New for '08

This semi-meme-ish thingy has been going around the kidlitosphere, started by Colleen of Chasing Ray. What are you looking forward to most in 2008?

I've got a few.

Let’s just go on record as saying that I would give up my left leg for an ARC from any title on this list, shall we? It’ll save all that embarrassing begging later on. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll embarrass myself even without the begging.

The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher
Such a neat title. Such a marvy cover. Yeah, I'm that shallow. (January 8, one of the first of the Class of 2K8!)

Kamikaze Girls by Novala Takemoto
The title intrigued me, and the reviews over at Amazon intrigued me more. Hmmm. (January 15)

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
What's the premise of Sara "Story of a Girl, National Book Award Finalist" Zarr's sophomore novel? Not a clue. But I am so there. (February 1)

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot
The queen of fun teen reads branches into the tween set. Yay! Now I have something to throw at the parents who think the Mediator series is right for their ten-year-old. (March 1)

A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
This is another I want purely for the title. It’s so evocative and mysterious. Also, quite a faboo cover you got there, Elizabeth C. Another Class of 2K8 graduate. (March 1)

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Remember this one? The guppy abduction? The canned beet rebellion? Yeah. Gotta read it. (March 25)

The Pigeon Wants a . . . ? by Mo Willems
Seriously, you guys, does there need to be an explanation of my slavering desire for this book? (April 1)

Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker
More Clementine! (April 15)

Playing With Fire by Derek Landy
Yes! Skulduggery Pleasant is back! Yes! So is Stephanie! Yes! And there's fire! (April 22)

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
MJ does NYC hotel life, large families, acting, and sundry other nuttinesses! Joy! Also included: shiny things. (May 1)

Twice Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
Once Upon a Marigold had a kooky, sweet-but-not-sappy, gentle charm all its own. Can Jean do it again? I think she can. (May 1)

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
I had no idea this was coming up until I got the news from Leila. I love how the chick on the cover still looks like she can kick your tail halfway to China, even in that gorgeous dress and all the sparklies. (May 5)

Kitty Kitty by Michele Jaffe
A Bad Kitty sequel? Yeah, baby. Bring it. (July 1)

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank You Notes by Peggy Gifford
I just read the first Moxy Maxwell (Does Not Love Stuart Little) and was completely delighted. Review to come. Can't wait to spend another few hours with Moxy. (August 8)

A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane
It's now been 25 years since the first Young Wizards book (So You Want to Be a Wizard, 1983) and the series is still growing and evolving. Kudos to Duane for that, and for integrating the changes in technology and the world as seamlessly as possible, considering that the kids in the book have aged about two years, max, since '83. (Hopefully autumn)

Pagan’s Daughter by Catherine Jinks
Given that we left Pagan as a monk, I’m very interested to see how he got a daughter. Jinks’ website describes her as “funny [and] feisty,” so I have high hopes for Babylonne. (Also, CJ? Love the name!) And if she’s truly his daughter, there’ll be more of that sweet, sweet snark that Pagan Kidrouk does so well. (Sometime in 2008)

Mothstorm by Philip Reeve
Holy Hannah, it’s number 3 in the Larklight series. My cup, she do runneth over. (Sometime in 2008, per Philip’s Wikipedia page, so that might not be accurate)

Gallagher Girls 3 by Ally Carter
I adored the first one, and if someone had told me about the twist in GG2, I never would have read it. But I’m glad I did, because it made me even more of an addict. I’m hoping and praying that 3 comes out sometime in 2008. Ally? Please? Whimper?

Thanks to Fuse #8, Bookshelves of Doom, Jen Robinson, and Bildungsroman for cluing me in about titles I didn't even know were coming up.