2011 Blog Survey Results

What can I say? I couldn't resist posting some of the statistics and highlights from my blog survey (plus, it's easier for me to reference this post instead of scrolling through a long list!)

MALE/FEMALE RATIO OF SURVEY PARTICIPANTS

Safe to say that YA Book Queen is read by mostly females ;)
AGE RANGE OF READERS

VISITING

RATING OF MY REVIEWS

Any Thoughts On How I Can Improve My Reviews?

"it's pretty elaborate. You cover everything a readers curious about, the wants to know with the "Highlights" & "lowlights" its pretty unique the way you write your reviews. Very helpful, especially the footnotes :)"

"I like how they're structured, but sometimes I think they're a little short."

"I like them because they are just the right length. And I love that you identify your highlights and lowlights."

"I think the length is good and I appreciate that you include a brief summary of the book first so I can know what I'm reading about before getting to your comments. Even if I don't have much time, your reviews are organized so that I can quickly make a decision whether I might be interested in the book."

"Longer reviews!"

"I do like longer reviews naturally because I love hearing your thoughts! Bring on the major honesty :)"

"Can't think of anything. They don't need to be longer unless you want them to be. But I think they're nice and concise. I LOVE your footnotes."

Hmm...interesting ;)
COMMENTING

If You Answered "No", Why?

"Cause I'm not a good commenter"

"I only read via RSS feed your blog and don't take time to post comment...."

"Because I'm just a lurker looking for good books to read. :)"

"I read your posts through an email subscription"

"Good question Lea! lol I think its more about time... some days I can take a whole hour(s) to comment on my fave blogs. I WISH i could comment on all the blogs i like..."

"Because I suck and don't comment enough in general - it's got nothing to do with your blog. It's one of my new year's resolutions to start being more social and comment more, though :)" 

I suck at commenting too. It's definitely difficult, especially with all the great book blogs out there, so seriously don't even worry about it.  
What Do You Think Of YA Book Queen's Layout?

"Love the banner, but maybe the layout is a little too blue-focused? Another color would be nice :)"

"I like it I also like that you have a kind of mascot with the banner what I mean is I see it and know it's you"

"I love it, especially the header."

"I like the blue and the patterns used. It's very stately and recognizable."

"Clean and uncluttered. Easy to read and easy to find things."

"I love the simple layout- very easy to navigate. I also have this blog on my Google Reader, and the format works well there, too."

I'm sure Joni would be quite thrilled with amount of people who wrote in the survey that they love the header! 
Do You Like Seeing My Weekly Recommended Book In The Upper-Right Corner Of My Blog Each Week? Why, Why Not?

"Yes, it's one of the reasons I love your blog. It really helps in finding the next great book I missed, and saves the trouble of going through reviews to find five stars"

"Yeah! maybe you can add one of your qoutes at the bottom. like 'Matched is a dystopian novel I'll definitely be remembering for quite some time.' then I'd wonder why :)" 

"Yes, it's a nice touch - if that book is in my TBR pile I would be more likely to pick it up."

"Since I reed via RSS feed, i don't see it...Sorry. But it seems like a good idea!" 

"Yes, because duh, more books to read :)"

Whew. Glad I wasn't posting recommendations for nothing, and I absolutely love the one-liner excerpt idea! 
FAVORITE TYPE OF POSTS

FAVORITE MEMES

Anything I Can Do To Improve YA Book Queen?

"Post more often,"

"I think you could add older books you read."

"Not that I can think of..."

"Get nicer wallpaper"

That last one is so true & amusing. I couldn't stop laughing when I read it. I tend to pick whatever's available through Blogger for my background image because I'm terrible at creating anything nice. Trust me when I say that I am attempting to find something better! 
OVERALL RATING OF YA BOOK QUEEN

You guys are too sweet :)
Anything You Want To Add?

"YABQ was the first blog I started following, it really helped in bettering every book I read and encouraged me to start following other blogs and go into the blogging community. Thank you so much!"

"You are going to post the results, right?"

"I like this survey :)"

Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer my questions (and for insane amount of amazing praise and kind words). I was so stunned with the amount of survey participants who read regularly but lurk in the background rather than comment.  I wasn't aware YA Book Queen had that many "silent" readers, and it definitely strengthened my determination to keep this blog going. I'll try to use what I've learned from you readers to help make YA Book Queen a better blog this year. 

THANK YOU so much once again to the large group of people who took the survey. I highly appreciate it. 

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Where She Went (If I Stay #2)
by Gayle Forman
Release: April 5th, 2011
Pages: 208 (hardcover)Publisher: Dutton JuvenileSource: Unsolicited copy - PublisherSummary: 

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I've been thinking about this novel for a few months now, reflecting on the story and my reaction to it¹...and in the end, I realized that Where She Went must have been pretty spectacular to remain in my thoughts for so long. 
After three long years, Adam and his band are on top of the world and he's a famous rock star. But despite how great everything seems, Adam's less than thrilled with his life. Even his relationships with his band-mates aren't what they used to be. Everyday, he runs through the motions of his rock-star life while staving off nervous breakdowns with a bottle of pills. Honestly, it was so heartbreaking to read Adam narrative and to see his character so sad. Even with Mia's appearance, the changes in her both pleased and saddened me as I followed Adam's narration.

Forman's writing evoked different emotions in me with words that were poetic, beautiful, and heartbreaking. It is so easy to get lost in the story and emotion of Where She Went, and to just let the pages turn as the story unfolds. The story itself takes place quickly, for the most part in a matter of a full day, as Adam and Mia spend time trying to understand each other, themselves, the past, and coming to terms with each of their futures. 
Highlights: Adam's voice is achingly familiar, yet fresh and compelling - I was worried he would sound like Mia. However, Adam is different, broken² in a different way than Mia once was. And thankfully, he still has some of his lovable charm and humor. I love how Forman shows how her characters have changed in three years, how they've evolved and grown. Even though it was initially a challenge for me to dive into Adam's mindset, Adam's words and the emotion behind them resonated with me long after the final page. 
Lowlights: The first half of the novel was difficult to get through because Adam really is in such a down place, and not entirely the man he used to be. It's difficult to see a character you adore be in a place like that. But, the last half made everything worthwhile. Rating:   
1 I even had to reread it, because I was not quite sure the first time around how I even felt. 2 He's a bit like a lit firecracker in this novel, just seconds away from exploding emotionally...Adam is just so vibrant as a character.