Thursday, February 28, 2013

UKYA in March 2013

I feel as though I might say this every single month, but in the case of UKYA in March? OMG, am I excited!!

March sees quite a few awesome books.  I'm really interested in reading The Quietness by Alison Rattle and Ferryman by Claire McFall.  And I really want to read Diary of a Mall Girl as I missed it last year when it was in installments. But they all look really good, don't they?!

This month you should hopefully see lots of great reviews of these books as well as some author guest posts/interviews! I've been invited onto two blog tours for both The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks and also Hidden Among Us by Katy Moran. So look out for those very soon. I've also already read and loved Smuggler's Kiss, Finding Cherokee Brown, Waiting For Gonzo and Killing Rachel. I really hope that you look out for these books soon and add them to your wishlists or preorders!



The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks (7th March, Penguin)

Room meets Lord of the Flies, The Bunker Diary is award-winning, young adult writer Kevin Brooks's pulse-pounding exploration of what happens when your worst nightmare comes true - and how will you survive?

I can't believe I fell for it.
It was still dark when I woke up this morning.
As soon as my eyes opened I knew where I was.
A low-ceilinged rectangular building made entirely of whitewashed concrete.
There are six little rooms along the main corridor.
There are no windows. No doors. The lift is the only way in or out.
What's he going to do to me?
What am I going to do?

If I'm right, the lift will come down in five minutes.
It did. Only this time it wasn't empty . . .


Kevin Brooks


Waiting For Gonzo by Dave Cousins (7th March, OUP Oxford)

Meet Oz . . . he's got a talent for trouble but his heart's always in the right place (well, nearly always).

Uprooted from his friends and former life, Oz finds himself stranded in the sleepy village of Slowleigh. When a joke backfires on the first day at his new school, Oz attracts the attention of Isobel Skinner, the school psycho - but that's just the beginning.

After causing an accident that puts his mum in hospital, Oz isn't exactly popular at home either. His older sister's no help, but then she's got a problem of her own . . . one that's growing bigger by the day.

Oz knows he's got to put things right, but life isn't that simple, especially when the only people still talking to you are a hobbit-obsessed kid and a voice in your own head!

Packed with action, heart and humour, Waiting for Gonzo takes you for a white-knuckle ride on the Wheel of Destiny as it careers out of control down the Hillside of Inevitability. The question is, do you go down laughing? Or grit your teeth and jump off?


Dave Cousins

Hidden Among Us by Katy Moran (7th March, Walker)

The mysterious boy who Lissy encounters at a deserted train station acts like he has known her all her life. Unnerved by his unnatural beauty, she sets about uncovering the dark secret of the village of Hopesay Edge. The boy, Larkspur, is a member of the Hidden, an ancient group of elven people and Lissy quickly finds herself fighting to escape from a powerful elven magic. A bargain has been made that cannot be broken, and if the Hidden catch Lissy now, they will never let her go.

Katy Moran


The Quietness by Alison Rattle (7th March, Hot Key Books)

When fifteen-year-old Queenie escapes from the squalid slums of nineteenth-century London, she has no idea about the dangers of the dark world she is about to become embroiled in. Initially thrilled at being taken on as a maid for the seemingly respectable Waters sisters, Queenie comes to realise that something is very wrong with the dozens of strangely silent babies being 'adopted' into the household. Meanwhile, lonely and unloved sixteen-year-old Ellen is delighted when her handsome and charming young cousin Jacob is sent to live with her family. She thinks she has finally found a man to fall in love with and rely on, but when Jacob cruelly betrays her she finds herself once again at the mercy of her cold-hearted father. Soon the girls' lives become irrevocably entwined in this tension-filled drama. THE QUIETNESS is a novel of friendship and trust in the darkest of settings.

Alison Rattle


The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins (7th March, Hodder Children's Books)

'My boyfriend could get into trouble if he gets caught. He could go to jail.' I moan softly. 'So could I.'
'Anything you tell me is completely confidential.' I sigh deeply. What have I got to lose? 'I wouldn't know where to begin.'
'At the beginning?' she says. 'In your own words.'
So that's what I do. I start at the beginning like she says.
The day I met Suzie.

Indigo (Indie) rings the Samaritans. She is frightened and desperate with no one to turn to. Over the course of one long night, Indie tells her story to the person on the end of the phone. She realises that her friend Suzie has taken over her home, her friends, her work, her boyfriend - and her life. After every few chapters we are brought back to the present moment, and see how piecing the story together helps Indie progress towards resolution.

Chris Higgins

 
The Diary of A Mall Girl by Luisa Plaja (14th March, Curious Fox)

The mall is the heart of the fifteen-year-old Molly's suburban town. Most teens hang around with friends there, get their first job there, and experience their first kiss there. And Molly? She actually lives there, in the complex's residential wing, where she navigates the dramas of teenage life, falling out with her friends and falling for the dark, mysterious boy-next-door.

But is living in a massive shopping centre as much fun as it sounds? Well, yes... and no. Find out the whole truth in Molly's private diary!


Luisa Plaja 


Tanith Low in the Maleficent Seven by Derek Landy (28th March, HarperCollins)

A brilliant, hilarious one-off novella in the Skulduggery Pleasant universe, from number-one-bestselling author Derek Landy

This time, the bad guys take the stage.

Tanith Low, now possessed by a remnant, recruits a gang of villains – many of whom will be familiar from previous Skulduggery adventures – in order to track down and steal the four God-Killer level weapons that could hurt Darquesse when she eventually emerges. Also on the trail of the weapons is a secret group of Sanctuary sorcerers, and doing his best to keep up and keep Tanith alive is one Mister Ghastly Bespoke.

When the villains around her are lying and scheming and plotting, Tanith needs to stay two steps ahead of her teammates and her enemies. After all, she's got her own double-crosses to plan – and she’s a villain herself…


Derek Landy



Through Dead Eyes by Chris Priestley (14th March, Bloomsbury)

Alex joins his father on a business trip to Amsterdam. During the day he hangs out with the daughter of a family friend. They visit the usual sights but also coffee shops and flea markets off the beaten track. At one of these markets Alex spots an ancient-looking mask. Before he knows what he's doing he buys it. Later, in his hotel room, he feels compelled to put the mask on. Alex is sucked into a parallel Amsterdam, one from centuries before which begins to reveal the dark past of both the building he is staying in and the little girl who once lived there . . . edging stealthily towards the terrible twist.

Chris Priestley



Finding Cherokee Brown by Siobhan Curham (4th March, Electric Monkey)

His lips touched mine and for one split second the whole world stopped.
Then every cell in my body fizzed into life . . .

When I decided to write a book about my life I thought I'd have to make loads of stuff up. I mean, who wants to read about someone like me?

But as soon as I started writing, the weirdest thing happened. I found out I wasn't who I thought I was. And I stopped being scared. Then everything went crazy!

Best of all, I discovered that when you finally decide to be brave it's like waving a wand over your life - the most magical things can happen . ..


Siobhan Curham


One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend in the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson (7th March, Atom)

Jack Samsonite's Foolish Plan for Being Amazing at Everything

(including getting a life, getting into Film School, and getting into a girl's knickers)

1.Make an amazing(ly bad) short film about zombies . . . or maybe superheroes . . . or just three idiot friends. It has to be deep and meaningful and (most importantly) has to have a scene where I kiss a girl on the mouth.

2.Write the world's best university application ever! (Or at least one that doesn't make me seem like a nob).

3.Don't get expelled trying to complete 1 & 2.

It can't possibly fail... right?


Tom Clempson


Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy (14th March, Bloomsbury)

Rose's mother and Joshua's father have disappeared. Police inquiries have gone nowhere and the case, it seems, is closed: Rose and Joshua have been told that the police believe their parents are dead. But Rose and Joshua still hold out hope that they are alive. Joshua is determined to follow up his own inquiries, which includes working out the meaning of the cryptic notebooks - the murder notebooks - they have discovered. Then Rose is distracted by odd, desperate messages she receives from Rachel, a former best friend from her school, followed by the terrible news that Rachel is dead. But perhaps Rachel's death will provide one more piece of the puzzle about what has happened to Rose and Joshua's parents . . .

A taut and pacy thriller in The Murder Notebooks series, from an acclaimed writer for teens.


Anne Cassidy


Smuggler's Kiss by Marie-Louise Jensen (7th March, OUP Oxford

It's not a crime to steal a heartSmugglers are cut-throat rascals. At least that's what Isabelle's always been told. But when she's rescued from drowning at sea by the crew of a notorious smuggling ship, her principles are thrown into confusion. Outwitting the king's men fills her with excitement, especially when she's with one mysterious smuggler in particular . . .

Marie-Louise Jensen


Ferryman by Claire McFall (1st March, Templar)

When Dylan emerges from the wreckage of a train crash onto a bleak Scottish hillside, she meets a strange boy who seems to be waiting for her.
But Tristan is no ordinary teenage boy, and the journey across the desolate, wraith infested wasteland is no ordinary journey.
Life, death, love-which will Dylan choose?


Claire McFall


Raining Fire by Alan Gibbons (7th March, Orion)

Itch and Ethan are best friends. Together they dream of a better life for themselves, a life safe from the gangs that dominate their streets. But when Ethan's brother is charged with assault, violence soon seeps into the boys' lives - and their friendship. And it only takes one desperate bargain and a shocking betrayal, and suddenly it is Itch staring down the barrel of a gun . . . In this tense, gripping and absorbing real life thriller, Alan Gibbons explores the complex issue of gun crime, and the far reaching consequences it can have

Alan Gibbons


Siege by Sarah Mussi (7th March, Hodder Children's Books)

Leah Jackson - in detention. Then armed Year 9s burst in, shooting. She escapes, just. But the new Lock Down system for keeping intruders out is now locking everyone in. She takes to the ceilings and air vents with another student, Anton, and manages to use her mobile to call out to the world.

First: survive the gang - the so-called 'Eternal Knights'.
Second: rescue other kids taken hostage, and one urgently needing medical help.

Outside, parents gather, the army want intelligence, television cameras roll, psychologists give opinions, sociologists rationalize, doctors advise - and they all want a piece of Leah. Soon her phone battery is running out; the SAS want her to reconnoiter the hostage area ... But she is guarding a terrifying conviction. Her brother, Connor, is at the center of this horror. Is he with the Eternal Knights or just a pawn?

She remembers. All those times Connor reached out for help ... If she'd listened, voiced her fears about him earlier, would things be different now? Should she give up her brother?

With only Anton for company, surviving by wits alone, Leah wrestles with the terrible choices ...


Sarah Mussi



Which of these March UKYA books are you most looking forward to reading?

12 comments:

  1. Wow! There are loads of awesome books! I particularly like the sound of Hidden Among Us, Finding Cherokee Brown and Through Dead Eyes...ooh how exciting!! :D

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    1. I really love the cover of Through Dead Eyes!

      And I've read and loved both Hidden Among Us and Finding Cherokee Brown :) They're definitely worth picking up and reading!

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  2. Oooh- I'd never heard of it before, but I like the sound of Hidden Among Us!
    Ferryman is one that I'm looking forward to reading as well.

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    1. Ferryman does sound pretty good! I've heard good things.

      And I really enjoyed Hidden Among Us, I'm glad that one sticks out for you! :)

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  3. They all sound great - I like a bit of variety!

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  4. Ferryman sounds chilling and generally awesome, as does Through Dead Eyes, and Anne Cassidy never lets her readers down. She is fantastic. Well, there's one I don't need to read ;-) but all of the others sound really, really tempting. Wish I had Hermione's hourglass to find a few more hours in the day!

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    1. I've only read Dead Time and Killing Rachel, but I'm looking forward to exploring her backlist a bit more!

      I'd definitely love more hours in the day for reading :)

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  5. So many good books coming out this month, I agree!

    Ahhhh! so excited for THE BUNKER DIARY!! *runs around in circles*
    Annnd very near the end of Ferryman and it is LOVE.
    Then there's One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend in the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life!
    And Hidden Among Us, and The Quietness. Ahhhh.

    Too many books I want to read. *flails*

    Thanks for sharing Michelle!

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    1. I really love the sound of Ferryman, will definitely have to look out for it!

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  6. I haven't read a single one of these titles, and it's now April! *is ashamed*

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    1. WHen I read your comment I really thought that I would click over to this post and cringe at the number of books I haven't read either, but surprisingly, I did pretty well! I've read 6 of these, have three on my TBR pile and I'm halfway through another. Go me!

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