YA LGBT Books discussion

What's a Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?

Like the name implies, those who participate in this monthly challenge will have a book selected for them by another participant. Participants will be randomly paired up into picker/pickee pairs. The picker will choose a book for the pickee to read.

The book chosen should be something new and unfamiliar to that person, NOT a book already on their bookshelf - the point is to introduce new books and new authors. In return, your partner will select a book for you. After you're done with your book, come back to this thread and post your opinion.

In keeping with the theme of our group, please select a YA book.

For this challenge, you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable) or make the person you're paired with your friend. I strongly advise keeping your bookshelves updated, otherwise you might end up with a recommendation for something that you've already read.

Sign up period will remain open until January 31st (9pm EST) and you'll have until February 5th to select a book for your partner. You then have the entire month of February to read your book. After reading, you should return to this thread and post your review. The reviews do not need to be lengthy or involved a simple I liked or disliked this book because…will suffice.

***Please note***Everything will be done in this thread so check it often. Also, please be sure you really, really want to participate. Once I pair up people, it makes it difficult to re-pair when someone decides not to participate.

Please see below who you pick for. You should be able to click on their name and be taken directly to their profile where you can check out their bookshelves. Remember this is a pick it for me challenge, so avoid choosing from their bookshelves, simply use it as a guide. Also, please note that their are some content preferences so please check out the thread below for any guidance from your partner on their preferred content.

Also--please post your picks for your partner AND your review of the book right here on this thread!

Here are a few resources for finding lists of YA books:

http://www.alexsanchez.com/gay_teen_b...
http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/...
http://queerya.blogspot.com/

Happy reading everyone!



Kaje picks for *Brett* -Almost PerfectThe Door Into Fire
Ahlaam picks for *Elci*-Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Elci picks for *K*-Exiled to Iowa. Send Help. And Couture-Finished
Sammy picks for *Kat*-Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Kat picks for *Jo*-The Perks of Being a Wallflower-Finished
Ralph picks for *Randy*-What They Always Tell Us-Finished
Cheryl picks for *Ab2y*-Almost Perfect
Ab2y picks for *Jennifer*-Outtakes of A Walking Mistake
Randy picks for *Cheryl*-Life Skills-Finished
K picks for *Sammy*-Huntress
Jennifer picks for *Ahlaam*-Mystery of the Tempest: A Fisher Key Adventure- Finished
Jo picks for *Kaje*-The Black Bridge=Finished
Brett picks for *Ralph*-Hushed

Ok. I'm in. Ebook only pls.

Sammy, you need to move this thread up above the dead threads (I only found it because I knew it had to be here.) Maybe close to BotM or Book Related Banter? (Or in one of them temporarily if moving it is perplexing?)

And nyah, nyah - I went first before you ;)

Kaje wrote: "Sammy, you need to move this thread up above the dead threads (I only found it because I knew it had to be here.) Maybe close to BotM or Book Related Banter? (Or in one of them temporarily if movi..."

LOL!! on it!

I'm in ,Ebook (good end) please !!

I'm willing to take the challenge. M/M titles only though, please. E-book is preffered as being in a small GA town, it can be hard to get certain paperback or hardback books quickly or without having to deal with small minded people. Thank you.

Randy

I love challenges :D

In, I'm not really bothered with the type of format.

Cos I am a good girl and Sammy told me I had to...

Signing up for this challenge... will read, erm, anything!? no preferences on format but please bear in mind if it has to come from the US to the UK it will take a while before I can start.

Sammy said I should do it... so I'm in :)

...and it should be an ebook, please :)

Wow, interesting how we all do what Sammy tells us to, eh? Yes, Mom, going off to write more books now:)

I haven't done a challenge on the adult side, but I think this one which is smaller and just us will be fun.

Kaje wrote: "Wow, interesting how we all do what Sammy tells us to, eh? Yes, Mom, going off to write more books now:)

I haven't done a challenge on the adult side, but I think this one which is smaller and jus..."

You better write missy! LOL!

I love this idea! I'm new to the group (as of a few minutes ago) but I would love to participate.

My name is Jen, and I will read any format: ebook, paperback, etc. Paperback is fine because most of the books end up in my classroom if they're appropriat, but I can get ebooks faster. Either way I don't care, I'll read anything.

(I have an LGBT shelf, if you wanted to see what I've already read... and it's quite a bit. I need to go update it, actually...)

Hi Jen, glad you're joining us in this.

I'll join in. Any format is fine, though please no lesbian or trans* stories, please. They're just not my cup of tea. (And if the author's name or the title happen to have an X, you get bonus points. =P)

Kaje wrote: "Hi Jen, glad you're joining us in this."

Pleased to join in! It sounds fun! :D

Ralph, you have time to read with all the manuscripts I'm sending you? I'm going to have to amp up my output! :P

I'm in...prefer ebook, but print is fine too (because if it's print I can share it with my 16-year-old afterward). My bookshelf isn't up to date, so I'll work on that...

Hey, would it be bad form for an author to assign their partner to read one of their own books? LOL

Jo wrote: "Ralph, you have time to read with all the manuscripts I'm sending you? I'm going to have to amp up my output! :P

I'm in...prefer ebook, but print is fine too (because if it's print I can share it..."

No--you can assign anything you want--no worries!!

Jo wrote: "Hey, would it be bad form for an author to assign their partner to read one of their own books? LOL
..."

Sure would be okay with me too. (You looking for Sammy to give you one of her page long wonderful reviews if you get paired up with her?)

Not review fishing (though I wouldn't mind...) I just don't know if I can recommend anything that everyone else here hasn't already read. LOL

Jo wrote: "Not review fishing (though I wouldn't mind...) I just don't know if I can recommend anything that everyone else here hasn't already read. LOL"

Yeah, the field is nowhere near as big as M/M; in the other hand not much on people's "read" shelves either, so hopefully it will work out. (And you can just bring out your next new, not-previously-seen book and we can all recommend it LOL.)

Jo wrote: "Not review fishing (though I wouldn't mind...) I just don't know if I can recommend anything that everyone else here hasn't already read. LOL"

I wondered how to pick out books - but then found that if I went to Jessewave's review site and used the YA tag it picked up quite a few that I'd not read/heard about before

Yeah, I think I'll have one by the time this challenge starts. LOL

I don't even really have a bookshelf here; I spend so much time reading and writing, and it never occurs to me to actually review and stuff. I need to work on that.

I dream of being reviewed by Jessewave someday...

Jo wrote: "Yeah, I think I'll have one by the time this challenge starts. LOL

I don't even really have a bookshelf here; I spend so much time reading and writing, and it never occurs to me to actually revie..."

Reviewing fellow authors opens a can of worms you may not want to get into if you haven't already started (and aren't like me - always voicing an opinion on everything.) And if you don't have a shelf or if someone's profile is private I'm guessing we can just recommend one book and if they've read it, pick another. You don't need to make a big effort.

Jo wrote: "I dream of being reviewed by Jessewave someday... ..."

I didn't even know they did YA books. I'll have to go look. (For adult stuff Jessewave is great if they like your book - I've had that and a big kick in sales; painful if they don't - and I've had that too, and 274 views of a review that doesn't recommend your work. Speaking of things that will take your confidence down a notch.)

Kaje, that's why I rarely review any books. I don't want to hurt any feelings or get thwapped.

Jessewave hasn't reviewed my adult stuff yet either, though I know MLR sends books to them. I'll just have to dream until it happens :)

Kaje wrote: "Jo wrote: "Yeah, I think I'll have one by the time this challenge starts. LOL

I don't even really have a bookshelf here; I spend so much time reading and writing, and it never occurs to me to act..."

Remember everyone to either friend your partner when the pairs are posted or set your profile to public. This also means you should update your read shelf so that it reflects all you have read. Please know that I will post some recommended YA m/m and f/f books when I post pairs. This is meant to be fun and easy to do so please no worries. Feel free to ask questions as we go along and I will do my best to answer them.

Cheryl wrote: ""

Hey honey!!

Cheryl wrote: ""

You do know that sort of negates the effect of lurking, right?

HEY!!!!! Where are all the Aussies??? Let's go Oz folks--pony up!!!!

We could also use some Maori blood!

Hey Sammy, is it too late to sign up for this?

Brett wrote: "Hey Sammy, is it too late to sign up for this?"

No--you are in!!! And welcome!

Cool, well I'm fine with either ebooks or paperbacks.

I note I didn't say above - anything is fine, topic or medium, with a slight preference for ebook so I don't have to trudge out in the snow to get it. (OK, so it would probably only be a trudge as far as the mailbox, but you get what I mean. Still for a good YA book, I'd happily buy paper.)

i think i will try this ebook please

OKAY folks--I need one more to have even pairings or several more to have even more fun--let's rally troops!!!!!

Lisa wrote: "I would do this but my book shelves are terrible. I will if you need one more, but I probably would need to work with the person I would be paired with in order not have something chosen I've alre..."

thank you for volunteering--I will wait to see if some others step forward--otherwise I will pair with you and you will be my victim--MWHAHAHAHAH!!!

eekkkkkk

Cheryl wrote: "eekkkkkk"

LOL---I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just say so and try again. Because my shelves are never going to get caught up.

Kaje wrote: "My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just say so and try again. Because my shelves are never going to ge..."

ah--a defeatist attitude---am I living to see the day that the eternal optimist has a dark side moment--Luke--come to the dark side---mwhahahah!!!

Can you tell I'm avoiding writing a script???

Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just say so and try again. Because my shelves are neve..."

I'm not being defeatist - I'm anticipating reading so much good new stuff I never get around to cataloging the old stuff :)

I do plenty of avoidance myself - I won't tell on you. Although I'll try to crack the whip if you need it. A children's script?

Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just say so and try again. Because m..."

thank you yoda--it is hard hiding online---hehe!

Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just say so and try again. Because m..."

yes---OY--I just can't find it in me--and I need 9 pages by tomorrow at 4pm for a meet with the director deal---to start the ball rolling--I meet with 4 men--UGH---they are the committee that decides based on my mockup if I get hired for this job---it is just to write the script--no directing involved--bu a big house--1000 seats---nice size. I had 4 pages done earlier in the week and absolutely hated them---hard to focus right now--LOL--lack of sleep will do that to you! It will go fast if I can get a solid idea.

Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just say so and try agai..."

I hope you get inspired. (I went to Pirates and was inspired, but not to write a children's play.) Is there a theme or something to base it on?

Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "My shelves aren't close to reflecting all the YA I have read. I figure if someone picks something their partner has read, we'll just s..."

No--and that is the problem--it is random--they want an original work--no rehashing--no based on...nothin!!! SO I am toying with a few ideas--none of which I love. Did you get the Tony/Mac I sent back to you?? really loved it Kaje!

Lisa wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I would do this but my book shelves are terrible. I will if you need one more, but I probably would need to work with the person I would be paired with in order not ..."

THank you dear--we will see who wanders in!!!

Not long to go now Sammy!! Sorry, not the right thread...typical damn kiwi...lol

Rach. wrote: "Not long to go now Sammy!! Sorry, not the right thread...typical damn kiwi...lol"

I know!!!!!