so long, freshman year! stay sweet!

on july 17th, 2010, something major happened. like, major major. like super duper OMG major.

we celebrated our first birthday!!!!!

or, to put it in YA terms, WE SURVIVED OUR FRESHMAN YEAR!

it’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since we launched FYA. aw, our little blog is growing up so fast! before we know it, the braces will be off, the boys will be calling and we’ll be offering daily lectures on Thinking About Yr Future. so before this year passes into distant, alcohol-drenched memory, we decided to commemorate it in true YA-style– with a yearbook!

this year’s cheesy ass theme is THE FUTURE IS OURS! and since no one cares about the cafeteria food poll or awkwardly posed “candid” shots of model students just joshin’ around with teachers, let’s get right to the good stuff!

FYA FRESHMAN CLASS OF 2010*

*since jenny was home schooled, she doesn’t have a freshman picture, so she submitted this photo of her 16-year-old self instead. which explains why she look so much more sophisticated and glamorous then the rest of us. it’s amazing what two years can do, isn’t it?

CLASS AWARDS

Ms. FYA: Meg Cabot

the title of ms. fya goes to meg cabot, whose charm and wit won us over. meg’s champion portrayal of girls and women with whom we all identify and her down-to-earth style (and her willingness to give us 152 insights into her SOUL in her between two lockers interview) make her a definite favorite around here. writing YA and adult books that are such (dare we embrace the cliche?) crossover hits are what forever young adult is all about (that, and cocktails)! - M

Mr. FYA: Brian Katcher

It all started with a simple book report for ‘Almost Perfect’.  Never did we think we’d end up winning our very own all-around favorite guy in Brian Katcher, but that is exactly what we got.  Brian’s realistic portrayal of everyboys in his books, and his ability to write about controversial issues within the context of just telling a plain old good story are obvious reasons why we like him so much.  But it has been Brian’s wit and charm in his comments on other posts (and his wife’s, too!), his sharing of drinking games and stories (oh, ask him about Mexico!), and his encompassing coolness that wins him the title of Mr. FYA. - J

Most Popular: Hunger Games Name

Months after it debuted on the scene, the Hunger Games name post still generates a lot of buzz.  It’s amazing what a little math, and the opportunity to make sly sex-and-drugs jokes, can do to a simple little post!  Over 176 comments and growing, the Hunger Games name creator has kept us well-stocked in Tributes, for which President Snow most sincerely thanks you! - E

Most Likely To Succeed: YAngelism

on a daily basis, this class crusader struggles with tremendous obstacles, from sparkly vamps to condescending adults, and yet its passion for saving literary souls never wavers. there is no greater advocate for awesome YA books, no more courageous defender of our Right to Read YA Lit than this tireless leader. fiercer than katniss and more ambitious than hermione, this superstar is running up the ladder faster than spiderman, and we only hope that, when it reaches the top, it won’t forget about the little people (and the little books!). - P

Class Clown: SVH Drinking Game

It’s hard to pick just one post here at FYA that stands out as the funniest because, let’s be honest, we’re funny bitches, but only one series of posts would make a sailor blush while possibly juggling some sort of fruit while also harping endlessly about the awesomeness of Saved by the Bell, and that is the Sweet Valley High series.  Who knew that a quaint little trip down memory lane would turn into something that I can never, ever show my child or my parents (and had to apologize to Poshdeluxe’s parents for)?  Winston Egbert will be accepting this award on the series’ behalf. - E

Most Academic: How to Judge a YA Book By Its Cover

apparently, designing YA covers is trickier than rocket science, and yet this post managed to explain the do’s and don’ts in terms even drunken bloggers can understand. we can’t wait to see what deeply intellectual mystery this prodigy attempts to crack next, and we have no doubt that it will graduate early and earn four phds before we can say, “doogie howser!” – P

Best Couple: Peeta vs Gale

Henri and I covered a lot of points in our weeks-long debate over who was a better fit for Katniss: Peeta or Gale.  But the one idea that neither of us floated turns out to be the most natural idea of all.  Forget Katniss.  Peeta and Gale can hie down to Argentina and finally sign a legally-binding contract, declaring their eternal love for one another!  I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before!  If opposites attract, then they’re covered – broody Gale can be the hunter/gatherer and moody Peeta can turn their house into a home.  Besides, Katniss may not make it through anyway – this way the boys can console each other. - E

Best Hair: Brian Katcher

We may or may not have had to beg for this.  Nevertheless, the evidence speaks:  Behold, Mr. FYA himself! - J

Most Likely To Be President: Frankie Landau-Banks

after infiltrating those silly bassets, improving the veggie fare in the caf and bravely carrying the feminist torch, there is no doubt that frankie totally rules our school (she even has the mixtape to prove it). and we can’t wait until she rules the rest of the country, too! in fact, we kind of wish we could fast forward to 20 years from now, when frankie will conquer the biggest boys club around and, most importantly, invite us to a slumber party at the white house. i call dibs on the lincoln! - P

Most Athletic: The Dairy Queen

there’s being well-rounded, and then there’s being d.j. schwenk, aka the dairy queen. not only does she dominate the basketball court, she’s also a force to be reckoned with on the football field. the BOY’S football field. and when she’s not busy tackling the opposing team, she’s wrestling with beasts of a different sort– the cows at her family dairy farm. we have no doubt that all of the college scouts will be amazed by her stats, but our favorite one? her heart is 100% gold. - P

Most Spirited: The New Moon Drinking Game

Which post could possibly win the most spirited award?  The one that has people yelling out “JORTS!” in movie theatres and living rooms across the globe!  The New Moon Drinking Game has shown its spirit in dizzying proportions (seriously, just *TRY* to chug during that spinny-month-changing-scene!); plus, it keeps us all stocked with delicious blood-orange sangria!  Viva la Jorts Revolución! - J

Chatter Box: Meredith

Awarded to our most frequent commentor, the Chatter Box title lets everyone know who loves us best/has too much time on their hands.  This year, the title is awarded to Meredith, who takes time out from her own awesome horror blog to not only makes us laugh but also assuage some of her needier friends’ tantrums about internet popularity with her hilarious and prolific comments!  (P.S. ed. note from Erin – thanks for that, Mere.) - E

Most Creative: Twilight Crafts

Easily the best contender for Most Creative is the collection of so-awful-it-hurts Twilight crafts. While you’ll never catch me cross stitching RPatz’s face on anything, we do have to admire the creative … er, talent it takes to put something like this together, and it did inspire our Home Ec category. We’d love to see the creative forces used for good not evil in the form of Hunger Games crafts! - M

Biggest Flirt: Tiny Cooper

it doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight or morrissey, EVERYONE’S in love with tiny cooper. whether he’s dazzling you with his musical extravaganzas or wooing you with his tireless devotion, tiny cooper is the biggest charmer to hit FYA since, well, THE DAWN OF TIME. even though there’s no chance in hell that he’ll ever change teams for us, we’ll always be suckers for our favorite tiny dancer. TINY COOPER WE APPRECIATE YOU! – P

sure, class awards are a Big Deal and will obvs determine everyone’s future paths in life, but we all know that the best part of the yearbook is all of the meaningful messages and inside jokes that we won’t remember in two years.

so, dear internets, would you please SIGN OUR YEARBOOK? LYLAS!!!!!