To celebrate the holiday season, we’re giving away hardcover copies of three Merit Press titles for our readers to win in a giveaway! Check out our review of two of the titles and find out how to enter to win below.
—
Screaming Divas is a rock-infused YA drama about four girls in the 80s who start a band together.
Trudy has been kicked out of her house yet again and uses her family problems as an excuse to party with no consequence. She falls too hard too fast and acts like she hasn’t a care in the world.
Cassie hasn’t been the same since her mother’s drunk driving killed herself and gave Cassie a huge scar down her face. She counters loneliness with risky, sometimes thoughtless actions.
Harumi finally fights against her parents’ constant pressure for perfection and ruins her chances for music school at the same time.
Esther is struggling with making sense of her life and her sexuality, including confusing feelings that have cropped up for Cassie.
This is a fast, fun read that puts you in the punk scene and makes you feel for these girls who can only find themselves in their music. While it was hard for me to relate to any of the girls very much, they were sympathetic characters that you root for and cry with the whole way. Though little hints placed the narrative in the 80s (no cell phones, etc.), this is a universal tale that could take place in any generation.
3.5 of 5 stars
—
Jex Malone is a witty mystery with unique voice and relatable characters.
Jex has to spend the summer with her estranged detective father in Las Vegas, far from the Jersey life she knows. When she meets the girls in her temporary neighborhood, they tell her of the unsolved missing Patty Matthews case that has haunted Jex’s father since he failed to solve it 13 years ago. She and her new friends Deva, Cissy, and Nat decide to create the Drew-Ids, a kickass group of girls who solve crimes together. The more information they dig up, though, the more disturbing the case becomes, and the girls start to worry about their own safety.
Another fun read for the Young Adult crowd, I liked this one most for its cleverness. Jex has a very clear and cheeky voice that shines through the entire novel, even when things get darker in the case. She was very realistic and relatable as a character, and though her friends were a little cliché, the friendship theme rang true. I also thought the Famous Girl Detective Quotes before every chapter were a great extra touch, and covered everyone from Nancy Drew to Sara on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
4 of 5 stars
—
The third title we’re giving away is Wanted: Dead or In Love by Kym Brunner, which tells the story of two teens possessed by the deadly spirits of long-gone outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.
For your first entry to win this set of Merit Press titles, tell us about your favorite YA novel of 2014. What book was it, and what did you like about the book?
Extra entries for following Girls in Capes, Merit Press, and the author of each book on Twitter!
—
Amber Midgett is assistant manager at Main Point Books and a graduate student in Publishing at Rosemont College. She grew up in North Carolina, and her ultimate fandoms are Harry Potter and Doctor Who. She could recommend a book to probably anyone. Find her at Letters from a [Future] Editor and on Twitter at @ambermidgett.
Find Suzanne Kamata’s tour stop for The Screaming Divas here.
You can check out more young adult reviews or, if you’re looking for general recommendations, all of our reviews. Amber’s most recent review was for the YA book Winterspell.
