If you are a fan of YA literature, and don’t live under a rock, you probably have heard about the New York Times YA Bestseller List. For 25 weeks, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas has been in the top spot and deservedly so. Yesterday, when the updated list was announced, The Hate U Give had been bumped from the top spot. Taking it’s place was Handbook for Mortals by Lani Sarem.
I don’t blame you for not recognizing it, I didn’t either. Most of the YA reading community didn’t. So how, you might ask, did it end up on the NYT list when the readers themselves hadn’t heard of it?
Read the full story from Entertainment Weekly to get all of the juicy details, but, to make it short and sweet, it bought it’s way onto the list. Not bought as in honest readers ordered and purchased this book, but it was purchased in bulk from suppliers who specifically report their sales for the NYT list.
This book scammed it’s way into the #1 spot, knocking out The Hate U Give.
The YA twitter community, to say the least, exploded and the charge was headed up by Phil Stamper @stampepk. Through questions, research, and making a great deal of internet noise the NYT took notice and investigated the placing of Handbook for Mortals for themselves. In the end, the book was removed and The Hate U Give reclaimed it’s rightful place.
It’s no secret that sometimes the rules are bent and stretched but Handbook for Mortals obliterated them and faced the consequences. I won’t be touching this book and I know many of us in the reading community won’t be now either.
I’m sure there’s a saying that follows the lines of even bad exposure is good exposure and I think we may have just found the exception to that. I just don’t see the point at all, but it’s nice to see the influence that book lovers can have 🙂
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I hadn’t heard of this book until a couple of days ago I saw it on NetGalley. I remember it because it said it was soon to be a movie. I almost requested it, but decided not to because I’m trying to curb my NetGalley addiction. The funny thing is, I just went back to look for it and it’s gone. Hmm.🤔
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Wow! Very informative. I’m one of the guppys out there who haven’t heard of Handbook for Mortals – definitely going to check it out now though!!!
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It sounds like an okay book, nothing wonderous, at least in my opinion. I hadn’t heard of it until yesterday’s NYT blowup. The outrage in the YA twitter community was unreal.
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Whoa… I’m a huge YA follower so the fact that I haven’t heard of this is extremely embarrassing -lol.
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Watching this go down was WILD! Probably a good thing you made a post about it, for the folks who missed it.
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Wasn’t it nuts watching it go down? I had things to do but couldn’t take my eyes off of twitter.
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Yesterday was a crazy day for twitter! I’m sorry, but anyone that scams their way to the top by getting people to bulk buy their book for sales so it makes the list is a no go for me. I don’t care if this book was going to be the best book of 2017, I won’t touch it
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Amen, Shanah. I will not touch it with a ten foot pole. She will not be getting a penny or any positive vibes from me.
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This is the first time I’ve heard of this! Thanks Amanda!
Also, I’ve nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award! Take a look!
My First EVER Blog Award! – Victorious Pages
https://victoriouspages.wordpress.com/2017/08/27/my-first-ever-blog-award/
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Thank you for the nomination!
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You’re welcome! 😁☺️
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