04/14/2014
Harper is a popular overachiever with the perfect boyfriend, Ryan; she's driven by a need to prove she's not like her sister, who died driving after drinking on Homecoming night. Right before Harper is inevitably crowned Homecoming queen, the dying school janitor breathes an ancient power into her, making Harper a Paladin, protector of the oracle who happens to be David, her archenemy since kindergarten. Harper's priorities quickly shift from maintaining her image to using her new fighting skills to keep nefarious forces from closing in on David. It all culminates at Cotillion, a formal ball where girls are presented and officially recognized as women. Harper's sharp wit and slow coming-to-terms with her imperfections make her fully relatable in a solid series kickoff. Hawkins (the Hex Hall series) strikes a pleasing balance between humor and drama, giving the "chosen one" narrative a welcome dusting of irony and a glowing Southern setting. The Ryan-Harper-David love triangle sizzles, and there are just enough surprises to keep readers on their toes. Ages 12–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Apr.)
First lines are powerful. It’s the author’s best chance to hook the reader. A great first line will pull you in, introduce you to the narrator, and set the tone for the entire book. Depending on what you’re reading, a great first line can be funny or meaningful or sad or somehow all of the above. […]
People have been throwing parties based on their favorite books for years. Type “Harry Potter” into Pinterest and you’ll find hundreds of boards dedicated to the art of butter beer cupcakes and pumpkin pasties. And while I’d never turn down an invite to a Harry Potter party, there are other YA books out there that deserve […]
Dating can be treacherous, particularly for our favorite YA characters. But despite having to contend with both mundane and magical problems, our heroes and heroines still manage to navigate their way to happiness, even if it takes a trilogy for them to do it. Luckily, their misfortune is our gain. We’ve gathered some of our favorite YA […]