Voracious YAppetite

Ooh, YA YA is my weekly Wednesday feature where I talk about recent and upcoming YA releases, to whatever extent tickles my fancy at the moment. Hopefully you will enjoy these random lists of mine and even discover a few books that you’d like to read!

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If Harry Potter reminded us of anything, it’s that MG has the power to appeal to readers of any age. A good story is a good story, no matter how old the protagonist is, right? Lately I’ve been keeping my eye out for MG titles online and I’ve also added browsing the MG section of my local B&N to my weekly bookstore visit. In hindsight, perhaps this wasn’t as swell of an idea as I’d originally thought, as I’ve managed to add another heap of books to my wishlist. Anyway, here’s a list of some of the 2010 MG releases that I’m most interested in reading, with a section of each book’s synopsis included:

2010 Standalones or Brand New Series

Kid vs. Squid by Greg Van Eekhout, Bloomsbury USA, 5/11/10 — “With sharp, witty writing that reads like a middle-grade Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Greg van Eekhout’s first book for young readers is a wild ride packed with as many laughs as it has thrills.” A Museum of Curiosity, a princess of Atlantis, and a deep-sea adventure, plus lots of belly laughs? I’m in. Plus, the author is a fellow San Diegan. (:

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman, Putnam Juvenile, 7/8/10 — “Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary— and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.” Now doesn’t that sound good?

A Crack in the Sky (Greenhouse Chronicles Book 1) by Mark Peter Hughes, Delacorte BFYR, 8/24/10 — “This sweeping, high-concept eco-thriller recalls Disney/Pixar’s Wall•E and Lois Lowry’s classic The Giver, yet it is completely original, a remarkable, fully realized fantasy that will change the way you look at how we live.” Everything about this book piques my interest. I can only hope it delivers!

The Call (The Magnificent Twelve Book 1) by Michael Grant, Katherine Tegen Books, 8/24/10 — “Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Medium looks. Medium grades. Medium parents who barely notice him. With a list of phobias that could make anyone crazy, Mack never would have guessed that he is destined for a more-than-medium life.” Sounds like it has the humor and adventure of the Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson series!

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki, Random House BFYR, 8/24/10 — “Abigail’s past and Timothy’s present are making them the target of a terrible curse. A curse that turns their worst fears to reality. But their fears are just the beginning. The curse stems from a strange artifact that gains strength by devouring a human soul. And it needs to feed again.” Eep! If it wasn’t for the fact that this is an MG book, I would immediately assume it’s too scary for me. I mean, the cover alone is scary. But it sounds so exciting, doesn’t it?

The Limit by Kristen Landon, Aladdin, 9/7/10 — “In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government.” This was a buzzed-about book at BEA this year. And it’s a dystopian. Therefore, I am interested.

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter, Feiwel & Friends, 9/14/10 — “In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Ellen Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything.” It sounds quirky and different, which I like.

The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi, Simon & Schuster, 9/21/10 — “Tony DiTerlizzi honors traditional children’s literature in this totally original space age adventure: one that is as complex as an alien planet, but as simple as a child’s wish for a place to belong.” I’ve posted about this book a couple times before, as I am a huge fan of Tony’s art. I could stare at his illustrations all day. He could publish a book about pretty much anything and I’d be interested in it, but the fact that this is a “space age adventure” seals the deal for me.

The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby, Scholastic Press, 10/1/10 – An orphan, a girl from the tenements, and a clockmaker’s apprentice “…discover they have phenomenal power when they team up as friends, and that they can overcome even the darkest of fears.” What can I say? It’s a fantasy and the reviews have been pretty favorable so far. It has all the potential to be a total Kris Book.

2010 Releases in Existing Series

Some of these series are ending this year and many of them are quite popular. For those of you who are familiar with any of these series, would you recommend them to me?

Lord Sunday (Keys to the Kingdom Book 7) by Garth Nix, Scholastic Press, 3/16/10 — “In this thrilling conclusion to Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series, Arthur Penhaligon must complete his quest to save the Kingdom he is heir to…and Arthur’s world.” I’ve heard so many positive comments about this series and this author.

Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven Book 5) by Brandon Mull, Shadow Mountain, 3/23/10 — “In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate struggle to control the keys to the demon prison.” Another final installment in a very popular MG series. Am I missing out or what?

This Isn’t What It Looks Like (Secret Book 4) by Pseudonymous Bosch, Little Brown BFYR, 9/21/10  – “…Cass is at the hospital in a deep coma. Max-Ernest knows she ate Time Travel Chocolate–and he’s determined to find a cure. Can our expert hypochondriac diagnose Cass’s condition before it’s too late? And will he have what it takes to save the survivalist?“ I had no idea who this dude was until I went to LATFOB this year and people were talking and Tweeting about him. His books look super fun.

Ancient, Strange, and Lovely (Dragon Chronicles Book 4) by Susan Fletcher, Atheneum, 9/21/10 — “Then she realizes that the critter in her care is really a baby dragon. When the dracling becomes an Internet phenomenon, she must flee to protect him from poachers and others who wish him harm. But will Bryn be able to protect him, or will she lose the dracling just as she comes to love him? …A fast-paced, standalone addition to Susan Fletcher’s beloved Dragon Chronicles series, Ancient, Strange, and Lovely puts a modern twist on a timeless genre.” It’s a book about dragons. I am into dragons right now. Like, really into them.

The Specter Key (Bran Hambric Book 2) by Kaleb Nation, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 10/1/10 — “When Bran’s best friend, Astara, is kidnapped and turned into a Specter, he must explore a side of himself he never knew existed. But will the magic destroy him the way it destroyed his mother?“ This is the dude behind TwilightGuy.com. I’m wondering if his writing is as snarky and entertaining as I’ve heard, and if he truly is a “21-year-old author phenom.”

The Fiend and the Forge (The Tapestry Book 3) by Henry H. Neff,  Random House BFYR, 11/23/10 — “In the course of his travels, (Max) will be forced to become many things: Prisoner. Gladiator. Assassin. But can he become the hero that mankind so desperately needs?” I haven’t heard much about this series, but each book sounds incredible. The first two books have received pretty positive reviews, too.

Upcoming Movie Adaptations

Hollywood studios love culling YA and MG for material, don’t they? Here are three MG books that will be making their way to the silver screen soon.

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Walden Pond Press, 1/19/10 — “Long-legged Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into space. Is Liam the best boy for the job? Sometimes being big isn’t all about being a grown-up.” I have a strong feeling that I’m going to love this book. It’s won a couple of prestigious awards and it sounds so cute and touching.

Dark Life by Kat Falls, Scholastic Press, 5/1/10 — “Set in an apocalyptic future where rising oceans have swallowed up entire regions and people live packed like sardines on the dry land left, DARK LIFE is the harrowing tale of underwater pioneers who have carved out a life for themselves in the harsh deep-sea environment, farming the seafloor in exchange for the land deed.” I’m surprised that I haven’t read this book yet. It’s totally the kind of story that I gravitate to.

The Wild (The Secret Journeys of Jack London Book 1) by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, Harper Collins, 3/1/11 — “The world knows Jack London as a writer who lived his own thrilling, real-life adventures. But there are parts of his life that have remained hidden for many years, things so horrifying even he couldn’t set them down in writing. These are the Secret Journeys of Jack London…a masterful tale both classic and contemporary, a gripping original story of the paranormal in the tradition of the great Jack London.” This book doesn’t actually come out in 2010, but I had to include it in this list. I mean, it’s about Jack London and paranormals. Come on now.

Major Cases of Cover Lust

Apparently I have a thing for blue backgrounds and dragons. What do you think of these covers?

The Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones, Delacorte BFYR, 4/13/10 — This cover caught my eye as soon as I saw it around the blogosphere. You know how some book covers look much better in digital form than their printed form? Not the case with this cover — it’s just a gorgeous “in person.”

Choke (The Pillage Trilogy Book 2) by Obert Skye, Shadow Mountain, 6/4/10 — ZOMG. I made a little noise in the back of my throat when I first saw this cover at my local B&N a few weeks ago. The kid next to me gave me a funny look. It was not my fault. LOOK AT IT.

The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus Book 1) by Rick Riordan, Hyperion Books CH, 10/12/10 — A very commercial cover, but a very successful commercial cover. As soon as this cover was first released online, I was squealing like a little girl. The movement, the color contrast, the DRAGON…A++.

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So! What do you think? Do any of these books appeal to your bookworm sensibilities? YA readers: how much attention to you pay to MG titles?