Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Need by Carrie Jones

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Need by Carrie Jones:

"Zara just moved from South Carolina to Maine. Dealing with not only the new cold temperatures, but also the loss of her beloved stepfather, Zara does her best to fit into her new town. While making friends doesn't turn out to be so hard, Zara never expected the trouble that ends up on her doorstep; trouble that's been waiting for her her whole life. Not one to back down at what may be just a rumor, Zara faces every challenge head on, often putting herself in danger in hopes of saving her new town.

"You'll be flipping pages fast, just to see what happens next, and maybe wishing for some of Zara's bravery to have for you very own. With a cast of spunky characters, scary creatures, and the unforgettably sweet boy that all girls dream about, Need comes with the full package." -Vanessa

Thanks, Vanessa! Read two Cover Stories from Carrie Jones (Need and Captivate), plus Story Secrets from Captivate. And see Carrie's Shoutout to readergirlz, too!

Cover Stories: Need by Carrie Jones

Carrie Jones is a friendly and hilarious author, and she shared her cover story on my blog last week. It sparkled so much, I had to show the readergirlz!

NEED, Carrie's latest release, is about a girl named Zara who's had a rough life and who collects phobias. She thinks her grandmother's instinct to keep her safe in their sleepy Maine town is just silly--but she's wrong. Turns out that guy Zara sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn't a figment of her imagination. He's a pixie--and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He's the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he's trailing Zara.

While she calls herself "cover clueless," I think Carrie's got a pretty good story. Here she is:

"I am a total dork when it comes to imagining covers. Honestly, I don't even think about the cover of any of my books when I'm writing them. It's like I would jinx the whole story if I actually imagined a real-live cover. I don't even think about it as a book really when I'm writing and revising. I just think of it as a story.

"My publisher didn't ask for any input on the cover design before the art department started working. The first time I saw my cover I basically gasped and collapsed back in my chair. It was sooooooooo cool and sooooooooo creepy. I pretty much started hyperventilating and I grabbed my dog Tala and showed her the computer screen, but of course, you know, she's a dog and she can't actually see the computer screen supposedly. Plus, the computer screen didn't smell like bacon so she didn't really care. Instead she started licking my cheek and sniffing my ear. She's cuddly like that. She didn't even mind me shrieking, 'Tala! Tala! It's so beautiful! Oh my gosh! It's so freaking beautiful! And creepy! And there is glitter gold lipstick!'

"The good thing about big dogs is that they don't mind when you faint on them.

"When I talked to my editor, Michelle Nagler, about the cover, she said: Do you think it's creepy enough?
"And I said:
"And Michelle said: I think the branches should extend, don't you?
"And I said:
"And Michelle said: Carrie? Carrie? Are you there? Do I need to call 9-1-1? Do they have 9-1-1 in Maine?
"And I struggled back up into the chair and said: It's so beautiful....

"From the original version, the cover became a little more creepy. Michelle had them extend the naked tree branches up a little bit. It was even more beautiful/cool/creepy in real life than it was on the jpeg image.

"If I could marry my cover, I would totally marry my cover, which probably means I'm a sucker for beautiful, tantalizing creepy things."

And I am a sucker for glittery gold lipstick. What do you guys think?