Along for the Ride Review

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As an avid Sarah Dessen reader in high school that is now trying to catch up on the books I missed since then, this book was like a flashback.

Though all vaguely similar in style, Sarah Dessen creates real characters that one can relate to. Reading Along for the Ride brought back the same feelings I had when I was younger and reading The Truth About Forever, and This Lullaby, or any of her other books.

This title follows Auden during the summer between high school and college. A girl that was treated like an adult since she was a small child, she missed out on having fun during the summer her entire life. So it makes sense that this summer she buys all the textbooks for her first semester of college and plans to read through them to get a jump start on the coming semester. However, the one thing that changes is her location - opting to visit her father, step mother, and new baby sister Thisbe at their beach town home (the very same beach town that many other of Sarah Dessen's books take place in - various characters from all her novels make quick appearances in others, though never mentioned by name fans of Dessen will easily spot them). While here she ends up working in her step mother's very girly boutique, and slowly becoming friends with the other girls that work there. Additionally she learns to ride a bike with the help of some of her new friends, though initially it may have been to impress a boy that she pushed away out of habit, it ends up being what finally allows her to realize that she doesn't have to follow the path expected of her, that she can make her own decisions.

Formulaic? Yes. A girl that learns something about her self to overcome a problem? Yes. That describes Dessen's novels quite well. However, fans of Dessen will not care, as this is what we expect from her books - a well thought out story that is never exactly the same as the previous, that we can relate to, or learn something from in the form of how to be ourselves.

Fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy Along for the Ride.

Board Games

Coinciding well with last week's guest speaker, Buzzfeed has published an article about the board games. Calling the article (well list) 26 Board Games you Have to Play before you die. A few on the list were mentioned in class. 

Buzzfeed - Board Games

Along for the Ride Read Alikes

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride is a teen fiction novel that is typically categorized under romance or "chick lit." Following her senior year of high school, the typically studious Auden goes to stay with her father, step mother, and new baby sister at their home in a beach side town. While there she learns to let go and have fun, how to have friends that care about her, and how to ride a bike. Those that enjoyed this book may also enjoy some of the following.

(Click on the titles to see more).

For More of the Small Town Life:

Any Other Girl by Rebecca Phillips

Having two gay parents has caused Kat to lose some friends,

those that stay are distracted by the other ways in which she

draws attention to herself. Spending one final summer at the

lake with her cousin Harper, they meet the new guy. For once

Kat doesn''t have to work to prove she's no different from

everyone else, and she begins to realize this new boy could be

what she was looking for - if only Harper hadn't seen him first.

(New York,, Kensington Publishing, 2016).

What I Thought Was True by Huntly Fitzpatrick

Gwen was content with her life on a small island, coming from

a family that cleans up after the wealthy summer inhabitants.

She has always wanted more but never as much as she does

now, when a rich kid suddenly takes a job on the island.

Throwing her plans for a loop, she must now spend her

summer learning about herself and what she thought about

those around her, re-imagining her future plans. (New York. Dial

Books, 2014)

For More of the Small Town Life but With an Edge:

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

Being a cheerleader is a big deal in Hermione's home town. So

being named head cheerleader is an even bigger deal. That is

until she goes to a party at cheer camp and someone slips

something into her drink. This was not how her senior was

supposed to happen. She was the most popular girl in school,

and now she is labelled things she never imagined possible -

outcast, pregnant, rape victim. How on earth can she handle

this in such a small town? (New York, Dutton Books, 2016).

For That Smart Chick Lit Feel:

Wanderlost by Jen Malone

When Aubree agrees to take over her sister's summer job of

leading a group of seniors around Europe, she thinks she had

the plan down - including pretending to be her sister Elizabeth

What could possibly go wrong? How about everything? Left

without her phone and a surprise guest - Sam, the son of the

tour group's owner. Now she must try to continue on, even

though she starts to fall for Sam, despite the fact that he thinks

she's Elizabeth .How can she get through this without ruining her

relationship with her sister? (New York, Harper Collins, 2016).

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

After her best friend Hope moves away, Jessica Darling is is

devastated and feels completely out of place in her own life.

She has no idea how to deal with her remaining boy crazy

friends and if they really are friends, or her dad's over

zealous interest in her track meets. Enter Marcus Flutie, an

outcast who isn't really an outcast. When Jessica begins to

develop feelings for him (both positive and negative) she has

no idea what to do. Can Jessica make it through high school

without Hope? (New York, Three Rivers Press, 2001).

Get Your Sarah Dessen Fix:

Just Listen

After the events of a party she wishes she could forget, Annabel
is withdrawn from her former group of friends who now assume
all the rumors are true. When she meets Owen, a music lover that
has spent some time in Anger Management, she finds herself. By
using one of Owen's anger management techniques of always telling
the truth, will she finally be able to come to terms of what happened
that night at the party? (New York,, Penguin Young Readers Group, 2008).

Small Town on the Small Screen:

Gilmore Girls

Life in the small town of Stars Hollow can be both wonderful
and difficult for single mother Lorelai and her teenage daughter
Rory. The neighbors are quirky and nosy, the town itself is charming.
And Lorelai and Rory are the reigning Queens and Princess, loved
by all. Overachieving Rory excels in her private school, dreaming
to one day go to Harvard, while Lorelai runs an inn with dreams to
one day open her own. Watch the Gilmore Girls dreams come true.
[Video recording (DVD)], Burbank, CA: Warner Bros, 2004).






To see these suggestions in handout form please click here: Along for the Ride

Raven Boy Read Alikes

If you enjoyed The Raven Boys (or just the Raven Cycle in general) you may enjoy these other titles! An urban fantasy, readers of the Raven Boys have a variety of other books, television shows, and even music to enjoy.

Click here to view: 

Raven Boys Read Alikes

Youtube for Teens

Ingrid Nilson is a YouTube personality (formerly going by the moniker MissGlamorazzi) with over 4 million subscribers to her channel. Her videos though not specifically geared towards teens is a good channel for teen girls. Her videos are mainly marketed to young women. She covers topics such as make up (including tutorials on how to do a certain look and what are known as haul videos which is a video showing of recent purchases), style, food, travel, and life. Every so often there is a video that may not be suitable for teens (most recently her video of how to deal with a hangover), but for the most part her videos are G rated.

Ingrid has a bubbly upbeat personality that does not come across as fake in her videos. She appears genuine and authentic, and teens could easily relate to her. Some of her videos are more serious than others. This year she was able to participate in YouTube interviews of President Obama. She, along with several other YouTube personalities, were given the opportunity to visit the White House and speak with the President regarding issues they were concerned about. Ingrid took this time to discuss cancer treatments,  why 40 states tax feminine hygiene products, and LGBT issues. This last one is particularly close to her, as she took the opportunity to come out in one of her videos, several years after creating her channel. This video has almost 15 million views.

As far as YouTube personalities are concerned, Ingrid Nilson seems more down to earth and relatable than some. She is not overly pushy regarding products she may be sponsored by, she expresses the importance of being ones self, and she has concerns about issues just like any other person. Teens could do a lot worse on YouTube than watching Ingrid Nilson. 

Watch Ingrid Nilson here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/missglamorazzi/videos

Reign - A CW show

When I was i high school, if a show was on the WB channel it was almost guaranteed that I would watch it -Gilmore Girls, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, Buffy, the list goes on and on. It has since become the CW but the premise is the same - the shows are generally targeted to teens. Many of the teens in the department of my library mention this channel and the shows it airs frequently. At a recent Teen Advisory Board meeting I held we discussed shows that they like. Several of them mentioned Reign.

Premiering in 2013, Reign is a fictionalized history of the early years of Mary Queen of Scots. Beginning prior to her marriage to Prince Francis, and continuing through until (thus far) we meet Queen Elizabeth of England. Teens can learn a bit of history as they watch Mary leave Scotland for France with a group of girlfriends to be her ladies in waiting, to her and Francis learning how to balance ruling a kingdom with their marriage (and a potential love triangle with Francis' illegitimate half brother) during the time of fighting amongst Catholics and Protestants, all while dealing with rival houses wanting to take their power. Later seasons see the arrival of Queen Elizabeth of England as a rival for Mary.

Teens may be attracted to a show such as this for the drama, as it is not the best depiction of history. Though those interested in the time period will appreciate the dialogue and the costumes. Differing from typical teen dramas that are recycled year after year - only changing scenery and character names for the same tired (yet proven successful to gain an audience) story lines, this is a teen drama that portrays a time period not often seen in teen dramas. Using characters that have existed in real life, but giving them a somewhat fictionalized story can both teach teens a bit of history and lead them to research the real story on their own, and entertain them simultaneously.

The two teens that mentioned this show like this show primarily because of the drama and love stories. Though they did also enjoy the time period it takes place in, one of them specifically stating that she was "over dramatic shows set on the beach in California," citing several teens dramas of the past (The O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210 to name a couple).

Having only watched trailers and clips of this show, I can say that while it would not be something that draws me in now, I would have definitely watched this show religiously if I were still in high school and of the target age range.

Intellectual Freedom Letter

This week were were tasked with writing a letter response to a challenged book. I wrote from the perspective of a librarian responding the Drama by Raina Telgemeier, using the library in which I work. The purpose was to ensure we have a background to be able to defend any materials that may bring about an issue with a patron in the future.

To those interested my letter:

Intellectual Freedom Letter

Mister Orange Review

Matti, Truss. Mister Orange.Enchanted Lion Books, New York. [159 p]. [$16.95]. 9781592701230

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"Winning the war," said Mr. Orange, "means making sure that the imagination remains free. And that's the most important thing of all." (pg 123).

Translated by Laura Watkinson, this novel by Dutch author Truus Matti tells the story of Linus, a young boy in New York City during Word War II. When his brother Albie goes off to war, Linus takes over the delivery route for the family grocery store. One of his deliveries is to Mr. Orange - a nickname Linus gives the man after not understanding his real name, and because he has a box of oranges delivered every two weeks. Mr. Orange is an artist, and teaches Linus about art, and dancing, and life - questioning the meaning art and imagination can seriously have when something as hard as war rages on. As Linus ponders this questions, along with ones such as the reason that smells do not have names, he learns that life does not always turn out the way he wants it to. Being a fan of comics, he soon discovers that not all can be saved by a superhero, and as much as he would like it to be true, his brother is not a superhero just because he went off to war. A quick, yet insightful read, Mister Orange, is a sweet coming of age tale.

Ms. Marvel Review

Wilson, G. W. Ms. Marvel: No Normal. Solisco Printers, Canada. 978-7851-9121

4Q 4P MJS

The new Ms. Marvel series tells the story of Kamala Khan, an average girl living in Jersey City. Coming from a Muslim family, with a brother she sees as being overly religious, especially in the years post 9-11, Kamala does her best to fit in with both her family (and what she believes to be their strict rules) and at school. A superhero fan, she frequently visits fan sites and writes her own fan fiction. After disobeying her parents to sneak out and drink with kids from school, Kamala gets caught up in a mysterious fog covering the city, during which she believes she is speaking with Captain Marvel and wishes to be her. When she comes to, her wish has been granted and she realizes, with some difficulty that she has turned into Ms. Marvel. A girl that believed she was too brown to fit in at school, but too modern to fit in at home, and now she's a superhero? How is she supposed to handle all of this? By becoming the best superhero she can be of course! Often jumping in head first without thinking her actions through Kamala, (or should I say Ms. Marvel) does her best to protect her city, her family, and her identity - only allowing her best friend Bruno (who secretly harbors a crush on her) to know the truth. Ms. Marvel is a fun comic series. Teens can relate to her struggle to fit in. Add some hero antics to the mix and you've got a winning combination. To find out all of the adventures Kamala gets into follow the Ms. Marvel series...

1: No Normal
2: Generation Why
3: Crushed
4: Last Days

Ms. Marvel - Thoughts

Ms. Marvel is where I started reading comics. I began working as a YA Librarian and had read graphic novels previously (Sandman, Watchmen) but I had never opened a comic (and by comic I'm loosely referring to one with Marvel or DC characters). Upon some prompting from my boyfriend I figured I should at least read something since a lot of the teens that come in take out the graphic novels more than the books. So I started with Ms. Marvel. And from it I kept going (gradually, as I have way too much to read already).

The previous librarian had only ordered volumes 1 and 2. So I finished that up by ordering 3 and 4. After accidentally leaving Volume 1: No Normal on a chair in the department when putting something else away, a 6th grade girl I had seen often but not spoken too grabbed it. And read the entire thing before she left. Taking volume 2 home with her. And then she came in looking for 3. And then 4 (which at the time I had at home and promised to read that night so she could have it the next day).

Now this girl comes in every time I work to ask what book I think she should read next, or to return the last one she took so I can read it. She's also begun to come to all the programs and situate herself in the core group of kids that are usually there. For one program she brought five friends with her. All because of Ms. Marvel.

Intellectual Freedom Exercise

This week in class we had to either defend or challenge one of the books assigned for reading. My group opted to defend the book How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon. I enjoyed this book, though it would not be one I would have picked up to read on my own accord. From this exercise I have learned several things.

• The first thing I've learned is that there are those that will challenge materials for what seems to be the tiniest or silliest reason. These are the people that do not follow the concept of not reading something if they do not like what it says. 
• As much as I understand some people's want to censor books, I also don't completely get it. Growing up my mom definitely monitored what I watched and there were a number of tv shows and movies that were off limits. However, the one things she never monitored or said I couldn't do was read. I was given free reign to read anything I wanted. Any topic, any intended age range - it did not matter. I don't know if she never thought she needed to monitor what I was reading or if she thought seeing something on tv/in movies was worse than reading about it. 
• There are resources that are made to help deal with challenged materials. ALA has a variety of useful pages and links that should be utilized upon this type of situation. 
• No matter what I think of a book, even if I hate the story, it has a right to be on the library shelf. I wouldn't let my own judgement cloud the ordering or censoring of materials and thus I cannot let other's judgments change that materials that are available. A polite and professional manner must be maintained throughout the challenge process. 

How it Went Down Review

Magoon, Kekla. How it Went Down. Henry Holt and Company, New York. [325 p]. [$17.99]. 978085098693

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How it Went Down is a book that reflects events of recent years. A well thought out portrayal of what it is like to witness or be a part of a shooting, this book delves into the thought of those who saw how it went down. When events like this happen in real life we only know what the media tells us. And as we can see from reading this novel, the media is not always interested in telling the truth. Instead they are interested in telling a story. But these types of events, are not just stories, they are a compilation of stories, that work together to maybe tell one cohesive story. Every witness can think they saw something different, or wants to believe that things occurred a certain way. But by telling each individual's narrative, Magoon is able to show those who have not had an event such as this touch their life, that there is not simply one story. How it Went Down is an accurate and thoughtful portrayal of the horrible shooting events we have unfortunately had to witness in recent years. Readers will gain insight to what occurs behind the scenes so to speak, as we are usually only privy to the information that the media feels the need to provide. 

Book Review: Cinder

Meyer, Marissa. Cinder. Feiwel and Friends, New York. [387 p]. [$17.99]. 7890312641894

4Q 4P JS

My thoughts on Sci-Fi books are the same as my thoughts on fantasy books. The book I just cannot get into. A show or movie? I'm there. Firefly/Serenity? Love. Dollhouse? Love. Ok, so basicaly Joss Whedon = love. And Marissa Meyer declares her love for Firefly in her bio in the back of this book. So there was already a little love before I started this book.

I've seen this title, and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles at work. They circulate frequently. But the previous librarian put a sci-fi sticker on the spines so I read a summary and never thought to even attempt to read them. They are insanely popular in my library - I had to put a hold on it just to get it for class.

It's sci-fi. I don't read sci-fi. I don't like sci-fi books. And yet I am totally in love with Cnder. Cinderella is not even close to being one of my favorite fairytales and I think this is a great update on it.

Cinder is a cyborg tasked with fixing the prince's android which may or may not hold some secrets. She would like to attend the ball, but as a cyborg who would want to be seen with her? So she plays it cool and pretends she has no interest in balls and would rather be covered in grease fixing various things to pay for her step mother's lifestyle. Her step mother would never let her go anyway. But Cinder doesn't really know who she is or what purpose she could really have in this world. Is she even from this world? Cinder is enthralling and makes it hard for a reader to put it down.

I have a little over 100 pages to go, if I'm late for class tonight it's because I had to finish and coudn't put it down.

The Adequacy of Reviews of Teen Materials

 

In order to fully get a range of reviews both professional and nonprofessional I used one fiction title (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and one nonfiction title (Most Dangerous). I wanted to know if reviews of nonfiction were taken more seriously than those for fiction. Professional reviews were found in Kirkus, School Library Journal, the New York Times, and the Guardian. Nonprofessional reviews were found on various blogs. 

• Reviews for Most Dangerous were slightly more serious in tone than those for Simon. All five reviews for Most Dangerous mentioned the author's past work. They all also stated that though the intended age range for this book is 12 and up, it may be a difficult read for a 12 year old, and that it may be a hard sell to teens in general unless they have a specific interest in the Vietnam War. Though they may be interested in Daniel Ellsberg if they have an interest in Edward Snowden, as all reviews connected the two. 
• The nonprofessional reviews found did not contain any fan-girling as was expected. All of the reviews from the blogs had a casual tone but were well written. 
• No single review contained all of the criteria the assignment asked us to look for. Several contained a few of the criteria, but most did not have these specific elements. The covers were not discussed. For the most part the audience that would enjoy the book was not mentioned. only two gave similar titles that one may enjoy. Being that they reviews were relatively short it was difficult to find a comprehensive review. 
• Multiple sources should be used if these elements are necessary in making a decision. While all of the reviews for each book all shared the same positive opinion, this will not always be the case and therefore having multiple opinions would be beneficial. 
• Nonprofessional reviews can be trustworthy. Just because they are not in a well known source such as Kirkus, does not mean they would be poorly written. Even if they have a casual tone, or some fan-girling that could be useful. If someone gets super excited about something it speaks volumes about how other may perceive it. 

Are YA Dystopias over?

There are many things that make a good YA dystopia. There are many aspects of such books that attract teens whether the story is good or not. But has the YA dystopia reached its conclusion?

My YA collection at work houses various dystopias, including of course The Hunger Games trilogy and Divergent trilogy. These books move frequently, particularly as of late with Allegiant hitting theaters and Mockingjay coming to DVD/BluRay. We have the Matched series. That has circulated recently but since being returned a couple of months ago the entire series has remained in its place on the shelf. Uglies is one I have yet to see circulate in my time there. The 5th Wave has not been in the library since talk of the movie began, everyone needing to reread or begin reading before they see the movie.

The teens frequenting the department enjoy The Hunger Games and Divergent, but they don't seem to want more books like them. They are moving on. They want to see the movies, but they don't seem to want new dystopian books. We have plenty that have yet to read, we have some older ones they don't even want to look at. They are not asking for titles similar to these. Even when given the option as a recommendation they are not taking it.

This could be a local thing. Teens in this town may just be over the dystopia trend. But they could also be representative of the larger teen population as a whole. With new trends emerging their interests are being peaked elsewhere. As of late teens in this town are checking out all of the fairy tale retellings - Peter Pan is a popular one lately.

Only time will tell if YA dystopias are coming to a close or if teens simply need a break from this type of story.

References:

http://www.hbook.com/2012/04/choosing-books/recommended-books/what-makes-a-good-ya-dystopian-novel/

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff Review

Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. Wendy Lab Books - an imprint of Random House Children's Books, New York. [194 p]. [$16.95]. 9780385746779

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When Daisy is sent to live with family in England, she doesn't expect to be caught up in a war. And she certainly doesn't expect to have such a bond with her cousin Edmond. How I Live Now could be so much more than it is. The premise of a war complete with an occupation in the English countryside could have been used much better than it was. When action was expected, there was little. The premise of this novel leads one to expect more action, more fun, more chaos, just more. Despite having won the Printz Award this book does not meet the expectations put upon it. A slow moving story that may have worked better with a faster pace and a more fleshed out story.

Merchants of Cool and Generation Like

While watching the first documentary, Merchants of Cool, initially, I may have missed the point. Most of it was pure nostalgia for me, as I was a teenager at the time they discussed. My mind simply kept shouting, "Britney Spears! TRL! Dawson's Creek!" I would take the bus home from school and hope I would make it in time to see TRL every day. But thinking about it some time later I could see it as more than just a quick and non comprehensive recap of my teen years.

Merchants of Cool and Generation Like are the same documentary, simply covering two different times. The biggest change between the two is the swift addition of technology. And having been a teen during the early 2000s, I can say that the technology kicked in for myself and my friends around 2003 with the use of LiveJournal, and a few years later with FaceBook, once we obtained the coveted .edu email address we then needed in order to even create and account. 

There will always be a way to reach teens, and determine their likes or dislikes. Marketers use that to their advantage and direct things to teens in order to make a profit without the teens always realizing how they are being used. One of the biggest things in Merchants of Cool was the notion that celebrities could be used to market towards teens indirectly through a concert on MTV that was set up by Sprite and doused in Sprite related gear. This happens now on social media. Celebrities endorse products by holding them in an Instgram picture, or liking a brand's status on Facebook. Or even by just posting a picture of a brand's products. (See: Kerry Washington, Instagram, Neutrogena) Note that Ms. Washington did not state that this post was an ad, but the caption reads like one, and can make an impression on a teens. While on the other hand celebrities such as Kelly Ripa (who may not be marketing to teens, but to parents works in this instance as an example for social media marketing) uses #ad in her Tweet to denote that it is in fact something is being paid to post about rather than it just being her own personal preference. (See: Kelly Ripa, Twitter, Jif). 

Though no longer a teen, I know and use the social media apps mentioned in Generation Like.I know all about teens and 20 somethings that put themselves out there on YouTube, and am aware that nearly every third post on my Instagram feed is labeled "sponsored."I've seen both eras of marketing and advertising. And I can say that I prefer the efforts of the late 90s and early 2000s to the constant barrage of ads that are on social media today - whether they are clearly an ad or a subtly mention of a product by a self-made "social media star." 

Not working directly in marketing, does not mean that librarians don't have to make an effort to market things to teens. What do we think we're doing when suggesting books or movies or anything when teens come into out libraries? We're marketing materials to teens without actually noticing! When we interviewed teens about various things, we were doing our own "market research." 

So yes, both of these documentaries can inform an interview with a teen, give a context to the path the interview takes. But as librarians we've already done this! We are aware that teens now are glued to social media - that's how we reach many of them and bring them in. We are advertising the library, it's program, an our materials. Can we go as far as television ads or MTV did in the 90s or as far as various companies and "social media stars" do now? Not at all. Many of their tactics are not appropriate to the library, but we can create our own. Knowing that social media is the way to reach teens is the first step. 

Further Reading:

Jezebel - Here's How Much Celebrities Make in the Instagram Product Placement Machine

Jezebel - The Big Bad World of Products Celebrities Promote on Instagram

The Big Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano Review

Montano, Mark. The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2. Gallery Books, New York. [383 p]. [$19.99].
9 781451 0627800

A nice collection of crafts that may peak a teen's interest compiled in one place. However, with the advent of the internet and in particular, Pinterest, teens may not even be aware of the existence of craft books. This book contains step by step instructions on how to compete various crafts ranging from the fashion oriented (headbands, belts, updating an old pair of shoes) to those that serve a functional purpose (vases, paperweights), and is bound to please a range of personalities. Because of teens frequent use of the internet this book may better serve librarians looking to run a craft program on their own, without the help of an outside performer.

3Q 4P M,J,S

They eyes have it - and other visual forms By Michael Cart

I began my job as a teen librarian in December. I work in a very small library within a small community. The YA section (fiction, non fiction, and the space we have) leaves much to be desired. Recently I began weeding the nonfiction section, something I was told my predecessor had never done in her five years there. I was also told by our adult librarian (who was this library's original YA librarian when they created the department about 15 years ago) that to create the YA non fiction section she and the director at the time simply pulled books from both the children and adult departments and re-catologed them as YA.

Armed with this knowledge I began my project. And I have found some pretty crazy things.

I have found some materials that have only become out of date within the last 15 years - such as titles that still said Osama Bin Laden was alive or that Pluto was still a planet.These were not crazy, but still disappointing to find.

Then I found titles that just blew my mind. Such as one about making balloon animals, copyright 1987.

 

Yes, this book was in the YA non fiction section up until a few days ago. 

An encyclopedia about math, which had it not been written in 1983 and devoted an entire chapter to how to use math as a tool to relax, may have peeked the interest of at least one teen. Maybe. 

 

The World Book of Math

 

And this lovely book that discussed differing opinions on the merits of child abuse. 

 

According to this book there is a benefit to child abuse! 

Among all this craziness I did find some wonderful titles that are more recent and up to date in their topic and reasoning. After getting through all the random adult and children's books that should never have been in the YA collection to begin with, and all the random titles with out of date information that had been ordered throughout the years, there is a relatively good, albeit small non fiction collection for the teenage reader. And now I know which areas need to be filled in with more current titles and which areas can wait a another year or two to add to. 

"There is no fictionalizing to be found in any of these fine writers' books-no imagined conversations, no messing with history or chronology to make a better story-all demonstrate the importance of creating a narrative and, to that end, of borrowing techniques from novelists without violating the accuracy or the integrity of their books' content." (Cart, 2010)

Having now personally looked at about half of the non fiction section in my library thus far, I can honestly say that this is a true statement. The books that were not written years and years ago for an adult or a child are wonderful. Despite not having ever weeded the collection, the librarian before me ordered a wonderful assortment of new and topical nonfiction for teens. The remaining books range in topic from LGBTQ rights to wonderfully illustrated adaptations of Beowulf. Now I'm looking forward to discovering new titles to replace the many outdated ones I weeded.

Most Dangerous Review

I originally read this book in early January to take part in a Mock Printz discussion and vote for the Nassau and Suffolk Counties Youth Services joint meeting. It was the last of 8 books I needed to read, and I finally started it the night before the meeting. I assumed I wouldn't finish in time but wanted to get a general idea of the book. Instead I ended up staying up until almost 3 am enthralled in the story.

Sheinkin, Steve. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsburg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War.
Roaring Book Press, New York. [370 p].[$19.99]. 978-1-59643-952-8

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Uncovering more than is ever taught in high school, Most Dangerous spills secrets of the Vietnam War and key player Daniel Ellsberg. Students today may see Ellsberg as the original Edward Snowden, and the similarities are there. Sheinkin does a wonderful job at playing out history, describing everything from conversations in the Oval Office to the inner thoughts of Ellsburg as he makes a decision that changed the course of history. Though not an easy or quick read by any means, anyone with an interest in the Vietnam War will find what they are looking for in this book. Those not interested in the history may need some prodding to get into the topic, but once they get into the real story, they'll be hooked.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Prior to this class I had refrained from reading anything written by Cassandra Clare. It was a matter of pride due to her fan fiction/potential plagiarism scandals. Plus I simply assumed the writing was garbage, as harsh as that may sound.

I honestly chose to read (actually, I should say attempt to read) this book for class because I wanted to rip it to shreds. I wanted to be right in my assumption that it was not worth my time. Considering I've been reading this book for the past few days and I am unable to make it past the second chapter I believe my original assumption to be 100% accurate.

Not only is the beginning of the story not engaging enough to make me keep reading, the writing is just plain bad. Scholastic places this book in the interest level for grades 9-12. Part of me feels like I would be offending a teenager if I gave them this book. A badly written, horrible book.

Working at a small public library as the YA Librarian, I know the teens that are regulars in my department. A good portion of them know I am in school an taking a class that involves me reading YA books. I asked several of them if they had read City of Bones. Though upon checking, this book has a high circulation rate in its time in the collection, it is not highly popular with teen in this community now. Sure, it has gone out a few times recently, as a TV show has just begun. However, the teens that I asked had negative reactions. Some based upon their reading of it, and others based upon what they had heard regarding the series and author. One teen went so far as to make a gagging sound when I asked if she had read it. I asked a page at my library that has only recently aged out of the YA department. He said he had made it through the first book and gave up only pages into the second, only having started the series because he enjoys this type of story.

I so badly wanted to be able to rant about all the scandals surrounding this author after having reading this book, but I was unable to even get halfway into the book, it was just that bad.

Maybe I'll give it another shot before class, but I doubt that will make much difference.


Source:
Scholastic Page for City of Bones

Scandal Info, in case anyone is unaware of what I referred to:
CS Monitor Controversial Authors

Refinery 29 - This writer has not let past controversies change her love for the series

bustle.com

There are many more resources that a quick Google search will pull up.

Review - The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I began this book and was intrigued but a little bored at the slow pace. I happened to notice we had the audio book at my library and decided to go that route. It was much better in my opinion to listen to this story.


Stiefvater, Maggie. The Raven Boys. Scholastic Press, 2012
[408 p]. [$18.99]. 978-0545-42492-9

4Q 4P J,S

A long, winding tale, The Raven Boys builds it's story slowly. Despite the slow pace of action, the story is addicting. Readers will need to know what happens to Blue and her Raven Boys - the charming ring leader Gansey, the fighter Ronan, the quiet and sweet Adam, and the secretive Noah. They all have secrets, but the one that Noah holds beats them all. On the hunt for a king, the group follow the normal and paranormal clues they have discovered. Join in the search and get to know Blue and her Raven Boys in the first book of the Raven Cycle.

Teen Interviews

Recently I spoke with two teenage girls from a small Long Island community regarding their interests, social media preferences, and why they visit the library. Both teens are girls that have spent their entire lives in this community, one attending a Catholic high school (age 15), the other in public middle school (age 14). Some of their responses were similar though for the most part they differed enough to gain insight on the different interests of teens that may visit the teen department.

• Both girls frequent the library because it is not their home but feels enough like home for them to be comfortable. They come in to read, do school work, or just hang out. Comfort is a key factor in bringing in teens. If a teen feels uncomfortable or out of place they most likely will not return. Nice seating, an area just for them, a welcoming but not overbearing environment - these could assist in making teens feel more comfortable in a library, particularly if they have not visited frequently in the past. 
• A varied collection is a good collection. Each teen interviewed prefers to read different types of books for different reasons. 1 teen prefers realistic fiction with character she can love, while the other will read any genre so long as it challenges her mind. This is further proof that a teen collection must cover a range of genres and reading levels to both challenge teens and provide them with things they enjoy. 
• Multiple programs allow teens to pursue their interests, learn something new, and relax. 1 teen I spoke with likes to attend program with a specific end goal. She wants the structure, while the other girl would rather attend an unstructured program that permits her time to take a break from her rigid school and extra curricular activities. By offering multiple programs teens can find one that meets their needs or exposes them to something new. 
• Social media is an easy way to reach teens - but they don't use Facebook anymore! Neither teen has a Facebook account, but both use Instagram among other apps. Having a teen department or general library account on various social media accounts is a great way to promote programs and reach teens that may not be aware of what the library has to offer, plus it keeps teen regulars updated about any upcoming events. A good time to make posts is right before school lets out, many teens check their phones once class is done and they will see your updates.
• Teens of various stress levels and busy schedules visit the library. One of the girls I spoke to is very laid back an does not overwhelm herself schedule wise, rather she does a few sports and clubs and focuses solely on those. The other girl has something scheduled for every day after school plus Sundays. She has everything planned out and wants her life to follow a specific plan. Having a space where they can both do work and relax is important. Having materials they want to see and programs they want to attend will keep them coming back. 

Knowing what teens like is imperative to maintaining a good Young Adult Department. 

Eleanor and Park Playlist

If you enjoyed Eleanor and Park you may enjoy the following:

Books

• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

Comics

• X-Men
• Watchmen

Movies

• Ferris Bueller
• The Labyrinth
• Pretty in Pink

TV

• Family Ties
• Growing Pains
• The Facts of Life

Music

• XTC 
• The Misfits 
• The Smiths
• Joy Division
• Echo and the Bunnymen
• The Beatles

I'm still not in love with this book.

Aronson - What is Real About Realism?

 "So the next time anyone asks you, "Is it realistic" or "What message does it send," answer, "No, it is profound, and because of that the teenagers who read it will find their own messages, which they will receive in their own ways." (Aronson, 2011).

Teenagers are smarter than we give them credit for.

If one is given a book that clearly defines its morals and its message, it is not a guarantee that the reader will agree with that message. Teenagers can form their own opinions regardless of what they are told they should think and believe. Of course, they are influenced by what they read, see on tv, read on the internet, hear their parents and teachers say. But if one believes that teenagers will only blindly repeat these things, one would be mistaken. Sure that many happen at times, but really what is happening is that the teen is forming their own views based upon those around them. They may repeat what they her the most and think that it is what they believe, but in reality they are just repeating someone else point of view. When a teen actually cares about and begins to think about a situation or idea, they will form their own opinion and may realize the opinion they repeated was not at all what they believe in.

By giving them books that push a moral but fake reality will not necessarily turn a teenager against adults as Aronson implies, because teenagers are smarter than many adults are willing to believe. They are not yet full fledged, responsible adults but they are not young, carefree children either. They have thoughts and beliefs of their own, even if they do not know how to vocalize or explain them well or at all.

Giving them access to books that make them think and come to their own moral beliefs is where I agree with Aronson. Teenagers will come to their own conclusions. however, I believe that they will do so no matter what book they are given. They can see through a fake reality that is being pushed upon them to press a moral belief into their mind. A good portion of their life is within a fake reality. There are reality television shows that are not all that "real" to begin with. Anyone can go on the internet and create a new image of themselves for show. So what is real for a teenager? That is for them to decide.

Sources

Aronson, M. What is real about realism? All the wrong questions about ya literature." Exploding
             the myths: The truth about teenagers and reading, 79-84. Latham, MD. Scarecrow Press,
             2001.