YA Fest 2012

YA FEST 2012

BY NICKY

This past weekend, Janine and I headed out east to YA Fest in Easton, PA.  It was the first of hopefully many more of these events for the Palmer branch library, and it was our first chance to meet some of our favorite authors!  The day-long book festival had tons of highlights: Jonathan Maberry suggesting a skype with our high school book club, hugs from Michelle Zink, a great panel discussion, a prize basket win (which I shared with Janine) and TONS of additions to our "must read in the near future" lists!  We were blown away by how down-to-earth and receptive the authors all were, AND they really dig librarians!! 

Janine, Michelle Zink, and Nicky

When we first arrived at the festival, we hit the author signings first.  Michelle Zink blew us away when we walked up to her, she told us that we looked familiar, and asked if she's seen us online.  Um... YES!  Holy crap, she remembered Janine's review of A Temptation of Angels!!  We chatted for a while, took pictures, and got (many) books signed.

Michelle Zink and Jon Skovron signing books

We also talked with some authors with whom we were not as familiar, but who were very gracious, and we will definitely be checking out their books!  We found out that Jon Skovron, author of Struts & Frets and Misfit, went to college in our town of Pittsburgh.  Michael Northrup was also very fun.

Discussion panel

We then headed off to enter the raffles, and man, they had a TON of prizes!  It was hard to decide which ones we wanted to enter for the Chinese auction.  Next on the schedule was the panel discussion.  The festival held two panel discussions--one for those who love to read YA literature, and one for those who love to write YA literature.  Janine and I sat in for the first one for readers.  We listened to  Jonathan Maberry, Michelle Zink, Barbara Dee, Charles Benoit, and Anne Greenwood Brown.  After the discussion and question-and-answer session, we just had to get books signed by Charles Benoit (who was just too cool for words!) and Anne Greenwood Brown, who was adorable (we can't wait to read Lies Beneath). 

Jonathan Maberry... king of zombie fiction

After the panel discussion, we still had some authors we wanted to meet.  I was so excited to finally meet Jonathan Maberry.  I felt very honored when he commented on my review of Rot and Ruin.  Also, our high school book club had discussed Rot & Ruin last year.  We are planning on reading Dust and Decay with the high school book club for Teen Read Week.  When I told Mr. Maberry about this, he offered to skype with our kids!  I can't wait to tell them!  This really was quite an experience... one I will always remember.

This was such a great an event.  It was well-worth the five hour drive!  Although this was our first festival like this, and we have nothing to compare it with, Janine and I were both very impressed with the number of authors involved with this event, the number and quality of prizes, the organization of the festival, and the number of teens who participated and who were clearly excited to meet some of their favorite authors.  We send out a sincere thank you to all the staff at the Palmer branch of the Easton Public Library, as well as to all of those who volunteered their time, including the authors.

  While Nicky did say it all, I only wanted to say how wonderful of a time we had at YAFest.  This was the first author festival we have been too and it will definitely not be our last!!! I had such an amazing time meeting Michelle Zink (see the picture above), the picture is getting framed and going on my desk!!  Meeting Jonathan Maberry was also a major highlight for me.  Our lunch time book club read Rot and Ruin last September and ever since then, they have been obsessed ( me included!).  The other authors we had the privilege to meet and hear speak were terrific, down to earth and funny!!!  It was also great that Nicky won a gift basket and even better that she shared, since I am one of those people who never seem to win anything!  Thank you to all the amazing authors who participated in this event and to the Easton Public Library, Palmerton branch for hosting what I hope will be the first of many YAFest's!!
                                                             ~ Janine

Book Review: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Book Review by Janine


  In one terrifying night Helen Cartwright has lost all that she holds dear, her family and her life, only to embark on a new chapter in her life, one that she never knew existed.  Helen is a descendant of angels and chosen to be one the keepers, those who keep the world safe from those who wish to take it over. Never has this job been more important.  Keepers are being murdered, her parents among them.  For what reason, no one is sure, but one thing is certain, she will stop at nothing to see the person or persons responsible for the deaths of her parents and the others of her kind.

  I will start this off by saying that I LOVE Michelle Zink.  Ever since I read her first series, Prophecy of the Sisters, I was hooked, and I was not disappointed this time around either.  There are so many things that I found refreshing about the book. Yhe first was the setting of Victorian London, which is different from so many books out there right now.  I also loved the whole premise of the book.  Helen doesn't know or understand who she is or what she has been chosen to do.  Keepers find out when they are sixteen about the their job, the Dictata, and Angels.  She is forced into her role early because someone is killing the Keepers at an alarming rate.  While being a descendant of angels does give her some unique abilities, they are not overly discussed but merely stated as fact, and then there is Helen herself.  In understanding the time period and the role that women played, it made it so interesting and awesome!! She was strong, determined and smart (which are the three characteristics that I love most in characters!), which made her believable and had you waiting to see what else she could do.  The story flows so well and the characters are so believable that you can picture yourself right there with her.  There was only one thing that I was leary of, which was the "love triangle," but it was handled in such a way that it wasn't the main part of the story, but just a side that helped to enhance the story line.
  In case it didn't show, I truly loved the story!  I am unsure if it is going to be a series or not but it is fine as a stand-alone, although lets be honest, if it was a series, I would be at the bookstore the day the next one came out!!