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.