EScott Book Week : Loss and Death in YA Fiction

It is Between Here and Forever Release Day! 

Find my review here.

While reading, I was reminded about so many great YA books that touch upon loss and death for teenagers. Below is my post about these books and why I feel they are timeless.

Be sure to post your reviews and discussions in the linky below to receive extra entries in The Secret Life of An Avid Reader's EScott Week Giveaway!!

I am not sure if you guys know this about me, but I am a sucker for emotional contemporary pieces. I do love a good cry, but on top of that I also love how in touch some authors are with how young adults deal with grief. I have never felt so connected to main characters as when they are so vulnerable. Grief/Loss/Death are all jump starters in contemporary novels and help the MC find themselves and their paths in life. Below are some of my favorites contemporary novels that deal with the above themes =D


Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
by Morgan Matson 

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road -- diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

The Sky Is Everywhere 
by Jandy Nelson

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

Fall for Anything 
by Courtney Summers

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

So what are some or you favorite emotional contemporary books? Comment below =D
Also, to see some of Jude's and my reviews for these books, click on the tags below.

Rules:

- US Only

- 13 + only
- Runs until May 25, 2011

- May only enter once (on this blog), we will count the extra entries manually

- Each blog is hosting their own giveaway for one set of the books, but here in TSLoaAR, you have a chance to win 1 of 3!

EScott Book Week Review : Grace

As part of this weeks festivities I signed up to review Grace.

Check out my review below and be sure to post your reviews and discussions in the linky below to receive extra entries in The Secret Life of An Avid Reader's EScott Week Giveaway!!

Book: Grace
Author: Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Dutton
Date Published: September 16, 2010
Pages: 208
Source: Library
Date Read: May 17, 2011

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose by acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Where to start??? First off, I really didn’t know what to expect from this book. Elizabeth’s work, while being contemporary fictions, ranges from deep and dark to lighter and romantic. I would definitely put this book on former. In the synopsis there is a mention of angels, which at first glance makes you think paranormal, then it mentions suicide bombs and I think “terrorists.” And in a sense this book is about that, but it in no way does that complete the true picture about the message this book sends. And I had no idea what I was getting myself into…

Grace (the book is intense) and well so is Grace the girl. Living in a country where the leaders face is plastered on everything from sodas to clothes, and where songs of praise don’t flow to a god but to him. I am not sure if the dictatorship Grace lives under is based on a real place or not, but you know that it isn’t right. The People, a group determined to stop this unjust leadership, fight for freedom in all the wrong ways. You are left wondering: where is the good in this world? No 16 year old girl should ever have to grow up that way.

Told in Scott’s amazing emotional and sparse writing style I was sucked in. The story jumps from present to past, and while I was confused at first, it lasted about a second before I just wanted to know what was coming next??

This is a genuine story of humanity, good and evil, and about living your life for yourself… or struggling to at least. I highly recommend picking up this short read as the topics have stayed with me and I wonder what I would do if I was Grace. And that is all I will tell you because I don't want to give away the amazing plot points or the shocking moments. =)

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:

“Life is about being alive. It is about living.”

“Everyone I see matters to someone else.”

Rules:

- US Only

- 13 + only
- Runs until May 25, 2011

- May only enter once (on this blog), we will count the extra entries manually

- Each blog is hosting their own giveaway for one set of the books, but here in TSLoaAR, you have a chance to win 1 of 3!

EScott Book Week Interview with Elizabeth Scott

As part of our Elizabeth Scott Week festivities I was able to interview Elizabeth for the blog! I was so excited, being that she is one of my favorite authors,  and I didn't really know what to ask. So instead of getting specific with books, I wanted to know where the inspiration and beautiful writing came from.

Also, remember to enter our giveaway to win 1 of 3 sets of her books! Linkys to your review or posts = extra entries in the giveaway.

Find her webpage here, and twitter here.

Quick List

Nickname: E
Favorite color: black
Favorite City ever visited: It doesn't get any better than NYC!
Favorite Food: Ruffles
Cats or Dogs: Dogs
Fiction or Non-Fiction: Both
Name a really good book you have read recently: Heaven, Texas and Natural Born Charmer, both by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, who I only recently discovered and wow, have I been missing out on some great books!

Some Deeper Questions

Q: What got you started into writing and why do you write for young adults?

I started writing as utter fluke--I was bored out of my mind during a meeting at work, and instead of taking notes, I found myself writing about a girl. It was the weirdest thing because growing up, I went out of my way to avoid anything that had to do with "creative writing"--I even skipped taking certain English classes in college because of it.

I always saw myself as a reader, and although I loved writing papers, I never ever saw myself writing fiction. I didn't think I was creative, you know?

Anyway, after that first short story, I realized that hey, writing fiction was fun, and never looked back. I joined an online critique group and wrote short stories for about five years before I wrote my first novel, Bloom.

I've always written about teenagers. I don't know why--maybe it's because in my heart, I'm still about 15-18, depending on the day! :-)

Q: What kind of books do you read and who are some of your favorite authors?

I read everything--fiction, non-fiction, biographies, poetry, autobiographies--you get the idea :-)
Some authors I adore--besides Susan Elizabeth Phillips (seriously, how come no one ever told me about her!) are Helen Dunmore, Charles Baxter, Maggie Helwig, Amy Bloom, Ann Patchett, and Ha Jin

Q. What is the best thing about being an author? What is the hardest?

The best thing, for me, about being an author is writing that first draft, hearing from readers, and meeting readers!

The hardest is all the rewriting, and dealing with the realities of publishing--I'm a mid-list author, and with the publishing industry changing so much, I worry.

Q. Which is your favorite of the books you have written?

Since I can't read my own writing (never have been able to, which is why I joined an on-line critique group--I knew I had a lot to learn (and I still do) but that I'd never be able to learn it unless I had someone tell me what I was doing wrong!

So, that's my long-winded way of telling you that I don't have a favorite, because I don't ever read my books.

Q. Contemporary YA is (I believe) one of the hardest genres to write. Characters must be genuine and realistic, and you have had so many of those. What -or who- inspires you when creating these characters and stories? And are any of them based on yourself?

I get inspired by things I see, things I hear, things I read, things I dream about--heck, I've even been inspired when I was cleaning the toilet!

I never have based a character on myself or anyone I know--I think it would be weird to write about someone I know, and as for me? I'm way too boring to write about! (Plus, making up people? FUN!)

Q. Do you plan to continue writing Contemporary YA, or would you like to explore into other genres?

I love contemporary YA, and I have no interest in writing adult fiction or even middle grade. My heart is all YA!!

To see more about Elizabeth Scott
and get a taste of her books in her own words, see the link below:

http://www.goodreads.com/videos/list_author/363405.Elizabeth_Scott

Rules:

- US Only

- 13 + only
- Runs until May 25, 2011

- May only enter once (on this blog), we will count the extra entries manually

- Each blog is hosting their own giveaway for one set of the books, but here in TSLoaAR, you have a chance to win 1 of 3!

Waiting on Wednesday #1 6

Waiting on Wednesday:
As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

WOW is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

From Goodreads:
What if you woke up and didn't know where you were?

What if you didn't know who you were?

And what if, when your memories started to come back--what if they didn't match the you that you're supposed to be?

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them--and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

Why Yani is Waiting on It: Its Elizabeth Scott Week and with that I thought I would pick a book of hers I haven't read. The only one left is this one coming out in Sept! I really love her books and this one seems super interesting!!

Can't wait for this book coming out: September 15, 2011

EScott Book Week Giveaway

In reading Between Here and Forever I was reminded about so many great YA books that touch upon loss and death for teenagers. Below is my post about this books and why I feel these books are timeless.

Be sure to post your reviews and discussions in the linky below to receive extra entries in The Secret Life of An Avid Reader's EScott Week Giveaway!!

Many of you may already know and are planning to participate in Elizabeth Scott week, but even if you are not participating everyone has the opportunity to enter into an amazing giveaway provided to us by Elizabeth Scott herself. Each blog stop in our week will be giving away one or more complete sets of Elizabeth's works, so be sure to stop by the other blogs and enter there as well. In our blog you might see the form multiple times, but you only need to enter once. AND if you do participate during the week it means extra entries to win!!!

Schedule for Elizabeth Scott Book Week

Wednesday 5/18 - Bloom @ Fiction Folio

Thursday 5/19 - Perfect You @ I Eat Words

Friday 5/20 - Something, Maybe @ Anna Reads

SUPER Saturday 5/21
                      - Living Dead Girl @ GReads
                      - Love You, Hate You, Miss You @ I Eat Words
                      - Grace @ The Secret Life of an Avid Reader

Sunday 5/22 - Stealing Heaven @ Addicted 2 Novels

Monday 5/23 - The Unwritten Rule @ GReads

Tuesday 5/24 - Between Here and Forever @ The Secret Life of an Avid Reader

Title your Link as Blog Name - Book Title

Enter for a chance to win, not one, but ALL these books!

Rules:

- US Only

- 13 + only
- Runs until May 25, 2011

- May only enter once (on this blog), we will count the extra entries manually

- Each blog is hosting their own giveaway for one set of the books, but here in TSLoaAR, you have a chance to win 1 of 3!