The Story is About   +  YA Connection

YA Connection: Week of Oct. 25-31, 2008

The YA Connection is a collaborative column collected by Kristi (The Story) and Steph (Reviewer X). 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. Also, Kristi and Steph hold weekly contests accompanying the column, as well as a book and author spotlight.

If you're a blogger, author or publicist looking to have your links added, please email me. Any book donations for giveaways are also greatly appreciated. Please note that the spotlights are not up to suggestion, but rather decided by both Kristi and Steph.

Don't forget to head over to Steph's blog Reviewerr X and sign up for this weeks contest. The secret word this week is Naksansa. For all the information on how to enter head over to Reviewer X!

YA Connection: Week of Oct. 25-31, 2008

Contests (Steph Collected)

Here is a compiled list of some of the contest we've come across! Please be sure to check the official guidelines and deadlines!

Renay over at YA Fabulous! is giving away two signed copies of Paper Towns by John Green. The catch here is, if you have one cover and not the other, you can win the one you don't have to make a Margo sandwich. Which pretty much concludes why this is awesome.

Reader Rabbit is giving away a couple of Chicken Soup for the Soul Teen Talk books!

Tera Lynn Childs is holding a contest for a copy of Oh. My. Gods., an ARC of Goddess Bootcamp, and an iPod shuffle.

Chelsea of The Page Flipper is being her usual awesome self and holding her monthly prize package.

Dominique at The Book Vault is giving away five copies of Top 8 by Katie Finn.

Author Musings (Steph Collected)

Shannon Hale (Book of a Thousand Days) won the Utah Book Award for Young People's Lit, received many starred reviews, was interviewed at Mawbooks, and is on a tight deadline. Redefining "busy", are we, Ms Hale? (Mawbooks interview here.)

Melissa Walker (Violet in Private) was (is?) in North Carolina, and she had lunch with Sarah Dessen (Lock and Key)! Also, Melissa was spotlighted in the newspaper, which I found incredibly awesome.

Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth) talked about her pre-publication book tour (quite fancy, that Carrie) and how much fun she had. My question is, when can we expect the international tours????

Tracy Madison (A Taste of Magic) shares her trick-or-treating endeavors back when she was a kid which, actually, don't sound too different from nowadays. (Although my mom also used to control my sugar intake back in the US when I trick-or-treated.)

Tina Ferraro (How To Hook a Hottie) posted high school pictures. What's cool is, Tina resembles her teenage self very much!

Sarah Dessen (Lock and Key) did a photo shoot for a newspaper thing back in her old high school!

Meg Cabot (Airhead) dressed up as a ... fairy?? for Halloween. (She finds them scary, which is why this is pretty entertaining.) Do we get pictures?!

Mandy Hubbard (Prada and Prejudice) received her ARCs this week! For people who don't know, Mandy toiled away, worked hardhardhard, on Prada to see it published, which is why this is more exciting than with most people receiving their ARCs!

Diana Peterfreund (Rampant) posted the cover of her upcoming novel, the aforementioned Rampant. It is NICE. And actually, reports are coming back saying the hook is also brilliant. Hmm, are we setting up for major success?...

Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth) gets a second mention here because her website is live! You can go visit it at http://carrieryan.com/.

Ally Carter (Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy): If you want a GG3 ARC, here's your chance.

Author Spotlight

Diana Peterfreund has been a costume designer, a cover model, and a food critic. Her travels have taken her from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the underground caverns of New Zealand (and as far as she’s concerned, she’s just getting started). Diana graduated from Yale University in 2001 with dual degrees in Literature and Geology, which her family claimed would only come in handy if she wrote books about rocks. Now, this Florida girl lives with her husband and their puppy in Washington D.C., and writes books that rock

Her first novel, Secret Society Girl (2006), was described as “witty and endearing” by The New York Observer and was placed on the New York Public Library's’s 2007 Books for the Teen Age list. (read more)

Blogger Blurbs (Kristi Collected)

Em of Em's Bookshelf reviewed The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong and Bliss by Lauren Myracle.

Harmony Book Reviews reviewed In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash. I'm so effing jealous, she's read this already!

Jocelyn of Teen Book Review blogged about her thoughts of the movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

Krista of Tower of Books reviewed Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger. "I had only one major problem with this novel: the ending. It was just too abrupt. Don’t you just hate that? When you’re really into the book, and then the ending is a big disappointment."

Hillary of The Book Reader reviewed Top 8 by Katie Finn and You are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay.

TheBookWorm of Au Courant reviewed Skinned by Robin Wasserman and The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith.

Aubry and Speedreader of My Favorite Author had some very interesting posts this week. They had visits from authors Michelle Zink and Saundra Mitchell! Aubry and Speedreader and hosting a series entitled "Idea to Bookshelf" if you haven't had a chance to stop by and check it out yet, you should!

There were a few reviews this week for Hunger Games!

Chelsea of The Page Flipper. "Honestly, I've never even heard of a book with a slightly similar plot line. It was well set-up, the writing fluent (save for a few grammatical errors), the characters realistic, and the plot emotional -as well as oozing with suspense."

Nicole B. of Word for Teens.

Taren and Amee of The Chick Manifesto celebrated a birthday this week, Happy Birthday Taren, and Taren also engaged in a crazy/intense/interesting political conversation! Taren also discovered a company that sells disguised doors that lead to secret rooms. I always wanted one of those!

Gabbi of All Five Stars reviewed Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. "I started sniffling and whimpering before I'd even reached page twenty. This is a bone-chilling account of sexual - and emotional - abuse and definitely not for the faint of heart. It's depressing, but rewarding."

Breanna of B is for Books reviewed Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling. "I actually wasn't even sure how the book was going to end. But I did like the ending."

Carol of Bookluver- Carol's Reviews reviewed Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer, Killer Spirit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes , Perfect Cover by Jennifer Lynn Barnes , and Impossible by Nancy Werlin.

Bookworm at Bookworm Readers reviewed My So Called Family by Courtney Sheinmel. "Debut author Courtney Sheinmel's unique new novel is modern, fresh, and fun. Leah experiences situations that tween girls can truly relate to, such as curfew, belonging, family problems, and is overall a truly realistic character

Just Blinded Book Reviews reviewed Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal by Ben Furman. "I have been thinking over this book for the past couple of days, and I still don't know what I think of it; I'm standing in the middle. I think it just started out way too quickly for me and the pace just kept up until the end; though, I guess when you're writing for children you really have to hold their attention, so they don't get bored."

Marjolein of MarjoleinBookBlog reviewed Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. "Just real magical stories and Gail tells it all with feeling for magic and fairytales. But I missed this in Fairest. It couldn't capture me."

Alea of Pop Culture Junkie had two lookalikes post this week! Yay! I love those! She also did a run through of movies and television shows she's watched this month.

Holly of Writer's Block Reviews reviewed The Heartbreakers by Pamela Wells. "I laughed throughout the whole book and even got mad through some of it. Ms. Wells' writing is unlike any other that I have read."

The Book Muncher reviewed The Big Game of Everything by Chris Lynch, Something Borrowed by Catherine Hapka, Party Games by Whitney Lyles and Dragon Wishes by Stacy Nyikos.

Lauren at Shooting Stars Mag has started "It All Started with a Book" week, which features movies that were adapted from books!

Kelsey at Reading Keeps You Sane reviewed Skin Deep by E.M. Crane and I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin.

Chelsie of Read, Read, Read reviewed Undone by Brooke Taylor. "It was like a spiritual journey without religion, and for me it created a mix of emotions that I was definitely not expecting."

Reader Rabbit reviewed Jenny Green's Killer Junior Year by Amy Belasen and Jacob Osborn and Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead.

I also wanted to mention a new feature Steph has on her site called Amaze Me, Faze Me, Daze Me! Check it out!

Interviews (Kristi Collected)

Harmony Book Reviews had a visit from author Jordanna Fraiberg (In Your Room).

Taren and Amee of The Chick Manifesto interviewed author Kathryn Williams (The Debutante).

Bookworm of Bookworm Readers interviewed author Courtney Sheinmel (My So Called Family).

Hope of Hope's Bookshelf interviewed author Daria Snadowski (Anatomy of a Boyfriend).

Gabrielle of Innovative: A Word for the WriTeen interviewed author Megan Kelley Hall (Sisters of Misery).

Liv of Liv's Book Reviews interviewed author Diana Rodriguez Wallch (Amor and Summer Secrets).

Mrs. Maggo of Mrs. Maggo Reads interviewed author Christine Rose (Rowan of the Wood).

Kelsey of Reading Keeps You Sane interviewed author C.K. Kelly Martin (I Know it's Over).

Book Spotlight

A knock on the door
in the middle of the night.

The unthinkable happens. Theresa’s father has been murdered. When she recovers a little from the shock, she realizes that his precious violin is missing.

It’s up to Theresa to unravel the mystery of her father’s secret life, and bring the wrongdoers to justice.

Our Reviews

Kristi reviewed: Savvy Girl by Lynn Messina.

Steph reviewed: Bliss by Lauren Myracle.

Vistiors

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time and leaving a comment on my blog! I get so excited every time I see one! I just want you to know that I really appreciate your support and that you continue to make my work at The Story feel appreciated. THANK YOU!

Breanna of B is for Books.
Kelsey of Reading Keep You Sane.
Shooting Stars Mag/Lauren of Shooting Stars Magazine.
Amee of The Chick Manifesto.
Meredith of Meredith's Musings.
sharonluvscats of Sharon Luvs Cats and Books.
Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
Book~Adorer of Book~Adorer Forever Reading.
Reader Rabbit
Just Listen of Just Listen Book Reviews.
Bookworm of BookWorm Readers.
Diana Dang of Stop, Drop and Read.
Shalonda of Shalonda's Blog.
YA Book Realm
Liv of Liv's Book Reviews.
Book Chic of Book Chic.
Khyrinthia of Frenetic Reader.
Hillary of The Book Reader.
Lisa Schroeder author of I Heart You, You Haunt Me.
Alyson Noel author of Cruel Summer.
Lenore of Presenting Lenore.
~*~MNM~*~ of Random Thoughts from a Random Teen.
GreenBeanTeenQueen
Melsy626 of Love to Read.
Ms. Bookworm of Total Bookworm.
TruBlu93 of Starry Night.
Okie of cucullus non facit monachum.
Lauren of Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf.
anotherpageisused of ...another page is used (reading is my life)
Hope of Hope's Bookshelf.
Zoealea of Zoe's Book Reviews.
Tempestt of Temppatt.
Sarah Quigley author of TMI.
teenreadersgather of YA Book Club.
Amanda of That Teen Can Blog!

pepsivanilla, WannebeWriter, Bunny B., Betsy, Yan, xtraliciousssx, Rebekah E., Sara, ALexis, ellie_enchanted, ashley, rimasbookjournal, Paradox, Tracy, Adayla, and Mariah.
In Other News

The winner for the Monthly Contst of October is:

Sarahbear9789

The results from the polls earlier this week were awesome! THANK YOU!! To everyone who participated!

What is your first impression of The Story?

93% of you said that you had a good first impression. 1% said you got a bad first impression and 6% of you left the following comments; Pretty Amazing, Awesome and eclecitc!

What is your favorite feature?

39% of you said that Books to Pine For was your favorite feature! Followed closely by 33% for YA Connection!

What kind of prizes would you like to see for contests?

44% of you said that books were your favorite prize, followed by 24% for gift cards.

What is your favorite genre?

36% of you said that fantasy was your favorite! Next was love and relationships at 27%, then teen issues at 23% and finally 13% for historical fiction! There were no votes for non-fiction.

How often do you visit?

I was really blown away by these answers! 44% of you said that you visit at least once a day! WOW! 42% said that you made a visit at least once a week!

Again thanks to everyone who participated! I realy enjoyed the feedback!