Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death in people ages 12-18, and many people have been touched by this heart-breaking issue. There are a lot of resources available to teens struggling with suicidal feelings. There is also some debate about…
I was fortunate to enjoy a young adult fiction double header a couple of weeks ago. It began on a Friday night with a panel of five YA authors at Wellesley Books, followed the next day by the 5th annual…
It’s banned book week. YA novels are often banned for reasons centering around diversity, sexuality, and ‘bad’ language. But teens need diverse role models, books that depict sex realistically and honestly, and books that reflect the language they actually use.
I was recently talking to a woman about my book at a wake (yeah, I promote wherever I can 🙂 ). When I said, “It’s a YA thriller,” her eyes glazed over. I quickly added, “But I originally wrote it…
Another anniversary of 9/11 has come and gone. Like everyone in the country, I can tell you exactly where I was when the planes hit the twin towers. But what about today’s teens, who were only infants or toddlers…
The lists of YA novels to look out for this fall are coming fast and furious, and already overwhelming me. So many I want to read, so little time. I’m actually starting to feel list fatigue, i.e. a longing to…