May 2014
Editor's Desk

Everyone has favorite books and genres -- those you suggest any time you're asked...and maybe even when you're not. For example, my brother continually waxes poetic about the naval adventures written by such authors as Alexander Kent or C.S. Forester (to no avail -- I'm still just not a fan). In turn, he sniffed at my recommendation for Gates of Fire (mainly, I am sure,because it wasn't set on a boat).

We asked the authors of the May issue of RA News to share some of their favorites and they really came through. Whether you're helping readers with tried-and-true genres like Romance or to find something new, check out this issue for some tips and resources.

We're welcoming two authors new to RA News: Jen McConnel weighs in on New Adult fiction and how it differs from Young Adult fiction. Deborah Taylor discusses works by her favorite young adult author, Angela Johnson.

Romance remains hugely popular. Becky Spratford shares a list of her favorite reference sites for helping Romance fans find more books to love. Finally, for nonfiction aficionados, Mike Nilsson highlights some excellent true crime books.

What's one of your favorite genre reads? Tell us, and share a few lines about what makes that book so great! If you know any set on a boat, my brother might even read them...
 

 
In This Issue
  • The New Kid in Town Grows Up
  • Around the Web
  • Quiet Genius
  • NoveList Bookshelf
  • Lock Your Doors!
  • Keeping Up with the Fans: Romance

Pinterest! 

Check out the incredible variety of Library Cards on Pinterest. 
 


Don't Judge a Book by Its Movie

As librarians and educators, we're used to seizing teens' enthusiasm for book-to-movie adaptations and turning them into programming opportunities. But let's not forget that they're also opportunities for targeted readers' advisory. 
The New Kid in Town Grows Up
by Jen McConnel

There's been a lot of discussion in the literary community recently over New Adult fiction; as both a writer and a reader, I wanted to add my voice to the conversation. I was on a panel at a recent conference in Savannah, GA, filled with other New Adult authors. The weekend was a blast; NA authors certainly know how to party! Even though the conference included karaoke, corsets, and all kinds of lovely desserts, what really brought us together was a shared love of New Adult stories. Everyone at the conference…Continue Reading
Around the Web with Jessica Zellers
 Each month Jessica Zellers adds a few items to your web-surfing itinerary. Take a look at these lists, articles, reviews, and the best of new RA materials and advice.

"Look inside any work of fiction," suggests author Peter Higgins, "and you'll find lots of genres, shifting and shimmering, nested one inside another, claiming your attention, now one, now another." His piece "Is There Such A Thing As A Book That Belongs To Only One Genre?"…Continue Reading
The Quiet "Genius" of Angela Johnson
by Deborah Taylor

In this booming era of young adult fiction, there are a few stalwart writers who seem to be seldom mentioned but who consistently turn out the kind of high quality literary writing that should merit more attention. One such writer is...Continue Reading
 
NoveList Bookshelf
 Every month, we include a few of the titles that NoveList staff and contributors are reading. Have you read them? What did you think?



Nella's Last War
Recommended by Kate Fletcher
Raising Steam
Recommended by Lauren Kage
Up Till Now
Recommended by Leslie Gardner
Lock Your Doors, Don't Talk to Strangers, and Other True Crime Advice
by Mike Nilsson

True crime writing ranges from "good" people behaving badly to "bad" people behaving monstrously. Although true crime's lurid details and grim crime scene photos aren't for every reader, this genre is more than psychos and sensationalism: well-executed true crime offers compelling insights into human nature. True crime writing offers not only chilling portraits of evil, but also…Continue Reading
 
Keeping Up with the Fans: Romance on the Web
by Becky Spratford

Love it or hate it, romance is consistently the highest selling genre in all of book publishing.  As a result, all of those writers and readers keep us plenty busy in the library. That is why it is very important for you to stay on top of what's hot and popular in Romance on a regular basis.

The sheer number of titles over romance's wide range of subgenres means that…Continue Reading

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Editor: Krista Biggs
Production: Cassi Broach