You may, or may not, have heard that the the Texas ACLU has just released its list of banned books for 2009 and Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy is among the list of prohibited books. This has sparked considerable discussion on our forum, and in the wider Internet community alike. Personally, I don’t really see the problem with the Vampire Academy novels, and frankly I was shocked to see that Speak by Laurie Anderson was on the list too. After a little digging, though, I discovered that this was not the first time this book had made its way onto this list. Speak has many important, empowering lessons for teens everywhere found within its pages.

We here at yaReads are very interested in the issue of censorship and the subsequent banning of books and we want to hear from you. Parents, fans, teens, teachers, everyone - what do you think? Should books like Vampire Academy be removed from high school reading lists and library shelves?

Comment below and tell us what you think.

In my recent interview with Maggie Stiefvater, she answered some questions about her new novel Shiver. The whole purpose of the interview was to promote the book. A member complained that I didn’t give a spoiler wanrning at the beginning of the interview. It was an honest mistake, and something that I usually make an effort to do, but it got me thinking… when publishing interviews with authors about their new novels, it is necessary?

As far as I’m concerned, if I’m going to read an interview with an author about their book, I assume that said interview will contain spoilers.

Am I alone in this? What do you guys think?

Richelle Mead’s fourth book in the Vampire Academy series, Blood Promise, was released last week. We interviewed Richelle in the lead up to the release date, and we reviewed the book and scheduled it for publication the day of the book’s release. Considering how popular the Vampire Academy series is, and all the discussions we’ve been seeing on various Internet sites (including this one), I expected a much bigger fuss. There was this enormous build up, but now everyone has gone quiet.

Where are the fans? Why aren’t they speaking out about this one?

I’m dying to know if they liked it. I’m dying to know if they didn’t. They can’t possibly still be reading, right? Is that the reason the Vampire Academy enthusiasts have dropped out of cyberspace?

Was the build up all for nothing? Did the fans NOT actually go ahead and purchase the book? Answers is what I’m after… I need to know. It’s killing me.

Our news and blog things sites have taken a bit of a hit lately. Both Ivy and I have been extremely busy with non-yaReads related things and consequently, some aspects of our site have been a bit neglected. For this we apologize and we hope all our readers are still alive and kicking!

I have to say, I’m getting horribly excited about the upcoming release of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I re-read the first novel in the trilogy, The Hunger Games, over the weekend and I just can’t stop thinking about it.

Lord oh Lord, how am I supposed to wait until September!? It feels like so far away.

So who else is starting to go a little Catching Fire crazy?

Has anyone seen this cover?

I can’t tell you how much I want to get my hands on a copy of this novel. How brilliant is this picture? The artist in question should be taking a bow, if you ask me. I can’t remember the last time I went so nuts over the cover of a novel. I’d buy it just for the cover alone, which actually supports my theory that people DO judge books by their cover. Period.

Becca Fitzpatrick has the whole package thing working for her, though, and Hush Hush actually sounds like a decent read. Check the synopsis from amazon:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

How COOL is the name Patch? I think I’m in love already!

Ok, the jury is out. It’s offical! I’m in love with the New Moon trailer! Jacob’s transformation from boy to wolf is un-freaking-believable. It’s SO much better than I thought it would be. After Edward’s sparkling catastrophe in Twilight, I thought for sure they were going to mess that up. But no. Oh no. It’s PERFECT!

And can I just say that Taylor Lautner is looking smoking hot? I love the birthday scene. I love how Jasper ruins Edward’s piano - it makes the whole thing even sadder. Gah. November, why are you so far away?

Now the question is - will Summit hold off on us till then, or will we get another trailer?

For those of you that have seen it - what did you think?

I’m waiiiiiiiiiiting online until I see this damned trailer. I hope i’m not disappointed. I bet I’m disappointed. I did this to myself last time…

Goddamit, why am I so addicted to this series? I didn’t even like the Twilight movie and here I am again, killing myself with anxiety about the New Moon movie. Maybe it’s because Summit have hired a new director. Maybe he can fix everything that was wrong about Twilight…

GAH! More New Moon madness coming soon!

So i’m wondering, even though I’m not American, when a book is published by an American author/publishing house, should I spell the title the way we do here in Australia, or the way they do over there in America? For example, Rumours by Anna Godbersen is spelt without the ‘U’ in the states. Colours is another example. When you run a website that has international appeal, like this one does, what does one do in these situations? Enquiring minds want to know…

So all the things in life that have been keeping me from my reviewing/reading duties for yaReads are about to be wrapped up. By the end of next week you should have you speed reading reviewer back on her game. My review pile is H U G E at the moment. Even though life forced me to put yaReads on hold for a few weeks, the books still kept coming in. Not that i’m complaining, really. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my holiday than reading and reviewing books. Bring it, I say.

OMG!! A certain sixth book in a certain vampire series that I’m very much in love with arrived on my desk today……

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!

My Sookie Stackhouse books arrived in the mail today - all SEVEN of them.

I can’t wait to get started on them, but I have so many other books that I need to review for yaReads that I think they’re going to have to wait till my uni holidays start. Or at least until I’m finished with my Student Teaching Rounds.

On another note, Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr and Evermore by Alyson Noel arrived today as well. Gah. I have so many books that I need to read but I’ve been busting for Fragile Eternity. What to do, what to do….

Ive had Saundra Mitchell’s book Shadowed Summer in my review pile for a few weeks now and I’m simply busrting to read it. But then I got supremely busy with University assignments, student teaching rounds, and working for the magazine I write for. It seems my poor old reviewing duties have taken a back seat. Goddammit, I promised myself that wouldn’t happen.I’m going to make it a priority to read at least two books this week. I’m half way through Envy by Anna Godbersen and then i’m tackling Shadowed Summer.

Other books in my review pile that I’m simply busting to read are:

Eyes Like Stars - Lisa Mantchev

A Map of the Known World - Lisa Ann Sandell

Gah, there are so many more as well. I promise I’ll get them read and reviewed soon ladies, I promise!!

Since the Twilight Saga took off, young adult vampire novels have been popping up EVERYWHERE. Not that I mind at all. I love vampires and I love the YA genre, so all in all, I’m a pretty happy camper. What I don’t think is cool, however, is book reviewers, publishers and plain old people in general comparing every single vamp novel around to Twilight. Twilight isn’t even a traditional vampire novel, it bended the lore totally and absolutely, so why WOULD any other vampire novel be like Twilight?

Twilight is exceptional in that it integrates two genres into one: vampires and the supernatural as well as one killer romance. It seems to me that writers are now trying to replicate the same kind of thing. Some are successful. I would argue that the Vampire Academy novels took that idea and put a whole new spin on it with the half breed vampires positioned as the protectors of the full breeds. Morganville successfully achieves the whole romance/ vampire thing well, too.

But there are so so so so so many novels out there that seem to be failing at this. Why are publishers actually releasing these books? They’re unoriginal, slow, boring and contain no new concepts at all…

I don’t know, what do you think?

As the title suggests, The Sisterhood Award is the very first blog award that we received. Thanks Silvia for nominating us!

So here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

I, Ivy, would like to nominate the following for their awesomeness:

Adele from Persnickety Snark
Alea the Pop Culture Junkie
Carol from Bookluver Carol
Em from Em’s Bookshelf
Kristi the Story Siren
Liv from Liv’s Book Reviews
Neve from Princess Neve Reviews (Welcome to the book blog world!)
R1 and R2 from Reader Rabbit
Sophie from Mrs. Magoo Reads
Vania from Reverie Media

Carol

I really hate living in this country. I’m dieing to get  my hands on the Jessica Darling books and the Sookie Stackhouse books but I can’t find them ANYWHERE here. WHY oh WHY does the world hate me so?

I looked online, thinking that I might order them from amazon but as it turns out, shipping to the faraway land of Oz is actually more expensive than actually buying the freaking books.

I want them so badly. I beg you world, don’t treat me so!

Cyn Balog is hosting her first contest at her blog. The grand prize is a signed copy of her book Fairy Tale and a cool fortune cookie necklace. Head on to her blog now and help her promote Fairy Tale:

http://cyn2write.livejournal.com/132554.html

So I’ve been reading a lot lately but thats nothing new. I read all the time, as much as I can. Lately, however, I’ve been inundated with an abundance of awesome books. I’ve been giving out five and four star ratings left, right and centre. Its good to see that the quality of books available to young adult readers is improving. I remember not too long ago, I’d standing in front of the YA shelf and scour its contents for an hour, reading blurbs and then placing the book back on the shelf. I’d pick up book after book after book and often I’d walk away empty handed. I’m having the opposite problem these days. I have to limit myself to one genre, or one section of the shelf because I end up walking out with an arm full of books (and let me say that my bank account does not appreciate that at all)

Kids seem to be reading more these days, don’t you think? We live in a technological age and so many people thought books were on the way out. It seems, though, that reading is back in vogue. Whenever I walk down the street these days, I almost always see a teenage girl with her nose buried in one of the Twilight books as she walks. I used to see the odd kid doing this with Harry Potter, but the madness seems to be much more widespread with the Twilight saga.

Do you think Twilight and Harry Potter are responsible for the newfound interest in reading amongst kids? I have my opinions, but I don’t have the answer. If they are responsible, I sure hope that these kids decide to broaden their reading horizons and check out all the other great titles that are popping up lately…

So what do you think? I’d love to hear your opinions.

Peace,

Nikki xoxo

Reading Keeps You Sane is giving away 2 signed copies of Jessica’s Guide To Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. You can enter here:

http://readingkeepsyousane.blogspot.com/2009/03/contest.html

The Story Siren is giving away 10 books in celebration of her blog’s 100,000 visitors. You can enter here:

http://www.thestorysiren.com/2009/03/contest-ten-pack-arc.html

Congrats Kristi!