Waiting on Wednesday: Tokyo Heist and The Academie

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we just can't wait to get our hands on!

This week's picks:

Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn

Goodreads' description:

"Sixteen-year-old Violet loves reading manga and wearing scarves made from kimono fabric, so she’s thrilled that her father’s new painting commission means a summer trip to Japan. But what starts as an exotic vacation quickly turns into a dangerous treasure hunt. Her father’s client, the wealthy Yamada family, is the victim of a high-profile art robbery. Someone has stolen van Gogh sketches from the Yamadas’ Seattle mansion, and is holding them hostage until the Yamadas can produce the corresponding van Gogh painting. The problem is that nobody knows where this painting is hidden, and until they find it, all of their lives are in danger. Violet’s search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery deepens, Violet’s not sure whom she can trust. But she knows one thing: she has to find the painting and the criminals—before it’s too late."

I've been anticipating this one since its early days when it was called The Frame Game! Set a book in Japan and you'll pique my interest. Add a mystery involving an art heist? Sold. 

The Academie by Susanne Dunlap

"Eliza Monroe-daughter of the future president of the United States-is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris. But the young American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when-ooh, la-la!-she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte; and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general. It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies-and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes.

Loosely drawn from history, Eliza Monroe's imagined coming of age provides a scintillating glimpse into the lives, loves, and hopes of three young women during one of the most volatile periods in French history."

I keep hearing great things about Susanne Dunlap's books, but I don't think I've actually read any of them yet! I must remedy that. The Napoleonic time in French history has been done a fair bit, but I think seeing its effects on girls at a boarding school could provide a different angle. Also, love the colour and style of her dress (although the cover unfortunately does fall victim to the girl-missing-the-top-half-of-her-head phenomenon).

What books are you waiting for?