Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Class of 2014: YA Superlatives Blogfest ELEMENTS OF FICTION (or where I beg you to read I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN)


The YA Superlatives Blogfest is hosted by Jessica LoveTracey NeithercottAlison Miller, and Katy Upperman.

Elements of Fiction – Wednesday, December 17th

Most Envy-Inducing Plot
 I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson. My entire MFA thesis is stories about families, and this book is EVERYTHING I want my writing to be. Siblings growing apart and trying to come back together, coping with loss, self-discovery. *drools

Most Formidable World
 Oz from DOROTHY MUST DIE by Danielle Paige. As the inside cover warns, this is not the Oz you remember. It’s kind of 100 percent terrifying.  

Most Wanderlust-Inducing 
THE GLASS SENTENCE by S.E. Groves. This might be technically MG, but each continent of the world exists in a different time (some continents even have multiple time periods). SO cool!

Loveliest Prose
 I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson

Best First Line
ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. “It’s midnight, it’s sweltering, and I might be high on Vicodin, but that guy—that guy right over there—that’s him.” 

Most Dynamic Main Character
 Celaena Sardothian from HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Maas. I’m in the minority of ToG fans when I say this book wasn’t my favorite of the series so far, but Celaena’s character development in this book was INCREDIBLE. 

Most Jaw-Dropping Conclusion

 Okay, I KNOW this was from 2012 and I'm a big fat cheater, but I just read it in October and can’t get the cliffhanger out of my mind. THE MARK OF ATHENA by Rick Riordan. Also the novella “The Assassin and the Empire” from THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE – even though I knew how it would end because I’d already read THRONE OF GLASS, the ending was so powerful. 

Best Performance in a Supporting Role
Nico di Angelo in THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS and Oscar in I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN

Best Use of Theme
 I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN. Family, loss, art, love.  THE WINNER’S CURSE. Characters are always playing games and strategizing, and the stakes get higher and higher as their world becomes less stable. 

The moral of this post? Run to the nearest bookstore and buy I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN. Then devour it. It tastes like colors. <3 

10 comments:

  1. I am SO with you on IGYtS -- such a gorgeous book! And Oscar rocks. :-) Your choice in ISLA for Best First Line is awesome -- I'd kind of forgotten about that first scene, what with all of the drama that comes next. I adored that story; it's another of my 2014 faves. Great picks, Kaitlin!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The first line of ISLA immediately sold me on Isla as a narrator...she's so funny and quirky! And IGYTS makes up probably 30% of the blogfest categories this week. It's so wonderful! Plus, Oscar. You can't not obsess over Oscar! ;)

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. It's my favorite book of 2014...so beautiful! Thanks for stopping by! :)

      Delete
  3. omg - I LOVE Nico! And I'm reading Dorothy Must Die right now and you are so correct! No Oz for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nico!!! <3 I'm so happy Heroes of Olympus gave us tons more insight into him as a character.

      And I totally agree about Oz...I'm staying faaaaar away from tornadoes! That place is a crazy mess!

      Delete
  4. I can't WAIT to read I'll Give You the Sun. The opening chapter to Isla is rather funny. In fact, I liked the first couple of chapters but then lost momentum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy I'll Give You The Sun. It's such a gorgeous story!!!

      Delete
  5. I need to read I'll Give You the Sun and Dorothy Must Die!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Everyone seems to have I'll Give You the Sun on their list. I've added it on my tbr pile.

    ReplyDelete