Perfect Clouds Blog Tour

Welcome to the 19th stop of the 'Perfect Clouds YA Virtual Book Tour', presenting Perfect Glass by Laura Anderson Kurk and Swimming Through Clouds by  Rajdeep Paulus. Be ready for a lot of epicness below. Of course I'll tell you what the books are about (and how amazingly awesome they are), you will also find the new post it and hidden letter for those who are collecting those for the final revel AND of course there is an awesome-tastic give-a-way at the end!

Perfect Glass by Laura Anderson Kurk

Things get messy when Meg Kavanagh gets involved—first with Jo Russell, the eccentric old artist, and then with Quinn O’Neill, the intriguing loner who can’t hide how he feels about Meg. Her senior year isn’t turning out like she planned it, but sometimes the best parts of life happen in the in-between moments. And Henry will be home soon, right?

He commits to one year in an orphanage that needs him more than he ever dreamed. Thousands of miles from Meg and the new punk who has fallen for her, and absent from the ranch that’s in his blood, Henry Whitmire finds out what it means to trust. When you’re so far from home, it’s terrifying to realize you’re not who you thought. But the perfect glass of calamity makes the best mirror.

An identity crisis, long distance love, new temptation, and growing pains teach Henry and Meg how to hang onto each other and to what really matters.

 Perfect Glass is the sequal to Glass Girl, which was a very beautiful and emotional read. I'm currently actually reading Perfect Glass and so far it is topping everything the first book already did. I'm in for about 3/4 by now and I already shed tears. Honestly, Laura knows how to write her heart breaking, heart shattering scenes.

Behind the Scenes - College applications
In Perfect Glass, Meg is stressed out about her college application. Her heart is set on the University of Wyoming, because that’s where Henry will be. She’s found that the glaring hole in her application is her lack of volunteerism.
These days, you can be academically unblemished and still be turned down by universities. It all seems so arbitrary to me.
Here, in quick, easy, checklist form, are some qualities that elite universities say they look for in the well-rounded candidate. This is “character” through the eyes of admissions officers—
1. Public Service. “We’re trying to find people who make others around them better,” says William Fitzsimmons, dean of Admissions at Harvard.
2. (H)umanity and three-dimensionality. Also by Fitzsimmons at Harvard.
3. Having strong endorsement letters. Must I even say this is Harvard again?
4. Being inquisitive. Students who “step up beyond the received wisdom of Lady Gaga and actually think about what she says,” are ideal for the University of Rochester, according to Jonathan Burdick, dean of Admissions.
5. Being authentic. Mark Spencer, dean of Admissions at Brandeis University, said, “A young woman told me her dad called her weird. She stated it. She accepted it. And she kind of liked it.”
6. Being comfortable answering “kooky questions.” The panel discussing the ideal candidate all agreed on this one. The ideal student is one who is comfortable and free enough to be totally real.
I think what admissions officers are trying to say is that they’re looking for students who understand how to think critically and act globally. Both Meg and Henry take these things to heart in Perfect Glass and in helping others they change their own lives, as well.

Swimming Through Clouds by Rajdeep Paulus

I live in the in between. Between what if and what is. It’s how I manage. It’s the only way I know. Everyone has their way. This is mine.

When high school, cell phone disruption forces a classroom ban, the words on a Post-it note spark a sticky romance between two unlikely friends. Transfer student Talia Vanderbilt has one goal at her new school: to blend in with the walls. Lagan Desai, basketball captain and mathlete, would do just about anything to befriend the new girl. One Post-it note at a time, Lagan persuades Talia to peel back her heart, slowly revealing her treasure chest of pain—an absent mother, a bedridden brother, and an abusive father. In a world where hurt is inevitable, the two teens search for a safe place to weather the storms of life. Together.

Swimming Through Clouds is the debut novel of Rajdeep and definately a gorgeous read. I reviewed the book last week so for any more details have a look here.

Rajdeep's fun facts

Rajdeep here: On Ne-Yo and the Playlist of Swimming Through Clouds...

When I compiled the Playlist, many songs jumped on board, simply because I listened to them while crafting certain scenes. But the theme song took a while to find. I almost chose Alecia Key’s “Girl on Fire,” because although Talia is in many ways that very girl Keys sings about, the song made me too sad.

Then, when I heard “Let Me Love You” by Ne-Yo, I couldn’t believe my ears. It was as if the song was written for Lagan to sing to Talia. Although Lagan prefers acoustic sounding tunes, the lyrics rang true of his heart’s desire for Talia.

The lines, “Had no example of a love that was even remotely real...” and “I can see the pain behind your eyes has been there for quite awhile” get to me every time. Even now.

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Are you still with me? Time to reveal the give-a-way then! Also check out the list below of the other stops if you want to find all the hidden letters and the final post it note for the big reveal.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, June 1 –  Laura Anderson Kurk 
Sunday, June 2 –  Rajdeep Paulus

Monday, June 3 –  Melanie Brasher 
Tuesday, June 4 –  Tessa Emily Hall
Wednesday, June 5 –  Melissa Tagg 
Thursday, June 6 –  ReganStar McBeigh 
Friday, June 7 –  April Hamrick 
Monday, June 10 –  Diana Garner 
Tuesday, June11 –  Stephanie Karfelt 
Wednesday, June 12 – Bethany Baldwin 
Thursday, June 13 –  Kim Vandel 
Friday, June 14 –  Sarah Tipton 
Monday, June 17 –  Jennifer Watrous 
Tuesday, June 18 – MarniJarman 
Wednesday, June 19 –  Peggy Warren 
Thursday, June 20 –  Bethany Jett 
Friday, June 21 –   Amy Leigh Simpson
Monday, June 24 –  Summer Andrews  
Tuesday, June 25 –  Arlette Geuverink ⬅YOU ARE HERE! 
Wednesday, June 26 – Jennifer Murgia 
Thursday, June 27 - JoJo Sutis