Thanks to sharp-eyed Sara for sparking these thoughts…
Our Cybils team scrutinized and dissected novel covers more than I usually do, and since on average I don’t spend time judging books by their covers (but I do judge them by their flyleaf copy — and if it’s too detailed or too flippant and tries to strike a stylistic tone — ugh, I put it down, which is unfair of me, I know) unless their covers really stand out, so it was a new thought to me how much cover art can really make a difference to who you get as readers. Our team additionally found that covers in the YA world tend to be pretty similar, (as did Fuse#8), and to follow trends. But using the same model, to me, seem to be a bit… much. Surely we’re not all out of cover ideas — or models — this early in the millennium?! Fortunately, though this same model was used on the Review Copy cover of Angel’s Choice that I received, I understand that the powers that be changed the cover for the actual publication copy that went out to readers. Since both novels may actually appeal to the same group of readers, this was a smarter move, I think.
Since I tend to find my books in smaller bookstores (and usually head straight for whatever I’m looking for), the display copies are sort of …well, invisible to me. (As I say this I realize I’m a bookseller’s worst nightmare – a focused shopper. Aaargh!) The books I actually notice displayed for YA readers have a definite… well, slant to them. They’re either in candy (or is it CUPCAKE or POPSICLE) shades, like the ubiquitous “chick lit” and they look like they’re all written for girls.
I wonder, 
sometimes, why… Good books like Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) or An Abundance of Katherines are likely overlooked because of their covers. I absolutely love the cover Gail Gautier’s Happy Kid, and I think the cover of Kiki Strike is awesome – just random enough to leave out a hook for anyone, but artistically relevant. Both of those books are geared to the middle grade set(correct me if I’m wrong on Happy Kid.) – so maybe that’s where the breakdown in covers occurs? People often talk about young adult boys not reading… I’m not sure if anyone is actually marketing books in their general direction… the girls are already reading, so why skew everything their way?
As my publication experience grows, I look forward to seeing just how hard or 
aggravating it is for authors to deal with the novel cover selection process. One of my MFA profs said told that we as newly fledged authors would have no say in how our covers appeared, for at least our first several novels. 
He had at that point three in print, and only had gotten his say because he’d a.) taken a business course and b.) presented his professional opinion after begging to sit in on a publication meeting. They listened to him, he said, because he’d gone the extra mile to prepare something. And to humor him. YA/Children’s Lit might be different. Here’s hoping… If they’re open to it, when I am famous, I’m going to bug A.Fortis into designing my cover for me. (A.F., you have lots and lots of time to prepare.)
And now for something on the more random side of life: if you’re really keen to get into the marketing nuts and bolts of your novel, you can start by building your ideal male (an amusing promo for Anatomy of a Boyfriend), or just design a cover for that steamy romance novel you’ve been dying to write.
Oh, stop, you know you have one stashed somewhere. Cheers!