YA novels | Get Lit With a Librarian

Season Reads

Posted on November 10, 2018 by litwithalibrarian

Have you ever picked up a book and thought “This is a good read for (insert season)” and then waited until that season to read it? I have quite a few times. Why is that? Shouldn’t readers be able to enjoy books at any time of the year?

Well, in theory, yes. But some books give off vibes that are better enjoyed in certain seasons. For example, the term “beach read.” Most people wouldn’t pick out murder mysteries to take with them on their beach trip. No, most people would take a light-hearted read with a happy ending because that is the feeling that summer gives people.

So, what about fall/winter reads? Do people tend to lean more towards cold, mysterious novels or do they want to cozy up with a romantic getaway story? Well, I think it depends on the person.

I asked a couple of fellow librarians what they prefer to read around this time of year and my favorite response was:

“Anything that looks like a cozy read. You can really tell by looking at the cover what kind of vibe you are going to get from a book.”

My friend who said this tends to read mysteries year around, but she admitted to reading the more romantic mysteries around this time of year. Is that the vibe readers get from cold weather- romance? Or do we just want to feel warm and fuzzy like our jackets on the inside? I mean, if we’re going to be cold our hearts might as well be warm.

*Image credit: https://foodtank.com/news/2017/01/food-tank-2017-winter-book-list/

Personally, I tend to lean towards more dramatic storylines when the weather gets colder. Whether that drama comes from trauma or relationships, I like it all.

Another thing that I tend to do around Christmas time is re-read some of my favorite books. I’ve already started re-reading my favorite series, Vampire Academy, and I love it as much as the first time I read it. Reading something familiar that I love makes me happy and I will read every single line as if it is my first time reading it.

If you are looking for a new book to cozy up to this winter, here is a really great list categorized by genre. I’ve already picked a few off of it, myself.

Until next time- Go find a winter read!

-Lit Librarian

Chatting with a Fellow Librarian

Posted on November 3, 2018November 3, 2018 by litwithalibrarian

*Featured image credit: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-reasons-people-read-lot-likely-successful.html

Today has been a rather slow day at work, so I asked one of my librarian friends to sit down and have a chat with me about programs and what books she is loving right now. I thought it would be cool to bring another librarian’s perspective to my blog. Enjoy!

How long have you been a librarian?

3 years as an Assistant Young Adult Specialist.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy interacting with teens and enriching their lives. Sometimes when I have a teen who comes to my programs who is not a very confident reader, I love finding a book for them that makes them love to read.

What is your favorite program that you have ever hosted/planned?

It would probably be the Poetry Jam that I co-hosted this past July because it brought the community together. It was the most attended program over the summer and it fostered a collaborative environment for our community story-tellers.

What are your future plans in the library field?

My goals as a librarian are to create community-oriented programs for all ages. I would like to continue applying for grants and do more outreach in rural school systems.

What are you reading right now?

Currently, I am reading The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturve, which is a YA novel. It’s a fantastic historical non-fiction book and I am excited to really get into it.

What are your top 3 favorite books that you have ever read?

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrick Backman. It creates a universe inside of a universe inside of a universe that has supernatural elements. It’s a story about real loss and a sense of family and community. The world-building in it is incredible.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. There are real issues and coping with issues in a very artistic way. It has a happy ending that most YA books don’t have, which is nice.
Paper Towns by John Green. Only because it’s set in my hometown, though. It’s very sentimental to me because I read it as I was moving away from my hometown.

Any advice for future librarians?

My advice to any future librarian is to plan big things. Have big ideas and if no one comes- try again. I would also say make really good friends with your fellow librarians. They are great resources for ideas and book recommendations. Also, dollar crafts will get you through budget cuts! *

Until next time- Go to a program at your local library!

-Lit Librarian

Why YA Should be Your Favorite Genre

Posted on October 13, 2018October 14, 2018 by litwithalibrarian

*Disclaimer: This blog post is entirely my unprofessional opinion. I will be giving reasons as to why I love YA as a librarian and literature major.*

“Why do you love Young Adult books so much? Aren’t they for, like, angsty teens?”

I get asked this a lot as someone who would much rather browse the “teen” section of the library or bookstore than the “adult” section. Yes, I am aware that I am in my 20s. No, I do not care and will not let my age keep me from reading what I think is the greatest genre of literature.

“Why?”

Mainly for two reasons:

YA discusses and presents issues that other genres tend to neglect.

Authors of YA are not afraid to create characters who need help, whether it be mentally, emotionally, or physically. Everyone needs a little help every now and then, so these YA characters are relatable for everyone. My favorite YA novels are ones that have characters who struggle with a mental illness because I deal with anxiety and depression on a daily basis. There are some authors who I think write the symptoms and thoughts of someone with a mental illness better than others, but at least authors are trying to present these characters so that readers can relate.

Every character in YA deals with their struggles in different ways. I have yet to read two YA novels with characters that struggle with the exact same thing in the exact same way. This is because every person deals with situations in different ways. Characters in YA are real. They feel real pain, love, and anger just like anyone in their mindset or situation would. You won’t get that kind of realness or relatability from any other genre.

2. The YA Genre adapts and grows with its audience.

A YA novel published in the 90s will contain different situations and characters with different struggles than a book published in the last 2 or 3 years will have. This is because authors and publishers of YA actually pay attention and listen to their audience in order to keep YA characters and books relatable. Even if an author follows the most basic of YA templates, the novel will still be more original than most adult novels.

Don’t get me wrong- I am not a hater of all adult fiction. I have read some wonderful, earth-shattering novels from the adult genre. However, I think that the majority of authors get stuck on this idea that all adult novels need to contain love and sex in order to be recognized. This just isn’t true. If writers started making their characters more realistic in terms of struggles (and appearance, for that matter)then adult fiction could be completely revamped. Will that happen, though? I sincerely doubt it.

“It’s still written for teens, though.”

YA is written for anyone who enjoys more realistic stories and wants to really feel something. There are Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels within the genre, of course, like The Hunger Games series or the Arc of a Scythe series, but even these sub-genres of YA contain more realistic plot aspects and characters than other genres.

There is not an age limit on literature, save for the more sexual or darker adult novels. A person should read whatever they are interested in no matter how old they are. Thousands of adults like the Harry Potter series and it is Juvenile Fiction! Next time you go to your local library or bookstore, I recommend you look for a YA book from the list below. Read one and tell me that it didn’t make you feel something real.

My Top YA Recommendations:

I’ll Give You the Sun

Girl in Pieces

The Hate U Give

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

The Sky is Everywhere

Fangirl

Scythe