oracle

guess where I am?

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:24:25 GMT

I'm attending the Gaming, Learning & Libraries Symposium in Chicago right now, which just rocks. If you're interested, I'm posting reports on the conference at Pop Goes the Library. Check 'em out!

listen to me!

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:48:53 GMT

If you were ever curious about what I sound like when I talk, you've got the opportunity. I'm included in the YALSA Annual Podcast #2, where I get to babble on about Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults.

Gosh, I sound different than I thought I did. And I was rather distressed by how many 'ums' crept in. I'll have to work on that.

a pick and a pan

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:57:17 GMT

Gotten via library_grrls: A Hipper Crowd of Shushers

Okay, I'm going to get up on a soapbox for a moment.

I know many people would look at this article and go, "Oh, cool, coverage of how librarians aren't all like that dreaded stereotype." But I read articles like this, and I still want to throw the article across the room, with as much force as possible. Do you know why?

We're exchanging one stereotype for another.

Why are we so eager to be pigeonholed into another niche? Just as many people don't respond to librarians because they're thinking of the glasses, bun, and shushing, there are just as many people who won't respond to tattoos, pink hair, and loud voices. Yet we're so desperate not to be seen as fuddy-duddies that we're swinging too much to the other side of the spectrum, where you have to be cooler than cool to be a librarian.

I love being a librarian. I love talking about books. I love answering questions. I love reading blog posts and using del.icio.us and sending text messages. But I'd never consider myself a 'hipster librarian'. For one thing, since I joke that I'm mentally twelve years old, I know I'll never be cool enough to be a hipster librarian. But also, there's a part of me that delights in doing the unexpected, in going against the crowd. I was a teen in the early nineties, so when everyone else was listening to grunge, I was listening to show tunes. Instead of hanging out at the mall, I was reading.

When I see a group all eager to promote one way of being a librarian, I'm not going to follow that crowd. I may do all the things they do, but I don't look like they do. And that's okay, you know? For both them and me, our outward appearances don't affect the tasks we do, the service we give. I just hate the thought that in some minds, appearances and performance are linked, and the only way you can be a cool librarian is to have an eyebrow piercing or go out for drinks that are identified by Dewey call numbers.

So, this article did not make my day. But what does, you ask? del.icio.us. I had heard about it at the YALSA preconference during Midwinter 2007, and meant to look into then, but I never got to it. But recently, with moving and having only one of my two computers with me, I decided to check it out as a way to manage bookmarks. And oh my goodness, it's so great! I know there's the whole social networking aspect to it, and it can be interesting to see how many other people have bookmarked something that you have. But what I love is that I can have access to all my bookmarks, from any computer. It's fantastic. So I highly recommend del.icio.us; I'm already thinking of setting up another account as a way to manage links on MPOW's teen site.

just a general fyi sort of post

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:23:31 GMT

You know, I really should try and at least blog once a week. It's amazing, considering how much I love a) blogging b) reading and c) talking about books, that I can't manage to keep this LJ going. But hopefully, now that I've got a new job, I'll be able to be better about blogging.

And, yes, new job! I'm a teen librarian at the main branch of a county library system in Maryland. Things are going very well, and I'm looking forward to working on lots of different projects here.

As a small recap:
--BookExpo was fantastic. Lots of books, lots of good discussions with lizzb and cedarlibrarian. Highlights include Shannon Hale recognizing me on the exhibits floor and asking me how I was doing and having David Levithan note in my copy of Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List that it was the first time he and Rachel Cohn had signed that book.
--ALA was equally fantastic but in different ways. Very very few books, but lots of good hard work with Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, hanging out with cedarlibrarian, lizzb, and princess_poddy. Oh, and the Printz reception! John Green was funny and self-deferential as always, Markus Zusak was hot and witty, Sonya Hartnett was very very funny, M.T. Anderson was wonderfully reflective, and Gene Yang was funny and smart and brought visual aids, as you'd expect.

I read Life As We Knew It last night and was completely blown away. I should do a fuller review at some point, but since it's unlikely that will happen, let me just say that it was completely and totally amazing.

And now, I need to get to work on fall programming. Yay!

when a picture is worth a thousand words

Wed, 02 May 2007 12:21:58 GMT

So I was poking around on Amazon, doing some work for PPYA, when I came across this book cover. Let me just say, the addition of Amazon's "Search Inside" logo gave this cover a new meaning . . .

Am I the only one who's giggling like a twelve-year-old about that? :-)

In other news: many congratulations on the winners in the recent ALA elections! I'm particularly thrilled about some of the YALSA results: I know Michele Gorman will do a great job on the YALSA Board of Directors. But even more happy-making for me is that Liz Burns was elected to the Printz, as well as my fellow PPYAers Marin Yonker and Alison Hendon. Yay!!!! [tosses confetti]

movie news!

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:01:23 GMT

Hamri to Direct Sisterhood Sequel
Yay!!! Oh, I so hope all the original actresses come back--I thought The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was one of the better book-to-movie adaptations, and a lot of that was because of the cast. Plus, I'm excited that it's getting a sequel, and that it'll be going right to the fourth book, so that you'll have that growth in the characters.

Sam Raimi Confirms Spidey 4, 5, and 6
This is slightly less exciting, since we don't know anything about who's gonna direct, whether Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will come back, etc. Since it's frankly unlikely, IMHO, that any of those three will return, I'm waiting to see whether I should look forward to this or not.

Fall 2007/Winter 2008 ARC Roundup

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:33:09 GMT

This ARC Roundup is about books that will be published this fall and winter. I'll update this post as I read, including modifying the date of the entry. There are no spoilers, beyond my personal rating. ARCs are listed in alphabetical order by author. Rating is 1-5 stars, with one being the lowest. If you're interested in any of these ARCs, just drop me a comment and I'll be happy to send the ARC to you. You can also check for more ARCs at YoungAdultARCs.

Book of a Thousand Days
Shannon Hale
Publication Date: October 2007
Blurb: When Dashti, a maid, and her mistress, Lady Saren, are shut in a tower for seven years after Saren refuses to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark time. As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and semi-comfortable. But the arrive outside the tower of Saren's two suitors--one welcome, the other decidedly less so--brings the girls both hope and great danger.
Rating: 4 stars

The Luxe
Anna Godbersen
Publication Date: November 20, 2007
Blurb: Anna Godbersen's delicious first novel follows five compelling teens in 1899 Manhattan, where appearance matters over everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever. From star-crossed lovers and backstabbing best friends to a bad girl doing things bad girls do and a good girl doing things bad girls do, this trip to the age of innocence is anything but. Gossip Girl meets the Gilded Age in this season's most sensational debut.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall
Wendy Mass
Publication Date: September 2007
Blurb: Written in witty, accessible verse, Wendy Mass's novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old Tessa and what happens in the moments after a shocking gym class accident. Tessa finds herself in heaven, which bears a striking resemblence to her hometown mall, and in the tradition of It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, she stars reliving her life up until that moment. Tessa sees some things she's rather forget, learns some things about herself she'd rather not know, and ultimately she must find the answer to one burning question--if only she knew what the question was.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Gabrielle Zevin
Publication Date: September 18, 2007
Blurb: If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

the sisterhood forever?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:09:58 GMT

Although I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood at a Random House Children's Books preview, it took me a while to sit down and read it. I had so loved what happened in Girls in Pants that I think I put off reading Forever in Blue. It seems that instinct was spot-on.

I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with this last book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. I loved the first three, and how they presented the complicated, no-holds-barred lives of these four teenage girls. I always felt their friendship was realistically depicted, and I could understand it.

This book? Not so much. Oh, I got that when you go to college, your friendships change, and I thought that was handled well. But it was also a bit sad, and a bit painful, to read. To see how no one was able to really talk to each other, how there were missed chances and mixed messages, was a sad state for the Sisterhood.

I was also sad to see that several developments in Girls in Pants were dropped. Lena's budding almost-relationship with Paul (Carmen's step-brother) wasn't addressed at all, in favor of yet more tiresome Kostos drama. Carmen's soul-searching, prompted by Win, resulted in her dousing her light for most of Forever in Blue.

Tibby and Bridget come off better in this book, although for different reasons. For most of the book, you want to shake Tibby, to tell her to stop being so closed-off, but that would make her not-Tibby. Her growth is difficult, but I have a feeling she's better off for it. Bridget, on the other hand, learns to control some of her reckless, jump-first-and-build-wings-on-the-way-down impulses. I thought that Bridget's storyline was actually the most interesting and unusual for any of the books.

After being separated for most of the book, both physically and emotionally, the loss of the Pants is what draws the girls back together. And it's fitting that it's the Pants that does that, and the scenes at the end of the book are some of the best. It's like the flip side to the last scenes in Girls in Pants, and shows you how friendships don't have to wither and die--they can stretch and change as the people in them change.

Forever in Blue isn't the best Sisterhood book, but it is the last one. So it was nice to spend a little more time with Carmen, Lena, Tibby and Bridget, and I hope that their future adventures, unwritten as they may be, continue to show that friendship is eternal.

a thank you is in order

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:54:35 GMT

Victoria and all the folks at Hachette/Little, Brown, rock. I went to their preview last week, and it was an excellent time, and not just because I was with cedarlibrarian and L.

I've already read Don't You Forget About Me, the eleventh Gossip Girl book. And, in breaking news, it's the last one! Thanks to the Gossip Girl series that will be appearing on the CW this fall, the Gossip Girl books are going on hiatus for a while. In October, a hardcover prequel, It Had to Be You, will be published. Then, next year I believe, the Gossip Girl series will be relaunched with a new cast of characters. So, yay!

I've just started Heaven Looks A Lot Like The Mall, a novel in verse by Wendy Mass, and I'm really enjoying it. Stay tuned for more info . . .

yay, books!

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:58:17 GMT

Many thanks to Random House Children's Books for inviting me to the Summer Preview that was held today. Heard about some great books that are forthcoming from RH, and got lots of nice ARCs and swag. Yay! Reports to follow on the books themselves.

Now I'm off to read The Titan's Curse, the third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

all about me

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:03:10 GMT

In honor of Brotherhood 2.0, the Brotherhood Survey.

1 Your name:
Melissa

2 Your Web page:
None at the present time . . .

3 What have you been up to this past year (please be as detailed as possible, because we actually want to know)?
Taking this from a fiscal year perspective, I've been . . . Reading, looking for a job, writing about both, discovering Life on Mars, new Doctor Who, and America's Next Top Model, spending lots of time with my family, learning more about what I want out of life.

4 How much longer do you think you'll be doing what you're doing?
Forever, with the exception of job hunting.

5 Why are you doing it?
Because they're things I like to do.

6 What do you want to be doing?
Having a life that fulfills my definition of success.

7 What's next in your life?
Hopefully, a new job, lots of great books to read, and lots of great TV to watch.

8 How You Doin'?
At this moment, pretty darn good.

9 What's the best book you read this year?
In this calendar year, Hattie Big Sky.

10 Describe a perfect day?
Waking up when I want, reading a book, spending time with friends, watching a new episode of a TV show I love with friends who love it too, eating Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch in my pajamas while watching a fantasy version of Star Wars without George Lucas's stupid character undevelopment ideas.

11 Assuming that all things come to an end...how do you think humans will go extinct?
I like to think that we'll still be around when the sun goes supernova. We won't be around afterwards, of course, but we'll make it till then.

12 How are you feeling about kids these days?
I like kids, although I don't think I'll ever have any myself.

13 (- In this space, compose your own question, and answer it -)
Name one thing you like about yourself:
I like that I'm willing to laugh and get excited about something I love.

14 Ambrozzo tastes better than anything else, what does ambrozzo taste like?
Freshly-picked strawberries and blackberries.

15 If you were a cliché, what cliché would you be?
Play it by ear, which sounds disgusting, I know.

16 What is your least favorite part of any given day?
That moment when you realize that you have to go to bed, or else you'll be a zombie the next day.

17 Do you enjoy science fiction?
Love it, although I prefer TV and movie sci-fi to books, but with the exception to this rule being comic book sci-fi.

18 Cheese or Chocolate?
Both!

19 Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
Pretty much anywhere in England.

20 What was your first concert?
Alanis Morrisette.

21 If you could start a business that would be instantly successful, what kind of business would it be?
A combination book and yarn store.

22 Invisibility or Time Travel?
Time travel all the way! I can't help it, it's the history major in me.

23 What's wrong with the world?
The barriers put between people by media, by politicians, and by our cultures. If we could break down those barriers and start interacting as people, not as Americans or men/women or white/black/Latino, I think we could achieve a lot of what science fiction says we could achieve.

mini-reviews: "Twisted" and "The Princess and the Hound"

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:17:16 GMT

Twisted
Laurie Halse Anderson
Publication Date: March 15, 2007
Blurb: High-school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background--average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy--and Tyler's secret crush. That sets off a roller coaster ride that has Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Commentary: In my opinion, this is the best book that Laurie Halse Anderson has written since Speak. In a sense, Twisted presents a flipped version of Speak, dealing with sexual abuse, teenage social relationships, and the workings of a family. But Twisted is no retread; Tyler is not a male Melinda. Tyler is a boy who's struggling with what it means to be a man, without a lot of guidance. Yet somehow, he manages to find his way, through all the challenges that face him. The characters are developed without a false note, from Tyler and his father to his sister Hannah and beautiful Bethany. I used to say that every teen should read Speak; now I think that they should read Speak and Twisted.

The Princess and the Hound
Mette Ivie Harrison
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Blurb: "Princess Beatrice," he said with a nod. How could it have taken him so long to recognize her?
She was as tall as George, long and lean and muscular, with a regal neck and calloused tapering fingers. Her skin was badly freckled, but it complemented her flame-red hair perfectly, and her hazel eyes shoen up at him.
She spoke baldly. "You are not what I expected."
Though they think they have little in common, both Beatrice and George possess a secret that must be hidden at all costs. Proud, stubborn, bound to marry for the good of their kingdoms, this prince and princess will steal your heart, but will they fall in love?
Rating: 4 stars
Commentary: How often do you read a teen romance that's from the male point of view? One that isn't about the clash of hormones, but is a straight-up romance? The Princess and the Hound blends romance and fantasy in a compelling novel, one that is emotional and satisfying. While the story does move slowly--I was able to spot the surprising twist fairly early--it is a pleasure to read a book that takes its time, that doesn't unfold too quickly. For older teens who like fantasy, this would be a great recommendation.

movies and books

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:39:57 GMT

Gregory Smith and Christopher Eccleston cast in Dark is Rising movie
Woo-hoo! Doctor Who meets Will Cooper! Time for a reread . . .

Hutcherson and Robb escape to Terabithia

Send your ARCs to New Orleans detention centers

Angus movie news

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:47:11 GMT

Gurinder Chadha Helming Angus

I liked the first Angus, Thongs . . . book when I read it, but like other series, the later books are too much of a semi-good thing. I am curious to see how they adapt the book: are they going to be faithful, or veer off a bit to make it more kid-friendly, as opposed to teen-friendly?

what kind of reader am I?

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 03:48:17 GMT

Snagged this from medwriter. I think this captures my reading habits . . .

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Virtual chocolate to the first person to figure out what my icon refers to.

ARC Roundup

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:16:03 GMT

I'll be listing info about ARCs I received at ALA Midwinter and have read. I'll update this post as I read, including modifying the date of the entry. There are no spoilers, beyond my personal rating. ARCs are listed in alphabetical order by author. Rating is 1-5 stars, with one being the lowest. If you're interested in any of these ARCs, just drop me a comment and I'll be happy to send the ARC to you. You can also check for more ARCs at YoungAdultARCs.

Open Court
Carol Clippinger
Publication Date: June 12, 2007
Blurb: Hall Braxton is a warrior on the tennis court, who routinely obliterates her competition. Her parents and coach want her to enroll at a prestigious tennis academy in Florida so that she can take her game to the next level, but Hall isn't so sure she wants to leave her friends and family in Colorado behind. When her doubles partner suffers a breakdown at a tournament and her coach's voice suddenly disappears from her game, Hall questions if it's possible to be a tennis phenomenon and a regular teenager at the same time.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

The Black Sheep
Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout
Publication Date: May 2007
Blurb: Fed up with her parents and all their ridiculous rules (they keep a binder full of them), fifteen-year-old Kendra Bishop writes away to The Black Sheep, a reality TV show that offers the chance to swap families with another teen. But when the camera crew, led by brash TV producer Judy Greenberg, shows up at her Manhattan apartment, Kendra starts to have second thoughts.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Masquerade (A Blue Bloods Novel)
Melissa de la Cruz
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Blurb: Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man that can help--her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly under way for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman--a true Blue Blood affair. But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
Tina Ferraro
Publication Date: February 13, 2007
Blurb: Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school--Rod "Rascal" Pasqual. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. And she got to stare at it all evening long as a reminder.
But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now--older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems.
Rating: 4 stars

Nobody's Princess
Esther Friesner
Publication Date: April 24, 2007
Blurb: She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Spart just itches for more out of life. Unlike her sister, Clytemnestra, she takes no pleasure in weaving and embroidery. And despite what her mother says, she's not even close to being interested in getting married. Instead, she wants to do combat training with her older brothers, go on heroic adventures, and be free to do what she wishes and find out who she is.
Rating: 3 stars

Repossessed
A.M. Jenkins
Publication Date: May 29, 2007
Blurb: When a curious demon takes a break from hell, vacationing in the body of a seventeen-year-old named Shaun, readers are in for a devilishly funny look at the complexities and perplexities of modern teen life.
Rating: 5 stars

The Breakup Bible
Melissa Kantor
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
Blurb: Jennifer thinks she and Max are the perfect couple . . . right up until he tells her they'd be better off as "just friends." Jennifer's sure there must be some mistake--everyone knows that soul mates don't break up, they live happily ever after. How is she supposed to face the rest of her life (starting with school on Monday) if she's not Max Brown's girlfriend anymore?
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Dramarama
E. Lockhart
Publication Date: May 2007
Blurb: Two theater-mad, self-invented, fabulositon Ohio teenagers. One boy, one girl. One gay, one straight. One black, one white. And SUMMER DRAMA CAMP. It's a season of hormones, gold lame, hissy fits, jazz hands, song and dance, true love, and unitards that will determine their future--and test their friendship.
Rating: 4 stars

The Off Season
Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Publication Date: June 4, 2007
Blurb: Life is looking up for D.J. Schwenk, star of Dairy Queen. She's made it to eleventh grade, finally. She's reconnecting with her best friend. She's got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who's cute and popular and smart and seems to like her anyway. Plus she's playing for the Red Bend High School football team--as the first female linebacker in northern Wisconsin. But then the season goes suddenly, horribly wrong. As her life and her family are turned upside down, D.J. is forced to dig deeper than she ever had to on the field.
Rating: 4 stars

Call Me Hope
Gretchen Olson
Publication Date: April 2007
Blurb: Eleven-year-old Hope has friends, is doing well at school, just started a part-time job that she loves, and is looking forward to the end-of-sixth-grade "rite of passage"--Outdoor School. But all of this starts to unravel as she struggles to live under the pressure of her verbally abusive mother. But instead of running away, she chooses resilience, and ultimately, Hope is finally able to confront her mother about her hurtful words and help her begin to change. This engaging, satisfying novel about an important issue will touch and inspire readers.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Cures for Heartbreak
Margo Rabb
Publication Date: February 13, 2007
Blurb: "Cures for Heartbreak is full of sadness, humor, and quirky details that ring completely true. I thoroughly enjoyed it." --Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Prep
Rating: 3 stars

The Titan's Curse (Book Three, Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
Rick Riordan
Publication Date: May 2007
Blurb: When Percy Jackson receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and . . . a ride from his mom.
The demigods race to the rescue, to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan Lord Kronos has set up his most devious trap yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review: Beige, Cecil Castellucci

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:28:14 GMT

Beige
Cecil Castellucci
Publication Date: May 8, 2007
Amazon link || B&N link

Spoilers present in this review. Spoiler-free review at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy.

Summary
Katy isn't happy about being packed off to Los Angeles to visit her dad. Her mom's off on an archeological dig, as part of her studies for her doctorate, and Katy has always gone with her in the past. Why does she have to go and stay with her dad, the infamous drummer known as The Rat? Couldn't she just stay in Canada, where she's happy with her friends? Why did her mother not let her come with her to Peru?

Katy doesn't like life in LA. She doesn't like the noise, the clutter, the passion, that she finds there. It scares her. The daughter of her dad's bandmate names her Beige, and Katy knows it's not a compliment. So should she just live up to her insulting nickname, or is there more to Katy? How will she find out?

Commentary
There are several different strands that make up this very wonderful tapesty of a teen novel. I've chosen to highlight a couple of them in this review.

I know how to be quiet. I would've stayed out of her way. I've done it a million times before. She knows that. That's one of the things she loves about me.

Katy's relationship with her mother is all-encompassing. For so many years, they've been a team, but now, things are changing. First, her mother sends her to LA instead of taking her to Peru. Then, the dig changes from two and a half weeks to all summer, leaving Katy in LA. Castellucci realistically presents the feelings of a girl who loves her mother, but isn't quite able to let out those feelings. You feel that Katy is angry with her mother, but it's not till the end of the book, when her mom reveals that they'll be moving to Madrid, that Katy is able to realize how upset she is with her mother, and talk about it. Before that, she holds things in, doesn't talk about what she wants. Katy's time in LA allows her to realize that staying quiet isn't her only option.

Infamously un-famous. Infamously messed up. Infamously the greatest band that never made it.

Refreshingly, The Rat isn't a huge rock star. He's been a part of Suck since he was a teenager, and there's a true friendship between him and Sam Suck, the founder of the band. But they're not famous, except for being a band that never made it big. There's a great scene where The Rat is talking with a bunch of other musicians, guys who sold more records, had more fame, made more money, got sober sooner. It's the dark side of being a musician, or anyone famous: vices are easier to feed when you've got people willing to feed them. It's something that Katy doesn't know much about, because her mom doesn't talk much about those years. Katy knows how her parents met (her teenage mom smuggled herself onto Suck's tour bus and into her dad's bunk, and the rest was history) and how her mom got clean (when she found out she was pregnant with Katy, her mom checked into rehab). But she doesn't know about how addiction takes control of you and you can't get clean, until she visits her father and sees what being a musician is all about. At first, she doesn't like it, doesn't want it. By the end of the book, though, she's starting to figure out what it means.

My wild thoughts are mine, safe inside of me.

Katy daydreams and fantasizes. She imagines calling Lake, the daughter of Sam Suck and the creator of the Beige nickname, a bitch. She thinks about throwing herself at Leo, the hot boy who swims in the pool at her father's apartment. But she doesn't do these things; she acts the way she's supposed to act. She's quiet, reads a lot, doesn't reveal what she's thinking. But that takes a toll on you, and gradually, Katy starts realizing that letting things out isn't a bad thing. She sees that when her father is struggling with a desire to take a hit, when Lake screams at her bandmates. Over the course of the book, Katy starts letting those wild thoughts out.

These are just some aspects of this book. Katy is a unique character, because she seems so ordinary. But like all of us, the quietest of facades hides a chaos of emotion and experiences. Castellucci shows Katy, The Rat, Lake, and other characters in the book as well-rounded and well-developed individuals. Additionally, the city of Los Angeles is a character, as in Castellucci's other books, Boy Proof and The Queen of Cool. Written with an authentic and honest voice, Beige is another gem from Cecil Castellucci.

Library Program Ideas
--Play music from the bands mentioned in Beige at the start of a book discussion. Talk about how the music makes teens feel. Ask whether Katy is right to feel scared.
--Pair this book with a similiar book, such as Born to Rock by Gordon Korman, and explore the differences.
--Create a punk rock display, using CDs of punk bands as well as books like Beige.

thoughts on ALA

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 01:11:51 GMT

Had a wondeful time at ALA, including spending time with my buddies like cedarlibrarian, Liz from A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy, and Sophie from Pop Goes the Library!.

But the best time, as always, is going to the Youth Media Press Conference and hearing the winners of all the book awards, especially the Printz. I loved how, when both The Book Thief and Octavian Nothing had been named honor books, you could almost hear the whole room asking, "So who won????"

What was even better was going to PPYA and seeing John Green's reaction to winning the Printz Honor for An Abundance of Katherines. I didn't know how he'd top last year's post about winning the Printz for Looking for Alaska, but he did. So, yay!

A post will be coming shortly with the first round-up of ARCs I've read, but I did want to mention an adult book that I hope will be a big success: Austenland by Shannon Hale.

I LOVED this book. It presented such a great twist on the modernization-of-Jane-Austen that we've seen in other books, with the main character being sent to an Austen camp to help her get over her Darcy obsession. Shannon Hale, who has written incredibly excellent books for YAs, does some great work in this novel for adults. I loved the pop culture sensibility of this book: the idea that ten-plus years since the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that there are women who are so obsessed with Colin Firth that they can't make their own romances work is both funny and a bit tragic. A fun, quick read, I hope this book gets a lot of attention.

Coming before the end of the week: posts that talk about the forthcoming books The Princess and the Hound, The Black Sheep, Plain Janes and Beige.

King Dork optioned

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:44:49 GMT

Paramount Vantage scoops up King Dork

I read King Dork recently, and I enjoyed it. As someone who doesn't like Catcher in the Rye at all, but has been told "Well, it's a boy book," I liked the fact that the male narrator of King Dork didn't like Catcher either. Because, after all, saying that something is a "boy book" or a "girl book", as a way of explaining its appeal, is actually a bad way of doing that. Why do we feel the need to gender pigeonhole books? I admit, I've done the same kind of thing, with working on Popular Paperbacks and such, but I don't think I've ever said, "I didn't like this book, but it's because it's a boy book."

Resume Supplement

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 20:25:53 GMT

Publications

“Almost Famous” booklist. The Big Book of Teen Reading Lists by Nancy J. Keane. 2006: Libraries Unlimited. Publisher website

“Clash of the Titans.” The Edge of the Forest. June/July 2006 issue.

“Wait, I Never Wanted To Be A Manager!” Info Career Trends. September 2005 issue.

Discussion Guides for the books of Lara M. Zeises, featured on author's and publisher's websites.
Anyone But You
Author, Publisher

Bringing Up the Bones
Author, Publisher

Contents Under Pressure
Author, Publisher

“Oracle,” a blog specializing in book reviews and discussion.

“Pop Goes the Library!” a blog specializing in popular culture and libraries.

Quoted In

"Finding Your Niche as a Youth Services Librarian" by Sophie Brookover. LIScareer.com.

"The Anime-mated Library" by Kristin Fletcher-Spear and Kat Kan. Voice of Youth Advocates.

busy busy busy!

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:11:30 GMT

I've been rushing around a lot lately, it feels like, thanks to different things I have going on in my life right now. But I have found time for reading amongst all the hustle and bustle.

The Rules of Survival
Nancy Werlin
Amazon link
I checked this out from the library before the announcement that it was nominated for a National Book Award, and I finally got a chance to read it. Wow--what a powerful, compelling book. I loved the characterization of the kids, how Matthew and Callie worked so hard to protect Emmy and how that shaped each of their characters. Nikki was a complex character, as well--very believable, which makes her all the more chilling. And I liked how there were no easy answers, and that it took several adults learning how to take a stand to help get the kids out of Nikki's control. Plus, the cover is just fantastic.

Powder Monkey
Paul Dowswell
Amazon link
I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and this one was really good. I liked how I felt like I was part of this world, but at the same time, I wasn't getting clobbered over the head with historical details. There was lots of adventure and action, so this would be a great choice for teen boys looking for an historical fiction. The main character of Sam gave you a perfect viewpoint on this world, and what it was like to be a boy in the middle of a war. And another great cover, too!

The Secret Under My Skin
Janet McNaughton
Amazon link
I really enjoyed Janet McNaughton's previous book, An Earthly Knight, and I really liked the sound of this book. Sadly, this one didn't really work for me. It reminded me a bit of Scott Westerfield's Uglies Trilogy, in that both works deal with a future world that have gone through an environmental disaster of epic proportions, and both are now facing a pivotal moment for change. But while in Westerfield's books, you get a full sense of the history and the present, you don't get that in McNaughton's book. Now, obviously, there's a difference between three books and one, but still, I felt confused. There is much to like in The Secret Under My Skin, though: a well-created main character, an interesting look at a world where technology is bad, and an emphasis on learning what your gifts are and putting them to use.

Gotta rush off right now--hopefully, more soon!

comics for sale!

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 15:40:41 GMT

[please skip if you object to blatant commercialism] [grin]

I've been fortunate enough to amass a large collection of comics and graphic novels. It's so large, in fact, that there's no way I'll ever read everything. So, I'm eBaying several lots of graphic novels, in order to share the joy.

If you're interested, my eBay name is dettiot3k7u; you can see my auctions here.

Thanks!

interesting movie news

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:11:33 GMT

The Game of Sunken Places set to become a movie

I haven't read Game of Sunken Places, but it's by M.T. Anderson, so you know that it's a good book. Hopefully, if the movie gets made, you'll be able to recognize the book in the movie.

Warner Bros. options The Au Pairs

Drew Barrymore's Flower Films is set to adapt and produce.

Review: Dear Miss Breed, Joanne Oppenheim

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 05:46:26 GMT

Dear Miss Breed
Joanne Oppenheim
Publication Date: February 1, 2006
Amazon link || B&N link

Spoilers are present in this review.

Summary

Many people might not be aware that during World War II, the American government made a decision that seemed more like the actions of Nazi Germany: separating families and removing civil rights from a group of individuals, most of whom were American citizens. The reason for these actions against these people? The color of their skin and the shape of their eyes.

From 1942 through 1945, Japanese Americans were "interned" in camps scattered across the Western United States. Prompted by widespread racism and hysteria in a post-Pearl Harbor environment, more than a hundred thousand Japanese Americans, many of whom by their birth were American citizens, were forced to leave their homes. They suffered from poor housing, ill-prepared food, inadequate education and health care, on top of the sacrifices that were made by most Americans during World War II. Furthermore, they were vilified, in newspapers, magazines, and in their interactions with others.

Yet there were people who believed that Japanese Americans were not being held in internment camps for their own protection, but were being imprisoned due to their race. And these people worked to make the lives of Japanese Americans better. One of these people was Clara E. Breed, a children's librarian in San Diego, California. She knew many Japanese American children, and when they were sent to the camps, she began a correspondence with many of the children who had come to the library. Soon, books, candy, craft materials, and best of all, letters, were flowing from Miss Breed to the children of the Poston camp, located near Parker, Arizona. In return, the children wrote to Miss Breed, thanking her for her letters and her gifts, talking about life in camp, and wondering what their future held.

Gradually, the camps began to empty out, until they were closed during 1945-1946. Japanese Americans were scattered across the United States; families gradually came back together, and many returned to California, where the bulk of Japanese Americans had lived prior to the war. The kindness of Miss Breed lived in the memories of "her children," even when those children, now adults, did not discuss their experiences during the war with their own children. It is only with events such as the early 1980s testimony from Japanese Americans that we are starting to learn more about their experiences during World War II.

Commentary

I've been interested in the Japanese experience during World War II ever since I read Farewell to Manzanar. Published in 1972, this memoir is now a near-standard in many schools, and brings to life the way that the internment camps profoundly altered the culture and attitudes of Japanese Americans. I was hopeful that Dear Miss Breed would have a similar affect on its readers. Plus, the librarian angle roused my interest.

However, I doubt that Dear Miss Breed will gain the same reputation as Farewell to Manzanar or other books on the Japanese American internment. First off, it's too long, even for young adult readers. There's almost too much information--not just from the children's letters, but testimony from Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, Eleanor Roosevelt's syndicated newspaper column, reminiscences by the now-adult children and their descendants . . . it's a worthy project to provide a comprehensive look at this story, but it's too much for a book geared towards young adults, in my opinion.

Yet this is a minor flaw, compared to what I feel is the major drawback to this book: poor writing, especially in dealing with a historical subject. The book contains only the children's letters to Miss Breed; due to the ravages of time, only one letter from Miss Breed is known to exist. When you perform historical research, you must be careful not to put words into people's mouths. Oppenheim, unfortunately, sprinkles statements like "She worried about Katherine" throughout the book, when we have no information to say one way or the other what Clara Breed's actual thoughts and feelings were. Of course, we infer that she did worry about the children in the Poston camp: Clara Breed, based on her other actions, was sincerely and completely devoted to "her children." But we don't really know what she felt, and it's unwise for anyone to speculate.

Beyond the problems with the historical aspects, there were also problems in the writing: repetition and lack of clarity in certain sections are problems throughout the book. Additionally, it was frustrating to be pulled out of the story of the children's lives with discussion of Clara Breed's professional concerns. Although Oppenheim says in her afterword that she wrote her book to inspire librarians (a worthy goal that I can't fault), it puts in an extraneous subplot to a story that has so much to teach and share with today's children and young adults.

There is wonderful information presented in this book. The stories of these children are told in their own words, and they're wonderful stories, full of determination, courage, and gratitude. If this book had been made shorter, and written more with children and young adults in mind, I think it would serve as a great tool for teachers. As it is, I believe that it'll find more success with librarians and adults than with children or teens.

If you're not familiar with the Japanese American internment, I would recommend Farewell to Manzanar, obviously, as a first step. There's also several other books that have been published about this period, such as Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp and Journey to Topaz for children and young adults. For adults, there are works such as Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience and Looking Like The Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese American Internment Camps.

your usual gathering of bizarre and nondescript information

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 04:33:03 GMT

Just a few things that I wanted to get cleaned off the computer/mental desktop:

Thanks to castellucci, I found blackholly's column on Why All Good Writing Advice is Bad. Definitely something I needed to see right about now.

lizzb, over at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy posted her catalog card. The almost-cataloger in me thought this was the coolest thing ever, so of course I have to include mine:

Thanks to the folks over at Catalog Card Generator for thinking this up!

Finally, I'm not sure where I found this--perhaps from halseanderson--but here's a way you can generate your own On Notice board, a la Stephen Colbert.

Explanations:
1) Roger Federer: He's just too damn good, and makes playing tennis look way too easy. Plus, as much as I want to respect and admire the guy, he's sometimes about as fun to watch as corn growing. JMHO.
2) Crickets: As fall draws near in the Mid-Atlantic region, the crickets have begun crawling into the house, looking for warm spots. I spotted a cricket in my bedroom the other evening, and it's still creeping me out.
3) Writer's Block: It sucks. Enough said.
4) You-Know-Who: If I can call Dubya "President", you can call You-Know-Who "Voldemort".
5) Holes in My Socks: I love my socks, but I hate the holes in them.
6) Sadness: Especially when it hits you out of seemingly nowhere, and makes you hyper-sensitive to everything.
7) Broadway Producers: If only I had the money to afford the best seats to all the shows I'd like to see . . .
8) YA Lit Bashers: Even when I can see their points, I still don't like them very much.