One of the best things that happened to me while at the RWA conference in Atlanta (no, this isn’t another conference post!) was that I received two books as gifts from two authors I admire greatly–Gena Showalter and Caridad Ferrer. What is unusual about these books is that they are not aimed at my demographic. I’m a 40+ year old soccer mom who while young at heart, is not young.
The books I received from Gena and Caridad were both published by MTV books, a division of Pocket, and firmly aimed at the under 18 crowd. I got them under the guise of giving them to my 13-year-old niece. But I read them both first and loved each and every word.
I learned my lesson the first time I got a book for my niece, back in January when I had the amazing pleasure to sit beside Liza Conrad (aka Erica Orloff) whose books I love. That time, I got my niece a copy of HIGH SCHOOL BITES. Erica signed it and my niece ate the book up. Alas, I learned a lesson–while it was great to see this young lady so enthused about a book (she’s had some trouble with reading…not with WANTING to read, but with the act of reading itself), I couldn’t discuss the book with her because I gave it to her before I read it.
I learned my lesson.
The first book I read was Gena’s. The title alone is worth the cover price–OH MY GOTH. The book revolves around a smart-mouthed, independent-minded young woman named Jade who has adopted the Goth look, to the horror of the “Barbies” she goes to school with. Thanks to the machinations of an evil assistant principal, Jade is sent into an alternate reality where Goth is the acceptable look (worn by parents, teachers and nerds alike) while the Barbies are the outcasts. She’s joined in this hell by her arch enemy, a Barbie named Mercedes, who is now an outcast when she was once the most popular girl in school.
The plot was totally outlandish and exciting…not the stuff I was used to in the days where I read Paula Danziger or even Judy Blume. The dialogue is smooth and hip and young and more than a little edgy, which is reflective of the characters. But Gena tempered her realism with just enough innocence in the character of Jade that I had no trouble handing this book to my niece with my rousing endorsement. She started it last night and is really excited about it.
The second book also completely blew me away…ADIOS TO MY OLD LIFE, by Caridad Ferrer, also published by MTV. In this book, musical prodigy Alegria Montero sneaks behind her traditional Cuban father’s back to audition for a spot on the Latin American Idol, a reality-show called Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Song). Ali isn’t just a singer–she’s a real musician who has studied the guitar her entire life. With help from her bubbly friend, Sosi, and her father’s colleague, Elaine, Ali not only makes the show, but advances to the final four.
I don’t know if I can say enough about this book–first of all, I love how Caridad handled the Latina aspect of the book. As an author who strives to find a way to bring the Latina experience into the mainstream, I was blown away by how seamlessly the culture was weaved into the book. You don’t have to know a word of Spanish to savor this story, trust me. Young girls with dreams are young girls with dreams in any language or culture.
What I think I loved most was the portrayal of Ali and her music. She’s a strong character–a young woman that I know is going to set the world on fire because she’s got the stuff, both personally and musically. She’s naive, but never stupid (same can be said for Gena’s heroine as well…both are girls I admired greatly.) She has faith in the world and in people…she’s genuine and sweet, without being a pushover. There’s this one scene where she pushes this bitc… Oh, I don’t want to spoil it! Needless to say, it’s a kick-ass scene.
The other thing I loved about the book (okay, I loved a gazillion things, but this blog has to end somewhere) is how she handled the music. She used mostly familiar songs and even when I couldn’t conjure the rhythm in my head, I felt the music through the words. Ali and the other musicians on the show acted and reacted the way I imagined real musicians would, even when they used lingo I didn’t know because I don’t play an instrument. I was never lost, but felt like I got a whole new appreciation for music and musicians.
The plot is quick-paced, the settings exotic, the characterizations varied and handled with care. I can’t say enough about this book. About either book. If you have a teenager in your life, particularly a female one, I’d run, not walk to get copies of these books.
Which leads me to the point of this blog. (Aha! It’s not just a book review!) No, it’s about growing readers. It’s about making sure that the next generation loves books as much as we do, especially girls, who can be just as empowered by this new wave of young adult fiction as we are by the strong heroines in romance novels. I look back on my early reading and I don’t remember feeling empowered by Judy Blume. I remember feeling very disconnected from her characters. I’m not knocking Judy! I loved her books and can’t wait for an upcoming essay collection about her work. But I don’t remember ever WANTING to be a heroine of a young adult work. That didn’t happen to me until I started reading romance.
I wonder if this new wave of young adult books will change that. I know if I was 13, I would have wanted to be either Jade or Ali. Strong, independent, loyal, friendly, honest and a little smart-mouthed. The books aren’t brimming with ugliness that some YA books are (I’ve read and returned more than a few of these) because, I think, they’re written by romance writers who understand that not all parents feel comfortable putting books about drugs and sex in the hands of their kids. Not that these issues don’t come up in both books–they do. But they are handled so deftly, I had no trouble turning this book over to my thirteen year old niece, knowing her mother wouldn’t kill me.
So think back…what books did you read as a young adult (save the adult books we all stole from our big sisters, mothers, etc.)? What books are your kids reading (nieces, granddaughters, daughters, friends)? Do you think we’re growing a generation of readers? I do. Maybe that’s wishful thinking, but I don’t think it should be. I’d like to hedge my bets on a self-fulfilling prophecy.
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
I remember Judy Blume, and the Ramona Quimby books…Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden. Sweet Valley High.
Caridad’s sounds really good. I also got Gena’s book at the conference – she’s so cool, and I love her writing. I haven’t started “Oh My Goth” yet, but it sounds really good. Thinking back to how young I was when I started romance – 11 yrs old – I think it’s great authors are writing smarter, edgier, more mature books for teens. I mean, do you really want an 11-yr old to read one of your romances? There needs to be reading material for those who pass by Nancy Drew at age 9 and are ready for more complex issues and ideas.
For the most part, I believe readers mature faster than non-readers, which is why a lot of them read higher than the age level of the books out there. I definitely remember that frustration. Fortunately my mom was okay with me reading romances as young as I did because she knew I “had” to read. If I ever have kids and they are blessed with the reading gene, I want to know there are quality books out there for them, and these authors seem to be answering that call.
Comment
Hi Julie:
Comment
Hi Julie:
I have a ten year old daughter and she loves to read. Right now she is still into all of the American Girl Books. The characters are always girls about her age and how they deal with day to day life of their generation. My daughter is inspired to be a better person and realizes that everyone, know matter when you lived had problems.
When I was young I read a lot of Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew. I actually had a few that I let my daughter read. She is already quite the romantic and keeps asking when she can read some adult books. Everytime I take her to the book store we both come out with a stack. I am not ready for her to start reading a real romance yet, but I am always on the lookout for more appropriate young romantic stories.
Comment
HEY Julie,
I loved the Sweet Valley Books. I was every Saturday at Waldens to get a new book. I have recently discovered Katie Maxwell(AKA Katie Macallister) I love her YA books – Got Fang? and Circus of the Damned. These books were great! Of course I can’t forget JK Rowling. Since my daughter is 2 she’s not to picky about what i read her as long as i sit her down and we read. I’m hoping she’ll love to read as much as I do.
Comment
Julie…I hope we are raising a generation of readers. As a mom (and a teacher in a former life!), I believe ANY reading is a good thing. We all need to ‘practice’ the skill of reading everyday in any genre. That was instilled in me by my mom (she’s an English major who used to work in a high school library). She used to fight the librarians to carry books that the kids would read (and steal!), like the Steven King books, romance books, etc when the librarians only wanted to buy literature books. I know my kids (okay, they are little), read the ‘fun’ books AND they get the ‘literature’ books, too. Practicing the skill of reading is SO important.
As far as books I read when I was a kid….Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Sweet Valley High (I had a momentary trip down memory lane when that was mentioned), Paula Danzigiger (sorry for the butcher)…they had a ‘romance’ series when I was a teenager, I can’t remember it, it was like Harlequin, but it was for teens. I don’t think it is out anymore. I used to gobble them up. It was very tame (sounds like the two books you mentioned). I must confess, even as an adult, I am a closet, “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants’ reader. I will have to check out the two you mentioned, they sound great!
Since I have three little boys (6 and under), they love anything I read to them (I snuggle them up and read to them). It’s just Mommy and them time!
Comment
I remember reading Nancy Drew before I discovered Sweet Valley Twins(Middle School) and then Sweet Valley High. I was always the girl on the bus who always had a book(especially in high school when my bus ride was almost an hour). I would read everything from romance to Tom Clancy.
Now my kids are still young(boy,6 and girl,1) but we read everyday. I can’t wait to introduce Harry Potter to my son, I am 29 and it is one of my favorite series but I am waiting until he is older.
Comment
My favorite books were “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by by Elizabeth George Speare (I think thats her correct name) and “Little Women” and “Little Men” by Louisa May Alcott. I also remember reading all the Nancy Drew books. I discovered the original Harlequin books (at 75 cents) when I was in the sixth grade.
I have any 11 year old niece who has read The Witch of Blackbird Pond and loved it (I, of course, gave it to her) She is currently reading “Al Capone does my shirts” and just read The Breadwinner” both required summer reading (going into the 6th grade) and she like them both. Al Capone is about a boy and his family who live on Alcatraz. His father works at the prison and Al Capone is doing time. The Breadwinner dealt with Al Quada and a little girl trying to support her family in a war torn country. Both are much heavier reading than I remember from the 6th grade.
Comment
I went to a private school for high school and they were sticklers about the summer reading. (as Julie can verify) I think i had the only mom that had me actually read my summer reading books and not watch the movies. Thank heaven for that or I would have never appreciated Jane Eyre or all the other books we had to read.
Comment
Tricia, LOL on the summer reading. Your classmates might have been very interested to know that AFTER I started teaching at said school, I made it my mission to rewrite many of the summer reading tests for my grade levels. I specifically asked friends (if I didn’t have the knowledge myself) to give me questions that were different from the movie to the book. So movie watchers were so screwed. Thank your mom!
Our summer reading lists, though, did have some fun stuff on them…not a lot, but some. I do not like that so many summer reading lists have nothing but heavy stuff, like Barbara Jo pointed out. I mean…it’s summer, people!
Comment
Both of my daughters (now 14 & 16) absolutely love, love, love to read. My oldest can devour a 400 page book in a day, and during the summer there are constant Amazon orders arriving on our doorstep, LOL! She really enjoys vampire books for young adults, and I even let her read my Harlequin Romances, which don’t contain graphic sex scenes. She enjoyed those, too.
Julie — I bought OH MY GOTH at the bookstore. I picked it up because of the title alone, knowing that Danielle would love it. Then I noticed it was written by Gena! I had no idea she wrote YA, too, but that title is genius! I will definitely add HIGH SCHOOL BITES and Caridad’s books to Danielle’s list of must-reads
Comment
Julie,
Thanks for recommending great books for YA – especially girls. I noticed there wasn’t much out there aimed toward girls when my daughter was in 3-8th grade. Now YA is becoming more popular and with books that are relevant and fun to read, I can hopefully get my 16 year old more interested in reading! I was an avid reader growing up and read everything from sweet Harlequins to Victoria Holt to Jane Austen to The Autobiography of Malcom X in high school.
Comment
I have an 11 year old daughter and a 5 year old son who both love to read. When my daughter was younger she read the Magic Treehouse books, but we have since passed those on to my son. Now she reads a lot of Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) and Lizzie Maguire books. She can’t wait to be old enough to read my Janet Evanovich and Carly Phillip books, but I told her not until she’s in high school (at least). When I was her age, or slightly older, I was reading Sweet Valley High, Christopher Pike and such series of books. I feel very fortunate that both of my children love to read.
I will definitely check out these authors for my daughter. Thanks for the recommendation.
Comment
I used to love The Babysitters Club books, Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High, R.L.Stine, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary.
Comment
I read Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Judy Blume and some Sweet Valley High. Funny thing was I never really wanted to be Nancy Drew but always wanted to be Trixie Belden or at least one of the group. In the 8th grade I had to read “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck. I thought it would be horrible but oh my gosh, it was one of the best books. I loved it. It was really my first romance book (I wasn’t allowed to read HQ until I was in high school)
I love the way the books have progressed and definitely think that we are bringing up a younger generation of readers. School or at least some of them are helping that as well. I know for my daughter in AZ she buys books that come out to have in her classroom as additional reading to be used as book reports and as general fun reading.
Comment
Vicki,
I read The Good Earth for the first time when Oprah picked it as her selection and it’s one of my favorites too!
Comment
My daughters are both readers & so are their children. I must have done something right to pass that along! I grew up reading The Bobbsey Twins & then just progressed on as I got older. There were some YA books about twin girls just dating & they were so good at that time. I was only 12 or 13 (I think! :)) when I moved from the children’s library to the adult books upstairs. I had read everything I was going to read in the children’s section! I remember reading Black Beauty, Misty of Chintogue (I know that is misspelled!, sorry) Little Women & Little Men, the Little House books. Where I grew up there was no television until I was 12 & my family didn’t have a TV until after I turned 13 & then there was 1 channel, black & white, we thought it was a wonderous thing!
I cannot imagine not reading & I love the fact that they now have books on tape as I have always said what will happen if I can’t read but now you can listen! :) I have not tried books on tape as I would much rather read but it is nice to know they are available.
Comment
It’s amazing to think about all the options young women have with reading. I have a thirteen year old neice and I buy her books every year for Christmas, but I don’t think she’s much of a reader. I’ll keep trying though!
Like everone else, I grew up on Ramona, Trixie, Nancy and Sweet Valley High. I really wanted to be Jessica Wakefield! But, by seventh grade, I had read everything I could get my hands on, and had no choice but to start reading my mom’s stuff!
Comment
I read like the rest of you Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. I would like to think we are raising a generation of readers as both my grandson who is 8 and granddaughter who is 12 love to read. Thank you for the titles of books that would be make a great present to my granddaughter.8)
Comment
Well way back in the late 60′s and 70′s our little library didn’t have many books for tweens and teenagers.
I remember faithfully reading my copy of Young Miss magazine cover to cover when it came every month.
My mom didn’t read romance I stumbled across them from borrowing friends books in high school.:doggie:
I guess my first and favorite read when I was 13 was Gone With the Wind.:doggie:
My oldest daughter reads science fiction, Tolken, TA Baron. Steph fell in love with TA Barons style of writing in the 5th grade and loved all the Merlin books.
My Ali is the complete opposite. She loves teenage romance books. She has some of those MTV published books. Even some teenage vampire stories.
All I know is that when we check out at the book store she has her nose stuck in a new book.
So I guess I did my job of growing a new set of readers.:thumbsup2:
Comment
I also grew up on Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew but I would read anything I could get my hands on. I’m still like that. I’ve always had books for my two girls – the oldest (22) adores books and reads like me but my youngest (19) was never quite into it although she reads some. She’s more hands on and is going to school for art (which I also liked). So I guess they each took one of the two things I really enjoy. I never had a problem with what they read. They seemed to know what they were ready for at the right time for them. There so many great books out there – new and old.
Comment
Add me to the Nancy Drew/Trixie Beldon/Bobsey Twins fans. I loved Trixie, Jim & Honey even more than Nancy, Georgie and Bess. I was also a huge Judy Blume fan and Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret, was my favorite book for a long time…it prepared me for *that*
and when my girls were getting to be *that* age, I got them a copy of it. Some things just never grow old, ya know?
Comment
I too started with Nancy Drew. My daughter and I enjoyed reading: Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Praire-Laura Ingals Wilder, Carrie Woodlawn, Rebecca, Little Women, Little Men, Shel Silverstein’s poems and books, EB White’s The Trumpeter Swan and Charlotte’s Web. J R R Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring Trilogy. We also loved C S Lewis series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the 7 books that followed it!!My sons loved Ender’s Game(Orson Scott Cards) , the Time Machine(HG Wells) and Watership Down’s with the rabbits by Richard Adams. This brought back a lot of great memories!!
Comment
My Mom never edited what i read, so I did all the usual nancy drew, hardy boys and classics, along with Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books to Del Shannon mysteries. If you wanted to read it you did. I brought my daughter (now 21) up the same way. I am fortunate I followed my mother and not my dad :love2:in their reading habits- he was an undiagnosed dyslezxic until my younger brother was diagnosed with the same thing. Getting through the daily paper was hard enough. He never could understand our love of reading and the stacks we would bring home from the library every week.
Comment
Man reading everyones posts here I feel like the real black sheep. I never read sweet valley high, or babysitters club or anything like that. I read Nancy Drew books when I was really young but they kinds scared me.
Didn’t anyone else read V.C. Andrews when they were a teen? Heck, when I was 13 I would sneak Rosemary Rogers romance books to a corner of the library and read them. If only my mother had known. LOL
Julie