YA Stands For

This is #IReadYA week 

I've written about my love for YA several times. You can read them here.

But this year feels different to me. Maybe it's all the talk about diversity in the field or maybe it's all the terrible political news.  

I really thought there would be the first woman President in the White House this year. And because of that, my reading shifted a bit. I've gravitated towards feminist reads. Here's a few favorites from past years.

Girls who rescue themselves

Girls who save the world

Girls who kick ass

I read these books. I buy them for the library collection. I talk about them online. And I try to put them into the hands of other readers. Because it IS important. It's something that I can do. With enough females acknowledging our powers, we Can change the world.  

And I look for authors with similar values. I don't have to look too far. 

Twitter has become so much more political in this last year. There used to be a time when authors didn't talk politics. That's no longer possible. With this country in a downward spiral, I'm happy authors are voicing their opinions and sharing tips to try to change our world.

I Read YA: Quotes

Today's topic is #IQuoteYA

I actually used to keep a notebook of quotes that I loved in books I read. But I haven't kept up with that in years. 

But back in 2011, I wrote up a list of my favorite 10 quotes from the notebook. Check them out

This is one of my favorites:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: "She seemed to be taking the library's lack of useful information on the subject as a personal insult; it had never failed her before."

I Read YA: Throwback Thursday Edition

I just finished Aimee Friedman's Two Summers (and Loved it). 

But I've been reading Aimee's books for years. I love them! 

Here's how we first met:

By accident at BEA. I was talking about a book I liked to one of my librarian friends when someone in the booth overheard me and told me the author was just down there. Lisa Ann Sandell and Aimee Friedman were there talking. It was at the time of Myspace because we were all friends and they recognized my photo.

I mentioned how I loved both of their books and we talked for a few minutes.

These were the first books of Aimee's that I read. I loved this trilogy - it was flirty, fun, and full of drama, friendship, and romance.

I saw Aimee a few more times. Our picture was taken as we talked at the signing for Sea Change. (Did you hear the big news?)

Now every year I'd look for her, always looking for more book news. Because her books are always fantastic reads. I love them. 

Have you read her books?

I Read YA: TBR pile

I read YA week is back. Today's post this lovely picture. This is just one bookcase of my to-read books. I have at least three others. And lots of great looking books in there! Plus today's new releases are amazing! I can't wait to get my hands on those too.

I Read YA

There are SO many reasons why I read YA books.

I wrote up a guest post for Teen Librarian Toolbox 5 years ago with some of the reasons.

Besides the fact the YA books are amazingly good this is one of my biggest reasons:

There are so many things I love about YA books, but the biggest is the first moments.Teen years are the biggest moments for firsts – first kiss, first love, and first heartbreak. It’s a time for drama: family, friendships, school, job, and relationships.It’s a time for finding you’re not alone in the world.It’s a time where you learn that other people have the same questions, quirks, feelings that you have and it’s normal. It’s a time for discovery and figuring out who you really are.

Why do YOU read YA books?

I Read YA: Book Recommendations

Today is Share your YA Book recommendations

So here are some that I recently read and LOVED:

I Read YA: Upcoming YA Books

A few YA upcoming books that I'm really excited about:

I Read YA becuase...

It's amazingly good.

Here's a post I wrote a few years back for the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog.

There are lots of reasons why I love about YA books, but the biggest is the first moments.Teen years are the biggest moments for firsts – first kiss, first love, and first heartbreak.