Monday, March 30, 2015

Introducing: An Open Letter To My YA Self + GIVEAWAY



A few weeks ago, I took to twitter and asked my followers if they were interested in getting involved with a feature on the blog, highlighting YA contemporary reads.  The response I got was overwhelming and so very humbling.  I was ecstatic to learn that so many wanted to be apart of my little project, not even knowing the details just yet.

The idea to write a letter to my young adult self was partly inspired by the Dear Teen Me book (that I helped promote a few years ago), as well as my current profession in teaching middle school students.  Each time I discover a contemporary YA novel, it causes me to reflect back on my own youth and how certain themes played a significant role in my younger years.  I see these same stories, coming alive from the pages of the books, inside my classroom every day.  All of this propelled the idea to write my own letter, and ask others to write a letter to their YA selves as well.   

Over the next month bloggers, readers, and authors will be sharing their open letters to their YA selves.  Please join me as we reflect back on our youths, recommend books to our younger selves, and share personal stories waiting to be told.  Below you will find the schedule of bloggers and readers who will be posting their own letters.  I've also got a handful of YA authors who will be sharing their letters on my blog, as well.  I look forward to reading all the letters and the coming together of a YA community.

(If you would like to participate on your own blog, please feel free to do so! Please link back to this post and let me know in the comments with a link. Thanks!)

Be sure to follow the schedule below to read all the Open Letters:

Tues, March 31 - Dianne @ http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com
Wed, April 1 - Erin @ http://www.thehardcoverlover.blogspot.com
Thurs, April 2 - Gaby + Lisa @ http://www.bookishbroads.com
Fri, April 3 - Hazel @ http://www.staybookish.net
Mon, April 6 - Brittany @ http://www.bookaddictsguide.com
Tues, April 7 - Candice @ http://www.thegrownupya.com
Wed, April 8 - Jordin @ http://www.abottomlessbookbag.com
Thurs, April 9 - Lauren @ http://www.bookmarklit.net
Fri, April 10 - Tiff @ http://www.mostlyyalit.com
Mon, April 13 - Andi @ http://www.andiabcs.com
Tues, April 14 - Willa @ http://www.willasramblings.com
Wed, April 15 - Sarah @ http://www.whatsarahread.com
Thurs, April 16 - Heather @ http://www.theturningpages.com
Fri, April 17 - Alexa @ http://www.alexalovesbooks.com
Mon, April 20 - Joli @ http://www.actinupwithbooks.blogspot.com
Tues, April 21 - Margie @ http://www.bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com
Wed, April 22 - Jenna @ http://www.bookiemoji.com/
Thurs, April 23 - Carmel @ http://www.carmelandkyla.blogspot.com
Fri, April 24 - Kyla @ http://www.bookbuddiesph.blogspot.com
Tues, April 28 - Christy @ http://www.novel-ink.blogspot.com
Wed, April 29 - Jen @ http://www.jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/
Thurs, April 30 - Jaime @ http://www.fictionfare.blogspot.com
Fri, May 1 - Lauren @ http://www.laurenheartsbooks.com

And you don't want to miss this GIVEAWAY:



a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway open to international readers (the book depository must be able to ship to you)
Good luck! & stayed tuned for My Open Letter To My YA Self tomorrow on the blog!

Huge thanks to the talented Georgie of What Georgie Did for the beautiful graphic

33 comments:

  1. Excellent idea! I love this and will definitely be joining in, in April. In one sentence I would tell my younger self that it really does get better! And a book I would recommend... it would need to have been published already... possibly The Perks of Being A Wallflower, I think my younger self would have appreciated that a lot more than my adult self did. R x

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  2. this is such an amazing feature Ginger! can't wait to read these posts <3

    if I could tell my younger self something it would be to not change who you are for other people. I would've LOVED LOVED LOVED to have had Saving Francesca in my life when I was a teenager. It would've been a life jacket to weather me through the storm of high school.

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  3. I'm so happy to be part of this! I can't wait to read everyone's letters <3

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  4. I la-la-love this idea! So fun!

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  5. I'm excited to read the letter to YA Self posts! I have always loved contemporary YA from when I was actually a young adult and now as an adult. I am really interested in reading a Jessi Kirby book ever since I have read on your blog about how much you love her books! I would pick Golden!

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  6. Oooo this is hard. What would I tell a younger me? I would probably tell myself not to worry so much. I did way too much of that. I would tell myself to let go of those worries, fears and any bad emotions I was harboring and just relax and be happy.
    The book I would recommend to my younger self I think would be Revolution The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider or Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens.

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  7. If you could tell your YA self something in one sentence, what would it be? I'd tell her to not hide herself, just be who you are and own it, with no shame.

    Bonus: Which YA contemporary read would you recommend to your younger self? "Since You've Been Gone", probably. Senior year of HS me really could've used that book!

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  8. I would tell her to not worry so much about what other people think, its what you think of yourself that matters! I would probably recommend Katie McGarry's books to myself!

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  9. I would tell her to finish school no matter what! Gosh, I wish I could go back to being a teenager. I would do so many things different. But don't we all feel that way? I was not a reader when I was younger. I read my first book at 23. That didn't include school forced books. Now, I wished I was a younger reader. The book that changed everything and made me the book lover I am today is Twilight. So I would force my younger self to read it. Thank you so much.

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  10. I'd say "don't judge people so fast and trust me when I say people aren't always judging you, too, just be yourself and relax" and I'd recommend Just One Day by Gayle Forman because it would have changed my life sooner.

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  11. What would I tell my younger self? "Have courage and be kind." And I would definitely recommend Anna and the French Kiss bc <3

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  12. I'd tell myself to not worry about what other people think and that it's more important to be true to myself. I'd recommend reading The Duff.

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  13. I'd say: this is only one part of your life. Enjoy.

    ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS would be my recommendation.

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  14. This a great idea. Books really helps us in a lot of ways and it reminds us that we are not alone in this world, and if only the younger me have known this, it would make a great difference.

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  15. Something along the lines of: be yourself, don't give up on your dreams

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  16. I think I'd tell my younger self to take more chances, and I think Fangirl would have spoken to me as much then, as it does now.

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  17. this is a wonderful idea! thanks for hosting it! i'm fairly sure i will join in on the fun as well (:

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  18. I'm so, so excited for this feature, G! It's such a wonderful idea, and I love that each letter is going to be so personal because it will be a different writer with different experiences each time. What a fantastic idea!

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  19. hi! thanks to your brilliant idea, i've scheduled the post and it should be up tomorrow morning! i've linked back to your post as well. you can view mine here: http://wp.me/p4XdmQ-Ny (:

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  20. I love this! I'm thinking of posting my own :) In one sentence, I would tell my YA self: Don't get ahead of stuffs. I would probably recommend myself The Perks of Being A Wallflower. :)

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  21. I would tell my YA self, "Never give up, it might be hard for you now, but it will all be worth it."

    The YA read I would recommend my younger self to read would most likely be Love Letters to the Dead. I didn't really expect to be too attached to that book because I didn't know what it was all about and I think that made me love it more.

    I'm also going to write an open letter to my YA self!! I love this idea, G! <3

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  22. I love this idea! So much so that I posted my letter to my YA self over on Spines and Covers.

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  23. Hm... I’m still a young adult but I would definitely tell my even younger adult self that it’s all worth it in the long run and to never stop trying. The YA read I would recommend to myself to read is Grasshopper Jungle because (1) it took me WAY to long to read it and younger me needs to have read that book ASAP and (2) I know younger me (and me now) would appreciate it because of it’s wonderful weirdness. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  24. I'm wishing I had a letter to read from my future YA self in a few years. Not sure what I'd want it to say To my past self: plan more, expect less
    Bonus: Which YA contemporary read would you recommend to your younger self? How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

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  25. This is a lovely idea! I posted my letter on Papercuttts.

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  26. Love this idea, G! I put my letter up today!

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  27. I love this idea. I think I still count as a young adult at 18 but I'd have many things to say to my younger self. I'd start by telling to stop pretending and just be myself, and to tell my so called friend to go screw themselves if they don't want to accept me the way I am. And to don't worry, I'll find my supportive group of friends soon. Really loved the letters I've read so far. :)

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  28. This is such a great idea! I'd tell my YA self that she is worthy of love, and that she shouldn't settle for unhealthy relationships to feel a (fleeting) sense of closeness. I'd recommend reading Isla and the Happily Ever After - maybe it would help her stop being so hard on herself.

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  29. It doesn't matter what other people think.

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  30. Don't be afraid to be yourself, and embrace your inner nerd.
    I would recommend to my younger self "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han.

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  31. Be more confident! And it didn't exist then, but I wish I'd had Just One Day when I was a high school senior/college freshman. I might have been saved some heartbreak.

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  32. I would tell myself that as important as it all felt, it wasn't. Just live your life and have fun. Don't waste time on people who don't appreciate you.

    I'd recommend Leila Sales THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE to myself.

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  33. I would tell myself to enjoy being young while you can. Don't be so serious and have some fun! I would recommend any book by Morgan Matson :)

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