An Interview with Kelly Loy Gilbert about the Heart-Wrenching WHEN WE WERE INFINITE

Repeating covers of WHEN WE WERE INFINITE above a blue and pale orange gradient background.

When We Were Infinite is the absolute best book I've read in 2021, and I haven't picked up a YA book since early February, when I finished it. It's Kelly Loy Gilbert's third book (and out today!), and it delves deep into the protagonist Beth and her four best friendsโ€”Grace, Brandon, Sunny, and Jasonโ€”during their… Continue reading An Interview with Kelly Loy Gilbert about the Heart-Wrenching WHEN WE WERE INFINITE

Pick Your Poison: Bloody, Brutal, and Tragic YA

YA can really be ruthless sometimes. From gory, bloody murder to absolutely tragic & heartbreaking stories, there is no end to the lengths these stories can go. They'll break your heart, and be glad for it. As such, today I'm talking about three fantastically ruthless fantasy stories that I enjoyed reading this year, and I've… Continue reading Pick Your Poison: Bloody, Brutal, and Tragic YA

Thinking About Short Fiction: Prelude & Foreshadow

Recently, it feels as if I don't have the energy to read anything that's high commitment, which mostly means I'm not reading a lot of huge, dense fantasy novels. I've begun listening to more audiobooks while I draw, consuming massive amounts of fanfiction and Webtoons, getting swept away by swoony romances, and also turning to… Continue reading Thinking About Short Fiction: Prelude & Foreshadow

Skyhunter, Crownchasers, and 99 Other YA Science-Fiction Novels

Science-fiction is one of my favorite genres, in part because of how one day, in the future, maybe it can be real. There's such a huge breadth to sci-fi as a genre, ranging from clones to space to alien invasions to robot dogs. Yes, magic is cool, but something just as cool as magic is… Continue reading Skyhunter, Crownchasers, and 99 Other YA Science-Fiction Novels

Not Quite Human: A New Wave of Vampire & Werewolf Fiction

Trends come and go for books, especially as some titles get popular and spur publishing to welcome more books with similar themes and tropes. One of the most notable in young adult literature is the vampire, werewolf, and other paranormal creature trend, largely spurred by Twilight and other novels during that era. Before I continue… Continue reading Not Quite Human: A New Wave of Vampire & Werewolf Fiction

Nerdy Niches: Slay and Other Books About Video Games, Fandom, & Other Passions

Protagonists who have a really strong passion, especially for something relevant to popular culture, are always so relatable to read about, and make some of the best quick reads. Whether it's about books or cosplay or video games or something else, reading about how it grounds characters and plays an important role in their lives… Continue reading Nerdy Niches: Slay and Other Books About Video Games, Fandom, & Other Passions

Catch Up: 10 Must-Read YA Series Continuing in 2020

We never get to read everything on our TBR, or everything that comes out in a year. Figuring out which backlist books are worth your time--especially in a series--can be hard, despite all the opinions floating out there. Thus, I've prepared a list of some of the series that I think are must reads from… Continue reading Catch Up: 10 Must-Read YA Series Continuing in 2020