The Story is About   +  YA Connection

YA Connection November 8-14, 2009

The YA Connection is a collaborative column that was originally started by Kristi (The Story) and Steph (Reviewer X). Steph is currently on a extended hiatus, so I'm swinging it solo for the time being. In it can be found links from around the YA blogosphere, including, but not limited to, contests links, author blog links, review links, and miscellaneous news pertaining to the age group.

Author Musings:

Jillian Cantor (September Sister) is having an contest on her blog. An ARC of her new novel, The Life of Glass and a $25 gift certificate to Sephora.

Over at the 2010: A Book Odyssey, a collaborative blog of 2010 debut authors, Kristina McBride shows off her ARC for The Tension of Opposites! The cover may not be final, but I still think it looks great!

And speaking of sharing covers, Many Hubbard shares the cover of You Wish from the Penguin catalog, this one may not be final though too.

If you'd like to get a exclusive sneak peek at Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi, all you have to do is join The Blood Coven!

Diana Peterfreund (Rampant) made an announcement on her blog recently. She'll be participating in a short story collection that I'm super excited for personally... for all the deets you'll have to head to her post. SO EXCITED, go TEAM UNICORN!

Check out this post on Kami Garcia's Blog. Help build a library! Michelle Wright has been using her own money and collecting new and gently used books from friends and family to build a library for a community that is without. If you are a blogger and author or a bookish person that would like to help out, you can check out Kami's post for more informatin.

EDIT: (So... I didn't realize I had the wrong information for this one... it was the old event, so this is the updated info! sorry!) November 21, 2009: LAYAPALOOZA Pizza Party!! Join us for a pizza party with a whole bunch of your favorite YA authors.

Pizza, games, prizes, and a chance to mix and mingle with your favorite YA author and get books signed!! What a fantastic day! (I SOO wish I could go to this!) There will probably be more information about this at the LAYA's Myspace page.

• Cecil Castellucci: Beige
• Susan Casey
• Cherry Cheva: DupliKate
• Benjamin Esch: Sophomore Switch
• Cara Haycak: Living on Impulse
  
• Anna Hays: Portia's Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship
• Amy Goldman Koss: Poison Ivy
• Andrew Smith
• Sally Nemeth: The Heights, the Depths, and Everything in Between
• Carol Snow: Snap
• Michael Reisman: Simon Bloom
• Heather Tomlinson: Aurelie: A Faerie Tale

Reality Bites... Fiction Does it Better reviewed Audrey Wait by Robin Benway. "Honestly, I can't remember a thing that I didn't like about this book. Robin Benway's got pure talent and I can't wait to read more of her works!"

Books Make Great Lovers reviewed Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard. "The chemistry was undeniable which makes for a nice love story. I would say younger teens who like historical romances will love this book!"

Just Blinded Book Reviews reviewed Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters. This sequel dealt a lot more with how the world views the “zombies” and not just the small town that Phoebe lives in.

Staysi of Lost in Ink reviewed 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. "Overall, this book was an easy, enjoyable read although there were many things I didn't like."

The Bookologist reviewed Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley. "Hanley developes an adventure full of magical creatures. I cannot wait for the sequel to this book."

Kate at Read This Book reviewed The Everafter by Amy Huntley. The Everafter makes you appreciate the most insignificant moments in life and it will warm your heart, leaving readers satisfied after they closed the book.

Bookworm Readers reviewed Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev. "The creativity and originality of this story also blew me away--I could picture the theater and all of its colorful characters perfectly in my head."

Carol of Book-Lover Carol reviewed The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. Overall, The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind was a realistic portrayal of a teenage girl's life and her quest to discover herself. While the big secret was anti-climatic, it was original. Kirstin Cronn-Mills wrote a wonderful debut that must be on everyone's must-read pile.

Melanie of Melanie's Musings reviewed When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton. "When the Whistle Blows has a lot of fun stories, from throwing cabbages at a car to Jimmy's championship football game, but at its heart it's a heartwarming story of a boy and his father, as well as a boy's journey to becoming a man."

Mel of He Followed Me Home...Can I Keep Him reviewed Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. "I can't help but say how much I loved the art work, it added so much more to the reading experience."

Released this Week:

Cashing In by Susan Colebank

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

Hazel: A Novel by Julie Hearn

New in paperback:

Deadly Little Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

I So Don't do Mysteries by Barry Summy

Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling

Feel free to fill in your contest info in the Mister Linky.

Please use the Mister Linky as instructed.
Your Name: Put your prize here & deadline date!
Your URL: Put a DIRECT link to your contest.

Are you an author that has an event coming up? Let me know and I can mention it on a future post of YAC!

Have a suggestion of something you'd like to see on YAC? Or something you've seen that you'd like me to include every time, let me know.

Thanks! Have a great weekend!