Holly Schindler's Character Driven: A BLUE SO DARK ON BOOKLIST TOP TEN

Friday, October 15, 2010

My local librarian shared the incredible news with me: A BLUE SO DARK is on Booklist's Top 10 First Novels for Youth!

...Talk about ending the week on a high note...

...And be sure to head on over to The Thoughts of a Book Junky to get in on a chance to win a copy of A BLUE SO DARK or a signed bookmark!

RESPONSE TO FERAL:

"Opening with back-to-back scenes of exquisitely imagined yet very real horror, Schindler's third YA novel hearkens to the uncompromising demands of her debut, A Blue So Dark...This time, the focus is on women's voices and the consequences they suffer for speaking...This is a story about reclaiming and healing, a process that is scary, imperfect, and carries no guarantees." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW

"In the town of Peculiar, the cats aren't the only ones keeping secrets...A dark and creepy psychological who-done-it that will keep you guessing until the very end." - Jody Casella, author of THIN SPACE

"Wow! This book starts off with a bang - two of them, actually - and then it sinks its claws into you and never lets go." - April Henry, New York Times-bestselling author

PRAISE FOR THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

"...a heartwarming and uplifting story...[that] shines...with vibrant themes of community, self-empowerment and artistic vision delivered with a satisfying verve." – Kirkus

"Axioms like 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' come gracefully to life in Schindler's tale about the value of hard work and the power of community…Auggie's enthusiasm and unbridled creativity are infectious, and likeminded readers will envy her creative partnership with [her grandfather] Gus." – Publishers Weekly

“Determined to save her home, Auggie [uses] pottery shards, vivid glass, and metal sculptures [to] transform the house’s exterior into a vibrant expression of the love within its walls. In Auggie, Schindler creates a spunky, sympathetic character young readers will engage with and enjoy.” – The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Book Studies

“The protagonist perches in the reader’s heart as she goes about trying to “‘discover her shine.’” - NY Journal of Books

LOVE FOR PLAYING HURT

PLAYING HURT REVIEWS

“Both heartbreaking and thrilling…the book speaks to personal struggles and triumphs and the ability of the human spirit to heal. PLAYING HURT is a good read.”—VOYA

“The closing staccato chapters play out like the final minutes of a close game…Supporting characters, especially Chelsea's bass-playing younger brother, are all well drawn. With its rural setting and flirty competitive training scenes, this sexy summer romance will appeal to fans of Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s ‘Dairy Queen’ series.”
—School Library Journal

“With no slick, happily-ever-after ending, this novel will capture teens with the characters’ guilt, anger, and, especially, the intensity of the young people’s connection.”
—Booklist

REVIEWS FOR MY DEBUT, A BLUE SO DARK

"Breathtakingly, gut-wrenchingly authentic...A haunting, realistic view of the melding of art, creativity, and mental illness and their collective impact on a young person’s life."—Booklist, starred review

"Any story about mental illness will not be an easy read, but a very good one will reward those who stick with it. A BLUE SO DARK definitely falls in that category, so powerful is the empathy the author has built for her main character.—School Library Journal

"An excellent first novel—a definite must-read. Schindler's debut novel is a lyrical tapestry...a work of poetry."—VOYA

ADDITIONAL PRAISE FOR A BLUE SO DARK

"A truly real, emotional, and honest read."—Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of PAY IT FORWARD

"A BLUE SO DARK is a raw, compelling and eloquent portrayal of art and madness, and the freeing, healing gift of creativity. Schindler's voice is brilliant and true."—Carrie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of NEED and CAPTIVATE

"Schindler's lyrical debut explores the nightmare of mental illness in a voice that is sharp and funny and all her own. This is as real as teen fiction gets. A must-read."—Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER

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Friday, October 15, 2010

A BLUE SO DARK ON BOOKLIST TOP TEN

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