Loser/Queen: An Online Reading Experience for Teens
RSSJoy Fleishhacker
The serial novel meets the 21st century with the launch of an innovative online book from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Penned by New York Times bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson, Loser/Queen, presented on the web in tantalizing weekly installments, includes fun-to-access links, and features a plot determined by reader feedback. The site is hosted by the online community LivingSocial's Visual Bookshelf and is sponsored by national retailer JCPenney, both working in partnership with S&S. The first four chapters of this interactive book were posted on July 28th, 2010, with new segments scheduled to blast every Monday through September 13th. Teens have the opportunity to read the installment and vote on how the story will continue (responses must be received by Thursday evening). After its completion, the finished novel will be available online until September 20th. S&S will then release the book on December 21 in paperback and e-book editions, with added extras from the author and the final cover art voted upon by participants. Anderson, author of the whimsical "May Bird" fantasy trilogy (S&S) for middle graders and the "Peaches" series (HarperCollins) for young adults, was intrigued by the opportunity to fashion an online book: "It was a chance to create something really new...the interactive elements, getting the chance to involve readers in deciding on where the story will go...It's been an exciting, creative process," she says. Loser/Queen features Cammy, a "born outsider" whose innate social awkwardness and years-long history of public self-humiliation has "cemented her position at the bottom of the Browndale High School food chain." With the support of her best friend Gerdi, a Danish exchange student, and the loving grandparents who are raising her, Cammy hopes to remain invisible throughout her sophomore year. Unfortunately, a clothing mishap at the homecoming dance once again puts her center stage and gets everyone buzzing. Then, out of the blue, she starts receiving text messages that give her access to the embarrassing secrets of her most popular (and mean-spirited) classmates. Cammy knows nothing about the identity-or motives-of the sender, but can she give up this opportunity to go from total loser to queen of the school? And just who is the mystery texter? Cammy is an endearing character who volunteers at the local animal shelter, shares a passion for The Golden Girls with her grandmother, and becomes tongue-tied whenever her longtime crush Luke even looks her way. The narrative is filled with funny and poignant moments and teens will have sympathy for the protagonist (and feel invested in her fate, which, after all, lies in their hands). The first segment ends with Cammy on the verge of making a tough choice, and youngsters will enthusiastically chime in to cast their vote about her course of action. In addition, readers can browse the plot-related interactive elements embedded in the text, including links to YouTube videos, online recipes, and more. Illustrated with stylized artwork in breezy pastels, the site also offers other options to explore (e.g., a yearbook-style glimpse at the characters), a Q&A with Anderson, and the author's blog and vlog (video commentary) about the story. Loser/Queen's unique format and sponsorship just might put the work into the hands-or onto the screens-of an audience beyond the advertising ken of traditional books. According to Paul Crichton, Director of Publicity at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, "We announced the launch of this project on Seventeen.com (the website of Cosmogirl.com and Seventeen Magazine) first and then we have been doing extensive outreach to teen bloggers and other blogs in addition to the usual press outreach. S&S is also working with the PR teams at Living Social and JCPenney to help with the press and online outreach. But it should be noted that a large component of the outreach is being done through LivingSocial's online presence-in the forms of their Visual Bookshelf, Banner ads etc." Despite the participation of these sponsors, the site doesn't seem overly marketed. Teens can access the story without being distracted by ads and really focus on the content. Links to the JCPenney site are low key and are not part of the main text. For example, "The Rec Room" section of the site offers a "Dress Up Cammy" option that allows users to try different outfits on the character and provides a link for viewing back to school fashions. What role does Simon & Schuster see this type of online/participatory book playing in libraries? Crichton says: "We are hoping librarians will want to participate themselves, as well as get kids involved, knowing that it will ultimately become a finished book a few months down the road. We would also hope that teens are reading this type of thing in the computers and Internet provided at libraries across the country. And of course, the hope would be for all libraries to carry the finished book, that readers would have an impact in the direction of the final book." I really hope this is the way that books for teens go
digital. Teenagers love participatory reading... getting
to choose what happens to characters, etc. And I love
that once the whole book is done, they are releasing it
in print and for eReaders. I would be interested to read
a process journal from the author! I can't imagine
writing like this... I admire her. * = Required information
Reader Comments (1)
Posted by Amanda Lanyon-LeSage on August 4, 2010 11:11:55AM
