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!
Month: August 2005
More Inclusive Magazines
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.
Back Again!
The lost blogger has returned! The server that my blogs and the library’s website live on went down and it has taken almost a week to get it back up again. Meanwhile, I have been collecting things to post about, including a couple book reviews for wonderful new books. Plus, today I got a large box of preview books from Scholastic that have me drooling, but I will have to do my review book for SLJ first. So lots to look forward to. My pile of books next to my chair never seems to shrink, which is just the way I like it!
Late Summer Books
For Young Readers is a Washington Post article that captures the type of picture books that kids will want to read as summer wanes. Books that will prep little ones for the first day of Kindergarten, fun math books and other school subjects and finally books that are just plain fun.
Paper Toys
Paper Toys is a site that offers patterns for fold-up models. From building models to origami to cards to paper airplanes, this site offers a variety of challenges for kids and grown ups alike.
Hugo Award
Locus Online News: Hugo Awards Winners were announced this week. The winner of best novel is Susanna Clarke for Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
UpToTen
UpToTen is a website filled with online games for children from toddlers to age ten. There are over 600 games and activities for children.
Storytime Resource
Always on the prowl for quick ways to find crafts, theme ideas, rhymes and more for my storytimes, I discovered Preschool Activities at EnchantedLearning.com. It has a wide range of printables, ideas, activities and more that will be useful for both teachers and librarians.
Under the Persimmon Tree
Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples (0-374-38025-2) is the new book from the author of Shabanu. This new book tells the story of two women caught in the recent events in Afghanistan. Najmah is a girl happily living in a village in Northern Afghanistan until her father and brother are taken away to fight for the Taliban. Then the bombing starts and Najmah is caught in a series of horrific events that finally leave her as a refugee in Pakistan. The other half of the story is that of Nusrat, an American woman who married an Afghan doctor and came to Pakistan with him. But soon after they arrived, he headed out to start a clinic in Northern Afghanistan. She has not heard from him in months, and meanwhile she has created a school for refugee children.
Staples has created a breathtaking work here. Using present tense, she draws readers directly into the horror of what happens in war. Her use of tiny details to show how life is both different and the same in Afghanistan is beautifully done. The characterization is vivid, allowing these two female characters to stand out strongly against the situation they are caught in.
The entire work is wonderfully evocative and magical. This would make a wonderful read in classes doing modern history or current events.
Waking Brain Cells 