Welcome

Hi, and welcome to my blog! This blog is my final project for my library grad class, Materials for Young Adults. A mini-collection of books, movies, videogames, magazines, databases, and music are included on this blog.  This collection is intended for a public library.

Book cover art and book award information are from respective pages from Amazon and Goodreads. No copyright infringement intended.

Thanks for reading and I hope you find some more material to add to your reading list.

Shannon

Madden NFL 13 (Videogame)

Madden NFL 13

Madden NFL 13 [Wii] Electronic Arts, 2012, 1 disc. Rated E for Everyone.

Summary

Madden NFL 13 is one of the newest releases in the popular line of the National Football League (NFL) video games.  Players can play and control their favorite football team either against the computer, friends, or people online.  Using the Wii remote, game players can throw passes, tackle, and score touchdowns as their favorite NFL players. There are options to play through practice, a training camp, or a regular NFL game. Players can also manage their own team, act as coaches, and draft new players.  There are real audio clips from NFL sportscasters, and several famous dance and celebration moves from NFL players.  Players can choose to play as or face off against all 32 NFL teams and can play in virtual NFL stadiums. Much like other video games, there are also awards and trophies that can be unlocked, as the player wins games and scores touchdowns.

Critical Evaluation

The game is fun to play, once you get a handle on how to control the players and make passes. There’s no real tutorial in the game, instead players learn as they go. The game can seem a little overwhelming at first to a novice player, or someone who's not really familiar with football.. The game is probably easier for NFL fans to pick up and enjoy, especially if they've played other Madden games before. 

The sound  and visual effects are a nice touch. It does make the player feel like they are watching a real football game and not just playing in a virtual one. The look of the stadium and the dance moves were my favorite parts, as well as the option to play as your favorite team.  Madden NFL 13 isn’t the most artistically beautiful or plot driven game out there, but it’s a lot of fun to play either by yourself or with friends.

Reader’s Annotation

Wish you were part of the NFL? Now you can be, by playing and experiencing Madden NFL 13.

About the Author

N/A

Genres

Games

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

12+

Grades 8+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

I included this game, because it’s a popular pick with our patrons. I included it originally for the teen boys, but I think even teen girls would enjoy playing it.  There’s no questionable content in the game, and it’s fun to play. 

Teen Vogue (Magazine)

Teen Vogue

Teen Vogue, Code Nast, New York. ISSN: 1540-2215

Summary

Teen Vogue is a fashion and celebrity magazine for teenagers. Published by the same company as sister magazine Vogue, Teen Vogue is published ten times a year. Along with a companion website and social media platforms, there is the Teen Vogue handbook, which is a guide for teenagers looking to  enter the fashion industry. Monthly features are on young celebrities, actresses, and singers, such as Chloe Grace Moretz and Shailene Woodley. Regular articles include features on fashion collections, young designers, up and coming actresses, and hair and makeup tips. “People Watching” features interviews with teen designers, bloggers, and trend setters from around the world.  Both celebrities and “normal” teens are featured and interviewed throughout the magazine.  Several monthly articles also go into more mature topics, such as family members with autism, dating violence, and preparing for college. Mini magazines with themes such as Prom, Holidays, and Back to School are also seasonally included with the regular magazine.

Critical Evaluation

The magazine itself is laid out nicely. The articles are short, but sweet, there aren’t too many ads bombarding the readers, and there’s always a positive spin on things, even with some of the more serious topics.  The articles have a nice mix of fluff and substance within them.  The articles about the celebrities make them seem more down to earth, and it’s refreshing to find articles about average teenagers as well.

I was pleased to see more serious articles such as the one about dating violence. While the articles don’t read like something from the “New York Times,” I think it’s great that teen magazines are informing and educating their young readers about serious topics.  Articles like these also separate Teen Vogue from other teen magazines, as well as giving the magazine more maturity over say, American Girl or Girl’s Life.  Teen Vogue would be a great addition for a library’s teen section, and has something to please any teenage girl.

Reader’s Annotation

Looking for a teen magazine with more than just fashion and beauty? With articles on serious topics, and interviews with teens like you, Teen Vogue is more than your average fashion magazine.

About the Author

N/A

Genres

Magazine

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Grades 8+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

I included Teen Vogue because it’s a personal favorite among our teen patrons.  I also liked the variety of articles and the maturity of the magazine.

PC Gamer (Magazine)

PC Gamer

PC Gamer, Future US Inc, San Francisco, CA. ISSN:1080-4471

Summary

According to the magazine cover, PC Gamer is “the world’s number one PC games magazine.” An offshoot of the original British publication, the US edition is published monthly (with two editions in December) and has a companion website and social media.

Regular departments include Monitor, which covers upcoming gaming tournaments and other gaming news. Previews features games in development and game demo reviews. The main feature is in depth reviews of new games, such as Sims 4, and World of Warcraft.  The editors are all gaming fanatics themselves and publish monthly reviews of new or soon to be released games. The reviews cover the cost, plot, style, and overall ease of game, along with similar games and a score out of a 100. There are also reviews and articles on computer hardware, keyboards, and computer towers. The magazine also includes codes to get free items, such as new characters to play in online role-playing games.

Critical Evaluation

PC Gamer is easy to read and has enough content to satisfy subscribers. Even non-gamers or novices to the gaming world would find it easy to read.  While the magazine seems more geared toward young males, I was surprised to find a few letters to the editor from teenage girls and seniors. While it was in the teen section at my library, I really think PC Gamer could be enjoyed by any age or gender.  There were very few ads in the magazine, which was a nice feature as  they didn’t distract or take away from the main articles.

The magazine and companion website is probably best for older teens: there are some articles with discussing language and sex in games, and most of the games reviewed are rated T (for teens 13 and up) or M (for mature, ages 17 and up) Overall, PC Gamer is a great fit for any library, especially those with a gaming audience.

Reader’s Annotation

PC Gamer has the latest reviews, news, and updates for the newest games.

About the Author

N/A

Genres

Magazine

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

I originally included PC Gamer, because I thought it would be a good male oriented magazine. After looking at a few issues, I think the magazine would be great for any patron who loves gaming.  

Freakboy

Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark, Farrar Straus Giroux Books, New York, 2013. ISBN: 978-0374324728

Plot Summary

“Freakboy” is told from the point of view of three different teens. Brendan seems to have the perfect life between his good grades, his wrestling meets, and his beautiful girlfriend, Vanessa.  But Brendan keeps having strange thoughts--like  what would it be like to be a girl, so graceful and beautiful? And how can he be transgender if he still likes being a guy?

Vanessa isn’t sure what’s going on with her boyfriend.  Sure he’s been moody and distant before, but this time it’s different.  She knows she’s not the typical frilly girlfriend--after all, she’s on the school’s wresting team with Brendan. Could her being a tomboy have something to do with Brendan’s distance?

Angel is the beautiful, worldly young woman who works at the local LGBTQ teen center. She’s also transgender and seems to be pretty comfortable with her life and who she is. Motivated by her abusive past, Angel is determined to help other LGBTQ teens get help and find their way. But can she get Brendan the help he needs, especially when he’s not being honest?

Critical Evaluation

The narrative in “Freakboy” has two distinct qualities with its  multiple first person points of view (POV) and being written in verse.  Clark makes it easy to figure out who’s speaking in each chapter, not only by their name at the beginning of their section but also their distinct voices. Brendan’s words are as jumbled as his thoughts, Vanessa ties in her family toward how she’s feeling, and Angel uses descriptions such as the color of the sky to correlate with how she’s feeling. The multiple POV’s helps the reader gain a better understanding into each of the characters, much more than a third person narrative might have.

Being written in verse does several favors for the book.  Readers who are fans of Ellen Hopkins and other YA verse authors will find Clark’s writing style familiar. Despite the book being over 400 pages long, it’s a quick read and reluctant readers will find it easy to get into the plot.  Several of the pages are also written out in different shapes: a T for transgender, a question mark for Brendan’s feelings. While the book does deal with several difficult and challenging topics such as gender identity and depression, the POV’s and verse narrative makes for an easy and diverse read.

Reader’s Annotation

If you like being a guy, but also think about being a girl, does that make you a freak? That’s what Brendan Chase thinks of himself, anyway.

About the Author

“Kristin Elizabeth Clark lives and writes in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Northern California. She hikes with her dog and reads to her cats… but she’s not one of THOSE people. Really. She has worked as a child advocate within the juvenile justice system, as a children’s theater producer, and is a proud volunteer at Project Outlet in Mountain View, California. Her young adult debut, Freakboy, was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on October 22^nd, 2013.”

(Bio. Retrieved  November 19^th, 2014 from http://kristinelizabethclark.com/about/)

Genres

LGBTQ

Contemporary/Coming of Age 

Verse

Curriculum Ties:

Poetry

Booktalking Ideas

1: Is it easier or harder to express your thoughts through verse?

2: Which of the three characters do you relate with most?

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

LGBTQ

Mentions of depression/suicide

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why Included?

I included “Freakboy,” because it’s a newer YA book dealing with gender identity. I also loved the beautiful verse it was written in.

Luna

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Luna by Julie Anne Peters, Hachette Book Group, New York, 2004. ISBN: 978-0316011273

Plot Summary

Regan is getting tired of hiding a secret from everyone she knows. Her older brother golden boy Liam, is actually transgender. Nobody else knows about Luna, Liam’s true self, except for Regan, and it’s getting harder to keep the secret. Their dad wants Liam to try out for sports and have a girlfriend like any other ‘normal’ teenage boy. And their mom is too busy with her wedding planning business to notice anything strange going on.

Regan just wants a normal life--one where she understands her chemistry class, has friends, and maybe even start dating Chris, the new, cute guy who seems to like her. But when Liam tells Regan he wants to transition and tell his family and friends about Luna, Regan knows any chance at a normal life is over. Now Luna wants to go out shopping, go to malls and shops, and act like a normal teenage girl. But what will happen when Luna’s secret gets out? How will their parents and friends respond?

Critical Evaluation

It’s easy to identify with both Regan and Liam/Luna.  Regan may not think of herself as a typical teen girl, but she still worries about school, boys, and friends, like many teens do.  Readers can also relate to Regan’s feelings about keeping her brother’s secret: many teens have been in the same position, regardless of what the secret is. Regan is also trying to find out her own identity, as she wants to be her own person, and not just simply Liam’s sister. Trying to set themselves apart from their siblings is something many teens and even adults can identify with. The audience can also identify with Liam/Luna's struggle to be her true self, despite what others might think.

I found the relationship between Regan and Luna to be realistic and emotional. Regan loves her sibling, but  at the same time finds herself embarrassed and annoyed when Luna comes out.  Despite Regan’s thoughts that Luna has ruined and betrayed her, she does come back and help out her sister by going shopping with her, or continuing to keep her secret.  Like many ‘real life’ sibling relationships, Regan and Luna’s relationship isn’t perfect.  They scream, cry, and say terrible things to each other.  But both Regan and Luna realize that as sisters, they will always be there for each other.  

Reader’s Annotation

How much does Regan love her brother? Enough to keep his true self, Luna, safe.

About the Author

 “Julie Anne Peters is the critically-acclaimed, award winning author of more than a dozen books for young adults and children. Her book, Luna, was a National Book Award Finalist; Keeping You a Secret  was named a Stonewall Honor Book; Between Mom and Jo won a Lambda Literary Award; and Define “Normal” was voted by young readers as their favorite book of the year in California and Maryland. Julie’s books have been published in numerous countries, including Korea, China, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy, Indonesia, Turkey, and Brazil.”

“To deal with the devastating possibility that I might have actually failed at my SECOND career choice, I began to write. What came out of me were stories and books for young people. They took me back to the time in my life when the decisions I made, the paths I chose, determined the kind of person I would become.  I still live in Colorado, in the 'burbs. My partner Sherri and I met in college, and we’ve been together ever since. Our home sits on a hill with a breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks along the Continental Divide. There's a skulk of foxes (that's what my Thesaurus calls them) who've laid claim to our neighborhood, along with the occasional coyote on the prowl for good garbage digs.

My neighbors think I'm slumming because I stay home all day. But they can't see all the places I go to in my mind. Amazing, exciting, happy, sad, horrible, wonderful places. Yeah, okay, these may be psychotic episodes brought on by lack of human contact, but I like to think my brain is a breeding ground for stories. Something is always festering in there. So, readers, sit tight; you're in for a rocky ride. I promise you one thing—it'll be noisy, but fun.”

(My True Story.  Retrieved  November 19^th, 2014 from http://www.julieannepeters.com/files/JPBio.htm)

Genres

LGBTQ

Contemporary/Coming of Age 

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1:  Keeping a secret: when is it okay, when does it become unhealthy?

2: Being true to yourself, despite what others think.

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

LGBTQ

Language

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why Included?

I included “Luna” for its themes on gender identity. I also loved the relationship between Regan and Luna.

Waiting

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, New York City, 2012. ISBN: 978-1442443549

Summary

 As missionary children, London and Zach spent most of their time together. More than brother and sister, the two of them were best friends, inseparable as their family traveled to different countries. But that all changed when Zach dies. Suddenly, London has lost her faith and finds herself the outcast at school, and none of her classmates sure of what to say to her. Her dad is away from home most of the time and her mom sits in her room in silence, not saying a word to anyone but God.

When Lili, a bright, happy student from Utah sits at London’s table, London thinks she might finally have someone to talk to. But London still isn’t ready to talk about what happened with Zach to anyone: not to Lili, who has four brothers of her own. Not to Taylor, Zach’s best friend. And not to Jesse, the mysterious brother of Lili, who has no idea of London’s past.   But isn’t it about time somebody listened to London’s feelings?

Critical Evaluation

Emotional throughout, Waiting deals carefully with the topics of grief and death.  While the characters may come across as bitter or too emotional in their outbursts, their various displays of grief are realistic. London’s back and forth emotions, as well as her struggle to find normalcy with friends and a relationship will especially speak to teen audiences. While there is a love triangle in the book, Waiting is more about London’s relationship with her family and her own grieving process. The choice as to which boy London will pick is not as important as London finding someone to finally tell the truth to.  

 The build up to Zach’s life and death is a slow burn, allowing readers to connect more with London’s grief itself and not the details about her brother.  While there are several bittersweet moments toward the end of the book, the audience comes away with a sense that London and her family finally have a chance to fully heal.  With heartbreaking verse and beautiful emotion, Waiting is a stunning novel on grief and moving on.

Reader’s Annotation

How do you grieve for your brother when you won’t talk about him with anyone?

About the Author

“Carol Lynch Williams, who grew up in Florida and now lives in Utah, is an award-winning novelist with seven children of her own, including six daughters.  She has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College, and won the prestigious PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship. The Chosen One was named one of the ALA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and Best Books for Young Adult Readers; it won the Whitney and the Association of Mormon Letters awards for the best young adult novel of the year; and was featured on numerous lists of recommended YA fiction. Carol's other novels include Glimpse, Miles From Ordinary, The Haven, Waiting, Signed, Skye Harper, and the Just in Time series.”

(About Carol Lynch Williams.  Retrieved November 17th, 2014 from http://www.carollynchwilliams.com/about.php)

Genres

Verse

Contemporary

Curriculum Ties

English—Poetry

Booktalking Ideas

1: Different forms of grieving

2: How does faith factor into the story?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 14+

Grades 8+

Challenge Issues

Language

Sexual Situations

Violence/Suicide scenes

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why included?

I included Waiting for its heartbreaking story and verse, as well as the realistic characters.

Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World

Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World by Sabina Berman.

Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World by Sabina Berman.  Henry Holt and Co,  New York, 2012. ISBN 0805093257

Summary

It’s 1978, in Mazatlan, Mexico and Karen Nieto’s life is about to change.  Abandoned by her mother for being autistic, Karen has been living as a feral child, unable to speak or communicate with anyone.  After her mother dies, Aunt Isabelle arrives to  take care of the tuna cannery family business. Unaware that her sister had a child, Aunt Isabelle is surprised to find Karen in her feral state. Even the staff at the Nieto’s estate isn’t aware of Karen’s existence or that she’s even related to the Nieto’s.   

But Aunt Isabelle is convinced this feral child is her niece and she begins to clean her up, teach her how to speak, and how to read.  But Karen would rather swim in the ocean and make friends with sea creatures then go to school and make friends with other people.  As Karen grows up and tries to discover who she is, she realizes her gift of working with animals can be put to good use: by changing her family’s tuna cannery business.

Critical Evaluation

The main theme in Me, Who Dove into the Heart of the World is finding oneself. While Karen doesn’t fully understand the world around her or how to fit in with others, she does understand who she is. She refers to herself as Me throughout the novel, the pronoun always capitalized to mark the importance of her first word, as well as the importance of herself.  Readers of all ages will identify with Karen’s struggle of finding her place in the world.

The writing itself is beautiful and Berman does a wonderful job getting into the mind of Karen. With simple prose and rich descriptions of Mexico, the audience is able to feel what Karen feels and understand her thought process.   One interesting note about the writing style: since the book was translated from the original Spanish version, there are no quotation marks around the dialogue. This might be hard for some readers to get into, but doesn’t take anything away from this beautiful, haunting story.

Reader’s Annotation
Karen has always been different, but her connection with animals could save her family's business. .

About the Author

“Lauded for her poetry, short stories, newspaper articles and plays, she lays claim to the unprecedented honor of winning the Mexican Theater Prize four times. Among the many honors she has received are the 2000 National Journalism Award for Mujeres y poder; Premio de Poesía Pluridimensional Jugeute (Multidimensional Poetry Prize) for Mariposa (Butterfly); Premio de Cuento Latinoamericano (1975) for Año Internacional de la Mujer (International Year of the Woman ); Primer Premio de Teatro Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (1983) (First Prize from the Institute of Theatre of Fine Arts) for Yankee, Herejía(Heresy), Rompecabezas (Puzzle), and La maravillosa de niño pingüica.

Berman is undoubtedly recognized and celebrated for her contributions as a multifaceted and pioneering playwright, narrator, journalist, and poet. Her feminist ideals, struggles for social justice, acceptance of alternative sexual orientations, and treatment of the difficulties of belonging to an ethnic and religious minority are emblematic of her literary expression. She unabashedly celebrates all aspects of her distinctive identity—Jewish, Mexican and feminist—allowing them to culminate in a unique and unconventional form of literary expression.”

 (Weingarten, L. Sabina Berman. Retrieved November 15^th, 2014 from http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/berman-sabina)

Genres

Adult Fiction

Crossover

Curriculum Ties   N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1: Did you like Karen’s narrator style?

2:  Discuss the time period of the book-how it would have been different set in current time.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 15+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

Language

Sexual situations

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

  

Why included?

I included this book because it’s a good crossover of genre--both  teens and adults would like this book.  I especially loved the narrator and the prose of the book.

Ticker

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev.  Skyscape Publishing, Seattle, WA, 2014. ISBN 978-1477825280

Summary

In a steampunk society, Penny Farthing lives with a clockwork heart.  After surgeon Calvin Warwick saved her, she became an Augmented: humans who have clockwork hearts and mechanical body parts. Life as an Augmented isn’t easy: Penny has to be careful not to overexert her body and remember to wind up her heart every hour. While she tries to live life as an Augmented teenager, Calvin Warwick faces trial for mass murder.  Penny knows that Calvin’s intentions was to make her another heart and save her life again, but the rest of their community views him as an evil murderer.

Now as the trial is underway for Warwick, Penny and her twin brother Nic, face more problems. In one day, their parents are kidnapped, their home ransacked, and their factory bombed. Whoever is behind it all demands that Penny and Nic hand over their parents research about the Augmented or else they will be killed. Now Penny must figure out who is after her family, with the help of some new friends including handsome, brooding general Marcus Kingsley.

Critical Evaluation

The world building in Ticker is wonderful. There is a nice mix of modern technology along with traditional steampunk—instead of texting, Penny uses a “personal aethergraph” to send messages.   While there are a lot of steampunk names and inventions sprinkled throughout the story, it’s never confusing to the reader what’s going on. And the setting of an alternate universe Victorian England is pure, traditional steampunk.

Penny is a strong character who doesn’t view herself as a damsel in distress. While she does fall for Marcus, she also establishes that she is a strong girl who can take care of herself in spite  of the  fact that she has a windup heart. The supporting characters of Nic, Violet, Sebastian, and Marcus are all strongly written as well without ever seeming too perfect or fake.  The plot itself is fun and moves along nicely, giving the audience just enough story background before jumping right into the action.  Ticker is a wonderful, imaginative story for teens looking to get into the steampunk world.

Reader’s Annotation

When Penny’s parents are kidnapped and her world is falling apart, she won’t let a little thing like a clockwork heart stop her from finding out the truth.

About the Author

“Lisa Mantchev is a temporally-displaced Capricorn who casts her spells from an ancient tree in the Pacific Northwest. When not scribbling, she is by turns an earth elemental, English professor, actress, artist, and domestic goddess. She shares her abode with her husband, two children, and three hairy miscreant dogs.

She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.) Her young adult steampunk novel TICKER is now available from Skyscape/Amazon. Her picture books, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS and SISTER DAY!, are forthcoming from Paula Wiseman/S&S.”

 (Lisa Mantchev  Retrieved November 12^th, 2014 from http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Mantchev/e/B001JSE9PE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0)

Genres

Steampunk

Fantasy

Curriculum Ties   N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1: How does Penny’s windup heart make her different from her friends?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why included?

I included Ticker because it’s a new YA release and because of its steampunk themes. I also loved the characters and there was plenty of action and humor to keep me interested.  

1989: Taylor Swift (Music)

1989: Taylor Swift

1989, by Taylor Swift. Big Machine Records, Nashville. ASIN: B00MRHANNI

Track Listing:

1: Welcome to New York

2: Blank Space

3: Style

4: Out of the Woods

5: All you had to do was Stay

6: Shake it Off

7: I wish you would

8: Bad Blood

9: Wildest Dreams

10: How you get the Girl

11: This Love

12: I know Places

13: Clean

Summary

1989 is the fifth album from  singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Her first attempt at a pure pop album, 1989 sold over one million copies during its first week alone. (Caulfield, K, “Taylor Swift’s 1989 Heading For 1 Million Sales Debut.” Retrieved November 9^th, 2014 from http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6296916/taylor-swift-1989-sales-1-million) As in previous albums, several songs on 1989 are co-written by other artists: “Out of the Woods,” with  Fun’s guitarist Jack Antonoff, “Clean,” with English singer Imogen Heap, and “I Know Places” and “Welcome to New York” with OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder.

In usual Swift fashion, the songs on 1989 are about relationships, love lost, and finding oneself. “Welcome to New York” talks about finding oneself in the Big Apple, and “Shake It Off,” (her first single off the album) is a fun track about not caring what others have to say.   “Out of the Woods” remembers a relationship that wasn’t meant to last, while “Style" talks about a ‘bad boy’ that Swift can’t stay away from.

Critical Evaluation

1989 is different from Swift’s other albums, but is still fun to listen to.   Her sound and style may have changed but Swift still writes all her songs and creates memorable lyrics such as “The rest of the world was in black and white, but we were in screaming color.” (Swift, Out of the Woods, 2014) The same feelings and memories from Swift’s life are still an important part of her songs: this time, they’re just to a different sound.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is Swift’s likeability with teens through her lyrics of love and loss.  While her fans and critics like to match Swift’s ex boyfriends with certain songs, the songs on 1989 could really be about anyone: another reason why teens can relate to the album so much.

Swift could have written “Style” about any bad boy in Hollywood, but to teens listening to the track will most likely think of their own bad boy crush. While many have said that 1989 is too far of a departure from Swift’s country music, she continues to impress with her throwback 80’s sound and emotional lyrics.

Reader’s Annotation

1989 is another look into the life and emotions of country turned pop superstar Taylor Swift.

About the Artist

“She is, quite simply, a global superstar. Taylor Swift is a seven-time GRAMMY winner, and the youngest recipient in history of the music industry’s highest honor, the GRAMMY Award for Album of the Year. She is the best-selling digital music artist of all time, and the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album hit the 1 million first-week sales figure (2010’s Speak Now and 2012’s RED). She’s a household name whose insanely catchy yet deeply personal self-penned songs transcend music genres, and a savvy businesswoman who has built a childhood dream into an empire.

But the numbers don’t tell Taylor's story half as well as she could. After all, it’s the intangibles that elevate Swift into the stratosphere of our pop culture planet, allowing the 24-year old singer-songwriter to orbit in a more rarified air. Her large-scale charitable contributions are one thing, but it’s in the small gestures – the notes of compassion she posts on the Instagram photos of lovelorn fans, the genuine hugs she distributes without discretion – where Swift proves time and time again that platinum-selling, record-setting success has not changed her inherent nature. She is awkwardly honest and powerfully empathetic; a brazen superfan, loyal friend, fierce protector of hearts; and one of the world’s greatest ambassadors for the power of just being yourself.”

(Pastorek, Whitney. “Taylor Swift biography.” Retrieved October 10^th,  2014 from http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Swift/e/B0017PE36O/ref=ac_dtp_sa_bio)

Genres

Music

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Grades 8+

Challenge Issues

Brief sexual lyrics.

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why Included?

I included 1989 because it’s a bestseller on iTunes and a popular request with our teen patrons.  I also included it because the album had great songs and memorable lyrics.

Like No Other

Like No Other by Una LaMarche

Like No Other by Una LaMarche. Razorbill, New York City, 2014. ISBN: 978-1595146748

Summary

Devorah and Jaxon come from completely different worlds. Devorah was raised in a Hasidic family and has always been known as the perfect, good girl of her family. She dresses modestly, never goes out after curfew, and listens to everything her parents ask of her. Devorah’s fate is to be a good wife and mother and to marry someone else who was raised in a Hasidic family. But sometimes, being a good and obedient daughter just gets too boring.

Jaxon is the only boy in his family and has grown up with four sisters. Despite being around girls most of his life, he’s still not comfortable talking with any of the pretty girls in his class. He considers himself to be a nerd and would love more than anything then to break out of his shell—or at least talk to a pretty girl without freezing up.

Jaxon and Devorah’s paths never would have crossed before the day of the hurricane.  They both find themselves at the hospital—Devorah’s sister has just given birth, Jaxon’s best friend broke his arm—and end up getting stuck in an elevator together, when the power goes out. While they wait for help, they end up talking and having a connection they can’t describe--and a connection they can't have. But despite all of the reasons why they can’t be together, both Jaxon and Devorah find themselves thinking about each other.

Critical Evaluation

The romance in Like No Other is cute and refreshing compared to other teen romances. Both Jaxon and Devorah try to live their own lives and don’t spend every minute pining over each other. The choices the teens make about their relationship and their own lives are realistic, if bittersweet.  Aside from the romance, Like No Other deals with its characters trying to figure out what they want in life. While teens may not be able to relate to Devorah’s religion and culture, they can relate to her feelings of being trapped by her family and wanting to find her own route to happiness.

LaMarche explains the beliefs and rituals of Jaxon and Devorah’s religion and culture well with italicized terms and simple definitions. The alternating first person point of view chapters allows readers to get inside both Jaxon and Devorah’s minds, as well as learn about their family and everyday life.   Teen readers looking for their next romantic read will appreciate the diverse characters and cute romance in Like No Other.

Reader’s Annotation

Jaxon gets nervous around girls and Devorah’s religion doesn’t allow her to be alone with any guys.  But when the two teens get stuck in an elevator together during a storm, they end up falling in love.

About the Author

“Una LaMarche is the author of two young adult novels, FIVE SUMMERS and LIKE NO OTHER, and UNABROW, a forthcoming collection of humor essays based on some of her more questionable life choices. She is also a contributing writer for The New York Observer and The Huffington Post, and blogs at The Sassy Curmudgeon. Una lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son. You can follow her on Twitter @sassycurmudgeon, and if you pre-order her next book, somewhere up in heaven, a dance circle will form and an angel will successfully jump over its own leg.”

(Una LaMarche.  Retrieved November 8^th, 2014 from http://www.amazon.com/Una-LaMarche/e/B00ALJSTMQ)

Genres

Romance

Curriculum Ties

Comparative Religion

Social Science

Booktalking Ideas

1:  Have you ever felt that your life was already decided for you?

2:  How does Devorah change the way Jaxon acts around girls?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Literary Awards

Junior Library Guild Selection (2014)

Why included?

I included the Like No Other for its cute, clean romance, its message of deciding your own fate, and the diverse characters and setting of New York City.