The High Deeds of Finn Mac Cool
A discussion of “The High Deeds of Finn Mac Cool” by Rosemary Sutcliff, focusing on Finn, Oisin, Dearmid, and Saba.
Censoring Empathy: Let’s Challenge Erasure
Book censorship is far more threatening than it was ten years ago because it erases anyone who doesn’t look or think like the censor.
The Perfectly Constructed YA Novel
Meg Medina’s Burn, Baby, Burn is an example of A perfectly constructed YA novel. It’s great storytelling. This didn’t surprise me as I’d loved Medina’s Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. I’d recommend Burn to any teen looking for … Continued
One Important Secret in ‘Far from the Tree’
Since I am on a YA fiction jag, I want to have a quick look at why National Book Award winning Far from the Tree by Robin Benway is so good. Happily, one important secret that makes this novel work … Continued
Parameters of the YA Novel: Is Bridge of Clay Still YA?
Bridge of Clay and YA Novels What are the parameters of the YA novel? Is Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay still YA? I asked myself this as I read this gorgeous novel. If you’re writing a novel that focuses on … Continued
Hope in the Mail: Writing Advice for Young Writers
Wendelin Van Draanen, author of Hope in the Mail: Reflections on Writing and Life, wrote one of my favorite YA novels, The Running Dream. (I wrote a review of The Running Dream here. Check it out–and check out the book!) … Continued
The Miseducation of Cameron Post: Literary Quality YA
posted in: Book Reviews, Character Development, Inspiration, Writing Advice, YA fiction, YA literature |
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The film The Miseducation of Cameron Post based on the YA novel of the same name won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Festival. I’m naive enough about the judgment of critics to think that this meant they would all … Continued
Props for the Teen Issue of Inlandia
posted in: Inlandia Institute, Literary Journals, Literary Journeys, newspaper column, YA authors, YA fiction, YA literature |
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Still in the crazy space, but on the upside, there was this fun article about the teen issue of Inlandia Literary Journeys Journal in the Press Enterprise. I was interviewed, as were Cati Porter (executive director of Inlandia Institute) and three … Continued
Identity, Addiction, and Harassment in YA Literature
posted in: Author Events, Conferences, Creativity, Inspiration, YA authors, YA fiction, YA literature |
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The Importance of the Teen Book Fest I can’t help putting in one last word for the Ontario Teen Book Fest. It’s full of great positive energy for readers and writers, and that’s one reason I’ve always enjoyed it, have … Continued
Interview Gabrielle Prendergast: Sci-Fi, Setting, Music
Gabrielle Prendergast I interviewed Gabrielle Prendergast, children’s and YA author, recently. Her newest novel is Zero Repeat Forever, which is Book I of The Nahx Invasion. She teaches screenwriting and creative writing and has written for television, print, and online. She … Continued