Three Goodies: New Narnia, TTT & Self-Publishing Done Right

I have three announcements!

First, the next Narnia movie is in the works: The Silver Chair!

Second, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) announced the Teens' Top Ten Winners- Woot!

For a list of the books and other information about Teens' Top Ten, check out YALSA's website page, or this post in which I explain why I love the TTT competition.

And, finally, earlier today the blogging sensation Nathan Bransford released his first self-pubbed book, a writing guide. Happily, Bransford presents writers an example of "the right way" to self-publish for a large audience. He hired two editors, a cover designer, the whole shebang to prepare his book for the public. I haven't read it yet, but I certainly will.

Book-To-Movie Trailers Galore

Eventually, when I run out of book-to-movie trailers to post about, I'll get back to writing about writing and book reviews. But for now, you can get excited about these upcoming adaptions!

Book #1:

The YA novel How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff has won several awards, including YALSA's Printz award (just found a Goodreads list for Printz award winners!). An American girl visits her English cousins and Aunt. Soon after, the aunt takes a business trip, leaving the cousins alone. The next day, London is bombed by an unknown enemy and war breaks out. The story sounds amazing, although I've never read it. I have heard that the narrator is obnoxious, at first (too teenagerish, according to Maggie Stiefvater's review), but that her voice quickly draws the reader in completely.

Trailer for Movie Adaption:



Next Book:

The next movie needs no explanation beyond "Hobbit Part II." *Happy dance*

Trailer for Movie Adaption:


And Finally:

This teaser trailer for the movie "Divergent" is based on the crazily bestselling YA novel of the same name. I was modestly excited about the book, on a thematic level, and it has a killer pace with a few good thrills. But I say "modest" because craftwise, it could have been better. We'll see how the movie turns out...I fear we may have a soap opera on our hands! But we'll never know until we watch, right?

Trailer for Movie Adaption:

Movie, Book and Industry News

Greetings Scribblers and Book Bandits,

Today we've got some industry news about self-publishing, and book news about popular teen lit and movies.

Self-publishing has dominated industry discussions over the last few years. I recently read a very professional article about the reality of self-publishing, the pros and cons. Some experienced traditional and self-publishers also offered their opinions in the comment section. I learned a lot from it.

Teens' Top Ten Nominees are in! WOOT! In case you've never heard of the Teens' Top Ten competition, let me explain briefly. Teens' focus groups across the country nominate a list of titles (usually 25, although there are 28 this year) for the teen reading public to devour between April and August 15th. Over the next month, they can vote on their two favorites. YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) tallies the votes into a list of the ten ultimate favorites. This is a great way for interested persons to gauge YA interest in reading for the year. Although I typically have to weed out a few low-grade passing fad books, the teens usually do that for me. The very best of the year's crop often make the top ten (such as *ahem* The Scorpio Races *ahem*, my favorite book of the last two years or so). Check out the sweet vid below to see this year's 28 nominees, and click here for book descriptions.



The teens nominated some interesting choices this year! I was thrilled to see Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, a beautiful book I discussed here. Also, an author who began as a self-publishing superstar, Amanda Hocking, made the list with her book Wake. Someone to keep an eye on. Also on the list is Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, one of the Morris Award Winners (see our Lakeport Library's list of available award-winning teen fiction here and here or find full yearly YA Award lists here). This sounds like a quality read--and plus, there are dragons. I enjoyed The Raven Boys  by Maggie Stiefvater, another nominee. I haven't reviewed it yet because it deserves an in-depth post on craft. Serious, Stiefvater's got chops. (Which, of course, we already know from her Printz-honor winning The Scorpio Races....) Finally, the book I look forward most to reading this year, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, is on the list. This highly-praised book won a 2013 Printz Honor and was short-listed for the Carnegie Medal in the UK. I hope it wins! Should be great year for the TTT.

Kristin Cashore's book Graceling, has been optioned for a film! This is a great female-lead Fantasy, one I studied for a paper of the genre. In 2009, it was awarded the Morris honor. Thanks to GreenBeanTeenQueen for the news.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of the hallmarks of YA and Children's Sci-Fi fiction. I haven't read it but from what I understand, that's kind of like not seeing Star Wars. The movie date is approaching! Check out the trailer below, if interested. Thanks, again to GreenBeanTeenQueen for this news.

Get More: Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Have a good week, friends!

Free Teen Book: Operation Teen Book Drop 2013

Hi Scribblers and Book Bandits!
Today is a special early post because tomorrow is "Rock the Drop 2013," which means a friend (Amy Patton, the Librarian who runs the Young Adult Summer Reading Program at the Lakeport Library) and I will be dropping two awesome Young Adult books off in specific locations for you to find. It's an adventure! I am leaving a book in the Riviera for a fellow reader to find and enjoy, while Amy leaves hers in a different spot. Tomorrow I will tell you the specific locations + give you pictures of the books in their spots.






Here is my book:

This is actually two Sarah Dessen books packaged together into one--and with the movie cover! (The books are better than the movie, of course.) The first book, That Summer is about a high school girl named Haven who wishes for the past, before her sister was marrying "boring Lewis." She looks back, back to the summer her sister dated Sumner who colored life exciting. But when she realizes the past was not perfect, she gains more hope for the future. This was a free, quiet and witty read--Dessen's debut novel. She was originally writing towards a more adult audience, so it has a different flavor from her later books. The second novel, Someone Like You, is about two high school girls who rely more heavily on each other than every before during this particularly difficult year. As usual, Dessen writes quiet realism mixed with clever humor and endearing characters. Friendship is the focus in this one, and I loved it because friendship is so important in high school (and all of life, but especially then). The movie combines these two books into one story--an interesting mix. The title "How To Deal" is very obviously about how to survive high school. For more info on Sarah Dessen books, check out her website.
And here is Amy's book:

This book is Newberry-winning historical fiction about a Jewish girl who lives during the time of the Holocaust. I haven't read it, but I've read other Lois Lowry books. They are beyond "just" exciting--they are beautiful. Literary.

Tommorrow, I will reveal the book drop locations. Get Ready. Get Set...

This project was inspired by Figment.com, which posted about how several teen lit organizations (such as YALSA) are parternering in the effort. Keep your eye out for our books and others!

"Speak": Banning It vs Considering Its Implications

     Awhile back, there was an awful controversy about a book called Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. (I included links to the articles below.) It was labeled pornographic and inappropriate for its age group (older Middle Grade to younger Young Adult). 

     I read this book in order to consider the claims (thanks to Anne Shirako (a librarian, of course! (check out this triple-nesting)), who challenged me to do this). I listened to the book again just last week to makes sure of my own opinion before writing about it.
     Speak tells the story of a vulnerable, thirteen year old freshmen girl, Melinda, who was raped at a party. Is this too heavy for young people to deal with?
     I would like to put off answering this, first, by asking if it is the content we should be worried about, in a book, or how the content is portrayed? If we apply this latter question to Speak, we can easily see that the difficult subject matter is handled with care and compassion for Melinda and any young readers. In the offending scene, the trauma is addressed carefully. It is not physically graphic. It emphasizes how Melinda stumbled into the situation, and her following reaction: she calls the cops because she knows she needs help...but she is unable to speak. The book consists of the effects of rape on her psychology and emotions. Throughout the book, she struggles out of depression to get help.
     Isn't this realistic?
     The book is "clean" in the sense that most parents, teachers or other concerned adults would worry about. What shocked me was the insinuation that the book is pornographic. Whoever came to that conclusion twisted this book's quiet, sensitive realism. This book is about emotional healing and recovery, not gratuitous teenaged sex.
     So, again I ask, is this age-appropriate material? Yes. It is. Because this could easily happen to an 8th-9th grade girl (or an older girl). They go to parties and get drunk, just like Melinda. If they are hurt in the same manner, if they are scared or if they just don't know what happened, how can they  talk about it? By reading of a heroine just like them. Melinda is that perfect heroine.
    Instead of banning books that include difficult subject matter, such as Speak, perhaps we should talk with teens and pre-teens about the ideas raised, even if we disagree with the book's opinion. Isn't that what young people need? Teenagers especially are looking for answers. I think young people do want to talk about hard things. Some may be more ready than others, of course, but they will rise to the occasion if they are interested. When I was a teen, I didn't want difficult subjects to be hidden from me, to protect me. I wanted to talk about them. Books like this pave the way for frank discussion that may otherwise be too difficult for the teen or parent (or teacher, or whoever) to initiate.
     Not to mention that Speak raises issues teens will need to hear about before they get to adult literature, especially the classics. If teens read classics in school that deal with these subjects, why shouldn't they read about it in a way written specifically for them by authors who love and understand teenagers?
     If you would like to see one of the articles that twists Speak's content out of context and recommends that schools ban it, click here. Unfortunately, he is a Christian. If you would like to read Laurie Halse Anderson's response, click here. Fortunately, she is also a Christian.

2013 Edwards Award Winner

     Last week, I posted about several YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) awards for young adult literature. I did not, however, talk about the Margaret A. Edwards Award!
     YALSA describes the Edwards award as honoring "a significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens." This year's winner deserves an entire post to herself because her books are literally the reasons I began devouring books at age 10. Who is this wonderful author?

...

Tamora Pierce!

For her Song of the Lioness and Protector of the Small quartets! The following information is derived from the YALSA website:



 

 

"The four books in the Song of the Lioness series, Alanna: The First Adventure; In the Hand of the Goddess; The Woman Who Rides Like a Man; and Lioness Rampant, focus on Alanna’s journey to accept herself both as a woman and a warrior."

Also set in Tortall, two decades later, is the Protector of the Small quartet, First Test; Page; Squire; and Lady Knight. Keladry of Mindelan goes through struggles, from her First Test, then becoming a Page, a Squire and eventually a Lady Knight. While set in a fantasy world, Pierce’s heroines face realistic challenges that resonate with teen readers.

This information is from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) website. Check it out for booklists, awards and more at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/



Award Winning Teen Fiction (Booklist)

Greetings, Scribblers and Book Bandits!
The Young Adult Lit theme for March (and most of April) is "Award Winning Teen Fiction." If you and your teen are looking for YA fiction with a literary flair, here is your cheat sheet. All these books are easily available from the Lakeport library. (If they aren't on the Lakeport library display or the shelves, you can order them from a nearby library. The shipping service is fast and free! Find the online catalogue here. If you would like to see the full lists of the books, click here.) I also included the Young Adult Library Services Association's descriptions for each award:

 

Printz Awards & Honors: are the best books written for teens each year.

 

·         Dodger by Terry Pratchett (2013) Also on ebook & audiobook!

·         Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey (2012). Also on audiobook & ebook!

·         Tales of the Madman Underground : a historical romance 1973 by John Barnes (2012)

 

      ·         The Scorpio Races / Maggie Stiefvater (2012) Also on audiobook! (It's amazing, trust me.)

·         Why we broke up / novel by Daniel Handler, author of The Series of Unfortunate Events ; art by Maira Kalman (2012 )  Also on audiobook!

·         Ship breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (2011). Also on audiobook!

·         Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick (2011) Also on audiobook!

·         Please ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (2011) Also on audiobook!

·         Charles and Emma : the Darwins' leap of faith / Deborah Heiligman (2010) Also on audiobook!

·         The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M. T. Anderson (2009) Also on audiobook!

·         Your own, Sylvia : a verse portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill (2008) YA NF 811 HEMPHILL

·         The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson (2007 & National Book Award for Young People’s Literature) Also on audiobook!

 

Alex Awards: yearly honors adult books with special appeal to teens.

·         Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt (2013) Also on ebook!

·         Big Girl Small by Rachel DeWoskin (2012)

·         The Magicians by Lev Grossman (2010)

·         The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2012) Also on audiobook & ebook!

 

·         Ready player one by Ernest Cline (2012) Also on audiobook!

·         Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson (2012) Also on audiobook!

 

Odyssey Award: honors the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. The award is co-administered with the Association for Library Service to Children

·         Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama (2013)

·         Rotters by Daniel Kraus (2012)

·         The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (2012 ) (Yes, that's two, count 'em, TWO awards for The Scorpio Races!)

·         Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt (2012)

·         Alchemy and Meggy Swann (2011)

·         Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (2011 Honor)

 

     ·         Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan (2011 Honor)

 Morris Award: honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

·         Flash burnout by L.K. Madigan (2010 Winner)

·         The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (2012 Finalist) Also on ebook!

·         Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (2012 Finalist) Also on ebook!

Sorry about the blur!

·         Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey (2011 Finalist)

·         Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (2011 Finalist)

·         Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl Also on audiobook!

·         Graceling by Kirstin Cashore (2009 Finalist) Also on audiobook & ebook!

·         The Everafter by Amy Huntley (2010 Finalist) Also on audiobook!

This information is from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) website. Check it out for booklists, awards and more at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/

Aromatherapy and Wildflowers @ the Library, & Book News

     Book Bandits and Library Lubbers,
     I've got a library post for you today! I know I promised a writing post today, but two library events and some exciting book news came up. Let's start with the free library events! (P.S. They're always free. Field trip!)
     The first is called “Aromatherapy and the Immune System.” On Feb. 20th,  experienced aroma therapists Theresa LeGarie and Susan Walker will speak about essential oils supporting the immune system. If you come, you can check out the aromas of various essential oils and ask questions.  Come by at 6:00 p.m.
     At our second event, master gardener Barbara Haddon will present a free slideshow program on local wildflowers. She says that the area around Lake County abounds with wildflowers all year long, and that this program will assist people in identifying and appreciating the diversity, abundance, and beauty of California's wildflowers. This event will take place on Mar. 2nd at 2:00 p.m.
     Both events will take place at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St. For more information about either event, contact Amy Patton, the library’s coordinator of adult programs at 263-8817 ext. 17105 or email Amy.Patton@LakeCountyCA.gov
     Or ask me! :)
     Just FYI, the Lakeport Library is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 263-8817. The library can be found on the internet at http://library.co.lake.ca.us and at Facebook at Facebbok.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
     Now for some other book news!
     If you are "into" book awards, here is a cool article about the newest ones: Printz, Newberry and Caldecott medals. For the full list of Printz winners (Young Adult novels) and pictures of the covers, you can look at the YALSA award page! Congrats to the authors.
     I've talked of a certain Nathan Bransford many times in the past, as he has been a huge part of my free writing edjumacation. He has a trilogy of children's books out now, and you can check them out here! They look wonderful and I will certainly be reading them.
     Before I go, let me apologize for the weird formatting on this post. Erglbergl.


Photo Attribution:

By Glade Jacobsen (Glade Jacobsen) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Works Cited
Cook, Jan. "Wildflower Program at Library." Press Release. 15 Feb. 2013. Feb. 2013.
Cook, Jan. "Library Program on Aromatherapy." Press Release. 5 Feb. 2013. 15 Feb. 2013.

Your Library, Ebook, and YA Novel Newscast 9/21/12

Hey everyone!
Next week I'll have a nice, long, detailed post for you (which I know because I've written the first draft already), but this week we have a load of news.
Some library news! One library worker will be teaching a class on how to use the new ebooks. Even though I don't have an ereader, I think I may go anyway :) You can also get the ebooks on smartphones. That class will be on Wednesday, October 3rd, at 6PM.
The library will also be hosting a free demonstration on Jams and Jellies on Wednesday, September 26th at 6PM.
I read several blogs to keep up on book news, and I just found another great review of my FAVORITE Young Adult book of the year: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. If you'd like to read said review, here 'tis.
And some cool YA book news: the Teens' Top Ten voting has officially ended. The results will be in by October 14th! I can't wait!!! As usual, the announcement coincides with Teen Read Week, another YALSA (Young Adult Library Services) initiative. Tell the young adults in your life! The ten winners are not only the most popular YA books in the USA, they are often the most intelligent, original, or literary, as well. It's a great program.
Do you want to make your mark on YA book history? You can be involved in the process of nominating a book for the Printz Award. Isn't that neat? You don't even have to be a YALSA member. Everybody's doing it. Just kidding. But seriously.
Have a great week, Book Bandits and Scribblers!

Original (unedited) Photo Credit: Corso, Stefano. International newspaper, Rome May 2005.jpg. Wikimedia Commons. 15 May 2005. 21 Sept. 2012.

Book Review: The Scorpio Races

source

     Great books transport us to different worlds, worlds we just know exist. Finding a book like this feels like a gift. Allow me to introduce you to an award-winning book which flew me over thousands of miles of blue choppy waves, and plopped me on a horse for a beautiful, blustery, dangerous ride: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

For the readers:

     Kate "Puck" Connolly makes history on her tiny island home by signing up for the the Scorpio Races. Girls just don't do this. The Scorpio Races are dangerous and for men only...until now.
     Every November, horse riders race in the dangerous runs hoping to win the prize money. However,  these are no ordinary horses, but the speed-demon water horses called capaill uisce, drawn from Celtic mythology. They eat meat. Any meat. Human meat.
     So, not only is Puck a girl, but she rides an ordinary horse in the races made for magical, legendary beasts. Why would she do such a thing? She has her reasons. They made me want to shake her and hug her at the same time, but she has them!
     Four time champion Sean Kendrick will race again this year--but the stakes are higher than ever. And they were already pretty high. You know....life or death.
     Who will win? Only one can. The catch for me, as a reader, was that I wanted both to win! By the end, I knew them and loved them both.
     The adventure draw is obvious, but the emotional draw is more subtle. The island of Thisby has a way of drawing sea-lovers together, despite their purposeful seclusion. Puck's feisty humor and temper kept me laughing, while Sean's bravery made me braver. I saw the events through their eyes, and only the best books can accomplish that!

     P.S. I listened to this book in my car, and the voice actors have awesome accents. Maggie's music is also integrated into the readings. It enthralled me. You can order the audiobook for free through the library and listen to it in your car, too (or on your run, or while you eat chocolate raspberry walnut waffles. I did all of those things)!

For the writers:

Maggie with her book. Source.

     I've reviewed Maggie Stiefvater's books before, but only on Goodreads.com. I posted Races on the blog, though, because the craft is phenomenal. She reinvents language and description. Instead of writing, "He had a nasty black eye", she might write, "His eye seemed to be growing mold." Only her words would be even better :)
     For a few days, the real world was just a fog, or a vacation, and the island cliffs of Thisby occupied my thoughts.  In other words, Puck offered me a sticky, sweet November cake, and Sean took me for a ride on his prized horse, and I sat on the beach for hours, watching riders gallop along the shore. I ordered this book so I could read and study its "real time" descriptions.

Below: A book trailer with illustrations and music by the author. She's way too cool, right? An author, artist, and musician! Check it out:

     If you're interested, you can read the prologue here for free. Every chapter of the book gripped me, but this prologue really dropped my jaw. Very intense. It introduces readers to a world in which legendary horses rear up from the sea foam and humans must watch their backs. It immediately connects the reader to Sean, explaining how he became an orphan when he was ten years old. So important, and so well-written! Enjoy!

     If you want to order this book from the library, I would hurry because it was just nominated for the Teens Top Ten competition, and the holds will skyrocket soon!

     Speaking of Teens Top Ten, I'll be posting about the nominations next week! *excited* Talk to you then!