Win a Free Book!

The Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning, NY, has a challenge for booklovers:

Submit, in 140 words or less, your impression of the front cover of the book For the Love of Strangers. “Who is the woman on the cover, and why does she wear deer antlers?” Email your response to mcconnells@stls.org by December 31, 2012. Please put For the Love of Strangers in the subject line.

Here's a copy of the book cover:

And if you can't wait until Dec. 31 to read this, you can get a copy for 40% OFF from the Leap Bookstore.

Here's what people are saying about For the Love of Strangers:

"For the Love of Strangers instantly drew me into this poignant tale of a Russian adoptee, then continued to intrigue as it masterfully interwove threads of past and present into a haunting, lyrical novel that echoes in the heart and mind long after the pages are closed."

~Patricia Hermes, award-winning author of You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye, Mama, Let's Dance, and Dear America/My America series

"For the Love of Strangers is a thoughtful and exciting read, making for a top pick. Highly Recommended."

~Midwest Book Review

"Darya, powerfully drawn to these animals who communicate with her and see in her the reincarnation of the deer goddess of ancient Siberia, is determined to feed and protect them, in spite of Tee-Tee's insistence that she concentrate on the human victims who need their help instead. The author has worked in social services, so that part of her story is firmly rooted in reality. The addition of a romantic element in a new student, another loner like Darya, is a nice touch."

~Voya

"While the deer's connection to Darya is poetic and the mythological detail is beautifully inserted, it is the safe house and its residents that are the most compelling part of the book. The story moves along at a good pace, and reluctant readers will find this to be a book they can take in. The simple black-and-white illustrations accentuate the magical realism."

~School Library Journal

"Well written, this book is an engrossing read. It kept me reading to find out what happened next and by the last page, which was left open for a sequel, I was interested in finding out what happens after the end." ~Aurora Reviews

Read more about it at Sue McConnell's YA Book Recommendations.