Newsletter 2413 Issue 2413200949131554

INTERVIEW

• The Reputable E. Lockhart
  
• 
• E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (Hyperion, 2008) has earned awards and honors—and it was a National Book Award finalist. The bestselling book may have been bumped from the 2009 Morning News Tournament of Books competition, but this extremely private young adult author is still riding high.
  
  On top of all the praise you’ve received for Frankie Landau-Banks, you were recently the only YA book in the 2009 Tournament of Books. It must be good to be you.
  
  The National Book Award finals, the Printz honor, and the Cybils Award—it was great luck to have had such a good run with The Disreputable History, and truthfully I very much enjoy validation from the institutions in power, even while I feel the need to dissect my enjoyment of it a bit. more » » » 

Blogs

• ShelfTalker: A Children's Bookseller's Blog
  Elizabeth Bluemle, Co-owner, Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, Vt.
  Lost in the Pixels of a Good Book: The E-book Problem
  Like all brand-new iPhone users, I went a little crazy at the iTunes App Store (a magical land where you can find everything from tiny handheld games—Air Hockey! Flight Control!—to downlo...
  more » » » 
  
• Bowllan's Blog
  Amy Bowllan, The Hewitt School, New York
  Using Flip Videos In The Classroom
  I have to apologize for my delay in posting my conference diversity resources. It's a busy time of year, but I do promise - pinky swear - to have them posted later this evening. I ...
  more » » » 
  
• Battle Of The (Kids') Books Blog
  People's Choice Poll
  Because we are the very model of a modern battle commander, we want all spectators to participate in a variety of ways such as commenting here, posting on blogs, and voting in our People's Cho...
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• Battle Of The (Kids') Books Blog
  We Tweet!
  The Twitter url and link: http://email.schoollibraryjournal.com/cgi-bin2/DM/y/hA0L3SyX0WzD0DvRd0EK
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WHAT ARE THEY READING FOR FUN?

• Stories of love and romance, a spate of nonfiction, and a bit of poetry.
  Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School Library, NH:
  
  Like practically every other library, we have had a lot of interest in Twilight and related titles, including both Stephenie Meyer's non-vampiric The Host (Little, Brown, 2008) and non-Meyer vampires from P.C. Cast and Charlaine Harris. But our most popular selection this semester has been Alan Moore’s antiheroic graphic novel Watchmen (DC Comics, 1995), which intrigued those who wanted a little more insight before venturing to the cinema. more » » » 

NEWS

• Teens Feel the Economic Pinch in a Big Way, Study Says
  Teens are feeling the impact of the economic crisis in a big way. Some 53 percent say they’re choosing activities that cost less money, 50 percent say they talk about the economy with their friends, and 14 percent of kids ages 15 to 17 say they contribute money to their family budget, according to a new survey by Junior Achievement, which has kept a financial pulse on U.S. teens for the last decade.
  
  The results of the 2009 Teens and Personal Finance poll—sponsored by Junior Achievement—demonstrate a strong need to teach kids about financial literacy. “Teens are indicating feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about the economy and its effect on their lives,” says Jack Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating kids about workforce readiness. “Possessing and using sound money management skills can help young people feel more in control of their futures.” more » » » 
• Can’t Afford a Prom Dress? Try the Local Library
  With its community facing tough economic times, the Galesburg Public Library has reached out by offering free prom dresses to teens who otherwise couldn’t afford them.
  
  As a result of a the 100 Dresses Program launched by YA Librarian Kari Smith, more than two dozen local girls from four high schools recently chose from gently used evening dresses in all shades and sizes, donated from women's clubs, college students, and other high school kids. Some even walked away with matching accessories to wear on their big night, which takes place on April 25. more » » » 

REMARKABLE READS

• Homelessness
  Living without anywhere to call home can be both terrifying and strengthening. DoSomething.org reports that one in three homeless people in the United States is a teen. While some homeless teens are runaways, just as many are abandoned by their families or have fallen through the cracks of the foster care system. Readers will find that the characters in these books cope with homelessness in a variety of ways, often rising above their own expectations.
  
  COOKE, Bev. Feral. Orca. 2008. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55143-747-7.
• Gr 7-10–Little Cat lives in the subway tunnels of a Canadian city. Her story alternates between her own struggles for survival and her observations of the “two-legs” that come into her territory. more » » » 

LIBRARIAN'S INTERNET

• Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
• www.daughtersandsonstowork.org
• On April 23 many kids will be accompanying a parent or mentor to work, and this site will help prepare both adults and children for a rewarding, fun, and educational experience. The best place to start is the "Teachers & Educators" section. Here you’ll find a 47-page "Bright Ideas" planning and activity guide and an 80-page "Connections" curriculum guide. Next, visit the "Activities" section where you’ll find a 20-page "Sharing Power & Possibility" activity book and other activity guides and icebreakers. Not all the resources on this site are for teachers, though—be sure to visit the "Parents & Mentors" section for useful checklists, planning tips, and sample ideas that will help parents/mentors make a child’s day at work memorable. Finally, don’t miss the "Resources" section, where you’ll find planning tips for kids as well as print and online bibliographies for both adults and kids. If your community is not taking part in "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" this year, this site will help you educate folks in your community about it.

JOB OF THE WEEK