Readergirlz is an online book community where teen girls and their friends can gather to gab about young adult books with the authors themselves. Readergirlz celebrates books featuring strong female characters, connects girls with stories that will change the way they see themselves, and inspires girls to have the guts to make history of their own. Each book selected will have community service tie-ins.
Readergirlz was founded by four young adult authors: Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Lorie Ann Grover, and Justina Chen Headley.
Readergirlz will officially launch its website, blog, and MySpace profile on March 1, 2007.
www.readergirlz.com
groups.myspace.com/readergirlz
www.myspace.com/readergirlz
Readergirlz was founded by four young adult authors: Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Lorie Ann Grover, and Justina Chen Headley.
On the first of every month, check the readergirlz website, blog, or MySpace profile to find out which new book we'll be reading and celebrating in the following ways:
- Chat online with the author.
- Read and hear exclusive author interviews.
- Download author-selected playlists for tunes to listen to as you read her book.
- Throw a readergirlz book party, using the author’s personal suggestions for menu, decorations, and of course, the all-important discussion questions.
- Discuss the book using the author's selected book discussion questions.
- Read the recommended books that accompany the main book selection.
- Participate in the Community Service Project related to the book.
- Readergirlz is about girls having serious fun while talking about books with their friends and the author!
- Readergirlz is about giving teen girls the inside scoop about why a novel was written -- the tears and joys and real-world angst that the author has lived and layered into her story.
- Readergirlz is about getting teen girls to read great books so the girls get to know themselves, their friends, and yes, even their mothers, better.
- Readergirlz is about celebrating strong girls in books who have the guts to dream.
- And most of all, readergirlz is about inspiring girls to make history of their own!
The readergirlz divas are:
Dia Calhoun
Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature.
Books: FIREGOLD, ARIA OF THE SEA, WHITE MIDNIGHT, THE PHOENIX DANCE, AVIELLE OF RHIA, THE RETURN OF LIGHT: A CHRISTMAS TALE.
www.diacalhoun.com
Janet Lee Carey
Winner of the Mark Twain Award
Books: DRAGON'S KEEP, THE BEAST OF NOOR, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF ZOE FLYNN, WENNY HAS WINGS, MOLLY'S FIRE.
www.janetleecarey.com
Lorie Ann Grover
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Finalist
Books: HOLD ME TIGHT, ON POINTE, LOOSE THREADS
www.lorieanngrover.com
Justina Chen Headley
Winner: Asian Pacific American Award for Youth Literature
Books: GIRL OVERBOARD, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (and a few white lies), THE PATCH
www.justinachenheadley.com
When young adult novelist Justina Chen Headley set out on her book tour last spring, she made a concerted effort to visit urban high schools that didn't have the budgets to host authors. "It broke my heart how few kids had ever met an author -- even though they were avid readers. So I thought: how can I give all of my readers the opportunity to meet and talk with me and other writers? That's when I hit upon readergirlz as a concept," explains Justina.
She recruited three critically acclaimed young adult novelists -- Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, and Lorie Ann Grover -- to create readergirlz as a way to talk to teens about reading and writing about memorable girls in contemporary, historical, and fantasy fiction.
Dia agrees. "I meet girls when I visit schools, but there never seems to be enough time to talk about books and writing, especially on a personal level. So chatting about books and characters or readergirlz seemed like a fabulous idea."
The founders of readergirlz hope the group will change not only the way girls experience literature, but also the way girls think about their world. As Lorie Ann says, "I learn so much through reading. I find passion and answers and understanding in books. I hope to find all of these alongside other amazing readergirlz.
As for Janet, she wants to ensure that girls read books that encourage them to have the guts to dream. She says, "I learned how brave girls can be through books. I remember thinking -- okay, if she can do it, I can do it. I'm hoping readergirlz will challenge girls to support each other and go for their dreams."
Because readergirlz believes that seriously good books are best experienced through rich discussion and debate, we urge schools, libraries, and teen girls alike to create their own readergirlz groups. Visit www.readergirlz.com to learn how.
The readergirlz co-founders are available for limited speaking engagements. As well, we are happy to offer an assembly for middle schools, high schools, libraries and conferences: GUTSY GIRLS IN LIFE AND LIT: A PANEL
From Anne Frank to Anne Shirley, we're all drawn to gutsy characters. The readergirlz co-founders -- critically-acclaimed YA authors Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Lorie Ann Grover, and Justina Chen Headley -- will share their inspirational personal stories in a dynamic panel celebrating both the written word and women who live by their words.
As award-winning authors who also promote philanthropy, they will speak about their own defining moments as writers and why giving back is critical in today's world. As well, drawing from their own award-winning body of work, the readergirlz co-founders will illustrate how characters in literature grow, claim their voices, and speak out for themselves and others--all with the goal of galvanizing students to read, reflect, and reach out.
Join the thousands of librarians, including YALSA, who are part of the readergirlz movement. And bring this panel to your high school, middle school, or library. Contact divas@readergirlz.com.