Author of award-winning, adventurous realistic and historical fiction

Superlatives Blogfest 2013: Best in Show

Dec 19, 2013 | , , , , , , ,

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It’s time for the 3rd Annual YA Superlative Blogfest! Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman host this blogfest, which highlights favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements. It’s fun to go through the list of 2013 YA releases I’ve read, and it’s even more fun to get a bunch of new titles to add to my TBR list. Today wraps up the blogfest with Best in Show.

Best in Show

Favorite Cover: I loved the cover for The Art of Wishing–it was dreamy but grounded, and it had a lovely script-inspired font.
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime (Book you couldn’t put down): The 5th Wave, definitely. Once I started reading, I should’ve cleared my calendar. It was truly unputdownable.
Best Repeat Performance (Favorite sequel or follow-up): This feels like a cheat, but Just One Year. Both books were their own stories within a closely tied pair. I suppose Just One Year could’ve felt redundant, but instead it built on the story in Just One Day, beautifully.
Best Old-Timer (Your favorite read of the year published BEFORE 2013): I finally read Code Name Verity this year, which was worth the wait. (Or maybe I shouldn’t have waited, because it’s a really excellent, powerful book.)
Book Most Likely to Make a Grown Man Cry: Probably Second Chance Summer, which is such a tearjerker that the book should be shrink-wrapped with a big box of Kleenex.
Most Pleasant Surprise (Book you didn’t think you’d like, but totally did): I’m going to have to give this one to The 5th Wave, too–I don’t like aliens, and sci fi/dystopians are not usually my thing. But I really enjoyed this one. 
Favorite Outlier (Favorite picture, middle grade, or adult 2013 book): A favorite MG of this year was Tim Federle’s Better Nate Than Ever, which is hilarious and heartwarming, and should be required reading for mildly disgruntled New Yorkers. It made me want to go kick up my heels in Times Square–and that’s saying something!
My superlative: Best Friendship: And that goes to Red. I love reading about strong, honest, and supportive female friendships, and that’s exactly what Felicity’s trio is!

What were your picks for Head of the Class? I skipped over a few categories, so I’d love to hear your picks for those!

Reviews!

Dec 17, 2013 | , , ,

In the December 15th issue, Kirkus reviewed When Audrey Met Alice–and they liked it!

“This charming debut brings Alice Roosevelt to life when 13-year-old ‘first daughter’ Audrey finds Alice’s century-old diary and turns to it for advice . . .  Behrens invents a fictional Alice, as she reveals in her author’s note, and writes the diary entries in credible period prose that’s still accessible to modern readers. Audrey knows that she’s just a normal girl for all that she lives in the White House, making Audrey and the story nicely accessible.

An appealing journey and a fascinating life.”

The full Kirkus review is here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rebecca-behrens/when-audrey-met-alice/

And Publishers Weekly called When Audrey Met Alice an “entertaining debut” and said, “Alice’s (invented) journal entries appear throughout and offer a window into the life of this fearless historical figure though, as Behrens notes, ‘when it came to good fiction versus factual accuracy, fiction won.’ Details of life in the White House, combined with Audrey’s more ordinary struggles (including the potential for a first boyfriend), will keep readers hooked.” The full PW review is here: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4022-8642-1.

It’s pretty surreal to see my book in Kirkus and PW, and I couldn’t be happier with what the reviewers have said. 🙂

Superlatives Blogfest 2013: Head of the Class

Dec 16, 2013 | , , , , ,

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It’s time for the 3rd Annual YA Superlative Blogfest! Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman host this blogfest, which highlights favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements. It’s fun to go through the list of 2013 YA releases I’ve read, and it’s even more fun to get a bunch of new titles to add to my TBR list. Today kicks off the blogfest with Head of the Class, and I’ll be posting again on Thursday for Best in Show.

Head of the Class 

Favorite Science Fiction: I was a little iffy on how to categorize The 5th Wave, but I’m pretty sure it fits best as Science Fiction. This book is riveting, and I can’t wait for the sequel, out this spring. Coming from someone who regularly has nightmares about alien invasions, that says a lot.

Favorite Contemporary: Sure, Just One Day/Just One Year are technically romances. But what I loved about this contemporary duo was how the very romantic story was about self-discovery (for both characters!) as it was about love and passion. The journey, both literal and figurative, that we went on with Allyson and Willem was as sweetly compelling as the romance.

Favorite Historical Fiction: Out of the Easy is full of secrets and strong women and a really great setting (the French Quarter of New Orleans in the 1950s). Ruta Sepetys again has created characters and places that you can’t soon forget.

Favorite Comedy: Alison Cherry’s Red is technically a satire–and it’s a wickedly funny one. IMHO, the best humor is smart humor, and the pageant shenanigans in Scarletville are full of that.

Favorite Paranormal: Speaking of funny, The Art of Wishing is also hilarious–and full of action and romance. Margo is a relatable, funny, and smart narrator, and I adored her passion for music. I’m excited for The Fourth Wish this spring, so I can figure out what happens next with gender-bendy genies.

Favorite Family Drama: Bring your tissues for the family drama in Second Chance Summer, which tackles very tough subject matter with grace, empathy, love, and just the right amount of humor. This one is moving and memorable.

What were your picks for Head of the Class? I skipped over a few categories (Favorite Dystopian, Favorite Fantasy, Favorite Action/Adventure, Favorite Mystery, Favorite Romance, Favorite Genre Bender), so I’d love to hear your picks for those!

Bookanista Rec: The Desperate Adventures of Zeno & Alya

Dec 5, 2013 | , , , ,

It’s time for another Bookanista recommendation: Jane Kelley’s heartwarming and hopeful MG The Desperate Adventures of Zeno & Alya.

Here’s the summary from Goodreads:

17261182An orphaned African grey parrot who can speak 127 words. A girl so sick, she has forgotten what it means to try. Fate––and a banana nut muffin––bring them together. Will their shared encounter help them journey through storms inside and out? Will they lose their way, or will they find what really matters?

Here is a story that will remind readers how navigating so many of life’s desperate adventures requires friendship and, above all, hope.

I totally fell in love with Zeno, the “booful, briyant bird” at the heart of this story—and I’m slightly in awe of the incredible voice Jane Kelley created for the feathered characters in this story, from parrots to pigeons to hawks. I knew a little about the intelligence of African grey parrots before reading this book; now I’m fascinated by them. (Kelley drew from Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s research on parrots to write the book—read this article on the famously intelligent real bird Alex to learn more about them.)

But The Desperate Adventures of Zeno & Alya isn’t only an animal story; it’s also a book about a young girl struggling to fight a devastating illness. I enjoyed the realistic depiction of Alya’s loving family (particularly her supportive older brother), who all work so hard to take care of her during her cancer treatment. But I loved that it was through Alya’s serendipitous relationship with Zeno that she gained hope and strength.

Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite MG reads of the year: for its richly drawn and relatable characters, skilled writing, and uplifting powerful message.

I’ll never eat another banana nut muffin without smiling and thinking fondly of the most brilliant bird in Brooklyn.

See what my fellow Bookanistas are recommending today:

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