Nerds Heart YA: The Decision

Anna and I had no trouble deciding between A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend and Summer Song.  We both LOVED  Love Story, and were disappointed with Summer Song. 

Summer Song told the story of a romance between two boys, but almost exclusive focused on their sexual relationship.  While I certainly see the value in depicting a realistic and honest sexual relationship between two boys, I wanted more than just that.  There was little plot outside of them meeting and then beginning their relationship.

Love Story also told the story of a romantic relationship, this one between two girls, but there was so much more depth to it.  The characters were complex, and there was much more to the story then just their romance.  It dealt with love and loss, forgiveness and hope. 

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend moves on to the second round!  I hope it makes it to the finals!

Nerds Heart YA: Summer Song by Louise Blaydon

This is the second of two books Arianna and I are judging for the Nerds Heart YA contest. Stay tuned for our decision!

Billy is the epitome of awesome: remarkably handsome, smart, charming, and captain of the football team. He liked the ladies, and the ladies loved him. That is until the summer before his senior year 1955. His best friend Kit is gone for the summer, and he's filling this void by befriending the new kid in town, Lenny. Lenny is introverted, intellectual, and has a certain flair that draws Billy. And as the summer progresses, the two boys realize that what they're experiencing goes beyond friendship, they need one another. This is especially true when the school year starts and they must strive to hide their budding relationship from everyone.

I need to make this statement before we start the overall review: I did not think this was a young adult book. If it had been a young adult book there would be different critiques and accolades. I'd like to remind everyone just because teens are the main characters, doesn't mean it's a young adult book. I explain myself later in the review. So now let the rest of the review commence:

Nerds Heart YA: A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner

This is one of two books Anna and I are judging for the Nerds Heart YA contest. 

Cass has never been one of the drama people. She only hung out with them because of her best friend Julia. But Julia died in a car accident, and the drama people are determined to put on the show Julia was working on: Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad. Cass is working on the set now, but she wasn't on board from the start. First it took a cross-country bike trip with Julia's ashes to figure out what she needed to do.

Loved. This. So much. I loved the story, I loved the characters, I loved the voice it was told in, just loved it. I loved the idea of going on a cross-country bike ride to find yourself, with your dead best friend's ashes because you just can't work on her Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad musical, which, by the way, is the most awesome title of any musical. Heart.

Nerds Heart YA Short-list

The short-list for Nerds Heart YA is now available!  There's some great books, so add them to you TBR list.  You know, because I'm sure it wasn't long enough already.  Anna and I will be reading Summer Song by Louise Blaydon and A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner.  Look for our post on June 20.

Nerds Heart YA Nominations Close Today!

Today is your last chance to nominate a book for Nerds heart YA 2011.  It must be punished between January 1 - December 31, 2010 and be written by or include a character that falls into one of the following categories:  person of color, GLBTQ, disability, mental illness, religious lifestyle, lower socioeconomic statues, or plus size.  So nominate those awesome books that don't get the attention they deserve!

Nerds Heart YA Books!

I don't think Arianna has mentioned the fact that she and I have been chosen to judge the first round of 2011 Nerds Heart YA Book Nominations.* Super fun right? The best part is that anyone may nominate a book!

The criteria is as follows:

• Have been published between Jan 1st 2010 and Dec 31st 2010
• Contain significant characters that fit into at least one of the seven categories of under represented groups that the Nerds Heart YA organisers have identified, or have been written by an author who comes from within one of these groups of people
• Be young adult fiction
• Be a book that you feel has been under represented by book blog coverage
• Please go forth and nominate.

*We're supposed to add a disclaimer that says that just because we've been notified that we're first round judges and you have not heard, that doesn't mean that you aren't going to be a judge. They just haven't gotten to responding to you yet. Be patient.