It’s a new year, and before we look ahead to bigger and better, here’s a look at what Amazon recommended as their Top 10 best young adult books for 2011.
Emily recommends books to avoid on Blue Monday, scientifically proven as the most depressing day of the year.
If like me, you have a tendency to fall asleep in class, (no offence teachers, it’s not personal just priorities) and to your horror you wake up at the end of the lesson with no notes - well then, this post is for you.
A commentary on women (teen girls more specifically) in young adult fiction, and the problems with characterisation I felt strongly about…
It could make you laugh, make you cry, make you smile, make you frown, make you think, make you dream, make you smarter, make you wonder, make you grin, make you giggle,
When you’re growing up as a teenager, certain novels can have a habit of fashioning out a timeline - a yellow brick road leading into the Emerald City of Adulthood complete with all the memories of youth erratically paved into the concrete.
On Sunday 14th November 2010, the Spinebreakers went to Blurb's Pop-Up Shop in London. And now we'd like to gloat about how much fun we had.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in possession of a good intellect must be in want to read the classics of English Literature. At least, that is my view of things.
Theatrical adaptations of books: a review by Alex Mullarky. Everyone knows that the film is never as good as the book. But what of the stage?
Books are memorable, loveable; you associate their contents with the cover, the pages, both of which are adorned with the passage of time- sand from that holiday four years ago falling from the binding, tea stains and biscuit crumbs.
It fills me with a great sadness when I think of eBooks taking over the publishing industry and possibly wiping out that old fashioned method of printing on a page, so, naturally I thought I’d pay homage to the classic format; viva la paperback!
Hazel describes her night at the Orange Prize for Fiction awards ceremony as a member of the Youth Panel.
Juwi weighs up the arguements for and against the E-reader as a new format for reading books.
A workshop in book-to-screen adaptations, a Q&A with Melvin Burgess AND a live gameshow book vs films!
As part of the Orange Prize for Fiction’s 15th anniversary, the 2010 Youth Panel has selected Anne Michaels’ Fugitive Pieces as their favourite novel from all the previous winners.
By Libby - So it’s that time of year again when many of us are faced with the prospect of exams. For me, it’s my GCSEs, a looming shadow that has hovered over my life since the beginning of year 10 and now, scarily, is starting to take shape.
This competition is now closed.
The Orange Prize for Fiction Youth Panel 2010 have selected their shortlist. Find out more.
The Orange Prize Youth Panel members selected through Spinebreakers are Hazel Compton (18), Kate Edwards (17), Fergus Ewbank (18), Pooja Gohil (17), Conrad Landin (17), Kirsty Woodford (17). Find out more.
Six teenagers have been selected through Spinebreakers to form a youth panel to mark the 15th anniversary of the Orange Prize for Fiction.
"Ruby Baby" is a two-part crime drama for Radio 7, set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside during a blisteringly hot summer. Submit your own episode here.
Penguin’s Spinebreakers team have written collaboratively with author Louisa Young and other young writers from Hampstead Theatre and the National Theatre to produce the radio play “Ruby-Baby” for BBC Radio 7. Read about Rebecca's involvement.
Write Here, Right Now is a project funded by the Department for International Development and gives young people – you included – a platform to voice your opinions on international development and politics.
BRINGING STORIES TO LIFE One tent plus one massive canvas plus 10,000 teenagers equals Spinebreakers at the Underage Festival 2009!
Hsve your say on how you would change the curriculum. 77% of teenagers believe their grades would improve if Twilight, Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl were studied for GCSE and A-Level.
The Orange Prize Youth Judging Panel selected from Spinebreakers met Bernadine Evaristo, their chosen winner. Click to read Clarissa's article about the judging process.
As a new feature on the Spinebreakers site, we are introducing the Spinebreakers Classic of the month. This month it's Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Six of the Spinebreakers are sitting on a shadow judging panel for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Their shortlist has now been revealed. Click to find out more...
Rebecca attended this author event and reports on it for Spinebreakers. Writers in attendance were Meg Rosoff, Morris Gleitzman, Anthony McGowan, Elizabeth Laird and Patrick Ness. It was a prestigious panel who had many interesting things to say.
Morris Gleitzman and Anna Perera took part in a panel discussion about authors writing about sensitive and contraversial issues.
Christmas on Spinebreakers means a cracker of creativity. Click to read the Spinebreakers festive treats and send in your own.
Lily's comment on the US presidential election result
Rossana's comment on the US presidential election result
Clarissa's comment on the US presidential election result
Charlie's comment on the US Presidential Election result
Rebecca's comment on the US Presidential Election result.
Read the Spinebreakers comments on the result of the US Presidential Election 2008. What does Obama's win mean to you? Have your say and send in your comments.
Spinebreakers tell us of events that changed their life
jellyellie gets stuck into Penguin's innovative new Alternate Reality Game.
Click through to see what the Spinebreakers have to say, draw and design about Easter this year.
See what the Spinebreakers have to say on this hot debate.
Lily and Josie cook up a treat from a recipe in Hungry?
Spinebreakers tell you what they really think about Valentine's Day...
Tina shows us her creative flair with a series of imaginative sketches.
See what the editors would ask for if they were granted one literary wish this Christmas...
Razorlight, Beck, Goldspot, Dragonette, Ryan Adams, Johnny Flynn and Mr. Hudson & The Library. See the results!
Goldspot
Mr Hudson & the Library
Ryan Adams
Johnny Flynn
Beck
Razorlight
Dragonette