Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: A Discussion and Reading Guide

February 13, 2014 |

Did you know that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month? I had no idea until I saw someone talking about it, and I thought it would be more than worthwhile to talk a bit about why having a month of awareness of this topic is important, as well as offer some discussion fodder and a reading list of YA fiction that delves into teen dating violence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a 2011 survey of teens found that 9.4% of teens reported having been in a romantic relationship that resulted in them being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose in the last twelve months. Sit with that a minute: in the last year, almost 10% of teens reported having been in a relationship that involved violence. If we believe that at least that much did not report violence in their relationship — and anyone who went to high school and took one of these surveys knows what they involve — that is a huge and startling statistic.

In addition to that, 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males report having been sexually assaulted, raped, physically hurt, or stalked by a romantic partner; those statistics are for those aged 11 to 17.

Twenty percent of women between the ages of 11 and 17 have reported being raped, assaulted, or stalked by a romantic partner and fourteen percent of men between the ages of 11 and 17 have reported being raped, assaulted, or stalked by a romantic partner.

These numbers were reported in a survey separate from the one above, so considered separately and considered together, those numbers are frightening.

Starting a conversation about this topic can be difficult, but I think it’s one that’s important to keep aware of and know the statistics about because it should be informative in working with teens. Whether you’re an educator or a librarian or teen advocate in some capacity (which includes writers for teens, readers who appreciate YA fiction, bloggers, and so forth), being ignorant of what teens experience or are familiar with because of their peers’ experiences can be more harmful than helpful. Fortunately, aside from the statistics that exist, there are excellent resources for building your awareness of teen dating violence, as well as excellent teen novels that tackle this delicate issue in ways that are not only helpful, but can be the door that invites important conversation.

Despite what we can think as adults, teens are aware of these issues and not only are they aware of them, they’re not afraid to talk about them. It’s us as adults who are more fearful to broach the issues for fears we may do or say wrong or — in a worse case scenario — we fear that we might put ideas into “impressionable minds.” Let’s be real though: teens know. Teens aren’t impressionable in that way. What can and does make an impression is being willing to be an advocate and an open conversationalist to, for, and with these teens. That knowledge that you care can change their world.

Select Resources

Last April, I wrote a guide to discussing sex, sexual assault, and rape, so I won’t go too much into that here. But I do want to point to a project being built by Teen Librarian Toolbox, called the Sexual Violence in Young Adult Literature Chat. The ongoing project, which is supplemented by the linked tumblr account, is meant to foster conversation about sexual violence in a manner that helps empower readers and teen advocates in not only their ability to think about this challenging topic, but also to foster conversation with teens themselves.

Become familiar with Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month’s site. This online hub is a space for discussing and advocating for the efforts of promoting and raising awareness of teen dating violence. There are a wealth of resources, including dating abuse helplines and a wealth of public awareness campaigns. Those campaign sites will offer even more great resources and helpful tips for raising your own awareness, as well as for becoming a stronger advocate for teens.

The Teen Dating Violence site is an arm of love is respect, which is another site you should have on your radar. This resource is one that would be especially useful for teen themselves, as it offers a tool defining what dating violence is. Again, the statistics are that roughly 10% of teens reported being in a physically harmful relationship; it’s not always obvious to teens (just like it’s not always obvious to adults!) when a relationship is abusive.

Although I don’t think that the US Department of Health and Human Services site offers the most useful information, I’m linking to it because it does offer tips and help as to cultivating conversations about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This is the toolkit for adults to talk about this month and what the purpose behind the campaign is. It offers some downloadable and printable fact sheets that could be valuable in displays, on social media, or on physical bulletin boards.

Dating Violence in YA Fiction

Since I covered sexual violence last spring, I’m focusing this list more specifically on dating violence. All of these are YA titles, and each has some component of relationship violence — and I’m not going to shy away from it: some of these books can be really challenging to read because of that. But I think knowing about them, talking about them, and having them available for teens can be invaluable in fostering important conversations, if not for helping a teen in one of these situations realize what’s going on is not okay.

All descriptions come from WorldCat, and I know this is far from a complete list. Please feel free to add more to this list, especially books where the male main character may be suffering from dating violence. I find that there is often a lacking in stories about relationship violence — verbal, sexual, or physical — of the male being the victim. Which isn’t to say the stories of females being victims aren’t important (they definitely are, and as noted, they are more frequently the victims), but I think it’s just as important to show the other side, too, as it’s often the one that’s talked about far less. Likewise, there’s a dearth of LGBTQ relationships presented.

Since my knowledge is heavier on realistic fiction, that’s reflected, but I am aware dating violence shows up in other genres within YA fiction, as well.

Bad Boy by Dream Jones: Devastated to find herself back in a group home after a peaceful year of living with loving foster parents, a Brooklyn teenager striving to become strong and independent soon falls prey to the dangerous affections of a good looking but shady young man.

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown: When seventeen-year-old Alex starts dating Cole, a new boy at her high school, her two closest friends increasingly mistrust him as the relationship grows more serious.

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf: Allie is overwhelmed when her boyfriend, Trip, dies in a car accident, leaving her scarred and unable to recall what happened that night, but she feels she must uncover the truth, even if it could hurt the people who tried to save her from Trip’s abuse.

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn: Sent to counseling for hitting his girlfriend, Caitlin, and ordered to keep a journal, sixteen-year-old Nick recounts his relationship with Caitlin, examines his controlling behavior and anger, and describes living with his abusive father.

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace: Traces, through the course of a year, Ann’s transformation from a happy A-student, track star, and popular senior to a solitary, abused woman whose love for the emotionally-scarred Connor has taken away everything–even herself.

Dark Song by Gail Giles: After her father loses his job and she finds out that her parents have lied to her, fifteen-year-old Ames feels betrayed enough to become involved with a criminal who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen: After her older sister runs away, sixteen-year-old Caitlin decides that she needs to make a major change in her own life and begins an abusive relationship with a boy who is mysterious, brilliant, and dangerous.

Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder: Very good friends, her poetry notebooks, and a mysterious “ninja of nice” give seventeen-year-old Rae the strength to face her mother’s neglect, her stepfather’s increasing abuse, and a new boyfriend’s obsessiveness.

Panic by Sharon Draper: As rehearsals begin for the ballet version of Peter Pan, the teenaged members of an Ohio dance troupe lose their focus when one of their own goes missing. (From description it doesn’t sound like it’s about dating abuse, but that is a storyline among other characters in the book).

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters: At the end of high school, Johanna finally begins dating the girl she has loved from afar, but Reeve is as much trouble as she claims to be as she and her twin brother damage Johanna’s self-esteem, friendships, and already precarious relationship with her sister.

Shattered by Sarah N. Harvey: After March shoves her boyfriend and he ends up in a coma, she tries to figure out what it means to have a perfect life.

So Much It Hurts by Monique Polak: A teen actress gets involved with an older director, whose explosive temper and controlling behavior threaten to destroy her life.

Stay by Deb Caletti: In a remote corner of Washington State where she and her father have gone to escape her obsessive boyfriend, Clara meets two brothers who captain a sailboat, a lighthouse keeper with a secret, and an old friend of her father who knows his secrets.

Teenage Love Affair by Ni-Ni Simone: Seventeen-year-old Zsa-Zsa is torn between her current boyfriend who is abusive and her first love, Malachi.

Things Change by Patrick Jones: Sixteen-year-old Johanna, one of the best students in her class, develops a passionate attachment for troubled seventeen-year-old Paul and finds her plans for the future changing in unexpected ways.

Get Genrefied: YA Urban Fiction

February 3, 2014 |

Every month, we’ve been putting together a guide to a YA genre or format. Last month, we tackled short stories, and if you check that post out, you can get the link to all of our prior guides, which have covered everything from graphic novels to steampunk, contemporary/realistic to thriller and horror. It’s a series that has been just as educational to us as we hope it’s been to everyone who has found it useful.

This month is no exception.

The topic for this genre guide is urban fiction, a topic that we’re far less familiar with than I think we wish we were. It was always a topic on our list of potential choices, but when a reader asked me about it specifically, I knew it was time to roll up my sleeves and give it a shot. Kimberly and I are going to give this our best shot by defining, elaborating upon, and offering resources to YA urban fiction, along with a reading list, but this month in particular, we hope people who know more about this genre weigh in in the comments and offer us even more places to turn.

In many ways, urban fiction is a tough genre to define exactly because we all know what it is, but if we try to pin down an exact definition, we’re bringing up a host of our own biases to that definition. Urban fiction spans formats, too: there are graphic novels easily classified as urban fiction as much as there are short stories falling into the urban fiction category. You may be familiar with urban fiction under other names, too, including street lit, hip hop fiction, or ghetto lit. All of those terms, save for street lit, make me a bit uncomfortable to use because I think they reduce the genre to something much more specific than it is, and I think it also makes assumptions about the books and their readers. I think hip hop fiction and ghetto lit might instead be part of — rather than the defining feature of — urban fiction.

Though I think it’s clear, urban fiction is not the same thing as urban fantasy.

Much of the information I found defining urban fiction for teens comes from what Autumn Winters wrote in her Novelist genre guide, which you can download here. Urban fiction is a subset of realistic fiction set in today’s urban communities. Often, it could be described as gritty, as many of the story lines in urban fiction revolve around teens being in tough situations that can accompany life in a rougher community. This isn’t always the case, but one of the biggest appeal factors for readers of urban fiction is that it often pits teen characters into very adult situations. The stories are often filled with drama or melodrama, and characters can struggle with drugs, gangs, violence, drinking, sexual situations, and more. Winters notes in her guide that “glamor, crime, and shocking behavior are often present in large doses,” and while that may be the case for many urban fiction novels, I think because urban fiction is itself a fairly expansive category with many overlapping elements with other genres, this might be more of an appeal factor, rather than a defining feature.

Urban fiction is typically fast paced, and sometimes — though not always — it has a real appeal to more reluctant readers because it dives immediately into stories and characters who are easy to understand and, in some cases, reflect the perceived (or objective) reality the reader himself/herself lives.

An important note about urban fiction: while it often can appeal to African American readers and often features African American characters, urban fiction is not African American fiction. Urban fiction is written by and stars characters of all shapes and colors, even though most of the work is written by and features black characters. What really defines this genre is its marrying of an urban setting with realistic situations. Never make assumptions about the books nor about their readers. Urban fiction may hold tremendous appeal to teen readers who have never seen the likes of a city as much as it may be too much for readers who live those reality to seek out. Every collection should include some urban fiction though, as it’s not only a means of having a balanced collection but because it could open the eyes of readers to a whole new category of books they never thought they could love.

Winters notes in her guide that urban fiction can crossover with the broader category of African American lit, with literary fiction, as well as with urban Christian fiction. Last week, I blogged about Jason Reynolds’s When I Was the Greatest, set in Bed Stuy, in Brooklyn, which meets all of the criteria of urban fiction and has a literary bent to it. Much can be said about Coe Booth’s more literary “Bronxwood” series also fitting the definition of urban fiction, despite the fact the drama levels and pacing might not be quite the same as other books more commonly seen as urban fiction. So perhaps it’s best to think of urban fiction as quite a large category of realistic YA novels set in an urban landscape, and within that, there are places for novels that have a Christian angle, for those which are more literary (however you choose to define that), for graphic novels, and so forth. Maybe in thinking that way, terms like “street lit” and “ghetto fiction” are less synonyms for urban fiction and more types of urban fiction. I’m not sure how different those two may be from one another, but my larger point is that urban fiction is an umbrella term, and it can encompass a broader range of titles beneath it.

Like most other genres, YA readers can be well-served with adult urban fiction, too. Though the situations and scenarios will be even rougher, grittier, and more blunt than those presented in the YA fiction (or in some cases, they may be tamer or more literary or more message-driven in content), readers who seek out this kind of work may appreciate being shown all of their options. Some authors cross over and write urban fiction for both teens and adults.

So what resources are out there for learning more about urban fiction, as well as discovering the authors and books which could be considered urban fiction? Surprisingly, there’s very little. This is a category that, for a long time, was written and talked about widely, but in recent years, it seems to have become less of a popular genre to write or think about. That doesn’t mean it has in any way lessened in popularity with readers. Some of the resources below will be a little dated, but the information is still worth taking in and thinking about.

Vanessa Irvin Morris might be the authority on street lit, as she literally wrote the book on this topic. She keeps a tremendous site over at Street Lit, which you should have on your radar. This isn’t all focused on YA, but there are many resources and posts about YA at her site. Don’t miss the street lit book awards, either.

Want some reviews of urban fiction? Then check out Urban Reviews, which isn’t singularly focused on YA, as it also includes plenty of adult titles.

Urban Fiction Resources: The Prison Librarianship blog has a tremendous resource of links for more information and reading lists for urban fiction. It doesn’t look like it has been updated in the last couple of months, but it has done a great job noting which resources they’ve included haven’t updated. Mining these should offer way more than we can offer here.

Jennifer Fountain wrote about the top ten urban fiction books at the Nerdy Book Club blog last year, and it’s a great go-to for authors and series titles.

Over at Writing Teen Novels, Paul Volponi talks about being honest in depicting reality in realistic fiction. What makes this worth reading is that Volponi writes urban fiction but may not be one of the first authors many readers would consider an urban fiction writer — except he does just that.

This is less of a resource proper but more of a necessary read to get a grip on why urban fiction matters and how urban fiction is an expansive genre, rather than a reductive one: Urban Fiction is Reality for Us.

Recent Urban Fiction

With more of a handle on the genre itself, let’s talk about some of the books that have come out over the last few years that could be considered urban fiction. Some of these are more literary, some are more straight-on street lit. They all contain the hallmarks of urban fiction though: realistic stories set in urban areas that reflect some of the harsh, gritty, and sometimes (melo)dramatic aspects of that environment. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and additional titles that could be added to this list are more than welcome.

Before individual titles, it’s worth pointing out there are publishers, such as Saddleback and Kimani Tru that devote entire series and lines to urban fiction. Some of their titles will be called out below, but those are two to have as resources for further title suggestions.

A few authors and series to know as go-to urban fiction include NiNi Simone, Nikki Carter, Earl Sewell, Darrien Lee, Babygirl Daniels, as well as the Bluford High series and Perfect Chemistry series. Walter Dean Myers, Sharon Draper, Jacqueline Woods, and Angela Johnson are other authors who are worth knowing, but readers who are seeking more traditional urban fiction heavier on fast pacing, on drugs/drinking/sex/violence and so forth, should not be given those authors as go-to urban fiction writers. The color of an author or main character’s skin is not what defines urban fiction; it’s the content of the book itself. It is a spectrum, and readers will tell you what it is they’re really seeking in urban fiction. If they don’t, ask.

The Girl of His Dreams by Amir Abrams: The rules are simple: Play or get played. And never, ever, catch feelings. That’s the motto 17-year-old heartthrob Antonio Lopez lives by. Since his mother walked out, Antonio’s father has taught him everything he needs to know about women: they can’t be trusted, and a real man has more than one. So once Antonio gets what he wants from a girl, he moves on. But McPherson High’s hot new beauty is turning out to be Antonio’s first real challenge. Miesha Wilson has a motto of her own: The thrill of the chase is not getting caught. Game knows game, and Miesha is so not interested. She’s dumped her share of playboys and she’s determined to stay clear of the likes of Antonio Lopez–until his crazy jealous ex aggravates her. But when she decides to play some games of her own, Miesha and Antonio find themselves wondering if love is real after all.

Rumor Central by Reshonda Tate Billingsley (series): After appearing on the reality show “Miami Divas,” Maya Morgan is offered her own television show, but stepping up to the fame means spilling secrets about her friends, and someone will do anything to shut her up. (My teens LOVE this series).

When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds: Ali lives in Bed-Stuy, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, but he and his sister, Jazz, and their neighbors, Needles and Noodles, stay out of trouble until they go to the wrong party, where one gets badly hurt and another leaves with a target on his back.

Fighting for Dontae by Mike Castan: When Mexican American seventh-grader Javier is assigned to work with a special education class and connects with Dontae, who has both physical and mental disabilities, his reputation among gang members and drug abusers no longer seems very important.

Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman: Shavonne, a fierce, desperate seventeen year-old in juvenile lockup, wants to turn her life around before her eighteenth birthday, but corrupt guards, out-of-control girls, and shadows from her past make her task seem impossible.

Takedown by Allison van Diepen: After years in “juvie,” Darren cooperates with the police to infiltrate a drug ring to settle a vendetta, but sweet, innocent Jessica is now in his life so when a deadly turf war erupts, Darren must protect not only his own life, but Jessica’s as well.

Bad Boy by Dream Jordan: Devastated to find herself back in a group home after a peaceful year of living with loving foster parents, a Brooklyn teenager striving to become strong and independent soon falls prey to the dangerous affections of a good looking but shady young man.

Boyfriend Season by Kelli London: Three girls in Atlanta fall in and out of love. Now each has an invitation to the hottest teen society party of the year. Can they handle the pressure of getting everything they think they want?

Blind Trust by Shay Jackson: Sherise thinks Carlos is fine. Everyone else, including her sister, Kiki, says he’s a thug. But Carlos swears that he’s out of the game.

DJ Rising by Love Maia: Sixteen-year-old Marley Diego-Dylan’s career as “DJ Ice” is skyrocketing, but his mother’s heroin addiction keeps dragging him back to earth.

The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Perez: After a brawl with a rival gang, sixteen-year-old Azael, a member of Houston’s MS-13 gang and the son of illegal Salvadoran immigrants, wakes up in an unusual juvenile detention center where he is forced to observe another inmate through a one-way mirror.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri and Randy DuBurke: A graphic novel based on the true story of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, an eleven-year old African American gang member from Chicago who shot a young girl and was then shot by his own gang members.

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia: The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and Trina are irrevocably intertwined through the course of one day in an urban high school after Leticia overhears Dominique’s plans to beat up Trina and must decide whether or not to get involved.

My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid (series): Chanti Evans moves from the streets of Detroit to the exclusive Langdon prepatory school, where her upbringing immediately makes her a suspect in the string of thefts occurring on campus, and she must find the culprit and clear her name. (Though it’s set in a prep school, this has all of the hallmarks and appeal factors of urban fiction.)

The Final Four by Paul Volponi: Four players at the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament struggle with the pressures of tournament play and the expectations of society at large.

All That & Always Upbeat by Stephanie Perry-Moore and Derrick Moore: Two novels recount from different perspectives the challenges Charli Black and Blake Strong face in their relationship, personal lives, and at school.

Trouble & Triumph by T. I.: Leaving behind Power, the boy she’s come to love, Tanya “Beauty” Long makes a name for herself in New York City’s fashion industry, while Power becomes trapped in a world of drugs, women, and money where he makes a shocking discovery that brings Tanya back to him. (This one is adult, but it should have appeal for teen readers, with T. I.’s name recognition especially).

Young-Minded Hustler by Tysha: Shy’s son, Prince, grows up trying to follow in his dead father’s footsteps and be king of the streets, but when Shy’s boys are attacked and the wrong brother is shot, she is determined to take revenge.

Facing It by Anne Schraff: While helping out two rocker friends by fronting for their band, high school senior Oliver Randall finds his new-found fame intoxicating.

Ride Wit’ Me by Deja King: Sometimes in love, things are not meant to be. Parents can sometimes seem to be your enemy and the streets will always have their way of trying to destroy anything good. Will Mercedes and Dalvin fall victim to the obstacles standing in their way, or will they fight against the odds and ride it out.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins: Five troubled teenagers fall into prostitution as they search for freedom, safety, community, family, and love.

Please add titles to this list. I tried to stay within a 2011 and forward publication date, so I would love to know even more titles falling within that span which make for good urban fiction.

Season of the Witch: A YA Reading List

January 31, 2014 |

Two years ago, mermaids were the new-and-hot trend in YA. The years before that, there were werewolves and vampires and other “creatures” making their way into paranormal YA. Without question, this year is the year of witches making a huge appearance in YA fiction. It looks like every major publisher has at least one witch novel on their lists, if not more than one, some of which are from fresh voices and others are continuations of series that include witches in them. Kimberly touched on this trend last year in her science fiction and fantasy preview, but I thought it would be worth delving into even deeper, as more books pop up featuring witches.

Witches are kind of a neat phenomenon in fiction for a couple of reasons. First, they aren’t paranormal. Rather than being magical because of their physical shape, witches are — for the most part — magical despite taking what appears to be a human shape. Second, they fit nicely into the horror genre without necessarily being seen as a horror trope or a foundation of horror novels. Readers, especially teens, love witches because of how they’re symbolic of the occult, which is perennially popular.

But witches don’t have to be relegated to one kind of story, either, which is part of what makes them interesting to write about. As much as they’re a part of horror, they’re also a part of fantasy, science fiction, and maybe most commonly, they’re recognizable in fairy tales. Witches are also historical, though in YA lit, there’s a surprisingly few number of novels that tackle witches from that perspective.

In other words, witches are expansive, rather than limited to one sort of story.

Here’s a roundup of recent and forthcoming YA titles featuring witches. All of the titles are out this year, except in the cases where the book is a continuation of a series (I’ve noted those). I should note that some of these titles, the witch element isn’t necessarily what the book is entirely about. In some cases, the witch aspect plays a more subtle role.

All descriptions are from WorldCat unless otherwise noted.

A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey: When three cousins in 1814 London discover their magical powers and family lineage of witchcraft, they accidentally open the gates to the underworld allowing the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters to hunt and kill young debutante witches for their powers. Available now.

Half Bad by Sally Green: In modern-day England, where witches live alongside humans, Nathan, son of a White witch and the most powerful Black witch, must escape captivity before his seventeenth birthday and receive the gifts that will determine his future. Available March 4.

Hexed by Michelle Krys: Popular cheerleader Indigo Blackwood, sixteen, finds her perfect life threatened when Bishop, a tattooed, leather-clad stranger, tells her the family Bible just stolen from the attic of her mother’s occult shop could mean the end to all witches, including, he says, Indigo herself. Available June 10.

Conversion by Katherine Howe: It’s senior year at St. Joan’s Academy, and school is a pressure cooker. College applications, the battle for valedictorian, deciphering boys’ texts: through it all, Colleen Rowley and her friends are expected to keep it together. Until they can’t. First Clara Rutherford starts having loud, uncontrollable tics in the middle of class. More students and stranger symptoms follow: seizures, body vibration, violent coughing fits. The media descends on Danvers, MA, as school officials, angry parents and the board of health scramble to find something, or someone, to blame. Pollution? Stress? Or are the girls faking? But Colleen—who’s been reading The Crucible for extra credit—comes to realize what nobody else has: Danvers was once Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago. Available July 1 (description via Edelweiss).

House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple: Seventeen-year-old Josephine Hemlock has spent her life hiding the fact that she’s a witch–but when the mysterious Curse that killed her mother returns, she might not be able to keep her magical and normal lives separate. Available April 15.

The Wizard’s Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke: Hanna has spent her life hearing about the adventures of her namesake Ananna, the lady pirate, and assassin Naji. She dreams of the same adventures, but little does she know she is about to tumble into one of her own. Hanna is apprenticed to a taciturn fisherman called Kolur, and, during a day of storms and darkness, are swept wildly off course. In this strange new land, Kolur hires a stranger to join the crew and, rather than heading home, sets a course for the dangerous island of Jadanvar. As Hanna meets a secretive merboy, and learns that Kolur has a deadly past, she soon realizes that wishing for adventures is a dangerous game – because those wishes might come true. Available May 6.

Salt & Storm by Kendal Kulper: Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants to take her rightful place as the sea witch of Prince Island. When she foresees her own murder, a harpoon boy named Tane promises to help her change her fate and keep her island safe and prosperous, but salvation will require an unexpected sacrifice. Available September. No official cover has been released yet.

Stolen Songbird by Danielle Jensen: For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined. Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity. But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader. As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever. Available April 1. Description via Edelweiss.

The Witch is Back by Brittany Geragotelis: After leading her coven into battle against the Parrishables, teenaged witch Hadley Bishop is looking forward to a relaxing, love-filled summer with boyfriend Asher, until his ex-girlfriend, Brooklyn, shows up and a power struggle ensues. Available now. This is the third book in a series, which begins with What the Spell, followed by Life’s A Witch.

Red Queen by Christopher Pike: Heading off for a weekend in Las Vegas with her friends, Jessie Ralle has only one worry—how to make it through the road trip in the same car with her Ex, Jimmy Kelter. The guy who broke her heart five months ago when he dumped her for no reason. The guy who’s finally ready to tell her why he did it, because he wants her back. But what Jessie doesn’t realize is that Jimmy is the least of her problems. In Las Vegas she meets Russ, a mesmerizing stranger who shows her how to gamble, and who never seems to lose. Curious, Jessie wants to know his secret, and in response, alone in his hotel room, he teaches her a game that opens a door to another reality. To Witch World. Suddenly Jessie discovers that she’s stumbled into a world where some people can do the impossible, and others may not even be human. Are there really witches? Is she one of them? Available August 19. This book was originally published as Witch World, but it’s getting a new cover and title treatment.

Sisters’ Fate by Jessica Spotswood: A fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can’t help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England. To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn. While she’s torn between protecting him from further attacks and encouraging him to fall for her all over again, she’s certain she can never forgive Maura’s betrayal. And now that Tess’s visions have taken a deadly turn, the prophecy that one Cahill sister will murder another looms ever closer to its fulfillment. This is the third book in a series that begins with Born Wicked and continues with Star Cursed. Sisters’ Fate will be available August 14. Description via Goodreads.

Steadfast by Claudia Gray: Nadia must stop the evil sorceress Elizabeth before she lures the One Beneath to Captive’s Sound, destroying the town and everyone Nadia holds dear at the same time. Steadfast is the sequel to Spellcaster and will be available March 4.

Seduction by Molly Cochran: There’s not yet an official description nor cover for this book yet, but it’s the third in a series that begins with Legacy and Poison. Seduction will be available December 4.

As much fun as it is to preview a trend, I think it’s also worthwhile to point to some backlist titles that feature witches in some capacity. Here’s a look at some older YA featuring witches to satisfy eager readers. This is far from comprehensive (I didn’t include James Patterson’s “Witch and Wizard” series, for example), so feel free to share other titles in the comments — both those which are older and those which may be coming out soon.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn: Sixteen-year-old Princess Talia persuades seventeen-year-old Jack, the modern-day American who kissed her awake after a 300-year sleep, to take her to his Miami home, where she hopes to win his love before the witch who cursed her can spirit her away.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (series): When Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, she is exiled to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde: A girl finds herself running through the forest at the edge of a village with no memory of anything, even her own name, and later learns that she might be twelve-year-old Isabelle, believed to be stolen by a witch six years before.

Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (series): Born into a family of witches, seventeen-year-old Tamsin is raised believing that she alone lacks a magical “Talent,” but when her beautiful and powerful sister is taken by an age-old rival of the family in an attempt to change the balance of power, Tamsin discovers her true destiny.

“Tiffany Aching” series by Terry Pratchett

Witch Child by Celia Rees: In 1659, fourteen-year-old Mary Newbury keeps a journal of her voyage from England to the New World and her experiences living as a witch in a community of Puritans near Salem, Massachusetts.

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes: Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, sixteen-year-old Erin has spent half of her life in therapy and on drugs, but now must face the possibility of weird things in the real world, including shapeshifting friends and her “alter,” a centuries-old vampire.

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan: On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings–and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment.

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle (series): In 1837, as seventeen-year-old twins, Persephone and Penelope, are starting their first London Season they find that their beloved governess, who has taught them everything they know about magic, has disappeared.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab: Sixteen-year-old Lexi, who lives on an enchanted moor at the edge of the village of Near, must solve the mystery when, the day after a mysterious boy appears in town, children start disappearing.

Reality TV and Documentaries: A YA Book List

January 14, 2014 |

I teased about reality television being a microtrend last summer, but there are even more books that have a significant aspect to them relating to reality TV coming out this year. This is such an interesting trend to me since reality television seemed to have peaked in popularity….quite a while ago. It’s still popular, but it’s waned significantly, so it’s curious how it’s now peaking in YA fiction.

Here’s a look at teens and reality tv (with a side of teens and documentary films) past, present, and future. Not all of these are contemporary/realistic YA fiction — there’s a little bit of genre dipping, as well. In fact, of all the books tackling reality television, I think taking that to an alternate world could be most interesting and compelling.

All descriptions are from WorldCat, unless otherwise noted. If you know of others, either already out or to be published soon, feel free to add to this list. I didn’t limit my list to a time frame, since I think some of the older titles on this list could be really interesting to read and compare to more current offerings.

First Date by Krista McGee: Addy Davidson finds herself on a reality dating show with the first prize a prom date with the President’s son and, although initally not interested in winning, Addy finds herself increasingly drawn into the game.

Flash Point by Nancy Kress: Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she’s right to have them. TLN’s “Who Knows People, Baby–You?” has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden cameras to life-threatening technology to flat-out rigging. Worse, every time the ratings slip, TLN ups the ante. Soon Amy is fighting for her life–on and off camera.

Girl Out Loud by Emily Gale: Fifteen-year-old Kass is trying to resist her manic-depressive father’s attempts to make her try out for “The X Factor” while she also deals with her crush on the same older boy her best friend likes, her distant mother’s mysterious comings and goings, and her younger brother’s criminal activities.

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love by Ken Baker (April 22): “Thick. Heavy. Big boned. Plump. Full figured. Chunky. Womanly. Large. Curvy. Plus-size. Hefty.” To sixteen-year-old Emery Jackson, these are all just euphemisms for the big “F” word—”fat.” Living on a Southern California beach with her workout fiend dad, underwear model sister, and former model mother, it is impossible for Emery not to be aware of her weight. Emery is okay with how things are. That is, until her “momager” signs her up for Fifty Pounds to Freedom, a reality show in which Emery will have to lose fifty pounds in fifty days in order to win the million dollars that will solve her family’s financial woes. Emery is skeptical of the process, but when the pounds start to come off and the ratings skyrocket, she finds it hard to resist the adoration of her new figure and the world of fame. Emery knows that things have changed. But is it for the better? (Description via Goodreads).

Infamous by Lauren Conrad (“Fame Game” series): Kate and Carmen are about to become big stars, but they’re going to have to survive some backstage drama first. Madison is learning hard lessons about fame as she deals with backstabbing ‘friends’ and family, out-of-control paparazzi, and a scandal reported in every tabloid.

L. A. Candy by Lauren Conrad (“L. A. Candy” series): When nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts is cast in a new reality show, she discovers that the fame and fortune of her new life come at a high price to herself and her friendships.

Lights, Camera, Quince by Veronica Chambers (“Amigas” series): Carmen is turning fifteen and her friends Sarita, Alicia, Jamie, and Gaz plan to throw her a quinceañera; but when the group decides to join a reality show competition, Carmen feels like her party is becoming less important.

Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams: Although sixteen-year-old Sophie has grown up working in her family’s Mediterranean restaurant in Washington, D.C., she is not prepared to compete on the new reality show, Teen Test Kitchen, when her best friend Alex convinces her to audition.

Premiere by Melody Carlson (“On the Runway” series): When two sisters get their own fashion-focused reality television show, vivacious Paige is excited, but Erin, a Christian who is more interested in being behind the camera than in front of it, has problems with some of the things they are asked to do.

Reality Boy by A. S. King: An emotionally damaged seventeen-year-old boy in Pennsylvania, who was once an infamous reality television show star, meets a girl from another dysfunctional family, and she helps him out of his angry shell.

Reality Check by Jen Calonita: When a television executive signs Long Island sixteen-year-old Charlie and her three best friends to be the stars of a new reality television show, their lives are suddenly not the same.

Simply Irresistible by Jennifer Banash: With rivals Casey and Madison set to star in their own reality show, Madison ponders just how much of her life of privilege she wants to reveal, while Casey wonders how much of her luxurious New York City lifestyle is an illusion.

Something Real by Heather Demetrios (February 4): Since the cancellation of her family’s reality television show, seventeen-year-old Bonnie Baker, one of twelve siblings, has tried to live a normal life with real friends and a possible boyfriend, until her mother and the show’s producers decide to bring “Baker’s Dozen” back on the air.

Stir It Up! by Ramin Ganeshram: Thirteen-year-old Anjali dreams of hosting a televised cooking show featuring foods based on her Hindu and Trinidadian heritage, but when an opportunity presents itself, she will have to defy her family to go to the audition. Includes recipes.

Taste Test by Kelly Fiore: While attending a New Hampshire culinary academy, North Carolina high schooler Nora suspects someone of sabotaging the academy’s televised cooking competition.

The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High by Layrie Boyle Crompton (February 4): High school senior Shannon Depola, who could use a popularity makeover, instead gets a beauty makeover as a contestant for a million dollars on the hidden-camera reality show, The Prom Queen Wannabees.

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus: When Hampton High senior Jesse is cast in a reality television show along with five other, more popular students, drama on and off screen reveals that what the audience and producers want is not the same as what Jesse wants.

Trash Talk by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld: Six girls and guys are invited to be part of a reality television program in New York but the real drama goes on behind the cameras.

The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer (April 8): When a sleazy reality television show takes over Ethan’s arts academy, he and his friends concoct an artsy plan to take it down

Watch Me by Lauren Barnholdt: When Ally Cavanaugh, a freshman at Syracuse University, gets picked to spend the year as part of a reality television show she soon learns that people are not always as they seem, and that love may not conquer all.

You Don’t Know Me by Sophia Bennett: Me and Rose. In a band. Singing together, all the way to the live finals of Killer Act. Only to be told one of them must go. But no girl would drop her best friend in front of millions…Would she? If this is fame, it sucks. Everybody is talking about us, but nobody knows the truth. It was all so good. Sasha and Rose. Best friends in a band, singing together. Right up to the finals of Killer Act when the judges tell them one of them must go. Suddenly their friendship is put to the ultimate test. On TV in front of millions . Two girls. One huge mistake. Can they ever forgive each other?

You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle: Five teens starring in a documentary film series about their ordinary lives must grapple with questions of change and identity under the scrutiny of the camera.

For Real by Alison Cherry (December): Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister’s shadow. While Miranda’s life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality TV. When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just before her college graduation, it’s Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They’ll outshine Miranda’s fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome. But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may or may not be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life… or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what’s for real? (Description via Goodreads).

2014 Contemporary YA Books to Get On Your Radar

November 18, 2013 |

This post is going to be incomplete and it is going to be overwhelming. At least, I’m overwhelmed, and I’m also overwhelmed at knowing it’s incomplete. But because I know I like to have books on my radar and because I know that goes for many readers, I wanted to do a roundup of the 2014 contemporary YA titles that I am aware of already.

I’ve pulled from my own knowledge, as well as dug through publisher catalogs, and I’ve compiled a massive list. Again, I know it’s incomplete. And I know my ability to know for certain whether a book is contemporary or not is not perfect when I’m given just a short catalog description. I’ve tried my best to stick to the ones I know are, so yes, there are going to be titles missing and it’s possible there will be a title or two included that may not be “contemporary” in the way I define it.

Not all of the books have covers, but I’ve pulled out covers where I can. Because this post would never, ever end if I included descriptions, I’ve instead linked to the Goodreads pages for each, so you can read the descriptions and add them to your to-read if you want to. I have included publication months.

Feel free to leave comments if you know of other traditionally published 2014 contemporary titles, as I’d love to have a huge resource list here for myself, as well as other avid contemporary fans. It not only helps in planning my reading, but it helps in planning what I’d like to think about in terms of content, themes, and who to talk to for future posts and features. It’s fascinating to see themes emerge that were never on your mind before, even if it’s sheerly through book descriptions. And there some neat cover and title trends to pick up on, too. Without doubt, romance is something we’ll be seeing a lot of in the new year.

If you’re ready, I’m ready. Like I said, this is long — contemporary realistic fiction is far from dead.