What Light

August 8, 2016
Sierra is the daughter of Christmas tree farmers from Oregon. Every holiday season she travels to California to help her mother and father sell their harvest. Sierra’s parents fell in love at the lot while they were still in high school, and her father, afraid that she might fall for one of the seasonal hires, imposes strict dating rules to protect her. For the past few seasons, Sierra hasn’t minded—the rules keep boys she isn’t interested in at bay—but that changes when she meets Caleb, a boy with a troubled past. The more Sierra learns about Caleb’s generous spirit, the harder she falls. But Caleb’s past is soon discovered, putting their relationship at risk. This light romance from bestselling author Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why) is just dramatic enough to give readers a reason to keep turning pages despite the story’s overall predictability. Charming and sweet, Sierra and Caleb’s budding relationship should suit readers looking for a wintertime romance that’s as cozy (and familiar) as candy canes and gingerbread during the holidays. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary.

February 27, 2017
Every year after Thanksgiving, Sierra leaves her home on an Oregon Christmas tree farm to accompany her family to California to sell their trees. Conflict arises this year, when Sierra meets the boy of her dreams but finds he has a troubled past. Actor Siegfried nails the breathless and giggly way high school girls sometimes talk to each other, especially when Sierra is talking with her three best friends. The problem is the girls all tend to sound the same, even Heather, Sierra’s take-charge friend in California, who is a more prominent character than Sierra’s other two sidekicks. The novel’s young male characters are likewise vocally indistinguishable from one another, including Caleb, the tortured love interest; his former best friend; and a jealous, angry hired hand at the tree lot. Ages 12–up. A Razorbill hardcover.