Friday, April 8, 2011

Stick Cover Reveal


I'm a little frustrated, because the image Andrew sent me was huge, very hi-res, and beautifully detailed. Blogger won't let me post it at the full resolution, so this is the best we can get. I still think it looks amazing. In case you can't read it, this is what the blurb says:

"Andrew Smith is one of the most courageous and compelling authors I've read. Stick moved me deeply." - Sara Zarr, author of Once Was Lost

I would agree with that, completely. I've only read one of Andrew's books, but I already know he's one of the most honest writers out there, and that certainly does take courage.

I told him that I love this cover. I think the gritty, sort of film grain quality of the image matches his deep and brutal method of telling the truth through fiction. I also love how it contrasts with the birds, and the boy's upraised arms.

Here is the "catalog copy" -

Stark McClellan (“Stick”) hears the world in a different way. He is surrounded by cruelty and ugliness, but holds on to a powerful sense of wonder, faith, and love for his best friend, Emily, and the most important person in Stick’s world -- his older brother, Bosten, who happens to be gay. When the boys’ father throws Bosten out of their home, Stick steals a car and takes off on a three-state odyssey to find and rescue him.

I could go on for a while about Andrew and his books, and there are a lot of other exciting things coming up, like a live action trailer for Stick, but if you just visit Andrew's blog, and follow him, you'll be just in the know as I am.

UPDATE: There are four other blogs hosting Andrew's cover reveal today. You should visit them as well:



44 comments:

Sarah said...

Lovely and haunting. I'm really looking forward to this book, both the story and the style.

Laura Pauling said...

I'm a fan after reading The Marbury Lens. I'll read anything he writes! Great cover.

Ted Cross said...

I'm tough to please with covers, but this one seems good to me for its intended audience.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Great cover. And it's good he's writing about a male main character. So many are girls. Sounds like a good book. Thanks for sharing. And have a great weekend.

Renae said...

Love the cover...sounds like an amazing book. Thanks for sharing.

Chris Phillips said...

Like the monochromatic color scheme.

Jessica Bell said...

That's a really really great cover. Will check him out. Sounds interesting!

Unknown said...

That cover is amazing! The story sounds interesting, one I know I'd like. Thanks for the rec!

Jonathon Arntson said...

The cover is powerful, indeed, but nearly as much as what's inside. It certainly fits the tone of the novel.

vic caswell said...

wow... this is so beautiful... wow

Old Kitty said...

It's a lovely cover - gritty and powerful!! Good luck to Andrew!! Yay!! Take care
x

Stina said...

I love the cover too. I hope you're planning to post the trailer when it comes out. :D

JE said...

I'm a sucker for a good cover! This one is really great.

I've read only one of his books, too, but I loved his style.

~JD

lady reader said...

Awesome!

I'm very excited to read this novel! I've read all of Andrew's other work and he does not disappoint.

Thanks for including my blog, Matthew. It is a pleasure to present something so special with very few people.

Amy

Amy said...

It's wonderful to be a part of this reveal with you!

Jaydee Morgan said...

Definitely a powerful cover - and sounds great too!

BTN Hip Hop said...

pretty cool cover, really gives that sense of hope and lonelyness

Ishta Mercurio said...

This cover took my breath away. I totally agree about the grainy quality, and the powerful image of the boy with his arms raised in the air, eyes closed, face raised to the sky. Wonderful.

Isn't it amazing how a good cover design can make you desperate to read something, even before you know what it's about?

Steve MC said...

Definitely a cool cover – rim lit and stark, and with his arms up, it's both a gesture of crucifixion and exultation.

Jen Bigheart said...

So happy to be a part of this as well! I have recommended TML at least 50 times... Can't wait to read Stick!

Jen

Michael G-G said...

O Blogger and thy resolution issues! The pixel gods are displeased with thee--but not with this cover. To me, it looks like the boy is running a race and throwing his arms out at the finish line. That, or preparing to dive from a high cliff. Whatever the truth of it, it is definitely an arresting visual image and seems to perfectly match the book's content. Thanks for sharing it, Matt.

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

great looking cover. It sounds like a very intriguing book.

Angela Ackerman said...

Sounds like one of those books that really gets you in the heart. I love these type books, and end up thinking about them even years afterward.


Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Paul Joseph said...

I am beyond excited to read this book, as well as all the other Andrew Smith books currently sitting in my pile! Bring on the summer!!

Hannah said...

Oh, I can't wait!! *rocking side to side with excitement*

Shari said...

Wow. That's all I've got. Just wow.

Bethany Elizabeth said...

That is an AMAZING cover, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat! And it sounds like such an interesting story, too. :)

Christina Lee said...

WOW-- thank you for introducing me to him today!

Candyland said...

That is a pretty sweet cover. Sounds like a good read.

Emily White said...

That is a powerful cover. I love Andrew Smith. He is most definitely one of my favorite authors.

Sommer Leigh said...

I LOVED LOVED LOVED The Marbury Lens. See, so much I have to use caps. Andrew is a brilliant writer.

This cover is also gorgeous. It reminds me a lot of the book Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly. So much so, I wonder if they had the same cover artist. It's not a bad thing because I had the same emotional response to Harmonic Feedback as I did to Stick. This cover is lovely and arresting.

Lindsay said...

Wow! STICK sounds awesome. Looks like I'll be increasing the TBR pile again ;)

Suzie F. said...

What an amazing cover! Thanks for featuring it. I'll have to add it to the pile.

Unknown said...

Powerful and stunning cover, but it's the raw, poignant blurb that seals the deal for me.

Anita said...

Niiice! (That's the word high schoolers are using now)

Anonymous said...

Tender and raw cover, I love it! Thanks for this, Matt! I'm looking forward to reading!

Sara B. Larson said...

Wow, what a powerful cover. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

This cover looks great!!! Can't wait to check it out. I love cover and book cover reveals - so exciting! My cover and trailer were just released! :)

Thanks, Matt!

~Melissa
Reflections on Writing

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Wow! Even without the high-res, it's a stunning cover. Very moving. Looks like it'll be an emotional read.

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

This looks really cool. And the low-res makes it look even more gritty! Thanks for the rec! :)

Deniz Bevan said...

Thanks for sharing this - it sounds like an interesting book!

Talli Roland said...

It's a gorgeous cover, and the book sounds fantastic. Thanks, Matt!

storyqueen said...

Thanks for the sneak peek! Very cool cover. I bet Andrew is quite pleased.

Shelley

K. M. Walton said...

Great cover! Thanks for sharing. And the book concept sounds very interesting.