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July 20th, 2010

If it seems like something is missing from this issue of SLJTeen, you're right. Our technology and innovation columnists, Jen Maney and Chris Bell, are taking the month off. And Chris just shared some big news with me-he's moving to Doha Qatar next month and will be a school librarian there for two years. He'll soon be back with his "Saved by the Bell" column, and I know we're going to hear about Chris's experiences as an educator and technologist overseas in the months ahead.-Dodie Ownes, editor

IN THIS ISSUE

• The Youth Report from the ISTE 2010 Conference
  With ALA's annual conference in Washington, DC, taking place at the same time as the International Society for Technology in Education's (ISTE) conference in Denver, SLJTeen turned to Yourhub NextGen reporters, a group of aspiring journalists on the beat for the Denver Post, for the lowdown on the tech gathering. Dannika Harris reported that she took "a proper twittering class," while some of her colleagues roamed the show floor sampling cool technology–"everywhere you look you see 3-D, smart boards, software, and computers," wrote Eliza Halpin. Reports were also featured in the July 6 and 13 editions of the Denver Post's Colorado Kids section, and the ISTE conference publication, The Daily Leader. more » » » 
  
• Don't Be Late, Be Early!
  The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has just announced that Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, the Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall, will be the featured speaker at the Bill Morris Memorial Author luncheon at the annual Young Adult Literature Symposium, November 5 to 7, 2010, in Albuquerque, NM. more » » » 
  

New Liz Burns Blog

• New Liz Burns Blog
  A big welcome to Liz Burns, whose blog, A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy, joins us at SLJ.com. Liz will be blogging about books and other media for teens. Stop by and say hello!
  

Game and Music Reviews by Young Adults

• Music and Game Reviews by Young Adults
  Both the music and the game reviews this month are about rock and roll, old-school style. Stone Temple Pilots return to their grunge roots, while Green Day debuts in its very own Rock Band game. Each can be purchased for less than the price of a single concert ticket, and both can be played over and over again... more » » » 

Book Ninjas—Book Reviews by Young Adults

• Biddeford Book Ninjas-Book Reviews by Young Adults
  The Ninjas present cool reads for steamy summer days–it's even hot in Biddeford, ME, where temps are expected to be in the mid-80s for the next couple of weeks. The titles reviewed this month all feature cool characters (a bad boy, a lady-in-waiting, an evil genius) and just a few rats.
  more » » » 

Media Mania: Book Tie-ins to High-Interest Movies, TV Shows, and More

• Great Reads for Gamers
  Whether transporting readers into the outer reaches of space, catapulting them into a finely wrought fantasy realm, or plunging them into the very depths of hell, these tie-in titles to popular video games provide a satisfying literary experience for older teens. Persuade your die-hard gamers to put their handsets down, unplug the hardware, and curl up with a good book that expands their interests. more » » » 

Seen and Heard

• Getting Through Freshman Year
  Where did the summer go? It's getting closer to back-to-school time and all over the country, teens are anticipating their freshman year of high school. The excitement! The anticipation! The complete and utter terror! There are new teachers to get in synch with, new confusing social dynamics to work out, and unfamiliar jam-packed hallways to navigate. It can be pretty scary. But it doesn't have to be. In Been There, Survived That: Getting Through Freshman Year of High School (Orange Avenue, 2008) four real teens give advice on the stuff they wish they'd known about freshman year. Divided into three sections–social advice, academic advice, and practical advice–Been There, Survived That is the complete roadmap through the first year of high school.
  more » » » 
• Medallion Press Launches Ya-Ya Imprint
  Medallion Press has announced the opening of its new Ya-Ya line, which will showcase works by aspiring authors between the ages of 13 and 18. Ya-Ya stands for "Young Adults writing for Young Adults," and the new imprint will include a variety of fiction genres to be released in print and e-book formats. The editors are currently seeking Ya-Ya submissions, and guidelines are available on the company's website.