WOW: Week of April 25, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

Tokyo Heist

by Diana Renn

Sixteen-year-old Violet loves reading manga and wearing scarves made from kimono fabric, so she’s thrilled that her father’s new painting commission means a summer trip to Japan. But what starts as an exotic vacation quickly turns into a dangerous treasure hunt.

Her father’s newest clients, the Yamada family, are the victims of a high-profile art robbery: van G...moreSixteen-year-old Violet loves reading manga and wearing scarves made from kimono fabric, so she’s thrilled that her father’s new painting commission means a summer trip to Japan. But what starts as an exotic vacation quickly turns into a dangerous treasure hunt.

Her father’s newest clients, the Yamada family, are the victims of a high-profile art robbery: van Gogh sketches have been stolen from their home, and, until they can produce the corresponding painting, everyone's lives are in danger -- including Violet's and her father's.

Violet’s search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery thickens, Violet’s not sure whom she can trust. But she knows one thing: she has to solve the mystery -- before it’s too late.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: June 14th 2012 by Viking Children's Books / Penguin

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Deadly Pink

byVivian Vande Velde

Grace Pizzelli is the average one, nothing like her brilliant older sister, Emily, who
works for Rasmussem, creators of the world’s best virtual reality games. The games
aren’t real, though—or at least they weren’t. Now Emily has hidden herself inside a
pink and sparkly game meant for little girls. No one knows why, or how to convince
her to come back out, and the technology c...moreGrace Pizzelli is the average one, nothing like her brilliant older sister, Emily, who works for Rasmussem, creators of the world’s best virtual reality games. The games aren’t real, though—or at least they weren’t. Now Emily has hidden herself inside a pink and sparkly game meant for little girls. No one knows why, or how to convince her to come back out, and the technology can’t keep her safe for much longer. Grace may consider herself average, but she’s the only one who can save Emily. So Grace enters the game, hoping to talk her sister out of virtual suicide before time runs out. Otherwise Emily will die—for real.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: July 10th 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (first published June 27th 2012)

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ISBN

0547738501 (ISBN13: 9780547738505)

Why these books?

Japan, Mystery, secrets! Hells yes! Enough said!

Games, creepy technologies? Entering games? HELLS YESSS!