Kicking off some awesome summer reading...

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to review Chasing Memories a really great YA book by Tia Bach, writer, mother, and friend extraordinaire.

Today, I am thrilled that she has launched the follow up to this... Chasing Shadows.

In Chasing Memories, we meet Reagan. In many ways, Reagan is just your typical teenager, worrying about Homecoming court, cheering for her football-star boyfriend, and pouring over the latest paranormal YA novel. Yep, pretty normal... oh, except for that whole she-might-be-a-werewolf thing. 

The first book follows Reagan through a lot of confusion and angst and she figures out exactly how a mysterious wolf-attack at Yellowstone is really going to change her life. This second installment picks up where the first left off. Reagan has a bit more knowledge about what is happening to her, and a lot more questions. With an all new cast of characters, she soon understands what is behind all of these changes and secrets that plagued her in the first book... and what is truly at stake. 

One thing that is true of both books: I loved them. Bach writes teenagers in a way that should make Stephanie Meyers jealous: with a good mixture of attitude and humor and a big side of reality. Reagan's voice is the true strength of both novels, carrying you through the story and helping you build a true emotional investment to in what happens to her. She has teenage snark down, but never put me in a "Bella-Swan-oh-come-on-you-are-so-irritating" mood. 

If I am being vague about the story line, here's why: you should read both. I can't divulge much of Chasing Shadows without blowing the end of Chasing Memories. But here is the good news... Chasing Memories is free on Kindle today!

So head on over to Amazon and download Chasing Memories for free. Then, grab Chasing Shadows, too, because you aren't going to want to wait to start reading as soon as you finish the first.

The disappointing trilogy

Recently, I seem to have been stumbling on lots and lots of YA series and trilogies. In December alone, I read all of the Mortal Instruments books (and am not so patiently awaiting the publication of the final one in May), and the entire Divergent series. Last year, I also finished out Kiersten White's Paranormalcy series, and happily returned to Suzanne Collins' world for the second Hunger Games movie.

In January, I was happy to finish James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy by reading the final installment, The Death Cure. What has struck me is that, with the exception of The Mortal Instruments, all of the trilogies I have just mentioned had disappointing final books for me. Though Mockingjay held my interest and Endlessly was very entertaining, I barely pushed my way through Allegiant and The Death Cure. They reminded me of television series that just went on one or two episodes too long.

Since I am currently writing a YA trilogy, I am now a bit concerned. Clearly, failure is not inevitable. There have been lots of successful trilogies, just look at The Lord of the Rings, which got progressively better with each book. But still, with current YA, finding a series that stayed strong all the way through has been the exception and not the rule for me.

So what is it about the trilogy that makes for soft endings? Anyone have examples of those that do it really well? Any thoughts on what the difference between a strong finish and a disappointing close really is?

Back from hiatus to review a truly awesome YA book!

So since my last post, which was WAY too long ago, I've discovered two things while teaching my first college course:

1. I love teaching. 
2. Teaching takes a lot of time!

I was hoping to return to the world of regular blogging this summer, but a summer course has popped up so I can only hope. Nonetheless, I had to interrupt my hiatus to review a fantastic book I just finished.

Meet Reagan. In many ways, Reagan is just your typical teenager, worrying about Homecoming court, cheering for her football-star boyfriend, and pouring over the latest paranormal YA novel. Yep, pretty normal... oh, except for that whole she-might-be-a-werewolf thing.

Chasing Memories begins as Reagan is camping in Yellowstone with her family. She wakes up one night to her brother screaming. Suddenly, he is gone and something massive rakes at her back before her father scares it away. Literally overnight, everything in Reagan's life changes. The tragic loss of her brother is followed by the unearthing of family secrets and some tough realizations about who the people in her life really are. Additionally, Reagan is craving meat and having some wild dreams about a creature with wolf's eyes.

When Rafe, the new kid, rolls into town, weird gets weirder. Rafe seems to understand all too well what is happening to her, more than Reagan does herself. But she can't be sure if he truly wants to help her, or if there is some darker drive behind his enigmatic smile.

Chasing Memories had me from the first word. Tia Bach has woven a mystery and given her readers a perfect, snarky, and oh-so accurate teenage voice to help us navigate through. Reagan doesn't so much come to life as she vaults off the page in your face. Nonetheless, where other "typical teen" narrators might annoy (hello, Bella Swan), the muted desperation to understand what is happening that lies beneath her teenage 'tude makes Reagan unquestionably sympathetic. I felt for her, I wanted to hug her, and I wanted to know what in the heck was happening to her.

Ultimately, the genius of Bach's story is in its ambiguity. There were many, many moments where I found myself wondering if Reagan was joining the ranks of the paranormal teens she so loved to read about, or if grief and imagination were actually driving her experience. Either way, I devoured every word, and as with Bach's first book, Depression Cookies, I found myself falling off the last page and wanting more.

I hope there will be a sequel-- and soon-- but for now, this one is highly recommended!