rgz Newsflash: Thank you, everyone!

As we look back over the day, you all rocked the drop from Glasgow to Georgia, from zoos to restaurants, from one reader to the next, and we thank you! What a celebration for Support Teen Lit Day. You all posted, tweeted, tumbled, and pinned. The photos are awesome on #rockthedrop and the readergirlz facebook page. Be sure to scroll through and enjoy what we did together. It's AMAZING!

Crissa, rgz HOST, always rocks the drop with style! Take a look at her video drop. Thank you, Crissa!

And here are just a few pics to remember the day:

Thank you, publishers, such as Team Egmont!

Thank you, libraries, such as San Diego County!

Thank you, authors, such as Sara Zarr in Salt Lake City to...

Liz Gallagher in Seattle.
Thank you, schools:
Courtney Craig Merritt
I am a Spanish and English teacher at Del Norte High School and a bunch of my Education In Action club kids will be dropping off books in the 4S Ranch community. Keep your eye out! We're so excited to be a part of this wonderful, literary cause.
and thank you, readergirlz!



Bravo, everyone! Bravo!

Rocking the Drop: Books Everywhere!

Last year, our Miami Host Crissa-Jean Chappell did a stealthy Rock the Drop video. This year, she's rocking it again... (with help from her niece Corie).

I Rock The Drop from crissachappell on Vimeo.

It all goes down this Thursday. Details here.

rgz Miami HOST: Danielle Joseph's Indigo Blues

Hey, it's Liz here!

Your Miami HOST Crissa has been busy out and about in Miami! She made this video of Danielle Joseph, author of Shrinking Violet, talking about her new book Indigo Blues! There's a reading, too. I want it NOW!

Thanks, Crissa!

Rgz Miami HOST: Christina Diaz Gonzalez!

Liz here to present a video straight to you readergirlz from your Miami HOST, Crissa!

It's a video of Christina Diaz Gonzalez talking about her new book, The Red Umbrella.

Here's a little intro to the book: The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution.

And here's Crissa's video!

Who's the first to rock the drop? #operationtbd

According to Twitter, it's Crissa-Jean Chappell, who dropped TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER at a secret location in Miami. She sneaked out when it was still dark and owly. Such courage!

Check it out.

Miami, rgz HOST, Crissa: TBD 2010

You guys! How cute is this? Get those bookplates printed, check out the TBD Wish Lists and get ready to Rock the Drop! Thanks, Crissa!

Rgz Miami HOST: Crissa's Intro Video + NYC Teen Author Festival!

Our awesome new (announced today!) readergirlz Miami HOST, Crissa-Jean Chappell, made this awesome video because she wants to meet you girlz:

readergirlz from crissachappell on Vimeo.

Crissa's been on the road in NYC for the Teen Author Festival (along with Melissa and our new NYC HOST, Micol Ostow). Go there with her:



What it Feels Like for a Girl: Writing in a Teen Girl's Voice


Jessica Blank
Eireann Corrigan
Sarah Dessen
Jenny Han
Terra Elan McVoy
Siobhan Vivian
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Jacqueline Woodson




fancy feet: librarians at the NY Public Library: Jack Martin and Megan Honig.

At the NYC Teen Author Festival, a savvy panel of writers talked about defining strong female voices in YA fiction and the power to steer the reader's gaze.

"As a teen, you judge yourself constantly," said Adrienne. "It's not just about beauty. It's the skin you're in."

While male voices are often loaded with bravado (and four-letter words), female voices are sometimes tinged with self-doubt. Their characters might drift into interior monologues loaded with questions. These stories frequently dwell on relationships (a common denominator in all YA books) as the teen protagonists struggle to find their place in a family, a friendship, or new love.

Eireann mentioned that, as a adolescent, you're starting to construct yourself as a person. Girls are often judgmental, obsessing on every detail, always wondering, Do I matter to the world?

Jessica described this point of view as a "prism," the way teen girls shape their identities through the eyes of others.

"The way we view ourselves is equally powerful," added Siobhan.

"It's scary to walk into a room full of girls." Sarah laughed. "We know what they're thinking."


Bryant Park view of the New York Public Library

On Saturday, a crowd gathered at the library to hear Libba Bray give the keynote speech at the New York Public Library.

When asked, "Why do you write for teens?" (or: "When are you going to write a 'real' book for adults?"), Libba's answer took the shape of a short story. She hasn't forgotten the "too muchyness" of being a teen...what it feels like to sit in the closet, plugged into your headphones, and listen to your favorite band, a song that "sums up your life."


Libba Bray, author of Printz medal winner, GOING BOVINE

Adults often forget "how close you are to a moment that could change your life forever." Adolescence is power, armor, want, and longing. It's about watching a boy in class, the way he taps his pen against his lips...and wanting to be that pen. It's about arranging ("accidentally on purpose") to be where he is. (and wondering if you could actually die of embarrassment).

Libba described a middle school dance as "Hamlet with a shitty DJ." A shrug is your signature move. Your bedroom door is painted with ironic unicorns...added by zombies. You want to flip off the world one minute and save it the next. A school picture is a moment "preserved in amber." It's about secrets, comics, midnight movies, Coke (or maybe Pepsi).

"Don't take notes," she warned. "This could all change tomorrow."

Why write for teens?

Libba raised her arms, as if scooping the audience into a giant hug.

"Because I don't think any of us ever stop coming of age."

April 2010: rgz Newsflash!

Dear friends,

We are thrilled this month to be talking about Deb Caletti’s THE SECRET LIFE OF PRINCE CHARMING. Reading this book is like sitting down with a box of chocolate—so luscious, rich, and satisfying. Quinn lives with a houseful of broken-hearted women. But she has a boyfriend who’s into her—or is he? When her dad re-enters her life, Quinn’s determined to give him a chance. Things take a turn for the unexpected, as Quinn learns her dad isn’t just a thief of hearts. Also, there might be a giant plastic hamburger guy involved. And with that, our lips our sealed. Just read it and prepare to be awed.

Are you ready to Rock the Drop?

Operation Teen Book Drop is April 15. We can’t wait! Here’s what’s happening:

• We’re delivering 10,000 new books to teens on Native reservations and tribal lands.


• More than 100 awesome YA authors are dropping off their books around the country. Will you be one of the lucky finders?


• You can play along, too. Drop a book in a public spot and you’re done. (You can dress it up with a bookplate if you’d like: http://www.readergirlz.com/tbd.html)


• You can also go to Powells.com after April 7 and donate books yourself. There are two wish lists of hundreds of books that will fill the shelves of two tribal school libraries in need.


• We’re having a huge virtual party at our blog. It’s at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern.
  
  

Our partners in all this excitement are GuysLitWire, Young Adult Library Services Association, and If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything, along with a long list of generous publishers you can check out on our video.

Mark your calendar

On April 12, we’re hosting a release party for Diane Duane’s A WIZARD OF MARS. It’s at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern.

And on May 3, we’re celebrating the launch of THE UNWRITTEN RULE by our author-in-residence, Elizabeth Scott. She’s holding fun contests and giving away stuff at her blog, so check it out here: http://blog.elizabethwrites.com/

Meet our new hosts

While we love our monthly online book salons, we also love meeting authors in person. That’s some of the stuff our rgz HOSTS will be doing around the country, and this month, we’re psyched to introduce three superstars:

Little Willow, in Southern California. You might know her from her blog, or from guest appearances she’s made on such shows as Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place.

Representing from the Big Apple is Micol Ostow, author of more than 40 published works, including SO PUNK ROCK (AND OTHER WAYS TO DISAPPOINT YOUR MOTHER).

Our blast of Miami heat will come from Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER, which VOYA called a “breakthrough” first novel. You can read all about it and her many accomplishments at her site.


More reasons to celebrate!

One of our founding Divas, Dia Calhoun, just sold a middle-grade novel in verse to Antheneum. It’s called EVA OF THE FARM, and we can’t wait for this one to come out. Stay tuned for more details.

And diva Holly Cupala, whose debut novel, TELL ME A SECRET will release in June, just sold her second novel, STREET CREED, to HarperCollins with a double "Wow." We can't wait!

Community service: Operation TBD

This month, we’re encouraging everyone to participate in our own community service event, Operation Teen Book Drop. If you can, leave a book for someone to find. Celebrate reading and make someone’s day. And if your budget allows, consider donating one of the books on the list at Powell’s. You’ll help bring the power of the right story at the right time to a deserving teen.

Postergirlz picks - Lots of Great Titles to Dig Into!

Beauty Shop for Rent by Laura Bowers
A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
FBI Girl: How I Learned to Crack My Father's Code by Maura Conlon-McIvor

Have a great month, everyone!

the readergirlz divas~

Dia Calhoun, Avielle of Rhia
Justina Chen, North of Beautiful
Holly Cupala, Tell Me A Secret (June 2010)
Liz Gallagher, The Opposite of Invisible
Lorie Ann Grover, Hold Me Tight
Elizabeth Scott, The Unwritten Rule
Melissa Walker, Lovestruck Summer



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Art Saves: Crissa-Jean Chappell

View the image in a new window.

Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of Total Constant Order, contributed this new piece to our Art Saves project. She calls it Levitation.

Thanks, Crissa, for your special contribution!

Visit Crissa-Jean Chappell's website and journal.
Read Little Willow's interview with Crissa.
Read Little Willow's review of Total Constant Order.