Unlike a lot of people in the publishing industry, I regularly review the books I read on Goodreads, and it has sometimes gotten me into trouble. I've been a Goodreads member since shortly after it was founded, and I have a lot of friends there whose opinions I follow. And who follow me. Some people in publishing feel no one in our industry should be on Goodreads at all; one editor noted that he won't buy books from people who have given a negative review to one of his books. Others see it as a betrayal of our small community, that we should all be cheerleaders all the time, and to ever be otherwise is to be an Enemy of Books.Well, I think that's a lot of malarky, as Joe Biden might say. Goodreads can't make or break a book—if one negative review tilts the balance, then the problem is much bigger than a reviewer's opinion on a social media site. There are tons of readers, and it is their opinions that create heat around a new book—not the musings of a forty-something former-editorial director.But more than that, the ratings system on Goodreads doesn't really allow pans. There is five stars ("It was amazing") down through one star ("Didn't like it"). There is no "This sucked" or "I hated this more than dental work without novocaine," no "Black hole of antipathy," as film critic Duncan Shepherd used to assign to movies. (Most movies; he was a difficult critic to please.)So that single-star review? It doesn't mean the reader thought the book was bad. It only means the reader didn't like it, for whatever reason. I've given one star reviews to massively successful novels such as Twilight and Divergent, because they didn't really hit my sweet spots as a reader. I could appreciate what they were doing, but I didn't care for them very much. That's all I mean by a single star. And each time, my single-star review disappeared in a sea of five-star reviews. My little review didn't move the average at all.And that's how we should take Goodreads ratings of our own books. Of course, if the reader then goes on to complain bitterly about the book—well, that's a whole 'nother story.What's your experience? Do you use Goodreads? Do you let the one-star ratings get you down? Feel free to comment about it below.

We are so very excited for today's cover reveal! THE SWEETEST THING by Christina Mandelski is a fantastic contemporary YA novel about love, loss, and cake, and it's soon to be re-released on Amazon with this gorgeous new package and some yummy bonus materials.

When it comes to cake, Sheridan Wells is a true artist. She's happiest working in the back of her family's bakery, dreaming of the day her mom will come home. But when her dad makes an announcement that threatens to change their lives, Sheridan launches a desperate plan to find her mother before it's too late. Add to that a school art project that she can't seem to start, a moody best friend and the fact that she may or may not have been asked out by the cutest boy in school -- it's a recipe for disaster. Why can't fixing your life be as easy as decorating a cake?

Hop on over and visit Chris to learn more about her work and to keep posted on the upcoming release, and be sure to put THE SWEETEST THING on your must-read list this summer!

I'm so thrilled to wish Jessixa Bagley a very happy pub day for her debut book, BOATS FOR PAPA. I met Jessixa at SCBWI NY in 2013; that was the first conference I attended with my agent hat on after nearly ten years on the other side of the desk at Simon & Schuster. Jessixa came to my session, politely introduced herself and struck up a conversation. She was a runner-up in the Illustrator Showcase and submitted a dummy called Drift to me after the conference. I opened it and was immediately drawn into the world of Buckley, a young beaver who creates increasingly intricate boats to send to his absent and much missed Papa. And she made me cry. Tears-streaming-down-my-face cry. I sold the book to the brilliant and wonderful Neal Porter. Neal, Jessixa and the incredible art director, Jennifer Browne, made that beautiful book even more beautiful and today as BOATS FOR PAPA sets out into the world, I couldn't be prouder.Jessixa was this week named a Publishers Weekly Spring 2015 Flying Start. And her book has received FOUR(!) starred reviews. Here's what the critics are saying:"The only thing better than this title for anyone who has experienced loss is the redemptive nature of time."—School Library Journal"Reassuring, consoling, and lovely."—Booklist"Heartbreaking and hopeful, innocent and wise, a gentle story about healing and finding connection—both in the past and present."—Kirkus"A deeply empathic story with an accomplished sense of place. In beautiful tones of blue and brown, she immerses readers in the coastal world where Buckley and his mother are trying to make sense of their lives."—Publishers WeeklyFor more of Jessixa's artwork, check out her website or follow her on twitter @jessixabagley. She's posted a new drawing of a different boat everyday this month and they're all fantastic. Her next book, Before I Leave, is coming from Neal Porter books in February 2016. Congratulations, Jessixa!

We're oh-so-excited for the cover reveal of Andrew Brumbach's spectacular debut middle grade adventure novel, THE EYE OF MIDNIGHT (Delacorte, 2016). Hop on over to the good folks at Middle Grade Minded for the big reveal and an interview with Andrew.

We are pleased to announce that Upstart Crow client Erin Byers Murray has won the M.F.K. Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing. The award, presented by Les Dames d’Escoffier, is for Erin's essay "Sense of Self", which appeared in FoodThinkers in 2014.Erin is the author of Shucked: Life on a New England Oyster Farm (St. Martin's Press 2010) and a co-author of The James Beard nominated cookbook The New England Kitchen (Rizzoli 2014). Erin is an enormously talented writer and she has many more exciting projects cooking for the future. Congratulations, Erin!

The wait is over! We're thrilled to celebrate the publication of Beth Hautala's debut middle grade novel WAITING FOR UNICORNS (Philomel Books).Kirkus calls Beth "an author to watch." School Library Journal calls her writing "poignant." Publisher's Weekly calls Beth's descriptions "spellbinding."

Talia McQuinn is much too old to believe in magic, yet she keeps a jar of wishes under her bed. When her whale-researcher father drags Tal to the Arctic for the summer following her mother’s death, she brings the jar along. During her stay, Tal learns of the ancient Inuit legend of the narwhal whale—the unicorn of the sea—she forms a plan to make the biggest wish of her life.

I discovered Beth's work while participating in the annual agent slugfest known as the Baker's Dozen Auction, a contest in which I read the first 250 words of her novel and had to bid on the rest, sight-unseen. It wasn't hard to take a chance on her--Beth's is the type of prose that just gets at you and doesn't let go.WAITING FOR UNICORNS is an incredibly special book, and it's exciting to see a debut author write with such beauty, truth, and a touch whimsy. We are thrilled to celebrate such a bright new talent. Congratulations, Beth!

I am fizzy with fangirl-ish glee! Sarah Tregay's sophomore novel, FAN ART, has been nominated by YALSA (the American Library Association) as one of the best Books for Young Readers, 2015.This isn't Sarah's first time on this fantastic list. Her debut novel, LOVE AND LEFTOVERS, was a YALSA 2013 Best Fiction for Young Adults finalist.FAN ART is a tremendously special book, as it is at the forefront of the movement to create diversity in young adult literature. In FAN ART, seventeen year-old Jamie is in love with his best friend Mason, but is afraid that if he shares his feelings, he'll lose Mason's friendship forever. Ever since I read an early draft of the story back in 2011, it's been my hope that FAN ART would cross boundaries--that it would allow LGBT readers to see themselves reflected in popular literature, as well as allowing readers of every sexual orientation to bond over the universal truth about the pain and thrill of falling for a good friend.Sarah Tregay writes a heck of of a love story, and when she does, her fans clamor for it--across all lines of gender or race. It's exciting to see a novel like FAN ART on the YALSA list, and the fact that we are able to push--and redefine--the boundaries of what is "normal" is perhaps the most amazing part of working in YA publishing today.We are thrilled to see Sarah's work on this year's YALSA list among so many talented writers, and we can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

[caption id="attachment_3327" align="alignleft" width="300"]

[Image appropriated from Cakeafare.com.][/caption]2009 isn't all that far back, but sometimes it can seem like a lifetime ago.Lady Gaga was a breakout artist, and Kanye West was stealing Taylor Swift's microphone. Barack Obama hadn't yet served a full year—but had already hosted a beer summit. Steve Jobs was alive (if not well), and the iPad hadn't yet been introduced. Legitimate journalists wrote about things like Farmville and sexting and the Gosselins as though these things were "news."And Upstart Crow Literary opened for business. We were four agents who'd met at another, short-lived agency, and we joined forces and announced ourselves that August. So much has happened since! Far too much to adequately cover in this post. So a quick summary with lots of links.We moved from a PO box to an address on Fifth Avenue; we bid farewell to one agent (we miss you, Chris) and welcomed another (the fabulous Alexandra Penfold). Ourauthorshavepublishedwildlyacclaimeddebutnovels—bothstandalonesandseriesentries; New York Times bestsellers, much lauded award-winners, and much-loved entries on best-of-the-yearlists. They've published cookbooks and memoirs, self-help and guides to helping others, picturebooks and of-the-moment popculture megasellers. We've sold our clients' work into literally dozens of countries, via both the Bologna Book Fair and our crack team of co-agents. And last, but not least, we refurbished and relaunched this website.We think this new design is far more beautiful and intuitive than was the old site. (Thanks, guys.) And with the new site and new office comes a renewed commitment—to post more regularly our takes and thoughts about the industry, and to make this site more useful for all of its visitors. Not just our esteemed roster of clients, but also editors, art directors, and new writers, who are looking to find a home. We'd like to hear from you.Thanks from all of us to all of you for a wonderful first five years. Here's to another fifty.

From this week's PW rights report:

Andrea Cascardi at Egmont USA has bought a contemporary YA novel by debut author Amy Allgeyer Cook. In Water for Starfish, pitched as an Erin Brockovich story set in coal country, 17-year-old Liberty is sent to live with her grandmother in Kentucky after her mother is arrested during a protest. Liberty discovers that the water has turned orange and starts questioning whether the new mining process might be the cause, opening a Pandora's box of problems. Publication is slated for 2016; Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow brokered the deal for North American rights.

When I read Amy's novel on submission, it was clear from the first page that she is one of those rare talents who can write funny, smart, and beautiful all at once. Water for Starfish is the complete package.Congratulations, Amy!

Hello!Chris Richman here. After many months of consideration, I've decided to leave the book world. This isn't a decision I make easily—for years I wanted to work in publishing, and it was a literal dream come true when I landed a job as a literary agent. I loved finding new talent, working with my clients, and sharing in their triumphs. I enjoyed connecting with writers across the country and the world, and being a part of people’s roads to success.I’m especially proud to have worked with so many talented people over the years, from my wonderful roster of clients, to the editors who helped shape good stories into great ones, and especially to my colleagues both at Upstart Crow and Firebrand Literary way back when. The biggest debt I owe is to Michael Stearns, who served as a wonderful mentor for me when I was just starting, and now has become a friend. His guidance, sense of humor, and occasional tough love helped me in too many ways to count.In the end, however, I've decided to seek a different route, and I'm happy to announce I've started a job in PR and marketing in Philadelphia, and look forward to a shift in careers.Thank you to everyone who helped along the way, including the writers who shared their work with me. I wish I could have responded to every query more quickly, or signed more clients, or met more people at conferences. But hey, it was a pretty good run that I’ll remember fondly.Best of luck to you all out there!Chris Richman