TitleTales

New Hi-Lo, Urban Fiction Series: by Kathryn Lynip

Juvenile & YA Special Topics—4/02/10
Two or three weeks ago a publisher catalog crossed my desk that got me so excited that I have to share it with everyone. Saddleback has been producing Hi-Lo materials for years, but this fall catalog from them was different. Their new titles have updated covers, trim size and some amazing new series. The series that got me most excited is called Urban Underground which covers two needs that I believe are not adequately met in current publishing. The first need is for more good urban literature for teens and the second is for Hi-Lo materials that actually appeal to teens. In my opinion, this series nails both of those needs. Anne Schraff, who wrote some of the popular Bluford High series, is the author of this new series and she has created high interest, gritty novels about the teens attending Tubman High. The subject matter is mature and addresses drugs, gangs and poverty as well as loyalty and friendship. The genius of the series is that you could hand one of these titles to a teen and they would not even need to know that it is written at a third grade reading level. The subject matter, attractive cover and size make it look like it belongs in a high school student’s hand. The print is a little larger and the book is not very long but it is not immediately evident that it is different which I think is a huge selling point for struggling readers. We have so many requests from libraries for both urban teen fiction and good Hi-Lo materials that I just had to find a way to tell you about this new series.

• Browse our Blog: Urban Underground Series Spotlight list

Paranormal en español: by Jennifer Velasquez

Adult & Juvenile & YA Special Topics—4/02/10
One benefit of the current paranormal trend is a wider variety of Spanish-language titles being published, most likely because Stephanie Meyer’s titles have been consistent best-sellers in Spanish. In addition to the entire Twilight series and El huésped (The Host), both the Twilight and New Moon movie tie-ins are currently available in Spanish; look for an Eclipse movie tie-in this May.

Currently, five titles in Charlaine Harris’s best-selling True Blood (Sookie Stackhouse) series are out in Spanish for adults; Muerto Para el Mundo (Dead to the World) recently received a positive review.

In young adult fiction, one of the first paranormal titles to be translated was last summer’s Ghostgirl from Alfaguara. Planeta has released translations of Lisa Jane Smith’s Vampire Diaries series (now on the CW), and this summer we can look forward to the release of Vampire Academy titles en español from Santillana.

St. Martins/Griffin recently released the first title, Marcada (Marked), in the very popular House of Night series for teens. Finally, Vintage/Montena published the first title in The Immortals series by Alyson Noel this February, and, in good news for fans, has the rights for the entire series.

• Browse our Spanish: Paranormal Titles list
• Browse our Spanish: Paranormal Titles for Teens list

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