Happy Tuesday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for WIDER THAN THE SKY! I’m so excited because today I have a guest post by Katherine Rothschild to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I’m so excited to for you to find out more about it, PLUS enter for a chance to win a print copy!
Wider Than the Sky by Katherine Field Rothschild Published on January 19, 2021 by Soho Teen
Genres: Contemporary, YA, Mystery, Queer
Pages: 288
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest
Sixteen-year-old Sabine Braxton doesn’t have much in common with her identical twin, Blythe. When their father dies from an unexpected illness, each copes with the loss in her own way—Sabine by “poeting” (an uncontrollable quirk of bursting into poetry at inappropriate moments) and Blythe by obsessing over getting into MIT, their father’s alma mater. Neither can offer each other much support . . . at least not until their emotionally detached mother moves them into a ramshackle Bay Area mansion owned by a stranger named Charlie.
Soon, the sisters unite in a mission to figure out who Charlie is and why he seems to know everything about them. They quickly make a life-changing discovery: their father died of an HIV- related infection, Charlie was his lover, and their mother knows the whole story. The revelation unravels Sabine’s world, while practical Blythe seems to take everything in stride. Once again at odds with her sister, Sabine chooses to learn all she can about the father she never knew. Ultimately, she must decide if she can embrace his last wish for their family legacy—along with forgiveness.
Top 5 YA Novels to Get You Out of the Pandemic-Mindset
So many amazing books came out during pandemic-times that it’s hard to choose five—so I’ve made a list of books that helped me escape the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic through sheer hilarity. Each of these books made me laugh out loud, and completely relax even during the hardest times. No beach reads, these are beautifully and engagingly written contemporary stories that center fun and unique voices, and give a spectrum of wonderful teen experiences all from girls and boys with real attitude.
All of my recommendations are available on audio as well!
Gimme Everything You Got by Iva-Marie Palmer
I loved this one so much, I read it twice. The 1970s exploits of Susan, who decides to join a girls soccer team because the coach is hot, are laugh-aloud hilarious. The historical piece is funny and endearing, while Susan’s coming-of-age journey is both powerful and cringe-worthy. And—you don’t have to love soccer to love this book.
Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
When Aideen gets a name for solving everyone else’s problems at school, she finds herself in one awkward and troubling situation after another—which helps her avoid the trouble she has at home with a less-than-adequate mother and a mostly-MIA father. But when Meabh, her longtime arch nemesis, suddenly looks good in a sports bra and nothing else, her problems compound, and she has to find a way to deal with them—even if it means breaking into the principal’s office—among other ill-advised and hilarious adventures. Panty-spoiler alert: the audio of this book is so funny you will likely pee your pants.
My Eyes are Up Here by Laura Zimmerman and Kristin DiMercurio
At the center of My Eyes are Up Here is the fact that women are expected to be a certain way and size in our society—not just slim, not just pretty, but also not TOO much of anything. Especially not too-much-boobs on a teenager. The endearing and traumatizing exploits of a girl trying to make her boobs work for, and not against, her while also navigating volleyball and first love are unforgettable. And, let’s face it, very funny.
Barry Squires, Full Tilt by Heather Smith
The fact that everyone has not stopped their lives to read this and laugh and cry with Barry as he River Dances his way into everyone’s hearts is unfathomable. The audio of this book us unstoppably good—and makes a funny and quirky novel even funnier. When Barry decides he wants to win a dance contest (despite having no experience dancing) he practices at an old folks home down the street in his St. John’s neighborhood—becoming the center of their attention. Despite the fun title, this book deals with tough topics in a beautiful and honorable way, centering the joy of everyday family life.
It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood
This Australian young adult romantic comedy has many laugh aloud moments, and a sweetness to it that is beyond endearing. The main character, blessed with good boobs but very bad acne, begins to come into her own when she falls for the brother of a good friend—and he seems to fall back. About the miscommunication, the insecurity, and the awkwardness of first love, this is a read that will sweep you back to laugh at awkward teen moments, and smile at the ways they resolve.
If you want a few more to make you laugh (and cry just a bit), check out The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth, This Will be Funny Someday by Katie Henry, Love and Other Natural Disasters by Misa Siguara, and You Have a Match by Emma Lord.
About Katherine Field Rothschild
Katherine Rothschild is a Lecturer in the Program in Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford University, a former ballet and Arabic dance instructor, and an obsessive Twitter food truck-follower. Her first-person essays have been published on KQED/NPR, in The San Francisco Chronicle, and other Bay Area and California publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction Writing, a PhD in Composition and Applied Linguistics, has received artist’s grants from Vermont Studio Center and Kindlings West, and is a longtime member of the SCBWI. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. Her debut novel is Wider Than the Sky from Soho Teen. Find her on Twitter @Kath_Rothschild.
Week One
| 12/6/2021 | BookHounds YA | Promo Post |
| 12/7/2021 | Kait Plus Books | Promo Post |
| 12/8/2021 | perusewithcoffee | Promo Post |
| 12/9/2021 | Mythical Books | Promo Post |
| 12/10/2021 | Phannie the ginger bookworm | Promo Post |
| 12/11/2021 | GivernyReads | Promo Post |
Week Two
| 12/12/2021 | Lifestyle of Me | Promo Post |
| 12/13/2021 | Nonbinary Knight Reads | Promo Post |
| 12/14/2021 | Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog | Promo Post |
| 12/15/2021 | 100 Pages A Day | Promo Post |
| 12/16/2021 | Two Chicks on Books | Promo Post |
| 12/17/2021 | Never Hollowed By The Stare | Promo Post |
| 12/18/2021 | @readingwordsmith | Review |
Week Three
| 12/19/2021 | The Momma Spot | Promo Post |
| 12/20/2021 | Eli to the nth | Review |
| 12/21/2021 | Emelie’s Books | Review |
| 12/22/2021 | Two points of interest | Review |
| 12/23/2021 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review |
| 12/24/2021 | #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Promo Post |
| 12/25/2021 | Karen Dee’s Book Reviews | Review |
Week Four
| 12/26/2021 | @jypsylynn | Review |
| 12/27/2021 | @thebookishfoxwitch | Review |
| 12/28/2021 | brittreadsalattebooks | Review |
| 12/29/2021 | My Fictional Oasis | Review |
| 12/30/2021 | @coffeesipsandreads | Promo Post |
| 12/31/2021 | Lexijava | Review |
Enter here for a chance to win a print copy of Wider Than The Sky by Katherine Rothschild!
(US Only)
What do you think about Wider Than The Sky? Have you added it to your tbr yet? Let me know in the comments and have a splendiferous day!
Forgiveness is a hard concept especially if the person is no longer living,. Sounds like a good book to read.
I love the gorgeous cover! This book sounds so good and I can’t wait to read it.
Fabulous cover