A Kiss is Still a Kiss

It’s always interesting how the same basic image can be used for books with totally different plots. Here Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn (Scholastic, 2008 ) is fantasy – a romance with a prehistoric beginning. Crush by Carrie Mac (Orca, 2006) deals with issues around sexual orientation (the two about to kiss are both girls). Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson (Delacorte, 2008 ) is a murder mystery, and A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone (Wendy Lamb, 2006) is realistic fiction (the title’s a very short plot summary?).

All eyes are closed – except the guy on A Bad Boy. Fitting, probably, when you read the plot summary. I like the halo effect outlining the two faces on Reincarnation, and it helps give the impression of fantasy. Lots of light on Crush makes me think these girls may have their first kiss in the spotlight. Perhaps that fits?

And then there’s Torched by April Henry (Putnam’s) coming out in March of 2009, which combines the kiss with fire.

I would think that the pre- (or post?) kiss image would draw teen girls. How does it do with boys?

UPDATE: Come in from the Cold by Marsha Qualey (Houghton Mifflin 1994 – this paperback edition Graphia 2008 ) – thanks to Laurie (comments).

Reincarnation: When a young couple dies in prehistoric times, their love–and link to various green stones–endures through the ages as they are reborn into new bodies and somehow find a way to connect.
Kiss Me Kill Me: Longing to be part of the in-crowd at her exclusive London school, orphaned, sixteen-year-old Scarlett, a trained gymnast, eagerly accepts an invitation to a party whose disastrous outcome changes her life forever.
Crush: During a summer in New York, Hope falls in love with another girl and must decide whether she is gay.
Bad Boy: Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva all get mixed up with a senior boy who can talk them into doing almost anything he wants. In a blur of high school hormones and personal doubt, each girl struggles with how much to give up and what ultimately to keep for herself.
Torched: In order to save her parents from going to jail for possession of marijuana, sixteen-year-old Ellie must help the FBI uncover the intentions of a radical environmental group by going undercover.