100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader

Jackie Parker, one of our awesome postergirlz, alerted us to this list of 100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader.

Jac says: "This is possibly one of the coolest lists ever compiled. I wanted to highlight just a few of my favorites that made the list, but those few quickly became DOZENS. Dozens, I tell you." She posted the full list at her blog, meme-style, putting the titles she's read in bold. She's read 45 of the 100 titles so far.

Which ones have you read? Leave a comment and let us know!

Happy Wedding Day!

One of our readergirlz postergirlz, blogger and rock star YA librarian Jackie Parker, is getting married today! So from all of us at readergirlz...

Happy Wedding Day, Jackie and Kyle!

rgz Seattle HOST: Amy Efaw!

Hey, Readergirlz!

Who's read After? *----Link has awesome video giving the whole story behind After, and how the book came about for author Amy Efaw. It's not an easy book to read, because it deals with a very tough issue. But it's well-done and definitely worthwhile!

I got to go hear Amy read and meet her last Thursday. Holly Cupala and Jackie Parker joined me, as did the awesome librarian Rachel McDonald, and we all had a blast talking to Kari Yadro, the bookseller who hosted the event. There's a photo of all of us with Amy somewhere, but my own camera was out of batteries . . .so just use your imaginations! Two authors, two librarians, a bookseller, and a guest-of-honor author. My idea of a great group!



After deals with a teen who has to come to terms with her own denial and admit that she's hidden a pregnancy (even from herself) and given birth. After the baby's born? She puts it in a dumpster.

Holly took a video of Amy reading from the first chapter!



I was amazed when Amy said that this same thing happens once a day in our country, and that most of the women who throw away babies are good students, achievers, people with resources. They're in extreme denial for deeply emotional reasons.

Amy did tons of research and has actually become one of the most knowledgeable people to talk to about this phenomenon. The statistics are hard to keep, because a lot of cases are never found out. Reading After is a great place to start if you're interested in the psychology behind a decision that seems so irrational and unbelievable.

I'm so impressed with Amy for tackling such a difficult subject. It was great to hear her read and to learn more about this problem. You can learn lots about it, too, at her web site!

I did manage to get my classic Liz-with-Author photo!:



See you next time!

Rgz Seattle HOST: Heather Davis!

Hello, readergirlz!

Liz here! I'll announce the winners of our Heather Davis THE CLEARING and Carrie Ryan THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES giveaways at the end of this post!

But, first, let me tell you what went down in Seattle last night: Heather's release party!

You know by now that THE CLEARING is a story about a modern-day girl and a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. So there were 1944-themed treats! Heather made biscuits! And brought lemons! And apples! (There's totally an apple tree in the book.) And the awesome bookseller at Queen Anne Books made oatmeal raisin cookies!



Once everyone was done enjoying the tasty treats, Heather did a reading and answered a few questions.



The crowd was awesome! Street team Sarah came out! A bunch of YA people, too!


Here's poster girl Jackie Parker, me, Heather, author Dona Sarkar, and diva Holly! Kevin Emerson was there, too. Hiding, obviously. Or off looking at books with his daughter and her toy unicorn. Probably the second one is more likely.

I had to wait out a long line of admirers, but I did get my classic Liz-with-Author photo. You know, just so no one would be disappointed.


Photo by Willow Emerson

I'm definitely spending today reading! Finally, my chance to read THE CLEARING. Been waiting with Heather for its release, and I'm so excited to dig in!

And now . . . the giveaway winners!

I used random.org to generate comment winners, and here they are:

The lucky winner of THE CLEARING is . . . Misty!

The lucky winner of THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES is . . .Christinabean!

If you winners see this, please comment with your email addy so I can get your mail addy (Misty won all the way from Australia!). If I don't see a comment by Monday, I'll track you down via your own blogs! =)

Yay! See you next time!

Steampunk at Library Journal!

Perhaps you've heard Leviathan referred to as a Steampunk book. Perhaps, like me, you're still not entirely sure what Steampunk actually is. Or maybe you just want recs for more great Steampunk reads.

Readergirlz postergirl Jackie is a librarian goddess, you know, so she pointed me in the direction of School Library's list of 20 Core Steampunk Titles.

The article does a great job of introducing what Steampunk is all about, and it recommends a slew of books from the genre, including both classics and new arrivals. My favorite bit is how it says that steampunk usually has a positive outlook on the future.

We were both especially excited to see one of our suggested reads on the list: Cherie Priest's Boneshaker!








What do you like about Steampunk? Have any titles to add to the list?

Rgz HOST: David Levithan!

Hello, readergirlz! I hope everyone's having a great weekend.

Here's the highlight of mine: I went to see David Levithan at the Ballard Branch of the Seattle Public Library, in a reading/q&a put together by Secret Garden Books.

There's David reading in a moment I very artistically captured. I like to call it "David with Snow Hat."

He read from Love is the Higher Law and from his story in a new short story collection edited by Michael Cart (I highly recommend anything Michael Cart is involved with; he is probably the foremost expert in the history of YA literature, and a man who knows how to pick 'em!), How Beautiful the Ordinary. LOVE is David's new novel, and a favorite of rgz postergirl Jackie, which is saying a lot because Jackie reads a ton of books. A mountain, even. BEAUTIFUL is one of two collections that David has stories in this fall. The other is Geektastic. The title of BEAUTIFUL comes from David's amazing story in the collection. You readergirlz know that I love to listen to authors read, and it's always a fun time for me, and I always get something out of it, but I have to say: this was a truly above-and-beyond listening experience. Very powerful story.

The crowd was super-wonderful, too, and populated by a bunch of teens, yay! (Also there: rgz own Martha Brockenbrough. Double yay.) Thanks to thoughtful questions, we got to hear that LOVE is David's most autobiographical book to date (it deals with being in NYC on September 11), the story behind how he and Rachel Cohn worked together on Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and their other collaborations (including a forthcoming one with an irresistible premise!), how that was different from how he and John Green worked on the forthcoming Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

Lesson: David Levithan is a very busy man, and everything he writes is worth reading.

Did you know that David is also an editor at Scholastic? Executive editorial director of Scholastic Press Fiction, multimedia publishing, and Push, actually. How's that for a title? Chances are, he's edited one of your favorite books.

And, with all of that going on, he still took the time to prefect the Liz-with-Author pose. Aww.

Rgz HOST: Kate DiCamillo!

Hey, readergirlz!

What's your favorite Kate DiCamillo book? Tough question, I know! I'd probably have to say it's Because of Winn Dixie for me, so far. . . but that might be about to change.

Did you know she has a new one? It's called The Magician's Elephant, and it looks like such a fun read. I'm psyched to dig in. If you grew up reading Kate's work, or you just want to experience a truly talented scribe, check it out!

The book has its own site, where you can read the first chapter, explore the gorgeous artwork of illustrator Yoko Tanaka, and sign up for a live webcast with Kate!

Kate's on a national tour for The Magician's Elephant, and I caught her during a quick signing stop today at Third Place Books.

In the photo: me, Jackie of the readergirlz postergirlz, Rene of the readergirlz salon (who lends her serious book buying skillz to Third Place--if you're in Seattle and you want good recommendations, go see Rene!), and Miss DiCamillo!

Tons of fun picking up the book and saying hi to the girlz!

Get ready for the Cybils!

It's that time of year again, time for the CYBILS, Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards 2009!

An impressive crop of kidlit bloggers has come together to make this event happen, including many of the terrific folks we met at last year's kidlit blogger conference (click here for info on this year's conference, November in D.C.) as well as friend, librarian, and rgz postergirl Jackie Parker of Interactive Reader in charge of the YA Fiction category!

Nominations for this year's Cybil awards are open October 1 - 15. Check out the Cybils site for full info on categories, judges, and the 2008 winners. Then on Thursday, go nominate your favorite kidlit books of 2009!

August 2009: rgz Newsflash!

We are showering birdseed on diva Melissa Walker! She just got married! Here’s to a lifetime of love, Melissa. And postergirl Jackie Parker must have caught the bouquet. She’s engaged! We are happy for you, ladies!

rgz welcomes Coe Booth!
In August we are chatting with Coe Booth and highlighting her intense, thought-provoking novel, Kendra. Discuss related topics all month at the rgz blog. rgz LIVE! with Coe will be held there on August 26th at 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern.



******

Postergirlz recommend!

Here are the postergirlz recommended reads to accompany Kendra:

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis
Violet by Design by Melissa Walker
So Not the Drama by Paula Chase
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
GirlForce by Nikki Goldstein



******

Sneak Peek TBD ’10!

Diva Lorie Ann Grover had an amazing time representing rgz at ALA 2009. She met with Loriene Roy, the past president of ALA, the American Indian Library Association, and the The Office for Literacy and Outreach Services about Operation Teen Book Drop '10. The Diversity Fair brought TBD to the attention of many. With such support and enthusiasm, we are going to rock the drop next April. Get ready, rgz! If you are a publisher wanting to participate, e-mail diva Dia Calhoun at diacalhoun @ msn.com.

******

August Community Service


Kendra’s mom wasn’t alone in having a baby at the age of 14. Statistics show that in the U.S., three out of every ten teenage girls will get pregnant at least once before turning twenty. Visit http://www.stayteen.org/ for more teen pregnancy information and share it with your community.

******

Did you catch the gorgeous gallery postgirl Little Willow put together for us last month? The participation was exceptional in honor of the theme Art Saves and Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg’s graphic novels, The Plain Janes and Janes in Love. Check them out!


As always, if you have any suggestions for our award-winning 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, Tell Me A Secret (2010)
Justina Chen Headley, North of Beautiful
Melissa Walker, Lovestruck Summer

www.readergirlz.com
readergirlz blog
rgz Twitter

Wedding Bells!

YAY!!!! We have TWO announcements. First, our beautiful, NY diva, Melissa Walker

is getting married a week from today! Things I know: she's wearing a bird's nest veil, and her mother is walking her down the aisle, and she is NOT chatting with us for rgz LIVE! during her honeymoon. Ha! Do you hear that Melissa? Right, Cecil?

I can't wait to see wedding photos! I wish we could all be there. *sigh*

Second, our gorgeous postergirl Jackie Parker

is engaged! Rumor has it the wedding will be next summer in the Seattle area. Things I know: she is very happy, and we are happy for her!

The wedding bells are ringing, rgz. Throw a little rice, or birdseed!

July 2009: rgz News Flash!

Doesn’t it feel official when you discover you have representation at Wikipedia? Thanks to everyone who contributed to create the entry, especially diva Lorie Ann Grover, and postergirlz Little Willow and Jackie Parker. Check out the entry!

**********

rgz goes graphic!

In July we are chatting with the multi-talented Cecil Castellucci and awesome visual artist Jim Rugg. We’ll be discussing their graphic novels, The Plain Janes and Janes in Love. Jump in the mix with your own Art Saves entry. Check out our Art Saves download to jumpstart your art. rgz LIVE! with Cecil and Jim will be held at the blog on July 22 at 6 PM Pacific/9 PM Eastern.




**********

Here are the postergirlz recommended reads to accompany The Plain Janes and Janes in Love!

The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith

**********

Give a big welcome to Liz Gallagher!

We are celebrating a new addition to our team: rgz Seattle Host, Liz Gallagher. Liz is the author of this month’s postergirlz recommended read, The Opposite of Invisible. She has volunteered to join our team and act as a representative for rgz to visiting authors in our area. She will also handle the first round of conference bookings for the divas. Can you see why we love Liz? Give her a big welcome! And if you are headed to Seattle, contact Liz so that we can all party it up!


**********

July Community Service

How do you think ART SAVES? Send us photos of your legal art attacks! Show us how P.L.A.I.N. you are - People Loving Art In Neighborhoods! Impact your community this month with your artistic expression! Find the rgz Art Saves download here! Start sending your Art Saves contributions (artwork, photographs, etcetera) to artsaves(at)slayground(dot)net - Submissions are due by July 20th!

**********

Props to diva Holly Cupala for her new title for her upcoming Harper release in 2010: TELL ME A SECRET. Congrats, Holly!

And kudos to diva Lorie Ann Grover for her latest Scholastic board book release, BEDTIME KISS FOR LITTLE FISH. PW called it “utterly serene from start to finish.”

If you have any suggestions for our award winning 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, Tell Me A Secret (2010)
Justina Chen Headley, North of Beautiful
Melissa Walker, Lovestruck Summer

http://www.readergirlz.com/
readergirlz blog
rgz Twitter

Family: Jackie Parker

I think I might be a little confused when it comes to what the idea of family is. I have blood family and friend family. I have Washington family and Michigan family - and family in between. I have online family and real life family. I have so many different circles of family that surely I must be mistaken, as how can one person be that lucky? Ultimately, family to me are those who nourishes my body, mind and soul. Family are those who comfort me, who I turn to, who I trust. Family are those who help make my life balanced, thoughtful, honest, and fun. I don't need church or state or my neighbor down the block to tell me who makes up my family - my heart knows all on its own.

- Jackie Parker

Follow the series of family posts.

Read this month's book pick, Red Glass by Laura Resau, then discuss the theme of family all month long here at the readergirlz blog.

The Biggest Teen Author Signing Ever, The Recap

This event at Books of Wonder was a ton of fun. And I got to meet our own postergirl Jackie Parker, who ruled and gave me a hug and let me snap this fangirl photo (actually, author Matthue Roth snapped it):


And then the lovely Mitali Dave took this group photo. Recognize anyone?


We obviously weren't sure which camera to look at. It was a rare paparazzi moment for us authors. Hope you all can be there next year!

Find Beauty Challenge: Lorie Ann Grover

So, of course, I had to make one! Here's my submission for the Find Beauty Challenge!



Appearances: Miss Erin, Ellen and Emily, Jackie Parker, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Cathy Garber, Kato the dog, Justina Chen Headley, Holly Cupala, and me! Yay!

Writing Retreat, 3/09

It's going to seem like we retreat frequently. But we don't. Really! It's just that this opportunity came up and so we HAD to go, right?

One weekend with members of the team who could make it: postergirl Jackie Parker, divas Dia Calhoun, Justina Chen Headley, and me (Lorie Ann Grover), here:

Two fantasies and two contemporary novels were being born. And a few good photos. This is my favorite!


There are always surprises when you go to a place sight-unseen. The next photo looks perfectly normal. But it's a skylight! The eroding mud hill was LOOMING over us. Did it make for faster typing as we all worried we'd be washed out to sea? Um. Yes.

Of course dinner out is a highlight, the chance to share how the writing day went. Just in time for happy hour!


Then back to writing in the morning!


All in all, I'm liking this retreat lifestyle. Good friends, good writing, good fun. Now, if only the whole team could make it next time...

Hey, Teachers and Librarians! You talked, we listened!

For all of the teachers, librarians, and students who haven't been able to access the Operation TBD trailer on YouTube, we have come to the rescue and posted it on TeacherTube!

(The crowd cheers!)

So...drumroll...here it is, block-free and ready to greet the world:



Special thanks to awesome librarian ninja blogger postergirl Jackie Parker and her awesome librarian ninja blogger mom for bringing this to our attention.

The Cybils 2008 YA Finalists

"Cybils" is a loose acronym for Children's and YA Bloggers' Literary Awards. It was founded by two bloggers, Anne Levy and Kelly Herold. Anyone (yes, anyone!) may nominate books for The Cybils Awards. Learn more at http://www.cybils.com

I am proud to once again be a member of The Cybils Young Adult panel. This year, I'm one of the YA judges, along with Jackie from Interactive Reader (and a fellow member of postergirlz!), Sarah from Finding Wonderland and Readers' Rants, Lili from Inside a Dog, and Casey from Avid Teen Reader.

Many thanks to the hardworking YA nominating panel, who read over 100 nominated titles and narrowed the field down to seven. I've listed the finalists alphabetically by author's last name. Summaries are my own.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Recommended in the October 2008 issue of readergirlz!
Behind the music: How life changes for a feisty teenage girl when her ex-boyfriend writes a chart-topping song about their breakup.
Read my book review.
Check out my interview with the author.

Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher
The story of a young taxi dancer in the 1940s.
I will be reading this book in the coming weeks.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
E. Lockhart was one of three authors spotlighted at our Summer Sizzle chat in June 2008!
A clever teenage girl secretly leads and manipulates a boys-only secret society at her prep school.
Read my book review.
Check out my interview with the author.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Five teenagers, brought together by tragedy, are later torn apart. Twenty-two years later, the fallout reaches a young woman who is struggling to put the pieces (of memory, of story, of life) together.
Book review to come.
(Note: In the author's native Australia, this book is called On the Jellicoe Road.)

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
Recommended in the August 2008 issue of readergirlz!
The return of a childhood friend makes a teenaged girl re-examine something horrible that happened when they were kids.
Read my book review.
Check out my interview with the author.

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
After breaking up, a teenage couple must deal with an unplanned pregnancy.
I will be reading this book in the coming weeks.

Thaw by Monica M. Roe
A young man battles Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
I will be reading this book in the coming weeks.

The winners in all categories will be announced February 14th.