GUEST POST & RELEASE WEEK!
There were some incredible new releases this week, but at least one of the new releases explores the topics of being socially aware and how teens interact with each other when discussing these topics.
The author has written a guest post for the blog regarding social awareness in YA literature--something that has been on the rise in the past few of years!
The Importance of Being Socially Aware in YA Books
Young adult books are so special and important because of the age of the characters in which the story is focused on. They’re almost grown up, but not quite, and it is during this crucial time period that they learn and discover aspects about themselves that will define them as adults.
Being socially aware within the context of a young adult book is absolutely crucial. It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that different social situations are handled and delivered in an authentic manner. Not only that, they must also have the character react in the most authentic way possible as well—separate from the author. The character must meet each new social situation and respond according to their own moral core. Sometimes the character will be overwhelmed, never having been placed in that sort of situation before, and must adapt. It is within this growth that true development happens within the character and it only adds depth to their arc.
In my upcoming release Ask Me Anything the main character Amber deals with this on several occasions and she adapts her responses as much as she grows. By creating an anonymous blog where her peers can write in for sex advice and beyond, she gives them a safe space to speak their concerns without the fear of being judged. With each challenging question, she has to dig deep and find the answer that will help the person in need most. It’s hard, grueling work, but she does so with the hope of helping people not feel so alone in tough situations. She’s very socially aware, and yet, there are times she gets in way over her head. It is how she handles these challenges that force growth in her character throughout the story, and it was truly a humbling and enlightening experience to go through that journey with her.
It’s my hope that her character resonates with young adult readers of this modern world and that they see pieces of themselves in her character as she takes a stand against the many injustices occurring into today’s social climate.
I’m so grateful you had me over today to chat! I hope you’ll enjoy ASK ME ANYTHING when it releases on May 7th! Be sure to check out the EPIC giveaway I’m hosting in celebration of its release! Spoiler alert—there is a laptop up grabs!!! https://www.mollyelee.com/ask-me-anything-pre-order-giveaway.html
Ask Me Anything by Molly E. Lee
“I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
But Wilmont Academy’s been living in the Dark Ages when it comes to sex ed, and someone had to take matters into her own hands. Well, I’m a kick-ass coder, so I created a totally anonymous, totally untraceable blog where teens can come to get real, honest, nothing-is-off-limits sex advice.
And holy hell, the site went viral—and we’re talking way beyond Wilmont—overnight. Who knew this town was so hard up?
Except now the school administration is trying to shut me down, and they’ve forced Dean—my coding crush, aka the hottest guy in school—to try to uncover who I am. If he discovers my secret, I’ll lose him forever. And thousands of teens who need real advice won’t have anyone to turn to.
Ask me anything…except how to make things right.”
Add Molly’s book to your Goodreads TBR here.
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Molly E. Lee is an author best known for her romance novels, the Grad Night series and the Love on the Edge series. Molly writes Adult and Young Adult contemporary featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.
Have you read this book? Will you be adding it to your TBR? Let me know!
