YA / MG Read-A-Holics Not-So-Anonymous discussion
YA / MG Read-A-Holics Not-So-Anonymous
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book Thief (other topics)The String Quartet (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Markus Zusak (other topics)Dan Hupalo (other topics)
To kick of the month of January, we have a newsletter for you!
Group Reads We are going to start group reads again! Nominations will last until January 15, and books will need to be decided on by the 25. If you want to nominate a book, stop by the nomination thread here.
Quiz Think you know a lot about January? Take our quiz to see how much you REALLY know! If you want, let us know your score! Take the quiz here!
Riddle Are you good at riddles? We have some for you!
Riddle:Give me food, and I will live; give me water, and I will die. What am I?
Answer: (view spoiler)[fire (hide spoiler)]
Riddle: The man who invented it doesn't want it. The man who bought it doesn't need it. The man who needs it doesn't know it. What is it?
Answer: (view spoiler)[ A Coffin (hide spoiler)]
Quote We also have a quote this month!
"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results."
-Anonymous
Challenge Do you want a challenge? Motivation to read more books? Well we have you covered! From January 1 to May 31, we are challenging you to read twenty-six books. That seems simple, right? Yes, it does. Too simple. So we're throwing in a catch; each book will either be written by or have a main character whose name begins with a different letter. You have to read a book for each letter of the alphabet! Last names and nicknames do count. For example, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak could count for a few different letters. It could count for M (Markus) or Z (Zusak). You could also count it as R or S (Rudy Steiner, a main character) or even D (Death, the narrator of the book). Are you up for the challenge? You can sign up for the challenge by clicking here and posting your name in the comments. Jackie or I will create a scoreboard for you to keep track of your books! For a book to count, you must tell us your thoughts on the book to prove that you read it! Links are accepted. :) We'll keep you updated on who's reading the most!
New Folders!!! This month, we're also introducing some new folders!
The Books and Movies folder is a place where we can have lots of discussions about books that have been turned into movies. The YA/MG Writers! folder is where members can discuss their writing, published and non-published.
Featured Book This month, we are also featuring a book by a member of our group,Dan Hupalo.
The String Quartet:
Loss can be tough to handle, but a young girl named Dawn Arterberry has made a fresh start. She has a new school and a new cello to match. That is, mostly new. . . With her four new friends, Dawn tries to solve the mystery that has taken over her life. What is the Rheingold? Who is the Charmed Duke? And what does the grandfather she never knew have to do with any of it?
Inspired by a tradition of myth and story more than a millennia old, The String Quartet takes readers on a journey through the cycle of
the Rhine. From the forests of New England to a new world both fantastic and frightening, The String Quartet tells of an adventure appropriate for readers of all ages.
You can buy this book here: http://www.amazon.com/The-String-Quar...
Author Interview Dan Hupalo, author of The String Quartet was willing to answer some questions about his book. Hear what he has to say!
What was your inspiration for writing The String Quartet?
"My direct inspirations are mythology, classic YA fantasy novels, and non-fiction history books. I often find the most compelling dramas are those written in history. I read non-fiction constantly and draw upon it to add detail and characters to my stories. From mythology I gain inspiration for the deeper meanings of the novel and a cohesive system for magic. Lastly I drew upon the classics of the YA genre to better understand pacing, grit, whimsy and morality. At the end of the day, I guess you could say I grew up reading these books and I wanted to create my own take on things."
Why do think readers will enjoy reading The String Quartet?
"While the fantasy and adventure is the genre, at its heart this is a character driven story. It was an opportunity to explore relationships between characters that are often ignored in YA and MG fiction. Such as the relationship between a father and daughter or a father and son. It also presented an opportunity to challenge our preconceptions about character archetypes, such as the rival or the hero. What results is something compelling and unique."
What was the hardest part about writing this particular book?
"It was important to me to create a concise book that still carried a level of detail that made it feel visceral and real. It was often a difficult choice on how much of the background to reveal in the story and what to describe in text. Of course, I know what the city looks like, and how all the bits and pieces work, but the question is what part of that description adds to the story. It was always tough to cut out something that I really loved writing but was an aside to the progression of the plot. Yet, in the end it was nice because it created a more concise tale."
What do you think makes this book different from every other Young Adult/Middle Grade book out there?
"I think there is a lot of power in naiveté. I intentionally did not read other YA or MG books for several months before and during the writing of this novel. It left me with a palette clean from what is popular right now. Rather I looked to and studied classic YA fantasy novels and often deconstructed their story mechanics to create something new. I feel like the final result was something not widely seen in YA fiction right now."
Without giving too much away, what do you feel is the best moment in The String Quartet?
"My favorite moment is part way through the novel. It depicts a turning point where the group chooses what is right over what is safe. It was very important to me to show this growth. They take charge using nothing but their wits and moral compass, accepting the potential consequences. They now set the tempo rather than let events instigated by magic or the will of others dictate their fate."
What is the biggest thing you want readers to know about your book?
"That it can be interpreted from multiple perspectives. Depending on through whose eyes you view the events of the story, the meanings and even the timeline itself can change. A good book is a puzzle and I hope I left enough clues around for the readers to tease out all the hidden details."
Have a great January!