was happening rather than surrendering to the novel and just letting it unfold. Finally after surrendering to the book, I was able to become absorbed in the story of Mal, Laura, Mike and Remak, whose lives had unknowingly been altered and left in a state of confusion.   

It is during the four strangers' quest to reconnect with the lives and find the people who matter to them, they learn that a powerful entity has been working to keep them separated. They find that it is their own tenaciousness, survival instincts and hope that has left them unaffected by the technological entity that has taken over almost everyone around them. 


Those That Wake did make me take a step back and think about how technology, while in its attempts to keep us interconnected, can separate us and prevent us from making real connections. And all I can say now is that my eyes are open. 


Those That Wake is the debut novel of Jesse Karp and has an expected publication date of March 21, 2011. 

Disclaimer: I requested this novel for review from NetGalley and this review is based on the Advance Reading Copy. I was not compensated in any way for providing the review other than the ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

 For Review:

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Debut Authors Challenge

Purchased:

Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce

Gifted:

Signed Sing Me to Sleep bookmarks from author Angela Morrison

Swapped:

The Dating Diaries by Kristen Kemp

Paperback Swap

Won:

Great Gals: Inspired Ideas for Living a Kick-Ass Life by Summer Pierce

Thanks Jessica at Cover to Cover!

Signed Nevermore bookmark 

from Wasterpaper Prose

The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant

Thank you Random House!

This week was filled with a lot of fun surprises. I'm just hoping for a big snow so I won't have anywhere to go and all the time in world to just read and read and then read some more!

Can't wait to see what you got in your mailbox!

Challenges Everywhere

As this year is starting to wind down, even though we still have December, I am seeing all of these new reading challenges pop up. (They may not be new, but they are new to me) I am so tempted to sign up because I know I will be introduced to new books, new authors and more bloggers and their interesting ideas. But my TBR list is already out of control and my wishlist is out of control. I mean I have at least 200 books on my shelves that I've never read. I am not kidding.

I am currently participating in The Contemps Challenge and the 2011 Debut Author Challenge where I plan to read at least 33 books. I've read some really amazing books through The Contemps Challenge and know that many more are in store in the next year. But again I am tempted to do another challenge and there are so many to choose from.

Which challenges are you signed up for? What made you pick one over another? I'd like to know what you think. Maybe it will help me decide if I should sign-up for another challenge and which one.