Dear Librarians (book store employees will work too) ,
I'd really love to know if there are boys buying or checking out books in the teen section of the library? Are boys reading YA? Every time I'm in that area, and its pretty large in our library, if they're are any boys in that section at all they are using the computers. Not reading.
Literary agents have been requesting middle grade boy books lately, based on the success of books like DIARY OF A WIMPY KID. Are they're not enough YA books geared toward boys or did writers stop writing these because no one wanted them? YA couldn't just be for girls, could it?
Thanks for any and all feedback from anyone who wants to give their opinion!
"Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first."
** All of the below is just reflective of my opinion only
If this book were a movie it would be rated:
R
Why I opened the book after reading the back?
The idea of ex-mean girl, Regina, befriending the loner, Michael, despite having spread awful rumors about him was the aspect I was most pulled towards. The hint at a possible romance, getting inside the head of not just one conflicted character but two, and wanting to know how Michael could possible be both a strong character and somehow accept and forgive Regina for years of torture.
What Age Teens Should Read This Book?
I'd say high school age, maybe eight graders would be fine with this as well. I would have loved it at that age . . . but I had an older sister . . . so you know how that goes.
The Family Oriented Christian Conservatives Would Want to Burn it Because:
Language - the word Fuck appears on probably every other page
Sex - the plot basically revolves around an instance of sexual assault to the MC, Regina. All other sexual references are just "Alleged" encounters and only minimally described. In other words, "Its all talk"
Violence - Some serious chick fights happen
Underage Drinking/Drugs-- yep, because no good Christian teens will ever be exposed to drugs or alcohol. And they sure as Hell won't try it. Right? Right?
Why the above "Said" Group Is Sooo Wrong (in my opinion, of course):
Language - is totally appropriate and an accurate portrayal of a public high school and how teens really talk to each other. In fact, the voice in this novel is so compelling I found myself devouring every word, getting sucked right into Regina's head. For a few hours I was her.
Now that's Talent! LOVED it!
Sex - What happens to Regina, the sexual assault by her best friend's boyfriend, is no glorified erotic romance story and unfortunately is VERY real. It really happens and its not easy to overcome.
What the author does so well with sexual content in this book is tell only what NEEDS to be told. This is the beauty of YA novels. They usually portray sex realistically where as adult novels glorify sex or make it more of a fantasy (Which is fine for 40 year-old woman not so good for 16 year-old girls).
Sometimes what's needed is A LOT more than other books, a lot more than we want to know and some readers squirm a little, but that's proof that an author has truly drawn us into the story.
For example, very little is said about Regina's physical relationship with the ex-boyfriend that ditches her when the mean girls "freeze" her out.
As a reader, I assumed that what Regina felt with Josh (the ex) wasn't significant enough for her to sit around and reflect on past make-out sessions like a heart-broken teen.
But when Michael (the conflicted hero/loner boy)kisses Regina, everything slows down and as a reader I NEED to know what's going on and the author doesn't disappoint.
I NEED to know exactly what Micheal does when he kisses her, where his hands are, is he soft or forceful?
All of that tells me so much about his character, how he feels about Regina, and shows a beautiful contrast to the horrible encounter Regina has at the beginning of the book and then again in the middle.
So yes, that kiss is IMPORTANT. Rated R or PG-13, doesn't matter one bit to me.
Of course she could have just said, "Kissing Michael was so much better than kissing Josh." BORING and very condescending to teens in my opinion. So once again Courtney Summers got it right.
What Makes This A GREAT, Edgy, YA Book?
The best part of a young adult novel is the potential for tremendous character growth. In my opinion, the content of novel is not nearly as important as what the characters learn/don't learn.
From page one, its very clear that Regina is unhappy being the mean queen's side kick. In fact, the guilt of bully others, shunning people (Like Michael) is taking its toll on her physically. She's became an antacid junky and yet she is clearly, without a doubt a follower.
What if Regina hadn't been shunned? I'd like to think she would see the light eventually but perhaps not until long after high school.
So ditch the content, the language, strip it all away and you have a story about a girl who comes to realize 1) the impact of her actions 2) everyone hates her even before she's shunned 3) she DOES care that people hate her 4) There's more to life that high school
That's one powerful message delivered under the cloak of a funny, realistic, emotional story that young readers will get. They'll live it, breathe it for a few hours and maybe, just maybe it will sink in.
Favorite Lines from the book?
There are so many fabulous references to growing up in this book. Realizes that not only has the teen years come at the characters full force now adulthood and the real world are approaching.
One of my favorite lines comes when Regina is in gym class playing dodgeball with "The Enemies"
"In elementary school, we had a Safe Ball. It was this soft, foamy thing that didn't hurt at all but still managed to strike fear into your heart when someone caught it and took aim. It felt so personal. Now we've grown up and graduated to hard rubber."
So many great metaphors in that quote and yeah . . . that's so true. The older you get the harder the hits are. In dodgeball and everything else.
"Except Kara was never my friend. She was just one of those girls you have to throw a bone to because there's nowhere else for them to go, and you've known them for so long, you can't even remember how you met."
I loved this quote because it comes towards the beginning of the book so you can see Regina's still got a little of that mean girl in her and some serious anger toward Kara the girl who threw her to the wolves so she could slide happily into her spot.
It also represents the concept of sticking with a mold in high school, never thinking there's a way to break out of that mold.
Like the entire book, these huge themes and messages are weaved so subtly throughout the novel with the most simple language. The simplicity makes every word more powerful.
I just had to do another post because I stumbled across an interesting article about a very determined group of Wisconsin folk. Here's how it opens:
"Nothing brings back the nostalgic feeling of Nazi Germany quite like a good old fashioned book burning, and thanks to a very vocal group in Wisconsin, a "controversial" young adult novel may be headed toward a bonfire."
The book, titled BABY BE-BOP, is a YA book about a teenager struggling with his homosexuality and is beaten up by a homophobic gang (Amazon description says its a gang of gay teens-- not sure which is true?).
The Christian Civil Liberties Group fought to have the book removed from the library's shelves and then wanted to hold a public book burning-- at this point in reading the article, I was totally thinking of the the movie FOOTLOOSE (Dang I love that movie!) and how the members of the church burn the bad books outside of the library.
Has anyone actually witnessed a book burning? I haven't.
Anyway, The West Bend Parent's For Free Speech apparently won over the pyromaniac dudes by collecting more signatures. Now the Christian Civil Liberties Group is suing the library for $120,000.
Why you ask?
"The plaintiffs, all of whom are elderly, claim their mental and emotional well-being was damaged by this book at the library," and that it contains obscene language that could "put one's life in possible jeopardy, adults and children alike."
I have not read this book (Yet) but regardless, I doubt my life would be in danger from simply looking at the cover, but hey if I get $120K AND I get to have a public bonfire with enough paper to roast an entire bag marshmallows that sounds FREAKIN' AWESOME!
And maybe after the marshmallows we'll all bust out in choreography, like Kevin Bacon and that girl I can't remember (And I'll totally be really good at dancing).
Back to the article.
Okay, seriously how disturbing is this? And like I said, I haven't read the book . . . but regardless of the storyline or where the plot is going, for a teen who's just discovering his/her sexuality and maybe is feeling a little confused/different than "the peers," wouldn't getting inside the head of a character toying with the same thoughts be a safe and private way of getting up the nerve to talk openly about these feelings?
Anyone got an opinion? All sides welcome! Bring on the conservatives!
If you've read the book, please give us a little insight into the major conflict and a sense of character growth. I'd LOVE to hear that.
The YA Book Bitch just happened to leave a friendly comment on one fabulous YA authors blog yesterday who just happens to have written the very book I'm reviewing tomorrow.
Courtney Summers author of CRACKED UP TO BE and SOME GIRLS ARE is wonderful and full of awesomeness and I hope I can write a review that does justice to her amazing book. Anyway she's agreed to stop by and check this out tomorrow then give me a link in her review section of her website.
So . . . I'm totally stoked about this because its exactly the direction I want this blog to go. Authors, Agents, Editors, Teachers, Librarians and of course real life teenagers all speaking up in the name of GREAT literature!
Okay, I'm not saying anymore because then there's nothing left for tomorrow. But all of you could run out and buy the book and read it before tomorrow?
1. Book censorship for kids/teens (aka-- Banned Book Lists)
2. Conservative assholes who think reading "fuck" or "shit" in a book will cause corruption and possibly lead to the end of the world
3. Bad books
Things I Might Bitch About
1. Crazy religious people (aka-- "Jesus Freaks") and their very closed minds
2. Politics
3. Celebrities
Things I Won't Bitch About But May Discuss Here
1. Great, edgy YA books that get young readers thinking about real life situations
2. Writers who aren't afraid to step out and make a statement through their words even if it makes people uncomfortable
3. What teenagers really do when the big people aren't around
Remember -- The Book Bitch LOVES comments, feedback, suggestions for topics. Feel free to speak up as ANON or show your face. Either way you're welcome here and there's a 99.99% chance I won't delete your comment regardless of the content.
Read the whole thing here "Not every sexually active teen will immediately find themselves on death’s dark door as a result of their sin ... but part of them still dies."
In other words, "Have sex and you die." Way Harsh!
Have something you need to get off your chest or maybe you're seeking advice. Email The YA Book Bitch yabb1980 (at) gmail.com and I just might post it.
Dear Librarians (book store employees will work too) ,
