Thursday YA News

Here’s your Thursday YA News:

YA Bookish Stuff

SLJ rounds up some recent YA mysteries—lots of older (2003, 2006?) releases here, which makes me think we need more YA mysteries (!!!). Just a thought.

Steph Bowe, 16 year-old YA author, wonders if age matters in publishing.

Twilight’s Taylor Lautner get his own comic book, for you fans.

What's the teen Desperate Housewives? Pretty Little Liars, apparently.

And author Neil Gaiman (the Graveyard Book) wrote a Doctor Who episode—can’t wait to see it.

Teen Culture

You’ve probably heard about the changes in textbooks demanded by some, uhm, politically motivated folk (I’m working hard on being kind here) in Texas. Here’s a SLJ article that explains why you may find those changed textbooks in your classroom, even if you ain’t livin’ in Texas. Depressing stuff.

For some more uplifting stories, check out this documentary called First Generation about four smart teens who are the first in their families to go to college.

Publishing Biz

It’s BookExpo America time! And to start, PW reports on a discussion on ebooks, piracy and the value of books. And there's more BEA coverage at GalleyCat.

And book sales are up, says the Association of American Publishers, with e-books taking off like a rocket. Interesting stuff.

For Writers

Wheatmark has a teleseminar on Twitter and how you can use it as an author—free! We’re fans of free here at YA Sleuth, aren’t we.

Guide to Literary Agents tells us how to get an agent’s attention.

Folio Literary Agency now has a special children’s division—sounds like a great opportunity for YA writers looking for an agent.

And check out what debut author Holly Nicole Hoxter of The Snowball Effect has to say about the highs and lows of publishing over at Crowe’s Nest—such a funny post.

Final Fun

Kittens on a slide! Does it get any better than this? I think not.