Susan Uhlig: So Many Good Books Archives

Powerful Story

By Susan Uhlig on January 31, 2012

After (Viking Juvenile, 2009) by Amy Efaw is an unforgettable powerful story. At times it feels unbelievable, yet you know it's all possible. The author obviously did research for this novel. (There's extra info about Safe Haven in the book and on her site.)

Here's a brief introduction to After: 15 year old Devon Davenport is arrested for killing her newborn baby, but she doesn't remember anything about it. And, it can't be true, since she was never pregnant.

I'd recommend this eye-opening story to anyone who has trouble understanding, or sympathizing, with someone who has done something wrong. It is now available in paperback as well as hardcover.

On her website Author Amy Efaw has background info for this novel. That includes newspaper articles she created for the story. You'll also see that she has other works, which I need to check out!

Memorable Story

By Susan Uhlig on January 31, 2012

tell me a sec.png
Tell Me A Secret (Harper Teen, 2010) by Holly Cupala is a story about choices. Rand (Miranda) doesn't know exactly how her bad-girl sister died 5 years ago. Mom disappeared into "drama and the prayer chain" and "Dad into his construction business." But, of course, when she gets in trouble, her mother thinks she should have learned something "after all we went through with Xanda." Like Rand knows what happened then.

This was author Holly Cupala's first book, which has now been turned into an audio book, too. Her second book, Don't Breathe a Word, don't breathe a word.png came out this month and is getting great reviews. You'll want to check out the secrets behind the stories on Holly's site.

Holly has also been a Readergirlz Diva. (This is a great site for teen girl readers.)

Victorian fantasy

By Susan Uhlig on January 10, 2012

Clockwork Angel - The Infernal Devices, Book 1 (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010) by Cassandra Clare is a prequel to the author's Mortal Instruments series (which I haven't read yet, but now want to...).

16 year old Tessa Gray takes a ship to London where she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters, who train her in transformations. She ends up with the Shadow Hunters who promise to help her find her lost brother. The story has vampires, demons, magic, steampunk, romance (Will or James) and is fascinating and scary.

Book 2 is called Clockwork Prince and is now out. Book 3, Clockwork Princess, is scheduled to come out the end of 2012.

On Cassie's website I discovered she'll be touring Germany, the UK and Ireland this spring.

Twist after twist

By Susan Uhlig on January 10, 2012

white cat.jpg White Cat (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010) by Holly Black is the first book in a fascinating world of magic and mobsters.

17 year old Cassell is living at Wallingford Preparatory to try to live a normal life. He's the only nonmagic member in a family of workers. Dad is dead, Mom in jail and his brothers Philip and Barron exclude him, although they did protect him 3 years ago when . . . But I can't tell you that!
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Here are the great opening lines:
"I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles. Looking dizzily down. I suck in a breath of icy air."

As you read on you discover those tiles are on a roof and there is no way for him to get down. *shudder* Talk about a nightmare! Humiliating for a teen boy to not only have to be rescued but for it to happen publicly in front of his peers? That's worse.

In August 2009, I heard Holly Black speak at the LA SCBWI conference about how readers must be able to believe the fantastical world. As she said "the real stuff has to be really real" and she's done this with this book.

red glove.jpg Book Two, Red Glove, came out in 2011 and you'll want to read it, too. The Curse Worker series has its own website where you can read about the books, watch a great trailer, and check out extras.

On Holly's regular site, she's got a "cover to be unveiled" picture of the third book, Black Heart. It'll be exciting to see the reveal.

A book with heart

By Susan Uhlig on December 26, 2011

Heart of a Shepherd (Random House Books for Children, 2009) by Rosanne Parry is a lovely book. I enjoyed the intergenerational relationships, the faith of the main character, and a look into a military and shepherd family's life.

12 year old Brother (Ignatius) is not happy. His dad, who is in the Reserves, has to go to Iraq. His older brothers are away at school and he and his grandparents have to keep the ranch going. Brother thinks that keeping the ranch the same will help bring his dad home safely. But sheep ranching is not really his thing.

One of the things I especially enjoyed on Rosanne's website is the story of how she got her idea for Heart of a Shepherd. Here's encouragement for other writers from her site: "It took me seven years to go from my first idea for Heart of a Shepherd to a finished book. But in those seven years I also wrote another novel, two mysteries, lots of short stories and many newspaper and magazine articles."

I next plan to read Second Fiddle, another book by Roseanne about military families.

Text copyrighted by Susan Uhlig © 2011.		Contact Susan Uhlig by email .
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