One of the more controversial stories among teen librarians is New trend in teen fiction: Racy reads – Nightly News with Brian Williams – MSNBC.com. You can either read the article or watch the video. Either way the gist is the same: that teen novels are too provocative and that the books are “gratuitous — even dangerous.” Now, yes there are racy reads for teens out there. There have been for a long time, anyone remember Deenie, Forever, and other Blume novels? Anyone love them as teens?
The only good part of the article is when at the end it encourages parents to read what their kids/teens are reading. Yes! Please parents, do this!
I think it crosses a line and becomes sensationalist journalism when the word “dangerous” is applied to teen novels. I am proud to say that we just purchased a whole set of the dangerous Gossip Girl series as well as some other hot teen paperback series like A-List and The Clique. I don’t see them as any more dangerous than Forever was for me. Good golly, all of these teens could be turned into radical librarians by reading so much! Be afraid, be very afraid!

USATODAY – Fashion magazines showing more body types
Following Dove soap’s new real women ad campaign, teen magazines like Seventeen, Teen People and CosmoGirl are now featuring girls off all shapes and sizes rather than just tall, thin models. This can only be good for girls’ self esteem and body image. I look forward to seeing the trend continue with an emphasis on health rather than size.