For the entire month of April, we'll be participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Our theme for the month? CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN YA. Check out the link above for other awesome blogs participating.
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| Taken from bibliogrrrl.com |
We write contemporary novels with real teen voices about problems that teens go through now (not saying that some of the big concept books DON'T have real teens and real teen problems), and we want these books to make a come back!
Here are a few contemporary novels that we think are shining examples of why contemp books are AMAZING!
* Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
* The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
* The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
* Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Let us know if we're wrong, PLEASE! Do you think contemporary novels are just as raved about and praised as the big concept paranormal or dystopian/apocalyptic novels?
9 comments:
I think, overall, you girls are right on, and that makes me a little sad because I write contemporary stories about real teens too, and I think my future success hinges on the success of contemporaries now. So, let's keep raving about the contemps we love! Two I've loved recently: WANDERLOVE and THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
And, I have to say... When I saw your theme back on the beginning of A-Z, I was intrigued, but a little skeptical of how you would pull off so many posts with controversial topics. It didn't seem like there were enough to make it happen! Well, turns out you totally rocked April blogging! I've loved your posts, and appreciate all the new book recs. You girls are awesome!
I just read ASHES this weekend and you know, I love contemporary. I write contemporary. But I read that zombie apocalypse book in 5 hours, breathlessly. So because contemporary aren't usually as fast-paced, edge of your seat, no, I don't think they get the big book raves of the "others".
I'm not opposed to paranormal elements if they're original and done very well, but 99% of the time, my eyes tend to glaze over when I see yet ANOTHER paranormal YA, either on the shelves on in a contest/bloghop I'm participating in. I write historical, not contemporary, but I'm still writing about real people in real situations. It's kind of frustrating to see how a lot of contemporary and historical YAs seem to get passed over in favor of paranormal and fantasy. It would be nice if more YA blogs and websites put the spotlight on those other books for a change of pace. Honestly, after awhile, the plots of these paranormal and fantasy books start to sound all the same.
Got a free preview of The Fault in Our Stars. Loved it. Can't wait to finish it.
Favorite YA contemps:
- LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green (so.....I read this book when it first came out and even did a book club on it. I e-mailed John about what questions he thought should be used. I deleted the e-mail thinking eh I can e-mail him again. Now...he no longer e-mails. Oh silly 2007-Rachel)
-IF I STAY by Gayle Forman (I cried in B&N for 2 hours after reading it)
-SLOPPY FIRSTS by Megan McCafferty (at first placed in the adult section, now in the YA, this was one of the first YA Books... It is journal style of a snarky 16 year old from New Jersey. I kept in contact with Megan for 2+ years but that isn't the reason I love it. I love this book series because Jessica, the mc, is relatable.)
I have yet to read TFiOS. I gave it to a friend in January because I didn't want to read a tearjerker. She still has not returned it. Argh! lol
I think it depends on what is a big hit with readers. Right now it's all about paranormal and dystopian, but if the right book comes along that can change. Personally, I love paranormal so I don't mind one bit. ;)
Yay for contemporary YA!
I second Katy - fantastic job with the A-Z challenge! I loved all of the YA topics you discussed.
Great topic Marquite. There's more than enough room for stories that don't feature vampires and werewolves. Hopefully, today's young people still live in the real world. Now, I'm off to the Star Trek convention. May the force be with you.
Ooh! Hurray! You made it through the A-Z Challenge! Sorry this is late. I kind of fell off the tracks because my laptop's monitor conked out. >.<
I'm kind of all over the place when it comes to reading in general but I think contemporary books are great. The paranormal stuff can be overdone sometimes but when you're in the mood for it or you stumble upon one that is really good, well, it can be really good. :)
P.S. I've nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award on my blog! Congrats!
Sarah @ The Writer's Experiment
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