Posts Tagged: young adult

NEW VOICES, A WORD FROM THE EDITOR: BLACK BOY, WHITE SCHOOL

Posted by Molly | January 4, 2012 | 1 Comment

Next in our New Voices series, we’re so pleased to share BLACK BOY, WHITE SCHOOL, by debut novelist Brian F. Walker.

CLICK HERE to read an excerpt!

Fans of Walter Dean Myers and Rita Williams-Garcia will be swept up in debut author Brian F. Walker’s fast-paced, hard-hitting novel about staying true to yourself. Can Anthony Jones, a ghetto kid from East Cleveland, find a way to survive at elite Maine prep school Belton Academy?

You might see echoes of Anthony’s story in the author’s own: Brian F. Walker grew up in East Cleveland, where he ran with gangsters, drug dealers and thugs until age fourteen, when he was sent to an elite boarding school and a world he had no way of understanding.  Learn even more about Brian tomorrow, when we put him through our hard-hitting, sweat-inducing interview.

Today Brian’s editor, the inimitable Phoebe Yeh, gives us a peek inside of what drew her in to Brian’s story:

Even though I’ve been in the children’s publishing business for twenty years plus now, there’s NOTHING like the vicarious thrill of discovering new talent.  When I read BLACK BOY WHITE SCHOOL for the first time, it was perhaps twice the length it is now.  But I could still see the potential, just from reading the first few paragraphs.  The rest of the story held up as novelist Brian Walker took me on a roller coaster ride with Anthony “Ant” Jones and his journey out of East Cleveland and back.  I knew the writing would connect with teens.  And it was also the kind of writing I’m particularly drawn to as an editor: hard-hitting, sarcastic at times, true and honest.   It was definitely my kind of book.

Brian is not the first novelist to tackle themes about teen alienation/coming-of-age/race.  But his unflinching, pitch-perfect voice makes Ant real.  You are in East Cleveland with him as his best friend gets shot; disoriented in Maine; awkward and fearful back home, defiant and unafraid to take a stand.  It’s a compelling read that gives you a jolt, just the way good books do.  And this is why Brian received his first book contract.

STAY TUNED for our next post, when we’ll Open the Book with debut author Brian F. Walker!

HAIL THE CONQUERING NCTE HERO

Posted by Molly | November 15, 2011 | No Comments

Look who we have here, why, it’s Veronica Roth, author of mega-loved dystopian YA novel DIVERGENT. 

And what’s that she’s holding? Why it’s an award from the National Council of Teachers of English for “outstanding performance in writing,” awarded to her in 2005 while she was still a wee high school student.  And now it’s all come full circle– Veronica will be at NCTE’s Annual Convention this year (the 100th anniversary!), signing DIVERGENT in the HarperCollins Children’s Booth (#513) and speaking on an ALAN Workshop (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents) panel about future worlds.  Those NCTE folks sure know what they’re talking about!

DARK EDEN: BOOK AND APP

Posted by Molly | November 2, 2011 | No Comments

WE ARE SEVEN STRANGERS

NO ONE CAN FIND US

SIX THINK THE CURE WILL WORK

ONLY I KNOW THE TRUTH

THIS PLACE WILL DESTROY US

When Will Besting approaches Fort Eden for the first time, he knows something isn’t right. With more terrifying secrets at every turn he discovers a hidden fear deep inside himself, a dark mystery a thousand years in the making, and the unexpected girl of his dreams. But can he save everyone from the dangers of Fort Eden before it’s too late?

Bestselling author Patrick Carman’s DARK EDEN is not only a psychological thrill ride of a book, but also an app– a 14 episode experience (the first of which is free) with maps, videos, audio diaries, and journal entries that tell the story.  The book and the app truly go hand-in-hand, and if even that’s not enough for you… there’s more!

Take THE FEAR TEST, which will show you your darkest fears… and may (warning!) scare you a little in the process, check out the Facebook DARK EDEN fan site for updates.  Join us in Dark Eden… where fear is the cure.

Dark Eden is available in bookstores now (what a great publication date– 11.1.11!).

HAPPY HARPER HALLOWEEN!

Posted by Molly | November 1, 2011 | No Comments

We bookmaking folk take our Halloweening pretty seriously. How many HarperCollins Children’s characters can you spot in the photos above (taken in our photo studio/elevator bank)?

FALLING INTO PAPERBACK: BEFORE I FALL

Posted by Molly | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

So guess what heartwrenching, totally compelling, irresistible book goes on sale in paperback today? Surely the title of this blog post didn’t give it away… oh wait. Around here, we’ve FALLen hard for all things Lauren Oliver (who you’ll remember not only from her beyond-awesome books, but from the terrifyingly, gut-gripping, hard-hitting interview we put her through here). Because can you believe it? Since New York Times Bestseller BEFORE I FALL came out in Winter ’11, DELIRIUM published this February (PANDEMONIUM will be on-sale 3.6.12!), and the magical middle grade LIESL & PO published earlier this month! Sheesh Lauren, do you ever sleep?

If you’re lucky enough to live near Haverford, PA or Naperville, IL, you can catch Lauren in action and hear her read from Liesl & Po at these upcoming events:

Tuesday, October 25th, Haverford, PA- Children’s Book World (17 Haverford Station Road), 7:00PM

Wednesday, October 26th, Naperville, IL- Anderson’s Bookshop (123 West Jefferson), 7:00PM

Don’t miss the READING GUIDE for Before I Fall, available for download.

And because we can’t help but brag about awesome reviews and blurbs, a few for BEFORE I FALL to whet your appetite:

• “Oliver’s debut novel is raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful…readers will love Samantha best as she hurtles toward an end as brave as it is heartbreaking.”–Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
• “Samantha’s attempts to save her life and right the wrongs she has caused are precisely what will raw readers into this compex story and keep them turning pages until Sam succeeds in living her last day the right way.”–VOYA (starred review)
• “This story races forward, twisting in a new direction every few pages, its characters spinning my emotions from affection to frustration, anger to compassion.  You’ll have no choice but to tear through this book!”–Jay Asher, author of the New York Times bestseller Thirteen Reasons Why
• “Before I Fall is smart, complex, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Lauren Oliver has written an extraordinary debut novel about what it means to live–and die.”–Carolyn Mackler, author of Tangled and The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, a Printz Honor book

Dark Days Author Tour Kickoff!

Posted by Laura | October 6, 2011 | No Comments

Today is the kickoff of the Dark Days author tour!  There is a Livestream event TODAY from 4:00 – 5:35 pm EST, featuring Claudia Gray, Kiersten White, Amy Garvey, Anna Carey, and Jocelyn Davies!  Check it out here: http://www.livestream.com/epicreads.

The tour officially begins on October 12th at the Barnes and Noble store in Lynnwood, Washington.  Check the tour dates to find out if the Dark Days tour will be stopping by your city:

Wednesday, October 12th
7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Lynnwood, WA
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Anna Carey (EVE)

Thursday, October 13th
7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Huntington Beach, CA
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Anna Carey (EVE)

Friday, October 14th
Time TK
Tattered Cover
Highland Ranch, CO
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)

Saturday, October 15th
1:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Boulder, CO
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)

Sunday, October 16th
2:00 PM
Anderson’s
Naperville, IL
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)
*This event will be Livestreamed.

Exciting Up-and-Coming Reads

Posted by Laura | August 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

As book lovers, we all have something in common: there’s too much to read and too little time.  When I’m having a hard time deciding, I’ll often as my colleague Heather Doss.  She’s one of our National Account Managers and one of the most well-read and knowledgeable children’s/young adult folks I know.  So when I asked Heather which teen books she was excited about for the upcoming fall season, here’s what she told me:

SWEET VENOM by Tera Lynn Childs
ISBN 9780062001818
On-sale 9.6.11

“I’m a sucker for anything that is a retelling or twist of classic myths so was drawn to this book from the initial description. With three main characters each having their own personalities, this is perfect for teens that have grown up reading Percy Jackson while watching reruns of Buffy.”

DEADLY COOL by Gemma Halliday
ISBN 9780062003317
On-sale 10.11.11

“A murder mystery with a snarky Heathers feel so funny I literally spit a French fry at a pigeon while reading…genius!

VARIANT by Robinson Wells
ISBN 9780062026088
On-sale 10.4.11

“As a voracious reader, I feel like I’ve read it all & can usually figure out the plot before page 100 (not that that will stop me from reading). This boarding school thriller had a plot twist that I did NOT see coming & still has me puzzled to this day as to ‘what it all means’.”

THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson
ISBN 9780062026484
On-sale 9.20.11

“A fantasy for those who think they don’t like that genre, a setting that is lush & exotic, a romance that develops naturally & not instantaneously, a female protagonist who starts off unsure of herself & finds her inner warrior: this one has all the elements of my favorite books combined into one fantastic read!”

FROST by Marianna Baer
ISBN 9780061799495
On-sale 9.13.11

“Call it the ‘attack of boarding school thrillers’ but this one had a very different feel from VARIANT: deliciously psychologically creepy while leaving you wondering by the end who or what was behind it all.”

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin
ISBN 9781442421769
On-sale 9.27.11

“I’d had this debut from Simon & Schuster on my GoodReads list for over a year & dived into it the second I got my greedy little hands on the ARC: a psychological mystery wrapped in a steamy romance & a hint of paranormal activity.”

BUZZ ALERT: THE BERLIN BOXING CLUB

Posted by Laura | August 3, 2011 | No Comments

THE BERLIN BOXING CLUB, by award-winning author Robert Sharenow (My Mother the Cheerleader), has been given THREE STARRED REVIEWS!  Here is what everyone is raving about:

“Sharenow delivers a masterful historical novel that examines racism through the eyes of both children and real historical figures.” ~ Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A story with well-drawn, complex characters, gripping history, and intense emotion.” ~ School Library Journal (starred review)

“Readers will be drawn by the sports detail and by the close-up narrative of the daily oppression.” ~ Kirkus (starred review)

Robert Sharenow’s editor, the fabulous Kristin Rens, recently shared with us what it is about the story and Robert’s writing that drew her to the story when she first read it:

It’s hard to talk about just one thing that struck me about BERLIN BOXING CLUB, because when I read the first draft I was struck by something new on almost every page: there’s Rob’s writing, which is eloquent and moving; there’s the way he beautifully marries the political and social upheaval happening around Karl with the life-altering events that take place in his own family; and there’s Karl’s quest to find his own unique talents through boxing and art—a quest to which any teen can relate. Most of all, though, I was struck by the fact that Rob was writing about this place and time from a point of view that I hadn’t seen before: that of a teen boy whose heritage is Jewish, but because his parents haven’t raised him in the Jewish faith, he doesn’t consider himself Jewish. In fact, at the beginning of the story he identifies more with boys in the Hitler Youth than he does with his Jewish classmates. And his struggle to understand why he’s being bullied for a faith that he doesn’t really embrace as his own is absolutely heartrending.

Pick up THE BERLIN BOXING CLUB to see what the buzz is all about!  And check out the following links for more info:

• Robert Sharenow’s website, which includes a discussion guide, tips for writing historical fiction, and more.
• Ms. Yingling Reads’ review
• A wonderful review from Huntington News
• THE BERLIN BOXING CLUB is a Junior Library Guild pick!

WICKED LOVELY Series Discussion Guide

Posted by Laura | June 7, 2011 | No Comments

Finally, for all the Melissa Marr and Wicked Lovely fans in your schools and libraries, we present the Wicked Lovely Series Discussion Guide. Check it out!

And while you’re at it, watch the haunting and gorgeous book trailer for DARKEST MERCY, the last book in the Wicked Lovely series:

And check out some blog reviews for DARKEST MERCY:

• My Friend Amy
• Gay YA
• Bookshelves of Doom

HarperCollins’ Fall 2011 Librarian Preview

Posted by Laura | June 6, 2011 | 2 Comments

Last week we had our Fall 2011 Librarian Preview where we invited librarians from the tri-state area to the NewsCorp building, plying them with food and books.  Our editors got into the act, showing off their biggest and best books for the upcoming season – and this was the first preview where we had editors sharing book covers on their iPads versus sharing the physical galleys.  Here’s a taste of how it went:

Editorial Director Tara Weikum shares the cover for DEAD RULES by Randy Russell on her iPad.

Barbara Lalicki, Senior VP and Editorial Director, tells her table all about the upcoming WOLF STORM by Dee Garretson, a non-stop action story that will grab boy readers.

Donna Bray, VP and Co-Publisher of Balzer+Bray, demonstrates why kids are going to adore Brian Biggs‘ EVERYTHING GOES: ON LAND.  It’s Richard Scarry meets Where’s Waldo with a dash of  David Macaulay!

Katherine Tegen, VP and Publisher of Katherine Tegen Books, talks about the multi-platform DARK EDEN by Patrick Carman, demonstrating the app on her iPad.

Want to hear more about our 2011 titles?  Stop by booth #1315 at the ALA Annual Conference later this month for galleys, posters, and lots of swag!

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