June: Do you use food for comfort?

Jenna uses food for comfort when she's anxious or unsure. Hence, the cover of Sweethearts. Is this something that you do or have done?

June: Things to Know About Featured Author Sara Zarr

The incredible Sara Zarr, author of Sweethearts, has shared a few things about herself with us:

Favorite bookstore: The King's English in Salt Lake City - comfy store, great selection, amazing staff.

Favorite library: The Salt Lake City Public Library, main. (Named 2006 Library of the Year! Booya!)

Pets: One very talkative parakeet named Peanut.

Dream book tour: The Lake District in the UK, Venice, and then a special appearance on a cruise ship going up the Inside Passage to Alaska...

Favorite outfit: Jeans, sneakers, comfy shirt.

Laptop or longhand? Laptop, usually.

Stilettos or Uggs? Actually, I pretty much never take off my ecco sneakers!

Next up: A short story in Geektastic this summer. Then, my third novel, Once Was Lost, coming in October.

I could hang out with Sara all day long, in jeans (Sweetheart jeans from Old Navy, in fact, are a favorite of Sara's) and a t-shirt. She's the coolest. I want to know: What can Peanut say? Find out more about her on readergirlz.com!

The Fantasy Road Trip Contest!

Listening Library is sponsoring the Fantasy Road Trip Contest, challenging teens ages 13-18 to create videos based on an imaginary road trip with characters from one of three great fantasy series. The series include the works of Libba Bray, author of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing), Tamora Pierce, author of the Beka Cooper series (her current series, so far it includes Terrier and Bloodhound), and Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (including the latest, The Last Olympian).

Your short film should answer the questions, “If you could go on a road trip with a character from your favorite audio series, where would you go? What would you do along the way? How would you travel?”

Visit fantasyroadtripcontest.com to watch a video about how to enter, see video requirements and find out lots of information about the authors and their books. Authors will judge the videos, each picking a winner (for a total of three), who will receive an 8GB iPod Touch and a collection of signed audiobooks.

The contest runs from June 1-August 17. Get creative, readergirlz!

rgz LIVE! with diva Melissa Walker

Come celebrate Lovestruck Summer with rgz, postergirlz, divas, and diva Melissa Walker! The chat will begin at 6:00 Pacific. Here's to a great kickoff for your upcoming summer!

rgz LIVE! Chat Tonight at 9pm EST/6pm PST

We'll throw a little confetti because diva Melissa Walker's Lovestruck Summer is here, we'll discuss the merits of iced coffee, sparkly shoes and good jukebox lists... or whatever you're feeling.

Join us tonight, here at the readergirlz blog, for rgz LIVE! at 9pm EST/6pm PST. Bring questions, deep thoughts and knock knock jokes. We hope to see you there!

June: Parents Making Mistakes

In Sweethearts, Jenna's mom makes some mistakes when it comes to dealing with Jenna's past and current issues. What do you wish parents would do differently when you confide in them?

What a Girl Wants at Chasing Ray

This week, Colleen Mondor of the fabulous blog Chasing Ray will launch a series of posts featuring writers whose YA novels feature strong female characters. This endeavor, aptly titled What a Girl Wants, will include authors Margo Rabb, Sara Ryan, Jacqueline Kelly, Loree Griffin Burns, Zetta Elliott, Beth Kephart, Laurel Snyder, Mayra Lazara Dole, Melissa Wyatt, Kekla Magoon, Jenny Davidson, and our own Lorie Ann Grover! I really look forward to seeing what these ladies have to say. Go, Colleen.

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Picks
Broken by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry

For Your Younger Siblings
Juicy Gossip by Erin Downing
Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy) by Alison McGhee, with art by Drazen Kozjan

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

readergirlz summer poster

Check out this amazing poster for our rgz summer reads created by readergirlz diva Holly Cupala! You'll want this up on the wall of your room or library to remind you of sizzling summer ahead with readergirlz.





Diva Dia

June: Transforming yourself

Between 4th grade and high school, Jenna transforms herself into a different person physically and socially. Have you ever wished you could reinvent yourself? Why?

June: The Sweethearts Playlist

Sara Zarr's Sweethearts playlist is in the right sidebar and appears as part of our full issue about Sara--check it out for some lovely, nostalgic sounds. It's an amazing mix, and I'm totally taking it to my 10-year college reunion this weekend (!).

Some artists involved include:

June: The Year We Disappeared, John and Cylin Busby

Cylin Busby and her father, John, co-authored The Year We Disappeared, their family's true story. John, a policeman, was shot on his way to work, and his family had to move to another state in an attempt to stay hidden from the would-be killer. The memoir captures their fear, anger, and pain. Here's what Cylin shared with me upon learning that her book was selected to be our non-fiction recommended read this month.

When I heard that our memoir was a recommended read for June at readergirlz, along with Sweethearts, I have to admit that at first, I didn't see the connection. I’ve read Sweethearts, tore through it, actually, in one night because I had to see what happened. To me, it read like a thriller, despite the soft, sweet title. Readers have described our memoir as a "thriller" too, a book you can't put down, so maybe that's why the postergirlz panel recommended us? But when I thought about it a little more, I started to see the threads come together: buried fears, hidden truths, keeping secrets, questions about identity, fear and lonliness. All of these are in both of our books, one fiction and one nonfiction.

In some ways, I am like Cameron. I know now that when our family was relocated, when we "disappeared," the friends I left behind were just as confused as Jenna is about her friend's disappearance. Like Cameron, something terrible had happened to me, to my family, and then suddenly, I just wasn't there, our whole family was gone without a trace. But in other ways, I am like Jenna, too - I had to recreate myself when we lived in hiding, to become someone else, someone that those terrible things had never happened to. I did not change my name, but I did cut my hair, hide my glasses, wore the jeans that everyone else was wearing, and faked a Southern accent to fit in.

Thanks to the postergirlz for choosing us as a good fit with Sweethearts, I have to agree. And I'm honored to be in the company of such talented writers and amazing books. I feel like the outsider sitting at the popular kid lunch table yet again...

- Cylin Busby

Check out all of this month's recommended reads.

Harry Potter 6 Trailer

Okay, to be fair, since I loaded the New Moon trailer, I went in search of the Harry Potter 6 trailer. The very best one in HD, with glorious shots of SNAPE, cannot be embedded. But here is the link. IT LOOKS AMAZING! Click it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96QRVfto7OM



And of course what it's all about really:



*sigh*

June: Sweethearts Roundtable!

Every month, Little Willow rounds up divas and postergirlz for a roundtable discussion of the spotlighted title. This month we were excited to have a chance to talk about Sara Zarr's wonderful novel, Sweethearts. Without further ado, here's Little Willow to start us off!



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I cherish the book Sweethearts, I really do. Sara Zarr's sophomore novel gently captures both the innocence of youth and the point at which it is shattered. The friendship between a fragile girl and a tormented boy changes dramatically when they are children, and evolves further when they are teenagers and the long-lost boy returns unexpectedly.

Last August, the postergirlz selected this book as one of our of the recommended reads within that month's issue of readergirlz. Now, Sweethearts is our main pick for June , the book of the month for our book group. Five of us - Little Willow, Miss Erin, Lorie Ann Grover, Melissa Walker, and Holly Cupala - set up an online meeting to discuss the book at length. Here's what we had to say.

Little Willow: What words come to mind when you think of Jenna, the main character in Sweethearts?

Miss Erin: Lost, buried, caught, hidden, confused, bruised, neglected.

Melissa Walker: Hiding, scared.

Little Willow: I second "hiding" and "confused." Also: Fragile, lonely, searching, nostalgic, torn.

Holly Cupala: Questioning identity, hidden truths, self-punishment, longing for acceptance.

Lorie Ann Grover: Self-doubt, lost, confused, pained, hungry for peace and acceptance from others and herself.

Little Willow: When she slipped back into her binging habits, I wanted so badly to help her.

Lorie Ann: I know, LW! It pained me when she stole and binged. Pained me!

Holly: My heart went out to her. We've all been in places where we've felt misunderstood and helpless and have tried to soothe ourselves in unhealthy ways, whether physical or emotional. Sometimes we have to reach bottom before we can start the journey back up.

Little Willow: By the time she got to high school, Jennifer shed the weight and (some of) the shyness of her elementary school self. She also changed her name to Jenna. What did you think of her transformation?

Miss Erin: Reinventing yourself can be a good thing, but in Jennifer's case I think it was more harmful than helpful. She wasn't doing it for the right reasons, per se--she was doing it to try to run away from her past. Your past isn't something you can run away from and still be perfectly content/at peace/happy. Jenna certainly wasn't.

Melissa: I thought it was another way for her to hide from a past she was unsure about, a time that brought her pain to remember.

Lorie Ann: I have a different perspective. I admired that she redefined herself. I found her journey in Sweethearts to be about meshing the new image authentically with who she really was. And what a surprise: her authentic self was even greater than she hoped. She was liked, loved, and courageous.

Holly: She worked so hard to hide from the people who were hurting her that she also hid from herself. Most heartbreakingly, she hid her own strength. She couldn't even see it because it was wrapped up in all that pain. I admired her most when she was able to have compassion and admiration for her earlier self.

Little Willow: The friendship between Jennifer (Jenna) and Cameron was so believable, their ties so strong, that I envied it (though not the events that tested those ties!) I liked how important their friendship was when they were kids, then important in a different way when they reunited as young adults. Their relationship was always platonic, yet it was so deep. I feel that the title is accurate, but in a surprising way, as this is not the romance that title might imply. Instead, it's about the innocence of children, what happens when that innocence is lost, and what it truly means to have a forever friend. I am always happy when a story (be it a book, a film, anything) permits a girl and a guy to have a platonic relationship. Just because people are opposite genders and approximately the same age doesn't mean they should date. That societal assumption really bothers me. The connection that Jenna and Cameron had was strong because it was built on so many layers.

Miss Erin: Yeah, it was believable. I'm so used to not reading about deep-yet-platonic relationships between the main character and her guy friend, that at first it through me for a loop and I kept wait for a romance to blossom. It was refreshing, really, to find a friendship like theirs...meaningful yet without any romantic complications.

Melissa: Good point, Miss Erin! I loved the depth of friendship, and that physical/romantic things didn't get in the way. They were just . . . close. The scene with Jenna and Cameron just lying on the grass together had a big emotional wallop for me.

Holly: I agree! I was waiting for a romantic development, but it didn't feel wrong when it didn't come. It made me think of childhood friendships, and how they have changed over the years, or my memory of them has. I had a crush on a guy when I was a pre-teen, then ran into him again in college, and it just felt . . . weird. I don't think I could have ever thought of him that way.

Lorie Ann: Okay, I hear you each, BUT I wanted a kiss! I still want a kiss! In my next chapter they kiss. :~)

Little Willow: The scene in her room also stayed with me - and, of course, the flashbacks.

Holly: Yes! Those shared memories - and how each of them perceived them in both similar and very different ways.

Little Willow: Let's discuss what happened to them as kids. Did you see it coming? Did you think it was handled well and/or revealed well? Your reactions to the truth, once we readers knew for certain what had happened?

Melissa: I was glad that it wasn't a huge, dramatic event in the sense that it might have been. An almost-happened moment can be just as confusing and scary as a "happened" moment sometimes, and I think that was the case here. I hope that's clear.

Lorie Ann: I think it's more universal to be an almost event, one that many people can imagine and understand without further horrific specifics. However, it demands more of the reader. A cursory reading would leave the reader unsympathetic with what the children experienced.

Holly: I was so relieved when it was an almost-moment, even though it shook both of them. It only served to highlight what was going on with Cameron behind closed doors - Jennifer only got the tiniest hint of what his life was like, and it changed her forever. That was powerful.

Little Willow: What did you think of the writing? Of the storytelling method, with the past revealed in pieces here and there?

Miss Erin: The storytelling method made it very difficult for me to put the book down, because I was so concerned about what happened. I needed to keep reading, but at the same time I was a little afraid to. I ended up reading the book in one sitting because of the constant wanting to make sure they were going to be okay.

Holly: I couldn't put it down because of the emotional tension and slow reveal. My writer-brain was on alert: "How is she doing this??" I learn a lot from Sara!

Little Willow: Sweethearts was a compulsive read. Zarr handled the tension quite well: she drew the readers in right from the start, then kept that tension nice and tight throughout the entire story. She kept the characters acting and sounding their ages, especially in the childhood flashbacks. Contemporary Jenna never sounded like an overly wise and nostalgic adult, considering her childhood days at length with distance, but instead she communicated her confusion and the events in her past and present as she experienced them.

Melissa: I loved it. I thought the reader was kept uneasy, much like Jenna and Cameron were uneasy in their lives. We felt their shakiness chapter by chapter, and we weren't sure why. I think they weren't either, and we were all finding out what things meant together at the same time.

Miss Erin: Well said, Melissa.

Lorie Ann: Yes, Miss Erin. It also echoed memories being captured. It was easier to experience this vicariously with Jenna through the structure.

Little Willow: Sweethearts was Sara Zarr's second novel. I also really enjoyed her first book, Story of a Girl, which also felt very realistic. Did any of you read that Story?

Holly: Yes. I loved that book, and I loved how well Sara has brought both very different girls to life, even though they are both in some ways defined by events in their past and must heal friendships and family relationships.

Lorie Ann: I did and absolutely admired Sara's realism. She is such an honest writer and acute observer of people. What subtle and powerful writing she has given us! It's been too long since I read Story of a Girl to compare and contrast Jenna and Deanna. (Although they both have "e" "nn" and "a" in their names.) And now I will have to reread it!

Little Willow: I think it's interesting to note that, in Sweethearts, Jenna's hiding a secret, while everyone knows (or thinks that they know) what Deanna did in Story of a Girl. Both protagonists are covered with shadows from their past. Can they escape these shadows?

Holly: I think they both do, though perhaps not in the ways they set out to. Both are overshadowed by the idea that other people hold them captive with their past secrets, and to escape, they both come to a place of recognizing the truth of themselves, their own strength, outside of other peoples' views. I admired them both so much for that.

Little Willow: It's clear that I think Sweethearts is a great pick for readergirlz. Why do you feel people should read this book?

Lorie Ann: It's such a great example of defining yourself. This is something that every person does. So how do you do that in the face of people who have acted against you in the past, who you are now, and who you want to become. Most dear to me was the healing between Jenna and her mother. What a great warning that one neglect to communicate can alter relationships forever. Thank you, Sara!

Holly: I think Jenna's story will resonate with readergirlz of all ages. So much of growing up is about finding who you are, where you are going, and who you want to take with you. After struggles, heartbreak, and a second chance, Jenna comes away knowing all of these things. A beautiful book.

Melissa: I love that Jenna comes to be at peace with many different parts of herself, as we all must do. She isn't just one thing -- just Jennifer or Jenna -- she's a combination of all that she's experienced and seen and learned. And that's a beautiful thing.

Lorie Ann: I am so happy to be hosting Sara this month at rgz. It's our honor to have her participation. Let the month begin!


Hey there, roundtable readers! What did you think of Sweethearts? Please join our discussions of the book here at the readergirlz blog and check out the June issue of readergirlz!

postergirlz recommended reads for June

We are so happy to feature the postergirlz recommends that are perfect accompaniments to Sweethearts.

Fiction
The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Purge by Sarah Darer Littman
Hold Me Tight by Lorie Ann Grover
Peeled by Joan Bauer

Non-Fiction
The Year We Disappeared by John and Cylin Busby

Little did I know when I saw Joan at the Texas Library Association that our books would both be recommended together in June! Woohoo! Thanks, postergirlz!

YALSA's Teens' Top Ten

Looking for more summer reading, rgz? Be sure to check off all the books on YALSA's Teens' Top Ten! Here's the summary from their site:

"Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted on Support Teen Literature Day during National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen can vote (at the website), online, anytime between Aug. 25 and Sept. 18; the winners will be announced in a webcast featuring WWE Superstars and Divas during Teen Read Week."

So give a hand to the nominating teens and the books nominated! And get to reading. We are planning our own Teen Read Week celebration with YALSA right now. More soon...

Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (9780152063962).
2008.

Cast, Kristin & P.C. Untamed. St. Martin's Griffin. (9780312379834). 2008.

Clare, Cassandra. City of Ashes. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry.
(9781416914297). 2008.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic. (9780439023481). 2008.

Fukui , Isamu. Truancy. Tor Teen. (9780765317674). 2008.

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. HarperCollins. (9780060530921). 2008.

Green, John. Paper Towns. Penguin/Dutton. (978025478188). 2008.

Harris, Joanne. Runemarks. Random House/Alfred A. Knopf. (9780375844447). 2008.

Hopkins, Ellen. Identical. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry. (9781416950059).
2008.

Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Disney-Hyperion.
(9780786838189). 2008.

Marriott, Zoё. Daughter of the Flames. Candlewick Press. (9780763637491). 2009.

McMann, Lisa. Wake. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. (9781416953579). 2008.

Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. Megan Tingley/Little, Brown. (978316067928).
2008.

Moran, Katy. Bloodline. Candlewick Press. (9780763640835). 2009.

Ness, Patrick. The Knife of Never Letting Go. (Chaos Walking. Book 1). Candlewick
Press. (9780763639310). 2008.

Noёl, Alyson. Evermore. St. Martin's Griffin. (9780312532758). 2009.

Palmer, Robin. Geek Charming. Penguin/Puffin. (9780142411223 ). 2009.

Pierce, Tamora. Melting Stones. Scholastic/Scholastic Press. (9780545052641). 2008.

Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. (9781416960591).
2008.

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Eternal. Candlewick Press. (9780763635732). 2009.

Smith, Sherri L. Flygirl. Penguin/G.P. Putnam's Sons. (9780399247095). 2009.

Weingarten, Lynn. Wherever Nina Lies. Scholastic/Point. (9780545066310). 2009.

Werlin, Nancy. Impossible. Penguin/Dial. (978080373001). 2008.

Yee, Lisa. Absolutely Maybe. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. (9780439838443). 2009.

Color Online's Summer Book Drive!

The fantastic organization Alternatives for Girls, which helps homeless and high-risk girls avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation in favor of positive choices, has a wish list at Powell's of new books for their library.

The Color Online Summer Book Drive is on, and they're asking for donations of new or gently used books by July 1. Pick from the fantastic list at Powell's (which includes a few readergirlz favorites!) or, to send donations directly, mail books media rate to:

ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS
C/O LIBRARY
903 W. GRAND BLVD
DETROIT, MI 48208

Read more about the book drive here. It'll feel good to give!

June: Loyalty

One of the major themes of Cam and Jenna's friendship in Sweethearts is loyalty, even in the face of change. What do you think makes a loyal friend? Should loyalty have limits?

New Moon Trailer!

*sqeeeeeee* goes Team Jacob! Give it up with Gypsy Wings and me!

Welcome, Sara Zarr!

We are thrilled to welcome Sara Zarr to readergirlz. Her novel, Sweethearts, is our June pick! Check out the our interview with Sara, book party ideas themed around Sweethearts, and our Reach Out project idea--as well as the awesome soundtrack Sara's chosen for the book--on readergirlz.com.

Here's a little about the book: As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also each other's only friend. So when Cameron disappeared without warning, Jennifer thought she'd lost the one person who would ever understand her. Now in high school and known as Jenna, she is popular, happy, and dating -- everything "Jennifer" couldn't be. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they both are confronted with the memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken. Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.

And the buzz...

"We are honored to have National Book Award Nominee Sara Zarr at readergirlz this month to celebrate the theme of Truth with her beautiful novel, Sweethearts. When Jenna's childhood friend Cameron walks back into her life, Jenna must face the fragile self she has left in the past as well as the life-altering memory she shares with Cameron. I think her journey will resonate with readergirlz of all ages as we consider the truth of who we are, and who we want to be." - Holly Cupala, readergirlz diva

A 2008 Cybils finalist

An Oprah Book Club Kids Reading List pick

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, VOYA

"...wistful prose and skillfully layered characters." - Horn Book

Cybils Award Finalist 2007

We are psyched! Join us all month right here on the blog for discussions and mark your calendars a LIVE chat on Wednesday, June 17th at 6pm PST/9pm EST.

Happy June, readergirlz!

June 2009: rgz News Flash!

Welcome to readergirlz in June!

Many thanks to the National Book Foundation for awarding rgz with the Innovations in Reading Prize! As rgz is a volunteer organization, this award will help us with operational costs and kick off a new literacy program we've been brainstorming for the coming year. Thank you, National Book Foundation! We are honored!

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National Book Award nominated Sara Zarr hangs with rgz!

In June we are gathering to chat with Sara Zarr about her novel Sweethearts which received multiple starred reviews. Publishers Weekly called the work, "Engrossing." Be ready to discuss memories, friendship, and childhood sweethearts throughout the month. rgz LIVE! with Sara will be held on June 17th at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern at the readergirlz blog.


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Check out the postergirlz recommended reads to accompany Sweethearts!

• The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• Purge by Sarah Darer Littmann
• Hold Me Tight by Lorie Ann Grover
• Peeled by Joan Bauer
• The Year We Disappeared by John and Cylin Busby

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rgz LIVE! chat with diva Melissa Walker!

We are celebrating diva Melissa Walker's latest release, Lovestruck Summer! Party it up June 9th at our blog at 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern. Save the night, even join us with your laptop or iPhone poolside! We’ll talk music, summer romance, and wave to our rgz in Austin, Texas. Congrats, Melissa!


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June Community Service

In keeping with Sweethearts, our PR specialist Sara Easterly has brought Bully Bust 2009 to our attention. Check out the rgz June issue to learn more about empowerment against bullying and follow the link to sign the STAND UP pledge.

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If you have any suggestions for our online book community, contact us at divas@readergirlz.com. Thanks for joining us as we read, reflect, and reach out!

Best in books,

the readergirlz divas~

Lorie Ann Grover, Hold Me Tight
Dia Calhoun, Avielle of Rhia
Holly Cupala, A Light That Never Goes Out (2010)
Justina Chen Headley, North of Beautiful
Melissa Walker, Lovestruck Summer

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