Weekly Wrap-Up

Books I got this week:

For Review:

• Insurgent by Veronica Roth (audiobook)
• Jake and Lily by Jake Spinelli (audiobook)
• Safekeeping by Karen Hasee
• Chasing the Skip by Janci Patterson
• Every Day by David Levithan (Netgally) OMG. LOVED THIS.
• Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill (Netgalley)

Library:

• Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore (audiobook)
• The Sky is Everywhere by (audio file--Overdrive)

Bought:

• Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Bookish News:

• New Covers:

 Current Giveaways:

• Blogoversary Cover-Guessing giveaway to win This is Not a Test! 
• Win Vertigo by Kristina Dunker!
• Challenge participants: link-up your reviews!

Guest Post by Dori Jones Yang (Daughter of Xanadu & Son of Venice author)

Why Read Historical Fiction Not Set in Europe or America?

Last year, I attended the Historical Novel Society conference in San Diego. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? It was! I met a lot of characters, both on the page and at the dinner table. After the keynote speech on Saturday evening, we had a costume pageant. About twenty authors dressed up as their characters and walked across the stage as an announcer explained the costume. Velvet. Brocade. Taffeta. Lace. Embroidery. Ruffles. Scooping necklines. You can imagine how gorgeous some of the costumes were!

Then came my turn. I was dressed as Emmajin, fictional granddaughter of Khubilai Khan, a Mongolian princess from the 13th century. I wore a stunning blue del with an orange sash, complete with a Mongolian lady’s hat, with pearls hanging down the sides. Emmajin is the protagonist of Daughter of Xanadu, my YA historical novel set in China at the time of Marco Polo and Khubilai Khan. Its sequel, Son of Venice, came out this month, June 2012.

Fortunately, I didn’t take myself too seriously. I pretended to shoot an arrow into the audience, and I had them all laughing with me. After the ruffles and taffeta, my outfit looked pretty ridiculous.
Clearly, I was out of place. Almost all the other books took place in England, France, or North America. When you hear “historical novel,” that’s what you expect, right? Lush costumes, poufy sleeves, jeweled crowns, sweeping skirts. After all, our U.S. heritage is mostly from Europe.

But YA readers don’t see the world that way. Today’s young adults are growing up in a multicultural society and a global world. In school, they learn about Japan and India, the Apaches and the Incas. They read books set in Nigeria and Vietnam and China. Their classmates and neighbors may be from Iran or Israel or Venezuela.

So for a young adult reader, it’s not at all strange to read a novel about a Mongolian princess, an archer who wants to fight for the Mongol Army and have her Latin love interest, too. When I visit schools, students are fascinated to see pictures of nomadic yurts and hear about drinking fermented mare’s milk. They love mugging as they try on Mongolian hats for men and ladies. A few even have classmates from Mongolia.

Why read historical fiction set in an unfamiliar country? Why not? The best historical fiction lets us explore the long-ago and the far-away. The farther away the setting is from my own life, the more it fascinates me—and the more I learn.

_____________________________________________

Son of Venice is the sequel to Daughter of Xanadu (Read my review!). This novel continues the story of Marco Polo and Emmajin, granddaughter of Khubilai Khan, after the Great Khan sends her on a voyage to the West. 

Goodreads / Amazon

Revived - Cat Patrick

 

Young Adult
Pages: 352
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 1, 2012

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

After reading Patrick's unique debut, Forgotten, I was really looking forward to reading her second book. I love magical realism and she did a wonderful job with it in Forgotten. Revived was more of a light sci-fi though, with a very interesting premise. For some reason I was interested enough through the first 3/4ths of the story, but the plot ended up disappointing me some.

The characters were well laid out and Daisy's voice was strong, but the plot has some discrepancies and some actions seemed contradictory. For example, the summary hinted towards a careless Daisy who was very fearless and death became a game for her. This was not the case, or at least it did not come through that way in the first half of the book. But then something happens and all of a sudden there's a scene where Daisy is uncharacteristically careless and stupid, and I had no idea of why that was there except to make a point that had not been made before. Anyhow, I hope that makes sense. I just felt there was some existential BS that had nothing to do with the rest of the book.

The premise is interesting enough to keep the reader engaged, so some might enjoy it very much. There's a cute romance that makes the story worthwhile. I also enjoyed Daisy friendship with Meg and the fact that they're bloggers!--Ha, had to point that out. So it was definitely worth reading, it just ended up not being very memorable for me.

Goodreads / Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday (147)

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

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Known amongst locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than The Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld, New Orleans lures Josie in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

Release Date: February 2013 

Goodreads / No Amazon yet

Blog Tour: Anastasia Forever Trailer!

I am so excited to be a part of the exclusive ANASTASIA FOREVER BLOG TOUR! 

Here’s the scoop on the DREAMING ANASTASIA Series!

There is so much to love about this series as Joy brilliantly blends Russian history, romance, magic and mythology into an enticing adventure.

In DREAMING ANASTASIA, Anne Michaelson begins to have unusual dreams and discovers that she is the only one who can save the daughter of the last tsar of Russia, Anastasia Romanov. Believed to be dead by the world, Anastasia has been kept captive all these years by the Russian witch Baba Yaga, and only Ethan, a handsome and mysterious 18-year-old, can help Anne free Anastasia.

Anne once again leaves behind her ordinary life in HAUNTED to join forces with the mysterious and gorgeous Ethan as the journey with the Romanov continues. This time she is haunted by classic figures from Russian mythology, a rusalka, , a Russian folklore mermaid with a malevolent streak – and a particular interest in Anne, who tells her that Anastasia is still alive. As she and Ethan team up, Anne’s search for the rusalka’s identity reveals deep and startling secrets - including the true source of Anne’s powers.


Now in ANASTASIA FOREVER, having survived Baba Yaga and the Rusalka, Anne finds herself bound by the witch to undertake a journey into past, present, and future that will determine her destiny - and that of everyone she loves.

Catch a preview of the danger, romance, and magic await Anne in this exciting glimpse ahead of ANASTASIA FOREVER by taking a look at a special sneak peak with the first three chapters!

ANASTASIA FOREVER comes out this August, be sure to look out for all things Anastasia at Joy’s website.

Top 10 Books in My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

First of all, I already read it so I'm cheating a bit but Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols should be on everyone's summer TBR. So, to my list now. These are all books I own and hope to get to soon!

1. Every Day by David Levithan. Okay actually I'm almost done with this one but YOU GUYS! You need this book.

2. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill. So excited!

3. The Bridges of Rollrock Island by Margot Lanagan. I am dying to get to this. Sounds so mysterious and awesome!

4. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. This one sounds totally kickass.

5. Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer. I skimmed through it, must read it soon.

6. From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas. I've had this for a while and keep hearing great things, must get to it!

7. Burning Blue by Paul Griffin. Why have I not read this one yet? It keeps staring at me.

8. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. I haven't read Matson yet, and I've been pondering if I should read this first or start with Amy & Rogers, any suggestions?


9. The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab. I loved her first book so I'm eager for this one.

10. A Midsummer Nightmare by Kody Keplinger. I've been hearing good things.

YA Releases

This is a weekly post to spotlight some YA books that will be releasing during this week.