Teaser Tuesday: XVI

"...it's hard being the only person who thinks like me.  Sometimes I wish I could just be like everyone else my age and not think at all."

        -- from chapter II of XVI by Julia Karr

If you want to join the fun of this meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading, all you need to do is...

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Back-to-Business Monday: MAKING IT OFFICIAL

So here's my ready-get-set 2011 Debut Author Challenge reading list along with the occasional note on my choices.  I plan to read many more 2k11 debuts but I'm starting here...

January:

- XVI by Julia Karr (I LOVE this cover)

February:
- LEVERAGE by Joshua Cohen (fascinated by teen athletes and artist who live extreme lives)
March:
- LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa & Laura Roecker (if you don't follow Lisa & Laura Write you're missing a lot of humorous insight into the (writing) life
- WITHER by Lauren DeStefano (gorgeous cover, great buzz, super-cool premise)
- TEN MILES PAST NORMAL by Frances O'Roark Dowell (wonderful MG author of DOVEY COE--can't wait to read her YA)
- BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys (since reading THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK as a kid, I've found this period in history fascinating--looking forward to a good dose of historical fiction)
April:
- THIS GIRL IS DIFFERENT by J.J. Johnson (intrigued by premise of home-schooled teen venturing into the world of high school for her senior year--author has a very interesting profile, too)
- BUMPED Megan McCafferty (jazzed to read a YA from this adult author)
May:
- HOURGLASS by Myra McEntyre
- FLUTTER by Erin E. Moulton
June:
- POSESSION by Elana Johnson (an inspiring blogger, a spectacular cover and a plot about LOVE + MIND CONTROL = can't wait!)

- PAPER COVERS ROCK by Jenny Hubbard (love prep school stories--also, interesting to see a photo of a guy with no girl on the cover)
July:
- BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris (not sure what's most amazing: grab-you title, sugar-kissed cover, amazing buzz)
- LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter (mermaids and mayhem...ooh!)
- FALLING FOR HAMLET by Michelle Ray (contemporary interpretation of the Shakespeare classic told from the POV of Hamlet's misunderstood girlfriend, Ophelia. Seriously, this is my kind of read!)
August:
- THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab (sounds like a fairy tale taken on a wild literary ride)
- DARK PARTIES by Sara Grant (super-intriguing dystopian premise)
- EPIC FAIL by Claire LaZebnik (a romance with THAT title? I'm intrigued...)
September:
- BROKEN WINGS (working title) by Helen Landalf (a contemporary YA set in the PacNW--been waiting to read this for ages)
- THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin (starting over after trauma and loss with a bit of psychic mystery)
October:
- Okay, obviously I've already read my own book but, just mentioning, AUDITION pubs in October!
- VIRTUOSITY by Jessica Martinez (about a young violinist--think it would be a cool read alongside my own book about a dancer)
November:
- DARK INSIDE by Jeyn Roberts
December:
- FETCHING by Kiera Stewart

Have I missed something amazing?  LET ME KNOW (even if you're the author) because I'd love to read some more...

Fiction Friday: Winner's Choice

Batman has drawn a name from the magical, stainless steel "bat bowl"...

And the winner of the CENTURY PRIZE is...  

Kristi

The 2010 YA novel they've chosen to receive is...

(HAVE YOU READ IT?)



(This novel was originally
pubished in serial form
in American Magazine.)

 The 1910 classic I'm sending along is Frances Hodgson Burnett's SECRET GARDEN, an homage to things green and growing (hard to imagine amidst the snow and rain right now).  Perfect to read and enjoy by the fire, perhaps with a nice cup of English tea!

AND, JUST FOR FUN...These aren't in the prize package but here some interesting titles requested by non-winning entrants:

SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD by Kim Culbertson

A TALE DARK AND GRIM by Adam Gidwitz

THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson

FEVER CRUMB by Philip Reeve

THE UNIDENTIFIED by Rae Mariz

Oh, gosh, more to add to my reading list...
Have a great weekend!

Last Chance 2010 YA novel fans!

Century Style Contest

Closes at 1 PM EST today!

Click the purple words above and enter--your odds are terrific!