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How to Tuesday: Fiction-Flavored Lollipops and How to Make Them

Lollipop: a sweet, nearly magical candy on a stick. It used to be you could get at the bank just for using their services, or for being good at the doctor or dentists office (though this was probably a sly plan to encourage repeat business).

But now that you're a full-grown geek it's time to learn how to make your own lollies, and more important still, how to flavor them to match your favorite fandoms.

Gather your materials.

Posted by Margaret Dunham

If I Stay…On the Internet Long Enough to Find Awesome Fan Art

YA readers put the passion back into books. From Twihards to Potterheads, these teens create mega best sellers, know every detail of their favorite novels, can pick each discrepancy in their long-awaited book-to-film adaptations, and can bust box office records. They write fan fiction, go to fan conventions, and steal movie props that their favorite characters sat on. 

But my favorite trend with the YA set has to be fan art—teens who are so inspired by the words that they read, that they redesign book covers, create faux movie posters, or sketch how they imagine a book’s most memorable scene. One YA novel, soon-to-be-film that has inspired such creative adaptations is Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, which is slated to hit theaters August 22nd.

It’s the story of seventeen-year-old Mia who survives a family car wreck only to land in a coma and face an impossible choice—does she want to continue in this world given everything she’s lost, or would rather let go? It’s a powerful, layered novel that makes you think, and it's inspired some beautiful fan art. Below is a collection of some of our favorites—many from the If I Stay movie Tumblr.

Posted by Diana R. Wallach

Quirk Perks: Get The Kickstarter Handbook for Only $3.99 This Month!

Quirk Perks: Get POPS! for Only $3.99 This Month!

POPS! by Krystina Castella

KINDLE / NOOK / KOBO / IBOOKSTORE

Posted by Eric Smith

Worst-Case Wednesday: How to Survive a Family Car Trip

Photo via PBS Parents

Summertime is the perfect time for family vacations, and you might want to take a break from flying to spend some good ol’ family time together in the car to reach your destination. Whether it’s a two-hour trip to the beach or an 18-hour drive to Disney World, family road trips are a challenge.

There’s only so long one can play the license plate game without wanting to jump out the car window. But no matter the drive, you have to be prepared for a successful car trip, and The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook has you covered:

Posted by Marissa Stern

How To Stay Cool (With Pops)!

Hey Quirkers, are you melting yet? If you said no, you’re either lying or you possess a temperature-modulated personal bubble—which I covet. Staying cool in the sweltering heat of summer can be a challenge, but it can be done. The trick is to eat lots of ice-cold treats—because if you’re going to suffer, you’d better do it right.

Luckily for you, we’ll give you a brief respite from the humidity with the Southern Sweet Tea Pops recipe from Pops! Icy Treats for Everyone by Krystina Castella. Don’t just sip sweet tea on the porch, be even cooler than that! Eat a sweet tea popsicle—you’ll thank me later.

Posted by Suzanne Wallace