Top Ten Tuesday Spin-off: YA Authors

   This week's Top Ten Tuesday had my brain working in overdrive. There are too many authors that I MUST read, so I made several lists....

Today I'm talking about YA authors:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Ally Carter

Emma Lord

Sheley Elston

Lisa Schroeder

YS Lee

Robin LaFevers

Sarah Dessen

Miranda Kenneally 

Tirah Prize

Jennifer Yn

Morgan Matson

Emery Lord

Gloria Chao

Siobhan Vivian

Jenny Han

Jennifer Iacopelli 

* This is super hard to do without standing in the library.

** I'm sure I'm missing some 

Review: Life Inside My Mind

31 YA authors share their personal stories in small essays.

My Thoughts: Oh boy. This was a great book to read and to start conversations, but it was also hard to read because of the subject matter. I love that so many authors shared their stories and I hope that this book spurs conversations among teens. I hope they see they are not alone. I hope they find themselves sharing their own stories. There isn't any judgement here, it's all very matter of fact. I love that so many of the essays talked about what worked for them and how it won't work for everyone. I love how they advice readers to get help and figure out the method that might work best for them. This book is so powerful - from the number of authors sharing their stories to the range of mental illnesses shared. It's an eye opening read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: A must have for middle school, high school, and public libraries.

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.

Review: Break These Rules

35 YA Authors each write a short essay on which rules to break: ones they broke themselves or ones they wish they had broken - anything to make them feel more comfortable in their own skin.

My Thoughts: This book makes me reflect on my teen years and the rules I broke and the rules I wish I had broken. Looking at the past is never easy.

These authors bared their soul - lots of heartbreak, emotion, and drama in their essays. Eating disorders, abuse, religious questions, - this book covers it all. I like the idea of breaking across cliques, not saying silent, and learning to be comfortable in your own skin. A great book for teens to take a look at their own lives.

I did wish that the author bios were not in the back of the book, but with the author's essays. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Sent for Review

Created: READ posters

I hang these up around in my library. Some of these authors I've met and snapped their photos and others I begged to send them to me. I made some earlier and their posted to my facebook page, but I did some tweaking since I've learned a thing or two since then. Enjoy!

Author's Writing Places

Janette Rallison posted a wicked blog about authors and their work spaces. Check it out! Whose office do you like most?

This one is most like mine here at the library - except that I have a million more papers all over my desk.

Book Expo America Round Up

I love BEA for many reasons
1) Meeting authors - both new and those I love
2) Knowing what's coming out soonish
3) Getting ARCs
4) Talking about Books
5) The energy that comes from being around books all day


This year was no different (sure there were less ARCs - but that made the ones there special)
I met some very cool authors (I tend to be a bit of a fangirl at these events)

Sarah MacLean - who I saw right when I got into the building. She wrote The Season (excellent regency romance for teens)

Jeanine Le Ny - who I stopped right in the middle of the floor, but who was really nice about it. She was chatting with Judy Goldschmidt


I saw Mari Mancusi and David Levithan - but didn't stop them though looking back, I should have. Plus I saw Jennifer Lynn Barnes (most likely with a group of authors) but she was too quick for me to catch her.

I stood in line to see Meg Cabot and Aimee Friedman (love them both and have met them before - still great)
Then I met Melissa Marr and Cinda Williams Chima. I wanted to catch Lisa Ann Sandell, but she was out sick.

I scored some awesome books - and missed some awesome books.

There were tons of authors that twittered about being at BEA that I didn't see. There's always books and people that I miss, but it's always great fun too!
I'm already looking forward to next year.