Debut Author Challenge # 9: Ashes, Ashes...And a GIVEAWAY!!

Reading Song of the Day: "Ashes" by Embrace

This has been such a cr-az-y summer thus far. And it's nice to just be able to love on some books. That's why we're continuing on with the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. This week, I read Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari. Although the book had a lil' bit of a slow start, it is one that I would still recommend...and why do I recommend it, you ask? Read on, loyal follower...read on.


Here is what Goodreads has to say about Ashes, Ashes:

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares. Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

Deep stuff. But if that ain't enough for ya...

The Top Four Things you should know about Ashes, Ashes:

1. It's written in Third Person: And written WELL in third person. That may not mean much to you, but for me it was like freakin' magic. I struggle with third person, but plan to revise The Blues in 3rd *maybe* so I took a few pointers from this book.

2. Lucy pretty much rawks: I couldn't imagine living on my own as a teenager out in the wild. Lucy does this with skill-- I mean, the chick kills a turtle and makes herself some stew! Also, she holds her own against those evil sweepers.

3. Authentic Relationships: For example, the boy and girl do not love each other from the beginning. We get to see things build... and of course Aidan, the love interest for Lucy is quite swoon worthy :)

4. Aidan has two girls after him!: This is something that me and Pam have discussed wanting to see more of in YA. There are enough love triangles where the girl has two boys fighting for her affections, but Ashes, Ashes is fresh because it has a boy caught between two girls.

If You Like...

Books: Plague by Jean Ure, Z is for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien, and Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer...then you will like Ashes, Ashes.

Movies: 12 Monkeys, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012...then you will like Ashes, Ashes.

Since we've been gone for so long, why not celebrate this week of our return with a giveaway? If you'd like to own a gently used copy of Ashes, Ashes, leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address by Midnight August 2nd, 2011. We keeps it simple! As always, we love to hear your book recommendations, too! Do you have any debut authors to tell us about???