Example of How a Cover SHOULD Be Done

Here is the new paperback cover for Jenny Han's first middle grade novel, Shug.


Ahem.

What This Cover Is Doing Correctly:

1. No dismembered females. You can see her face and, remarkably enough, HIS face too.
2. Both a girl and a boy on the same cover and they're under the age of 14 AND they're not fighting aliens side-by-side? A true rarity.
3. Love how they worked in the popsicle from both the book and the original cover.
4. They don't look like models. Just regular kids.
5. I like the expression on the girl's face.
6. I love how they look exactly the right age. Twelve going on thirteen. I don't know the last time I saw a twelve-year-old actually looking like a twelve-year-old on a photographic cover.
7. She looks happy. He looks oblivious. And that, ladies and gentlemen, could well be the theme of the book..

I was a little hesitant to see the MIX label on Jenny's book, but it's on a cool eraser and, honestly, doesn't distract. Well done, all around.