Shelf Analysis: YA has (another) Heart Attack

by Kay | May 27, 2011 | Shelf Analysis | 6 comments

Once upon a time, I wrote a post about a YA trend that involved hearts. Lots and lots of hearts. Well, apparently hearty covers must really be selling well, as they are still absolutely everywhere. And, the more I looked into it, the more I found heart-astic covers on not-so-recent releases. It’s been something we’ve been stumbling into over the last 5 or so years.

In other words, the heart is here to stay.

You Had Me At Halo by Amanda Ashby

Undercover by Beth Kaphart

Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K. Kelly Martin

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Dangerous to Know by Katy Moran

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Recovery Road by Blake Nelson

While some of these I find rather blah (see Fauxmance), there are also some pretty unusual takes on the idea. Like the last two with a girl making a heart with her hands – it’s cute but also slightly sad…

But my favourite has to be the very first – You Had Me At Halo. The pun is fantastic and the cover adorable – all round, very cute!

Favourites anyone?

Shelf Analysis: Teens and Coffee

by Kay | Nov 15, 2009 | Shelf Analysis | 0 comments

As a highschooler, coffee was an adult thing. Something that you drink when you are old and have no energy. A drink for those who are so desperate for caffeine they ignore the horrible taste. Going to uni brought me over to the “dark side” and far too much of my work was done with a latte in hand.

And even though I am not long out of my teens, it seems things have changed. Kids line up at Starbucks after school for their mochas, and can’t get by without a morning latte. Not sure if that is good or bad, but it has affected the YA genre. Has anyone else picked up on the coffee-infused stories and covers that have been published lately? Well, if not, here’s a shot.