#justina chen

[nobeerreviews]

Getting lost is just another way of saying going exploring.

-- Justina Chen

(Bistrita, Romania)

[mercerislandbooks]

Book Notes: A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic

My reading in the first quarter of this year has had an inadvertent theme of suffragists and polar exploration. I haven’t gone out searching for them; these books keep finding me. Which was made all the more obvious when I picked up Yi Shun Lai’s YA historical, A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic.

Clara Kettering-Dunbar is 18 years old and the sole female in a British expedition to the Antarctic in the close of the year 1914. An American veteran of the suffrage movement in Britain, posing as a Canadian, Clara knows she is already pushing the boundaries of what women are societally expected to do. She does have supporters amongst the expedition crew, namely the captain, but just as many who expect her to fail. It will take all of Clara’s strength of will, and an ability to reach beyond her own well-earned beliefs, to see the lessons to be learned from the Antarctic and from her fellow crew.

The account is told as journal entries, and Clara lays bare not only her various experiences, but also her unvarnished feelings in these circumstances. She slowly reveals her unconventional upbringing, her complicated parents, and how she became involved in the suffrage movement. In all that she faces, Clara boldly stands up for her beliefs. Despite coming up against unrelenting misogyny from certain members of the crew, she will not relent in demonstrating her fitness to be part of the team. And then there’s the cold. I could feel it in my bones reading about all the many layers Clara puts on to keep herself warm, and the constant juggling required to keep the crew marginally protected and fed. Let’s just say that the Antarctic is something I’d much rather read about than actually experience. If you’re looking for a YA historical (that’s not World War II) taking on an unexpected pocket of history, give A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic a try!

And if you’d like to meet the author in person, you’re in luck! We’re happy to welcome Yi Shun Lai to Island Books on Saturday, April 6th at 4:30pm. She’ll be in conversation with Justina Chen, and it’s sure to be a fascinating talk. We look forward to seeing you!

— Lori

[paigeypaige19]

I hated roses. I hated them for being so trite, so clichéd, a default, all-purpose flower that said I love you, I'm sorry, and get well soon. Give me peonies and tulips, orchids or gardenia. Those were flowers with character.

Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

[-outofcontext-]

Return to Me #OutOfContext

[ireadyabooks]

NaNoWriMo Week #4: Tips on Writing a YA Romance from Justina Chen!

Happy NaNoWriMo, book nerds! In celebration of National Novel Writing Month, every Thursday in November we’ll be sharing novel writing tips from some of our favorite authors. Next, we’re sharing five tips on writing a YA romance. 

5 Tips for Writing a YA Romance from LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP author, Justina Chen!

1.    Worthy of devotion. 

Bonnie Ross, the head of Halo and 343 games studio, talks about creating a world worthy of our devotion. In romance, our challenge is to create a couple worthy of our devotion—worthy of our time, heart, emotional investment. Everything in a romance begins and ends and hinges on two characters who are both willing to grow and face their own flaws so they can become equals ready for each other and worthy of one another.

2.    Meet cute. 

Who doesn’t love an epic “meet cute” moment—a couple’s memorable first encounter? Everything about that first meeting should spark with physical attraction! But also, importantly, it should hint at their sine qua non—that absolutely necessary condition that both of them need in a true, meaningful relationship for the ages.

3.    Talk is cheap, but banter is everything. 

One of the most delicious aspects of writing romance is the couple’s banter. Through banter, we fall in love with the couple before they fall in love with each other. So create dialogue that brims with wit—and readers will feel the couple’s kinetic energy. Work to make each conversation a revelation where the characters can tease each other—and tease out each other’s private thoughts, wounds, and worldview. Flirty banter creates that coveted inner sanctum, that special place for just the two of them. In that safe and private sanctum, our couple can be vulnerable with each other, and we get to watch as their trust, respect, and love unfold and deepen.

4.    Turn up the tension. 

The central question in romance is: “Will they or won’t they get together?” So constantly crank up the sexual tension—and show how the two characters spark whenever they’re so much as within sight of each other. And then pump up the conflict that prevents them from getting together immediately. As readers, we should worry that the couple will be in a state of happily ever never—because the cost or danger of loving each other may be too great (even though it’s not!).

5.    Moments that go “ahhhh.” 

We all have indelible moments in real life where we believe that come dementia or death bed, we will remember forever. So create high impact, deeply romantic, unique moments for your couple—moments that reach right into your readers’ minds, settle into their hearts, and replay in their memories weeks and months after they read the last word.  

A photo of author Justina Chen’s vision board for LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP, which she created before writing a single word of the novel.

[justbeingnamaste]

“Come on, don't you ever stop and smell the coffee?”    

[luxaofhesperides]

yalit meme: [1/9] quotes - north of beautiful

You grab it and honor it and use it, because momentum is a rare gift.

[thenovl]

What’s Inside the May NOVLbox?

Attention all NOVLers! It’s time for the May NOVLbox reveal.  We had so much fun curating all this nature-themed goodness-- talk about a colorful month!  So without further ado, here’s what was inside the box:

Nothing But the Truth... and a Few White Lies by Justina Chen Headley. Half Asian and half white, Patty has never felt at home in her skin. But a summer math camp at Stanford brings unexpected possibilities and new revelations about who Patty is... and who she wants to be.

My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp. Lulu’s desperate plan to pay for college by making and selling moonshine turns into a summer of unexpected romance, tough choices, and goodbyes.

Wildlife by Fiona Wood. When Sib and Lou embark on a semester in the wilderness, they’re drawn together by a web of friendship drama and love that gets complicated. Will the tough outdoor education program prove to be too much, or can they find the strength to grow amid the wildlife?

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr. As a pastor's kid, Samara has always believed in the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But parental problems and a town tragedy forces Sam to decide how to have faith when the truth gets complicated.

Floral temporary tattoos. Perfect for music festivals, picnics, or just some random fun.

Decorative tape. School may be over, but cute office supplies never go out of season.

ban.do Journal. To keep track of all your summer adventures. 

NOVL tote. To carry books along on those adventures!

Want to win your own NOVLbox? We’ve just opened entries for the month of June! This time, the lovely Carrie Firestone has put together a box of bookish prizes in honor of her newest contemporary YA, The Unlikelies. Fill out an entry form here for a chance to win!