Interviewed by Romance Writer Mary Ann Marlowe, Author of Dating by the Book

I was interviewed by Mary Ann Marlowe, author of Dating by the Book. She had questions about bloggers and reviewers and how we affect books and the publishing market.

Her interview is located here 

I loved her book and you will too! If you love Indie bookshops, quaint towns, book clubs, close friends, drinking tea and/or wine, handsome love interests, fun dialog, and some unexpected twists and turns along the way, pick up Dating by the Books. My review is here 

From Mary Ann's blog: 

Six months ago, writer and bookstore owner Maddie Hanson was left at the altar. Since then, she’s had zero interest in romance—despite the fact that she runs a book club full of sexy eligible bachelors. But when her latest novel is panned by an anonymous blogger who goes by the name Silver Fox—and who accuses her of knowing nothing about passion—she decides to prove her nemesis wrong by seeking a romance hero in real life . . .

There’s the smoldering rock musician, the bookish college professor, and her competitive childhood friend who may want to steal her bookstore more than her heart. Even Silver Fox is getting in on the action, sending Maddie alarmingly—and intoxicatingly—flirtatious emails. And that’s not all. Her ex wants her back.

Now Maddie is about to discover that like any good story, life has twists and turns, and love can happen when you least expect it—with the person you least expect . . .

Pre-order now!

Amazon | BN | Kobo | Google Play | BAM!

The Accidental Reviewer-Presentation Border Regional Library Association

The Accidental Reviewer, aka me, YA librarian Pamela Thompson, presented at the Border Regional Library Association. Power Point is here. Feel free to use any content as long as you cite source and include a link to this blog. Thank you!

YA and Technology Trends: A Student from Australia Interviews Me!

Australian student Stella C. asked me my thoughts on a project she is working towards. She is (in her own words): "... a 12 year student in Sydney, Australia, working towards my HSC major work for society and culture." Her area of study is this topic:

 "What will be the impact on YA literature with the increasing reliance on technology and how must authors change to accommodate to new diverse margins of society."

 She asked me questions and I answered her as thoughtfully as I could. With her permission, I am publishing this interview. I think her questions are well thought out and insightful and help us to understand what teens are thinking about YA literature and social media  not only here in the U.S. but in Australia as well. Stella, thank you for asking me these important and timely questions and allowing me to publish them here.

Interview:

1.    What are your thoughts on young adult fiction as a popular culture?

 

YA fiction has become a part of pop culture as it moves from books and content on the Internet into movies and mainstream Hollywood. Actors who star in YA movies, think "Twilight" and "Divergent" go on to act in feature films; for example, Jennifer Lawrence gained the teen audience  in "The Hunger Games" yet went on to win an Oscar for her performance in "Silver Linings Playbooks" and was nominated for "American Hustle." She has become one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood.

 

2.    What do you think young adult fiction targets for their audience?

 

 If it is a great book the target is to entertain, to say something necessary, to bring to life characters who are amazing in some way yet seriously flawed in others, to set up events that impact the main character, to have the character face obstacles and overcome them in some way, and to have the character somehow changed by his/her journey. The reader should come away from the book feeling satisfied. Even if a main character dies, the reader should still feel good about reading the book. A great book impacts the reader; the reader will think about that book for a great long while, think To Kill a Mockingbird.

 

3.      Do you think this genre of novels is growing? And if so, why is there a dramatic change?

 

 It has been taking over the publishing market since Harry Potter. It will continue to grow as fan fiction is growing online. Many twelve year old readers are becoming writers as we speak. The next decade looks promising for publishing and fiction.

 

4.      Do you think that literature and novels will be a short-lived life?

 

 

 

 Literature will never be short lived. That's like asking if music will be short lived. Notes never go away. Words never go away. A new musician or writer will think of a new way of using them.

 

5.      Do you think easy access to movies and fan fiction ultimately persuades you to avoid written work?
 

 Absolutely not! I attend the Texas Teen Book Festival each year in Austin, Texas, which has grown to include over 150 authors per year. Thousands of readers flock to see the books and authors. I am happy to say that readers were buying tons of books in print. This is not to say that Ebooks and digital reading are not accessible. Many readers find that they like the heft and feel of the printed book. It totes well. You don't have to worry about wires or connectivity or getting it wet. You can read in almost any light source.

 

6.      What are your personal thoughts on eBooks, kindles and other source of technology which enhances the reading experience?

 

 I'm not sure this technology "enhances" the reading experience. It makes it possible to read in a variety of ways. It may help some people to learn to read. The technology makes it possible for all sorts of learners to be able to enjoy a book.

 

7.      Why is there such a stigma attached to adults who read young adult fiction?

 

 Is there a stigma? Really? The Hunger Games, Twilight and even The Diary of a Wimpy Kid did not get to the New York Times bestseller list by teens who read them. Certainly hundreds of thousands if not millions of adults read them. Fans of dystopian fiction read both YA dystopian fiction and adult dystopian fiction. In fact, there is no line in the sand between the two. I think this "stigma" is imagined--I have not seen anyone in the U.S. say that adults should not read YA. In fact, it's just the opposite. You should read what you want.

 

8.    How does social media and technology help promote young adult fiction?

 

 You are asking a blogger! The epitome of what I do is promote new and exciting titles in YA fiction. Technology makes that possible.

 

9.    How does the film industry present young adult adaptation? Why isn’t the film not targeted to a specific age group? How do you think they break the age barrier?

 Hollywood takes a book and brings it to life with film magic. A real reader does that for herself or himself. A reader imagines the "scenes" in the book and sees the action. Films make it possible for those who don't read to enjoy the stories. I think Hollywood does justice to YA novels for the most part.

 

10. Do you think the film acknowledged the author’s true ambitions of the novels’ themes?

 

It depends if the author is involved with the screen writing or not. In the case of several YA novels into films, the authors have had a say in screenplay and on the set. If the author has no say, the writers, directors and producers have a free for all if they want.

 

11. What do you think will be the next step for these authors and young adult fiction for the upcoming generations?

To continue to offer the best stories with the most compelling characters. I have heard several authors comment that writing for the YA crowd is a lot harder than writing for adults. Kids will catch all your mistakes and call you on them. Kids are less forgiving than the adult reader. And kids will call you out on social media.

 

Is there any other thoughts/opinions on young adult fiction and technology’s impact on this popular culture?

 

 I think Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media are a great tool for authors to embrace. They have up to the minute details on how their novel/work is perceived. A smart author will be a tech savvy guru.

 

My closing thoughts: Authors, you are going to have to up your game to keep up with today's YA readers. Good luck! Pamela

 

So You Want To Work in Fashion? How To Break into the World of Fashion and Design
Be What You Want Series
by Patricia Wooster This Beyond Words/Aladdin edition
2014
183 pages
with notes, bibliography and helpful websites
ISBN: 9781582704524

For any teen or tween who is interested in entering the exciting world of fashion from design to modeling to styling to blogging, So You Want to Work in Fashion is THE comprehensive guide to get them started. Having read this entire set of books, I looked forward to reading and reviewing this one. Watching "Project Runway" for many seasons, my own daughter now shows an interest in the fashion world. This is the perfect book for her.

Filled with helpful tips, interviews from actual young people working in the industry, activities, and spotlights, readers will enjoy learning all the ins and outs of the industry. Being a stylist requires good accounting skills. Who knew? If you are going to be a fashion blogger, be prepared to have a real job. This one I knew! Many who make it in the world of fashion must begin as an intern or work for free. Hopefuls should take every responsibility to learn in the industry.

Many of the people interviewed for this book began as a blogger or other online persona. They found out as much as they could about fashion and then posted a look book or videos on Youtube. With the Internet at your fingertips, teens today have a voice and a built in audience.

Although the book does not teach anything about sewing, pattern making or design, the book does suggest wannabe designers take sewing lessons. Any store that sells sewing machines will usually offer beginner classes for free. You can learn the basics of sewing a hem, cutting and following a pattern, and choosing fabrics.

Teens are already working in the fashion industry as models, bloggers, vloggers, fashion designers and editors, and models. After reading this book, tweens and teens will have an idea of how to get started in the fashion industry.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Why I Blog and Is There a Disconnect Between Award Books and What Teens Want To Read?

I've been pondering the disconnect between award books, what parents and teachers want kids to read, what publishers think are "good" books, what is being published and promoted and what teens actually want to read or will read.

 

 

Recently, I attended  a presentation for young adult books and I have to say, the presenter gave the most attention to those books that are "well-written" and probably not noticed by teens. While certainly teens need to read award worthy books, do they WANT to read them? Will they enjoy them? Would they pick up an award winning book if it wasn't part of an assignment or a grade or a college requirement?

 

When I browse the teen section at B & N, I know instantaneously which covers will appeal to the most teens. Then I pick up the book and look at it more closely. I also watch teens in their own habitat (browsing books). I study their book choice behavior. It tells me a lot about what teen readers/browsers will pick up. If the book has a medal on the front of it, it is rarely even considered. In fact, it is shunned by most.

 

When I read a book, I approach it as a teen or my teenage self (yes, we all have that teen self inside of us still. Just like we all have a "Disney side.") I know that sounds weird, but what do you think an actor does? An actor is not herself/himself in a role, an actor becomes the character.

 

When reading YA,  I  suspend my age, experience, and age prejudices (I try), when I read, becoming my naïve fifteen year old self of yesteryear....I am in the book and one with the character. If it can keep my make believe fifteen year old self interested, entertained, happy, and excited, then I know teen readers will love the book, hopefully as much as I did. There is nothing more exciting than having a reader come back to the library and tell me, "Wow! You were right about this book! It was amazing! Now what can I read?"

 

What publishers and editors push the hardest is not necessarily the BEST or most loved books. The behemoth that is Afterworlds fell flat for me. I honestly cannot imagine what teen would slog through 600+ pages of back and forth story. The entire concept felt like an editor told Westerfeld to use as many "hot" pop culture topics as he could possibly find. 600+ pages is HEAVY and not in a good way. You could kill a bug with this book. Heck, you could take a zombie's head off with this book. Read it if you must, but you've been forewarned. And, I love Westerfeld's earlier work! There was lots of hype for this book and the publisher spent big bucks on  marketing it but a big disappointment for me.

 

This email from Mary Z is the reason I blog:

 

"I just wanted to say again how much I love and appreciate your blog.  Whenever I go to conferences, people ask, 'How do you select books for your library?" I tell them, "I read Pamela Thompson's blog.  If she likes it, I know my students will.'"

 

And, when I see a smile in the eyes (yes, you read that right) of a teen who brings back a book I've recommended and he/she says, "You were right about this book! I loved it! What else do you recommend?" I know why I blog.

 

I love to blog, I eat books and it's its own reward, but when a kid asks me what do I suggest for him/her to read next, it is sooooooooo valuable that I know just the right book!

 

To all of you who have written me or phoned me or met me at TLA, I wanted to thank you. It is your input that keeps me going even when the dark cloud of education is sometimes threatening overhead. With more and more non-library tasks assigned to our LMS in our district this year, it's hard to remember our REAL job---connecting readers to reading forever. I want kids who come through my library to ALWAYS love reading, always love libraries and always remember that middle school librarian (me! ) who nurtured them and their love of reading. If I can change non-readers into readers, I've done my job, my passion, my life's work, my reason for reading/reviewing/blogging.

Tween Pick: Genie Wishes

Genie Wishes
by Elisabeth Dahl
Amulet
2013
288 pages

Available April 2013 (exact date not yet available)

view the trailer here

Charming and sweet, Genie Wishes is sure to enchant younger readers.
Genie Kunkle begins her fifth grade year with excitement and anticipation. When she’s named 5th grade class blogger, she’s thrilled. She asks Mr. Saylor, her teacher, what to write about. He guides Genie to write about the class’s thoughts, wishes, and dreams.

Genie begins with Junk Food Lunch. All the kids are sad when the school stops Junk Food Lunch day, but the adults think it’s for the kids’ own good. A lot of kids post comments on Genie Wishes, Genie’s class blog.

Before long, Genie has to worry about bras, shaving her legs, getting her period, wearing make-up, and a thousand other things a girl should not have to worry about. Genie’s dad considers dating, and Genie pushes him to an Internet dating site. Ian, Genie’s older brother, is horrified and lets his feelings be known.

Genie and Sarah have always been BFF’s, but when mean girl, snooty Blair joins them, Genie feels like three’s a crowd. Blair is everywhere, too. Her opinion is usually loud and all the girls think Blair is right all the time. There is friendship drama and Genie feels jealous and sad.

Genie Wishes chronicles Genie’s entire school year. Genie says goodbye to elementary school and looks forward to middle school.

Recommended by the publisher for ages 8-12. Personally, I’m not sure how parents will feel having eight year olds reading about puberty and periods. Use you own judgment. I am adding it to my middle school library, and our school is grade 6-8. Genie Wishes is a light, girl-y read that is perfectly tame for ages maybe eleven and up.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Chick Pick: My Life Undecided

My Life Undecided
by Jessica Brody
RR Donnelley & Sons Company (Farrar Straus Giroux)
2011
299 pages
(Amazon has it listed as 320 pages, but my copy has 299)

Blogger's Note: I find the idea of a teen using a personal blog to make her decisions quite quirky and wish I had thought of this idea!)

Funny, quirky, comic, quick-witted, and over-the-top melodramatic Brooklyn Pierce is a character girls will love. She is so confused and in so much trouble, she turns to the "people" of the Internet to make her life's decisions for her. Since she burned down her mom's model home and faces arson charges and tons of community service hours in a local nursing home, she knows the decisions she has been making on her own just aren't good ones. She feels genetically pre-disposed and blames her DNA for making bad decision.

So Brooklyn posts her blog "My Life Undecided" and asks readers to choose for her. Their job is to choose which book she should read for English--The Grapes of Wrath or The Old Man and the Sea. Their second vote is whether she should sit alone in the cafeteria like a leper or hide out in the library like a wimp. A total of eleven people find her blog and decide she should read The Grapes of Wrath and have lunch in the cafeteria. Brooklyn is true to her blog readers and follows their directions.

Brooklyn sits alone at lunch and tries to eat quickly so she can escape, but as luck would have it, she begins choking on canteloupe. Lucky for her, someone grabs her from behind and wraps arms around her waist causing the canteloupe to dislodge. Her savior is a boy from her English class--Brian Harris. She's never noticed him before probably because she used to hang out with only the most popular people and Brian is just a quiet guy. Brooklyn soon nicknames Brian "Heimlich" on her blog and hot guy Hunter becomes Rhett Butler--in one comic moment, Brooklyn originally names him "Red" Butler, but her blog readers correct her and tell her the name is actually "Rhett."

When "Rhett" invites Brooklyn to a funky downtown club that his father has just opened, she knows it's off limits. Her parents would never allow her to go. She dearly wants to go and hang with Hunter, "Rhett," but leaves the choice to her blog followers. The majority assures her to stay away; it will only get her in trouble. Brooklyn follows them again and goes to dinner with her parents just blocks away from the club.

Performing community service in a nursing home is no laughing matter, but Brooklyn meets a crotchety old lady named Mrs. Moody who allows her to read to her. Soon Brooklyn actually looks forward to her visits and decides maybe old people aren't so bad after all, especially moody Mrs. Moody.

Brooklyn pines over Hunter, "Rhett" and can't see the good guy standing right in front of her Brian "Heimlich." It takes her blog readers to spell it out for her. In a cute twist, Brooklyn finds out Heimlich has been following her blog for weeks! Readers who like girl-y picks with plenty of comedy and drama will love My Life Undecided.

Highly recommended grades 7-up. No language, no sex, but mention of underage drinking and a "party." No more details mentioned other than that there was a party and people were drinking.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not received monetary compensation for this review.

Middle School Pick: Gossip From the Girls' Room

Gossip From the Girls' Room
by Rose Cooper
Delacourte Press, 2011
198 pages

Cute, quirky, and funny, Gossip From the Girls' Room is a novel aimed at tween girls--probably those tween girls who keep diaries, girls who write their names in cursive with hearts for dots above the i's and j's, girls who whisper their latest crush's name to their BFF's.

Sofia keeps a super-secret pre-blogging notebook where she writes down all the super-secret gossip she "overhears" in the girls' bathroom. Actually, she stands on the seat of the last commode and hides in wait, hoping someone will spill a fat, juicy secret. Then, Sofia reports her findings in her blog--which is widely read by students at Middlebrooke Middle School.

Much of Sofia's time is spent worrying why Mia St. Claire is so annoying rich and unbelievably pretty. Sofia's BFF Nona goes a little boy crazy and begins to have little time for Sofia. To make matters worse, Sofia's mother takes a substitute teaching job at Middlebrooke!

Oh, the woes of middle school! Illustrated by the author, this novel's font has the feel of a written diary like The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries. Readers who loved Dork Diaries will like this book.

Recommmended grades 5-7.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.