Young Adult Fiction for Adults discussion
Introductions
Hi everyone! I'm not new to GR but I am new to being more active. My name is Sam, and I'm a YA librarian in southern New Jersey. Happy to virtually meet you all!
Greetings--I'm pretty new to GR and still getting the feel of it. I'm mature in age but not in spirit, and prefer YA to any other genre. I've been a library assistant for 13 years, 11 of them in the children's department of a very well-stocked library, and I read almost every YA novel that came out during that time. Recently moved from Connecticut to Pennsylvania and got a job in the children's dept. of a struggling library, and am in mourning for the lack of good titles here. I especially love scifi, adventure, historical fiction, humor, and mystery, but will read anything that is well-written. I tend to avoid anything with a pink cover. I have enjoyed the Hunger Games (remaining neutral on the whole Peeta/Gale issue), am on the waiting list for Mockingjay so please no spoilers!! Twilight was okay, didn't read the rest of the series. I liked The Host. I try to resist series--don't like feeling obligated to read the next book. I often read just the first book so I know what everyone's talking about.Fave titles off the top of my head, in no particular order: Here Lies The Librarian, City of Ember (a series I did read), Whale Talk, Hattie Big Sky, Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, Airborne, Whirligig, Going Bovine, The Wreckers trilogy, Acceleration, Night of the Howling Dogs... I could go on all night. Notice there are no vampires in any of these books. Maybe I can inspire some of you to branch out??
Oh, and my name's Becky. Didn't know how much I wanted to reveal until I saw what this was all about, so chose to use an initial.
Welcome Becky! You've read quite a few I haven't. I'm excited to look up some you've mentioned.
Welcome Becky I am not into vamp books either.
Hi Becky and welcome to the group. I don't read many vampire books myself. There is only a few I've read and liked. I'm also from Pennsylvania as well.
Welcome Becky! While I have read the Hunger Games, the Twilights, etc. and enjoyed them, like you I like some of the other YA out there. From your list I enjoy Richard Peck (The Teacher's Funeral is one I enjoyed) and Hattie Big Sky is one of my all time favorites. I also loved Princess Academy.
Hello Everyone!I'm Lulu. I am somewhat new to GR. I live in Florida, I'm a big fan of YA books, and I am really excited to join in the discussions. Some of my favorite books are Speak, Someone Like You, and Catch 22. Some recent favorites are Th1rteen R3asons Why, Beautiful Creatures, and Willow. I am a fan of the Twilight series but recently I have gotten into angels and faeries. :)
Hello my fellow YA readers my name is hodo and im addicted to YA books! cant wait to start talking(typing)!!
Hello!I'm Kristy, 25 and live in California. I've always been a fan of YA books and just recently realized lots of other adults are too! I felt like I would always get weird stares at the bookstore when I was in that section and am happy to find a group of adults that are interested in this genre as much as am! My favorites lately are the Twilight Saga, well the first 2 books anyways, Bella's character annoys me so I didn't finish the saga. Harry Potter, if that's considered YA and books by Meg Cabot. I just started The Hunger Games and the Uglies series.
Welcome Kristy I love Meg Cabot and Harry Potter. You were not missing anything by not reading the last two Twilight books! Enjoy the Hunger Games - I loved it.
Hi everyone,I just wanted to let you know that my young adult/fantasy novel, The Secret Of The Emerald Sea, is now available in print, as well as Kindle and ebook versions. I hope you get a chance to read this magical adventure. :)
here's the link to the print version at Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/39av2ym
thanks so much!
Heather
Hi everyone, I would just like to introduce myself quickly! I am Lynda, I LOVE books of many kinds including Young Adult (yes smitten with the Twilight series!) and I am also the very proud author of the paranormal fiction novel for young adults Awakening of the Dream Riders. Great to meet you all and I look forward to taking part in some discussions!!!!
Hi everyone... I've just joined this group and posted my first comment/question. Now I find out that my post is number 90 and you're already all at over 1100... how on earth did I do this? :)
Here is what I wrote in my time-machine post - and I've already had a very encouraging answer from Maria:message 90: by Rose
37 minutes ago
3772045 Hello group, my first post on a subject very close to my heart.
My novel (partly autobiographical) was published by a small independent UK publisher in January of this year. It's available online almost everywhere and has been selling steadily but slowly, and all readers have been very positive indeed.
However, I was told that in the US there is a taboo in YA fiction about even the smallest hint at sex and they normally cite Judy Blume's SUMMER SISTERS which seemed very innocent indeed - but that's almost from a different planet now in 2010. Please enlighten.
Also, please take a look at the little pitch (in the form of a book video trailer) below. The novel is a coming-of-age story with a difference and it's called COMING UP FOR AIR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg7zN8kNa...
Reviewers have called it a delightful and splendidly written page-turner.
Read the first 24 pages: http://bit.ly/aFdnzA
also see: http://www.coming-up-for-air.com
I wish someone would tell me whether this book is marketable in the US. Thank you so much.
I just wanted to invite any of you other YA fans to friend me. Sometimes it's hard for me to keep up with all these posts, but it's nice to see what everyone is reading on my updates.And welcome to all that I haven't had a chance to welcome. :)
Hi everyone I have just created a new vampire website ready to show off my vampire book coming out next year, but the site is still a little boring, and I am in need of some help. www.FangsRule.com
Fangs Rule (get it?)
It is very empty so far as I only created it last night, so anyone please help:
1. Any suggestions for good vampire sites to link to.
2. Anyone has any vampire drawings that I can put on the site or so that I can do up a few pages on drawings of sexy female vampires and sexy male vampires. if you have lots I could do a dedicated page to just you or link to your drawings on your own website.
3. What the site looks like? This the best I can do with my programming skills I still do everything in html but if anyone can make some suggestions I would like to hear them.
4. Have any of you got your own vampire site that you would like to swap links to?
5. I have do a little night music section linked to Youtube have you found any music on youtube which may be good to have links to?
6. So any ideas and help much appreciated.
My first YA novel just hit the bookstores: ROT & RUIN (Simon & Schuster, hardcover). I’m a NY Times bestselling author and Marvel Comics writer. ABOUT THE BOOKS: In the zombie-infested world Benny has grown up in, every teenager must work once they turn fifteen—or they'll lose their food rations. Benny isn't interested in taking on the family business, but he reluctantly agrees to train as a zombie killer with his boring big brother, Tom. He expects a dull job, whacking zombies for cash. What he discovers is a vocation that will teach him what it really means to be human.
As Benny's worldview is challenged again and again by the lessons he learns from Tom, he is forced to confront another horrifying reality: sometimes, the most terrible monsters are the human ones.
Critically acclaimed NY Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry crafts a terrifying future vision of the zombie apocalypse, brought to life through the rich emotional struggles of a teenager trying to find his place in a tumultuous new world.
Praise for….. RUIN & RUIN:
"…an action-packed, thought-provoking look at life—and death." --Kirkus Book Review
"A thrilling triumph, full of action, gripping conflict, soul-fullness, gore, solemnity, and hope. A coming of age piece honed in the ashes of the apocalypse." ---Fiendishgly Bookish
"Thrilling, enticing, and surprisingly touching!" --Heather Brewer -Bestselling author of the Chronicles of Vlad
"This is a romping, stomping adventure. Anyone with a pulse will enjoy this novel, and anyone with a brain will find plenty of food for thought inside!" --Michael Northrop -bestselling author of Gentlemen
"George Romero meets The Catcher in the Rye in this poignant and moving coming of age novel set during zombie times." --Nancy Holder -NY Times bestselling author of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Pretty Little Devils
"Captured my heart from the first page and refused to let go!" --Maria V. Snyder -multi award-winner and bestselling author of Poison Study
It seems like there are a lot of new authors making their way into this group now. I think many of you will find that you're better off engaging with members and having discussions rather than copying and pasting blurbs.
It's a way of saying hello, Jason. This is an introduction page after all. We're introducing ourselves and explaining who we are. No need to take offense at that.
Heidi I wrote: "What??? Your cousin controls your stars??? Come on - give it the 1 star it deserves. I double dog dare you!"Hahahahaha! I literally stopped reading Breaking Dawn for weeks when Bella attacked Jacob. That book absolutely ruined the series for me. As you can see, I gave it ONE star!
Hi I'm Wendy and I was just looking through other YA groups and frustrated to find that they were all kids and I had no idea how to post a reply to a thread like that without sounding like an old woman. I'm 31, but I like to read alot of YA (among other genre's) and I like to discuss it in with other people my own age, so this group is awesome!
I have the Hunger Games, the Bartimaeus Trilogy is in the mail though I haven't read either yet. I've read all available installments of Gone, Fallen, Twilight, Hush Hush, Shiver (reading Linger now), and Harry Potters, and I'm a huge fan of LJ Smith who did the Vampire diaries. She was my true teen fav. Her Secret Circle Trilogy was practically my bible. Not to mention countless Christopher Pikes. So far my favorite of all those, besides HP, was Gone by Michael Grant.
Anyway, thanks for a awesome group for Adults.
Welcome Wendy! Thanks for the support on the horrid Breaking Dawn :) I am also almost ready to start the Bartimaeus Trilogy soon! I love the Hunger Games and HP and also liked Gone and Lies by Michael Grant. Have you read The Knife of Never Letting Go?
I haven't but a blogger I read wrote about it and it sparked my interest. Was it good?
Hi everyone!I'm 25 from the UK. I'm a library assistant and I do storytime and run a teen book club. I've missed out on a lot of YA fiction over the past few year, uni + living in random places etc... so I feel like I'm on catch up.
Favourite series at the moment, Cassandra Clare Hunger Games, Cherub. :)
Welcome Piper! I am a huge fan of many UK (BBC) shows :)
Thanks for the welcome.Heidi I wrote: "Welcome Piper! I am a huge fan of many UK (BBC) shows :)"
Oooh, which ones do you like? :) Are you outside of the UK?
Piper I live in the US (Illinois) and am very upset that the BBC iplayer does not work here in the states. I have to watch shows after air in the UK. My top favorites are Top Gear, Being Human, Blood in the Wire, Gavin & Stacey, and my new favorite is Lark Rise to Candleford. I could go on and on actually!
I know, I feel that way with some American shows, it can be a bit frustration! Top Gear and Being Human I watch, although I'm a season behind with Being Human.Have you tried some of our channel 4 comedy shows? Misfits, Inbetweeners?? :)
I don't think I can get those comedy shows - are they good? If so, I will check Amazon and Netflix for them. I forgot I just watched all three seasons of Rosemary & Thyme on DVD and enjoyed them for all their cheesiness :) (I mean how many murders can happen to those two ladies!)
ohhh i love Inbetweeners. My fiancee is from england so i always watch it when im over there ;)
I forgot I also watched the first 3 seasons of the IT Crowd. I checked Netflix, but Inbetweeners is not available yet!
Yea i also enjoy the IT Crowd ;)
Louise wrote: "Yea i also enjoy the IT Crowd ;)"I liked when the boss called him all the way upstairs to turn his laptop on!
Haha yea. There are some really funny moments in that show
I've not seen the IT Crowd.Inbetweeners is hilarious. Misfits only appeals to certain people, it's very British, funny, super powered show. I'm trying to think of other Brit shows I watch :)
Piper some oldies I love are All Creatures Great & Small and Keeping Up Apperances. I told you I could go on and on.
I used to LOVE Keeping Up Apearances as a child and my housemate has them on DVD!! Faulty Towers was also good.Personal favourite though - Goodnight Sweetheart, I have that on DVD.
I'm so happy that British stuff goes around the globe :)
I also used to watch this one show, but think they stopped it awhile ago? Two pints of lager and a bag of crips? Not 100% sure if thats the right name
Hi I'm April. I'm a librarian in IL and I am so glad to have found a group full of people who love teen fiction. I like to read all sorts of fiction and all sorts of genres, but teen novels are typcially my favorites. Currently I'm reading
,
, and
.
Blurg! Can't get Goodnight Sweetheart here I checked Amazon :(
That's annoying... do you need Region 1 DVDs? Maybe it's never been show in the US?Hi April :)
Pint of lager and a packet of crisps was good, I've ony seen a couple of those episodes.
Hey guys, I'm Arphaxad (or..something shorter..Fax? Hadn't thought that far ahead!), and I'm a uni student from the UK who spends an embarrassing amount of time in the kids/YA section of the library/any bookshop! Been lurking around on GR for a while, but only recently spotted this group and couldn't resist :) Also only just saw this thread, so this is a bit of a belated introduction!A few favourites off the top o' me head:
Nice to meet all you lovely people :)
Hello Arphaxad! Another UK newbie! Welcome :)
I'm a high school librarian in Independece, Missouri, and am always looking for the next big book for my students. When I first started this job (8 years ago) I felt like I had to force myself to ready YA. Pretty quickly I found that I liked it better than a lot of adult books out there. I have even managed to get my husband to read my favorites. My favorites are the sci fi/fantasy YA books. I am currently readying Shiver by Maggie Steifvater.
Young Adult Fiction for Adults
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My name is Jessica, I'm 25 and living in Germany. I just love any kind of YA novels, even though my friends are constantly mocking me, telling me that I'm too old for these kind of books ;-) Thanks to Goodreads and especially this group I've found so many great books in the last few months. My favorite books are The Mortal Instruments series, the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, The Truth About Forever and Perfect Chemistry. Well, actually there are a lot more books that I really love but those are the ones that first came to my mind. I'm currently reading Nevermore and am really enjoying it so far. After that I'll start with the Hunger Games. Heard that those are great so I'm really looking forward to it :-)
Guess that's all, so thanks everybody for keeping me inspired :-)