Posted November 18th, 2011 under YA Cafe, YA Lit
YA Cafe Book Club: Thank You, Deb Caletti
Welcome back to YA Cafe, where book lovers can gather and chat about teen literature. I’m your barista, along with Gabriela from iggi&gabi. Each Friday we pick from a menu of topics and share our thoughts on our respective blogs.
Today’s Special:YA Cafe Book Club: The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti
This month is all about YA appreciation and for today’s book club, we’re discussing one book we appreciate most. I’m thankful for so many YA books but I’ve picked the one that got me started…
An Open Letter to Author Deb Caletti
Dear Ms. Caletti,
From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a writer. But it was one of your books that made me realize I’m meant to write for teens. Really, my obsession with YA began with you.
The summer after I graduated college, I started working for the children’s publisher that publishes your novels. One of the perks of the job was access to free books. I hadn’t been exposed to young adult literature since I was a teen myself. Even then, I hadn’t read much since it wasn’t as big as it is now. That summer, I fell in love with YA. One of the first books I grabbed was yours. The Nature of Jade. I devoured it.
I saw myself in Jade and her anxiety, and understood how she felt. I struggled with anxiety myself. I’d never connected with a character in an adult book that way before. Not only did I love the story you told, but it also introduced me to the wonderful world of contemporary YA. Since then I’ve read every single one of your books and found my niche writing contemp YA myself. As cheesy as it sounds, I’ve found my “home” as a writer and reader.
I want to thank you. Thank you inspiring me as a writer. Thank you for writing such beautiful prose, and telling such compelling stories. Thank you for showing me that literature for teens can have a huge impact on readers of all ages. I’m so glad that job brought me to your books and that your books brought me to where I am today.
Your grateful fan,
Ghenet
What YA book are you thankful for? Which author would you write an open letter to? Tell us on Twitter with the #YACafe hashtag. And check out Gabi’s pick on her blog!
