Yesterday I dropped four fantastic young adult novels in random public places around my town in the hope that four lucky readers would find and enjoy them as much as I have.
April 18th was Rock the Drop, a celebration of Teen Lit Day sponsored by ReaderGirlz, in collaboration with Figment, I Heart Daily, Soho Teen, and 826NYC. This was my second year participating; I’ve had such a blast with this event, and I love that it supports an amazing cause.
Last year I selected books for the drop rather haphazardly. This year I put a little more thought behind my choices. I went with a dystopian theme, and I dropped first books in trilogies with the idea that perhaps the person who happened upon each book would love it enough to either purchase the subsequent books in the series, or check them out from the library. Smart, right? 🙂
My first drop was on Cannery Row, a very touristy area of my very touristy town. The John Steinbeck bust was begging to have Divergent propped up against it.
I dropped Ship Breaker at the middle/high school bus stop in my neighborhood, and The Pledge at Pinkberry (YUM) just after school let out.
After all that book dropping (not to mention teaching a painting lesson to my daughter’s kindergarten class), I was very thirsty. A Starbucks iced tea did the trick, and I left Wither, my final book, behind for a lucky reader.
Tell me… Did you Rock the Drop yesterday? Which books did you leave around your town?
katyupperman.com 
I hadn’t heard about this. What fun!
Yes, it was a blast, Kirsten! You should definitely try to participate next year.
Awesome! Thank you so much for participating!
It’s a fantastic event… Already looking forward to next year!
That was a great idea to drop first books in series. Very smart, Katy. 🙂 I went a little crazy dropping books that I purchased specifically for the event and also pulling a number from my own bookshelves. Hubby and I had lots of fun dropping them all over the city.
It is fun, isn’t it? I’m so impressed with all the books you (and your hubby!) dropped. I enlisted my mom’s help and even she had fun peeking around corners to see if the books we left had been picked up yet. Already looking forward to dropping books next year!
I need to remember to do this next year because it’s such a great idea! I love that you did the first in a series.
Thanks! You should definitely participate next year. It’s a blast, and supports such a fantastic cause. 🙂
LOVE THIS Katy! It always falls at a crazy time of the year for me, but it is such a wonderful NEAT idea. I’m going to live vicariously through your book droppin’ goodworks for this year. What a generous way to share the things you love. :0)
Thanks, Kat! It’s a fabulous idea and supports a wonderful cause, plus it’s SO FUN! You should definitely try to join in next year. 🙂
I love how you had a strategy and a theme for the books you dropped! I didn’t get around to participating this year, but maybe next year.
You should try to join in next year, Erin… I bet you’d have such fun dropping books. It’s cool to enlist the help of family/friends too – I brought my mom around town with me this year and she had a blast with the whole thing too.
Such a difference living in a place with sunshine makes for your drops!!!! I am so jealous, Katy – it poured down rain here yesterday, so I was limited to finding covered locations. But I love all of the locations you picked – and bet your books were snagged right up!
Great selections, too!
Thanks, Erin! It was very nice not to have to worry about rain when I selected my drop locations. I saw your rainy day picture — typical Washington! — and I loved your Sarah Dessen book choices.
Already looking forward to dropping books next year!
Great idea, Katy! 😀 (and love your pictures!) Did you wait and see who snagged those wonderful books? 😀
No, but I did go back and to a few locations to see if the books were gone, and they were! Hopefully whoever snagged them is enjoying the stories. 🙂
I was going to Rock the Drop…but then I ended up signing a lease for a new place and consequently having to put down a deposit so it didn’t happen.
Next year for sure, though!
Congrats on your new place, Steph! I hope you’re able to Rock the Drop next year. 🙂
What did you write on the post-its on top? I totally need to do this next year, and I love the idea of using the first book in a series (so sneaky and smart, you are). 🙂
I wrote something along the lines of: “Please take and enjoy this free book in celebration of Teen Lit Day. Happy reading!”
You should definitely participate next year, Kari… It’d be so easy to drop books around your school!