YA and Beyond discussion

Anyone have any thoughts on the Aug. monthly group read (remember it should be the first book in a series if it is a series book and readily available to everyone)??? Maybe we should go back to taking the first 5 suggestions and setting up a poll?? I am running out of ideas!

I just recently read and really liked it--super creepy, a good mystery, ghosts, and a good historical aspect--takes place in 1918 in San Diego, during WWI and the Spanish Flu Epidemic. It's also a beautiful book filled with creepy and eerie photos from the era. I got it at my library, so hopefully everyone else would be able to find it.

Ooh that looks interesting, Jenny. :)

I'd also like to nominate:



I'm curious about it and it seems to have good reviews!

Both look good!! I am going to nominate Rebel Belle because I love the author!

these all look awesome. I'd like to nominate The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner. I started reading it and enjoyed what I read (hard to read these days with the infant, so don't take me not finishing as a bad sign; I almost need a book club push to finish anything these days). it gets good reviews, so I'm dying to finish it. plus, I correspond with Gae through FB and she's a nice woman. always a plus with authors :D.
I can't link the book because I'm on my phone. not sure if someone else can?

Kristen wrote: "these all look awesome. I'd like to nominate The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner. I started reading it and enjoyed what I read (hard to read these days with the infant, so don't take me not fi..."



I'm guessing this is the correct one.

Yes. Thanks, Becky!

Ok awesome Kristen (thanks Becky!)

ok well since we need a fifth book to make the poll, I'm nominating



seems interesting to me.

I set up the poll everyone!

Here are the synopsis for the books...


In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.


Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.


Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.


Just when everything seems to be going wrong, hope and love can appear in the most unexpected places.

Summer has begun, the beach beckons and Francesca Schnell is going nowhere. Four years ago, Francesca's little brother, Simon, drowned, and Francesca is the one who should have been watching. Now Francesca is about to turn sixteen, but guilt keeps her stuck in the past. Meanwhile, her best friend, Lisette, is moving on most recently with the boy Francesca wants but can't have. At loose ends, Francesca trails her father, who may be having an affair, to the local country club. There she meets four-year-old Frankie Sky, a little boy who bears an almost eerie resemblance to Simon, and Francesca begins to wonder if it's possible Frankie could be his reincarnation. Knowing Frankie leads Francesca to places she thought she'd never dare to go and it begins to seem possible to forgive herself, grow up, and even fall in love, whether or not she solves the riddle of Frankie Sky.


Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides—especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

Please don't forget to vote!

Thanks and voted :)

Bluemoon wrote: "ok well since we need a fifth book to make the poll, I'm nominating



seems interesting to me."

Heidi *Listen. I'll just keep talking anyway. * wrote: "Ok awesome Kristen (thanks Becky!)"

That does look interesting. It's similar to the premise for Alphas (but with adults), a show that played on SyFy a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the first season a lot (the second wasn't great, which is why it got cancelled, but the first is worth watching). You might want to check it out if you get time. I found it on Netflix.

I agree. The Naturals sounds good. I had not heard of any of these books ladies! Even if they don't win the poll I am glad you mentioned them so I know about them and can add them to my tbr pile :)

Bluemoon thanks so much for starting the poll!!!!!!!!

Those all look good!

KRISTEN: cool, I'll check it out if they have it in Canadian Netflix!

HEIDI: No probs. I've been slacking on my mods duties. hehehehe...

I thought we were reading that this month... but I guess not.

Kaylani! I always forget what is going on from month to month so I was hoping someone would pipe up earlier to remind me. We will read your nomination though I swear! Sorry :(

Its okay. This part of the forum disappeared for like 2 weeks and I couldn't find it :(

We can just do Kaylani's pick for August, as planned, and the poll can be for September.

Is that ok?

I am ok with that too Bluemoon. It looks like The Naturals won the poll (is it done?) so that can be moved to Sept. if ok with everyone else? I think that was your nom anyway Bluemoon?

Works for me!

HEIDI: yes. it was my nomination ^_^ I'm surprised it won!

Yay! We have two months worth of reads. Super excited!

same here! now to look for my Blue is for nightmare book!