Author: Kelly Jensen

With fall in full swing up in the Northern Hemisphere, so comes the influx of YA book news.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

When Louise Wolfe’s first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It’s her senior year, anyway, and she’d rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper’s staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director’s inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. From the newly formed Parents Against Revisionist Theater to anonymous threats, long-held prejudices are being laid bare and hostilities are spreading against teachers, parents, and students — especially the cast members at the center of the controversy, including Lou’s little brother, who’s playing the Tin Man. As tensions mount at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey — but as she’s learned, “dating while Native” can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey’s?

---

Shout out to a book I really enjoyed as today’s sponsor — if you haven’t, add Hearts Unbroken to your TBR.

Grab your favorite snack and get ready to get caught up on the latest in YA news this week!

• The YA novel Dissonance will be adapted by none other than Catherine Hardwicke.
• A moment of appreciation for Tiffany D. Jackson’s next book and its spectacular cover. This is the second YA rap star book coming out next year (the other being On The Come Up by Angie Thomas). This is a sweet microtrend!
• I have found myself increasingly fascinated by how franchises work (think: we have Lumberjanes the original comics, which are now also novels, which are being made into a graphic novel again). This one is really up my fascination alley: “Light as a feather, stiff as a board,” the old sleepover game, became a YA hit on WattPad and now it’s a show on Hulu.
• A little insider baseball: Tyndale House is adding a YA imprint. If you are or know readers who love their YA with a Christian bent, keep an eye on this.
• Canada’s Governor General Literary Awards short lists have been announced, and here are this year’s young people’s literature titles. Learning to Breathe is not only exceptionally gorgeous on the outside, but it’s one I hope more readers pick up with this little nod to its internal strength, too.
• Curious about debut novels hitting shelves in 2019? Here’s where you can learn about some of them.
• Want more YA books like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina? Here’s a nice list.

Cake, Frieda Kahlo, and Other Alternatives to Necromancy is my YA book title. What’s yours?

• Marie Lu just signed a multi-million dollar deal, so we’ll be seeing much more great YA from her.
• Erin Jade Lange’s Butter, which came out a few years back, has been optioned for adaptation.
• Netflix is filming the adaptation of Trinkets, another YA novel that came out a few years back. Y’know, I wonder if this is a thing we’ll see a bit more of — adaptations of YA titles from the midlist of years past, as it pulls back some of the hype expectation that has let down other YA adaptations (see things like The Darkest Minds or The 5th Wave).
• Snapchat TV is adapting The Dead Girls Detective Agency, another YA novel from a few seasons ago.
• I love every single thing about this: Reese Witherspoon’s company is going to adapt Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi. I loved this YA memoir and cannot wait to see it on screen.
• “To all the goobers I’ve loved before” and more YA books as candy. Get your LOLs on.

 

Recent Book Mail

A very manageable mail week, so enjoy the seasonal photograph! From top to bottom:

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

Orphaned by Eliot Schrefer

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

 

Cheap Reads

Prices for these books are current as of Tuesday, October 16. Snag a good read for a little less cash.

Frost by Marianna Baer — if I could recommend a creepy YA book for the season, this is my favorite and wildly underrated. $4.

Printz Award winner Bone Gap by Laura Ruby is $2.

Want another good Printz Award winning read for $2? Try Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

Nic Stone’s must-read debut Dear Martin is $2.

Matt de la Peña’s Mexican White Boy is $2.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan is $2.

Feral Nights, the first in a trilogy by Cynthia Leitich Smith, is $2.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out and we’ll see you again next week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram and Twitter

Hey YA readers: it’s not a happy topic today, but it’s an essential one.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Disney Publishing Worldwide.

The worst thing that’s ever happened to Craig is also the best: Amy. Craig and Amy should never have gotten together—Craig is a Dungeons and Dragons master with no life skills and Amy is the beautiful, fiercely intelligent student body president of their high school. Yet somehow they did…until Amy dumped him. Then got back together with him. Seven times. Seven breakups. Seven makeups. Seven of the highest lows and lowest highs. Told non-sequentially, acclaimed playwright Don Zolidis’s debut novel is a brutally funny, bittersweet taste of the utterly unique and utterly universal experience of first love.

---

With the recent climate change report, it’s essential to continue talking about ecological disaster. YA books have been taking this topic on for many years, and it’s become a topic that remains timely and relevant; more, it’s interesting to see how back list titles remain at the forefront of the topic itself.

Climate fiction — also known as Cli Fi — has been gaining ground across all categories of books, especially as imminent disaster is clear. It feels apt to share some of the strong titles in the world of YA which fall into this growing genre.

Descriptions come from Goodreads. Stars denote a first book in a series.

If you’d like to learn a bit more about Cli-Fi as a genre, this piece on Medium from one of the folks behind the push for it is worthwhile reading.

After The Snow by SD Crockett

Fifteen-year-old Willo was out hunting when the trucks came and took his family away. Left alone in the snow, Willo becomes determined to find and rescue his family, and he knows just who to talk with to learn where they are. He plans to head across the mountains and make Farmer Geraint tell him where his family has gone.

But on the way across the mountain, he finds Mary, a refugee from the city, whose father is lost and who is starving to death. The smart thing to do would be to leave her alone — he doesn’t have enough supplies for two or the time to take care of a girl — but Willo just can’t do it. However, with the world trapped in an ice age, the odds of them surviving on their own are not good. And even if he does manage to keep Mary safe, what about finding his family?

Blood Red Road by Moira Young*

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba’s world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Breathe by Sarah Crossan*

The world has no air. If you want to survive, you pay to breathe. But what if you can’t? And what if you think everything could be different? Three teens will leave everything they know behind in Sarah Crossan’s gripping and original dystopian teen novel of danger, longing, and glimmering hope.

Ever since the Switch, when the oxygen levels plummeted and most of humanity died, the survivors have been protected in glass domes full of manufactured air. Protected . . . or trapped? Or controlled? Alina’s a revolutionary who believes we can save the environment. Quinn’s a Premium who’s never had to worry about having enough air. His best friend, Bea, is an Auxiliary who’s never worried about anything but having enough air. When the three cross paths, they will change everything.

The Islands at The End of the World by Austin Aslan*

Right before my eyes, my beautiful islands are changing forever. And so am I …

Sixteen-year-old Leilani loves surfing and her home in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii. But she’s an outsider – half white, half Hawaiian, and an epileptic.

While Lei and her father are on a visit to Oahu, a global disaster strikes. Technology and power fail, Hawaii is cut off from the world, and the islands revert to traditional ways of survival. As Lei and her dad embark on a nightmarish journey across islands to reach home and family, she learns that her epilepsy and her deep connection to Hawaii could be keys to ending the crisis before it becomes worse than anyone can imagine.

A powerful story enriched by fascinating elements of Hawaiian ecology, culture, and warfare, this captivating and dramatic debut from Austin Aslan is the first of two novels. The author has a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America’s Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the “recruiters” who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing “factories.”

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis*

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn’t leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith

After a string of devastating hurricanes and a severe outbreak of Delta Fever, the Gulf Coast has been quarantined. Years later, residents of the Outer States are under the assumption that life in the Delta is all but extinct… but in reality, a new primitive society has been born.

Fen de la Guerre is living with the O-Positive blood tribe in the Delta when they are ambushed. Left with her tribe leader’s newborn, Fen is determined to get the baby to a better life over the wall before her blood becomes tainted. Fen meets Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States who has snuck into the Delta illegally. Brought together by chance, kept together by danger, Fen and Daniel navigate the wasteland of Orleans. In the end, they are each other’s last hope for survival.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi*

In America’s Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota–and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it’s worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life…

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse*+

While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.

Welcome to the Sixth World.

+While technically an adult title, it has such great YA appeal that it’s worth including.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out & we’ll see you later this week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram

Hey y’all: It’s YA book news o’clock!

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Lost Soul Be at Peace by Maggie Thrash.

A year and a half after the summer that changed her life, Maggie Thrash wishes she could change it all back. She’s trapped in a dark depression and flunking eleventh grade, befuddling her patrician mother while going unnoticed by her father, a workaholic federal judge. The only thing Maggie cares about is her cat, Tommi . . . who then disappears somewhere in the walls of her cavernous house. So her search begins — but Maggie’s not even really sure what she’s lost, and she has no idea what she’ll find. Lost Soul, Be at Peace is the continuation of Maggie’s story from her critically acclaimed memoir Honor Girl, one that brings her devastating honesty and humor to the before and after of depression.

---

Before diving into this week’s YA news links, time to brag! Although the release date for The Hate U Give was bumped up to October 2, it’s still a limited release. But, since I was in New York City this week, I managed to sneak time in to see it. It is even better than you’re anticipating it to be. I highly recommend seeing it when it’s available near you.

That out, here’s what else to know this week!

• Speaking of The Hate U Give, a piece about Amandla Stenberg and how they’re still finding their voice in acting.
• Here’s the director of THUG talking about the production, on firing a star, and more. Great reading.
• This year’s National Book Award in Young People’s Literature finalists have been announced.
• More names are attached to the adaptation of All The Bright Places. 
• The Amazon pilot for Panic by Lauren Oliver has more names attached, too.
• A new trailer for The Mortal Engines is out.
• The title for this YA novel that might see itself being adapted is just outstanding (& yes, I’m making you click).
• The headline is a little bit of one you’d never expect: Jay-Z’s production company is going to produce a YA novel.
• Ally Condie will have a new YA book out next year.
• David Yoon’s upcoming YA novel — not even out yet! — has been scooped for a potential adaptation. Yoon is the husband of beloved YA author Nicola Yoon.
• Two new books by Veronica Roth are coming to YA (this is in addition to her adult novel coming, too). Note the line in here about how one of the short stories in one of the upcoming books has already been tapped for potential adaptation.
• Renée Ahdieh has a new book series coming, too, and it’ll be a vampire series. As I was reading this piece it hit me how much I think 2019 is going to be similar to 2009-2012 in terms of trends. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially because they’ll be inclusive.
• Bright Burning Stars looks fantastic.
• Gabrielle Union has snagged rights to adapt a YA book.

 

Recent Book Mail

Another big book mail week! We’ll go left to right, then top to bottom.

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert (Goodreads link)

Izzy and Tristan by Shannon Dunlap

Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart (Goodreads link)

Rise by Ellen Goodlett (Goodreads link)

You Must Not Miss by Katrina Leno

Positively Teen by Nicola Morgan

Internment by Samira Ahmed

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard by Alex Bertie

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

Amelia Westlake Was Never Here by Erin Gough

She Did It: 21 Women Who Changed The Way We Think by Emily Arnold McCully

The Perfect Candidate by Peter Stone

Words We Don’t Say by KJ Reilly

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn

We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston

The Seven Torments of Amy and Craig by Don Zolidis

For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig

Cheap Reads

Grab these great YA books while they’re discounted. Prices current as of Wednesday, October 10.

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon came out almost ten years ago. Grab it for $2.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone is worth far more than the $2 price tag.

Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is the first in a high fantasy series and can be yours for $3.

The Falconer, The Vanishing Throne, and The Fallen Kingdom — each of the three titles in Elizabeth May’s “The Falconer” series — are $1 each. Grab ’em all.

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach, one of my favorite YA reads, is $3.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is $2.

Heather Kaczynski’s Dare Mighty Things is available for $2.

Pick up Laini Taylor’s award-winning Strange The Dreamer for $3.

Bryan Bliss’s No Parking At The End Times is $4.

Itching for a fun werewolf book? Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock is $2.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you again next week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram and Twitter

Hey YA fans: Time to preview even more upcoming titles!

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Epic Reads.

It’s 1871, and Emmeline Carter is poised to take Chicago’s high society by storm. Between her father’s sudden rise to wealth and her recent engagement to Chicago’s most eligible bachelor, Emmeline has it all. But she can’t stop thinking about the life she left behind, including her childhood sweetheart, Anders Magnuson. Fiona Byrne, Emmeline’s childhood best friend, is delighted by her friend’s sudden rise to prominence, especially since it means Fiona is free to pursue Anders herself. But when Emmeline risks everything for one final fling with Anders, Fiona feels completely betrayed. As the summer turns to fall, the city is at a tipping point: friendships are tested, hearts are broken, and the tiniest spark might set everything ablaze.

---

Grab your TBR. Here are six more YA books — fiction and nonfiction — that will be hitting shelves in 2019 that you should get excited about right now. Descriptions have been pulled from Goodreads since I’ve not yet read all of these (but oh, let me tell you how excited I am!).

What all of these books have in common is that they feature rad-sounding female main characters/rad females from real history.

An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley

After unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother’s Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they’re not heroes of the people, as they’ve always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge.

Royal bastard Josse de Bourbon is more kitchen boy than fils de France. But when the Shadow Society assassinates the Sun King and half the royal court, he must become the prince he was never meant to be in order to save his injured sisters and the petulant Dauphin. Forced to hide in the derelict sewers beneath the city, any hope of reclaiming Paris seems impossible—until Josse’s path collides with Mirabelle’s, and he finds a surprising ally in his sworn enemy.

She’s a deadly poisoner. He’s a bastard prince. Together, they form a tenuous pact to unite the commoners and former nobility against the Shadow Society. But can a rebellion built on mistrust ever hope to succeed?

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He (April 2)

“Tyrants cut out hearts. Rulers sacrifice their own.”

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her father’s killer, Hesina does something desperate: she engages the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death… because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago.

Using the information illicitly provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust even her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant and alluring investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of her kingdom at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert (August 20)

Dove “Birdie” Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her: She quit playing her beloved soccer, she keeps her nose buried in textbooks, and she’s on track to finish high school at the top of her class. But then Birdie falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past…whom she knows her parents will never approve of.

When her estranged aunt Carlene returns to Chicago and moves into the family’s apartment above their hair salon, Birdie notices the tension building at home. Carlene is sweet, friendly, and open-minded–she’s also spent decades in and out of treatment facilities for addiction. As Birdie becomes closer to both Booker and Carlene, she yearns to spread her wings. But when long-buried secrets rise to the surface, everything she’s known to be true is turned upside down.

Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra (May 21)

Fresh from med school, sixteen-year-old medical prodigy Saira arrives for her first day at her new job: treating children with cancer. She’s always had to balance family and friendships with her celebrity as the Girl Genius—but she’s never had to prove herself to skeptical adult co-workers while adjusting to real life-and-death stakes. And working in the same hospital as her mother certainly isn’t making things any easier.

But life gets complicated when Saira finds herself falling in love with a patient: a cute teen boy who’s been diagnosed with cancer. And when she risks her brand new career to try to improve his chances, it could cost her everything.

It turns out “heartbreak” is the one thing she still doesn’t know how to treat.

A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II by Elizabeth Wein

In the early years of World War II, Josef Stalin issued an order that made the Soviet Union the first country in the world to allow female pilots to fly in combat. Led by Marina Raskova, these three regiments, including the 588th Night Bomber Regiment—nicknamed the “night witches”—faced intense pressure and obstacles both in the sky and on the ground. Some of these young women perished in flames. Many of them were in their teens when they went to war.

This is the story of Raskova’s three regiments, women who enlisted and were deployed on the front lines of battle as navigators, pilots, and mechanics. It is the story of a thousand young women who wanted to take flight to defend their country, and the woman who brought them together in the sky.

Packed with black-and-white photographs, fascinating sidebars, and thoroughly researched details, A Thousand Sisters is the inspiring true story of a group of women who set out to change the world, and the sisterhood they formed even amid the destruction of war.

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan

Jasmine and Chelsea are sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women’s Rights Club. They post everything online—poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine’s response to the racial macroaggressions she experiences—and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by online trolls. When things escalate, the principal shuts the club down. Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices—and those of other young women—to be heard.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you on Thursday! PS: if you haven’t, go enter to win a custom book stamp for your personal library in our giveaway.

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram

Hey YA Readers: Lots of great news to catch up on today! Grab a cuppa your favorite drink and settle in.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor.

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep. Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice–save the woman he loves, or everyone else?–while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she’s capable of.

---

Movie news, new book news, and more! But before you dive in, go check out this awesome giveaway for a custom bookplate stamp we’re giving away.

• Ready for more queer YA to hit the big screen? Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera’s What If It’s Us might be coming!
• Speaking of Silvera, a powerful piece he wrote about the time he called a suicide helpline.
• Kareem Abdul Jabbar has been tapped to write for the new Veronica Mars series. YA adjacent, but, it’s such a cool headline it deserved to be shared.
• There’s a YA novel coming in the Alien universe, written by Mira Grant.
• HBO will bring Phillip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” from the BBC to the other side of the pond.
• Samantha Irby shares why you should read some YA books and offers up great recommendations.
• Why teenagers deserve smart books.
• Another piece I pulled together: even more 2019 YA books featuring teens of color on the cover.
• Ibi Zoboi called out the racism and classism in a recent review of her book Pride by the Wall Street Journal.
• Drool over how beautiful the cover for Elizabeth Acevedo’s next book is.
• Add some fantastical Canadian literature for young readers to your TBR.
• YA author Donna Freitas highlights how you can use YA literature to encourage a conversation about consent with young readers.
• The New York Times highlights how YA books can help in #MeToo culture.
• Tatiana Maslany is narrating a special anniversary edition of The Hunger Games audiobook.
• Speaking of The Hunger Games, where are the stars today? (Spoiler: Rue is absolutely crushing it as a hero of YA adaptations!)
• Here is the cover of Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks’s upcoming graphic novel collaboration Pumpkinheads.
•  “What does a Dolly Parton and Sia song have to do with YA?” you ask? It’s a song off the soundtrack for the adaptation of Dumplin‘! 
• Renee Watson’s upcoming book, coauthored with Ellen Hagan, just hit my door and it looks so dang good.
• Read this interview with YA nonfiction author Julissa Arce, as she talks about her book on being an undocumented immigrant.
• YA powerhouse Nic Stone will be writing her first middle grade novel.
• The YA book The Lifeboat Clique is set to be developed for a CW series.

So proud of this young king! https://t.co/GGhOw2J9FQ

— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) September 20, 2018

Recent Book Mail

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what’s hit my inbox, so this is a big, juicy collection of titles. Listed from top to bottom, starting with the pile on the left.

Words We Don’t Say KJ Reilly

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi

Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling

Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse by Shane Burcaw

Almost Invisible by Maureen Garvie

A Field Guide To The North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

And The Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness

The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

A Thousand Sisters by Elizabeth Wein

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott

A Sky For Us Alone by Kristin Russell

Easy Prey by Catherine Lo

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld

Sex Plus by Laci Green

Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows

Anything But Okay by Sarah Darer Littman

Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrande

Cheap Reads

Grab these great books while they’re easy on the wallet. Since it’s spooky season, you’ll see a theme in this selection. Prices current as of Wednesday morning, October 3.

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Rohrig is $3.

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter is $3.

Chandler Baker’s Teen Frankenstein is $3.

Shutter by Courtney Alameda is $3.

The Devil’s Engine: Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith is $3.

Madeleine Roux’s Asylum is $2.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil is $2.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out and we’ll see you next week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram

Hey YA readers: Time to get personal!

Sponsored by Me and Me by Alice Kuipers from KCP Loft.

Lark’s on a dream date with Alec. Blue skies, clear water, a canoe on the lake. Everything is perfect … until they hear screams. Annabelle, a little girl Lark used to babysit, is struggling in the reeds. When Lark and Alec dive to help her, Alec hits his head on a rock. Now Annabelle and Alec are both in trouble, and Lark can only save one of them. Suddenly, Lark’s world is torn in two, leaving her to cope with the consequences of two choices. She lives two lives, two selves. But which is the right life?

---

My YA anthology, (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start The Conversation About Mental Health releases tomorrow, October 2, from Algonquin Young Readers. I’ve written extensively about YA books that take on mental illness, and you can read some of the posts linked at the bottom of the newsletter, along with some other great resources.

Today, I wanted to offer up some of the things I do when I struggle with my depression and anxiety when it comes to reading and talking about books. It’s my hope this not only feels useful for anyone who struggles with mental illness, but also that it’s useful both for those who have rough mental health stretches (even without an illness) and those who work with teens who themselves may be dealing with them. The more tools in the pocket, the better equipped we all are.

Part of why reading can become so daunting when one’s mental health is challenging is that it requires use of executive functioning, which can shut down. Executive functioning is in charge of mental processes and skills, and it can become utterly exhausting or frustrating even thinking about picking up a book from one’s shelf. YA author Molly Backes goes into the further, in this excellent talk about the impossible task on Twitter.

As always with mental health, your mileage may vary. These are things that have worked for me.

1. Read something entire out of the norm.

   Changing up formats can be a big game-changer when it comes to reading. The same can be said about changing up genres or age categories. Since I lean toward YA reading, sometimes while dealing with severe anxiety or depression, all I want to do is read a bunch of magazines or peruse graphic novels for the art. I let myself do this. I’ve found that reading romance has been a big winner for me lately on this front; the fact I know going in that the book will end in a Happily Ever After is predictable and satisfying.

2. Revisit an old favorite book.

   One of the biggest challenges I face with reading when I’m not feeling my best is that I don’t want to be surprised by something that could trigger strong emotional response. Picking up a book I’ve read and loved before solves this: I know going in what’ll happen and I can more passively enjoy the ride. It might sound odd, but my rereading tends toward horror/creepy. I find them to be comforting, since those worlds are so different from the one I’m in.

3. Schedule reading time like a date (and/or make it a date).

   Dealing with mental health sometimes means wandering through a day without a plan. It’s not that I don’t want to accomplish things or that I don’t need to meet deadlines. I do. But, depression wants me to stay in bed or worry about it later or not at all because it doesn’t really matter and no one really cares (and anxiety then throws in the fun of “you need to get the thing due in a month done today or else you’re a failure”). This can mean that things like reading — which is both pleasure for me, as well as related to the work I do — can fall to the wayside. By scheduling time to read in my day and following through, I’m able to ensure I get some words in my mind that aren’t my own. I’ve made this a routine when I’m functioning well and managing my illnesses, and I’m able to continue those routines when I’m not doing so hot. I make listening to audiobooks a part of my getting ready in the morning routine, and I’ve found that, even when I’m struggling to get anything done, the silence while brushing my hair and teeth encourages me to hit play on my audiobook and get those words in.

4. Clean the shelves and/or library holds and checkouts.

   Nothing feels better than a clean slate, especially when everything else is hard. I might have been excited about all of those library books I checked out, but there’s also something satisfying in returning them all, clearing my fines, and having a fresh start. Another tool I use is cleaning my personal collection: sometimes it means donating books I know I’ll never read and other times, it’s a matter of reorganizing the shelves that have gotten out of hand. Each of these tasks has a satisfying visual outcome. There’s a completion and a freshness and newness.

5. Listen.

   Audiobooks are a lifesaver when I’m having bad mental health spells. I mentioned above the power of routine, but even more than that, audiobooks can be consumed while I am doing literally nothing. I can lay in bed and listen. I can listen while going for a walk. I can listen while working (or attempting to work). When I’m unable to concentrate on a story, though, I also find myself turning to podcasts. Book podcasts abound, and sometimes listening to other people talk books is everything I need and didn’t realize.

6. Focus on helping other people find a good book by writing about recent favorites or talking with others about books that remind you of them.

   Whether or not you’re a librarian, a teacher, or a blogger who regularly writes book lists, this trick can be valuable. There are a couple of benefits: first, it’s satisfying to make something like a book list and be able to share it and second, it’s an opportunity to reach out to people in a way that’s not threatening and allows you to pass along your passion to them when everything feels impossible. If focusing on other people doesn’t sound appealing, there is value in writing personal book lists, too. Top five books from childhood or ten books with great book covers or seven books you read but absolutely loathed can make for valuable (and low-stakes) self-reflection. You may not do anything with these lists, and that’s okay. It might even be part of the point.

7. Allow myself to simply not read.

   Sometimes, it’s okay to just be. There is no shame in not reading, especially when it ends up impinging upon your mental wellness.

____________________

Some further reading on mental health/illness in the world of YA:

• YA books about social anxiety.
• Books about mental health to get the conversation rolling.
• Powerful and authentic YA books about depression.
• Reading, depression, and me (it is amazing to me to read this many years later and look at how I’ve cultivated an arsenal of tools to better navigate the rough times).
• 7 poetry slam videos about mental illness.
• Eric Smith and I talked about some excellent mental health related YA on this episode of Hey YA.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out. If you’re up for it, consider picking up a copy of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy. And in any case, we’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday with a roundup of recent YA book news and more!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram.

Hey YA fans: Let’s catch up with book talk!

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Vesuvian Books.

Beau Devereaux is the only child of a powerful family. Handsome. Charming. Intelligent. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch. He is also a psychopath. A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the ruined St. Francis Abbey, he commits unspeakable acts. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s twin sister, Leslie. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize. As the victim toll mounts, it becomes clear someone must stop Beau Devereaux. And that someone will pay with their life.

---

Grab your favorite beverage and settle in for some great reading about reading. You’ll want your TBR handy, too, since chances are, you’ll be adding to it.

• 45 YA titles hitting paperback this fall.
• Your ultimate guide to YA book-to-movie adaptations.
• So you adored To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and need another great YA rom com to read? Take the quiz and find your perfect next title.
• Then laugh your way through these To All The Boys tweets.
• And then add these books to your TBR if you cannot get enough of books like Han’s.
• Want a moody, atmospheric mystery? Try one set in Vermont.
• If you’re not following these YA authors on Instagram, maybe you should.
• Curious about Nova Ren Suma’s books but don’t know where to begin? Here’s a reading pathway!
• Like your YA in audiobook form? Here are some 2018 YA audiobooks you won’t want to miss.
• Youth and YA books that take on bullying.
• It’s been (a little over) a year since the time a YA author paid her way onto the New York Times Bestseller list. Here’s a recap of the scandal and where we are a year later.
• Are these books on your September YA to-read list?
• YA novels which compassionately tackle grief.
• On relating to Darius The Great Is Not Okay.
• YA books about social anxiety.
• Stock up on your Baby-Sitters Club merch.
• When Judy Blume talked about a new adaptation of her books, many were thrilled. But many also said it would be her first. It’s…not!
• Excellent quotes from The Hate U Give.
• Celebrating Alanna the Lioness on the book’s 35th anniversary.
• How many of these YA books that have faced challenges from potential censors have you read?
• Dig into some dark fairytales for YA readers.
• 21 more YA books for your fall TBR.
• An interview with YA author Katherine Webber on her latest book, Only Love Can Break Your Heart.

Blast From The Past

It’s weird to be writing a newsletter a week in advance of being out of the office for a week, so it felt appropriate to round up some older YA posts from Book Riot (…right?). Here’s what we’ve been talking about in Septembers past.

• 40 of your favorite YA fantasy books.
• Pair up some great YA books with great teas.
• The glaring lack of female reproductive issues in YA literature and why we need more teens struggling with endometriosis and PCOS.
• Interracial couples in the YA world.
• 100 must-read historical YA books.
• Can you match the tag lines of these popular YA books with the book? Try your hand!
• Geek out with these geeky YA books.
• Why we need new music in YA.
• Not the first and not the last time gender in YA has been talked about.

 

Cheap Reads

These prices are current as of Wednesday, September 26. 🤞🏻

American Street by Ibi Zoboi, a wonderful read about immigrants, is $2.

Veronica Roth’s Carve the Mark is $2.

Grab Heidi Heilig’s The Girl From Everywhere for $2.

If you’d like to pick up a Benjamin Alire Saenz title, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is $3.

Anna Godbersen’s deliciously juicy The Luxe is $1.

Want a f/f romance read? Sara Farizan’s Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel is $2.

Sports fans, pick up Carl Deuker’s Gutless for $3.

Have you read The Book Thief? If you haven’t and want to, grab it for $3.

Want a historical mystery to fall into? You’ll want to try William Ritter’s Jackaby, which you can snag for $2.

Tiffany Schmidt’s A Date With Darcy — an adorable, nerdtastic read — is $3.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out and we’ll see you again Monday!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram

Hey YA readers: Time to get personal!

Sponsored by Me and Me by Alice Kuipers from KCP Loft.

Lark’s on a dream date with Alec. Blue skies, clear water, a canoe on the lake. Everything is perfect … until they hear screams. Annabelle, a little girl Lark used to babysit, is struggling in the reeds. When Lark and Alec dive to help her, Alec hits his head on a rock. Now Annabelle and Alec are both in trouble, and Lark can only save one of them. Suddenly, Lark’s world is torn in two, leaving her to cope with the consequences of two choices. She lives two lives, two selves. But which is the right life?

---

My YA anthology, (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start The Conversation About Mental Health releases tomorrow, October 2, from Algonquin Young Readers. I’ve written extensively about YA books that take on mental illness, and you can read some of the posts linked at the bottom of the newsletter, along with some other great resources.

Today, I wanted to offer up some of the things I do when I struggle with my depression and anxiety when it comes to reading and talking about books. It’s my hope this not only feels useful for anyone who struggles with mental illness, but also that it’s useful both for those who have rough mental health stretches (even without an illness) and those who work with teens who themselves may be dealing with them. The more tools in the pocket, the better equipped we all are.

Part of why reading can become so daunting when one’s mental health is challenging is that it requires use of executive functioning, which can shut down. Executive functioning is in charge of mental processes and skills, and it can become utterly exhausting or frustrating even thinking about picking up a book from one’s shelf. YA author Molly Backes goes into the further, in this excellent talk about the impossible task on Twitter.

As always with mental health, your mileage may vary. These are things that have worked for me.

1. Read something entire out of the norm.

   Changing up formats can be a big game-changer when it comes to reading. The same can be said about changing up genres or age categories. Since I lean toward YA reading, sometimes while dealing with severe anxiety or depression, all I want to do is read a bunch of magazines or peruse graphic novels for the art. I let myself do this. I’ve found that reading romance has been a big winner for me lately on this front; the fact I know going in that the book will end in a Happily Ever After is predictable and satisfying.

2. Revisit an old favorite book.

   One of the biggest challenges I face with reading when I’m not feeling my best is that I don’t want to be surprised by something that could trigger strong emotional response. Picking up a book I’ve read and loved before solves this: I know going in what’ll happen and I can more passively enjoy the ride. It might sound odd, but my rereading tends toward horror/creepy. I find them to be comforting, since those worlds are so different from the one I’m in.

3. Schedule reading time like a date (and/or make it a date).

   Dealing with mental health sometimes means wandering through a day without a plan. It’s not that I don’t want to accomplish things or that I don’t need to meet deadlines. I do. But, depression wants me to stay in bed or worry about it later or not at all because it doesn’t really matter and no one really cares (and anxiety then throws in the fun of “you need to get the thing due in a month done today or else you’re a failure”). This can mean that things like reading — which is both pleasure for me, as well as related to the work I do — can fall to the wayside. By scheduling time to read in my day and following through, I’m able to ensure I get some words in my mind that aren’t my own. I’ve made this a routine when I’m functioning well and managing my illnesses, and I’m able to continue those routines when I’m not doing so hot. I make listening to audiobooks a part of my getting ready in the morning routine, and I’ve found that, even when I’m struggling to get anything done, the silence while brushing my hair and teeth encourages me to hit play on my audiobook and get those words in.

4. Clean the shelves and/or library holds and checkouts.

   Nothing feels better than a clean slate, especially when everything else is hard. I might have been excited about all of those library books I checked out, but there’s also something satisfying in returning them all, clearing my fines, and having a fresh start. Another tool I use is cleaning my personal collection: sometimes it means donating books I know I’ll never read and other times, it’s a matter of reorganizing the shelves that have gotten out of hand. Each of these tasks has a satisfying visual outcome. There’s a completion and a freshness and newness.

5. Listen.

   Audiobooks are a lifesaver when I’m having bad mental health spells. I mentioned above the power of routine, but even more than that, audiobooks can be consumed while I am doing literally nothing. I can lay in bed and listen. I can listen while going for a walk. I can listen while working (or attempting to work). When I’m unable to concentrate on a story, though, I also find myself turning to podcasts. Book podcasts abound, and sometimes listening to other people talk books is everything I need and didn’t realize.

6. Focus on helping other people find a good book by writing about recent favorites or talking with others about books that remind you of them.

   Whether or not you’re a librarian, a teacher, or a blogger who regularly writes book lists, this trick can be valuable. There are a couple of benefits: first, it’s satisfying to make something like a book list and be able to share it and second, it’s an opportunity to reach out to people in a way that’s not threatening and allows you to pass along your passion to them when everything feels impossible. If focusing on other people doesn’t sound appealing, there is value in writing personal book lists, too. Top five books from childhood or ten books with great book covers or seven books you read but absolutely loathed can make for valuable (and low-stakes) self-reflection. You may not do anything with these lists, and that’s okay. It might even be part of the point.

7. Allow myself to simply not read.

   Sometimes, it’s okay to just be. There is no shame in not reading, especially when it ends up impinging upon your mental wellness.

____________________

Some further reading on mental health/illness in the world of YA:

• YA books about social anxiety.
• Books about mental health to get the conversation rolling.
• Powerful and authentic YA books about depression.
• Reading, depression, and me (it is amazing to me to read this many years later and look at how I’ve cultivated an arsenal of tools to better navigate the rough times).
• 7 poetry slam videos about mental illness.
• Eric Smith and I talked about some excellent mental health related YA on this episode of Hey YA.

____________________

Thanks for hanging out. If you’re up for it, consider picking up a copy of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy. And in any case, we’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday with a roundup of recent YA book news and more!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram.

Hey YA Readers! Let’s talk vignette-style books.

---

Sponsored by Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little.

Texas cheerleader Abby Furlogh is on top of the world until a diagnosis of Hansen’s Disease-also known as leprosy- throws a wrench into all of her plans. As Abby learns more about her disease she questions what she wants- and most of all who, she wants to be. With her history as an A+ Mean Girl, Abby is hard to like at first, but this contemporary YA novel pulls no punches as it examines not only the hierarchy of high school, but the reality of living with disease. Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little is available now.

---

I recently finished a new YA book and one of the things that struck me besides its theme was the way the story was told. I’m a big fan of alternate formats — I love epistolary novels, novels told in verse, novels told through diary entries, and books which offer up interesting visual elements alongside the text.

This particular book, included below*, was told in a series of vignettes. Vignette style, for those unfamiliar with the term, means that the book is told in short snapshots and precise moments. It sets a scene or impression in a very specific manner, then moves on to the next. The style is kind of like looking at a bunch of photographs that are all linked and logically fit together. The photography metaphor is, of course, because vignette writing is like a snapshot of a moment or a character.

It’s not always the case, but I do find that books told in this style move quickly. It’s likely you’ll start one and not even realize you’re nearly finished before you take a moment to look up.

Find below 5 YA novels told in vignettes. Descriptions are from Goodreads, though I have read all but two of these so far and can recommend them all highly.

YA Novels Told In Vignettes

Beneath The Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani and Viviana Mazza*

On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls. Some managed to escape. Many are still missing. A new pair of shoes, a university degree, a husband—these are the things that a girl dreams of in a Nigerian village. A girl who works hard in school and to help her family. A girl with a future as bright as live coals in the dark. And with a government scholarship right around the corner, everyone—her mother, her five brothers, her best friend, her teachers—can see that these dreams aren’t too far out of reach. Even if the voices on Papa’s radio tell more fearful news than tales to tell by moonlight.

But the girl’s dreams turn to nightmares when her village is attacked by Boko Haram, a terrorist group, in the middle of the night. Kidnapped, she is taken with other girls and women into the forest where she is forced to follow her captors’ radical beliefs and watch as her best friend slowly accepts everything she’s been told. Still, the girl defends her existence. As impossible as escape may seem, her life—her future—is hers to fight for.

Calling My Name by Liara Tamari

Liara Tamani’s debut novel deftly and beautifully explores the universal struggles of growing up, battling family expectations, discovering a sense of self, and finding a unique voice and purpose. Taja Brown lives with her parents and older brother and younger sister, in Houston, Texas. Taja has always known what the expectations of her conservative and tightly-knit African American family are—do well in school, go to church every Sunday, no intimacy before marriage. But Taja is trying to keep up with friends as they get their first kisses, first boyfriends, first everythings. And she’s tired of cheering for her athletic younger sister and an older brother who has more freedom just because he’s a boy. Taja dreams of going to college and forging her own relationship with the world and with God, but when she falls in love for the first time, those dreams are suddenly in danger of evaporating.

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt totally familiar, even though you’ve never been there before, or felt that you know someone well, even though you are meeting them for the first time? It happens.

In a novel comprising seven parts, each influenced by a moon – the flower moon, the harvest moon, the hunter’s moon, the blood moon – this is the story of Eric and Merle whose souls have been searching for each other since their untimely parting.

A Step From Heaven by An Na

At age four, Young Ju moves with her parents from Korea to Southern California. She has always imagined America would be like heaven: easy, blissful, and full of riches. But when her family arrives, she finds it to be the opposite. With a stubborn language barrier and cultural dissimilarities, not only is it impossible to make friends, but even her family’s internal bonds are wavering. Her parents’ finances are strained, yet her father’s stomach is full of booze.

As Young Ju’s once solid and reliable family starts tearing apart, her younger brother begins to gain more freedom and respect simply because of his gender. Young Ju begins to lose all hope in the dream she once held—the heaven she longs for. Even as she begins to finally fit in, a cataclysmic family event will change her idea of heaven forever. But it also helps her to recognize the strength she holds, and envision the future she desires, and deserves.

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small hut in the mountains of Nepal. Her family is desperately poor, but her life is full of simple pleasures, like raising her black-and-white speckled goat, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all that remains of the family’s crops, Lakshmi’s stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family.

He introduces her to a glamorous stranger who tells her she will find her a job as a maid working for a wealthy woman in the city. Glad to be able to help, Lakshmi undertakes the long journey to India and arrives at “Happiness House” full of hope. But she soon learns the unthinkable truth: she has been sold into prostitution.

An old woman named Mumtaz rules the brothel with cruelty and cunning. She tells Lakshmi that she is trapped there until she can pay off her family’s debt – then cheats Lakshmi of her meager earnings so that she can never leave.

Lakshmi’s life becomes a nightmare from which she cannot escape. Still, she lives by her mother’s words – “Simply to endure is to triumph” – and gradually, she forms friendships with the other girls that enable her to survive in this terrifying new world. Then the day comes when she must make a decision – will she risk everything for a chance to reclaim her life?

____________________

Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you later this week!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram

Psst: My book (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start The Conversation About Mental Health hits shelves next week. If you love anthologies with essays, YA nonfiction, amazing YA writers, or books about mental health, consider preordering a copy? I’m going to talk about it + mental health and reading in next week’s newsletter, too. 

Hey YA Reads: I’ve got a great interview to share with you today!

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by KENS by Raziel Reed.

Ladies, get ready to clutch those pearls. Ken Hilton rules Willows High with his carbon copies Ken Roberts and Ken Carson. All Kens are create from same mould; straight out of Satan’s doll factory, soul sold separately. A once-in-a-lifetime chance at becoming a Ken changes everything for shy,under-the-radar Tommy. But how far is he willing to go to become a Ken? Ken Hilton makes Regina George look like Mr Rogers. Unlike anything else in YA, KENS is a biting social commentary and savage take-down of consumer culture.Taking cues from cult classics like HEATHERS and MEAN GIRLS, award-winning author Raziel Reid pulls no punches and holds no bars. KENS is available on September 18th from Penguin Random House Canada.

---

It’s not a secret that we’re big fans of Sara Farizan at Book Riot, and I’m thrilled to share this wonderful interview with her. Her next book, Here To Stay, hits shelves tomorrow, September 18, and it’s a book you’ll want to pick up from your bookstore or library ASAP.

Here To Stay is a book about a boy named Bijan who makes the key shot in a school basketball game and finds himself thrust in the spotlight. He’s always been a bit of a, uh, dork, and this attention puts him in a place he never expected.

But that attention isn’t all good. It’s not long before racism and Islamophobia begin to filter into the experience in more pronounced ways than they had been before. And Bijan has to figure out where he stands with his friends, with his school, and in the greater world.

The book is, despite taking on heavy and hard issues, really funny. Farizan nails Bijan’s voice, which is at turns totally nerdy and funny and delightful. He is as likable a character as you can imagine in every sense of the word — and it’s that likability that really drives home the bigger issues in the story.

Rather than going on about the book, time to turn it over to Sara to talk about it, about her inspirations, her favorite books, and more.

____________________

KJ: Talk a bit about the inspiration behind the book.

SF: For a while I was a bit confused about what I would write next. People kept asking me “what are you working on?” and I really didn’t have an answer. I was thinking about what people would like to read about rather than why I got into writing in the first place. I have always written to make myself feel better. It’s selfish, and perhaps not always sensible, but I write about people and subjects that I care about and want others to care about.

In February of 2015, I was personally not in a great emotional place and then the news of the killings of three young people, Deah Barakat, his wife, Yusor, and his sister, Razan, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina broke. Their deaths made me feel the same way Matthew Shepard’s death in 1998 made me feel when I was a closeted teenager; angry, helpless, nauseous, disappointed in the times we were living in, afraid, and wanting to do something to make some sense of it. Though I didn’t know any of them, and we all had different backgrounds, there were parts of them I identified with.

Deah was a huge basketball fan and Steph Curry was his favorite player. Curry, who is not only an exceptional athlete but seems to be a wonderful person, put Deah’s name on his sneakers during a game to honor him.

I’ve always been a huge basketball fan and grew up watching The Celtics. I played and loved the sport until it was clear I wasn’t going to get any taller my sophomore year. So I wrote to feel better again and began to write about a young man who loves basketball and finally gets to play on the Varsity team only to be met by prejudice.

Your book tackles some seriously heavy issues — not just bullying, but Islamophobia. And yet, it’s also a really funny book. Talk a bit about the humor in this book and how it characterizes Bijan.

Humor is the easiest way to get someone to listen. I really believe that if you can make someone laugh, and not at the expense of someone else, it can have a deep impact. Bijan is a great kid who really just wants to be allowed to be a great kid and not have to teach others about larger issues. He has awkward moments and goofy moments, but he also stands up for himself and his friends.

In the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the detective Eddie played by Bob Hoskins asks Jessica Rabbit, who is a very sexy humanoid cartoon, what she sees in her husband Roger, who is a rabbit? She says, “He makes me laugh.” I think that’s always stayed with me when I saw that movie as a kid.

I use humor in my day-to-day life because sometimes, when things are just too heavy, you have to laugh a little. It’s one of the best gifts we have, to laugh and make others laugh.

 

This is your first published book featuring a male main character. What drew you to writing Bijan’s story and how did it differ from writing and thinking about your prior novels — if at all?

I wanted to write about a young man dealing with a lot of questions I had/have to deal with. I had a work colleague once say to me “No one’s going to bother you, you’re a woman,” in regards to another heightened period of paranoia regarding xenophobia and that always struck me as messed up for a number of reasons.

I don’t like the idea of children being treated as threats once they have a growth spurt, particularly young brown and black boys. It’s insidious and I don’t know when it stops, but I hope it does soon because we’re doing a great disservice to our young people when they recognize which lives have value in the news and in society and which lives are described as collateral damage. I will never know what it is to be a young man, but I hope Bijan’s voice and the voice of his guy friends ring true.

This novel took me a lot longer and I still have a lot to learn. A large part of it was because I knew this book would have an audience whereas my other two were written in graduate school and I didn’t think they’d be published. I felt really concerned about not getting everything right and if someone reads one of my books but doesn’t read another with a main character of a similar background, my story would be the only one they’d think as an absolute experience and that’s daunting. I’m hopeful that people know my stories are only one perspective and not the singular experience of other people that share the identities that my characters have.

 

On a lighter note: HERE TO STAY is packed with references to other books and more specifically, a ton of contemporary and classic comics. Talk a bit about the choices you made in referencing those and also, what are some of your personal favorites?

Comics have always been a huge part of my life from when I was a kid to now. I was trying to curate a list of books that I loved and that I imagined a 17-year old kid would love, too. I was also trying to dispel the myth that there are ‘boy’ books and there are ‘girl’ books, which I think is ridiculous. I think kids gravitate to what they want to read and adults should kind of chill out about it. Bijan learns that when he talks with his love interest, Elle, and they have a lot of overlap regarding the graphic novels/comic series they like. Some of those books they mention are my favorites and I will read anything by Marjane Satrapi, Ed Brubaker, Jeph Loeb, Paul Dini, Mariko Tamaki, Juan Diaz Canales, Terry Moore, G. Willow Wilson, Jeff Lemire, Michel Rabagliati, Alison Bechdel to name a few. I just read Bingo Love and really enjoyed that. These days I’m also reading Lady Killer, What to Do When I’m Gone: A Mother’s Wisdom to Her Daughter, Outcast, and re-visiting For Better of For Worse strips by Lynn Johnston.  I’m really in awe of people that get to work in comics and to me they are incredibly cool.

I used to work at a comics store in my twenties and now I often frequent comic shops, particularly when I feel restless or need to find comfort. In the acknowledgments for Here to Stay, I thank Steve who is the owner of a comic shop I frequent. I told him about it and he had no idea I was a writer. He said maybe he’d sell the book in the shop, but only if it was good and wasn’t preachy. That’s the kind of honesty you can’t buy! Especially when looking for back issues of Horror comics from the 60’s! I also don’t like the bad rap some comics get. Cathy is rad. Leave Cathy alone. She was just dealing with the patriarchy the best she could. In all seriousness, Cathy Guisewite is underrated and brilliant.

 

In your teen years, which books had a big influence on you?

The Color Purple by Alice Walker, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, The Hotel New Hampshire and really any book by John Irving. Finding Annie on My Mind by the late, great Nancy Garden was a big deal. When I got a little older I found The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Mona in the Promised Land by Gish Jen. I used to read a LOT of plays especially by Neil Simon. And I read a lot of non-fiction back then and still do.

Who are some of the YA authors doing great things right now and books you’d recommend people pick up? Or maybe I could ask this question in a bit of a different way: you’re building your dream author basketball team. Who would you draft for this team?

Oh man! I don’t know that I deserve general manager status in that I feel like I’m still a rookie on JV, but I would love to be third string to these people: Jacqueline Woodson for team MVP and captain, Malinda Lo for point guard, Meg Medina for power forward, David Levithan as shooting guard and Emily M. Danforth as center. Chris Lynch would be my personal coach. Other players on the All-Star team include but are not limited to Adib Khorram, Sarvenaz Tash, Will Kostakis Maurene Goo, Meredith Goldstein, Aisha Saeed, Robin Talley, Jasmine Warga, Nova Ren Suma, Lamar Giles, Jessica Spotswood and Cori McCarthy. Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas would own a team. Laurie Halse Anderson would be one of the revered greats like Bill Russell or Paul Pierce.

 

If you could give your 12-year-old self any YA book, what would it be and why?

Just one? That’s tough. One book I’d highlight and think would have helped 12 year-old me is Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. I related to it very much and it would have helped me out a lot.

 

____________________

Thank you so much, Sara!

& thank you, readers, for hanging out. We’ll see you again later this week!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram and Twitter