Hi, April! Welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for Girl Forgotten?

I’ve been very busy, but in a good way! Girl Forgotten won the Edgar, which was definitely a career highlight. I’ve written four more books in the interim, including In The Blood. And I continue to crisscross the country, speaking to middle and high school students about reading, writing, and research.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

My parents claimed I was reading at age three. One of my earliest memories is of my mom showing me flashcards with a letter on one side, like an A, and on the back was a picture of something that began with that letter, like an apple. They felt magical. Learning to read opened up door after door for me, a kid who grew up poor in a logging town.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading:

It might have been Are You My Mother, by PD Eastman, but that could also have been read to me. I definitely remember the thrill of Evelyn Lampman’s City Under the Back Steps, which is about two children who shrink down small enough they can join the world of ants.

• The one that made you want to become an author:

I loved Charlie in the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl so much. When I was 12, I wrote a short story about a 6-foot tall frog named Herman who loved peanut butter, and I was sure Dahl would like it. It did have some of his sense of whimsy. I mailed it to him care of his publisher. He not only sent me back a postcard saying how much he loved it, he actually showed it to his editor, who asked if she could publish it in a children’s magazine called Puffin Post.

• The one that you can’t stop thinking about:

Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips. Her main character, a woman who is with her four-year-old at the zoo, is desperate to have them both survive a mass shooting. Phillips has the character make some less-than-saintly choices, which is a brave thing to do with your main character.

Your latest novel, In the Blood, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

I’ll take the five words from reviews:

“Unsettling”

“Exciting”

“Disturbing”

“Insightful”

“Suspenseful”

What can readers expect?

After an adopted teen takes a DNA test, she figures out her biological mother is missing and her biological father a mystery. As she tries to identify him, law enforcement is too—because she’s the daughter of the Portland Phantom, a serial killer they’ve been hunting for over a decade.

Tessa just wants to feel like she belongs. And once her biological father learns of her existence, he’ll think she does belong—to him.

Where did the inspiration for In the Blood come from?

Over the last ten years, I’ve become pretty good at genetic genealogy. In addition to helping adoptees and other people find relatives, genetic genealogy can help law enforcement identify both victims and killers. During the pandemic, I volunteered with the DNA Doe Project. And even though I’m not adopted, I’m a member of the DNA Adoption Google Group.

Using DNA matches, I was able to identify my great-grandmother’s family. Last year I hired a researcher to comb through the National Archives, and he uncovered handwritten family records that proved I was right. These same records showed that my great-great grandfather was a scoundrel who seems to have faked his own death.

When I first started using DNA to trace my family tree I was warned that I might find unwelcome surprises. I did figure out I was descended from a murderer, an arsonist, and even an accused witch—but all long enough ago that it was more interesting than disturbing.

I started picturing an adopted girl who turns 18, takes a DNA test, and discovers far more than she bargained for. How much of who we are is in our genes?

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Tessa, my main character, wants to be a writer, and is processing her thoughts and feelings through short stories. It was fun to write snippets of them.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

At one point, two characters are trapped in a locked storage unit the bad guy has set on fire. I had no idea how they would get out. Through obsessive googling, I discovered a message board for storage unit owners. I managed to get approved to post, and then asked the group for help on how to get my characters out alive. And they had lots of advice!

What’s next for you?

Two of my most popular books have been Girl, Stolen and Count All Her Bones, both about Cheyenne Wilder, a blind girl who unexpectedly crosses paths with Griffin Sawyer, a boy from the very wrong side of the tracks. In September 2027 there will be a third book in the series, Dig Another Grave. While hiking in a remote Oregon forest, Cheyenne and Griffin stumble across a man digging a secret grave.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

Looking forward to:

• Five: A Novel by Ilona Bannister
• Ghost Town by Tom Perotta
• The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

Enjoyed so far:

• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
• It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica
• Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet

Will you be picking up In the Blood? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: April Henry, Author of ‘In the Blood’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s Only A Game is a twisty, fast-paced YA thriller, a dangerous game becomes all too real when Marina and her friends are framed for murder.

When I first set out to write the idea that would eventually become my debut novel, It’s Only a Game, I picked up every young adult thriller I could get my hands on. I was initially reading to understand the genre and to find comparable titles for pitching, but that quickly turned to reading for enjoyment. There’s something so inherently accessible about thrillers—between fast pacing, high tension, and the promise of answers to be revealed, they’re easy to pick up and hard to set down. I love that rush of trying to guess along the way and the satisfaction of turning the last page after the mystery has been solved.

I’ve read so many amazing YA thrillers that there’s no way I can include them all in one article, but I’m excited to share a few recent reads (and one beloved reread!) that I absolutely adored. I hope you’ll consider picking them up! And if you’re up for a YA thriller featuring a group of gamers who are blackmailed into playing a dangerous video game with real life consequences, my book, It’s Only a Game, will be out on July 9 this year!

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell

Mara Racette, a relative newcomer to the Blackfeet Reservation, hasn’t had the warmest welcome. But she’s hopeful when a local girl invites her to a traditional Blackfeet giveaway to honor her missing sister—until a girl from the giveaway is found murdered.

Told through the perspective of four Blackfeet teens as well as snippets from a true crime podcast, Looking for Smoke is a deeply moving novel that brings attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. Cobell crafts a compelling, masterful story full of complex characters you’ll find yourself rooting for and twists that will keep you guessing!

Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He

Ella Moore is the queen bee of Sierton High. When she’s murdered at her own party, the prime suspect is Dawn Foster, the new girl at school and the last person to hand Ella a drink before she died. As Dawn investigates Ella’s past in an attempt to clear her own name, she discovers just how many people hated Ella—some of whom have no qualms about letting Dawn take the fall for Ella’s death.

Told through dual perspectives, Perfect Little Monsters is a clever, page-turning book that reminded me of Mean Girls (one of my favorite movies) in the best way. He’s writing sucked me in immediately and kept me riveted through the ending, which was a stunner—especially when paired with the author’s note.

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally

A teen wakes up bruised and shivering on the side of a dirt road with no memory of what happened to her—or even of her own name. After being picked up by a local officer, she’s brought home by a man who’s been searching frantically for her—a man who claims her name is Mary and he’s her father. In another town, Drew searches for his girlfriend, Lola, who’s been missing for weeks—and whom everyone in town thinks he murdered.

Told through Mary’s and Drew’s perspectives, That’s Not My Name is tense, impossible to put down (I read it in one day), and hard-hitting. I was completely blown away by Megan Lally’s mastery of plots, reveals and twists—and that ending will stick with me for a long, long time.

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo

Once-popular Jo-Lynn Kirby is now an outcast at school—so, when her ex-best friend Maddie comes to her claiming to be in trouble, Jo figures it’s another cruel prank…until Maddie goes missing. Jo agrees to fake-date her ex-crush, Hudson Harper-Moore, as a way into her old clique to investigate Maddie’s disappearance—but being back on the inside means confronting the secrets and betrayal that ruined Jo’s reputation and broke her friendship with Maddie.

I fell hard for Jo—she’s a force of personality with a voice that absolutely leaps from the page. She feels real, complicated, and relatable. I loved every moment of her journey, from her initial, prickly determination not to rely on anyone to her slow discovery of the joy in connection and reconnection—both with herself and others—as she’s forced to work through past traumas. Not Like Other Girls brought tears to my eyes—emotions that only intensified with the deeply personal author’s note. A masterfully written mystery!

The One That Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy

When Lauren O’Brian moves to a new town, she’s relieved to leave her past behind—painful memories that her summer hookup, Robbie Crestmont, helps her forget. Then she learns that Robbie’s ex-girlfriend mysteriously drowned at his lake house over a year earlier. Lauren knows what it’s like when everyone assumes the worst of you…but when she finds shocking evidence that might implicate Robbie, she must decide who to trust—the boy she’s growing closer with or the town that’s convinced he’s a murderer.

The One That Got Away with Murder is as clever as the title suggests. Lundy keeps readers guessing throughout—and wondering, alongside Lauren, just how far we can trust the Crestmonts. With complex characters, precisely timed backstory reveals, and a satisfying ending, this book was a stunning read!

Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz

Izzy Morales and five friends join Izzy’s best friend, Kassidy, in a 1920s-themed getaway at a glamorous historic mansion. There, they party in vintage dresses and expensive jewelry—until Kassidy’s boyfriend turns up murdered. Investigators consider everyone a suspect—and no one can leave the estate until they find the killer.

With comps like One of Us is Lying and Knives Out, this book has a lot to live up to—and Muñoz delivers! The atmosphere is stellar and there are plenty of suspicious motives to go around. Suddenly a Murder is a fun and compelling locked room mystery that nods to classics like Agatha Christie while weaving in hard-hitting modern issues.

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Daunis Fontaine—biracial, an unenrolled tribal member, and product of a scandal—has never quite fit in either her hometown or the nearby Ojibwe Reservation. When someone she loves is murdered in a drug-related incident, Daunis agrees to work as an undercover informant to help find the source of the meth addiction ravaging her community—a choice that will uncover more deceit and corruption than Daunis could’ve imagined and put her at increasing risk.

Firekeeper’s Daughter is one of those deeply moving, once-in-a-generation books that deserves every bit of acclaim it has received and more. Boulley expertly balances every aspect of this incredible book that is so powerful that I started crying upon starting the reread—and finished rereading anyway, tears and all.

Girls Who Burn by M.K. Pagano (Out July 16)

Addie Blackwood’s sister, Fiona, died a year ago. Since then, Addie has suspected Thatcher Montgomery, the rich boy down the street, of killing Fiona…until Thatcher’s found dead too. Addie tentatively agrees to team up with the only person she can trust, Seth Montgomery—the boy she was with during both deaths. But the more Seth and Addie learn, the more it seems their families’ pasts are tied up in what happened to Fiona, and the less Addie knows who to trust.

Girls Who Burn perfectly entwines the danger and suspense of a thriller with the emotional, wonderfully angsty tension of an enemies-to-lovers romance. With beautiful prose and fast pacing, Pagano tackles themes of loss, guilt, and class differences in this twisty, thoroughly enjoyable mystery that will leave readers breathless to the very last page.

Under the Surface by Diana Urban (Out August 13)

While on a class trip to Paris, Ruby’s best friend follows a local guy down to explore the Catacombs one night—and Ruby, Ruby’s ex-best friend, and another classmate end up along for the ride. They get lost underground—a nightmare that only grows worse when they realize someone is hunting them through the tunnels. Meanwhile, Sean, the boy who loves Ruby, races to find her from aboveground, helping the police and pushing awareness for the plight of the missing teens—before it’s too late for them all.

This heart-pounding book is a mix of survival thriller, tense teen drama, and twisty mystery, with an overarching romantic theme. I’m in awe of Urban’s skill in crafting a suspenseful, incredibly creepy and emotional story that does not let up until the very end. Five heartfelt shivers for this amazing book!

More YA Thrillers to Pick Up

• For fans of historical thrillers—The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
• For fans of The Picture of Dorian Gray—She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
• For fans of dark academia—How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao
• For fans of Carrie—The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
• For fans of survival thrillers—Stay Dead by April Henry
• For fans of Rebecca—I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
• For fans of psychological thrillers—The Half-Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno
• For fans of Get Out—Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
• For fans of Scrabble—Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
• For fans of Angie Thomas—When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris

The post Kelsea Yu’s YA Thriller Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi April! Can you briefly describe Girl Forgotten?

Seventeen-year-old Piper Gray becomes curious about the grave of Layla Trello, a girl the same age as Piper who died nearly 20 years earlier. When she googles Layla’s name, she discovers Layla disappeared from a Halloween party and her body wasn’t found for 12 days. The killer has never been caught. Piper has to choose a senior passion project, and as a big fan of true crime podcasts, she decides to start one about Layla. Of course, the case is not as cold as everyone believes.

What drew you to writing in the YA genre and specifically a mystery?

This is my 28th book, and all of them have been mysteries and thrillers. I love mysteries for their high stakes, the fact that justice almost always triumphs, and the excuse they give me for learning even more about forensics. As for YA, almost 20 years ago I wrote what I thought was an adult book with a teenaged main character. My agent, who represents a lot of YA authors, informed me me that my 13th book was actually a YA. It turned out to be a really good fit for me. I enjoy the challenge of coming up with ideas that will intrigue even reluctant readers. I do a lot of school visits, and I love the passion and intensity that students have. Adults have lost a lot of that.

What songs form the soundtrack to the book for you?

While I listen to music when I write, I use it more to keep up a good pace on my treadmill desk rather than paying attention to the words. I think I was listening to a lot of Elle King, Grandson, Zachary Kibbee, and Larkin Poe – all singers I still like.

True crime plays a large role in Girl Forgotten and I loved the exploration of the morality of some of these true crime investigations. Why did you choose this theme?

I wanted to explore the ethics of using true crime for entertainment. Some podcasts have lead to cases being reopened or even solved. Others … not so much. I myself have used real stories as the jumping off place for novels many times, but I always change most of the facts and almost always the outcome. I also wanted to explore what the late journalist Gwen Ifill called Missing White Woman syndrome.

What are some of your favourite crime podcasts and/or TV shows?

Like everyone, I was enthralled by Serial.

Some of the podcasts I listened to while working on book were: Missing & Murdered: Who Killed Alberta Williams and Accused, a podcast by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

One podcast I enjoy is called This Is Actually Happening. In each episode, a real person describes what an experience was like, for example, what it was like to be carjacked. I learned about it after an acquaintance was featured after she survived an attack at knife point.

I just finished Bone Valley, about a young man convicted of his wife’s murder in 1987. No longer a young man, he still sits in prison, even though someone else has confessed to the crime and it seems clear that he is innocent.

I’m currently listening to Your Own Backyard, about the disappearance and presumed murder of Kristin Smart. That podcast was cited by the sheriff  for inspiring new witnesses to come forward with information. The perpetrator has now been convicted, which is extremely difficult in a case with no body.

I also like documentaries like Making a Murderer, or even the occasional Dateline.

Who would be your ideal casting for an adaptation?

With her mix of vulnerability and risk-taking, Elsie Kate Fisher seems like she would make a great Piper. Millie Bobby Brown would be a good fit for Layla if there were flashbacks. I really liked Sam McCarthy in Dead to Me and think he would make a great Jonas.

Finally, what lasting impression would you like Girl Forgotten to leave on a reader?

I’d like readers to think about what tragedies we pay attention to.  And I’d like them to believe that passionate, smart people can accomplish a lot if they don’t give up.

The post Q&A: April Henry, Author of ‘Girl Forgotten’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Girl in the White Van is a brand new YA mystery thriller from author April Henry. Henry is no stranger to the genre with over twenty published novels and delivers a fast paced and creepy narrative with The Girl in the White Van. As a teen, I lived in the mystery/thriller section of my local library, bookstore, and video store. My tastes have certainly changed over the years, but the key teachings I took from these types of stories are still ingrained in me today. There are a few formulas that these types of stories follow and I was expecting this book to do the same thing. This is the first April Henry book I have read, but this book seemed to follow its own rules. Perhaps the YA thriller journey is different, compared with more adult thrillers, but this book was certainly different to what I was expecting, both good and bad.

The Girl in the White Van takes the classic stalker with a white van stereotype and develops a plot that made my skin crawl. Savannah is a teenage girl who has a complicated relationship with her mother, who never stays in the same place or with the same man for very long. After a fight with Tim, the latest boyfriend, Savannah heads to her usual Kung Fu class. After class she means to head home, however, she is stopped by an unknown attacker who grabs her from behind. After a brief struggle and a few injuries, she is taken and wakes up somewhere unknown. However, Savannah isn’t alone. There is another girl with her and so begins their struggle to escape. The other girl, Jenny, is pretty beat up and her injuries are described in gruesome detail. The reader soon learns that her injuries were acquired when Jenny tried to escape when she was first taken. Despite her fear, Savannah quickly insists that they try and escape.

The story is told from multiple POVs. In fact, almost every character in this book has at least one chapter to shine. This is an interesting choice, but Henry does a good job keeping each voice individual and separate. It shares emotions and provides a background about Savannah, Jenny, their parents, and other kids from school. It also teaches the reader more about the villain, Sir, and about the fact he has been stalking girls for a long time. Savannah’s chapters are prefaced with Bruce Lee quotes which the reader learns early on is a sort of idol for her. These quotes give a cryptic hint of the mood of each chapter and where a really lovely addition.

“If there is always light, you don’t experience light anymore. You have to have the rhythm of light and darkness.”

The use of multiple POVs also helps propel the story and creates a really fast paced read. There are both positives and negatives for this book in that sense. The positive was I finished this book in under two hours! The negative is I felt that the story was rushed and led to a lack of tension and suspense throughout. It felt like there was simply no time for the suspense to build before the next character started talking.

Prior to being kidnapped, Savannah really struggles to form a connection with other characters. She is used to moving frequently and talks about how there is little point making friends because the inevitable move always results in losing contact. It was wonderful to see the relationship between Savannah and Jenny bloom in their short captivity together. Their characters really complimented each other and where one was weak the other was there to support and assist both physically and emotionally. So many YA books pit young girls against each other and it was refreshing to see these girls work together through many adversities.

This book plays out like an episode of Criminal Minds and the reader is given a psychoanalysis of the kidnapper which felt very familiar. Sir, as he wants to be called, is a loner with severe emotional issues surrounding both his parents after their deaths which has led him to believe he is entitled to a woman to control and treat how he deems fit. I was waiting for a twist within the story and Henry hints throughout at the possible suspects of who Sir may be from the men in Savannah’s life. Unfortunately, that twist never came and Sir is a stranger who preyed and stalked young girls and women until he found the perfect one. This was a bit disappointing (I love a good plot twist, particularly in mysteries and thrillers) but the fact Sir is a complete stranger certainly upped the creep factor by at least 1000.

Henry packs this book with a lot of lessons for young girls and women throughout this book and I am not sure if they were intentional or not. She comments on how each girl was taken by a stranger that had watched their movements over several days/weeks. As a woman with law enforcement in her family, changing up my routine where possible has always been on my radar. There are self defense lessons scattered throughout and Savannah actually teaches certain aspects to Jenny before their escape. I thought the inclusion of these tips was appropriate and rounded this book out perfectly.

The Girl In The White Van is a solid YA thriller that would be most enjoyed by the younger end of the YA reader spectrum. It has a straight forward plot, relatable characters while still delivering the expected creep.

The Girl In The White Van is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 28th 2020.

Will you be picking up The Girl In The White Van? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A teen is snatched after her kung fu class and must figure out how to escape—and rescue another kidnapped prisoner—in this chilling YA mystery.

When Savannah disappears soon after arguing with her mom’s boyfriend, everyone assumes she’s run away. The truth is much worse. She’s been kidnapped by a man in a white van who locks her in an old trailer home, far from prying eyes. And worse yet, Savannah’s not alone: Ten months earlier, Jenny met the same fate and nearly died trying to escape. Now as the two girls wonder if he will hold them captive forever or kill them, they must join forces to break out—even if it means they die trying.

Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another heart-stopping young adult thriller in this story ripped straight from the headlines.

The post Review: The Girl in the White Van by April Henry appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Loveless by Alice Oseman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn’t limited to romance. 

B*WITCH by Paige McKenzie an d Nancy Ohlin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With an inclusive cast of teen witches who leap off the page with style, attitude, and charm, B*Witch is a singable read perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Mean Girls alike.

The Girl in the White Van by April Henry
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A teen is snatched after her kung fu class and must figure out how to escape—and rescue another kidnapped prisoner—in this chilling YA mystery.

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Damsel meets A Heart in a Body in the World in this incisive and lyrical feminist fairy tale about a princess determined to save her sisters from a curse, even if it means allying herself with the very witch who cast it.

This Is My America by Kim Johnson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dear Martin meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting YA novel that explores the racist injustices in the American justice system.

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie follows Pinky and Samir as they pretend to date—with disastrous and hilarious results.

Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, comes the first in a two-book origin story of Faith, a groundbreaking, plus-sized superhero from the Valiant Entertainment comics.

Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars #2) by Elizabeth Lim
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Maia Tamarin proved her skill as a tailor when she wove the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars, but it will take more than a beautiful gown to hide the darkness rising up within her. . . . The stakes are higher than ever in this breathtaking sequel to Spin the Dawn, perfect for fans of Six of Crows.

Gimme Everything You Got by Iva-Marie Palmer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A feminist, sex-positive, and hilarious rom-com about a girl in 1970s Chicago trying everything she can to score—on and off the soccer field.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse…

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune’s YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.

More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In More Than Maybe, Erin Hahn’s swooniest book yet, Luke and Vada must decide how deep their feelings run and what it would mean to give love a try.

Will you be picking up any of these releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post July 2020 Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.