Julie Anne Peters
Julie Anne Peters is the author of over a dozen books that often deal with “controversial” issues faced by children and teens regarding sexual identity, abuse, destructive relationships and problematic family dynamics. Her latest teen novel, BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, I’LL BE DEAD, follows a suicidal high school student who has been the victim of peer bullying for years. In this interview with Teenreads.com’s Norah Piehl, Peters explains what prompted her to tackle this difficult and timely topic, and reflects on the negative effects of the Internet Age on “bullycide.” She also shares advice for young people in similar situations to her main character, Daelyn, and addresses her reputation for writing about challenging subject matter.
Judy Blundell
While the historical coming-of-age novel WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED appears to be author Judy Blundell's literary debut, she has actually written over 100 books for children and young adults under various pen names --- the most widely known of which is Jude Watson of Star Wars and The 39 Clues fame. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Kristi Olson, Blundell explains how the idea for this work of fiction originated from a headache, and compares and contrasts the process of writing period novels with those of her previous works of sci-fi, mystery and adventure. She also discusses how her upbringing in New York as well as her time spent in the Palm Beach area helped shape her main character and setting, reveals how winning the National Book Award has affected her career, and names some of her favorite recent reads.
Barbara Delinsky
Barbara Delinsky, author of FAMILY TREE, THE SECRET BETWEEN US and WHILE MY SISTER SLEEPS, recently published NOT MY DAUGHTER, which explores teen pregnancy, as well as the bonds of friendship and family relationships. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Jennifer McCord, Delinsky discusses why she chose to tackle such a timely subject and explains why she consistently revisits the theme of mothers and daughters in her work. She also shares her thoughts on such topics as the definition of a "good mother" and the evolving perceptions of teen parents, describes her career change from psychologist to author, and reflects on her transition to writing women's fiction after penning several romances.
Beth Hoffman
Beth Hoffman's debut work of fiction, SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT, is a coming-of-age tale about a recently orphaned 12-year-old girl who finds a new home with an eccentric elderly aunt in 1960s Savannah. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Jamie Layton, Hoffman traces the inspiration for the book's plot back to a childhood memory, as well as her fascination with mother/daughter relationships, and elaborates on some of the pivotal roles played by secondary characters in the novel. She also reveals what prompted her to turn to writing amidst a successful career in design, responds to comparisons made between her work and recent Southern Fiction bestsellers, and shares her whirlwind experiences as a first-time novelist.
Maureen Johnson
Maureen Johnson has followed up her 2008 novel SUITE SCARLETT with its newly released sequel, SCARLETT FEVER. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Sally M. Tibbetts, Johnson explains how her personal experience working with actors in New York inspired protagonist Scarlett Martin's latest adventures. She also discusses some of the timely themes about fame explored in the story and how she turned to writing after working in theater for several years.
Melanie Benjamin
Melanie Benjamin's first historical novel, ALICE I HAVE BEEN, centers on Alice Liddell --- best known as the "real" Alice in Wonderland from the works of Lewis Carroll. In this interview, Benjamin describes what initially drew her to this figure, despite having little previous knowledge of her and the stories she inspired, and explains how her lack of experience in writing historical fiction actually worked to her benefit. She also highlights some of the major events in Alice's life discussed in the novel and shares her thoughts on the impact that classic children's stories had on their infamous real-life muses.
Win a Copy of THE CLONE CODES by Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick L. McKissack and John McKissack
THE CLONE CODES takes readers on a thrill ride 160 years in the future, where cyborgs and clones are treated like slaves and secret organizations fight for freedom from an oppressive government. When Leanna's mother is targeted and captured for being part of this radical movement, Leanna finds herself on the run from a dangerous bounty hunter, triggering a chain of events that forces her to face her past, present and future in this dystopic society.
Teenreads.com is giving away 10 copies of THE CLONE CODES, which Newbery Honor winner Patricia C. McKissack wrote with her husband Fredrick and son John.
THE CLONE CODES by Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick L. McKissack and John McKissack (Science Fiction)
The Cyborg Wars are over and Earth has peacefully prospered for more than 100 years. Yet sometimes history must repeat itself until humanity learns from its mistakes. In the year 2170, despite technological and political advances, cyborgs and clones are treated no better than slaves, and an underground abolitionist movement is fighting for freedom. Thirteen-year-old Leanna's entire life is thrown into chaos when The World Federation of Nations discovers her mom is part of the radical Liberty Bell Movement.
After her mother's arrest for treason, Leanna must escape as she is chased by a ruthless bounty hunter. Soon Leanna finds herself living among the Firsts, and nothing will ever be the same again. But what does The World Federation want with the daughter of a traitor? So much is uncertain. Danger hides everywhere. Fear takes over. With help from unlikely sources, Leanna learns the origin of The Liberty Bell Movement and how its members may have answers about her past --- and her new reality.
As family secrets are revealed, Leanna must face startling truths about self-identity and freedom. Through time travel, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, this exhilarating adventure asks what it means to be human and explores the sacrifices an entire society will make to find out.
»Click here to read all the contest details. »Click here to read a review of THE CLONE CODES. »Click here to read an excerpt from THE CLONE CODES. »Click here to read the McKissacks’ bio.
While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.
Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life…isn’t it?
National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.
»Click here to read a review of BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, I’LL BE DEAD. »Click here to read an excerpt from BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, I’LL BE DEAD. »Click here to read our interview with Julie Anne Peters. »Click here to read Julie Anne Peters’s bio. » Visit Julie Anne Peters’s official website, www.julieannepeters.com.
SCARLETT FEVER by Maureen Johnson(Fiction)
Ever since Mrs. Amberson, the former-aspiring-actress-turned-agent, entered Scarlett Martin's life, nothing has been the same.
She's still in charge of the Empire Suite in her family's hotel, but she's now also Mrs. Amberson's assistant, running around town for her star client, Chelsea --- a Broadway star Scarlett's age with a knack for making her feel insignificant. Scarlett's also trying to juggle sophomore year classes, her lab partner who is being just a little TOO nice, and getting over the boy who broke her heart.
»Click here to read a review of SCARLETT FEVER. »Click here to read an excerpt from SCARLETT FEVER. »Click here to read our interview with Maureen Johnson. »Click here to read Maureen Johnson’s bio.
WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell (Fiction) Now Available in Paperback When Evie’s father returned home after World War II, the family fell back into its normal life pretty quickly. But Joe Spooner brought more back with him than just good war stories. When movie-star handsome Peter Coleridge, a young ex-GI who served in Joe’s company in postwar Austria, shows up, Evie is suddenly caught in a complicated web of lies that she only slowly recognizes. She finds herself falling for Peter, ignoring the family secrets that surround him…until he mysteriously disappears. Now Evie must find out what happened…and how far she’ll go to protect her family.
WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED, the 2008 winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, gives us a girl’s-eye view of a dark family history.
»Click here to read a review of WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED. »Click here to read an excerpt from WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED. »Click here to read our interview with Judy Blundell. »Click here to read Judy Blundell’s bio.
Win a Signed Copy of ALL UNQUIET THINGS by Anna Jarzab
To celebrate the release of ALL UNQUIET THINGS by Anna Jarzab, a psychologically probing debut novel that is both suspenseful and disquieting, Teenreads.com is giving away 10 signed copies of the book.
ALL UNQUIET THINGS by Anna Jarzab (Fiction)
Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.
Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.
Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it --- especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.
As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.
»Click here to read all the contest details. »Click here to read a review of ALL UNQUIET THINGS. »Click here to read an excerpt from ALL UNQUIET THINGS. »Click here to watch a trailer for ALL UNQUIET THINGS. »Click here to read Anna Jarzab’s Teenreads.com blog post, “Ten Random Things About Me.”
Win a Copy of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson
Jandy Nelson's remarkable debut novel, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, is as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, and is a must-read for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti and Francesca Lia Block. To celebrate the book’s March 9th release, Teenreads.com is giving away 15 copies.
THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson (Fiction)
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life --- and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.
This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.
»Click here to read all the contest details. »Click here to read an excerpt from THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE.
Grab Bag of Books Giveaway
Every month in our Grab Bag of Books contest, five readers are awarded a Teenreads.com signature tote bag filled with some of the hottest books --- and may even include a sneak peek at titles that haven’t been released yet!
This contest period’s winners will each receive a copy of THE LIFE OF GLASS by Jillian Cantor, the paperback edition of NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL by Justina Chen Headley, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS #7: HEARTLESS by Sara Shepard, and SWEET LITTLE LIES: An L.A. Candy Novel by Lauren Conrad. All you have to do to enter is fill out this form by Thursday, March 18th at noon ET.
»Click here for all the contest details. »Click here for the winners of our past giveaways.
The Children's Book Council's Teen Choice Book of the Year Finalists
We at Teenreads.com are thrilled to announce the finalists for the Children’s Book Council’s 2010 Teen Choice Book of the Year. The five books that were chosen most frequently by our readers as their favorites of 2009 are BLOOD PROMISE: Vampire Academy, Book 4 by Richelle Mead; BLUE MOON: The Immortals, Book 2 by Alyson Noel; CATCHING FIRE: The Second Book of the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins; CITY OF GLASS: The Mortal Instruments, Book 3 by Cassandra Clare; and SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater. Many thanks to the more than 3,000 people who participated!
Now it's time to make your voices be heard again. From March 15th through May 3rd, you can vote for your favorite book, author and illustrator of 2009 by clicking here. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 11th during Children’s Book Week.
Director Tim Burton offers the perfect antidote to the bleakness of this seemingly never-ending winter with his latest quirky, eye-popping fantasy adventure, Alice in Wonderland. This highly-anticipated film --- loosely adapted from Lewis Carroll's classic whimsical tales, plus a little bit of "The Jabberwocky" thrown in for good measure --- promises to take us down quite a rabbit hole with visually stunning effects, an A-list cast including Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman, not to mention all of the...well, just plain weirdness we've come to expect and love from a Tim Burton flick.
One of our goals each month is to inspire you to read --- and to keep reading. We have found that required reading lists for school --- especially summer reading lists --- are not exactly inspiring. Thus we have created what we think is the Ultimate Teen Reading List --- more than 300 titles that we believe are perfect choices for reading and discussing. Our dream is that schools will use this list to help them make their own for summer reading or, even better, suggest that students just read what they want from this list.
UPDATED! Our most recent additions to the list are CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins, THE CHOSEN ONE by Carol Lynch Williams, FRONT AND CENTER by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, THE GLASS CASTLE: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls, IF I STAY by Gayle Forman, IMPOSSIBLE by Nancy Werlin, THE stolarz LECTURE by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow, THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner, PURPLE HEART by Patricia McCormick, SKUNK GIRL by Sheba Karim and TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler.
March’s roundup of Cool New Books includes FANG, the sixth installment in James Patterson’s high-flying Maximum Ride series; THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR STALKING, the 12th novel in Lisi Harrison’s series about Westchester County's most exclusive private middle school girls; THE LAST SUMMER OF THE DEATH WARRIORS by Francisco X. Stork, the story of a friendship that helps two young men become all they can be; THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES, a companion to Carrie Ryan’s THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH that conveys the same world from a different point of view in a gripping story bound by rules and fences; and GREEN WITCH, Alice Hoffman’s sequel to GREEN ANGEL, in which Green must learn the stories of a number of "witches" and free her true soul mate from a prison as she grapples with life, love and loss in a post-disaster world.»Click here
March’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes CATHY’S RING, the final adventure-packed story in the CathyVickers trilogy; HERE LIES ARTHUR, Philip Reeve’s retelling of the legend of King Arthur, who is portrayed as the leader of a ragtag war band; FRAGILE ETERNITY, Melissa Marr’s third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, following WICKED LOVELY and INK EXCHANGE; MADAPPLE, a page-turning exploration of human nature and divine intervention from debut novelist Christina Meldrum; and CHASING THE BEAR, in which the late Robert B. Parker sheds light on private investigator Spenser's formative years spent with his father and two uncles out West. »Click here
WISH by Alexandra Bullen (Urban Fantasy)
For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone...until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. This dress has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.
»Click here to see Alexandra Bullen talk about WISH.
CAPTIVATE by Carrie Jones (Paranormal Romance)
Zara White and her friends continue to battle the evil pixies, feeling as if they are finally making a dent in the problem. But then even more pixies begin to arrive, including two new pixie kings intent on taking over the weakened territory. One swears to Zara that he is different, that he is not evil. Does Zara dare trust him? Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman and excerpted.
THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard (Fiction)
Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one --- not even Julia’s boyfriend --- knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy Reviewed by Amy Alessio and excerpted.
NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward (Urban Fantasy)
Ever since she was a child, Jem has kept a secret. Whenever she meets someone new, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head --- the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
ASHES by Kathryn Lasky (Historical Fiction)
Thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm’s favorite pastime is reading. With Adolf Hitler slowly but unstoppably rising to power, Gaby turns to her books for comfort while the world around her changes dramatically. When Gaby’s beloved books come under attack, she fears she may have to leave behind the fiction --- and the life --- she has always cherished. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
AFTER EVER AFTER by Jordan Sonnenblick (Fiction)
Surviving leukemia is one thing. Surviving eighth grade is a whole different beast. Cancer survivor Jeffrey Alper, first introduced in DRUMS, GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIE, has his work cut out for him if he ever wants to make it to high school unscathed. Find out what happens after ever after. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.
THEY NEVER CAME BACK by Caroline B. Cooney (Mystery)
In a busy school cafeteria, a teenage girl is confronted by a classmate who questions her identity. He explains to the students who have crowded around that the girl bears an uncanny resemblance to his cousin, who was taken away by social services five years ago. The girl shrugs off the attention as a case of mistaken identity, but as the days pass, the boy refuses to relent. Reviewed by Danica Davidson.
FLIGHTSEND by Linda Newbery (Fiction)
Flightsend is a remote countryside cottage, named for what it is to people: a refuge where those who need it can find some peace and an end to their wandering. Now that Kathy has lost her baby girl and the idyllic life she once dreamed of, she's hell-bent on distancing herself and her daughter, Charlie, trying to recover some of the peace they've lost. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
»Click here to read Linda Newbery’s Teenreads.com blog post, “Linda Newbery on the Faces and Places of FLIGHTSEND.”
FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta (Fantasy)
Ten years after the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere was brutally murdered and the country torn apart, Finnikin of the Rock is on a mission to reclaim his homeland. He finds unexpected help in Evanjalin, who claims to know how to find a surviving royal child through her dreams. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.
THE GIRL WITH THE MERMAID HAIR by Delia Ephron (Fiction)
Sukie Jamieson is obsessed with her appearance. So when her mother gives her a full-length mirror that once belonged to her grandmother, she is so thrilled that she doesn’t listen to her mother’s warning: “This mirror will be your best friend and worst enemy.” As Sukie discovers, mirrors show not only the faraway truth but the truth close up. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL by Kristin Walker (Fiction)
Fiona has the world's worst luck. She is trapped in a ridiculous but mandatory "marriage" with Todd Harding, the jock intent on humiliating her. Meanwhile, Amanda, Todd's air-headed girlfriend, is paired up in the marriage class with Gabe, Fiona's lifetime crush. But what Fiona learns --- about friendship, boys and herself --- just may transcend her faux vow woes. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
GOOD FORTUNE by Noni Carter (Historical Fiction)
Ayanna Bahati was born in Africa, as free as a bird in the sky. At just four years old, she is torn from her home and shipped to America as a slave. At 14, she escapes the plantation and runs north towards freedom. But even the scars on her back and the wounds in her heart won’t kill her dreams of achieving the next step in freedom: getting an education. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.
LUDWIG II, Volume 1 written and illustrated by You Higuri
It is the mid-19th century, and a remarkably beautiful 18-year-old has been crowned King Ludwig II of Bavaria. In the midst of a confrontation with Prussia and Austria, Ludwig II retreats from reality into an exquisite world colored by the music of Wagner. Reviewed by Casey Brienza.
LUDWIG II, Volume 2 written and illustrated by You Higuri
The kingdom of Bavaria was absorbed into the German Empire during the latter half of the 19th century. The stunningly handsome king of Bavaria --- who never married and who would have operas and plays privately staged for him --- wandered between fantasy and reality, alone in his extravagant crystal palace. Now we reach the final act of his drama Reviewed by Courtney Kraft.
Manhwa Review:
THE DEVIL’S TRILL written and illustrated by Sooyeon Won
THE DEVIL’S TRILL brings us two supernatural stories. In one, a vampire tries to be with the woman who makes him happy; in the other, a jeweler makes an unfortunate deal to be young again Reviewed by Danica Davidson.
NOT MY DAUGHTER by Barbara Delinsky (Fiction)
The emotional ties between mothers and daughters are stretched to breaking in this emotionally wrenching story of love and forgiveness. Once again, Barbara Delinsky has given us a powerful novel, one that asks a central question: What does it take to be a good mother? Reviewed by Jennifer McCord and excerpted.
SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Beth Hoffman (Fiction)
Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman's sparkling debut is, as New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah says, "packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart." It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others. Reviewed by Jamie Layton and excerpted.
ALICE I HAVE BEEN by Melanie Benjamin (Historical Fiction)
Few works of literature are as universally beloved as ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. Now, in this spellbinding historical novel, we meet the young girl whose bright spirit sent her on an unforgettable trip down the rabbit hole --- and the grown woman whose story is no less enthralling. Reviewed by Alexis Burling and excerpted.
Thinking about starting a book club? Trying to find new ideas for your club? Wondering what the heck a book club is? Never fear, Teenreads has all the answers to your book club questions, and some guides to help you lead a good discussion with your friends. Book clubs are easy to start and a lot of fun, so if you love books, this is for you!
Barbara Delinsky
BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, I’LL BE DEAD by Julie Anne Peters
SCARLETT FEVER by Maureen Johnson
WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell
Win a Signed Copy of ALL UNQUIET THINGS by Anna Jarzab
Win a Copy of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson
WISH by Alexandra Bullen 
CAPTIVATE by Carrie Jones
THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard 
NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward 
ASHES by Kathryn Lasky
AFTER EVER AFTER by Jordan Sonnenblick 
THEY NEVER CAME BACK by Caroline B. Cooney 
FLIGHTSEND by Linda Newbery 
FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta 
THE GIRL WITH THE MERMAID HAIR by Delia Ephron
A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL by Kristin Walker 
GOOD FORTUNE by Noni Carter 
INVINCIBLE, Volume 11: HAPPY DAYS written by Robert Kirkman, illustrated by Ryan Ottley and Cliff Rathburn 
LUDWIG II, Volume 1 written and illustrated by You Higuri
LUDWIG II, Volume 2 written and illustrated by You Higuri
THE DEVIL’S TRILL written and illustrated by Sooyeon Won
NOT MY DAUGHTER by Barbara Delinsky
SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Beth Hoffman
ALICE I HAVE BEEN by Melanie Benjamin
