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December 15th, 2010

Don't walk, just run on over (right now!) to Angela Carstensen's new "Adult Books 4 Teens" blog and check out her awesome list of Best Adult Books 4 Teens 2010. And how about this? One of the books is The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow, who was interviewed in SLJTeen's September 1 issue. You'll be seeing more from Angela in SLJTeen in 2011: I'm not telling what it is, but I know you're going to love it.—Dodie Ownes, editor

IN THIS ISSUE

• Literacy Short Takes
  I know a gift when I see one, and I couldn't believe my luck when the editor of BookSmack!, Library Journal's (LJ) sassy and smart book review enewsletter, asked me if I had room for Martha Cornog's piece on comics and literacy. A longtime LJ reviewer and coeditor of Graphic Novels Beyond the Basics: Insights and Issues for Libraries (Libraries Unlimited, 2009), Martha really knows her stuff, and I'm thrilled to be sharing the first installment of a three-part series with SLJTeen's readers. more » » » 
  
  
  
• Life Happens—Get Answers@your library
  Here at Colorado's Cherry Creek High School we take Red Ribbon Week, our nation's oldest drug-prevention program, very seriously—and so do our students. The annual event, which typically takes place the last week of October, gives us an opportunity to showcase a wide variety of library resources to help teens make smart choices about their lives. more » » » 
  
  
  
• Music and Game Reviews by Young Adults
  Not only is Taylor Swift a class act, but her latest release, Speak Now, has pulled at least one listener on to the fan side of the fence. Nora Jones is no diva either, pulling together her musical pals to help put together The Fall, 18 tracks of jazzy romantic sounds. If after all that romance a shot of testosterone is needed, our reviewer suggests spending some time with Call of Duty: Black Ops for "hours of chaotic and rewarding game play." more » » » 
  

From the Trenches

• From the Trenches
  There's nothing quite like a new book from one's favorite author. There's familiarity in the writing, the excitement of a new story, followed by a little bit of sadness when you get to the end and know you'll have to wait for the next one. We all have our favorite authors, and so do our students and patrons. That's what makes our libraries so full of variety. The following list is just a small sampling of new releases by popular authors. There are always more titles about to be released, and you probably have your own favorite authors to keep track of. more » » » 
  

Saved by the Bell

• Storybird—Digital Storytelling
  Rarely do I come across a tech tool that's great for younger students as well as older ones. Well, here's one you need to about: Storybird, an online collaborative storytelling tool, just knocked my socks off! And the best part about it is that kids really enjoy Storybird and it can be meshed into nearly any curriculum. more » » » 

Book Reviews by Young Adults—Biddeford Book Ninjas

• Book Reviews by Young Adults
  Ninja Elyse gives a big high five to Marc Aronson and Charles Smith for their collection of short stories, Pick Up Game, which is less about basketball than it sounds. The Visconti House, from Australian author (and former teacher and librarian) Elsbeth Edgar, brings together two outsiders to solve a local mystery, and the story is less about the house than the people who are in it. And for faerie fans, there's Jenna Black's Shadowspell, full of magic, suspense, and romance. more » » » 
  
  
  

Media Mania: Book Tie-Ins to High-Interest Movies, TV Shows, and More

• Boning Up on Bones
  Now well into its sixth season on the Fox Network, this quirky police procedural continues to satisfy loyal viewers and win new fans. The television show was inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist Kathy Reichs, who also serves as producer, with its main character named after the protagonist of Reichs's best-selling "Temperance Brennan" crime novel series (Scribner). Created by Hart Hanson, Bones is a compelling mix of forensic mystery, romantic tension, and dark humor, all brought together with interesting plotlines and strong characterizations. more » » » 
  
  
  

Seen and Heard

• This One's a 'Keeper'!
  Ten-year-old Keeper is sure her vanished mother was really a mermaid. She is sure the magic of the blue moon will fix everything that has gone wrong... and so much has gone wrong. Keeper (Atheneum, 2010), Kathi Appelt's touching and deeply satisfying novel, has received four starred reviews and has been named to Best of the Year lists by SLJ, Kirkus, A Fuse #8 Production, and the New York Public Library (so far!). This story of love, family, and mermaids from a Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist is sure to be a favorite with tweens. Five lucky librarians will win an autographed copy of Keeper-a great prize for one of your young patrons or to add to your collection! more » » » 
  
  
  
• YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Shortlist Announced
  The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has selected five books as finalists for its 2011 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award, which honors the best nonfiction books written for young adults between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010. more » » »