Librarina

9:20am: Survey for Teens
Below is a message I received via the PUBYAC listserv:

Hello, All,

Long story short, I'm writing an article about magazines for teens for a
library publication, and I want to get as much direct feedback from
teens as possible, and to get responses that represent different
geographic areas in the U.S.

I would be very grateful if some of you Teen Services Librarians would
be willing to let your teens know about my Magazines for Teens survey
(using Survey Monkey), whether by word of mouth, posting a link on your
blog, sending notice via your email list, etc. Anything you could do
would be greatly appreciated. Here's the link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nmdlT0O3RcwiMu2fLSarvQ%3d%3d

Thanks so much for your kind consideration. I will gladly share results.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Peace,
Marsha

Marsha K. Rakestraw
Teen Services Librarian
Beaverton City Library
12375 SW 5th Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503.350.4001
mrakestraw@ci.beaverton.or.us
www.beavertonlibrary.org/teens/
http://bclyaknow.blogspot.com

If you are a Teen, please take the time to fill out the survey. Thanks!

Happy Reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Audiobook:
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Audiobook Waiting List:
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Current Book:
Sardine in Outer Space by Emmanuel Guilbert

Book Waiting List:
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz, A Novel by Karon Luddy
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent
A Pure, Swift Cry by Siobhan Dowd
Great Lies to Tell Small Kids by Andy Riley
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown

Pre-Ordered:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [coming out July 21, 2007!]

9:29am: Sardine in Outer Space
TWEEN

This graphic novel, by Emmanuel Guilbert, is hilarious! Throughout the story, Supermuscleman, the "Chief Executive Officer" of the universe, is scheming to make children more obedient. Sardine, her cousin Louie, and her uncle, Captain Yellow Shoulder -- along with the other orphans aboard the spaceship Huckleberry -- are doing their best to foil his plans. Supermuscleman and his assistant, Doc Kroc, keep trying out different costumes, but the disguises are never good enough to fool our unlikely heroes.

Throughout the story, there are references that adults might "get" more than Tweens. [My personal favorite was the mention of a video game called No-Child-Left-Behind-School II.] The general tone is very appropo, nevertheless, with enough "gross" stuff for Tweens of both genders.

If you've never read a graphic novel, this would be a good place to start. The layout is very easy to follow, and the humor doesn't stop!

Happy Reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Audiobook:
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Audiobook Waiting List:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Current Book:
A Pure, Swift Cry by Siobhan Dowd

Book Waiting List:
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz, A Novel by Karon Luddy
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent
Great Lies to Tell Small Kids by Andy Riley
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown

Pre-Ordered:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [coming out July 21, 2007!]

10:25am: A Pure, Swift Cry
TEEN

Siobhan Dowd has officially broken my heart... As the story begins, we learn that life has been very difficult since 15-year-old Shell's mother died. Shell's father is very religious, but he is an alcoholic who gets by on money he steals from the church donations he collects. Shell's father often leaves her alone to care for her younger brother and sister. She has few friends at school, but manages to find some solace in the time she spends with a charismatic, anything-but-holy altar boy named Declan. When Declan suddenly takes off for America, Shell is left to face things alone again... And, though she is refuses to admit it, Shell is pregnant. What is she going to do? Will anyone be able to help her? Find out for yourself by reading this book.

Happy Reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Audiobook:
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Audiobook Waiting List:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Current Book:
Great Lies to Tell Small Kids by Andy Riley

Book Waiting List:
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz, A Novel by Karon Luddy
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown

Pre-Ordered:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [coming out July 21, 2007!]

10:59am: Tripping to Somewhere
TEEN

I just came across an e-mail from the author (Kristopher Reisz) when I was doing some "spring cleaning" in my inbox. I remember telling him, at the time, that I could not post about this book on Librarina because it was very Teen and my blog was only for Tweens. Well, now that I am also posting about Teen books, I thought it was only fair to find the review I had written for the Library Goddesses Teen Book Reviews and to post it here too. So, here ya go!

Ever wish you could leave everything behind and just have fun all the time? If you could only find a way into the Witches' Carnival! There, you can live practically forever -- and party your way around the world without even needing to sleep. Sam and Gilly think they are ready for the Witches' Carnival... They found it once, but were left behind. After stealing $50,000 (Gilly's dad is a crooked cop), running away from home, and finding the carnival once, though, they are not willing to give up. Can they find it again, or did they miss their only chance for the witches' way of life? An awesome adventure for mature Teen readers.

Happy Reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Audiobook:
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Audiobook Waiting List:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Current Book:
Great Lies to Tell Small Kids by Andy Riley

Book Waiting List:
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz, A Novel by Karon Luddy
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown

Pre-Ordered:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [coming out July 21, 2007!]

11:13am: Great Lies to Tell Small Kids
TEEN

Some of you may recognize the author, Andy Riley, because of his previous work -- The Book of Bunny Suicides. Riley's twisted sense of humor comes through in some fascinating artwork and strange "facts" that you can relay to gullible kids you know.

The very first entry, just to give you an example, is a picture of a rain shower with the caption, "Rain is Jesus's wee-wee." I think my personal favorite was, "It's unlucky not to name every ant you meet... For your entire life." Examples of ant names from the illustration include, El Gordo, Johnny Spoons, Dave, and Mrs. Anty. Priceless!

I don't know that I would actually tell any of these lies to small kids, but I absolutely loved the book. Reading this book (aloud) with a group of friends would be a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Happy Reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Audiobook:
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Audiobook Waiting List:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Current Book:
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent

Book Waiting List:
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz, A Novel by Karon Luddy
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown

Pre-Ordered:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [coming out July 21, 2007!]

11:28am: Grief Girl: My True Story
TWEEN/TEEN

I do not know how Erin Vincent managed to make it to adulthood, let alone go on to live a "normal," productive life. I could not even tell you the number of times I was incensed by the heartless actions of people around her.

I will not give too much away, but let me just share a list of the crap Erin had to put up with:

• Erin is 14-years-old when her parents got hit by a tow truck as they attempted to cross the street.


• Her mom died and her dad couldn't even make it to the funeral because he was still in the hospital.


• Exactly one month later, her dad died.


• She and her older sister, Tracy, had to fight their grandparents to keep custody of their 5-year-old brother, Trent.


• Their Uncle Peter refused to give them the money for Trent's Christmas gifts, to repair or replace the broken refrigerator, or for Erin to see a dentist -- and it's the money that their parents left behind for the kids in their will.

I won't tell you any more because (1) it's depressing and (2) it could ruin the story for you if you don't read it for yourself. I will say that there is a happy-ish ending, just in case any of you would otherwise refuse to read it. If nothing more, though, this book can help you to (1) see that there is hope of recovery after experiencing such a devestating loss and/or (2) appreciate your parents and all their nagging, which really is just their way of showing that they care.

Happy Reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Audiobook:
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Audiobook Waiting List:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Current Book:
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz

Book Waiting List:
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz, A Novel by Karon Luddy
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown

Pre-Ordered:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling [coming out July 21, 2007!]