I Always Judge a Book by Its Cover

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+

Among Others by Jo Walton. The starswept, child-like magic of this cover brings out the best of fantasy, coming-of-age stories. The design is tinted in a surreal orange glow, though if you look closer you can see that it in fact fades from yellow to red. In the background stand blurry, towering objects—whether trees or some sprawling castle-like structure is up to viewers to decide. The blurred image of a teenage girl dancing, or perhaps casting spells, barefoot in the grass clues readers in on the tale’s dreamy protagonist. The only clear visual element of the design is the stream of sparkling stars, apparently shooting from the girl’s hand in a spiral of magic. The blurred photography of the background and the stark, digital stream of stars dazzle together, creating a design that displays both real-world depth and fantastic elements.

Readers’ Average Rating: A-