Waiting On Wednesday: HarperCollins Fall 2012 Catalog

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine in which an upcoming, eagerly anticipated release is highlighted on the blog.

This week, I've chosen to feature a few picks from the HarperCollins Fall 2012 Catalog:

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini
Date: September 25, 2012

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Given the chance, fifteen-year-old Peregrine “Perry” Eckert would dedicate every waking moment to Creatures & Caverns, an epic role-playing game rich with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. The world of C&C is where he feels most comfortable in his own skin, so when his parents ship him off to summer camp Perry is sure he’s in for the worst summer of his life.
Everything changes, however, when Perry gets to camp and stumbles into the World of the Other Normals. Perry’s new otherworldly friends need his help to save their princess and prevent mass violence. As they embark on their quest together, Perry realizes that his nerdy childhood has uniquely prepared him to be a great warrior in this world, and maybe even a hero.

Imagine stumbling upon a real live role-playing game. A geek's dream come true, right? And honestly, I would be lying if I hadn't thought about how cool it would be as well. I'm planning on experiencing this dream vicariously through The Other Normals.

The Turning by Francine Prose
Date: September 25, 2012

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Jack is babysitting for the summer on an isolated island with no Wi-Fi, no cell service, and no one else around but a housekeeper and two very peculiar children. He immediately senses something sinister-and it's not just the creepy black house he's living in. Soon he is feeling terribly isolated and alone, but then he discovers there are others. The problem is, he's the only who can see them. As secrets are revealed and darker truths surface, Jack desperately struggles to maintain a grip on reality. He knows what he sees, and he isn't crazy…Or is he?
Where does reality end and insanity begin? The Turn of the Screw reinvented for modern-day teens, by National Book Award finalist Francine Prose.

I never would have pictured myself as a gothic horror fan a few years ago, but after testing the waters in the genre (see: The Monstrumologist Series), I discovered a new found love and appreciation for it. I'm hoping to add The Turning to my list of much loved gothic horrors.

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
Date: October 2, 2012

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Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers-evil, spiderlike beings-came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him.
Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy, and the road to the spindlers' nests is riddled with danger. She must brave tree snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting serpents before facing her greatest challenge in the spindlers' lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.

Lauren Oliver has reached that level of author-dom where I feel like I could read whatever she writes and I will always love it. I adored Lauren's MG debut, Liesl and Po, so I have no doubt that I will love The Spindlers as well.

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Date: October 9, 2012

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Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.
What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.
Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

Norse mythology? Yes, please. As much as I love Greek mythology, I do feel like I've had my fill (for now anyway) and am looking for something a bit different - that's where Valkyrie Rising comes in.


How about you? Are you waiting on any of these HarperCollins Fall 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the HarperCollins Fall 2012 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?