YA Friday: YA of 2016

As this year begins, here's a list of all the books I'm looking forward to this year! Not all of the release information is available for every book, but there's more than enough great books here for a full year of YA reading. 

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Philomel Books
Other YA novels: Between Shades of Grey, Out of the Easy

The author of the widely-acclaimed Between Shades of Grey, Sepetys' much-anticipated third novel is slated to be published this February, three years after her last novel (Out of the Easy) was released. Keeping with Sepetys' penchant for historical tragedy, the novel focuses on the Wilhelm Gustloff maritime distaster during WWII.

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Other YA novels: The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Winter, and Fairest

While the Lunar Chronicles series was nicely wrapped up this past November with the release of Winter, Marissa Meyer's latest is a collection of short stories set throughout the series - perfect for those fans who just can't yet let go. And a little birdie (*cough* GoodReads *cough*) has told us one of the stories involves a wedding...
 

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Release date: February 9th, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Other YA novels: Red Queen

Victoria Aveyard's exciting debut, Red Queen, was one of the best and certainly one of the most successful YA books of 2015....but Mare Barrow's story has hardly begun. Continuing the story of magic and revolution is Glass Sword, the second book in the series (which, according to GoodReads, has at least two more novels set to be published (in 2017 and 2018). 

Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas

Release date: February 23rd, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Other YA novels: A Wicked Thing

In A Wicked Thing, Rhiannon Thomas used the emotional (and political) conflict faced by Sleeping Beauty after she wakes up to set the stage for an explosive conflict with the new political leaders in Kingdom of Ashes. The second novel in the series, Kingdom of Ashes promises a much more exciting and magic-filled story than its predecessor (which stylistically and thematically differs from most fantasy, but in an original and thematically impactful way). 

The Skylighter by Becky Wallace

Release date: March 22nd, 2016
Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
Other YA novels: The Storyspinner

Becky Wallace wove an increasingly complex story in The Storyspinner, but after the discoveries made by each faction, it'll be interesting to see how Johanna juggles everyone's various agendas to protect herself...and her heart. Not sure if this is the last book in the Keeper's Chronicles, but I'm definitely hoping for a third book in 2017.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Release date: March 29th, 2016
Publisher:
Other YA novels: The Winner's Curse, The Winner's Crime

While The Winner's Curse saw Kestrel torn between duty and love, and The Winner's Crime saw Kestrel throw away everything she had for her love, I'm fascinated to see how Kestrel will fare in The Winner's Kiss. Something tells me she's not going to be exiled quietly...

Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear

Release date: March 29th, 2016
Publisher: Harper
Other novels: Maisie Dobbs novels: Maisie Dobbs, Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies, Messenger of Truth, An Incomplete Revenge, Among the Mad, The Mapping of Love and Death, A Lesson in Secrets, Elegy for Eddie, Leaving Everything Most Loved, A Dangerous Place 

While the Maisie Dobbs novels have all dealt with the repercussions of WWI,  it's now the late 1930s, which means that an entirely new World War is brewing on the horizons... and our favorite lady detective (well, perhaps she's a close tie with Miss Fisher) is working with the government (namely, the Secret Service) against the fermenting fascism in Germany.

Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins

Release date: April 5th, 2016
Publisher:  G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Other YA novels: Rebel Belle series: Rebel Belle, Miss Mayhem; the Hex Hall novels:  Hex Hall, Demonglass, Spell Bound; School Spirits 

 The brilliantly hilarious Rebel Belle books have managed to merge old-fashioned Southern traditions with ancient mystical orders to create this fantastically unique series thus far, and I have every confidence that the as the stakes rise in the third book, so will the hilarity (and the hair). 

Once Upon a Dream  and As Old As Time by Liz Braswell

Release date: Once Upon a Dream: April 5th, 2016; As Old As Time: September 6th, 2016
Publisher: Disney Press
Other YA novels: Twisted Tales: A Whole New World; Snow: A Retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (under the pseudonym Tracy Lynn), The Nine Lives of Chloe King series (under the pseudonym Celia Thompson): The Fallen, The Stolen, The Chosen

Once Upon a Dream is the second in Braswell's line of Disney fairy tale retellings — the first being A Whole New World, a YA retelling of Aladdin that elegantly and effectively changed the story for a young adult audience without losing any of the charm of the movie. If Once Upon a Dream is anything like its predecessor, we can look forward to wonderful adaptation of Disney's Sleeping Beauty. According to GoodReads, we can also look forward to the third installment, As Old As Time, this year  - it's a retelling of Disney's Beauty and the Beast slated to be released this fall, though no cover is yet available. 

Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger

Release date: April 26th, 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Other YA novels: Sky Fall series: Let the Sky Fall, Let the Storm Break; Keeper of the Lost Cities series: Keeper of the Lost Cities, Exile, Everblaze, Neverseen

The third installment in the Sky Fall series was one of the books I hoped we'd be blessed with in 2015, but alas, it was never published this past year. Never fear, though — the sure-to-be thrilling final novel will be out this year.

Dream On by Kerstin Gier

Release date: May 3rd, 2016
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company Books for Young Readers
Other YA novels: The Silver Trilogy: Dream a Little Dream; The Precious Stone trilogy: Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, Emerald Green 

Gier's enchanting first novel in the Silver series, Dream a Little Dream (translated from the original German) has all the plot points poised for a thrilling series, and the second novel is sure to not disappoint.

The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

Release date: May 3rd, 2016
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Other YA novels: The Wrath and the Dawn

Renée Ahdieh's amazing The Wrath and the Dawn brilliantly weaves a story of heartbreak, magic, duty, and revenge. While most of the first book centered on Shahrzad's (and by extension, the reader's) growing discoveries amidst her newfound situation, the story is now primed for the conflict slowly built up in the first novel. No matter the end result, Ahdieh is sure to keep readers equally entranced throughout her second novel.

Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin

Release date: May 24th, 2016
Publisher: Tor Teen
Other YA novels: Stranje House series: A School for Unusual Girls

Baldwin's original storyline (Jane Austen meets espionage) was explored through Geogie's perspective on the first book, but the second novel will be told through a different perspective — and against the backdrop of a different international political crisis. If the second novel is half as charming and intriguing as the first, it'll still be a delight to read.

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Release date: May 6th, 2016
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Other YA novels: The Falconer series: The Falconer 

US fans of The Falconer have been waiting for the second book in the reported trilogy since The Falconer was first released in the US in 2014, but while UK readers received The Vanishing Throne last year, US fans have had to wait an extra year — though it hasn't dampened my eager anticipation of the next installment in the series.

Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl 

Release date: ? 2016
Publisher: Marvel Press
Other YA novels: Black Widow: Forever Red; The Castor Chronicles: Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos, Beautiful Redemption; Icons series: Icons, Idols

I can't wait to read Stohl's next installment in her Black Widow saga. While the shocking events of her first Black Widow novel, Black Widow: Forever Red are too spoiler-y to discuss, I think it's safe to say all of the readers want a second novel (and answers to our burning questions about Black Widow's secretive past).

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Release date: September 22nd 2016
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Other YA novels: The Grisha Trilogy: Shadow and Bone, Seige and Storm, Ruin and Rising; Six of Crows series: Six of Crows 

As a sequel to Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom will continue the explosive story of Kaz and his ragtag crew. Unfortunately, neither the cover nor the release date has been revealed at this point.

Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas
Release date: September ? 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Other YA novels: Ash & Bramble

The sequel to Ash & Bramble, Rose & Thorn takes place 50 years after its predecessor. Unfortunately, neither the cover nor the release date has been revealed at this point.

Untitled sequels:

• Untitled second novel of the Lock and Mori series by Heather W. Petty
• Untitled second novel of the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson
• Untitled third novel of the Metal & Lace series by Kathryn Rose
• Untitled third novel of the Embassy Row series by Ally Carter
• Untitled third novel of the Lone City series by Amy Ewing
• Untitled fourth novel of the Stoker & Holmes novels by Colleen Gleason 
• Untitled fifth novel in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger

Some of my favorite novels of 2015 are listed as the first in a series on GoodReads...but don't list a pending next novel. So, here are some sequels I'm hoping will be published in 2016: 

• Possible sequel to Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George
• Possible sequel to Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson
• Possible fourth novel in the Maids of Honor series by Jennifer McGowan 

What books are you looking forward to this year? Share in the comments or tweet me @YALitFrenzy on Twitter.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

YA Friday Book Review: Six of Crows

Six of Crows
by Leigh Bardugo
Audience: Young Adult
Henry Holt and Company (September 27, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 

"Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

The Grisha Trilogy is one of my favorite fantasy series, and I was simultaneously thrilled and hesitant when I received an ARC of Six of Crows - I was excited to return to the world of the Grisha series, but afraid that that it wouldn't be as fantastic as her previous books. But I had nothing to fear - Six of Crows is just as brilliant, but different. While the Grisha series is the classic "pre-destined teenager joins the resistance against the oppressive powers that be" story, Six of Crows is the "ragtag team of distrustful misfits comes together for the ultimate heist" story. It's the difference between the original Star Wars films and Guardians of the Galaxy - both are fantastic movies, but differ significantly. The first of Bardugo's newest trilogy, Six of Crows delivers just as much amazing action, character development, and romance as the Grisha series did. Each of the six team members has their own distinct background and intentions, tied together begrudgingly only by their shared interest in preventing the formula for a powerful, Grisha-enhancing drug from falling into the wrong hands. Trickery, backstabbing, unexpected attraction, and surprises abound at every turn, and though the book is paced quickly at some points, it masterfully mirrors the high-stakes situation the characters find themselves in. Leigh Bardugo's brilliance lies in how she weaves together the narrative of the six different characters, balancing their backstories and their underhanded motives against one another, all the while further fleshing out the world of the Grisha - the fraught political situations as well as the physical settings/geography. Readers get a larger picture of the world in the novels - the majority of the novel is set either in Ketterdam or Fjerda, and though the Darkling has been defeated, Grisha still face a multitude of problems - enslavement, capture, and now, the possibility of the endless power of jurda parem at the cost of crippling dependence. But Grisha politics are only one facet of the delicate political situation of Ketterdam, which is far more insidious than it might seem...

Six of Crows is perfect for fans of the Grisha trilogy and readers new to the Grisha world alike.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday Book Review: Walk On Earth A Stranger

Walk On Earth A Stranger
by Rae Carson
Audience: Young Adult
Greenwillow Books (September 22, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat
 

Description from GoodReads:

"Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I'm a fan of both historical fiction and fantasy, so I was intrigued when I heard about Walk On Earth A Stranger. Definitely leaning more on the side of historical fiction than fantasy, the novel follows Leah Westfall, who possesses a unique gift - the ability to sense gold. And when gold is found in California, sparking the Gold Rush, Leah embarks on the harsh journey to California - seeking not only the chance of financial success but to escape from her uncle,  who mysteriously appears after the murder of her parents. Along the journey, Leah must disguise herself as a boy as she searches not only freedom but for her identity amongst the fellow travelers (including her best friend Jefferson, the only person who actually understands her situation). The story is complex, weaving the everyday struggles of journeying across the country mid-19th century with the classic "strong young woman on the run disguises herself as a boy" plotline (actually, see my review for Under a Painted Sky for a similar read, although without the fantasy element) and Leah's twisted family history, making for an intricate and satisfying read. Her relationship with Jefferson is not only believable but feels authentic, and their intertwining character development was one of the most enjoyable parts of the book (although by no means the only thing I enjoyed). While the bulk of the story focuses on Leah and Jefferson's journey to California, Walk On Earth A Stranger is the first of three books in the Gold Seer trilogy (yay!), so I have a feeling that their life in California - as well as Leah's powers - will be explored more in-depth in the next books. 

Walk On Earth A Stranger is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a serving of fantasy on the side. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday News: Harry Potter

There's a plethora of news related to the universally adored Harry Potter book series, so I thought I'd summarize it all and put it in one place:

1. Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

Hogwarts in the Universal Orlando Park.

The new addition to the Universal Theme Park in Hollywood has been under construction for the past couple of years, modeled after the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando (which I was privileged enough to get to go to back in 2012 with my family). The Hollywood version, according to the interactive map tour that was released a couple of days ago, seems to be almost exactly the same as the Wizarding World in Florida (or as it was when I went there). The set up is as follows: Hogsmeade (filled with familiar stores) and Hogwarts (which houses the incredible Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride), with a little area off-set from Hogwarts with Hagrid's Hut, which serves as the backdrop for the Flight of the Hippogriff ride. Both are great rides - Flight of the Hippogriff is a relatively short roller coaster, similar to the Go Coaster in ToonTown and Big Thunder Mountain (both at Disneyland); Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an amazing ride - people are seated in "bookshelves" that are on an animatronic arm that swings them through animatronic scenes, while also occasionally placing them in front of a small conical screen that shows scenes (for those familiar with Disneyland, it's sort of a combination of the Radiator Springs Racers, Star Tours, and the now non-existant Soarin' Over California, may it rest in peace). 

Me and my sister outside of Hogwarts in the Orlando park back in 2012. Adorable. 

The only part the Hollywood version seems to be lacking is the Dragon Challenge - a Triwizard Tournament/dragon-themed roller coaster that was adapted from the Dueling Dragons ride that existed in the park pre-Wizarding World. Of course, now there's all of Diagon Alley (with the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts roller coaster inside inside the wizard bank, also involving a dragon) in Florida as well, in the other Universal park - with the Hogwarts Express running back and forth to connect the two. Sigh. Unfortunately, land prices in Southern California are vastly steeper than in Florida, so it's unlikely that we'll be getting a Diagon Alley soon (though we can hope...). 

2. JK Rowling - new children's book?

credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

JK Rowling has been writing since the end of the Harry Potter series - The Casual Vacancy, as well as the Comoran Strike mystery novels (published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith), have kept her plenty busy. But all of these books (four so far) have been for adults - until the news broke last Monday that she's been working on a new children's book. Here's to hoping it'll be just as brilliant and magical as the Harry Potter books are!

But Rowling has also forayed into writing outside of books...

3. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

credit: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/

Specifically, she wrote the script(s) for the two-part sequel play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. When the news of a Harry Potter play was released ago, there was rampent speculation that it was a prequel to the novels - which JK Rowling denied, though she never explained exactly what it was. But then it came out that the plays are a sequel, not a prequel, and as the tagline states, "The eighth story. Nineteen years later," which deals with Harry's son, Albus. VIP tickets went on sale on October, and sold out almost instantly. The regular tickets were released to the public for purchase on October 30th, at 11:00 AM GMT. Which is 4:00 AM PCT (my local time), and since I had the day off of school, and I'll be in Britain when the show opens, I woke up at 3:30 AM PCT to be ready to get tickets... only to discover that there was a pre-queue (queue means line), which I was around the 9,000th person in said queue (I'm not being hyperbolic - I legitimately was in somewhere around the 9,000th person waiting in line). By the time I was able to get tickets (about 5:00 AM PCT), the earliest I could get tickets for myself and my family would have been for the end of August. But hopefully the show will do well enough in the West End (which, if the ticket sales are any indication, it will be very successful) that it'll come to America sometime soon. And by America I mean New York. And then I'll have to wait to see if it does well enough in New York that it'll come to Los Angeles. One can only hope.

4. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

credit: ww.ew.com

a. Title

credit: www.thewrap.com/

The title artwork was revealed a couple of days ago. Isn't the lettering lovely? The lettering for the Harry Potter movies (and the American covers) was so distinct and recognizable - I'm glad they they put just as much effort into the lettering for this movie. Hopefully the team behind the movie put in just as much effort as they did in the Harry Potter films, in all areas.

b. First Look

credit: www.ew.com

Entertainment Weekly's cover features Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the film, as well as eight exclusive images. Check out their website to see the stills, as well as read a host of different articles about the movie.

c. Plot

credit: www.ew.com

In addition to the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child scripts, and all of her recent books, Ms. Rowling has also written the screenplay for the Harry Potter spin-off/prequel movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Those of us who were around when the Harry Potter novels were first published remember that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, in addition to being two of Harry's required textbooks in the novels, were actually written and published by Rowling as fun little books for the fans. However, the Fantastic Beasts movie actually chronicles the exploits of magizooligist Newt Scamander, the fictitious author of the book, as he journeys to America in the 1920's in search of, well, fantastic beats (which he collects in his suitcase, similar to Hermione's bag in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows). However, the American wizarding community is facing persecution from the muggle community, which presents quite the problem when some of the fantastic beats escape. Read more here.

d. Wizarding Nomenclature

credit: www.ew.com

Apparently, "muggle" isn't the term of choice in America for non-magical people - it's "no-maj," short for no-magic. The internet is not pleased, myself included...although when I picture a 1920's flapper with a New York accent saying it, it definitely makes more sense. 

Here's to all the exciting Harry Potter news! 

credit: www.mtv.com

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday Book Review: Ash and Bramble

Ash and Bramble
by Sarah Prineas
Audience: Young Adult
HarperTeen (September 15, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"A prince.

A ball.

A glass slipper left behind at the stroke of midnight.

The tale is told and retold, twisted and tweaked, snipped and stretched, as it leads to happily ever after.

But it is not the true Story.

A dark fortress.

A past forgotten.

A life of servitude.

No one has ever broken free of the Godmother’s terrible stone prison until a girl named Pin attempts a breathless, daring escape. But she discovers that what seems to be freedom is a prison of another kind, one that entangles her in a story that leads to a prince, a kiss, and a clock striking midnight. To unravel herself from this new life, Pin must choose between a prince and another—the one who helped her before and who would give his life for her. Torn, the only thing for her to do is trade in the glass slipper for a sword and find her own destiny."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
Dystopia and fairy-tale retellings are two of the biggest trends in YA right now, but no book perfectly combines the two the way Ash and Bramble does. The first third of the book is set in an oppressive fortress of the Godmother, who kidnaps her workers from the countryside, wipes their memories, and forces them to produce items for the people within Story. Pin is different from the rest of the workers, though - she secretly possesses a magic thimble, and when her job as a seamstress overlaps with the job of Shoe, she falls in love - and the two escape. But no one can escape Story, the oppressive force that imposes a set fairy tale onto the lives of other kidnapped people, and soon enough Pin once again has her memories wiped - but this time her prison is far more insidious. Pin, now Pen, is forced to live out the titular role of Cinderella, trapped within the oppression of Story; meanwhile, Shoe (who managed to escape relatively unscathed) manages to find Pen, and together they join the storybreakers in their rebellions against the Godmother and Story itself. The novel is a brilliant mash-up of the enticingly glittering and saccharine story Pen is lived out and the harsh reality of the dystopian oppression behind it. Pin is emotionally complex - she honestly doesn't know if she loves Shoe or the prince she's been assigned to love, if she wants to know her past, if rebelling against her new life as a potential princess is worth it; it is that complexity that elevates Pin from other dystopian protagonists, who often lack that sense of emotional ambiguity in favor of strong but blind political beliefs. One of the aspects of the book I enjoyed most was how Story is essentially symbolic of patriarchal European ideas - in order to break Story, the storybreakers must change the story they are living within to such an extent that Story can no longer continue on, and for one of the storybreakers (forced into the role of Rapunzel), falling in love with another woman is enough to stop Story in its tracks (at this point in the book I imagined a robot with steam pouring out of it, screaming "LESBIAN PRINCESS DOES NOT COMPUTE WITH HETERONORMATIVE EUROPEAN PATRIARCHY," Dalek-style); in breaking the stories, the storybreakers also often force princes to confront the idea that they're entitled to women (as seen within the Rapunzel story as well as Pen's Cinderella story). The book ends on an ambiguous note - there is still a world filled with potential out far beyond the reach of Godmother, waiting for the storybreakers to discover, but I'm content with that - Pin and Shoe have their own story now, and whether or not the reader is privy to that narrative, the reader is left with hope, which is ultimately far more satisfying than a blandly happy ending. 

Ash and Bramble is a brilliant read, great for those who enjoy dystopia, fairy tales, or both. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.