5 Things You Didn't Know About The Ivy by Rina Onur & Lauren Kunze (Giveaway!)

The Ivy is the book about the crazy life of 4 freshmen students at Harvard University. It's highly addicting, and I would totally recommend it to anyone. A teacher? Read the Ivy. The bus man? Read The Ivy. The college freshman? READ THE IVY.

Anyways, in this post I have 5 never before seen bits about The Ivy (provided by Rina Onur and Lauren Kunze) that will leave you with your mouth hanging open, and your hand scratching your head. 

Hehe I think you've waited long enough, here are the Five Things You Didn’t Know About the First Draft of THE IVY:

1.      The Ivy was originally titled The Ivy Diaries.
   
   
2.       In the first several drafts, The Ivy opened with a lengthy prologue in which Evan Davies (Callie’s evil ex boyfriend from high school) breaks up with Callie at a party on the last day of summer. The party scene featured several characters (including Callie’s high school bff Jessica and Evan’s soccer sidekicks Ted and Jerry) that appear in the yearbook pages which eventually replaced the prologue.
   
   
3.       In the original first chapter, Callie’s Mom accompanies her to Cambridge on move-in day. The first paragraph (after Alexis’ chapter opener, which remained the same throughout) was:

"Callie stared out the window of their rented Zipcar, watching the Boston cityscape fly by. Her mother chatted amiably, failing to notice her daughter’s inattention. “Look, Callie! That’s the Charles River, separating Boston from Cambridge. It connects some of the most famous colleges in the country: Brandeis, Boston University, MIT and” – her mother paused momentarily, swelling with pride – “Harvard University. We’re almost there!”

     4.      The first draft of The Ivy had twenty-one, rather than seventeen, chapters. Deleted chapter titles include:

Chapter 2: Keep in Mind: The Walls are Thin

Chapter 3: The Activities Fair

Chapter 4: Empowering You: Practice Sex Safely

Chapter 5: Nights Out and the Morning After

Chapter 10: Welcome to the Jungle

Chapter 15: Tricks and Treats

     5.     The Ivy was first conceived as a story about four very different female roommates with no particular main character in mind. Callie only emerged as the clear protagonist during the writing process!

When I watch a movie I like going back after the movie has ended and watching the Special Features, and these bits seem like the Special Features of a book. I wish more authors did this! It's interesting to know how different the story could have been; how many different directions it could have taken.

For me, I am grateful that the winning title was The Ivy and not The Ivy Diaries, otherwise in my mind I would have connected The Ivy Diaries with The Vampire Diaries and The Poison Diaries. Now instead of that tragic relation occurring I can think of The Ivy and only think about that title in specific. I also like that Callie is the clear protagonist! But kind of wish they would have left all 21 chapters... More pages for me ;)

For more about The Ivy, visit www.ivybookseries.com, or http://harperteen.com/book/pre-order.aspx?isbn13=9780061960451 to purchase a copy today!

Also (if you have made it this far) I think you should have the opportunity to read The Ivy (it's that good) so here at Bloody Bookaholic I'm hosting a giveaway for a copy of The Ivy which was provided by the authors Rina Onur and Lauren Kunze (thanks girls!).

In order to get invited to the party all you have to do is:

1. Be a Bloody Follower
2. Love Books (duh)
3. Leave a comment with your name and email address, if you don't feel comfortable doing this then just email me your info at bloodybookaholic (at) hotmail (dot) com.
4. Leave a comment regarding anything about The Ivy, maybe why you want to read it, ot something about this post.

Good Luck!! The giveaway will be open till December 10. US only.

If you wish to have a few more points in your favor, then all you have to do is:

1. Enter my giveaway for a copy of The Agency by Y. S. Lee (+1)
2. Or let other people know bout either of those contests (+1 for each way)

Have fun ;)