What is Diana López reading?

The current featured contributor at Writers Read: Diana López, author of the new young adult novel, Choke.

Her entry begins:

I usually read several books at a time. Here’s a sample of what I’m currently enjoying.

In April, I attended the TLA Conference in Houston during Teen Day when book clubs from all over Texas take a field trip to the event. I asked the teens about their favorite books, and many of them mentioned Matched by Ally Condie. For a fan of sci-fi and YA, this is a must-read. It’s about Cassia Reyes who lives in a society where officials decide who you will marry and where you will work. That’s bad enough but the real horror, in my opinion, is that only one hundred poems have been approved. Imagine living in a world with only one hundred poems. A nightmare! So far, Cassia seems to accept her life. She is very obedient and when the officials make a mistake, she keeps their secret. But I have just read the scene where Cassia’s grandfather gives her a forbidden poem, so I have a feeling she’s going to...[read on]

About Choke, from the publisher:

A heartfelt novel about the disturbing "choking game" trend, and one girl's struggle for self-acceptance. If she could — if her parents would let her — eighth-grader Windy would change everything about herself. She'd get highlights in her hair, a new wardrobe; she'd wear makeup. But nothing ever changes. The mean girls at school are still mean, and Windy's best friend Elena is still more interested in making up words than talking about boys. And then one day, Windy gets the change she's been looking for. New girl Nina — impossibly cool, confident, and not afraid of anyone — starts hanging out with Windy! Nina even wants to be "breath sisters." Windy isn't sure what that means, exactly, but she knows she wants to find out. It sounds even better than a BFF. Windy is right, at first. Being a breath sister gains her a whole new set of friends, girls she feels closer to and cooler with than anyone else. But her inclusion in the new crowd comes at a dangerous price. Windy wants to change everything about her life...but is she really willing to give up everything in the process?

Learn more about the book and author at Diana López's website.

López is the author of the adult novella, Sofia’s Saints and the middle grade novels, Confetti Girl and Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel (to be released in 2013).

Writers Read: Diana López.

--Marshal Zeringue