My Heart and Other Black Holes available now from Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.
There's only one problem: she's not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel's convinced she's found her solution—Roman, a teenage boy who's haunted by a family tragedy, is looking for a partner. Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other's broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together.
Available for purchase from:
••• Barnes & Noble •••
••• Amazon •••
••• IndieBound ••• (Indies First! Please consider purchasing the book from your local indie if you can.)
••• Powell's •••
What People Are Saying About My Heart And Other Black Holes:
"A fearless, taboo-busting debut, sensitive and authentic, but laced with pitch-perfect black humour." (Gavin Extence, author of The Universe Versus Alex Woods)
“My Heart and Other Black Holes is alive with intensity, gut-wrenching honesty, moments of humor, and-of course-heart. This is an extraordinary debut by a striking new voice in YA fiction that left me in awe and moved beyond measure. Not to be missed.” (Nova Ren Suma, author of IMAGINARY GIRLS and THE WALLS AROUND US)
“With high intelligence and a massiveness of heart, Warga gifts us with a novel that has the music of Mozart, the logic of advanced physics, and the vision to see the link between them. This is something utterly new, a book that is kinetic and beautiful and unexpectedly life-affirming.” (Chris Lynch, National Book Award Finalist for Inexcusable and Michael L. Printz Honor-winner for Freewill)
"Warga’s immensely readable first novel somehow accomplishes the impossible—she addresses a vital topic without being preachy, creating characters that are lovable in spite of significant flaws. At times poignant, bitter, and funny, this narrative captures Aysel’s unique voice that questions what it means to die—and to live." (Booklist, *Starred*)
"Subtle and impressive...reminiscent of Judy Blume novels." (NPR Books)
"Sometimes sorrowful, sometimes funny, and always honest, this novel tackles the difficult topic of suicide with tact, while acknowledging that life can be messy, sad, and happy all at once." (IndieNext List Selection)
"Written with sensitivity and an unvarnished look at depression, especially among teenagers. Warga takes an honest approach to its treatment, that it is not beaten overnight, but battled over years." (Boston Herald)
"Soon to be a feature film, this riveting story about the power of love follows a young girl who's obsessed with plotting her own death." (Teen Vogue)
"A brave and exciting debut novel that addresses an important issue with wit, compassion, and authentic teenage voices." (Daily Mail)
"Debut novelist Warga addresses adolescent depression and suicide with honesty and grace...an eloquent first-person narrative, Warga crystallizes the significant turning points in Aysel’s attitudes and emotions, and celebrates the sparks of hope combatting the dark thoughts that threaten to destroy her." (Publishers Weekly)
"Debut author Warga unflinchingly tackles the grim subject matter with empathy, sensitivity, and honesty, without trivializing her protagonists’ disturbing thoughts or emotions...[with an] utterly endearing romance." (Horn Book Review)
“Earnest and heartfelt . . . any teen who’s ever felt like an outsider will be able to relate to Aysel’s and Roman’s fully realized characters.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“The book addresses serious issues with complexity and humor . . . thoughtfully presented.” (School Library Journal)
"Our words can affect people in a way that even we cannot understand... I would recommend all teenagers to read this book as it is very interesting, it grips you from the beginning, it's a quick read and it is just a wonderful piece of writing." (The Guardian, Children's Book Review)
Links:
PW article announcing the US sale.
PW article detailing foreign rights sales at Frankfurt.
Huffington Post's YA Books of February 2015
Goodreads Best Books of the Month, February 2015
PopSugar's Best Books of February 2015
Chicago Tribune YA roundup, Spring 2015
Bustle's List of Most Anticipated 2015 YA Novels
PopCrush's List of Most Anticipated 2015 YA Novels
Harper Audio Podcast Interview
Barnes & Noble 15 YA Books That Get It Right
CBC's "Hot Off The Press" January 2015 List
LitReactor's List of of 14 Highly Anticipated YA Novels
Sugarscape's List of 15 Anticipated YA Novels
International publishers:
Brazil: Rocco
Bulgaria: Hermes
Canada: HarperCollins Canada
China: Shanghai 99
Czech Republic: Argo
Denmark: Nyt Nordisk Forlag
Estonia: Paikese Kirjastus
France: Hugo et Cie
Germany: Fischer Verlag
Hungary: Kossuth
Indonesia: PT Gramedia
Israel: Armchair
Italy: Mondadori
Korea: Prunsoop
Lithuania: Alma Littera
The Netherlands: Karakter Uitgevers
Poland: Burda
Romania: Herg Benet
Russia: AST
Spain: Mondadori
Taiwan: Crown
Thailand: Legen Books
Turkey: Pegasus
UK+ Australia/New Zealand: Hodder & Stoughton