I’ve had my head buried in Book 3′s draft in the pipe-dream hope that it’ll be done before we leave for vacation on Friday.  In the interim, a few tenner releases have happened… The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston: The narrative structure is not straight-forward and the book is rife with ambiguity. It is lacking [...]

Happy belated release day to Anastasia Hopcus for her YA debut Shadow Hills, published yesterday by Egmont.  I read this on the Tenners’ ARC tour a few months ago – it’s got a great cast of characters and interesting paranormal mythology/science.  To celebrate the release, Anastasia is giving away a bunch of stuff, including signed books, swag and t-shirts – [...]

Book Briefs: an interview series where authors talk about…what else?  Books!  Karen Kincy’s debut YA novel, Other, is out TODAY from Flux.  Congratulations on the release, Karen!   What book are you reading right now?  Lots of books!  Well, to choose one, I’m reading Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves. I’m not too far into it yet, but I’m liking [...]

In Shaun David Hutchinson’s debut novel, out today, sixteen year old Ollie is notified via Deathday Letter that today is his last.  How does he spend it?  Well, Booklist says: The reader is pulled along in Ollie’s grip, wrestling with the big questions of life (and afterlife)….This first novel will appeal to male readers who [...]

Three new YA books are out today… The Horn Book says A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner “has something for everyone: road trips, fortuitous stranger encounters, friendship drama, optimistic romanticism, and a fresh treatment of a lesbian heroine.”   They featured it and Emily in this month’s newsletter as one of four new YA “Writers worth [...]

Yesterday was the release of Jessica Leader’s debut middle-grade novel, Nice and Mean about two girls – one nice and one mean – facing off in their school’s video competition.  I love the voice in this short bit from Jess’s Book Briefs interview: I snapped my pen shut.  If Sachi had come up with the Victim/Victorious idea, Mr. Phillips would [...]

Behind the 8-ball here since both of these came out earlier this week.  Nevertheless… Angie Frazier’s YA novel Everlasting came out yesterday, is historical fiction, has a really pretty cover and sounds awesome!  Learn actual substantive things about it at Angie’s website. . . Shari Maurer – who I’ve never met, even though she lives across the river from me and [...]

Two fantasic YA books are out today.  And neither one has vampires, demons or anything the least bit supernatural.  Just terrific, well-written stories and characters.  Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.  Maybe the best.  The main character is uniquely likeable, the writing superb and the [...]

Three Tenner books are out today.  Chelsea Campbell’s The Rise of Renegade X is a YA novel about a young supervillian set on becoming Golden City’s next evil genius…until he discovers his mystery father is actually a superhero.  . In Christina Diaz Gonzalez’s The Red Umbrella, 14 year old Lucia’s life changes when she’s sent to [...]

Jennifer Cervantes’ debut middle-grade novel Tortilla Sun is out today.  To celebrate, she’s holding a contest at her website for a signed copy – to enter, post your favorite way to eat a tortilla.  And if you need some inspiration, here’s a video of Jennifer and her daughters showing you how to make one.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-1g8tLC2Ec [...]