Mysteries

Mysteries seem to have become an extremely popular genre among the tween set. They have always held appeal, because mysteries are almost universally enjoyed, regardless of race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic status because everyone likes to be their own detective. In the case of tweens, this literary experience can be empowering since it allows them to solve the mystery as they read. Many of the books have tween or teen detectives to make it even easier for the reader to imagine themselves in the role and one-upping a bunch of clueless adults. What an awesome fantasy! This brand of escapism is especially important for self-esteem. The ability to picture themselves as a real detective, solving mysteries is a great way for them to start thinking about their real futures where they will ALL be solving problems of one kind or another. Life is a series of problems to be solved and especially in the workplace. Mysteries are great practice for the problems that may arise in school, a job or even personally. The methods used to slove them: gathering evidence, analyzing evidence and making connections are priceless skills that can be universally applied and fun to read about. This makes mystery reading educationally valuable and an easy sell to a reluctant reader.

When You Reach me

I found When You Reach Me to be somewhat confusing and I wonder if kids will be able to figure it out. I don't think that a book has to be completely understandable to be enjoyable but how much do readers need to understand in order to achieve enjoyment? How and when does this change as we get older? I think there are many more vague books published for adults than children and I realize that younger kids need a certain amount of clarity in their stories, but when can we begin to think in ways that allow us to enjoy books with loose ends, unclear plot lines or non-linear stories? I know many people who have never been able to enjoy those kinds of stories, and that is a literary preference that they've developed, but what books do kids read that could lead them in that direction? I believe there is little to no material available that treads the line into vague or non-linear that is appropriate for adolescents. If they aren't reading it as they develop their literary preferences, then when do they discover that kind of material? Maybe college or even high school, but it might be worth considering that tweens are capable of internalizing a lot more than society gives them credit. It wasn't my favorite book, but I think When You Reach Me serves a valuable function for kids just beginning to discover the vast diversity in literature and literary styles. I wonder what it could lead to in more sophisticated books.

Claudette Colvin

The story of Claudette Colvin is an important one in several ways. Her story went untold and she was done an injustice by being pushed aside so it's important that history is passed on accurately. Most importantly, she was only 15 when she refused to give up her seat and she took a stand without any planning or support from the movement who was behind Rosa Parks. This makes her a perfect model for tweens. She handled herself honorably when it happened and she stood up to the police not knowing who might help her if she was arrested. It's important for kids to read about a person like that so they can see that their peers can make a difference. The other part of the story was that despite the movement's rejection of Claudette as a public representative, she testified in the court case and helped them anyway. Young people need to see that her motives were truly just and that she wasn't at all concerned with notoriety. Despite that, it is amazing that so much time went by before she was given any recognition for what she helped to accomplish. There was an article in The New York Times this week about her and the author of the book. (read it here) It is the account of how Phillip Hoose found her story and pursued it until she consented to interviews. When Hoose found her and started interviewing, "One of her first questions: 'Can you get it into schools?” This speaks to her primary concern which has always been staying true to her ideals and getting justice for her community. Tweens couldn't ask for a better role model, and now they are lucky enough to have a National Book award winning story to introduce them to Claudette Colvin.

The Spectrum

It was so interesting to hear people discuss their experiences in school with classmates that were strange or different. It is fairly likely that we all knew at least one person with autism or aspergers that at the time just seemed weird or different. I don't remember anyone I knew being specifically diagnosed with anything like that until I was well into college so there was no education about it in school and anyone with it must have endured a lot of unexplainable social stigma and perhaps some academic issues too. It is a true sign of progress that we can now identify some of the reasons behind people's differences but there is also a danger in having too many labels being thrown around because it can still be isolating. Children should be educated about people's differences, but it's tough to slam them over the head with too many facts. Books that address the issues seem to me to be a better solution. A well written book like Emma Jean Lazarus Falls Out of a Tree can subtly illustrate differences while simultaneously encouraging acceptance. Reading about realistic situations puts everything into context and easier to understand. Hopefully children's authors will continue to address the endless differences among us as humans to give children perspective on the world's immense diversity. They don't need to be hit over the head, but gentle exposure over time can hopefully contribute to a future society that is more tolerant and accepting.

Overbooked

After discussing the phenomenon of overbooked children and how prevalent it has become in pop culture and parenting culture, I wonder how childhood moved in this direction. In the past kids had a lot more time to play with each other and outside, which has now been shown to be extremely valuable to their development. It would stand to reason that TV, the internet and the constant communication our society has come to demand are contributing factors, but in a modern world where there are fewer real responsibilities for kids I wonder how we progressed to this point. In the somewhat distant past, children had many more household responsibilities because of the lack of modern conveniences and in many cases they had to help with the family business, whether it was a farm, store or craft. Only the elite were excused and they often had private tutors with additional academic responsibilities. So in a modern world with studies showing the benefits of unstructured play where we put laundry in a machine and make dinner in a microwave, why are children more over-scheduled than ever? Why haven't these studies had more influence over the parenting culture that forces kids to work more hours in the day than their parents? This also makes me wonder what we can be doing to advocate for down time or even give it to them in libraries. Certainly in a school the librarian could make their period one for quiet reading, but a public library can be a lot more hectic. What kinds of programs could allow kids to just be themselves without worrying about school, extra-curriculars or other responsibilities?

Tweens and Money

It is striking to think that many of today's tweens cannot conceive of what many things cost in relation to how much money the family makes. I have started to hear about more youth programs popping up that have to do with budgeting and money management. This type of programming is potentially invaluable to many kids whose parents have neglected to educate them about smart money management. A program that even just covers the basics of a bank account could be a great library program for young adults, potentially helping them set up a budget for the things they buy for themselves. Having and managing a bank account is a great exercise in math skills, but more importantly in life skills. Giving youth certain things to be financially responsible for forces them to prioritize what they want. If a kid gets an allowance they have to find a way to save it up for something big or make it last to cover all the expenses they need it for. The program could cover how to keep a record of deposits and withdrawals along with lessons about interest so they might learn a little about saving and its benefits. If teenagers could leave high school with just that basic knowledge, it might go a long way towards improving upon the "need it now" culture that America has developed since the 1980s.

Tween Adventure

As I began The Big Splash I found myself feeling relieved that it wasn't yet another fantasy adventure. When I was a tween I was completely obsessed with the Redwall books by Brian Jacques and I felt like I'd never have enough until I got a little older and VERY suddenly lost interest. After reading all the other books for this course I am actually growing tired of my own favorite genre. I wonder what the tweens are thinking when they read book after book with a similar formula. Many of them devour books like candy (and without a job and an adult life they have the time) so they must run into the same patterns that we see as librarians and lovers of children's literature. Do they see them too? Do they reach a point in their development as I did where they lose interest and move on to more sophisticated books? It think after my Redwall craze ended I read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It's an adult title but it is still fantasy. I remember feeling proud for reading something so epic and long and afterwards stuck to adult titles throughout high school. I often see those adolescent rabid readers eager to move on to what they perceive as "more adult" books and often different genres. I think it's a great period to watch out for because it could present us with an opportunity as professionals to do some really great reader's advisory. All it takes is one good recommendation to set them on a completely new path in their literary development.

Hooray for Gaming

I was sad that I had to miss the gaming presentation in class although I have done a fair amount of reading on the topic for a term paper and presentation for another class, plus an ongoing interest. Gaming is such a great way to get kids into libraries and have untapped potential for learning experiences both academic and social. I have only recently gotten into video games myself, because I wasn't allowed to have them as a child, but I have been amazed at their variety and depth. A lot of the multi-player games require a ton of communication and teamwork and the solitary games often have a lot of plot which comes with a requisite amount of reading. I know that there is a growing number of educational games that simulate history or modern political structures or just help with basic math skills. They are getting better at masking the educational value to the kids by making them fun and beautiful to look at. Despite the growing prevalence of these kinds of games, anything that kids want to play can be harnessed into an opportunity for them to have a program in the library that has them interacting, with staff and peers and thereby contributing to the growth of their social community.

In my paper on the topic for another class, I was able to explore the potential for intergenerational programming with gaming. A great example was a program involving teens and senior citizens. The librarians held tryouts to find teens who were good at gaming and patient with the librarians that they would teach the games to. Once chosen, they would be teamed with a senior partner that they would train in the skill set of the game. Once training was finished there would be a tournament that would give the seniors a chance to show off some new skills and teens a chance to take pride in their students' achievements and the relationships they formed with their senior partners. This is a great way for seniors to see youth in the library in a different way and builds community in a way that is lasting and meaningful.

Go gaming!

PS - I love rock band!

Differences

I had a hard time getting through The Dragonfly Pool which was unexpected because I like historical fiction and ample exposition, but the first 150 pages of this was kind of a drag. By the time I finished, I had a change of heart because of the way the story carries out and the beautiful character development, especially with Karil and Tally. I usually relish slow moving books if they are well written, but this seemed to linger unnecessarily in places towards the beginning although the development of the story during and after Karil's escape from Bergania helps make up for a slow start. I wish I had read this prior to Schooled which is such a fun and fast paced book by comparison. The writing might not be as luxurious, but Korman is very funny and his cast of characters are strong enough to have their own voices throughout the book, which I found to be an interesting and effective device. It was a fast and really fun read, which made Ibbotson's slow by comparison.

This is really illustrative of kids own wide ranging tastes in literature. I think these books were written for very different audiences, and while many tweens have eclectic tastes that are always developing, many of them are similar to their adult counterparts in that they tend towards their own specific literary palate. It could be humor, mystery, adventure, fantasy, history or some combination, but it is remarkable to see them explore and develop their individualized sensibilities. It feels good to know that we can have some influence over them as librarians by figuring out what they are drawn to and getting them the best material that fits the bill. Schooled and The Dragonfly Pool are very different books, but both are well written with engaging plots and characters. Each could be a step along the way for a tween's burgeoning identity and sense of self.

Afternoon crowds

The more I think about the New York Times article, the more I am bothered by the solution that the New Jersey library came up with to quell their afternoon crowds. Closing the library or kicking kids out should always be a last resort for behavioral problems and crowd control. The energy that they have after sitting in school all day is a powerful force that can be harnessed in many really productive ways. Just having some basic supplies can help keep them occupied when they aren't on the computers. I have several board games (dealing in words of course) and lots of arts and crafts supplies. Establishing rules and a code of conduct is vital to making these materials work, so I've found that setting a time frame with an understanding that cleaning up is included to be helpful. Yesterday some of my tween girls were bored so I had them cut out pumpkins and leaves from construction paper to decorate my bulletin board. They were occupied and engaged with the activity while at the same time helping me and the library. Then when their work is displayed they have a stake in the space because they have contributed to making it better. It's an easy thing to do and I am lucky to have a group of responsible and respectful kids, but the sense of community that builds with these activities is the most powerful force a librarian can harness. It keeps them coming back and it builds positive relationships and trust between them and the staff as well as with each other. There is never fighting when the arts and crafts supplies are in use.

Kids and their Stuff

I was amazed although not really surprised to read how much tweens value their material posessions. It seems clear that they believe that having certain "hot" items will help their social lives and self esteem, but I wonder why more of them do not realize that things do not solve problems. It was powerful to read about praise that helps them devalue the material stuff, but how can we as adults in their lives implement that praise in a meaningful and comprehensive way? I try to do my part with the kids I see every day, but does praise from me help kids who are constantly criticized at home? I think it's hard to gauge.

There was a great article in the New York Times Sunday Magazine that addressed gay youth, specifically tweens starting to come out to their peers and parents. This phenomenon is a cry for support from the adults who are meaningful in their lives. By accepting them for who they are we can take a giant step towards giving them the self concept and self esteem they need to let go of the material obsession and grow into productive, thoughtful adults. One school in California was a great example: the teachers came together to shun gay bashing and demoralizing comments and within a couple years many students came out to their classmates, friends, teachers and parents. They also started a Gay Straight Alliance that has become the most popular club at the school. Acceptance, even if not demonstratively vocalized can be a powerful tool to promote kids' self concept and self esteem.

The Evolution of Graphic Novels

It is fascinating to see the origins of today's comic books and graphic novels because it reflects a significant shift in our literacy to one that is more visual and multi-faceted. The political cartoons of the nineteenth century marked a starting point in American culture where we began to demand visuals from the media. Although, communicating through pictures is an ancient technique the political cartoons marked a change in how that form of communication was utilized. The funnies and comics in the newspapers provided entertainment AND often social commentary, which is what graphic novels now do encased in their own bindings. The shift illustrates that each generation has become more visually oriented than the previous, with the current youth population completely ruled by a series of screens and imagery. In some ways it allows the popular culture to be disseminated to them faster and allows it to contain more complexities, but it is certain that the visuals that we are surrounded by every day (especially in the city) are constantly affecting how tweens interact with each other and the world around them. Their communication with others and interpretation of the world that they inhabit evolves as the culture becomes better at communicating visually. This doesn't mean that the written word is less important, but that it is now a part of a larger literacy machine that uses pictures, videos, music and words together.

Diary of a phenomenon

It is amazing how popular the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has become with tween readers. The books are well designed for that age group and the illustrations are playful and have a powerful draw on reluctant readers, but there is something about Greg Heffley that is almost universally relatable. Many protagonists of tween literature are presented as model students and examples for them to follow, but Greg is not. Instead he is almost painfully average and kind of mediocre. He doesn't always make good decisions and there aren't always consequences for his negative actions. In short, he is normal! If those character traits are combined with the typeface that looks like handwriting and the embellished stick figure illustrations, it makes for a tween reading sensation that spans into teen and younger child age groups. I can't wait for the newest one to come out next month!

Street Lit

I am much closer to total acceptance of street lit than I was a year ago. I believe that all of Megan Honig's arguments for the genre are valid and I see the importance of it in a young adult collection. After thinking about this some more I believe that this embodies a core issue in collection development: no matter what the content or quality of these books, the bottom line is that library patrons WANT them. That should be the number one reason to add any materials into a collection. I think the problem is that teens are often not regarded with the same reverence as adult readers and so their needs are often not taken as seriously as those of adults or children. Their collections and spaces don't get enough money, and many adults think it's their perrogative to choose what they SHOULD read. I think that is where resistance to street lit begins. In some ways all the arguments about relatable content, writing style and voice are irrelevant because libraries should ALWAYS try to purchase materials requested by their patrons. In New York City, street lit is an extremely popular genre with teens just as romance novels are popular with women. Even though most teens cannot vote, drive or pay taxes they are just as likely to use libraries. Their needs and wants should be treated with the same respect given to adult patrons. If they want manga, street lit or Catcher in the Rye it is our obligation to make those materials available.

Poetry and Teens

I love that poetry for adults breaks boundaries in its appeal to teens. It was great to hear e. e. cummings read last night in a booktalk. I had considered an Emily Dickinson collection for mine and I think it could have worked just as well as my final choice. Poetry is mostly timeless because there are almost no language or vocabulary barriers; and since it can be interpreted in so many ways it allows for an individual connection. That is EXACTLY what teens are looking to do when they read so poetry can serve as a great choice for reluctant readers all the way through literary buffs.

The connection to music is also a crucial element of what makes poetry so powerful to teens. They all have their favorite music and the majority of it has lyrics so they are exposed to poetry whenever they listen to the radio or their Ipod. I love that Sandy read a poem written by a classic poet and a song by Beyonce to illustrate the connection. Next time I have a group visiting the branch I'm stealing his idea and reading lyrics to their favorite music!

Reading Manga is hard!!!

I read Deathnote Vol. 1, Boredom today and I was amazed how long it took. Reading the book "backwards" (for me) wasn't so bad but reading the panels from right to left was difficult, especially since the thought and speech bubbles had traditional english text reading left to right. I would imagine if the text read in the same direction of the panels, it might flow better but having them be counter to each other made it a bit slow going at first. The story was interesting, albeit melodramatic but I think that is an element of the genre. It ended on a cliffhanger and I might just pick up the second one for my next trip to the beach.

One of the teens I interviewed reads almost strictly manga and nothing else and I would imagine she can breeze through them very fast now. She reads at least one a day and she does her own manga! I asked to see and she pulled out a composition notebook with carefully drawn out and colored panels. She began with a cast of characters and their descriptions (vampire status, vitals, etc.) then began the narrative. It was almost closing so I didn't have time to get through too much but after asking the teen librarian about her, I discovered this notebook is only one of many! It's amazing to see the effects of this medium on its followers....she has a really solid grasp of the literary and artistic devices that manga employs and has produced original works that follow the rubric. Too bad she can't get credit in school since she has obviously put a lot of time, thought and effort into her work. I'm hoping to see the other notebooks.

It's Complicated

This book is slightly too big for my bag so I have to carry it under my arm. Having it out in the open has revealed it's magnetism. The photos are so arresting people are drawn to them whenever I have it out in public. On the subway home from class on Wednesday there were several people reading over my shoulder as I went through the photos and interviews again. When the train got to my stop I moved towards the doors still reading and when I glanced back I saw several people staring at what I was reading. I almost laughed out loud, but it was very powerful to see what effect the images have on people. This book should be on display in every teen space in every library!

The publishing divide

I find it perplexing that the American publishing industry has such a strict divide between YA and adult literature. In a pure capitalist sense this is not productive because by publishing a work in one or the other, you can alienate a group that might buy the book. I'm sure there are plenty of teens browsing the adult fiction in bookstores and some adults browsing the YA but they might sell more books if the divide weren't there to begin with. In a library, there are often titles that make it into multiple sections because they would appeal to multiple audiences. Catalogers make those choices to maximize circulation, so why don't booksellers follow suit? I understand that there are content issues regarding appropriateness, but instead of watering down the YA books that are being put on the shelf, why not make parents responsible as they are in a library setting? In an ideal world all content would be available for all people and it would be parents' jobs to regulate what their children are exposed to rather than the industry doing the parenting. I realize this might be an unrealistic goal, but it has a lot of potential to increase profits.

I love Lady Gaga

She is crazy and kind of silly but her music is completely infectious and I recently witnessed a facebook debate between former high school classmates of mine which of her songs is the best. She seems to have a wide appeal and I think her popularity among teens seems obvious. I knew about her from go fug yourself since she is frequently featured for her crazy style choices and even has her own archive but after hearing some of the music, I admit that I'm kind of hooked. The first time I heard that song about riding the disco stick I burst out laughing yet the beat and production was great. Hooray for Lady Gaga!

Hooray for Little Brother!

I am so relieved to be reading this book after all of the books from this past week. I'm only about a third of the way through it right now, but it's flying. I can already recognize the appeal of this book and I would imagine that techno savvy kids would go nuts for it. I think it could have a much wider appeal since it is really a story of teenage empowerment who's main characters fight an unjust adult system. It's very remenicent of 1984 or Brave New World except it's very up to date and is written for a younger crowd. This would be a great book to pair with one of those at school since those titles are often included in high school English curriculums. It might make reading a classic more palatable if it could be connected to a book that is relatable.

My only concern is how soon will this book's language seem dated? I think there's some vagueries in techno speak but brands and specific devices are referenced which I believe is problematic since they may become obsolete in a few years. It will be interesting to see how long this book lasts and remains relevant.

I missed the angst

I am always amazed at most people's attitudes towards their teen years. I remember the hormones and feeling like every problem that arose was the biggest ANYONE had EVER had, but for the most part I felt accepted, confident and well liked. I recognize that this is an unusual position to be in since most teens do not feel that way and I remember middle school being the worst 3 years of my life, but high school was fun. I had smart and fairly responsible friends, school and achievement were important to me and my parents supported me almost unconditionally. I knew people at school who seemed eternally miserable but I think I chalked it up to a bad home situation or simply seeking attention for their own personal miseries. I never realized that a huge percentage of teens feel that way all or most of the time until I got to college and heard people recall their high school experiences.

My school was public but had an entrance exam that weeded out a lot of the bad element in Providence where I grew up. Sports were mostly sidelined for academic achievement groups like debate, math team and science olympiad. There were a couple of popular cliques but most of the school fell into social groups that were somewhat self contained and very diverse. The animosity between groups wasn't as prevalent as in most of the teen movies I've seen or accounts from peers. I think this experience left me lacking in the angst that so many adolescents seem to have coursing through their veins. This by extension is probably the reason teens seem so foreign to me. I want to figure out how to change that.

Teens and Classic Literature

I have some inherent issues with the idea that we should be selling teens on what's new and "hot" while ignoring a canon of wonderful literature old and new. I realize that this is what many of them are looking for and I would never presume to push Catcher in the Rye on a teen that was looking for something like Gossip Girl but I think ignoring the material and only acknowledging it as school assignments is not giving credit to a number of writers that have created works with lasting themes. I know that Forever by Judy Blume is never on the shelf at my branch and that most copies are often checked out. I recently revisited the book because it was a favorite of mine during my own teen years and when I reread it, I felt that it had largely retained much of it's significance and the voice of the protagonist is not dated.

There are a number of well written books coming out every year in increasing numbers. There are also a number of "classics" that were written in a timeless way that many teens can still relate to. I think many of them would be open to these titles if we as librarians encourage the right teens to read them. There will always be teens that are not at the right reading level or interest level for them, but it's our job to recognize that. If we are supposed to treat them as adults why do they need an "opener" book to get them to trust us enough to recommend well written award winner or classic? I would argue that we could earn their trust more effectively by recommending the right book regardless of publication date or literary value. I have seen voracious readers come in looking for new material. What a perfect opportunity for us as professionals to expose them to great literature.

Long live Holden Caulfield!

Young adults and pop culture

I was surprised to have known as many of the answers to the pop culture quiz as I did. I would attribute it to having moderate interest in it myself (I read gossip columns and am devoted to gofugyourself.com) but being surrounded by kids, tweens in particular at work has helped. Many of them closely follow trends in music, TV and movies so I overhear their conversations, help them find the materials at the library and ask them to turn off the sound on the youtube videos they constantly play.

I think they get exposure from each other almost as much from TV and the radio and I by extension am exposed through them. It's a big help and probably saves me some reading. I don't anticipate picking up a Tiger Beat anytime soon, but it is important to me to know who they are talking about when they ask for the materials.