Wednesday, June 30, 2010

kids knitting

Hartlove, C., Nicholas, K., & Falick, M. (1998). Kids knitting. New York: Artisan. 
ISBN: 978-1579652418

A fun, easy to follow primer for the new knitter. Designed for kids, this book's hip, stylish patters and clear instructions make it an excellent choice for tween, teen, or adult beginning knitters, too. A perfect resource for a library-based knitting class or club.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

the lightning thief

Riordan, Rick. (2008). The Lightning Thief. Paw Prints. 
ISBN: 978-0786838653

Hailed by many readers and critics as the next Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, the protagonist of The Lightning Thief does bear some similarities to his bespectacled literary predecessor. Both are young tweens who discover an unusual and magical piece of their identity (in this case, Percy learns he is a demigod, son of the Greek god Poseidon); learn of a special world within the world everyone else sees (remnants of the Greek pantheon are everywhere-- Mt. Olympus and the Empire State Building share a location), and each learn of a prophecy that involves them.

Percy is falsely accused of stealing Zeus's lighting bolt, and the world of Greek gods is thrown into an uproar. With his sidekicks, Annabeth and Grover, Percy must navigate through this new world of gods and monsters. Percy's many adventures are documented in a fast-past, exciting style. Readers will enjoy coming along for a ride. If you liked the Harry Potter series, The Lighning Thief and its sequels are a must.

a wee rant

Peggy Orenstein’s essay, Playing at Sexy, explores the intersection of tween girls witnessing and mirroring overtly sexual cultural products, and examines their impact. Orenstein describes a widely viewed and discussed YouTube video of a group of 8 and 9 year old girls performing a dance routine to Beyonce’s Single Ladies, inspired by the original, racy choreography in the song’s video. She discusses the alarming, age-inappropriate sexual suggestiveness of products and performances marketed to children and tweens: thong underwear, Monster High dolls (pictured above), the pole-dancing antics of Miley Cyrus, and, of course, Barbie, who frankly seems like the lease of our worries at this point. Which should indicate how big our worries should be.

It’s hard for me to read and reflect on topics like this in an intellectual way- I just wind up feeling so upset and a little sick. I feel so frustrated with how enormous and pernicious the issue of marketing sex to children is, how girls are taught that their image reflects their identity and value, and how the same people wagging their fingers at the impropriety of girls dancing around in their underwear are letting their children watch Beyonce videos in the first place, or buying Barbies.

I’m not a prude. If there was a genuine benefit to tween girls here, then that would be a different story. According to Orenstein, though, early play-acting at sexuality only serves to confuse girls about sexual desire and desirability as they get older. She writes: “Those bootylicious grade-schoolers in the dance troupe presumably don’t understand the meaning of their motions (and thank goodness for it), but, precisely because of that, they don’t connect — and may never learn to connect — sexy attitude to erotic feelings” (Orenstein, 11).

Is this problem new? No, not really. Is it a bigger problem than it was before? I don’t know, but it is coming at tweens from all directions. Mattel, who owns the the Monster High franchise mentioned by Orenstein, plans to release dolls, video games, movies, and books simultaneously, so that “teens and tweens [can] discover the brand in their own way and engage with the Monster High characters and storyline through multiple points of entry” (Tim Gilpin, Mattel, as cited in tradershuddle.com).

What does this have to do with serving tweens? I think it’s important, in the name of knowing our patrons, to know what tweens are up against, what messages they are receiving from society, and who they are trying to be as a result. Certainly all tweens won’t respond to these cultural influences in the same way-- the landscape of their lives is more nuanced and complex than that. But it’s a piece of the puzzle of a puzzling age.

Also, if tweens wind up reading the Monster High books, I suppose I’m required to be pleased that they are reading at all. Perhaps I would be. They may not understand the marketing machine, but we as adults can and should act as advocates and protectors on their behalf.

I think we can do better for them.

Orenstein, P. (2010, June 13). Playing at sexy. The New York Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com.

Mattel unveils monster-themed franchise. from Traders Huddle. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from www.tradershuddle.com.

the tale of despereaux

Timothy, B. E., & DiCamillo, K. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. 
ISBN: 978-0763617226

A mouse, a rat, a princess, a servant girl-- all are in the same castle having very different experiences. The Tale of Despereaux tells how their individual stories intertwine in most unexpected ways. I myself was not a big fan of the emphasis placed on one of the (young, female) characters being repeatedly beaten, but this is a fairy tale, I suppose. The Newbery committee didn't seem to mind, so you should take their word for it.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

sahara special

Codell, E.R. (2003). Sahara Special. New York: Hyperion.
ISBN: 978-0786807932

This book chronicles the experiences of Sahara Jones, a fifth grader who is troubled about the past and wary of the future. When her mother refuses Special Needs help for her daughter (dubbed "Sahara Special" by her classmates), Sahara ends up meeting a new teacher-- Miss Pointy-- and everything changes. Sahara's secret dream of becoming a writer anchors the story, and the dialogue in the book rings true. Though this story is as much about the teacher as it is the students, it still holds tween appeal.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

just as long as we're together

Blume, J. (1991). Just as long as we're together. New York: Yearling.
ISBN:
978-0440210948

"I love writing about girls' lives when they're right on the edge. One minute they act like little kids, the next they're young women. And by creating families and situations that kids have no control over, I get to see how they cope and so do my readers. " -Judy Blume

In this coming of age story, the friendship of two lifelong best friends is tested as they begin sixth grade and changes abound. A new friend joins the mix, stretching the close-knit twoesome into a more precarious triangle. Boys come into the picture, parents separate and families reconfigure. Though the book feels dated at times (due to a smattering of topical references to the late 80's and early 90's), Judy Blume once again writes with honesty and clarity about the "hot topics" of tween girls: boys, periods, friends.

Note: This is the first in a series of books I am reading specifically because I remember reading them as a tween, and am curious about how they hold up over time. The verdict on this one: eh.

Friday, June 18, 2010

from the mixed-up files...

Konigsburg, E.L. (1967). From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. New York: Atheneum.
ISBN: 978-1416949756


Claudia Kincaid, the 11-year old protagonist of this Newbery Award-winning classic, knows the first rule of any good tween adventure story: ditch the parents and run away. Run away she does, to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Armed with a violin case stuffed with underwear and socks, her curmudgeonly younger brother, Jamie, and $24.43 (in change), Claudia leads the reader on a romp full of mystery, close calls, and humor.

Once Claudia and Jamie make their escape to New York from suburban Connecticut, there are all sorts of logistics to figure out: where to sleep, what to eat, where to store their extra underwear and socks, and how to elude the museum’s night guards. A mysterious new acquisition is displayed at the museum, and a mysterious adventure begins as Claudia and Jamie try to figure out the origins of this piece.

A great choice for young tweens, this mainstay of school and library reading lists is funny, exciting, and clever. No sex, drugs, or rock and roll here; just a lot of good, old-fashioned adventure that withstands the test of time.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

tween questions

  1. Who is Justin Bieber?
  2. At what age do kids get cell phones?
  3. Do tweens find the laugh track on iCarly annoying, or is it just me?
  4. Which Jonas brother is which?
  5. Has social media/texting/Facebook/internet hoopla helped tweens become more connected to each other, or served to isolate them more?
  6. Is the sheer volume of advertising/marketing directed at tweens actually sinister, or is it just me?
  7. Why doesn't Miley Cyrus put on some clothes?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

this week's reading list


Just as Long as We're Together, Blume
Sahara Special, Codell
The Misfits, Howe
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Konigsburg


Gender Blender, Nelson
The Golden Compass, Pullman
The End, Snicket (from A Series of Unfortunate Events)
The Egypt Game, Snyder
The Mysterious Benedict Society, Stewart
Maniac Magee, Spinelli
American Born Chinese, Yang (graphic novel)


I work at a small Jewish community library that shares space with a K-8 school library. Instead of shelving and processing new books this morning, I've been tearing around the school part of the library, gathering "tween" books to read.

As an elementary school teacher, I am primarily used to evaluating books based on a child's reading level. Reader interest is important too, of course, but I'm not used to this territory of encountering content that is potentially too mature for a reader. I'm beginning to think that selecting books for tweens, perhaps more than with any other age group, requires us as educators and librarians to really know our readers.

Fortunately, these are my selections, and I'm fairly certain I'm mature enough for Judy Blume. Though, truth be told, Artemis Fowl stayed on the shelf because I might be too wimpy to handle it. We'll see if I make it through The Golden Compass...

Thursday, June 10, 2010

no talking

Clements, A. (2007) No talking. New York: Simon & Schuster.
ISBN:
978-1416909835

Like Clements' other tales about tweens in school (Frindle, The Landry News, The Janitor's Boy), No Talking touches on several quintessential tween themes: boys vs. girls, a contest, kids outsmart teachers and prove a point, sympathetic but non-meddlesome parents, a catchy hook of a beginning, a twist at the end, requisite fart jokes. Clements' demonstrates enormous respect for children in his writing, which helps create an appealing tone. The story focuses on a fifth grade class and would be a relatable and fun choice for young tweens.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

away we go...

Hello world! Don't you just love that librarian reading in this blog's header? She's doing a little yoga twist and reading all the while (and wearing falsies, perhaps? Sheesh.).

So. Welcome to this blog, devoted to all things literary, especially literary things related to tweens. It's amazing that a word originally created to define an untapped consumer market has expanded to encapsulate a literary genre. What sorts of books are out there for tweens? My experience is primarily with younger children, so I am excited to explore some new books-- and old favorites (Hello, Babysitters' Club!).

Stay tuned for more thoughts and ramblings, book reviews, rants about book trailers on youtube, and musings on all things tween.

Happy Reading!
kthxbai