YA INTERROGATION WITH GUEST BLOGGER MEGAN

This week, we’re delighted to introduce Megan from Book Addicted Girl blog.

Hi everyone!  It’s great to be here today!  My name is Megan, AKA The Book Addicted Girl, and I’ve been blogging since December 2010.  I’m addicted to YA fiction – especially anything related to the paranormal! – but I read anything and everything really!  I’m always up for talking about books, but in my spare time I love to watch crime drama, mess about making fanpics and spend time with my family and friends.

      Why do you READ and WRITE about teen/YA books?

Well, I guess I read YA because I am a teenager.  When I started blogging, I was only fourteen, so obviously I was already reading YA books without even really realising it (saying that, though, my first post was a review of A Christmas Carol)!  But even if I wasn’t a teen, I’d still be reading YA books.  Why?  Because they all just have this magical feel to them – something about YA books is just so much more interesting and addictive than adult books.  I think it’s because they’re faster paced, often funnier, and with characters I can really relate to.

And, of course, I write about YA because I read, love and obsess over YA.  I just love sharing my views with all my poor, unsuspecting followers who just weren’t expecting the rambling, excited and insanely long review of a book I loved to pieces!

      What are the most ORIGINAL YA books that you have read?

Ooh, good question…  Um, paranormal wise it just has to be Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead: her spin on the vampire genre is just absolutely awesome!  I want to go to St Vlads and train to be a Guardian.  Or maybe I just want to be a Moroi…   

As for fantasy I have to say the most original is Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.  Why?  ‘Cause it rocks!  Seriously, though, there is nothing normal or mundane about the Grisha series: there are guns, cannons, magic, old-timey Russia, The Darkling and a whole new genre: Tsarpunk! 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is also very, very original.  I mean, c’mon.  Assassins.  That’s awesome.  But female assassins in a world where magic once ruled?  Awesomely original. 

Shadows by Paula Weston is brilliant too.  It is original for many reasons, but I’ll list the top three.  One: Its angel lore is absolutely awesome.  Two: It’s NA – my first paranormal NA too!  Three: The lead girl has lost almost everything but she doesn’t sit around and mope – gotta love that!  And I know it’s cheating because it’s NA not YA but I just had to mention it!

Um…  I can’t think of any more off the top of my head…  But we all know that I’ll click ‘send’ on the email to you guys I’ll think of a million others!

     What is a TURN OFF in YA fiction?

Whiny characters or stupid ones that always need saving – be they male or female.  And my old and most notorious foe: Instalove.  Drives me insane.  I get instalust or instaattraction, but insta-I-love-you-and-will-die-with-you-love just doesn’t exist.  And even if I’m reading about angels and demons, I still like my reality…  That makes no sense, does it?   Moving swiftly on…

    What makes for a great YA book?

Strong characters, witty writing, a unique plot and real emotions.  Throw in a kickbutt girl, a funny and hot guy and one heck of a world and you’ve got yourself a best seller!

    Which YA characters would you most like to take OUT TO DINNER and why?

Ooh… First on my guest list would be Daemon Black from the Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout.  Why?  Because he’s H-O-T hot and also really funny – though the night may end with him being punched: he can be a bit obnoxious sometimes too...!  Magnus Bane would be invited because he’s funny too and because I love him to pieces.  Rose Hathaway would have to come, because she’s one of my favourite YA leading gals – ditto for Celaena Sardothien.  Also, I just really want to get the two of them in the same room – they have a few similar traits and I think the initial meeting would result either in friendship or insant-nemesis, both of which would be really really interesting and funny!  Adrian Ivashkov and Jace Wayland would come because they’re hot and funny…  Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant because that would just liven the table up…  And Augustus Waters because he’s Augustus Waters.  Duh.

      Who is your ideal YA HERO/HEROINE and why?

My ideal heroines are probably Rose Hathaway and Celaena Sardothien – they are strong, feisty, kickbutt and snarky – the embodiment of Girl Power.  Billi SanGreal is brilliant too because she’s so… different from the normal heroine: she’s strong and brave but also alone and kind of weary too.  And, of course, totally kickbutt as well.  Saying that, I also love Tessa from Before I Die because while she doesn’t go around killing off demons or just killing people off, she’s strong – so, so strong.  I could never be as brave as her: facing cancer, finding love, accepting the inevitable…

      What is your dream YA ROMANTIC PAIRING and why?

Daemon Black and Katy Swartz.  Why?  I’m in love with Daemon.  Wait a sec – maybe I shouldn’t root for them because then he can be mine…

Ok, I change my mind: Malec.  AKA Magnus and Alec from The Mortal Instrument series.  They are soo perfect for each other!  And so cute.  I heart Malec!!

    What makes you uncomfortable or question the BOUNDARIES OF YA fiction?

Good question… I hate domestic violence – it makes me so angry and I want to kill the offending person.  I don’t really like wanting to kill people, even if they are evil sons of banshees.  But I don’t think it makes me uncomfortable because I question YA boundaries.  I just don’t like domestic violence full stop and I think it should be written about.  And sometimes… sometimes I think we need to feel uncomfortable because it shows us how horrible some people are and how badly others have it.  The real issues – the horrible facts of life – are meant to be uncomfortable, meant to be hard to read, and I think it’s important that young adults read about them. 

Ok, other things that do make me uncomfortable…  Swearing.  Hate it.  But I know lots of ‘normal’ teenagers swear a lot so I accept it – if rather reluctantly.  Same goes for sex and drugs and alcohol and whatnot.  Real teen issues. 

But non-teen things, like undying declarations of devotion and instalove?  No thanks.  Just not gonna happen ever in the real world and lots of teens might get a bit of a shock later in life!

      What would you LIKE to see happening in YA over the next five years?

I’d like less instalove, more ethnic minority action books where ‘being part of *enter ethnic group here* isn’t the main focus but instead all the kickbutt action is (like the amazing Ash Mistry series by Sarwat Chadda)’, total equality between girls and boys, boys reading ‘girl’ books like girls read ‘boy’ books, disappearance of gender expectations of what you can read, more original paranormals, less love triangles, more books about less mainstream paranormal beings…  Wow, that is a lot of want.  I should probably stop there.  You know what they say: if wishes were fishes, am I right?

  What do you think will ACTUALLY be the next big thing in YA fiction?

I have no idea.  It’s pretty hard to judge these things. And I’ve never been that good at predicting the future.  (Or have I…?)  I think that ‘boy books’ and ‘girl books’ will prevail, we’ll get more love triangles, instalove, lots of books about the same paranormal beings and lots of cookiecutter paranormals. 

Ooh, maybe there will be more superhero books though!  I love superhero books.  Fingers crossed!

Give us your top FIVE TEEN/YA books please, Megan

Nooo, this is EVIL!  I hate picking faves…  I have to?  Okay…  Give me a moment…  Alright, got them!

1)      Before I Die by Jenny Downham

2)      Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout

3)      Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

4)      Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys

5)      The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

 

And finally, Megan, if you read ONE book this year, read THIS...

Oooh, good one… 

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey!  Why?  Because it’s fast-paced, exciting and perfect for boys, girls, teens and adults alike! 

 

Megan, thanks so much for submitting to the EDGE INTERROGATION!

It’s been fun!  Well, as far as interrogations go anyway!  :D

If you’d like to read more of Megan’s reviews, you can find her here: The Book Addicted Girl

And you can follow her on twitter @BookAddictedGirl

 

 

YA INTERROGATION WITH GUEST BLOGGER JESS

This week, we’re delighted to introduce Jess from Jess Hearts Books blog

Hi guys, thanks for having me! I’m Jess - a twenty something, British Nerdfighter with a love for all things Disney. I’ve been blogging on my book blog Jess Hearts Books for three years now. I mainly blog about YA but there is some Chick-Lit and New Adult on there too for good measure! It’s bizarre to be interviewed; usually I’m the one interviewing the authors!

      Why do you READ and WRITE about teen/YA books?

I love to read YA books as I think it’s the most diverse and interesting genre around. One minute you can be reading a book set in the future with robots and aliens and the next be reading a love story about an ordinary girl crushing on her best friend! I blog because I love discussing books with other readers. Nothing makes me happier than receiving a message from one of my readers saying they’ve enjoyed a book I’ve recommended or reviewed. I like to blog about YA because I think it’s important to get teens reading. At this age with plenty of required reading for school I know it can make or break a teen’s relationship with books. I like to highlight the amazing books out there that they can relate to with characters going through the same, or similar, struggles as them. It’s very easy to feel alone and isolated as a teenager and reading can not only provide a great escape but can also provide role models to take inspiration from and look up to.

 

   What are the most ORIGINAL YA books that you have read?

I think the most original series I’ve ever read is The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer it’s about fairytale creatures, cyborgs, people who live on the moon, an evil queen…it’s bizarre but utterly fantastic and unique. Ultraviolet by R J Anderson is a book that I wouldn’t even know what genre it fits into it’s that different! I guess the best way to describe it would be a YA Psychological Thriller - with a twist! Cat Patricks books also have some unusual and undiscovered concepts.

 

     What is a TURN OFF in YA fiction?

A pet peeve of mine with any book would be poor editing. It just comes across as very careless, sloppy, and half-hearted and in my opinion can ruin what could be a brilliant book. Series that are ridiculously long with eight or more books I usually just end up giving up on. I’m also not a fan of most love triangles unless they are done really well and have purpose to the story.

 

      What makes for a great YA book?

My favourite YA books are books that are strong in Plot, Characterisation and Prose. I think you can write about pretty much anything and if the writing is engaging, the plot well explored and paced out, and there are characters that feel real and relatable then any story on any subject has the potential to be a great one.

 

    Which YA characters would you most like to take OUT TO DINNER and why?

I’d love to have Will and Jace from The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments - although they are from the same world they are alive in different time periods and I’d love to get them together to see how they get on! I’d also like to invite Kat from Heist Society - I think we’d get on really well and it’d be pretty awesome to pick the brains of a teen criminal mastermind!

 

   Who is your ideal YA HERO/HEROINE and why?

I like heroes and heroines who are strong - not necessarily physically but mentally. I like characters that are intelligent, brave and compassionate. A side of nerdy and witty is also very much appreciated! Simon from The Mortal Instruments I feel has all of these traits and even though he’s not the main hero in the story he’s my hero. One of my favourite heroines of all time is Rose from Vampire Academy she’s intelligent, funny, a loyal friend, and is strong in every way possible.

 

     What is your dream YA ROMANTIC PAIRING and why?

Rose and Dimitri from Vampire Academy are my all-time favourite YA couple. They have this amazing chemistry that sizzles off the pages and they respect one another hugely. They make an incredible team.

 

      What makes you uncomfortable or question the BOUNDARIES OF YA fiction?

I’m all for the controversial reads that put hard, or even taboo, subjects under the microscope. No matter how uncomfortable a topic is you can bet that there is a teenager somewhere going through it and I think these books are important for teens and parents to read and discuss together. I’ve found time and time again that books that are banned or controversial or make for uncomfortable reading are the books that provide the biggest lifeline to teenagers who are experiencing similar things.

     What would you LIKE to see happening in YA over the next five years?

I’d honestly like to see more standalone novels! It seems like everything is part of a series these days and it’s hard to keep up with them all! I’d also really like love triangles to become a thing of the past and perhaps see some stories that have no love story at all. I enjoy romance as much as the next person but I find it unrealistic and unnecessary that every single story and situation requires one.

 

  What do you think will ACTUALLY be the next big thing in YA fiction?

I’ve been seeing a few books based on Japanese Mythology this year and Parallel Worlds. These seem to be the hot new topics in YA.

 

Give us your top FIVE TEEN/YA books please, Jess

I’ve just took a peep at my favourites shelf and these books jumped out at me! There’s some Fantasy, Contemporary and Historical Fiction in there but despite genre I’d recommend these to anyone who simply loves good YA!

 Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

 

And finally, Jess, if you read ONE book this year, read THIS...

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey is my favourite book of 2013 so far and is something I’d recommend to anyone! The characters are fantastic, the plot is mind blowing, there are so many twists and turns and the writing is so incredibly powerful. I think it has all the ingredients that make a great book (as mentioned above!) - I couldn’t put it down!

 

Jess, thanks so much for submitting to the EDGE INTERROGATION!

Phew! *Wipes sweat off brow* I think I’m going to go have a little lie down with a book now after that! 

 

If you’d like to read more of Jess’ reviews, you can find her here: http://jessheartsbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

 

And you can follow her on twitter @JessHeartsBooks

 

 

YA INTERROGATION WITH SISTER SPOOKY

This week we’re delighted to welcome Laura from Sister Spooky blog as our guest. 

Thanks for asking me to take part.  I usually just stick to ASKING questions on my blog in between reviews not answering them and these questions were surprisingly hard but easy at the same time!

Why do you READ and WRITE about teen/YA books?

I always found reading a big challenge as a teen and because I have dyslexia it meant that as much as I enjoyed reading and writing it was an uphill battle at times.  I rekindled my passion for reading through YA in my 20s and once I began reading other book blogs I decided to start my own as a small place for me to talk about books and hopefully where I could inspire some people to read something outside of their comfort zone.

What are the most ORIGINAL YA books that you have read?

At the time when I first encountered it in my early teens, The Secret Life of Adrian Mole aged 13 and 3/4 was a major revelation for me because it was a book from a boy's point of view that wasn't all about action packed adventures.  Compared to current books it's not an original really but when it first came out it was amazing.  More recent original YA I've read are Heart Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne, Undone by Cat Clarke, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David LevithaN.  I better stop now before this list goes on and on.

What is a TURN OFF in YA fiction?

I'm not sure what the actual term is but I just refer to it as the "easy out".  When things are written off with magic or just something happening at the right moment but for no real reason other than it would be helpful to the plot.  I don't want the love interest to suddenly get they are in love with the MC just at that vital moment or that the one tool the MC needs to get out of a pickle is in their pocket.  If it's believable then YES but otherwise it just gets my back up.

What makes for a great YA book?

Characters with a voice.  If I'm reading about a MC or group of characters that have clear and honest voices and personalities then you can throw whatever you like at them and I'll love it just to see how they deal with it.

Which YA characters would you most like to take OUT TO DINNER and why?

Skarper from Goblins by Philip Reeve. He'd be a real rascal and funny to talk with. Magnus Bane from Cassandra Clare's TMI and TID series because no dinner parties are complete without Magnus. Oscar from Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton because geek boys own my heart and Jody from Rockoholic by C.J.Skuse because we'd gab about music for hours.

Who is your ideal YA HERO/HEROINE and why?

Hester from The Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve because she's such a broken person which such strength and weakness that I can't fault her even with all her flaws.

What is your dream YA ROMANTIC PAIRING and why?

Anna and Abel in The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis. I can't even begin to tell you how fantastic this book is. Totally blew my socks off and a surprise treat.

What makes you uncomfortable or question the BOUNDARIES OF YA fiction?

If I'm honest it's New Adult. I don't mind there being sex in YA and in fact I think there should be more when it's believable and honest to reality rather than overly sickly and romantic because it's not always like that. It's important for YA to embrace sex because teenagers have so it's not a shock to them. New Adult is fine but I think the uncomfortable level for me is when it's a blurry line in terms of how it's being pitched to YA markets. I think NA and YA is hard to separate at the moment to the point that even authors don't know if they are technically going into NA grounds. I once heard about a 50 Shades of Grey type book aimed at YA audience. I mean….seriously?

NA is great for a NA audience because there is a big difference to sex in YA and sex in NA.

What would you LIKE to see happening in YA over the next five years?

MORE FUNNY!  I love to laugh and the funny books I've found over the last year or two are stunning reads but often are few and fair between.  I would LOVE to see more UKYA authors getting audiences in the USA where there is a big market for it.  Plus I think that it seems like USYA authors when being "sold" to bloggers etc they get a lot of energy and cash thrown at them and UK ones get much less.  Might be just my own personal opinion but the playing field is no where near equal in that respect.

What do you think will ACTUALLY be the next big thing in YA fiction?

There seems to be the taste for fairytales of late but I'm not sure how long that will really last.  I think there will be a lot more contemporary books about big issues like alcoholism, drugs and mental illness because when they are done well they are hugely moving as well as amazing to read.

Give us your top FIVE TEEN/YA books please.

TOP 5 OF ALL TIME!! ONLY FIVE!!!

You guys are so strict!!

OK, in no special order

Heart Shaped Bruise by Tanya Bryne

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

If you read ONE book this year, read THIS...

Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb.  I go on and on about this one but I found it so funny and clever and had wonderful messages about dealing with divorce, teen existence, girls, geeks, friends and family.  Even made me shed a tear or two when a few moments hit home with me.  Plus it's UKYA!

Thanks so much for submitting to the interrogation, Laura.

Check out Laura’s book blog here: www.sisterspooky.co.uk

Or follow her on Twitter: @sisterspooky

Next Friday Michelle from Fluttering Butterflies undergoes the Edge Interrogation!

YA Interrogation with Guest Blogger Cicely Loves Books!

This week we are delighted to welcome Cicely from Cicely Loves Books as our guest on the Edge …  

Cicely with Karen Mahoney

Hello, EDGE-y people! I’m Cicely and I blog over at Cicely Loves Books (you can tell I toiled over that one). I blog pretty much solely about YA, and have been doing so for about a year and a half now, (and LOVING it). I’m also a pretty big fan of the old Caps Lock/exclamation point, so forgive me if I come across as being incredibly excitable. I’m not *always* like this, I promise. Just when I’ve been at the ole’ caffeine, (Which, I guess, is all the time…)

So, Cicely, WHY do you read and write about YA books?

I read and write about YA mostly because, well, I am a teenager. So it only really seems appropriate, right? Also, it makes me feel pretty normal when I’m reading a contemp and the characters are like me and I can just relate and it makes me feel a bit less, well, weird. Makes me feel less alone sometimes, I guess. As does the awesome community!

We're big fans of weird at the Edge! So what are the most ORIGINAL YA books that you've read?

Hmm, most original? That’s a tough question, but surprisingly some of the most original YA (in my opinion) are retellings of things. I think it really takes an original perspective to take something familiar and turn it into something brand new, so books like Shadows on The Moon and Long Lankin, and Nevermore (which is all just kind of based on Poe’s work). Also, anything that takes on a new format in storytelling, I guess, and uses a new style to tell the story like Stolen and The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

OK, but what is a TURN OFF for you in YA fiction?

Ugh, INSTA- FREAKING-LOVE. It needs to be less frequent. I’m not saying it should stop, it should just appear less. Please.

But what makes for a GREAT YA book?

Originality. Interesting characters, or at least relatively realistic/relate able ones. An interesting plot line. Stuff that makes any book great, I guess?

Side-stepping reality for a moment, which YA characters would you most like to take OUT TO DINNER and why?

What YA characters would I most like to take out to dinner...? Katniss Everdeen, because I reckon we’d both have equally bad table manners and I wouldn’t have to pretend I knew why there’s about 7 different types of fork. Plus her tales from the Arena would be pretty interesting, if not off-putting. But if we’re talking date-dinner, probably Will Herondale: witty, tortured, and permanently dressed in Victorian clothing. Perfect dinner companion!

On a similar theme, who is your ideal YA HERO / HEROINE and why?

My ideal YA heroine is probably Korra from the Legend of Korra. I know she’s already fictional, but I don’t care, I want her in a book now please. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen this show, but it’s AMAZING and I love Korra and I can’t wait to see her character development and I really shouldn’t have brought this up because now I won’t stop talking about it. *deep breath*

(Half an hour later …) What makes you uncomfortable or question THE BOUNDARIES of YA?

Nothing, really, apart from gratuitous sex scenes I guess. Not that I’ve even come across stuff like that in YA, ever. Yeah… But sex is cool as long as it isn’t really into detail, drugs are cool as long as they’re being represented realistically and not advocated, swearing – well, I swear and I am a teen, so that’s fine. Yeah.

What would you LIKE to see happening in YA fiction over the next five years?

Less paranormal romance, more horror/suspense paranormal fiction. I want scary things to actually be scary. And more high quality YA comtemps! And UK YA!

But what do you think will ACTUALLY BE the next big thing in YA?

Hmm, there’ll still be this thing with Dystopia going on for a little while I think, but I think there’ll be more high fantasy over the next few years, too.

So, give us your TOP FIVE YA/Teen books.

Only five?! But it changes all the time! Okay, I’m going to try. At this very minute, my favourites are:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (so excited for the film!) 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Everything by Sarah Dessen ever

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowely

Chime by Franny Billingsly

Finally, could we ask for a recommendation – if you read one book this year, read THIS … 

Perks of Being a Wallflower. I only read it for the first time this year, but it’s just really good. If you’re not a big reader, it’s short and simply written, but it’s really honest and melancholy and it’s just a really good book, regardless of it being YA or whatever.

OK, that's a few more books to add to the Edge bookshelf! Thanks for being this week's guest on the Edge Cicely and for taking the time to answer all our questions so thoroughly!

Thanks for having me! 

Don't forget to check out Cicely's own blog over at Cicely Loves Books.

Young Adult Books Interrogation with Guest Book Blogger Paula Hardman from PaulaSHx

This week our guest at the Edge is Paula Hardman who has been blogging about books at PaulaSHx since the start of January 2011. On the blog Paula describes herself as a blogger, book reviewer, social media addict, beta reader, aspiring writer and Harley Davidson lover – amongst other things!

Originally from Brazil, Paula came to the UK aged seventeen, intending to study English and Photography for three years and then return home to finish a degree in Journalism. Needless to say, it didn't quite go according to plan. She blames her husband for the fact she is still here. "I had no plans of having a beautiful little girl in this trip either, but I like it better this way. Life's curves made my life complete!"

Over the coming months we will be inviting a number of book bloggers to guest here at the Edge. Huge thanks to Paula for volunteering to be the first to undergo the Edge interrogation. So, without further ado, lets shine that light and let the questions begin … 

Paula, WHY do you read and write about Young Adult books? 

I love YA Books! Your teens might be a little traumatic, but they are also the years when you start finding out about adult life - falling in love, discovering who you are and what you can do - without the responsibilities of actually being an adult. When I read YA it evokes all those feelings and memories in me and I enjoy reminiscing about my younger years when things were more dramatic, but simpler.

What are the most ORIGINAL YA books that you have read?

Oh! This is a hard one as most of the books I have read recently are following trends while giving it their own twist. I would have to say: The Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare – she walks the fine line in between all fairy tales and different religions while creating her own very different world; Mercy series by Rebecca Lim – a very interesting take on angels and a double story as in every book Mercy must discover who she is as well as help the life she’s inhabiting for the moment; and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – a very political take on fairy courts and love.

What is a TURN OFF in YA fiction?

A very slow pace or events that are so unrealistic you are left scratching your head and asking: “seriously?”

What makes for a GREAT YA book?

Convincing tension, romance, characters and action. I like when an author tells me there are cats raining from the sky, but he/she does it so convincingly, that I actually believe it’s plausible. I also like finding out the backstory while the action in the present plot is still going on - when the pace slows too much to fill you in I usually lose interest.

Which YA characters would you most like to take OUT TO DINNER and why?

I am a girl, so I will have to say Seth Morgan from Wicked Lovely – the alternative but extremely clever and wise sort – and Cole St.Clair from Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls – the bad boy with brains.

Who is your ideal YA HERO / HEROINE and why?

I like strong female leads, girls who can hold their own and kick butt, so I adore Isabel Culpeper from Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls and Isabelle Lightwood from The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. They are not the main characters on any of these books, but I sympathise with them as we have the same attitude and way of thinking. I’m a little sceptical, sarcastic and straight to the point like they are.

What is your dream YA ROMANTIC PAIRING and why?

Cole St.Clair and Isabel Culpeper (Wolves of Mercy Falls) – they are both fighting their demons and finding their feet. And while they are both really messed up, their dramatic and complicated relationship actually helps them work through their issues. It’s realistic, you know? Real relationships are not perfect and this one isn’t either.

What makes you uncomfortable or question THE BOUNDARIES of YA?

When things become too graphic. And it’s not just YA, this could also apply to adult books. I think the magic of a book lays on letting the reader imagine half of the scene themselves, so they ride the book with you. When you are a teen, you are discovering all sorts of things about yourself - that includes principals, sexuality, beliefs and boundaries- and it would be unrealistic of a book talking about teens not to tackle that to some extent. That is not to say that it can’t be done with taste and touch. Swearing, for example - if added at the right scene, it enhances the mood or the character’s reaction. If dropped in constantly to replace another word, it’s just rude. A heavy making-out session in between characters is another one – we all know the chase is a lot more interesting than actually winning the game. It’s the tension of flirting that gives you the butterflies, not characters that can’t leave each other’s faces alone.

What would you LIKE to see happening in YA fiction over the next five years?

I would love to see YA treated with a little more respect. It’s a genre like many others. It annoys me when you tell people you read YA and they say: “Oh, I read proper fiction.” You have to read what rocks your boat, and YA rocks mine.

What do you think will ACTUALLY BE the next big thing in YA?

It sounds like there is a whole undead thing going on at the moment. Historical Fiction also seems to be getting stronger, but I really like the ones about real life issues (Edge Authors), if done properly, they can be really interesting, helpful and raise awareness for the issues.

Give us your TOP FIVE YA/Teen books.

In no particular order: Mercy series by Rebecca Lim, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr, 15 Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins, and Sabado a Noite by Babi Dewet (this is a Brazilian author and the book is so far only written in Portuguese).

(And no, we didn't bribe Paula to include one of our Edge authors in her list!)

If you read one book this year, read THIS … 

This is not actually a new book, but The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. It works on two levels: If you read it to a child, it’s about the adventures of an alien prince. If you read in between the lines, it’s a serious critique on society and its priorities. My favourite quotes are:

“Grown-ups like numbers… If you tell grown-ups, ‘I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof…,’ they won’t be able to imagine such a house. You have to tell them, ‘I saw a house worth a hundred thousand francs.’ Then they exclaim, ‘What a pretty house!’”

“In those days, I didn’t understand anything. I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life. I should never have run away! I ought to have realised the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. Flowers are so contradictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.”

Thanks very much to Paula for being our guest and providing some great answers to our questions. Be sure to take a trip over to PaulaSHx for some great reviews and much more besides.

You can also follow Paula on Twitter @PaulaSHx

If you would be interested in submitting to interrogation, or have something you'd like to say about teen and young adult books, send an email to edgewritersATyahooDOTcoDOTuk. Thanks.

Notes on the Edge – by Guest Author Jane McLoughlin.

This week we are delighted to welcome Jane McLoughlin as our guest author at the Edge. 


Jane's debut YA novel At Yellow Lake hit the shelves yesterday. We recommend you hurry to your nearest bookshop and grab a copy!

Now over to Jane …




Most YA writers have a notion of “edge”. It’s where our characters live, whether or not we think of ourselves or our work as “edgy”.

If I were to come up with a definition of “edge”, I couldn’t come up with anything better than these lines from the song Common People by Pulp:

" You will never understand

How it feels to live your life

With no meaning or control

And with nowhere left to go."

This certainly sums up the world of YA as I see it. Young people, in real life as well as in fiction, often have no control. They have no (legal) way to make money, they can’t vote, school is a requirement, not an option, they are bound to their parent’s lifestyle choices. In “edgy” YA fiction these parental choices usually veer from inept to misguided to downright dangerous . So, just as in the song, characters in YA fiction often have “nowhere left to go.”

To me, this is one of the great challenges (and joys) of writing YA. How do we create a believable world where powerless characters can take control? How do we find realistic ways for the voiceless to express themselves and for the defenceless to fight back?

But it’s the first line from that stanza that challenges me the most: “You will never understand how it feels...”

As a middle-aged, middle class woman, this hurts, because the truth is that I don’t understand. I look at the problems faced by the characters I’m writing about and, for the most part, I have never had their experiences, have never been even half as vulnerable or exposed.

Jane McLoughlin

OK, bad and scary things have happened to me in my life (and, like an actor, I use my emotional memory of these situations very often) but I’ve never been abandoned or let-down by my family, I’ve never been without the support of stable and loving people. YA characters, including ones that I have created, are often left to fend completely for themselves, and this something I can only, as yet, imagine.

So, as a writer, there is a limit to my “edge” and I have to acknowledge that.

Another great line from Common People is “everybody hates a tourist” and I worry about that sometimes, too. (All right, so I worry about a lot of foolish things). But isn’t that what all writers are to an extent? Just day trippers? Whatever we write about, whatever dangers we create for our characters, aren’t we able to turn off the laptop, make a cup of tea, tweet about the day’s word count?

The answer to this is yes, of course we are. For YA writers this is particularly problematic—the edgy world of the teenager is often far from the more rounded, secure worlds that adult writers generally inhabit. But, as writers, we still have to go to the edge—even while acknowledging that it is only our edge, not the edge. We have to be unafraid to visit some dark places, to take some creative risks, to follow our characters into the turbulent water of our own painful memories. And even if we can’t, as the the song says, understand what it’s like to be powerless, at least we must to try to remember. And if we can’t remember?

Then we’ll have to do what writers do best—imagine the edge, and head towards it.


At Yellow Lake by Jane McLoughlin is out now in paperback, published by Frances Lincoln. Visit your local bookshop or click here to buy a copy.

Keep up to date with Jane's latest news via her blog.