February 16, 2013

NCTE 2012 – Dream, Connect, Ignite!

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There is still time to register for the 2012 National Council of Teachers of English annual conference, being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 15-18. It’s going to be quite the party, with 5500 attendees, 700 sessions, and 125 plus exhibitors.

Hot Topics for Teens and Tweens: Financial Literacy and CyberSmarts

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Rosen Digital has just announced the launch of two new digital resources for middle school and high school students: Financial Literacy, an online database for economics and personal finance; and Teen CyberSmarts, an interactive ebook program that teaches kids about digital citizenship and cyber safety. Both programs have been specifically designed to support Common Core learning standards. And SLJTeen readers have a chance to evaluate both of these for free through October 5, 2012.

Book Reviews from Young Adults

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I like the twist of an Amish girl doing rumspringa in Nancy Grossman’s A World Away. In Blind Spot, author Laura Ellen surprises readers with a teen character who suffers from macular degeneration, a condition usually regarded as an “old people’s” disease. And our reviewer reports that it was definitely worth waiting eight years for Lois Lowry’s Son, the conclusion of her Giver Quartet.

Project Runway Tie-in and Fun Reads for Fashionistas

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Who will make the cut? The hit reality TV series that provides aspiring fashion designers with a chance to strut their stuff—and compete for the opportunity to show their own collection at New York Fashion Week—has just launched its 10th season, airing Thursday evenings on Lifetime. Hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, Project Runway dares competitors to design and sew their most wow-inspiring garments while working under strict limitations and tough time constraints. Capitalize on fashion-fever with this collection of titles.

Teens 2012: Truth, Trends, and Myths About Teen Online Behavior

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Wondering if your perceptions of teen online behavior are correct? Have boys really started texting more? Does it seem like most 13 year olds are already engaged in online social networking? Get the answers to these questions and more from this terrific Slideshare summary of “Truth, Trends, and Myths About Teen Online Behavior,” the latest teen-focused study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, sponsored by the Pew Research Center.

Top Chef Shenanigans: From Olives to Marshmallow Fluff – Teen Programming That Works

The winning dish! Rebels Savory Stir Fry

Ilsley Public Library, located in Middlebury, VT, kicked off its 2012 Teen Summer Reading program on June 22 with a fabulous evening of Top Chef Shenanigans, organized by the library’s fledgling Teen Advisory Group. The event was part of a summer teen program series inspired by the Own the Night summer reading theme.

Survival Tactics | From the Trenches

This Is Not a Test

We may not be able to predict how the end of the world will come—zombie domination, the rapture, falling asteroids, or anything else you can imagine—but the following books will help you get ready. Some are old standbys, such as Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, which offers a guide to wilderness survival, while others have the potential to become future classics. Make sure you’re ready for all the potential doom and gloom. Be prepared!

If You Don’t Schedule It, You Won’t Do It! | Tech Tidbits from the Guybrarian’s Gal

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As summer wanes, we librarians are organizing our calendars for the coming school year. Consider hosting one or more of the following events to get kids, parents and staff charged up and keeping them close to the library!

Music and Game Reviews from Young Adults

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This time around, our featured music reviews are bicoastal—The Gaslight Anthem hails from New Jersey, and has just released its first album with a major label, while California-based Linkin Park can claim Living Things as their fifth studio album. And after reading the game reviews, I was envisioning a mash-up of The Amazing Spider-Man and Just Dance Greatest Hits—players would swing from building to building, incorporating dance moves!

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: To the Rescue! Great Reads for Elementary Students

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I remember the Christmas when I was around 5 years old that my parents got a pedal tractor for me, and a pedal fire truck for my slightly older brother. No contest. I quickly snatched the fire truck (it had a bell!) for myself. Little kids love the thought of being in charge and powerful—able to rescue puppies, people, and things. This list of titles will inspire them, and you.

The Debut: Jeff Strand, Bad Day for Voodoo

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I seem to have been on a run with YA titles that border on, no, dive deep into the macabre and violence. At the top of the pile, published just last month, is A Bad Day for Voodoo by Jeff Strand, an established adult author who has also dabbled in screenwriting, comedy, and Pizza Hut placemat poetry. School Library Journal’s reviewer called Strand’s new novel “a delightfully ludicrous read.” I couldn’t agree more. His story of voodoo-doll obsession gone extreme is hilarious and runs at a breakneck pace (inside joke, you’ll have to read it) that will keep readers turning the pages. The three teens at the center, Tyler; his girlfriend, Kelley; and his friend Adam, are ultimately responsible for saving Tyler from certain painful death. Car chases, kidnappings, gangsters, and a zombie teacher all figure in the fun. I talked to Strand about what makes his twisted mind tick.

A Guide to SummerTeen

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I’m often jealous when I read reports from our contributors about the amazing book events they attend that feature a dazzling array of young adult authors. In fact, part of my motivation in putting together the author-palooza called SummerTeen was to give my fellow teen-lit junkies a chance to indulge themselves in an all-authors, all-the-time experience without having to leave the comfort of their own homes or libraries. I just counted—between our keynote speaker and six panels, SummerTeen will feature 21 authors, speaking about their work, the various genres they write in, and why young adult literature is so important to them. And there might be a few more surprises to come…

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Survival Stories for Middle & High School Readers

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When askings teens what they did this summer, you expect responses like: “I went to camp,” “I visited my grandparents,” or “I slept a lot.” Not so for the teens in the stories presented here! These kids have to overcome forest fires, global cooling, evil scientific organizations, volcanic explosions, and worse. Readers looking for a suspenseful read that takes place in a world gone awry can’t go wrong with any of these titles.

Vacation Time: Take a Break with Graphic Novels | On the Radar, Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild

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Your teens have spent the year slogging through European history, sociology, chemistry, and classic books all year. Before they completely forget what it’s like to read for fun, get a graphic novel in their hands. These titles range from strangely humorous to uncomfortably serious, and there’s a reader out there for every one of them, guaranteed.

On the Radar | Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Easy Readers-Best Friends

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What would we do without our best friends? All of the pairs found in these books complement one another, share likes and dislikes, and defend each other. Young readers may unknowingly absorb some good life lessons about friendship and sharing from these characters’ actions.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Science for the Short Set – K-Gr 2

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Bugs, water, rocks, and explosions—there’s something for everyone in this collection of science books! Get young ones interested in science by sliding these titles under their noses, and pairing each with a little field work. Hit the playground and search for beetles, or visit the local water plant. Or like Joe-Joe, blow something up! You know that they learn not only by reading, but also by doing.

Keep ‘Em Reading this Summer-High-Interest Teen Titles

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Help stem brain drain! For every voracious reader you have, there are three or four that won’t even want to touch a book this summer. For this group, you’ll need titles that challenge teens to pick them up, either through intriguing plot lines or evocative covers. Just be ready when they come back to library and say “I want another one just like this!”

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Lost Souls: Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9)

There’s no reason to wait ’til Halloween to break out the spooky titles! Just scary enough for a shiver, but not enough to keep anyone awake all night, these tales make for perfect read-alouds around the campfire.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Animal Stories for Browsers and Early Readers

The elephants, snakes, chickens, dogs, and other animal friends in these titles will have your young set clucking, slithering, and jumping, so be sure to make room before you start reading! Stellar illustrations make these a joy to share with small and large groups of kids.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: High Interest Fiction for Middle Grade Readers

School may be out soon, but that doesn’t mean that your tweens should stop reading for the summer. Make sure to send them off on vacation with a few titles in mind. For starters, give them a booklist, like this one prepared by New York Public Library. There’s something below for everyone, from time-travel fans to horse lovers.