The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder
Kimberly Derting
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: March 16, 2010
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Source: Library
Series: Book One of Body Finder

*Debut Author Challenge

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Of all the books debuting this year, The Body Finder was the one I most anticipated. I loved the premise, and as the reviews came flooding through my reader I knew this was my kind of book. What I didn't know beforehand was that this was yet another dual narrative, which seems to be a theme around here lately. Seeing things through Violet's eyes was obviously what pulled me in: she's such a relatable character. But getting a glimpse at the workings of a serial killer's mind? That's what didn't let me go.

Despite Violet's talent, this was a fairly contemporary story, which made it all the more gripping. Its realness was chilling. To watch Violet go from searching out the killer to becoming his next target was just the kind of suspense that should occur more often in YA. In a genre of too few true mysteries, The Body Finder delivered just what I'd been missing.

Of course Violet has more than dead bodies and serial killers to worry about. There's her best friend Jay who has suddenly become the school hottie. Violet's struggle with her feelings was painfully cute, and I say painfully because it hurts to think about being that inept at that age (which I was). Jay was also a very likeable character, okay... so I kind of loved him, but it was his relationship with Violet that really made me swoon. I raise my shield to Team Edward when I say, THIS is an acceptable kind of protectiveness. It was sweet, enviable, and completely appropriate. It also created a nice balance with the whole serial killer creepiness.

If I hadn't known this was Kimberly Derting's first novel, I would have never guessed it. She told a gripping story that demands a sequel, and lucky for us, it's hitting shelves this March. Typically I only buy hardbacks of books I've read and loved. I took a chance on buying a copy of The Body Finder, and I am so glad that I did. It was a fantastic debut that earned a very special place on my bookshelf. Lucky for you, Cavalier House Books has copies available for your own shelf.

In My Bag (23)

In My Bag is my version of the weekly meme, In My Mailbox. IMM was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren, and it explores the contents of my mailbox or shopping bag on a weekly basis.

Won:

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

with stories from M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare,

David Levithan, Barry Lyga, Scott Westerfeld, and Sara Zarr

Thanks Jessica for hosting such a great contest! I was ecstatic to win a SIGNED copy of Geektastic on her blog. Jessica actually has two blogs - Forever Young and Jessica Love Writes. Check out both for more contests and all around awesome.

What'd you guys get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It features upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week's pick is...

Like Mandarin

Kirsten Hubbard

Coming March 8, 2011 - Preorder it below

Indiebound | BN | Amazon | Borders

From Goodreads:

It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. 

When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their badlands town. 

Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal.

My thoughts:

Have you heard about The Contemps? They're this super cool group of authors (including some of my favorites like Courtney Summers, Sarah Ockler, and Lisa Schroeder) who have contemporary YA novels coming out between August 2010 and August 2011. Newbie Kirsten Hubbard is one of them, and to be including in such great company speaks volumes to me. I love supporting debut authors, and Kirsten's Like Mandarin sounds like a real gem. I have a soft spot for small town girls with big dreams, and Grace sounds like a girl after my own heart.

The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff

The Absolute Value of -1
Steve Brezenoff
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Released: September 1, 2010
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 296
Source: 1 ARC Tours
*Debut Author Challenge

The absolute value of any number, positive or negative, is its distance from zero: |-1| = 1

Noah, Lily, and Simon have been a trio forever. But as they enter high school, their relationships shift and their world starts to fall apart. Privately, each is dealing with a family crisis—divorce, abuse, and a parent's illness. Yet as they try to escape the pain and reach out for the connections they once counted on, they slip—like soap in a shower. Noah’s got it bad for Lily, but he knows too well Lily sees only Simon. Simon is indifferent, suddenly inscrutable to his friends. All stand alone in their heartache and grief.

In his luminous YA novel, Steve Brezenoff explores the changing value of relationships as the characters realize that the distances between them are far greater than they knew.

The Absolute Value of -1 is, well, a bit different. And I must say, I like different. The story follows Noah, Lily, and Simon and is mostly told from their three perspectives. Noah loves Lily who only has eyes for Simon who really doesn't give a crap. As they enter high school, it's as if time is moving too fast, too many things are happening simultaneously, and the once tight trio is being pulled apart at the seams. I felt like this is the same story of so many of our own lives, the ever-changing world around us and the way we deal - or don't deal - with it.

Thanks to 1 ARC Tours, I was able to read this copy before its release. Ideally I would have posted this review closer to that date, but this was a novel I had to digest slowly. When I finished it I sort of felt a bit shell-shocked and actually waited several days before starting anything new, which is most unlike me. The more I thought, and the more I continue to think about it, the more I appreciate its freshness. Steve Brezenoff's debut is raw and gritty and you can't read it without feeling a little dirty by the end. That said, it was painfully realistic and one of the best contemporary YA novels I've read this year. Who doesn't like a little dirt sometimes?

I was just talking the other day about my love for dual narratives, and this is another perfect example. It's technically not a dual narrative because there are actually four perspectives throughout the book, but you get the idea. The story begins with Lily, then we hear from Noah, and finally we end with Simon. These three voices are sandwiched by brief thoughts from Suzanne, Simon's older sister. As the story moves from voice to voice, things that were fuzzy become clear and each character becomes more human in the eyes of the reader. I must admit that during Lily's narrative, I was not a big fan. But as the story moved on to Noah and Simon, I really started to love her through their eyes. I almost wish the story would have circled back to her, but don't worry - it's kind of perfect the way it is.

With the recent fantasy craze (I'm a fan, too!), The Absolute Value of -1 is an excellent example of the greatness that can be found in contemporary YA. So the next time you need a break from faeries and dragons or if contempt is normally more your thing, consider picking up a copy of Steve Brezenoff's debut. In fact, it's available at Cavalier House Books. Stop by, say hi, and tell them I sent you ;)

In My Bag (22)

In My Bag is my version of the weekly meme, In My Mailbox. IMM is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren, and it explores the contents of my mailbox or shopping bag on a weekly basis.

For review:

Grace by Elizabeth Scott

*copy provided by We Love YA Tours*

The next three books I received from John and Michelle at Cavalier House Books. I visited them this week to discuss our new partnership, and these awesome bookies had more gifts for me!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

I was shocked when Michelle handed this to me! I mean, I had JUST blogged about it that morning. She read my post, thought she happened to have a copy, and sure enough she did.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

The first time I met John and Michelle, they gave me a stack of ARCs which included this book. Upon further digging, they realized they had another copy and thought I might like to give it away. Bonus: it's signed! Keep your eyes out if you want a chance to win it.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

While talking all things books, Michelle said I HAD to read this. It's been on my list for a long time, but now that she's given me a copy, I'll have to move it up.

It was another great week for me as far as books go. What'd you guys get this week?!

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Chasing Brooklyn
Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Released: January 5, 2010
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 432
Source: 1 ARC Tours

Restless souls and empty hearts.

Brooklyn can’t sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca died a year ago, and now their friend Gabe has died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there, waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca chasing her through her dreams.

Nico can’t stop. He’s always running, trying so hard not to feel the pain of missing Lucca. But when he begins receiving messages from his dead brother, telling him to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

I am ashamed to say that I knew nothing of Lisa Schroeder before hearing about Chasing Brooklyn through 1 ARC Tours. However, when she told me she enjoyed my review of If I Stay via Twitter, I was more than flattered, and incredibly humbled, by her compliment. I was already excited just from reading the synopsis, but when I saw what an amazing job Lisa does talking to readers and bloggers, I couldn't wait to read one of her works. When I finally received Brooklyn for review I was blown away. This may be my only experience with her so far, but Lisa could start writing for Kellogg's boxes and I'll read them.

First I must tell you that this book is written in verse. But do not let that deter you because this book is just so, so beautiful. I did not want it to end, which I feel is one of the best compliments I can give an author and her book. The connections made in a novel with such few words is simply chilling. If I try to think of other novels that have gotten such an emotional reaction from me, few come to mind. In fact, this was one of my favorite reads this year that I've been recommending to people left and right. The fact that it is written in verse only makes its impact on me more impressive.

Chasing Brooklyn is told from both Brooklyn and Nico's points of view. I happen to love dual narratives; however, I know some don't and I can see why. Not every writer is able to create two or more distinct voices that readers will relate to. Lisa does an amazing job of developing both perspectives, and the parallels that occur between the two voices is genius. I loved both Brooklyn and Nico, and I felt all of the pain, anger, loss, confusion, and love they felt as I was reading their story.

Lisa's latest novel is, in a word, stunning. I simply cannot stop thinking about it or recommending it to anyone who will listen.

To experience the beauty of Chasing Brooklyn for yourself, copies are available at Cavalier House Books. If you'd like to support your own local booksellers, search IndieBound for a store near you.

Emergency Alert (Don't freak out, it's not really an emergency. Well...)

Yall.

This cannot wait until next Wednesday.

I just
found out
that Megan
freaking
McCafferty
is coming out
with a new book
in April.

I don't even know what it's about yet, but I had to stop everything else I was doing to tell you guys about it. Even if you already know. And, by the way, that wasn't an attempt at a haiku. I just wanted you to hear me telling you about it instead of just reading it.

Thank you, and please return to your regularly scheduled broadcasts.