'Tis the Season: A Y.A. Shoppers Guide (1)

Well it is that time of year again! It is not just fall, nor the early Christmas season, it is book and gamer’s heaven! Throughout the months of October through until early December many anticipated novels and video games are being released! If you are a significant other who suffers from gamer and bookie widowism than I feel for you, for I am a gamer widow, and my significant other is a bookie widow. What pray tell is a gamer or bookie widow you may ask well it can be defined as an individual who has a significant other obsessed with either video games, or books to the sheer point of not seeing them for days on end due to the fact they are engulfed in their pre, or post game playing, or post book reading. If you think you may be suffering from this, there is no cure. All you can do is just sit and endure the either quiet revelation that you get control over the remote control for a couple days, or that highflying Assassins, futuristic soldiers, or speed driven adrenalin junkies has commandeered your TV.

Today November 15^th marks significant release of four anticipated video games in the Young Adult world, and two much expected book publications as well. Although I know the majority of members on this blog are more interested in the book publications for today, the video game releases could be helpful for that tough gamer on your Christmas list!

1. Need for Speed: the Run
2.  Saints Row 3
3. Halo Anniversary Edition: Combat Evolved
4.  Assassins Creed: Revelations

All four of these games were available for the midnight pick this morning at your closest EB Games, Future Shop or Best Buy. I was at one of them. Assassin’s Creed: Revelation’s has been a buzz ever since it was released this morning at midnight. It is the final installment of the game and finally brings Desmond’s journey to an end. It is a fast paced historically accurate game, with highflying action, superb graphics and tons of multiplayer options! This game is a definite MUST BUY for any gamer looking for an action packed, revenge driven adventure through the Byzantine Empire. Although the only down side is that if you are not already a fan and haven’t heard of it before, there are three previous games beforehand that you must complete to full understand what is going on.

The Halo Anniversary Edition on the other hand is in celebration of Halo turning ten this year! It has up the ante with new and improved graphics, battle maps and storyline. Most male gamers on your Christmas list will revel in your awesomeness if you surprise them with this new multiplayer game. It is a new and improved take on a ten-year-old game! Futuristic soldiers, out of this world maps, and alien advance weaponry will bring any first person shooter gamer on your list to their knees.

Both of the above games are very different in graphics and storyline’s but still will bring that much needed relief to any Christmas list.

Also available today in the book world was, “The Pledge” by Kimberly Derting, and “Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi. But I would like to bring attention to two other books out this pas week, “Inheritance” by Christopher Paolini, and “Crossed” by Ally Condie. Any four of these books would be a delight to any book obsessed Young Adult on your Christmas list! Some of these books though are either the final installment in the series or the second in the series.

“The Pledge” by Kimberly Derting: “In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place-looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she's been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she's never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom…”

 “Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi: “It has been exactly 265 days since Juliette last touched someone - The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.”

“Inheritance” by Christopher Paolini: “Not so very long ago, Eragon-Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider-was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost? This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle”

“Crossed” by Ally Condie: “The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy! In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever!”

Any four of these books would delight to a Young Adult obsessed reader as a Christmas gift or even just a surprise! Each one of the books as a unique style of writing, amazing characters and storyline’s that will entrance you into an entirely different world!

This post is one of four others to help all our fellow members, and readers along with any Christmas present’s they may be stuck on for the Y.A. on their list! Not only books, and video games will be posted here – Y.A. trends in clothing, shoes, and music will be discussed for the Christmas season, with a special post about the miscellaneous trends taking our youth by storm! (Such as Featherhair Extensions! – I’m totally getting some at my next hair dresser appointment!)