A little while ago we talked about books that aren't "classified" as Young Adult, but will still appeal to younger readers.  I don't know about you cool cats out there, but when I was a teen I wasn't reading teen literature.  Part of the reason was because there wasn't much available (Aren't we all so lucky right now with the vast array of choices in YA?  Go ahead, take a moment to Feel Blessed) and the other reason was because sneaking the trashy romances from my mother's secret bookshelf held so much more intrigue.  But it was also my good fortune to find that those bookshelves were stocked with some classics as well (Who knows what might have happened to me?)  Go Mom!

And now we bring you some Non-YA books that we think also appeal to YA readers.  Ever wonder why so many YA writers were supporting Erin Morgenstern on her release of THE NIGHT CIRCUS last year?  That's because the young protagonist combined with the fantastical and wonder-filled world of the Night Circus is one of those books that sits on the fence between YA and Adult.  It's not so much a coming-of-age story, but a bizarre mystery that reveals character and lets loose naivete.  If you loved Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE or the movie THE PRESTIGE, then you'll be at home in THE NIGHT CIRCUS. 

Soooooooooooooooooooo summer is here, which means some of you have a whole lot of time on your hands and some of you have none.  For those of us not swallowed up by the sun and/or space/time continuum, we were hoping you would do some work for us this week.  PLEASE (pretty please) share your favorite tweet of the week in our comments and you could win....THE DISENCHANTMENTS by Nina LaCour.

When I started high school, I went from reading Sweet Valley High and Babysitter's Club (Yay 90's!) to reading only classics. I fell in love with Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and I wanted to read anything that would transport me to another time.

So when I would see a classic story turned into a modern film, I always felt like they kind of missed the point.




I first saw the 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in English class my freshman year of high school. Even though I did enjoy it, I never liked it as much as reading it or seeing it acted out on stage with period costumes and posh English accents. 



My feelings changed when I saw BBC’s Sherlock. At its heart, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes aren’t about the costumes and picturesque Victorian streets. They’re about this extraordinary man solving crimes in a way that no one’s seen before and his relationship with this ordinary doctor. When you watch Sherlock, you get to see Holmes as people saw him in 1887 — as a man way ahead of our time. 
Here's a trailer, in case you haven't seen the show.
Now I want to see other classics updated and done just as well. What would Anne Shirley be like in the 21st century? Or Frankenstein and his monster?  
What classic stories would you like to see modernized?

Okay, this may be cheating because they're our tweets, but still...(the best):

Okay, bloggers.  We want to know...do you ever come out from behind those black and white words and show yerselves?
Like many of you, we know the biggies, like Vlogbrothers and Charlie McDonnell, but what are the youtubers that you subscribe to and love to watch?

Good advice:

First: Congratulations to the GoodReads/IBBA winners! And thank you so much to everyone who voted for us, rooted for us, and helped us spread the word. We always knew we were underdogs, but hey, you can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket, right? ;)

Second: Summer is almost upon us, and with it, high temps, short shorts, and NO SCHOOL!!!!!

(Unless of course you're going to summer school. Or you have parents like mine who signed you up for a bunch of optional, educational “camps,” which they seriously think are just as fun as real camps where people canoe and hike and make s'mores. Seriously? I never had a single free summer as a kid. NOT ONE. Not that I'm bitter or anything...*)

ANYWAY. Regardless of what your plans for the summer are, you may be looking for some good books to read. Books that won't remind you about science lab, gym class, or cramming for exams. Books that don't have to be analyzed in a five-paragraph essay. Books that will put you in that "last bell of the day, last day of the semester," "freedom at last, hallelujah, freedom at last!" frame of mind. Here are a couple suggestions:


GRAFFITI MOON by Cath Crowley

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

Okay, a few things that summary doesn't tell you:

• The book is AWESOME.
• The book is told in alternating point of views -- Lucy and Ed, with a few poems (of the non-flowery variety) sprinkled in the mix.
• The book is AWESOME.
• The book is set in Australia, over a mere 24 hour timeframe.
• The book revolves around 6 friends -- 3 girls and 3 guys (including Lucy and Ed) -- and does a great job exploring relationships, mentors, parents, art, poetry, a potential heist, and more!
• Have I mentioned that the book is AWESOME?

Seriously, GRAFFITI MOON is one of those books that I really wish more people would read, because it's so well-written and authentic and fun and meaningful. Also, Ed is probably in my Top 3 YA Guys (along with Cricket from LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR and Eldric from CHIME).


TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler

According to Anna’s best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie -- she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

From the title you'd think that this was going to be just a beachy teen rom-com. And there IS that aspect of it. But much more significantly, there is the tender young love between Anna and Matt -- as well as the tragic ghost of that love after Matt dies in an accident.

And Anna isn't the only one who doesn't know how to deal with her grief for him. Frankie and her parents are adrift, holding onto their loss like a life preserver because it feels like the only piece of Matt they have left. Maybe a couple weeks in the Bay Area really can lead them all back to themselves... But you can bet it won't happen the way they expect.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER isn't a gripping page-turner, but the writing is both lyrical and visual, smoothly pulling you along. The characters are well-drawn (particularly Anna, Frankie, Jayne and Matt) and you can't help rooting for them all to be happy.


So, those are our recommendations for summer reading. Got any for us?

KH

*Okay, confession: I actually liked the optional, educational "camps." Yep, I'm a nerd. Loud and proud.

Best hashtag of the week:  #inappropriateSchoolTalks with the lovely, Libba Bray


We like when authors talk about writing: