The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens
There’s a new column coming to SLJTeen – Fresh Paint: Notes from a Public Library. We’ll hear from April Pavis, teen services librarian, as she prepares to move into the eighth library branch in Loudoun County, Virginia, the Gum Spring Library which will deliver 40,000 square feet of space for materials, programs, education, and entertainment to an area of the county that has never had a library.
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.
If you’re wondering why we’re a little short on reviews this issue, blame it on Hurricane Isaac. Bookmarked’s leader, Elizabeth Kahn, emailed me these two reviews on August 28, from Jefferson Parish, LA, adding, “The lights are flashing, so I don’t think that I will have Internet access much longer. Let me go.” That’s dedication. Let’s all send a little positive karma to our friends, family, and colleagues in the Gulf this week, OK?
This summer, I taught a professional development class for our staff. The goal? To each read two novels and one nonfiction book that we could enthusiastically recommend to our students this year. What we ended up with was a lot more than we’d expected, and it’s worth thinking about offering a similar class at your own school.
When the font of the author’s name is larger than the title, that’s an author you should know. This fall’s releases include many of our favorite writers whose names overshadow the title on the book jacket. From romance to edgy fantasy, high school readers should have some strong competition for the spending of their time. I’m betting that print (or the digital version) wins.
Football season is upon us from all sectors—high school, college, and pro—and just in case you’re between games, our video game reviewer reports that NCAA Football 13 will keep you from jonesin’ for the real thing. Looking for something more chill? Teens can settle back with the new Sparkle soundtrack, and play a little Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Fun, but not too intense; good action, decent listening, enough to pass a few hours in disco/superhero bliss.
Since its publication in 1999, Stephen Chbosky’s epistolary novel (Pocket Books) has become a much passed around favorite among teens and a hot item for discussion groups (it has also appeared on ALA’s top 10 challenged books list five times in the last 10 years. Now, Charlie’s compelling account of his coming-of-age trials and tribulations has been re-envisioned for the big screen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (PG-13), adapted into screenplay format and directed by Chbosky himself, will be released by Summit Entertainment on September 21.
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.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET It’s going to be a spectacular fall reading season for teens! Our four participating publishers will be talking about the current hot reads, sequels and prequels on the verge, and new series and stand-alone titles that you need to know about. And you can bet on this — no genre is left unturned. Whether your readers are into romance, speculative fiction, coming of age stories, paranormal, thrillers or contemporary twists, you’re sure to find something on this fun and fast-paced Teen Book Buzz. You’ll hear about titles from new and well-loved authors, and get a sneak peek at spring 2012 lists, too. There are always galley giveaways, so sign up now and get a jump on the next must-have teen read! This archive is no longer available.
In her first novel, Carol Rifka Brunt tells a story of love and loss, sibling rivalry, secrets, and jealousy. June Elbus is 14 when she finds out that her uncle Finn, the one person in the world who seems to understand her, is dying of AIDS. June is devastated when he dies, and wary when she’s approached by Finn’s longtime partner, Toby.
n August 1965, the Beatles iconic “Help!” album was released. Forty-seven years later, today’s teens still know every Beatles’ song by heart. Novelist Ed Briant captures modern Beatles’ love and lore in his new book, I Am (Not) The Walrus, about a Beatles-cover band whose teenage bassist thinks his Fender guitar may have once belonged to George Harrison. Five lucky SLJTeen readers can win a copy of I Am (Not) The Walrus along with five commemorative guitar picks to pass along to their favorite teen patrons.
The Countdown to Seven Is On! Seven (the series) is coming October 10, 2012. Seven grandsons. Seven journeys. Seven authors. One amazing series. SLJTeen exclusive—get the whole series before anyone else! We have seven complete sets to give away. Do you want one?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
The cliché about Comic-Con International is that it isn’t about comics any more, but that’s not really true. While the cameras focused on people waiting in line to see the cast of Doctor Who or paying $75 to be chased through an obstacle course by zombies from The Walking Dead, the media largely overlooked a bustling comics and graphic novel scene. About 130,000 people came to this year’s event, held July 11–15 at the San Diego Convention Center.
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!
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!
