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Today's roundtable is devoted to the novel The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti, which we'll be discussing throughout April at readergirlz and the readergirlz blog. Joining me for the roundtable are three readergirlz divas, Lorie Ann Grover, Melissa Walker, and Liz Gallagher, and two of my fellow postergirlz, Jackie and Shelf Elf.

Lorie Ann Grover: We are so happy that Deb Caletti has time this April to hang with rgz. The Secret Life of Prince Charming is a book that embodies what our community is all about: girls searching for truth within a powerful network of their own choosing, whether that be family, friends, or books. Each of Deb's characters will be a new rgz member whispering encouragements and offering guidance. Just listen as the divas and postergirlz chatter about this book...

Little Willow: Any thoughts on father-daughter relationships, be they personal or general?

Shelf Elf: Flaws and all, your dad's your dad.

Lorie Ann: Totally complicated and hangs with you your entire life! Like Quinn says on page 319 of the hardcover: "I still wanted him in my life, needed him, in the primal way you need food when you're hungry, or a hand in the darkness when you're scared. I felt a constant, low-flying desperation, the kind you feel when you are trying, trying, trying to get something you will never, ever get."

Melissa: I love that quote, Lorie Ann! It just made my heart pang again. Your dad teaches you how men value you, in a way. Luckily, my dad treated me like a smart, funny, pretty girl all my life, and so I've always demanded that from boyfriends too. Quinn has to find that validation elsewhere in the book -- luckily, she has some kick-ass female role models around.

Lorie Ann: Spot on, Melissa: "Your dad teaches you how men value you, in a way."

Little Willow: The main character of Secret Life is named Quinn. Do you think it suits her?

Lorie Ann: I loved that it's unique. I thought it was a great fit.

Little Willow: Me too, since I think it's gender neutral, and this book has a lot to say about gender roles and how you act with your parent that's your same gender, and how you act with the parent of the opposite gender. Do you think that Quinn is a boyish name or gender neutral?

Jackie: [The name] reminds me of the sister from Daria.

Shelf Elf: I immediately think Quinn Fabray - I'm a crazy Glee fan - so the name Quinn doesn't make me think boy. It makes me think more snooty, popular girl, which isn't Quinn in Deb's book at all.

Jackie: I so love Glee.

Lorie Ann: ME, TOO!

Liz Gallagher: I'm a third on loving Glee. But Quinn for me is the name of a bunch of kids who went to the school where I used to work. One girl Quinn and one boy Quinn stick out in my mind.

Little Willow: We ought to cast Dianna Agron (the actress who plays Quinn on Glee) in a film based on a Deb Caletti novel! Talking about this now, the name of Quinn makes me think of Jerry O'Connell's role on the TV show Sliders, but I never thought of that character while reading this book.

Melissa Walker: My main character in LOVESTRUCK SUMMER goes by Quinn, which is her middle name. I adore the name -- glad it's floating in the air these days!

Lorie Ann: I heart LOVESTRUCK SUMMER!

Little Willow: Who was your favorite supporting character in Secret Life?

Jackie: I liked the half-sister, whose name I can't remember. I'm horrible with names.

Shelf Elf: Sprout! Charles [aka] Charlotte. I loved her.

Jackie: No, not Sprout. She was awesome, but the older one. Sprout was a full sister.

Shelf Elf: Whoops!

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For more information contact:
Martha Brockenbrough, publicist for readergirlz
Martha Bee Productions
[email protected]
206-328-7374

10,000 BOOKS DELIVERED TO TEENS ON
NATIVE RESERVATIONS & TRIBAL LANDS
Nationwide, scores of young adult authors and librarians drop books on April 15
to surprise young readers on Support Teen Literature Day

April 15, 2010 – Operation Teen Book Drop will deliver 10,000 new books to teens on Native Reservations and Tribal Lands, an event that coincides with Support Teen Literature Day.

In addition, more than 100 top young adult authors will leave their books in public places for young readers to discover, and members of the public can buy books online and have them shipped to tribal libraries.

Publishers donated the books, valued at more than $175,000.

"These publishers have shown astounding vision and generosity by supporting Operation Teen Book Drop," said readergirlz cofounder Dia Calhoun, an award-winning novelist herself. "Now underserved teens can benefit from the current explosion of high quality YA books. These teens can see their own experience, their tragedies and their triumphs in these books, books that become shining doorways to the young human spirit."

The donations are especially significant to Native teens. "In their lives, they really don’t have new books," said Mary Nickless, the librarian at Ojo Encino Day School, one of 44 institutions that will benefit from Operation TBD.

A nationwide effort of authors, publishers, librarians and readers
In its third year, Operation TBD is part of a massive effort by librarians, young adult authors, and avid readers to spur reading on a nationwide scale. The day aims to encourage teens to read for the fun of it.

The effort is coordinated by readergirlz, the Young Adult Library Services Association, GuysLitWire, and a new partner, If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything, a national reading club for Native children.

• More than 100 young adult authors - including David Levithan, Sara Zarr, and Cynthia Leitich Smith - are participating by leaving copies of their books in public places for teens to find.

• Teens and other fans of YA literature are also invited to "rock the drop."

• GuysLitWire has created a wish list of 750 books that supporters can buy from Powells.com. Beginning April 7th, these purchases can be made and sent directly to one of two tribal school libraries, Ojo Encino Day School or Alchesay High School.

In 2008 and 2009, the groups coordinated the delivery of 20,000 new books to teens in hospitals.

"Operation TBD was originally conceived with the hope of reaching a number of teen groups," rgz co-founder Lorie Ann Grover said. "While we donated books to hospitalized teens for two years, I was personally compelled to donate books to the local Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. We were thrilled to discover we could broaden this effort with If I Can Read and gift TBD to our second targeted group, Native teens."

"By making Operation TBD part of Support Teen Literature Day, YALSA and its partners help raise awareness of the importance of teen literature to all teens," said Linda W. Braun, YALSA President. "Our thanks to the publishers, If I Can Read I Can Do Anything, readergirlz and Guys Lit Wire for joining us in supporting such a worthy cause."

Participating publishers this year include Abrams Books; Bloomsbury/Walker Books/Candlewick Press; Chronicle Books; Hachette Book Group; Boyds Mills Press; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Milkweed; Mirrorstone Books; Orca Book Publishers; Scholastic; Simon & Shuster Children's Publishing; Tor/Forge/Starscape/Tor Teen/ Roaring Brook Press, an Imprint of the Macmillans Child

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Scott Westerfeld will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog tomorrow, Wednesday, March 17th. The one-hour chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM PST.

In the meantime: Click here to meet Will, the real-life steampunk readerboy.

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In her third readergirlz video blog, Elizabeth tells us more about her newest book, The Unwritten Rule. She also talks about how she creates her characters, and when, why, and how she cuts scenes from her manuscripts. She said she tends to cut 40% (!) of her drafts in order to streamline the stories.</font>

Learn more about Elizabeth Scott and the author-in-residence position at readergirlz.

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Welcome to March! We'll be discussing the steampunk alternate-history action-packed novel Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld all month long at readergirlz. Ready for the Great War? Here's a little peek into the book:

Prince Aleksander is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman, serving aboard a living airship. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way . . . taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

To learn more about the book and the author, check out the March 2010 issue of readergirlz, watch the exclusive video with the author below, and read my review of Leviathan.



If you can't see the video above, click here to watch it at YouTube.

Download this month's bookmark and a poster of this season's selections.

Once you've finished reading the book, I hope you'll join our discussions at the readergirlz blog!

Join the readergirlz

readergirlz is an online book group that's open to everyone - the only requirement is a love of reading!

Every month, we discuss a different book, ranging from realistic fiction to fantasy (like this month's pick, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld), from historical fiction (such as Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller, or this month's pick, Copper Sun by Sharon Draper) to contemporary fiction (such as last month's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart). All of our spotlighted books celebrate gutsy girls.

Every issue of readergirlz features additional information about the books we're discussing, exclusive interviews with and playlists created by the authors, and additional book recommendation. In addition to our annual events such as April's Operation Teen Book Drop, we also include information about national or international outreach programs related to the book of the month in every issue. We hope to inspire readers to become active not only in book groups but also in their communities.

Browse through the archive of readergirlz selections.

postergirlz picks

The postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council, recommended the following titles to read alongside this month's main pick:

Fiction
The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkowski
Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel
The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Non-Fiction
Gothic Charm School: An Essential Guide for Goths and Those Who Love Them by Jillian Venters



rgz LIVE!

Scott Westerfeld will be chatting live

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Elizabeth Scott, the current author-in-residence at readergirlz, is posting monthly vlog entries about writing. In her February video, she discusses where she gets the inspiration for stories and why she loved reading tool catalogues as a kid. She says she'll read just about anything, even cereal boxes!

Elizabeth is giving away five paperback copies of her book Something, Maybe to readergirlz blog readers. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment at the readergirlz blog. This giveaway is open to anyone - Elizabeth will ship the books anywhere in the world! Five winners will be selected at random.



Learn more about readergirlz.
Learn more about Elizabeth Scott, our current author-in-residence.

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Sharon Draper will be joining us at the readergirlz blog TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 17th for a live one-hour chat, beginning at 6 PM PST/9 PM PST. Readers are welcome to join us not only then, but throughout the entire month - we'll be posting questions about Copper Sun and related discussion topics at the readergirlz blog all month long!

To learn more about the book and the author, please read the February 2010 issue of readergirlz.

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Here's the premise of Copper Sun by Sharon Draper, this month's book pick for readergirlz -

Fifteen-year-old Amari's village is destroyed, her family is slaughtered, and she is taken as a slave. Forced from her loving home in Ghana, marched across the continent to a slave ship where she endures the horrors of the Middle Passage, Amari is sold in South Carolina to a life of degradation and despair. But with strength and dignity, Amari first learns to endure, and then survive. She discovers friendship in the indentured servant Polly, and when the opportunity to escape presents itself, Amari and Polly decide to work together to find the thing they both want most -- freedom.

To learn more about the book and the author, please read the February 2010 issue of readergirlz.

Download this month's bookmark and a poster of this season's selections.

Join the readergirlz

readergirlz is an online book group that's open to everyone - the only requirement is a love of reading!

Every month, we discuss a different book, ranging from realistic fiction to fantasy (like next month's selection, LeviathanHattie Big Sky</i> by Kirby Larson, Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller, or this month's pick, Copper Sun by Sharon Draper) to contemporary fiction (such as last month's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart). All of our spotlighted books celebrate gutsy girls. Every issue of readergirlz features additional information about the books we're discussing, exclusive interviews with and playlists created by the authors, and additional book recommendation. In addition to our annual events such as Operation Teen Book Drop, we also include information about national or international outreach programs related to the book of the month in every issue. We hope to inspire readers to become active not only in book groups but also in their communities.

Browse through the archive of readergirlz book club picks.

postergirlz picks

The postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council, recommended the following titles to read alongside this month's main pick:

Fiction
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Day of Tears by Julius Lester
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton

Non-Fiction
The Bite of Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland



rgz LIVE!

Sharon Draper will be joining us at the readergirlz blog on Wednesday, February 17th for a live one-hour chat, beginning at 6 PM PST/9 PM PST. Readers are welcome to join us not only then, but throughout the entire month - we'll be posting questions about Copper Sun and related discussion topics at the readergirlz blog all month long!



Author-in-Residence

Please say hello to Elizabeth Scott, our current Author-in-Residence at rgz. She'll be hanging out with us through

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E. Lockhart will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog TONIGHT, Wednesday, January 20th. The chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and last for about an hour.

We feature a different book every month at readergirlz. This month's featured title is The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. To learn more about the author and her book, check out this month's issue of readergirlz!

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This month's spotlighted title at readergirlz is The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart.

E. Lockhart will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog tomorrow, Wednesday, January 20th. The chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and last for about an hour.

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Beth Kephart will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog Wednesday, January 6th. The chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and last for about an hour. Please join us in thanking Beth for her work as our first ever readergirlz author-in-residence!

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New Year, New History

This month at readergirlz, we're spotlighting The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockart, a book I personally highly recommend. I'm not alone in my love for this book: It's won various honors, including the Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction, and I had a ton of folks participate in our roundtable discussion of the book.

Why did readergirlz pick it, and what is E. Lockhart up to these days? Find out in the January 2010 issue of readergirlz.

Why do I love the book? Read my review.

What do other readers think about the book? Read the roundtable.

Download this month's bookmark.

Download the poster of our winter selections.

Join the readergirlz

readergirlz is an online book group that's open to everyone - the only requirement is a love of reading! We'd love to have you join our book group, especially if one of your New Year's Resolutions was to read more often. :)

Every month, we discuss a different book, ranging from historical fiction to contemporary fiction, from fantasy to comedy to drama to comedy. All of our spotlighted books celebrate gutsy girls, and we hope they inspire readers to become active not only in book groups but also in their communities. Every issue of readergirlz features additional information about the books we're discussing, exclusive author interviews, playlists, outreach programs related to the book of the month, and other recommended reads.

Browse through our archive to discover our previous book club picks.

postergirlz picks
Recommended by postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council:

Fiction
The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

Non-Fiction
Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon -- and the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Weller





rgz LIVE!

We'll be hosting two live chats at the readergirlz blog this month, so mark your calendars and bookmark the blog!

Beth Kephart, our first author-in-residence, will be joining us on Wednesday, January 6th at 6 PM PST/9 PM PST.

E. Lockhart, this month's featured author, will be joining us on Wednesday, January 20th at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST.

Each chat will last for one hour.



Author-in-Residence

Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth Scott as our next Author-in-Reside

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Tamora Pierce will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog TONIGHT, Wednesday, December 16th. The chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and last for about an hour.

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December Duo

This month, we're spotlighting two books at readergirlz: Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce.

Alianne, sole daughter of Alanna the Lioness, does not want to become a knight like her mother. She's more like her father, George, "the king of thieves." After a fight with her mother, Alianne attempts to run away but is kidnapped and sent to the Copper Isles to toil as a slave for an exiled royal family. Alone in a foreign land, Aly will need both her father's wit and her mother's courage to navigate a royal court rife with political intrigue and murderous conspiracy.

Aly's adventure continues in Trickster's Queen, when she must keep the potential teenage queen and her younger siblings safe. But Aly, who is usually adept at anticipating danger and changes, is in for a few nasty surprises.

To learn more about the author and her stories, check out the December 2009 issue of readergirlz as well as our roundtable discussion of the Trickster books.

Want to join our book group? Pick up the books at your local library or bookstore, read 'em, and then join our discussions at the readergirlz blog. We'll be talking about the book all month long, and we always welcome new readers to our book group.

Download this month's bookmark.

Download our winter books poster.

Join the readergirlz

readergirlz is an online book group that's open to everyone - the only requirement is a love of reading! Every month, we discuss a different book, ranging from historical fiction to contemporary fiction, from fantasy to comedy to drama to comedy. All of our spotlighted books celebrate gutsy girls, and we hope they inspire readers to become active not only in book groups but also in their communities. Every issue of readergirlz features additional information about the books we're discussing, exclusive author interviews, playlists, outreach programs related to the book of the month, and other recommended reads.

Browse through our archive and discover our previous book club picks.

postergirlz picks
Recommended by postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council, in celebration of Native American Heritage Month:

Fiction
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner
The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
Flora Segunda and Flora's Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede

Non-Fiction
Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat by Meghan & Jill Carle with Judi Carle



rgz LIVE!

Tamora Pierce will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog on Wednesday, December 16th. The chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and last for about an hour.

Author-in-Residence

Our first Author-in-Residence at rgz, Beth Kephart, has spen

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Little Willow: Welcome to the Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen roundtable! We have some special folks joining us today. Please welcome back Alexia, one of our original postergirlz. Also say hello to Arielle and Suze. I have very lengthy, involved conversations about books with each of these ladies. Since both of them really enjoy the works of Tamora Pierce, I invited them to today's discussion.

Lorie Ann Grover: Welcome, Suze and Arielle! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. And welcome home, Alexia! Woot!

Little Willow: I love these roundtables, and I'm tickled pink to see so many people here. Thanks to all of you for joining us, and thanks to Google Docs for making it possible for readergirlz from around the world to take part in these book discussions.

Lorie Ann: Tamora Pierce is the Queen of Heroines for YA readers. It's a thrill she has the time to visit with us in December. Let's dive into her duology. Just have your crown and sword at the ready, rgz - Let's get started!

Suze: I've been reading Tamora Pierce's books since grade eight, I started with the Immortals quartet and then I covered the others in order. I read Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen shortly after each came out. I read them again in November after I heard readergirlz would be discussing them in December.

Alexia: I started reading them when I was in 6th grade. I walked into Brentano's (may you rest in peace) one day, and my favorite cashier lady recommended Tamora Pierce to me. I bought the first book in Song of the Lioness, read it that night and then forced my mother to go back the next day and buy the remaining books. All 15 or so of them. I've read all of the newer ones as they've been released, and I still reread them regularly whenever I have bad or stressful days. In fact, I have Trickster's Choice, Emperor's Mage (of the Immortal's Quartet) and Lioness Rampant (of the Song of the Lioness quartet) on my bookshelf in my dorm room. I'm not kidding.

Suze: See! Now that was smart. Like an idiot, I left all of my books in Canada and had to go get them from the library!

Alexia: I knew that I couldn't really function without at least a few of them, so when I was packing up some books to take with me, I threw in a few Pierce's, and I switch them out with other Pierce novels whenever I go home. They come in so much handy on bad days.

Dia: I've read several Tamora Pierce novels before the Trickster's Duet. I enjoyed the complexity of the Trickster's Duet.

Lorie Ann: I've read Tamora for years. Maybe my first ones were the Song of the Lioness? I just remember I had to pry them out of my daughters' hands for my turn.

Arielle: I started reading them in the 5th grade. I was going to Nerd Camp at Stanford and while buying my books for camp in the bookstore my mom came up and handed me Alanna the First Adventure thinking that I would like it. I did and since then have been reading them.

Jackie: I discovered Tamora Pierce when I first started working in libraries - I kept shelving them and was totally intimidated by the sheer number of books she had written. I knew that most of them were interconnected, but I couldn't easily figure out what order I was supposed to read them in, so I didn't read them for a long time. Finally, the children's librarian there told me to read Alanna the First Adventure and I was HOOKED. I read every book she had published at that point, about 18 books, I think, within three weeks. It was a total binge.

Shelf Elf: These two are my very first Tamora Pierce experiences. Working as a kids' bookseller, I sold a whole lot of Tamora's books, and I've always meant to start reading her novels. Now I finally did!

HipWriterMama: I can't believe I haven't read Tamora Pierce's books until now. Love her strong heroines!

Little Willow: If you are a regu

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Want to chat with a bunch of your favorite YA authors at once? Join us at the readergirlz blog tonight, Monday, November 30th at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST. We're throwing our first rgz RAVE Homecoming, a live event where readers may easily login and chat with former rgz featured authors including Coe Booth, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Cecil Castellucci, Justina Chen, Rachel Cohn, Holly Cupala, Liz Gallagher, Nikki Grimes, Lorie Ann Grover, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah Miller, Mary Pearson, Mitali Perkins, Dana Reinhardt, Laura Resau, Melissa Walker, Ellen Emerson White, Rita Williams-Garcia, Sara Zarr, and more. The chat will last for an hour.

To learn more about readergirlz, please visit http://www.readergirlz.com

Visit the readergirlz archive to learn which books we've discussed in the past, and read the November 2009 issue to find out what we're reading now and what we're featuring in the months to come.

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Tonight, Tuesday, November 24th at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST, author Marlene Carvell will be chatting live at the readergirlz blog - http://readergirlz.blogspot.com Join us as we discuss her novel Sweetgrass Basket, this month's featured title at readergirlz.

Learn more about the author and her books at http://www.readergirlz.com within the November 2009 issue. Also read our roundtable discussion of Sweetgrass Basket and check out my review of the book.

Don't forget to join us next Monday, November 30th at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST for our first rgz RAVE Homecoming. Over two dozen authors whose works have been featured at readergirlz will be chatting live with readers.

Each chat will last for an hour.

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Welcome to November

"In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, it is an honor to spotlight Marlene Carvell's novel Sweetgrass Basket at readergirlz. In beautiful free verse, Marlene sensitively relays the struggles of two girls clinging to their Mohawk heritage in the midst of forced assimilation. This is a book that should be read and treasured." - Lorie Ann Grover, rgz co-founder

To learn more about the author and her stories, check out the November 2009 issue of readergirlz as well as our roundtable discussion of Sweetgrass Basket and my review of the book. Once your curiosity is piqued, I hope you will get the book from your local library or bookstore so that you can join the discussions with other readers at the readergirlz blog! We'll be talking about the book all month long, and we always welcome new readers to our book group. Keep reading this post to learn more about how our group works!

Download this month's bookmark.

Download our fall books poster.

Join the readergirlz

readergirlz is an online book group that's open to everyone - the only requirement is a love of reading! Every month, we discuss a different book, ranging from historical fiction to contemporary fiction, from fantasy to comedy to drama to comedy. All of our spotlighted books celebrate gutsy girls, and we hope they inspire readers to become active not only in book groups but also in their communities. Every issue of readergirlz features additional information about the books we're discussing, exclusive author interviews, playlists, outreach programs related to the book of the month, and other recommended reads.

Want to know which other books and authors we've featured? Browse through our archive.

postergirlz picks
Recommended by postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council, in celebration of Native American Heritage Month:

Fiction
Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today, an anthology edited by Lori Marie Carlson
Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Who Will Tell My Brother? by Marlene Carvell
The Absolute True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Non-Fiction
Native Time: A Historical Time Line of Native America by Lee Francis

rgz LIVE!

We will have not one, not two, but three live events at the readergirlz blog this month.



This month's featured author, Marlene Carvell, will be chatting live on Tuesday, November 24th, beginning at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST. Log on at that time to talk about Sweetgrass Basket directly with the author herself as well as other readers.

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On Saturday, November 21st, beginning at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST, we'll be talking about New Moon. Feel free to talk about the book versus the movie and anything else about the Twilight Saga, and tell us if you're on Team Edward or Team Jacob. We'll be joined by the TwilightMOMS. Join the fun for a chance to win a Twilight necklace from Gypsy Wings and other fantastic swag!

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Finally, on Monday, November 30th, we'll be throwing our first rgz RAVE Homecoming to chat with former rgz featured authors Coe Booth, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Cecil Castelucci, Justina Chen, Rachel Cohn, Holly Cupala, Liz Gallagher, Nikki Grimes, Lorie Ann Grover, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah Miller, Mary Pearson, Mitali Perkins, Dana Reinhardt, Laura Resau, Melissa Walker, Ellen Emerson White, Rita Williams-Garcia, Sara Zarr, and more. This chat, like the others, will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST.

Each chat will last for an hour.

Author-in-Residence

Our first Author-in-Residence at rgz, Beth Kephart, will be popping into the blog, chats, and posting blog entries on the writing life throughout her visit. We are honored to have her among us.

Learn more about Beth Kephart and our author-in-residence position.

Read, Reflect and Reach Out

In Marlene Carvell's Sweetgrass Basket, Mattie and Sarah long for family. The two sisters would probably agree with Alex Haley, who said, "In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future."

Link with your family on Saturday, November 23rd for National Family Volunteer Day. Volunteering as a family is the perfect way to spend quality time with your loved ones while doing meaningful work in your community.

Visit http://www.serve.gov for a searchable database of volunteering opportunities near you and encourage the whole fam to get out and make a difference!

Recent readergirlz Reads
Last month's featured book: The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
Next month's featured books: Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce

Visit the readergirlz archive.

readergirlz on the web

Bookmark our main stomping grounds:
http://readergirlz.blogspot.com
http://www.readergirlz.com

You may also follow and friend us on:
* Twitter
* Facebook
* MySpace

Related Posts
Meet the readergirlz divas and the postergirlz advisory council
Read the original readergirlz press release
View all of the readergirlz-tagged posts at Bildungsroman

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Tonight, you may chat live with Libba Bray, author of the Gemma Doyle trilogy - A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing - as well as the new novel Going Bovine, at the readergirlz blog starting at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST. The chat will last for about an hour.

Learn more about the author and her works at http://www.readergirlz.com We've been discussing The Sweet Far Thing all month long at http://readergirlz.blogspot.com - Join us!

If you are unable to attend either event, you may leave a question in the comments below, and I will try to ask it on your behalf.

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All week long, readergirlz is hosting live chats at http://readergirlz.blogspot.com with YA authors in honor of Teen Read Week. We kicked off things last night with a lively chat with Justina Chen Headley, Alyson Noël, and Zoë Marriott. Tonight promises to be just as fantastic, as we welcome Elizabeth Scott and Lynn Weingarten along with readergirlz co-founder Lorie Ann Grover! The complete line-up is as follows:

* Monday, Oct. 19: Beyond Imagination with authors Justina Chen Headley (NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL), Alyson Noël (EVERMORE) and Zoë Marriott (DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES)
* Tuesday, Oct. 20: Beyond Hardship with rgz diva Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL) and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)
* Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beyond Daily Life with rgz diva Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE) and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)
* TONIGHT: Thursday, Oct. 22: Beyond Our World with rgz diva Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES) and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO)
* Friday, Oct. 23: Into Our Beyond with rgz diva Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) and pioneering YA sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS)
It all happens at the rgz forum (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com) beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), Oct. 19-23.

Read the full rgz TRW press release.

In conjunction with the author chats, readergirlz will be hosting a Teen Read Week Tribute. Anyone who loves YALSA's Teen Read Week is encouraged to let it out on their blog through a post or vlog, then send the link to [email protected] (subject line: entrant's name, TRW Tribute). readergirlz will collect all contributions and post them at the rgz blog in a tribute that will run October 23.

Watch the rgz Teen Read Week trailer at rgz tv: www.youtube.com/readergirlz

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All week long, readergirlz is hosting live chats at http://readergirlz.blogspot.com with YA authors in honor of Teen Read Week. We kicked off things last night with a lively chat with Justina Chen Headley, Alyson Noël, and Zoë Marriott. Tonight promises to be just as fantastic, as we welcome Elizabeth Scott and Lynn Weingarten along with readergirlz co-founder Lorie Ann Grover! The complete line-up is as follows:

* Monday, Oct. 19: Beyond Imagination with authors Justina Chen Headley (NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL), Alyson Noël (EVERMORE) and Zoë Marriott (DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES)
* Tuesday, Oct. 20: Beyond Hardship with rgz diva Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL) and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)
* TONIGHT: Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beyond Daily Life with rgz diva Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE) and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)
* Thursday, Oct. 22: Beyond Our World with rgz diva Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES) and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO)
* Friday, Oct. 23: Into Our Beyond with rgz diva Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) and pioneering YA sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS)
It all happens at the rgz forum (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com) beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), Oct. 19-23.

Read the full rgz TRW press release.

In conjunction with the author chats, readergirlz will be hosting a Teen Read Week Tribute. Anyone who loves YALSA's Teen Read Week is encouraged to let it out on their blog through a post or vlog, then send the link to [email protected] (subject line: entrant's name, TRW Tribute). readergirlz will collect all contributions and post them at the rgz blog in a tribute that will run October 23.

Watch the rgz Teen Read Week trailer at rgz tv: www.youtube.com/readergirlz

Add a Comment

All week long, readergirlz is hosting live chats at http://readergirlz.blogspot.com with YA authors in honor of Teen Read Week. We kicked off things last night with a lively chat with Justina Chen Headley, Alyson Noël, and Zoë Marriott. Tonight promises to be just as fantastic, as we welcome Elizabeth Scott and Lynn Weingarten along with readergirlz co-founder Lorie Ann Grover! The complete line-up is as follows:

* Monday, Oct. 19: Beyond Imagination with authors Justina Chen Headley (NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL), Alyson Noël (EVERMORE) and Zoë Marriott (DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES)
* TONIGHT: Tuesday, Oct. 20: Beyond Hardship with rgz diva Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL) and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)
* Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beyond Daily Life with rgz diva Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE) and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)
* Thursday, Oct. 22: Beyond Our World with rgz diva Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES) and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO)
* Friday, Oct. 23: Into Our Beyond with rgz diva Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) and pioneering YA sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS)
It all happens at the rgz forum (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com) beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), Oct. 19-23.

Read the full rgz TRW press release.

In conjunction with the author chats, readergirlz will be hosting a Teen Read Week Tribute. Anyone who loves YALSA's Teen Read Week is encouraged to let it out on their blog through a post or vlog, then send the link to [email protected] (subject line: entrant's name, TRW Tribute). readergirlz will collect all contributions and post them at the rgz blog in a tribute that will run October 23.

Watch the rgz Teen Read Week trailer at rgz tv: www.youtube.com/readergirlz

Add a Comment

In support of Teen Read Week, readergirlz will host nine young-adult authors - eight of whom are nominees for the Teens' Top Ten - throughout Teen Read Week. By visiting http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, teens will be able to chat with these author stars, live, to ask burning questions about the authors' books, find out about their daily lives, and learn about their writing process.

The week's chats will culminate with an online gala celebration, where Sylvia Engdahl, a pioneer in young-adult science fiction, will be hosted and honored for her contributions to the literary landscape.

Like the monthly chats readergirlz is known for, the five-day series of candid online conversations with authors includes giveaways of signed books and swag from iHeartDaily.com. Promising to be a stellar week, the complete line-up is as follows:

* TONIGHT: Monday, Oct. 19: Beyond Imagination with authors Justina Chen Headley (NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL), Alyson Noël (EVERMORE) and Zoë Marriott (DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES)
* Tuesday, Oct. 20: Beyond Hardship with rgz diva Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL) and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)
* Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beyond Daily Life with rgz diva Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE) and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)
* Thursday, Oct. 22: Beyond Our World with rgz diva Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES) and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO)
* Friday, Oct. 23: Into Our Beyond with rgz diva Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) and pioneering YA sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS)
It all happens at the rgz forum (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com) beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), Oct. 19-23.

Read the full rgz TRW press release.

In conjunction with the author chats, readergirlz will be hosting a Teen Read Week Tribute. Anyone who loves YALSA's Teen Read Week is encouraged to let it out on their blog through a post or vlog, then send the link to [email protected] (subject line: entrant's name, TRW Tribute). readergirlz will collect all contributions and post them at the rgz blog in a tribute that will run October 23.

Watch the rgz Teen Read Week trailer at rgz tv: www.youtube.com/readergirlz

Add a Comment

In September, the postergirlz included Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia books on their list of books to recommend alongside Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Megan graced (no pun intended!) us with her presence at Kristin's chat, then wrote up this guest post:

Yikes, the round-up posts at readergirlz reminded me that it was the end of September (where did it go?) and I hadn't collected my thoughts into a blog post about Graceling.

I've been thinking about the question from the live chat: What's your favorite scene?

My pick is the fight between Katsa and Po when she realized that he reads minds. It's so important to the plot and yet so very far from being a plot-coupon because it rings true - Katsa has a good reason to be angry and Po has a good reason to have deceived her - but also because it is so carefully layered. Katsa is angry because Po lied, but also because he has escaped her fate of being wholly defined by her Grace. The cause of the anger is also the seed for the reconciliation when Katsa realizes she too can assert her own identity.

On top of all that, and maybe the reason I like it best . . . Katsa showed that she may be completely clueless about interpersonal relationships, but she's a smart cookie. Po doesn't have to confess, she figures him out.

-- Megan Whalen Turner

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