Book Blogger Hop #2

The Book Blogger Hop was started (and is hosted) by Crazy for Books.

This week's question: Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

My favorite authors have changed as I have grown up and as I have changed in taste as a reader. I have favorites for my reading and favorites for teaching. Here, I’ll share a few that come to mind right away:
Laurie Halse Anderson – because she captures difficult topics in incredible ways. Speak is one of my all time favorite books, but I can’t think of a book of hers that I haven’t enjoyed.
Maggie Stiefvater – because she creates characters with so much depth that you can , slightly snarky, and incredibly creative. And because James (of Lament and Ballad) is probably my biggest book crush.
Wendi Corsi Staub – because her stories are full of suspense and keep me hooked to the last page.
Rick Riordan – because he takes mythology and weaves it into modern times in a way that is truly fantastic (and must take a TON of research).
J.K. Rowling – because she created an incredible world in the Harry Potter series and wrote a series that appeals to people of all ages.
Elizabeth Scott – because her books are real, well written, and address topics that need to be discussed.
Andrew Clements – because he writes books with realistic stories that appeal to kids in elementary and middle school, and because a lot of his main characters are boys (which I think is important in MG and YA books)

I could literally go on all day, so I’ll stop with seven. What are some of your favorite authors?

Book Blogger Hop #1

The Book Blogger Hop was started (and is hosted) by Crazy for Books.

The Hop now has a twist each week, and since this is my first hop, this week’s twist is especially well suited!
This week’s twist/question: Tell us your NAME and WHY YOU STARTED BLOGGING

Hi, I’m Molly and I started ‘a dazzling distraction’ as a place to record my thoughts about the books I’ve been reading. I often find that after I read a book, I’m not done thinking about it, but since none of my friends read YA books, I didn’t have a place to share my thoughts. Then, in November of last year, I came across my first book blog online (the story siren) and I was hooked! I read blogs for about a month before actually considering one of my own, but now I love it!

I usually read/review YA books, and this month, I’m participating in Body Image and Self Perception month (hosted by Jo at Once Upon a Bookcase).

Thanks for stopping by - Leave me a link to your site, and stop back in for more BI&SP posts all month!