Summer (Fun) Reads - the scoop from librarians

Summertime can be ideal for catching up on reading for pleasure, especially for HVLA members, who often don't have time during the school year.  The HVLA board asked the HVLA community to share a book read, currently being read, or to be read during this summer.  

Here's what HVLA members are reading (in alphabetical order):

Maria said, "I am reading Zinn's People's History for a book club through the Human Rights Pen Pal group that matches incarcerated folks with people on the outside. I thought the graphic novel might be a good way to supplement it."

Constance said, "Gorgeous writing, makes you see and feel what our forests were like in a world before mass industry, electricity, and clear-cutting."

Susan said, "Loved Wolf Hollow."

Sarah said, "Starred, but controversial - Loved it!"

Angela said, "I think of this book as The Monuments Men, but for librarians. Can't wait to read it."

Hanna said, "Highly recommended by my colleagues."

An HVLA member said, "It was a very original first person narrative. I couldn't put it down."

Patricia said, "It's a mash up of science, historical fiction, horror, and feminism set during the Victorian era."

Michael said, "Recommended by a close friend. The intertwining of a memoir and a true crime case together made for a richer book about the two of them than if they were a stand alone."

Jennifer said, "I'm a big fan of the author and and also enjoying reading memoirs."

 Gili said, "I chose Stevenson's book because I had heard his quote, 'The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice.' After hearing this, I knew I had to learn more from this brilliant, articulate lawyer fighting for justice."

Gili said, "So many layers and such an original storyline. I'm perpetually in awe of women graphic novelists. I can't wait for the second one to come out in October!"

Laura read The Other Einstein.

Cheryl said, "Saw it on NetGalley, was drawn to the cover and description, and publishers were promoting it at ALA. It's set in NYC housing projects (Harlem). Protagonist is an African-American boy whose passion is building with Legos. It feels like an authentic picture of life in an under-served community, and I love the motif of architecture throughout."

Christine said, "This book was recommended to me and is absolutely one of the best YA Fantasy books I have read in a really long time. The concept is so original and different from anything else out there. The character development and world-building are spectacular- I can't wait for the next one!"

Lisa said, "It came highly recommended by a friend and I have a deep need to know the world can swerve and rediscover its humanity."

Megan said, "It's a novella so it's a quick read. It's AMAZING!! Will be a great book for discussion."

Eve said, "Adam Haslett is a terrific writer of realistic fiction--the kind that probes people's psyches. It's the second book of his that I've read. In Union Atlantic, he delves into the not-so-ethical world of finance, but don't worry if you're not an expert in this field....the drama between the characters will carry you through."

Stacy said, "I loved the first one. This one is just as good!"

Mary said, "Because I love her books--she's dark and funny at the same time, and she never disappoints. Some people characterize this and a few of her other books as 'crime,' but it still reads like a regular novel. Great characters."

Elizabeth said, "I chose tribute in prose and verse to Alexie's artistic, abusive, extraordinary mother Lillian Cox Alexie because of my affection and respect for the author's other works, including the YA The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and the picture book Thunder Boy Jr. It's also a great read for those interested in Native identity, mental illness, the effects of the American colonization and cycles of abuse."

Laura read The Zookeeper's Wife.

Collaboration Can Be Easy (and Fun!)

Collaboration between teachers and librarians can happen for a multitude of reasons.  Sometimes the path to collaboration is difficult to envision and time consuming to facilitate (though still really important!), and other times an opportunity presents itself that seems obvious and you wonder, why haven't I done this before?

Our sixth graders have read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry for many years and their English teacher decided they needed more background to fully understand the time period and some of the issues in the book.  This immediately led me to part one of the collaboration where I attended a workshop about new books with this English teacher and then made some recommendations.   She then selected Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine as a book pairing for their English curriculum.

The second part of the partnership involved designing a new cross curricular project. I teach an independent reading class to sixth graders where kids are encouraged to think about who they are as readers so that as they get older, they will become purposeful, self-sufficient book selectors.  This was the perfect opportunity to talk about one strategy for successful readers:  If you need more background information about something else you are studying, choose a related book to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.

In collaboration with the English teacher, we designed a project where kids will get to choose a book to read on their own and then draw a connection between Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry or Lions of Little Rock and their selected book.

Although they were welcome to make their own selections, I have been recommending some books to the sixth graders.  Here's a sample of what I have suggested:

Nonfiction:

• Getting Away With Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case by Chris Crowe

• Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose
• We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson
• Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
• Marching for Freedom by Elizabeth Partridge
• Courage Has No Color by Tanya Lee Stone
• Little Rock Girl 1957: How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration by Shelley Tougas

Fiction:

• Lunch-Box Dream by Tony Abbott
• A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg
• Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe
• Bud, Not Buddy/The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine

• No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Michaeux Nelson

• Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Paperboy by Vince Vawter
• One Crazy Summer/PS Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia
• Crow by Barbara Wright

Building relationships is often the most important part of collaboration, so it's important not to overlook any meaningful chance to connect with other teachers.  In the hunt for the perfect partnership, don't miss one that is right under your nose!

The Oscars of Books (at least for youth librarians...)

Do you ever try to tell one of your non-librarian friends about the youth media awards?  While you get all excited about the winners and start gabbing about this award and that one like it's the Academy Awards, your friend naively asks, "there's that many awards for kid's books?"  Sadly, not everyone knows the awesomeness of the Youth Media Awards.

Well if you haven't had a chance yet to obsess over the winners and honors, check out the various divisions of ALA that sponsor each award.  The YALSA book awards include the Alex, Edwards, Morris, Nonfiction, Odyssey, Printz, while the ALSC covers the awards for the Newbery, Caldecott, Arbuthnot Lecture, Batchelder, Pura Belpre, Carnegie, Geisel, Odyssey, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.  For a comprehensive look, check out the alphabetical list of all ALA awards.

If your favorite book didn't make the cut, it may not be because members of the committee didn't also love it.  Although we all have our favorites, committee members are charged with following the criteria for their award.  Also the voting process can be complicated, as we learned during the mock Printz this year.  For more about the Newbery process, check out Monica Edinger's post on Nerdy Book Club, Top Ten Things You May Not Know About the Newbery Award.  Feel free to send some love to your favorite that did or didn't win big in the comments (I still love you Ask the Passengers!)

In addition to the awards announced at ALA, the best of the year is recognized in a variety of lists, such as the Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Best Fiction for Young Adults, Amazing Audiobooks, Fabulous Films for Young Adults, Popular Paperbacks, Quick Picks, Reader's Choice and Teens' Top Ten.  

Want a fast way to access all these lists when you are out and about?  Check out the Teen Book Finder App on the App Store.

A big thank you must go out to all the committee members that work so hard all year so we librarians (and kids too!) can reap the benefits of your efforts.

Dealing With Tragedy

After a tragedy like the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, it can be hard to for educators to know the best way to guide students through this sad time.  While some students need to talk through their emotions, others feel over-saturated and need a break from the heavy discussion, and some turn to books. 

Parents may be asking you for resources to share with their children and teens may be looking for books to help them work through their own feelings, and what librarian doesn't come prepared to deal with any situation without a handful of recommendations?

Mediabistro's GalleyCat has a short list of books to share with children linked with their WorldCat records and the Child Witness to Violence organization has a lengthy bibliography for younger children.  Other titles dealing with school shootings that are more appropriate for upper school students include Jodi Picoult's Nineteen Minutes, Francine Prose's After, or Jennifer Brown's Hate List.

A particularly useful resource from the National Association of School Psychologists  (NASP) gives tips about how to help children cope with tragedy.  If you have found any other helpful resources, feel free to add them in the comments.