Sun-Sentinel: Palm Beach County news
“Will Heckman, the school’s media specialist, thinks the school’s growing graphic novel collection is keeping kids out of trouble and hooking them on reading, albeit in a nontraditional format. In its first year, almost half the 600-book collection is usually checked out of the library. Acquired with about $5,000 from the Palm Beach County School District, the books account for 1 percent of the library’s collection but 50 percent of the books students check out.”
Via LISNews.

The Miami Herald — FCAT scores up at schools with good libraries, study shows
“In her Making the Grade report, Education Professor Donna Baumbach found FCAT scores were 20 percent higher in 2000-01 at high schools with at least one full-time professional librarian and one full-time assistant. Among elementary schools, the same level of staffing meant a 9 percent improvement.
And yet, the amount of state money provided to libraries is ”pitiful,” Baumbach said. Since 2000, the state account earmarked for library materials has remained at $15 million, despite an overall growth in student population. This year, Gov. Jeb Bush’s proposed budget would keep it at $15 million, while the state Department of Education is asking for $18 million.”
Via LISNews.

Teen Ink: A Magazine and Book Series Written by Teens for Teens
VOYA recommended this site in their February issue. Teen Ink is a monthly magazine where all the writing is done by teens. Teens can submit articles, art, photos, reviews, and poems to the magazine.

PACKETONLINE News Classifieds Entertainment Business – Princeton and Central New Jersey
I love it when libraries write about their successful partnerships with teens in their communities. One of the best programs I was ever involved in was creating a positive place for teens at a library. Even the ones that are handfuls have a heart of gold. Now years later when I don’t miss my coworkers or the library any more, I still miss those kids.

Isle of Man Online
The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, about a teen who gets involved with MI6, is going to be made into a movie. The studio has optioned all three books in the series.

Writers target older children
“Balance of Trade” is the new book in the Liaden Universe series by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee. This brief article talks about its appeal to teen readers.

Schneider Family Book Award recipients named
The winners of the new Schneider Family Book Award have been announced. The award, donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider, honors a book that “embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” The award is given to three books a year, one for grade school age, one for middle school and one for teens.
The picture book winner is Looking Out for Sarah by Glenna Lang.
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass won the middle school category.
The teen winner is Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements.

Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja (0-374-30998-1)
Buddha Boy, whose real name is Jinsen, is a misfit in his new school. He doesn’t wear a coat even in winter and keeps his head shaved. He has no friends until Justin discovers Jinsen’s artistic talent and a friendship slowly emerges. Justin must decide whether to start standing up for Jinsen as he is tormented by the other kids.
This short YA novel is written in a rather jarring style that doesn’t use traditional punctuation or paragraph form. Luckily, it enhances rather than detracts from one of the main themes of the book: being different is not only OK but has power. And so does this unique writing style.

Whoopi Goldberg Signs Multi Book Deal
Whoopi Goldberg has signed a multi-book deal with Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children that specializes in African-American books. The first of the books will be available in the fall of 2005.