The New Adult Genre...is it catching on?

There's a new genre in fiction called the New Adult.  The characters are young people, primarily between 18-23, often college students. 

For the younger reader who is transitioning between YA fiction and general fiction, NA is something new marketed just for you! Publishing houses, including Harper Collins, St. Martin's Press and Random House are actively soliciting manuscripts in this genre. "Easy" by Tammara Webber is one of several about to/recently hit book stores shelves.  It easily falls into this New Adult category.  

The type of book you are likely to see on the New Adult shelves, with perhaps a few exceptions, are about college age young people, on their own, sexually liberal and with very little parental contact.  Hmmm.....sounds like the college rumours have become "literal." Certainly this will find appeal with a certain age group, the young adult out of high school or a senior in high school who desires to explore the adult world from the safe vantage point of the written word.  

I recall growing up and there was nothing to bridge the reading gap between children's literature and adult.  Many of my classmates took up reading romances like Harlequins while I took to reading horrors like Stephen King and The Three Faces of Eve.  Recently Young Adult fiction has served the purpose as a transition media.  Fairly often this young reader continues reading YA well into their 20's and beyond, in some cases, or "graduates" to general fiction or other genres.  There was very little to offer in between YA and adult fiction.  Now New Adult looks to bridge that gap.

Personally, I am well beyond the New Adult and YA in years and interest.  So I am asking you, will you make a special effort to find New Adult fiction?  If you have already discovered it, what is your opinion thus far?

The Finale of the Hunger Games and Thoughts on the Whole YA Thing

I have come to the conclusion, not only of The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, but a final verdict upon the series:  worth a read!!!  As you may recall from my earlier post about The Hunger Games, the first book in the series, I had known about the book long before I contemplated reading it.  After all, I do not consider myself a YA (young adult) fiction fan.  Of late, though, I have read several books in that genre (aimed for that audience) that have changed my mind.  There are some incredible authors out there pouring their heart and soul into some of the very best reads available to a younger audience.  Might I say, the audience needn't be limited to teens nor young adult though.  If you are young at heart, believe in love, believe in the right to fight for what's right, to have values and morals, then YA may be for you.  At least, some of it.  In the last few years  I discovered the world of wizardry in Harry Potter, the surreal fantasy of vampires and werewolves in the Twilight series, the importance of love in Delirium (not that I hadn't already discovered this personally, but finally a book that addressed what a world without love could be like, a world without choice), and a world where a young girl of 17 has the power and ability to change a cruel savage existence under a controlling "Capitol" government by fighting for what she believes in, in the Hunger Games series.  Each of these books, in their own way, reinforces values and morals while doing so in an engaging manner that draws the reader into another world, surreal and impossible, yet in some ways not so unlike our own in the challenges we each face in a lifetime.

I'm not hooked on YA fiction, nor would I consider myself solely a YA reader, but I CAN say that I will not turn away from a YA book so readily as I have done in the past.  If you think any of the aforementioned books are airy without substance, then you probably haven't read them.  Being quick to judge a book based solely on its genre or focused audience, may leave you out of a world that is closer to reality than you might think, excluding you from the incredible experience of sharing in what could be some of the most meaningful writing you may have the opportunity to enjoy.  So here's a bit of a challenge to you, pick up something you never thought you'd enjoy before and give it a try.  I did and I was pleasantly surprised!

Have you discovered a genre, style or book that has changed your perspective of a particular kind of book?  If so, I'd love to hear about it.  

Some great Young Adult Fiction I have enjoyed lately!
Sudden Moves by Marissa Meyer, Delirium by Lauren Oliver,
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - book review (YA/adult)

Catching Fire
Author:  Suzanne Collins
Published: 2009
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
ISBN 9780439023498
Pages: 391
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian Fiction
Source:  borrowed

Rating:  4/5

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Catching Fire is the fiery second book in the trilogy of The Hunger Games.   Split into three parts, beginning with a recap of The Hunger Games and the ensuing victory tour; the second part leads up to the Hunger Games "The Quell"; and the latter portion of the book is the Games themselves, Catching Fire takes off right where The Hunger Games left us.

Catching Fire is not so action packed, not until the last third of the novel, really, but it is not a boring trip to the games this time around either. To recap, in the first novel Katniss and Peeta, the two tributes from District 12, are the winners of The Hunger Games.  It is the first time two winners have made it to the end, and this only due to some manipulation of the Capitol and the Gamekeepers with threats made by Katniss, and secondly Peeta, of the death of them both.  It is allowed but a price must be paid for Katniss' defiance. In a mandatory television broadcast, an announcement is made....

"My mother gives a faint shriek and Prim buries her face in her hands, but I feel more like the people I see in the crowd on television.  Slightly baffled.  What does it mean?  Existing pool of victors?
Then I get it, what it means.  At least, for me, District 12 has only three existing victors to choose from.  Two male.  One female...
I am going back into the arena." (page 173)

Thus, The Quell is announced.  The living victors from previous years' Hunger Games are forced to relive their horrors in yet another life and death competition, and this means Katniss and Peeta must return to the arena.  We have already read half the book by the time this is announced!

In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta are a year older, a year wiser, and we see Katniss develop as an individual, as a woman and as a potential leader.  The author takes the time for some character development, which is noted in the growth we see in Katniss, though Peeta still remains a bit of a vague person.  We know of his love but we don't really get a good look into his psyche, to see what makes him tick, what his true strengths and beliefs are.  The plot is strong and well thought out, though not so action packed as the first, The Hunger Games.  More time is spent developing the story line, showing the tension of the people, the effort of the government to maintain control.  Plot building..... Catching Fire is more about the people than the games.

Leading up to the games, threats of rebellion against the controlling government of the Capitol are throughout the districts, consequently armed patrols invade the districts and there is no leeway on any rules.  Rather than quiet the rebels, though, a great and strong current of unrest continues to rise up.  The mocking jay is their symbol, it is Katniss' token, and the people look to Katniss as the face of the rebellion.  The people of the districts want Katniss to win the games again.  To be their victor, to be their champion of the people.  The games are on again.  Who will win this time?

“The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol’s plans. The symbol of the rebellion.”(page 386)

Suzanne Collins authors another powerful novel in Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games series.  She manipulates the environment, the mood, the plot masterfully, weaving in subplots and new characters while maintaining the hold she has on the readers' attention.  It is hard to put down, though not so difficult as The Hunger Games was (probably because The Hunger Games was so action-packed).  Catching Fire ends with a lovely little cliffhanger, just to keep the reader excited and eager to read the next book in the series, Mockingjay.  Which I will pick up next.  

Stay tuned for the upcoming review!

PS  rumours have it that Catching Fire will be in theatres in 2013!

Reader warning:  suitable for junior high (middle school), high school and adults due to mature themes of violence

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
Author:  Suzanne Collins
Published:  2008
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Pages:  374
Genre:  Dystopian fiction
ISBN  9780439023528

www.scholastic.com

"WINNING MEANS FAME AND FORTUNE.
LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.
THE HUNGER GAMES HAVE BEGUN....

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts.  The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games.  But Katniss has been close to dead before -- and survival, for her, is second nature.  Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.  But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

My review:

I first read of this book and series on Facebook.  A friend was reading it and continually commented on just how terrific a read The Hunger Games is!  At least a year passed and it wasn't until I had read several positive reviews and saw the movie trailer that my interest was piqued sufficiently that I had to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to see for myself if it truly was worth all the hype.

Katniss Everdeen's father died in a coal mine blast and her mother slid into a deep hole of depression, leaving Katniss to fend for the family of three, her mother, sister Prim and herself.  The only way to do that was to sneak under the wire fence surrounding their district and hunt for food; both actions considered illegal.  Katniss, though, was determined to do whatever it took to feed her family and herself.  The times are bleak, the government controlling, the food scarce.  Each district has an industry for which it is known and District 12, Katniss' home, is coal mining.  The air is littered with the greasy mists of coal dust.  All in all, one's existence is day to day.  

The Hunger Games is just another cruelty the Capitol inflicts upon its residents.  Each year one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts is chosen to enter the televised games.  Only one will survive.  One victor.  One tribune.  When Prim is selected, Katniss volunteers herself in her stead, knowing her life is about to change and perhaps be short-lived.  The "fun" is about to begin!

I wholeheartedly admit to LOVING this book!!  I read it on the transit to and from work, during my breaks, including my lunch breaks.  I was so involved in the story that I longed for lunch time just so I could pick up the book again!  It's been a while since I've read a book of this magnitude!  I am just sorry it took so long for me to discover The Hunger Games.  The plot is unique, the characters well-fleshed out and realistic, their emotions and thought processes genuine.  It's an "on the edge of your seat" kind of read. One that stays with you and makes you long incessantly for the next book in the series, which is Catching Fire.  

"I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go."

Would I recommend this book?  Without hesitation, yes!  Rated 5/5!!!

Second book in the series is Catching Fire
Third book in the series is Mockingjay

Watch the movie trailer here.

The Summer Shack by Kelli Landon - a YA book review

Summer Shack - A Killer Vacation
Author:  Kelli Landon
Published:2011
Self-published (Indie)
Pages: 258
Genre:  Young Adult Suspense
ISBN 9781463778323
Source:  A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

(from the back cover)  It's summer vacation and Deborah Walker invites childhood friend Kimberly Foster to stay in her parents' cottage retreat in Wisconsin.  Deb's goal is to film a documentary of the area as a pre-college project.  Shortly after arriving, they find out that a serial killer has just been arrested.  Deb's plans for her film soon change as curiosity takes over.  She wants to be the first person to film the killer's shack which is where he stashed the bodies.  They are successful in making their way into the shack on the beach, but will they make it out?

My Review:

I've read both Kelli Sue Landon's previous books, Sudden Moves and Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood, so when Kelli comes out with a new novel, I want to be among the first to know!  Kelli writes a gripping tale in Summer Shack, just as she masterfully wove the tales of her two previous young adult books.  

In Summer Shack - A Killer Vacation, high school is over and once childhood friends make plans to spend a few weeks together at a cottage in Wisconsin.  Deb, whose parents own the cottage, has an ulterior motive, though.  She needs a filmographer, and Kim is it.  Kim welcomes the opportunity for a vacation at a cottage, just the girls.  Beach, sun, no adults...sounds perfect right?  That is until curiosity and the desire to get an "edge" in her what Deb hopes to be her future profession as a journalist, drives her and ultimately Kim and two friends into the realm of nightmarish danger with a psychopath lurking in the background.  When they find out a suspected serial killer has recently been arrested, Deb and a reluctant Kim investigate.  The shack near the beach is where the bodies were found.  The shack is where they are headed to get some good footage.  The shack presents unsuspected lethal dangers to both Deb and Kim and their friends.

Kelli does a great job building the suspense in Summer Shack and casting suspicions about and though the reader suspects one, another is a great surprise!  The characters are believable and their life dramas have played out in many a high school.  Probably even yours!  Which makes it.  

One minor issue, there are a few instances where editing didn't catch small errors like a repetition of words, or a wrong word which spell check wouldn't have caught.  But these do not detract from the story.  

Each subsequent book shows the author's growth in her ability to create drama and suspense.  I've said it before but it bears repeating, with editing, the right marketing and a publishing house behind her, Kelli Sue Landon is a YA voice to be reckoned with.  She has a bestseller in the wings.  I just know it!

Rated:  4/5 adult themes

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (YA book review)

Cinder
Author:  Marissa Meyer
Published:  January 3, 2012
Publisher:  Feiweland & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan
ISBN 9780312641894
Pages: 390
Genre:  Young Adult, dystopian fiction
macteenbooks.com
Source:  Copy borrowed from work
http://marissameyer.livejournal.com
http://www.facebook.com/lunarchronicles

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Review:

Dystopian fiction, young adult none-the-less, is not my first choice in reading materials but Marissa Meyer surprised me with Cinder, her new take on the Cinderella story.  The story is set in the future, in New Beijing, where Cinder lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters.  Cinder works as a mechanic, fixing robots and anything computerized.  And she is a cyborg!

Prince Kai is destined to be emperor and every young lady wants to meet him and hopes to dance with him at the ball.  Upon meeting Cinder in the marketplace, where he takes his robot for repairs, Prince Kai is interested, he even asks her to the ball but Cinder has no plans to attend the ball.  After all, she is a cyborg, part human, part mechanical, and she has no gown!

That portion of the story loosely resembles the classic fairytale but Marissa Meyer takes Cinder in a new direction including a plague that kills everyone, almost, a wicked queen from the moon, an impending war if Prince Kai doesn't agree to a marriage pact with her, and a determined scientist trying to find a cure.  Cinder plays a vital role in all the issues.

From the first chapter, I was taken in by Cinder's story.  Cinder is a strong protagonist who battles herself as much as she battles the environment of the day.  I love the unique angle on what was once a favourite fairy tale.  With a twist here and there, Cinder sweeps you along until the last chapter where you are left dangling, hoping the second book will answer the questions of the cliffhanger ending.

Rated 4/5

Sudden Moves - About the Author Kelli Sue Landon

Kelli Sue Landon is an up and coming author with her debut novel, Sudden Moves, now available for purchase. See my review here. 

Meet the author:
"I am a mystery/suspense fan of books and movies. I love anything that can keep me on the edge of my seat and look forward to a book or movie that I can't tear myself away from. I hope to achieve that in my writing." - from  Kelli's blog.

Kelli Sue Landon was born in Peoria, Illinois. Her published short stories include The Diary, Pizza Night, and Campfire Dreams. She is employed by the United States Postal Service in Peoria. Sudden Moves is her first novel.  FIRST BOOK SIGNING - Saturday MARCH 5, 2011 - I KNOW YOU LIKE A BOOK, 4707 Prospect in Peoria. 2:00. Books will be on sale there.

Kelli is giving away four copies of Sudden Moves A Young Adult Mystery on http://www.goodreads.com/.  Contest ends February 21, 2011.

Author Q&A:

What is your book about?
Sixteen year old Michelle Martin grows suspicious when classmate, Katie Brashers, doesn't return after a spring break trip to Florida.  Michelle is worred because she let Katie borrow a family heirloom that needed to be returned to her.  She talks it over with her best friend, Tami, and Katie's boyfriend, Brad, who is crushed over her sudden departure.  Together, they snoop around the neighborhood and learn more and more about what happened to Katie and her family.

Why did you decide to write it? 
I had the idea in my head since I was in high school.  I started it as a story, but it evolved into a full length novel.

How did you choose this topic?
I have always been a fan of mystery ever since my mother gave me a book by Mary Higgins Clark when I was a teen. I wrote short stories ever since I was a teenager, mostly mystery or the horror genre. Mysteries keep me on the edge of my seat and when I write about young adults, there’s more conflict - they have more obstacles (not the use of a car, sneaking around behind parents’ backs, cutting class, etc) which makes it more exciting to me.

Did it begin as a school assignment?
No, this idea came from one of my classmates who left on a trip to Florida, never to return. We were told she had moved there. We never found out why. This is what sparked the mystery and I wrote Sudden Moves 25 years later.

Have you always loved writing?
Yes, when my parents moved out in the country, with no neighbors, there was nothing to do. I would sit in my room, get out a notebook, and make up stories. It was all for fun - the stories are really bad when I read them back today. As an adult, I have taken many writing classes through the mail and online.

Which character is most like you?
Tami - the best friend. I always had her wild side, but had the strict parents like Michelle had.

How did you publish your book?
I self-published through Outskirts Press.

What is your target audience?
Teens or women who will be taken back to their high school years.

What is special about your book?  What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
This book is about regular teenagers, not the supernatural or vampires, which seems to be the norm right now.  They react as normal teens would react in their situation.  It's a YA mystery, but evolves into a more adult finale.  These kids learn a lot on their quest to find Katie.

Who is your favourite author and did they influence your writing style or genre?
My favorite authors are Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Sandra Brown, and Janet Evanovich - Evanovich being the most influence with her writing style. I love suspense with some comedy thrown in! One of my best influences as far as mystery (twists and turns) is screenwriter M. Night Shyamalan. I love making someone’s mouth drop at the end of my stories.

What are your plans now?
I am getting close to starting my third novel, set in the summer after graduation - the graduation gift is a trip to a beach house. I don’t have the story in my mind yet, but there will be news of bizarre murders taking place.
I also just published a short story compilation (50 pages) of eight short stories. I did this on createspace.com. I may try this for my 3rd novel if this goes okay.


How close to publication is your second novel?
My second novel, Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood: A Young Adult Whodunit, is due out around April/May. Publication started in the middle of January.

Will Sudden Moves eventually be available in bookstores?
I am just now starting on book signings. I have one next month at a small local book store and I have tried for one at Borders. No answer as of yet. I am unknown, so it will be hard to get Sudden Moves in stores - Barnes & Noble and Borders can order it for anyone who requests it. Oh, I also have a radio interview coming up on www.theauthorsshow.com - not sure when it is going to be on the site, but I record it by phone next Sunday

Sudden Moves is available as a hardback, paperback and ebook format (Kindle/Nook, etc.).  See Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Outskirts Press for purchases.


http://selfpublishingnews.com/2011/01/22/self-publishing-virtual-book-tour-sudden-moves-by-kelli-sue-landon/

Upcoming Blog Tour: Sudden Moves - A Young Adult Mystery

Sudden Moves - A Young Adult Mystery.  The debut novel from Kelli Sue Landon.  Blog Tour coming next week.  Join me here for author Q&A, review and more! 

Press Release:

Hanna City, IL , Jan 3, 2011 - Author Kelli Sue Landon announces the release of her YA mystery novel, Sudden Moves.

Katie Brashers announced to her friends that she was taking a trip to Florida for Spring Break, but when class resumes, Katie isn't in attendance. The school staff claims that the family moved there. Katie's friend Michelle Martin grows suspicious, especially since she let Katie borrow a treasured family book that she failed to return. Not to mention, Katie never said goodbye to her devoted boyfriend, Brad.

Michelle confides in her best friend, Tami. Dodging Michelle's demanding mother, they team upwith Brad and form their own investigation by talking to neighbors and looking inside Katie's house. Michelle is about ready to give up until she takes her dog on his daily walk and uncovers a clue that leads her closer to the truth, but also throws her into circumstances beyond her control

About the book:
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
ISBN: 9781432767136
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Date of publish: Dec 31, 2010
Pages: 236
S.R.P.: $15.95

http://www.kellisuelandon.com/