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Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has launched a new young adult literature-themed website called Riveted. The creatives behind this venture plan to feature lists, articles, quizzes, videos, giveaways, news pieces, and behind-the-scenes information.

Some of the writers who have signed on to contribute content includes Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian, and Scott Westerfeld. To launch this website, the Riveted team will host a community “binge reading” of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series.

Here’s more from the press release: “Leading up to the March release of the next installment of the Shadowhunters Chronicles, Lady Midnight, members from the editorial board will host live video chats every Friday to discuss the week’s #TMIBingeRead. In addition, the site will feature original content such as DIY videos on how to get the perfect book character-inspired hair, “word of the week” videos, and exclusive serialized bonus stories.” Click here to watch a video to learn more about the binge reading event.

The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) has revealed the winners of the 2015 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (APAAL).

According to the press release, the organization aims to “promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage” and recognize “titles published from October 2014 to September 2015 based on their literary and artistic merit” with these awards.

Below, we’ve collected free samples of many of the honored works for your reading pleasure.

Adult Fiction

Winner: Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Honor: Don’t Let Him Know by Sandip Roy

Adult Non-Fiction

Winner: The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee

Honor: Canton Restaurant to Panda Express by Haiming Liu

Honor: The Good Immigrant: How the Yellow Peril Became the Model Minority by Madilyn Y. Hsu

Young Adult

Winner: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Honor: Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani

Children’s Books

Winner: Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

Honor: Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly

Picture Books

Winner: Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk

Honor: Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez

This month, the best selling young adult titles include books by super-talents Neil Gaiman, Chris Riddell, Rainbow Rowell and Sarah Dessen.

Check out our hand-picked list from the Best Selling Young Adult list from The New York Times.

We’ve collected the books debuting on Indiebound’s Indie Bestseller List for the week ending May 31, 2015–a sneak peek at the books everybody will be talking about next month.

(Debuted at #3 in Hardcover Fiction) Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille: “After a showdown with the notorious Yemeni terrorist known as The Panther, John Corey has left the Anti-Terrorist Task Force and returned home to New York City, taking a job with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group. Although Corey’s new assignment with the DSG-surveilling Russian diplomats working at the U.N. Mission-is thought to be ‘a quiet end,’ he is more than happy to be out from under the thumb of the FBI and free from the bureaucracy of office life. But Corey realizes something the U.S. government doesn’t: The all-too-real threat of a newly resurgent Russia.” (May 2015)

(Debuted at #10 in Young Adult) P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han: “Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?” (May 2015)

(Debuted at #12 in Hardcover Fiction) Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread by Chuck Palahniuk: “Representing work that spans several years, Make Something Up is a compilation of 21 stories and one novella (some previously published, some not) that will disturb and delight. In ‘Expedition,’ fans will be thrilled to find to see a side of Tyler Durden never seen before in a precusor story to Fight Club.” (May 2015)

I treated myself to a new book right before going on vacation. I’ve wanted to read the series for a while, but only bought the first book because I got such a deal on it. I really have too many books here to justify buying more.

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer–they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

While we were away, this one arrived in the mail. I’ll be reviewing this book for the author.

Many girls in elementary and middle school fall in love with the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. What they don’t always realize is that Wilder’s books are autobiographical. This narrative biography describes more of the details of the young Laura’s real life as a young pioneer homesteading with her family on many adventurous journeys. This biography, complete with charming illustrations, points out the differences between the fictional series as well as the many similarities. It’s a fascinating story of a much-celebrated writer.

Hope you had a great week.

Overbrook Entertainment has picked up the film rights to Jenny Han’s young adult novel, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Screenwriter Annie Neal has been hired to write the script.

Deadline reports that the story stars “high schooler Lara Jean Song, who writes love letters to the five boys she’s ever loved and keeps them locked away in a hatbox until the day her letters are mailed, upending her real-life love life.” The book came out back in April 2014.

Han has announced on her blog that she has a sequel in the pipeline entitled P.S. I Still Love You. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has scheduled a release date for April 21, 2015.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

” Listen, if you are a sucker for sister books, you will LOVE THIS, just LOVE THIS.” Good Books Good Wine

title: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

author: Jenny Han

date: Simon and Schuster; April, 2014

main character: Lara Jean Song Covey

I began this book expecting a nice, light summer story; one of those good romances that I haven’t read in a very long time

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before has such a sweet start. Oldest sister, Margo, is about to leave for college in Scotland and her sisters are going to miss her dearly. The girls are tender in their relationships and delicate with each others’  feelings. Their mother is deceased but to the girls still refer to her as ‘mommy’ and their father as ‘daddy’. Margot has been the family’s caretaker and her leaving is a major shift in the structure of the home. We get small clues of the shift when Lara Jean’s coffee isn’t just right and then, she has a car accident.

Lara Jean is in love with the idea of love. She’s a high school senior with a sense of innocence. Lara writes love letters to boys she’s loved since childhood, letters that she never intends to share with anyone. Now as a teenager, she’s always manages to avoid any opportunity for real romance and the only reason she finally has a relationship with a boy is because she stumbles into it.

With her older sister gone, Lara no longer has a shadow in which to hide so, she has to figure out her relationship with Josh (the boy next door who is very much a part of the family), Peter (the dreamboat), Chris (her most unlikely boyfriend) and even with her sisters. We often don’t realize that as we grow and change, our relationships must do the same. We need and perceive people in different ways. This change isn’t always subtle or easy no matter how special the relationship, as Lara Jean finds out.

 There’s a specific kind of fight you can only have with your sister. It’s the kind where you say things you can’t take back. You say them because you can’t help but say them, because you’re so angry it’s coming up your throat and out your eyes; you’re so angry you can’t see straight.

As soon as Daddy leaves and I hear him go to his room to get ready for bed, I barge into Margo’s room without knocking. Margot is at her desk on her laptop. She looks up at me in surprise.

In defining these relationships, Han builds strong consistent characters, except for Josh, the boy next door. He was never more than the all around good guy. Other characters in the story are revealed in their actions, conversations and through other characters. Certainly, one of the strengths of this book is Han’s ability to develop her characters.I was given room to not like elements of many of those I read about while still becoming invested in them and wanting to know their outcome.

Lara Jean’s bi-cultural heritage was an integral part of the story. She was very much just one of the gang but things like the way she prepared for Halloween reminded us of her Korean background.

I thoroughly enjoyed To All The Boys. This story that seemed so smarmily sweet incorporated tough issues that many of us experience at one time or another in our relationships. I read an ARC that had a few spots that needed to be repaired, but I hope and pray the ending did not change!

Here are some literary events to pencil in your calendar this week.

To get your event posted on our calendar, visit our Facebook Your Literary Event page. Please post your event at least one week prior to its date.

Greenlight Bookstore is hosting a “World Book Night Kickoff” with readings and a wine reception in honor of this year’s event. Check it out on Monday, April 14th starting 7:00 p.m. (Brooklyn, NY)

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Best Young Adult Books: Top Picks from YA Bloggers in the Know, #3

By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 9, 2012

Michelle and Andi, the masterminds behind Galleysmith, kindly agreed to choose not 5, but their 10(!) most swoon-worthy and gripping new summer reads. We’re ready to grab a beach blanket, a pina colada, and dive into these books. Thanks to Michelle and Andi for making our summer reading list even better.

The Ten Most Anticipated YA Summer Reads

When The Children’s Book Review asked that I stop by and tell you all about my five most anticipated summer reads I thought to myself, “only five?!?”  You see, on my blog Galleysmith my colleague Andi and I have The List of Ten.  The purpose of this list is to plot out our next ten reads to avoid the indecision that sometimes accompanies book selection.  Moreover, it’s intended to help us keep our reading varied by being comprised of various formats, genres and ages.  Have no fear, readers!  The list below doesn’t follow our usual rules of formation nor does it come with any of the usual selection indecision.  We’re thrilled to share with you some of our most anticipated forthcoming summer releases and we couldn’t just stop at five!

This is Not a Test

By Courtney Summers

Zombies!  Need I say more?  ZOMBIES.  And not just the flesh eating terrifying kind.  The kind that have heart and soul despite their undeadliness.  Oh, and it’s Courtney Summers one of the all-time best writers I’ve read.

Ages 13-17 | Publisher: St. Martin’s Press | June 19, 2012

Burn for Burn

by Jenny Han and Siobahn Vivian

Jenny Han wrote one of my favorite series ever (the amazing Summer series which I encourage you to pick up) and Siobahn Vivian is equally amazing at writing empowered and independent female characters.  Together I have no doubt they will work magic with their story about girls seeking revenge on those that have wronged them.

Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers | September 18, 2012

Such a Rush

By Jennifer Echols

The queen of contemporary drama, Echols has yet to disappoint me with any of her work.  She writes romance like nobody’s business!  When she announces a new book I’m all about pressing that “pre-order” bu

1 What are you reading now?

I finally started, If Sons Then Heirs by Lorene Cary. I had to wait because I didn't want to pick it up during my slump. I falling hard for this book. Carey writing is beautiful and well crafted.

Yesterday, I started The Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han, after reading Nathalie's review. It's an early middle grade novel, and a lot of fun

2 What have you recently finished?

Bindi Babes by Narinder Dhami. Its a middle grade novel featuring three South Asian sisters. It was so much fun.

3 What are you reading next.

I have no idea

4 Do you finish every book you start?

No, I put the bad ones down. Though I will skip to the last chapter to see how it ends. Normally, I feel justified for not finishing the book.

5 What was the last book you read because you liked the cover? Did you like it?

Learning How to Swim by Sara J. Henry. It's a mystery and I loved it. A great debut.

Are you Team Steinfeld? Team Lawrence? (Or Team Somebody New? Hailee Steinfeld leads the poll to star in “Hunger Games,” though finding an “unknown” to embody the role of Katniss might be pretty stellar. In other YA news,... Read the rest of this post

We drove toward Lancaster on a sour-skied day—past sheep, goats, horses, cows, corn-stuffed silos, chicken cathedrals. The sun kept trying to come out, and sometimes, in a skittish mood, it did, but once we reached the town of Lititz, I wasn't thinking about weather. I was thinking about the town itself—cohesive, grounded, charming. I was thinking about that marvelous independent, Aaron's Books, which had engineered its first Kid's Lit festival and invited me to take part.

The first order of business was a panel seamlessly (and, because she's beautiful) beautifully moderated by Julie Peterson. Together with A.S. King, Lisa Greenwald, Lee Harper, Matt Phelan, Eric Wright, and Mara Rockliff I reflected on questions big and small; more importantly, I got to listen to what the others had to say about ambitions and priorities, about stories not yet told. It was be far one of the best panels I've ever sat on. It elevated book making, stayed focused on the true why for.

Later, there was pizza with local teens. After that, a long evening of clamoring and dishing with Caroline Hickey, Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian, and Lisa Greenwald—long-time best friends who travel the children's/YA circuit together and (when you're lucky, as last night I was profoundly lucky) let you in for some of their outrageous (and so smart and it all comes from loving, seriously, I know it comes from loving) drubbing. An evening at the truly gracious Lititz House was next, a B&B you can't help but love, a B&B, let it be known, in which I actually slept five purified consecutive hours. That's no small thing. That's Lititz speaking.

This morning I rose early, walked the town, took photographs. Had a delicious Heidi breakfast at the B&B we were already calling home. Went off, then, to hear the writers read, to read a bit from Undercover.

We drove home on the same country roads, this time glossed by sunny skies.

Here is the new paperback cover for Jenny Han's first middle grade novel, Shug.


Ahem.

1. No dismembered females. You can see her face and, remarkably enough, HIS face too.
2. Both a girl and a boy on the same cover and they're under the age of 14 AND they're not fighting aliens side-by-side? A true rarity.
3. Love how they worked in the popsicle from both the book and the original cover.
4. They don't look like models. Just regular kids.
5. I like the expression on the girl's face.
6. I love how they look exactly the right age. Twelve going on thirteen. I don't know the last time I saw a twelve-year-old actually looking like a twelve-year-old on a photographic cover.
7. She looks happy. He looks oblivious. And that, ladies and gentlemen, could well be the theme of the book..