Hi there! I
wrote a book called A TAXONOMY OF LOVE about a boy named Spencer who uses
taxonomies to make sense of the world, so I thought I’d explain a little more
about what taxonomies are and why I think they’re so awesome.
Taxonomies
are a way to classify every living thing in the world, from sea monkeys to
honey badgers.
I’m
a scientist by day, so making the taxonomies was really fun for me. I love the
idea of facts fitting inside of each other like nesting dolls and being able to
see how everything is interconnected. I liked getting to take abstract ideas
and organize them using this system, like “A Taxonomy of Reasons People Leave”
or “A Taxonomy of Almosts.”
I think Spencer
is drawn to taxonomy because he feels like, “If I can’t figure out where I fit
in, at least I can figure out where everything else fits.”
I thought it
would be really fun to create some YA-related taxonomies and see other people’s
taxonomies, so…giveaway time!
How to play: Post
your own YA-themed taxonomy on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag
#TaxonomyofYALove by December 31st. They can be as simple or as complicated as
you want (see examples below), and could include your favorite YA book
boyfriends or the 2018 books you’re most excited about or which Harry Potter
ships you cannot abide. I’d love it if you tag me at @rachael_allen (Twitter)
or rachael.stewartallen (Instagram)!
What you win: A
chance at an annotated copy of A TAXONOMY OF LOVE. (You know you want to know
top secret stuff about my mom.)
Thanks, y’all! I
can’t wait to see what people come up with!
xo,
Rachael Allen
Example Taxonomies!
