Malinda Lo
Blog
Apr 1, 2009
Debut Books by Their Covers #2
Can you believe it’s already April? That means another month has gone by and another bunch of debut YA books have been released. Here are the latest covers from the 2009 Debutantes, just out last month:
The Season (Orchard Books) by Sarah MacLean
Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued … not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.
When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex’s heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year’s season begins!
I had envisioned Alex on the cover in some way, but never really considered the possibility that the designers would choose to have all three girls on it! That was an added and exciting bonus!
My cover was a really thrilling experience … my editor let me have some say in choosing the models and the clothes for the photo shoot … which was super fun. Alex [is my favorite part of the final cover]. She’s gorgeous and exactly the way I imagined her. — Sarah MacLean
Shine, Coconut Moon (Margaret K. McElderry) by Neesha Meminger
Samar–a.k.a. Sam–is an Indian-American teenager whose mom has kept her away from her old-fashioned family. It’s never bothered Sam, who is busy with school, friends, and a demanding boyfriend. But things change after 9/11. A guy in a turban shows up at Sam’s house–and turns out to be her uncle. He wants to reconcile the family and teach Sam about her Sikh heritage. Sam is eager, but when boys attack her uncle, chanting “Go back home, Osama!,” Sam realizes she could be in danger–and also discovers how dangerous ignorance is.
[For my cover, I just wanted something lush and rich in terms of colors. What I said to my editor: I'm okay with anything except a headless woman. Guess what I got? 
I love the whole cover. I think it’s striking, but my favorite part is that the model depicts a quietly tough, independent, hip MC which is what Sam totally is. — Neesha Meminger
Congrats, Neesha and Sarah!
The Cover Gods have, indeed, blessed you.
