I'm Leaving The YA Section

A heartfelt farewell from the blog's creator

Nearly one year ago, I created Controversial Book Club as a small Blogger site. What started as a modest endeavor has since evolved into a thriving publication with nearly 200 subscribers. Watching this community grow has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. However, after much thought, I’ve come to the difficult decision that it’s time for me to step away.

I never imagined I’d be writing my own farewell announcement. As the creator of this blog, I’ve poured so much time and effort into shaping it. My dream was to consistently release quality book reviews and writing advice, supported by an engaged, interactive audience. While some of those dreams came true, others turned out to be less realistic than I’d hoped.

When I first started The YA Section, I was in eighth grade, full of energy and ideas. I could churn out multiple posts each week while my co-authors, all in high school, contributed occasionally. At the time, it felt like I was carrying the weight of the blog, which was fine—I loved the challenge. But now that I’m in high school, balancing schoolwork, personal stress, and another blog, I’ve come to understand how demanding it is to maintain this level of commitment.

Although I still manage to write three or four posts a month for my personal blog, for the life of me, the nature of that writing is very different. My life posts are informal and spontaneous, much like journal entries, and don’t require the extensive research, planning, and effort that book reviews or writing tips articles demand.

Over time, The YA Section began to feel less like a passion project and more like a group effort I couldn’t sustain. I deeply respect Ken and Abby and the work they’ve put into this blog, but I also understand the burden I’m leaving behind. Hosting two blogs has taught me a valuable lesson: blogging should be about writing for yourself, not just for an audience.

A turning point for me was introducing a book-focused category to for the life of me. On my personal blog, I can freely rant about books in a way that feels authentic and fun. In contrast, my reviews for The YA Section often felt like a chore—pieces I wrote more for popularity and audience appeal than personal enjoyment. That realization helped me see where my energy should truly belong.

I want to thank Ken, Abby, and this wonderful community for everything you’ve given me. You’ve been an incredible part of my blogging journey, and I will always be grateful for the memories and lessons I’ve gained here. While I won’t be co-authoring The YA Section anymore, I’ll remain a subscriber and a fervent supporter.

To everyone here: thank you for the fun, the encouragement, and the opportunity to grow as a writer and blogger. It’s been an absolute pleasure.

With love,

Jack Cuison