This is a shout out to all the publishers, publicists, agents, authors, and other industry types.

Here at yaReads, we’re looking for the next big thing. We’re dying to get our hands on something new and fresh, and obsessively good. We have no genre preference, as we’re open to almost anything. It could be narrated in third person, through first person, male, female, donkey, mermaid – we don’t care! All we’re looking for is something that belongs to the YA genre and is going to blow our socks off.

You may be an established writer, or a debut writer, it doesn’t matter to us.The only requirement is that your book must be up for publication in 2010.

Here’s what we’re proposing. If you send us your book and it does indeed blow our socks off we’ll offer you free advertising on our website for the month of its release.

If you think you’ve got it, then we want to hear from you. Send us an email at yareaders(at)gmail(dot)com.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend’s memory and racked with guilt for not being able to help save her. In her most powerfully moving novel since Speak, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on to the most important thing of all-hope.

We live in an era obsessed with body shape, size, and beauty. We live in a world of constant scrutiny from media outlets, peers, and most importantly, ourselves. Ever corner you turn, a magazine cover or billboard is plastered with a half naked girl the size of a toothpick. When did this become the norm, the standard? Products are being shoved down our throats that claim to help us look younger, skinnier, fitter, more tanned, more perfect. What’s wrong with us just the way we are?

Meet Lia. I’d love to tell you she’s your average, run of the mill teenager, but I’d be stretching the truth a little there. Lia suffers from a serious eating disorder, but don’t tell her that, because she’ll vehemently disagree with you. She’s already been to rehab twice, but according to Lia, she’s just fine. But if she’s just fine, why does she feel like she needs to hide her weird eating (or non-eating) habits from her family?

Then her best friend and partner in all things ‘thin’ dies one night under suspicious circumstances in a hotel room. Although the police are investigating all avenues, Lia has a pretty good idea about what happened to her: Cassie’s body simply shut down. Instead of setting an example for Lia, Cassie’s death only adds more fuel to her smoldering fire, and Lia’s eating habits (or lack thereof) take a deathly turn for the worse.

She’s not eating. She’s down to 98 pounds, but its not enough. All she sees when she looks in the mirror, all she feels when she runs her fingers over her skin is fat fat fat fat fat. She starts working out in the middle of the night when her family is asleep, creating ridiculous calorie deficits. She cuts herself. She fights with her family about her eating habits, but mainly, she fights with herself.

Every. Single. Moment. Of. Every. Single. Day.

Lia’s story is completely and absolutely unputdownable, and a must read for women and teenagers everywhere who have ever struggled with, or contemplated an eating disorder. Now I understand why Laurie Halse Anderson is an award winning author. Not only does she create shining characters with strong, loud voices, but she writes from the heart -  her blood, sweat, and tears are all over the pages of this novel.

Lia’s internal struggle with food, her inability to love herself, and the overtly warped reflection that she sees when she looks in the mirror is something many women can relate to. Her lack of control and the lengths she goes to in order to achieve a state of what she considers perfection is a heart wrenching, sobering lesson.

Wintergirls doesn’t point fingers, doesn’t lay blame. It doesn’t deal with the why so much as the what is. For people that simply don’t understand the grasp eating disorders have over their victims, Wintergirls is a must-read for you. For those of you who are currently struggling with issues of self-esteem and have a delicate relationship with food and your body, Wintergirls is a must-read for you.  For family and friends of victims of eating disorders, Wintergirls will help you understand your loved ones motivations a little better. Absolutely everyone can learn something from this book.

A powerful story that should be shouted from the rooftops. Laurie Halse Anderson, I heart you for telling it so honestly.

There’s no sugar coating on this one, folks. Kleenex may be required.

Publication date: 2009

Pages: 278

Rating::

Teaser Quote: If I got down to 070.00 I’d want to be 065.00. If I weighed 010.00 I wouldn’t be happy till I got down to 005.00. The only number that would ever be enough is 0. Zero pounds, zero life, size zero, double zero, zero point. Zero in tennis is love. I finally get it.

Publishers, agents, authors, publicists and other people in the know,

Nikki, our chief reviewer and editor here is moving. She’s been doing the rounds and passing on her new postal address to those publishers we work with, but in case you haven’t received an email providing this change of address, we’d love it if you emailed us at yareaders(at)gmail(dot)com so we can give you the new address.

Peace out.

Maggie Stiefvater’s stellar novel, Linger, is our Book of the Month here for July. As promised, she sat down for a quick Q&A with us (aint she just the cutest?!) Enjoy.

What made you decide to include the additional POV(s)?

Sheer insanity. No, mostly it was because I love to see characters from all sides — often an action they think is very sympathetic is actually very unsympathetic from an outside viewpoint, or vice versa. And with a limited first person POV, you can only see so much. I wanted to see more of Mercy Falls than Sam and Grace could see, and I wanted to see more about Cole in particular. I couldn’t have tackled his character arc without seeing inside his head.

Music is a reoccurring theme in your novels. For those that may be unaware of your affinity with music, please explain.

I . . . just need it. I can’t write unless I have music playing in the background, and I write better if I have dedicated playlists with the mood of the novel or scene or character playing. I also play a bunch of musical instruments so if writing ever stops working out for me, I can go back to busking on the sidewalk with my bagpipes. I’d need to get another kilt, though.

Since the release of SHIVER, your name is now considered among the best of YA authors. How has your life changed lately?

It’s really bizarre, actually, to think that just a few years ago I was reading the “greats” in YA and now I’m on lists with them. It happened so fast that I still sort of just feel as if my hair is on fire. It’s pretty amazing to go into a library, say my name, and have the teen librarian instantly begin nodding her head because she not only knows who you are, but she read your book. It’s just sort of crazy and wonderful and intimidating. I have readers! I don’t want to let these people down!

Can you tell us anything about the SHIVER movie?

Unfortunately I don’t have too much in the way of news. The film rights were optioned by Warner Brothers/ Unique Features, they hired Nick Pustay to adapt the screenplay, and the latest news is that the script is finished. I don’t know anything else other than that! Everything in film movies glacially slowly, and that’s saying a lot, since I’m used to publishing being slow.

Who is your ideal Grace and Sam?

Alex Turner for Sam (I know he’s not an actor) and Rachel Hurd Wood for Grace — or Dakota Blue Richards. She’s a little young at the moment, but movies take so long . . .

Can you give us any information about your next novel

It is not about werewolves. Or kraken. It’s a YA paranormal, mostly realistic with a hint of supernatural, like my other books, and it involves blood and beaches and kissing. That’s all I can say!

In the world of YA Lit, book to movie adaptations are the in thing lately. Many of our favorite titles are being made into movies, so we thought we’d provide you with a little status update on some of the bigger names leaving our bookshelves for a stint on the silver screen.

Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden

Release: September 2010

Production Company/Studio: Paramount

Status: The hugely successful Australian novel will make its film debut on September 8, 2010 in Australia. Filming is finished and now all we have to do is wait in anticipation. We’re still searching for worldwide release dates. If anyone has any information on this, we’d appreciate the update!

You can watch the official trailer for the film here

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K Rowling

Release: Part 1 – 18 Nov 2010, Part 2 – 15 July 2011

Production Company/Studio: Warner Bros.

Status: Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows is currently in post-production stages, with a release date set for sometime at the end of 2010. You can watch the trailer for the first instalment here. Not surprisingly, the release date for this film was delayed so that it wouldn’t coincide with, or be overshadowed by, the release of Eclipse, the third Twilight film. Part two is also completed and scheduled for an early 2011 release.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer

Release: Part 1 – 18 Nov 2011, Part 2 – 2012

Production Company/Studio: Summit Entertainment

Status: Part 1 of the fourth book in the Twilight Saga is currently in pre-production, gearing up for a 2011 release. The full cast from the previous three films have all signed back on for this two part mega finale. Bill Condon has signed on as director for both instalments. Condon directed the ever popular Dreamgirls and the creepy horror flick, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh. Filming is rumored to start in the early stages of 2011 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Vancouver, Canada. Filming for both instalments will be conducted back-to-back.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Release: 2011

Production Company/Studio: Lionsgate

Status: Although no cast or director has been named yet, Suzanne Collins herself is writing the screenplay adapatation and has already completed the first draft. A rumor is circulating that a director will be announced as soon as this summer, and the movie itself is scheduled to start filming in January 2011.

If I Stay – Gale Foreman

Release: 2011

Production Company/Studio: Summit

Status: Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke has signed on as director for the adaptation of Gayle Forman’s bestselling novel. No news yet on casting or when filming will begin.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Release: 2012

Production Company/Studio: Unique Features /Warner Bros.

Status: Shiver is still in the early development stage, and screenwriter  Nick Pustay has been signed on for the project. Putsay also wrote the screenplay for Ramona and Beezus, scheduled for release in 2010, starring Disney superstar, Selena Gomez. As yet, no director has been announced that we’re aware of.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones – Cassandra Clare

Release: 2012

Production Company/Studio: Unique Features

Status: Also still in early development, Jessica Postigo ha signed on as the screenwriter. The production company is currently looking for an appropriate director. No casting information is available as yet.

Vampire Academy – Richelle Mead

Release: TBC

Production Company/Studio: Preger Entertainment

Status: Vampire Academy is the latest YA book to have the film rights optioned and is at the very early stages of development. No studio has currently picked up the project as of yet but you can head over to the Official VA Movie page here to show your support.

Other books that are currently in development

Wake by Lisa McMann – Miley Cyrus has scored the leading role of Janie.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Marg Stohl (Warner Bros.)

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Universal Pictures)

Fallen by Lauren Kate (Disney)

Wings by April Lynn Pike – Miley Cyrus scored the leading role.  (Disney)

The Book Thief (20^th Century Fox)

Can’t wait to read Linger, the second novel in Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver series, but you’re out of pocket money? Fear not, loyal yaReaders, we’re here to rescue you from your reading rut.

Like we do every month, as part of our Book of the Month promotion for July, we’ve got a giveaway for you. This time, we’ve only got one copy of Linger to offer, so make sure you get your entry in!

All you need to do is leave your details in the field provided and you’re in. This one is a worldwide contest, and we wish you all the best of luck!

The Nitty Gritty:

• Simply fill out the form below with your name, email, and mailing address.  We randomly draw the winners using random.org.
• Giveaway is open worldwide.
• Ends on July 31, 2010.

Here Comes the Bride — If She Can Pass Chemistry.

Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She’s really Phoebe, the lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That’s the only way to explain her image-obsessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother with a small personality complex. Bronwen knows she must have been switched at birth, and she can’t wait to get away from her “family” for good.

Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He’s sweet, funny, everything she wants — and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is Jared truly what she needs? And if he’s not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do?

At its heart, I Now Pronounce You Someone Else is about 18-year-old Bronwen’s quest for identity – who she is, where she comes from, what she wants. And, perhaps most importantly, what she doesn’t want – yet.

Bronwen has a long-held theory that she was actually switched at birth. It’s the only way she can explain the differences between her and her family, especially her distant, blond mother (a fact that screams through the pages every time Bronwen calls her “Mother” instead of “Mom”). Her stepdad is okay, though, despite his failure to officially adopt her after the death of her father. And her brother, nicknamed Jesus, is away at college and really isn’t too bad, as long as Bronwen remembers to bow down to him the way her mother does.

When Jared Sondervan comes into Bronwen’s life, though, she thinks she’s finally found the person—and the family—that gets her. Jared may be four years older, but they fall in love, and Bronwen quickly finds herself embraced by his loving family and his picture-perfect collegiate friends. Finally, she’s a part of a family that talks openly, laughs loudly, and loves each other unconditionally—unlike her own, in which the evening news is the only safe topic of conversation and an annual trip to color Bronwen’s naturally-brown hair blond (to match her mother’s) is the only bonding activity. It’s not long before Bronwen finds herself completely immersed in the Sondervan family, feeling fully accepted in spite of her quirks. And soon enough, she and Jared are engaged, and Bronwen couldn’t be happier. Or so she thinks.

The writing style of debut author Erin McCahan is swift and tight; the book is almost entirely comprised of small scenes – some spanning less than a page, some spread out over three or four – and are ordered in such a way that makes for easy, pleasing reading. The setting travels swiftly from Bronwen’s home to high school, to Jared’s home and college environment, and even to Bronwen’s favorite vacation spots. There’s snappy dialogue and witty banter, and a nice pace that kept me reading and eager to learn the outcome.

This book did raise some issues that I think are important to analyze in YA literature, particularly when it comes to romance and relationships. Now, I love me a good romance, and YA is ripe with some excellent examples; with Bronwen and Jared, though, the reader doesn’t really get a chance to see how or why they fell in love. Their relationship felt so rushed (which, admittedly, may have been the point), and I had a hard time believing a college senior would be so ready and willing to enter into a committed relationship with a high school student who’s barely left her small town in Michigan. I also took issue with the “romantic” gestures that Jared leaves for Bronwen, most of which I found not just unrealistic, but also a bit too old-fashioned and (dare I say it?) bordering on creepy and somewhat patronizing for my tastes. In short, I suppose I just never trusted Jared as a character, which meant I had a hard time liking Bronwen for falling so deeply in love with him.

However, Bronwen has a definitive and satisfying character arc throughout I Now Pronounce You Someone Else which was executed wonderfully. Her issues with her identity, her stepfather, her still-lingering grief over her father’s death, and her strained relationship with her mother are all believable, relatable, and fully developed by the various supporting characters and plotlines, while crumbs of foreshadowing are littered throughout to help the reader understand (and accept) the book’s climax.

Part of being a teenager is about finding your identity, and I appreciated Bronwen’s path as she uncovered the secret sadnesses within herself and took the necessary steps towards resolving them. Her decisions and motivations made sense, and while I am still not entirely happy with the outcome, overall, I Now Pronounce You Someone Else was a breezy and lighthearted yet ultimately thought-provoking read.

Pages: 272
Publication Date: June 2010
Rating::

Teaser quote: “After that weekend, I was on the fast track to becoming what I had wanted to be for so very long – Bronwen Someone Else, with a Real Family all my own.”