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Take a deep breath and steel yourself for Amy Reed’s debut novel “Beautiful.” It’s beautiful for sure, but it’s not easy, nor is it supposed to be. Consider the verbs Reed uses: punched, scraped, gutted, crush, explode, smash, destroy, cutting, burning, scarring. But really, what better words are there to describe thirteen-year-old Cassie’s harrowing descent into the world of drugs, alcohol, abuse and the sex she wishes she weren’t having?

“Beautiful” is a gut check of a young adult novel. It’s the slippery slope of how one choice, one decision marks the line between the good road and the very wrong path. Neither drugs, nor alcohol nor thirteen-year-olds with their legs spread are glorified here. Instead, Reed depicts with a stark kind of poetry how Cassie is ripped apart by each and every decision she makes or doesn’t make. “Beautiful” is a living, breathing organism. With sharp, shattering emotions, the novel reads like a memoir so you feel a part of it, Cassie’s pain your pain, the novel’s pulse the fear of a crash and burn.

Or maybe not.

Because, remember that for a novel like this to work, there has to be redemption. Where and how and if Cassie can find a way out is what will keep you turning the pages. That, and the hope that she will.

It’s rare that I will quote from the actual text in my recommendations, but “Beautiful” is true to its title so share I must. Here are some of the parts I read over and over:

“At first I see a shadow, a blue-black shadow on ribs and side and stomach. But the shadow becomes liquid, a lake of blood under the surface, pain turned into pigment. Then it is solid, bruised flesh stretched over porcelain bones.”

“But not because of the usual reasons I don’t speak, not because I am concrete and my mouth is stuffed with glass.”

“I am not the girl with the fire or the shovel. This is not my forest. These are not my doll parts burning, not my legs, my arms, my head, my smooth pink torso.”

“This is what I am now: beautiful, with this new body and face and hair and clothes. Beautiful, with this erasing of history.”

Note: The BookChick is pleased to welcome young adult author Daniel Nayeri to the site! Here’s his guest post on EVIL PETS.

by Daniel Nayeri, author of “Another Faust”

Okay, so, as you might know, there’s a character in “Another Faust” named Madame Vileroy, and she’s the devil. Or at least *a* devil. Anyway, we wanted her to be extremely eeeevil. And this got me thinking about villains, and more specifically, villains’ pets.

The pets or little sidekicks that villains keep around them can be a great help in emphasizing their vile nature, provide a bouncing board for dialogue (“Yes, Poopsie, our plan is going purrfectly!”) or they can add comic relief. For example Doctor Claw ends every episode of “Inspector Gadget” by saying, “Next time, Gadget!” But the real evil part is that fat black cat he lovingly pets. And remember Gargamel’s cat in “The Smurfs?” And the stepmother’s cat in “Cinderella?”

(Bookchick note: yes, yes, yes, I remember all these evil pets!)

Black cats may be overdone, but quite a few fantasy villains have baby dragons skulking around. A brilliant recent entry was Mrs. Coulter’s golden monkey in “The Golden Compass”—that thing did wonders for her viciousness. The Wicked Witch of the West had flying monkeys, which seem to be in turns hilarious and horrifying (lot of people seemed to find the flying monkeys funny—don’t know why, prolly the hats).

On the comedy side, the wizard Howl has Calcifer, a sarcastic fire demon (I contend that Howl is the main antagonist for much of Sophie’s first adventure in “Howl’s Moving Castle”). Doctor Evil has Mini Me, Bowser has Baby Bowser (or even better, the Koopa Kids), and The Grinch has a doe-eyed puppy.

For me, Buddy the Dummy was always the pet that our Madame Vileroy kept around, and eventually gave to Christian. The way she treats him were, to me, the most villainous parts of Vileroy’s character, and probably the reason Buddy was always my favorite.

But that brings me to my question: What is YOUR favorite villain pet? Evil, creepy or funny. Doesn’t matter. As for me, the Joker’s smiling fish would be high on the list as would Frankstein’s Cat (if only for that one lonely tooth, dawww…)

I’m not sure how this happened, but somehow in the nine-month history of this blog I have neglected to review/recommend one of my absolute favorite books of all time. Shame on me.

But I am prepared to rectify that mistake today. So here goes.

Courtney Summers‘ debut novel “Cracked up to Be” is the reason I became a YA author. Her novel released in December 2008, but I wheedled an advance copy out of her way back in August 2008 and I devoured it. We are talking a-can’t-put-down-mystery.

“Cracked up to Be” is the story of Parker Fadley, the most popular girl in school who also happens to harbor a horrible secret. Something very bad happened and it just might be her fault. So she does what any good cheerleader would do — quits the squad, ditches school and starts failing. It’s her punishment, the one she imposes on herself. She can’t talk about what happened, she certainly can’t fix it. Self-loathing is her solution, sarcasm her shield. That’s how she deals. But pushing people away isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and there’s still maybe just a tiny sliver of hope left in Parker — hope that she can be redeemed.

What is so special about this book is the voice of Parker, the writing style and a very clever device Courtney employs. The reader doesn’t know until the end what Parker did and why she hates herself. That backstory unfolds in pieces throughout the novel and it’s what will keep you turning pages.

I’m also thrilled to report that I snagged ANOTHER sneak peek at a Courtney Summers novel. I just finished reading her second book “Some Girls Are,” slated for a January release. I’ll publish a full and proper review later this fall, but I will leave you with two teasers:

There is no sophomore slump for Courtney, but rather a sophomore streak

Once again, Courtney forbids her main character from owning a cell phone.

Last week I had the chance to share a recommendation for a book I thoroughly enjoyed - Irene Zutell’s “Pieces of Happily Ever After.” And now I’m pleased to announce a contest to win a copy. The best part? The winner will receive a signed copy of this lovely novel from Irene herself. You know how my contests work. In five words - no more, no less - tell me what a piece of happily ever after means to you. Please leave your five-word thought in the comments below. Winner gets the book!

By Amanda Morgan

BookChick.com Correspondent

At SCBWI LA (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), we were lucky enough to catch up with the amazing Michael Reisman, the bestselling author of Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper (which was just optioned by Universal) and Simon Bloom, The Octopus Effect.  Book three in the series is slated for 2010.   Reisman lives in Los Angeles and works in the entertainment industry as a script/book reader.In this BookChick.com interview, Michael discusses his writing process, favorite books, and how, exactly, to pronounce his last name.

Amanda Morgan:  What is your favorite part of writing and why? (i.e. first draft, revising, etc.)

Michael Reisman:  It’s hard to pinpoint one stage or another that’s the most fun or exciting.  I’d have to say my favorite is the facet of writing that comes along at almost every stage: breakthrough.  When an idea first occurs, as it evolves, as the writing begins, as it continues, and as the revisions go on, there’s this feeling of “Yes!” when something snaps into place.  There’s so much about writing that’s so one foot in front of the other – you know where you’re going and you’re getting there – and that’s good.  But then there are those moments where you’re either stuck or unsure or meandering and suddenly… Wham!  I love that.

AM:  Describe your writing process.

MR:  I get an idea – either for a character or a scenario or even just a part of a chapter – and I start to play with it.  I often just do that in my head, kind of rolling it around and seeing what it might be.  I also write stuff down so I don’t forget.  When the idea coalesces a bit more, I start to type it into a file on my computer. I don’t outline or even plan it out, per se.  I jot down what I know and where I want it to go and then I ask myself questions.  (E.g. for the Simon Bloom books, which entailed basing a system of magic on science, I had to figure out all these nuances that never get described in the books such as how long each formula’s effect would last and what limitations there would be and how they’d change over time.  So I puzzled these rules out on page, debating with myself as I typed.)  Then I write, trying to get down as much as possible without going back to fix things up.  I try to do as Anne Lamott describes in BIRD BY BIRD (my favorite writing book): first draft, get it down; second draft, fix it up; third draft, tend to the little details (she calls it the dental draft).  I don’t necessarily write every day or for a set amount of  time, and sometimes I only play with it in my head – figuring out particulars – while doing other things.  Oh, and I usually ingest large amounts of caffeine.  Caffeine is my friend.

AM:  How long have you been writing?

MR:  When I was growing up, I didn’t think about becoming a writer.  I did enjoy doing creative essays when allowed in school.  When I graduated from college, in 1994, I had an idea for a book and decided to write it.  I tried to get agents and editors to take a look, but nobody showed much interest in it.  I took a few years off from book-writing to try my hand at writing movies and TV, but I returned to writing books in 1998 and haven’t stopped since.  Though SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER was my first sale, it was my 5th book.

AM:  If you could recommend one book—and only one book—to readers, other than your own, what would it be?

MR:  I’d recommend my favorite book ever: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  I think I first read it in 6th grade, and I’ve reread it so many times.  I love the way poor, ordinary Arthur is consistently overwhelmed by the weird and wild universe he’s so jarringly introduced to, and I love the creativity of that weird, wild universe.  The book is so inventive and funny, both as a sci-fi tale and as a display of amazing wordplay. And I really like wordplay.

AM:  Do you prefer middle grade to other genres?

MR:  I can’t say I prefer reading middle grade over all other age-ranges, but I definitely appreciate it for how it looks at youths growing and becoming more independent as they face their conflicts.  As far as writing, I’d say the Simon Bloom books span middle grade and the younger end of YA.  I’m trying my hand at an older-aimed YA book right now and hope to write more of that and more adult-aimed stuff.  But I do love writing at the Simon Bloom age-range, too, and I intend to do lots more of it.

AM:  What is one thing that you hope your readers take away when they finish your book?

MR:  You know, I try to cover a lot of things in the SIMON BLOOM books: I try to show that science can be fun, that being smart isn’t a bad thing, that knowledge is power (in the books quite literally), that you can be a hero even if you’re young and afraid.  But if I had to pinpoint one thing above all that I intended for my readers to get out of these books?  I want them to enjoy reading them and, thus, to feel good about reading more (of mine and other books, too).

AM:  What is one question that you always wish you were asked?

MR:  I wish people would ask how to pronounce my last name before they say it (it’s Reeseman, not Riceman) because even when I correct them, they seem to have Riceman stuck in their head.

AM:  What makes the SIMON BLOOM books different from others in the genre, in your opinion?

MR:  One thing that’s definitely different is the handling of the science aspects throughout.  The books use actual science as magic, presenting real laws, theories, etc. and – hopefully – making them fun.  (While my main goal in writing them certainly wasn’t to teach, readers of all ages have told me that they’ve actually learned science from the books.)  Another thing is what I do with my Narrator.  I know of many books that have 1st  or 3rd person narrators stating opinions/making comments throughout (a la Lemony Snicket), as well as many other books that have 1st person narrators who are characters in the tale (a la HUCKLEBERRY FINN).  My Narrator goes back and forth between 1st and 3rd person because he’s the narrator – observing all – but also has his part to play/ his own character arc.

AM:  What did you do for web promotion and what did you find the most effective?

MR:  I need to be more focused on web promotions.  I have a website, a blog, Facebook/ MySpace/ Twitter accounts, and a little video I put up on YouTube.  But I don’t blog or Tweet regularly enough, nor do I post status updates or bulletins or comments on Facebook/ MySpace enough.  And I’ve meant to do more videos but haven’t yet.  That being said, I think my site is the most effective.  Sure, it’s the most passive of all those, but it’s also the most demonstrative of my personality and my writing style…and it’s up for anyone to see.  It links to the above web promo-things and is, I hope, appealing.  Until I become better at web-stuff, it’ll have to do as my main representative to Internet-goers.

AM:  Any final thoughts/comments?

MR:  While writing is work…often quite hard work…it’s also a lot of fun.  I love it.  My primary audience is me, so if what I’m writing makes me laugh, I feel like I’m on the right track.  But I’m also always seeking ways to let people know about my books.  To encourage them to take a look and see if I’ve made something they’d like.  For me, signing a book for a person or reading a blog post or email from someone who enjoyed Simon Bloom is awesome.  It makes me realize that, in whatever small way, what I’ve written is reaching others and making them smile a bit.  I love that, too.

Thanks to all who entered the contest to win my copy of Julie Buxbaum’s “After You.” The winner is Debra Schubert with her 5-word entry describing home as “The place where I’m complete.” Debra, email me to get your copy!

Note: In keeping with the circus book theme, Lauren Gibaldi offers her review of “Water for Elephants”

By Lauren Gibaldi

Set in both present time and the 1920’s, “Water for Elephants“ tells the tale of young Jacob Jankowski’s circus days: how he stumbled upon the spectacle, how he made himself useful, and how he found true love. After leaving Cornell, Jacob became the show’s veterinarian, watching over the lions, chimps, horses, and, of course, elephant. There, he meets a dazzling array of characters including Marlena, the lovely horse tamer and elephant rider that Jacob falls for. Told through flashbacks, you see how the circus life with the Benzini Brothers Circus affected him and what became of him after his years under the big top.

Accompanied by archived photos, the book accurately portrays the life of a traveling circus member, riding the train daily going from city to city, hoping the town is looking for an afternoon of entertainment. Told with rich imagery and climactic moments, Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants is an excellent and highly addictive book.

Even those who have no interest or knowledge of the circus lifestyle will get something out of the book because at one time we’ve all seen the show. We’ve all seen the clowns, the elephants, and the acrobats. We’ve all eaten the pop orn and cotton candy sold from the striped tents. And, really, at some point, we’ve all wanted to run away and join the circus.

When it comes to high-concept storylines in young adult literature, they’ve pretty much all been done — wizards, faeries, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches, dystopian futures, zombie apocalypses, even werewolf nookie now. So it’s a daunting task for an author to surprise you with a new, fresh world. Michelle Zink does just that in her debut “Prophecy of the Sisters,” the first in a trilogy. Lia, the eldest of twin sisters, discovers she is the heir to an ancient prophecy concerning nothing less than the possible destruction of, oh, just the ENTIRE FREAKING UNIVERSE!

Zink doesn’t think small or write small - all the action and consequences are big and involve issues like the end of days, good and evil, chaos and peace. The story isn’t religious at all, but her characters must deal secularly with the fates they have been handed - the very fate of the world. What is so fresh and original in this novel is the world Zink creates, or rather the “Otherworlds,” the places inhabited by those bad guys - very bad guys - our heroine must keep out.

“Prophecy of the Sisters” brings a new and unique mythology to the young adult genre and leaves you with a feverish desire for its sequel!

I feel like I could write a recommendation every day for a different Elizabeth Scott novel. She is that prolific and that good. Scott is the author of six young adult novels and has three more coming out next year. Her output is a tremendous feat, because her books are wonderful, including the recent ”Stealing Heaven.”

It’s the story of reluctant 18-year-old thief Dani, who’s been trained by her mom from a very early age for a life of crime. Dani’s had enough silver for a lifetime though and doesn’t want to spend any more time pretending to be a maid, or breaking in through a dog door, or plotting how to nick the silver in the fancy house down the street. But her mom can’t resist. Silver is a siren song to her, so she continues to live a life on the road, taking Dani from town to town, never settling down, always plotting where to steal. Then they land in the beach town of Heaven for a few weeks, where Dani makes friends for the first time and also meets a guy.

Ah, but the path to young love is never easy. Because guess what? He’s a man in blue. Talk about conflict — the thief falls for the cop.

Read this book!!!

Just as quick post to let you all know about this wonderful new group blog from authors Alyson Noel, Kay Cassidy, Tera Lynn Childs and Becca Fitzpatrick called “Living Your Five.”  In their own words, the mission of the site is: “making the world a better place, one person at a time. It’s about understanding what you care about most and how you can make a positive difference in your world.” I urge you to check it out because it’s sort of a beacon of goodness and a reminder of the power of positivity, good deeds, charity, kindness. We KNOW these are good things, but we don’t always practice them. And here’s a site run by women authors a lot of us admire who are taking time away from their deadlines and writing to not just promote their own books, but to promote a better world. A happy site! Plus, if you visit this week and post comments, you might win a prize!