IMM is a weekly meme that explores the contents of one's mailbox. IMM was started by Kristi at
. Descriptions are from Amazon and book covers.
For Review:
Growing Wings by Laurel Winter(PB/January 2010/Sandpiper)
One morning, Linnet wakes up to discover that she is growing wings - wings with soft auburn feathers, too big to be covered by long hair or loose clothes.
Suddenly, Linnet is full of questions: Does this mean she's not human? Maybe she's an angel or an alien. Or maybe a mutant? Are there others like her? But most important, she asks, how does a girl with wings fit into the world?
I received this from
Teens Read Too. It seems to me that this book could turn out to be really striking. I'm looking forward to it.
Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love by Pat Mora
(HC/January 2010/Knopf)
Beloved children's book author and speaker Pat Mora has written an original collection of poems, each with a different teen narrator sharing unique thoughts, moments, sadness, or heart’s desire: the girl who loves swimming, plunging into the water that creates her own world; the guy who leaves flowers on the windshield of the girl he likes. Each of the teens in these 50 original poems, written using a variety of poetic forms, will be recognizable to the reader as the universal emotions, ideas, impressions, and beliefs float across the pages in these gracefully told verses.
How Not To Make a Wish by Mindy Klasky(PB/October 2009/MIRA)
While cleaning an old lantern, Kira Franklin releases a genie. But this gender-morphing, appearance-bending creature doesn't do "big" wishes. So forget stopping world hunger or ending war. And still heartbroken from the jerk who dumped her, Kira doesn't believe in the perfect man.
So she wishes for her dream job. Stage manager at the hottest theater in town, the Landmark. And presto: she's running Romeo and Juliet. Except, like everything else these days, this is one crazy production. And now Teel, the genie, insists she finish her wishes so "he" can move on.
Her second wish is about her appearance, which isn't exactly catching her third wish's eye. And there's the rub.
Because that old saying about being careful what you wish for is so spot-on. And Kira is about to discover that moxie, not magic, is what can make all your dreams come true.
Poetry Speaks Who I Am edited by Elise Paschen
(ARC/Releases March 2010/Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)
This is not poetry class...There is no memorization required...there will not be a test...
But these are more than 100 amazing poems about you, who you are, and who you are becoming.
Dive in-find the one you love, the one that makes you angry, the one that makes you laugh, the one that knocks the wind out of you,
And add your own inside the book.
Catch the energy, feel the pain, and hear the wonder on an exclusive audio CD featuring many of these poets reading their own work.
I received this from the publicist. Thanks! I don't normally read poetry, simply because I feel that I'm no good at understanding their meanings, not because I don't enjoy poetry. To me it seems that I'm only skimming the surface and not doing them any justice. I still look forward to this though.
Gateway by Sharon Shinn(PB/October 2009/Viking)
As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a street fair shows her a black jade ring—and tells her that “black jade” translates to “Daiyu”—she buys it as a talisman of her heritage. But it’s more than that; it’s magic. It takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan. There’s only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . .
Invisible Girl by Mary Hanlon Stone
(ARC/Releases May 2010/Philomel)
When poor Boston girl Stephanie is abandoned by her abusive mother and taken in by Annie’s Beverly Hills family, she feels anything but home. Her dark complexion and accent stick out like a sore thumb in the golden-hued world of blondes and extravagance. These are girls who seem to live life in fastforward, while Stephanie is stuck on pause. Yet when a new rival moves to town, threatening Annie’s queen-bee status, Stephanie finds herself taking sides in a battle she never even knew existed, and that feeling invisible is a wound that can only be healed by standing up for who she is.
Penguin was super nice to be this week! They surprised me with this book, as well as the three that follow. They rock! I'm not so sure about this, but I'll give it a try. Besides, Ms. Stone is a debut author.
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway(ARC/Releases August 2010/Razorbill)
Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?
April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.
Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.
Yes, I'm probably the only one who hasn't read Audrey, Wait! yet. I know I should. It will be interesting to see how Ms. Benway does delving into the fantasy realm.
Plus by Veronica Chambers
(ARC/Releases August 2010/Razorbill)
The perfect romantic makeover story about an every-girl whose dream comes true . . .
Beatrice Wilson is our lovable Cinderella, who just got dumped by her very first boyfriend and put on twenty-five pounds. But then she’s discovered as a plus model. In the eyes of pop culture, Bee is Jessica Alba and then some! Now she must vanquish skinny rivals, fend off sleazy photogs, and banish jealous frenemies in her rise to superstardom. All the while, she’s torn between her first love and the surprisingly sincere up-and-coming rapper she tutors in calculus. But what’s better than finding your prince charming? Finally learning to love yourself!
Sounds fun.
Winter Longing by Tricia Mills(ARC/Releases August 2010/Razorbill)
When Winter’s boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she’s robbed of the future she’d only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer’s presence continues to haunt her.
But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can’t change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love?
This is super intriguing to me. It reminds me of Sing Me to Sleep, and I really hope it lives up to my longings. I already miss Sing Me to Sleep. Don't you love the cover? I'm super stoked to read this!
Other:
Penguin also sent me a Vladimir Tod pin and a bunch of Vampire Academy tattoos. Thanks Penguin - you guys completely spoiled me!
I had an amazing week! What about you?