And They Hummed of Mystery

Preach, Taystee.

Lately, I've been reflecting on a lot of the YA books that I've read, and on how the category typically treats the topics of sex, innocence, purity, and romantic affection. I've shared my woes before in previous posts about the nonsensical perfect first times that teenage heroines experience, and I've challenged the idea of magical young love where everything works out in end. While these are issues in YA that I've been able to recognize throughout the countless novels I've poured through, I think it's time we really look at how we, as writers, should be addressing sex in our stories.

I'll be honest. I don't read a whole lot of YA contemporary these days. Unless it's something that has been personally recommended, I don't actively seek out novels in this genre because it doesn't really appeal to me at this point in my life. I do, however, read my weight in YA fantasy/sci-fi/adventure. No matter what the genre is, YA is a very progressive category, and you can really see the changes it has gone through over the years. However, sex seems to be an exception in that progression. When The Hunger Games was released, every heroine was almost expected to be completely naive and virginal, like Katniss Everdeen, when it came to sex. In fact, it was barely even mentioned, much less displayed. Even now, many of these protagonists don't have their first sexual experience until the final act of the story, and that is usually with a love interest whom she trusts, adores, and has endured endless hardships with. There are a few that break the mold, but most of them hold up these ideals of waiting for love and having minimal partners and keeping their limited sex lives completely private.

Sure. That is the ideal in the minds of a lot of people. We all know that YA is not immune to the scrutiny of parents, administrators, and just any adult with something to say about those overly hormonal teenagers. Sex is still something that has a lot of boundaries when it comes to what is considered acceptable to show and to talk about. Many parents don't want their children reading books where sex is present, much less prominent. This likely comes from the hopes that their own teens will maintain the pure nature of characters like Katniss, and refrain from sexual experiences. For a multitude of reasons, there's a sheltering attitude built around these chaste heroines, and anything that deviates from that could cause any kind of controversy.

But here's the truth. Sex is a part of teenagers' lives, whether they're having it, talking about it, or just endlessly wondering about it. It is an undeniable presence that they're going to be faced with in some way or another.


And here's another truth: very few teenagers are going to have sexual encounters that compare to the picture perfect, sugar coated scenes that bring many of the YA characters we love together in a magical way that doesn't hurt, isn't awkward, and never results in any sort of shame or physical or emotional consequences. It goes far beyond the fact that we never see these characters pause to ask questions or use any sort of protection. They're saving the world, so who has time for condoms, right?

Here's one way to look at it. There are two types of teenagers reading these novels: those who have had sex, and those who haven't. I know. Duh. But one half of this demographic is going to be wondering what his or her first time will be like, while the other half may still be trying to figure out the emotions and repercussions of his or her first, second or one hundredth time. An author should be able to speak to both of these groups, and make an effort not to set up ridiculous and flawed expectations for their virgin readers, while also reaching out to those who have had sex, in whatever capacity, expressing reassurance that he or she doesn't need to feel ashamed or regretful or defective if their sexual history can't measure up to what they're reading. Sex is weird, okay? It's a situation in which physical and emotional insecurities are laid bare in front of another person, open to their judgment and scrutiny. It's a way to use someone, play games with someone, and even humiliate someone if that is the desired effect. Yes. It can be 'magical'. No. It's not always as big of a deal as people make it out to be. You can sleep with one person or twenty or two hundred and you are of no lesser value than someone who remains abstinent.

No matter how clear this can be, there will always be critical eyes ready to shut down a book that dares to suggest something other than a path of purity. Of course, everyone believes what they are going to believe, but there needs to be a wider representation of the teenage sexual experience. As of right now, it's pretty one sided. There's only vague, implied true-love-sex or no sex at all, which is wildly inaccurate in the throes of real life.


So I'm not a parent. I've never had to raise up a young human and teach them how to value themselves and what not to listen to in the buzzing world around them. I have, however, been that young human. I was taught that sex and intimacy were reserved only for the safety of a marriage and that anything else was wrong and cause for shame. Though I'm sure it wasn't intended, this was supported by a lot of the YA books I read when I was younger. There has been an endless debate regarding the accessibility to sex education amongst teenagers, and the same arguments can likely be made for the accessibility to sex in YA. If we display characters who like sex, have sex beyond that one perfect first time, and talk about sex outside of conservative boundaries, are we 'permitting' the act itself? Encouraging it? Making it out the be the 'norm'? Of course, there is no black and white answer. I think we can make a rather strong conclusion that if teens want to have sex, they're going to do it regardless of what books they read.

However, there is certainly a lot of progress to be made in the ways the sex is portrayed. Because right now, we're not really keeping it real. I want to read about heroines who are not defined by the boy she loses or already lost her virginity to. It can be nothing more than a small detail in her life. I don't want to see virgins on pedestals and I certainly don't want to see anymore obscure, unprotected love scenes that do nothing more than play it safe and build impossible expectations. Just like with every other social, ethical, and cultural topic addressed in YA, we have a responsibility to our readers to write with honesty, sensitivity, and a general understanding of the vulnerable stage of life that our target audience is in. We've all been there, and we always need to be conscious of the messages we send out to those finding solace in our words.

To put it simply, my summer reading list kicked ass.
Now, as we're all about to trek our way back to classes and homework, (Except for those of you who have real jobs. You mean not everyone stays in school for all of eternity?) I'm excited to look back on the best of the fine selection of books I read under this summer's hot sun. If you're looking for books that are going to rip your heart out, keep you up all night, and change the game, I got you. Don't worry. I won't spoil anything. Just go read them so we can all fangirl together.



Numer One:
Places No One Knows
By: Brenna Yovanoff

I don't even know where to begin when describing this book. It takes the dynamic of high school drama and flips it on its head, challenging the concepts of popularity, love, and identity. It asks the right questions through the strong, relatable voices of two beautifully crafted protagonists. The story follows a high school girl named Waverly, who has perfectly crafted her public identity to appease the expectations of her friends, family, and social world. At night, Waverly fights a nasty case of insomnia, finding rest only when the light of a special candle transports her to the side of Marshall Holt, a burnout who sees past the mask she wears in the halls at school. Together, they break down each other's shells, and are forced to face the parts of themselves that everyone else refuses to see. It makes for a captivating story of finding love and accepting yourself.
I found myself enthralled not only because of the intriguing way dreams and insomnia are used to bring the two characters together, but mainly because of the honesty displayed in regards to the high school environment. It breaks down the politics of teenage hierarchy and gives us layered characters who really feel like people instead of just teenage cutouts falling in love. This book has unique, enchanting elements that are grounded in humanity as two people try to navigate through youth and fight past the influence and scrutiny of the world around them. The writing is just the right amount of poetic, and it carries a wisdom that makes this book a must-read for anyone who has ever felt lost in a sea of faces. I didn't want it to end.



Number Two:
Dark Matter
By: Blake Crouch

All right. I'm no science person. Like, seriously. I don't have a clue. However, I could not put this book down. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time and research that went into crafting this intricate story of multiple dimensions. It takes us on an unbelievable journey with Jason Dessen, who has been kidnapped and thrown in to a world where his life is not his own. His wife was never his wife and his son was never born. Jason then embarks on what is essentially a wild goose chase in hopes to find his own world and reconnect with the family he loves.
The best part about this book is it creates a plot with a limitless amount a worlds. That opens up exciting opportunities to explore what society might have been like under different circumstances. In his search, he encounters a frozen tundra, a city destroyed by disease, a futuristic landscape, and more. The imagination applied in this story is incredible, and it mixes well with the intricate scientific details that move the story forward. It also reflects well on the ideas of regret and choice and all of the what if's in life. Jason's character growth takes him from a man unsatisfied with the life he chose and forces him to face realities in which that life never even had the chance to be. It's a creative scifi adventure that builds tension perfectly while also bringing about challenging themes and ideas that we all can relate to as we wonder about what could have been.



Number Three:
And I Darken
By: Kiersten White

This book has gotten a lot of attention since its June release, and most of it is aimed at this novel's heroine. Told as the female version of Vlad the Impaler, Ladislav Dragwyla is a bad ass leading lady who would make Furiosa proud. She is fierce, cold, brutal, and everything else that princesses aren't supposed to be. This is a dark, intricate story about politics, kingdoms, blood and war, but it is also a coming of age tale in its own right. While Lada is in the middle of the chaos of kings and fighting and conspiracy, she is still just a child. We get to see her learn of the injustices of sexism from an early age as she's thrown into a world where men rule and woman obey. We get to watch as she discovers the stages of womanhood and attraction and even a little bit of love. I really appreciate this effort to remind the reader of her naive youth, because sometimes I feel that YA forget that its protagonists are still technically children. White wasn't afraid to dive into the depths of growing up, which made Lada a character that we could admire and fear and relate to all at the same time.
Another driving force of this novel is the fascinating juxtaposition between Lada and her younger brother, Radu. While she is vicious, he is gentle. Kind. His power and conniving comes from his wit and ability to manipulate and read people, while Lada's comes from battle skills and raw ferocity. While the plot and details of the world are fascinating and so well researched, it is the character study of these two people that really makes this one of the best YA releases of the year. You really feel as if you know them by the end, and I cannot wait to read more. If you're looking for a feminist novel with a punch in the gut and the heart, look no further.



Number Four:
These Broken Stars
By: Amie Kauffman and Meagan Spooner

So this is an older one. It was released in 2013 and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. This book is the real deal, complete with well rounded characters, a brilliant love story, and a unique storyline that takes us through an uninhabited planet after a colossal shipwreck in space. There is humor. Heart. Aliens! What else does a reader need?
Similar to Places No One Knows, this story is told through the dual perspective of the male and female leads. Tarver is the soldier. Lilac is the princess. It may seem pretty straightforward, but the complexity of these characters and the relationship that evolves between them is a truly rewarding experience as they grow, change, and come together in the name of survival. They challenge each other in multiple ways, each a force of nature colliding with the other. I was rooting for both of them the entire way as individuals, and I loved seeing them gravitate towards each other as the story progressed.  Their adventure is heartfelt, exciting, heartbreaking, and every part of it leaves you longing for more.



Number Five:
The Way I Used to Be
By: Amber Smith

Sometimes, we end a book with excitement or exhaustion or utter adoration. Our emotions finally come together to create a finale that makes the reading experience one unlike any other. That's how it goes. Sometimes.
With this book, it wasn't excitement or anything of the sort that overcame me after I reached the final page. It wasn't anything that I was used to, to be honest.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Smith's debut, it's a YA contemporary that chronicles the aftermath of sexual assault. It speaks with a gut twisting honesty that forces the reader to face the reality of the emotional, psychological, and physical demons that rape victims live with on a daily basis, even after years have passed. It dives into something that the world doesn't really talk about, and I often found myself having to turn away at times because the pure, unjust sadness of this reality just kept hitting me like a brick.  It was confirmed to be a work of fiction, but it's undeniable that human beings all over the world have had similarly horrifying experiences, many whose stories will go left untold out of fear, shame, or distrust in a system that has made it so difficult for these individuals to come forward.
Needless to say, this book has brought about these heavy thoughts that have stuck with me ever since I read the last sentence. It's not only an important story that can reach out to anyone who has been through something similar, but it's also for any reader in a culture where rape and assault tend to be swept under the rug. It raises awareness on rape culture and also on the deep impact that something like this can have on a person's life. I recommend it to anyone. It's tough stuff, but it's a necessary read.

Needless to say, it's been a good summer. This fall is going to bring a whole new batch of new releases that will likely leave us all in awe, but for now, get yourself to the bookstore and read all of these lovely words. Prepare to cry, laugh, and fall in love.

Everyone has their dating deal breakers. It's a way to filter through the masses of potential partners, especially in the age of online dating and social media. Even a picture can cause us to turn away, like the presence of a cigarette or a bathroom selfie or a man bun. Whether you're just swiping through Tinder or testing the waters on casual dates, you know what you're going to stay away from.

The same can be said for books.
For anyone who frequents the nearest Barnes & Noble, you know what it's like to stand in front of the new releases and know that you're not walking out of there without one or two or ten of these beautiful hardcovers. You judge the covers. Read the description. You look for authors you recognize and read the blurbs for the ones you don't.
But how do you choose?
Well, like dating, we know what we're interested in what it comes to reading, and we also know what we're not interested in. Sure, the plot may sound unique and the characters appear to be promising, but the first few pages may be able to tell you if this one is worth taking home.

Here are some of my book deal breakers for YA:

The Mean Girl

I think it's been well established that high school is comprised of much more than just your typical hierarchy Regina George formula. At one point, this was a really intriguing trend in YA, like when Lauren Oliver released her debut Before I Fall. However, after countless similar novels put out the same story arcs with the same cast of characters (The Queen Mean Girl, The Remorseful Mean Girl, The Sidekick Mean Girl, The Queen's Jerk King, The Closet Jerk/Nice Guy Boyfriend, The Redemption Boy, and The Nice Girl), I no longer want to read about main characters who rampage through the story with cruelty serving as a mask for their deep insecurities. Yes, the deconstruction of the mean girl was fascinating the first couple of times, but it has been very overdone. There are plenty of other aspects of the teen years that have yet to be fully explored, and this exhausted trope has become redundant and predictable.


The Manic Pixie Dream

In both fantasy and contemporary YA, there have been many charismatic love interests strolling in with their perfect hair and quirky smile to turn the protagonist's world upside down. Think Ramona Flowers or Summer Finn. This character's job is to bring a light into the story and to show the MC how lacking his or her life was before they showed up. MPD's are often a reflection of what we dream of when it comes to a perfect love life, and they are not typically an accurate representation of a real person.
I'm sure we all have our own version of the manic pixie dream in our minds. I would love to find my own Augustus Waters to take me to Amsterdam and speak sweetly of his love for me, but my problem with this type of character is that it sets up a plot that moves forward under the implication that the main character's life wasn't good enough without the MPD. Not only is it an unrealistic romance, but it also takes away from the important message of loving yourself and understanding that your worth does not increase once this person has swept you off your feet. I want to read about two characters who are gritty and dimensional and complicated, because that is what's real. Manic pixie dreams just don't give me anything to believe in.



The Obnoxious Narrator

Writers know that voice is one of the most important factors when it comes to grabbing the reader's attention. You're supposed to be able to get a pretty good feel of the main character within the first few chapters by the way they bring you into the story. Obviously, when writing characters who are in their teens, authors have to work with the tendencies of the age group in order to create someone who is believable and relatable. If you were anything like me when you were a teenager, you were sarcastic as hell with a heaping side of angst.
Sarcasm is a language within itself, and I've seen it done to perfection (Cassie Sullivan from Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave trilogy is the queen), but sometimes it feels like the author uses an overabundance of sarcasm to make up for the lack of voice given to their characters. It can be a great piece of their personality, but I need more than that to get on board with a narrator constantly going off track to make snarky remarks. It gets to a point where I'm annoyed, distracted, and uninterested in anything other than getting this over with. Show me their heart, their pain, and tell me who they really are beyond the overused sarcasm.  If I come across a character who can't do that, it's unlikely I'll make it past the first chapter.

Now that I have recovered from my weekend adventure in Chicago, it's time to reflect on my very first BookCon experience.

This year, the BookCon lineup was pretty impressive, headlined by authors such as Alexandra Bracken, Leigh Bardugo, James Dashner, and so many more. McCormick Place was packed as thousands of people lined up to be a part of this massive gathering of book lovers, and my friend and I didn't really know what to expect when we arrived. It was a lot to take in as we got in line with hopes to meet our favorite authors and see all that BookCon had to offer.

I'm going to be totally honest about my experience, as there were things that I loved, but also things that left me feeling pretty disappointed. For anyone thinking of attending this event in the future, it will be helpful to have to have a realistic expectation and a better idea of what you're going to encounter. There are certainly some things I wish I would have known.

Let's start with the positive. Here's what I loved:

• It is always incredible to see the kind of following that young adult literature has. Seriously, there was an insane amount of people there, and it was awesome to see everyone so excited to meet the people who gave them their favorite characters and stories. Book lovers can always find something to bond over, whether it's a recent release or a beloved YA boy or a book that changed our lives. We're all here because we love the world of YA and we know how powerful it can be. As a writer, it was incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by passionate readers who have loyally supported this ever growing genre. 

• We were able to meet Pierce Brown (author of the Red Rising trilogy) at his book signing, and it was by far the highlight of the day. Okay, yeah. He's absolutely adorable and that smile...well, anyways. He was so kind and gracious when meeting everyone, and made a point to spend time with every person who went through the line. My friend and I went up together, and he was just so easy to talk to and was more than willing to take pictures and listen to our rambling. We left his signing in a joyous daze. It was perfect. 

• It can never be said that BookCon doesn't have a lot to offer. There was always something going on, with a diverse selection of panels and numerous in-booth signings along with the regular autograph sessions. It is impossible to get bored there with the enormous showroom filled with hundreds of different exhibitors. We were able to get deals on new books, pick up some arcs, and collect an ungodly amount of free tote bags. You could tell that all of the exhibitors were excited to be there and wanted to talk to you and get you involved.

• I just think it is really important that events like this exist. It's a chance for readers of any age to be in a place where you just can't help but feel a sense of belonging. I mean, there is a good chance that a lot of these people are just as introverted as I am, finding their solace and comfort within the pages of their books, and there's such a pure validation that comes with being in a room filled with a community like this one. It is a truly unique experience. 

It is #IReadYA week, and readers and authors alike have been proclaiming their endless love for the novels that makes up this vast category of writing. I think it's an important thing to celebrate, because YA has had an impact on so many people in so many ways. It has shown us brave, unforgettable characters and has built massive worlds filled with a wide array of complex storylines. For those who haven't really dabbled in YA, it may be easy to make certain judgements about it regarding age groups and subject matter. Why would anyone over eighteen want to spend their time with books written for teenagers? What's the draw there?


For those of us who know this category, who have traveled through its diverse settings and sat up through late nights of needing just one more page, we have more than enough answers to that question. For me, YA has been a part of my life since those awkward middle school days when I was swooning over Jacob Black and enthralled with Tally Youngblood's rebellion. Back then, reading was an escape, but it was also just something to do. It wasn't until later on in high school and college that I found a certain solace in the pages of YA books. The list of characters and stories that resonated with me goes on and on and on, seeing me through the struggles and complications that come with leaving home, losing love, and figuring out who you are.
Today, that hasn't really changed. In fact, my relationship with YA has expanded into something even more meaningful. In the years that I've been working on my own young adult novel, these books have been a loyal companion through every stage of writing. I take away countless lessons not only on what works, but also on what matters. These are stories that operate under a category with minimal boundaries and rules, but they all present themes that can be applied universally. That's what makes YA unlike anything else in literature. You can be reading about mystical horse races one day and flying pirate ships the next and you'll always find yourself encountering ideas that can be applied to your own life.

YA is gritty, daring, and it gives young people access to empowering voices with important things to say. C.S. Lewis told us that "we read to know we are not alone". That seems to apply perfectly to teenagers, but the concept of it doesn't expire when you reach a certain age. There's something very personal about YA because the young protagonists are vulnerable by nature. They bring about an honesty that makes them feel all the more real as we go through their journeys with them.


I real YA, and will always read YA, because it is an endlessly fascinating and ever growing collection of uniquely intimate writing. There are no defined limitations, which presents the reader with the excitement of endless possibilities. It promotes creativity and produces characters who can challenge and inspire us. YA authors pour their whole hearts into their projects, and it shows. YA goes far beyond entertainment for teenagers. It is a valuable contribution to the literary world and helps us to transport ourselves from reality and find a home at the same time.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, part of my morning routine is to watch the latest video from Cinema Sins on Youtube. If you haven't checked it out, they gather all the 'sins' from famous movies and comment on them, which can be pretty funny. This week, Mockingjay Part 1 and 2 were up for scrutiny, which was hard to watch because we all know how deep my obsession with The Hunger Games goes. I laughed it off, but they said something that was obviously going to bother me.

"I am so done with these types of movies."

Five years ago, things were a lot different in the world of YA movie adaptations. Harry Potter held the crown as the most iconic and beloved YA franchise, wrapping up an eight-film powerhouse that would leave an eternal legacy for its loyal fans. Twilight was still dragging out the insufferable vampire/werewolf/human love story as Bella and Edward (ugh) conceived their hybrid CGI baby. The Hunger Games was cruising into production with a promising cast and powerful, gruesome subject matter to live up to. These franchises made up a trinity of YA film sagas, lining the fandoms up at the movie theater to experience their favorite books brought to life.

Since then, quite a few things have changed. The trinity brought in a ton of money with each release, and Hollywood caught on pretty quickly that YA novels equal cash cows in the movie business. The story's already there, wrapped with a bow and a loyal following. All you need is a young, doe-eyed actress, a few brooding love interests, and a green screen. Today, it feels like a new YA film is coming out every other month. Some novels are thrown in to pre-production before the first book is even published. Trilogies, teenage warfare and futuristic settings are bombarding the new releases, and it can almost get hard to separate one from the other.

Now, you know I love YA, and you know I've been on board with a lot of these movies. Many of them have turned out really, really well. YA is what I read. It's what I write. The stories it tells are important, timely, and highly entertaining. The problems start to occur when these stories are transferred onto the screen in the wrong way.


Hollywood is tricky. It always has been. You have people who dedicate their time and effort into bringing the audience the movie they've longed for. It's a lot of pressure to present each scene to people who already have a clear picture of it in their heads. No matter how good or bad the film turns out to be, everyone is going to have their own feelings about it. Some people were enraged that Peeta didn't lose his leg in the first HG movie, while others thought is was a necessary omission. They can't please everyone, but they do their best.

On another side of filmmaking, you have the people whose main goal is that weekly box office. Say what you will about art or entertainment, but money is the ultimate name of the game. This can lead to all sorts of messes that can really ruin the YA movie experience. A perfect example of this would be the recent release of the adaptation of Lois Lowry's The Giver. Most everyone who's been through the education system in the last twenty years has probably read this book, and anyone who has knows that there is nothing typical about it. However, the movie we got in 2014 really seemed to alter whatever it could to make it fit what the producer's thought would rope us in. The main character, Jonas, is only twelve years old in the book. In the movie, he is sixteen, played by an actor in his twenties. This allowed for the writers to put much more emphasis on a romance. A YA movie has to have romance, right? They turned Meryl Streep's character into a cookie cutter 'big bad,' because we all love that President Snow. We want a tyrant, someone to hate. That's what they figured, so that's what we got. They tried to pander to the audience without honoring what made this book famous in the first place. The important themes and ideas got lost in a maze of Hollywood intervention. Needless to say, many people were disappointed.


Here's a question for you: What about The 5th Wave?
That book, written by Rick Yancey, was incredible. The writing displayed otherworldly talent and the characters were crafted beautifully. It was the kind of book that gave you chills and left you thinking about it long after the last page. This last January, the film adaptation hit theaters.
It bombed.
The critics were unimpressed and the viewers seemed just entirely uninterested. This book is on my top shelf, and I didn't even bother to get a ticket. I live for this kind of stuff, but there just wasn't anything drawing me in.  I don't even know if it was good or bad. I just know that no one really cared.
Why? Is it because we've all already given too much to the existing franchises? I mean, The Hunger Games had just wrapped up and The Maze Runner and Divergent had taken their spots as big deals in YA movies, so were we just burnt out? Was it because previous adaptations, such as The Giver, had diminished our faith in these types of movies? Maybe it just wasn't fun anymore. When The Hunger Games came out in 2012, it brought on a very special kind of excitement. Mall tours swept the country and the Mockingjay symbol became an icon. People filled the movie theater and then cried in the parking lot when it was over, completely committed to the developing franchise. Everyone knew about it, because there was nothing to really counter it at the time. Now, how do you even keep track? The 5th Wave, a haunting, powerful story about family, loss, and chaos, slipped through the cracks. It didn't even feel like anyone was fighting for it. Hollywood just kicked it out from their template and left us underwhelmed by the very idea of heading to the theater. It's kind of sad to think about other amazing novels that this has and will happen to.


Because that's the core issue here. These movies and the way they are made are draining the magic out of YA. They take it and turn it into a pandering display of what those people think we want. With a constant strain of YA films being produced, people are fed up with hearing about young heroines and revolutions. Ideas that are so empowering to readers are mocked by critics and looked down on by those who don't understand why these stories matter. Not that we should care what they think, but it's never enjoyable to see something that you love belittled because someone else slaps a negative label on it. They recognize Hollywood's formula and just assume that they're all the same, that if you've seen one YA film, you've seen them all. We know how far this is from the truth, but it has come to turn many people away. These days, you hear people lamenting about a new YA film more than people getting excited about it. It scares me, because that's so damaging and disheartening.

If only we could storm the gates of Hollywood with our Katniss braids and Dauntless hearts and demand better. Be true to the stories and let them live up to their full potential, right? We're not just targets for box office success, and we're not foolish because we believe in these young characters. We don't want to be pandered to and we want to get excited about YA movies again.

But Hollywood tends to have deaf ears when it comes to that kind of thing, so we just have to continue to cherish our books and hope for the best out of our movies. You never know when a game changer is going to come along.

Todd and Viola. Katniss and Peeta. Alina and Mal. Ruby and Liam. Kestrel and Arin.

These, along with many others, are the great YA love stories of our time. They took readers on captivating journeys of young, complicated romances that usually left us in some whirlwind of will they/won't they and ended with some tragically beautiful resolution. Love triangles, wars, betrayals and countless other factors stood in the way of 'true love,' and we were happily riding the ship through whatever storm came next.

Romance, whether it is the main focus of the story or not, has always been a prevalent aspect of YA. Many authors have managed to capture that perfect recipe of innocent flirtation, sexual tension, and the euphoric madness of falling in love. Readers become deeply invested in finding out what awaits the newest set of starry eyed lovers who are looking to beat the odds and find a future that allows them to be together in peace. We all but melt whenever a lovesick monologue declares true feelings or the long awaited kiss blasts fireworks off the page. We cry for these characters. Their heartbreak becomes our own.

For me, a twenty-two-year-old who has seen the truth behind real-life young love and learned the value of being single and proud, this is all good fun. Sure, sometimes I can't help but wish an Evan Walker or Augustus Waters would walk into my life and just get me, but it's easy for me to separate the fiction of a YA romance and the reality of how relationships really work. There usually isn't a magical, perfect virginity loss. Boys don't tend to describe the way your eyes look in the moonlight or marvel at your quirks and unique outlook on life. Real, honest teenage romance can usually be defined by awkward parking lot makeout sessions and saying I love you for the first time over text message. It's hardly poetic.

• Having a boyfriend/girlfriend does not fix your problems. I have come to greatly dislike plots that kick off by some broken main character finding joy again when a manic pixie dream whoever comes into their lives. It can help. It can make you feel better, but ultimately, you must be the one to save yourself. 
• People don't always have the perfect thing to say, and that's okay. It may be easy for the characters in YA to lay out there feelings in a string of lovely words, but it does not work that way for everyone. People express their love in different ways, and it's not fair to dismiss someone just because they don't talk like Edward Cullen (don't EVEN get me started). 
• Yeah, your first time is not going to be that good. Everyone loves a good love scene, but just no. No and nope and not at all.
• There is so much more going on than just a love story. Our lives are too intricate to just care about the romance. You can stand on your own without someone at your side or on your arm, and the only true way to love and know someone is to love and know yourself first. This doesn't always happen right away, and it's not always the first person who looks at you the right way who goes with you to the end. 

2015 was quite the year for books, movies, and television. We saw the end of some beloved franchises, were introduced to new characters and worlds, and we got to geek out over a little bit of everything.

For me, this was a year of transitions and finding myself. For the first time ever, I called myself a writer. I sent my first query letter and endured my first rejection. I finished a novel and started a new one. There was growth fueled by discoveries I never expected, and I fangirled through the entire thing, always having some sort of release date to look forward to.

So, here are the unforgettable pieces that I encountered along the way. I laughed. I cried. I spent too much money. It was awesome.

Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

It Follows

Don't deny it. We've all had mad crushes on the boys we read about in YA. They're mysterious, poetic, loyal, and they can add a lot to a good story. These days, as gender roles are tested and love is redefined, male love interests are becoming more diverse, more interesting, and more complex.

In March of 2011, my senior year in high school, my friend loaned me a book with a bird on the cover. "You have to read this," she told me. She was right.
Days later, after I had cried, wept, and sobbed my way through three beautiful books, I knew I had just read something timeless. Something important.
Six months after that, I taped a poster of that same bird onto the wall of my freshman dorm room. Every morning, I woke up to the now famous words:
May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor.
It was this poster that caught the eye of the person who is now one of my very best friends. She walked by, saw that bird engulfed in flames, and the rest was history. Our mutual adoration for this story started a friendship that would bring us together every year in theater 8 of the Hudson 12, crying for Katniss, Gale, Finnick, and Peeta.


The Hunger Games has been a Young Adult powerhouse trilogy since it first arrived on shelves back in 2008. Katniss Everdeen and her friends captivated readers and inspired a whirlwind of dystopian themes and ideas. I can talk for days about why this story is successful and why its characters will withstand the test of time, but this trilogy is far too close to my heart to just break it down into facts and statistics. So, this is what The Hunger Games means to me as I go through life with my Mockingjay proudly pinned to my jacket. This is why it has and always will inspire me to write and live daringly.

I think any writer's goal is to write a story that stays with readers long after the last page. There are so many books that sit on our shelves and so many stories that pass through our reading list, but there are those that we always go back to. No matter how many times I read these three books, they still get to me. I still cry every time Katniss sings to Rue as she dies. I still get a mountainous anxiety as she's sent into the arena, and I still feel my heart break for Finnick, Prim, and the rest of those who didn't make it to the end. There's such an authentic state of danger that hovers over these characters, and Suzanne Collins has no problem addressing and displaying the true brutality of revolutionary warfare.




The trilogy is propelled by the heroes it revolves around, and Katniss Everdeen is a narrator that is truly worth following through over 300,000 words and 9 hours of screen time. In the beginning, she's just a girl trying to keep her little world in District 12 in tact. She wasn't born with any hidden greatness or destiny. Katniss fell into the role of a hero simply because she was brave. And then there's Gale Hawthorne, who will always be one of my favorite YA characters of all time. Gale is a strong, honorable person who dedicates his young life to providing for those around him. He has a rebellious heart, which gets away from him when presented with an actual war, but he fights injustice with every breath. Peeta Mellark, on the other hand, is much more gentle in his approach to life, but is just as courageous in his actions and words. The complicated relationships between these characters show that there are different kinds of love, and how dramatically war can change everything.


To say that The Hunger Games inspires me as a writer doesn't mean that I'm looking to kick out the next blockbuster franchise. It doesn't mean I'm off to try to replicate the dystopian formula in order to draw in readers. I mean that I want to write with courage. I want to tell a story that is real and honest, while also connecting with readers on a deep, personal level. I want to create something memorable and applicable to today's society, lead by characters worth loving and fighting for. One of the most important parts of The Hunger Games is that its themes of recognizing and fighting injustice are all too familiar to the world we live in today. It shows how one person can make a massive impact on a nation, and how important it is to retain your humanity along the way. Victory doesn't always lead to triumph. Remaking a world walks hand in hand with loss and sorrow, but hope remains when the smoke has cleared.

I grew up with this franchise. It saw me through two colleges, three cities, three jobs, six majors, and one life long friendship that started with the girl on fire. I have shed countless tears, spent dozens of hours waiting in movie theater lines, and spent way too much money on merchandise, but I am so happy this story and all that it brought with it came into my life. It taught me about taking risks as a writer and standing firm in who you are as a person. The Hunger Games will always be a staple in literature and cinema, and it's impact on the world and on my life will carry on long after the Mockingjay Part 2 credits roll for the last time. The fire truly will burn forever.