Friday Fifteen

March 17, 2017Leave a comment

Happy Friday, guys! Or more accurately, OH THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY WILL THIS WEEK NEVER END?! This week was cold and snowy and I want to curl up in a comforter with a giant cup of tea until it’s actually spring out there. Who’s with me?

In the meantime, here are a couple of book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Puberty’s hard when you also have to fight endless winter. Continue to love Tiffany Aching.

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Beautiful writing and atmosphere, but not sure it ultimately left me satisfied in Ruth’s story.

Friday Fifteen

March 3, 2017Leave a comment

Happy Friday, guys! It’s been a week, so let’s head into the weekend with some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

George by Alex Gino
Hopeful story of a trans girl longing to play Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web class production.

Pieces of You and Me by Erin Fletcher
Charming story of a second-chance romance; Rylee and Chase’s chemistry feels so real. So needed this!

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Full-steam-ahead on the Tiffany Aching books. Witchcraft, hard work, common sense and community!

YA Passport at Trident Booksellers with Lauren McLaughlin and Annie Cardi

February 28, 2017Leave a comment

capture Hey there, Boston-area YA fans! This Thursday, I’m going to be at Trident Booksellers & Cafe with fellow YA writer Lauren McLaughlin for a conversation about books, writing, and probably how great the sweet potato fries are at Trident. Lauren’s launching her new book, The Free, and I’m so excited to be part of the festivities.

The details:

YA Passport with Lauren McLaughlin and Annie Cardi
March 2, 2017, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Trident Booksellers & Cafe
338 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115

Come say hi, get some tasty food/a refreshing beverage, snag a book, and take part in a fantastic YA conversation!

Friday Fifteen

February 24, 20171 Comment

Happy Friday, guys! This week has had some ups and downs, but the ups included beautiful sunny weather and seeing Newsies the Broadway musical movie experience with some awesome author friends, so I’m gonna call this week a win. Let’s kick the weekend off with some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Engaging family drama with strong writing. Lydia and Nath stood out the most for me.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Why did it take me so long to read a Discworld book? Tiffany forever!

Running in Literature: A Guide for Scholars, Readers, Runners, Joggers and Dreamers by Roger Robinson
An interesting look at running in myth, poetry, and stories. Atalanta is my new favorite.

This One’s for the Girls

February 13, 2017Leave a comment

Parks and Recreation gave us so many great TV moments, and Galentine’s Day (aka February 13, when we celebrate the great women in our lives) is one of the best.

Although I can’t be brunching with my favorite ladies today, it’s a great excuse to share some of my favorite female non-romantic bookish relationships. My criteria: all members of the relationship have to be well-developed characters with their own stories and motivations (ie, no friends who basically be taken out of the story without it affecting the plot to much). In no particular order:

Maddie and Julie from Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The most powerful story of friendship and sacrifice in YA. Or literature. COME AT ME.

The Penderwicks sisters from The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
The Penderwicks girls are smart and thoughtful and supportive. Part of why I love this series is just getting to spend time with all of them.

Hermione and Polly from Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston
Even in the truly worst of experiences, Hermione and Polly’s supportive friendship shines through. I don’t have the upper body strength to be part of their cheerleading team, but I would totally hang out with them after practice.

Nikki and Maya from This Side of Home by Renée Watson
Genuine and thoughtful look at two twin sisters who are growing up and growing apart, but always have each other’s backs.

Mary, Scarlett, Tansey, and Emer from A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
Touching story about a girl, a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother as they deal with life and death.

Elizabeth and Christina from Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty
This was one of my favorites as a teen reader. I love how Elizabeth and Christina get to be friends through their schools’ pen pal program. Great story showing how friendships can evolve over time.

Other suggestions for great Galentine’s Day reads? Share them in the comments!

Friday Fifteen

February 10, 2017Leave a comment

Happy Friday, everybody! We’re digging out of a snowstorm here in the Boston area, which means all I want to do this weekend is curl up with a lot of books and baked goods. (Gotta get a run in there, too.) In the meantime, let’s kick things off with a couple of book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
A beautiful story about family and kindness and the power of stories.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Epic and engaging look at the history of cancer. Literally cried at some parts.

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
Whether it’s poetry or books for adults or YA, Woodson more than delivers.

Links Galore

February 9, 2017Leave a comment

The links I’ve been saving for a snowy day:

In the latest episode of Crossover Appeal, I talk about my new bookish obsession, The Wee Free Men and the rest of the Discworld series.
Wahoowa for Margot Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures!
Because as fun as buying books is, giving books away can feel really good.
The Penderwicks and bibliotherapy.
Langston Hughes feels particularly necessary these days.
Famous writers on revision.
Playing around with writing exercises.
On sharing banned books with your kids.
Rita Dove speaks the truth.
Psyched feels like the wrong word for how I feel about The Handmaid’s Tale adaptation.
Finding the balance between writing and life, and how little actions build up.
I need all of these bookish puzzles.
Be gentle with yourself.
And to keep calm, take a few tips from to a bomb disposal expert.

2016 Book Resolution Recap

January 4, 2017Leave a comment

Confession: I kinda forgot that I made reading and writing resolutions for 2016, at least in an official way. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t make some progress! Some recaps from 2016 reading and reading

1. Finish book series I’ve started: I did manage to get through a few series that I’d started, including Dairy Queen, the Wolves of Mercy Falls, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I still have some series hanging out there, but at least I didn’t start a bunch more series that I couldn’t finish.

2. Read a few books for grown-ups: I did read outside of the YA sphere, but they were all non-fiction. I think that counts.

3. Add some non-fiction to the list: Totally nailed this one! I ended up reading way more non-fiction that I’ve read in years.

4. Pick from books already on my shelves: Well, I think I did that once…

5. Read more, tech less: Oddly enough, I think getting into audiobooks actually helped me reading more while tech-ing.

6. Finish my current WIP: I did get through a revision of this WIP, but it needs some more work before it goes out and is currently on a break. (Sorry, characters, I still love you.)

7. Complete a new first draft: I ended up completing a new first draft! It’s still way early in the revision process, but I really like this one.

8. Write when I think I don’t have enough time: I definitely could have been better at this. It’s so easy to think that a half hour isn’t enough time, when you can do way more than you think you can.

9. Start outlining new projects: I’m not an outliner, but I did start a spreadsheet of potential projects with notes about what they might include.

How did your 2016 reading and writing go? What were your successes, surprises, and challenges? And what’s on tap for 2017?

Be on the lookout for my 2017 resolutions, hopefully tomorrow!

Friday Fifteen

December 30, 2016Leave a comment

Happy Friday, guys! It’s the last Friday of 2016, and I am super glad to kiss this year goodbye. Let’s endeavor to stay strong, stay focused, stay positive, and stay supportive in 2017. In the meantime, let’s close out 2016 with a look at what I’ve been reading in fifteen words or fewer (because it’s winter break and I’m on vacation).

Essential Maps for the Lost by Deb Caletti
Caletti’s writing is beautiful, and Mads and Billy are heartbreaking.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
A fun, British-fueled romp toward the apocalypse. I need a miniseries now.

26.2: Marathon Stories by Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson
I guess I’m the kind of person who reads sports writing now. Yay running!

Links Galore

December 29, 2016Leave a comment

Lots of links I’ve been saving:

If we ever need books that inspire social change, it’s now.
March: Book Three makes National Book Award history.
Take your own walking tour of New York Jewish literary history.
Don’t rush the revision. And maybe keep some of these revision questions in mind.
Teen Vogue is doing some awesome work, including their new book club!
The Healthy Library Initiative sounds like a fascinating and potentially life-saving program.
Emma Watson shares some books.
On the problem of the hero’s journey and marginalization in trans YA books.
Because we can never forget.
I definitely need this audio version of Anne of Green Gables.
An old post by Jacqueline Woodson, but ever as important, about who can tell particular stories.
The business behind opening a bookstore.
Love this list of realistic middle grade novels.
What to ask before signing with a small press.
I continue to be psyched for the Series of Unfortunate Events TV series.
How to put together a writer’s mission statement.
Because lots of teens don’t fall in love.
How to make your title work for you.
The delightful Betsy Devany is hosting a blog series about childhood loveys in honor of her adorable picture book, Lucy’s Lovey, and this week I’m sharing my story of Pillows #1 and #2!
And in case you need some podcast-y distraction for the end of the year, check out all 11 episodes of Crossover Appeal. Looking forward to lots more in 2017!