Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. This cover is fun on so many levels (literally). Viewers are immediately drawn to its multi-colored floors, as though looking into a very odd adult dollhouse. With each floor having its own color, every level is able to retain a unique state, along with some very unique characters: a dinosaur, nurse, monkey, sumo wrestler, and patriotic sex symbol seemingly have nothing in common, yet they share an uncommon space. This symbolizes the fascinating and surprising facts and random anecdotes found in Foer’s quest for memory. I also like that each floor strategically holds text to make up the title of the book and the author’s name, along with a nicely-placed subtitle between the first and second floor. The design is fun, innovative, and strangely nostalgic by tying in to many of our childhood play times—which is fitting, considering the story revolves around the art and science of remembering.
Readers’ Average Rating: B+
Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin. This cover is a great example of how typography can “make” a design. Undoubtedly, the best part of the cover art here is the wonderfully flowing and elegant font for the novel’s title. The girl’s pink and blond hair blows back from her hidden face as though by a strong wind, and the title seems to curve and stretch back right with it, nestled in a colorful setting. The bright pink of the girl’s hair is also oddly attractive, both for its contrast against the large white title and its eye-popping saturation. The typography of the author’s name sticks with the color scheme and is very understated, as is appropriate next to the grandeur of the other title. The design shouts drama, youth, and femininity—perfect for a young woman’s high school tale.
Readers’ Average Rating: B+
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. This UK design flawlessly illustrates the many charms behind every family’s history. The deep night sky of the background brings out the simple white details, the entirety of the color scheme. A glowing bracelet sits in the sky like a constellation, surrounded by a multitude of cute and unique charms: a kitten, a hummingbird, a butterfly, a cupcake, and hearts and flowers, all of which undoubtedly represent some facet of this inter-generational story. The cover uses the title of the novel in a literal sense, depicting a young girl who points toward the moon. A sprinkling of luminous stars and comets add the finishing touches. I’m not normally a fan of subtitles for fiction covers, but the simple description here really speaks to the design and the special story behind the art.
Readers’ Average Rating: B+
Wither by Lauren DeStefano. This hot YA dystopian is turning heads for more than just its reputation—look at the gorgeous cover! I daresay everything about this design is gorgeous. The rich blue and green hues bring out a color scheme that is busy, but flattering. The background has a velvety texture that fades into a lighter gradient behind the young woman. The girl herself possesses a kind of melodramatic beauty, with her voluminous golden hair, pouty face, and extravagant dress. The bird cage somehow fits with the antiquated feel of the design. What I also love about this cover is the use of lines and geometric shapes to both connect the cleverly-situated titles and subtly enhance certain features of the design, like the bird in the cage and the girl’s ring. This is a dynamo cover whose words within reportedly pack as much punch!
Readers’ Average Rating: A-
Happy Birthday, Turk! by Jakob Arjouni. War violence meets childlike simplicity in this design. Who would guess the two could go together? Yet the message is executed marvelously with this cover, as is usually the case with Arjouni novels. The black background efficiently offsets the red and greyscale color scheme. The title and author sit within what appear to be cutouts, giving the design a rough, crafted feel. The knife, too, looks like a one-dimensional cutout that is nevertheless creepy in its spattered and cruelly-shaped state. The “blood” running off the knife is like a ball of yarn, something that a child could have crafted. This roughly-hewed design exhibits a dangerous yet childish approach to a clever war thriller.
Readers’ Average Rating: B
Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso. This gorgeous cover art in no way speaks to the devastating truths within the pages. With a triadic color scheme of blues, greens, and yellows, the design emits a sense of deep peace and beautiful settings. It is interesting, too, that the forest (and cover itself) is framed by black vegetation, a kind of burrow opening into a magical place of nature. The trees themselves are illustrated with delicacy and ethereal grace. The yellow title sits naturally against the blue-green background, neither jarring nor camouflaged. Perhaps the sense of safety and calm expressed by the design is a metaphor for the memoir’s subject matter—pedophiles tricking children into their dark grips. Either way, the cover is misleading, yet undeniably mesmerizing.
Readers’ Average Rating: B+
Tornado Warning by Elin Stebbins Waldal. ‘Tis the season for tornadoes, so why not celebrate (if you’re into tornadoes) with an appropriate cover? What I love most about this design is the high contrast color against the looming thunderous sky. The clouds in the background are various shades of grey, exuding the chaotic violence of such a storm. The disintegrating flower, or perhaps dandelion, is bursting with color against the ominous background. The stem is bright spring-time green and the exploding petals are vibrant orange-yellow. This provides space for the title, which is bold white against the flower. This design is the picture of spring and one of nature’s most furious acts. My only complaint is how misleading the title and design is—no one would ever guess this is a memoir about teen dating violence unless they read the fine print.
Readers’ Average Rating: A-
Heart of the City by Ariel Sabar. I love New York, so it’s no surprise I love this cover. Part grunge, part classic Big Apple dedication, the design captures the unique persona of its subject matter: love in a city as anonymous as New York. Anyone can spot the familiar “I <3 NY” logo through use of the American Typewriter font and large red heart. I like that only a magnified chunk of this logo makes its way to the cover, with the red heart encasing the appropriate book title. This part of the cover looks to be a page torn out of an old book, and rests atop what appears to be a peeling, painted facet that could reside in practically any alley in the city. Whether you see it as city grunge or tribute to real-life New York romances, you have to admit this is a design worthy of such a city.
Readers’ Average Rating: B
Jane’s Fame by Claire Harman. Is there anything more lovely than a stack of books? I think not, and this cover proves it. The baby blue background sets the design in a calming, comfortable environment, much like Jane Austen’s prose. The stack, comprised of books both old and tattered and new and fresh, is a wonderful tribute to the classic author, one that symbolizes her success through many years. The china dish on top that holds the elegant little teacup (embroidered in Austen-esque accents) and cookie of some kind tops off the pleasant visual. I especially enjoy the many different typefaces used for the subtitle, which are stamped into the bottom edges of the books. All of the fonts are classic and bold except for “Jane Austen,” which retains a more delicate, feminine design.
Readers’ Average Rating: B+
Deadly by Julie Chibbaro. I seem to be attracted to silhouettes lately, and this design is no exception. What first catches my eye about this cover is the jarring yellow background and the mix of yellow accents. Yellow doesn’t exactly scream “deadly,” but that adds to the intrigue of the design. I don’t think I would have chosen orange-red for the title color, but it certainly draws attention. I especially enjoy the detailed silhouette of a young woman from the early 1900s—the dress and the hairstyle immediately tell us that this is a historical novel. Finally, the spindly, cell-like images whirling around the black silhouette are a bit bizarre, but once viewers are aware that this tale surrounds Typhoid Mary, they make perfect, if not a bit grotesque, sense.
Readers’ Average Rating: B+