Month: May 2015

We know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this year’s young adult covers are just so beautiful that we can’t help ourselves. From subtle simplicity to bright and bold, these covers are ushering in a whole new era of experimentation and design.

So what’s “in” for YA this year? In the contemporary genre, unique handwritten fonts are gracing dozens of covers, and plenty of images are taking cue from Instagram with that signature blue-green filter that makes everything look better.

In fantasy and sci-fi, we’re seeing tons of black and gold on covers, two colors that can either signal fantastical realms…or the end of the world as we know it. But best of all—no matter the author, series, or the publisher—everyone is trying something fresh and new.

Check out the list!

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)

The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes  (HarperTeen)

Never Said by Carol Lynch Williams (Blink Young Adult)

Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)

The Brilliant Light of Amber Sunrise by Matthew Crow (Simon Pulse)

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (Razorbill)

Between the Notes by Sharon Huss Roat (HarperTeen)

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord (Bloomsbury)

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby (Blazer + Bray)

Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen (Blink Young Adult)

Love, Fortunes, and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius (Swoon Reads / Macmillan)

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Kissing in America by Margo Rabb (HarperCollins)

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne (Dial)

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Henry Holt and Company)

Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout (St. Martin’s Griffin)

 

 

My cousin planned her father’s memorial service. She chose the music, as well as wrote and then read the obituary at the memorial service. She was sixteen at the time.

I’ve known some amazing teenagers. This girl is one of them, and she became the inspiration for the female protagonist of Summer by Summer, the story of two teens trapped on an island after a dive trip gone wrong. I wanted the reader to see into a life that seemed perfect but actually hid a lot of internal struggles. What better place to explore this contrast than on a deserted island? In a place where many people would be tempted to shove their inner pain and sorrows aside and focus on the external problem of being stranded, Summer is forced to tackle her inner demons while searching for food, water, and shelter alongside Bray—a boy who reminds her of everything she lost.

While most teen girls wouldn’t mind being stuck on an island with an attractive guy, a deserted island in the Caribbean can be punishing and unforgiving. And beyond the daily struggles to survive, Summer and Bray must contend with mysterious and deadly visitors to the island, as well as the painful pasts that continue to drive them apart. As Summer and Bray spend more time together in this desolate paradise, these constant battles will ultimately force both to not only face their inner turmoil but to conquer it.

Summer and Bray have no choice but to rise above. They find a bond and a strength within each other and power within themselves, and by the end Bray is willing to lay down his life to protect the girl he’s come to love. Summer by Summer is a vacation, a nightmare, and a timeless romance all wrapped in a tropical blanket. While writing it, I came to love Summer’s tenacity and Bray’s quiet strength. I hope the story speaks to others as well and is a reminder that some of the most amazing people we meet may be the very teens we come in contact with on a daily basis.

—Heather Burch

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