Still on a Neal Shusterman Kick

I loved UNWIND so much, I had to read another Neal Shusterman novel right away. EVERLOST did not disappoint me. Two teens, Nick and Allie, die in a car accident. On their way up to the "light", they bump into each other and bounce back to Earth. They land in a forest in Everlost, a twilight world between life and death. Nick and Allie aren't content to stay in the forest. They want their lives back. They need to find a way home again, so they set off on a series of wild adventures that take them deep into the undiscovered country of Everlost, into strange encounters with dead children, monsters and magic. How will they escape this dangerous world and find their way home?

What Are You Reading Today?

Every good novel throws us a Story Question and withholds the answer until the end of the book. A skilled author keeps us in suspense and--most importantly--makes us care about the outcome. Will the mother find her long-lost daughter? Will the daughter be alive or dead? Will the hero and heroine fall in love and live happily ever after? Why do we care?

Sure, a book can be about all sorts of other things as well, like friendship, growing up, and finding identity. In her debut novel, THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE, Liz Gallagher tackles all these issues with flair.

But the Story Question is what pulls us from chapter to chapter like a child tugging at our hands, promising to show us something REALLY COOL.

Ms. Gallagher is already Master of the Story Question. Will Alice end up with her best friend or her Secret Crush? The urgency of Alice's romantic dilemma keeps us turning the pages. Ms. Gallagher's lively writing makes us care about what happens to her characters. I can't wait for her next book.

Speaking of Story Questions, in my current Work-in-Progress, tentatively titled THE FURBALL DIARIES, I have to hone the suspense factor. I think I know the story question. Will young Opaline Bhatta ever accept her new baby sister? Will the reader care? I still have time to revise the manuscript. I'm gearing up to dive into the murky, uncharted depths of the story and see what I can discover.

What is your Story Question?

What are you reading?

What are you reading?

My 12-year-old nephew made a deal with himself. He has to read at least 10 books this summer. If he can do it, I can, too. I've read three books this week. I'm going to post a short review every few days, if possible. I'm not the world's most eloquent reviewer, but if I love a book, I'll let you know.

Tell me what you're reading, too. Have you recently read a book that kept you up all night? That gave you amazing dreams or nightmares? That made you think in a new way? If so, I want to know about it.

I just finished a brilliant, disturbing, engrossing young adult novel -- UNWIND by Neal Shusterman. Not to be missed. Shusterman paints a frightening picture of a society in which parents can sign orders to have their unwanted teens "unwound," or salvaged for their body parts. Three runaways make a harrowing cross country journey to escape their sinister fate. If they can survive to age eighteen, they'll be free. Shusterman knows how to construct cinematic, emotional scenes, and the plot takes many surprising, unexpected turns. I highly recommend this book!

I'm going to read Neal Shusterman's other books now. I can't wait!