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Why read a YA novel?

ByMichael Thal

Time columnist, Joel Stein had this to say in a New York Times opinion piece about adults reading YA books: “The only thing more embarrassing than catching a guy on the plane looking at pornography on his computer is seeing a guy on the plane reading The Hunger Games. Or a Twilight book. Or Harry…

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Children’s Book Festival Highlights YA Authors

ByMichael Thal

Remember the good old days when you could walk over to a local bookstore to see what’s up with your favorite YA author? Today, you can do that a lot quicker on the Internet and the Amazon website. However, the same emotional connection seems to be missing. On Sunday, October 4, 2015 you can regain…

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Fun Sci-Fi Read for Kids and Parents

ByMichael Thal

Max Rigdon is forced by his mom to spend summer vacation with his reclusive grandfather. All of his dreams of being the starting pitcher for his little league’s all-star team are now shattered. And why all of a sudden quality time with crazy Grandpa Joe? Max only met him once at his father’s funeral, and…

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The Inspiration Behind Cat Moon

ByMichael Thal

Jennifer L. Gadd is the author of Cat Moon, a soon to be released YA paranormal novel. I asked Jennifer the inspiration behind her upcoming Were-Children series. Here’s what she had to say: On the one hand, asking someone what their inspirations were in writing a particular story or a specific character has a simple answer:…

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4 Top YA Blog Spots

ByMichael Thal

  YA readers come together at YA blogging sites to see what’s new on the book market, read reviews, browse through author interviews, and study spotlights on the prevalent themes in YA literature. YA writers come with a similar bent, but also seek reviewers for their upcoming novels or to boost readership of previous titles…

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10 things you should know about YA books but were afraid to ask

ByMichael Thal

The best books published appeal to the heart of who we are. These parts are the links that connect our childhood to our adult lives. They connect the heart to the brain and the dream world to reality. Many of these books like The Wizard of Oz, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Harry Potter…

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The Tree of Mindala: A YA fantasy everyone can enjoy

ByMichael Thal

Miranda Moon is a precocious eleven-year-old with an imagination that would be the envy of any novelist. Her popular younger brother, Marcus, is resentful about missing a huge Halloween party just because of his sister’s tall tales. She was suspended from school, so their parents whisked them away. Now they have to spend Halloween in…

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Summer 2015 Reading List

ByMichael Thal

When I was a high school student, I looked forward to June when the cold Long Island weather finally warmed up and freedom from school was just a few weeks away. My brothers and I spent our summer vacations at Monaco Surf Club on Lido Beach. We had amazing experiences swimming, diving, playing in the sand…

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Spotlight on the Wickware Sagas: Time Travel Stories for Teens

ByMichael Thal

Miss Wickware is a history teacher at Langdon Middle School in Phoenix, Arizona, but the sweet old lady is not exactly what she appears to be. Students with attitude problems and a lack of historical perspective can suddenly find themselves sent back through time to face a famous historical figure they coincidentally need to report about…

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Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2015

ByMichael Thal

Having a hard time finding a bookstore in your neighborhood? Interested in meeting the wordsmiths that put those books together? Look no further than the LA Times Festival of Books to be held on the campus of the University of Southern California on April 18-19. The Festival of Books begins Saturday morning at 10:00 AM-6:00…