One Window, Two Views {2014 Trends in YA}

One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view.  Please join the discussion! 

 Arianne: Sci-fi is going to be huge this year. Huge. And it’s not just any old sci-fi, either. There are two big trends to watch out for in young adult science fiction for 2014: aliens, particularly aliens really wanting to inhabit the Earth, and technology, particularly scary technology from the not-too-distant future. Some of the alien adventures, like Alienated by Melissa Landers and Avalon by Mindee Arnett, involve romance. Some of the technology-based titles, like Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam, involve romance, too. Others, like Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke and Starbreak by Phoebe North, involve entirely different worlds. But there’s also an emerging focus on adventure over insta-love, and this is where novels like Scan by Sarah Fine and Vitro by Jessica Khoury come in. Because sci-fi’s always been a place where relationship conflicts and ass-kicking adventure can co-exist, and that’s one thing that I hope doesn’t change this year.

As dystopian and paranormal lose their publishing appeal, contemporary is making a comeback. For a genre that’s always been pretty strong, it’s outdone itself in 2014. First, there are books like #Scandal by Sarah Ockler and #16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler that take the emphasis on social media last seen in books like Adorkable by Sarra Manning and bring it to a whole new level. I for one did not foresee the arrival of hashtags in book titles! Male narrators are coming into their own this year – who said there weren’t enough guy characters in YA?! The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson, High and Dry by Sarah Skilton, More Than Good Enough by Crissa-Jean Chappell and Road Rash by Mark Parsons set out to prove that contemporary is just as much a guy’s terrain as a girl’s. There’s also been an increase in books that take advantage of teenagers’ desire to get out and see the world. Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae, Royally Lost by Angie Stanton, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins and The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith are just some of the books in this trend that I can’t wait to get my hands on. In fact, I think contemporary is going to be my favourite genre of all in 2014! What about you, Liza?

Liza: Arianne, I think some of the new trends also include Thriller / Mystery / Horror (I’m grouping them together to make it easier on myself!)  These are genres that I’m usually very selective about, especially with horror, because I’m a wimp when it comes to that.  It seems that publishers are looking for the next “Gone Girl” equivalent in YA. Nevertheless, I’ve spotted some books that fall in these categories and that I would love to read (and I even own some of them already).  Let’s start with Jennifer Armentrout’s Don’t Look Back which sounds like an amazing mystery, the same as The Body in the Woods by April Henry. I’m currently reading a unique combination of horror, mystery and graphic novel, In the Shadows by Kierten White and Jim Di Bartolo.  Other books in this category are The Vanishing Season by Lynn Anderson, The Fall by Bethany Griffin, Say Her Name by James Dawson, and Feral by Holly Schinder.  Now that I think about it, I’ve had more of these as my WOW in the past several weeks!

Also big this year is Fantasy.  After the sound successes of series like the Throne of Glass by Sara Maas, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo, publishers are looking for more of the good stuff; after all it’s been proven that the YA reader loves fantasy.  This year brings some pretty amazing reads that aim to transport us to new worlds.  Let’s start with The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and Death Sworn by Leah Cypess, two of my recent reads and already favorites.  The first about the conquest, conquerors and love against all odds, and the second about a world where the Empire, Magic and Assassins rule the world.  Another awaited title is The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Peason, Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raash, and Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White. You might notice that most of these books might also include some type of paranormal element, such as magic, as well.  Oh, and it seems that it’s a requisite to have a gorgeous cover too.

I don’t believe that we’ve seen the last of dystopian and paranormal, but rather that the market it’s been saturated in the last few years and YA readers are being more selective of what they read.  Another trend seems to be the emergence of the stand-alone books, probably brought by the resounding success of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.  Books such as Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg (loved it!), This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready and On the Fence by Kasie West seem to be pretty popular.

Let’s talk: What do you think is the next big trend in YA?  Which one of these is your favorite genre? Do you agree with us?  Do you disagree?  Have you read any of these?  Are you eagerly waiting for some of these books?

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Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbook

Title: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Release date: January 29th 2013 by HarperTeen

Source: Library 

Format: Paperback

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Contemporary 

Reviewer: Arianne

Grade rate: B+

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.
Will: Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.
Zoe: Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned. Maybe it'll take forever. I'll stay with him no matter how long it takes to prove that people don't always leave, don't always give up on you.

When I picked up Nobody But Us, it had been months since I'd read a really solid contemporary book. I started reading it on a whim (and on the basis of the beautiful cover), and it took me completely by surprise. It just goes to show how a lack of expectation can really help you make the most of a book. 

The first thing I have to mention is how absolutely stunning the writing in this book was. Nobody But Us is astonishingly well-written. I wasn't sure if I liked Will's narrative style to begin with, but it suits him. Let no-one ever tell you that YA is full of mediocrity ever again, because Kristin Halbrook shows her that when you look beyond the usual suspects, you really can find some unexpected treasures. 

Zoe is just fifteen, but when she's forced to choose between her abusive father and the boyfriend she trusts with her life, there's no hesitation. I loved that Halbrook was unafraid of making her female lead pragmatic as well as head over heels in love with a boy. The boy in question, Will, is heroic to the last, mistreated by the system and desperate to get away; they're the kind of characters who work best when they're together, and you can just feel their commitment to each other as you read.

Zoe and Will are trying to escape a cruel reality of abuse and abandonment, little hope and low expectations. This is something I see a lot across the pond in UKYA, but seeing it in an American setting made the idea seem fresh and new. This book deals with tough themes, like identity and loss of innocence, so of course there are causalities within its pages; as Zoe and Will roll up to Las Vegas, the world is their oyster, but by the time they realize they need to get out, they're already in too deep. Things go wrong and they make mistakes (and when I say mistakes, I mean seriously life-altering, jail-bound decisions that show the true meaning of consequences in a genre that sometimes seems to think consequences don't actually exist). Life rarely goes according to anyone's plan, and Zoe and Will are no exception, despite their aching determination to make things right.

That said, Zoe and Will are not all sweetness and light. Zoe may be naive but it's no excuse for her failure to see the dangers of Will's short fuse and propensity for violence. He wants to look after her, and his past haunts him, but some readers may be put off by the obvious signs that their relationship may not get the happily ever after its participants crave. 

Turning to crime is ultimately their downfall, but the truly saddening thing about Zoe and Will's story is the fact that they have never, ever had anyone else to stand up for them. Their story isn't a romance, it's a tragedy. They run away from their problems because they have no other choice, but the realization that this kind of fate awaits a lot of people who age out of the system will not sit well with any readers who are faint of heart or narrow of mind. 

The realism of Nobody But Us is seen in that it reads like a dream - but like all dreams, someone eventually has to wake up. The ending of the book is horrific. It's utterly heart-breaking, soul-destroying even, but it works. It's where the book should go, even if as a reader you really don't want it to. 

Nobody But Us is the kind of off-the-beaten track contemporary novel everyone needs to read once in a while. It dispenses with the tropes and clichés that threaten to overrun the young adult shelf and focuses on telling a story with clarity, purpose and strong storytelling instead. It's a tough read, but you certainly won't forget it. 

Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Title: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Published: July 2^nd, 2013 by HarperTeen

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Contemporary romance

Grade rate: A

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

My Review

Lately I’d been starting books to only get disinterested by them after a few pages.  When I saw Hannah’s review of this book, I knew I had to try it (*waves at Hannah*).  I love The Distance Between Us!  Such an easy book to read, I devoured it in no time; it was just what the doctor ordered :)

The plot of The Distance Between Us is simple for a contemporary romance, although there is a twist at the end as I suspected.  Now thinking back on the reason that I loved it so, I guess it has to do with a combination of amazing characters, and splendid writing.   I like that there was no instant romance nor was there a marked love triangle.  As I said, the writing is superb, as is the characterization.

Caymen is a big believer in irony.  Her thoughts and comments are so snarky, testy and critical of everything and everyone, at least at first impression.  She is prejudiced against the ‘rich’ because she has been raised that way by her mom (I knew there had to be more to that story).  Caymen is pretty, smart, responsible, loyal, and outwardly perfect.  However, she’s missing the experiences of having an active social life, and doing things that she love instead of feeling pressure to do the things her mother wants.  Deep down it seems that she has a pessimistic (or realistic?) personality and is always expecting the worst from everyone.

Xander is mostly awesome.  I am a firm believer that there is someone for everyone, in The Distance Between Us, Xander is Caymen’s someone.  Even though Xander is rich, by not fault of his own, mind you; he is down to earth and was able to see under Caymen’s façade and get under her skin.  He seems to have everything, money, looks, and the best of everything; but he’s reveling against a future that seems to be planned for him.  I think that the ‘game’ he designed to keep seeing Caymen was a stroke of genius. 

I felt bad for Caymen’s mom because she left an experience from her past taint her views of people. I think she grew to be very distrustful, strict, and unbending and tried to infuse these views and feelings to her daughter.  This woman can sure hold a grudge!

This is one of the books that I wish had a sequel or at least a companion book.  Why? Because I felt that there were a lot unanswered questions here.  I would love to see what happens next.  How does Caymen’s relationship with her grandparents develops? What happens next with Xander and Caymen?  Do they get to go to college?  How about the doll store and Caymen’s mom?  See… I need more!  I think Kasie West will quickly become one of my favorite new authors.

About the cover:  I love this cover, the colors, the play of dark and light the couple standing there; holding hands and the font (see how D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E is spelled out to create, well, more distance between the letters). 

Review: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Published: April 2^nd, 2013 by Poppy (Little, Brown and Company)

Source: Library

Format: Hardback

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Contemporary

Challenge(s):  None

Grade rate: B-

If fate sent you an email, would you answer? When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
 Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

My Review

I really enjoyed Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (see my review here) and I’ve been eagerly waiting for the opportunity of reading her latest book. 

The story begins with a series of emails exchanged between Ellie and Graham, after Graham sends an email in error about his pet pig.  Ellie replies and thus the couple communicate anonymously with each other the span of a few months.   The advantage of not knowing the person at the other end of the country is that they both got to be themselves, and they genuinely liked each other.

For some reason I couldn’t identify that well with Ellie.  It seems to me that her mother transferred her paranoia and negative experiences with the press to Ellie and in turn, made her feel the same way.  I think she gave up too soon on a potential relationship because of that fact, even if it made her miserable.  On the other hand, I love Graham!  No because he is a handsome and famous actor, but because he is so sweet and considerate in spite of that fact. Although he loves acting, he had a very difficult time adjusting to the fame and what that means.  In part, this is a great coming-off age story of self-discovery and on how to set new boundaries that feel comfortable with the person they were becoming. 

The plot is simple and believable.  Nowadays couples and friend meet all the time through the Internet.  Graham did all he could to make sure he could meet Ellie in person because he felt a real connection to her and also because he was so lonely.  I felt bummed by the fact that Ellie gave up so quickly (before getting her common sense back), and that Graham allowed it.  It slowed the pace of the story considerably, in my opinion.  The escapade on the boat was a little weird to me as well.  The writing is good, and easy to read.   The story is told on the third person and we get to ‘be’ in both of the main character’s minds.

Now we come to my biggest ‘issue’ about this book: what is going on with the ending?  To me, it’s a non-ending!  Way to open for my comfort.  I’m sure other readers will make their own happy endings, but my imagination is not that good.  Couldn’t we get an epilogue, a new string of emails after they met? 

In the end This is What Happy Looks Like turned out to be an enjoyable light contemporary romance, but not as good as Statistical Probability.

Some quotes for you:

“Childhood memories were like airplane luggage; no matter how far you were traveling or how long you needed them to last, you were only ever allowed two bags.”

“He could see her, and it was just like he’d thought. It was just like being punched in the stomach.”

:…How can you know if makes you happy if you never experienced it?”

“There are different kinds of happy,” she said. “Some kinds don’t need any proof.”

“Like sunrises?”

 About the cover:  It’s lovely and appropriate as the story takes place in a beach town in Maine. 

Discussion: Series vs. Stand-Alone Books

I love books, it’s the reason why I spend hours sitting in front of the computer sharing my thoughts with you, promoting authors, and doing all these bloogy things (I know that’s now a word). 

Series are fun and they have their pros and cons, just like everything else in life.  I like series because they allow me to really know the characters, and not only that, the characters tend to evolve more over time.  Sometimes a story is SO GOOD, that it takes a few books to really develop it. 

Lately, it seems that about 70% or more of the books being published are series.  This can be overwhelming, and it’s gotten to a point that I’m hesitant to start yet another series.  Why?  Well, for three reasons: 1) If I don’t like the first book, I don’t feel like reading the rest of the series (too many books to read!), 2) I can’t seem to keep track of all the series anymore!, and 3) it often takes a year or more for the next book to be published, this means that we often have years invested on a series.  Also, some series overstay their welcome.  Does it happen to you that you lose interest halfway to the series?  This happens to me, especially if the series is more than, say… six books long.  I can think on a few of those, but my intent is not to criticize, so instead this is a list of my favorite series:

There's a lot more than these!

Now, lets talk about stand-alone books.  Some of my favorite books are stand-alone stories.  What I like most about them is that I don’t have to wait years for the ending (especially when they end in a cliffhanger).   The downside is that sometimes these books are SO GOOD, that I don’t want them to end.  I know, I know, it seems like I can’t make up my mind, right? (Do you pity hubby right now?)  Here are some of my favorite stand-alone books:

Are you a person that must finish a series?  Do you judge each book independently or the series as a whole?  What are some of your favorite series?  How about stand-alone books?