Who Else Is Talking Books?
Word Out 2011 has ended and the information on this page may not be up to date for a more current incarnation of Word Out.
If you’ve got the fever and need a little more teen book talk in your life, try these links on for size! You never know where you are going to find your next bookshelf twin.
Sites with Forums, News, and Reviews
Random House hosts this teen reading community where you can share favourites and talk books with other teens – and only teens. (Yes, it’s restricted to teens, and you do have to sign in.)
I like the tone of the reviews on this site, which give you the straightup with a dash of flair, but I *love* that there are active forums in “The Caf.”
There are reviews here, but also a page of book discussions and “blurbing” contests to take part in for a bit more interactive goodness. To fully participate, you will need to join the group.
This site has more voting and forums and goodies than anything else out there. Submit reviews for books, music, games, or tv. Forums cover a huge range of topics. There’s even a place to post your writing, videos, and art for feedback. It’s not all book, but there’s a lot here.
This teen-focussed group within GoodReads.com has nearly 2,000 members, and a huge range of discussion threads to join, most of which are very current, so this looks like a really involved, active community of teen readers to be part of. You will need to create a free account here.
Reviews
This teenager rips through books at a speed I wish I could attain, and posts reviews or upcoming titles nearly daily, as well as frequent giveaways. Her reviews are to-the-point, and contain some helpful summary info at the bottom, as well.
This site features frequent posting of reviews and movie news, as well as tabs with hot covers and upcoming release dates for a whole host of titles. She’s also on twitter and GoodReads, if you like her taste and want to follow.
This teen-authored site posts regular reviews, upcoming books, and contests. Her reviews include a summary and a simple review of the book including highs and lows. She is also taking part in the Nine Paths to Chloe King game, and provides regular updates.
If you’re looking for inspiration for making those video reviews, look no further than this unusual blog! The author reviews teen lit and then retells the story with different media tools every time (also reviewing the tools as she goes). She tries out video editing, presentation, story-building, animation, word clouds, and lots more. Interesting concepts, and a great way to take a look at different software.
Hosted by a pair of library types who love YA books, this site has a nice light tone and offers short, readable reviews, upcoming titles that have me making lists of stuff to get my hands on, and occasional posts about other book-related stuff like a recent guest post about the character Jane Eyre.
Sites with Special Interests
This review site covers books featuring people of colour, and she strives for a diversity that spans the globe. Her booklists and index of reviews are useful for browsing, and her tone is chatty and informal.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of girl stuff in YA fiction – but that’s not the whole picture. If you need some more testosterone in your teen lit, check out what the guys here are reading.
This site specializes in reviewing teen books with LGBTQ interest or themes.
This blog focuses on reviews of vampire and paranormal teen reads, and has the added twist of being European in origin. Great for fans of the genre.
This blog is the brainchild of a pair of authors who review books, list new titles monthly, talk with authors, and tackle issues like tokenism and who can write someone else’s experience.
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