Happy February!
Happy Valentine's Day!
I'm so happy January is over and February is here. I'm excited to announce the February Author in the Spotlight. I first heard of this author over a year ago at a conference on the best young adult literature for teens. Her novel Split was making waves and I knew I wanted to read her books and feature her on BookSnob. I would like to welcome young adult author, Swati Avasthi to BookSnob. I met Swati Avasthi by chance when she working a booth at the Twin Cities Book Festival for the college she teaches at and I was overjoyed.
Swati Avasthi has written two books. Split and Chasing Shadows. Chasing Shadows is nominated for the Minnesota Book Award this year. Congratulations on your nomination.
Synopsis from Goodreads: Split
A riveting portrait of life after abuse from an award-winning novelist.
Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.
He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.
At least so far.
Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. Award-winning novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split—how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down.
Here is the book trailer:
Before: Corey, Holly, and Savitri are one unit—fast, strong, inseparable. Together they turn Chicago concrete and asphalt into a freerunner’s jungle gym, ricocheting off walls, scaling buildings, leaping from rooftops to rooftop.
But acting like a superhero doesn’t make you bulletproof…
After: Holly and Savitri are coming unglued. Holly says she’s chasing Corey’s killer, chasing revenge. Savitri fears Holly’s just running wild—and leaving her behind. Friends should stand by each other in times of crisis. But can you hold on too tight? Too long?
In this intense novel, Swati Avasthi creates a gripping portrait of two girls teetering on the edge of grief and insanity. Two girls who will find out just how many ways there are to lose a friend…and how many ways to be lost.
Here is the book trailer:
This month on BookSnob you can expect a book review, an author interview, a contest and a hopefully a guest post by Swati. Check out Swati's website at http://www.swatiavasthi.com/
Have a great month!!
