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!
Hey, sci-fi/fantasy fans - I have another batch of book recommendations for you! Read my brand-new guest blog atTeens Wanna Know.
Today, I've recommended The Jenna Fox Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson, His Dark Materials (The
Golden Compass, et al) by Philip Pullman, The Cold Awakening trilogy (aka
Skinned trilogy) by Robin Wasserman, The Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and
Terrible Beauty, et al) by Libba Bray, and The Young Wizards series by
Diane Duane. These books are packed with magic, mystery, action, and romance.
Just back from Kauai, readergirlz! I was a bit reluctant to take my Kindle to the beach. How about you?
Now that I'm back home, the top of my to-read stack is Libba Bray's Beauty Queens and a celebration release of M.T. Anderson's Feed. Can't wait to get to both! What's on your stack this last month of summer?
I came home from the library today, totally happy to have found Shine on the shelf. I was excited to read Lauren Myracle's new work, knowing it was going to be intense and profound. Knowing it was nominated for the National Book Award. And then Little Willow pointed me to Libba Bray's blog.
The Foundation asked Lauren to recuse herself from the finalists as her nomination was an error. Graciously, Lauren did so. We applaud her integrity and send our loving support.
For me personally, Lauren is still on the list. No doubt.
You know we love steampunk at readergirlz. We had a blast with Scott Westerfeld, right? Well, how about a collection of steampunk short stories by some more of our favorite, favorite YA authors? You'll recognize many from our rgz Circle of Stars, past guests and contributors. Grab your goggles, because this collection by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant delivers!
So, what will you find in Steampunk: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories? How about mystery, murders, and machines? Worlds of gears and steam in amazing new locations from the minds of 14 writers: M. T. Anderson, Holly Black, Libba Bray, Shawn Cheng, Cassandra Clare, Cory Doctorow, Dylan Horrocks, Kathleen Jennings, Elizabeth Knox, Kelly Link, Garth Nix, Christopher Rowe, Delia Sherman, and Ysabeau S. Wilce.
How fun to find new authors I hadn't discovered before among old friends, all writing speculative fiction which often left me with chills. This quote from Cory's short story "Clockwork Fagin" really captures the collective atmosphere of Steampunk!:
"For machines may be balky and they may destroy us with their terrible appetite for oil, blood, and flesh, but they behave according to fixed rules and can be understood by anyone with the cunning to look upon them and winkle out their secrets. Children are ever so much more complicated."
Perfect, right? With three starred reviews already, look for this release October 11th!
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 actuallydie 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."
Here's a big GRACIAS to the incredible Libba Bray for joining us at readergirlz this month! Things we learned about Libba include:
1. She can compose a fierce Post of Awesome, complete with moisturizer tips. 2. She finds wonder in "almost everything." 3. She'd like to play guitar like Stevie Ray Vaughn and drum like Dave Grohl.
Well, at least she can write like... Libba Bray! After you finish the Gemma Doyle trilogy, check out Going Bovine, her latest novel. Libba bills it as "the feel-good-mad-cow-disease/string-theory-book-of-fall." Yes!
Rose of all Roses, Rose of all the World! You, too, have come where the dim tides are hurled Upon the wharves of sorrow, and heard ring The bell that calls us on; the sweet far thing. Beauty grown sad with its eternity Made you of us, and of the dim grey sea.
- from The Rose of Battle by W.B. Yeats
I selected this piece in honor of the novel The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray, this month's featured title at readergirlz. Thanks, Libba, for hanging out with us this month!
Here are a few, rgz. Read the whole transcript for the entire fun hour!
Highlights from Libba:
I am in my pajamas live on your internets! I am wearing super fancy Target sweats plus a Book Fair t-shirt. Glamour! Apparently, I also look like a drawing of a microphone.
It took me forever and a day to write them, Melissa. I am actually 402 years old now.
My fave book to write might have been Rebel Angels because I got to go to London and it wasn't either the first or the last. I just got to play.
Memorable fan moments. Loved the girls who dressed up as Beauty, Hope, Song at a signing in Ohio. Loved the sixth grade boy who begged me to take out my artificial eye for him. Good times.
Hey Rachel, I def. found it hard to write the ending of TSFT. I cried.
NO plans to write a fourth Gemma book right now, Deena. I have a new trilogy to write. Mwahahahhaa! *suspense*
Dia, I can barely find my socks. I do not outline or plot anything in advance. What I do do (heh-heh, I typed "do-do"...so mature) is do a lot of writing in notebooks for a year or two in advance, asking myself questions, sketching, if you will, seeing how things will take shape. I'm doing that now and have been for over a year for a new one.
Meg, my tantalizing hint is this: a new supernatural historical trilogy. But first, I am writing a crazy satire for David Levithan about a plane of teen beauty queens that crashes on an island. Think Lord of the Flies meets Lost but with a talent portion. And sequins. Lots of sequins.
Viv, the series was inspired by my love of Victorian and Gothic novels and creepy ghost stories. I grew up on them and wanted to write one. And I also thought, "Wouldn't it be cool to write a sort of Victorian Buffy?" I did lots of research including going to the British Library in London but I never feel like I do enough.
Great question, Meg. I wanted to write a complicated female character. All the women I know/have known have been so complicated and interesting and I wanted to do justice to that, not simplify. I searched my own soul and looked to the lives of others as well. But I always think you have to go inside and ask yourself the tough questions.
I like writing both male and female characters. The story dictates who will do the telling, male or female. It's nice to be able to inhabit both sexes on paper.
Cat, I had no idea how the characters would grow. That's the fun of writing--seeing where they take you. I can tell you that I changed right along with them. I had no idea that Felicity would become so vulnerable. Or that Pippa would become so evil. Or that Kartik would become...um, leafy. And I was glad that Anne broke out.
At this point Barry Goldblatt joined us in his jammies!
Thanks, Rachel. The book that launched me on my YA career was Rob Thomas' RATS SAW GOD. Awesome book. He created Veronica Mars, btw.
My fave book as a teen was The Catcher in the Rye. I also loved The Bell Jar. And Hitchhiker's Guide. Can't remember exactly when I read that but I loved it. I read a lot of plays as a teen, too.
Barry: For those asking, there's really very little happening on the film front. The first option has lapsed, and we're shopping the books around again.
I had lots of role models growing up. You're going to laugh, but I remember really liking Barbra Streisand because she was talented and strong and she didn't change her appearance to suit H'wood's narrow confines.
Aspiring writer advice? Read. Read, read, read. And write every day even if you don't feel like it. sound simplistic but you'd be surprised how many people don't follow that. And learn to hear your voice on the page. Learn to be as truthful as possible. Don't flinch away from the bad stuff about yourself--go there.
Barry: My advise to writers? Read a million books before you try to write one.
Writing rituals: I like a dark, funky cafe. A corner table out of the way. Coffee. Food product. headphones and a playlist. That's ideal.
Rachel, Most Important Role Model...Well, creatively I might say Stephen Sondheim. he's a stone-cold genius.
LOL. Lorie, I thought your question said, "Can you tell us about your favorite hubby?" Which seemed very "Big Love." My fabbity hubby is Barry Goldblatt, literary agent extraordinaire. He also does childcare and takes out the trash. But only if you're married to him. He's also the agent for Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Lauren Myracle, Robin Wasserman, among many other stellar talents. I like him and have decided right now to keep him.
Emma, I can write from both a man and a woman's POV. I've never found men to be that foreign--maybe it was having an older brother who spared me nothing. and lots of great male friends. (Hi, Les!) I think it's easier to write male rage and get away with it. This is because our society doesn't allow women full access to their anger, IMHO. Justine Larbalestier just wrote a whole post about how there seem to be double standards for female characters, that if a male character did something icky, he'd probably still be crushed on but a female character would get piled on for it. Thoughts?
Oh, I had lots of fave interactions, Isabella. That was certainly one of them. I loved Gemma and Miss Moore, especially at the well. I am partial to the scene between Fee and Gemma when Gemma finds out about Fee and they are alone in fee's room and G. comforts her. I enjoyed writing the hot scene between Kartik and Gemma. And I liked the scene between Gemma and Mrs. NW that comes at the end of Rebel Angels when we find out that humanizing bit about the old battle axe.
Libba Bray is my real name. Libba is short for Elizabeth.
Welcome to rgz LIVE! with Libba Bray. Tonight, enter the magical realm of a live chat with New York Times Bestselling author Libba Bray. The chat goes live at the top of the hour!
Libba says, "New dress code: You have to rock a piece of Victorian clothing. What do you wear and how do you wear it? Describe your ensemble. Make it work, people!"
Libba says, "One of the themes in the book is about fate versus free will. Gemma believes in free will while Kartik believes in fate. What do you believe?"
Libba says, "The novel deals a lot with the question of identity -- the process of finding and defining yourself as opposed to letting others (society, family, friends, romantic partners) do so. Why do you think this is so hard? What pressures do you face in your own quest to be a more authentic you?"
Last week, I got to go see a bunch of amazing authors read. The lineup included (l to r in that crazy photo above):
Melissa Kantor (The Invisible I, Amanda Project Book 1), Natalie Standiford (How to Say Goodbye in Robot), featured author-of-the-month Libba Bray (Going Bovine), Courtney Scheinmel (Positively) , Sarah Beth Durst (Ice), Jeff Rivera (Forever My Lady) and Shani Petroff (Bedeviled: Daddy's Little Angel). David Levithan hosted.
Awesome lineup, no? It all took place at the Jefferson Market branch of the New York Public Library, where Marie (aka Cupcake Witch) is the book queen. Here's me with Marie and lovely Alley of Books blogger Mitali:
Anyway, at one point Libba was speaking brilliance, and I had to take my little camera and catch this moment where she talked about the emotional range of girl characters in YA literature (forgive the quality of the video, but the quality of the statement was so worth it).
