Links of the Week: March 5

It’s time again for School Library Journal’s Battle of the Kids’ Books where some of the biggest names in children’s books pit 16 of the very best books for young people published in 2009 against each other. What do you think of the match-ups?

In a similar vein, the Nerds Heart YA tournament aims to find the best 2009 book about diversity of all kinds. It’s hosted and judged by book bloggers.

The Pew Research center released its latest report on the Millennial Generation. Are you a millennial? Take the quiz!

Frenetic Reader has a great update with photos from the upcoming ABC Family series based on the Pretty Little Liars books.

The LA Times announced the finalists for its 2009 book prizes, which includes a young adult category.

Joanna from Oops…Wrong Cookie confesses YA books she feels she should have read, but hasn’t. Let her know what YA books you feel guilty about not reading.

March 5th, 2010  ♥  Links of the Week  ♥  No Comments »

Weekend Box Office Preview: Mar. 5 and Mar. 12

The Weekend Box Office Preview features movies with teen and tween appeal opening in the next two weeks. For the most part I won’t feature R-rated films, but occasionally there will be R-rated movies on teens’ radar and the rating will be noted. Limited release movies will be featured the week they get a wide release.

March 5

Tim Burton’s hotly anticipated interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland finally opens this weekend. Teaming up with long-time collaboraters Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, along with relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Burton brings his trademark bizarre whimsy to the story for what looks like a visual treat of a movie.

March 12

Remember Me, a romantic drama starring Robert Pattinson as a suicidal youngster who finds love in the face of tragedy, is sure to be a hit with teen girls and other members of Team Edward.

In the broad comedy Our Family Wedding, Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia star as two fathers who butt heads as their respective children, played by America Ferrera and Lance Gross, plan their wedding.

Loosely based on the non-fiction book Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, this weekend’s Green Zone (Rated R) reunites Matt Damon and Bourne Supremacy director Paul Greengrass war thriller about WMDs in Iraq.

Raunchy comedy She’s Out of My League (Rated R) stars Jay Baruchel as an average guy who keeps second guessing himself after snagging a way more attractive girlfriend.

Best bets: Alice in Wonderland for pure visual pleasure

Coming up: The Bounty Hunter, starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, based on the books by Jeff Kinney, How To Train Your Dragon, based on the book by Cressida Cowell, and Hot Tub Time Machine, which is just what it sounds like.

March 3rd, 2010  ♥  Box Office Preview, Movies  ♥  No Comments »

YA Through the Decades Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Usullusa, the winner of the first YA Through the Decades challenge giveaway!

Read her reviews of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald and So You Want to Be A Wizard by Diane Duane.

February 9th, 2010  ♥  YA Decades Challenge  ♥  No Comments »

YA Through the Decades: 1930s and Earlier

It’s time for the first post for the YA Through the Decades Challenge. First up: 1930s and earlier.

Looking at young adult literature from the early parts of the 20th century and earlier is a tenuous exercise, considering that no one published books targeted to that age group. Up until the early part of the century, teenagers didn’t even exist as a separate cultural group. Those in their teenage years often went into the workforce after some years of schooling and most married young and started families before they were 20. Just as teens transitioned from childhood straight to adulthood, so did the literature. Teens certainly found both adult and children’s material that appealed to them, though, so that’s what we’ll be talking about here. We’ll also be focusing on American books, since that’s what I know and the concept of literature published specifically for teens seems to have originated in the US.

Books featuring teens with teen appeal began to appear after the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, a book that has continued to enthrall young readers, was one of the first in 1868. Other popular books for girls in this time period were of the domestic romance type, like St. Elmo by Augusta Jane Evans. Boys tended to enjoy dime novels featuring Westerns, mysteries, and detective stories. Other influential books from this earlier era include Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, which has endured as a literary classic, and Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, which was widely read, but dismissed at the time as mindless fluff.

Some of the earlier dime novels and boys’ series paved the way for the wildly successful Stratemeyer syndicate. Known most now for the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, Edward Stratemeyer’s book publishing company produced dozens of series for kids and teens in the first half of the 20th century. The first series, the Rover Boys, featured three regular teen boys getting into mischief. Thirty volumes were published between 1899 and 1926. The other series were a mix of stories for girls and boys, with the earlier ones featuring mostly true-life adventures. For girls, Ruth Fielding, an ambitious young woman who joins the Red Cross and goes to college, was one of the syndicate’s most popular. Starting in the 1930s, mystery stories became de rigueur and the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew were born. The early books in both series were heavily edited in the ’60s to remove many racist stereotypes.

Both teen culture and teen literature began to take shape in the 1930s. The Young People’s Reading Roundtable (YPRRT) was established as part of ALA’s Children’s Library Association in 1930 and began publishing a list of “books for young people” that eventually became today’s Best Books for Young Adults. While this list for high school students consisted solely of adult titles with teen appeal, it’s clear that librarians and others were beginning to see this age group as its own entity.

Read on for my challenge review and a giveaway of the Puffin Classics edition of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott!
Read the rest of this entry »

February 2nd, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews, YA Decades Challenge  ♥  2 Comments »

Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Dutton Juvenile (2010), Hardcover, 304 pages.

Release date: April 6, 2010

This is the story of two Will Graysons. One is the unassuming, regular kid, always lurking in the shadows of his best friend, the 6 foot 6, fabulously gay Tiny Cooper. The other is a tortured soul, bolstered only by his online flirtation with Isaac. Their paths cross one night in downtown Chicago, leading both of them on unexpected, usually hilarious, but often poignant, relationship journeys, culminating in one high school musical spectacular.

John Green and David Levithan are masters in examining the male psyche with equal shades humor and authenticity. Each of the Will Graysons are not without their flaws, but still manage to be likable and relatable. But the true heart of the book lies with Tiny Cooper, who helps shape both of the title characters. His character will resonate with lots of teens, whether they’re straight, gay, bi, questioning, or anything in between. With alternating points of view, especially when the characters have the same name, the story takes a few chapters to settle into a rhythm, but the narrative doesn’t get bogged down with too many plot points or side characters. There are a few points when reality gets stretched or sped up to further the plot, but I was willing to allow a temporary suspension of disbelief for the sake of the story. This book might not be for everyone — John Green critics will find the usual regular guy meets manic pixie dream girl trope here and the casual acceptance of the gay characters by the other high schoolers is a little too easy — but there’s a lot to like here.

Find in a library or on Amazon.

Reviewed from an ARC received at ALA Midwinter.

February 2nd, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »

Upcoming Grant Opportunities

Here are some upcoming grant opportunities for those working with youth in libraries or other community organizations.

The National Book Foundation awards a number of prizes in its Innovations in Reading program of up to $2,500 each to individuals and institutions–or partnerships between the two–that have developed innovative means of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading. Applications must be postmarked by February 17. Last year’s winners include Maricopa County Library District for dropping Dewey and the awesome teen girl book community, readergirlz.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers a number of reading-related grants. Its Summer Reading Grants provide funding to help with the implementation or expansion of summer reading programs that target Pre-K through 12th grade students who are new readers, below grade level readers or readers with learning disabilities. Applicants may request up to $3,000. The deadline to apply is February 25.

The 6th Annual Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff Creative Outreach Grants for Teachers and Librarians provide up to $1,000. One grant will be given to a teacher and another to a librarian for proposals to develop new classroom or library programs that raise awareness of multicultural literature among young people, particularly but not exclusively, through the works of Virginia Hamilton. The application deadline is February 28.

The American Library Association’s Diversity Research Grant consists of a one-time $2,000 annual award for original research and a $500 travel grant to attend and present at ALA Annual Conference. This year’s proposals proposals must address one of three identified topics: Upward Mobility of Library Leaders from Underrepresented Population; Information Services and Collections for Diverse Children and Young Adults; or Libraries and the Meaning of Multiculturalism. Applicants must be current ALA members. Applications are due by April 30.

February 1st, 2010  ♥  Grants  ♥  No Comments »

Book Reviews: Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers. St. Martin’s Griffin (2008), Paperback, 224 pages.

Parker Fadley used to have it all. She was head cheerleader, got straight As, and was dating the hottest guy at her Catholic high school, but she gave it all up after one eventful party her senior year and now everyone’s on constant suicide watch. Now the new guy at school may be the only one who gets her to open up about what happened and survive.

In Courtney Summers’ debut novel, she has created a compelling narrative that begs to be read in one sitting. Revealing the events of the fateful party slowly and from Parker’s hazy memory keeps the reader wanting the full story, even though all signs point to the truth being tragic. Summers also has a way of making characters that are extremely flawed, yet somehow still sympathetic and relatable. Parker makes so many questionable decisions, but you still root for her until the end.

Reviewed from a personal copy.

Find in a library or on Amazon.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. St. Martin’s Griffin (2010), Paperback, 256 pages.

Regina Afton has been second-in-command of the Fearsome Fivesome since high school started. Their inner circle is known for wild parties, cool clothes, and their ability to make anyone’s life miserable. But after Regina gets sexually assaulted by Queen Bee Anna’s boyfriend, Regina finds herself on the receiving end of the group’s vicious tactics.

Courtney Summers paints a brutal picture of high school bullying that is all but ignored by school administration and parents. With a subject matter that can easily fall into after-school special, cautionary tale tropes, Summers creates a main character that is tragically flawed, yet is still someone the reader wants to root for. They story is hard to read in its unflinching depictions of vindictive one-up-manship, but it’s also hard to put down in the hope of some sort of redemption for Regina.

Reviewed from an ARC received through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Find in a library or on Amazon.

January 30th, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »

Links of the Week: January 29

Gina breaks down some ways for YA librarians to use Twitter over at WebYA.

The Millions interviews a book pirate who shares his experience producing and obtaining illegal electronic copies of books. I wonder if there’s much pirated YA out there? I did come across a screengrabbed version of Hush, Hush on a popular Livejournal community last year.

A fascinating feature on a juvenile detention facility in upstate New York from New York Magazine.

An angry dad takes issue with some content in the upcoming Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan and some heated discussion ensues.

The Hollywood Reporter reports the pick-up of two YA titles by ABC Family. Huge by Sarah Paley and Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard will both be adapted into hour-long dramas.

An anonymous librarian turns to Ask Metafilter for help dealing with rowdy teens in the library. There’s an interesting mix of responses from both librarians and non-librarians.

January 29th, 2010  ♥  Links of the Week  ♥  No Comments »

Book Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Alexia Tarabotti, unmarried in her late 20s, is considered a spinster by Victorian London standards. As such, she must tolerate her flighty mother and younger sisters by dutifully attending parties, dressing modestly, and staying out of trouble. But that last part isn’t so easy when you lack a soul and can inadvertently kill hungry vampires with a single touch.

It’s Victorian London, but with a twist. Vampires, werewolves, and ghosts coexist (mostly peacefully) with the straight-laced, proper English society. The status quo is upset, however, when rogue vampires start turning up around London and Alexia gets caught up in the middle of the investigation led by the brackish, yet alluring werewolf, Lord Maccon.

Soulless is nothing more than a guilty pleasure read, but it’s a rollicking, fun one. Carriger has managed to blend aspects of historical fiction, paranormal romance, mysteries, and science-y steampunk in a wry, humorous manner. The main characters tend to be a bit on the bland side, but the side characters, especially Professor Lyall and Lord Akeldama provide plenty of fun moments. The romance aspects got a little hot and heavy, though never progressed beyond what was acceptable by Victorian standards. Fans of paranormal lit looking for something on the lighter side should eat this up. And lots of librarians agree, since this just won an Alex award for adult fiction with teen appeal.

Find in a library or on Amazon.

January 28th, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »

Book Review: Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

Columbia University freshman Veronica, better known as Very, has a technology problem. Sure, she could focus on her schoolwork and her work-study job, but she’d rather organize killer parties and ridiculous flashmobs using the social networking site she created with her dorm-mates. Oh, and there’s the alluring El Virus, a fellow technophile she’s been flirting with online. All the fun has to come to an end, however, when El Virus suddenly disappears and her college friends stage an intervention that ends up with her in technology rehab.

I really wanted to like this book. Rachel Cohn wrote half of one of my favorite YA books, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and the introduction to Very reminded me a bit of Norah — a sarcastic music lover with a romantic side. Unfortunately, I just never connected with the character. She was a little too caustic and Cohn packed her with too many issues to deal with in 300 pages. The side characters were one-sided and came in and out of the narrative at strange intervals. Plus, I found the technology addiction plot a little eye-rolling and fear that it will be outdated quickly. This could be a fun diversion for older teens (also note: plenty of drugs and sex), but I doubt it will have much staying power. Isn’t the cover awesome, though?

Find in a library or on Amazon

Reviewed from an ARC received from the publisher at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.

January 26th, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »

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