Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson has written over 20 books for both children and young adults, including IF YOU COME SOFTLY, SHOW WAY, FEATHERS and the newly released AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Jonathan Stephens, Woodson explains why she chose to leave the narrator of her latest book nameless and describes which of her own personality traits have surfaced in her characters. She also reveals what she loves the most about writing stories, explains how her upbringing helped to shape her work ethic, and names the Tupac Shakur songs she finds most inspiring.

» Read the interview and the review.
 

Elizabeth Scott
While the main character in Elizabeth Scott's debut novel, BLOOM, appears to have everything a teenage girl could possibly want, the protagonist in her latest work of fiction, PERFECT YOU, is painfully aware of how imperfect her life seems --- to both herself and those around her. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Alexis Burling, Scott delves into some of the most difficult aspects of teenage life captured in this book, from relationship woes and failing friendships to personal insecurities and dealing with unconventional parents. She also discusses her inspiration behind the story and how the finished product differed from the original idea, and sheds light on the sage advice offered by one of the novel's unlikely characters.

» Read the interview and the review.
 

Siobhan Vivian
In this interview with Teenreads.com's Alexis Burling, Siobhan Vivian --- author of A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE --- describes how the dynamic amongst her own group of friends in high school inspired the plot of her debut novel, and sheds some light on why each character acts the way she does, given her upbringing and family relationships. She also weighs in on the best way to give advice, talks about her favorite part of the publishing process and shares details on her next book, SAME DIFFERENCE.

» Read the interview and the review.
 

Nic Sheff

Nic Sheff is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who recently opened up about his experiences in the raw and confessional memoir TWEAK. In this interview, Sheff explains how he was able to garner the courage to write about his harrowing ordeals so honestly and reveals which part of the process was most challenging for him. He also discusses BEAUTIFUL BOY --- a parallel account written by his father, David Sheff --- what he hopes teens may take away from his story, and details about two upcoming projects.

» Read the interview and the review.

AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson (Fiction)
The day D Foster enters Neeka and her best friend’s lives, the world opens up for them. D comes from a world vastly different from their safe Queens neighborhood, and through her, the girls see another side of life that includes loss, foster families and an amount of freedom that makes the girls envious. Although all of them are crazy about Tupac Shakur’s rap music, D is the one who truly understands the place where he’s coming from, and through knowing D, Tupac’s lyrics become more personal for all of them.

The girls are 13 when D’s mom swoops in to reclaim D --- and as magically as she appeared, she now disappears from their lives. Tupac is gone, too, after another shooting; this time fatal. As the narrator looks back, she sees lives suspended in time, and realizes that even all-too-brief connections can touch deeply.

» Click here to read a review of AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER.
» Click here to read an excerpt from AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER.
» Click here to read our interview with Jacqueline Woodson.
» Click here to see Jacqueline Woodson's bio.

PERFECT YOU by Elizabeth Scott (Fiction)
Kate Brown's life can't get much worse. Her family is driving her crazy, and her best friend, Anna, has decided they aren't friends anymore.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, who Kate pretends she can't stand. But when he starts acting interested, she can't resist, even though Kate is sure she means nothing to him.

Kate thinks things will stop hurting if she keeps to herself and doesn't care about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not be perfect, good things can happen --- but only if she lets them.

» Click here to read a review of PERFECT YOU.
» Click here to read an excerpt from PERFECT YOU.
» Click here to read our interview with Elizabeth Scott.
» Click here to see Elizabeth Scott's bio.
» Visit the author's official website, www.ElizabethWrites.com.
» Click here for details about a special contest that gives YOU the chance to win an iPod nano and more!

A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE by Siobhan Vivian (Fiction)
Ruby is turning 16…but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends --- loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her --- about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture…and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.

» Click here to enter the LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE giveaway for your chance to win a copy of the book.
» Click here to read a review of A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE.
» Click here to read an excerpt from A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE.
» Click here to read our interview with Siobhan Vivian.
» Click here to see Siobhan Vivian's bio.

CATHY’S BOOK Giveaway

CATHY'S BOOK is a unique and suspenseful story of one girl's attempts to unravel a mystery that keeps getting bigger, in a strange and fascinating world where things often aren't as they appear. This interactive novel features letters, photographs, date book entries, telephone numbers you can call and websites you can access to learn more about the story. CATHY’S BOOK is now available in trade paperback, and to celebrate its release, Teenreads.com is offering 25 readers the chance to win a copy of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, May 14th.

In May we will announce the details of an exciting giveaway involving CATHY'S KEY, the sequel to CATHY'S BOOK, which releases on May 5th.

CATHY'S BOOK: If Found Call (650) 266-8283 (Fiction)
Things weren't so peachy in Cathy's life before Victor broke up with her. Her father died unexpectedly, she's failing school and her best friend is mad at her. But when Cathy decides to investigate Victor's reasons for ending their relationship, things suddenly go from bad to worse as her findings produce more questions than answers.

Through Cathy's unique and irresistible voice --- and lots of proof in the form of letters, photographs, date book entries, telephone numbers readers can call, websites they can access, as well as secrets only a careful reader will be able to decipher --- readers will enter a strange and fascinating world where things often aren't how they appear.

» Click here to enter the contest.
» Click here to read more about CATHY’S BOOK.
» Click here to read a review of CATHY'S BOOK.
» Visit the book’s official website, www.CathysBook.com.
» Check out Cathy's MySpace page, www.myspace.com/cathy_vickers.

The Claudia Ann Seaman Poetry Award

The Claudia Ann Seaman Poetry Award is open to all high school students across the country. Each young writer may submit two poems on any subject and in any form as long as their submission does not exceed 10 pages in length. The deadline for entering this annual contest is June 1, 2008.

» Click here to read all the details.

The Clique Summer Collection is a series of five novellas about the summer plans of the main characters in the Clique. Each book will be told from the point of view of a different girl in the Pretty Committee: Massie, Alicia, Dylan, Kristen and Claire. The first installment, now available in stores, is devoted to Massie.

April’s roundup of Cool New Books also includes SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH, a powerful novel from Walter Dean Myers about the heroics and horror of war, as seen through the eyes of a young recruit from Harlem; INK EXCHANGE, a follow-up to the New York Times bestseller WICKED LOVELY and the continuation of Melissa Marr’s tales of Faery; LOCK AND KEY, in which Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again; Jacqueline Mitchard’s ALL WE KNOW OF HEAVEN, an emotional story of one teenager’s survival from a horrific accident and how she reclaims her shattered life; and BELIEVING, the thrilling second book in Wendy Corsi Staub’s paranormal suspense series set in the mysterious town of Lily Dale. » Click here

April’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes FOREVER IN BLUE, the fourth and final installment in Ann Brashares’s bestselling series about four girls who acquire a pair of magical jeans that fits them all; SOLD, Patricia McCormick’s searing portrait of a teenager forced into prostitution after she leaves her home to look for a job to support her loved ones; EVIL GENIUS by Catherine Jinks, an engrossing thriller that explores the fine line between good and evil in a strange world where nothing is as it seems; and two fantastic works of fiction from Neil Gaiman --- one is a collection of short stories called M IS FOR MAGIC, and the other, INTERWORLD, is about a boy who one day gets lost in his own town and walks right out of his universe. » Click here

THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS by E. Lockhart (Fiction)
Frankie Landau-Banks learns firsthand about authority, disobedience, the old boys' club and herself in this "disreputable history," young adult author E. Lockhart's most accomplished and compelling novel in what is becoming an impressive body of work. Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.

TWEAK: Growing Up on Methamphetamines, by Nic Sheff (Memoir)
Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age 11. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott and excerpted.

SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH by Walter Dean Myers (Fiction)
In his new novel, Walter Dean Myers looks at the Iraq War with the same power and searing insight he brought to the Vietnam War in FALLEN ANGELS. His cast of memorable characters, which includes a young recruit from Harlem who's questioning why he even enlisted, are supposed to help secure and stabilize Iraq and successfully interact with the Iraqi people. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

THE FORTUNES OF INDIGO SKYE by Deb Caletti (Fiction)
Talk about an appreciative customer! When waitress Indigo Skye lays a little tough love on a gentleman she doesn't know, he shows his gratitude by giving her a two-and-a-half million dollar tip! Of course, Indigo knows that the money won't change her very nice life one single bit. Or will it? Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

INTO THE DARK: An Echo Falls Mystery, by Peter Abrahams (Mystery)
This third installment in Peter Abrahams’s Echo Falls series finds 13-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill in the middle of a number of family crises. Her Grampy is having trouble keeping up with his farm, her mother and father don’t seem to be getting along, and she finds a body on Grampy’s property with her maybe-more-than-friend Joey Strade. As Ingrid solves the mystery, many family secrets come out in this fast-paced adventure. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

THE SWAN KINGDOM by Zoë Marriott (Fantasy)
First-time novelist Zoë Marriott adeptly retells Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans" in her American debut, THE SWAN KINGDOM. With a compelling heroine and an equally enthralling villain, this novel will appeal to fantasy fans and fairy tale aficionados alike. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

PRETTY FACE by Mary Hogan (Fiction)
Living in southern California, Hayley is constantly reminded that she doesn’t have a perfectly thin body. And as if she needs even more reminding, her mom nags her every day to lose weight. But when her parents ship her off to Italy for the summer, Hayley undergoes an internal makeover, finding her own beauty inside and out. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BAT MITZVAH by Nora Raleigh Baskin (Fiction)
For most young people, cultural and religious identity is clear-cut; they are what their parents are. But for children of interreligious or multicultural families, it can be a bit confusing, especially if the backgrounds of the parents are seemingly at odds. In THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BAT MITZVAH, Nora Raleigh Baskin explores the issue of identity through the story of 12-year-old Caroline. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

ALL ABOUT VEE by C. Leigh Purtill (Fiction)
Veronica May (“Big Vee”) has everything it takes to make it in Hollywood. Not only is she beautiful, she has great self-esteem and killer acting chops. So when her summer plans of community theater in Chester, Arizona, are dashed by Glengarry Glen Ross, her father and his girlfriend announce a wedding date only six months away, and the owner of the apothecary where she works sells out to Drug Rite, Vee decides it’s time to hit the road and head to LA. Reviewed by Carlie Webber.

THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES by Cecilia Galante (Fiction)
Honey and Agnes have lived their entire lives in a strict, secluded commune in Connecticut. Honey longs for freedom in the outside world, while Agnes strives for perfection and sainthood. When a life-threatening accident yanks them out into society, Honey and Agnes search deep for truth and meaning in their lives. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

WAKE by Lisa McMann (Supernatural Fiction)
For 17-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. She can't tell anybody about what she does --- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She’s a participant! Reviewed by Carlie Webber.

A CURSE DARK AS GOLD by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Fiction)
There are whispers all around the town of Shearing that Stirwaters mill is cursed. Charlotte Miller doesn't know the half of it. That is, until her father dies and she and her younger sister Rosie are forced to take over Stirwaters. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), their Uncle Wheeler soon arrives to take charge. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

OWNING IT: Stories About Teens with Disabilities, edited by Donald R. Gallo (Fiction/Short Stories)
Whether their disabilities are physical or psychological, the subjects of these powerful short stories --- written by 10 outstanding young adult authors, including Chris Crutcher, Gail Giles and David Lubar --- meet every day with wit, intelligence and courage. Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle.

Welcome to Teenreads.com's Japanese manga section! Japanese manga, or Japanese print comics, are fast becoming the most popular comics for teens. Full of wacky humor, intense action, blossoming romance and true observations on everyday life, manga covers every kind of genre and taste. Manga tells their stories in their own unique combination of text, images and symbols (half the fun is figuring it all out). Aside from the stereotypical giant robots and cute schoolgirls, you'll find everyone from stealth government agents to spacy classical musicians to historical legends brought to life in these titles.

The reviews we're posting are courtesy of the graphic novel review website for teens No Flying No Tights. We update this feature every month with new manga reviews, so be sure to check back to see what's new!

BLACK METAL, Volume 1 written by Rick Spears and illustrated by Chuck BB
Nowadays, when most graphic novels for teens seem to revolve around everyone being remarkably heroic, there doesn't appear to be much out there for the non-heroic. The weirdoes. The troubled. What is there for the metal heads to read? BLACK METAL, that's what. Reviewed by Eva Volin.

FEVER, Volume 1 by Hee Jung Park
High school student Hyung-in has never been the same since her friend committed suicide. Fed up with the restrictive classroom environment of her prestigious school and the expectations of her family, she just wants out. But when she meets an orphan and a strange country-boy on the bus, she begins an unexpected journey into the unknown. Reviewed by Robin Brenner.

MUSHISHI, Volumes 2 and 3 by Yuki Urushibara
A wandering mushishi, Ginko is drawn to villages affected by mushi, invisible supernatural creatures who cause illnesses, blight crops and snatch people away from their loved ones. Part doctor, part investigator, Ginko sends the mushi back to their celestial realms... if he can figure out why they arrived in the first place. Reviewed by Alison Kotin and Robin Brenner.

BEAUTIFUL BOY: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction, by David Sheff (Memoir)
BEAUTIFUL BOY is an amazingly honest and exquisitely written account of a family’s torturous journey through addiction. It raises questions that reflect the fears of every parent: Where does one’s responsibility to a loved one end? How --- and when --- should a parent know whether his or her child is substance abusing? And how does a family recover from the wounds afflicted by addiction and get on with their lives? Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott and excerpted.

THINGS I WANT MY DAUGHTERS TO KNOW by Elizabeth Noble (Fiction)
When Barbara realizes time is running out, she writes letters to her four daughters, aware that they'll be facing the trials and triumphs of life without her at their side. But how can she leave them when they still have so much growing up to do? By drawing on the wisdom in Barbara's letters, the girls might just find a way to cope with their loss. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman and excerpted.

THE BLUE STAR by Tony Earley (Fiction)
In this tender and engrossing sequel to the bestseller JIM THE BOY, Jim Glass is now a high school senior whose love for a classmate is impossible and complicated, while around him the country prepares to launch into World War II. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

Lois Lowry
Lois Lowry has written over 30 books for young readers, including the Newbery Award-winning novels NUMBER THE STARS and THE GIVER. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Alexis Burling, Lowry recalls the painful yet intriguing event that inspired her 2006 work of fiction, GOSSAMER (now available in paperback), and explains what "stereotypes" her characters are meant to represent. She also draws parallels between one of the book's main themes and that of a previous title, and shares a few objects from her own home to which her fictional dreamgivers would pay special attention.

» Read the interview and the review.
 

One of our goals each month is to inspire you to read --- and to keep reading. We have found that required reading lists for school --- especially summer reading lists --- are not exactly inspiring. Thus we have created what we think is the Ultimate Teen Reading List --- more than 250 titles that we believe are perfect choices for reading and discussing. Our dream is that schools will use this list to help them make their own for summer reading or, even better, suggest that students just read what they want from this list.

» Click here to see our complete list.

Thinking about starting a Book Club? Trying to find new ideas for your Club? Wondering what the heck a Book Club is? Never fear, Teenreads has all the answers to your Book Club questions, and some guides to help you lead a good discussion with your friends. Book Clubs are easy to start and lot of fun, so if you love books, this is for you!

» Click here for more

• March: What book that you recently read would you most like to talk about with a friend?
  
  
• February: Name up to three books that you just could not put down.
  
  
• January: If you have to pick FIVE books from your shelves that define you, what would they be?
  
  
• Click here for more past questions of the month.
  
  

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