Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, is thrilled to offer readers a free ARC to introduce two of its spring debut titles, Bruised and In the Shadow of Blackbirds, and to welcome back Laura Lee Gulledge to its list. Gulledge is the author of Page by Paige, which received a starred review from SLJ. “Gulledge is a master of both words and images," wrote SLJ's reviewer. She brilliantly portrays poignant emotions.” Click the covers below to fill out an ARC request form. Limited quantities, so first come, first served. Bruised by debut author Sarah Skilton When Imogen, a 16-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else—more responsible, more capable. But now that her sense of self has been challenged, she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating a first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shoot-out. With action, romance, and a complex heroine, Bruised introduces a vibrant new voice to the young adult world—full of dark humor and hard truths. To learn more about Skilton, visit www.sarahskilton.com. In the Shadow of Blackbirds by debut author Cat Winters In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, when her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her? Featuring haunting archival early-20th-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that's eerily like our own time. You can learn more about Winters at www.catwinters.com. Will & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge Wilhelmina “Will” Huxstep is a creative soul struggling to come to terms with a family tragedy. She crafts whimsical lamps, in part to deal with her fear of the dark. As she wraps up another summer in her mountain town, she longs for unplugged adventures with her fellow creative friends, Autumn, Noel, and Reese. Little does she know that she will get her wish in the form of an arts carnival and a blackout, courtesy of a hurricane named Whitney, which forces Will to face her fear of darkness. To find out more about Gulledge, visit http://whoislauralee.blogspot.com.