readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!
Susane Colasanti's latest novel (out next week!) has a great Cover Story. Here's a peek at it:
"The hottest thing about the cover of Now and Forever might be that the models are a couple in real life.
"Or maybe it’s how the background image totally captures the excitement of a concert. And not just any concert. Now and Forever is about a girl whose boyfriend, Ethan Cross, is the world’s biggest rock star. So of course we had to do some kind of concert venue type design. I couldn’t wait to see which direction the art department would take.
"My contract says that I’m allowed cover consultation. When my editor sent me the first draft of the cover for feedback, something very obvious was missing in the audience..."
Read the full Cover Story at melissacwalker.com, and US residents can enter to win a signed copy of the book below!
Confession time, rgz: I *love* E. Lockhart. So, so, so much. As a writer, she is sharp, stylish, and hilarious, always walking that fine line between mass appeal and writing with a message. Her books are always thoughtful and deliberate without being heavy-handed, and having heard her speak on a few occasions, she always manages to inspire.
I think we all have that one author who reduces us to a series of fan-girl squeaks and mumbles, and for me, that author is E. Lockhart. Thank goodness all rgz correspondence was conducted via email so she couldn't hear me stammer!
Needless to say, I'm thrilled to celebrate the fourth book in the Ruby Oliver series, Real Live Boyfriends. I've been a fan of Ruby's since The Boyfriend List! Here's what E. has to say about Ruby, and this month's theme of Self-respect:
Self-respect. It's the readergirlz theme but it's also what Ruby is trying to figure out in these four books. She goes from calling herself a leper (really grodie and unloved) to calling herself a roly-poly (only a little grodie and even beloved by certain bug-fond weirdos). A bit of progress, right.
Now that I think of it, that's all we really need in life, yeah? Not to be beloved by the masses. To be beloved by a few discerning weirdos. It'sjust a hard thing to figure out when you're in high school and some people seem golden and others hopeless. So that's what I'm writing about.
Someone wrote to me on Twitter recently that all four novels seem like one big book, together. That made me very happy, because I never planned to write four books. I planned two, and then maybe a third, and then, oh, yah, I kinda want to write a fourth. The search for self-respect does tie the novels together. Ruby has messed up. She's angered her friends, and partly for good reasons. She's an incorrigible flirt. She's self-deceptive. Sometimes selfish.
So, what I'm looking at in these books is the question: what do you do if you're a person with actual faults that piss people off? Meaning, if you're human?
Do you go on blindly, feeling virtuous and deluding yourself that you're victimized when other people hate you? Or do you realize the errors of your ways and fall into a pit of helpless self-loathing and flagellation?
Neither way leads to actually finding those discerning weirdos who think you're awesome. Neither leads to mental health.
You (and when I say "you" I mean "I") -- you have to figure out what you think makes a good person and then try to be it. You have to forgive yourself for your failures but not forget them, because if you forget them you'll do them again. You have to laugh at what a wanker you've been. Maybe you have to say sorry.
Thanks so much for joining us, E!
Readers - stay tuned for information on a Ruby Oliver giveaway later this month!
And in the meantime, why not chime in with some of YOUR favorite Ruby Oliver moments?
It's been a while since I've done one of my favorite things - going to book events and telling you about them. That's changing now, though, because it's an exciting time for book releases in Seattle!
On Wednesday night, I got to gather with other local YA writers and friends (including divas Holly and Martha!) to celebrate the release of Deborah Reber's first novel!
You've seen Debbie around here before. She's also the author of a bunch of non-fiction books that we here at readergirlz highly recommend, plus she runs an amazing blog called Smart Girls Know.
Love, Love, Love is actually two books in one: Debbie's Language of Love, plus Cupidity by Caroline Goode. If you're a fan of the Simon Pulse series of romantic comedies, I can guarantee you'll love both!
Here's what Language of Love is all about, from the back cover:
Janna is quickly adapting to life in Seattle as a high school exchange student from Hungary. Or at least Julian, the cute boy she met in a coffee shop, thinks she is. The truth is, he overheard Janna using a phony accent, and now she's stuck playing the part ... Will Julian want to be with the real Janna? Or will she discover that lies don't always translate to love?
To celebrate, Debbie hosted a super-fun party at Secret Garden Books. There were hot-pink cupcakes and Valentine's Day Peeps! She also put together a quiz about other love stories set in Seattle. Guess what? I won the quiz! Which means I have a copy of Love, Love, Love to give away!
Leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a random winner (US only)! Plus, I also won a raffle prize that I'll throw in! It's a copy of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, which Debbie worked on. You've got from now 'til next Saturday, the 12th, at noon pst to comment and win both! Please leave an email address in your comment so I can let you know if you won.
Me, Debbie, Peeps and the giveaway books
Now, I'm off to get in a Valentiney mood with Love, Love, Love!
Our rgz NYC Host, Micol Ostow, recently attended an exclusive event for the forthcoming Francine Pascal book Sweet Valley Confidential. In this novel, the famous Wakefield twins are all grown up. What has happened to Jessica and Elizabeth in the ten years since they graduated from Sweet Valley High? You'll have to read the book - which comes out in March 2011 - to find out.
In the meantime, Micol picked up something to tide you over: a Team Jessica T-shirt! It's a size large (L) in juniors, so it runs small. See the picture below:
Want to win a Team Jessica T-shirt? Leave a comment below and tell us why you're on Team Jessica or Team Elizabeth!
Update: The winner is Erika Lynn! Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.
Wreck This Journal is exactly what the title implies: a journal you tear up, draw in, decorate, and create! I think The Plain Janes would be all over this book. Check out the awesome intro page as well as the Flickr group. Way to wreck a rec!
Want to win a free copy of Keri Smith's next book, How to Be an Explorer of the World? Simply leave a comment below with your email address. One winner will be selected at random on Tuesday, July 14th and notified via email that day. Note: Entrants must be residents of the U.S. or Canada and have a valid email address.
Update: Thanks to all who entered. The contest is now closed. The winner is dreadfulpenny. Congratulations!
Bully Bust 2009 is a "community-led concerted effort to reduce bullying in schools" sponsored by the Center for Social and Emotional Education and Boy Meets Girl. Bully Bust encourages people to speak up when they see bullying happening in their schools, in their neighborhoods, or online.
We have a very special giveaway connected to Bully Bust - but before I tell you about that, I want you to really consider what bullying does to a person, how often it happens, and what you can do to help stop it.
Turn the Statistics Around!
CSEE offered the following facts, then added, "Make a difference to turn the statistics around."
* Schools are the 3rd most common location for hate crimes. * Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. * For every 25 middle school kids, an average of 2 kids are harassed daily. * 1 in 4 students say they are unsure of their safety at school. * When there is a school-wide commitment to end bullying, it can be reduced by up to 50%. * Suicide remains among the leading causes of death of children under 14.
Take the STAND UP Pledge
Support those around me who are being bullied or victimized Tell a friend, teacher or parent when I see someone being bullied Ask myself, "How would I want to be treated?" Note where and when bullying occurs (bathroom, playground, online) and Do something when I see someone being bullied – be an UPSTANDER
Understand why bullies bully Practice being a good role model for my fellow students and share "STAND UP to bullies" strategies
Bully Bust sent readergirlz a STAND UP T-shirt designed by Stacy Morgenstern Igel, the founder of the clothing line Boy Meets Girl. This limited edition shirt is made out of 100% organic cotton. (Woo hoo!) It is a white T-shirt, size medium.
Want to win the shirt? Leave a comment below with your email address. That's it! One lucky winner will be selected at random and get the shirt for free.
Update: The contest is now closed. Congratulations, Charley! Thanks to everyone who entered.
You can see the shirt in this video featuring teen actress Sammi Hanratty, the spokesperson for Bully Bust.
Books About Bullying
Looking for a book about bullying, gossiping, or peer pressure to discuss in class or in a book group? Try one of these titles:
- and this is just the tip of the iceberg. For more books about bullying, peer pressure, and other such topics, consult my Tough Issues for Teens booklist.
Share the Love
Send the Bully Bust link to your friends and family members and encourage them to sign the STAND UP pledge. If you're a teacher or a librarian, I hope you'll tell your students and patrons about it, too.
I dared author Lauren Myracle to describe her newest book, Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks, solely in song titles - and she did! Only she didn't list the arists - just the songs - to test my song-recognizing prowess.
Do YOU recognize the songs and know who sang 'em? Read my interview with Lauren Myracle, figure out who sang what, and then leave a comment with your guesses before midnight PST on Sunday, May 24th. One random commenter will receive a signed copy of Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks. Good luck!
Update: Congratulations to Jenna, who was selected to be the winner!
Fellow postergirl HipWriterMama is, thanks to Candlewick, giving away 10 sets of Jo Knowles' two novels, Lessons From a Dead Girl and Jumping Off Swings! Leave a comment at her blog (after reading the awesome interview and the rules!) before Friday, May 29th.
Wow, we got a lot of responses for the rgz Magnet Giveaway. Cool! Some here, some at my blog, some on our FB feeds and beyond.
I numbered them all and asked Husband to pick a number...
...and the winner is...
...sweetmelissa818 of A Mom With Too Little Time - which seems fitting to me! Melissa, we hope you enjoy your readergirlz magnet set, lovingly handcrafted by another mom with too little time: me.
