How to use this Page

Kelly from the Stacked blog rounded up a bunch of bloggers, booksellers, and librarians and asked them to list the YA novels they'd recommend to someone who is just starting to dip their toes in the waters of the Young Adult bookshelves. When she asked if I'd like to kick off this round, I replied, "Twist my arm!" Here are a dozen books to get you started.

Body Bags by Christopher Golden begins with the line: "It was a beautiful day to grow up." Body Bags is the first in a line of ten novels - collectively known as Body of Evidence - which follow Jenna Blake as she begins college and starts working as an assistant at the Medical Examiner's office. I highly recommend this series. Both adults and teenagers will discover plenty to relate to and enjoy in this line. Readers will find Jenna visiting crime scenes and autopsy rooms nearly as often as she's in her dorm. Her relatives, friends, and studies factor into the books just as much as serial killers and detectives.  Throughout the series, Christopher Golden - and, later, collaborator Rick Hautala - created characters who are believable but anything but cookie-cutter. The quality of Body Bags is above and beyond most suspense novels, and it continues throughout the series, versus other series which lose the momentum after a few books, or series in which the books become carbon copies. If you enjoy medical thrillers with great characters, especially if you watch(ed) television series such as CSI or Profiler, or read or watch Rizzoli & Isles, then you need to read these books right now. You won't be sorry.
Read my review of the book, and the entire series.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart is, dare I say, a coming-of-age story. It's not about breaking the rules, nor it is about controlling others. It's about daring: daring to be yourself, daring to stand up for yourself, daring to step outside of your comfort zone, daring to change the world. This novel possesses all of the elements necessary for a good bildungsroman, following the protagonist's journey through her formative years. Both snarky and serious, this History is written by the victors: the memorable narrator and the author. Frankie is smart, grounded, and direct, but she also has a quirky side. Author E. Lockhart (The Boyfriend List, Dramarama) writes with heart and authentic feeling. History has an incredible conclusion, and Frankie becomes a remarkable young woman.
Read my full-length review of the book.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen is about grief, acceptance, and everything in-between. It's about running - running for fun, running out of fear, running from yourself, running from the truth. It's also about to-do lists, kitchen messes, and really good waffles. It's about long conversations and comfortable silences. It's about forever, which is yesterday, today, and tomorrow - and forever is never long enough. Dessen is always good, and this is Dessen at her best.
Read my reviews of all Sarah Dessen's novels.

Deb Caletti writes really fantastic realistic novels. My favorite Caletti novel to date is The Nature of Jade, about an overachiever who has developed panic disorder. Jade doesn't know yet that she wants something more out of life - and that she is about to meet someone that will change her life.
Read my reviews of all of Deb Caletti's novels.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is an absolute staple of modern YA fiction. This story is an example of how to use first-person narration to connect readers to a largely silent and introverted protagonist - and how to reveal things slowly, to connect actions and emotions. This book is gritty and real without being gritty for the sake of it. Often imitated, never replicated, this book is what inspired the wave of YA books that tackle tough issues.
Check out my Speak playlist.

The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark. Wow, wow, wow. After her mother passes away, Alison is reluctant to confide in anyone other than Laurie, her long-time best friend. She pulls away from pretty much everyone else and decides to quietly lives by the rules she's made for herself. Read it, then share it.
Read my full-length review of The Alison Rules.

I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak, which you should go into completely spoiler-free, so I'm not going to tell you anything about it. Go read it, and when you're done, tell me what you think, because you will definitely have a reaction to how this story unfolds and how it turns out.
Check out my interview with Marcus Zusak - and then read The Book Thief.

Feathered by Laura Kasischke tells the story of two best friends who travel to Cancun for Spring Break. After an auspicious start, the unexpected happens, and their dream vacation turns into a nightmare which they can't simply escape by waking - which, perhaps, they cannot escape at all. Feathered wonderfully captures that feeling of freedom one gets while far from home, when it's possible (easier?) to be uncharacteristically impulsive. Fueled by the toxic intensity of perfect strangers, fast friends, and foreign cultures, the girls find themselves in an extremely dangerous situation, and, in the blink of an eye, everything changes. Every high school student who is planning a big-deal trip for Spring Break (or for any break) needs to read this book - and so do their parents, teachers, and chaperones. So do writers who aspire to craft stories with alternating points of view.
Read my full-length review of the book.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is not your typical boy meets girl story. Sure, it starts when boy meets girl - but then boy asks girl to pretend to be his girlfriend for the next five minutes, and girl agrees. Over the course of one night, two perfect strangers fall in and out of love with life, music, friends, cars, food, the city, and maybe - just maybe - each other. This book definitely popularized multiple narrators in modern YA fiction.
Read my review of Nick and Norah - Check out my own Infinite Playlist

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers shows that sometimes, what you don't do can be as consequential as what you do. Parker was a good girl. A nice girl. A cheerleader. A straight-A student. Then something happened. Something which changed Parker completely. Something she wishes she could change. Her mood, her grades, and her spirits have all plummeted. Haunted, Parker is no longer the girl she once was - and she doesn't want to be, not anymore. Courtney Summers' debut novel is not to be missed. When the characters speak, they sound authentic: some kids swear and some kids laugh while others toss out a word or two while swallowing down what they really want to say. Adult readers will quickly be transported to the halls of high school and feel as if they never left. Pick up Summers' other novels while you're at it, but start with this one.
Read my review of the book.

The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski led the pack of immortal/angel fantasy/action stories that now line the YA shelves. The premise: Aaron has always known that he was adopted, but he never suspected he was half-angel - or that he could be a hero in the ultimate fight between good and evil. Fun fact: Before he portrayed Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries, Paul Wesley starred as Aaron Corbet in the film adaptation of Fallen - and Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad played Lucifer!

Check out the Fallen website.

Looking for Alaska by John Green has energized a new generation of readers, writers, and all kinds of people searching for their great perhaps. It's thought-provoking, poignant, and lovely. Please read it.
Here's my Looking for Alaska playlist.

For those of you dropping by Bildungsroman for the first time, welcome! I'm Little Willow. Here's a quick intro to me and this blog: In addition to being a bookseller, blogger, and writer, I'm also an actress, singer, and webdesigner. I always have a script or a book in my hands and a song in my heart. I primarily review YA novels, hence the blog name:

Bildungsroman: A novel whose principal subject is the moral, psychological, and intellectual development of a usually youthful main character. (dictionary.com)

Looking for additional YA staples and recommendations? Click through the blog and the corresponding archive for reviews, exclusive author interviews, and more. I have a slew of booklists I hope you'll check out, including:

Tough Issues for Teens
http://slayground.livejournal.com/74061.html

Coming-of-Age Novels
http://slayground.livejournal.com/178045.html

Transition Times / Set in School
http://slayground.livejournal.com/78353.html

I discovered this book meme interview through Awakening Lisa, who, in turn, found it at Booking Through Thursday.

Part 1 simply asked:

If you could sit down and interview anyone, who would it be?

As a curious girl and a freelance journalist, I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed many wonderful people.

In the coming weeks, I'll be posting new, exclusive interviews with Gaby Rodriguez (The Pregnancy Project, which inspired the Lifetime movie), Susan Lee (Mastermind), Mary Lowry (The Earthquake Machine), and Trina Robbins (Lily Renee, Escape Artist).

If you'd like to read my past interviews, please click here for my interview archive or scroll through the tagged interviews on the Bildungsroman blog.

There are many people I'd love to talk to that I can't - Cary Grant. Gene Kelly. Barbara Stanwyck. Jack Lemmon. Natalie Wood. Charles Dodgson. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Relatives who passed away before I was born.

What would I ask them? Oh, so many things.

Part 2 was a longer questionnaire:

1. What's your favorite time of day to read?

In the morning, before work, or during lunch.

2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)

I read emails during breakfast. I read books during lunch. I read scripts at night and throughout the day as needed.

3. What's your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.)

I eat oatmeal for breakfast 4 or 5 times a week most weeks.

4. How many hours a day would you say you read?

Two, if you're referring strictly to books. In general, I read every word I see all day long. My eyes zero in on words and numbers like... well... Have you seen the new version of Sherlock? When words and such pop up around him? Goodness, that's delightful.

5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?

About the same, but technically, I suppose a little more.

6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?

Yes.

7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Telekinesis and (selective) telepathy.

8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?

Yes.

9. What KIND of book?

Typically, I have at least one novel and/or one script with me at all times.

10. How old were you when you got your first library card?

Two, I believe.

11. What's the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?)

I am not certain. Most of my used books are classics, but I don't believe any of them are first editions or early editions (not to be confused with Early Edition, starring the fantastic Kyle Chandler!) My copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare may appear to be the oldest, but I don't think it is.

12. Do you read in bed?

No.

13. Do you write in your books?

No. I mark favorite passages in books with sticky notes or scraps of paper. I write blocking notes in my scripts.

14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?

Read what you like. Learn what you love. Enjoy!

I was recently interviewed at The Book Base. Thanks for reading!

How long have you been a blogger?

I’ve been blogging at Bildungsroman for close to 8 years now.

Approximately, how many books do you read every year?

I average about a book a day, so I read around 300 books a year, more if you count scripts and screenplays.

What were your favourite books as a child?

My favorite books as a child included The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I was also a huge fan of The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin.

What are you reading at the moment?

I recently finished My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher, her inspired follow-up to her wonderful debut novel The Opposite of Invisible. I am about to begin Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald, which I picked up because, like the protagonist, I am a vegetarian and environmentalist (though she is even more “green” than I am!) I am also reading, re-reading and memorizing three scripts as I prepare for projects which are about to go into production: a webseries, a short film, and a world premiere play. (I’m an actress.)

If you had to pick one, what’s the best book you’ve read in the last twelve months?

To name only one book I’ve read this year as an overall best would be like a parent trying to pick a favorite child and feeling as those she neglected the others. The only way to make it easier is to categorize:

Juvenile fiction, realistic: The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt

Juvenile fiction, fantasy: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

Detective mystery meets mythology: A Hundred Words for Hate by Thomas E. Sniegoski

The paranormal meets mythology: Spirits of the Noh by Thomas Randall (The Waking, Book Two)

Historical fiction meets the paranormal: The Secret Journeys of Jack London, Book One: The Wild by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon

Realistic teen fiction: Doggirl by Robin Brande

The end to a series, realistic teen fiction: Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart (the fourth and final Ruby Oliver book)

Non-fiction: Self-Management for Actors by Bonnie Gillespie

Who are your three favourite authors?

Christopher Golden, Thomas E. Sniegoski and Lewis Carroll.

Which book has had the greatest impact on your life?

You pose another difficult question! It would probably be any and all of my favorite childhood books: The Westing Game, The NeverEnding Story, Anne of Green Gables, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Also, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Each reflects a different part of me, as a person and as a writer. Each holds a piece of my heart because I connected to them so strongly, and those connections remain strong to this day.

Which books are you most eagerly anticipating?

The Fallen 3: End of Days by Thomas E. Sniegoski, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Emerson Blackwood’s Field Guide to Dangerous Fairies by Christopher Golden and Guillermo del Toro, The Secret Journeys of Jack London: The Sea Wolves by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, The Waking: Winter of Ghosts by Thomas Randall. Also, The Lost Crown: A Novel of Romanov Russia by Sarah Miller, which was released last month and is patiently waiting for me to read it on a day with no interrupt

Now it's my turn...

Click the thumbnail to see the full-sized image.

Nine authors with new releases are going to help me ring in 2009.

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, siblings and co-authors of the Babymouse graphic novels
Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, co-authors of The Hidden Cities novels
Thomas E. Sniegoski, author of The Brimstone Network series
Jessica Burkhart, author of the Canterwood Crest series
Courtney Summers, author of Cracked Up to Be
Micol Ostow, author of The Bradford Novels
Sherri L. Smith, author of Flygirl

I asked each participant:

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

Some spoke of professional goals, some of personal goals, some of politics and presidents. I will be posting their responses every Tuesday and Thursday in January.

Come back to Bildungsroman tomorrow for the first post in the series!

Beth Kephart just interviewed me. I didn't dance around any questions, but I did speak of dancing - and music, and writing, and performing - all at her gentle urging and kind prompting. Thank you, Beth.

The multi-talented Little Willow is writing a feature article for the next Edge of the Forest about books that opened your eyes.

I answered as my child-reader self and my comments have to do with By the Shores of Silver Lake which I read on a train when I was about seven or eight years old.

Head on over to Bildungsroman and tell Little Willow your story. You'll see it in the Nov/Dec The Edge of the Forest.

On Friday, August 3rd, I got up bright and early - which I always do, but this time, I had a very special purpose. I had been invited to speak on a panel with four other lit-happy bloggers at The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. Our panel was entitled Having Our Say: Blogging About Children's Literature. I was flattered to be in such good company and looked forward to meeting my fellow panelists - Gina from AmoXcalli, a. fortis and TadMack from Finding Wonderland and Readers' Rants, and Kelly from Big A, little a - in person.

Sadly, Gina had become ill earlier in the week and was unable to attend. However, she truly was a part of our panel, as she had created the bulk of our PowerPoint slideshow. If and when someone posts the slideshow online, I'll add a link to it in this post. Thank you so much, Gina, for all of your hard work. I hope that you are feeling better and that we do meet up in the future.

Kelly and I met up in the morning and discussed the wonders of technology and travel until TadMack and TechBoy arrived. Before we knew it, it was time for the conference to begin, and poor a. fortis was still stuck in traffic. Kelly, TadMack and I scurried into the grand ballroom, where nearly one thousand people had already gathered, and listened to the hilarious welcome speech from Lin Oliver, the SCBWI Executive Director.

The faculty members - anyone speaking on a panel - then lined up and introduced themselves one by one (or group by group - go, Class of 2k7!), with each person saying one word that represented his/her/their panel or mood. When John Green introduced himself and added, "Nerdfighters," a young woman screamed loudly to show her support.

Yes, that was me.

I apologized to Kelly and TadMack for bursting their eardrums. Shortly thereafter, we took to the stage, introduced ourselves, and said:

"Controversy . . .
" . . . conflict . . . "
" . . . and connectivity."

Oh, how I adore alliteration!

a. fortis arrived shortly after the introductions. We all headed over to the room where our panel was going to be held. While telling each other our life stories and discussing new and classic stories, we reviewed the slideshow, which ran throughout the panel.

Once our room filled up, we filled an hour with talk and laughter. I know we could have talked all day about the importance of literacy, free speech, and communication. After briefly introducing ourselves, we talked about our love of literature and of blogging while TadMack clicked through screenshots of various lit blogs and online events. We talked about The Cybils, Toon Thursday, Poetry Friday, The Edge of the Forest, readergirlz, the upcoming 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference as planned by Robin Brande, MotherReader's The 48 Hour Book Challenge, 7-Imp's 7 Kicks, The Carnival of Children's Literature, Chasing Ray's various events (the Summer Blog Blast Tour and Wicked Cool Overlooked Books plus the upcoming Winter Blog Blast Tour, Radar Recommendations, and One-Shot World Tour), Class of 2k7, The Longstockings, and more.

Many thanks to the bloggers, authors, and readers who attended our panel. Thanks also to those who sent us notes of support and good luck wishes.

I have an idea for next time: broadcast the panel live on the internet - podcast, anyone? - or incorporate a chat element, making it accessible to the everyone who can't attend in person and encouraging them to take part and ask questions.

Here is what is happening or has happened around Bildungsroman so far this month:

Calling All Nerd Fighters! If you are watch the video blog Brotherhood 2.0 run by John and Hank Green, please feel free to contribute comments and videos for my forthcoming article about the project.

The new issue of The Edge of the Forest is here!

Within the Forest, I addressed book banning in an article called The Bermudez Triangle: Too Cool for School? Maureen Johnson is ten kinds of cool, and so is her book. Sadly, due to persons lying about or otherwise misconstruing the content of The Bermudez Triangle, the book is being challenged at a high school in Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, Maureen's novel Girl at Sea will be available to landlubbers and sea lovers alike in just a few weeks. I'm planning to write a very long review of it, but here's a preview: Jellyfish! Board games! Scar/tattoo! Little paper hat! (Enticing, yes? Perhaps I should start writing exclamatory reviews that are ten words or less.)

I've updated the booklist Tough Issues for Teens half a dozen times in the past two weeks. There are some new goodies. (Adrienne, you aren't the only person who becomes oddly happy due to angsty books.)

The readergirlz have created a teen advisory council called the postergirlz, and I'm happy to be on board. The readergirlz book of the month is The Phoenix Dance by Dia Calhoun. Review and interview with the lovely Miss Dia to come later this month.

Kristen Tracy has a website! Celebrate with your friends, your poodles and your moose! (If you have a moose, please let Emily borrow it.) I will try to write a review of her novel Lost It in the next 48 hours.

Lisa's handmade jewelry can be seen in the post Guilty Treasure: Spring Forward. Expect a new post with new pendants tomorrow.

This weekend, I plan on posting interviews with the following authors:
Karen Day (Tall Tales)
Julie Bowe (My Last Best Friend)
Nina Malkin (Orange is the New Pink)

Louisiana's Song by Kerry Madden is now in stores. If you have yet to read Gentle's Holler, make sure to pick that up too, then read the two books back-to-back.

It's Not About the Accent by Caridad Ferrer will be available August 21st. While you are waiting for its official release, you may read the first chapter online.

Associated Content has published some of my articles! Visit my user page to read articles there. You may also use the links provided below or subscribe to the RSS feed. If you would like to rate my articles, please note that the rating is on a scale of one to five stars, with five stars being best. Thank you!

If you'd like to join Associated Content yourself, please click here.

Families and Parenting
Fancy Schmancy Collars for Cats and Dogs - Bejeweled beasts.
Childwise Exercise - Be a fit family.
Summer Jobs and Work Permits - How teens can acquire work permits.
Summer Camps - There's a camp for every kid.
Concierge Homes - How can you make a work-related move easy for your family?

Fashion
Jean Jewels - Jazz up your jeans!
Hats Off - Hats are both fashionable and functional.

Nature
Gardening with the Kids - Green thumbs for little ones.
Valley Public Gardens - Visit an outdoor garden exhibit with your family.
How to Repel Bugs Just in Time for Summer - Enjoy the outdoors without being bitten by bugs.

Food and Beverages
Eat Your Greens - Lettuce, lettuce, lettuce.
Peas and Thank You - Plant peas, eat peas.
The Many Faces of Corn - Corn = good.
Drink Your Fruit - Fruit juice is tasty.
The Incredible, Spreadable Cream Cheese - Cream cheese adds flavor to many dishes.
Rice is Nice - and good for you!
Succulent Strawberries - Enjoy very berry treats.
Fudge Fatale - Did someone say chocolate?

Health
Cosmetic Dentistry - Brighten that smile.
Mesotherapy: Miracle Weight Loss? - The history of mesotherapy.

Entertainment
The Soothing Sounds of Duncan Sheik - My favorite contemporary singer/songwriter.
Dance Dreams - Dancing inspires creativity, exercise, and discipline.
The History Behind Singin' in the Rain - Most people are familiar with the musical film - but what about the stage version?
The Life of Anthony Rapp In Print - A Broadway star shares his life and loss in his poignant memoir, Without You.

Books and Writers
Spy Time - An interview with Shannon Greenland.
Holm on the Range - An interview with Jennifer L. Holm, Newbery Honor recepient.
Jersey Girl - Robin Friedman celebrates her state and her debut novel.
Top That - Talking to Jenny Han.
Why You Should Stay - An interview with Garret Freymann-Weyr.
The Borderkind at Dawn - Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon interview each other.
How To Write a Successful Debut Novel - An interview with Carrie Jones.
The Story of The Other Sister - Speaking with S.T. Underdahl about adoption stories.
Readergirlz - An interview with the founders of readergirlz.
Carolina Stories - An interview with Kerry Madden.
True Heartbreak - An interview with Margo Rabb.
Strength of Character - Booklist - strong young women in fiction.
Funny Fiction for Kids - Booklist - comedies for ages 8 and up.
But I Don't Want to Be Famous - Booklist - characters dealing with unwanted fame.
Writing, Reading, and Occasionally Sleeping - Talking with Tom Sniegoski.
Stages: The Development and Production of Jordan Roter - An aspiring actress gets a lucky break and becomes a published author.
Banned Books Week - Encouraging Americans to read challenged classics and contemporary stories.
Summer Reads - Booklist - stories set in summertime.
Enthusiasm and Determination - An interview with author Polly Shulman.
Books for All Ages (or, Why I Don't Use the Term MG - Middle Grade) - Readers come in all ages and abilities.
Book Recommendations from Teens for Teens - What my regular customers are reading.
Teen Picks - What teen (and tween) siblings are reading.
Rules of Her Own - Newbery Honor recipient Cynthia Lord talks about her book, her family, and her hopes.
Young Adult Fiction: Rites of Initiation - Four authors speak openly about their award-winning books.
Five Questions for Sarah Dessen - A quick Q&A with bestselling author Sarah Dessen.
Peter Pan and Friends - Readers have been drawn to the eternal boy for over one hundred years.
Judging the Cover - While I urge people not to judge books by their covers, I do salute those which truly suit the stories.
Juvenile Book Series of the 80s and 90s - A sampling of series I read as a kid.
Major Publishing Companies Offer Free Book Programs
Three Original Writing Contests for Teens

If you'd like to join Associated Content yourself, please click here.

I'm curious as to the readership of this blog. Please click away, Bildungsroman readers! All answers within the polls are private. Feel free to leave comments on this entry too.

From Book Chronicle:

Litty Awards: Litblogger Recognition

by James Allen, editor-in-chief

Today, we are pleased to announce the first ever Litty Awards, the first annual award for litbloggers; bloggers that have worked hard to keep you informed of the latest book news, provide their opinions and insights, and feed your brain with a regular intellectual banquet.

We will present twelve awards, from Best Christian Litblogger to Best Infamous Litblogger over the next six weeks. To do this, we’ve selected thirty five blogs from the whole blogosphere as our nominees to compete for the twelve "prestigious" Litty Awards . . .

If you love to read books, you should complete my book shelving meme. All the cool kids are doing it. Recent participants include John Green, E. Lockhart, Melissa Marr, Literaticat and Carrie Jones. Other have left comments at the original post. Join in!

- - -

If you are in New York, you should go to the New York ComiCon and attend the following events:

Sunday, February 25th, 11 AM - 12 PM: Christopher Golden signing at the Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster booth - a limited number of HELLBOY novels will be give away

Sunday, February 25th, 12 PM - 2 PM: Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden signing limited edition promo posters for BALTIMORE at the Random House/Bantam/Del Rey booth #458

For more information on these and other events and books, please visit Christopher Golden's website and read previous Bildungsroman posts related to Christopher Golden

- - -

If you love to read books, you should complete my book shelving meme. All the cool kids are doing it. Recent participants include John Green, E. Lockhart, and Carrie Jones. Don't forget about Literaticat, Melissa Marr, and those who commented directly at Bildungsroman.

- - -

If you are in New York, you should go to the New York ComiCon and attend the following events:

Saturday, February 24th, 5 PM - 7 PM: Christopher Golden signing at the Random House/Bantam/Del Rey booth #458 - a limited number of copies of THE MYTH HUNTERS will be given away

Sunday, February 25th, 11 AM - 12 PM: Christopher Golden signing at the Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster booth - a limited number of HELLBOY novels will be give away

Sunday, February 25th, 12 PM - 2 PM: Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden signing limited edition promo posters for BALTIMORE at the Random House/Bantam/Del Rey booth #458

For more information on these and other events and books, please visit Christopher Golden's website and read previous Bildungsroman posts related to Christopher Golden.

- - -

If you are in Texas, you should go to the Teen Lit Fest.

Atascocita High School
13300 Will Clayton Parkway
Humble, TX 77346
Saturday, February 24th, 2007
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

The event's keynote speaker is Chris Crutcher. Authors attending the event include Gail Giles, Justine Larbalestier, Benjamin Saenz, Scott Westerfeld, and Chris Yambar.

Chasing Ray has announced You Should Read This Awards 2007: Coming-of-Age.

I love this genre (I call this journal + website Bildungsroman for a reason!) and immediately suggested a multitude of titles. Here are my nominees in random order:

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando
A Room on Lorelei Street by Mary E. Pearson
Stay With Me by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Innocence by Jane Mendelsohn
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Looking for Alaska by John Green
As Simple as Snow by Gregory Galloway
The True Meaning of Cleavage by Mariah Fredericks
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (One word: Turtle)
What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci
Friction by E.R. Frank
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
Stained by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Homecoming by Cynthia Voight
An Egg on Three Sticks by Jackie Fischer
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt
Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti
Just Like That by Marsha Qualey
Swollen by Melissa Lion
Upstream by Melissa Lion
Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters

. . . and, if she includes series that follow characters through childhood and adulthood:

The Anne Shirley octet by L.M. Montgomery

Wondering why I picked a certain title? Ask in the comments section below.