It's time for Operation Teen Book Drop (TBD), our annual event held in honor of Support Teen Literature Day. On Thursday, April 15th, 2010, we - the combined efforts of readergirlz, Guys Lit Wire, YALSA, and If I Can Read I Can Do Anything - will be dropping over 10,000 new YA books, donated by publishers, into the hands of teens on Native American tribal lands. Nationwide, librarians, over 100 YA authors, and teens will drop YA books in their own communities. Participants can download bookplates to insert into the books they'll leave behind. That night at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST, everyone will join an online TBD Post-Op party at the readergirlz blog.

Click here for full TBD information, bookplates, bookmarks, and more.

You may also purchase books from the TBD Wish Lists which will go directly to two tribal school libraries. Click here to learn how to purchase books for students at Ojo Encino Day School and Alchesay High School.

Rock the drop, rgz!

 

      

Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth Scott as our current Author-in-Residence and newest diva at rgz. She'll remain our A-i-R through the end of the month. We are honored to have Elizabeth among us. Learn more about Elizabeth Scott and our author-in-residence position.

 

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. She tries to be an optimist, but then she too is abruptly and unceremoniously dumped. She's also gingerly handling a renewed relationship with her charming father. Quinn's happy to have him around again until she realizes how horribly he's treated the many women in his life, how he's stolen more than just their hearts.

Determined to, for once, take action in her life, Quinn joins forces with the half-sister she's never met and the little sister she'll do anything to protect. Together, they set out to right her father's wrongs...and in doing so, begin to uncover what they're really looking for: the truth.

Download this month's poster and bookmark.

"How would you deal with finding out your father isn't who he says he is, and love isn't quite what you thought? Readergirlz will cheer for Quinn as she teams up with a half-sister she's never met and a younger sister who may be the wisest of the bunch to find out the truth, and in the process discover truths about themselves. We are honored to welcome Deb Caletti this month to explore truth, Prince Charming, and maybe even a little romance." - Holly Cupala, readergirlz diva "Caletti's gifts...are at their sharpest." - Publishers Weekly, starred review The honors and awards Deb has received for her novels include: National Book Award Finalist PNBA Best Book Award PEN USA Literary Award Finalist School Library Journal Best Book Award Can't see the video above? Click here to watch it at YouTube.

Deb Caletti

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at rgz downloads!

On the nightstand: A Leaning Tower of Books.

Favorite drink while you write: Coffee. Milk and sugar, please.

Favorite bookstores: The ones in my neighborhood: Third Place Books, University Bookstore, Half Price Books, and all the fabulous independents around the country who've had me to visit.

Favorite library: The Bellevue branch of the King County Library System. Love that KCLS!

Pet: Jupiter, my beloved Beagle, who I just lost but who is still very much with me.

Place to write: I have a lovely, glassed-in sun room for an office, but still like to write sitting on my bed.

Inspiration: A good book.

Dream book tour: The Mediterranean coastline.

Writer buddies: You know who you are. :)

Cure for writer's block: A walk around the room, a cookie.

Favorite outfit: One of my white robes.

Laptop or longhand? Laptop.

Stilettos or Uggs? Both, depending on the occasion.

Next up: Stay, to be released April 2011.

Author idols: Richard Ford

Other YA Novels:
The Queen of Everything
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
Wild Roses
The Nature of Jade
The Fortunes of Indigo Skye
The Six Rules of Maybe

Roundtable: The readergirlz divas and postergirlz gathered together for a roundtable discussion of The Secret Life of Prince Charming.

Additional Interviews:
Powell's Books
Seattle PI with John Marshall
TeensReadToo
Bildungsroman with Little Willow
Dominique McCafferty
Deb Caletti Q&A

Website: www.debcaletti.com

 

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Special Projects

rgz LIVE!

Mark your calendar for three special hour-long chats this month! Chats begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST at the readergirlz blog.

Author Diane Duane will be dropping on Monday, April 12th to celebrate the release of her newest book, A Wizard of Mars.

Join the Operation TBD chat on Thursday, April 15th and tell us how you rocked the drop this year!

We'll chat with this month's featured author, Deb Caletti, on Wednesday, April 21st.

 

April 15th is Operation Teen Book Drop! This is the third year rgz has helped lead the effort, and we'll be delivering over 10,000 new books to teens on Native reservations and tribal lands.

To learn more about the effort and our partners, check out our Operation TBD page. What's more, more than 100 top YA authors around the country are going to be dropping books in public places. Keep an eye on our blog to find out more.

You are cordially invited to play along, too. All you have to do is leave a book in a public space for some lucky reader to find. Viola! You've rocked the drop.

The following tunes were hand-picked by the author to accompany her book. Deb selected a mix of different styles and time periods, one track for each of the main female characters.

1. "Daughters" by John Mayer Trio - Live (Quote from the opening page of the book)
2. "Baby I Can't Please You" by Sam Phillips (For Mom - Mary Louise Hoffman)
3. "Love You Madly" by Cake (For Aunt Annie)
4. "Shop Around" by Smokey Robinson (For Grandma - Dorothy Hoffman)
5. "I Was Never Young" by Of Montreal (For Sprout)
6. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver (For Frances Lee)
7. "Changed the Locks" by Lucinda Williams (For Joelle Giofranco)
8. "Oh My Love" by John Lennon (For Elizabeth Bennett)
9. "A Lucky Guy" by Rickie Lee Jones (For Olivia Thorton)
10. "Not The Doctor" by Alanis Morissette (For Brie Jenkins)
11. "Love Is A Stranger" by Eurythmics (For Abigail Renfrew)
12. "Secret Heart" by Ron Sexsmith (For Quinn)

 

Discuss the following questions (and more!) with other readers at the readergirlz blog.

1. Quinn says that too often "good choices" meant other people's choices to her. What makes a choice a good one?

2. Dorothy Hoffman, Quinn's grandmother, writes about chemistry and love. How important is chemistry in a relationship?

3. Frances Lee describes buying a box of chocolates for a boy she was "in love" with. Her mother describes to her the varying other kinds of "in": "In over her head," "In need," "in danger," "incomplete." Have you ever experienced an "in love" that was actually an "in"?

4. Why do you think Quinn's father steals the objects from the women he's been involved with? How does he view these women?

5. Quinn's mom discusses the idea of "love as work." She says a good relationship is easy. How do you feel about this concept?

6. Frances Lee's mother, Joelle, describes her allure to a moody bad boy. All of the main characters later discuss this with Brie at dinner. Do you think there is a "Bad Boy" allure? If so, why do you think it exists?

7. Quinn's mother keeps a list of warning signs on her refrigerator. Click here to see the list. What would you add to the list? What would you take off of it?

8. Elizabeth Bennett says, "We should not give away a moment to anyone who does not deserve it." Do you agree? Have you ever given away moments?

9. Aunt Annie talks about second thoughts, how "second thoughts should be promoted." Have you ever had second thoughts you didn't listen to?

10. Quinn and her sisters return the objects in part to undo their father's wrong. Have you ever wanted to repair another person's wrong? Were the sisters successful? What else did they achieve?

11. Quinn's grandmother advises: "Wait. Wait for 100 percent." Do you agree?

12. What is the main message of the book? Do you think the message is equally true for boys as it is for girls?

 

Planning your own book group/get-together? Here are some party ideas from the author.

Invite: Hand-written, coffee-stained "list," like the one on Quinn's fridge

Food: Ice cream, the ultimate heartbreak cure

Décor: Not complete without a giant Bob from Bob's Big Boy.

Movies: 500 Days of Summer, Love Actually, The Runaway Bride

 

Recommended by postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council

Fiction
Beauty Shop for Rent by Laura Bowers
A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

Non-Fiction
FBI Girl: How I Learned to Crack My Father's Code by Maura Conlon-McIvor

 

 

Read ahead! Get ready for our upcoming book discussions:

May: Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

June: Paper Towns by John Green