As I’ve been gearing up for the Anderson’s YA Lit Conference I realize that last year it was this conference that really launched my desire to blog regularly. I technically started my blog in June of 2009 but only had about 20 blog posts. The release of Mockingjay and my response to it prompted me to blog about it but that was about the extent of it. Then I discovered Anderson’s Bookshop; a whole new world opened up for me! One of the very first events I went to was last year’s lit conference. Among other things I got to meet so many amazing authors, many of whom I still chat with via twitter and their blogs! It was meeting people like Kiersten White, Sophie Jordan, Andrea Cremer, Claudia Gray, Simone Elkeles and John Green that really inspired me to actively blog. I’d long been a fan of YA Lit but actually meeting the authors and seeing what great people they are was really the impetus of YA Bibliophile. So, all of that to say I want to talk a bit about the blog and why I do what I do.
I’ve been thinking a lot about blogging and the reviews I write recently. I’ve noticed some comments around the internet that disparage bloggers who only post positive reviews. They seem to say that you aren’t “professional” if you only post positive things. I’ve also had a few comments directed at me specifically about it (note: these have not been rude comments, just questions.) So now you all have to suffer my explanation đŸ˜‰
My blog was never intended to be a “professional” review blog. It is simply my thoughts on the books I read. YA Bibliophile exists to promote and support young adult literature and the people involved in it’s creation (authors, publishers, etc…) This is something I am very passionate about. I see the importance daily in my “real job” as a middle school librarian. Books change lives. Period. I want to do all I can to see that YA lit gets in to the hands of people who will enjoy it.
In this mission there is no room for negative reviews. I love books that my students can’t stand. They rave about books you couldn’t pay me to read. I understand that if I don’t like a book it doesn’t mean that it is a “bad” book. It just isn’t a book for me. And while I may be tempted to be snarky I also understand that someone likely devoted untold amounts of time, love, tears, etc… to the creation of that book. Who am I to tear it apart to get a few laughs?!? I couldn’t write an original fictional story to save my life!
At this point I feel like I should clarify… I am not against negative reviews. I certainly think that there is a place for them. YA Bibliophile is not that place. (I do not believe that there is a place for rude/cruel/unkind reviews that attack/mock an author/book.) Also, I do not lie in my reviews. If I don’t like a book I don’t post a review. If I think a book is just okay I’ll say that. No one pays me for anything I post.
So there you have it. Over the past year or so I’ve worked to make YA Bibliophile a positive place that generates excitement for YA Lit. I want it to be a place where people can go to get honest reviews, recommendations and just geek out over great books and authors. If it bothers you that I don’t post negative reviews check out Kirkus Book Review. They are notoriously hard to please đŸ˜‰
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