New YA titles

Check out some new Young Adult titles that are forthcoming this Fall and Winter ... you can get a downloadable list of new books and also excerpts from writers like Kwame Alexander and Marie Lu at this link.  That page will also take you to previous Book Buzz editions so you may find some inspiration for your summer reading, too.

I recently read QUICKSAND POND by Janet Taylor Lisle – even though this is geared to younger students (the protagonist are about 12 years old), I have enjoyed other works by her (Afternoon of the Elves; Black Duck) and was looking for a relaxing read over the holiday weekend. QUICKSAND POND made for a very atmospheric read – as though you could smell the ocean and hear the insects.  Two girls, Jessie and Terri, discover a raft and have fun fixing it while building a friendship, too.  But danger lurks and there is a long ago murder involving an old lady who lives in a mansion near the pond. Doesn’t it sound perfect for the late elementary and early middle school readers looking for summer reading in addition to Nancy Drew and The Westing Game by Raskin or The Velvet Room by Snyder? The first half was great, but then the adults became involved and suddenly the girls are taught that a friendship with someone from one of “those” families was no longer acceptable.  From there, QUICKSAND POND told a story of snobbery and prejudice in an awkward and uncomfortable way, even though it received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus. 

I also had a chance to read a sneak peek excerpt of ONCE AND FOR ALL by Sarah Dessen. It was part of her latest novel (coming in early June) that features Louna, a soon-to-be high school graduate who spends summers working for her mother’s wedding planning business. Filled with details like a preference for (the easier to manage) DJs over live bands and sitting strategically in the BRR (back row right), ONCE AND FOR ALL promises a wonderful mix of romance and adventure as Louna is pursued by Ambrose, wayward brother of a bridal client. This latest book is sure to please the many fans of award winning author Dessen. 

Small Blessings by Martha Woodroof

Do you want to feel good? Laugh out loud? Experience well-written prose? Share in the formation of an unconventional family? Then read Small Blessings by Martha Woodroof.

Set on a small Virginia college campus, this debut novel introduces us to the college's students, administrators and a small number of central characters:

• Tom Putnam, a kind English professor who is married to
• Marjory, who is often anxious and has trouble relating to others
• Agnes, Marjory's mother, a lawyer and surprisingly fond of
• Henry, 6 years old and Tom’s newly discovered "son"
• Russell Jacobs and Iris Benson, Tom's colleagues with their own issues, including alcohol dependence, and
• Rose Callahan, new employee at the Book Store whose presence seems to set the novel in motion.

As these characters struggle with society's expectations, some are more successful than others and all face fears and loneliness as they take risks, seek to redefine themselves, and deal with unexpected events. Small Blessings starts pretty slowly and sadly -like a grey, rainy day – and then Rose and later Henry arrive – it seems like sunshine peaking through clouds.  I raced through the last half of this book with a smile on my face and in my heart.

Look for Small Blessings, especially if you are a fan of the caring and community building in Jan Karon’s Mitford series or enjoyed the slowly building charm and self-discovery of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  I predict that Small Blessings will soon be a movie itself and reading this book will make you smile, too.

PS – Martha Woodruff is a producer for NPR (hence her references to pbs shows like Inspector Morse); more of her interviews and writing about first novels can be found here.

Two recommended reads

The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith is fresh, even frothy and whimsical, despite dealing with difficult family issues, including a parent’s second marriage.  I agree with the School Library Journal review which said, "This novel has a simple premise, but it is packed with detail, emotion, and likable characters." 

 

An incredibly quick read, I enjoyed the teasing dialogue between the two main characters, could certainly feel as though I was aboard the airplane, and envied the travels through London.   The European setting is reminiscent of Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes, but Jennifer Smith intersperses flashbacks and limits her story to an eventful 24 hours or so.

High school in the States is the setting for the soon to be published (March 11) Don’t Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski. I laughed over this book, initially choosing to read it because of the "goofy" premise: "We used to be average NYC sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots and suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking."  Sound silly?  It is, but it also effectively causes the reader to pause and think about those "secrets" we may not want to share and others' thoughts we may not want to hear.  This is a very funny, entertaining book.  

Pick up either one when you are looking for something light. Both of these titles will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Catherine Murdock, and Meg Cabot. The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love at First Sight is on this year’s list of nominees for the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award.  I hope that Mlynowski’s Don’t Even Think about It makes the nominee list in the future, too.