Sometimes I feel like I can mark out my life so far by the books I've read. They've shaped the way I write. Many of them shaped the way I see the world.

Preschool: Oh! The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss — I have very vivid memories of the day Dr. Seuss died (or the day his death was announced). I was in preschool, just about to turn five years old. I remember going to the library and being surrounded by other children, learning that he’d died and hearing his stories read to me. It was the first time I really understood that books come from authors, that all of those colors and creatures and silly words came from some guy’s head. And if he could use his imagination to create entire worlds, maybe I could too.

Grade School: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis — I started writing my own stories when I was in the third grade, and most of them involved finding secret worlds inside cupboards or at the back of a closet, little doorways to another place and time. I was so enraptured by the moment when Lucy steps through the wardrobe and into that snowy forest, and it changed the way I read and wrote forever. My fixation with escaping this world into one entirely imagined still determines what books I pick up and what stories I tell.

Middle School — In seventh and eighth grade I devoured the Baby-Sitters Club books, the Sweet Valley High series, and pretty much anything I could get my hands on about high school aged girls. People say there was no YA before Twilight and Harry Potter, but that’s not entirely true. For as long as there have been teenagers, someone has been telling stories about them.


High School — From the moment I got the reading list for my freshman year until the trip I took the summer after my senior year, I was obsessed with the classics. I don’t think I read anything else through high school. Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Emily Dickinson, Sophocles… I couldn’t get enough of them.


Now I'm an adult, and I'm still reading the same stuff I loved as a kid. I'm still looking for that book that will transport me to another time or place. I'm still looking for a moment like when Lucy stepped into that snowy wood and a new world unfolded before her.

If your life were composed of books, what would be on the timeline?

Since moving to England, I've realized that the majority of my friends are online rather than in real life form.  Even before moving, I only bothered with a handful of people because that's the sort of thing that happens as you move beyond University and onwards toward the sunset.  You recover from your extrovertedment (that's a word, don't argue) and find the good people.  And you horde them.

Also, since I started writing novels with the idea of future publication, I have become a hermit.  I have lost all people skills of the real life friend-making kind.  I barely can hold a conversation with the petrol station attendant.  Simple questions like, "What number?" stump me while the patrons in the queue behind me grumble.  I rather like holding up the line, actually.  Grumpy people tickle me.  Not mean people or bullies, mind you.  Just the grumps.  (See why I don't have friends?)

Anyway, I decided it was a good idea that I get out and socialize with real life people.  So I joined a local writing group--The Stortford Scribblers.  This past week, one of the Scribblers in the group made a comment that he was disgusted by people who read the last chapter of a book, essentially spoiling the ending, before reading the rest. 

"I do that!" I blurted out. 

Then every single Scribbler looked at me with suspicion.

"Well, not all the time," I clarified, ready to just go back to my online friends and lament to them that those 3-D people are really scary.

In fact, I haven't spoiled a book for myself in a really long time.  But if a book's not hooking me, I will skim through just so I know what happens.  I've always been a fast reader so rarely do I have a DNF.  Furthermore, I re-read books a lot and enjoy them much more the second time around because I can take my time.  I already know what happens. 

But this past week I read a book that I'm SO glad I didn't spoil for myself.  UNDONE by Cat Clarke.  It was really necessary not to know the ending.  And possibly I didn't even try to find out because the author gave me a false set-up from the beginning.  I thought I knew how it was going to turn out because the main character tells me.  I am so naïve.  Even as I got to the end, I thought, "Surely not."  And I'm still wondering, "Did that actually happen?"


I really appreciate the mechanics of this story--the pure delight of an unreliable narrator.  It might have even changed my Spoilery ways. 

What about you?  How do you feel about spoilers?  What books have you read that you "wish you could read again for the first time" and recapture that feeling of wonder?

Once upon a time, I heard about a Young Adult novel called THE BOOK THIEF. Back then, I was still somewhat new to the YA world, having only really read the Harry Potter and Twilight series. But I was intrigued. These stories about young people doing big things spoke to me in a way that I had almost forgotten books could. They made reading not just beautiful or smart (as many adult books do) but fun too.

A couple years later, I finally got around to reading THE BOOK THIEF. Truthfully, the novel was long and unusual and maybe even a bit slow... But Sarah urged me to stick with it, so I did. (For the record, Sarah is almost always right when it comes to books. Trust the Wedge!) And thank goodness I kept reading, because THE BOOK THIEF became a favorite of mine. It was beautiful and smart and fun. It was one of a kind.

Recently, THE BOOK THIEF became a movie. Yesterday, I went to see it in a theater, and I cried and cried and cried. Just like the book, the film was beautiful and smart and fun. It brought the story to life -- not necessarily true to every scene or line, but true to the spirit. Liesl was brave and warm. Rudy was innocent and devoted. Max was resilient and hopeful. Papa Hubermann was honest and kind. Mama Hubermann was fierce and proud.

If I'm being critical, I would say that there are a few moments where the two kids sound strangely wooden, due to their accents combining with the brevity of their lines. But they more than make up for it in every other way. Their charm, their chemistry, their vulnerability, their strength.

Artistically, the film is truly beautiful. There's a scene early on with a black car driving through the snowy countryside, and I remember feeling absolutely captivated by the stark simple elegance of that shot. John Williams's score is a perfect complement, moving from a tender melody for Rudy and Liesl's young love, to the urgent crescendo of burning books and shattered windows and wartime.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. See this film. And if you're anything like me, make sure you have tissues for both.

While 2013 takes a masterful bow, let's look forward to the books coming out in 2014 that look unmissable...

KRISTAN:

- DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS by Laini Taylor, because holy cow this series is epic, with all the YA tropes twisted into the most lyrical and disturbing versions of themselves. A happy ending seem impossible and yet... I still have hope, which makes its own kind of magic. ;)

- HOUSE OF IVY AND SORROW by Natalie Whipple. I have wanted to read more about Josephine and her witchy family ever since Natalie posted a snippet on her blog as a writing exercise a couple years ago. Plus, I am a sucker for covers with delicious typography.

- RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo. The Grisha series is one of my favorites, and I've been recommending it to everyone. The second book went in a direction I didn't expect, so I'm curious to see how that plays out in this final installment -- not to mention any new curveballs Leigh might throw at us!

INGRID:

- COMPLICIT by Stephanie Kuehn. As I read the blurb for this book, my heart rate started to increase and then, bam! That last line clinched it. I simply MUST know what’s going on in this story. It hooked me like a fish.

- #SCANDAL by Sarah Ockler. This book sounds really interesting, as much for the relevance of the social media issues as for the plucky plotline. Also, I love Sarah Ockler’s writing style.

- (DON'T YOU) FORGET ABOUT ME by Kate Karyus Quinn. This intrigues me because I love books involving sisters and this novel seems like it will be eerie, suspenseful and emotional. I also adore the characters’ names, which is an added bonus.

SARAH:

- THE UNBOUND by Victoria Schwab. Loved, loved, loved THE ARCHIVED and after hearing so many great reviews for VICIOUS, I know that Victoria's writing keeps gets more and more stellar. So excited for this one.

- WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart. One I've heard a lot of buzz about and trusted readers of ARCs can't seem to say enough good things. I'm prepared to be dazzled. The description pulls on every one of my strings.

- MARINA by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Dude wrote THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, which I friggin’ loved. I'm all about escaping to Barcelona for his next mysterious flight of fancy.

STEPHANIE:

- DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS by Laini Taylor. I'm so in love with this series. I am both aching to see where the story goes and dreading to turn the last page. I don't want it to end!

- THE NETHERGRIM by Matthew Jobin. This book is described as being reminiscent of the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. That was enough to convince me. Knights and wizards, magic and scary monsters. Can't wait to try it.

- MISTWALKER by Saundra Mitchell. This story sounds so haunting and creepy, and I love that it's set in a small town in Maine.


What books are you guys most looking forward to reading in 2014?

One of our favorite things to do at the end of every year is reflect upon the books we've read and highlight a few that really stuck with us. But it's also one of the hardest things to do every year! There are just so many good books, so many stories that hit us in different ways.

SARAH

In a year with some thrilling and satisfying fantasy reads (see Kristan and Steph's picks below), I have to admit -- authors of contemporary fiction, you slayed me!


ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell -- It's everything: sad, funny, cringeworthy, joyous passionate, creative, young and wise. If there was one book I wish I'd written, it would be this one.

17 & GONE by Nova Ren Suma -- Okay E&P wasn't everything. It wasn't this: haunting, moody, obsessive, cracked up. I love a good psychological story, especially as told by this author. 

WINGER by Andrew Smith -- How do we (collectively) not talk about this book every day? I loved every beat of this story, laughed out loud and teared up. Can't remember the last book that did that. It was like hanging out with that friend you only communicate with through shrugs and grunts. You get me?


Honorable mentions: THE LUCY VARIATIONS by Sara Zarr and THE LAST KINGS OF SARK Rosa Rankin-Gee.

INGRID

WILD AWAKE by Hilary T. Smith -- Wild Awake is everything I want in a contemporary novel -- an endearing protagonist who has family issues, friend issues, a journey of self discovery, and a steamy yet interesting romantic entanglement. And it's all wrapped up in pretty writing.

FALL FOR ANYTHING by Courtney Summers -- This was one of the first books I read in 2013, way back in January. It's the kind of book that just digs its way into your heart and stays there for a long time. Courtney Summers' writing style is spot-on and her storytelling is stellar. This book tackles some heavy topics with authentic characters and solid prose.

 
Honorable Mentions: IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch and CHIME by Franny Billingsley.

KRISTAN

Since Sarah and Ingrid are cheating with these "honorable mentions," I'm going to go over our limit of 2-3 books too. My favorites were all over the place year. Contemporary, light fantasy, historical, epic fantasy... I love that YA covers such a wide terrain!


FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell -- In E&P, Rainbow took me back to those first love feelings; in FANGIRL, she took me back to my college days, which were some of the best years of my life. (Sorry, cliché, but true.)

THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Stiefvater -- This sequel is one of those rare beasts that's even better than its predecessor. I had mixed feelings about Ronan in book 1, but after book 2? All the feels. (And you guys, I kind of hate that phrase, but it's too perfect not to use here.)

CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein -- Speaking of feels... Kiss me, Hardy! Kiss me quick!

(Aaaannd now I'm crying...)

SHADOW & BONE and SIEGE & STORM by Leigh Bardugo -- Last but not least, the Grisha Trilogy. The world of Ravka is so utterly unique, and the Darkling such a standout character/villain.
STEPHANIE

DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT by Laini Taylor -- This came out last year, but I didn't get to it until early this year. There were so many twists and turns I didn't expect. It had me on the edge of my seat from page one. The mounting tension driving everything toward book three was perfect, and I felt every bit of the nostalgia and homesickness that Karou was feeling.

THE BITTER KINGDOM by Rae Carson -- This was my favorite book of the trilogy. I loved all the adventuring through the woods and the mines, loved reuniting with these characters who I've become so invested in, and I loved the way it ended. It was much more complicated than good verses evil, as life always is.