Elizabeth Scott = YA author genius

So the last two days, I read two extremely different books of Elizabeth Scott's back-to-back: Perfect You, and Living Dead Girl.

My first introduction to Elizabeth Scott was last year, when I read her novel Bloom. I absolutely adored this story: girl has boyfriend, but realizes she wants another guy and struggles with what's right to do, as well as how she feels. The emotions of her characters are tangible, so vivid, and as I read it, I was swept up in the narrative. I'd been meaning to read more of her stuff.

A week or so ago, I decided to pick up two more of her books--the first was Perfect You. Another seemingly simple story: a girl's life changes drastically when her dad quits his job to do his "dream" job (selling vitamins in a booth in the mall); meanwhile, she struggles with her feelings for a guy she should dislike, as well as seeing her best friend slip away and turn into someone else...someone who is just like the people they used to hate.

I read the book in one sitting. LOL. The way her characters are so real, so flawed, but so empathetic and understandable....it's a real talent she has.

The next book, I'd been hesitant to read--Living Dead Girl. I knew it was dark because I'd heard reviews about it and, franky, I wasn't sure I was ready for it. The story in this one is a 15-year-old girl who was kidnapped 5 years ago and, in essence, feels she's a living dead girl, stuck in a nightmare of an existence that has stripped her of her freedom, her humanity.

This one was darker than I could even have imagined, so much darker, but still I kept turning the pages. Heartbreaking, the agony of reading what happens mentally and physically to the narrator who is called Alice (that's what her kidnapper renamed her)--watching her as she desperately tries to escape within herself, and her situation. This one really punched me in the gut.

So far, I've read three novels by Elizabeth Scott, and they have all been stellar and well-crafted. Lucky me, she has more books out, and I plan to run out and get them too. LOL. It's so awesome to find a must-read author, and Elizabeth Scott has written her way onto my list.

What about you? Have you read these novels, or any others by her? What are your thoughts?

Also, do you have any must-read authors? I'm always looking for new suggestions!