A few days ago I reviewed Mary E. Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox. I said:
"I was reading this book, and thinking to myself "how on earth was Mary Pearson able to come up with this book?" It is remarkable. It is not to be missed, by anyone from fans of speculative fiction to fans of novels in verse (though only a small part is in verse) to fans of adult "literary fiction"."
Does that make you want to read the book? Well, now is your chance. Publisher Henry Holt and Co. has generously offered me five copies of the book to give away to readers of this blog. All you have to do is comment on this post between now and next Tuesday, June 24th, at 9:00 am Pacific Time. Optionally (this won't change your chances of winning, but I'll appreciate it and I'll post the list of responses), use your comment to recommend another futuristic, speculative, science fiction or dystopian fiction title aimed at young adults. (And if you want to recommend a title and not be entered in the giveaway, just say so).
I'll randomly select five winners. If you are a winner, I will email you to ask for your mailing address, and then pass it along to Henry Holt. So, please make sure to include your email address when you comment (it will NOT be displayed) so that I know how to find you. You don't have to have a blog to participate.
You can also double your chances of winning by entering a similar giveaway at A Patchwork of Books. I'm going to check Amanda's list of winners, and strike them from mine before the drawing, so that no one ends up with two copies. Because this is a book that should be shared widely. I hope that no one minds that caveat. Good luck!
I'd like to be entered, Jen! And as for dystopian fiction, I highly recommend the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld and Unwind by Neal Shusterman (which I reviewed on my blog). How very nice of Henry Holt & Co. to offer books like this!
Posted by: Abby | June 17, 2008 at 03:32 PM
I was gripped by elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. And of course, feed by M.T Anderson. (both lowercase titles, I see!) Also, an oldie but goodie is the series by Sylvia Engdahl that begins with Enchantress from the Stars.
Posted by: Sara | June 17, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Woohoo! Thanks for hosting!
Well, I'm pretty sure everyone's heard of the Uglies "trilogy," but if not, it fits all the criteria and I thought all four books were quite good.
Posted by: cuileann | June 17, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Your review made me want to read it, so count me in!
How about Ender's Game for a good sci-fi? It's an oldie but a goody. Not sure if it's really aimed at young adults, but the main character is a child as the book starts and I think the book would be very accessible to young adults.
Posted by: Jen | June 17, 2008 at 04:07 PM
I'd love to be entered in to the drawing for this book.It sounds very interesting.
Posted by: Rebecca Reid | June 17, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is a new one, and I second Feed by Anderson which is my favorite.
Posted by: Anna Marie | June 17, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Lois Lowry is a touchstone author for me so I will bring Gathering Blue to the table. And thanks for including me in the drawing!
Posted by: Nan Hoekstra | June 17, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Please enter me.
Posted by: John B | June 17, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Oh, pick me! The Giver Lois Lowry (An oldie but a goodie)
Posted by: Megan Germano | June 17, 2008 at 05:26 PM
I can't resist your book reviews :) Looks like a GREAT book!
And I really enjoyed the House of the Scorpion.
Posted by: Janssen | June 17, 2008 at 05:55 PM
I'm in! I've heard nothing but great things about this book.
I THINK this qualifies as dystopian...? I loved The True Meaning of Smekday.
Posted by: | June 17, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Enter me too!! Love new books!
Posted by: Angela | June 17, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Hi, Fantastic book contest! I liked
David Brin's "Sky Horizon!" Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Thank you, Cindi
Posted by: Cindi | June 17, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Sounds great! This book has been on my wishlist for awhile. :)
Posted by: Hil'Lesha | June 17, 2008 at 07:22 PM
I'd love to be entered into your drawing. I requested this book from our library immediately after reading your enticing review of it! Of course if I win the give-away, I won't need to wait for it from the library... :) Thanks!
Posted by: Christine | June 17, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Please enter me in the contest--the book sounds really interesting!
We read "Ella Minnow Pea" by Mark Dunn in our mother/daughter bookgroup last month. Dystopic novel and really interesting use of language.
Posted by: Kate | June 17, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Hmm. Of course there are the old ones: Brave New World, 1984, Lord of the Flies.
How about Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now?
Posted by: JenFW | June 17, 2008 at 08:12 PM
I cannot wait to read this book. Definitely count me in. And I second the recc for Little Brother - fantastic!
Posted by: Laura | June 17, 2008 at 09:23 PM
No suggestions but I would like to read the book.
Posted by: Kat Bryan | June 17, 2008 at 10:14 PM
How about Feed?
Posted by: Kim | June 17, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I second Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now, which is fantastic.
Please enter me in your giveaway. Thank you!
Posted by: Alessandra | June 17, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Ooh! Please pick me (fingers crossed)
The dystopian trilogy by Lois Lowry is, of course, the first thing that springs to mind.
I used The Giver with two different classes of 6th graders and it was amazing. If any educators out there would like to know more about the amazing debates I staged with this book, please email me through my blog link :-)
Posted by: Tasses | June 18, 2008 at 12:02 AM
I've been looking for a copy of this book, even though dystopian fiction is not my thing. Although come to think of it, I love The Giver (Lowry).
I had to read Eva by Peter Dickinson for a class in children's lit, and while I can't say I liked it, I still remember it, especially the opening chapters, well enough to mention it here, too.
Posted by: Anamaria | June 18, 2008 at 04:40 AM
A book written for the adult market, but one that would work well for teens is Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. Identity issues play a role in this novel too--only it is the reader who comes to the rather uncomfortable realization of who (and what) the main character is and why she exists. The Adoration of Jenna Fox sounds like my kind of read!
Posted by: Sue Sirgany | June 18, 2008 at 04:49 AM
Thank you, I'd love to be added to this giveaway!
Posted by: Kari Follett | June 18, 2008 at 05:20 AM
I've been itching to read this one.
As for other titles, The Giver by Lois Lowry sticks out in my mind. Also, Scott Westerfeld's UGLIES series...he's awesome.
I'm also in Mad Love with Cassie Clare's CITY OF books
Posted by: Eliza | June 18, 2008 at 06:26 AM
Aaah, suspense, secrets, dystopia, and the future, who can resist? I'd loved to be entered.
I agree with some of the above about Westerfeld's Uglies tetralogy, Farmer's House of the Scorpion, Rosoff's How I Live Now, Anderson's Feed, and Lowry's The Giver; these are YA dystopia at its best (as in, most chilling).
I would add Philip Reeve's Hungry City Chronicles (Mortal Engines being my favorite) and John Christopher's The Tripods series (White Mountains, etc.).
Posted by: Laura | June 18, 2008 at 06:41 AM
I've been eyeing this book for a while and would *love* to get my hands on it! :)
As for dystopian recommendations, I really enjoyed "Green Angel" by Alice Hoffman, "Oryx and Crake" and "The Handmaid's tale" by Margaret Atwood, and "Life as we knew it" by Susan Beth Pfeffer.
Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
Posted by: Rebecca B. | June 18, 2008 at 06:48 AM
You can add my name to the hat. No book recommendations for you at the moment, though!
Posted by: Kris Bordessa | June 18, 2008 at 07:20 AM
I recently read Meg Cabot's Airhead, which had a couple of sci-fi touches. Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: Gretchen | June 18, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Oh, I'd love to be in the drawing for this book. Especially since my library's slow in getting it...
Posted by: Melissa | June 18, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Everyone already mentioned the books I was gonna mentioned! But I'll throw in The Declaration, which I reviewed recently - not great, but a good read.
Posted by: web | June 18, 2008 at 07:27 PM
I was going to recommend The Missing: Book 1 Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix, but when I went to post, you had beat me to it. I am almost done reading it and it is so hard to stop to go to work! It is as gripping as her Shadow Children series. Please enter me in the contest-Thanks!
Posted by: Kristine Michael | June 19, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Thanks for all the great comments and suggestions, everyone. You're all entered in the contest (and others can keep entering until Tuesday morning). I can't comment on all of the suggestions right now, but many are boooks that I love, and others are new to me (which is GREAT). I'll make a list after the contest is over, and post it.
Thanks again!! Keep those suggestions and entries coming!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 19, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I offer as my entry A Place to Come Back To, by Nancy Bond (1981). Is about rising sea levels drowning Cape Cod, so perhaps a useful read for those of us near the coast. Pretty prescient of her.
Posted by: Charlotte | June 20, 2008 at 07:44 AM
I know you just reviewed it, but I also just read FOUND by Haddix. AWESOME new series. I wanted to read the sequel immediately, darn it- but it's not out yet :)
Also, Ender's Game & the whole series will always be my favorite.
Posted by: Mrs. Hill | June 20, 2008 at 08:32 AM
I think everyone should read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. One great dystopian novel.
And do count me in for the giveaway!
Posted by: gautami tripathy | June 21, 2008 at 08:03 AM
My daughter liked the Uglies series and City of Ember. Another recomendation in the fantasy genre - Terry Pratchett "Wee Free Men". We listened to it on tape during a family vacation and have gone on to read every kid and adult book he's written. Just found your website - looks like we enjoy the same types of books.
Posted by: Tessa | June 21, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Please enter me in your giveaway. Thank you.
Posted by: Karin | June 21, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Have you read The Declaration by Gemma Malley and Unwind by Neal Shusterman? DId I get the idea for reading those from your blog, Jen?
Posted by: Sherry Early | June 21, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Thanks. Please enter me to win.
Posted by: Linda2000 | June 21, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I'd love to win this book. Please enter me in the giveaway!
Thank you for this chance!
Posted by: Alessandra | June 22, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I definitely reviewed The Declaration, Sherry. I haven't read Unwind yet, but I may have mentioned it - I think it's a fascinating premise, but I haven't gotten to it yet.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 23, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I'd love to be entered in the contest!
Thanks!
Posted by: Holly | June 23, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I'll give it a go. Thanks for the chance
Posted by: Doret | June 23, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I can offer some Aussie futuristic/apocalyptic SF type books: Isobelle Carmody's "Obernewtyn" series that are set in a post-nuclear disaster world and feature characters with a host of pyschic powers (I loved these as a child but warn readers that although I'm hitting my late 20s the series hasn't been finished yet! But there are firm plans for them to be wrapped up soon I believe).
Posted by: Emmaco | June 23, 2008 at 11:19 AM
An excellent read that should work for teens is Kevin Brockmeier's The Brief History of the Dead. An oldie, but goodie in my book is Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien. I read it last semester in my materials for children class and it haunted me for days.
Posted by: Renee | June 23, 2008 at 12:01 PM
This looks like a great book - I'd love a copy!
Posted by: Danielle | June 23, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Please add me - and I'm working on a report about books I've been reading based on your recommendations! :)
Posted by: Aerin | June 23, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I just finished this book last week. Good read. My husband would love to have it for his HS classroom library.
This book also reminded me of Never Let Me Go.
Posted by: christie | June 23, 2008 at 01:06 PM
One of my favorite books is 1984 by George Orwell. I read this my Senior year of high school. Science fiction isn't my favorite, so I don't know of any newer novels that are good.
Hey, I second (or third!) The Giver, too.
Posted by: Kristen | June 23, 2008 at 02:31 PM
I liked (though it totally freaked me out) Life as we knew it. I LOVED LOVED LOVED The Hunger Games and Elsewhere. Thanks for hosting a contest! =)
Posted by: Jen | June 23, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Hi Jen,
Either not all the comments are showing up, which seems odd, or mine didn't go through, so just in case here I am again, with my distopian offering of The Voyage Begun, by Nancy Bond (sea level rise rendering Cape Cod uninhabitable).
Thanks!
Posted by: Charlotte | June 23, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I'm very eager to read this book and although I can't list the titles yet, Kane/Miller is editing a few fantasy books for young readers for our upcoming seasons...will share details when I'm able!
Posted by: Sondra Santos LaBries | June 23, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Please add me in this giveaway. I've seen this beautiful cover so many times now. I need to read this book.
Posted by: Emily | June 23, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I'll give it a go. Thanks
Posted by: Doret | June 23, 2008 at 05:05 PM
I would love to read this book! Please enter me to win a copy. Thanks.
Posted by: Jenn | June 23, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Hi jen...
Would love a copy!
Dorothy
Posted by: dorothy galvin | June 24, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Charlotte, TypePad breaks comments into multiple pages, that's why you couldn't see your comment. But I have you on the list (once).
And Dorothy, it was great seeing you this weekend! But alas, I'm afraid that you missed the deadline, and I can't enter you in the drawing.
Thanks for all the amazing suggestions, and for entering, everyone. I'll be drawing a winner by tomorrow (I'm digging out after a trip, and things have gotten away from me a bit).
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 24, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Coming in at the last minute, having wanted to read Jenna for a while and promising it to myself after I finish my current revision. (I'm on a 10-minute blog break.) As for other titles, I think others have mentioned the ones I was going to.
Thanks for this!
Posted by: Jody Feldman | June 24, 2008 at 07:37 PM
Sorry, Jody, you missed the deadline. But I do hope that you get to read Jenna Fox soon.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 24, 2008 at 08:01 PM