Banned Books Week 2016

Today is the start of Banned Books Week for 2016, and as I've written in 2014 and 2015, it is a week and a topic that is near and dear to my heart. This year's topic, which is spotlighting diversity, is especially timely and relevant. Research indicates that minority authors are often victims of having their books banned or challenged. Additionally, the books that are most likely to be banned are books that focus on some type of diversity. Although this isn't surprising, it is disheartening, since recent events as well as many of the close-minded sentiments that are said in this country and in the world illustrate the importance of reading books from diverse perspectives and about people who are different from us. While I wish that this focus wasn't needed, I'm thrilled that this year's Banned Books Week emphasizes it, and I hope that it helps continue the dialogue about diversity in books.

Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association

YA Book Review: Ghosts

When I found out that Raina Telgemeier had a new book coming out this fall, I immediately added it to my wishlist. I always enjoy her work (as a former backstage theatre nerd, Drama rings particularly true to me), and I admire her ability to deal with topics in a way that is age appropriate and realistic. This ability comes to the forefront in Ghosts, her latest book, as she addresses themes of illness and death with compassion and sensitivity while tempering the seriousness of the issues with humor.

Book Round-Up for August 29: Finishing Up Summer Reading

Something I've learned about myself is that I have a latent competitive streak. While it doesn't always manifest itself, it can be a dangerous and powerful thing when it does emerge. It doesn't translate to sports (at which I am terrible at) or even in situations that seem competitive (think trivia night contents). However, it comes out in full force when I am competing against myself. This is particularly true when it comes to reading and books. I keep up with the books I read each year on my personal LibraryThing account, and I always want to beat my previous year's tally.

This usually translates to a great excuse to spend lots of quality time reading during the summer, which is really one of the only times I have to dedicate myself to pleasure reading for an extended period. However, summer is also a time to read books for the new school year, particularly in preparation for the YAL and trade book suggestions I provide for my students. So, without further ado, here are some books I read this summer but that I didn't write about in another round-up.

picture from
Jacqueline Woodson's website

Two Exciting Online Professional Opportunities for August 2016

I can't believe today is the first day of August (seriously, where did July go?)! This means that the start of school is just around the corner for most of us, and it also signals a prime time for some before school inspiration and professional development. Fortunately, there are two excellent (and free) online opportunities coming soon. This means that you can get ready for the school year and hear from some wonderful speakers without having to leave your couch. While I'll be posting about other PD opportunities later this week, I wanted to highlight these two before it is too late (as you'll see, one starts tomorrow).

EdmodoCon 2016 is August 2 (aka tomorrow) and 3. The conference focuses on how teachers can use Edmodo and other digital tools and resources to improve students' learning. Both days of the conference features numerous speakers and sessions on a number of topics related to education and education technology.

SLJTeen Live is on August 10, 2016. As I've mentioned before, this is a great opportunity to listen to authors speak about their work (this year's keynote speakers are Meg Medina and Maggie Stiefvater) and to interact with young adult publishers to learn about the different books and materials they offer.

Book Round-Up for June 6, 2016

After dedicating the first book round-up post on nonfiction picture books, I thought that this second post would be a great time to write about nonfiction YAL. I have long enjoyed nonfiction (in fact, I often prefer nonfiction to fiction), and I especially love the nonfiction YAL that is available. Besides being engagingly written, these books offer some great opportunities for interdisciplinary connections and readings in various subject areas.

A few notes regarding these book round-ups, if you have any suggestions for books I should feature, please let me know! Also, I plan on posting these semi-regularly. I initially planned on doing them on a weekly basis, but given other responsibilities, I've decided to do them a minimum of once a month.

picture from Sarah Miller's website

Book Round-Up for May 30, 2016

Over the past few months, I've been fortunate to receive a number of books from Macmillan and other sources, and I've been trying to think of a way to share my thoughts on these books and help others learn about them. To do this, I'm experimenting with an ongoing series of posts for this blog in the form of a semi-regular book round-up. These will consist of quick takes and some brief reviews on books that I find interesting and/or notable. Many of these books will be new, some will be new-to-me, and others will be some of my old favorites.

SLJ TeenLive 2016 is Coming!

This week, I got an email about SLJ TeenLive 2016 event, which will be on August 10, 2016. This free virtual conference, which used to be called SummerTeen, is in its fifth year, and it just keeps getting better and better. The conference features keynote speakers (this year they are Meg Medina, the author of Burn Baby Burn, and Maggie Stiefvater, the author of The Raven King), panel discussion, and a virtual exhibit hall where attendees can ask questions, learn about new books, enter contests, and more. If you are interested in young adult literature, I highly recommend this event! It's fun and informative, and you can do it at your own pace (and in your pajamas if you are so inclined).

For more information or to register, click on the banner above or go to the registration page.

The State of Reading for the Year (So Far)

I can't believe that November is just a week away! Besides being the beginning of the end of the semester, November is the beginning of the craziness of the holiday season. It also has the annual NCTE conference and ALAN Workshop, two of my favorite professional development events.

However, before diving head-first into November, I wanted to reflect on the reading I've done so far this year. While I don't know how much more I'll be able to accomplish in the next two months (grading and traveling will be eating up a lot of time), I'm pretty proud of the number of books I have read. My official count is 60 books, and while I still at least 14 to go if I want to catch up with the number I read in 2014, it is still a decent accomplishment. Here are some of my favorites books from this year so far:

Banned Books Week 2015

Yesterday (September 27) was the first day of Banned Books Week for 2015. As I wrote last year, Banned Books Week is of special interest to me as a former English teacher and current teacher educator. Besides being a fascinating topic (especially when we start exploring just why certain books have been challenged or banned), it is a timely one for my students. As they think about their future classrooms and what they will be teaching, they often express concern about bringing in more modern literature because of the possibility that the books might invite controversy. This is especially true when it comes to young adult literature.

August's Professional Development Opportunities

I apologize for not posting in July - the month was dedicated to preparing for a trip, going on a trip, and recovering from the trip. That said, August is upon us, and while some people have the month (or most of the month) off, many others are getting ready to start back to school. To help those of us in the latter category get into the right frame of mind, here are some free online PD opportunities:

The Young Adult Library Project, Part II

As I posted in January, I've been working on setting up a young adult literature library in my department. While it is, and will likely remain, a work in progress, I'm happy with the strides made this semester. With somewhere between 200 and 300 books, the library is off to a great start, and I can't wait for my students to use it more next school year. For those of you interested in learning more about the process and getting some tips on how you might go about creating your own YA classroom, office, or department library, please keep reading after the jump.

A Young Adult Literature Library Project

One of my projects for 2015 is setting up and establishing a young adult literature library to go along with the already-established children's literature library there. While getting the space and bookcases was quite an undertaking, it was only part of the battle. Right now, my intrepid student assistant and I are in the process of cataloging, marking, and shelving all of my YA books. Here are some of the tools and resources that have been invaluable in this project (which is ongoing):

So Much to Read, So Little Time - October 2014

Since my school is having its fall break this week, I've been playing catch-up with all of the work that has been backlogged during the first half of the semester. Besides straitening my office, planning lessons, and grading papers, I've also been trying to do some more reading. I'm teaching a content-area reading course for the first time, and while it has required a lot of preparation and work, I've really enjoyed it. A new course is a great way to keep teaching fresh, since it forces me to start from scratch with the class objectives, assignments, readings, and activities. This particular course presents an additional challenge because I wanted to dedicate several weeks to supplementing content-area textbooks with articles and trade books. Consequently, I've been trying to do some extra reading in order to be able to share books with my students. Here's a partial list of books I've read this fall for my content area reading course:

Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain - Intended for middle school students, this book examines the legacy of Angel Island, which some called the "Ellis Island of the West." However, despite this nickname, the immigrants who passed through Angel Island were often treated very differently than those who came through Ellis Island. This would be a great resource to use with middle school students who are studying immigration.

The End of the Line - This is an elementary/middle grade fictional story set in Amsterdam during World War II, and it follows two elderly brothers as they try to protect and care for a young Jewish girl whose mother is taken away by the Nazis. While the premise sounds intense, the book manages to provide accurate information about life during the Holocaust without being too graphic. However, I'm not certain that this is a book I'd use in an elementary or middle school class (the publisher page notes that it is intended for ages 8 - 11). Some elementary students might not be ready for such a heavy topic while middle school students might find the book too simple. That said, The End of the Line might work well as an alternative text in a middle school social studies class because it offers a perspective not always included in textbooks (the experiences of civilians during war) and because it could be a good text for struggling readers.

Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America's Presidents - I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, and while it seems a little young for middle school, it has some interesting and fun trivia. For middle schoolers, I'd probably use the trivia at the beginning of the unit (or throughout it) to engage the students with the different presidents. Additionally, the book could be a good model for a final project where students would find trivia on the different presidents and compile it in a children's book for elementary students.

In the Shadow of No Towers - Unlike the previous books, this book is definitely more suited for high school students. Written and illustrated by Art Spiegleman, In the Shadow of No Towers examines the events and aftermath of September 11 from a New Yorker's point of view. The book has some adult themes and language, so it might not work for all high schools, but it is work reading and examining because of the way it captures the experience of being in New York during those dark and troubling times.

Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra - One distinct challenge about reading in the content areas is finding fictional books that would appeal to teens while also fitting in a particular subject. Do the Math manages to have a (relatively) strong connection with math while also being an engaging and accessible read. In it, Tess, an eighth grader who loves math and thinks about people and situations in terms of math problems, must deal with the social drama that comes with middle school while also confronting some moral dilemmas.

Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail - Danica McKellar (aka Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years) wrote this nonfiction book to show girls that math can be approachable and fun. I applaud the effort, and McKellar does a nice job explaining and walking the reader through different mathematical concepts in a way that is understandable, even for people who aren't that skilled in the subject. However, I'm torn about the way the information is presented, since it could be a little too girly or cutesy for some. That said, I could see it being effective for a specific group of students.

What have you been reading this fall? Do you have any suggestions for books that might work in a middle or high school content classroom? Please leave your comments and thoughts below!

Preparing for Banned Books Week 2014

Earlier this week, I saw an article on The Atlantic website with the provocative title, "Who Should Decide What High School Kids Are Allowed to Read?" The article examines the recent controversy surrounding the young adult novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which is about a gay teenager who is trying to come to terms with her identity. Although it focuses on the debate on whether or not Cameron Post should be an option for students at Delaware's Cape Henlopen High School (the school board first voted to remove the book from a reading list and then, after the backlash, they reinstated the book but also decided to abolish the list to allow students to choose anything they wanted for summer reading), it also provides an opportunity for readers to think about censorship in general, especially when it comes to students.

September's #nctechat on Comics & Graphic Novels is Sept. 21

In preparation for Banned Books Week (Sept. 21 - 27), this month's #nctechat is on comics and graphic novels in the classroom. Join in the conversation on Sunday, September 21 at 8:00 pm ET.

Helpful hints for participating in #nctechat:

• NCTE puts the chat up on Storify afterwards so you can go back and review what was said (or you can read people's responses if you couldn't make the chat). For instance, you can see July's #nctechat on the teacher as writer.
• For the sake of your sanity (and because there is often a lag on Twitter with the most recent tweets), you might want to use a tool like TweetDeck or TweetChat when participating. I'm partial to TweetChat because I find it more straightforward than TweetDeck (and its many columns). I also love that it automatically adds the hashtag to any tweet I do.
• If you've never participated in #nctechat, don't be shy - it is a fun and welcoming group. You don't have to respond to every (or any) question on conversation that is happening. If you do decide to join in, just be certain to use the hashtag when responding. Also, be certain to denote which question you are answering (for instance, if you are responding to question 1, put A1 at the beginning of your tweet).

Do you have questions, comments, or concerns? Please feel free to leave a comment or send me a tweet.

YA Book Review: My Basmati Bat Mitzvah

In 1970, Judy Blume featured an interfaith family in her seminal Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. The protagonist, Margaret Simon, not only has to worry about coming of age, but she also has to contend with the challenge of being torn between two religions (Judaism and Christianity) in a time and place where such a conflict is unusual. Margaret spends a year trying to figure out which religion she belongs to but comes to no final answer. Fast-forward 44 years, and Paula J. Freedman tackles a similar situation in My Basmati Bat Mitzvah, in which Tara Feinstein must figure out a way to negotiate both of her cultural heritages. In many ways, Feinstein’s work serves as a great companion piece of Are You There, God?. While it occasionally falls into sitcom territory and the ending might be a little too pat, the character interactions and the skillful way Freedman portrays Tara make this a worthwhile read.

YA/Children's Book Review: The Family Romanov

Since I was young, I have been fascinated by the last Russian tsar and his family. After reading about Anastasia Romanov in a library book about great unsolved mysteries in the 1980s (before the remains of the Romanovs were found and identified), I wanted to learn all I could about the tragic family. In the days before the internet, I had to rely upon the books available in my town’s small library, and while it had several books on the Romanovs, Nicholas and Alexandra and Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson were a hard slog for nine-year-old me. After trying to read these books, I still had an incomplete and highly romanticized idea of the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution.

Even though that was many years ago and I’ve since had the chance to learn more about Revolutionary Russia, I was thrilled to read Candace Fleming’s The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial Russia. In it, Fleming presents a well-written and well-researched account of a Russia’s last tsar and his family and the inequality and discontent that led to their downfall. This is a considerable undertaking, and the author navigates the complexity of the task with ease. The result is a lively and compelling narrative that keeps the reader engaged while also being informative.

YA Book Review: Grim

“Someday my prince will come…”

“When you wish upon a star…”

Thanks to the ubiquity of Disney in our culture, these are often what we associate with fairy tales. To many people, fairy tales are light and enjoyable wisps of stories that make perfect fodder for bedtime stories and animated musicals. Grim, an aptly-named collection of 17 stories by various young adult authors, tacitly acknowledges this in its back cover synopsis:

Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today.

Although this is accurate in that the stories in Grim tend to be dark and sinister, the stories in the anthology are closer to the original tales than the back blurb suggests. Despite fairy tales’ reputation and treatment in much of the media, the original works have another, more sinister side to them. Cannibalism, incest, and child abandonment and abuse are par for the course in many fairy and folk tales, and they sometimes more closely resemble the work of David Lynch than that of Walt Disney.

YA Book Review: Fangirl

Cover: St. Martin's Griffin

One of the most aptly named books about books is Nancy Pearl’s Book Crush, which offers reading suggestions for children and young adults. The idea of having a crush on a book might sound a little crazy to non-readers, but it is certainly something that most readers and bibliophiles can relate to. While I read a lot, I don’t often develop book crushes. This is likely due to the nature of the books I tend to read; I enjoy reading about curriculum and pedagogy, but these books don’t typically inspire the swoony, happy feelings associated with crushes. However, I’m this summer I officially got my first book crush in a long time after reading Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl.

Free Online Conference on Young Adult Lit this Thursday (7/24/14)

This Thursday (July 24, 2014), the School Library Journal is holding its third annual SummerTeen virtual conference. The conference features YA authors discussing their writing and publishers featuring new and upcoming books.

For more information or to register, visit the SLJ SummerTeen page.