Book news, reviews, trends, and talk | Shelf Life

Filed under: Books and tagged: Divergent, Exclusive Excerpt!, Insurgent, Veronica Roth, YA

I’ve been anxiously awaiting Veronica Roth’s follow-up to Divergent since the second I put down book one. And thankfully, Insurgent arrived on my desk last week. No, I’m not rubbing it in. As a matter of fact, I’m choosing to share my good fortune. Book two in the trilogy doesn’t hit shelves until May 1, but we can share this exclusive excerpt from chapter 2 today. Check it out after the jump.

Feb 21 2012 11:26 AM ET

Reading the Oscars: 'Hugo' the book vs. the movie

Filed under: Books, Movies and tagged: Books Into Movies, Children's Books, Fiction, Film Adaptations, Oscars, YA

Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk

Six out of the nine Best Picture Academy Award nominees this year were based on books: Hugo, War Horse, Moneyball, The Descendants, The Help, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Prior to the ceremony on Feb. 26, Shelf Life will read or re-read each of these books, in addition to a few others that inspired nominees in different categories, and do a side-by-side with the film version. Today, we’ll take a look at Hugo, which is nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay. Spoilers ahead. READ FULL STORY »

Feb 20 2012 09:00 AM ET

See the book trailer for 'Embrace', Jessica Shirvington's debut YA novel -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

Filed under: Books and tagged: Debut, Embrace, Jessica Shirvington, Trilogy, YA

If you’re looking for another addictive YA trilogy to add to your must-read list, may I suggest Embrace? The debut novel of author Jessica Shirvington hits shelves on March 6 and follows 17-year-old Violet Eden. Violet, a kickboxer who’s training for a marathon, discovers her trainer is a Grigori—part angel and part human—who hunts exiled angels. As you can imagine, this complicates their relationship. Watch the exclusive trailer for Embrace after the jump.

Feb 6 2012 12:38 PM ET

Who should star in a movie version of 'The Fault in Our Stars'?

Filed under: Books, John Green, Movies and tagged: Books Into Movies, Film Adaptations, YA

Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com

Even though John Green’s 2005 novel Looking for Alaska never got made into a movie despite a few attempts, I feel more optimistic about his new best-seller The Fault in Our Stars actually reaching the big screen. The story of two teenagers with cancer falling in love, which was optioned last week by Fox 2000, has an amazing blend of humor and tragedy. And with his massive online following and strong sales, Green’s profile has risen considerably since 2005.

I never visualized actors while reading The Fault in Our Stars, but the kids playing the leads, Hazel and Augustus, would have a huge challenge ahead of them. They’d have to be funny, capable of rapid-fire verbal sparring, and at the same time, take their performances into heavy territory without falling into melodrama. They’d have to be the sort of kids who are a bit wise beyond their years but are still into into video games and America’s Next Top Model and nihilistic Dutch authors. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 30 2012 02:07 PM ET

See the trailer for 'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio

Filed under: Book Trailers and tagged: Book Trailers, YA

“I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” So begins 10-year-old Auggie Pullman’s story in Wonder, the bighearted, uplifting debut novel by R.J. Palacio (out Feb. 14). Born with a severe facial deformity that shocks even well-meaning adults, Auggie — in many ways a regular boy with a sharp sense of humor and an obsession with Star Wars — takes the plunge from being home-schooled all his life to mainstream Beecher Prep, where he encounters the type of cruelty and bullying only found in middle school as well as genuine kindness. See below for the trailer for Wonder! READ FULL STORY »

Jan 19 2012 02:38 PM ET

Debut author Julie Cross talks 'Tempest'

Filed under: Books and tagged: YA

January’s not even over, and I want to claim Tempest as one of my favorite books of 2012. The YA novel, by debut author Julie Cross, hit shelves on Tuesday. The story follows 19-year-old Jackson Meyer who has the ability the travel back through time. One day in 2009, strangers burst in on him and his girlfriend, Holly, and she’s fatally shot during a struggle. And in a jump unlike his previous time jumps, Jackson ends up in 2007 where he gets stuck. Will he make it back to 2009 to save Holly? I won’t spoil it for you. But I can offer this Q&A with Julie Cross. She took some time out of her schedule to chat with EW about Tempest and reveal a few small hints about the next book in the trilogy.

Jan 12 2012 09:00 AM ET

See the trailer for 'Born Wicked' by debut author Jessica Spotswood -- EXCLUSIVE

Filed under: Books and tagged: Exclusive!, Fiction, YA

YA fans, mark your calendars for the Feb. 7 release of Born Wicked, the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles. The planned trilogy, by debut author Jessica Spotswood, follows Cate Cahill and her sisters, all of whom happen to be witches. If their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, prison ship, or even death. EW got its hands on the trailer which we can exclusively premiere. Check it out after the jump. Then, watch the fun behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot.

Jan 11 2012 03:00 PM ET

See the cover of Jodi Picoult's first teen novel, 'Between the Lines' -- EXCLUSIVE

Filed under: Books and tagged: Book Covers, Cover Peek, Exclusive!, Fiction, YA

Jodi Picoult has created plenty of memorable young characters throughout her writing career, but Between the Lines (out June 26) will be her first book geared for teens, and her first co-authored by daughter Samantha van Leer. Melding ordinary life with fantasy, the novel will center on Delilah, a teenage bookworm who can’t get enough of one book in particular. When one day the hero of that story, the handsome and kind Prince Oliver, literally speaks to Delilah, she learns that Oliver is actually a complicated teen boy who’s trapped in the book against his will and hates that his life must follow a predetermined plot. As Delilah fights to free Oliver from the pages, a romance blooms between them, and their journey tests everything they know about destiny and their place in the world.

For longtime fans and younger readers who will be discovering Picoult’s work for the first time, EW has the first look at Between the Lines! Check out the cover below. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 10 2012 03:49 PM ET

See the trailer for 'Tempest' by Julie Cross -- EXCLUSIVE