Rumble Ellen Hopkins Top Teen Books

Original author: Ellen Hopkins
“Rumble”

SYNOPSIS:
Eighteen-year-old Matthew Turner doesn’t believe in much. Not in family—his is a shambles, after his brother’s suicide. Not in so-called friends who turn their backs when the going gets rough. Certainly not in some omnipotent master of heaven and earth, no matter what his girlfriend, Hayden, thinks.

In fact, he’s sick of arguing with her about faith. Matt is a devout atheist, unafraid of some Judgment Day designed by decidedly human power brokers to keep the masses in check. He works hard, plays hard, and plans on checking out the same way.

But a horrific accident—one of his own making—plunges Matt into a dark, silent place where the only thing he can hear is a rumble, and eventually, a voice. And what it says will call everything Matt has ever disbelieved into question.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHECK IT OUT?
Usually characters are finding all that they *believe* called into question. Readers who often do not find faith represented in YA literature may be especially drawn to this story. Combined with cyberbullying, homophobia, and mental health issues, this one is sure to be a hard-hitting tale. And its novel-in-verse style, a hallmark of the author, will make it go down smooth!

The cover is striking–almost as though someone had smashed a stained glass window. The electric blue zings, making the etched-on title pop even more. Overall, for us, this cover is a huge win! We love looking at it every time we see it.

The always amazing young adult author Ellen Hopkins returns for a second time this year! If you missed her earlier February release, TILT, you can still find it in stores. If you haven’t picked up one of her novels before, try CRANK, BURNED, PERFECT, SMOKE or any of the many more gritty contemporary novels. Ellen is also the founder of Ventana Sierra, a nonprofit youth housing and resource initiative. For more information on Ventana Sierra, go to VentanaSierra.org.

OTHER YA MAG COVERAGE
Ellen Hopkins gets ready to RUMBLE

EARLY REVIEWS SAY…
The sturdy, fast-reading free-verse poems—which sometimes shift into elegance—give a heavy sense of Matt’s anger and discomfort, as well as how he vacillates between decency and churlishness. … Readers devour Hopkins regardless, but this is strong and worthy. (Kirkus Reviews)

Hopkins again tackles hot-button subjects through free verse, taking on cyberbullying, censorship, the role of religion, and the difficulties of veterans returning from war. … Hopkins expertly documents Matt’s increasing ability to accept and love others in his life, and eventually himself. (Publishers Weekly)

WATCH THE TRAILER

NECESSARY DETAILS 
YA Contemporary
Hardcover & ebook,560 pages
Published on August 26th 2014 by Margaret K. McElderry Books (ISBN 1442482842)
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Rumble/Ellen-Hopkins/9781442482845