YA News

The CW’s The Vampire Diaries finally debuted last week. While I liked it, they’ve taken liberties with the story. Elena is now not only brunette instead of blond but also a much softer version than in the initial books of L.J. Smith’s series. She’s also got a troubled younger teen brother instead of a much-younger sister, and Matt and Vicky are now brother and sister instead of classmates. And only one of Elena’s two best friends, Bonnie, appears in the TV series, and she doesn’t look anything like I pictured her. Meredith is nowhere to be found. But, having said all that, I’m willing to overlook early episodes in a series and give it time. After all, early episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer were a little clunky …

YA News

I’ve been looking for a site that would list when upcoming movies based on YA novels are set to be released, but all I’ve been able to locate are a couple of sites that cover all upcoming movies based on books. But you can dig around the following two sites to find not only movies based on some favorite YA novels but perhaps other books you’ve read as well.

Bookreporter.com and  Chasingthefrog.com

While not based on a book, YA readers may enjoy Alexis Bledel’s new movie, Post Grad, which hits theaters this Friday (Aug. 21). Bledel stars as a recent college graduate who has to move back home with her eccentric family while she searches for her first post-college job, not to mention the right guy. Zach …

YA News

It’s Harry Potter week! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened. I’m chomping at the bit to see it, I was at the Romance Writers of America conference last week and my schedule was packed tight, tight, tight. Now that I’m home it’s certainly on my list of must sees.…

Thanks for all the lovely responses to my first YA column last month. I’m happy to be able to share YA News and Reviews with you each third Thursday of the month.

News from the YA world

A new trailer and lots of images (including some cool movie posters) of New Moon (second in the Twilight saga) have hit the Internet.





If that isn’t enough YA vampire storytelling for you, the CW network is bringing L.J. Smith’s Vampire Diaries to the small screen this fall. Looks like it’s scheduled for Thursdays at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central, which means Smallville will be giving up its pre-Supernatural spot moving to a new slot on Friday nights. Check out more of the details about The Vampire Diaries here:

http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries…

Young Adult novels have eluded me for the longest time.  I had no knowledge of them when I was growing up. I think I went from reading Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon straight to Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier. I also vividly remember being captivated when I read A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter. But I don’t’ think Dickens or Hawthorne had a young Puerto Rican teenage girl from the South East Bronx in mind when they wrote their books. That is to say there weren’t a whole lot of authors speaking to me and my experiences. I believe people, all people, need to see themselves reflected back in society. Whether it is through television, magazine ads, bill boards, our politicians, our …

Welcome to the first installment of YA News and Reviews. Thanks to the lovely Marisa and Maria here at Romance Novel TV, once a month I’ll be able to share the latest news from the young adult world as well as reviews of new YA novels and some you might have missed.

News from the YA world

The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been moved back by two days to July 15. Judging by the newest trailers, it’s going to be awesome! The escalating evil, Harry and Ginny getting closer, the teen angst that is Ron and Hermione!  Watch the newest trailer .

For all you Twilight fans, more casting news has come out for New Moon. Never fear, all your favorite vamps are …