We Heart YA

Twitter Tuesday

2012-05-29T13:43:00.001-04:00

Okay, this may be cheating because they're our tweets, but still...(the best):

Let's get straight to the funny:

And leave you with some inspiration:

...and some excitement:

What are your exciting plans for the summer? Ours are not to melt in the Cincinnati heat and humidity...editing,querying,writing, reading...and maybe hit up a few author signings. xx

Let's Talk Vlog

2012-05-24T10:01:00.001-04:00

Okay, bloggers. We want to know...do you ever come out from behind those black and white words and show yerselves?
Like many of you, we know the biggies, like Vlogbrothers and Charlie McDonnell, but what are the youtubers that you subscribe to and love to watch?

Have you seen this one? Fascinated? We are too. And perhaps because it's fresh, genuine, and like a story all wrapped up in two minutes.

And if it's not a story, it's random thoughts, advice, having a conversation over a cuppa. What's not to love?

Even book bloggers are doing it for themselves.

We must admit that creating, filming, editing, recording video is tricksier than typing, pasting and posting. (Well, tricksier for the Gen X-ers like Ingrid and Sarah)

But perhaps We Heart YA should have a wee leedle experiment. What do you think? To Vlog or Not To Vlog?

Share your links in the comments (especially if it's you!)

p.s. Thanks, Steph, for all the great links so far. xx

Twitter Tuesday

2012-05-22T09:34:00.001-04:00

Good advice:

Ain't that the truth:

Oh, the funny. How we love the funny:

Also, if you haven't checked it out already, Kate Hart (who inspired these twitter round-ups) has a handy knack for charts and all things awesome. She's been getting lots of buzz about her reporting on YA book covers (and a fantastic follow-up post). What do you think? Are book covers: there for collecting dust? convenient book marks? tossed aside because they slide around or are just plain embarassing? awesome? sell you on the book?

Should they be more representative of readers?

Boys -- I mean, BOOKS -- of Summer

2012-05-17T20:24:00.000-04:00

First: Congratulations to the GoodReads/IBBA winners! And thank you so much to everyone who voted for us, rooted for us, and helped us spread the word. We always knew we were underdogs, but hey, you can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket, right? ;)

Second: Summer is almost upon us, and with it, high temps, short shorts, and NO SCHOOL!!!!!

(Unless of course you're going to summer school. Or you have parents like mine who signed you up for a bunch of optional, educational “camps,” which they seriously think are just as fun as real camps where people canoe and hike and make s'mores. Seriously? I never had a single free summer as a kid. NOT ONE. Not that I'm bitter or anything...*)

ANYWAY. Regardless of what your plans for the summer are, you may be looking for some good books to read. Books that won't remind you about science lab, gym class, or cramming for exams. Books that don't have to be analyzed in a five-paragraph essay. Books that will put you in that "last bell of the day, last day of the semester," "freedom at last, hallelujah, freedom at last!" frame of mind. Here are a couple suggestions:

GRAFFITI MOON by Cath Crowley

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

Okay, a few things that summary doesn't tell you:

The book is AWESOME.
The book is told in alternating point of views -- Lucy and Ed, with a few poems (of the non-flowery variety) sprinkled in the mix.
The book is AWESOME.
The book is set in Australia, over a mere 24 hour timeframe.
The book revolves around 6 friends -- 3 girls and 3 guys (including Lucy and Ed) -- and does a great job exploring relationships, mentors, parents, art, poetry, a potential heist, and more!
Have I mentioned that the book is AWESOME?

Seriously, GRAFFITI MOON is one of those books that I really wish more people would read, because it's so well-written and authentic and fun and meaningful. Also, Ed is probably in my Top 3 YA Guys (along with Cricket from LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR and Eldric from CHIME).

TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler

According to Anna’s best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie -- she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

From the title you'd think that this was going to be just a beachy teen rom-com. And there IS that aspect of it. But much more significantly, there is the tender young love between Anna and Matt -- as well as the tragic ghost of that love after Matt dies in an accident.

And Anna isn't the only one who doesn't know how to deal with her grief for him. Frankie and her parents are adrift, holding onto their loss like a life preserver because it feels like the only piece of Matt they have left. Maybe a couple weeks in the Bay Area really can lead them all back to themselves... But you can bet it won't happen the way they expect.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER isn't a gripping page-turner, but the writing is both lyrical and visual, smoothly pulling you along. The characters are well-drawn (particularly Anna, Frankie, Jayne and Matt) and you can't help rooting for them all to be happy.

So, those are our recommendations for summer reading. Got any for us?

KH

*Okay, confession: I actually liked the optional, educational "camps." Yep, I'm a nerd. Loud and proud.

Twitter Tuesday

2012-05-15T13:07:00.000-04:00

Best hashtag of the week: #inappropriateSchoolTalks with the lovely, Libba Bray

We like when authors talk about writing:

If only we lived in Brooklyn:

True stuff:

Funny stuff:

Sixth Form Poet, we love you:

Interview: Librarians Rock!

2012-05-10T14:47:00.000-04:00

Kriska Daltonhurst, The Teen Services Coordinator at the Louisville Public Library in Colorado, took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for us (thank you, Kriska!). We are thrilled to get a librarian's perspective on what's really hot in teen literature and how publishing trends are perceived on the readers' end of the spectrum.

1. What teen books fly off the library shelves?

This is probably not very surprising, but I haven’t seen a copy of the THE HUNGER GAMES (and its sequels) in person for at least the last year. I think I caught a fleeting glimpse of THE SCORPIO RACES before it went out to satisfy its hold list queue, and I personally didn’t even make it into the top ten hold spots for Rick Riordan’s newest volume because the readers were so quick to get their names on that list. I have held my position for almost six years now, and in all that time, it is still a rare treat to spot a copy of THE BOOK THIEF on the shelf.

2. Which genres/authors/series seem to be most popular with teens right now?

Well, paranormal romance is still very popular, but finally it has some competition coming from the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genres. Zombie novels are on the rise. High fantasy and action-driven adventure novels are perpetually popular, especially with teen boy readers. Authors that will build up a sizable hold list while people wait for their new books to come out include: John Green, Jay Asher, Rick Riordan, Michael Scott, John Flanagan, Sarah Dessen, Sara Shepard, Cassandra Clare, Michael Grant and Lauren Oliver. Specific titles that are extremely “hot” right now in my library include DIVERGENT and BITTERBLUE.

3. What trends have you noticed over the last few years?

I think the biggest trend I have noticed in the last five years is that when I came into this job, it was all about the vampires. Yes, sparkly vampires to be most specific, but really, anything “vampire” back then would do. Then came the werewolves, fairies, pixies, angels, and mermaids. A lot of this trend towards paranormal romance really isolated male readers, but they seemed to make due with their high fantasy and mythological urban fantasies. But I was very glad when THE MAZE RUNNER, THE HUNGER GAMES, and other books like that began gathering interest. And boy did they ever! Within the last two years, the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genres have exploded (no pun intended).

4. What differences do you see between books that younger teens (11-14) and older teens (15-19) are interested in? Do they read different authors, genres, topics?

The younger readers, both boys and girls, are very much into fantasy worlds and adventure. Some of my most popular series for that age range include THE WARRIORS by Erin Hunter, ARTEMIS FOWL by Eoin Colfer, the BONE graphic novel series by Jeff Smith and anything by Rick Riordan. They do not often reach for realistic fiction, unless it is high action adventure, like the Alex Rider or Young James Bond books.

Where I see boys and girls diverge here is that the young girls may want to read above their maturity level when it comes to romance or titles they have heard about from TV (Gossip Girl, Pretty little Liars) and the boys may jump the age ranges into more mature reading of a darker tone, such as THE HUNGER GAMES or THE LAST APPRENTICE by Joseph Delaney. But older teens do tend to give a wider variety of genres a try, and do respond well to more realistic drama-type books than the younger ones, such as anything written by John Green, Sarah Dessen, David Levithan, and Jay Asher.

5. What do you notice about the differences between male and female teen readers?

I have female patrons who will read almost anything. Fans of fantasy will devour the latest John Flanagan novel just as fast as the latest Cassandra Clare novel. Fans of realistic fiction can’t get enough of John Green and Von Ziegesar. But boys do tend to prefer books that feature male protagonists. That is one thing I love about THE HUNGER GAMES- readers of all ages and genders and genre preferences are coming together to read about a strong, capable, resourceful female character, and I salute that!

6. What do teens complain about the most in YA books? Anything they ask to see more of?

They do not like their intelligence to be insulted. If the book has logical weaknesses, or the characters do something so far off the map from where previous character development has led them, the readers WILL notice. I hear complaints about how “So-and-so did this incredibly stupid thing, and it was just so there could be a sequel.” They really hate the obvious sequel ploys. And nobody likes it when the dog dies.

Right now I am getting a lot of requests for “more books like The Hunger Games.” That is great because I love the genre myself, but these trends always seem to get to the point where the books are coming so fast and furious trying to ride on the train of popularity left in the wake of the original, that the quality of writing is really going downhill. I just read a book (that shall remain nameless) that was so horrid, it made me swear off the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genre for as long as I can. The same thing happened with vampire novels and paranormal romance after TWILIGHT became so wildly popular.

7. Do YA readers request or check out many books on CD? What about kindle or ereader loans?

Every time a school vacation period comes around, my audio-book collection vanishes. During the school year, it is pretty slow to circulate, but when families are getting ready to pile into their vehicles to take vacations and road trips, those are in high demand--especially if it's something that can be enjoyed by the whole family, which is quite a challenge! We just recently began circulating several Nooks, but our current loan rules prevent anyone under 18 from checking them out, and they are so new we don’t have really accurate circ stats to share yet.

8. Are there any specific "issue" books that readers seem to ask for a lot, or topics they are highly interested in?

This may be a lot different at other libraries, but in mine, there is not a lot of interest in the non-fiction collection. I seem to have a population of fiction readers and when they do ask me for specific topics, they are looking for fictional accounts that deal with things such as World War II, starting school, losing friends and self-harm. From my replacement costs, I can surmise that the heavy duty “serious issue” books like Ellen Hopkins's CRANK novels, GO ASK ALICE or Patricia McCormick’s CUT are always being lost and replaced. So I think that says something about how popular they are, and I hope that when they do not come back to the library, they have found a home with someone who really needed a connection with that particular subject matter.

9. How do you as a librarian gauge what is and isn't appropriate for particular students? Are there any age restrictions for books dealing with sensitive topics like violence or sexuality?

It is not up to me (or any other librarians in my library) to determine what is and isn’t appropriate for students; it is up to the student and their parents. I try to purchase materials that are in high demand, will gain readers and attract new ones, that are about exciting or needed subjects and in popular genres. I use reviews in publishing periodicals and if I am in need of an “age range” to give, for whatever reason, I rely on those given in the reviews, especially from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.

There are times when the childrens’ librarian feels something is inappropriate for her collection and we discuss it and decide whether or not to move it into the teen collection. And I have bumped a few items up to the adult collection for the same reason. But by doing so, we are not removing the items or making them inaccessible to any of our patrons, we are just trying to be thoughtful about the age groups using each section of the library.

10. What have you observed from teens that others might find surprising in regard to their reading choices?

Historical fiction really seems to be on its way out, and, related but also separately, no matter how many awards a book may get, if it doesn’t have a good enough “hook” for teen readers, they just will not read it. I call these “librarian books” in that a whole bunch of librarians loved it and gave it awards, but it has not been checked out at all in the time I have owned it.

About Kriska...

Before I became a librarian I held a variety of jobs, such as pre-school teacher, technical writer and movie expert. I have collected comic books almost my entire life, am obsessed with dragons, own a hearse, love riding my scooters and motorcycle, and met my husband while playing Dungeons and Dragons in college. Being a teen librarian is my dream job, but one of the best moments in my life happened when I got to meet The Aquabats!

Thank you so much for your insights, Kriska! This has been a really interesting interview. And thanks to all librarians out there.... you rock!

Twitter Tuesday

2012-05-08T09:31:00.002-04:00

Sad news today. Maurice Sendak has passed away.

(photo and art by Debbie Ohi)

Spring storms, writing couples:

We're glad you're a writer, Nina:

#LineEditsInPublic isn't a hastag, but it should be:

Silly stuff:

We usually collect amusing or inspiring tweets to share, which somehow seems irrelevant when something sad happens. It's a good antidote to be sure. But to keep the conversation going, what was your favorite picture book as a child?

Veronica Roth Author Event in Cincinnati

2012-05-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

Veronica Roth reading from somewhere in the middle of INSURGENT

Last night in Cincinnati, a rock-star author visited Joseph Beth Booksellers (our local indie) to a huge crowd. Kristan, Stephanie, and Sarah were close to the front so we had a pretty good view. We hadn't been to such a big signing before, and while we think it's great for Veronica Roth (and JB) to have such a turn-out, we kind of prefer the smaller events. It's awesome to get to interact with the authors and chat. Big events sort of negate that option. But the atmosphere was fantastic, and it was great to see lots of teens out in the crowd asking questions.

Look at all these people! (photo from Joseph Beth's facebook page) Also, if you look far right, halfway up, that's Steph (with the great hair) and Sarah (in the white top)

After reading for fifteen minutes, Veronica answered questions. We loved her answer about the factions: "I think bravery is important. Fear keeps people from doing good things for each other." And her philosophy on characters: "No one is safe. Ever." That's bravery indeed!!

Proof that John Green's influence is everywhere: When Veronica was asked what she's reading right now, she mentioned THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, and the audience cheered and clapped. She also said she reads a lot of books that aren't out yet, like Leigh Bardugo's SHADOW AND BONE. (We can't wait for this one too! Go here and pre-order, get a free map).

We Heart YA: l. to r. Sarah, Kristan, Stephanie and Veronica Roth!

While we waited to get some books signed and photos taken, we grabbed some dinner at Bronte Cafe, which is right in the bookstore. They have the BEST food. So yummy. Except...would you drink something this green??

The only one brave enough to try the "Dauntless" at Bronte Cafe inside Joseph Beth Booksellers

Twitter Tuesday

2012-05-01T08:20:00.000-04:00

We don't usually gush over book releases because so many other book bloggers do that part so well, but did you know you can now get your hands on a copy of Kristin Cashore's BITTERBLUE?!? As Vector says in Despicable Me, "Oh yeah!"

Also, word on the street is that PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein is also available. Best hashtag of the week goes to her editor Stacy Abrams tweeting her favorite lines from the book #prettyamy:

Have you seen this contest?!?

Best excuse for twitter yet:

Um, shhyeah:

These Brits do make us laugh:

No comment, just enjoy:

Thanks for keeping it Real, Heather:

Non-YA Books for YA Readers

2012-04-26T22:29:00.000-04:00

YA literature is juicy, hot, delicious, and filling -- but is that enough?

Whether you’re a young-at-heart adult like us, or a real live bona fide teenager, we could all use some variety in our literary diet. It’s like the food pyramid, but with books: consuming different genres, styles, and subjects will help you grow strong and healthy bones -- er, brains. So if you’re trying to figure out how to add veggies and fiber to your reading feast, we’ve got a few tasty ideas.

(Note: This will be a recurring feature. Probably. Unless you hate it. In which case, we weren’t here and this never happened.)

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Recently we stumbled onto this absolute GEM of a book. Seriously, go get it now and be prepared to transform.

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

You will laugh and groan at Victoria’s social ineptitude. You will scream at her when she is SO FREAKING CLOSE to happiness but still can’t figure out how let herself have it. Your heart will break and mend, break and mend.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. It’s too lovely not to.

BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY by Helen Fielding

Maybe you’ve heard of this one? (Or watched it. Mmm, Colin Firth…) Well, even if you’ve seen the movie, the book is worth a read. But be warned: you might find yourself snorting with laughter, so don’t drink anything unless you’re cool with it coming out your nose.

Bridget Jones’s Diary is the devastatingly self-aware, laugh-out-loud daily chronicle of Bridget’s permanent, doomed quest for self-improvement -- a year in which she resolves to: reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1.5 inches, visit the gym three times a week not just to buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult -- and learn to program the VCR. Over the course of the year, Bridget loses a total of 72 pounds… but gains a total of 74. She remains, however, optimistic.

In a world full of vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels, not to mention evil governments and brutal battles to the death, we could use an awkward, optimistic heroine. Bella may be wish fulfillment, and Katniss may be a role model, but Bridget Jones is real. Bridget Jones is the everywoman. Bridget Jones is funny, ridiculous, British. What more do you need?

Well, those are our ideas for today. What about you guys? Read any good non-YA lately?

Twitter Tuesday

2012-04-24T08:55:00.010-04:00

Congratulations to our Iron Fey giveaway winner--Jessica T! And big thanks to everyone for participating and spreading the word. Also, voting is now closed for the Independent Book Blogger Awards, and we can't wait to see which fantastic blogger won!

It's going to be hard to do a Twitter roundup without saying something about the recent accusations of plagiarism surrounding The Story Siren. Without "choosing sides," the girls at We Heart YA just want to say that plagiarism is wrong. In a community of readers and writers, there's nothing worse than taking someone's hard work and not crediting the source. Sharing good ideas, good posts, good writing is the best part of blogging--linking to each other's reviews and discussions is part of the deal. There's no shame in giving credit where it's due. In fact, that's the humblest and most noble thing to do. It's why we're a community.

(To be clear: communities also try to build each other up, not tear each other down. People make mistakes. Our response should be to correct, educate, forgive, and move on. Not gossip or condemn.)

Adventures in Children's Publishing gets a crown for tweeting these gems:

These gals and guys get a laugh:

These cool cats get respect:

Alright, this post is long enou

Wonder

2012-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Recently Kristan found this fantastic video, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. It features Andrew Stanton and his talk "The Clues to a Great Story." Andrew is a writer for Pixar (Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Toy Story, Monsters, Inc.).

Okay, it's lengthy, but if you have some time, it's also entertaining and witty...just exactly like his films. But the thing that really struck me about his talk was how he strives to include one basic element in his stories--WONDER. That moment where the audience feels WOW and you're totally willing to go anywhere it takes you.

What was the last story that made you feel WOW? Sometimes I zoom through books because my TBR pile stares at me, and, man, there are just so many good stories out there. I'm like on feeding frenzy and gorging on words. But then I read something that stands out, makes me go WOW I wish I wrote like that. Or WOW I wish I thought of that. Or WOW that author's imagination is CA-RA-ZAY. (Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor was the last read that elicited this response.)

SO, I'll show you mine...

GRAFFITI MOON by Cath Crowley

and TRASH by Andy Mulligan. These are the latest that made me slow down, stop inhaling the words. They made me care.

Now...care to show me yours?

Twitter Tuesday

2012-04-17T08:36:00.013-04:00

Don't forget about our giveaway of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series 1-3, all SIGNED by the author. We met Julie last summer and she is stupendously cool to chat with. Okay she's got a new book out--The Immortal Rules--which is getting lots of buzz. But this is your chance to get the books that started it all. All you have to do is comment on this post. Winners announced next week!

On twitter last week, writers were getting crazy in the shower:

Perhaps these bits of brilliance occurred whilst showering:

Ryan Gosling saving lives? Need to take a cold shower...

More funny:

Twitter nonsense:

Experienced both, and we'd take the Lego. :)

Rockin' the Drop... and a Giveaway!

2012-04-12T14:32:00.000-04:00

In support of Teen Lit Day, we are totally droppin' it like it's hot. And by it, we mean books. And by droppin', we mean leaving them in a public place for someone to find and enjoy. This awesome initiative was started by readergirlz a few years ago, and you can learn more at their site.

So if you're in the Cincy area (specifically around Loveland) keep an eye out for these:

If you're not in the Cincy area, we'd still like to "drop" a little something for you. Think of it as a thank you for all your support/votes in the Independent Book Blogger Awards. (Psst: Voting is open through April 23rd. *wink wink*)

Anyway, how would y'all like SIGNED copies of the Iron Fey series, books 1-3?

ONE winner will receive ALL 3 books. If you would like to be that winner, please enter by commenting on this post by April 23rd. If you rocked the drop, tell us which book(s) you set free. If you didn't rock the drop, tell us which book(s) you'd love to find in the wild.

Winner will be announced on our Tues, April 24th post. Must have US mailing address.

Also, this isn't a requirement, but we'd love for you to spread the word about our giveaway. Thanks!!

- the WHYA girls

PS: Kristan did a really fun interview about blogging, books, and diversity for the All Things Asian celebration. She's also giving away 2 copies of her ebook TWENTY-SOMEWHERE, about 3 best friends tackling life after college. Check it out, yeah? Man, we're all about the free books today. ;)

Twitter Tuesday hey, look over there ------>>

2012-04-10T09:13:00.014-04:00

Some of you might have heard about the thingo happening at Goodreads: Independent Book Blogger Awards. If you're a blogger and you've signed up then you know it's time to vote. The big prize is a trip to New York for Book Expo America. It's pretty cool, we're pretty excited. If you like our blog, please vote for us. Either click on the widget on the sidebar or Vote for us here!

P.s. it's so nice to see everyone over there! 321 YA book bloggers and counting...whoa.

What's been going on in the twitterverse lately? Talk of villains:

and heroes:

HOW DID WE MISS THIS?!?

Not going to miss this, though:

Some classic silliness:

Some classic writer stuff:

Judge you? Doesn't everyone listen to Bon Iver while writing? We might judge you if you were listening to polka or Garth Brooks, but, no, not Justin Vernon. :)

Gender benders in YA

2012-04-06T17:24:00.001-04:00

"Everyone should be allowed to dream, and we writers are architects of dreams."

One of my favorite Shakespeare plays is Twelfth Night. It's ridiculous, it's romantic, and it has cross-dressing. I mean seriously, what could be better?

Cross-dressing isn't the only way to play with gender in stories, though. Girls in boy clothes (and vice versa) make for great entertainment, but girls in boy roles (and vice versa) make for a great statement.

In THE HUNGER GAMES, Katniss is the hunter, the emotionally clueless bumbler, while Peeta grew up in a kitchen and is very in tune with his feelings. In CATCHING JORDAN, the star high school quarterback is a girl who knows more about throwing passes to boys than making passes at them. All 3 of these characters are breaking stereotypes, yet they're still believable and compelling. Why? Because gender has nothing to do with it.

Peeta isn't "girly" simply because he makes cakes and bread. Remember, he can throw a 100 lb. bag of flour across the room like it's a pillow. And Katniss isn't "butch" just because she can shoot and skin a deer. Jordan... well, okay, she IS a tomboy, but what's wrong with that? Nothing, nothing at all.

Because gender has nothing to do with her ability to throw a perfect spiral or evade a tackle on the field. And gender has nothing to do with the way she and her teammates stick up for each other. And gender has nothing to do with her longing for her father's approval.

Gender doesn't define Jordan, unless we let it.

Okay, yes, in this day and age, a female quarterback is statistically unusual. But is that because girls can't play football, or because they don't try to? And if they don't try, is it because they don't want to, or because they think they're not supposed to?

Those questions are the reason that characters like Jordan and Peeta and Katniss need to exist. So that people will realize their gender doesn't have to define them -- doesn't have to limit them. It might be entertaining to dress girls in boys clothes (or vice versa) but entertainment isn't enough. Books need to show a wide variety of experiences for both boys and girls, offer them a full spectrum of choices.

A full spectrum of dreams.

Twitter Tuesday

2012-04-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

When spring comes early, bad things happen...

Where there's clueless marketing, bad things happen...

Step on a white tile? Bad things happen...

If you don't follow your urges...(bth)

Sounds fantastic, but just so you know...(bth)

We warned you, I mean put these two together and...(bth)

Good things happen when you stick to some basic truths:

AND good things happen to those who wait...Disclaimer: We have not been woo'ed by The Jay Kristoff, but for the record, EVERYONE ELSE HAS. And since his tweets and his brand spanking new cover amuse us, well, we thought we'd give him a little spot in our twitter roundup (seriously, congrats!):

(Such a flirt)

We Heart HG

2012-03-29T22:13:00.000-04:00

Okay, let’s be honest: all anyone still wants to talk about is The Hunger Games, especially now that most of us have seen the film. For those of you who haven’t…

Warning: SPOILER alert! Proceed with caution as this post is full of… um, spoilers.

Let’s get started.

Overall, we thought director Gary Ross did an excellent job staying true to Suzanne Collins’s character arcs as well as her vision of Panem. Big sigh of relief there. What was disappointing about the movie? Well, anytime an amazing novel is turned into a cinematic event, you’re going to lose scenes and details that you wish could be included. The Hunger Games is no different in this regard, though we thought the directors pretty much made the right choices in this arena (no pun intended).

Interestingly enough, it was the first half of the movie—the parts that took place before anyone stepped into the arena itself—that were the most moving, heart-wrenching, and devastating. Long before the “Games” actually began, I was an emotional wreck.

The ache in my chest started straight away as the cameras caught the poverty and oppression in District 12. As the producers cut back and forth between Seneca Crane/Caesar Flickerman discussing the games in sports-commentator fashion and the terrified children/families preparing for the reaping, I was unhinged by the cruelty of it all. The reaping scene itself was so well acted that viewers could have been right there in the square, holding their breath along with the other potential tributes. Katniss’s goodbyes, her journey to the capital, and her preparations for the Games (both physical and emotional) were all too real.

As for the casting…

Absolutely spot-on across the board. Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci were both amazing in their respective roles as Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman. They couldn’t have been more on target (I swear, I’m not making up these puns on purpose).

Haymitch. Must admit, I was a little skeptical about Woody Harrelson being cast in this role (mostly because I still picture him as the sweet-faced boy from Cheers). Boy, was I wrong. He was fantastic as a slightly nicer (and less inebriated) version of mentor Haymitch Abernathy.

Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale) both nailed their roles as Katniss’s potential love interests. And Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss? Brilliant. Flawless. Stunning. Insert adoring adjective of choice.

Cinna. Lenny Kravitz was excellent in this role, and the scenes between Cinna and Katniss were authentic and emotionally charged. In fact, the scene just before Katniss must step in the elevator and go up to the arena was possibly the best (worst) moment of the entire movie, imo. Speaking of stylists, the costumes were just WOW. (Big props to costume designer Judianna Makovsky for that.)

We expected some differences between the book and the movie, of course. Here are a few noteworthy moments.

Additions that rocked:

1. Seneca Crane being locked in the room with a bowl of nightlock berries. Wow—not easy to make viewers feel sorry for THAT character, but somehow this move by the evil President Snow came pretty close.

2. Gale’s perspective while watching the Games. Loved this. It was subtle but so REAL and moving.

3. The uprising in District 11 after Rue’s death. Gave us all chills.

4. The way you could see the arena being manipulated in 3D by the Gamemakers. Creepy, sickening and thought-provoking.

Notable deletions:

1. The mutts were just mutts. No resemblance to the fallen tributes at all (though they were some seriously scary beasts).

2. Madge and the mayor. I can see why they cut these characters out, but I still missed them.

3. The avox girl Katniss met in the capitol (and the story of how she got there).

4. And of course, all the details and insights that are impossible to glean from a movie but that made the book so incredible and intense. Which begs the question: how does this movie hold up for viewers who didn’t read the books?

This could go on forever. Bottom line—we were impressed by the adaptation. But we’d love to hear what YOU think, so drop us a silver parachute and let your voice be heard.

Tweeta Tuesday

2012-03-27T23:09:00.009-04:00

Oh, Hunger Games movie, we do heart you. We don't want to nitpick or compare book to movie. In fact, we're not going to think too much about it. Like if you think about the scale and enormity of the universe it starts to freak you out. Also, if you sit and think about how we're spectators watching spectators watching The Hunger Games...well, that too will freak you out. And thoughts like this freak us out:

But this just makes us laugh:

Speaking of which, did everyone laugh when Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter's title was previewed? Well, riddle us and Neil this...

Lets not look over all the other writer tweets this week:

And okay we can't stop thinking about The Hunger Games movie either. In fact, most tweets this week were all like "OMG this movie's awesome!" "Love J Law as Katniss!" "Dude, I cried during the first five minutes" "Rue was perfect and adorable and tragic" "Lenny Kravitz as Cinna is inspired"

Okay, truthfully those were the positive ones. And mainly the ones we agree with. But tune back on Thursday for more specific thoughts on the movie. Peace.

All your movies belong to YA

2012-03-23T12:47:00.002-04:00

All right, let's be honest. No one in the YA blogosphere is paying attention to blogs today. All we're doing is running around like chickens with our heads cut off, screaming, "HUNGER GAMES MOVIE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE!"

(Seriously though: HUNGER GAMES MOVIE!)

If you've seen it, we'd love to know what you thought. Was Cinna as fabulous as in the books? Was Josh Hutcherson too short to play Peeta? Did Liam Henderson ever change his facial expression? How many tissues did you go through for Rue?

For those of you who (like us) have not yet seen it, don't worry: it's not going anywhere. There is plenty of time to get to your nearest theater.

In the meantime, here are some AWESOME movies you can look forward to -- we certainly are! -- with clips you can watch right on your computer.

The Host (just a short teaser)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;BRE&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Breaking Dawn part 2 (also just a short teaser)

And last but most definitely not least, Snow White and the Huntsman (an EPIC full-length trailer):

(Here's another, official link in case the YouTube video gets pulled.)

Twitter Tuesday (and other cool stuff)

2012-03-20T08:37:00.004-04:00

So, our twitter round-up this week is pretty slim. The vernal equinox is a busy time, and we're spending that time sucking the marrow out of life and living deliberately. It's exhausting.

(not this equinox)

But Kate Hart is our hero--using her time all productively and stuff. Have you SEEN what's she's done with infographics?!? She's the Mac.

Also, Margot Wood, the Real Fauxtographer herself, has a new series of photos inspired by YA novels. First up was The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Next: Divergent by Veronica Roth. Then she posted this gorgeous photo inspired by The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Keep up the inspiring work!

On to The Tweets:

Now, off to put to rout all that is not life. We'd hate to die and discover that we'd not lived. (It's all about Thoreau, check it.)

Beyond the Book

2012-03-15T22:54:00.000-04:00

Do you ever wonder what happens after the last page of a book? I often find myself wanting to know more about a story than just what the author tells me.

Sometimes that information is available. Some writers offer extras, deleted scenes, and additional back story. But does the author have the right to say what happens outside of what’s published on the page?

JK Rowling is an author who could answer almost any question about the characters she created. She has worked out every detail of her world. She says, “It’s just stuff I need to know… partly for my own pleasure and partly because I like reading a book where I have the sense that the author knows everything. They might not be telling me everything, but you have that confidence that the author really knows everything.”

John Green takes the opposite point of view. When asked what happens to Hazel after The Fault in Our Stars, he answered, “I do not have access to any information outside of that text, because then it would just be me speculating about what might happen, and my speculations are no more valuable or authoritative than anyone else’s. Books belong to their readers! Own it! Make it yours!”

Personally, I like when an author knows more about the story than what’s on the page. It’s how writers like Tolkien achieved such a great illusion of depth.

Kristan and I were discussing this on the way to a WHYA meeting and we came to the conclusion that everyone should have a choice. The author has the choice to offer extra information if they want to. And it’s our choice to listen to what they have to say or to rely completely on our own imaginations. What do you think?

Twitter Tuesday

2012-03-13T21:53:00.009-04:00

Nothing divides The People like The Twitter:

Best #BadPun:

Life is ordinarily extraordinary...

filled with spots of Trouble...

and Funny people:

No one can deny that Natalie Whipple is smart as a Whip (that's not even a #BadPun):

Favorite new Follow:

Fat Girl

2012-03-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

I'm going to get a little personal (eep, this idea sounded so much better at 2am).

The biggest challenge in my life has been (still is) my weight. I used to be an average-sized kid until age ten when I ballooned.

(Disclaimer: Jewel is not fat, but I won't hold it against her)

Despite playing sports (hockey), riding my bike for miles, climbing trees, hiking, canoeing, etc, I was put on one diet after another. I remember having to weigh out portions of food for myself and giving up pepperoni on my salad along with the zesty Italian dressing (tragic!). But mostly I remember the days after school where I would come home and eat an entire bag of Doritos. And nothing else. Food was the thing. I thought about food all the time.

When I was twelve, I decided to sign up for Adventurer camp, which warned that I would have to walk a few miles each day to prepare for a twelve mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. In my imagination, I was ready. Then reality hit somewhere mile marker nine when I was pouring with sweat, my lungs were on fire, and I said to the nurse--who stayed back with me while the group buzzed by on the trail--"I can't do it."

I did finish the twelve miles that day. Later the park rangers picked me up in a Jeep and took me back down the mountain. I was dehydrated and my legs were jelly. I couldn't stand up until somewhere around noon the next day. It was humiliating that my body didn't do what I thought in my mind that it was capable of doing.

After that I let my mind and body live separate lives. They're much happier that way. No more arguments. No tears being shed or things said in the heat of the moment. It's amicable.

Of course there are always reminders of what I actually look like: When I see a picture of myself. When someone says, "You have such a pretty face." (I try not to think of the implication being that the rest of me is ugly...because I have some seriously cute toes). Each and every time someone asks me "Have you lost weight?"

I always think, "Nope. You just remember me fatter."

But here's the thing--at some point I found a way past my tragic flaw. Okay, I was built for farming, but I eat healthy now (have done for fifteen years). I could do better with the exercise (farming would help). I have a really beautiful family that loves me and a "Cameron Quick" who sees the real me and thinks I'm adorable--not my toes, though. We've agreed to disagree.

I'm always going to struggle with my weight, try harder to lose, give up, try again, etc. But being fat is not everything there is about me. It's taken me a while to come to this conclusion. Recently, I read some books that I wish I had as a teenager. It would have made things so much easier.

In SWEETHEARTS, Jennifer (Fattifer) actually invents a whole new persona for herself to escape her unhealthy past. She finds an "out" until Cameron Quick--the boy who knows her best and loves her anyway--comes back into her life.

In IF A TREE FALLS..., Kirsten has put on thirty pounds in three months. Her parents are fighting all the time and she copes with food. Later, she sneaks into her garage to her mom's stash of junk food and overhears a conversation that changes everyone's lives.

But let's not forget THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, (GOFAT) which also has a character who is lacking in self esteem, not realizing her importance, struggling to look past her weight problem, eats some really decadent food to cope...and after enormous trials has the strength to come into her own.

All of these stories show the possibility for change and success. The main characters are seriously strong despite their weaknesses. Man, I needed this message at thirteen! As a fat girl, I'm thankful for these characters/stories. For seeing a way through. For self-acceptance. For perseverance. For Cameron Quick.

Okay, being fat is not as tragic as losing your parents in a car crash or teen suicide or drug addiction or sparkly vampire love. But as a teen, it was everything I thought about. It was tragic enough to take up residence in my psyche and burrow in there until I made my mind and my body share custody. Sometimes divorce can be messy. But most of the time I don't like to involve mediation. My body accepts the limitations, and my mind lords it over.

Twitter Tuesday

2012-03-06T08:26:00.011-05:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand it's March. Just in case you missed that fact. We're so helpful over here at We Heart YA. Bringing the info to ya... just like these, our favorite tweets from the past week.

Best Hashtag of the Week goes to Cinder author Marissa Meyer with #notesfromCRESS. In case you haven't read any interviews or seen Marissa at a signing, she has her 4-book series already drafted. But everyone knows first drafts are shhhtricky. These are some of the notes she left behind for herself.

Jamie Ford (author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) is always saying the best stuff. He's an honorary YA.

Speaking of the library... this is a bit scary:

Last week was Dr. Seuss's Birthday:

Funny stuff:

Now we all know what Jessica Love does on her Friday nights... and it sounds perfectly awesome:

So there's this other thing happening in March... What was it now??? Oh yeah, THE HUNGER GAMES movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is re-reading in preparation... except for our own Kristan Hoffman who wants to preserve the purity of both mediums in her mind. Could be a nice bit of wisdom... just like this from Chessie Zappia: