Waiting on Wednesday

In the last several months, I've become much more interested in Middle Eastern and Asian culture, and have been impressed by the few books I've read that feature these areas and their people. It is, unfortunately, not very usual to find a Young Adult novel that features different ethnicities, so when I do, I jump on it and hope against hope that the author does the book justice. That is exactly my position and hope with today's Waiting on Wednesday pick. Debuting on August 20, 2013 from Algonquin Young Readers, I give you...

Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.

So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively—and openly.

Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman’s body is seen as nature’s mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?


The synopsis takes my breath away! Not only is a different culture explored within the pages of this book, but it also features a lesbian relationship, which is forbidden, and in fact, considered a crime in Iran. I already know that my poor heart is going to go through the wringer as these two characters struggle to find a way to be together and to overcome the odds of their relationship and their culture. How will this book end?! I can't wait to find out!

Does IF YOU COULD BE MINE sound like your type of read?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy reading, dear reader!

Sometimes we go through reading funks, where everything we read seems to be the same ol' story told in a slightly different way. When these funks happen, we need to find a book that jolts us awake and makes us sit up a bit straighter. I believe I've found one such book in THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE by Leila Sales. This beauty is due to debut on September 17, 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux:

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.


I am so incredibly excited for this book. Everything from the cover to the synopsis promises me a refreshing, unique read, and I can only hope that it will live up to my expectations. Music is a big part of my life and I'm interested to see how big a part it plays in the lives of Elise, Vicky, Char, and Pippa. 

Does THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE sound like your type of read?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy reading, dear reader!

Can you believe it's almost March already?! Where does the time go?

I hope you've read some good books lately, dear reader (and if you have, feel free to share!), and that you have a ton more that you're looking forward to. As for me, this week's WoW pick is an exciting Young Adult debut from Lydia Kang, who previously dabbled in poetry and narrative medical nonfiction. Published by Dial Books for Young Readers on December 26, 2013, I give you:

 

After the violent death of her father, 17 year-old Zelia loses her younger sister, Dylia, during an abduction at a foster care agency. It turns out her sister Dylia isn’t just pretty and sweet – she’s illegal. In the year 2150, DNA must be pure by law, and anyone with enhanced genes face death. Zelia’s only allies are the freak-show inhabitants of her new, underground foster home. Along with the unexpected love of a very strange boy, she will need her flaws and their illicit traits to save the only family she has left.


I really love books that take place in the near future. Circumstances can change so quickly in this world, and you never can predict how, when, where or why. CONTROL sounds like an exciting, suspenseful read and I can't wait to get my grubbies on it!

Does CONTROL sound like your type of read?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy reading, dear reader!

Back in September, I had the honor of reading and reviewing an ARC of The Opposite of Hallelujah, a contemporary Young Adult novel by Anna Jarzab. It was unique and touching, and in short, I loved it. So, imagine my delight to find that she is debuting a new YA novel this year, this time - about the MULTIVERSE!

Due to publush on October 8, 2013 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, I give you:

Everything repeats.
You. Your best friend. Every person you know.
Many worlds. Many lives--infinite possibilities.
Welcome to the multiverse.

Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather's stories of parallel worlds inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real--until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.

To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love--one who knows her secret, and one who thinks she's someone she's not.

The first book in the Many-Worlds Trilogy, Tandem is a riveting saga of love and betrayal set in parallel universes in which nothing--and no one--is what it seems.


Doesn't this book sound really, really good?! It's a shame we have to wait until October but I am positive the wait will be worth it! I've become very interested in parallel universes and alterante realities of late, as I am writing my own "alternate reality" novel, so I really can't wait to see how Anna Jarzab handles her world- and character-building in TANDEM. 

Does TANDEM sound like your type of read?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy reading, dear reader!

Once again, in search of something "different" to present for the BlookGirl edition of Waiting on Wednesday, I stumbled upon today's beauty. It combines art, cross-cultural adventures, Japanese lore, romance, and a bit of the supernatural; all of which makes for a thrilling debut, worth of Wish List placement! Oh, and not to mention, the main character's name is "Katie" ;-) This lovely, written by Amanda Sun, is set to debut from Harlequin Teen on June 25, 2013:

I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.


Does INK sound like your type of read?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy reading, dear reader!

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