Over on Book Riot this week…

• All of the 2021 YA book to movie adaptations you’ll want to know about.

 

• Over 53 inspiring quotes about change.

 

• Phone cases for book lovers.

 

This week’s episode of Hey YA: Extra Credit is one I’m so excited to share. Crystal Maldonado — author of the forthcoming Fat Chance, Charlie Vega — and I talked about Susan Vaught’s My Big Fat Manifesto from 2007. As much as we talked about how progressive this novel about a fat girl was, we dug deep into what it means to be a “fat girl” and where and how that representation in YA is lacking. Because of a recent series of comments in a post here about fat girls on 2021 YA covers, we hit on why it is okay, even GOOD, to use the word “fat” to describe these characters, as well as people who are indeed fat. Tune in.

Over on Book Riot this week…

 

• Winter 2020-2021 YA paperbacks hitting shelves.

 

• A Louisiana public library pulled LGBTQ+ books from its children’s section. Read this knowing the director did not want to do it, and there’s a follow-up to come, as the Board overturned their initial decision on Wednesday night.

 

• Book bath holders for enjoying a good read with your soak.

 

• Here are the most popular books in US libraries for the third quarter of 2020.

 

• And the most popular books purchased and read by Amazon customers this year.

 

There’s also a new episode of Hey YA. This week Hannah and I take a deep dive into YA nonfiction, as well as YA books in translation. Tune in!

 

Over on Book Riot this week…

• Why are Chicago Public Libraries still open during surging COVID rates?

 

• The best gifts for feminists in 2020 who love books and reading.

 

• Why mood is the most important underrated literary device (aka: why horror isn’t a genre!).

 

• A big guide to gifts for readers under $30.

 

It’s my week for Hey YA: Extra Credit, and I dove into some excellent backlist gems from beloved, award-winning YA authors.

 

For readers who might not know, I’m now into my 18th week of pregnancy (almost half way there!). That means sometimes I simply forget to do things, like do these weekly roundups of my recent writing. Thus, this week’s roundup includes last week’s, too, so it’s a bit long.

 

• Why I still use and love using Goodreads.

 

• 2021 book calendars to keep you up-to-date in the new year.

 

• I put together the ultimate guide to book puzzles for your staying-inside winter entertainment.

 

• Pop these book cover posters onto your walls.

 

• How pregnancy books are fantasy reads right now.

 

• 10 small midwestern indie bookstores to support this season (all have online ordering!).

 

• Libro.fm’s top audiobooks of 2020.

 

• This is a REALLY fascinating book challenge case: parents are raising concerns over some of the classics used in classrooms because of how they portray racism as an idea of the past. The majority of the parents raising the concerns are Black. Spend some time with this one because it’ll give you some pause (and for what it’s worth, I think the superintendent is being thoughtful and considerate of all sides of this).

 

• Last, but not least, book sweatshirts and hoodies!

 

I’ve kept busy at Book Riot this week since it’s helped with the doom scrolling. . .

• Here’s a roundup of excellent book socks.

 

• Three recent incidents of vandalism at libraries that host voting or ballot boxes points to voter intimidation.

 

• Parents sue a North Carolina charter school over the use of The Poet X in literature class.

 

• Here’s a whole host of adorable bookish baby clothes.

 

• The Horror Writers Association, Book Riot, Booklist, and United for Libraries are bringing Summer Scares back for 2021.