The first book I have chosen for this assignment is Lauren Oliver's Requiem which is the  final entry to her Delirium trilogy. This very fact will make it a highly anticipated book --  the common Y threads are all present - first loves, first choices, teen rebellion against repressive government, strong and highly desireable female central character, extremely youthful viewpoint. Oliver's books, in general, are not as action packed and fast paced as others of the same genre, Hunger Games, Matched Trilogy, Divergent -- she writes more for young girls, she is a slower, more contemplative read, more consumed by relationships and feelings. I believe that Shusterman's Unwind series is better suited to both boys and girls ( it is also superior  to any of the other offerings, broad and deep, offering plenty of adult conundrums which ultimately are unsolveable). The Delirium trilogy is also going to be made into a movie which will further increase customer interest.

 My second selection is Elizabeth Winder's Pain, Parties,Work...Sylvia Plath's New York Summer, 1953, that short slice of Plath's life on which the Bell Jar was based. As painful as Plath's later life was to be, this was a relatively carefree and joyous period - a time of firsts, first time away from home in the big and vibrant city, first opportunity to stretch her wings as a writer and critic, first exciting dip into the mysterious sea of sex and relationships. It draws on interviews with the people surrounding her at the time. Plath is a very appealing figure among young women ( forgive me, I know not why -- she committed suicide by gas with her two toddler children in the next room. She wrote a book in which she ragged on the mediocrity of her mother and her values- her mother being the lady who had to get up every morning to go to work to support Sylvia's brilliant creativity -- but I digress) and most biographies written about her are extremely popular. Even I intend to read this book and, as you can see, I am not a fan. Booming, stylish, creative, crazy New York during the fifties-- that is just where I would have wanted to be at Sylvia's age> I think I could have made better use of the experience though.