Screen Name: Kalen O’Donnell TITLE: Dust to Dust GENRE: YA Fantasy For my sixteenth birthday, my oldest brother tried to kill me again. I was at Starbuck’s getting a celebratory scone when the shadows peeled off the walls and came for me. I cursed and dove for the floor. The hot chick waiting in front of me turned, eyebrows raised over heavily made up eyes. Her perfect lips parted. For a split second Read more…
Name: Erica M. Chapman Title: Anomaly Genre: YA Science Fiction Mom’s craptastic advice is what I’m going to miss most. She always said, “Never fart in front of a boy. They’ll never look at you the same.” She also said, “Make ‘em laugh on the first day or you’ll be the one who’s being laughed at.” She straightened my collar and cocked her head to the side, her blonde curls twirling around her shoulder. “Don’t Read more…
SCREEN NAME: Katharina GerlachTITLE: Terry and the Folding Rule of TimeGENRE: MG Fantasy (time travel) I slammed the door of my locker hard enough that it bounced open again. The magnetic name tag my Mom gave me fell off, but no one cared. They were all too busy trying to get to class on time. Not me though. I hated old Bodger on the best of days but most of all when he taught science. Read more…
Name: Ellen GoodlettTitle: StrayGenre: Young Adult Futuristic For the third time this week, someone has jacked my ride. I stand at the corner of Broadway and 17th, exactly where I know I tied it up. But there’s no gondola to be found. How desperate are these shitheads, to steal the leakiest, ugliest boat in New York City? I’m sure they’ll abandon it as soon as the bubble-gum plugging the cracks in the prow pops out, Read more…
Name: Christie KoesterTitle: Wanted: Groom for My $100K WeddingGenre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance I rest my head against the bathroom’s mahogany door, inhaling freedom. The aroma of Ivory soap and sweet pea awaken memories of being a little girl, twirling in a wedding gown ten sizes too big in Gram’s pink powder room, my best friend Tony drowning in Gramp’s blue suit. And the promise he made. “Promise my ass,” I mumble and swallow the last bit of hope Read more…
Name: Margay Leah Justice Title: The Goode Girl Genre: Contemporary YA I always knew my name would get me into trouble one day. I just didn’t think it’d take this long. Maybe I have a slow fuse or a short attention span or something, but, anyway, it finally happened – I snapped. And my name got me in trouble. Seriously, with a name like Irene Goode, the probability ranked pretty high, if you know what Read more…
Name: Mer Snow Title: Colors Like Memories Genre: YA UF I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick. The release of frustration was more than worth the sharp pain in my toes. The polished marble tilted to the left because of all my visits; a crooked tooth in the rows of pearly white graves. I folded my legs under me, shuddering as the chill of the damp grass seeped Read more…
Name: Taffy Lovell Title: It’s Not Me Genre: YA Fiction “Angelica!” Again with the yelling. My sister seriously doesn’t get the idea of sleeping in. Or how mornings should be enjoyed in peace and— “You said you’d drive today!” Yeah. Yeah. Glancing at the clock I’m annoyed to find I could have slept in twenty more minutes. Georgie was up hours ago, I’m sure. She loves the mirror and as hard as the truth is Read more…
Name: Julie HedlundTitle: FOODOOGenre: Picture Book Fiction Ginny McMaudy loved all kinds of thrills,Like riding her bike over towering hills,Smacking a cannonball into the pool,Swashbuckling swords in a pirate ship duel. Turning a cartwheel with balance and grace.Fooling the pitcher and stealing third base.But one thrill that Ginny still wanted to try?An amusement park ride with a track to the sky. Brian rode last year while she circled ‘roundOn kiddie rides barely four feet off Read more…
Name: Elle McNulty Title: Little LionGenre: YA Thriller Fighting the toughest girl in the school after she called my best friend white trash, seemed like a good idea at the time. But now with my bottom lip split wide open, possible broken ribs, and a jammed finger, I realize that walking away might’ve been the wiser choice. While I’m bent over catching my breath, my nemesis, Ronnie Joe, swings at me again, this time getting Read more…