The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison
(review via Shelf Awareness)

This debut novel probes a haunting mystery with an unforgettable protagonist.

Seventeen-year-old Penelope “Lo” Marin has collected beautiful things all her life, treasures from each town she’s lived in (11 total). But since her brother, Oren, died, her hobby has evolved into an obsession. While wandering through a “sad, strange part of Cleveland”–Neverland, the city of lost children–Lo barely escapes gunfire intended for a stripper named Sapphire. The next day, Lo visits a flea market and comes across a butterfly pendant that had been among Sapphire’s things and, with that, a commitment to find Sapphire’s murderer takes hold.

Lo’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder distinguishes her narrative from other crime-solving protagonists. She’s ruled by superstition about numbers (“The year I turned eight I wouldn’t let Mom put eight candles on the birthday cake. Eight candles would have made it inedible”), and she’s a kleptomaniac hoarder, trying to hold onto things forever, unlike Oren. Oren was Lo’s only friend until Flynt, a street artist in a bear-eared hat, introduces himself and quickly becomes her tour guide in Neverland–friend, love interest and suspect in the very crime Lo has set out to solve.

Kate Ellison not only masterfully allows readers insight into the sufferings of OCD, but she explores the lives of Neverland’s lost children, such as runaways and strippers, while remaining mindful of her teen audience. With bold storytelling, gritty characters and otherworldly locales, The Butterfly Clues marks a magnificent debut.

–Adam Silvera, events assistant, Books of Wonder, New York City

Discover: A teenager with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who chases down a murderer in Cleveland’s underworld.

Check out these great contests from the PLL Preferred bloggers and show your support by entering at your favorite blog!

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison will be in stores everywhere February 14.

Penelope (Lo) Marin has always loved to collect beautiful things. Her dad’s consulting job means she’s grown up moving from one rundown city to the next, and she’s learned to cope by collecting (sometimes even stealing) quirky trinkets and souvenirs in each new place–possessions that allow her to feel at least some semblance of home.

But in the year since her brother Oren’s death, Lo’s hoarding has blossomed into a full-blown, potentially dangerous obsession. She discovers a beautiful, antique butterfly pendant during a routine scour at a weekend flea market, and recognizes it as having been stolen from the home of a recently murdered girl known only as “Sapphire” – a girl just a few years older than Lo. As usual when Lo begins to obsess over something, she can’t get the murder out of her mind.

As she attempts to piece together the mysterious “butterfly clues,” with the unlikely help of a street artist named Flynt, Lo quickly finds herself caught up in a seedy, violent underworld much closer to home than she ever imagined–a world, she’ll ultimately discover, that could hold the key to her brother’s tragic death.

Enter to win a free signed copy from us in one of two prize packs on our Facebook page.

Friday Night Lights

Luckily the paralysis didn’t affect his lips!

The O.C. 

This is the only time we’ve ever cheered after a large, dangerous piece of machinery broke down, leaving a disconcerted crowd of people dangling in mid-air.

Pretty Little Liars 

From devious blind girls to estranged birth parents, nothing will stop Hannah and Caleb’s love.

Joan of Arcadia 

Sleeper pick here: who knew that a dreamy song + science fair hijinks + flying chicken feathers could make for some serious romance?

Veronica Mars

Nothing says true love like a near death experience! (Bonus points for the spinning camera action.)

Bonus Kiss!

Freaks and Geeks

They might not be sexiest of couples, but who can forget when Bill and Vicky ended up in the closet for 7 Minutes in Heaven… and lost track of time?

About Us: Young, dynamic, successful team of writers/editors with more than a decade of experience in commercial book publishing. We work with debut authors on exciting new teen, middle grade, and adult projects that we create, plot, love, and nurture all the way from proposal stage to the bookshelf. Please find more information about us at paperlanternlit.com.

About You: A creative self-starter with an interest in a career in publishing. You’re a voracious reader, critical thinker, and detail-oriented taskmaster! You should be based in the New York City area with the ability to work both remotely and on site at our Brooklyn office.

Job Description:
• Attend weekly meetings and take notes
• Update the project status—including author, payment, publicity, and project info
• Assist in event set up
• Research local book events for our writers to attend
• Proofread manuscripts for spelling, grammar, and factual inaccuracies
• Correspond with PLL writers and PLL Preferred Bloggers
• Run postal errands, answer general inquiry emails, make photocopies and scan
documents
• Help with maintenance of PLL blog with weekly blog posts
• Write publicity and marketing materials
• Assist with brainstorming sessions
• Write copy for our monthly newsletter
• Help with submission sorting
• Read and report on comparative titles
• Assist in maintaining website and social media presence

Job Requirements:
• 20-25 hours per week
• A laptop or tablet that enables you to work remotely
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
• Ability to attend weekly meetings and work onsite at least five hours per week
• Knowledge of HTML, Google programs and social media is a HUGE plus, but not required
• A year long commitment strongly desired

We can offer a modest stipend of $80/week, delicious meals at every meeting, and lots of chocolate! If interested, please send your resume, cover letter, and a book review (approximately 300 words) to editorial@paperlanternlit.com. We kindly request that you paste all the contents in the body of an email and leave us attachment free.

Please apply by 2/13/12

Thanks and good luck!

Meet Fisher Bas: 12 years old, growth-stunted, a geeky science genius, and son of equally geeky, Nobel Prize-winning parents. No surprise: Fisher isn’t exactly the most popular kid in his middle-school. But he senses relief when he comes upon the idea of cloning himself–creating a second Fisher to go to school each day! It’s an ingenious plan that works brilliantly…until Fisher’s clone turns out to be more popular than him. Then, to make matters worse, Fisher Two gets clone-napped by the evil scientist Dr. Xander! Can Fisher rescue his clone without blowing his secret?

“Castle’s debut, the first in a planned series, strikes just the right balance of humor and action and is sure to keep young readers turning the pages.”
–Kirkus Reviews  

“A great book for parents to give their children. It deals not only with bullies but with a young boy learning self confidence and acceptance. 5/5 stars for this book!! M.E.Castle has a winner on his hands!”
–Goodreads user Donna Lawrence

Read more reviews on The Clone Chronicles website!

Want to win a FREE copy from us! Enter one (or both!) of our contests! Here’s how:

1) Enter to win a copy through our Facebook page! Contest runs through the release date, January 24, 2012

2) Enter to win a SIGNED copy here, by leaving a comment here on our blog. In the spirit of our young inventor-turned-hero Fisher, tell us: If you could invent ANYTHING, what would it be and why? Contest also runs through January 24, 2012.

Both contests ARE international. Thanks for reading and good luck! We look forward to seeing what you might invent!

Look for Popular Clone in bookstores everywhere January 24 and learn more about The Clone Chronicles by checking out the brand new website!

When Harry Met Sally

How better to start a new year than Billy Crystal professing his love to you?

The Godfather Part II

You BROKE HIS HEART, Fredo. And on New Year’s! Shame!

Bridget Jones’s Diary

Because everything about Colin Firth inspires us. Everything.

Sex and the City: The Movie

Proving that friendship is always the best part of a new year.

What’s your favorite New Year’s scene in a movie? How was your New Year’s Eve? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook wall.

PLL makes newsy New Year’s resolutions for those in need!

-The New York Times did a piece on economic indicators this month, and it turns out that when people buy nail polish, it means the economy is headed for a downturn. We hope everyone resolves to get manicures this year-we’ll join you!

-Amazon established a clever discount app, which left many bookstores none-too-pleased. Resolution: they should seriously consider selling champagne–they’ll need it to celebrate taking over the world, and we wouldn’t mind the 5% off!

-Kinky congressman Anthony Weiner just had a baby. We assume he’s resolving to share photos of little-Weiner-only from now on.

-There’s no bigger bummer than catching photos of your dad picking out your Christmas gifts on the evening news, so we think President Obama should resolve to do more of his shopping online. (Has he tried Amazon? We hear they have great deals…)

-This month, Wimpy Kid Inc sued Zombie Kid for being a copycat, but we think the wimps should resolve to cut the zombies some slack next year–don’t they realize imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Besides, in a battle, zombies always win because they’re invincible and eat brains. Duh!

What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Tell us in the comments or on our Facebook wall!