Author: Katy Upperman

YA Book Club :: JUST ONE DAY

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{YA Book Club is the brainchild of writer/blogger Tracey Neithercott.
For guidelines and additional info, click the image above.}

March’s YA Book Club selection is Gayle Forman‘s latest novel Just One Day. I posted a glowing review of the story back in February and upon rereading that post, I noticed two things: One, my feelings regarding this story haven’t changed. And two, I stand by my declaration that Just One Day will be one of my very favorite 2013 releases.

I have family in town this week and I am on a whale-watching boat in the Monterey Bay right this very second (hopefully not completely seasick), so I am going to cheat and repost my Febraury review. My apologies if you’ve already read it. If you haven’t… Enjoy!

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From Goodreads: When sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines. Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon (October, 2013)!

Gayle Forman is one of those authors, one who is just so awesome she’s taken on a bit of a celebrity status in my head. She’s smart and generous in sharing her wisdom (as evident in blog posts like this one), and she’s thoughtful and classy (even when she’s calling people out for being assholes, like in this post). I was lucky enough to hear her speak at an event last year, and I was blown away by how funny and bright and authentic she was. I’ve come to look up to her both as a writer and a person, and If I Stay and Where She Went are two of my very favorite contemporaries. So, of course I terrified to read her latest release. I mean… What if I was a disappointed?

Thankfully, I was not.

If I had to describe Just One Day in just one word, that word would be RICH. It is a story that is rich in far-reaching themes (finding your identity, lost love, coming of age, making a mark; there are mentions of Shakespeare throughout the novel). It is a story that is rich in lusciously-described settings (Paris, Mexico, Amsterdam, London, among others). And it is a story that is rich in colorful, dynamic characters (I adored Dee most). Every sentence, every page, every chapter of Just One Day made me think and wonder and imagine and  feel, which is the very best kind of reading experience.

I absolutely loved this book.

I think that’s mostly because I got the main character, Allyson. I understood her need to please, empathized with her initial absence of identity, felt the gaping hole she suffered when things with Willem went to hell. When I was eighteen, I was a lot like Allyson — that perfection-seeking girl with a lack of confidence and very little autonomy. That’s why it was so compelling to watch her grow into her personality and become self-reliant, a full, well-rounded person. That’s why I was rooting for her even when she was at her lowest and, frankly, sort of hard to like. By the time I reached the final page of her story, I wanted to be Allyson’s friend. I wanted to travel Europe with her!

Now. Let’s talk about Willem. I want to read his story, Just One Year, like, RIGHT NOW. Just One Day ends in a pretty staggering cliffhanger. The story will continue on in Willem’s narration coming this October (*sigh*), and I cannot wait to hear his side of the story. As of now, I know him only through Allyson’s romanced eyes. In Paris, he is charming and fun and sexy and impulsive, but I get the overwhelming sense that there is much more to Willem than the persona he presented to Allyson. I didn’t love his apparent love ’em and leave ’em ways, but I think we’re going to learn that there’s a very real and reasonable explanation for his behavior. I am so looking forward to learning more about him, his presumably complicated past, his feelings concerning LuLu, and what exactly happened on that fateful morning in Paris.

Fans of contemporary YA, fans of romance, fans of beautiful writing, fans of books: please, pLeAsE, PLEASE go buy Just One Day. It is a gorgeous, emotional, whirlwind of a read, and you will love every minute of it.

Tell Me: Have you read Just One Day? How do you think it measures up to Gayle Forman’s other novels?

(Don’t forget to drop by Tracey’s blog to see what other YA Book Club participants thought of Just One Day!)

One Word Wednesday

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Spring
{We’re seeing signs of spring here in Central California and I couldn’t be happier! Warmer days, blooming flowers… Totally makes me smile.}


Pitiful
{Poor Daisy. She ended up with a aural hematoma (I’ll spare you the gory details of what, exactly, that is) and had to have surgery. Now she gets to wear The Cone of Shame for three weeks and finish a grueling course of antibiotics. I do feel horrible for her, but considering she was a stray we adopted for free, this dog has cost us a small fortune over the last nine years.}

Cheer
{Because she is awesome and amazing and incredibly thoughtful, my longtime friend Kari Bradley surprised me with the most wonderful package. She was lucky enough to attend YA Highway‘s Author Event in Shelton, WA last week, and I was super, super sad that I couldn’t go with her (because before I moved to California, we used to attend bookish events together). Anyway, Kari asked Veronica Roth to sign a copy of Divergent for me and sent it off with cookies and an adorable tea towel… I have the best friends!}

Peaceful
{We hit the bay in our kayaks on Sunday. While it was windy and the water was a little choppy, the view was too lovely not to appreciate. We saw tons of birds, as well as harbor seals and some huge sea lions. I love living on the coast.}

Effortless
{You might remember the video I shared last week on tenacity and my daughter’s trip down the monkey bars. Well, once she got it, she got it. Now she really is a little monkey, dangling and swing on calloused palms, and since it’s spring break, she wants to spend every waking moment at the park. Silly girl!}

Fantastic
{I’m reviewing The List over at YA Confidential today… Check it out!}

What have you been up to lately?

Bookanista Rec: ELEANOR & PARK

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Today in amazing books:
A sweet, unflinching, achingly real young adult romance…
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
(Reviewed for the Debut Author Challenge and The Bookanistas)

From Goodreads: TWO MISFITS. ONE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE. 
It’s 1986 and two star-crossed teens are smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love–and just how hard it pulled you under.

 A cross between ’80s movie Sixteen Candles and the classic coming-of-age novel Looking for Alaska, Eleanor & Park is a brilliantly written young adult novel.

And a tiny excerpt from Rainbow Rowell’s website: 

“Bono met his wife in high school,” Park says.

“So did Jerry Lee Lewis,” Eleanor answers.

“I’m not kidding,” he says.

“You should be,” she says, “we’re 16.”

“What about Romeo and Juliet?”

“Shallow, confused, then dead.”

“I love you,” Park says.

“Wherefore art thou,” Eleanor answers.

“I’m not kidding,” he says.

“You should be.”

Honest confession: I loved this book more than I can eloquently express. I actually considered skipping a review because it’s so hard to put into words how profoundly Eleanor and Park’s story impacted me. But, Eleanor & Park is too incredible not to recommend. So, with the help of bullet points, I will try to explain why you must to read this novel…

  • Eleanor – She’s crass and self-conscious, sarcastic and quick-witted. She’s a low-income chubby girl who dresses in over-sized men’s clothing and avoids eye contact. Sounds hard to like, right? Well, she’s not. In fact, Eleanor is so courageous and vivid and resolute and real, it’s easy to be on her side. Seeing her through Park’s adoring eyes doesn’t hurt either.  
  • Park – He’s small, half-Asian. He’s punk rock, reads comic books, kicks ass at taekwondo, and goes through an eyeliner phase. He’s also mentally floundering, trying to figure out where he fits in at school and among his family. Park is easy to love: honest and loyal and sweet and inimitable. I want to hug him. 
  • Setting – Eleanor & Park is set in the eighties, which is all kinds of awesome. The musical references alone made me want to jump into a time machine set to 1986 Omaha. Also, the absence of technology (cell phones, the Internet) aids in the slow-burn getting-to-know-you stage of Eleanor and Park’s relationship. 
  • Park’s Parents – I don’t usually pay a lot of attention to the parents in YA novels (probably because more often than not they’re inconsequential), but Park’s parents totally won me over. They’re deeply in love, which is a nice change of pace. His Korean mother is adorable and sassy and strong, and his father, while brusque and quite opinionated, clearly has an enormous heart. 
  • The Hand Holding – Oh my goodness… Who knew hand holding could be such a sensual, tantalizing event? It’s about as far as Eleanor and Park go for the first half of the novel, but the way Rainbow Rowell describes it — the literal action of holding hands, not to mention the tangle of emotions involved — is so evocative and beautiful. It gave me all the first-love butterflies. 
  • Against the World – There’s not one Big Bad Antagonist in Eleanor & Park. Rather, the two protagonists are putting out fires left and right: Park’s initially disapproving parents, Eleanor’s completely tragic home life, bullies at school, not to mention their own private uncertainties and insecurities. Watching Eleanor and Park work through their problems was equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. 
  • The End – I had a physical heart-drop reaction as I read the final words of Eleanor & Park. The conclusion is open-ended, left to be interpreted, and at first I wanted MORE. But upon further consideration, I realized that the end of this story is exactly what it should be: hopeful and lovely and very much befitting its tone. 

I feel confident declaring that Eleanor & Park will be one of my very favorite 2013 releases. But if you’re still not convinced, check out the Eleanor & Park review John Green wrote for The New York Times: “Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”

And don’t forget to check out what my fellow Bookanistas are up to:

Jessica Love covets the cover of ALIENATED

Elana Johson thinks MAGISTERIUM is magical

Tracy Banghart counts on THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY
OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Shelli Johannes-Wells  is wild for POISON

Stasia Ward Kehoe basks IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS

Nikki Katz adores OUT OF THE EASY

 

And learn more about the Debut Author Challenge HERE.

On tenacity…

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My daughter, who inherited her less-than-impressive upper body strength from her mama, has been working for weeks to successfully cross the monkey bars on the playground at her school. You’d think the only thing she does all day at kindergarten is enjoy recess. Every night at dinner my husband and I get a little update on the monkey bar progress, and every night we encourage our girl to keep working at it, to build up her muscles (and callouses!).

Yesterday when I picked her up from school, my girlie was so excited to show me how close she was to making it all the way across: “Just a few bars from the end, Mommy!” I told her we’d film her efforts and send the video off to all her grandparents. Well, it just so happens that THIS was the time she conquered the monkey bars! (Man, am I glad I caught it on film!)


Two things about this video strike a major mommy-emotional chord. First, my daughter’s unrestrained joy and pride at having finally, after weeks and weeks of hard work, met her goal. And second, the way her adorable litte friend cheers her on, and is equally excited about her success. Reminds me of my CPs and betas and writing friends and blog followers, who are always in my corner.

And now I’m inspired to get back to writing so I can finally meet one of my goals.

When was the last time you were unexpectedly inspired?

Book Rec: TAKEN

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I am so very excited to share one of my most anticipated 2013 debut novels:
Erin Bowman‘s futuristic dystopian thriller, Taken (April 16th)
(Reviewed for the Debut Author Challenge and The Bookanistas.)

Taken (Taken, #1)From Goodreads: There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone. They call it the Heist. Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive. Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

This is a tricky review to write because Taken is one of those very cool novels in which almost nothing is as it originally seems. That summary up above? It’s only the beginning. Countless surprises follow, and to discuss the story itself would be to spoil it. I will say that Erin Bowman’s plotting is tight and her twists are unexpected. Seemingly inconsequential bits of information presented early in the story have a way of popping back up at crucial moments, tying once unrelated threads together. There was never a dull moment in Taken. I flew through this book as if I was on Gray’s journey with him — and what an exciting journey it was.

Speaking of Gray… I totally fell for him. It was refreshing to read a dystopian YA story told from a male protagonist’s perspective, and Erin totally nailed Gray’s sheltered, contemplative, gritty voice. While he certainly has his flaws, I found Gray incredibly endearing. His temper is short and much of his decision making is rash, but he is loyal and vulnerable and very much a romantic. I loved, too, the female characters in this story, Bree especially. Oh my goodness… She is totally kick ass. Like, literally! Plus, she’s part of one of the best almost-kiss scenes I’ve ever read, one that totally made me laugh out loud.

Erin Bowman has a gift for simple, graceful prose that reads as effortless. In Taken, she has built a complex, formidable world and woven a truly unputdownable story — I’m already curious about how the remainder of this trilogy will play out. Fans of twisty dystopians like The Giver, Matched, and Under the Never Sky will be all over this novel. I can’t wait for you to read it!

{In the interest of full disclosure, I feel like it’s important to mention that Erin and I have been friends for a few years. While I adore her personally (here’s her Twitter and her blog), my review of Taken is without bias.}

Check out what my fellow Bookanistas are up to today:

Jessica Love raves about MY LIFE NEXT DOOR

Elana Johnson is head over heels for LET THE SKY FALL

And learn more about the Debut Author Challenge HERE.

One Word Wednesday

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Bright
{Since it’s nearly spring, the sun has been coming up earlier and earlier. It’s been light out at the end of my morning run for the last few days, which is fun and exhilarating and inspiring.}

 
Proud
{My girlie was named Student of the Month, along with one of her little kindergarten BFFs. So happy for her!}


Research
{I’m obviously enjoying Scrivener. I love that I can leave all these fun little notes and musings for myself. I posted this photo on Instagram and a psych nurse who follows me totally jumped in with an answer to those last questions. Win!}


Sweet
{Banana Sheet Cake (I used an extra banana and baked an extra five minutes) with homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting… This was similar in flavor and texture to banana bread, only more decadent. Yum!}

Talent
{I get to teach art to my daughter’s kindergarten class once a week (thanks to budget restraints, there’s no full-time art teacher) and even though it can get a little crazy, it’s really fun. We spent the last two weeks working on self-portraits, and they turned out really cute. These actually look like their creators! (My girlie’s is bottom left. :)}

Check back for a fantastic Bookanistas recommendation tomorrow!

*sad face*

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Last week I read and fell head-over-heels in love with Sara Zarr’s How to Save a Life. Its themes of loss,  grief, and starting anew resonated deeply, and I’ve found myself thinking often about the story and its wonderfully flawed characters and how profoundly they’ve affected me over the last several days.

I’ve thought, too, about the other contemporaries I’ve read and adored over the last few months: Amy McNamara’s Lovely, Dark and Deep, Hannah Harrington’s Saving June, and Kristin Halbrook’s Nobody But Us. Just like How to Save a Life, these novels are centered around tragedy. Their protagonists deal with death and guilt and unimaginable sadness, and they must learn to find their way through whatever dark burdens life has thrown at them.

Turns out, almost all of my favorite young adult contemporaries are similar in this way: Jandy Nelson’s The Sky is Everywhere, Melina Marchetta’s Jellicoe Road, Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, John Green’s Looking For Alaska, Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, and Sarah Ockler’s Twenty Boy Summer.

I’m not sure what my penchant for literary sorrow says about me, but it’s a fairly safe bet that if a novel is steeped in heart-wrenching sadness, has a strong romantic element, a mature narrative voice, and a conclusion that rings with at least a hint of hopefulness, I’ll probably be a fan.

Tell Me: Do your favorite books have a consistent theme? 

{Oh, and a few links to share: First, today at YA Confidential we’re accepting first page submissions of YA manuscripts for critique by our teen spies. Click HERE for more information. And, via Rebecca Behrens, a fascinating essay by a former Sweet Valley High ghostwriter — how I adored those books growing up! Finally, there’s a March selection for YA Book Club (hosted by Tracey Neithercott). Click HERE to find out what we’re reading. You should most definitely join us!}

Hello, March!

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It’s March! That means spring is right around the corner, which makes this warm weather lover very, very happy. Come on, sunshine!

While I’m gad to welcome a new month, I have to say, February was good to me. I ran 160 miles, which puts my 2013 total at 321 miles. I also decided which writing project I most want to focus on next, and began outlining it in earnest. And, I read tons of amazing books. Like, so many! It was glorious! Here are the highlights:

The Tragedy PaperThe Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan – A quiet sort of book. The characters who populate its pages are wholesome kids mostly trying to do the right thing. But, they have weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and those weaknesses and vulnerabilities are what kept me turning pages. Perfect for fans of contemporary YA, and readers who appreciate clean, straightforward prose and characters who experience profound growth over the course of a story. My full review is HERE. 

The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter, #1)The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd – I’ve been waiting to read this one since my first glimpse of its beautiful cover many months ago. There’s been no shortage of buzz surrounding this book, and now I see why. While it was a bit of a slow start for me (Juliet doesn’t arrive at her father’s creep-tastic island until about 100 pages in), there was so much about The Madman’s Daughter I enjoyed. My full review is HERE.

Just One Day (Just One Day, #1)Just One Day by Gayle Forman – Oh, this book… LOVE. I totally got main character, Allyson. I understood her need to please, empathized with her initial absence of identity, felt the gaping hole she suffered when things with Willem went to hell. And Willem was compelling in his own right: charming and fun and sexy and impulsive, but with depth we haven’t quite gotten to the bottom to yet. I can’t wait for his follow-up novel because Just One Day has become a new favorite. Find my full review HERE.

Taken (Taken, #1)Taken by Erin Bowman – Full review to come next month, but oh my goodness… This debut novel is fantastic. Erin Bowman has a way with lovely, spare prose and Gray, her complicated and conflicted and — ahem — hot main character, is nothing short of compelling. I can’t wait for you all to experience this book and its unique world and its many twists and surprises. A total page turner!

Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks, #2)Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally – I read Miranda Kenneally’s debut, Catching Jordan, last year and liked it a lot. I have to say, I enjoyed Stealing Parker even more. While it took me awhile to warm up to Parker, when I did, I was completely endeared. And the romantic interest she eventually ends up with… adorable. The way this novel tackles love and sexuality as they relate to religion and “right and wrong” was smart and fresh. A recommend for fans of contemporary YA romance novels with sassy voice.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi – I know I just raved about this one yesterday, but yes… This stuffing sequel more than lives up to its predecessor. There’s no dreaded Middle Book Dragging in this novel. Aria, Perry, Roar, Cinder — they are all as dynamic and fascinating as they were in Under the Never Sky. And the chemistry between Aria and Perry… Yowza. My full review is HERE.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr – I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for nearly a year and I continuously passed it up because it involves teen pregnancy and that’s not really my thing. I should have know better, though, because Sara Zarr is amazing and apparently capable of taking any common-in-YA element and spinning it in such a way that I become totally and completely invested. Her writing is just so effortless and gorgeous; I actually shed tears at the end of this one (for those who’ve read: Dylan = Adorable). How to Save a Life is one of those quiet, lovely books that hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention. It has become my personal mission to remedy that. Read this book — you will LOVE it.

Tell me: What’s the best book you read in February? 

Book Rec: THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT

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A stunning sequel that more than lives up to its predecessor…
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
(Find my review of Under the Never Sky HERE.)

From Goodreads: It’s been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don’t take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. With the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe’s precarious existence, Aria fears that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both. 
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?
In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

A few days ago I was chatting with a some fellow book lovers about Dystopian Fatigue. I think most of it have felt it at one time or another — that mental sigh we experience when we hear about yet another new dystopian novel hitting the shelves. There are just so many dystopian-esque books that have recently come out, or are about to come out, and sometimes it’s hard to keep them all straight. It can be difficult to see each book as unique, and it’s a challenge to dive into yet another story set in one of those dystopic worlds that, for me at least, have a tendency to blend together.

I’m happy to report that this is definitely not the case with Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky trilogy. I am absolutely smitten with these books, their world, and their characters. Rossi seamlessly and brilliantly blends the oh-so-popular dystopian trend with strong elements of fantasy and romance, making her novels feel so original: fast-paced, atmospheric, and totally swoonworthy.

My very favorite thing about Through the Ever Night (a “middle” book that could have dragged but absolutely did not), is the way Rossi challenged Perry and Aria’s relationship. Sweeping external conflict combined with super emotional internal conflict made their romance so captivating and so real. I was rooting for them not just because their kisses are steamy and their banter is fun (both true), but because I could feel the way they cared about each other — deep down, and with everything in them.

I loved, too, the way Aria has grown and changed since we first met her in domed Reverie in Under the Never Sky. She was initially a difficult character for me to get behind, sheltered and self-centered and despondent as she was, and it’s been a joy to watch her transform into a strong, independent, caring person. I can’t wait to see what Into the Still Blue demands of her, not to mention Perry, Roar, Cinder, and the rest of Rossi’s fantastic cast of characters.

Through the Ever Night is most definitely a five star book, one lovers of romance, fantasy, and adventure will surely fall head over heals for. If you’ve yet to begin this amazing trilogy… What are you waiting for?!

Check out what one of my fellow Bookanistas is recommending:

Jessica Love introduces ELEANOR AND PARK.

Carolina Valdez Miller celebrates new book deals!

What’s the last dystopian novel you read and loved?