Wishing on Wednesday (5)

The Battle for Duncragglin by Andrew Vaderwal 

Set in the time of William Wallace, this is historical fiction at its bloody best!
One of history’s most turbulent times comes to vivid life in this thrilling new novel. Twelve-year-old Alex has been raised by his uncle since his parents disappeared on a trip to Scotland many years ago. He’s resigned to spending the summer in Scotland with yet another relative and finds himself on a farm near the ruined remnants of an ancient castle that is rumored to be haunted. Could it have a connection to his parents’ disappearance?

With three newfound friends, Alex sets out to discover the secret of a sealed cave along the rugged coast that borders the farm. The secret is far more powerful than anything they could have imagined, and they are catapulted to the very brink of a hellish past — the bloody late 13th century when the great Scottish rebel, William Wallace, was fighting a guerilla-style military campaign. 

Full of high drama as well as humor, bloodshed, and great tenderness, this fine novel marks the arrival of a major voice in historical fiction. 

Time warp! Whoowhoo! If it wasn't the story itself that caught my eye, it was definitely the cover. I mean sneakers and an old castle?-I just can't pass this one up. Hey, maybe this book will be like Timeline, but for YA!

Random thought here: Anyone seen Timeline or read the book? (I've seen the movie)

To be released April 14, 2009.

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

They say no land remains to be discovered, no continent is left unexplored. But the whole world is out there, waiting, just waiting for me. I want to do things-I want to walk the rain-soaked streets of London, and drink mint tea in Casablanca. I want to wander the wastelands of the Gobi desert and see a yak. I think my life's ambition is to see a yak. I want to bargain for trinkets in an Arab market in some distant, dusty land. There's so much. But, most of all, I want to do things that will mean something.

Ever since I read Song of the Sparrow last year, I've been wondering if Sandell would ever write another YA novel. Welp, the wondering has ceased and I am impatiently awaiting the release....... which is still several weeks away. :(

This book sounds just as poetic as Song of the Sparrow-I love the way she writes. 

Which upcoming YA novel are you just dying to read?

To be released April 15, 2009.

Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt

Remy Walker has it all: he found the love of his life at home in crumbling little Dwyer, West Virginia, deep in his beloved Appalachian Mountains where his family settled more than one hundred and sixty years ago. But at seventeen, you’re not supposed to already be where you want to be, right? You’ve got a whole world to make your way through, and you start by leaving your dead-end town. Like his girlfriend, Lisa. Lisa’s going away to college. If Remy goes with her, it would be the start of everything they ever dreamed of. So when a fascinating young artist from out of state shows Remy his home through new eyes, why is he suddenly questioning his future?

The author vividly depicts a rich and beautiful place in this powerful novel about a young man who, over the course of a summer, learns how much he has to give up for a girl, and how much he needs to give up for a mountain.

After I watched a documentary on 20/20 about the kids and teens of the Appellation Mts., I was very shocked. Picture this: drugs, extreme poverty like in Africa, and illiterateness. Um, is this America we're talking about right?

 I thought to myself, "I hope somebody writes a book about this to let other teens now about what's going on up there." Then ZAP, here it is. Of course this setting is not going to be all sunshine and roses, but I'm anxious to see how Wyatt's (a debut author) portrays the teens of  The Appellations-I just hope she writes about what really goes on up there.

To be released April 27, 2009

Jack Tumor by Anthony McGowan 

Hector is being hectored by an unlikely bully: a talking brain tumor. And it’s not just a talking brain tumor. It’s a know-it-all, pain-in-the-arse, jibber-jabbering brain tumor that names itself Jack, and insists on coaching Hector through life even as it’s threatening to take his life away. It’s a pretty good coach, actually. With Jack in control of Hector’s speech and brain chemicals, Hector suddenly finds himself with a cool haircut, a new fashion sense, and tactics for snogging previously unattainable hottie Uma Upshaw. But when Jack begins to force increasingly questionable decisions and behavior, Hector has to find a way to turn the tables – before it’s too late for both of them.

A talking tumor? Hmm, this is new.

To be released April 27, 2009.

"Waiting on Wednesday" is the creation of Jill at Breaking the Spine.