This ARC Roundup is about books that will be published this fall and winter. I'll update this post as I read, including modifying the date of the entry. There are no spoilers, beyond my personal rating. ARCs are listed in alphabetical order by author. Rating is 1-5 stars, with one being the lowest. If you're interested in any of these ARCs, just drop me a comment and I'll be happy to send the ARC to you. You can also check for more ARCs at YoungAdultARCs.

Book of a Thousand Days
Shannon Hale
Publication Date: October 2007
Blurb: When Dashti, a maid, and her mistress, Lady Saren, are shut in a tower for seven years after Saren refuses to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark time. As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and semi-comfortable. But the arrive outside the tower of Saren's two suitors--one welcome, the other decidedly less so--brings the girls both hope and great danger.
Rating: 4 stars

The Luxe
Anna Godbersen
Publication Date: November 20, 2007
Blurb: Anna Godbersen's delicious first novel follows five compelling teens in 1899 Manhattan, where appearance matters over everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever. From star-crossed lovers and backstabbing best friends to a bad girl doing things bad girls do and a good girl doing things bad girls do, this trip to the age of innocence is anything but. Gossip Girl meets the Gilded Age in this season's most sensational debut.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall
Wendy Mass
Publication Date: September 2007
Blurb: Written in witty, accessible verse, Wendy Mass's novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old Tessa and what happens in the moments after a shocking gym class accident. Tessa finds herself in heaven, which bears a striking resemblence to her hometown mall, and in the tradition of It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, she stars reliving her life up until that moment. Tessa sees some things she's rather forget, learns some things about herself she'd rather not know, and ultimately she must find the answer to one burning question--if only she knew what the question was.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Gabrielle Zevin
Publication Date: September 18, 2007
Blurb: If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

I'll be listing info about ARCs I received at ALA Midwinter and have read. I'll update this post as I read, including modifying the date of the entry. There are no spoilers, beyond my personal rating. ARCs are listed in alphabetical order by author. Rating is 1-5 stars, with one being the lowest. If you're interested in any of these ARCs, just drop me a comment and I'll be happy to send the ARC to you. You can also check for more ARCs at YoungAdultARCs.

Open Court
Carol Clippinger
Publication Date: June 12, 2007
Blurb: Hall Braxton is a warrior on the tennis court, who routinely obliterates her competition. Her parents and coach want her to enroll at a prestigious tennis academy in Florida so that she can take her game to the next level, but Hall isn't so sure she wants to leave her friends and family in Colorado behind. When her doubles partner suffers a breakdown at a tournament and her coach's voice suddenly disappears from her game, Hall questions if it's possible to be a tennis phenomenon and a regular teenager at the same time.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

The Black Sheep
Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout
Publication Date: May 2007
Blurb: Fed up with her parents and all their ridiculous rules (they keep a binder full of them), fifteen-year-old Kendra Bishop writes away to The Black Sheep, a reality TV show that offers the chance to swap families with another teen. But when the camera crew, led by brash TV producer Judy Greenberg, shows up at her Manhattan apartment, Kendra starts to have second thoughts.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Masquerade (A Blue Bloods Novel)
Melissa de la Cruz
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Blurb: Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man that can help--her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly under way for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman--a true Blue Blood affair. But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
Tina Ferraro
Publication Date: February 13, 2007
Blurb: Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school--Rod "Rascal" Pasqual. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. And she got to stare at it all evening long as a reminder.
But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now--older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems.
Rating: 4 stars

Nobody's Princess
Esther Friesner
Publication Date: April 24, 2007
Blurb: She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Spart just itches for more out of life. Unlike her sister, Clytemnestra, she takes no pleasure in weaving and embroidery. And despite what her mother says, she's not even close to being interested in getting married. Instead, she wants to do combat training with her older brothers, go on heroic adventures, and be free to do what she wishes and find out who she is.
Rating: 3 stars

Repossessed
A.M. Jenkins
Publication Date: May 29, 2007
Blurb: When a curious demon takes a break from hell, vacationing in the body of a seventeen-year-old named Shaun, readers are in for a devilishly funny look at the complexities and perplexities of modern teen life.
Rating: 5 stars

The Breakup Bible
Melissa Kantor
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Blurb: Jennifer thinks she and Max are the perfect couple . . . right up until he tells her they'd be better off as "just friends." Jennifer's sure there must be some mistake--everyone knows that soul mates don't break up, they live happily ever after. How is she supposed to face the rest of her life (starting with school on Monday) if she's not Max Brown's girlfriend anymore?
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Dramarama
E. Lockhart
Publication Date: May 2007
Blurb: Two theater-mad, self-invented, fabulositon Ohio teenagers. One boy, one girl. One gay, one straight. One black, one white. And SUMMER DRAMA CAMP. It's a season of hormones, gold lame, hissy fits, jazz hands, song and dance, true love, and unitards that will determine their future--and test their friendship.
Rating: 4 stars

The Off Season
Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Publication Date: June 4, 2007
Blurb: Life is looking up for D.J. Schwenk, star of Dairy Queen. She's made it to eleventh grade, finally. She's reconnecting with her best friend. She's got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who's cute and popular and smart and seems to like her anyway. Plus she's playing for the Red Bend High School football team--as the first female linebacker in northern Wisconsin. But then the season goes suddenly, horribly wrong. As her life and her family are turned upside down, D.J. is forced to dig deeper than she ever had to on the field.
Rating: 4 stars

Call Me Hope
Gretchen Olson
Publication Date: April 2007
Blurb: Eleven-year-old Hope has friends, is doing well at school, just started a part-time job that she loves, and is looking forward to the end-of-sixth-grade "rite of passage"--Outdoor School. But all of this starts to unravel as she struggles to live under the pressure of her verbally abusive mother. But instead of running away, she chooses resilience, and ultimately, Hope is finally able to confront her mother about her hurtful words and help her begin to change. This engaging, satisfying novel about an important issue will touch and inspire readers.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Cures for Heartbreak
Margo Rabb
Publication Date: February 13, 2007
Blurb: "Cures for Heartbreak is full of sadness, humor, and quirky details that ring completely true. I thoroughly enjoyed it." --Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Prep
Rating: 3 stars

The Titan's Curse (Book Three, Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
Rick Riordan
Publication Date: May 2007
Blurb: When Percy Jackson receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and . . . a ride from his mom.
The demigods race to the rescue, to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan Lord Kronos has set up his most devious trap yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Although I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood at a Random House Children's Books preview, it took me a while to sit down and read it. I had so loved what happened in Girls in Pants that I think I put off reading Forever in Blue. It seems that instinct was spot-on.

( discussion: spoilers are present )

Twisted
Laurie Halse Anderson
Publication Date: March 15, 2007
Blurb: High-school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background--average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy--and Tyler's secret crush. That sets off a roller coaster ride that has Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Commentary: ( spoilers )

The Princess and the Hound
Mette Ivie Harrison
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Blurb: "Princess Beatrice," he said with a nod. How could it have taken him so long to recognize her?
She was as tall as George, long and lean and muscular, with a regal neck and calloused tapering fingers. Her skin was badly freckled, but it complemented her flame-red hair perfectly, and her hazel eyes shoen up at him.
She spoke baldly. "You are not what I expected."
Though they think they have little in common, both Beatrice and George possess a secret that must be hidden at all costs. Proud, stubborn, bound to marry for the good of their kingdoms, this prince and princess will steal your heart, but will they fall in love?
Rating: 4 stars
Commentary: ( spoilers )

Beige
Cecil Castellucci
Publication Date: May 8, 2007
Amazon link || B&N link

Spoilers present in this review. Spoiler-free review at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy.

( summary and commentary )

( Library Program Ideas for Beige )

I've been rushing around a lot lately, it feels like, thanks to different things I have going on in my life right now. But I have found time for reading amongst all the hustle and bustle.

The Rules of Survival
Nancy Werlin
Amazon link
I checked this out from the library before the announcement that it was nominated for a National Book Award, and I finally got a chance to read it. Wow--what a powerful, compelling book. I loved the characterization of the kids, how Matthew and Callie worked so hard to protect Emmy and how that shaped each of their characters. Nikki was a complex character, as well--very believable, which makes her all the more chilling. And I liked how there were no easy answers, and that it took several adults learning how to take a stand to help get the kids out of Nikki's control. Plus, the cover is just fantastic.

Powder Monkey
Paul Dowswell
Amazon link
I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and this one was really good. I liked how I felt like I was part of this world, but at the same time, I wasn't getting clobbered over the head with historical details. There was lots of adventure and action, so this would be a great choice for teen boys looking for an historical fiction. The main character of Sam gave you a perfect viewpoint on this world, and what it was like to be a boy in the middle of a war. And another great cover, too!

The Secret Under My Skin
Janet McNaughton
Amazon link
I really enjoyed Janet McNaughton's previous book, An Earthly Knight, and I really liked the sound of this book. Sadly, this one didn't really work for me. It reminded me a bit of Scott Westerfield's Uglies Trilogy, in that both works deal with a future world that have gone through an environmental disaster of epic proportions, and both are now facing a pivotal moment for change. But while in Westerfield's books, you get a full sense of the history and the present, you don't get that in McNaughton's book. Now, obviously, there's a difference between three books and one, but still, I felt confused. There is much to like in The Secret Under My Skin, though: a well-created main character, an interesting look at a world where technology is bad, and an emphasis on learning what your gifts are and putting them to use.

Gotta rush off right now--hopefully, more soon!

Dear Miss Breed
Joanne Oppenheim
Publication Date: February 1, 2006
Amazon link || B&N link

Spoilers are present in this review.

( Summary and Commentary )

I had really high hopes for Haters by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez. I had read The Dirty Girls Social Club when it first came out, and really enjoyed it. Since my best friend is Hispanic, it gave me some insight into things she's said in the past that I didn't really get. Additionally, I was looking forward to reading Haters because cedarlibrarian had raved about it, and it's so rare for her to rave about a book.

Can you guess where I'm going with this post?

( some spoilers are probably lurking under here; read at your own risk )

I haven't posted much in the last week or so, but I'm hoping to become more regular with posts now. I've had some upheaval lately, and I'm starting to settle back down.

An Abundance of Katherines
John Green--Website
Publication Date: September 21, 2006
Amazon link || B&N link

Spoilers are present in this review.

( Summary and Commentary )

Well, the Powers That Be at my job put the kibosh on me writing the book review column I mentioned in my last post, but that came down after I had submitted my first column. So here, in all its glory, is my column. I hope y'all enjoy!

( they seek him here . . . )

How to Be Popular
Meg Cabot--Website
Publication Date: July 25, 2006 (according to Amazon & Barnes and Noble. The back of the ARC says August 29)
Amazon || Barnes & Noble

Spoilers are present in this review.

( Summary and Commentary )