Extreme Cover Fail
(X-posted to judging_covers )
A few months ago I read a series of books that have become some of my favorites. They're by Frances A. Miller and the first in the series is The Truth Trap. After telling a teacher friend about them (he loves Chris Crutcher and I thought he'd like these, too) I ordered him a used copy from Abebooks to read and put in his classroom library.
Imagine my dismay when the book arrived clad in possibly the Worst Cover Ever.
Here's a short blurb from Amazon:
Alone in a city full of strangers and accused of the murder of his beloved small sister, fifteen-year-old Matt McKendrick struggles to survive her loss and prove his innocence to the two police detectives assigned to the case. One of them believes him; the other, convinced he is guilty, is determined to make Matt confess and pay....
Now granted, the copyright date in this one is 1980---but really. Really? His sister was just brutally murdered and he's...laughing? I think he is. And the puffy coat? What in God's name is with that hair? And what color IS that background? Augh!
I'm still giving my friend the book. Minus the cover.
A few months ago I read a series of books that have become some of my favorites. They're by Frances A. Miller and the first in the series is The Truth Trap. After telling a teacher friend about them (he loves Chris Crutcher and I thought he'd like these, too) I ordered him a used copy from Abebooks to read and put in his classroom library.
Imagine my dismay when the book arrived clad in possibly the Worst Cover Ever.
Here's a short blurb from Amazon:
Alone in a city full of strangers and accused of the murder of his beloved small sister, fifteen-year-old Matt McKendrick struggles to survive her loss and prove his innocence to the two police detectives assigned to the case. One of them believes him; the other, convinced he is guilty, is determined to make Matt confess and pay....
Now granted, the copyright date in this one is 1980---but really. Really? His sister was just brutally murdered and he's...laughing? I think he is. And the puffy coat? What in God's name is with that hair? And what color IS that background? Augh!
I'm still giving my friend the book. Minus the cover.