squids will be squids

Smith, L., Leach, M., & Scieszka, J. (1998). Squids will be squids: Fresh morals, beastly fables. New York: Viking.
ISBN: 978-0670881352

Who says tweens are too old for picture books? Read Squids Will be Squids to a room full of 4th graders and prepare to have them rolling in the aisles. From the wildly creative minds of Jon Sczieska and Lane Smith, this book is a collection of quirky fables with memorable morals like, "Don't ever listen to a talking bug," and, "He who smelt it, dealt it." Creative, silly fun.

what tweens read

“Should kids be allowed to read whatever they want, so long as they're reading?”

Katie Baker raises this question in 'Sweet Valley High,' the Great Retweening and Why Boys Won't Read, a fantastic whirlwind exploration of the tween literary and cultural landscape. Baker profiles the many books, TV shows, and other cultural products for girls, and explores the growing concerns of parents, educators, and cultural critics that boys are being left behind. She references a recent New York Times piece by Nicholas Kristof, who suggests that one of the ways to help boys engage more with the increasingly verbal world around them is to encourage them to read “lowbrow” books. Baker also discusses the re-release of two classic, decidedly non-literary series for girls: Sweet Valley High and The Babysitters Club. She cites interesting data profiling the reading habits of SVH fans, which demonstrates that reading trashy books does not scar you for life, apparently.

So. Is lowbrow reading better than no reading at all? Is Captain Underpants just as good as Moby Dick?

Well, yes. Reading Captain Underpants is better than no reading at all. The back of the cereal box is better than no reading at all. But that seems to be only part of the point to me. I think it’s dangerous to throw our arms open to Captain Underpants and his kind, only to have the story end there. Yes, we want tweens to read. Yes, they should have choice and agency about what they’re reading. But it’s also important that librarians, educators, and parents continue to work hard to source engaging, high quality materials for boys and girls to read, and present them in compelling ways. I don’t think it has to be either/or.

When I taught second grade, many boys in my class loved Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Boys who otherwise were only interested in banging themselves against walls could sit in rapt attention for 45 minutes, looking at cards, discussing powers, and reading all the while. Hooray for that. We had Pokemon card drawing time, we had student presentations on the various Yu-Gi-Oh characters and all of their fancy powers. Those cards and games became part of our classroom lexicon, because they were important to the children. But were they permissible at quiet reading time? Nope. Because books are important too.

We can talk to kids about these choices. We can relate our experiences to theirs. For example, sometimes I feel like reading a complicated novel; sometimes I feel like reading a cookbook or knitting pattern. Sometimes I feel like reading blogs. Sometimes I feel like reading People Magazine articles about Angelina Jolie’s new tattoo. These are all fine choices. But if I only read People, then that might not be so good. Part of becoming an avid, lifelong reader is exploring and celebrating all kinds of reading behaviors. If books about nose-picking are the most compelling for a fun read, that’s fabulous. And probably that shouldn’t be the only sort of book offered to a child. Especially as Kristof, etc. are talking about lackluster school performance, we want to be careful not to accept too low a standard for boys (or girls—Hannah Montana is a different kind of low standard all together. To see it touted as confirmation that there’s never been a better time to be a tween girl by Ada Calhoun in Baker’s article was a little unnerving. But I digress.).

Maybe I don’t digress, actually. The same highbrow/lowbrow dichotomy implicit in this discussion of tween reading behavior also seems implied in the discussion of boys vs. girls. That boys are not doing well is an assertion I don’t dispute (I like agreeing with Nicholas Kristof, plus, there’s data). We need to work harder and do better for boys. The place where this argument gets dicey for me is with the assumption that, because boys aren’t doing well that girls are doing great, that because there are shows about girls on the Disney Channel, all is right with the world. We need to do better for boys and girls. We need to give them lots of choices: lots of Captain Underpants and Hardy Boys and Sweet Valley High and also The Time Warp Trio and Island of the Blue Dolphins. We need to learn what’s appealing about video games and iCarly, and also give tweens the language and knowledge to become savvy cultural critics. We need to make sure that we don’t have only Captain Underpants expectations, but also welcome and respond to our students’ and patrons’ excitement about reading, regardless of what they want to read.

new moon

No, not that New Moon. This is an ad-free magazine, published bi-monthly for tween girls. Setting itself apart from other girls' magazines, New Moon focuses on empowerment, advocacy, and community, and intentionally does not publish articles about diets, how to be popular, or Justin Bieber. Rather than conveying a morally superior tone, the magazine is glossy and fun to read. Girls are involved in writing and producing the magazine, and managing the New Moon website. With articles about reading, science, and community service, this is a cut above your standard teen magazine fare. I'm curious to know what real tweens think of this magazine; as a feminist and the mother of a girl, I think it's fabulous stuff.

hoot

Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 
ISBN: 978-0375829161

A mysterious running kid, a pancake dynasty, a strange new town, and alligators in the port-a-potties are just some of the characters and plot twists readers will encounter in Hoot, a Newbery honor book for tweens. Roy Eberhart, a recent transplant to Coconut Cove, Florida, has a run in with the school bully on his first day at Trace Middle School. This sets into motion a chain of events that include meeting a strange boy who is always running barefoot, discovering a construction site full of small holes, and learning that these holes are the homes of nesting Burrowing Owls, who will be displaced and killed if construction proceeds.

True to the rules of tween literature, the kids in this story are much smarter than the adults, who range from pleasantly clueless to outright mean. Roy and his partners in crime go to creative lengths to stop construction and save the owls. Readers will enjoy this fast-paced, humorous, and complex adventure. A Newbery honor book.

too old for this, too young for that

Unger, K., & Mosatche, H. S. (2000). Too old for this, too young for that!: Your survival guide for the middle-school years. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Pub.
ISBN: 978-1575420677

This puberty primer goes beyond the standard “what’s happening to your body” conversation (though that’s included) and explores the social and emotional life of middle schoolers. With chapters on health, self-esteem, emotions, family, and school, this book covers many of the important bases of tweenhood. Quotes from kids enliven the humors, frank text, and “survival tips” are sprinkled throughout. Suggestions of books and websites for further reading are a valuable resource.

love that dog

 Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York: HarperCollins. 
ISBN: 978-0756913809

Love that Dog is a simple book, but a great one. Easy to read, it is surprisingly touching and deep. We meet, through a series of poems, Jack, a disgruntled student. Jack can't understand why his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, is making the class write poetry. Here's how Jack sees it:

I don't want to
because boys
don't write poetry.
Girls do.

Over the course of the book, Jack's relationship to poetry changes dramatically, and poems are the medium to carry this sweet, profound story. Fans of Jack will want to check out Creech's 2010 sequel, Hate that Cat.

smart girls at the party

With the tagline "Change the world by being yourself," smart girls at the party sets the tone as an empowering social networking site for girls. Girls can create their own profiles and blogs, and upload videos to share. A team of hip, savvy women, including actress Amy Poehler, are the creators of the site and share music, stories, recipies, and celebrity interviews, as well as video podcasts of girls who excel academically or are making a difference in their community. The site has a fun, down to earth vibe, and is free of advertising.

UPDATE: I just found out that this site is sponsored by Mattel, makers of she-who-shall-not-be-named. Interesting. The connection isn't apparent when visiting the Smart Girls site. It still seems like a good site to me.

kristy's great idea: a graphic novel

Telgemeier, R., & Martin, A. M. (2006). Kristy's great idea: A graphic novel. New York: Graphix. ISBN 9781417699674

We meet the Baby-Sitters Club once again here, only this time they're in graphic novel form. Telegemeir's effective rendering of Ann M. Martin's text gives new life to this classic series. For readers who enjoy the graphic novel format, this will be an enjoyable way to meet the Baby-Sitters Club-- and to see Claudia's fabulous outfits! Several books in the series have been adapted in graphic novel form. As for me, I'd rather just read. But I'm old and cranky.

the princess diaries

Cabot, M. (2000). The princess diaries. New York: Harper Avon. 
ISBN: 978-0061479939

Mia Thermopolis is just an ordinary 9th grader. She's pretty flat-chested, and not great at Algebra, but otherwise happy enough in her normal life. So it comes as quite a surprise when Mia finds out that she is not an average combat boot-wearing high schooler, but, in fact, a princess.

Mia does not take this news well at first, especially when she finds out she is meant to travel to receive princess training from her critical grandmere, who travels from Genovia (her fictional kingdom) to instruct Mia in all things royal. Mia's life is suddenly transformed, and the girl who tried to hard to be ordinary and invisible now must reevaluate what is important, what it means to receive attention, and who her real friends are. There's a love story thrown in there too, for good measure.

Written as a series of journal entries, this book has an enjoyable, conversational writing style. Readers will enjoy witnessing Mia's transformation to a princes, and reading about the surprises along her journey. Straddling the tween/YA border, this deals with high school themes in a way that a range of readers will relate to.

the baby-sitter's club

Martin, A.M. (2010).  Kristy's Great Idea. New York: Scholastic.
ISBN 978-0545174756

If tween books were a carnival, The Baby-Sitters Club books would be cotton candy: fluffy, sweet, light, and fun. Orignially published in the late 80's, the series has been re-released for a new generation of tweens (the original cover, left, and updated cover are above). The themes of the book are relatable and deal with the ins and outs of life in middle school. Full disclosure: I adored these books as a tween. Meeting Ann M. Martin was the highlight of 6th grade. I do remember my parents lamenting the fact that I wasn't reading books that were more substantial, but I think a little harmless fun is great. I can imagine these appealing especially to young tweens looking to "read up" and see what life is like when you're 12.

what to make of miley

Oh, Disney. Disney, Disney, Disney.

Such a track record you have with the tween stars. Britney… Christina… Hillary…Lindsay… Miley. You find them, you make them superstars. Of course you own half the world, so that helps. In Making New Mileys, we learn about the magic behind the Magic™, and how, with the tween consumer market being what it is, you don’t have plans to stop anytime soon.

So. Fine. Except…well, except that these are children being influenced here. Not only the children who consume these stars’ movies, TV shows, music, concerts, clothing, etc., but the children who are made into stars, and held to impossible double standards. The girls especially (Jonas Brothers, I’m not so worried about you). It is curious to me how so many of these stars, who start out with wholesome roles on the Mickey Mouse Club or some other Disney show, evolve their persona (with the help of marketing teams, we assume) into something decidedly unwholesome, and perhaps not appropriate for their original audience. How do 8 year olds understand Miley Cyrus, who they’ve come to know and love as wholesome Hannah Montana, wearing next to nothing and dancing on a stripper pole at the Teen Choice Awards? What does it mean that Miley is 17 and adults are telling her that short shorts and stripper poles are good ideas? Not just good, but marketable?

Why does this seem to be the formula for female tween success? How do companies like Disney, who are in the business of marketing these starts to tweens, handle this balancing act? There is a times a tacit acknowledgment that some of this stuff isn’t for kids. When Christina Aguilera, a Mickey Mouse Club alum, gained popularity with the song Genie in a Bottle, Disney promoted her through airing the song and video on Disney TV and radio—with the lyrics altered. It’s as if Disney was saying, yes, this song about being rubbed the right way is probably not appropriate for our audience, but we’re going to find a way to sell it—and Christina—anyway. Presumably Disney viewers were left to fend for themselves when Aguilera’s next album—full of leather underwear and not much else—premiered.

Britney Spears’ first video, Baby One More Time, featured the singer in a provocative schoolgirl outfit. An interview with the video’s director, Nigel Dick, shed some light about the wardrobe choice. “Dick gives full credit to Spears for that idea. ‘My idea originally was just jeans and T-shirts, and we were at the wardrobe fitting and Britney holds up the jeans and T-shirts and says, “Wouldn't I wear a schoolgirl outfit?”’ he said (Vena, 2009). So who is to blame? The male, adult director who passes the buck in order to make one, or the teenage girl, who may or may not know that her outfit presents a certain message? How do we sort this out with, and for, the tweens we work with?

Is this why Disney needs a perpetual queue of up and coming talent? So Selena can replace Miley who can replace Lindsay? Is that an inevitability of marketing media to tweens? Is there a point at which Disney has to part ways with starts whose sexy antics don’t fit the Disney image anymore? Or are these stars just growing up and therefore become less relateable? Where is that line? Miley Cyrus and the stripper pole is okay; Miley Cyrus in Vanity Fair isn’t. If I were Miley Cyrus, I’d be confused. If I were Disney, I’d feel responsible.

Making New Mileys
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1930657,00.html

Britney Spears ' ... Baby One More Time' Video Director Looks Back
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1626312/20091113/spears_britney.jhtml

the hunger games

Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic.
ISBN 978-0439023481

Sorry. I couldn't handle this one. I like some post-apocalyptic dystopia as much as the next gal, but I draw the line at dead children. That's just me. Given the success of this series, I seem to be the only one who minds. That's okay. This book seems well-written and is certainly suspenseful, and I can imagine it having immense appeal for tween readers looking for some fast paced sci-fi. A movie is in development, of course.

holes

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York: Yearling.

ISBN: 978-0440414803

Poisonous lizards… spiced peaches… work camp… sinister (and occasionally kindly) adults… curses and legends… rattlesnakes…arson… Holes is a little difficult to explain.

When Stanley Yelnats is falsely accused and arrested for stealing a pair of sneakers, he is sent to Camp Green Lake, a place that is neither green nor a camp, and with no lake in sight. There, Stanley is required—along with a motley crew of fellow troublemakers—to dig holes. Lots of holes. One five foot by five foot hole per kid, per day. The purpose of digging the holes isn’t clear to Stanley at first, but become a key clue in uncovering the mysteries of Camp Green Lake, as well as Stanley’s family legacy of bad luck.

Prolific children’s author Louis Sachar (whose other titles include the Wayside School and Marvin Redpost series) crafts an intricate tale of adventure and friendship, with exciting twists and turns along the way. The story jumps between the present and the past, and the connection of the two makes for a satisfying and surprising ending to this book.This is a great “boy” book; readers will enjoy the quirky characters and the search for buried treasure. There’s also a movie. Read the Newbery Award-winning book first.

the care and keeping of you

Schaefer, V. (1998). The care & keeping of you: The body book for girls. New York: American Girl Publishing
ISBN 978-1562476663

Witty illustrations and clear information comprise this puberty primer for girls. From the folks who brought you the American Girl empire, this book is refreshingly non commercial. For girls 8 and up (according to the publisher), this book covers the basics of puberty, periods, and general health, without delving into the intricacies of sex. Appealingly basic and straightforward.

girl360

Girl 360 Magazine

An online webzine specifically for tween girls. Fabulous content, highlighting girls and women who make a difference, in a very girlie format that will appeal to the sparkly pink set. Finally- girl power with substance.

how to train your dragon

Cowell, C. (2004). How to train your dragon: The heroic misadventures of Hiccup the Viking. New York: Little, Brown. 
ISBN: 978-0316085274

This whimsical, goofy, exciting story is sure to please any reader who enjoyed the Time Warp Trio series or My Father's Dragon and its sequels. The action here centers around Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a famous viking warrior, and travels back in time to tell the tale of Hiccup's youth. The structure and look of the book is fun and inviting; the text is interspersed with clever illustrations (in the style of Captain Underpants meets The Little Prince), dragon language translation guides, maps, and Pokemon card-esque descriptions of each dragon and its unique qualities.

Young Hiccup's first task, along with a band of his young Viking friends, is to catch a dragon. Once this is accomplished, his second task is to train that dragon, an especially tiny specimen named Toothless. With a not very useful dragon-training manual to guide him, Hiccup is left to figure things out on his own. This he does, encountering surprises of all kinds along the way.

The first in a series of Hiccup's adventures, How to Train Your Dragon will appeal to those who like fast-paced, funny, fantasy books. A great choice for eager young tweens and reluctant older ones.

the misfits

Howe, J. (2003). The misfits. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-0689839566

The Misfits starts out as the story of how a group of friends, self-dubbed the "Gang of Five," tries to survive seventh grade without making waves, and turns into a story about how the friends lead a surprising charge for change and fairness in middle school.

When student council elections roll around, Addie, the most passionate and outspoken member of the "Gang of Five," decides to spearhead a new political party, feeling her interests are not represented by the popular kids running as democrats and republicans. Addie, has gained something of a reputation as a troublemaker for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance, seeks to create a new party that represents all of the misfits—students who, for whatever reason, don’t fit in. Their political party—first called the Freedom Party, then the No-Name Party, struggles to figure out what it means to be a misfit, or a minority, and how the pecking order of middle school does and doesn’t reflect the larger inequities of society.

The story is told from Bobby’s perspective, and is interspersed with dialogue the group records during their “Forum” meetings, where they discuss what’s going on with school and the election and write everything down. The author’s respect for middle school aged kids is so clearly evident, and he writes characters that are thoughtful and reflective, even as they’re stealing each others’ desserts and sniffing their armpits, to make sure they’re deodorant is working. Howe simultaneously has the characters fully invested in their lives as middle school students, but also vaguely aware that there’s a bigger world out there.

Part of what is so appealing about this book is how the misfits find pride in themselves and strength in their friendship. The theme of the book is less about fitting in, and more about imagining how to widen the circle of who “fits” in middle school. The book deals with some serious topics—race, sexuality, difficult family issues— but the dialogue is really snappy and funny, and lends a lightness to the book that’s a nice balance for some of the heavier themes.

The publisher recommends this book for 10-14 year olds, and that seems about right to me. There’s some slightly coarse language—one of the characters is called a fag repeatedly-- but nothing most 10 year olds haven’t already heard. This book has shown up on a lot of GLBT booklists, because one of the main characters is gay, so it’s a good one to know for that population.

It’s a great read for students who liked but have outgrown Andrew Clements books like No Talking and Frindle, where kids take a risk to make school a better place, and wind up being smarter than the grown ups. It’s also a great realistic fiction book for those tweens who aren’t interested in vampires or dragons or magic pants or wizarding school. Finally, I think it’s an unusual book in that I think both boys and girls would enjoy it—it deals with middle school issues from both perspectives.

James Howe, who is such an amazingly prolific writer, has written two sequels about these characters, called Totally Joe and Addie on the Inside. Also, this book led the establishment of national no name calling week initiative, which is spearheaded by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

gender blender

Nelson, B. (2006). Gender blender. New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN: 978-0553376036

Call it Freaky Friday, the next generation. Tom and Emma, two sixth grade rivals, wake up one morning to discover they've switched bodies. The antics that ensue are an exploration of sex and gender, and what it means to be a girl or boy in middle school. A bit clunky at times, with language that is probably most appropriate for the 10+ set, Gender Blender is nothing if not thought-provoking. The publisher's website provides some additional fun.

fantastic mr. fox

Dahl, Roald, & Blake, Quentin. (2009). Fantastic Mr. Fox. Paw Prints.  

ISBN: 978-0142410349

In this slim selection from Roald Dahl’s classic repertoire, we meet Mr. Fox, who lives with his wife, Mrs. Fox, and their children in an underground burrow. The best part of their home is its location--in the middle of three farms that raise ducks, geese, and turkeys, so there’s always a ready supply of dinner. Excited at the prospect of each stealing escapade, and justifiably proud of his technique, Mr. Fox is above all concerned about feeding his family. Mr. Fox is an expert hunter; catching the birds is no problem.

But there is a problem. Three problems, in fact: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, the three farmers who Mr. Fox steals from. Like the villains who populate other Roald Dahl books (James and the Giant Peach, The Twits, Matilda), these farmers are nasty, unpleasant, and all around horrible. As the children in the town sing:

Boggis, Bunce, and Bean

One fat, one short, one lean.

These horrible crooks

So different in looks

Were nonetheless equally mean.

Upset that Mr. Fox steals their food so brazenly, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean plot catch him in the act, but this proves a difficult task. One close call leaves Mr. Fox without a tail; this is when it dawns on Mr. and Mrs. Fox that these farmers mean business. Together, the farmers join forces to dig the fox family out of their underground home. The foxes are on the run. The farmers vow to catch Mr. Fox, no matter how much damage it does to their farms.

As Mr. Fox and his family dig for their lives, we meet other animals along the way, including a badger, a family of weasels, and a grouchy rat. All the animals have been terrorized by the farmers and are afraid of going outside. Working together, with Mr. Fox at the helm, they devise a daring plan of escape and retribution… but will it work? Read and find out.

Roald Dahl’s expressive language and Quentin Blake’s signature illustrations make this a fabulous read aloud selection for young tweens. It’s a good independent reading choice too; some words are long, but the chapters are short—even reluctant readers might want to give it a go. This small book is a terrific tale of adventure, tricks, and fun.

american born chinese

Pien, L., & Yang, G. L. (2006). American born Chinese. New York: First Second.  
ISBN: 978-0312384487

For anyone who has not yet jumped on the graphic novel bandwagon, this beautiful rendered book is an ideal way to discover the medium. Three stories intertwine as the book explores identity, ethnicity, and belonging. Stylized images in vivid color draw the reader in, and this book demonstates that the graphic novel format can be employed to tackle serious, thought-provoking issues (some may be put off by the stereotypes brought to light here). Winner of the Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature.

iCarly

Ah, Nickelodeon. How far you've come since the days of Double Dare and You Can't Do That on Television. I decided to watch a little tween TV this week, to see what's out there these days.

(Side note: I seem to wax poetic about the tween books and media of my youth, and, although I don't remember any vampires dressed like streetwalkers, I can't say anything was objectively smarter or more wholesome then. So I am a curmudgeon. And I digress.)

So here's what I found out. Carly is a girl who creates a web-based show with her sassy best friend, Sam, and loveable sidekick, Freddie. She lives with her spacey older brother (kids are smarter than grownups!), and she and her friends get into laughable scrapes. The particular episode I watched centered around Sam, the dentist, some (professionally administered) nitrous oxide, and confessing secrets. Also a prison break involving an oversized sculpture of a pair of pants-- glad to see Nickelodeon hasn't lost its surrealist edge.

And? It was pretty funny. The kids talk at an annoyingly fast, gum-cracking pace, but are otherwise endearing. The heroine is not blonde. Everyone keeps their clothes on. The slapsticky laugh track is predictable. In my opinion, it's no Clarissa Explains it All, but then again, I'm not 12. Laugh track aside, it seems pretty harmless. Perhaps harmless is the best we can hope for, when it comes to tween TV?