Trouble viewing this email? Click here.
To ensure our emails reach your inbox, add SLJTeen@email.schoollibraryjournal.com to your address book. Click here to learn how.

September 17, 2008

In this Issue
State of Our Nation’s Youth 2008 Teen Tuesday and Do It Yourself Textbook Covers Even Dragon Riders Have to Go to School Giving Teens a Boost to Stay in School Saved by the Bell – Sixty Second Tech Tips	Dent, Grace. Diary of a Chav. Little, Brown and Company. October 2008. ISBN: 978-0-316-03483-8. Gr 7-10. Stiefvater, Maggie. Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception. Flux. October 2008. ISBN: 978-0-7387-1370-0. Gr 8-12. Howell, Simmone. Everything Beautiful. Bloomsbury USA. October 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59990-042-1. Gr 8-11.

Though the school year has just started, it is already time for juniors to start worrying about SAT scores, higher education, and career plans. According to the 2008 State of Our Nation’s Youth report, nearly 70 percent of today’s high school students plan to go to college. Thanks to the Ad Council (see story below), there’s a cool new way to give teens a little extra “boost” that can get them to school and avoid dropping out. Just don’t tell them about the three awesome new ‘movies from books’ debuting in October! – Dodie Ownes, Editor

In This Issue

• State of Our Nation’s Youth 2008
  The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans has just released its annual State of Our Nation’s Youth report, the results from a survey conducted with U.S. teens, ages 14-18. The publication analyzes the students' responses and provides insights about their opinions and attitudes. This year’s report reveals some not-so-subtle shifts. more » » » 
• Teen Tuesday and Do It Yourself Textbook Covers
  Despite being what I like to call “craft impaired,” every now and then I feel the need to feature a craft project. With September rolling around and teens heading back to school, I decided to have a program where they could make their own customized textbook covers—not the same old brown paper bags or book socks. This turned out to be one of the easiest programs I’ve ever done. more » » » 

• Even Dragon Riders Have to Go to School
  For hundreds of years, Dragon Riders have trained at Vroengard Academy, in Doru Araeba. Vroengard Academy is the Hogwarts of Alagaesia, and fans of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle (Eragon, Eldest and soon Brisingr) now have the opportunity to interact with this fantasy world thanks to an interactive online game launched by Knopf earlier this summer. more » » » 
• Giving Teens a Boost to Stay in School
  Over 7,000 high school students drop out every school day, which translates to one in three teens in our country who give up on their dreams, according to a report from the America’s Promise Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (April 2008). more » » » 
• Saved by the Bell – Sixty Second Tech Tips
  As a high school librarian, it seems that at least once a week I have students come to the library in a panic looking for current events.  They usually need to find an article specific to a location or one that they must connect to a location in the world.  BuzzTracker is the answer. more » » » 

Teens Know "Best" - Book Reviews from Young Adults

• Dent, Grace. Diary of a Chav. Little, Brown and Company. October 2008. ISBN: 978-0-316-03483-8. Gr 7-10.
  First of all, it is important to know that ‘chav’ is a British insult for white working-class people fixated on street fashions derived from American hip-hop such as imitation gold and fake designer clothing. Sixteen year old Bailey feels that she is better than that. more » » » 
• Stiefvater, Maggie. Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception. Flux. October 2008. ISBN: 978-0-7387-1370-0. Gr 8-12.
  This book seemed a little predictable. I could tell from several miles away that it would end as well as possible, so no worries. And the author seems to assume I know a lot more about Faeries than I do, because a lot of the aspects of the character being able to see faeries went straight over my head.
  more » » » 
• Howell, Simmone. Everything Beautiful. Bloomsbury USA. October 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59990-042-1. Gr 8-11.
  I thought this book was going to be a lot better. The premise is that Riley Rose, atheist and bad girl, has been tricked into attending Spirit Ranch, a Christian camp. There she meets a camper in a wheelchair, who becomes her antagonist. more » » » 

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

• Media Mania: Book Tie-ins to High-Interest Movies, TV Shows, and More
  October is a banner 'books to movie' month, with three big releases - Nick & Norah's ...,The Express, and Secret Life of Bees. We've got the buzz on the books and the flicks. more » » » 

Digital Whirl - Tech Trends & Teen Lives - the latest from the web

• Blogs Help Humanize, Demystify Life in the Middle East
  A look into how mainstream media can sway our views on a topic, culture, or place - and how new media offers tools to get a more complete picture. more » » » 
• User Generated Product Design
  Just a small update on an incredible project. Techcrunch - a blog - has enlisted its reader to help design and build an inexpensive tablet PC, with the goal of it going into production. more » » » 
• Google’s Knol: So Far, Not So Good
  A look at how Google's Knol compares to Wikipedia. more » » » 
• Apple Puts One More Nail Into the CD Coffin
  "Apple will release an application next month that will provide users with interactive albums, which will include lyrics, behind-the-scenes images, and exclusive artwork." more » » » 
• First Test of Google’s New Web Browser
  Google launches its "Chrome" web browser, hailed as a new way to surf the net. more » » » 

Opportunities

• Capturing Struggling and Reluctant Readers – October 8, 2008, 2 PM ET
  This informative webcast, sponsored by Capstone Press and School Library Journal,  will bring together a panel of experts in reading, media center services, and children’s literacy, including school librarians, and educators to cover a range of processes, programs, and ideas that can bolster reading skills, comprehension, and literacy in the K-6 library and classroom. more » » » 
• Prudential Financial: Spirit of Community Awards
  The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people for voluntary service to their communities. Maximum award: $5,000 for an honoree and a $5,000 grant to a nonprofit, charitable organization of the honoree's choice. Eligibility: students in grades 5-12 who have engaged in a volunteer service activity within the past year. Deadline: Oct. 31, 2008. more » » » 

You are receiving this e-mail because you have requested either a newsletter or a magazine from
Reed Business Information.

You are currently registered to receive School Library Journal's e-mail newsletters at #EmailAddr#

Subscribe to School Library Journal's e-mail newsletters   |   Unsubscribe from SLJ Teen
Update Your Information  |  Print Subscription  |  Privacy Policy

QUESTIONS?
If you need further assistance with your newsletter subscription, please contact our Online support staff.
Send editorial questions about this newsletter to: dodie.ownes@gmail.com
Send advertising questions about this newsletter to: onlineads@reedbusiness.com

PRIVACY MANAGER: privacymanager@reedbusiness.com
Reed Business Information 2000 Clearwater Drive Oak Brook, IL 60523
Copyright 2008, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier, Inc.