Debut Author Challenge #2: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Reading Song of the Day: "Prototype" by Outkast

Okay, the next book we chose to read in our 2011 Debut Author Challenge was Beth Revis' Across the Universe. You know, that small book that debuted at #7 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. I wanted to read this book because:

A.) Beth Revis' journey to publication is a total Cinderella story. She was a high school English teacher that finally made her dreams come true--with a 3-book deal no less. There's hope for Quita and me yet. And,

B.) I got to read the first chapter online and my jaw literally hit the floor.

Here's what Goodreads has to say:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Now without further ado...

Top Four Things You Need to Know About ATU:

1. It's told in dual POVs. We get to hear the voices of Amy, a teen girl who's been frozen for centuries, and Elder, the future leader of the spaceship community. Revis doesn't do anything fancy to differentiate between the voices, but readers just get it. The two perspectives are so different that I never needed a reminder of who was narrating.

2. Do you hate sci-fi? You'll still heart this book! Please don't let the aforementioned "spaceship" scare you. Though the story takes place in a galaxy far, far away, it's more a story about morality and human emotions. This is coming from the girl who's never gotten into Star Trek and only saw the Episodes 2 and 3 of Star Wars (and that's just because Quita thinks Hayden Christensen is hawt).

3. You won't get frexxing confused with the jargon and setting. Again, the story is set in the future, and Revis describes this brand new world casually. She doesn't lay on the descriptions extra thick, but you can actually see the many levels of the spaceship, Godspeed. And the jargon is so natural, I find myself shouting "frex!" whenever I stub my toe. :)

4. Holy M. Night Shyamalan ending, Batman! And I mean this as a compliment--when twist endings were fresh and new. Though book one of this trilogy wraps up in a satisfying way, Revis makes sure to leave you with enough intrigue to snatch up the sequel. (By the way, would that make the third book the "threequel"?)

If you like...

Books: The Children of Men by P. D. James, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Maze Runner (Book 1) by James Dashner...then you'll like ATU.

Movies: Back to the Future, Total Recall, Avatar...then you'll like ATU.

Have you read ATU yet? What are your thoughts?

**CONTEST UPDATE**

Two of our winners did not get in touch with us by the cut off date. THEREFORE...we still have two prizes up for grabs. They are:

*Query Critique by K.M. Walton
* 10 Page Critique by both Pam and Quita (double the trouble--huh?)

Anyway, we went back to the drawing board and chose TWO more lucky winners!!! If your name is below please e-mail us at: marquitahockaday@gmail.com to claim your prize. Please rank it from 1, t0 2. We want to give you the prize that you want first.

Okay, without further delay, here are the two NEW winners!

Jessica Byam!

Jamie Manning!

CONGRATS! We'll be looking out for your e-mails :)