Writing is hard- take it from someone who's tried, and then decided it was just easier to read other people's books instead. No matter who you are, being an author is in your grasp if you have the tenacity and determination to do so. But innumerable times every year, someone bridges the gap between wannabe writer and actual author. Here are a few of my favorite YA debuts from last year, in no particular order.
1. Prisoner of Night and Fog: Anne Blankman- This book grabbed me in seconds, and didn't let go until the last word. I know people say this a lot about books, and most of the time it isn't true for others, but seriously. It hooked me, and I'm not a fan of its type, normally. It tells the story of Gretchen, the daughter of one of Hitler's top men, who calls him Uncle Dolf and believes wholeheartedly in his practices, until she meets Jewish reporter Daniel Cohen, who opens her eyes to Hitler's horror and the truth behind her father's death. This book seriously has everything but magic and unicorns- thrills, suspense, danger, murder, romance, mystery, history, etc. I highly recommend it as one of the best books I've ever read, and you can get it from the library here. Also keep a lookout for its sequel, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, out in 2015.
2. The Aftermath: Jen Alexander- This book was a real roller coaster. The first in a new series, it's about a girl who sold herself to participate in a brutal real-life game where the people are controlled by rich teens not in the game. But the main character is different- she knows it's a game, and she wants out. With the help of a mysterious administrator of the game, she goes on a mission to get out- she knows there's a better life out there for her. This was a book I picked up becuase I ran out of things to read (amazingly) and it shocked me, amazed me, and made me eager for book two. Check it out here.
3. The Promise of Amazing: Robin Constantine- This debut novel promised amazing, and it delivered. Instead of being a normal, angsty teen romance, it provided a unique perspective, a fun plot, and a happy ending for all the believers in that sort of thing, like me. I'm planning to read it again, myself, so that should be proof enough that it was worth reading the first time. If you want to read it, click here.
4. Alienated: Melissa Landers- This beginning to a new sci-fi YA series came out early in 2014, but it stuck with me. Not many books can manage to put so much of an imprint on me that I remember the plot a year later, but this one did, and I'm pumped for the recently-released book 2, Invaded. Alienated is normal high school drama, except for one thing- the exchange student is an alien. A hot alien. And this Aelyx, hot alien visitor, knows things about Earth that could change the world. As the main character, Cara, goes in search of answers to the mystery of what these aliens really want with them- and it moves past high-school drama into an intense thriller full of secrets and mystery for those who need more substance in their reading material. Click here to take a look and request it for yourself.
Now that we're into 2015, I've already noted several new authors this year to check out as well, so keep an eye out for cool debuts you can look forward to this coming year!
2. The Aftermath: Jen Alexander- This book was a real roller coaster. The first in a new series, it's about a girl who sold herself to participate in a brutal real-life game where the people are controlled by rich teens not in the game. But the main character is different- she knows it's a game, and she wants out. With the help of a mysterious administrator of the game, she goes on a mission to get out- she knows there's a better life out there for her. This was a book I picked up becuase I ran out of things to read (amazingly) and it shocked me, amazed me, and made me eager for book two. Check it out here.
3. The Promise of Amazing: Robin Constantine- This debut novel promised amazing, and it delivered. Instead of being a normal, angsty teen romance, it provided a unique perspective, a fun plot, and a happy ending for all the believers in that sort of thing, like me. I'm planning to read it again, myself, so that should be proof enough that it was worth reading the first time. If you want to read it, click here.
4. Alienated: Melissa Landers- This beginning to a new sci-fi YA series came out early in 2014, but it stuck with me. Not many books can manage to put so much of an imprint on me that I remember the plot a year later, but this one did, and I'm pumped for the recently-released book 2, Invaded. Alienated is normal high school drama, except for one thing- the exchange student is an alien. A hot alien. And this Aelyx, hot alien visitor, knows things about Earth that could change the world. As the main character, Cara, goes in search of answers to the mystery of what these aliens really want with them- and it moves past high-school drama into an intense thriller full of secrets and mystery for those who need more substance in their reading material. Click here to take a look and request it for yourself.
Now that we're into 2015, I've already noted several new authors this year to check out as well, so keep an eye out for cool debuts you can look forward to this coming year!
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