Star Wars: The Reader Awakens

This is going to be a short post, as I am in between writing projects that I have been updating on my Reviews and Articles page, but I've been neglecting my blog and I apologize to my readers profusely!

My son is a huge Star Wars fan. In fact I'm embarrassed to say he may very well be a bigger fan than I am. He has watched the entire saga more than I have fingers, and in particular has rewatched Episode II more than that. But I'm okay with this, because his love for all things Star Wars includes books.

He devours books on Star Wars, mostly the non-fiction works, but he will request (quite forcefully) for fiction like the Origami Yoda and Jedi Academy series. This is from a kid who not even a full year ago would break down in fits when told to read for just twenty minutes. He hated to read. It wasn't that he had trouble reading, he just didn't like it. No genre, topic or theme would get him at least interested enough to pick up a book on his own.

Now, he can't put a book down. And yes, he actively searches out Star Wars books, but he will also read other books as well - books he chooses himself. He is currently reading a book first published in 1893, Beautiful Joe, about a dog who has had a hard life. The story has nothing to do with Star Wars, space battles or aliens, but my child will choose a time to sit quietly and read about this dog. And I know I can thank Star Wars for it.

I've always known, and have always said, that once your child finds something that unlocks his or her interest in reading, all doors open. For my child, it was Star Wars. For your child, it might be Goosebumps or The Maze Runner. Whatever it is, whether a movie, a show, or a book, take that interest and run with it.

Question: Are YA Novels Really for Young Adults?

This is a question I am often asked by parents. Parents are becoming more aware of what is written in today's "young adult" novels, thanks in part to the sudden flurry of books-turned-movies that have graced our theaters since Twilight. They are noticing that the books aimed at teenagers appear more mature in theme than the YA fare of their youth. But is it really becoming "too adult?"

First of all, Young Adult is a designation, not a genre. It represents novels about teenaged characters undergoing a coming of age moment. Within this designation, there are different genres for young adult readers to choose from, from science fiction and fantasy to romance and historical fiction.

A Little History

Children's fiction has been around since books became widely accessible in the 1800's. Books for older children sprang up like Swiss Family Robinson(1812), Oliver Twist (1838), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer(1876), and Alice in Wonderland (1865). These and others became the literary classics of "Children's Literature" and were filled with the adventurousness of youth, but it also carried the problems children faced then: poverty, child labor, family obligations, and poor education.

In the 1950's and 60's books written for teenaged readers reflected the darker, more turbulent times. Gone were the adventures of youth, replaced by the harsh realities of an era of war, racism, and one's place in society. Created were the great but controversial works like The Outsiders (1967), Catcher in the Rye (1951), and Lord of the Flies (1954). Clearly, older teen readers were searching for something more than "children's"  literature.

Publishers began to see the opportunities available in a "Young Adult" market, and in the 1970's and 80's booksellers and libraries began creating young adult sections to easily distinguish between books meant for young children and books meant for older teens. Thus the YA designation was born. But the themes were still no less edgy than its predecessors, only different. These later decades reflected the fears of youth: pregnancy, death, and self-identity. Judy Blume's Forever (1975) and Tiger Eyes (1981), Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War (1974) andFade (1988), and Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terebithia (1977) are a few examples.

It may seem that the content of young adult fiction has gotten heavier through the 90's and up to present day, but in truth the themes are the same. Teens moved away from the more formulaic coming-of-age novels and sought out other genres. They fell into horror with R.L. Stein and Christopher Pike, ate up stories about ghosts, vampires and werewolves with paranormal writers Neil Gaiman, David Shan, Stephanie Meyer, and Richelle Mead, and dove into dystopian worlds from Lois Lowry, Marie Lu, Suzanne Collins and Veronica Roth. These imaginary realms of monsters and mayhem opened up new ways to see sex, death, and identity.

Are YA Novels Safe for my Child to Read?

When I am asked about whether a YA novel is okay for one's son or daughter, my answer always comes with a caveat. It is a book that is marketed to teenagers, BUT (here's the caveat) you may not feel comfortable with the problems addressed in the story. Then again, let's face it – if a teenager finds a book interesting enough to want to read it, he or she is going to find a way to read it.  And perhaps these titles are a bit heavy on the sex, violence, or death, but to quote someone who posted this thought on Goodreads: "There is nothing 'safe' about reading. Reading is a dangerous, subversive activity intended to challenge authority and expand the mind."(Moonlight Reader)


It is a parent's responsibility to look out for the best interests of their children. Some parents are more open to the "dangerous and subversive," others are not. If teenagers are voracious readers, they may not even bother with the young adult section and move straight into the adult genres. I certainly did. So worrying about whether a YA novel may be to risqué might be the least of your problems.

There are acceptable limits, to be sure. For example, I know a 9-year-old that reads the Hobbit series with relish. But just because he can read and comprehend such works doesn't mean I would recommend the Game of Thrones series to him. But if a high-schooler wanted to read GoT, as a parent you could discourage it but the decision ultimately falls to your teenager.

What is most important is that parents should read what their children are reading so that there can be a meaningful discussion about the themes presented. Pay attention to YA titles, but also pay attention to what is in the pages. And above all, trust that your child will be able to interpret the themes of a book in a mature and meaningful way.

Reinventing the Library Identity

Original post by Jae Holt
October 23, 2013

**This article was originally posted on the MamaManga website. The question, "if there aren't any paper books, is it still a library?" is still being answered. I wanted to reintroduce this article to readers and then revisit the question by inviting you to give me your answers. Please leave your comments below.

Carnation Library

In September of 2013 in the south end of San Antonio, Texas,a new library opened up. But it wasn't your parents' kind of library. This library, known as BiblioTech, does not have any physical copies of books. Its entire catalog is located online in the form of eBooks. The library also provided over 600 e-readers and computers for patrons to access these eBooks. Other cities and many college and university campuses were also embracing bookless libraries. And the question was asked, if there aren't any paper books, is it still a library?

Introducing the Write Life!

I wanted a way to engage with my readers and have a conversation. So I fumbled my way through Hangouts On Air to come up with a way to do just that! Posted below is my impromptu attempt at my very first Write Life! episode. And it just so happened I had a viewer who asked questions! That was my highlight right there.

In addition to this video, please scroll down to find some links related to what is discussed. I hope you find it entertaining and helpful, and I look forward to you joining me in future Hangouts On Air.



Books featured in this episode:

• Hawaii and its People - A. Grove Day
• Waimea Summer - John Dominis Holt
• The Inferno - Dante Alighieri
• Make Comics Like the Pros - Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
• Chi's Sweet Home - Konami Kanata

Websites to visit:

• My online bookstore - MamaManga.com
• Site for freelance writers - Blogmutt.com
• Informative site on steampunk - Airship Ambassador
• A wonderful little museum that I'll be visiting - Bailey House Museum

If you have any questions about this episode, or have a question you would like answered on my next episode, please let me know in the comments section.

Enjoy, and write every day!

Review: A little book about making books

Little book of Book Making: Timeless Techniques and Fresh Ideas for Beautiful Handmade Books

By Charlotte Rivers, 2014

Publisher: Potter Craft

Binding: hardcover

Summer is still trying to hold on in the Pacific Northwest, but September is here and fall is sneaking in with cool weather inserting itself more often between hot, sunny days. It may seem a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but I'm actually a bit late. August is when you are realizing school is around the corner and you only have a few weeks to get all the school supplies in order. So "Christmas in July" is my shopping motto.

I like to think about Christmas gifts early because I want to give personal, handmade gifts and it takes me a few months to actually figure out what I will make, how I will make them, and what I need to make them. When I don't give myself time to plan my gifts, Thanksgiving becomes less thankful and more stressful. It was shortly after I finished my son's back-to-school shopping that I discovered Charlotte Rivers's Little Book of Book Making. Its subtitle, Timeless Techniques and Fresh Ideas for Beautiful Handmade Books hooked me into thinking, "Hey, here's something that will give me ideas AND show me how to make them!" (Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.)

Upon first opening the book, I was a little disappointed. More than half the book is is filled with "ideas," beautiful examples of book art that I could never hope to duplicate in the space of a few months. Not until the very end of the book do you find instructions on how to make basic versions of the masterpieces showcased. Momentarily disheartened, I returned to the beginning of the book. After reading the "Foreword" and "About This Book," it was clear this book was meant to provide more inspiration than instruction.

I skimmed the first section and stopped on a piece that looked simple enough and read the short write-up on the creator's process. At the end of the write-up was a notation, "See also," which gave the page for instructions to make a similar piece. I went to the page and upon closer read discovered detailed directions that were easy to follow. The art showcased in this book goes far beyond the simple techniques in the how-to section, but the instructions are written to allow you to get the basic idea of making a particular book, and then letting your imagination add to that basic structure.

This how-to section is titled "Bookmaking in Practice." Here you will find a comprehensive list of tools and materials needed and offers illustrated step-by-step instructions to produce a variety of handmade book designs. I tried one of the very basic folded binding techniques first with a scrap piece of paper. Once done, I could visualize what such a simple folded piece of paper could become. I was surprised to discover the possibilities!

My creation: an anniversary card!

Readers should not come away from this book feeling intimidated by the complex creativity highlighted in the book. After all, every artist started as a beginner, and any creative soul can see a masterpiece in the simplest of forms. Do browse the first four sections. Not all showcased art has a "See also" attached to it, but most of them do, so if you find an interesting piece, go ahead and look at it's corresponding instructions if it has one and give it a try. I give this book a four out of five stars for the beautiful pieces it showcases and its easy-to-follow instructions.