Izzy Reads The World
asked
Marita A. Hansen:
I'm really interested in reading your books about the Rata brothers. I'm just a little confused about all the different series. Which book should I start with?
Marita A. Hansen
There are 3 series with the Rata brothers in, so it's probably best to answer the question in a chronological manner.
Time wise, GRAFFITI HEAVEN comes first, since it's set in 2000. That book is about Ash Rata, the oldest of the Rata brothers. It's genre is Edgy YA, so is different from the two other series. There won't be anymore books in this series, as it's been put on hold. It can be read as a standalone.
BROKEN ENGLISH (Broken Lives #1), which will be published August the 2nd, comes next, since it's set in 2002. It's Taboo Literary Fiction due to the student-teacher relationship topic. It's about Dante Rata, the second oldest of the Rata brothers. It's my favourite out of all the Rata stories. It's part of a trilogy. The second book, Shattered Poetry, is due out either October or November.
The Ratas are also in the BEHIND THE LIVES series. They cameo in Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives #1). That book is street lit and has a different tone to the sequels. Since they aren't main characters in this book, if you so choose, you can skip it, starting on book 2 without missing vital info. In book 2, Behind the Tears, the Rata brothers (Ash, Dante, and Sledge) become the main characters. In the third book (Behind the Lens), Dante and Sledge are main characters, likewise in book 4 (Behind the Secrets).
If Broken English is successful, there will be a second trilogy, which, time wise, picks up right after Behind the Secrets.
So, in order:
Graffiti Heaven (Graffiti Heaven #1)
Broken English (Broken Lives #1)
Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives #1) - which you can skip if you don't like it.
Behind the Tears (Broken Lives #2)
Behind the Lens (Behind the Lives #3)
And lastly, Behind the Secrets (Behind the Lives #4)
P.S. Another option is to start on the Behind the Tears, then move onto Behind the Lens, and Behind the Secrets, treating Graffiti Heaven and Broken English as prequels.
Time wise, GRAFFITI HEAVEN comes first, since it's set in 2000. That book is about Ash Rata, the oldest of the Rata brothers. It's genre is Edgy YA, so is different from the two other series. There won't be anymore books in this series, as it's been put on hold. It can be read as a standalone.
BROKEN ENGLISH (Broken Lives #1), which will be published August the 2nd, comes next, since it's set in 2002. It's Taboo Literary Fiction due to the student-teacher relationship topic. It's about Dante Rata, the second oldest of the Rata brothers. It's my favourite out of all the Rata stories. It's part of a trilogy. The second book, Shattered Poetry, is due out either October or November.
The Ratas are also in the BEHIND THE LIVES series. They cameo in Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives #1). That book is street lit and has a different tone to the sequels. Since they aren't main characters in this book, if you so choose, you can skip it, starting on book 2 without missing vital info. In book 2, Behind the Tears, the Rata brothers (Ash, Dante, and Sledge) become the main characters. In the third book (Behind the Lens), Dante and Sledge are main characters, likewise in book 4 (Behind the Secrets).
If Broken English is successful, there will be a second trilogy, which, time wise, picks up right after Behind the Secrets.
So, in order:
Graffiti Heaven (Graffiti Heaven #1)
Broken English (Broken Lives #1)
Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives #1) - which you can skip if you don't like it.
Behind the Tears (Broken Lives #2)
Behind the Lens (Behind the Lives #3)
And lastly, Behind the Secrets (Behind the Lives #4)
P.S. Another option is to start on the Behind the Tears, then move onto Behind the Lens, and Behind the Secrets, treating Graffiti Heaven and Broken English as prequels.
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