Required Reading

As readers of this (and my other blogs) probably know by now, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is easily my favorite childhood book, and is probably my most favorite book of all time. I was very excited to see that my favorite book was featured in Jezebel’s “Fine Lines” this week. (I was also [...]

or not I never pass up an opportunity to ramble about myself a little. So here goes: my name is Jessica, but you can call me Miss Shortskirt. I am the brand new co-blogger here at Required Reading, which is cool because for the last 10+ years of my life, I have been reading 90% [...]

Yeah, it’s been a while, but I’m back, baby! And what’s more, I’m welcoming an awesome new co-blogger. Her name is Jessica, aka MissShortskirt, and she loves YA as much as I do! I’ll let her fully introduce herself, though. I’m really looking forward to getting things rolling here again. In the meantime, here are [...]

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been pretty excited about this new Minx line from DC Comics since I first heard about it. The new titles are inspired in part by the fast growth of translated Japanese comics called manga. While gory and violent themes aimed at boys are staples of manga, fantasy and [...]

Earlier this year, I got a friend request on myspace from author Cynthia Leitich Smith, advertising her new YA urban gothic fantasy Tantalize. I made a mental note to check out the book. Then, while flipping through the pages of my sorority magazine, the Adelphean, I saw Cynthia’s name. “Hey,” I thought to myself, “That [...]

Perfect is a first novel by Natasha Friend. It’s the story of Isabelle Lee, a girl who begins attending group therapy after her younger sister catches her forcing herself to throw up. Isabelle is shocked when Ashley, the most popular girl in school, walks into group as well. The two girls become friends, and slowly, [...]

I haven’t read much of Joyce Carol Oates’ writing for adults, but I’ve quickly become a fan of her YA novels. Her writing is simple but powerful, and I find it hard to put her books down. I have, in fact, finished this one in the span of about 2 hours. Francesca, Franky to her [...]

I started and finished this book today. It was a quick and enjoyable read, and not at all what I expected. High school senior Ashley couldn’t care less about the prom, but her best friend Nat does. When a crisis leads to the prom’s near-cancellation, Ash steps up to help Nat save it. Prom is [...]

I read the first two books in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series last year, and enjoyed them more than I thought I would. When I saw that the fourth book was coming out early this year, I realized that I hadn’t read the third…so it was off to the library for me! I [...]

You might want to avoid eating or drinking anything while reading Adam Selzer’s debut novel, so as to avoid spraying food or drink all over the book’s pages. It’s just that funny. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. “How to Get Suspended” is the story of Leon Harris, a “gifted and talented” eighth grader who [...]