It’s frequent guest blogger Lauren Felsenstein here! The weather’s getting warmer and that means everyone is looking for a new book to read outside. Whether lying by the beach or picnicking in the park, there’s one new book in particular I’m excited to take for a read out in the sun — even though it takes place somewhere a little darker…

#1 New York Times Bestselling author Meg Cabot brings readers into the Underworld with the first book in a brand new trilogy, Abandon–a riveting, modern retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades set in the Florida Keys. Yes, you read that correctly. A modern retelling of Persephone! (Commence geek-out.)

Abandon was inspired the famous Greek myth, which Meg first learned about and fell in love with in high school. She says, “I was hooked right away… There’s something so compelling about a guy who falls so desperately in love with a girl that he’s willing to kidnap her and allow the earth to be destroyed rather than give her up, because he’s doomed forever to rule over the dark Underworld, and he can’t stand to be without her.” Meg wrote a great essay for The Huffington Post that gives more details about how and why she wrote Abandon, and talks a lot about the importance of reading for pleasure. You can read it here.

Publishers Weekly also interviewed Meg about her inspiration for Abandon. She says, “I really identified with Persephone who, I think, was just extremely lonely.”

Abandon is, of course, a Young Adult novel, and the people who know young adults have great things to say about it, too. Seventeen.com raves, “Pierce is a rockstar narrator. She’s bold, gutsy, and hyperaware–she might even be too brave for her own good. We love a girl who isn’t scared to take action. Pierce might be a little reckless, but at least she’s never a damsel in distress.” You can read the rest of the review here.

In addition to the release of Abandon, this week Meg Cabot kicks off her national tour with stops in Memphis, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta, and Kansas City. She will also make an appearance at this year’s International Reading Association Convention in Orlando, then head to Toronto, followed by a trip to New York City where she’ll help kick off our new and exciting “this is teen live” tour which we told you about earlier. (Whew! We’re tired just writing that.) The “this is teen live” tour will bring together superstar YA authors Meg Cabot, Libba Bray and Maggie Stiefvater, and will also have stops in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Miami. Be sure to check out and “like” “this is teen” on Facebook to get the latest news about Meg and our other Scholastic books and authors. If you loved Abandon–and we think you will!– you can use the awesome book recommendations tab to find other YA books you’ll enjoy.

Meg was inspired by the story of Persephone and Hades. Now you tell us: which Greek myth would you most like to see reimagined?