The Giver

Summary: In the future, a young boy named Jonas is given a prominent position in his community as the Receiver of memories… Until he finds out the dark secrets they base their lives around and he escapes with a baby named Gabriel. His lives cross over with the heroes and heroines in the other three books in the quartet, from maimed Kira who has a skill for sewing, Mattie who wants nothing more than to be named Messenger, and Claire, Gabriel’s Birthmother in this classic dystopian series that has finally reached its conclusion.

If you first read and encountered The Giver in Middle School (like most American students… Or Canadians and Australians according to the internet), then chances are you have been waiting your whole childhood to find out what happened to baby Gabriel and Jonas. Or if like me you were under the assumption that the ending hinted Jonas and Gabriel entered a symbolic heaven after freezing to death you’re probably incredibly confused that they’re alive enough to be in three other books. It may have taken 19 years, but you will finally have most of your questions answered in this gripping conclusion to one of my favorite dystopian novels. Let the rejoicing commence!

The Giver is the book that started it all in 1993, drawing ire because of its depictions of infanticide and references to sexual connotations called Stirrings. Oh noes! Some even argue it promotes suicide and claims that it has “occult themes”, i.e. Jonas’ ability to see color in the colorless community is witchcraft and was banned in 2001. This is why you can’t have nice things Missouri.

WARNING: Here be spoilers if you’re 19 years behind and have yet to read The Giver. Also, Tarrlok is a bloodbender. (ERMAHGERD TERLERKS A BLERDBERNDER.)

For those of you who have never read the novel (and you should!) it follows a Twelve (that is 12 year old) named Jonas who is given the position of Receiver in his community. His job, chosen for him by the government is to retain past memories for its citizens. Specifically memories of emotions which have been suppressed from the community through medication to promote ideas of sameness. Spouses are chosen for you, children are assigned and the world is a color-less place, all to prevent jealousy and other dangerous emotions from ruining its citizens. Jonas, not accepting this life (especially when he learns about the true meaning of release) escapes the dystopian society with a baby set for death to find a new life. Like you do.

In 2000, everyone who read The Giver in Middle School went onto higher education and Lowry released Gathering Blue. The book is set in a completely different community and follows Kira, a maimed girl with a special gift that she can tap into when she sews. Touted as a companion book to the first in the series, Kira lives in a primitive village where girls are forbidden to learn how to read and write, and the number of syllables in a person’s name denotes their age. Because that’s the best way to determine age.

After a dispute with a cruel member of the community, an orphaned Kira is taken in by the Council of Guardians and assigned to repair the robe of the Singer, who sings of the history of the community once a year. Much like the place Jonas escaped from, Kira quickly learns the devious workings of the Council and plans to escape when the time is right. While Jonas does not appear in the story (it’s a companion book for a reason) Kira’s friend Matt makes veiled and obvious references to a pale-eyed boy in the community beyond the woods who we are led to believe is Jonas. And just like that the symbolic death metaphor goes out the window.

A mere four years later, in 2004, Lowry came out with Messenger, the follow up to Gathering Blue. The book follows Mattie, Kira’s friend who was once Matt but due to syllables and rank and all that good stuff is now Mattie. He lives in a place called Village, led by a pale-eyed boy known as Leader. AKA Jonas. Yup, we’re finally back to him. His not so symbolic sled (it’s no Rosebud) that he arrived on is now even in a museum. So so wrong about him being dead. We hear hints about the old community he escaped from and learn about this new place, a community where those who leave or are cast out from other places are welcome. For now. ::ominous music::

Due to Jonas’ experiences with sameness and the wrongs of where he grew up, this community does not allow secrets, encourages learning for all its citizens, and freedom for all. However, despite his desire to change things, Jonas assigns people titles or “true names” based on their strengths. For example, a blind man in the community who can see beyond is named Seer, and a devious figure who runs the Trade Market is dubbed Trademaster. It’s a slight step down from identifying people by syllables but a step up from referring to them by numbers.

Finally, Lowry has finished her series and given us Son eight years later, which ties up the stories of Jonas, Gabriel and Kira. The book starts initially in the same community as The Giver and runs concurrent to the events experienced by Jonas, but from the point of view of a Birthmother named Claire. AKA a Vessel who produces Products. We get to see the narrative through her eyes and also see some peripheral characters again like Jonas’ father and Gabe. We never do learn his Dad’s name, but he’s still one of my favorite characters. Despite the child murder he’s a pretty fun guy.

This book is more than twice as long as the others in the series and is split up into three parts, the first focusing on Claire during the time Jonas is named as Receiver, the second following her as she too leaves the community and the third book being from the point of view of baby, now teenage Gabriel in Village. The Tradesmaster makes appearances in both books two and three in the last book, as he’s the Big Bad in both Messenger and Son. He serves to give the series more of a fantasy element. This of course is in addition to the fact that pale-eyed children like Jonas, Gabe, Kira and Mattie have special otherworldly gifts (i.e. seeing the future). Think Children of the Corn but less evil.

So why is this series so important? For one, it’s an engaging story for children that is both entertaining and informative. They will be so intent on the story that they almost won’t realize they’re learning, during The Giver in particular. Thankfully, Son also has these elements, particularly in book one and three. Who doesn’t want a child to enjoy learning about the importance of choices and freedom? You go Lois Lowry!

THE GOOD:
-Amazingly written children’s series that actually teaches something
-Engaging series that you can’t seem to put down (still entertaining as an adult)
-Nice to have a definitive endpoint after a 19 year wait
-Informative, thoughtful and easy to digest; I’m still in love

THE BAD:
-Interest held mostly by Jonas’ initial community, hard to leave and go Elsewhere- HAR HAR HAR

I would like to thank Lois Lowry for finishing this amazing series and keeping the finale just as smart and intelligent as The Giver. After re-reading novel for the first time since Middle School I can honestly say this book has stood the test of time. Bonus: the child in me is overjoyed that Jonas and Gabriel were able to escape and live a happy and fulfilling life. Metaphorical heaven be damned!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente

Summary: September once again returns to Fairyland, but this time it is much different than she remembers. Forced to fight her own shadow, the Hollow Queen who has been stealing the shadows into Fairyland-Below, September is tasked with saving magic and the inhabitants of Fairyland-Above before it is too late. Starring some familiar yet shadowy faces, this sequel to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making is another grandiose fantasy from the talented Catherynne M. Valente.

Generally, the epic fantasy moniker is reserved for the likes of Lord of the Rings (HAPPY TOLKIEN WEEK! btw) and A Song of Ice and Fire- that is series with orcs and death and magical objects. But I would like to argue for The Girl Who… series, or the Fairyland series so as not to confuse it with the Swedish computer hacker books, as an epic fantasy in its own right. It’s a modern fairytale with lush prose, an enormous cast of characters, impossible magic, and even a dragon or two. Valente gives it all the trappings of a fantasy- including prophecies- and despite my dislike of the word I would definitely refer to it as “epic”. I rest my very shoddy, not so well thought out case.

Since the first book in the series was my hands-down favorite book of 2011 (you can read that review here) even beating out the amazing Night Circus, this book had big shoes to fill. It didn’t quite meet my much raised expectations, but it came pretty close. It wasn’t perfect in every way The Girl Who Circumnavigated was, but the fabulous  writing, intriguing new characters and the highbrow parody was more than enough to get me past that. If only my brain wouldn’t rate or judge things based on other things!

The book opens once again with September, who rather than being thrust immediately into Fairyland is instead given a one year reprieve and some back story in the real world. We learn that the plot of the book occurs during World War II, her father is a soldier, her mother is concerned about food rations and September is a young girl expected to be festooned in lace and curls. Such is the time period I suppose. Thankfully, she finds a way back to a much changed Fairyland where two to three years have passed since her last visit. Damn fairytale time! How does anyone pass between worlds when time moves so differently?

When September returns it is to a landscape not just changed because she is older and seeing the place differently (although that’s certainly the implied metaphor) but also because her literal shadow has taken over and changed things for the worse. She enters Fairyland into a forest made of glass in a place called Moonkin Hill where magic is rationed much like food and the shadowless inhabitants are saddened by their changed lives. This of course mirrors September’s own world where food is rationed and people are changed by war. In contrast, things are very different in Fairyland-Below, which we’ll get into in the next paragraph. Because that’s how paragraphs work.

Suffice it to say, the reign of September’s shadow Halloween the Hollow Queen has taken a toll on the Fairyland inhabitants. Stealing shadows to take them down to Fairyland-Below is draining Fairyland-Above of its magic (hence the magic ration slips). She is aided by the Alleyman, a mysterious figure feared by all who steals your shadow from below (or through the ceiling of Fairyland-Below) depending on how you look at it. These shadows have vastly different personalities once freed from their partners, representing the parts of ourselves that we keep hidden. We are the facade, our shadows are our real selves that we suppress. Seriously, this is a children’s book series.

The main themes of the novel are all about duality and our hidden selves, explored through the shadows (see above). Those in Fairyland are losing the magic that holds their world together because of the loss of their shadows while the inhabitants of Fairyland-Below are finally experiencing a world of freedom. No longer are they shackled to their fleshy counterparts, forced to do what they do, sleep when they sleep, dance when they dance, but are allowed to make their own choices and be their own selves. However, while the shadows thrive without their owners, their owners cannot survive without them. Is it right to take the shadows’ new life away? Should our baser selves be held in check or offered freedom? It’s a horrible and heartbreaking catch-22 of massive proportions that September must find a solution to. It’s so hard being a thirteen year old sometimes. Especially in Fairyland.

Despite the changes in setting, Valente keeps the same writing style and elements of fantasy present in the series. September visits the Upside-Down, where roots and vegetables grow up from the ground and Asphodel, where sleighs run up and down colorful staircases like escalators. She meets the Vicereine of Coffee, Pharaoh of Beer, Dauphin of Gin, Chocolate Infanta, Baron of Port, and Duke of Teatime who are all physical embodiments of their beverages. And she learns about Myrrh, the Sleeping Prince and supposed King of the Underneath who, “Dreams at the bottom of the world, in an unopenable box in an unbreakable bower”. Valente kills me with her amazingly tangible writing.

There is also the same level of wit and parody to lighten the sadder elements of the narrative. In the Goblin Market for example the Goblin Glasswort Groof recites line from the famous poem “Goblin Market” (obviously) and teaches us all about the Goblin Stock Market. Unlike our stock market which trades in money, goblins trade in Breath, Tears, Voices, Wishes and Hours. They used to trade in firstborns, but they lost value when the market was flooded with them. See? Funny. You can trade your children in for cash!

Then of course there is the very amusing, very dry British humor (although Valente is not English) of Questing Physicks which is, you guessed it, all about quests. Of course September is on a quest to rejoin the Fairylands (take that epic fantasy theory) so we get to hear all about the science behind journeys and questing. Such as how labyrinths and minotaur always go together. Also present in quests are the E.K.T. field (the Everyone Knows That field) and the Endgame Object, in this case Myrrh, a Type W (Type Wonderful) who comes complete with a Theseus-type narrative. It’s all very scientific.

THE GOOD:
-Same lush writing and magical fantasy as first book
-Wonderful and inventive new characters
-Plenty of intelligent parody (very Discworld)
-Loved the exploration of hidden selves and facades through shadows

THE BAD:
-Not as heartbreakingly beautiful as the original

Valente left this novel (much like the first one) open to a sequel but I have yet to find any information on whether or not this will in fact be a trilogy. Although I really hope it is one. ::crosses fingers:: To stave off the waiting between this book’s official publication and a possible third novel (please be a trilogy and not a damn quartet!) I highly recommend the lovely AND FREE prequel short story: “The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland – For a Little While“. Learn more about Magic and Physicks through the doomed Queen Mallow. You know you want to.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

Summary: Twins Conner and Alex’s lives are turned upside down when they fall into the Land of Stories, a book full of fairy tales. After being befriended by a talking frog conveniently named Froggy, the twins learn that in order to get home they must collect the items needed for the Wishing Spell, a wish that will allow them to return home. What follows is an adventure full of situations where our dynamic duo needs neither brains nor brawn to assure their success. Just a ton of good luck.

Here we go, another book written by a celebrity. Trust me, it’s not ghost written, but maybe it should have been. I am always a little reticent to pick up a celebrity book (you will not see me with Tyra Bank’s Modelland or anything by Snooki, Hilary Duff, and Lauren Conrad). That’s not to say if it’s written by a celebrity, that it’s automatically awful- John Lithgow and Fred Gwynne wrote great children’s books, and Carrie Fisher has two hysterical memoirs. There’s nothing wrong with celebrities writing if they’re actually good at it. However, if they’re given a book deal based on their celebrity alone, that’s when I have a problem.

As you may have gleaned from my BEA wrap up, I had high hopes for this novel. It covers one of my favorite genres: fractured fairy tales and the concept sounded intriguing: two twins fall into the land of fairy tales and meet Queen Riding Hood, discover that Goldilocks is a wanted woman, and the Evil Queen is wreaking havoc across the land. Unfortunately, it fell short of all my expectations. Even the pretty cover and interior artwork (all by Brandon Dorman) couldn’t save the book this time. Nice try publicity team, trying to trick me into thinking this was a good children’s book.

The Land of Stories revolves around two twins obsessed with fairy tales. There’s brainy Alex who loves to learn, and the Bart to her Lisa, her brother Conner. Conner is one of the few likeable characters, with a great sense of humor. This is slightly ruined when Colfer makes sure to tell us Conner is funny without meaning to be. When things in their life are at their lowest (their father recently died and their birthday looks like it will be a meager one), the duo literally fall into their grandmother’s book of fairy tales. One plus of this novel included Colfer not going out of his way to bring the twin’s father back to life. I hate any story or movie that panders to children and make them think they can speak to dead loved ones through Snowmen or reunite their divorced parents. It gives them impossible expectations.

Inside this familiar new world the twins meet Froggy, a man cursed to be a frog who conveniently tells them everything they need to know. All the kingdoms in the land combined make up the Happily Ever After Assembly and are ruled over by Rapunzel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella are married to Chance, Chase, and Chandler Charming. A prince named Chandler, really? Their fourth brother Charlie is missing and assumed dead. We learn Red Riding Hood’s kingdom succeeded which led to the formation of the Big Bad Wolf Pack and the Fairy Council (Mother Goose is a fairy for some reason) is in charge of keeping the trolls and goblins at bay. Spoiler warning: They’re pretty bad at it.  Now that the good (or rather not as bad) is out of the way, onto the bad. And oh boy is it bad. AKA worse.

The first thing this novel suffers from is being overly wordy. At 448 pages, it’s far too long for a children’s book. Even Harry Potter didn’t hit the 400 page mark until people started getting killed off, and by then Rowling’s characters were teenagers. This problem could have been fixed had Colfer limited the scope of his premise. Not only do his characters need to visit nine places, they also need to collect eight magical objects to complete a spell that will take them home. There’s a reason fairy tales usually stick to the rule of three!

Another painful facet of the novel is the overuse of metaphors and similes. Enough to kill a small woodland animal. They were grating enough in Robert Kirkman’s Rise of the Governor, which I covered HERE, and were equally painful in this children’s story. I have included my favorites (and by favorites I mean the ones that make me want to stab myself most) below.

• “… Like fireflies in a cave.” I hate when caves are full of fireflies.
• “… Diverted her attention to him like a paper clip to a magnet.” Why a paper clip? Why not tacks? Or other magnets?
• “He handed the poster back to his sister as if it were infected with rabies.” You’d hand your sister something covered in rabies!?!
• “… Clutching onto her brother like a monkey on a tree.” Eating lice off of him simultaneously.

As if these metaphors and similes- which pulled me out of the story- weren’t bad enough, there was also various ridiculousness peppered throughout. First, is the belief that Colfer seems to think emotions and feelings affect the entire body. For example, “Curiosity had taken over her entire body”. When does curiosity engulf all your senses? Maybe jealousy, anxiety, or feelings of happiness but certainly not curiosity.  My toes have never felt curious. Ever. Unless I’m just broken. We are also told that this is the only time ever that Snow White raises her voice. Ever. Other face palm worthy examples include. “Hugs so tight they would almost pop” and the plot holes. Oh so many plot holes.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the narrative however is the ease with which the twins get out of sticky situations. The great thing about children’s adventure stories are how the characters use their brains and ingenuity to get out of problems. In this book, the children merely rely on their own luck and good fortune. When they’re about to be eaten by a witch, Conner makes a wish that she become a vegetarian, which she randomly grants. Realizing the futility of getting Cinderella’s glass slipper, it magically appears in their bag. They’re rescued by everyone and their mother, including the Little Mermaid who for some reason is sea foam, despite becoming a daughter of the air in the original story. And don’t even get me started on that damn ending.

THE GOOD:
-Fun premise that could have been executed much much better
-Great cover and illustrations, props to Brandon Dorman

THE BAD:
-Soooo damn long, eight obstacles is five too many
-Overuse of metaphors and simile
-Doesn’t understand how the human body works
-Obstacles are overcome not with intelligence, but by sheer luck
-Plot holes so big an elephant could fall in them (see what I did there?)

For better takes on this genre, I highly suggest the comic book series Fables, young adult steampunk sci-fi take on Cinderella: Cinder, the incredibly well written Breadcrumbs, any children books about princesses from Gail Carson Levine, and anything by adult writer Gregory Maguire- specifically Wicked. Not only are the stories fun and engaging, but they’re also written by real authors.

Besides getting to meet authors, network, and connect with fellow book enthusiasts, BEA is all about the swag. In the two days that I walked the floors of the Javits Center, I picked up 12 books, 3 totes, 2 pins, 1 wand, 2 preview samples, and 1 attache case. Unlike some other BEAers, I was very selective with what I picked up. Not only did I not want to drag too many books around with me, but I didn’t want to take books home that I would never read. Especially if other book lovers really wanted that book which held no interest to me. It’s surprising how people are so willing to just grab books willy nilly that they will most likely never read.

BEA SWAG: DAY ONE

1. The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente (Release Date: October 2nd)

This was my have to locate book of BEA, and was therefore the first thing on my schedule. A follow-up to the amazing The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, I was 45 minutes early to the Catherynne M. Valente signing and therefore the first in line to get my copy of the book. By 10:30AM, my BEA had already been made, as I made idle chit chat with the volunteers and others waiting in the autograph area to get the book and walked away signed copy in hand.

2. The Diviners by Libba Bray (Release Date: September 18th)

Libba Bray’s newest book, a supernatural young adult novel set in the 1920′s, was also on my list of must locate. Initially I planned to go to the signing and get the book there, but as I wandered through the Little Brown booth at 9:00AM, they had already put copies out and I knew I needed to snag it while I had the chance. Thankfully I did, because the signing line started forming an hour before Libba even arrived the next day.

3. The Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen (Release Date: September 17th)

As a fan of magicians, this arc was picked for its fun cover and source material. I sure hope it’s actually about magicians. The fact that it was endorsed by Night Circus author Erin Morgenstern helped a lot with my decision to grab a copy for myself and later after being offered another copy, grabbing one for my sister too. Judging by the characters having intriguing names like Minou, No-Name, and Will Boxman, this is a fantasy novel I look forward to reading.

4. Red Rain by R.L. Stine (Release Date: October 9th)

Having never read an adult R.L. Stine novel, grabbing this was a no-brainer. Still surprised there were any left when we happened to walk by. In this totally not Goosebumps horror novel, the back cover advertizes R.L. Stine as the original author phenomenon- before J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins (to draw on all the kiddies who love them). The plot itself follows a travel writer and some mysterious twins on an island, a recipe for some horror fun.

5. Soulless Pin

Now I really really really need to get on reading The Parasol Protectorate if I have this pin. Steampunk and movie monsters, how could I not love it?

6. Zom-B by Darren Shan (Release Date: October 16th)

This was out along with The Diviners and was snagged because it’s a young adult novel about zombies, and I am a sucker for some international horror. It follows a boy named B, and I can’t wait to read from the point of view of a male protagonist, which I get so infrequently. Also, it’s set in a high school and who doesn’t love a horror novel set in the most horrifying place on earth: a public school system. Or is that just me?

7. Lemony Snicket Attache Case for “Who Could That Be at This Hour?” (All the Wrong Questions) (Release Date: October 23rd)

Another signing I waited in line for (initially for the book), and was only semi-disappointed to get handed a promotional case instead of an ARC. BUT, Lemony Snicket, or rather Daniel Handler, was a laugh riot, he was so friendly and genuine, I just wanted to hug him. Inside the case (set to look like a suitcase) was a pen, calendar, bar of soap, and 30 sample pages from the new novel- the first of a four volume series. So much love.

8. Harry Potter Wand

If you even have to ask why I’m excited about a Harry Potter wand being in my possession, than I don’t think we know each other that well. ::goes off to summon Lord Voldemort::

BEA SWAG: DAY TWO

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight Sample by Laini Taylor (Release Date: November 6th)

I went in on day two solely for this package, which included a paperback copy of the first book in the young adult trilogy and a 70 plus page preview of the second book. Stephanie and Cassie-wa couldn’t recommend Daughter of Smoke and Bone enough, and I was glad Laini Taylor shared the giveaway on her blog so I could be there to get one of the 500 packages Little Brown gave away. Thank you Laini! Cannot wait to get an autograph at LeakyCon.

2. Son by Lois Lowry (Release Date: October 2nd)

I just happened to be walking by the booth giving away the fourth book in The Giver quartet (yup, apparently that’s a thing now) and I’m so glad I did. I first read The Giver in middle school, and now I need to read the next two books in the series before I get to the conclusion. Thankfully I waited, because there is now way I could possibly remember the ending of a book series when the third book was published eight years ago. Worse than George R. R. Martin.

3. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (Release Date: August 21st)

Couldn’t say no to a book that reminded me of something by Gail Carson Levine! This book, the second in a series, was written by Shannon Hale, whose name stuck out at me like a beacon. Glad I trusted my instincts, she’s the same author who wrote the Jane Austen centered novels Austenland, and Midnight in Austenland. Obviously, this series, which is centered around a prince and a future princess, is for a different age group, but psh. I’ve never shied away from children’s novels.

4. Chronicle Books Tote

Love, love, love this tote. The fabric is nice, the white and blue motif is so cute, and most importantly, it’s all about books books books. Fashionable and bookish, two of my favorite things.

5. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer (Release Date: July 17th)

Proving that you don’t need to be a writer, but just a famous person to get a book published is “Glee” star Chris Colfer and this new children’s fantasy novel. My feelings about celebrity authors aside, I love the cover of the novel, which features Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella’s castle, a Big Bad Wolf, and a gingerbread house. The story takes place in a land where fairy tales are real, and not quite living the happily ever afters we left them with.

6. Aquarius 2012 Horoscope Predictions

This went to my Mom and fellow Aquarius along with a duplicate tote bag. Sure horoscopes aren’t grounded in any sort of rhyme or reason, but that’s what makes them so much fun!

7. In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz (Release Date: September 27th)

Another take on  fractured fairy tales (because I can never have enough of them). It’s set in the same world as Gidwitz’s prior novel A Tale Dark and Grimm, hence why it’s called a companion novel. Whereas the first novel followed Hansel and Gretel, this one is based on the adventures of Jack and Jill. And the cover is absolutely adorable. Gotta love all the cute covers going on at this year’s BookExpo America!

8. Nightsong Tote

Look at the bat! No seriously, look at that bat! Isn’t he the cutest thing ever? I came home with not one, but two adorable bat totes for me and my Mommy. Everyone else thought he was a terrifying chihuahua monster. =(

That’s not to say I got everything I wanted. Despite coming with a detailed schedule of everything that I wanted to check out scheduled down to the hour (I know, a little anal retentive), not all the books featured at BEA had arcs. The new Lemony Snicket book which I snagged the attache case for only offered samples, the same with Junot Diaz’s This is How You Lose Her. Penguin was giving samples for it, but I declined waiting in line as I already have a Junot autograph thanks to the wonderful Kelly. =)

Two other books not being offered as ARCs or samples, were Stephen Colbert’s America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t, and Ally Condie’s Reached. Colbert’s book wasn’t available for obvious reasons (they didn’t even have a sample book out), and Condie’s publishing company wanted to keep the finale for the trilogy under wraps as much as possible. There was however a giant red bubble straight out of the Reached cover that you could take your picture inside.

Even though four of the seven books I wanted to snag at BookExpo America were unavailable, I still had an amazing time. I got to meet some authors, talk to fellow book enthusiasts, grab some new titles, and have the best time being a bibliophile. And the Quirk Books after party was so much fun. Cannot wait for BEA 2013-2015, all of which will be held in New York! Next year: helpful tips for surviving your first BEA. Like how not to give yourself a painful tote bag burn. Whoops.