Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2012:
Picture Books
Oliver Jeffers has not one but two new titles in 2012 – The New Jumper in the spring, and another picture book in the autumn
Chris Haughton’s Oh, No George is brilliant (out in March) – I’ve seen a proof and loved it. Fantastic vibrant colours and very funny.
Chris Judge also has a new title out – based on a young explorer which is also fantastic. Arthur’s Boat by Polly Dunbar also looks great, and Irish newbie Sheena Dempsey’s debut picture book, Ruby and Oliver looks wonderful.
And finally, The Frank Show by David Mackintosh is also coming in the spring – I love his work and I’m REALLY looking forward to this one.
Younger Readers
More Penny Dreadful by Jo Nadin – Penny is a very, very funny character!
And more Marco the Bear – Marco: Master of Disguise from Gerry Boland – very touching and well written tales about a boy and his friend, a grizzly bear.
Age 9+
More Skulduggery Pleasant of course! Can the Landy do no wrong?
Zom-B by Darren Shan – a brand new series that sounds fantastic
Two more from Judi Curtin – book 2 in her time travel series, Friends Forever and also a brand new Eva book in the autumn I hope. Eva’s Holiday was so funny and warm and sweet.
Summer’s Dream by Cathy Cassidy – out in July - it’s about ballet and I love ballet books. My next Amy Green is called Dancing Daze (out autumn 2012) and is also about dance. Go the ballet girls!
And Soonchild by Russel Hoban is so lyrical and magical - with fantastic illustrations by Alexis Deacon - a really special book.
YA Novels
and from this list, 2012 is an ultra-strong YA year already!
The Hunger Games movie is out in March, so prepare for the onslaught of all things Hunger. And do read the books first – they are fantastic. I’m not reading any more dystopian novels unless they are highly recommended by a friend in books. Enough with the dystopia already!
A book that I certainly will be reading is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. He’s a remarkable writer and this sounds wonderful – very punchy and honest – about a teenage girl with cancer. And if you haven’t read it yet, Will Grayson, Will Grayson is amazing too (out and available on Amazon through the US – no Irish or UK edition as yet – I live in hope!).
Wonder by R J Palacino – I’ve heard Wonder-ful things about this one too! It’s about a boy with a disfigured face and is fantastic apparently.
Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale – how can you face your future when your past is a lie? Sounds great.
Saving Daisy by Phil Earle – more grit and greatness from the super newish writer of Being Billy.
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg – a clever book about a teenage girl who has just died and is looking back over the relationship that literally broke her heart. Nicely written.
Fever by Dee Shulman – I’m reading this at the moment and it’s very clever and readable. It features a modern teenage girl and a teen Roman gladiator. Time travelling historical romance – and it works really well!
The Look by Sophia Bennett – Sophia is the author of the Threads books and this looks smashing – about a teen model and her sister. She writes wonderfully.
Eighteen Kisses by Laura Jane Cassidy – her last one was excellent.
Team Human by Sarah Rees Brennan & Justine Larbalestier – Sounds brilliant – very twisty and cool.
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long – Debut fantasy novel by another Irish author with a fantastic cover.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer – a new series of fairy tales set in the future with feisty female lead roles.
Adult Books (I do read some adult fiction!)
Smart Popular Fiction by Some of My Favourite Authors
Mercy Close by Marian Keyes – another book about the brilliant Walsh sisters, Helen this time. Can’t wait! I’m a huge fan.
And Saved by Cake: Over 80 Ways to Bake Yourself Happy, also by Marian which is coming in February and is all about baking – sounds fantastic too.
I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella – I love her writing voice, funny, funny, funny!
The Shoestring Club by Sarah Webb – Yes, my book! I really can’t wait for this one to be published. I’m at that nail biting pre-publication stage at the moment. Out in February in Ireland and September in the UK.
Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend by Sarra Manning – a very witty writer indeed.
A Message to Your Heart by Niamh Greene – This one sounds fantastic – a literary agent’s life goes crazy!
And Finally - Other Novels
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach – I adore books about sport, which is odd as I don’t watch or play sport. I sail and kayak, I guess. Does that count? But any sport movie or book, I’m in there! This one is about a college baseball player and sounds fantastic.