Top Ten Tuesday | Our Outer Space Favorites

Top Ten Tuesday is a list based meme hosted by the wonderful ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday was open-ended, so we here at Crazy for YA decided to take it in a direction we find is rare in YA--to outer space! Because interplanetary exploration is slightly rare in YA novels these days, we may have recommended slightly fewer than 10 books this week, but all of our recommendations feature some of the most unique YA settings out there.

Top Ten Tuesday | Books we love but you probably never heard of

This is a weekly list meme hosted by the wonderful bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish.

Max here! This week's top ten Tuesday is an interesting one. Today, we're discussing some of our favorite hidden gems--specifically, books that have under 2,000 ratings on Goodreads. This week's topic really provides an opportunity to discuss some books that are just as great as those that receive tons of hype, but don't really get much attention when they're published. 

Top Ten Tuesday | Ten Books On My Spring TBR

This is a weekly list meme hosted by the wonderful bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. 

As spring quickly approaches, today's topic focuses on our TBR for the upcoming warmer weather. 

Crazy for YA Awards | Our Favorite Books of 2015

Nothing is scarier than a new year. 365 more days (or in this case 366 days) to fill. New resolutions, new people, and new things to stress about. 

But, today we are focusing on the happy and the exciting, a flashback on our favorite books of 2015. (And yes, you heard correctly, I said our. Max has so kindly agreed to join in this celebration!)

So, welcome to the first ever Crazy for YA Awards!

Top Ten Tuesday | Finished Series I Haven't Finished Yet

This is a weekly list meme hosted by the wonderful bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. 

Both Max and I are well versed in today's topic. I actually have a whole post dedicated to my series procrastination tendencies. This is the easiest TTT we have done for a while. 

So, here is a list of finished series (series that have all of the books published already) that we have not read yet.

Top Ten Tuesday | Most Anticipated Debut Novels for 2015



This is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing girls over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Today's topic is our most anticipated debut novels for 2015. In this list, you will find that books we cannot wait to read from first-time authors.

Max 

Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein

Expected Publication: April 21, 2015

Tracked by Jenny Martin

Expected Publication: May 5, 2015

Valiant by Sarah McGuire

Expected Publication: June 9, 2015

Dead to Me by Mary McCoy

Expected Publication: March 3, 2015

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

Expected Publican: January 15, 2015

Tessa

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Expected Publication: April 28, 2015

The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Expected Publication: June 16, 2015

The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman

Expected Publication: May 12, 2015

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Expected Publication: February 10, 2015

In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks

Expected Publication: April 28, 2015

What are you excited to read in 2015? Are you waiting for any debut novels?

Top Ten Tuesday | Our Top Ten Goals for 2015

This is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing girls over at The Broke and the Bookish.

This is the last Top Ten Tuesday of 2014!

I would say that this year went by quickly, but that would be a lie. While we really picked up on our blogging pace, it was not easy. Also, life has gotten in the way a couple times.


We are going to try and keep our blogging momentum going next year. We still have a lot of work to do, so here are our blogging for 2015.

Max

My main goal for 2015 is to keep a better record of the books that I read. This includes recording every book that I read on Goodreads. Most of the time, I forget to mark a book as "read" on Goodreads and give it a rating.
Another part of this is to write more reviews. I want to remember what I read and how I felt about it. Between the dozens of books that I read every year, I want to remember the books I loved and the books I hated and the reasons why. I think of it as a literary scrapbook to chronicle my reading adventures.

Tessa

In the coming year, I want to be a more consistent blogger. When I looked at the number of posts from November and June compared to the posts during December. There were 39 posts in November, but only 10 in December, including this one. I was disappointed with myself as a blogger. For most bloggers, posting once a week is a great goal, but I feel that we can do better. There are so many things that I want to write about, but I have not been able to find the time. So, I am going to focus on writing posts and reviews in advance. I am planning on creating a stockpile of reviews during the weekends and hopefully distributing them out over time.

I also want to be a more confident blogger. I constantly second guess myself about every idea that I have, and that has really set back my blogging pace. One of the reasons that I love to write is the ability to remain anonymous, but still spread my personal thoughts and feelings. Over this year, I have discovered that blogging is not about hiding yourself, but discovering who you really are. In 2015, I want to have the confidence to spread my wings as a blogger.

As a blog, we our goal is to write more discussion posts. To us, blogging is about spreading ideas, and we also want to hear ideas. We want to create a way for everyone to have their own voice at Crazy for YA.

So, we joined the 2015 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight.

We are aiming to write 13-24 discussion posts in the coming year.

So, those are our unrealistic ambitious goals for next year. I hope you will be joining us to see if we actually accomplish any of them. You better get ready for another year of crazy blogging!



What are your goals for the new year? How do you want to improve your blog, or your life?

Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014

This is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing girls over at The Broke and the Bookish.
I know that it has been a while since we posted a Top Ten Tuesday (or any meme). So, partially thanks to the awesomeness that was BookBlogWriMo, we have a new zeal for blogging. And that means blogging more often. Another one of our goals is to have more interaction with the rest of the blogging world. Memes are perfect for that!

To get back on track, today's topic is top new-to-me authors that we read in 2014. We found some amazing authors this year!

Max

Huntley Fitzpatrick
(My Life Next Door)

E. Lockhart
(We Were Liars and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks)



Sarah J. Maas
(Throne of Glass series)



Veronica Rossi
(Under the Never Sky series)

Tessa

Jennifer Lynn Barnes
(Nobody, The Naturals series)



Laini Taylor
(Daughter of Smoke and Bone series)



Victoria Schwab
(The Archived series)

Cassia

John Green
(An Abundance of Katherines, The Fault in Our Stars)



Kiera Cass
(The Selection series)



Suzanne Young
(The Program series)

BookBlogWriMo | Book Boyfriend Criteria

Welcome to Day 23 of BookBlogWriMo!

Tobias Eaton, William Herondale, Jace Lightwood, Peeta Mellark, William Darcy, Prince Maxon.

What do all of these characters have in common?

They are perfect book boyfriends.

Today's topic is...

Book Boyfriend Criteria

Cassia here! I've got a lot to say about this one. ;)

For me, they've got to have some kind of history; that makes them interesting. Preferably a tortured soul kind of thing. Also, they have to have some sort of "smart," whether it's wit (Will Herondale) or if they don't put their intelligence to use in that way (Tobias).

Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Okay, not all of them have to fit under the Dark category (Peeta, Jace, Maxon).

If they come across like jerks, there's got to be something good underneath.

They know how to treat a girl right. If they don't treat her right in the beginning, it's probably because they're scared. (Going back to the tortured soul thing, I can deal with that.) But when they finally let her in, all of a sudden they're a knight in shining armor.

 

I like bad boys for my book boyfriends. I don't know why. But I like the good ones, too. More, actually. There's just something fun about falling for a bad boy in a book, if you know what I mean. But I really do like the good ones better.

The ones I admire the most, I think, are the ones where they do have a past, but they don't take it out on others; they're still so sweet and kind. (Yes, I'm thinking of Maxon.)

What are your must-haves in your book boyfriends?

BookBlogWriMo | Our First Book Reviews

Welcome to Day 21 of BookBlogWriMo!

You know the feeling when you go back through your Facebook posts (or other social media accounts) from years ago, and wish you could go back through time and tackle yourself before you hit the post button.

Well, sometimes that happens with blog posts, specifically my early book reviews. When I look back, I see so many things that I would have done differently. But I guess that is a sign of my progress (if you can call it that) as a blogger.

So, enjoy laughing at my naive, inexperienced writing in our first book reviews.

Today's topic is....

Our First Book Reviews

Max

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Posted on November 21, 2012

(Finally, the first book in the series!)

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Posted on December 1, 2012

Tessa

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Posted on November 20, 2012

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Posted on December 2, 2012

Cassia

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Posted on November 13, 2012

(This is actually the first review we ever posted. Which does not make sense, now that I think of it, because it is the second in a series.)

Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Posted on December 1, 2012

BookBlogWriMo | Our Review Process

Welcome to Day 12 of BookBlogWriMo!

Today's post is the nitty-gritty part of blogging-- how to write reviews. Honestly, reviews are the meat and potatoes of book blogging. Memes, tags, and discussion posts are fun too, but reviews are really what our blogs are based on.

Today's topic is...

Our Review Writing Process

Max

First, if there's anything I especially want to say in my review, I write that down first so I don't forget. Then I work on a summary of the book, which is usually what takes me the longest. Lastly, I review the book, highlight what I thought of the writing, the characters, and the plot. If it's a book I really like, I try to explain why I loved it so much and why I think other people would enjoy it as well. Then I add pictures, read over it a few times and have someone else edit, then I post it!

Tessa
First, I read the book. (Shocking, I know) Sometimes I take notes while I read, but not frequently. Mostly, I rely off of my memory. Like Max, I start with the summary of the book. This is normally the hardest part for me, because I want to accurately describe the book, but in a unique way. Sometimes I like to add quotes from the book into my summary. Then, I ramble and rant. If you have read any of my reviews, then you know what I mean. I try to include both things that I liked about the book and things that I did not. The main things that I focus on are the characters and the plot. After I realize that I have been rambling for too long, I have someone (usually Max) edit the review. Then, I post it.

BookBlogWriMo | Favorite Childhood Books

Welcome to Day 6 of BookBlogWriMo!

Today we will be taking you into a trip back in time to when we were just little bookworms. As we all know, reading is a lifelong addiction habit. Most of the time it starts when you are young and slowly progresses until you are digging yourself out of an avalanche of books.

To get to the point, today's topic is....

Favorite Childhood Books

Max

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter books and movies were basically my entire childhood. I remember reading the books as an elementary schoolchild and wishing I was a part of something as exciting as the Wizarding World. This series really opened the door the adventures books can take you on, and for that I will be forever be thankful.

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams



I honestly do not remember much about this story beside the fact that it was so utterly heartwarming and wonderful. I think this is one of those books that everyone should read as a child, it's just so beautiful and touching.

Tessa

The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

This sassy kindergartner was my idol from first grade to second grade. She was soooo obnoxious funny. I also loved that she kept a journal. Now that I think of it, Junie B. might have been the first to inspire me to be a writer. I loved reading her journal, especially seeing her mistakes. I mean, if Junie B. Jones could make mistakes, then it was okay if I did. 

The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osbourne

These books started my love of time travel and history. I loved all of them and I always thought that the titles were so catchy (alliteration is awesome). These books taught me that even the most mundane things, like a treehouse, can be magical. Also, I learned that books can transport you where ever you want to go.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

I read this books later in my childhood, and I still enjoy them today. This series was my first adventure into the realm of fantasy, and I have never looked back since. 

BookBlogWriMo | Where We Blog

Thankfully, today is an easy topic. I never realized how difficult blogging every day could be. But, we should get bonus blogging points for having TWO posts up yesterday. I believe that the spirit of BookBlogWriMo is helping us get our blogging act together!

Today's topic is...

Where We Blog

Max

I usually blog on my computer (duh) in whichever room of my house is available and quiet. 

Tessa

At my computer...
Is this a trick question?
I can really only blog on my computer (full keyboards are a necessity for me), but I will browse and comment on other blogs with my iPod touch. 

BookBlogWriMo | Why We Blog and Why We Read

Welcome to Day 4 of BookBlogWriMo 2014!

Today's topic is a very personal one. Each of us has our own reason for reading and blogging, and they might be extremely different. Since this topic is so important, feel free to leave a comment below with your answers, or with a link to your post.

Why We Read

Max

Reading is an adventure, you know? Every new book is a new story you get to live through, in a way, and I think that's just fantastic and a meaningful way to pass my time.

Tessa

I have always been a shy person, so reading has given me the opportunity to experience so many different things without going outside of my comfort zone. Reading has also given me the courage to do things in real life that I might not have done otherwise. I have learned infinite things through my favorite (at least favorite) books. Honestly, I do not know what kind of person I would be if I did not read. 

Why We Blog

Max
Blogging helps me to communicate my thoughts about books and learn more about the community, like what I should read, and what I shouldn't, and gives me new insight on the world of books and what's inside of them.

Tessa

I started blogging because I wanted my own little nook of the Internet to share my passions: reading and writing. I still blog for those reasons, but now I have many more reasons. One of the top ones being the awesomeness of the book blogging community. Yes, that means you! I have learned so much from all of you, and my TBR list has grown significantly. I love being a part of this big blogging family. 

BookBlogWriMo | Where We Read

Welcome to the third day of BookBlogWriMo 2014. So far, I have read some great posts from other participants. I cannot believe that every day this month, 45 book blogs will join together and share their blogging experiences. It is a truly beautiful thing. *sniff* *sniff*

I will stop with the emotions now and actually get to today's topic, which is...

Where We Read

Max

I'll read anywhere. Literally.
I prefer somewhere comfy and warm, but if I'm really into a book, I'll read it just about anywhere.

Tessa

I personally can read anywhere-- in bed, on the couch, in the car (I have the special talent to repel motion sickness), even on the floor. Silence is not necessary, and I actually like to listen to music while reading too. The only time I cannot read is when the TV is on. Every time, an interesting commercial will come on (I am a sucker for funny advertisements) or the show will get extremely dramatic at the same time my book does. Then I have to flip a coin to decide what to do (and yes, this is a valid way to make important decisions).

Cassia

I can read anywhere, really. I prefer silence, but since my house is almost never quiet, I've learned how to tune it out. If I really need to concentrate and get to a certain point in the book, I retreat to my bedroom. Outside is nice, too. In the winter, I like to read wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and next to the fireplace.

BookBlogWriMo | How We Read

Welcome to Day 2 of the BookBlogWriMo challenge!

I hope you enjoyed the history of our blog. If you missed the post, you can find it here.

Today's Topic is.....

How We Read

Max
There's not really a method to my madness. I have a Kindle, which I use a lot, and when I'm not using my Kindle, I prefer to read hardcovers. Paperbacks are cool too, don't get me wrong. I'm awful at using bookmarks, though (aka I always lose them) so I just memorize page numbers, etc.

Tessa

I really do not think that there is a wrong way to read. I do not have an e-reader (But Christmas is only 52 days away!). Sometimes when I know that I want to write a review for a book, I will keep a pad of Sticky Notes handy to write down my amazing ideas. I also read very quickly, but only when I am interested in a book. 

Cassia

I read very slowly. I read a lot, when I have the time (which isn't a lot at all lately), but it takes me a while to finish a book. However, if I love the book, I can finish it in a couple of days. I also have a Kindle, and I like it, but I like a real book better. I occasionally make notes, but usually only if it's an e-book. When author's ask me to review books and I get it as an e-book, I like to take notes and highlight on my Kindle.

The Friday 56 #16

The Friday 56

This is a weekly meme hosted over at Freda's Voice.

The rules are simple-- grab the book you are currently reading and turn to page 56 (or 56% of your e-reader). Then copy a few sentences and post them.

These are the books we are currently reading and a snippet of page 56.



Max
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

"The soldier disappeared, closing the door behind him. The driver didn't hesitate. With a cry and the snap of a whip, the coach lurched forward. I felt an icy tumble of panic. What was happening to me?"

Tessa

I am currently re-reading The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy in anticipation of The Infinite Sea. I almost forgot how good of a book it was!

"Every man walked around armed to the teeth; it was the Wild West all over again."




Cassia


Page 112 again, guys. Sorry 'bout that.


E by Kate Wrath


"My mouth is hanging, my eyes scanning his face. This isn't the opening I'd hoped for. And his barely-suppressed hostility sets me off-balance before I've even started the conversation. 'You know what,' I finally say."

The Friday 56 #15

The Friday 56

This is a weekly meme hosted over at Freda's Voice.

The rules are simple-- grab the book you are currently reading and turn to page 56 (or 56% of your e-reader). Then copy a few sentences and post them.

These are the books we are currently reading and a snippet of page 56.



Max
Sweep: Volume 1 by Cate Tiernan



"'What are you talking about?' Bree asked, leaning back against the pillows of her double bed. 'All we did was dance around in a circle. How could it be dangerous?'"

Tessa

The Maze Runner by James Dashner



"He approached Newt and Alby, who both knelt beside the girl. Thomas, not wanting to meet their stares, concentrated on the girl; despite her paleness, she was really pretty. More than pretty. Beautiful. Silky hair, flawless skin, perfect lips, long legs. It made him sick to think that way about a dead girl."

Cassia

E by Kate Wrath

 

"'Donegan,' Oscar says, his brown eyes widening as they look at me. I can't help but notice Miranda's little twitch as he speaks. She does it again when he says, 'You beat Donegan?'"

 

Top Ten Tuesday #14: Books We Really Want to Read But Do Not Own

This is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing girls over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is books that we REALLY want to read, but we do not own yet.

Max

Opposition by Jennifer Armentrout

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan



 The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Kate Rorick and Bernie Su

Tessa

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken



Bloodlines by Richelle Mead


Winter by Marissa Meyer



(cover has not been released yet)

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas



What books are you DYING to read? Are you planning on buying any new books? What are your most anticipated releases?
Leave your Top Ten Tuesday links below and we will check them out!