Fresh New Voice of YA- The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
"Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?"- summary from Amazon

This was a really interesting book and a wonderful debut. Hubbard's writing is very realistic and atmospheric, especially during the flashbacks when Colt is remembering his times with Julia. I loved the inclusion of Julia's secret letters to Colt sprinkled throughout the book. It made for an interesting contrast to read about her thoughts regarding her times with Colt and her life in general, and then reading Colt's thoughts as well on the same events. It was refreshing to read a book from a male's perspective too; it was definitely very realistic and Hubbard did a great job of writing Colt. The short length is an issue with me, as always, since it's a hardcover but it also felt like a lot of the characters weren't fleshed out enough and it seemed a bit cramped. It was fun reading about Colt's brother in college for a reason I can't state since it's a big reveal and also because I like reading about people in college (though my college was not like the one here, lol). The ending is very good too and I liked it because it seemed like the right place and way for it to end. Definitely a recommended book though.

FTC: Recieved ARC from publisher. Amazon link is an Associate link; any profits go toward funding contests.

FNV Excerpt Vlog- Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Before I show the vlog, Harmony's got her two year blogoversary going on and I guest blogged for her! Go read and comment please!!

Here's the vlog for Bleeding Violet!:



Hope you all enjoyed it! Be sure to go check out my interview with Jennifer Hubbard that I posted yesterday!

Fresh New Voice of YA- Jennifer Hubbard interview

1) How did you get the idea for The Secret Year?

I had a situation in mind: a secret relationship where one of the people dies suddenly; a notebook left behind. That’s all I knew at first, so I wrote the book to find out more.


2) What was The Call like? Tell us all about it!

It took a while for it to sink in. My agent called and told me about the offer, but it took hours after that for my mind to adjust. So I didn’t jump up and down screaming right away, but I’m sure I smiled a lot the rest of the week!


3) What book(s) are you working on now? Can you tell us anything about them?

I can’t talk much about works in progress, because too much discussion saps the momentum of a project. But I see myself staying with contemporary YA for quite a while.


4) Have you always been a fan of YA, or are you still new to it all?

I’ve always loved it. I kept reading it even when I was past the target age. What drew me was the clarity, the emotional depth, and the very close narrative distance that I found in so many YA novels. Now the adult/YA cross-over audience is much larger, and I’m glad so many more people have discovered how good these books are.


5) What is your favorite Jelly Belly jelly bean flavor? Also, since I know you're a chocolate lover, what's your favorite kind of chocolate to eat?

I haven’t had jelly beans in a long time. But I like dark chocolate plain, or with mint, or with coconut, or with nuts, or with raspberry—in fact, there are very few ways I don’t like it!


6) What book(s) are you reading now, or are about to start?

I’m rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion at the moment. My TBR pile is large, but Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron may be the next one I start.


7) In your bio, you said you love to hike. Where do you usually hike? What is it about hiking that you love?

I walk every day in my neighborhood. On weekends, I might hike in Pennsylvania state parks, arboretums, or the local wildlife refuge. Once a year, my husband and I take a big vacation where we hike every day. We like the national parks; we’ve been to Mount Rainier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, and others. We honeymooned in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.


8) You're a part of the Class of 2k10. How did you get involved with that, and how is it helped you in preparing for your book to be released?

I was actually a member of the Class of 2k9 first, because my book was originally scheduled for 2009. When the Class of 2k10 was getting off the ground, I decided to stay with them because of the energy and enthusiasm that the new authors were bringing. Debut author groups are great for sharing information and support, since we're all going through a similar process at the same time.

In My Mailbox- Week of December 28 + Retrospective

No vlog this week due to only getting two books, but I got enough these past couple weeks to keep me busy for a LONG time. And this is my first 2010 IMM!! YAY! :)


The Mark by Jen Nadol
Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?



Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
Samuel, 13, spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has grown up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston.

But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel’s parents are taken away, prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the British headquarters, New York City.


Retrospective
Monday- I posted my review of Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore.

Wednesday- I posted my review of The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg.

Saturday- I put up my list of books that I read in 2009, which totaled a whopping 135. Very proud of myself.

List of Books I Read in the Year 2009

So seeing as it's the beginning of a new year, I thought I'd post a list of all the books I read this past year. Many of the titles below were reviewed too, so check out my Reviews Post to find links to all the reviews.

I read 135 books, so I beat my 100 Book Reading Challenge. I was a secret participater in the VC Andrews Challenge and, as such, read no VC books whatsoever, lol.

This coming year, I'm participating in the 2010 Debut Authors Challenge, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and will also try to read at least 150 books this year. If I come across any other challenges, I'll post about them. Anyway, here's the list:

List of Books I Read in 2009
1) Ransom My Heart by Mia Thermopolis and Meg Cabot
2) Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag
3) Willow by Julia Hoban
4) Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares (audio)
5) Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares (audio)
6) Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (audio)
7) Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdoch (audio)
8) History of the Millennium (so far) by Dave Barry (audio)
9) Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison (audio)
10) What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook
11) In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash
12) The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
13) The Navigator by Eoin McNamee (audio)
14) City of Time by Eoin McNamee (audio)
15) Jinx by Meg Cabot (audio)
16) Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (audio)
17) The Funny Thing is... by Ellen Degeneres (audio)
18) Startled by his Furry Shorts by Louise Rennison (audio)
19) Airhead by Meg Cabot (audio)
20) Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart
21) Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
22) 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
23) Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
24) Golden Girl by Micol Ostow
25) Fade by Lisa McMann
26) Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
27) Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
28) The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor
29) Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
30) Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger
31) Geek Charming by Robin Palmer
32) The Season by Sarah MacLean
33) North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
34) Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee
35) Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
36) Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
37) Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
38) Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
39) Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
40) Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
41) Freaked by J.T. Dutton*
42) Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
43) Growing Up Again by Mary Tyler Moore
44) Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
45) Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
46) Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (audio+book- last 70 pages or so)
47) Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day by Meg Cabot (audio)
48) Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: The New Girl by Meg Cabot (audio)
49) Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (audio)
50) Dead is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez
51) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (audio)
52) The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (audio)
53) Live from New York (audio)
54) The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
55) Without Sin by J. Tomas
56) Bleeding Hearts by Josh Aterovis
57) The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
58) Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee
59) Splitscreen by Brent Hartinger
60) David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
61) Big Boned by Meg Cabot (audio)
62) How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot (audio)
63) Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Best Friends and Drama Queens by Meg Cabot
64) The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (audio)
65) Cut by Patricia McCormick (audio)
66) The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
67) The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
68) Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters (audio)
69) Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (audio)
70) Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
71) Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
72) Wings by Aprilynne Pike
73) Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
74) Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
75) 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
76) Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
77) Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (audio)
78) Celebrity Detox by Rosie O'Donnell
79) Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
80) Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
81) The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
82) The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
83) Bite Me by Melissa Francis
84) Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
85) Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
86) Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
87) Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce
88) Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
89) If I Stay by Gayle Forman
90) Triple Shot Bettys in Love by Jody Gehrman
91) As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
92) Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
93) Love, Lies, and Texas Dips by Susan McBride
94) Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce
95) Stop in the Name of Pants by Louise Rennison
96) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
97) Highway to Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
98) Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
99) Discordia by Dena K. Salmon
100) Going Bovine by Libba Bray
101) Hate List by Jennifer Brown
102) Ash by Malinda Lo
103) Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin
104) Fashionista by Micol Ostow
105) My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
106) The Waking: Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall
107) Duplikate by Cherry Cheva
108) Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
109) Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
110) Alibi in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
111) Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
112) Secret Society by Tom Dolby
113) Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
114) The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols
115) The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
116) Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle
117) Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron
118) Gone by Lisa McMann
119) (Re)Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin
120) Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser
121) Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
122) I Am the New Black by Tracy Morgan
123) Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
124) The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
125) Gloves Off by Susan McBride
126) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
127) Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
128) Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton
129) Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
130) Uninvited by Amanda Marrone
131) Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
132) Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
133) The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
134) Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
135) Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Whew! Long list!! My 2010 list has started already with Darklight by Lesley Livingston, The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard and Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, the latter two being Fresh New Voices of YA who will be featured this coming week!