The only thing better than a beautiful new book is a beautiful new book that's been signed by the author and  lives up to its hype.

Two books from the Decatur Book Festival a few weeks ago do just that. Both stories have captur the imagination for entirely different reasons.

"Across the Universe" by Beth Revis

Voted an Amazon Best Book for 2011, Across the Universe is a new twist on scifi for the young adult market, merging the best of thriller, dystopian and romance. Amy is cryogenically frozen with her parents for the journey to a new earth on the giant spaceship Godspeed. When she's unfrozen early, she finds a strange society led by a crazed tyrant and falls for the guy next in line for leadership. Together they learn that the ship is powered on lies and they're the only ones who can untangle the truth. 

I had heard amazing things about the book and was suprised at how quickly I was drawn in, since books about space usually bore me. The characters were intriguing and the spaceship made for a chilling setting. The sequel, A Million Suns, is out next January, and I'll definitely be buying it.

"Hourglass" by Myra McEntire

Emerson Cole sees things that aren't there--namely, people from a different time. But when her brother introduces her to someone who actually believes her and works for a secret organization called the Hourglass, she's drawn into more than a whole new world. She also finds other people with similar strange talents... not to mention a love triangle.

MTV's Hollywood Crush called it "Dr. Who in a YA package," and I have to agree. If you like your heroines with guts, this one's for you. A sequel is in the works for June 2012. And the cover alone is gorgeous.