Judging a Book By Its Cover: The Young Elites by Marie Lu ~ ***The Starry-Eyed Revue***

We so borrowed this idea from Sara at Forever 17 Books, who got the idea from an article on Babble called Judging a Book by Its Cover: A 6-year-old Guesses What Classic Novels Are All About. Basically, it's about getting a child's perspective on the story inside the book based on just the cover art. It can be hilarious, but it can also be enlightening.

Okay, I totally missed doing these posts with Katie, and it looks like it's been right at a year since our last one. While cleaning recently, I found the folder that I kept her previous iterations in -- all 33 of them! -- so I begged April to see if Aubrey would be up to contributing, too. Lucky for me, she was! =)

This week, the girls are working on the following book:

Title: The Young Elites
Author: Marie Lu
Series: The Young Elites, book #1
Publisher: Putnam BFYR
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Behold, the girls' attempts at recreating The Young Elites by Marie Lu...

Aubrey's masterpiece & guess:

Aubrey says:

"I think it's about people getting stuck in a thunderstorm. They get really wet and cold and need umbrellas."

I haven't read this one yet, so I'm not sure if she's right or not. In fact, I haven't read any of her books yet. For shame, but I did buy her last trilogy in kindle version, so someday I'll get to them. I met Marie Lu a few years ago at the Breathless Reads tour and she was lovely. :)

Katie's artwork & thoughts:

Katie says:

"I think someone gets killed and goes to Heaven because there's a sword and there are clouds."

Haha...out of the mouths of babes, right? Actually, she's not all that far off, though. ;0) And don't you just love her dagger?!? I've read this newest book from Marie Lu already, and I was really impressed with the dark turn it took. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! And I get to meet the author later this month at the Texas Teen Book Festival in Austin, along with some other amazing authors. I AM SO EXCITE!

Have you read this book or do you plan to? What do you think of the girls' artwork and their thoughts on the story's premise?