1. The Girl From Everywhere (The Girl From Everywhere #1) by Heidi Heilig
Nix’s life began in
Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a
land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York
City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a
map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any
time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868
Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire
existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father
changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her
adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash,
who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father
reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.
In The Girl from Everywhere,
Heidi Heilig blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility with
witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, and enchanting
romance.
This seems soo awesome, and I usually try to steer clear of Historical Fiction, but a few of my book friends have already written great reviews for it. The multi genre novel seems to have something for everyone.
2. Everland by Wendy Spinale
Forget the story of Peter Pan you know. Because in Everland, the only way to grow up is to survive.
London
has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who
have survived are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings,
Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days
avoiding the ruthless Marauders -- the German Army led by Captain Hanz
Otto Oswald Kretschmer.
Unsure if the virus has spread past
England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure,
which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his
Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None
ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna. As Gwen sets out to save
her, she meets a mysterious boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance
of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all
been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has
a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it will cost Gwen.
And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain
Hook?
Peter Pan is one of my favorite stories and this dark version, seems right up my ally. I'm hoping for a great retelling.
3. Beyond The Red by Ava Jae
Alien queen Kora has a
problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female
ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and
call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite
assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and
pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect
her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.
Eros is a
rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood.
Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until
Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an
ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true
identity—a secret kept even from him.
When Kora and Eros are
framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee.
Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high
court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public
execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human
insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.
I enjoy good sc-fi, and this sounds like epic space opera Young Adult. Aliens, rebels and half bloods sound great to me
4. Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace
For fans of Holly Black
and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about
murder, revenge, and a world where monsters—human and otherwise—lurk at
the fringes.
When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a
shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn’t remember who killed
her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only
that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In
life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the
mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover
what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now
belongs—where killers hide in plain sight and a sinister cult is
hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once
empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.
Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace.
I haven't read a decent and engaging zombie book in a long time. I'm hoping this would be a great remedy to fix the solution!!
5. Dreamology by Lucy Keating
Vibrantly offbeat and utterly original, Lucy Keating’s debut novel combines the unconventional romance of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with the sweetness and heart of Jenny Han.
For
as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together, they
have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max
is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist.
But
when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he
is. Real Max is nothing like Dream Max. He’s stubborn and complicated.
And he has a whole life Alice isn’t a part of. Getting to know each
other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped.
Alarmingly,
when their dreams start to bleed into their waking hours, the pair
realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming
about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality
ever be enough?
I admittedly shy away from contemporary novels, but the dreaming elements of the novel draws me in. Something that will take me out of my comfort zone, but hoping it will be worth it.
6. Underwater by Melissa Reichardt
Morgan didn’t mean to
do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right.
But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In
order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did
something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself.
But
Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the
apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels
like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends.
Unable to go to school.
When it seems Morgan can’t hold her
breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the
salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be
just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.
Underwater
is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and
finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.
Too many authors approach mental health issues the wrong way. From the positive reviews and serious tone of the synopsis I trust the author will have the appropriate care with sensitive subjects.
7.Consider (Holo Series #1) by Kristy Acevedo
Winner of the 2015 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award
As
if Alexandra Lucas’ anxiety disorder isn’t enough, mysterious holograms
suddenly appear from the sky, heralding the end of the world. They
bring an ultimatum: heed the warning and step through a portal-like
vertex to safety, or stay and be destroyed by a comet they say is on a
collision course with earth. How’s that for senior year stress?
The
holograms, claiming to be humans from the future, bring the promise of
safety. But without the ability to verify their story, Alex is forced to
consider what is best for her friends, her family, and herself.
To stay or to go. A decision must be made.
With
the deadline of the holograms’ prophecy fast approaching, Alex feels as
though she is living on a ticking time bomb, until she discovers it is
much, much worse.
This is another YA dystopia, but seems to have good feedback and features a protagonist with a anxiety disorder. This seems promising.
8. Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) by Sylvain Neuvel
World War Z meets The Martian.
This inventive first novel will please devoted fans of sci-fi as well
as literary readers hoping a smart thriller will sneak up on them.
17
years ago: A girl in South Dakota falls through the earth, then wakes
up dozens of feet below ground on the palm of what seems to be a giant
metal hand. Today: She is a top-level physicist leading a team of people
to understand exactly what that hand is, where it came from, and what
it portends for humanity. A swift and spellbinding tale told almost
exclusively through transcriptions of interviews conducted by a
mysterious and unnamed character, this is a unique debut that describes a
hunt for truth, power, and giant body parts.
My love for science fiction compels me to read more adult books in the Genre. The use of interviews seems like a great way to keep suspense going, and the book is getting great feedback so far.
9.Please Don't Tell by Laura Rims
Joy killed Adam
Gordon—at least, that’s what she thinks. The night of the party is hazy
at best. But she knows what Adam did to her twin sister, Grace, and she
knows he had to pay for it.
What Joy doesn’t expect is that
someone else saw what happened. And one night a note is shoved through
her open window, threatening Joy that all will be revealed. Now the
anonymous blackmailer starts using Joy to expose the secrets of their
placid hometown. And as the demands escalate, Joy must somehow uncover
the blackmailer’s identity before Joy is forced to make a terrible
choice.
In this darkly compelling narrative, debut author Laura
Tims explores the complicated relationship between two sisters, and what
one will do for the other. It’s a story that will keep readers turning
pages and questioning their own sense of right and wrong.
I'm a big fan of thriller's and this seems like a great one, involving deceit and twins. I'm patiently waiting for this one.
10. Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?
Riley
Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender
fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The
thing is . . . Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new
school and having a congressman father running for reelection in
uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is
building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.
On the advice of a
therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up
feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a
gender-fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at
school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes
viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity,
threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the
blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand
up, come out, and risk everything.
I really enjoy learning more about gender, this seems like a good book introducing a range of topics that teens should learn more about. I'm looking forward to it.
What are some of the 2016 Debut Novels Your Looking Forward To?
