Cover Reveals - Young Adult - XXXII

Thanks for the Trouble by Tommy Wallach

Goodreads
Check out Tommy's reveal post here!

Parker Santé hasn’t spoken a word in five years. While his classmates plan for bright futures, he hangs out in hotels, watching the guests. But when he meets a silver-haired girl named Zelda Toth, a girl who claims to be quite a bit older than she looks, he’ll discover there just might be a few things left worth living for. From the celebrated author of We All Looked Up comes a unique story of first and last loves.

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

Goodreads
Check out the official cover reveal of Huffington Post here.

Billed as “a wry, winning testament to the power of old movies and new memories,” The Great American Whatever follows Quinn Roberts, a gay, wisecracking 16-year-old with a weakness for Jolly Ranchers and cute boys, who dreams of becoming a Hollywood filmmaker. When his home life is beset by personal tragedy, Quinn embarks on a “laugh-out-loud sad” journey of self re-discovery with the help of his straight best friend, Geoff, and a new love interest.

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Goodreads
Check out the original reveal on Mundie Moms!

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. This is their story.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England? 

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

The Stars Turned Away by Lisa Maxwell

Goodreads
Check out the original reveal on YABC.

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.

But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.

The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.

With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself?

Save Me, Kurt Cobain by Jenny Manzer
Goodreads

What if you discovered that Kurt Cobain is not only alive, but might be your real father? Nicola Cavan has been an outsider since age four when her mother vanished from their home in Victoria, British Columbia. Now 15, Nico is determined to find her beautiful, music-obsessed mother. After glimpsing “Cobain” on a ferry from Seattle, Nico follows the man with the blazing blue eyes to a remote Vancouver Island cabin—and her life will never be the same.

Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk
Goodreads 
Check out the original reveal on YA Highway.

No one understands love.

If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.

Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?

Either the Beginning or the End of the World by Terry Farish

Goodreads

This tale of first love features Sofie, the 16-year-old daughter of a Cambodian immigrant and a Scottish fisherman, and a young army medic back from Afghanistan, exploring themes of intergenerational trauma and the immigrant experience.

Longbow Girl by Linda Davies

Goodreads

A stunningly exciting and dramatic story set in the wilds of the Welsh mountains, where the brave and beautiful Merry Owen, the Longbowgirl, travels back in time to the autocratic kingdom of King Henry VIII to save her ancestors.

Steeped in history, ancient lore and crackling with tension between the central characters Merry and James, Longbowgirl explores the themes of who we are and who we can become when fighting for those we love and for our very lives. Are we prisoners of our history or can we break free? Can we become all that we need to be to meet the ultimate challenge of life and death in the King’s Tournament and in the dungeons of the Black Castle?

What You Always Wanted by Kristen Rae
Goodreads

Drama girl Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the romantic, classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the baseball team, she's struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family--but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised as a dancer and still practices in the community theater dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all! But when it becomes clear that baseball--not dance--is Jessie's passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?

Which new covers are your favorite?  Let me know in the comments!

Interview & Giveaway with Adam Silvera, author of More Happy Than Not

Today the always wonderful and often funny Adam Silvera is at The Hiding Spot to chat about his debut novel More Happy Than Not. I am so incredibly happy that Adam's book is finally out in the world for the masses to read and love. I truly adore this book, which has been bouncing around in my head since I read it months ago. Check out the interview below, then enter to win yourself a finished copy of the book. Trust me - you want this book in your life.

______________________

Can you talk a bit about the role of the Leteo Institute in More Happy Than Not and your inspiration for this aspect of the novel? 

The inspiration for the novel itself was me wanting to explore nurture vs. nature in regards to homosexuality, and, if a teenager who is gay were presented with an opportunity to be straight, whether he would take it or not. I’ve always been a fan of novels with memory so I combined the two, presenting my narrator, Aaron Soto, with an opportunity to “forget” he’s gay so he can have an easier life, which is very tempting because homeboy has been through many more harrowing trials than the usual sixteen-year-old. 

Tell me a little bit about your writing process: Do you outline? Start at the beginning? The middle? The end? 

I’m on my third book now and my process has been different each time. For More Happy Than Not, I’d been trying to write this book for a couple years when one day while I was living in Texas for a brief stint - intending to write a different book (middle grade fantasy, actually) - something finally clicked with me for this book. I wrote the first chapter (now different than what’s being published) in a couple hours. Then I would outline a couple chapters ahead, keep writing, outline a couple chapters ahead, keep writing, and so on. I didn’t know how it would end, and the ending has changed since that first draft, but this method allowed me to build momentum while inching towards the last page. 

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing or provided inspiration? 

I’ve worked as a bookseller (Barnes & Noble originally, later Books of Wonder), a marketing assistant at a literary development company (Paper Lantern Lit), an intern at a creative writing website for young adults (Figment), and a reviewer of children’s and young adult novels (Shelf Awareness). 

Working with my wonderful editor at Shelf Awareness, Jennifer M. Brown, taught me how to better edit myself. Working at Paper Lantern Lit taught me a thousand things about strengthening your plot, and identifying whether or not your book has a plot. And being a bookseller was probably my favorite gig—I was given recommendations out of my comfort zone and I got a chance to observe which covers were actually attracting readers and customers, a skill that came in handy when assisting with the design of my own cover. 

If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why? 

My favorite word has always been STUFF because I’m a ten-year-old forever. 

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Name a notable book that has provided you with a hiding spot. 

Harry Potter for life! I have a Riddikulus! tattoo on my wrist because that series was both my escape out of our world and my ticket into the publishing world I’ve written myself into. I would probably be a video game reviewer (respectable profession, obviously!) if Harry and his homies at Hogwarts didn’t turn me into a reader. 

What can readers look forward to next? 

My next book is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2016 and is a straight-up contemporary novel called History Is All You Left Me. I’m still in the middle of writing it (it was sold on proposal), but it’s about two boys grieving the love of their life and engaging in a destructive relationship with each other in his absence. The narrator, Griffin, was Theo’s childhood love, and Jackson was his boyfriend at time of death. It’s another very personal novel to me. 

I also have another speculative project in the works called They Both Die At The End—stay tuned!

 _____________________________________

About the Author

 Website / Twitter / Buy the Book

Adam was born and raised in the Bronx and is tall for no reason. He was a bookseller before shifting to children's publishing where he worked at a literary development company, a creative writing website for teens, and as a book reviewer of children's and young adult novels. He lives in New York City. More Happy Than Not his debut novel. 

  _______________________________________

Win It!

1 Winner. Open Internationally. Ends June 25, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't miss Adam's stops at these other great blogs:

June 1 - Novel Sounds

June 2 - Bookish Broads

June 3 - Cuddlebuggery

June 4 - The Hiding Spot

June 5 - Pop! Goes the Reader

June 8 - Paper Riot

June 9 - Rather Be Reading

June 10 - A Reader of Fictions

June 11 - Fiction Fare

June 12 - Book Rock Betty

Review & Giveaway: Cast Off by Eve Yohalem

Buy It 
Goodreads

Title: Cast Off
Author: Eve Yohalem
Publisher: Dial Books
Pub. Date: May 19, 2015
Genre: Middle Grade
Rec. Age Level: 10+
Pages: 320
More by this author: Escape Under the Forever Sky
Description:

A tale of pirates, mutiny, and friendship on the high seas, perfect for fans of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

It's 1663 and there is an extra passenger on board a Dutch merchant ship setting sail for the East Indies. Twelve-year-old Petra has stowed away to escape her abusive father. But she quickly realizes that surviving for months at sea will be impossible without help. So when Bram, the half-Dutch / Half-Javanese son of the ship's carpenter, finds her hiding spot, Petra convinces him to help her stay hidden . . .and help disguise her as a boy.

If Petra is discovered and exposed as a girl, she could be tossed overboard, or worse . . . returned to her father. And if Bram is exposed for helping her, he could lose the only home and family he has. As tensions rise on the ship, with pirates attacking, deadly illness, and even mutiny, Petra and Bram face impossible decisions that test their friendship and threaten their dreams of freedom.

It was the comparison to The True Confession of Charlotte Doyle that drew me to this new novel by Eve Yohalem, and I'm happy to report that the comparison was apt. Charlotte Doyle's adventures sparked my lifelong love of books set at sea... and stories featuring fearless, headstrong girls aboard ships. I'm thrilled that today's young readers will find similar inspiration in Petra, one of Cast Off's main characters.

Yohalem's Cast Off alternates perspectives, switching from that of Petra, a stowaway escaping an abusive home, to that of Bram, a boy with mixed parentage that severely limits his prospects. The two form a fast friendship after Bram helps hide Petra aboard the ship, then keeps her secret when she joins the crew disguised as a boy.

I enjoyed Petra from the start and Bram quickly grew on me as well. Perhaps because of her difficult upbringing, Petra is extremely resourceful, hardworking, and quick to action. She was a wonderful character from which to view the ship and its crew because, initially, all is completely foreign to her, but her curiosity and intelligence provide ample opportunity to learn and explore. Bram offers an important, but very different perspective, as he is quite familiar with the ship, its crew, and the various cultures and events the two experience during their journey.

I can't say for sure how accurate all of the historical details are regarding life on ships in 1663, but I can say that Yohalem's descriptions felt genuine. One event in particular, the description of a character being keelhauled was especially terrifying. Upon further investigation, I discovered that punishment by keelhauling was indeed a regular practice! In fact, the description of the punishment in the book and the resulting wounds are very accurate (and shudder-inducing).

I highly recommend this fantastic piece of historical fiction for readers of all ages! 

______________________________

Win It!

 1 winner. Open to US addresses only. Ends 6/23/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the blog tour:

Mon, June 1	Book Monsters	http://thebookmonsters.com/
Tues, June 2	The Hiding Spot	http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com/
Wed, June 3	Books Unbound	http://booksunboundblog.com/
Thurs, June 4	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Fri, June 5	Read Now, Sleep Later	http://www.readnowsleeplater.org/
Mon, June 8	Mother Daughter Book Club	http://motherdaughterbookclub.com/
Tues, June 9	Cracking the Cover	http://www.crackingthecover.com/
Wed, June 10	The Compulsive Reader	http://www.thecompulsivereader.com/
Thurs, June 11	The Children's Book Review	http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/
Fri, June 12	I Read Banned Books	http://www.jenbigheart.com/

  

Cover Reveals - Middle Grade - XXXI

I Don't Know How the Story Ends by J.B. Cheaney

Goodreads

Isobel is reeled into the bustling beginning of the film world when she's shipped off to WWI-era Hollywood...
When Isobel is dragged on an extended vacation to Hollywood, she anticipates nothing but homesickness—especially with her father away at war. But that's before she meets Ranger, her fast-talking, movie-obsessed cousin. Ranger ropes Isobel and her sister Sylvie into helping him create the perfect film, but their adventures come to a screeching halt when the girls' father returns home with a serious injury. While Isobel and Sylvie struggle with their grief, Ranger uses the real-life tragedy as inspiration for his epic film, which might be just the thing to help the family heal.

Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimee Carter

Goodreads

Twelve-year-old Simon Thorn’s life has never been easy or normal, but things like being bullied at school and living in a cramped Manhattan apartment with his Uncle Darrell are nothing compared to his biggest secret: He can talk to animals.

But when his mom is suddenly kidnapped by a herd of rats, Simon finds out that he, his mom, and his uncle are all Animalgams—people born with the ability to change into an animal at will.

In search of his mom, Simon discovers the Animalgam Academy based at the Central Park Zoo. There he learns about the fractured five kingdoms that make up this secret world . . . and realizes he may be the only one who can save it.

This action-packed page-turner is perfect for fans of the Spirit Animals and The School of Good and Evil series.

Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo

Goodreads

Deckawoo Drive’s intrepid Animal Control Officer meets her match—or does she? A funny, heartfelt, and fast-paced romp from the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Francine Poulet is the greatest Animal Control Officer in Gizzford County. She hails from a long line of Animal Control Officers. She’s battled snakes, outwitted squirrels, and stared down a bear. "The genuine article," Francine’s dad always called her. She is never scared—until, that is, she’s faced with a screaming raccoon that may or may not be a ghost. Maybe Francine isn’t cut out to be an Animal Control Officer after all! But the raccoon is still on the loose, and the folks on Deckawoo Drive need Francine back. Can she face her fears, round up the raccoon, and return to the ranks of Animal Control? Join a cast of familiar characters—Frank, Stella, Mrs. Watson, and Mercy the porcine wonder—for some riotous raccoon wrangling on Deckawoo Drive.

Superheroes Don't Eat Veggie Burgers by Gretchen Kelley

Goodreads

Sixth grade would be a lot easier if your fantasies came true . . . or would it?
Middle school may be tough, but Charlie Burger has a plan for how he'll get through it: mind his own business and stay out of the limelight. But the sixth grade has other plans for Charlie. His best friend Franki starts acting weird--since when does she like to dance?--and everyone from his mom to his soccer coach is on his case all the time. Worst of all? The school bully, Boomer Bodbreath, seems to think Charlie has a bull's-eye on his back.

When Charlie's eccentric science teacher hands out writing journals instead of beakers and goggles, Charlie is convinced his year can't be saved. That is, until he starts writing stories about Dude Explodius, an awesome, studly superhero--and those stories start coming true.

Can a kid who's used to the sidelines suddenly take a shot at saving the world?

This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
Goodreads

Gary Paulsen is an adventurer who competed in two Iditarods, survived the Minnesota wilderness, and climbed the Bighorns. None of this would have been possible without his truest companion: his animals. Sled dogs rescued him in Alaska, a sickened poodle guarded his well-being, and a horse led him across a desert. Through his interactions with dogs, horses, birds, and more, Gary has been struck with the belief that animals know more than we may fathom.

His understanding and admiration of animals is well known, and in This Side of Wild, which has taken a lifetime to write, he proves the ways in which they have taught him to be a better person.

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
Goodreads

Following a series of murders, an apothecary’s apprentice must solve puzzles and decipher codes in pursuit of a secret that could destroy the world in this suspenseful debut novel.

Christopher Rowe, apprentice to Master Apothecary Benedict Blackthorn, is learning all his master’s secrets—like how to decipher complex codes and puzzles, and how to transform simple ingredients into powerful medicines, potions, and weapons.

Christopher’s beloved master guides him with a firm, steady hand—a confidence even more vital as Christopher learns of a mysterious cult preying on London’s apothecaries. The murders grow closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop…until Christopher is torn from his home with only a cryptic message and a warning from his master: “Tell no one what I’ve given you.”

Aided by his best friend, Tom, Christopher must race to decipher his master’s message—and follow a trail of deceit toward an unearthly secret with the power to tear the world apart.

When Mischief Came to Town byKatrina Nannestad

Goodreads

When Inge Maria arrives on the tiny island of Bornholm in Denmark to live with her grandmother, she's not sure what to expect. Her grandmother is stern, the people on the island are strange, and children are supposed to be seen and not heard.   But no matter how hard Inge tries to be good, mischief has a way of finding her.     Could it be that a bit of mischief is exactly what Grandmother and the people of Bornholm need?

Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier

Goodreads

It’s been two years since Peter Nimble and Sir Tode rescued the kingdom of HazelPort. In that time, they have traveled far and wide in search of adventure. Now Peter and Sir Tode have been summoned by Professor Cake for a new mission: find a 12-year-old girl named Sophie Quire.
Sophie knows little beyond the four walls of her father’s bookshop, where she works as a bookmender and dreams of leaving the confines of her city walls. But when a strange boy and his talking cat/horse companion show up searching for a rare and mysterious book, she finds herself pulled into an adventure beyond anything she has ever read.

The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst
Goodreads

Sophie loves the hidden shop below her parents' bookstore, where dreams are secretly bought and sold. When the dream shop is robbed and her parents go missing, Sophie must unravel the truth to save them. Together with her best friend—a wisecracking and fanatically loyal monster named Monster—she must decide whom to trust with her family’s carefully guarded secrets. Who will help them, and who will betray them?

Which new covers are your favorite?  Let me know in the comments!

Five Questions with Kids Comics Authors: Andy Runton, creator of Owly

Today Dragons Beware! creators Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado are at The Hiding Spot to interview Owly creator Andy Runton! This interview series was co-sponsored by Children’s Book Council, Every Child a Reader, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. You can follow the full blog tour here.

_______________________________

Rafael/Jorge: Andy, thanks so much for answering our questions. And so nice to cyber-meet you. 

Andy: Absolutely! It's great to meet you as well. :) 

Rafael/Jorge: How do go about writing Owly, since it’s a silent comic? Do you write an outline first or just write/draw as you go?  

Andy: All of my stories come from real-life situations that are then customized for the Owly universe. I think of the story in my mind and write down a few notes. I'll do a quick summary and then I just start sketching. Most of the time this is when the details come into play so I really don't know how the story is going to really work until I start drawing. I know where it's headed but it doesn't really come to life until it's on paper. 

Rafael/Jorge: Will we ever see an animated Owly special or TV series? Do you have any interest in that? 

Andy: We actually worked hard to get an Owly series off the ground a while back and made a great little short with the help of Sprite Animation (who are absolutely fantastic! - you can see it here: http://www.andyrunton.com/goodies.html). We had a few offers but it never worked out. I'll keep working on Owly stories and maybe someday it'll happen. 

Rafael/Jorge: What contemporary cartoonists influence your work these days? 

Andy: I was hugely influenced by all of the comics and illustrated children's books I read growing up. My biggest comic influences are Bill Watterson, all of the artists that worked on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (especially Eric Talbot) and Mike Mignola.

Rafael/Jorge: What are you working on now? 

Andy: I'm actually working on a few side projects with plans to get started on the next full-length Owly graphic novel soon. 

Rafael/Jorge: What's on your nightstand? 

Andy: Exploring Calvin & Hobbes, The Art of Richard Thompson, Bodie Troll by Jay Fosgitt, and Band by Christine & Erin Humiston.

_______________________________

About Andy Runton:

Andy is the creator of the breakout all-ages series of graphic novels, Owly, featuring a kind-hearted little owl who's always searching for new friends and adventure. Relying on a mixture of symbols and expressions to tell his silent stories, Andy?s work showcases both his gift for characterization and his love of birds, animals, and the outdoors. His animated and heartwarming style has made him a favorite of both fans and critics alike.

The Owly series has earned him multiple awards in the comics and graphic novel community, including the Howard E. Day Memorial Prize, the Harvey Award, two Ignatz Awards, and the 2006 Eisner Award for "Best Publication for a Younger Audience". He lives in the greater Atlanta area, where he works full-time on Owly comics, books, and graphic novels.

Review & Giveaway: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

Buy It 
Goodreads

Title: The Girl at Midnight
Author: Melissa Grey
Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
Pub. Date: April 28, 2015
Genre: Young Adult
Rec. Age Level: 14+
Pages: 368
More by this author: n/a
Description:

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

Melissa Grey's debut novel, The Girl at Midnight, is a fast-paced, romantic fantasy novel in the same vein as Cassandra Clare's City of Bones and Laini Taylor's Shadow and Bone books, but with an entirely new and compelling mythology.

As a child, Echo, an orphaned human pickpocket, was taken in by the Avicen, a race of beings similar to humans but with magical abilities and avian traits. Despite the Avicen being the only family she's ever known, Echo never truly feels that her place with the Avicen is accepted or permanent. When she's tasked with finding the mythical Firebird, an entity prophesied to end the war waging between the Avicen and the Drakharin, another underground humanoid race with draconian traits, Echo's doubt about where she belongs intensifies. During her search for the Firebird, Echo is forced to partner with two Drakharin soldiers who challenge her preconceived notions of the ruthless Drakharins of legend, confusing Echo's beliefs... and heart.

I absolutely loved Echo, the heroine of The Girl at Midnight. Though she was taken in by the Avicen, she's very independent and capable. She never wants to be a burden to the Avicen she's grown close to, so she tries to earn her keep, usually by tracking down and nicking things for the Avicen. Which is why she's tasked with finding the Firebird, a person or object that very little is known about, except that it will end the war between the Avicen and Drakharin. Echo, with the help of two Avicen friends and two Drakharin, ends up following clues to an extravagant scavenger hunt that she hopes will ends with the identity or location of the Firebird.

The two warring races an interesting element of the plot. I felt like I had a better understanding of the the Avicen and a clearer picture of what they looked like. I think this was in part because Echo's closeness to this race, but also because this race is bird-like and the characters were often compared to specific birds as introduced. The Drakharin are, in comparison, relatively unknown to Echo and dragon-like - which makes for a much more vague description. That said, I'm hoping readers are given more information about the Drakharin and their society in the next book!

There is a romantic plot line within The Girl at Midnight that is strong, but not distracting. Again, this felt like something that would develop more in the second book, but I really did like where it was going throughout this first installment. There's some game-changing reveals near the end of the novel that will make for a very interesting situation as the series continues and I'm looking forward to seeing how it is handled.

Melissa Grey's writing and debut novel will definitely be embraced by YA readers who enjoy strong female characters, romance, and magic set within the real world. Highly recommended. 

Win It!

1 winner. US mailing addresses only. Ends June 12, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveals - Young Adult - XXX

Madly by Amy Alward

Goodreads

"No one gets something for nothing. We all should know better."

Teenagers at Wisconsin's Nottawa High School are drawn deeper into a social networking site that promises to grant their every need . . . regardless of the consequences. Soon the site turns sinister, with simple pranks escalating to malicious crimes. The body count rises. In this chilling YA thriller, the author of the best-selling Testing trilogy examines not only the dark side of social media, but the dark side of human nature.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Goodreads

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it, with the East as his ally and the empire as his enemy. He’s finally managed to dismiss the memory of Kestrel, even if he can’t quite forget her. Kestrel turned into someone he could no longer recognize: someone who cared more for the empire than for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she cared for him. At least, that’s what he thinks.

But far north lies a work camp where Kestrel is a prisoner. Can she manage to escape before she loses herself? As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover unexpected roles in battle, terrible secrets, and a fragile hope. The world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and Kestrel and Arin are caught between. In a game like this, can anybody really win?

Burn Girl by Mandy Mikulencak

Goodreads

A meth lab explosion leaves Arlie permanently scarred — both physically and emotionally. Yet, she develops the street smarts and survival skills to keep her addict mother out of the reach of the law and hidden from her stepfather, Lloyd, the man responsible for the explosion that killed three people.
Shortly after Arlie’s 16th birthday, her mother overdoses, forcing an end to their nomadic lives. Social services steps in and rules suddenly exist where none had before. Soon, she’s living in a 31-foot Airstream trailer with an eccentric uncle and attending high school for the first time.
While her facial scar makes it hard to fit in, Arlie begins to think a normal life might be possible – that is, until her stepfather tracks her down and insists she return drug money her mother had stolen. A final confrontation tests Arlie’s idea of right and wrong, and how far she’s willing to go to protect her new life.

Pieces of Why by K.L. Going

Goodreads

Tia lives with her mom in a high-risk neighborhood in New Orleans and loves singing gospel in the Rainbow Choir with Keisha, her boisterous and assertive best friend. Tia's dream is to change the world with her voice; and by all accounts, she might be talented enough. But when a shooting happens in her neighborhood and she learns the truth about the crime that sent her father to prison years ago, Tia finds she can't sing anymore. The loss prompts her to start asking the people in her community hard questions--questions everyone has always been too afraid to ask.

Full of humanity, Pieces of Why is a timely story that addresses grief, healing, and forgiveness, told through the eyes of a gifted girl who hears rhythm and song everywhere in her life.

Riders by Veronica Rossi
Goodreads

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.
They fail.
Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.
But will anyone believe him?

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Goodreads

Violin prodigy Etta Spencer had big plans for her future, but a tragedy has put her once-bright career at risk. Closely tied to her musical skill, however, is a mysterious power she doesn't even know she has. When her two talents collide during a stressful performance, Etta is drawn back hundreds of years through time.

Etta wakes, confused and terrified, in 1776, in the midst a fierce sea battle. Nicholas Carter, the handsome young prize master of a privateering ship, has been hired to retrieve Etta and deliver her unharmed to the Ironwoods, a powerful family in the Colonies--the very same one that orchestrated her jump back, and one Nicholas himself has ties to. But discovering she can time travel is nothing compared to the shock of discovering the true reason the Ironwoods have ensnared her in their web.

Another traveler has stolen an object of untold value from them, and, if Etta can find it, they will return her to her own time. Out of options, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the mysterious traveler. But as they draw closer to each other and the end of their search, the true nature of the object, and the dangerous game the Ironwoods are playing, comes to light -- threatening to separate her not only from Nicholas, but her path home... forever.

The August 5 by Jenna Helland

Goodreads

In this debut novel, two worlds collide amid clashes of power, honor, and what it truly means to be brave.
Sixteen-year-old Tommy Shore lives a life of privilege: the finest clothing, food, and education available and servants to take care of his every whim. He is the son of the chief administrator of Aeren-the most important man on the islands. Fifteen-year-old Tamsin Henry has grown up knowing only poverty, but she is the daughter of a revolutionary who longs to give her and their people more.

Ordinarily, Tommy and Tamsin would never cross paths, but on the day of a violent and deadly revolt, chance brings them together. Now the world waits to hear the fate of the August Five, five men led by Tamsin's father, captured during the uprising. As the tensions between the government and the rebels escalate, Tommy uncovers a brutal truth about his father. How will he ever get Tamsin to trust that he wants to help, when she sees him as the enemy? In the end, Tommy and Tamsin learn that sometimes the honorable thing to do demands the most amount of courage.

Has to Be Love by Jolene Perry

Goodreads

Years ago, Clara survived a vicious bear attack. She's used to getting sympathetic looks around town, but meeting strangers is a different story. Yet her dreams go far beyond Knik, Alaska, and now she's got a secret that's both thrilling and terrifying--an acceptance letter from Columbia University. But it turns out her scars aren't as fixable as she hoped, and when her boyfriend begins to press for a forever commitment, she has second thoughts about New York. Then Rhodes, a student teacher in her English class, forces her to acknowledge her writing talent, and everything becomes even more confusing--especially with the feelings she's starting to have about him. Now all Clara wants to do is hide from the tough choices she has to make. When her world comes crashing down around her, Clara has to confront her problems and find her way to a decision. Will she choose the life of her dreams or the life that someone she loves has chosen? Which choice is scarier?

Inherit the Stars by Tessa Elwood
Goodreads

Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.

Which new covers are your favorite?  Let me know in the comments!