The YA Book Log

November 1, 2007

“New Moon” rises in YALSA's 2007 Teens' Top Ten

CHICAGO - More than 6,000 teen readers across the country chose “New Moon” by Stephenie Meyer as their favorite book in the annual Teens' Top Ten (TTT) vote, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA). The online vote took place during Teen Read Week, October 14-20, with the second entry in Meyer's popular vampire romance series winning easily.

The 2007 Teens' Top Ten is:

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (Viking Children's Books, 2006)

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles (Flux, 2006).

Maximum Ride: School's Out - Forever by James Patterson (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).

Firegirl by Tony Abbott (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).

All Hallows Eve (13 Stories) by Vivian Vande Velde (Harcourt, 2006).

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Harcourt, 2006).

River Secrets by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury, 2006).

Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe (HarperCollins, 2006).

Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks (Chicken House, 2006).
TTT is a “teen choice” booklist, put together as part of YALSA's Young Adult (YA) Galley Project, which facilitates access to advance copies of young adult books to national teen book discussion groups. These groups evaluated books published between January 2006 and April 2007 and created a list of 25 nominations. Teen voters across the country then cast ballots for their three favorites, culminating in the 2007 Teens' Top Ten. Final nominations for the 2008 Teens' Top Ten vote will be posted in April at www.ala.org/teenstopten.

This is the press release from the American Library Association dated October 30, 2007

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Posted by fjacksonem at 7:00 AM | Comments (0)

May 16, 2007

THE 3 APPLE BOOK AWARD -- NEW YORK TEEN'S CHOICE AWARD

The New York Library Association is proud to announce the 15 finalists for the first annual Teen 3 Apples Book Award, a New York State Teen's Choice Award. This award is jointly sponsored by the Youth Services Section and the School Library Media Section of the New York Library Association.

Teens across New York State have nominated the following titles:

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
by Katherine Paterson
Jess and Leslie, two outsiders who become friends, create a magical kingdom called Terabithia where their imaginations set the only limits.

A CHILD CALLED IT
by David Pelzer
Based on the story of Dave PelzerÕs childhood and how he dealt with the abuse and neglect from the very people he should have been able to depend on.

THE CLIQUE
by Lisi Harrison
Can Claire the new girl at an exclusive private school fit in? The CliqueÉthe only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

ELDEST
by Christopher Paolini
After successfully evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum clan and sent to finish his training so he can further help the Varden in their struggle against the Empire.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM
by Dr. Seuss
Would you eat green eggs and ham? DonÕt say ÒNo!Ó to Sam I Am!

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
by J.K. Rowling
Year 6 Ð Harry learns more about VoldemortÕs past and is convinced that Draco Malfoy, his Hogwarts enemy, has become a Death Eater.

HATCHET
by Gary Paulsen
When the pilot of a two-person plane has a heart attack and dies, Brian has to crash-land in the Canadian wilderness, and learn how to survive on his own with only a hatchet.

HEAT
by Mike Lupica
Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being banned from playing Little League baseball. Rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old and he has no parents to offer them proof.

HOLES
by Louis Sachar
Living under a family curse brought about by his ÒNo-Good-Dirty-Rotten-Pig-Stealing-Great-Great-Grandfather,Ó Stanley Yelnats is wrongly convicted of a crime and sent to Camp Green Lake where his punishment is to dig holes. What will he dig up?

MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD
by James Lincoln Collier
A family is divided when one son joins the Revolutionary Army while the rest of the family sympathizes with the British.

THE OUTSIDERS
by S. E. Hinton
The struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parent's death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their world.

SON OF THE MOB
by Gordon Korman
Vince's life is constantly complicated by the fact that he is the son of a powerful Mafia boss, a relationship that threatens to destroy his romance with the daughter of an FBI agent.

SPEAK
by Laurie Halse Anderson
A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.

THE THIEF LORD
by Cornelia Funke
Things are not as they seem when runaway brothers Prosper and Bo decide to hide out in Venice where they fall in with the Thief Lord, a thirteen-year-old boy who leads a crime ring of street children

TWILIGHT
by Stephenie Meyer
Bella falls in love with Edward after she moves from Phoenix to Forks, Washington. He is exquisitely handsome and a vampire.

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

1. April - December 2007
READ! READ!! READ!!!
Teens read or listen to the finalists at their local library during the summer reading programs and at their school library in the fall. Each teen must read or listen to a minimum of three books from the list of 15 finalists in order to vote.

2. January 2008
Voting will take place in libraries all over New York State.
Ballots will be made available at school and public libraries, and can be printed from the 3 Apples Book Award website.
Only teens in grades 7-12 (ages 13+) who have read or listened to at least 3 of the finalist titles are eligible to vote.
Each eligible teen has one vote, cast at either their school or public library.
Teen voting ends on January 20.

3. February 2008
The award winner will be announced on the website on February 10th.

The 3 Apples Book Award has been developed to encourage the joy of reading for pleasure, and to give the teens of New York State the opportunity to participate in honoring their favorite books.

Each year teens in grades 7-12 (ages 13+) nominate their favorite book, creating a statewide ballot of fifteen of the most popular titles. After reading at least three of the finalist books, the teens vote to select one as their favorite. That book and its author are honored with the presentation of the 3 Apples Book Award, and celebrations take place across the state in school and public libraries.

There are so many good books to choose; I know I would have a hard time picking my favorite. You must read three to vote and I am sure with this list it won't be a problem.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Posted by fjacksonem at 3:25 PM | Comments (0)

May 1, 2007

A LOOK AT GRAPHIC NOVELS

Alex Zuckerman, a senior at East Meadow High School, did his community service internship at the East Meadow Public LIbrary. Alex is interested in filmmaking, including anime. Unfortunately our anime collection is very small, so I asked Alex to review some of the titles in our graphic novel collection.

WAR OF THE WORLDS by Stephen Stern and Arne Starr
The graphic novel is only slightly better then the movie, because Tom Cruse isn’t in it. What more can I say but if you like pointless action sequences that are only running away scenes and really bad artwork, then be my guest and pick this one up today. The real thing that got me mad, was the ending made no sense. Thanks to the bad art work, you can’t tell what’s going on in the story because it looks like the illustrator took a nap as they were drawing this piece of garbage. Now don’t get me wrong, the original book is great but this one isn’t.

CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON by Wang Du Lu and Andy Seto
This one is a great choice to read. If you like the movie then you’ll like the book too. With detailed art work, color and story line this one is a must read.

JU-ON 2 by Takashi Shimizu and MEIMU
Just like the Sarah Michelle Gellar movie this graphic novel is really bad. The art work is atrocious at best and uninteresting. The original movie version from Japan is well written, acted and well thought out, certainly not like this graphic novel. The graphic novel is based on the Japanese movie but with really poor art work. This version it is just a pathetic attempt at a once good movie.

WAR CRAFT: THE SUNWELL TRILOGY by Richard Knaak and Jae-Hwan Kim
Well written story line, art work and based on one of the best video games ever, This is a must read. The only bad thing about it is that the mane character hair is so ugly that it makes it look like a mop is on his head.

MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by Gary Reed and Frazer Living
One of the best graphic novels the Library has to offer. It’s an adapted version of the Mary Shelley’s book. With its detail art work, classic story and its look into the world of true horror, this one isn’t just a must read, it’s a must own as well.

FLIGHT VOLUME 1
Flight is a beautiful graphic novel that is a mixture of short stories that all have a different art style to each of them. The stories are for all ages. It is a must read.

WONDER WOMAN: LAND OF THE DEAD by Greg Rucka and Geoff Johns
This is one of the best graphic novels the Library has to offer. It is so well written that I take this graphic novel out all the time. I strongly recommend this one.

NORTH COUNTRY by Shane White
This book is not based on the movie. This is truly one of the best graphic novels ever made. It’s about a man going back to visit his childhood home and on the plane ride there he thinks about all of the bad things that happened to him there. He was beaten by his drunken Dad, he tried to kill himself and likes to pretend that he is a comic book character. The best part about this book is that it’s not all talking. There’s a shoot-out, a motorcycle accident and a suicide. I strongly recommend this graphic novel to everyone. It’s meant for older readers.

ROBIN: TO KILL A BIRD by Bill Willingham and Damion Scott
This graphic novel is about Robin fighting the penguin’s evil plan to rule Gotham city. If you like Batman then why not pick this one up.

GALAX ANGEL BETA by Kanan
If you’re a fan of Asian stereotypes then this is the one for you. It has girls in bikinis, something to do with space and a bazaar plot. If that sounds like something you like, then you should pick it up today, but I won’t.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST by Hiroumu Arakawa
In all honesty, I found this to be very boring. Here’s why. It said on the back that it’s supposed to be non-stop action but for me it was non-stop boredom and the background art is just bland, no detail at all.

Alex Zuckerman
Grade 12
East Meadow High School

Posted by fjacksonem at 1:53 PM | Comments (0)

April 5, 2007

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2007 TEENS TOP TEN BOOKS

The Young Adult Library Services Association has announced the nominees for the 2007 TEENS TOP TEN BOOKS. During TEEN READ WEEK you will have an opportunity to vote for your favorites, so here is a chance to get a head start on some of your reading.

FIREGIRL by Tony Abbott Tom tells avout the arrival of Jessica, a new student who was badly burned in a fire. Little by little Tom begins to look beyond her exterior.

CLAY by David Almond Stephen has a talent, the gift of creation--and he konws the Davie has this talent, too. Davie allows Stephen to convince him to help bring a life-size figure to life--and Clay is born. Stephen has special plans for this innocent. What has Davie helped to unleash on the world?

ROAD OF THE DEAD by Kevin Brooks Fourteen-year-old British, half-gypsy Ruben is frightened when he finds himself psychically witnessing the vicious attack and murder of his sister. When the official investigation stalls, Ruben and his brother attempt to put together the pieces of the crime themselves.

SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE:ON LOCATION by Jen Calonita What if everyone in America wanted to know what you were doing when you weren't filming your TV show? Kaitlin Burke, a 16-year-old TV star, is exhausted from this glamorous life. So much so she decides to go undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that high schoo is just as tough as Hollywood? (This title was reviewed on The YA Book Log on August 9, 2006)

THE LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCINE GREEN by Karen Cushman Francine Green doesn't speak up much, and who can blame her? But when outspoken, passionate Sophie Bowman transfers into Francine's class, she finds herself thinking about new things that never concerned her before....Eventually, Francine disvovers that she not only has something to say, she is absolutely determined to say it.

JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen
Annabel is nice. Too nice to say why she is unhappy with her life and what happened the night her life changed. That doesn't work in the world of her only remaing friend , anger-management-alum and alternative-music-nut Owen. Can she learn to speak, argue and finally to say the truth?

HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION by Simone Elkeles The last thing 16-year-old Amy wants to do for the summer is go to Israel with her estranged Israeli father, who's dragging her to meet a family she's never known. What could be worse than a summer ina place without friends, shopping or a cell phone?

IN SEARCH OF MOCKINGBIRD by Loretta Ellsworth Erin waits as long as she canm until she devides that running away from home is her only choice. Then she goes on a mission: To find the reclusive author of To Kill a Mockingbird. This takes Erin on a bus journey, knowing that if she can find Harper Lee she will also be closer to her motherm who adored that one book more than all others.

THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER by Alane Ferguson Wehn Cameryn asks to be her father's assistant at the county coroner' office, she never expects that her first case will be a friend in a serial killer case.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE by Gail Giles After his younger brother's suicide,Kyle Kirby exacts revenge on theperson he holds responsible: he kidnaps 17-year-old Cass from her house, and buries her alive, chastising her with a walkie talkie. Can Detective Ben Grey discover Cass's whereabouts before it's too late?

HELLO GROIN by Beth Goobie When Dylan agrees to create a display for her high school library, she has no idea of the trouble it's going to cause--for the school principal, her family, her boyfriend Cam and his jock friends, her best friend Jocelyn, not to mention Dylan herself. And Dylan wouldn't never have had to face her deepest fear and the way she was letting it run her life.

RIVER SECRETS by Shannon Hale Razo is one of Bayern's weaker soldiers. He is sure he is only on the important Tira mission out of pita. But in the strange southern country, Razo befriends both the high and low born, people who can perhaps provide them with vital information. And Razo is the one who must embrace his own talents in order to get the Bayern soldiers home again, alive.

SHOCK POINT by April Henry When fifteen-year-old Cassie Streng discovers that her psychiatrist stepfather is giving a dangerous experimental drug to his teenaged patients, she is determined to expose hime. Instead he sends her to a boot camp for troubled teens in order to keep her quiet. Cassie is in danger at this 'school." Can she escape, expose her stepgather and stop the school?

BAD KITTY by Michele Jaffe Jasmine had to give up her police internship to go on her family vacation. It doesn't take long before Jas stumbles upon a murder mystery while vacationing with her family in Las Vegas.

BORN TO ROCK by Gordon Korman After ultra-straight-laced Leo Caraway discovers that his biological father is none other than millionaire King Maggot, lead singer of the punk band Purge, he accepts a roadie job on King's tour in the hope of securing sorely needed college tuition to Harvard.

NEW MOON by Stephanie Meyer Edward leaves, not wanting to put Bella into danger. Bella depression deepens until she befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school witha penchant for motorcycles. Their adventures are wild and her fun with Jacob soon turns into danger, especially when she finds out Jacob's real identity.

KIKI STRIKE:INSIDE THE SHADOW CITY by Kristen Miller When Ananka Fishbein ventures into an enomous sinkhole near her New York City apartment, she finds things that change her life: a million rats, delinquent Girl Scouts, and a secret city.

PROM ANONYMOUS by Blake Nelson Chloe Thomas is the last person that anyone expects to see at the prom. She agrees to go when her two oldest friends ask her to. What will happen in the three weeks leading up to the big night?

MAXIMUM RIDE: SCHOOL'S OUT -- FOREVER by James Patterson Max and her flock are discovered by an FBI agent and forced to go to "school." There is no such thing as an ordinary day there, and max faces her greatest enemy.

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer When a meteor knocks the moon closer to earth. Miranda and her family need to prepare for tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoic eruptions, extreme weather, food shortages, and disease.

PENELOPE BAILEY TAKES THE STAGE by Susanna Reich Left in the care of family with very rigid views of proper behavior in the late 1800s, Penny is determined not to give up her dreams of an acting career. She starts by plotting to star in the school play.

ALL HALLOWS' EVE:13 STORIES by Vivian Vande Velde. This is a spine-tingling collection of scary stories, take Halloween night and add a possessed car, a crypt, a psychic and ten more!

SKIN by Adrienne Maria Vrettos The one normal peron in Donnie's family is his older sister, Karen. His family has to a make hugh changes when they admit that Karen has an eating disorder, and suddenly Donnie feels more on his own than ever. Will thingss be able to become normal again?

THE UNRESOLVED by T. K. Welsh The 1904 "General Slocum" steamship disaster killed more than 1000 people from the part of New York City known as Kleindeutschland. One victim was 15-year-old Mallory Meer. Her boyfriend, Dustin Brauer, is accused of setting the fire by a leader in the German neighborhood. Mallory, now insubstantial, sees everything and helps the truth to emerge.

FLORA SEGUNA: BEING THE MAGIKAL MISHAPS OF A GIRL SPIRIT, HER GLASS-GAZING SIDEKICK, TWO OMINOUS BUTLERS (ONE BLUE), A HOUSE WITH ELEVEN THOUSAND ROOMS, AND A RED DOG by Ysabeau S. Wilce Flora gets lost in her own eleven thousand room house and stumbles upon the long-banished butler of Crackpot Hall. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a mind-blowing mussle of intrigue and betrayal that changes her world forever.

At this writing the East Meadow Public Library does not own every title on the list, but I will try to get the missing books in the not too distant future. Also the majority of the titles are written for 8th through 12th grade.

Since all but one title is new, anyone can review these books for THE YA BOOK LOG and receive community service credit. Just write your review with your name, grade and school, and email it to fjackson@ eastmeadow.info. If someone writes a review before you, you can always write a comment.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

To see previous TEENS TOP TEN winners check the following YA BOOK LOG entries, August 22, 2006 and November 17, 2006.

Posted by fjacksonem at 1:28 PM | Comments (2)

April 3, 2007

THE PRINTZ AWARD 2003

2003 WINNER

POSTCARDS FROM NO MAN'S LAND by Aidan Chambers

Chambers’ novel is a passionate narrative about 17-year-old Jacob, who comes to Amsterdam to find the grave of his grandfather who died there during World War II. He meets Geertrui, the Dutch woman who cared for his wounded grandfather. Her teenage World War II story is interwoven with Jacob’s surprising discoveries about love, sex, family secrets and his own identity.

“The alternating narratives of Jacob and Geertrui make a story that is intense, sophisticated and surprising,” said Suzanne Manczuk, acting chair of the Printz Award Selection Committee. “Jacob discovers that ‘nothing in Amsterdam is what it appears to be.’” Chambers lives in England, and his previous young adult works have been acclaimed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic. “Postcards from No Man’s Land” was awarded the British Carnegie Medal, and Chambers received the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2002 for the body of his work. THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 10 TO 12.

2003 PRINTZ HONOR BOOKS

THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer
In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patrón, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States. (See The Book Log entry for August 9, 2006) RECOMMENDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN GRADES 7 T0 10.

MY HEARTBEAT by Garret Freymann-Weyr
As she tries to understand the closeness between her older brother and his best friend, fourteen-year-old Ellen finds her relationship with each of them changing. RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADES 9 TO 11.

HOLE IN MY LIFE by Jack Gantos
The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer. This autobiography is RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 UP. This is one of the best autobiographies written by an author.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Posted by fjacksonem at 11:41 AM | Comments (0)

February 26, 2007

RETELLING THE CLASSICS

Some well-loved stories are retold again and again, whether it fairy tales or Shakespeare. Here are a few young adult titles that illustrate this idea.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND RETOLD
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE by Peter Abrahams
Like her idol Sherlock Holmes, eighth grader Ingrid Levin-Hill uses her intellect to solve a murder case in her home town of Echo Falls. Welcome to Echo Falls. Home of a thousand secrets, where Ingrid Levin-Hill, super sleuth, never knows what will happen next. Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. Getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation rivaling those solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes, and Ingrid has enough on her plate with club soccer, school, and the plum role of Alice in the Echo Falls production of Alice in Wonderland . But much as in Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole, things in Ingrid's small town keep getting curiouser and curiouser. Her favorite director has a serious accident onstage (but is it an accident?), and the police chief is on Ingrid's tail, grilling her about everything from bike-helmet law to the color of her cleats. Echo Falls has turned into a nightmare, and Ingrid is determined to wake up. Edgar Award-nominated novelist Peter Abrahams builds suspense as a smart young girl finds that her small town isn't nearly as safe as it seems. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7UP.

LOOKING GLASS WARS by Frank Beddor
When she is cast out of Wonderland by her evil aunt Redd, young Alyss Heart finds herself living in Victorian Oxford as Alice Liddell and struggles to keep memories of her kingdom intact until she can return and claim her rightful throne. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 UP

SHAKESPEARE WITH A TWIST
ARIEL by Grace Tiffany
In this prequel to William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST the reader is given centuries of background to show how Caliban, Miranda, Prospero and the rest came to be who they are by the time Shakespeare picked up the tale. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

ROMIETTE AND JULIO by Sharon Draper
Romiette, an African-American girl, and Julio, a Hispanic boy, discover that they attend the same high school after falling in love on the Internet, but are harrassed by a gang whose members object to their interracial dating. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

THIS MUST BE LOVE by Tui T. Sutherland
Two good friends tell of strange occurrences between themselves and the boys they like during a high school production of "Romeo and Juliet," which are reminiscent of the magical world of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

FAIRY TALES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY TEEN
BEAST by Donna Jo Napoli
Elaborates on the tale of "Beauty and the Beast," told from the point of view of the beast and set in Persia. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

BELLA AT MIDNIGHT by Diane Stanley
Raised by peasants, Bella discovers that she is actually the daughter of a knight and finds herself caught up in a terrible plot that will change her life and the kingdom forever. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 8.

DUCKLING UGLY by Neal Shusterman
When sixteen-year-old Cara, a girl ugly enough to break mirrors, is drawn to a place where everyone can be beautiful, her deepest desire is to return home to say goodbye--and get revenge. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 T0 10.

RED RIDER'S HOOD by Neal Shusterman
After learning that there are werewolves in his city, a sixteen-year-old is even more surprised to discover the identities of the hunters who drove them out decades earlier, but he soon infiltrates the Wolves gang to help destroy them for good. RECOMMENDED FO GRADES 7 T0 10.

THE WITCH’S BOY by Michael Gruber
A grotesque foundling turns against the witch who sacrificed almost everything to raise him, when he becomes consumed by the desire for money and revenge against those who have hurt him; but he eventually finds his true heart's desire. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 8.

SHERLOCK, EBENEEZER, ARTHUR AND THE GREEKS
THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS: AN ENOLA HOLMES MYSTERY by Nancy Springer
Enola Holmes, much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, must travel to London in disguise to unravel the disappearance of her missing mother. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 8.

MARLY’S GHOST: A REMIX OF CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL
The spirit of Ben's girlfriend Marly returns with three other ghosts to haunt him with a painful journey though Valentine's Days past, present, and future. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP by Rick Yancy
Through a series of dangerous and violent misadventures, teenage loser Alfred Kropp rescues King Arthur's legendary sword Excalibur from the forces of evil. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 9.

DREAD LOCKS by Neal Shusterman
Accustomed to a carefree existence, fourteen-year-old Parker Baer meets the girl next door and finds his life taking a menacing turn as he begins to absorb some of her terrible powers. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Posted by fjacksonem at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)

February 9, 2007

YOUNG ADULT CLASSICS

Every now and then I pick up a magazine called BOOKLINKS. It reviews books and does lists on specific subjects. The July 2006 issue was there 15th anniversary issue and they had a list of 15 classic Young Adult novels. It was a great list spanning my many years working as a Young Adult librarian. So here it is. What do you think?

THE CHOCOLATE WAR by Robert Cormier
A high-school freshman who refuses to participate in the annual fund-raising chocolate sale is forced to defend his convictions. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADE 8 AND UP (This classic is now taught in Englsh classes.)

THE CONTENDER by Robert Lipsyte
A Harlem high school dropout escapes from a gang of punks into a boxing gym, where he learns that being a contender is hard and often discouraging work, but that you don't know anything until you try. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 AND UP. (It took the author more than 24 years to write the sequel, THE BRAVE.)

FALLEN ANGELS by Walter Dean Myers
Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry, just out of his Harlem high school, enlists in the Army in the summer of 1967 and spends a devastating year on active duty in Vietnam. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 AND UP

FAREWELL TO MANZANAR: A TRUE STORY OF JAPANESE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR II by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston
This is the true story of a Japanese American family sent to an internment camp during World War II; where the conditions were cramped and unhealthy. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 9 AND UP

GENTLEHANDS by M.E. Kerr
A teenage boy falls in love with an "upper-class" girl and gets to know his estranged grandfather in one heartbreaking summer which climaxes in a shattering search for Nazi war criminals. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 AND UP (This is another personal favorite of mine.)

THE GOATS by Brock Cole
Stripped and marooned on a small island by their fellow campers, a boy and a girl form an uneasy bond that grows into a deep friendship when they decide to run away and disappear without a trace. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 AND UP

JACOB HAVE I LOVED by Katherine Paterson
Feeling deprived all her life of schooling, friends, mother, and even her name by her twin sister, Louise finally begins to find her identity. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 9

KILLING MR. GRIFFIN by Lois Duncan
A teenager casually suggests playing a cruel trick on the English teacher, but did he intend it to end with murder? RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 AND UP (It is my personal favorite. I was not a great English student.)

THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton
The struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parent's death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 AND UP (This is another classic English teachers use.)

THE PIGMAN by Paul Zindel
A teenage boy and girl, high school sophomores from unhappy homes, tell of their bizarre relationship with an old man. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 9 AND UP. (This is another title English teachers just love, but back in 1968 it was not selected as a BEST BOOK FOR TEENS by young adul librarians. We can't always be right.)

SAY GOODNIGHT, GRACIE by Julie Reece Deaver
When a car accident kills her best friend Jimmy, with whom she has shared everything from childhood escapades to breaking into the professional theater scene in Chicago, seventeen-year-old Morgan must find her own way of coping with his death. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 AND UP

STOTAN by Chris Crutcher
A high school coach invites members of his swimming team to a memorable week of rigorous training that tests their moral fiber as well as their physical stamina. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 AND UP

A SUMMER TO DIE by Lois Lowry and Jenni Oliver
Thirteen-year-old Meg envys her sister's beauty and popularity. Her feelings don't make it any easier for her to cope with Molly's strange illness and eventual death. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 T0 8

TIGER EYES by Judy Blume
Resettled in the "Bomb City" with her mother and brother, Davey Wexler recovers from the shock of her father's death during a holdup of his 7-Eleven store in Atlantic City. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 AND UP

THE UPSTAIRS ROOM by Johanna Reiss
A Dutch Jewish girl describes the two-and-one-half years she spent in hiding in the upstairs bedroom of a farmer's house during World War II. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 8 (In 1972, when the book was published, I was fortunate to meet and hear the author's experience. This book is autobiographical.)

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Posted by fjacksonem at 10:55 AM | Comments (1)

February 1, 2007

TEEN READERS SWEEPSTAKES

Penguin Young Readers Group and Baker & Taylor have created a TEEN READERS SWEEPSTAKES for young adult ages 12 to18 who residen in the continental United States. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PENGUIN TITLE. All entries must be submitted through the public library.

The winning teen will receive an assortment of five recently published Penguin young adult titles worth approximately $106. The Library could win a visit by one of the authors listed on the official ballot.

Stop by the Young Adult Services area and fill out an official ballot for the sweepstakes. Ballots must be returned to Mrs. Jackson by February 26, 2007.

Here is the slate of candidates:

AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES by John Green
Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships

BLACK & WHITE by Paul Volponi
Two star high school basketball players, one black and one white, experience the justice system differently after committing a crime together and getting caught.

THE BLACK TATTOO by Sam Enthoven
When his best friend, Charlie, is possessed by an ancient demon, fourteen-year-old Jack, accompanied by a girl with superhuman powers, battles all over London and into Hell to save him.

DEFINING DULCIE by Paul Acampora
When sixteen-year-old Dulcie's father dies, her mother makes a decision to move them to California, where Dulcie makes an equally radical decision to steal her dad's old truck and head back home.

JIM THORPE: ORIGINAL ALL-AMERICAN by Joseph Bruchac
A biography of Native American athlete Jim Thorpe, focusing on his early athletic career.

JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen
Isolated from friends who believe the worst because she has not been truthful with them, sixteen-year-old Annabel finds an ally in classmate Owen, whose honesty and passion for music help her to face and share what really happened at the end-of-the-year party that changed her life.

LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green
Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.

MONSTER BLOOD TATTOO by D. M. Cornish
Having grown up in a home for foundlings and possessing a girl's name, Rossamünd sets out to report to his new job as a lamplighter and has several adventures along the way as he meets people and monsters who are more complicated that he previously thought. Includes glossaries and maps.

PEEPS by Scott Westerfeld
Cal Thompson is a carrier of a parasite that causes vampirism, and must hunt down all of the girlfriends he has unknowingly infected.

RANGER'S APPRENTICE by John Flanagan
When fifteen-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger.

RED KAYAK by Priscilla Cummings
Living near the water on Maryland's Eastern Shore, thirteen-year-old Brady and his best friends J.T. and Digger become entangled in a tragedy which tests their friendship and their ideas about right and wrong.

ROCK STAR SUPERSTAR by Blake Nelson
When Pete, a talented bass player, moves from playing in the high school jazz band to playing in a popular rock group, he finds the experience exhilarating even as his new fame jeopardizes his relationship with girlfriend Margaret.

THE RULES OF SURVIVAL by Nancy Werlin
Seventeen-year-old Matthew recounts his attempts, starting at a young age, to free himself and his sisters from the grip of their emotionally and physically abusive mother.

S.A.S.S. PARDON MY FRENCH by Cathy Hapka
Seventeen-year-old Nicole's dreams and plans center around her boyfriend, but a semester in Paris encourages her to think about herself and her future in a new way.

TRAITOR by Andy McNab and Robert Rigby
A boy who believes his grandfather to be a traitor, a spy who turned against England and then disappeared, tracks down his grandfather and finds out the truth.

WAIT FOR ME BY An Na
As her senior year in high school approaches, Mina yearns to find her own path in life but working at the family business, taking care of her little sister, and dealing with her mother's impossible expectations are as stifling as the southern California heat, until she falls in love with a man who offers a way out.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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December 19, 2006

PAGE TURNERS -- ADULT NOVELS FOR TEENS

With vacation drawing near you may be ready for some real relaxation, nothing to deep, nothing to serious, so try these novels -- fast reading, and keeps your mind alert. This list was created by the Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Committee of the American Library Association in 2000. THESE BOOKS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

Baldacci, David. ABSOLUTE POWER
Murder, honor, loyalty, and betrayal reach all the way to the Oval Office.

Blume, Judy. SUMMER SISTERS
Caitlin and Vix have shared their deepest secrets, can their lifelong friendship withstand a betrayal?

Borchardt, Alice. THE SILVER WOLF
Regeane must decide how to survive as both woman and wolf in dangerous, decadent, decaying Rome.

Connelly, Michael. BLOOD WORK
Where did ex- FBI agent Terry McCaleb's new heart come from and why was he the one to get it?

Crichton, Michael. SPHERE
Discovery of a huge spaceship resting on the ocean floor is more than the scientists bargained for.

Deaver, Jeffery. THE BONE COLLECTOR
Can Lincoln Rhyme, a brilliant criminologist, stop the diabolical killer from committing more grisly crimes?

Finder, Joseph. HIGH CRIMES
A random burglary turns the lives of high-powered attorney Claire Chapman and her husband Tom upside down.

Friedman, Hal. OVER THE EDGE
Did Elaine Wilkens jump to her death or was she pushed by her students?

Gabaldon, Diana. OUTLANDER
Strong-willed Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century and a lover in another.

Gerritsen, Tess. LIFE SUPPORT
Why are Dr. Harper's patients dying?

Gilstrap, John. NATHAN'S RUN
Can Nathan outwit both the police and a hitman in order to stay alive?

Grisham, John. THE CLIENT
Mark Sway is really in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Johansen, Iris. AND THEN YOU DIE
Bess Grady expected sunshine and balmy breezes, but got everyone's worst nightmare.

King, Stephen. ROSE MADDER
After 14 years of being beaten, Rose Daniels wakes up one morning and leaves her abusive husband, a psychopathic cop who obsessively trails her.

Lanier, Virginia. BLIND BLOODHOUND JUSTICE
Follow detective Jo Beth Sidden and her bloodhounds on the seemingly dead trail of a 30-year-old murder/kidnapping.

Patterson, James. ALONG CAME A SPIDER
Detective Alex Cross hunts a schizophrenic psychopathic kidnapper.

Pearson, Ridley. NO WITNESSES
This chicken soup may not be good for the soul.

Preston, Douglas and Lincoln Child. RELIC
A beast in New York's Museum of Natural History haunts the halls and preys on good and bad guys alike.

Rovin, Jeff. VESPERS
Why are killer bats on the loose in New York City?

Tan, Maureen. AKA JANE
A beautiful British spy aka detective writer is out for revenge in Savannah.

Wilhelm, Kate. THE GOOD CHILDREN
If your parents died, could you live on your own and pretend to the world that they were still alive?

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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December 8, 2006

PRINTZ AWARD 2002

THE 2002 WINNER

The 2002 Printz Award was A STEP FROM HEAVEN by An Na. It tells the tale of Young Ju as she grows from a toddler in Korea to a high-school graduate in California desperately trying to be a 'true' American while her immigrant parents try to make her stay close to her Korean heritage.

According to the author, this is and isn't autobiographical. There are some vignettes from childhood memories, but An Na strong family traditions prevented true assimilation into the American culture. An has told a reporter from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY that the parents in the book are extreme examples of the immigrant experience, which her father found gratifying. This story may be common to the immigrant teen experience, but this book is extraordinary and hard to put down once you open it. A STEP FROM HEAVEN is recommended for teens in Grades 9 to 12.

THE 2002 PRINT HONOR BOOKS

THE ROPEMAKER by Peter Dickinson is a compelling play between time and magic and a fantasy for teens in grades 7 to 12 will enjoy.

The heroine, LaVaughn, from Virginia Euwer Wolff MAKE LEMONADE returns in TRUE BELIEVER and suffers her first true crush. Teen girls in grades 7 to 12 will love meeting this truly independent young woman.

This next title breaks away from the idea good books have to be fiction. HEART TO HEART: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN ART by Jan Greeenberg is a book of poetry. Famous young adult authors team up with art work by famous American artists for a poetic response to painting. A very interesting book to read straight through or just select one or two items you are personally drawn too. So young people in grades six and up, pick up HEART TO HEART for a unique reading experience.

The last honor book for 2002 may be the most unusual. Chris Lynch's FREEWILL is told in the second person, because you are in the mind of 17-year-old Will, a very troubled teen. Since Will's parents died in an accident, he has not been able to adjust. Could this have something to do with his wood sculptures that begin to show up at the sites of teen sucides? For a most unusual and maybe disturbing read, pick up FREEWILL. This title is recommended for teens in grades 9 to 12.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Posted by fjacksonem at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2006

TEENS TOP TEN WINNERS FOR 2006

The entry for August 22, 2006 listed all the nominated titles for the TEENS TOP TEN FOR 2006. Here are the results.

Teen readers across the country voted "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling as their favorite book to take the #1 spot on the annual Teens’ Top Ten (TTT), sponsored by The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA). The vote took place during Teen Read Week, October 15-21, 2006, and gave teens an opportunity to voice their choice of the best new young adult books.

1. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling
Book Six offers old friends, dark secrets, new twists and new reasons to keep reading. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 5 AND UP.

2. TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer
This is a new version on star-crossed lovers. Bella didn't want to move to Washington, until she met Edward, one of the best looking boys in High School, although initially he seemed not to like her. She never dreamed it was becuase he has a hard time controlling the blood-lust she arouses in him, since he is a vampire. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 9 TO 12.

3. ELDEST by Christopher Paolini
Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, are sent for training at the elven city but while they are away their home comes under attack. Older brother, Roran, leads the people of Carvahall away and eventually Eragon learns a stunning secret about his heritage. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 TO 11.(Second book in the INHERITANCE TRILOGY and the winner of the 2006 QUILL AWARD for Teen Books.)

4. REBEL ANGELS by Libba Bray Gemma
Doyle is left to find the fable temple beyond her Victorian world and bind the magic she released in Volume One, A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 9 TO 12.

5. PEEPS by Scott Westerfeld
Cal Thompson is a carrier of a parasite that causes vampirism, and must hunt down all of the girlfriends he has unknowingly infected. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 9 AND UP.

6. 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES by Maureen Johnson
Ginny takes aon a whirlwind tour of Europe guided by leters from a recently deceased and beloved aunt. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 TO 11. (See entry Augusrt 18, 2006)

7. POISON by Chris Wooding
Sixteen-year-old Poison has never been out of the Marshes. When her little sister is kidnapped, Poison set off for the Realm of Phaerie to rescue her. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADE 7 TO 10.

8. CAPTAIN HOOK: THE ADVENTURES OF A NOTORIOUS YOUTH by J.V. Hart
With his long black curls, a shadowy family tree, and an affinity for pet spiders, James Matthew bears little resemblance to his starched-collar, blue-blooded peers at Eton. Dubbed King Jas, he stops at nothing to become the most notorious underclassman in the prestigious school's history. For James, sword fighting, falling in love with an Ottoman Sultana, and challenging the Queen of England are all in a day's skullduggery. But when he sets sail on a ship with a mysterious mission, King Jas' dream of discovering a magical island quickly turns into an unimaginable nightmare. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 AND UP.

9. IF I HAVE A WICKED STEPMOTHER, WHERE'S MY PRINCE? by Melissa Kantor
When the father of high school sophomore, Lucy Norton, remarries, Lucy finds herself tormented by two bratty stepsisters and a wicked stepmother. This is a modern-day Cinderella story. RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 TO 10.

10. ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin
After fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live." RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 6 TO 9.

Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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November 9, 2006

THE PRINTZ AWARD 2001

Back in September I wrote about revisiting the Printz Award winners and honor books. Well, I am up to year 2 or 2001. That year the announcement was made on January 15, 2001 and the winner was KIT'S WILDERNESS by David Almond. If you check the first Printz winner, you will see David Almond's SKELLIG was a honor book. "Kit's Wilderness," tells the tale of Kit Watson who returns with his family to the Northern English coal mining town where generations of his family have worked and died. One wonders, if this book reflects on childhood memories, since David Almond grew up in a mining community in northeastern England. This title is recommended for both middle and high school students.

FOUR HONOR BOOKS WERE NAMED FOR 2001.

MANY STONES, by Carolyn Coman, follows Berry's travels with her estranged father to South Africa, where her sister was murdered while volunteering. Berry learns emotional acceptance of Laura's death from a people whose own journey to reconciliation is painful, yet ultimately healing.

When high school outcast Chris Creed disappears, in THE BODY OF CHRISTOPHER CREED, by Carol Plum-Ucci, his popular classmate Victor "Torey" Adams embarks on a mission to decipher Creed's last cryptic email message and to learn the truth about both Chris and himself.

ANGUS THONGS AND FULL FRONTAL SNOGGLING by Louise Rennison is the "fabbity fab fab" journal of British 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson who is struggling through the embarrassments of her family, the misadventures of her friends, and her spirited efforts to claim the attentions of "Gorgey Hunk" Robbie.

In STUCK IN NEUTRAL, by Terry Trueman the good news is that despite his severe cerebral palsy, Shawn's life is rich and filled with the joys of BBQ potato chips, television, and incredible dreams. The bad news? His father may be trying to kill him. Through the voice of Shawn, Trueman takes the reader to a new place: inside the mind of a joyful spirit trapped in an uncontrollable body.

These honor titles are recommended for grades 8 and up.

Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Adult Services

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October 22, 2006

THRILLS AND CHILLS FOR OCTOBER

9

The leaves are falling, the wind is blowing and Jack-O-Lanterns are sitting in windows. It is time for ghosts, goblins and vampires.

BLUE GIRL by Charles De Lint
New at her high school, Imogene enlists the help of her introverted friend Maxine and the ghost of a boy who haunts the school after receiving warnings through her dreams that soul-eaters are threatening her life.

THE BOY WHO COULDN'T DIE by William Sleator
When his best friend dies in a plane crash, sixteen-year-old Ken has a ritual performed that will make him invulnerable, but soon learns that he had good reason to be suspicious of the woman he paid to lock his soul away.

DEADLY GAME OF MAGIC by Joan Lowery Nixon
Lisa and her three friends find themselves unwilling players in a cat-and-mouse game with a murderous magician whose identity and motivation baffle them.

FREAKS by Annette Curtis Klause
After leaving home in search of adventure, romance, and riches, seventeen-year-old Abel, the "normal" son of freak show entertainers, is haunted by a mysterious spirit.

GHOST OF A HANGED MAN by Vivian Vande Velde
An outlaw condemned to be hanged threatens to wreak vengeance from the grave on those responsible for his death.

THE HAUNTING by Joan Lowery Nixon
When her mother inherits an old plantation house in the Louisiana countryside, fifteen-year-old Lia seeks to rid it of the evil spirit that haunts it.

HERE THERE BE GHOSTS by Jane Yolen
An illustrated collection of short stories and poems about ghosts.

MIDNIGHT PREDATOR by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Turqoise Draka, a vampire hunter, is hired to kill the evil vampire Jeshikah. To enter his realm she must disguise herself as the human slave of Jaguar, a vampire and slave owner who is tormented by his own past. Will Jaguar release the humanity Turqoise long ago locked away?

NIGHT TERRORS by Jim Murphy
Gravedigger Digger Barnes shares chilling tales he's heard in his graveyard wanderings in the eastern states.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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October 13, 2006

TEEN READ WEEK -- DON'T FORGET TO VOTE

When I began this BOOK LOG in August, 2006, I wrote an entry on TEENS TOP TEN suggesting you might want to read these titles. Well, it is almost time to vote.

The nominees are:

Bowen, Asta WOLF: THE JOURNEY HOME
Bray, Libba REBEL ANGELS
Brian, Kate MEGAN MEADE’S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS
Dowswell, Paul POWDER MONKEY: ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG SAILOR
Sally Gardner, Sally I, CORIANDER
Hart, J. V, CAPTAIN HOOK: THE ADVENTURES OF A NOTORIOUS YOUTH
Johnson, Maureen 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES Blog review dated August 18.
Jones, Patrick NAILED
Kantor, Melissa IF I HAVE A WICKED STEPMOTHER, WHERE’S MY PRINCE?
Krovatin, Christopher HEAVY METAL AND YOU
Meyer, Stephanie TWILIGHT
Noel, Alyson ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS
Oppel, Kenneth SKYBREAKER
Paolini, Christopher ELDEST
Peters, Julie Ann FAR FROM XANADU
Reiss, Kathryn BLACKTHORN WINTER
Rowling, J. K. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Thal, Lilli MIMUS
Westerfeld, Scott PEEPS
Whitcomb, LauraA CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT
Wooding, Chris POISON
Zevin, Gabrielle ELSEWHERE

YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS AT www.ala.org/teenread DURING TEEN READ WEEK OCOBER 15-21, 2006

Submited by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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October 8, 2006

GET ACTIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY

The Young Adult Library Services Association will celebrate its ninth annual TEEN READ WEEK during the week of October 15-21, 2006. Teens across the country voted online for their favorite theme and their choice, "GET ACTIVE." encompasses the wide variety of ways that teens can become more engaged intheir communities and in their own lives.

Boyers, Sara Jane TEEN POWER POLITICS: MAKE YOURSELF HEARD.
This inviting book introduces young people to their own political importance. Student cartoons and quotes by leaders and young people enhance the overview of the political system and the wealth of practical ideas. (YA 323.042 B) For young people in grades 9 to 12.

Halpin, Mikki IT'S YOUR WORLD--IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT CHANGE IT: ACTIVISM FOR TEENAGERS
Teens will learn how to get involved at home, at school and in their community. (YA 371.8 H) For young people in grades 8 to 11

Hoose, Phillip IT'S OUR WORLD, TOO! STORIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
This title spotlights young activits including those who sopke out against violence, hunger and prejudice. (YA 302.14 H) For young people in grades 6 to 9.

Levine, Ellen FREEDOM'S CHILDREN: YOUNG CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITISTS TELL THEIR OWN STORIES
Thirty African-Americans who were children and teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s talk about their involvement in the civil rights movement. (YA 973.0496 L) For young people in grades 7 to 10.

FOR FICTION LOVERS, TRY THESE...

Bruchac, Joseph CODE TALKER
While attending mission school, Ned Begay fought to preserve his Navajo language and customs, and as a teenager enlisted in the army, he became a Navajo code talker during World War II. A powerful novel about a young person who fought for the rights of his cultural heritage. (YA FIC BRUCHAC) For young people in Grades 6 to 9.

Fleischman, Paul SEEDFOLKS
A crowd of different voices narrates this moving novel of neighbors who find unexpected rewards when they work together to create a community garden. (YA FIC FLEISCHMAN) For young people in Grades 5 to 8.

Hiaasen, Carl HOOT
Middle-schooler Roy Eberhardt leads the efforts to preserve an endangered owl's nesting ground in this rollicking mystery-adventure. (YA FIC HIAASEN) For young people in Grades 5 to 8.

These selections come from the "Teen Read Week:Get Active!" booklist created by Judy Nelson and Gillian Engberg published in the September 15, 2006 issue of BOOKLIST.

Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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September 22, 2006

BANNED BOOKS WEEK

The celebration of the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. BANNED BOOKS WEEK will be celebrated September 23-30, 2006.

In 2005 some very popular young adult titles were challenged for various themes, they included

“Forever” by Judy Blume for sexual content and offensive language;
Two high school seniors believe their love to be so strong that it will last forever.

“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger for sexual content, offensive language and being unsuited to age group;
A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.

“The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content and offensive language;
A high school freshman discovers the devastating consequences of refusing to join in the school's annual fund raising drive and arousing the wrath of the school bullies.

“Whale Talk” by Chris Crutcher for racism and offensive language;
Intellectually and athletically gifted, TJ, a multiracial, adopted teenager, shuns organized sports and the gung-ho athletes at his high school until he agrees to form a swimming team and recruits some of the school's less popular students.

“What My Mother Doesn't Know” by Sonya Sones for sexual content and being unsuited to age group;
Sophie describes her relationships with a series of boys as she searches for Mr. Right.

“Crazy Lady!” by Jane Leslie Conly for offensive language;
As he tries to come to terms with his mother's death, Vernon finds solace in his growing relationship with the neighborhood outcasts, an alcoholic and her retarded son.

THIS TITLES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Check the online catalog for title availability.

You can pick up your BANNED BOOK WEEK BOOKMARK and while supplies last the BANNED BOOK WEEK BUTTONS. The bookmark and button can be found at the YOUNG ADULT SERVICES DESK.

Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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September 1, 2006

THE PRINTZ AWARD 2000

I thought it might be interesting to revisit some of the books awarded the Printz Award. This award was created to honor excellence in literature for young adults. It is named for Michael Printz, a school librarian, who was known for discovering and promoting quality books for teens.

On January 17, 2000 the first Printz Awards were announced at the American Library Association Midwinter Convention. The winner was MONSTER by Walter Dean Myers. This is a suspenseful and emotionally charged story about a boy in serious trouble. While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken. Is he guilty? You be the judge. This is a great story for high school students.

The 2000 PRINTZ AWARDS also honored three other titles.
SKELLIG by David Almond
Unhappy about his baby sister's illness and the chaos of moving into a dilapidated old house, Michael retreats to the garage and finds a mysterious stranger who is something like a bird and something like an angel. What or who is it? I would recommend this title for teens in grades 6 to 9.

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson
A traumatic event at anend of summer party has a devastating effect of Melinda's freshman year in high school. This title is on my personal best list. Every high school girl should read this book and their moms too. Recently this book was made into a TV movie. The book is better.

HARD LOVE by Ellen Wittlinger
After starting to publish a zine in which he writes his secret feelings about his lonely life and his parents' divorce, sixteen-year-old John meets an unusual girl and begins to develop a healthier personality. You should be prepared to laugh and weep, when you read this meaningful story. Highly recommended for high school readers.

ALL OF THE TITLES MENTIONED ABOVE ARE AVAILABLE AT THE EAST MEADOW PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

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August 22, 2006

TEEN TOP TEN 2006

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS THE YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES ASSOCIATION HAS SPONSORED THE TEEN TOP TEN BOOKliST. THIS IS LIST IS NOMINATED, REVIEWED AND VOTED ON BY YOUNG ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE VOTING TAKES PLACE DURING TEEN READ WEEK ON THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION TEEN READ SITE.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS AT www.ala.org/teenread DURING TEEN READ WEEK OCOBER 15-21, 2006

THE NOMINEES ARE

Bowen, Asta WOLF: THE JOURNEY HOME
Bray, Libba REBEL ANGELS
Brian, Kate MEGAN MEADE’S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS
Dowswell, Paul POWDER MONKEY: ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG SAILOR
Sally Gardner, Sally I, CORIANDER
Hart, J. V, CAPTAIN HOOK: THE ADVENTURES OF A NOTORIOUS YOUTH
Johnson, Maureen 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES Blog review dated August 18.
Jones, Patrick NAILED
Kantor, Melissa IF I HAVE A WICKED STEPMOTHER, WHERE’S MY PRINCE?
Krovatin, Christopher HEAVY METAL AND YOU
Meyer, Stephanie TWILIGHT
Noel, Alyson ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS
Oppel, Kenneth SKYBREAKER
Paolini, Christopher ELDEST
Peters, Julie Ann FAR FROM XANADU
Reiss, Kathryn BLACKTHORN WINTER
Rowling, J. K. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Thal, Lilli MIMUS
Westerfeld, Scott PEEPS
Whitcomb, LauraA CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT
Wooding, Chris POISON
Zevin, Gabrielle ELSEWHERE

AN ANNOTATED LIST IS AVAILABLE AT THE YOUNG ADULT SERVICES DESK.

Submitted by Mrs.Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

TO VIEW THE PREVIOUS YEARS TEEN TOP TEN WINNERS
2005
2004
2003

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