The Page Sage

Springtime Meditation on Books

2015-04-06T17:25:00.000-04:00

Guys, it's WARM out! I have SUNBURN! (Not usually excited about that but I spent hours working on the quad and then had class OUTSIDE and I have to use ALL THE CAPS TO INDICATE HOW HAPPY I AM.)

Anyway, I've been neglectful of this blog (shocking, I know) and felt like procrastinating from work I need to do for a science class, so here I am!

What's been going on with me? (So sweet of you to ask). Well, I...

Presented a paper I wrote about Sexist Critiques of YA Lit at a Women's Studies Conference
Won an award for said paper
Started a book club on campus that reads diverse narratives (we had our first meeting today to discuss Ask the Passengers by A.S. King)
Became "visual coordinator" of my college's new social justice blog, StandUp
And got a job in the Office of Gender and Sexuality

Busy, busy, but very happy. Did I mention it was warm outside today?

Anyway, I'm going to actually be doing a series of posts based on that paper I mentioned above. Comment below and let me know what you've been up to!

An Open Letter to YA Authors About Sex

2015-02-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

*Fair warning for my faint-of-heart readers. We're talking about sex here more than Salt-N-Pepa.*

Dear YA Authors,

Please stop making sex hurt.

That's a weird request, I know, so let me clarify what I mean a little. You know the (heterosexual) sex scenes in YA books (the ones that don't fade to black) where it's the girl's first time and it goes something like this:

I felt a sharp pain and he paused. "Are you okay?" he asked. I gritted my teeth and nodded. Eventually the pain turned into something better... later, after we were finished, I saw a red stain on his sheets and cringed.

I'm not exactly going to win the Printz here, but you get the idea.

This stereotypical sex scene bothers me for a number of reasons and in order to explain why, I'm going to break it down with some statistics (courtesy of the National Conference of State Legislatures).

1. 22 states require sex ed in public schools AND

2. Only 19 of those states actually require it to be "medically, factually or technically accurate"

That's a little scary, isn't it?

Basically, this means that a lot of teens are probably NOT getting comprehensive sex education (or any sex education at all). And while the Internet has a lot of great resources, like Scarleteen, it also has unrealistic porn and propagates a lot of myths surrounding sex.

I'm lucky to live in a state that does require sex ed but I still got hit with some of the old standards. Especially the whole first-time-for-girls-sucks-popping-the-cherry crap. As a preteen and teen, a lot of the extraneous info I got about sex came from some of the YA books I was reading, and they confirmed what I had been taught: for heterosexual girls, sex will hurt and there will be blood and it is scary.

In reality, is this true? Kind of. My educators conveniently forgot to mention that a woman's first time only hurts if she isn't aroused and - oh yeah- there really shouldn't be any tearing going on (ow!).

It doesn't take a Women's Studies expert to see where this myth comes from: virginity ("purity") is taken very seriously for girls in Western culture to the point where it is tied to a woman's worth. Make sex something painful and it discourages girls from participating.

Unfortunately, even my favorite feminist writers, like Kristin Cashore, have included this myth in their books (Graceling, in this case). And until I discovered Laci Green's Sex Plus channel - God bless her - I believed this myth.

So please, YA authors, stop making sex hurt. You may have readers who learn more about sex in your novel than they do in every semester of school, so while it's not your job to be their health teacher, you can stop buying into a myth that was created to keep women "pure" and passive.

I'm not asking you to dedicate a chapter in your books to talk about how great sex can be. I'm literally just asking that you stop making it scary.

Sincerely,
Sara

Feminist Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

2015-01-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

" Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . . Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not. In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without "

Summary from Goodreads.

The Quick of It: Pivot Point is the first book in the Pivot Point series. Now onto the fun stuff. :)

Holy wow I could not put Pivot Point down. I started it on the train when I went into New York and finished it the next morning. The dual plotting is just brilliant and the suspense! Seriously, this book will make your pulse beat faster.

“'My bookcase is all yours.'
I walked to the door. 'I've just decided that those are my favorite five words in the world.'"

Demerits:

My main issue with Pivot Point was the character of Stephanie. She's a cheerleader, an a jealous ex, and this evil, beautiful cheerleader trope is tired. Her contributions to the plot could have been achieved in ways that weren't so trite and didn't rely on unnecessary girl-on-girl hate.

Making the Grade:

I loved Addie's friendship with Chris. Even though there's a kind of dual-love-story thing going on, it's fair to say that both stories are more about Addie's relationship with Chris. The loyalty here, and the way they're brutally honest with each other in ways that only best friends can be.

"We were an odd pair, constantly tugging each other back and forth over the line that represented normal teenage behavior."

Fellow Book Nerd:

Addie's love of books endeared her to me right away. The fact that she liked everything from classics to graphic novels made me love her even more.

Final Grade: B

See my explanation of grades.

Feminist Review: OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

2015-01-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

" When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he’s her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again. But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can’t stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic... and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea knows a lot about him. She spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she’s obsessed. Bea tells herself she’s got it all under control. But this isn’t a choice, it’s a compulsion. The truth is, she’s breaking down...and she might end up breaking her own heart "

Summary from Goodreads.

The Quick of It: I won this book from the author (thanks!), though that does not affect my review. Now onto the fun stuff. :)

While Haydu's writing style is really accessible, OCD Love Story is not an easy story to read. It's not meant to be- you feel everything Bea feels, every frustration and yearning and hope. So basically, this book doesn't just tug on your heart strings, it grabs onto them and won't let go.

Demerits:

There's been a lot of cheerleader hate in the books I've been reading lately. So I got a little ruffled over this passage:

"Something no one knows: Football-playing popular dudes sometimes fall for quirky smart girls as long as they, you know, have a pretty face and decent body. I think they get sick of the anorexic cheerleaders, and if you catch them at the right moment, you convince them to want something more."

In simple terms, this is a classic case of...

This passage not only shames a body type by making light of anorexia but it unnecessarily encourages girl-on-girl hate and competition. I can understand why Bea, a girl who already feels different from other people, might lash out but this isn't consistent with the rest of her characterization.

Also, some of the ways Bea talks about her best friend is alarming. Like the point when she says, "She's not a lost cause, exactly, but she loses track of her hands, her words, her facial expressions too easily and it's gotta be at least part of the reason she's still never kissed a guy." Because, naturally, every movement girls make is to attract a guy.

Making the Grade:

After this book, I will never ever say "I'm so OCD" just because I like my books organized nor will I allow any of my friends to say it. OCD Love Story is really eye-opening about what it's like to live with this disorder and you get to see how different teens cope with it. Bea desperately wants to control her compulsions, but because OCD is a form of anxiety (something I did not know before I read this), it's nearly impossible to.

“Torture: knowing something makes no sense, but doing it anyways.”

A character who actually likes the way she looks and is unashamed of it! It was such a relief to have Bea say that she is gorgeous and own it (it's very Beyoncé of her, and by that, I mean it's awesome). Of course I can't find the page with that passage on it now, but here's a close second:

"Let's face it: I'm really pretty in winter."

A Note on the Grade:

Even though I had my complaints, I want to make it clear that OCD Love Story is a really great read. It really provides such an honest perspective and with such a dynamic character as Bea, it's a fantastic story.

Final Grade: B-

See my explanation of grades.

The Perfect Traveling Companion

2015-01-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

I never go anywhere without a book. My friends tease me all the time about it because I've brought books to movies, parties- you name it, I've probably brought a book there.

When you're traveling, even just for a day, it's absolutely vital to have a book or two or three on you. Not everyone has (or wants) an e-reader, and if that's the case, you need to have a plan down, otherwise you can end up stuck lugging a 500-page hardcover on your New York trip (not fun).

Instead of torturing your arm muscles, follow this guide to reading while traveling:

1. If you're about to finish a book, don't bring it.

I know this is hard. You're dying to know what those last thirty pages contain and if you don't bring it with you, you won't be able to read it and then the world will end!!!!!!

Leaving your potentially favorite book behind is stressful

But seriously, we're trying to pack light here and books are heavy. You're going to finish those thirty pages in the first five minutes in the car/train/plane and then you're going to be stuck with that dead weight for the rest of the trip. Speed read it or leave it.

2. Set a limit.

If it's a day trip, bring only 1 book. You're not going to have that much time to read if you're - for example - going into the city for the day. 1 book should cover the train or car ride (if you're one of those lucky jerks who can read in the car) just fine, unless you're the world's fastest reader. If you are, kudos to you.

3. Stick to the limit!

I know, limits are lame. But you'll thank yourself later.

Yes you can probably fit three books into your purse but you want to be able to find your wallet and cell phone with relative ease. If you're going on an airplane this is all the more important: that suitcase full of books may have seemed like a good idea at the start, but when you have to pay exorbitant baggage fees, you're not going to feel so smart.

4. Go paperbacks.

You don't want to bring a book like this.

Hardcovers are pretty, but paperbacks are lighter! And can be squished into a bag better (just be careful- they can also get ripped/damaged more easily *shudders*).

5. Mix it up

If you are going on a trip that requires more than one book, bring a few in different genres or styles. That way, if you're in France or the Bahamas (lucky you, take me with you please) and you suddenly develop an aversion to all dystopian novels, you can pull out that fantasy book you brought. Problem solved!

Any bookish traveling tips?

Feminist Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

2015-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

"To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. "

Summary from Goodreads.

The Quick of It:

I've never heard a bad word about any of Jenny Han's books before and I'd stumbled on a number of positive reviews of To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Plus I was at the library this week and I was in the mood for realistic fiction and also my self control in a library may call for therapy. I started it that day and tore through it, staying up till 3 in the morning last night so I could finish it. I just loved her writing style, and it was especially cool because it's kind of a Glass Menagerie retelling (I say kind of because the parallels are there but the overwhelming depression isn't).

"When I write, I hold nothing back...Every secret thought, every careful observation, everything I've saved up inside me, I put it all in the letter."

Demerits:

The only part of the book I have a demerit for is also kind of spoiler-y. Proceed with caution!!

Start of the Spoiling: At the end of the book, a rumor is started that Lara Jean had sex with a guy in the hot tub. In some regards, Han handles it well, in showing the discrepancies between how girls and guys are treated. (The guy is a stud while the girl is a slut because female sexuality is SCARY and EVIL *waggles fingers demonically*). But then Lara Jean seemed to reinforce that. When her dad finds out, it's natural that she is mortified and overwhelmed and defensive, but then she says things like she can't believe he'd think "the worst" of her. First of all, her dad doesn't want her growing up too fast (understandable, especially from a parent's POV), but he doesn't indicate that he doesn't think well of her now because of it. That's all Lara Jean. In addition, the only other girls who are sexually active in the book (Peter's ex, Genevieve, and Lara Jean's best friend, Chris) are either depicted as catty and manipulative (Gen) or out-of-control and self-destructive (Chris). We're told that Margot has had sex, too, but even here it's something she regrets. Spoiling Over!

Initially, I thought it was cool that Lara Jean wanted to wait to have sex till she was older or married because she was making a choice that worked for her. But when there's a narrative set up that shames girls for making a different choice, that results in a demerit.

Making the Grade:

It's a coming-of-age story! And a sister story! I absolutely love a good sister story, maybe because I don't have any sisters. Their bond is tighter than anything- drama, chores duties, boys (literally the definition of "sisters before misters"). Her relationship, especially as Kitty's older sister, added so much heart to the book. It kind of reminded me of a Stephanie Perkin's novel in that sense- you could feel the genuine love between the characters (even when they were screaming at each other).

"Sisters are supposed to fight and make up, because they are sisters

and sisters always find their way back to each other."

The Song sisters are Korean on their mother's side and it was awesome to see a biracial protagonist in a YA book. (This is actually my first book for the 2015 Dive into Diversity Reading Challenge.) Celebrating her Korean culture (usually through her dad's cooking) is a way for her to remember her mom and adds to the bond she shares with her sisters. It's not all peachy, though; Lara Jean also has annoying little things she has to put with up (like how on Halloween everyone thinks she's a manga character no matter what she dresses as).

"There are very limited options for Asian girls on Halloween. Like one year I went as Velma from Scooby-Doo, but people just asked me if I was a manga character."

Surprise:

Maybe I'm the only one who didn't know, but To All the Boys I've Loved Before isn't a standalone! The sequel is coming out this June and while the summary is triggering some Love Triangle Alarms, I'm crossing my fingers it will be as good as the first. Based on the way Han beautifully handled all the relationships in this book, I'm sure it will be.

Final Grade: B-

See my explanation of grades.

Dive Into Diversity Challenge

2014-12-29T18:49:00.002-05:00

I've talked about this before, really don't like reading challenges. I know they're fun for some people but, for me, it's one of those things that just stress me out. Reading is an escape for me, and when I have to read something it stops being an escape.

That said, I'm participating in a reading challenge in 2015. The Dive Into Diversity Challenge is hosted by the awesome Magan and Estelle at Rather Be Reading and is inspired by the also awesome We Need Diverse Books campaign.

Unlike some of the other challenges out there, this one is relatively lax- all you have to do is read at least one diverse book a month. A lot of characters who don't fit the mythical norm (white, straight, middle-class, abled, etc.) don't get as much attention in media, including YA books but the We Need Diverse Books campaign (and, by extension, this challenge) seeks to change that.

What is all this diversity talk about? I'll let one of my favorite organizations, the Harry Potter Alliance, explain why representation is not just cool, but really necessary (I added the bold for emphasis):

"1. It gives people a stronger sense of self and affirmation of identity.

2. It gives children somebody to relate to and look up to.

3. It expands people’s assumptions of their capabilities (assumptions that are often relayed to them through constant negative media portrayal).

4. It provides a more realistic look at the world’s population.

5. It fights the idea that straight/white/male = normal and everything else is “other” (think about your local bookstore: there’s probably a section for African American Fiction, Gay and Lesbian Fiction, and Women’s Fiction, and while these can be positive spaces for marginalized groups to find books that include them and portray their issues with honesty and authenticity, it’s important to discuss the reasons why they have to have separate sections, and why they’re not already included in general literature and fiction)."

I was privileged enough to grow up with access to a great library at my synagogue, and reading about other Jewish kids really helped me find my own faith and appreciate my culture. Every kid of every race, religion, social class, etc. should have that chance.

After all, we can only benefit from diversity. The more stories are told, the more we as readers can better understand and empathize with people who may not share our background. Growing up and reading YA books about characters who grappled with their sexuality or gender (like Ask the Passengers or Luna) is a large part of why I'm a feminist today. Books like Libba Bray's Beauty Queens (one of the most diverse books out there) was honestly a huge factor in my decision to double major in Women's & Gender Studies and Government.

Put very simply, diversity is important because everyone's story is important.

I'm going to start a tab with a bunch of my favorite diverse reads and I'd love your recommendations! Fantasy and realistic fiction are my favorite, but I also love a really great sci-fi, or a thriller...let's be real, I'll read anything.

Anyway, Happy New Year! Let's hope it's a great year, full of great (and diverse) books.

Will you participate in the Dive into Diversity Challenge this coming year?

Opening Up

2014-12-26T15:56:00.001-05:00

I'm not good at opening up around new people. I'm a friendly person, but I kind of hold myself back out of fear I'll come on too strong or say the wrong thing. With awesome people in real life, I can usually get over this pretty quickly (*waves at new college friends*) but on the Internet, it's a bit harder for me. It's a lot trickier to break the ice with people in 140 characters on Twitter or in the comments of a blog. I can't recover from something awkward I've said with a quip because my words are out there, in print, and I can't take them back. You know, the Internet is forever and all that.

So I do what I always do: I go for perfection.

As anyone who is a perfectionist will know, a lot about perfectionism is being a people-pleaser. You want to make others happy all the time and feel like a failure if you slip up. Does that sound exhausting? It is. I've been blogging for three years and throughout all this time, I've tried to come up with the perfect formula to please my readers and put all of this pressure on myself until there were days or weeks or months where I didn't like blogging anymore.

The thing is, there is no formula to blogging. Every time I would do something differently or put more work into more features or try a new form of social media, I would end up back at Square One wondering why my blog wasn't good enough.

A lot happened in the last few months - I started college, met a group of wonderful new people, started dating a guy I'm crazy about, took phenomenal classes, read awesome books - that has made me reexamine a lot about how I interact with myself. One of the biggest influences was Amy Poehler's Yes Please, which I would recommend to pretty much anyone. It's a quirky, comedic, really honest memoir that I tore through in about a day.

The thing about Yes Please is that Amy conveys this balance of openness and strength that go together seamlessly. It reminded me of one of her quotes (not from Yes Please, I don't actually know where it's from) where she said, "Vulnerable people are powerful people. Opening your heart and sharing it means you're going to get so much love in your life."

And I thought about that, and how in real life I'm a fairly open book with those who know me, and I'm going to try and do that more on The Page Sage. I'm going to be open - which is definitely a form of vulnerability, especially on the very, very public world of the Internet. I want to do it for me. I want to have a space where I can be honest and nerdy and relaxed because blogging is not my job, nor do I want it to be.

Another thing that struck me in Yes Please is how Amy's strength comes from knowing who she is and not being afraid to be ridiculous. I'm a pretty (read: really) ridiculous person at times (read: a lot of the time) and by constantly censoring every sentence I put online, I sap away a lot of the creativity and fun I have on this blog. That doesn't mean I'm going to start swearing like a sailor on here, but I'm not going to worry if something sounds a little weird or awkward because who cares?

Who cares if someone thinks my blog isn't good enough? It's my blog, and it's certainly good enough for me.

As we start to head into the new year, that's where I'm going to try to keep my head. It's hard for me, and this constant need for perfection extends far past my blog, but maybe it'll be a good start to tackle it here. Anyway, wish me, luck (and go read Yes Please if you haven't already).

(Seriously, it's awesome.)

Do you ever struggle with perfectionism or doubt while blogging? How do you cope?

That Blogging Thing I Used to Do

2014-12-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

Hey, remember when I said in October that I was returning to blogging? And then I blogged maybe once before disappearing yet again? Well, about that...

Whoops.

In hindsight, it was ridiculous to think I could handle NaNoWriMo and a return to blogging in November. November, the month during which every professor assigns papers, exams, and presentations all before you head into finals. I realized how fruitless this plan was halfway into the month and at that point, I was not giving up on NaNo.

I won NaNo (yayayayay!) but that meant I had to continue my hiatus on the blog. At this point, I was starting to ask myself, do I even want to blog anymore? I haven't been really present in months, barely anyone is going to read this post, and I don't even know what my blogging friends are up to anymore since I haven't really kept in touch with them. While I'll definitely get back in touch with my friends, I had to ask: is it worth it to keep blogging?

I was this close to saying no. But the truth is I'm not ready to give up blogging. If I have to start from the ground up again then I will because I love talking about books with all of you. I love nerding out and having a space where I can just have fun.

So here's the plan as I head into a New Year of Blogging:

1. Say Hi

Reconnect with people! I'll say hi to my old bloggy friends who I've stupidly neglected (waves at Alicia) and make some new ones!

2. Have Fun

The Page Sage is a pressure-free zone. On here there is no need to be perfect- I just get to write and read and have a good time doing it.

3. Post What I Want

Was there a cool episode of Supernatural I want to talk about, even though it isn't bookish? I'm going to do it. This is my blog, after all- if I want to talk to you guys about something I'm allowed to do that (though it will still be mostly bookish).

4. Have Fun.

This one is important, so I'm listing it twice.

That's the plan anyway. I hope you're all gearing up for a happy holiday and that you get lots and lots of books!

Talk to you guys soon. :)

NaNoWriMo Update: Day 3

2014-11-03T20:27:00.002-05:00

Hey there, writers, readers, and/or fellow NaNo-ers!

As you may have read in this post (which features a giveaway, so go win a book, okay?!), I'm doing National Novel Writing Month and so far, it's been an awesome challenge. Of course, it's only Day 3, so it may start leaning towards the latter soon enough. I really like the story I'm telling, even though I never finished outlining it (whoops) and I have an awesome support team.

We'll see if my friends are still so supportive by the end of the month, when I'm pulling out my hair trying to get this story done.

As of tonight, I have approximately seven hundred more words to write, but first I have to write a mini paper for a class tomorrow. No matter how much I want to work on my NaNo project, school still has to come first. I've got caffeine in me now, though, which means I should be able to do it all.

Hopefully (I may actually be immune to caffeine).

Anyway, I hope your Works-in-Progress are coming along nicely, if you're NaNoing (or just writing in general). Add me as a buddy and we can write together!

How are your NaNoWriMo projects coming along?

Blogging, NaNoWriMo, and a Giveaway

2014-10-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hey, guys!

It's been far too long since I've done anything blog-related, but I have a good reason: college. The past 2 months of my freshman year have been crazy (but awesome) as I've adjusted to life on campus. Honestly, it's been a pretty easy transition, which I'm thankful for, though that hasn't kept my schedule from becoming packed. And on top of midterms, papers, talks, activities, etc., I got really sick the week I had planned on returning to blogging, which was not fun (do not recommend, 0/10).

But I'm back! I'll be continuing my sporadic posting, but in a more consistent way (don't think about that too much). I haven't had much time for reading - okay, I haven't made that much time for reading - but right now I'm reading I Am Malala and Wide Awake, both of which I'm really enjoying. I've also done a ton of reading for my classes, but something tells me you won't want to hear about Global Political Economy.

So I'll be blogging about the much more interesting books. And also about my progress with NaNoWriMo!

"But Sara!" you say. "You've barely had time for blogging let alone writing a whole novel in a month!"

And to that I say, yeah, you're probably right. But I've got to give it a go, anyway! If any bloggers want to coordinate NaNoWriMo posts with me so that it's more like a NaNo party, just reach out! (Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me, and all that.)

Anyway, since I've been woefully negligent of the blog, I've decided to do a giveaway to make up for it. Hope that's okay. ;)

You can enter to win one of the books below in the Rafflecopter (if the books are part of a series, you can select a different book in the same series instead). These are some of my favorite Feminist Reads and since this has been a feminist YA book blog for a few months now, I thought it'd be fitting. This giveaway is open to any country where the Book Depository ships.

Now, go enter away! And let me know what I've missed in the blogosphere!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1) by Rae Carson
Graceling (Graceling #1) by Kristin Cashore
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1) by Libba Bray
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Anatomy of a Boyfriend (Anatomy #1) by Daria Snadowsky

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Boys, Books, and Marketing

2014-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

While the "broken record" line might be a cliche, it's certainly fitting when talking about Hollywood or sports. The same excuse is said time and time again, that "more men see _____ movies" or "only men like sports." It doesn't matter how many times this has been disproved. Even with female-driven movies such as Frozen dominating the box offices - and the fact that "since Title IX, the number of high school girls who participate in sports has gone from 1 in 27 to 1 in 2.5," - movie and sports marketing is still geared towards men, with the alleged philosophy that this is what makes money.

And then you have the book industry.

In YA lit, female authors are in the majority, certainly more so than in adult fiction. And studies have shown that more adolescent girls read than boys. Now, if the marketing heads were to follow the example set by the two industries above, the plan should be simple: gear advertising towards women and girls, because they're the ones who bring in the money.

But that's not really what happens.

It's not enough that women make up 60% of book buyers- no, marketing is still geared towards men. This goes hand in hand with what has become known as the "John Green effect"- the idea that something is only literary if a man writes it. (Just look at this week's New York Times best sellers- the teens list is composed of a majority of male authors.) Conversations are all about how we need more "boy books" and how to get boys reading and while I'm all for more male readers, why does it have to be at the expense of women and girls?

And why does an industry whose main demographic is women and girls need to market to men? Why doesn't the same philosophy that runs the movie and sports industries apply here? If it's supposedly all about making money, shouldn't you work to appease your consumer base?

The answer lies in, of course, the structured sexism that oils the cogs of our society. As the brilliant Kelly Jensen said over at Book Riot, "In 2014, there are still people who are fine with women’s success as long as it’s not too successful."

And what this ultimately means for the movie and sports industries' excuses is that they're just not true. Marketing departments choose to target men. They decide that men are the more important demographic, leaving women on the sidelines (no sports pun intended).

To say this is disheartening would be an understatement, especially since very little is changing. How many times must women prove that there is an audience for their stories before our media starts listening?

That's the thing, though: in an ideal world, women wouldn't have to prove anything- we'd already be considered equally important.

What do you think about the marketing for YA books?

Feminist Review: YOLO by Lauren Myracle

2014-08-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Through texts and messages, the mega-bestselling, beloved Internet Girls series followed the ups and downs of school for three very different, very close friends. Now it’s freshman year of college for the winsome threesome, and *everything* is different. For one, the best friends are facing their first semester apart. Way, way apart. Maddie’s in California, Zoe’s in Ohio, and Angela’s back in Georgia. And it’s not just the girls who are separated. Zoe’s worried that Doug wants to break up now that they’re at different schools, and Maddie’s boyfriend, Ian, is on the other side of the country.In the face of change and diverging paths, Maddie’s got a plan to keep the friends close, and it involves embracing the present, making memories, and . . . roller derby! Using of-the-moment technology, Lauren Myracle brings her groundbreaking series into the brave new virtual world of texting and tweets.

Summary from Leafmarks

The Quick of It: This is book #4 in the Internet Girls series. Also, I received this from the publisher, which in no way affected my review. (And now onto the fun stuff.)

I can't tell you how excited I was when YOLO showed up at my door one afternoon. The TTYL books were a huge defining force throughout my middle school years. My three best friends (of the time, we grew apart during high school) and I read them together, and we all had a favorite character and would pass around our copies of the books to share. Reading YOLO allowed me to remember how much those friendships meant to me, even if we're not close now. It was doubly perfect because YOLO is set when these characters are going off to college, which I'm doing, well, today! (This was written well ahead of my departure, to spare you any freak outs. Wish me luck!)

"mad maddie: in self-defense, I am very good friends with Netflix"

Demerits: None!

Making the Grade:

You probably saw this one coming, but can you blame me? The friendship is pivotal to this series, and it remains just as heartwarming and positive as I remembered. The way the girls lift each other up and support each other no matter what is just awesome but I really love how they stay honest, too. Basically, they're not afraid to be blunt with each other, if that's what's needed. The whole friendship dynamic is just spot on- these girls annoy each other and tease each other and make each other laugh, but most importantly, they all love each other. I want to see more friendships like this in YA!

Extra Credit:

While this book is, overall, light and fun, Myracle still manages to touch on Greek life mentality (hazing and the sexism that often comes with it) and sexual assault on campus. It's not a huge surprise that Myracle is handling relevant and sensitive subjects with tact (she's a pro at it), but it's still highly appreciated.

Don't Forget: it comes out on August 26th!

Final Grade: A-

Dating Books

2014-08-15T13:06:00.000-04:00

I just finished Isla & The Happily Ever After which is probably one of the most emotional, beautiful books I've ever read. Seriously, it left me feeling like I'd been scraped raw after reading it (in a good way, I swear)... and with a wicked book hangover. I've wanted to start reading new books, but I can't, and all of this has made me realize that reading a really good book - or book series - is kind of like being in a relationship.

How so? Well, there are 7 stages.

1. The Honeymoon Stage

You are so in love with this book that you want to spend every minute with it. Your parents keep telling you you should spend more time with friends, but you have to keep reading.

2. Tearful Ending

And then the worst happens: it's over. It's not you, it's the book- it just doesn't have any more pages to give.

3. Gloom Sets In

You are convinced you will never love a book that way again. What's the point of reading anyway? All stories just end.

4. Slow recovery

After awhile, you start to think that maybe - just maybe - you should put yourself back out there again, try other books. There are hundreds of books in the library, right?

5. Speed dating

In this case, "him" is a book.

You have a few flings with a couple of books, but you can't seem to buckle down.

6. Commit to a book

At last, you think you've found The One! The book that can make you forget about all those other books!

7. Rinse & Repeat

Have any tips for getting through a book break-up?

Running through YA

2014-08-12T16:52:00.000-04:00

High school was not the best time for me when it came to exercise. I packed my schedule with homework and extracurriculars and volunteer work and a job, but didn't put any time aside for exercising, except the 20-30 minutes I got in gym class (provided I had gym that marking period). So when I graduated this June, I made a pact with myself that I would start working out.

Schoolwork, activities, volunteering, working- all of it is important, but so is taking care of myself. And if I don't take care of my body, it's going to make all of that other stuff a lot harder to do. This is my new mentality, one I'm taking with me to college in just a couple of days (Side bar: oh sheesh I'm going to be a college student in a couple of days when did that happen aaaaaaaaaah but yaaaaaaaay.)

With this in mind, I've been running a lot this summer and on Saturday I'll be running a 5k with a couple of friends. I've discovered I really like running- it makes me feel strong and healthy and at peace with myself. So naturally, I have to relate it to YA.

Below are the best YA books for running inspiration.

Are you into running? What YA lit running tips do you have?

Percy Jackson: The Musical?

2014-07-28T17:52:00.001-04:00

This weekend was awesome because I finally got a couple of days off to go into the city with my brother. Back when he was starting college and I was finishing up elementary school, I read the first few Percy Jackson books and passed them along to him. They filled the gap between Harry Potter books, but they were also really fun and something we could both share, regardless of our age gap.

Fast forward to 2010, when the Percy Jackson movie came out. Of course, we saw it together, and I'm not really going to rehash how I felt about it because I've said often enough what a putrid, terrible, racist, sexist, idiotic, piece of trash that movie is.

Needless to say, we did not see the sequel.

But then! My brother's girlfriend's voice teacher told my brother's girl friend that his husband (hope you're keeping up) had written the music for a Percy Jackson musical. It was going to be a kid's show, it was at a theater in Manhattan, and the tickets were free!

Obviously, we were in, and we got to the theater an hour before the box office opened (the theater gives preference to groups, so we went on a Sunday when there would be fewer groups, but that didn't stop the line from stretching down the street).

Going in, we weren't really sure what to expect ('cause, I mean, The Lightning Thief: The Musical has plenty of potential to be reallllly bad), but the end result?

PURE, UNADULTERATED AWESOMENESS.

Seriously, this show was smart, funny, energetic- ugh, it was just great. All of the actors were incredible, and even though there was just a five person cast, the show hit every important character and every important scene from the book. All in just an hour, which is doubly remarkable when you consider that a) it didn't feel rushed or cramped with too much stuff at all and b) the movie completely and utterly failed to do this in double that time.

Oh it was just so good!

If you're in/around New York, definitely go see it! It's going to be at the Lucille Lortel Theatre until August 22nd, and here's a handy dandy link to the rest of the info.

Meanwhile, I'm praying that there will be a CD or something, because I have all of the music stuck in my head. "So if you think you are a half-blood..."

Would you want to see The Lightning Thief the musical?

Fictional Roommates

2014-07-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Since I have about a month left until I start college (AH, but also YAY), I've been thinking about, well, college a lot. And one of the most novel parts of school (no pun intended) will be the whole roommate situation.

I'm not too worried, especially since my roommate seems pretty cool, but it got me thinking: what if I could room with any of my favorite fictional characters? Who would I choose? Who would I never, ever room with?

I think it's time for a list.

Livin' in Harmony:

By Calivel

1. Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Karou doesn't seem like she'd be too uptight about the room situation, and can you imagine how beautiful she'd make it with her artwork??

By Simini Blocker

2. Elisa from Girl of Fire and Thorns
Late night gossip sessions like with Mara? Count me in!

Asking for a roomie switch:

By agusmp

1. Hermione from Harry Potter
I love Hermione, but I am far too similar to her to room with her. We'd probably end up killing each other.

This series needs some fan art, stat.

2. Audrey from Audrey, Wait!
Again, love Audrey. But "she likes her music loud" and I like being able to study in peace and quiet.

---

I also asked you guys who you'd like to room with- here are some of your answers!

So, who would your fictional roomie be?

Feminist Review: Pawnee by Leslie Knope

2014-07-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Pawnee: More Exciting than New York, More Glamorous than Hollywood, Roughly the Same Size as Bismarck, North Dakota In Pawnee, Leslie Knope (as played by Amy Poehler on NBC's hit show Parks and Recreation) takes readers on a hilarious tour through her hometown, the Midwestern haven known as Pawnee, Indiana. The book chronicles the city's colorful citizens and hopping nightlife, and also explores some of the most hilarious events from its crazy history--like the time the whole town was on fire, its ongoing raccoon infestation, and the cult that took over in the 1970s. Packed with laugh-out-loud-funny photographs, illustrations, and commentary by the other inhabitants of Pawnee, it's a must-read that will make you enjoy every moment of your stay in the Greatest Town in America.

Summary from Leafmarks

The Quick of It: Reading Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America (allegedly written by the fictional Leslie Knope) is kind of like watching one really long episode of Parks and Rec. While also rewatching all of your favorite episodes. While hanging out with the characters. Basically, if you're a Parks and Rec fan, this book will be a lot of fun. And if you're not a Parks and Rec fan...why the hell are you reading this book??

Demerits:

Yes, unfortunately, self-declared feminist Ms. Knope strays from her ideals when discussing the women's rights hero of Pawnee, Dorothy Everton Smythe (though the rest of the section is, admittedly, pretty amusing). According to the book, Smythe had to educate herself in secret since women's education was outlawed and so she "'traded kisses for books.'" Leslie goes onto comment that "Basically, she was a little slutty, but for a good cause."

At which point, I was kind of like, HOLD UP. I mean, it's not the biggest thing in the world - it's a throwaway joke in a comedy book - but why is a female character's sexuality being judged or explained away? And by a feminist, no less?

A demerit for you, Leslie Knope.

Making the Grade:

I mean, if you want to see an awesome female friendship, just look at Leslie Knope and Ann Perkins. While Ann Perkins is only featured in a short section of the book, I'm giving points because of how great their friendship is on the show, which may be cheating but, well, it's my blog.

"She's my best friend and I love her" ~Ann Perkins on Leslie Knope

One thing I really want to point out is that besides being hilarious, Leslie Knope is a really important figure in our media. She's a woman with amazing leadership skills who is determined and gets stuff done (while still being a bit nutty and endearing and nerdy), which is why Parks and Rec is one of my all-time favorite TV shows.

Other Notes: This book is funny- like, really really funny. Every few pages I would put it down and stop whoever was nearby so I could read a particularly chuckle-inducing passage out loud, which probably got a little annoying for my mom after awhile (especially considering she doesn't watch P&R). But seriously, if you're looking for a break from heavy duty reading and want something enjoyable, Pawnee is a good choice.

Get a Copy (you know, if you want)

Final Grade: B-

Author Adoration: Kristin Cashore

2014-07-16T21:36:00.000-04:00

You know when you're reading a book by an author you've read before and you're struck by how amazing it is? And you're doubly amazed because it's just as good as the author's other two, three, ten books? This feature will highlight those authors, those whose books are an automatic purchase, who you recommend to all of your friends, and push on your book clubs. There's no set schedule for this, but there will probably be about one of these posts a month. (Blogger's Note: hahaha the last time I did one of these was January, whoops)

Kristin Cashore

My love for Kristin Cashore's books knows no bounds. Seriously, every time I see these books in a bookstore, I end up yacking my friends' ears off over HOW AMAZING her Graceling series is. And then I bemoan the fact that I still don't own Bitterblue (though I will. Soon. Hopefully.).

Her published works: Graceling (YA, 2008), Fire (YA, 2009), Bitterblue (YA, 2012)

What's to love:

These books are off the feminist charts. Seriously, I could go on and on (as my friends will tell you) about the characters' diversity and her exploration of femininity, or you could just read them. (I highly recommend that.)
Katsa is a girl after my own heart in so many ways. In fact, she and this character inspired me to lob off my hair two years ago. (Okay, so I had a professional do it. There was no way I was giving myself a pixie, let's be real.)
All of the characters, really, are just amazing and wonderful and awesome. Fire is not the traditional fantasy heroine (oh gosh, seriously you could write a 20 page paper all about Fire), and Bitterblue is at once a queen and a teen (points for a rhyme?), and then there's Po (swoon), and Brigan (ditto), and all of their friends, and GAH.
The world-building. Seriously, there's magic Graces and beautiful monsters and evil and royalty and castles and fancy bridges and hidden chambers. When you read these books, it's like you're really there.

Some Favorite Quotes:

"Bacon improved things dramatically."

~Bitterblue

"But you're better than I am, Katsa. And it doesn't humiliate me. It humbles me. But it doesn't humiliate me."

~Po in Graceling

"The world may be falling to pieces, but at least the lot of us can have a bath."

~Brigan in Fire

So you might want to follow her blog

And definitely read her books:

(I'm a Better World Books Affiliate now, so if you use the links below to buy her books I'll deeply appreciate it and you'll be supporting literacy programs and the environment!)

Graceling

Fire

Bitterblue

What is your favorite Kristin Cashore book?

Sweet Summer Reads

2014-07-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts about summer is, of course, ICE CREAM. The rest of the year, I don't look twice at a bowl (or cone) of ice cream, but come June I could eat it and only it. (I mean, I don't because I've been trying to eat healthy and all that, but I could. AnYwAy.) The only thing better than ice cream in the summer? Ice cream and BOOKS (because everything is better with books, right?).

So while you're lazing away with a waffle cone, why not pick up one of these reads?

If you think of anymore book/flavor combos that should be added, leave your suggestions in the comments or tweet me @thepagesage with the hashtag #SweetSummerReads.

Now, excuse me, I think I'm going to go have some ice cream. ;)

Bad Books: A Dilemma (featuring Andy Dwyer)

2014-07-07T18:21:00.000-04:00

So I've been reorganizing my room, which means finding space for a lot of books (there are currently 180 on my floor because I've run out of shelves, if that gives you an idea of the problem). And there's a small pile of books I have that are, well, bad.

Seriously, they're not good.

These books fall into two categories:

1. Bad for Me (who knows, someone else may like them)

and

2. Bad because of Tropes (they feature quite a few of the sexist tropes that I give out demerits for)

So Category #1 is easy- my library frequently accepts book donations, or maybe my friends would like them.

Thanks, Andy.

But the majority fall into category numero two, and I can't give those away! I'm not going to encourage some unsuspecting soul to read offensive material, not when there are so many other great books out there! But I also don't want them on my shelves (or in my book stacks). But I also can't recycle them, because, I mean, they're still books.

What to do, what to do....??!?!

Right now I'm hiding them underneath a pile of books and pretending like they don't exist, until I come up with a permanent solution.

Now just pretend Andy is talking to my
books instead of April. Actually, don't do that.
That would be weird.

Book nerd problems, man.

P.S. I'll take any solutions you may have.

Book Hangover

2014-07-01T17:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, so this isn't really a "post," but a PSA.

About what?

Epic Reads. They've been doing these awesome YouTube videos, and one of their most recent is amazing. Seriously, watch it below and then tell me you haven't felt the exact same way after finishing a book.

The Epic Reads team just nails it.

Have you ever had a book hangover?

An Open Letter to YA Boys

2014-06-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Trigger Warning: This post does contain references to sexual assault

Dear Fictional YA Boys,

I know you think your determination is suave, but it isn't. You know what I mean by "determination," don't you? When that beautiful female protagonist turns you down, and you just know she doesn't mean it. All her "no" means is that you must continue to pursue her, to wear her down, so that you can be happy together.

I mean, you just know what she wants better than she does, right?

Here's the thing: if you were in the real world, endlessly pursuing a girl after she has rejected you isn't romantic. It's contributing to rape culture. When you don't listen to a girl's "no," when you take away her power to choose, you take away her autonomy.

And those super "sexy" things you do, like press up against her when she's at her locker, or kiss her even when she doesn't want to, may work out for you in your fictional world. The girl's body responds, revealing her true inner desires that she can't admit to herself! But in real life, that's assault, and the girl isn't going to realize she has really wanted you all along. Instead she'll probably feel disturbed, unsafe, distraught- the list could go on and on.

It doesn't matter how much you smoulder while you "seduce" her or how romanticized it seems- in reality, it's still assault. And it's unacceptable.

So, Fictional YA Boys, stop this. I promise you, you can still be romantic and swoon-worthy without disrespecting others.

Sincerely,
A Tired Reader

Pride Day: LGBTQ+ YA

2014-06-29T15:10:00.000-04:00

It's Pride Day in NYC! In honor of that, here are a few LGBTQ+ books that I've been dying to read. (Hopefully I'll get to them this summer...keep your fingers crossed for me!)

Great by Sara Benincasa

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 8th, 2014

Cool Factor: It's a Great Gatsby retelling (also, I like the author's Tumblr)

Side Note: My friend just bought this so I'll be ~~stealing~~ er, borrowing, it from her soon.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Release Date: September 16th, 2014

Cool Factor: JANDY NELSON

Otherbound by Corrine Duvyis

Publisher: Amulet Books

Release Date: June 17th, 2014

Cool Factor: Sci-fi fantasy with princesses and romance and WHY HAVEN'T I READ THIS YET I MEAN I HAVE IT SITTING IN A BOOK STACK

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Release Date: February 11th, 2014

Cool Factor: There's praying mantises come to the end the world or something? Sounds trippy and awesome.

Any LGBTQ+ Recs?

OR

Have you read any of these books already?

Feminist Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

2014-06-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.
Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed.

Summary from Goodreads

The Quick of It: Tiger Lily is a beautifully woven tale with a dynamic cast and a compelling plot. Readers looking for romance will be enthralled (I definitely was), but what makes it so special is the way Anderson creates a heartbreaking fairy tale while addressing everything from colonialism to family to gender.

"For the girls with messy hair and thirsty hearts.”

Demerits: None! Tiger Lily is exemplary, though on the ARC cover I have, there is a picture of a Caucasian girl, who the reader would presume is Tiger Lily (even though she isn't white). Since I haven't seen this cover anywhere else - I'm not sure it has ever been used, except perhaps on ARCs - I won't give it a Whitewashing demerit.

Making the Grade:

The characters in this novel are familiar and new all at once. You have your old favorites- Peter, Tink, Tiger Lily- but with layers of depth not seen in the original tale. And then there are the new members of the cast. Not only do you have characters of color, but Tik Tok (the shaman) isn't defined by one gender. Neither he nor Tiger Lily fit into their assigned gender roles, and the novel raises many questions about the importance of gender, its construction, and even how Western society influences it. I won't say more than that because, you know, spoilers, but even as you're swept up in the magic of Neverland, this book will make you think.

"She thought of Tik Tok, who was fond of saying that people were all bits of each thing, boy and girl."

As for the friendship, I loved Tink and Tiger Lily's relationship throughout the novel. Even though Tink is in love with Peter, and Peter is in love with Tiger Lily, Tink is still fiercely protective of Tiger Lily. She doesn't buy into the girl-on-girl competition trope that is all-too-common in stories, so that's awesome. I mean, just the fact that Tink narrates the story and is finally given a voice is phenomenal and I will never, EVER look at Tinker Bell the same way again.

As for Tiger Lily herself, I've never read about a character quite like her. She's wholly unique and blurs the lines of good and bad. She's a jumble of things - stoic, passionate, loyal, selfish, brave, insecure - but never boring, that's for sure. I honestly wish I could dive back into her world for just a few more pages.

The Page Sage

Springtime Meditation on Books

An Open Letter to YA Authors About Sex

Feminist Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Demerits:

Making the Grade:

Fellow Book Nerd:

Addie's love of books endeared her to me right away. The fact that she liked everything from classics to graphic novels made me love her even more.

Final Grade: B

Feminist Review: OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

Demerits:

Making the Grade:

A Note on the Grade:

Even though I had my complaints, I want to make it clear that OCD Love Story is a really great read. It really provides such an honest perspective and with such a dynamic character as Bea, it's a fantastic story.

Final Grade: B-

The Perfect Traveling Companion

1. If you're about to finish a book, don't bring it.

2. Set a limit.

3. Stick to the limit!

4. Go paperbacks.

5. Mix it up

Feminist Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

The Quick of It:

Demerits:

Making the Grade:

Surprise:

Final Grade: B-

Dive Into Diversity Challenge

Will you participate in the Dive into Diversity Challenge this coming year?

Opening Up

Do you ever struggle with perfectionism or doubt while blogging? How do you cope?

That Blogging Thing I Used to Do

1. Say Hi

2. Have Fun

3. Post What I Want

4. Have Fun.

NaNoWriMo Update: Day 3

How are your NaNoWriMo projects coming along?

Blogging, NaNoWriMo, and a Giveaway

Boys, Books, and Marketing

What do you think about the marketing for YA books?

Feminist Review: YOLO by Lauren Myracle

The Quick of It: This is book #4 in the Internet Girls series. Also, I received this from the publisher, which in no way affected my review. (And now onto the fun stuff.)

Making the Grade:

Extra Credit:

Don't Forget: it comes out on August 26th!

Final Grade: A-

Dating Books

1. The Honeymoon Stage

2. Tearful Ending

3. Gloom Sets In

4. Slow recovery

5. Speed dating

6. Commit to a book

7. Rinse & Repeat

Running through YA

Are you into running? What YA lit running tips do you have?

Percy Jackson: The Musical?

Would you want to see The Lightning Thief the musical?

Fictional Roommates

Livin' in Harmony:

Asking for a roomie switch:

Feminist Review: Pawnee by Leslie Knope

Final Grade: B-

Author Adoration: Kristin Cashore

Kristin Cashore

What's to love:

Some Favorite Quotes:

So you might want to follow her blog

And definitely read her books:

What is your favorite Kristin Cashore book?

Sweet Summer Reads

Bad Books: A Dilemma (featuring Andy Dwyer)

Book Hangover

An Open Letter to YA Boys

Dear Fictional YA Boys,

Sincerely,A Tired Reader

Pride Day: LGBTQ+ YA

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Otherbound by Corrine Duvyis

Sincerely,
A Tired Reader