Journey Across the USA Through Modern-Day YA Literature, and WIN a Copy of LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS by Rae Carson!

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Tour Schedule:

Week 1:


Week 2:





I adore, adore, ADORE Rae Carson. I've reviewed pretty much everything she's ever done:
 THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, THE CROWN OF EMBERS, and THE BITTER KINGDOM, as well as novellas THE SHADOW CATS and THE SHATTERED MOUNTAIN. 
(Okay, I somehow missed ONE novella. I'll have to fix that!),
and WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER.

 LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS has been one of my most anticipated novels of 2016, and when I heard about a blog tour to promote the book during release week, I was pretty much like, "I will do anything!! I will even put together an awesome modern day Oregon Trail map!"

 ...Because I am insane.

 (And apparently like time-consuming tasks. ^.~)

 It's harder than it sounds, too!!

 For one, I had to go back and re-read WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER (not a hardship!!!) and list out every. single. place. that Leah mentions as she heads West to California to escape her murderous uncle and claim her own place in the world.

 Then, I looked at the super-duper handy map included in the front of the book.

 THEN I decided that, rather than grab pictures of random places along the way and how they look NOW versus THEN, like I originally thought to do, I'd be even more creative...and find YA novels that encompass each of these places!!!

 Because of the way territories have changed and divided into States, this is by no means perfect.

 But take a look at the books you'd pass through if you duplicated Leah's journey West!!!
Not the best job at throwing a map together, but it works, right? ^^;;;

Dahlonega, Georgia


Leah Westfall was born and raised here. We meet her in WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson (LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS is the sequel to this book!). Leah is forced to disguise herself as a boy and flee to California after she discovers that her uncle has murdered her parents and wants to use her ability to sense gold to make a fortune out West.

But that's also a give-me answer, right?

Here's another book that takes place in Georgia:


HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins!

This is such a FUN series. I didn't think I'd enjoy it nearly as much as I have because paranormal isn't really my thing, but when it came out, I DEVOURED the first book and was so glad I didn't have to wait to read the second book!

When Sophie's magical abilities manifest and harm the people around her, she's sent to Hex Hall, a boarding school for paranormal beings hidden away in Georgia!


The other big Georgia book I think about is PEACHES by Jodi Lynn Anderson, because seriously, who DOESN'T think about delicious Georgia peaches when they think about Georgia!? ^.~

Chattanooga, Tennessee


Okay, so this isn't actually a teen novel. A lot of teens read Neil Gaiman, though, so I feel comfortable recommending AMERICAN GODS for this category.

Plus, it's going to be a TV series soon, so everyone will be picking this one up!!!

While AMERICAN GODS takes place across the USA, the big, epic showdown takes place very close to Chattanooga, so I couldn't resist choosing this book for this category!

Cairo, Illinois


Next, Leah takes a steamer from Chattanooga headed toward Missouri. She mentions arriving in Cairo, where the Mississippi River and the Ohio River merge at the confluence.

THE RIVER BETWEEN US by Richard Peck has won a TON of awards--and was even a prestigious National Book Award Finalist!!! It's a staple in a lot of schools and studied by many students.

Ironically, THE RIVER BETWEEN US takes place about twelve years AFTER the events of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER!

THE RIVER BETWEEN US takes place on the blood-soaked battlefield of Cairo during the Civil War....not a fun place to be, and definitely a harrowing read!

Independence, Mississippi

From Cairo, Leah makes her way to Independence, Mississippi. Independence is where she's supposed to meet up with her friend Jefferson, who ran away from home to make his own fortune just ahead of her.

I can't think of any books that take place in Independence, but I can think of a couple other books showcasing Mississippi Pride that I'll showcase instead!



Since we're on a roll with historical fiction, I'd be remiss not to mention MUDBOUND by Hillary Jordan. This is technically an adult book, but it won the Alex Award when it debuted (An award for adult novels with crossover YA appeal), AND it takes place in the 1940s--three years BEFORE Leah's journey begins! The book shows the ugly underbelly of racism, and features a fight for land also shown a little in WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER. This can be a hard book to read because our history is so horrible, but it's also a great read.



Want something a little more modern?

How about MAGNOLIA by Kristi Cook?

This one is a romance, about two families who have lived side-by-side ever since the Civil War. They'd love to finally "merge" their families into one and have their hopes pinned on Jemma and Ryder, who are the same age. The only problem? Neither teen wants to date the other just because their parents want this relationship to happen....especially because they can't STAND one another.........

Cape Girardeau, Missouri


DEFINITELY not a YA novel, but a lot of teens have probably watched the R-rated movie anyway, so....

Did you know that the runaway best selling psychological thriller GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn takes place in North Carthage, Missouri?

The setting doesn't play a huge role in the novel that way it does in some of these other books, but, well...it's what I've got! Let me know if you know of any other good books set in Missouri!

Big Blue River, Kansas


Okay, okay, I am going to play up the stereotype, because, REALLY, what is the FIRST book you think about when you hear "Kansas?" If you don't say THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum, then you're not a book--or movie--nerd!!! ^.~

Platte River Valley (Nebraska)


Nebraska wasn't a territory, let alone a state, when Leah passed through. The area was a somber one, full of graves from people who never made it West.

Looking forward in time, I had to choose one of this decade's most popular contemporary YA novels, ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell to feature! The book is set in Omaha, which is where Rowell herself lives. You can really feel the flavor of the town in this novel!

Fort Laramie (Wyoming)

and also

South Pass Rocky Mountains (Wyoming)



Wyoming also didn't exist when Leah passed through, but Fort Laramie certainly did! It was one of the biggest trading posts of its time, too.

A book I absolutely ADORE is set in Wyoming, UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand! It's actually a reverse journey to Leah's--
Leah is heading to California, and Clara's family is moving from California to Wyoming.

UNEARTHLY was a book I didn't think I'd enjoy, but wound up loving SO much!

Fort Hall (Idaho)

Idaho was--yep!!--another non-existent territory/state during Leah's journey West.


I can't think of many books set in Idaho, so I'm going to go with a not-as-well-known title, DEADLINE by Chris Crutcher, which is set in Trout, Idaho.

I first had to read Crutcher in class (STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BURNS), and the title really turned me on to this author! I went on to read several other novels by him. I love how he incorporates sports into his novels--especially swimming!

I feel that with the trend toward "serious/sad" novels in YA contemporary, DEADLINE would do so well right now if it was re-issued!

Humboldt Sink (Nevada)

Nevada ALSO wasn't yet a territory/state in 1849!

Crossing the Humboldt Sink was absolutely the most treacherous part of Leah's journey West.  They began crossing on Monday evening and arrived on the other side Friday morning. The perilous trek destroyed so much and tore the group apart, but FINALLY the end is in sight as they pass into California Territory!



The second book I ever read by Ellen Hopkins was BURNED. It is about a girl from a very religious Mormon household. When she steps out of line, her family ships her off to Nevada to spend time with her aunt. Pattyn winds up finding herself in Nevada and discovering that there is SO much more to life than she ever dreamed possible! She's finally found a place where she belongs, but her overbearing father threatens to destroy not just her own happiness, but her sister's as well...

Sierra Nevada, California 

and 

Sutter's Fort, California


FINALLY!!!! Leah's long journey across the country is at an end and she is at her destination. Blood, sweat, and tears have brought her here, but she's ready to embrace her future.

While WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER is very much about the journey and getting TO California, the rest of the series will be about what Leah does once she's THERE. Usually, the journey comes so much later in the series and bogs it down, but it IS the story from the get-go here!

And, whoo, California....SO MANY books take place in California. SO MANY!!!!

Plus, the California we think of today is so glitzy and elegant and DIFFERENT...even though it's one small piece of the State our minds are thinking of!

I didn't want to do anything too modern, and I didn't want to do anything else from the Gold Rush Era, either.


I decided to go with a nice in-between and feature the beloved juvenile award-winning novel ESPERANZA RISING by Pam Muñoz Ryan.

It takes place during the Great Depression, and is about a girl forced to flee Mexico with her mother and make her way to California. Their new situation isn't great, as they go from being wealthy landownes to poor immigrants being worked to the bone.

An inspirational book about overcoming hardships, and also a great diverse option!

What books would you have chosen to track Leah's journey across the country!?

~*~
O F F I C I A L   I N F O:

Title:  LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS
Author: Rae Carson
Release Date: Sept. 27, 2016
Publisher: Greenwillow // HarperTeen
SUMMARY:

After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram. 

 Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom. 

 The second epic historical fantasy in the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson, the acclaimed author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

AVAILABLE FROM: 

~*~

About Rae Carson:

 I write books about teens who must do brave things. I'm originally from California, but I now live in Arizona with my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about questions I don't know the answers to.

~*~
****Giveaway*****

Enter to win...


Three winners will receive
a hardcover copy of...
LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS!

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