Friday Finds - April 16, 2010

Friday Finds are books that I have come across along the blogosphere, as well as book catalogs, and other sources.  More often than not these books will end up on my bookshelf at one time or another.

A Blue so Dark by Holly Schindler

Publisher : Flux

Release Date : May 1, 2010

Series : Unknown

From Amazon : 

Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura's dad left them. Convinced that "creative" equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.

Sharp North by Patrick Cave

Publisher : Atheneum

Release Date : December 22, 2009

Series : Unknown

From Amazon : 

In this story set in the future, Britain is an icy region where society is ruled by a select group of families who have been in power for generations. Mira has grown up in the mountains where valuable power is generated. Her life is uncomplicated until she sees a woman who looks familiar being shot in her small village. She then discovers her own name among others on a piece of paper dropped by the woman. The list is the key to realizing the mystery that is her life. Who is she? Why does the woman look so familiar? Where did Mira come from? And why has she been assigned a watcher? The story is also told from the point of view of Kay, a boy from one of the privileged families who lives in luxury, but somehow doesn't fit in. There is plenty of action and adventure in the story as readers travel with Mira across the frozen north and into the dangerous city. The book is a thriller that wanders a bit in the middle, but by the end it has found its quick pace and tautness again. Some parts of the complex society are muddled and glossed over, making the novel confusing at times. This futuristic novel will be enjoyed by those who like science fiction as well as fans of mystery and suspense.