Hi, Ellen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m a poet and former journalist, turned nonfiction books for kids writer, become the NY Times bestselling author of fifteen young adult novels-in-verse, two middle grade verse novels, and four novels for adult readers. After six decades in the west (split even-steven between CA and NV), packed up 33 years in one house to move to a log cabin on five acres of Missouri woods with my extended family and two spectacular German Shepherds.

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

As soon as I knew how to spell. My mom instilled a love for literature and encouraged my early haikus.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Uncle Wiggly Long Ears
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Godfather
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: All the Light We Cannot See

Your latest novel, Sync, is out August 27^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Heartbreaking. Heart-stopping. Surprising. Unputdownable. Hopeful.

What can readers expect?

Storm and Lake are twins, connected so deeply they can read each other’s thoughts—their sync. As young children, they are removed from their abusive home and placed in foster care. Sync follows them through a series of placements, one of which separates them. Storm’s anger lands him in lockup a couple of times, but he has finally found a decent “dad” and amazing girlfriend. Until . . . Lake has likewise found love with Parker, but that relationship is in danger because of their uber-religious foster parents, so the two run and wind up on the streets. Then each gets one last chance. Through it all, the twins struggle to find their way back to each other and regain their sync.

Where did the inspiration for Sync come from?

Over the years I’ve worked with a number of foster and aged-out foster kids. Their stories were eye-opening, and I wanted readers to come away with an understanding of a system designed to benefit them, with varied success. There are bad actors there, but also many people who genuinely want to help young people who find it hard to accept that help.

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

Secondary characters often become favorites, and there are three or four supportive adult characters who readers will love. My favorite is Teddy, a homeless man who finds Lake and her girlfriend Parker living in an abandoned car, with very little money or prospects. Parker has a beautiful voice, and when Teddy hears her singing he taps on the window, offering to leave a few bucks under the windshield wiper if she sings some of his favorite songs. Eventually, the car gets towed. By then, Teddy has become something of a friend, and he takes them to live in a homeless camp, where they’re at least a little safer. He’s got quite the backstory, too.

Can you tell our readers a bit about your approach when it came to exploring foster care and juvenile incarceration?

As I said, I’ve worked with foster kids, and also with kids in lockup. So I’ve had some personal experience. I also spent hours watching videos of foster kids, and foster parents, sharing their stories. And to round things out, I lobbied my readers for their stories and to get the details of juvenile detention correct. It was a lot of research, and I think it shows.

You’re the “most-banned” American author. As someone who is based in Australia, what’s with the book banning and why are your titles considered to be so “alarming”?

The current book banning hysteria is a political drive aimed at crippling our public school system. They’re targeting not only books, but teachers and librarians, driving many from their careers. Books are easy targets. Mine have been labelled “sexually explicit,” and while there is some content, it is written with a young adult audience in mind. They also have LGBTQ characters, and characters of color, both of which are targeted content for removal. Apparently real life is “alarming” to these people.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently writing another middle grade, Finding Olivia, about an adopted 13-year-old girl seeking her identity, both external and internal.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

I’ve revisited some old favorites (mostly Stephen King, as I’m considering plunging into horror). Probably my favorite recent book was The Collectors, the Printz-winning anthology. Looking forward to Pick the Lock, which looks to be a very strange book indeed by A.S. King.

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

The post Q&A: Ellen Hopkins, Author of ‘Sync’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s also new authors breaking on to the scene with their debuts including Isabel Ibañez, Emma Lord, Echo Brown, and Rebecca McLaughlin.

January also sees releases from authors Stacie Ramey, M.K. England, Lana Popović, Eric Smith, Sarah Henning, and Laurie Faria Stolarz. Plus there’s also an exciting collaboration with authors such as Beth Revis, Mackenzi Lee, Ellen Hopkins, Saundra Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, and Cheryl Rainfield, which is inspired by the #MeToo movement.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us if you will be picking up any of these releases!

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places.

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

It’s My Life by Stacie Ramey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jenna’s never let her cerebral palsy get her down. But when she discovers that her condition was actually caused by an injury at birth, she’s furious with her parents, who also push her to get yet another difficult procedure. Enter Julian, Jenna’s childhood crush. She reaches out to him―anonymously―to help. Soon, their conversations are about so much more than class. But would Julian still be interested in her if he knew who she really was? And can she find a way to take back her own narrative before she pushes away everyone she loves?

Spellhacker by M.K. England
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of The Disasters, this genre-bending YA fantasy heist story is perfect for fans of Marie Lu and Amie Kaufman.

Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard by Echo Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Heavily autobiographical and infused with magical realism, Black Girl Unlimited fearlessly explores the intersections of poverty, sexual violence, depression, racism, and sexism―all through the arc of a transcendent coming-of-age story for fans of Renee Watson’s Piecing Me Together and Ibi Zoboi’s American Street.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

Blood Countess by Lana Popović
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A historical YA horror novel based on the infamous real-life inspiration for Countess Dracula.

Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One girl must make a name for herself–or die trying –in this royal fantasy where an unknown peasant becomes the ultimate ruler. But how long can she keep the crown if everyone wants her dead? Perfect for fans of Furyborn, Red Queen, and Everless.

Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Slay meets Eliza and Her Monsters in Eric Smith’s Don’t Read the Comments, an #ownvoices story in which two teen gamers find their virtual worlds – and blossoming romance – invaded by the real-world issues of trolling and doxing in the gaming community.

Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz’s thrilling novel Jane Anonymous is a revelatory confessional of a seventeen-year-old girl’s fight to escape a kidnapper―and her struggles to connect with loved ones and a life that no longer exists.

You Too? by Janet Gurtler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A timely and heartfelt collection of essays inspired by the #MeToo movement, edited by acclaimed young adult and middle-grade author Janet Gurtler. Featuring Beth Revis, Mackenzi Lee, Ellen Hopkins, Saundra Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Rainfield and many more.

Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Friday Night Lights meets Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything in this contemporary debut where swoonworthy romance meets underdog sports story.

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

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

Inspired by the #MeToo movement, twenty five voices share their own stories in Janet Gurtler’s latest anthology You Too?. In a powerful push to let young adults know they are not alone, these stories tackle sexual assault in a deeply meaningful way, from a diverse set of voices including both authors we know and ones we don’t quite yet.

Before I begin, of course I need to say that this anthology includes a lot of potential triggers, so please be aware of a content warning for sexual assault, rape, incest, and exploitation. Personally, these topics are quite sensitive but immensely important to me, but I made sure to read this anthology in small amounts and when I was in the right headspace. It was so powerful and meaningful to me and has had a positive impact on my mental health, but make sure you do what is right for you.

You Too? is made up of twenty five essays, each one telling a different story that centres around sexual assault. They each tackle the subject in a different and powerful way, sharing their different and yet so similar experiences and discussing the impact and inference of these experiences. This anthology discusses rape culture, paedophilia, objectification, racism, toxic masculinity, society’s expectations pushed on girls, homophobia, speaking up, and so much more in such an important, timely, and poignant way.

It’s hard to review non-fiction like this except for saying how so very important this anthology is. I hope it reaches the hands of all genders everywhere, especially teenagers, and perhaps it will help some feel less alone, help them to understand, help them to speak up, and to notice and to help themselves. This anthology made me cry with happiness and of sadness and anger too, but I am so so glad to have read it. I hope this book truly succeeds and I am so thankful it exists.

You Too? is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be picking up You Too? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A timely and heartfelt collection of essays inspired by the #MeToo movement, edited by acclaimed young adult and middle-grade author Janet Gurtler. Featuring Beth Revis, Mackenzi Lee, Ellen Hopkins, Saundra Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Rainfield and many more.

When #MeToo went viral, Janet Gurtler was among the millions of people who began to reflect on her past experiences. Things she had reluctantly accepted—male classmates groping her at recess, harassment at work—came back to her in startling clarity. She needed teens to know what she had not: that no young person should be subject to sexual assault, or made to feel unsafe, less than or degraded.

You Too? was born out of that need. By turns thoughtful and explosive, these personal stories encompass a wide range of experiences and will resonate with every reader who has wondered, “Why is this happening to me?” or secretly felt that their own mistreatment or abuse is somehow their fault—it’s not. Candid and empowering, You Too? is written for teens, but also an essential resource for the adults in their lives—an urgent, compassionate call to listen and create change.

The post Review: You Too? by Janet Gurtler appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Sadie by Courtney Summers
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sadie is the story of a young girl who’s missing and a podcast following the clues Sadie has left behind. Determined to find her sister’s killer, Sadie goes on a journey of revenge. As West McCray – a prominent radio personality – overhears part of Sadie’s story, he decides to follow up, resulting in his own podcast trying to find out where she might have gone. As America begins to follow Sadie’s story, McCray finds himself caught up in a story of abuse, neglect and pain, and you can’t help but pray to any gods out there that he will find Sadie…before it’s too late.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This book’s plot twist will hit you like a ton of bricks, I’m warning you. Spanning multiple years and following a tight-knit group of young thespians studying at an elite boarding school, If We Were Villains pulls you in with beautiful writing and the immediate feeling of being an outsider looking in while also belonging to a group of people who are pretentious, self-absorbed and more interesting than any human you’ve ever encountered in your life. As friendship turns into something more sinister, you will feel the dread coming…and then, in a very Shakespearian twist, there’s a murder. Now, ten years later, as Detective Colborne releases the man who confessed to the murder but never seemed all that guilty, he begs for the one thing that has haunted him this past decade: the truth about that night when friends turned to foes…

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

People kill people. Guns just make it easier.

A tale spun with a sense of dread through every page, People Kill People chronicles one week in the life of six teens in a town in the throws of political and personal tensions. Then, a gun is purchased by someone for protection and it will fire before the week is out. The question is, who’s the one to pull the trigger? The member of a white supremacist youth organization? The teen who’s scared of being attacked because of the color of his skin? The married teenager who owns a gun to be able to protect his son if the need ever presented itself? Or the girl who lost everything in a devastating accident, throwing her into a deep depression? The ending will leave you scarred for life…and shows that no hands are ever the “right” ones to hold the responsibility of another’s person’s life in them.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Ah, yes. The OG of making teens lose their minds because of a plot twist. If you watch any booktube video made after 2012, chances are pretty good that you have already heard of this one. We Were Liars has it all – a beautiful private island setting, a group of friends whose friendship turns destructive, all the lies and drama you could ever want and a plot twist that will haunt you until your dying days. A novel about true lies and dishonest truths.

The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Granted, this book doesn’t just have one plot twist; it’s more of an amalgamation of plot twists horrifying you in almost every chapter. But in a good way, I promise.

The Wicker King chronicles the story of two best friends, August and Jack, as Jack starts showing his first signs of a degenerative hallucinatory disorder that slowly take over their world. Jack’s visions of an elaborate, enchanting and yet terrifying fantasy world ruled by the feared Wicker King turn far too real as he and August embark on a quest to fulfil a prophecy in this magical world that will change your perception of what is real and what is imaginary. Lines become blurred, emotions heightened and your hands will be gripping the pages until the very last plot twist.

What plot twist made you completely use your mind? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 5 YA Book Plot Twists That Will Leave You Shocked appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be checking any of them out!

Wildcard by Marie Lu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to Warcross, Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo’s new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side. Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she’s trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Life in real-world Atlanta isn’t always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice’s handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before.

Sadie by Courtney Summers
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice. When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.

The Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cottonwood Hollow, Kansas, is a strange place. For the past century, every girl has been born with a special talent, like the ability to Fix any object, Heal any wound, or Find what is missing. Best friends Rome, Lux, and Mercy all have similar talents, but to them, their abilities often feel like a curse. Lux has been hiding big and dangerous secrets. As Rome struggles to keep her friendships close, she discovers the truth about life in Cottonwood Hollow—that friends are stronger than curses, that trust is worth the risk, and sometimes, what you’ve been looking for has been under your feet the whole time.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood from becoming unrecognisable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgemental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding. But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.

Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” But when her mother brings home a live specimen, Nita decides she wants out — dissecting living people is a step too far. But when she tries to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold on the black market in his place — because Nita herself is a supernatural being. Now Nita is on the other side of the bars, and there is no line she won’t cross to escape and make sure no one can ever capture her again. Nita did a good deed, and it cost her everything. Now she’s going to do a lot of bad deeds to get it all back.

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A gun is sold in the classifieds after killing a spouse, bought by a teenager for needed protection. But which was it? Each has the incentive to pick up a gun, to fire it. Was it Rand or Cami, married teenagers with a young son? Was it Silas or Ashlyn, members of a white supremacist youth organization? Daniel, who fears retaliation because of his race, who possessively clings to Grace, the love of his life? Or Noelle, who lost everything after a devastating accident, and has sunk quietly into depression? One tense week brings all six people into close contact in a town wrought with political and personal tensions. Someone will fire. And someone will die. But who?

Rule by Ellen Goodlett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The king is dying, his heir has just been murdered, and rebellion brews in the east. But the kingdom of Kolonya and the outer Reaches has one last option before it descends into leaderless chaos. Or rather, three unexpected options. Zofi has spent her entire life trekking through the outer Reaches with her band of Travelers. Akeylah was raised in the Eastern Reach, surrounded by whispers of rebellion and abused by her father. Ren grew up in Kolonya, serving as a lady’s maid and scheming her way out of the servants’ chambers. When the king summons the girls, they arrive expecting arrest or even execution. Instead they learn the truth: they are his illegitimate daughters, and one must become his new heir. But someone in Kolonya knows their secrets, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep the sisters from their destiny… to rule.

The Lantern’s Ember by Colleen Houck
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare. Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to The Last Namsara, together with Dax and his sister, Asha, Roa and her people waged war and deposed a tyrant. But now Asha is on the run, hiding from the price on her head. And Roa is an outlander queen, far from home and married to her enemy. Worst of all: Dax’s promises go unfulfilled. Roa’s people continue to suffer. Then a chance to right every wrong arises—an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Reliquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa can reclaim her sister for good. All she has to do is kill the king.

A Room Away From The Wolves by Nova Ren Suma
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Bina has never forgotten the time she and her mother ran away from home. Her mother promised they would hitchhike to the city to escape Bina’s cruel father and start over. Eight years later, Bina finds herself on the side of the road again. She has an old suitcase, a fresh black eye, and a room waiting for her at Catherine House, a young women’s residence in Greenwich Village with a tragic history, a vow of confidentiality, and dark, magical secrets. There, Bina is drawn to her enigmatic downstairs neighbor Monet, a girl who is equal parts intriguing and dangerous.

Keeper of The Bees by Meg Kassel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dresden is cursed. His chest houses a hive of bees that he can’t stop from stinging people with psychosis-inducing venom. His face is a shifting montage of all the people who have died because of those stings. And he has been this way for centuries—since he was eighteen and magic flowed through his homeland, corrupting its people. He follows harbingers of death, so at least his curse only affects those about to die anyway. But when he arrives in a Midwest town marked for death, he encounters Essie, a seventeen-year-old girl who suffers from debilitating delusions and hallucinations. His bees want to sting her on sight. But Essie doesn’t see a monster when she looks at Dresden.

Check out our other September book picks on our Goodreads list!

Any other releases you’re excited to read this month? Tell us in the comments below!

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

Check out a few contemporary YA books that will be released this month!

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve read one (we could even feature your review, just click here) or if you’re adding one to your growing TBR!

Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos | Out Now | Goodreads
Fifteen-year-old Jackie Stone is a prisoner in her own house. Everything she says and does 24/7 is being taped and broadcast to every television in America. Why? Because her dad is dying of a brain tumor and he has auctioned his life on eBay to the highest bidder: a ruthless TV reality show executive at ATN.

Whenever I’m With You by Lydia Sharp | Out Now | Goodreads
After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves to Alaska with her dad. At first it’s hard until she meets Kai, who welcome her into his life. But as winter approaches, he begins to pull away and then one day, he disappears. Kai’s twin believes he is retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness, but with a blizzard on the way, he’ll be in serious trouble.

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti | Out Now | Goodreads
When Lizzie Lovett disappears while camping with her boyfriend, a girl named Hawthorn inserts herself into the investigation. She has a crazy theory about what may have happened and in order to prove it, she immerses herself into Lizzie’s life—including her job and boyfriend..

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall | Out Now | Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Norah has accepted that the four walls of her house delineate her life. Staying inside keeps her safe as she fears everything and chooses to watch others’ live their lives rather than live her own. But when Luke arrives, he doesn’t see a girl defined by mental health. But Norah doesn’t believe she is right for him as Luke deserves someone normal.

A List of Cages by Robin Roe | Out Now | Goodreads
Adam Blake believes he has the best school elective ever by serving as an aide to the school psychologist. When asked to track down a boy who’s dodging the psychologist, he discover its his foster-brother he hasn’t seen in five years, but he’s not exactly the same as he remembers. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives…

The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins | January 24th | Goodreads
It’s always been just Ariel and Dad and after moving around so much, Ariel just wants to put down some roots. Then there’s Maya, a teenager running away from an abusive mother into the arms of an older man. Ariel and Maya’s lives collide unexpectedly when Ariel’s mother shows up out of the blue with wild accusations: Ariel wasn’t abandoned. Her father kidnapped her fourteen years ago.

The post January Book Releases: YA Contemporary appeared first on The Nerd Daily.