February 17, 2013

The Debut: Jeff Strand, Bad Day for Voodoo

jeff-strand

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.

Ready, Set, Go London! A Guide to the Olympics

london-olympics

What will you be doing on July 27, the opening night of the London 2012 Summer Olympics? If you’re anything like me, you’ll be glued to Twitter, Facebook, and TV coverage of the events!

A Visit from Carissa Phelps

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First time author Carissa Phelps was 12 when her mother dropped her off at Fresno’s Juvenile Hall and drove away. Since Phelps hadn’t committed a crime, the authorities couldn’t formally book her, so she slept in the lobby for three consecutive nights. She was soon placed in a group home, and promptly ran away—beginning a cycle of incarceration, living on the streets, and human sexual trafficking that’s familiar to many of the young women I work with. Indeed, statistics show that more than one-third of them are approached by pimps within 48 hours of being on the streets.

Gearing Up for Batman: Graphic Novel Grabbers for Movie Fans

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Christian Bale once again dons the legendary cape and cowl for the lead role in The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13), scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 20 in traditional and IMAX theaters. Following on the heels of Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008), the movie marks the much-anticipated conclusion to director Christopher Nolan’s renowned film trilogy, which features a darkly realistic and emotionally nuanced incarnation of the iconic DC Comics character originally created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939. When Gotham is terrorized by a new menace, a formidable villain named Bane (Tom Hardy), Batman must return to protect the city he loves.

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…

From the Trenches: Rockin’ Women of YA

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This summer, SLJ is presenting SummerTeen, a daylong, online celebration of young adult books, and “Rockin’ Women of YA” is one of the many programs you’ll get to choose from. You can sign in from the comfort of your very own home or office and listen to great authors such as Maggie Stiefvater, A. S. King, Julie Kagawa, and more. The best part is that you can go back and watch the archived event later on or show it to your students or teen advisory group. Check out the following list of titles from a few of our scheduled presenters—there are too many authors to include in just one list!

The Webslinger Returns

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Is your spider-sense tingling? The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) blasts back onto the big screen on July 3, in a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. This latest release isn’t a continuation of Sam Raimi’s blockbuster trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, but a reboot of the film franchise that presents a new installment in the Spider-Man cinematic opus. Andrew Garfield assumes the red-and-blue, be-webbed mantel in the new motion picture, which is directed by Marc Webb with a screenplay based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s classic Marvel comic book.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Some True Tales for the Curious | Watch and Read

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Combining history with horror, this creature-slashing thriller casts the 16th president of the United States as supreme vanquisher of the undead. Produced by Tim Burton and directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (not yet rated) premieres in theaters on June 22, 2012, in traditional and 3D formats. The film is based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling mashup novel of the same title (Grand Central Publishing, 2010), and the author also penned the screenplay. Benjamin Walker stars as Lincoln, a [...]

I’m Sending You to the Public Library!

By Phil Goerner, teacher librarian, Silver Creek High School, Longmont CO, and Krista Brakhage, teacher-librarian, Poudre High School, Fort Collins CO

School was winding down for the year when a fellow librarian heard the alarm go off in her school library. After she examined the young lady’s backpack, she discovered three library books! “I’m not finished with them yet,” the girl claimed, but the books weren’t checked out. The student then had to explain why she ripped the barcode off and [...]

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!”

Video Game Epic: Mass Effect

Envisioned as a trilogy from the get-go, the final installment in BioWare’s award-winning sci-fi saga was released earlier this year. Mass Effect 3, published by Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms, garnered rave reviews and has raked in sales in the millions.

C2E2 Brings a Mix of New and Classic Comics

This was the biggest year yet for the Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo (aka “C2E2″), which attracted more than 42,000 comics fans to McCormick Place for three days of panels, shopping, artist sketches, and even tattoos on April 13-15.

Our Year as SLJTeen Book Reviewers

A year ago, I was a little nervous when Dodie Ownes, the editor of SLJTeen, asked me if our book group, the Sneak Peek Reviewers Club, would like to contribute regular monthly reviews to the newsletter. But I knew it would be a great opportunity for my teens and our library. At the time, I said to myself, we’re talking hard-and-fast deadlines here, and my Sneak Peekers are a busy group. Now, as we publish our last reviews, I can say I shouldn’t have been nervous. It’s been a great experience.

You Mean I Can Lose My Job/Admission/Diploma For That?

Students from a nearby district were recently caught sexting: posting sexually explicit messages, photos or videos online. In this case, the boy who shot the video and the boy he forwarded it to are being charged with a felony, Juvenile Sexual Exploitation of a Child. While they will be tried as juveniles, there is still the possibility that both will have to register as a sex offenders if convicted. They will have to knock on the doors of their neighbors and explain their felony, tell their future bosses and colleges they are applying to about this crazy sex video they shot in high school.

Dark Shadows: Re-vamped for the Big Screen

Director Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and a star-studded cast team up to present a new take on a cult classic. Dark Shadows (PG-13), a gothic comedy based on the TV daytime soap opera that aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971, premieres in theaters and IMAX on May 11. Depp plays the elegantly ghoulish 18th-century vampire Barnabas Collins, a role originated for the TV series—and raised to celebrity status—by Jonathan Frid. The actor and several of his fellow cast members make cameo appearances in the film (Frid passed away on Friday, April 13, 2012, at the age of 87). Created by Dan Curtis, the TV series produced more than 1,000 episodes and was groundbreaking for its use of supernatural themes and its portrayal of a conflicted, often compassionate vampire protagonist.

On the Radar Teen: World War II Round-up

The study of World War II is part of every standard middle school and high school curriculum in the United States. The question is, how do you keep it interesting for these readers? These titles keep it mixed up, from a graphic novel recounting the incredible journey of two girls who survived German death camps to the story of an American pilot who made a real difference by dropping candy to the children of Berlin.

On the Radar Teen: NSTA Selects Outstanding Science Trade Books for Teens

Temple Grandin

Every year, the National Science Teachers Association compiles a list of outstanding science books for kids in grades K to 12. Featuring fiction and nonfiction selections, this year’s topics range from the natural world to mathematics to engineering. And the latest selections, which support the Common Core guidelines, also include stories about oil, the hydrogen bomb, plant hunters, and an autistic scientist. Teen readers will be enlightened as they uncover the ever-broadening field of science and the opportunities that it offers them.

Music and Game Reviews from Young Adults

Girl on Fire

It’s all about collaboration for both Alicia Keys and Ke$ha. Joining forces with performers like Bruno Mars and Iggy Pop is a sure-fire way to broaden the buzz for their latest albums—and give some old dogs a chance show off their vocal tricks. Missing the Dark Knight? Brady Games has just released Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition—not only does the game offer new modes and battle techniques, it also includes all of the previously released “Arkham City” adventures. It gives you a lot of bang for your gaming bucks!

Get a Free Starter Set for Go

Go Starter Set

Looking for an easy way to implement a program for your tweens and teens? Consider introducing Go, an ancient board game with simple elements that can be enjoyed by Go Starter Setplayers with varied ability levels. The American Go Foundation (AGF) is offering a Go Starter Set to youth organizations for free—simply visit the AGF Resources page and submit an application. You can also find information on AGF’s library programs page, which explains how to put together a “hero’s journey” series of events that’ll be especially appealing to fans of manga and anime.

Macmillan Introduces Swoon

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Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group has announced the launch of Swoon Reads, a revolutionary crowd-sourced romance imprint dedicated to publishing books that capture the intensity and excitement of teen love. Starting in 2014, Swoon Reads will publish 6 to 12 novels a year as an imprint of Feiwel and Friends.