The Everdeen Sisters
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By Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 4/29/2009 2:10:00 PM
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Lauren Downey (left) and Summer Ogata's Battle of the Books video has garnered a huge librarian following. |
Their top pick is Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, one of the finalists. Check back on May 6 to see who wins.
How did you guys stumble upon our contest?
Downey: I first read about it in either the PW Daily or the PW Children's Bookshelf, I can't remember which one. I then suggested to Summer that we try to read all of the books in the Battle, so that when The Hunger Games got the inevitable shaft again (like at the ALA Mid-Winter Conference, when I was almost brought to tears while watching the live webcast at work), we would understand why...or at least be able to legitimately complain.
Did you have any idea that your video would turn you into rock stars among librarians?
Downey: We were aiming for rock stars among each other. I think it worked.
Ogata: We had no idea it would be so popular. We initially just sent it to the Battle Commander(s) because we thought they would appreciate it. After the BoB blog did a post on us, more people started embedding the video on their blogs. Apparently we underestimated the reach of the library blogging community!
How did the idea come about?
Downey: Thanks to High School Musical 3, any time one of us says “sixteen” we immediately break into song ("Now or Never"). One day when trying to remember how many books were competing, we finally settled on sixteen. I then proceed to sing “Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen books left got to choose just one.” We got a good laugh in and dropped it. However, the next day at work I decided that rewriting the lyrics of the whole song to fit the Battle of the Books was an excellent use of my time.
Ogata: It wasn't until we completely finished the song that we even entertained the idea of making a video.
So how long did it take to put it all together?
Ogata: That weekend we went to Barnes & Noble with the intent of reading more of the books in the Battle. We ended up stealthily filming half of the video. The next day we finished filming in our apartment, edited it, and had it up on YouTube by Monday. It was a very productive weekend.
Downey: I just wanted to throw books and burn something, success!
Did you guys read all 16 books?
Ogata: We didn't finish reading all of them... unfortunately. Downey read nine and I read six.
You even mention ALA in the video, so obviously, the average Joe isn’t going to have any idea what your lyrics mean. Who were you targeting?
Ogata: I think it's clear who we were targeting... ourselves! We made the video because we thought it would be fun, and when the School Library Journal picked it up and librarians began commenting on it, we were thrilled! Before that, the only people watching were our friends and family, who didn't understand what we were talking about, and only found it entertaining because we were dancing around like fools and wearing towels on our heads while pretending to be bears. Which is, honestly, a large part of the appeal, but when people who knew who Katniss and Prim were began watching, it was a different kind of appreciation.
Downey: Who doesn't know what ALA is? Hey hey!
Why do you call yourselves the Everdeen Sisters?
Ogata: When I first read The Hunger Games, my first thought was “This book is amazing!” My closely following second thought was “Man, Katniss Everdeen is exactly like Downey.” Katniss's sister Prim was the only other female character in the book who wasn't... killed, so that become my alias.
Downey: And by “only other female character in the book who isn't killed,” Summer means “only other female character in the book who is exactly like her.” Well, Katniss and Prim's relationship is very similar to ours (I often treat Summer like a child). And she leaves me cheese balls in the morning for when I go hunting with Gale.
So where did your obvious love—or should we say obsession—with children’s/YA books come from?
Ogata: No, obsession is definitely the better word. I've always loved reading, but it was only recently that I discovered the amazing variety of YA fiction that has been published in the last couple of years. The genre has grown tremendously even since I was in high school, and I'm glad I still look young enough that I don't stick out too terribly when browsing the teen section!
Downey: Speaking of sticking out, the next time you see a 5'11” girl hovering around the children's section, it's probably me. I especially enjoy JFIC because (most of the time) the authors don't try to dumb down the content for a younger audience. Books can be complex and intelligent and geared toward younger readers. I love that children's books can still change my life. Both of my parents are/were elementary school teachers...my love for reading was kind of inevitable. Also, thanks to my dad for giving me the Newbery poster that made an appearance in the video!
A lot of librarians struggle to get kids—especially teens—excited about the library and reading. You guys are far from geeks, so what advice do you have?
Ogata: I'm not sure “far from geeks” is an accurate description of us, but I do feel that a lot of teens think that they're alone in their love of reading. And while they might be the only reader in their close circle of friends, there are many communities of teen readers on the Internet (nerdfighters.ning.com, for one excellent example) with whom they can bond and talk about books.
Downey: Yes, even with younger children the same applies. Focusing more on the reading aspect than the social, after school book groups (where the children all read the same book) can be a great way for kids to become more engaged with their reading.
A screen grab from their video, part of which was filmed at home and part at Barnes & Noble.
I noticed that you guys are book signing groupies.
Ogata: I do love attending book signings. But Downey once took a one hour and 40 minute train ride from Ridgewood, NJ, to Middletown, NJ, then hopped on a bike and rode 2.5 miles uphill to attend a Megan McCafferty signing. So she wins.
Downey: And one time Summer almost cried in front of Rachel Vail.
Has all this attention translated into any job offers or interviews for Summer?
Ogata: Haha, no. That wasn't the goal of the video, but if something did happen it would be a nice surprise!
Would you guys seriously consider attending library school if you were given scholarships?
Downey: Definitely. No question. I am told about twice a year that I should go into Information/Library Sciences, but have never done anything about it. It's been in the back of my mind for the past five years. My self-professed mentor at Wiley is the manager of the Information Center (library) and she would love it if I went that route, as would I!
Ogata: Sure! I definitely haven't given it as much thought as Downey has, but if the response to our video has taught me anything, it's that librarians are amazing.
What’s your ideal profession?
Ogata: I would love to work in the school and library marketing division of a children's book publisher. I mean, if we're being really specific.
Downey: I would like to be the winner of the 75th Hunger Games! Followed by a job that has a salary.
OK, so we know you guys want The Hunger Games to win. Still think she has a shot?
Ogata: Is that even a question?
Downey: Wait, didn't it already win?
If it wins, how are you guys gonna celebrate?
Ogata: By making our own Battle of the Books seal and affixing it to the cover of The Hunger Games.
Downey: I'd probably have to take a personal day.
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