Summer is almost over, and sadly, it is time to say goodbye to our Summer 2017 Penguin Teen interns. They have been hard at work reading manuscripts, posting online Penguin Teen content, creating eBooks, planning author tours, attending lots of fun meetings and of course, doing lots and lots of reading! Before they left, we asked them for a few of their MUST READS you don’t want to miss out on!
An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir
Oona Ryle (Publicity Intern)
“An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir could not have been more aptly named – it won’t burn you, but the story will draw you closer with the warmth she creates in the character relationships. I’m reading the sequel, A Torch Against the Night, right now, and somehow, it’s even better than the first book!”
Perfect Ten by L. Philips
Dan Denning (Retail Marketing & Advertising Intern)
“They say to never judge a book by its cover, but I fell in love with this book the instant I saw the cover… whoops. Still, the vibrancy, romanticism, and humor you see on that cover is exactly what is inside the book too! Sam’s journey to find his perfect boyfriend in a town where he is one of the only gay boys kept me 100 percent invested throughout all 352 pages. Read it for the captivating story, the adorable characters, the juicy romantic drama, and because you REALLY want to know which of Sam’s four crushes ends up being the final boy behind that unicorn mask on the cover.”
This is Really Happening by Erin Chack
Elizabeth Aaron (Production Intern)
“As a fan of both memoirs and young adult lit, this book is best of both worlds. Erin Chack is both witty and real, and never shies away from brutal honesty. Her embarrassing moments are probably more relatable than I’d like to admit, and I found myself laughing with her, rather than at her. This book is perfect for readers who are sick of the same YA tropes, and are looking for a voice that sounds a little more like a friend than a character.”
Rebel Belle trilogy by Rachel Hawkins
Ema Barnes (Editorial Intern at Putnam)
“What other trilogy starts off with a Homecoming queen killing someone with a shoe? I binge read the Rebel Belle trilogy in May and am enamored with spunky Harper Price. She’s the type of girl I want on my side: charming, witty, and entirely too sassy. Read this thrilling adventure of mystical Paladins and powerful friendships before school starts, because once you’ve started, you’ll be unable to put these books down.”
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Shaina Verma (Editorial Intern at Dial)
“I read Roller Girl recently, and for someone who normally prefers Silence of the Lambs-style stuff I was blown away. The artwork was so fun and the storyline was fantastic – I felt like I was back in 6th grade, going through all the emotional turbulence again. I loved seeing Astrid’s character develop and learning about roller derby lingo, and the message about positivity, hard work, and maturity was pretty dang heartening. Pick this one up – you won’t regret it! Victoria Jamieson’s All’s Faire in Middle School is coming out this summer, too, so you won’t have to wait too long to read more by this amazing author.”
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Oona Intemann (Online Marketing Intern)
“Usually I'm hopeless at keeping track of alternating points of view in a novel, but Sepetys does something magical here that keeps me in touch with these storylines the entire time. I love historical fiction, especially WW2-era, but knew very little about this event and about the people it affected. This is a heavy story, but so important. There is some romance, but just the right amount -- the real draw is reading about the lives of these young people, thrown into unspeakable danger and tragedy, caught between military powers in war-torn places. I was hooked from the start!”
Things I’m Seeing Without You by Peter Bognanni
Nicole Benevento (School & Library Marketing Intern)
“When you open Things I’m Seeing Without You, you are immediately transported to the world of Tess Fowler, where high school has been left behind, her family’s inability to get along is typical, and the love of her life, Jonah, has committed suicide. This book is the perfect balance of hilariously funny and heartbreakingly beautiful with just the right amount of twists and turns to draw you in, as Tess begins to try to work through her grief in unconventional and unexpected ways. Things I’m Seeing Without You is the kind of book you won’t be able to put down until you turn the very… last… page. Pick it up as soon as it comes out October 3rd!”
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Tanu Srivastava (Editorial Intern at Puffin)
“This book, from the author of The Graceling Realm series, starts out normally—Jane, who makes umbrellas, accepts an unexpected invitation to an opulent mansion, and finds herself mixed up with missing children, stolen artwork, mysterious frogs and hypnotic color-coded libraries. The story has five different endings, which get progressively more outlandish until reality is turned completely upside down. Bonus: References to classics like Jane Eyre and Rebecca! It comes out September 19th and you CAN’T miss it!”
Applications for our Fall 2017 internships are no longer being accepted, but we take interns every season Spring, Summer, and Fall! Keep an eye on our career page and definitely apply in the future. We’d love to have you!
Who knew a club, a band, and a boy could change Nate’s life forever? All Nate wants to do is be a great musician like his dad, but he has yet to find the sound that fits. When Nate’s best friend finds a way into a club playing one of Nate’s favorite bands, his life is forever changed. The perfect boy, cute and musically talented falls into step next to Nate and they hit it off, but the night takes a turn for the worst when his identity is revealed. He’s Richard Cameron Pierce, the son of the man who killed Nate’s father, well, kind of. Nate’s frantic escape just ends up getting him caught up in the world of paparazzi and fame, and finding himself drawn to Cameron despite their families’ histories. Can Nate stay away from Cameron, or will he fall even deeper in love?
From the moment I picked up this book I knew it was gonna be amazing and boy was I right. This book is brilliantly told from the point of view of both boys, each with their own quirky unique voice that just brings the story to life. Their love story completely pulls you in and theres a mystery aspect throughout the story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Between relatable characters, bands you wish were real and the cutest love story to ever exist, what could go wrong? I honestly had no problems with this books and I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
#AlexFromTarget meets queer Prince Charming in this glittering romcom following a teen music prodigy and the handsome socialite who unwit...
I was going to ask why tumblr has been sleeping on Sometime After Midnight by L.Philips, but it turns out it was only published this August, so I guess it’s too early to say tumblr has been sleeping on it.
I read it in one sitting last night (like, I didn’t even pause to eat dinner, and I never skip meals so you know it’s good (but also I ate a shit ton of birthday cookie-cake at the office (because it’s my birthday (I’m old)) so I wasn’t actually hungry)).
It bills itself as a Cinderella story, and I guess it kind of is. Nate is the son of a musician who gained a cult following after he committed suicide while recording his first album. Nate was 9 when that happened. He’s 17 years old now, working at the Dairy Barn owned by his distant step-mother. His best friend sneaks them into a club to see Nate’s favorite indie band and he has the most musical, dreamy meet-cute with Cam. Until Cam’s bodyguard shows up. Cam is the son of the record label mogul Nate’s father fought with right before he committed suicide, and Nate’s always blamed the label for his father’s death. Cam takes a photo of Nate’s sharpie-decorated Converse as the cute boy he was flirting with runs away. The next day Cam’s Kardashian-esque, social media famous, sister tweets the photo, trying to find her brother’s run-a-way love interest. Nate is immediately hounded on social media and things spiral from there.
So yes, it’s Cinderella. But it’s also a love letter to LA, and a bandom-esque story of the magic of music, and a heartbreaking tale of mental illness and a son’s grief for his father. And I couldn’t put it down.
so i found this book called Perfect Ten by looking through lists on goodreads and it was so cute. another lgbt read, thankfully not about the coming out storyline, and it even had an(albeit kind of joking)element of the supernatural in it.
also the main character was a fiction writer so i really liked that.
