Category Archives: Youth Services

SummerTeen!

Yesterday
School Library Journal held their second annual SummerTeen event.  You still have a little time to register (yes, after the event) and they will let you know when the archive of the sessions is available.  Right now you can visit the “booths” of different publishers to see trailers of new books, read the chats from the event, and sign up to possibly win some items.  It was great to hear about new titles coming out and listen to the authors’ talk about them.   Hope they hold it again next summer!

One of the many things I learned is that Tamora Pierce, the Keynote Speaker, has some advice for writers on the FAQ section of her web page.  Scroll down until you see the questions “Where do you get your ideas?” “How do you deal with writer’s block?” “How do you start a book or story?” and more.  It is a good place for aspiring young writers to glean some sage advice from a well-known author.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is set in Omaha in 1986.  Eleanor, new to school and to the school bus, is immediately an outcast and Park tries to avoid eye contact so she will sit somewhere else.  She ends up next to him on the bus.  Park soon realizes Eleanor is reading his comics surreptitiously over his shoulder during the ride and he adjusts how he is sitting to give her a better view of the story.  Soon they are sharing music and moving toward a more serious relationship.  Eleanor’s home life is scary.  Her stepfather abuses her mother and Eleanor must tread lightly.   Park’s home life is the opposite, with loving supporting parents.   When home life gets too dangerous for Eleanor, she and Park must decide the best solution to the situation.  Bullying is a big topic as well as abuse, and finding acceptance in love.  Eleanor & Park has a starred review from Booklist and is for grades 9 and up.

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers.  After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Have You Seen a 90-Second Newbery?

Challenge your young readers to create a video telling the entire (hitting the high points anyway) story of a Newbery or Newbery Honor title in 90 seconds.  The 90-Second Newbery  is a film festival in which kids make movies that tell the story of a Newbery-winning book in 90 seconds or less. This is the third year of competition and entries are due by December 10, 2013. Visit the web page to see the rules for the competition as well as a sampling of the best movies kids have made. You will also find a guide full of helpful information on creating the video.  What is your favorite Newbery or Newbery Honor winning title?  (No, I cannot chose just one either.)

Stick Dog by Tom Watson is a humorous tale of a group of dogs who plot to steal the hot dogs and hamburgers from a family enjoying their picnic in the park.  Stick Dog is the leader and is very tolerant of the less than useable ideas from his friends.  Eventually, after many side trips and discussions, they have a better day than they ever imagined.  Lots of white space and the stick art style of drawing will appeal to readers looking for a quick yarn.  This book will be enjoyed by readers in grades 3-6.

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers.  After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Writers Have Bad Days (or Weeks) Too!

Libba Bray recently posted a humorous item on her blog lamenting the problems writers sometimes face.  It is “laugh out loud” funny and also gives some insight into her writing process, or lack of one.  All of us waiting for Diviners 2 will now know it is going to take a little longer than we had hoped.  But, that gives those of us who haven’t yet read The Diviners some more time to be ready for the sequel, whenever it is published.  Keep your fingers crossed.

I know I should review The Diviners now, but instead I have to go with another book.  The Rhythm Boys of Omaha Central: High School Basketball at the ’68 Racial Divide by Steve Marantz  tells of events prior to, and the build-up to, the spring 1968 state high school basketball championship game between Omaha Central and Lincoln Northeast.  Events included a visit from George Wallace to the Omaha Civic Auditorium.  His presence and comments precipitated riots three days prior to the game which then was moved to Lincoln.  I was a sophomore at Lincoln Northeast in the spring of 1968 and attended the championship game that year.  I was naïve and had heard about some riots in Omaha but didn’t realize what they were about or even much about George Wallace; my world was pretty small back then.  This book reminded me of the many things I remember and the many things I should have known in 1968.

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers.  After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

“Scary Out There”

A new blog by Rot and Ruin author Jonathan Mayberry , hosted by the Horror Writers Association, contains interviews with well-known horror writers, including Darren Shan, Holly Black, Charlie Higson, and Barry Lyga.  He started it on March 26, 2013, so you will want to look down a little on the right side of the page for the Archives to read the interviews he has already included, they are fun to read and give you a heads-up on future titles.

Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy by Bill Wise, a picture book biography for younger elementary school age children, tells of one of the first major league baseball players who was deaf.  Born in 1862 he lost his hearing to meningitis when he was three.  This tells of his education, his shoemaking business, and his baseball career.  A unique event happened on May 16, 1902, Hoy batted against a deaf pitcher, Luther Taylor; for the first time in major league history a deaf player was at bat facing a deaf pitcher.

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers.  After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

I know you are all busy with this year’s summer reading program but I wanted to announce the upcoming program slogans while it is still fresh in my mind.  The annual meeting of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) was held in April of 2013. The slogans for the 2015 program and the topic or concept for the 2016 program were selected. They are:

2015, the topic is heroes:

Children: Every Hero Has a Story

Teen: Unmask!

Adult: Escape the Ordinary

The topic or concept for 2016 is: “Wellness/Fitness/Sports.”  I know there will be plenty of fun ideas in the manual when 2016 approaches.  I hope your readers are enjoying this year’s program (whatever their ages) and will be eager to get going next year too!  Happy Summer!

“Guys Listen” website by Jon Scieszka.

A companion website to his “Guys Read” site, author and reading advocate Jon Scieszka now  has added a “Guys Listen” site.  Take a bit of time to explore both sites (if you haven’t had a change to look at “Guys Read” yet).  I found a list of suggested reading for professionals that I will need to read my way through, I especially like the term “literacy differences” used by Elaine Millard in her title Differently Literate: Boys, Girls, and the Schooling of Literacy, which the Commission does not own so I need Interlibrary Loan for that title.

One title the Commission owns that he recommends is Connecting Boys with Books: What Libraries Can Do  by Michael Sullivan.  We also own his Connecting Boys with Books 2: Closing the Reading Gap.  Michael Sullivan visited Nebraska in the spring of 2011 and gave wonderful presentations in four locations on how librarians can connect with the group of boys who have trouble with reading.  Maybe we will be able to have him visit us again.

Puss in Boots by Jerry Pinkney is the latest in his interpretations of fairy tales.  Lavish illustrations add to his straightforward retelling.  Puss is given to the youngest son and soon has provided well for him and his older brothers.  “A Note from the Artist” at the back of the book tells of his research both into other retellings and into the clothing styles and countryside of France for the time period he chose.  Perhaps young participants at your library would like to try a retelling of their own.

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers.  After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Edgar Award – Best Young Adult Mystery, and Best Juvenile:

Code Name Verity was selected as the winner, other finalists were: Emily’s Dress and Other Missing Things by Kathryn Burak, The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George, Crusher by Niall Leonard, Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield.

The Best Juvenile title was The Quick Fix by Jack D. Ferraiolo (which I haven’t yet read).  The other finalists were: Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election from a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind by Tom Angleberger, 13 Hangmen by Art Corriveau, Spy School by Stuart Gibbs, and Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.  Visit this site to see all the category winners and nominees.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein was published in May of 2012.  It is historical fiction, set during World War II, about two young women who find friendship while working to help the war effort in England.  Queenie is a British spy captured in France by the Germans, Maddie is the pilot who dropped her off in France.  Flashbacks show their development both in their friendship and in their expertise to help the British cause.  The tension of what will happen both to the prisoner Queenie and to Maddie, who is trapped in France temporarily, will keep readers turning the pages.

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers.  After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)