Note: I received an early copy of The Body Electric by Allie Duzett for review, which is officially released today (May 14, 2013). No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.
When I first moved into this area, I met a mother with older kids that I admired. As a young mother with one toddler and a second baby on the way, I couldn’t imagine accomplishing as much as this mother did. I was in awe. I didn’t get to know her kids very well, and we lost touch after a while, but I’ve seen them around through the years and every once in a while I see her oldest daughter, now married with a toddler herself.
The other night, I went out with a local friend of mine who is in the process of writing a parenting book. I’ve been helping her for the last few years (in the form of regular “book meetings” at our favorite restaurants). We’ve been gathering research, reading over drafts and organizing interview notes. This latest meeting was a culmination of sorts, bringing her research full-circle.
The night really did come full-circle when Allie Duzett walked up to the table. She was one of the daughters of that mother I had met so many years ago, and apparently my author-friend was also impressed by her impressive mothering skills as she was the first person to be interviewed for her book. How fitting that her daughter would join us to be interviewed at the end of the project.
After we were done talking about parenting stuff, Allie happened to mention that she was an author, with her first published book – The Body Electric – coming out in a few weeks. I was eager to read her story, so we hooked up after the dinner meeting and she sent a copy of the book for me to review.
What got me excited to read Allie’s first novel, other than the fact that I love reading books written by people I know, was this article by the publisher, Istoria Books.
“…I do think there’s a place–an important place–for YA fiction that does not focus on what’s wrong in a teen’s world, for stories that make readers feel good about themselves and perhaps even affirm the good choices they are making.
These are the kinds of YAs Istoria Books is looking for.
That kind of “clean” YA fiction doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, this spring Istoria Books is proud to release a sweet and fun YA, The Body Electric by Allie Duzett, that doesn’t include a single curse or reference to sex or substance abuse. It’s a rollicking journey to the “end of the world,” an exploration of young love and ancient curses. It’s the exact opposite of boring. But it doesn’t have a single element in it that would make a parent cringe.” – Libby Sternberg
I personally have a hard time reading books with too much language. I don’t swear myself, and prefer not to have to listen to (or think about it) more than I have to. As a mother with three teens at home, I am overly sensitive to YA books that make me blush…and I admit I have cringed thinking of my kids reading the same thing.
I finished The Body Electric in two days. At 231 pages, it’s not short, but also not too long. The end of the book left me craving more (luckily, Allie is busily working on the next book in the series, Surge Protector). I spent the good part of Mother’s Day camped out on the couch, devouring the book.
I’m happy to say that I feel completely comfortable passing the book on to my almost-14-year-old daughter, Necco (who I know will enjoy the romance) or to my 12-year-old-son (who absolutely EATS UP anything having to do with mythology). I just won’t tell my son that the book involves kissing and let him concentrate on the monsters.
About The Body Electric
Genre: YA fantasy romance
Official book description: Lena Clark, a small-town teenager, falls for a stranger with a mysterious past—and a frightening present. Before she knows it, she is a target, wrapped up in his quest to escape the wrath of a jealous queen from a world Lena never believed existed… Lena Clark’s high school world comes crashing apart when she discovers that the most popular jock in school—her boyfriend!—has been cheating on her. In the aftermath of the drama, she meets Zach Zuson, a newcomer so her small Colorado town. It’s clear that he’s different: it’s in the way he talks, and the way he moves, and the way he looks at her as if he’s hiding something. And then, it’s in the way he singlehandedly strangles a full-grown mountain lion to death right before her eyes. Next thing you know, an ancient monster is attacking them.
Suddenly, life for Lena is a lot more complicated than she ever imagined it could be. When Zach decides to put an end to the attempts on his life for once and for all, Lena gets dragged along, eventually ending up alone at the party of the century. Little does she know that this party is attended by bloodthirsty killers, or that a jealous queen has made Lena a target, too. Now Lena must find the strength to survive.
About Allie Duzett
Allie Duzett is a wife, mother, musician, and writer with a passion for YA. The Body Electric is her debut novel. She lives with her husband and baby in Maryland (but is seriously considering a move to Texas). She is deeply ashamed of her love for Goldfish crackers (cheddar, of course), which persists despite her commitment to real food, whole grains, and juicing. Even though she spends most of her time these days mothering and writing novels and music, her actual college degree is in environmental soil science, or in other words, “dirt.” She prefers writing fiction to analyzing soil samples for humus content.
You can read more about her at allieduzett.blogspot.com, where she blogs all her secrets.
Or at least some of them.
I particularly like her 3 tips for writing with a toddler. I may not have a toddler anymore, but sometimes older kids and teens can be just as demanding…
Allie is not only a mother of a toddler and a published author, but she’s got another one on the way (a baby AND a book). Still, she manages to maintain a goal of writing 2000 words a day on her next book. Something a blogger like myself can really relate to…
The Body Electric can be purchased at Amazon.com in paperback or kindle edition.
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