YA - Macmillan Library

Bad Boy and Wake: 2013 BFYA Nominees!

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Ali Fisher

You know what, guys?

We never properly celebrated the fact that two of our totally stellar teen titles from St. Martin's Griffin were officially nominated for YALSA's 2013 Best Fiction for Young Adults reading list!

Well, it's never too late to party, so let's hear it for...

BAD BOY
Dream Jordan

Kate has been institutionalized her entire life, but things start to look up when she connects with a handsome stranger. But can she heed the warning signs of his abusive behavior?

WAKE
Amanda Hocking

Gemma's graceful swimming draws the attention of Penn, Thea, and Lexi, the gorgeous newcomers to her sleepy beachside town. But popularity isn't everything, and the dark secret they harbor threatens everything.

YALSA compiles this annual list to provide librarians with a resource to use for collection development and reader's advisory purposes.

The selection committee will discuss all of the excellent nominations at ALA Annual next month and finish their deliberations at Midwinter in January during which the final BFYA list will be selected and announced!

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Boston Book Buzz: For Teens!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Ali Fisher

The Boston Book Buzz is currently underway!

For those of us following along at home check out the hastag #bostonbookbuzz and I've listed below all of the teen titles that Talia will be presenting (see her slide show here)!

FIERCE READS

STRUCK by Jennifer Bosworth

OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks

MONUMENT 14 by Emmy Laybourne

SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo

Also see: FierceReads.com

MORE TITLES FOR TEENS

WAKE by Amanda Hocking

BENEATH THE GLITTER by Elle & Blair Fowler

WHISPERS AT MOONRISE by C.C. Hunter

ECHO by Alyson Noel

DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR by Darynda Jones

THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers

SPARK and GLOW by Amy Kathleen Ryan

GLITCH by Heather Anastasiu

THE HUNT by Andrew Fukuda

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Start Reading The Hunt Right Now!

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Ali Fisher

YA Librarian Stephanie Wilkes brought up a great question during yesterday's EarlyWord Young Adult GalleyChat (see chat details here). She asked, "Anyone read THE HUNT by Fukuda yet?" Jana Warnell tweeted back, "Got THE HUNT from netgalley. Looks so Good!" Well, we figure it's time to start making some noise about this post-apocalyptic YA thriller.

Here's the story: Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

Ready to start reading? You're in luck! The first 80 pages are offered as a free download on the series' microsite, where you'll also find a sweepstakes with a chance to win signed hardcovers and other exciting prizes.

Also, there is an excellent Maximum Shelf entirely dedicated to THE HUNT. My favorite part is the interview between Andrew and Alyson Noël! They interviewed one another about THE HUNT and Alyson's forthcoming book, FATED, the first in her new Soul Seekers series. See their interview here.

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Griffin Teen is Now on Facebook

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Ali Fisher

We've been spending a lot of time getting excited about Griffin's stellar list of young adult titles coming in 2012 and considering the number of hits we get on our new Books for Teens: Class of 2012 blog post, we're not the only ones!

If you're also looking forward to these titles, you've got a new place to keep updated on the action because Griffin Teen is now on Facebook! Go on, take a peek at their page. They post videos, excerpts, updates, bonus stories, notes from authors, and more.

And, of course, we encourage you to hit that Like button to stay in the loop.

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Dark and Stormy? Yes, Please!

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Yesterday afternoon the office went dark.

We don't always have the overhead lights on since we're lucky enough to have massive windows, but we fell to darkness when a herd of black clouds rampaged over Manhattan. See?

storm collage

As we all smashed our noses against the windowpanes, it came to me that this tempestuous sky of DOOM was reminiscent of a few very rad covers of ours:

Young Adult stormy covers

THE HUNT, TEMPEST, and PAST CONTINUOUS are all wrapped up in dramatic images of storms and lightning bolts.

It's also worth noting that all three of these blustery Young Adult titles are led by fierce and heroic teenage male protagonists.

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Exploring Privilege in Jacques Strauss’ Debut

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Today we're featuring a unique and beautiful debut that revolves around questions of privilege, revenge, and forgiveness: THE DUBIOUS SALVATION OF JACK V..

Eleven-year-old Jack V. is the son of an English woman and a Afrikaans man and he grows up in a quiet domestic environment during the in the upheaval of apartheid. When their maid's fifteen-year-old son Percy comes to stay, Jack's life is turned upside-down. Percy is bored, idle, and full of rage. When Percy catches Jack in an indelibly shameful moment, Jack learns that the smallest act of revenge has consequences beyond his imagining.

"Yes, first novelist Strauss delivers a beautifully rendered coming-of-age story that simultaneously unfolds an understanding of life in apartheid South Africa, but what’s most remarkable here is the assured and fluid language. The ending is not melodrama but a quiet, brilliantly controlled bang." -Library Journal

"Teens will be caught by this story of a naive kid in South Africa whose personal experience of apartheid politics moves from oblivious to vicious." -Booklist, recommended to YA readers

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He’s Just Not That Into Books: Something Strange

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Sometimes I think teen ladies have it made when it comes to fast-paced, page-turning, character-driven novels with a twist of the otherworldly. Bookshelves groan with kick-a** teen heroines vanquishing evil and saving the world (and to be clear, I am NOT complaining!).

But let's take a look at some of kick-a** heroes dealing with the paranormal day-to-day.

INFINITY
Sherrilyn Kenyon

The author of the Dark-Hunter Novels has turned her attention to the streetwise 14-year-old, Nick Gautier. When Nick is approached by a mysterious warrior and sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters he learns of the immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. During his heroic escapades Nick skirts death, destruction, and suspension in order to help save the world. INFINITY is the first in this series, followed by INVINCIBLE.

TEMPEST
Julie Cross

Jackson Meyer has something in common with Nick Gautier, his world is not what it seems. But in Jackson's case, he's the anomaly. Having recently discovered he can travel through time, Jackson is testing the limits of his power when men arrive to recruit him. In his resistance, his girlfriend is shot. Now Jackson must save the girl and take down the bad guys. Typical hero business.

ENDER'S GAME
Orson Scott Card

After those two titles, you hit 'em with a classic page-turner and they're hooked for life.

Well, that's it for our week of recommendations for the ever elusive teen male reluctant reader. Check them all out here (or under the tag "Just Not That Into Books") and let us know what we left off!

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Two Stars for Caroline Bock’s LIE

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews have seen fit to add a star to their reviews of Caroline Bock's LIE. LIE is the story of seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson and her role in a small town hate crime. Her boyfriend stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness.

Kirkus Reviews calls LIE, "unusual and important," and says, "This effective, character-driven, episodic story examines the consequences of a hate crime on the teens involved in it. [...] Realistic and devastatingly insightful, this novel can serve as a springboard to classroom and family discussions."

[UPDATE] Kirkus Reviews added LIE to their list of New and Notable Books for Teens for August.

Publishers Weekly says, "Avoiding preachiness, Bock handles the novel's multiple viewpoints exceptionally well, rotating among the painfully believable voices of high school students and adults. Her characters may keep the truth inside, but their story reads like a confessional."

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Nominees Posted for YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Ali Fisher

We're thrilled to report that two of our favorite Young Adult titles have been nominated for YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults for 2012. Congratulations to Carol Lynch Williams (MILES FROM ORDINARY) and M.J. Putney (DARK MIRROR)!

YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee presents fiction titles published for young adults in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18.

The final BFYA list will be announced at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Conference.

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Top YA Picks for Winter 2011!

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Spring is just around the corner so here's one last look at some of our favorite YA Winter titles!

Miles from Ordinary
Carol Lynch Williams

It's the first day of summer and Lacey has a new job at the library. Her mom, who seems so much better these days, has a new job, too. But hope of a normal life is too much to ask for as memories of the past rush in and Lacey's day turns from a new beginning to a desperate scramble to stay afloat.

Born at Midnight
C. C. Hunter

Welcome to Shadow Falls: a camp for vampires, shapeshifters, witches, and Kylie Galen. Shadow Falls is a place for teens to learn skills that will help them harness their supernatural powers, but Kylie has enough trouble balancing the affections of Derek the half-fae and Lucas the werewolf.

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