All Info About Teen Reading

Book Trailer - Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

2009-06-02T21:39:00.001-05:00

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

From the publisher:
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called the touch. (Comes in handy when youre traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie).

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows shes next. Even worse, shes got two guys hungry for her affections, and theyre not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Look for a review soon!

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

2009-06-01T20:14:00.002-05:00

Author Sarah Dessen discusses her latest book, Along for the Ride.

Interesting Link - Vocaboly.com

2009-05-25T13:26:00.003-05:00

Teens looking for a downloadable vocabularly builder to help them prepare for the SAT may be interested in Vocaboly.com. Users can create study lists and flash cards, take computer-generated tests, and play games to help them become more familiar with new words. With repetition one of the keys to learning new vocabulary, this seems like an easy and interesting way to study. My only concern is that the website has some typos and poorly worded sentences, so I worry that the program itself won't be perfectly proofread. Still, with a free trial download available, it won't hurt to try it out and see if Vocaboly.com fits your needs.

The author received payment for this post.

Interesting Link - Review of The Green Teen by Jenn Savedge

2009-05-11T16:46:00.002-05:00

A Little Greener Every Day, a blog I follow, has published a review of The Green Teen by Jenn Savedge. It sounds like an interesting read for teens looking to become more environmentally responsible with tips on things like becoming less wasteful when packing lunch. I especially like the idea that, "All of the tips and advice are things that teens really do have control over - it's all advice about what they can do, not what they can convince their parents to do." I think it's definitely worth a look!

Quick Book Review - Keesha's House by Helen Frost

2009-04-19T16:37:00.000-05:00

I picked up Keesha's House by Helen Frost from a special "April is Poetry Month" display at the library. I've been a fan of verse novels ever since I read Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust. Alternating narrators reveal stories of troubled teens who find a common safe place. They all have various reasons why they don't feel welcome at home. Stephie is pregnant. Harris just came out to his close-minded family. Katie's stepfather keeps trying to come in her bedroom at night. Staying at "Keesha's house" gives them time to make important decisions and set off on a new path in life, whether that means staying on their own or returning home. Not everyone gets a traditional happy ending, but every story is hopeful. The poems flowed across the page so effortlessly that it wasn't until I read the author's information at the back that I realized they were all written in either sestina or sonnet form. All in all, a book I highly recommend.

Thoughts on 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows

2009-04-18T15:04:00.004-05:00

I loved the entire Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, so I was interested in seeing how Ann Brasheres' newest book 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows would compare.

As three childhood friends face the summer between 8th and 9th grade, it's obvious that they're drifting apart. Jo is more concerned with being part of the "popular" crowd, Ama can't stop focusing on academics, and Polly seems stuck in the past. But they are about to face a surprising summer that will make them reassess their friendship. Polly latches on to the idea of becoming a model. Ama, expecting to attend an academic summer program, instead is placed in a wilderness adventure program, and finds she is not well-suited for roughing it. As Jo's family falls apart and a summer fling causes conflict, she finds out how much the friendship of her new friends is really worth.

I felt that 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows very accurately depicted the pain of friends growing apart. Brasheres shows her strength in creating interesting and diverse teen female characters that you can really care about. I could also appreciate the overall message of appreciating the deep roots of true friendship.

My one complaint about the book was that the characters talked about the Sisterhood as if everyone in their school was aware of them and their magical pants. If Brasheres had stuck to cameo appearances, I think it would have been a fun nod to fans of the books. When Jo mentions being coached by Bridget at soccer camp or Polly babysits for Tibby's siblings, those of us who read the Sisterhood books could smile knowingly. Instead, it seemed like the author was trying too hard: "Hey, remember everyone, I wrote this really popular series about four best friends who shared a pair of pants?" I just didn't buy that middle school students talked about Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget as mythical figures.

Still, even with that distraction 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows was an enjoyable book, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Ann Brasheres' work or books about teen friendship and discovery.

Five More Ways Teachers Can Encourage Teen Reading

2009-02-01T21:08:00.003-05:00

Of course, I couldn't stop at just Five Ways Teachers Can Encourage Teen Reading. So here are five more ways teachers can foster an interest in reading in their classrooms:

Create a literate atmosphere
Find ways to encourage a love of reading, books, and words in your classroom. Create a bulletin board of your favorite books and then ask students to add their own. Hang up posters of books and authors. Create a word or quote of the day and discuss it with your students.
Don't quiz the students to death
Quizzes can be an important motivator to complete assignments and to check for understanding, but every once in a while, allow students to read just for the sake of reading. Maybe it's a different viewpoint on a scientific debate that you want them to consider or an enjoyable short story. Try to let them just read it and soak it in. Or consider alternative ways of assessing student comprehension, as discussed in the next two points.
Consider open-ended assignments
Open-ended assignments can be written, such as projects that ask students to create their own interpretations of a work or they can be verbal, such as class discussions where students are allowed to take the lead and discuss the reading as they see fit. The idea of using literature circles in English classrooms has been big in the past several years, and part of the reason why they were so highly touted is that the discussion groups asked students to talk about books in ways that people really talk about books. You would never turn to a coworker and ask them to outline the three central themes in the book they were reading, providing two examples of each. But you would probably talk about those themes as you discussed your overall impressions of the book in a free-flowing conversation about your reading. This isn't to say that you should give students total control with no intervention on your part, but a little freedom in an assignment can free up students' thinking, creativity and enjoyment of reading.
Allow for different learning styles
When assignments to assess students' understanding of a reading, allow for different learning styles as much as possible so that everyone will have a chance to express themselves in a comfortable way and they won't think of reading as a chore that always leads to unpleasant activities. Some students are visual learners and would be better able to express themselves through a drawing or graphic organizer such as a flow chart. Other students are more reflective by nature and thrive on introspective journals. You don't need to redesign your entire curriculum, but a few options sprinkled throughout can work wonders for reluctant readers.
Use young adult literature in your curriculum
While there is certainly a time and a place for the classics, honestly ask yourself if there aren't some course goals that could be met through using books written especially for teens. These books will be more accessible to more readers and can still be just as useful as other pieces of literature in teaching thematic and writing-related concepts. If you're just not familiar with teen books, ask your librarian or media specialist if they have any ideas for recent young adult releases that would fit your needs. If you would like some ideas on young adult literature that would complement your English Language Arts curriculum, a great resource is Joan F. Kaywell's Adolescent Literature As a Complement to the Classics.

Even more ways to encourage reading deserve even More Creative Book Reports Ideas. Add more interest to your class assignments by going beyond the basic book report.

Share your own ways for encouraging teen reading in the comments!

Five Ways Teachers Can Encourage Teen Reading

2009-01-31T22:00:00.004-05:00

Are you tired of your students' seeming apathy towards reading? Here are five ways you, as a teacher, can encourage teens to reads:

Make time for reading in your classroom
One of the most popular ways to do this is through sustained silent reading (ssr) time. Some districts make a whole-school effort out of this, devoting one homeroom period a week to the practice or a similar schedule. The idea is that for a set period of time, anywhere from 10-30 minutes, students will do nothing but read for pleasure. Even if you restrict reading time to class assignments, providing time in class for reading will allow students to ask questions if they're having trouble understanding and get them off to a good start on their homework.
Make space for reading in your classroom
While most teens' needs for books to read can be fulfilled by the library, having a bookshelf in your classroom sends a powerful message to students about the importance you place on books and reading. Visit a few used bookstores or thrift shops to build a small collection if you haven't already gathered books for students to use. I once had a teacher who bought used books from his students for a quarter each at the beginning of each school year to build up his class library. If your classroom space allows it, consider creating a reading space for free reading time or for students to use before class. Some of the most inviting classrooms I've ever visited included a reading corner with beanbags or rocking chairs, a bit of carpeting in tiled rooms, and soft lighting.
Model an interest in reading
Find ways to show that you value reading. Keep the book you're currently reading on your desk. When you give students time to read in class, model appropriate behavior by reading a book of your own. Talk about reading as a pleasurable activity, either as part of a larger class discussion or in your conversations with teens. Talk to your students about your favorite books the way you would share a new book with a friend.
Give students some choice in their reading
Are there any places in your curriculum where you can give students choice in their reading? Perhaps there are two short stories in the textbook that illustrate point of view and you can let students choose whether to read a romance or a science fiction story. Or maybe you can create a more general assignment that asks students to read a biography from the period you're studying in history. Students will be more engaged with their reading if they can select the books they read.
Ask questions about reading
"But I do this all the time! Isn't that what teachers do?" is what you're probably thinking in response to this suggestion. There are two sides to this point. When I say, "Ask questions about reading," I'm first thinking that in order to encourage free reading among teenagers, you should always be on the lookout for an opportunity to ask your students about the books they're reading for fun. Show them that you're interested in all books, not just the ones you assign. The second facet of asking questions about reading is to ask students what they think about the readings you do assign. Whether in a formal survey or through more casual conversations before or after class, try to get a feel for what most captures their interest in assigned readings and what gives them difficulties. Try to capitalize on the interest and create assignments to work through the difficulties in future lesson plans.

After you've encouraged your students to read, don't ruin it with boring assignments. Check out Creative Book Report Ideas for three great ideas to keep students engaged with their reading.

Do you have your own tip for encouraging your students to read? Share it in the comments!

Thoughts on Twilight

2009-01-29T09:51:00.003-05:00

I wrote the following on a personal journal to share my thoughts with friends, but I thought I should also post it here, as it is also relevant to the topic of this blog:
Note - I wrote this with the understanding that the person reading it would have a basic idea of the story, so there may be some minor spoilers.

I was just thinking that I never gave my final report on Twilight. And my final assessment is that it wasn't that bad. The bits of commentary I had read online were so extreme, either fangirling all over it or hating it for its writing and the gender relations behind it. I find myself falling squarely in the middle. I don't want to have Edward's sparkly vampire babies, but I was also entertained by much of the book.

I can remember reading complaints about Bella being so popular, and I had expected her to be a cheerleader sort. Instead, she was popular because she was the new girl in a small town that doesn't get many new residents. It didn't seem that far-fetched to me. If you're a teenage boy, and you've been looking at the same girls for 17 years, the new one might be kind of appealing.

When Bella's attention was instantly drawn to Edward and his family on her first day of school, it didn't come across to me as some cliched "love at first sight" thing, but as someone honestly in awe at a family full of supernatural beauties. I think I might stare, too.

When she was mesmerized by Edward's eyes, that seemed to fit in with basic vampire mythology. At least, I think that's fairly commonly used in vampire stories, isn't it, that vampires can seduce their victims through their eyes or voice? I also thought that a vampire finding a particular human's blood attractive doesn't seem outside the realm of possiblity, as a sort of mythical version of pheromones.

Bella's clumsiness was a bit far-fetched, even as someone who also hated high school gym class (In my defense, though, I never actually injured anyone,as she seemed to), and perhaps gave Edward a few too many chances to be protective of her.

However, thinking about her clumsiness made me think that Edward and Bella's beginning interactions were similar to those of shoujo manga characters. The girl will often be clumsy and/or stumble into trouble, giving the guy a chance to come along and save her. Love/hate relationships are often common (I mean, you wouldn't have much of a weekly series if the two characters got together right away). So maybe I'm not a good judge of this because I've come to accept this structure in some stories.

The book was due the day I finished it, so I don't have it around for direct quoting, but I do recall a couple of times when I thought the word choice was a bit off, in a "would a high school girl, even a purportedly well-read one, really talk like that?" way. One that comes to mind is Bella saying that she was looking forward to some estrogen therapy when she was planning a shopping outing with friends.

On a more random note, I thought it was kind of funny when Edward had to skip biology class during the blood typing lab.

As you may have noticed with my earlier post, it took a while for the sparkling to come into play. When it did, it wasn't quite as excessive as I expected. It actually kind of made sense as an excuse for why vampires aren't seen in sunlight. It did lead into one of the more boring sections of the book, though, where Bella just plain talked too much about his good looks and her overall attraction to Edward. I was starting to get sick of them.

But then it started to improve after that when Edward introduced Bella to his family. I thought this part was interesting just for giving some more background about the different vampires and how they were created and survived over time. When the outsider vampire decided he wanted to hunt Bella, I thought that things picked up even more, and it became a real page-turner as I waited to see what would happen and if they would be able to outsmart him.

It's probably because I know what's coming with the horrific vampire baby birthing and whatnot, but I like the ending of the book better if I can think of it as open-ended. Bella wants to become a vampire so she can be with Edward always. He's reluctant. Fade to black, with the reader allowed to guess whether Ella ever manages to convince Edward.

The tl;dr summary - If you're on the fence about reading Twilight like I was, I think it's worth a try if you can find a copy to borrow.

Lesson plan available

2008-12-06T02:10:00.002-05:00

Lesson Plan for "The Bet" by Anton Chekhov

Although originally created for a homeschool audience, questions and activities could easily be adapted to the traditional classroom.
Includes:
Story overview
Vocabulary
Pre-Reading Questions
Pre-Reading Activities
Questions While Reading
Post-Reading Questions
Post-Reading Activities
Writing Assignments

National Book Award Finalists - Young People's Literature

2008-10-20T00:47:00.003-05:00

The National Book Award finalists were recently announced, including five authors in the young people's literature category:

Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains (Simon & Schuster)
Kathi Appelt, The Underneath (Atheneum)
Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied (Scholastic)
E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (Hyperion)
Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now (Alfred A. Knopf)

You can read more about the finalists at the official National Book Award site.

I had completely missed the fact that Laurie Halse Anderson had a new book out. It's historically-based like Fever 1793, which I didn't enjoy as much as Speak or Twisted. However, those are also some tough books to compare yourself to, so I'm still excited and I've placed it on hold at my library.

Melusine - Halloween Book Review

2008-10-13T14:09:00.003-05:00

Just in time for October, here's a review of a cute graphic novel called Melusine - Halloween. The title character is a young witch gearing up for the biggest time of the year for ghosts, goblins, witches, and other creepy creatures. However, there are more laughs than scares to be had.

Twilight Trailer

2008-10-12T00:13:00.002-05:00

Twilight HD Exclusive Trailer

The trailer seems a bit cheesy overall, with a weird mix of romance and action movie. I'm really behind on the whole Twilight phenomenon. Are they worth checking out? Honestly, as popular as they are, I've heard some horrible things about the quality of the writing and plot. Yet I'm curious.

Curled Up Kids Review - Tangerine by Edward Bloor

2008-09-24T20:56:00.002-05:00

At times, I also write reviews for Curled Up With a Good Book and its companion site, Curled Up Kids. There, you can now read my review of Tangerine by Edward Bloor. This is one of my all-time favorite young adult books, and one that I actually used in my freshman English classes when I was teaching. I think everyone should give it a try. If you do, let me know what you think.

Interesting Link - Innovative: A Word for the WriTeen

2008-09-20T23:59:00.003-05:00

At Innovative: A Word for the WriTeen, a teen writer shares her thoughts on getting published along with author interviews, book recommendations, and more.

Monster Blood Tattoo Trailer

2008-09-14T20:02:00.000-05:00

I know it's not a completely new idea, but I've never watched any before, so I'm intrigued by the idea of a book trailer. I have a review of the first book in the series ready to post soon.

PaperBackSwap Review

2008-09-13T10:47:00.005-05:00

PaperBack Swap is a site that allows users to swap unwanted books. It's as simple and as useful as it sounds.

Note:If you're under 18, you'll need to get a parent to sign up for you. That fact did give me pause in recommending this service on a "teen" reading site. However, I've had such a good experience with PaperBack Swap, I couldn't help but spread the word.

When you first sign up at PaperBack Swap, you can receive three credits for posting nine books to trade. Each credit is good for requesting one book. It's sort of a way to try out the service and a thank-you for joining. After that, you receive one credit for each book you send to another user.

There is an extensive teen selection, along with comics/graphic novels, and a genre for every interest. I find it's easier to find a book to request if you have something in mind when you're searching. The site allows you to browse by genre, but there are so many books listed, you could spend hours paging through the lists.

If a book you would like isn't currently available, you can place it on your Wish List. Then if someone posts the book you want, you will be alerted. You may never find one, but you never know. When I signed up for the site, the first books I sent out fulfilled Wish List requests.

It's easy to list a book for trade. You just click on "Post Books" under your account options and enter the ISBN from the back of each book. Confirm you have the correct book and it's in proper trading condition, and you're ready to go. You can increase your chances of making a trade and earning credits by perusing the wish lists and trying to find wishes you can fulfill.

You must pay the postage for all books you mail out. Most books can be mailed via media mail for $2.23, and some of the lightest books can be mailed First Class for even less. There are no additional fees for trading books.

I've had nothing but good experiences with my trades so far. I've been able to find some books I've wanted for quite a while, like The Wave and a few Gossip Girl novels while clearing out my bookshelves a bit. The first few books I requested were in good condition, and they arrived promptly.

Oddly enough, right after I started writing this article, I did encounter a problem with receiving the wrong book, and receiving a book I hadn't requested. Both senders were really helpful, and they were more than accommodating in working out the problem. A site like PaperBack Swap relies on the honesty and the communicativeness of its members, and so far they've passed with flying colors.

Interesting Link - Profile of Author of Total Constant Order

2008-09-12T20:36:00.007-05:00

I always feel a bit excited when I see a young adult book featured on the book-focused page of my local Sunday paper. Last Sunday brought a profile Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of Total Constant Order. The main character battles obsessive compulsive disorder, and the author has call on her own struggles to help her write the story. I haven't had a chance to read it, but I think it's worth checking out. I guess it's kind of fitting that the article was more about the author and her creative process and background, but it was the paragraph about the book that I honed right in on.

The Summer I Never Had

2008-09-10T20:45:00.001-05:00

I recently read Keeping The Moon by Sarah Dessen, and it was a great book, but it started me thinking about a major theme in teen books. The main character, Colie, is left behind by her infomercial-star fitness-guru mother when she goes on a tour of Europe, and Colie is forced to spend the summer with her aunt. Thus begins the summer that changes everything and with the help of an interesting cast of characters, she comes to terms with herself and realizes that she has something special to offer the world. I’ve always been a sucker for these kinds of stories, even those that aren’t written nearly as well as Keeping The Moon (even members of The Baby-Sitter's Clubhad special summers), but I’m left feeling cheated. Why did I never have a life-transforming summer?

In book after book a young female character is torn away from her daily life (family vacation, summer camp, etc.) and this new locale gives her a chance to blossom. She finds new friends, guys start drooling over her, she has a monumental summer romance as hot as the summer sun that bronzes her body and returns to school in the fall a changed person. Does anyone really have experiences like this? Did I just not hang out with the right people?

What were summers in high school like for me? Sitting around the house, reading, watching TV, baby-sitting a friend’s younger brother and occasionally doing something with my friends. And where did I travel? Every summer I was required to spend two weeks in Southern Illinois visiting my parents’ family, where a big Saturday is driving to Paducah, Kentucky to go to the Super Wal-Mart. The people closest to my age were two female cousins who were seven and ten years younger than I was. I can only take so much hide-and-go-seek, and it’s completely their fault that I saw Kazaam (Shaq as a rapping genie – that’s all you really need to know).

I went to two camp-like experiences during my high school years. One was a church-sponsored leadership camp, and while it was fun and I met some cool people, I never kept in touch with any of them afterwards, and I didn’t return with a Diocesan Youth Leadership Camp-boyfriend. I also attended the American Legion Auxiliary’s Girls’ State. The lack of guys at the camp was, I believe, supposed to empower us and allow us to focus on building a model government instead of flirting, but I think it just made everyone cranky. I ended up in a “city” of girls who didn’t really care about the program. Not that I was unnaturally excited to create a fake city council, but I was at least willing to go along with it, and it was certainly a more interesting way of learning about governmental issues than in my high school’s Political Behavior class. The counselors kept us under lock and key, and if I remember correctly, someone in our “city” stole from someone else. I suppose those were important summer events, but not quite in the way I was thinking.

So what would my more realistic big important summer novel look like? A teenage girl would spend the summer between tenth and eleventh grade at a mildly interesting baby-sitting job, sit around the house a lot, read some books, and watch lots of syndicated television. She’d attend driver’s training classes and exit with passable driving skills. On weekends, she might see a movie with friends then return to someone’s house, watch another movie on video and watch people play video games. On extra special days, ping-pong would be involved. Then she would spend a couple of weeks visiting family in an unexciting locale, counting down the days until she could return to cable TV.

Doesn’t exactly scream bestseller, does it? Maybe I should just leave young adult literature to the professionals.

Top Manga of Summer 2008

2008-09-08T18:01:00.003-05:00

ICv2 has posted a list of the Top 50 Manga of Summer 2008. It's probably no suprise that Naruto leads the pack, but I was happy to see the shojo title Fruits Basket holding its own at number 2. See how your favorites stack up, and check out some interesting new titles.

Image Source:http://www.sxc.hu/photo/301645

First a Book, Now a Movie

2008-09-07T23:39:00.007-05:00

One of the things that inspired me to return to this blog was that everywhere I turned lately, I saw a young adult novel turned into a book.

Of course, first is the already-released The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. It's actually based on the fourth and final book in the series, Forever in Blue.

This weekend, Samurai Girl played on ABC Family as a three-part miniseries. Since the Samurai Girl book series was never completed, I was happy to see it at least found new life in this adaptation.

Finally, on October 3, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist makes its way into theaters. There's something about the tone that seems a bit off in comparison to the books, but I'm still intrigued.

I'd be curious to know what you think. Did Sisterhood and Samurai Girl live up to the source material? Does the trailer for Nick and Norah look promising, or do you think they've ruined your favorite book?

Interview with Christopher Paolini

2008-09-07T18:42:00.005-05:00

The Borders Book Club currently features an interview with Christopher Paolini, author of the Inheritance trilogy. Paolini made waves when he wrote Eragon, the first book in the series, at the age of 15. The interview is nearly an hour long, although it is divided into chapters, so you can also watch a clip related to a specific topic, such as his homeschooling experience. What's the occasion for this interview? On September 20, he will release Brisingr, the final book in the trilogy. A hardcover box set of Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr will also be made available at this time. If you're a diehard fan of the books, check out the countdown on the Borders Book Club page, and get ready for your local midnight release parties.

Welcome back!

2008-09-07T18:17:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately, All Info About Teen Reading is no more. The larger All Info About network has been condensed to a smaller site featuring the owners' content. After some delays and debate, I have decided to continue my work on this blog rather than build a new site from scratch. So look for an influx of reviews from AIA Teen Reading along with updates on what's new in the world of young adult literature.

Where does YA belong?

2008-01-14T02:09:00.000-05:00

I just came across "What is YA and Where Should We Put It?" at c.k. blogs. It raises an interesting question about where we draw the line between books for older teens and books for adults. I also like the suggestion that books with "cross-over appeal" should be shelved closer to the adult fiction section in bookstores than the picture books they so often end up next to. I think it would be great to see this happen so that great books could find a larger audience regardless of whether the main characters are fifteen or fifty.

Quick Book Review - Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

2008-01-12T00:11:00.000-05:00

I've just read a very inventive book. Life on the Refrigerator Doors is told entirely through notes left by a mother and daughter as they struggle to communicate. The title comes from the idea that they're leaving these notes for each other on the refrigerator door as they cross paths. Claire is fifteen and dealing with normal teenage things like studying with friends and spending time with her new boyfriend while her mom is a doctor working odd hours. What starts out as mundane messages about what to pick up from the store and Claire eating dinner with her friend Emma shifts when Claire's mom faces a health crisis. I think part of the appeal comes from the fact that these notes seemed like they could have been plucked from the lives of any busy family. The feelings expressed in just a few words are always realistic. It's really quite a touching story, and it's a quick and easy read because of the format. I think it would be a great book for teens and their moms to read together.

Thoughts on Kare Kano

2007-10-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

Well, several months after first writing this review of Kare Kano, I've finished the entire series. At the end of volume 21, I felt much the same way I did after reading the first two volumes (See this post for my past thoughts). The characters continued to do things that annoyed me. (I hesitate to go into specifics because the examples that come to mind are huge spoilers for people who might want to read the books.) Yet in spite of this, I was still compelled to read more and find out what happened to them.

One thing I really appreciated about the series was the feeling that it told a complete story. The final volume even had a "where are they now" chapter set sixteen years after their high school graduation. However, even this chapter included one of those "I hate what this character is doing" moments that perpetually kept me from enjoying the series as much as I could have.

Another positive aspect of the series was the overall message about the redemptive power of love. The supporting cast could also really shine, providing just the right touch of drama or comedy in key moments.

Despite my mixed feelings about the series, I would still recommend readers give it a try to see if it's to their liking.

Gossip Girl on The CW

2007-09-26T21:11:00.002-05:00

I've long been a fan of the Gossip Girl books. It's just a fun series to read, in a soap opera sort of way. And now it's on The CW. First of all, I'm impressed. It's weird, but I feel almost proud of the books. It's not very often that a popular young adult novel gets made into a movie, let alone an entire TV series. However, after watching last week's premiere, I did have a few complaints about the Gossip Girl TV show. Check it out Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern time and see for yourself.

Quick Book Review - American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

2007-05-26T14:03:00.000-05:00

An award-winning graphic novel, American Born Chinese offers a realistic portrayal of the life of a young boy of Chinese descent. Parallel stories play with the idea of Chinese stereotypes and retell a folktale relevant to the theme of being happy with your true self. The three pieces come together at the end in a surprising way, and the result is a powerful book.

Quick Book Review - The Dreaming by Queenie Chan

2007-05-08T17:48:00.000-05:00

Amber and Jeanie are twin sisters accepted into their aunt's exclusive boarding school. But strange things abound. They must pretend to be sisters born a year apart because the Vice-Principal won't let twins attend the school, a strange darkness engulfs the grounds each night, and the girls are constantly plagued by the dreams of trees dripping blood. However, when one of their friends disappears in the middle of the night, things go from strange to downright terrifying. The dark lines of the manga art style are especially well-suited to conveying the bleak and creepy setting. I thought The Dreaming did a great job of building a scary atmosphere, and it ended on a classic cliffhanger sure to make you seek out the next volume.

Quick Book Review - Boy Kills Man By Matt Whyman

2007-05-05T15:07:00.000-05:00

When I first saw the title, I thought this book would be about a school shooting or something of that sort. It's actually about young assassins in Colombia, a life that the author assures us is based on reality. Sonny and his best friend Alberto have grown up together for nearly all of their 13 years. When Alberto begins to take jobs from a local crime lord, Sonny wants a part of the lifestyle - the money and the power - even as he sees the toll it takes on his friend. I've been trying to think of the right word to describe the overall effect of Boy Kills Man, and "unsettling" is the best I can come up with.

Markets for the Young Writer

2007-04-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

I came across an interesting resource for teen writers recently - Markets for the Young Writer, an ebook from C. Hope Clark. The book promises 232 markets open to submissions from young writers, along with helpful advice on getting paid for your writing and potentially turning your passion into a career. The book was updated in February 2007, so even in the fast-changing world of publishing, you can expect that the markets will be current

If you move in writing circles, you may recognize C. Hope Clark as the editor of FundsforWriters and its related newsletters, like the free Writing Kids newsletter. I haven't had a chance to read the ebook, but I can't imagine C. Hope Clark producing anything but a quality resource.

April is National Poetry Month

2007-04-17T16:03:00.000-05:00

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Visit the Academy of American Poets for more information about the celebration, information on poems, poets, and poetic forms, and poetry recordings.

Coming soon…

2007-04-10T19:32:00.000-05:00

Look for a number of new reviews on All Info About Teen Reading soon. I've finally made it through a backlog of review copies, which means more great recommendations for you!

Interesting teen reading link

2007-04-05T22:43:00.000-05:00

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently asked the question, "Is young-adult fare too mature for some of its readers?" as part of a larger look at teen reading. I think it brings up an interesting point. Some of the best young adult literature is great because of its realism, realism that often stems from difficult and mature situations. I would certainly pause before giving a 13-year-old the same book I would heartily recommend to a high school senior. However, it depends so much on the individual reader, too. Some teens are more mature than others, and some are more sensitive to troubling topics. What are you thoughts on the appropriateness of young adult literature? How do you decide what's appropriate for specific readers?

Quick Book Review - Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

2007-04-03T00:24:00.000-05:00

I've always been a fan of Gordon Korman, and I was excited to find his newest book at the library a few weeks ago. (Now, Born to Rock really wasn't that new; it came out in 2006. I guess I just missed out on the release.)

Straight-laced Leo is shocked to find out that his long-lost biological father may actually be one of the grandfathers of punk rock. He's horrified until a chain of events leaves him looking for a new source of college funding. Will a summer on the road with his new dad lead to some parental financial support? Will he even be alive after a summer of punk rock touring? Born to Rock brought the humor I've come to expect from a Gordon Korman book, but it also had a serious side that I thought added depth to the story. I definitely recommend it.

Twisted Podcast

2007-03-21T02:08:00.000-05:00

Laurie Halse Anderson has also created a podcast to promote the release of her new book, Twisted.

Teen Book Review - Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

2007-03-20T19:59:00.000-05:00

Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Fever 1793, is back with Twisted.

Tyler Miller returns to school in the fall of his senior year torn between his bullied past and his new "bad boy" reputation. At a wild weekend party, a difficult choice sets into motion a school-wide scandal. A great book, sometimes touching, sometimes heartbreaking, and often hilarious, sure to become one of the top teen books of 2007

Teen book buying reaches new levels

2007-03-17T20:47:00.000-05:00

A week and a half ago, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published an interesing article about the number of teens buying books. It seems that a large teen population and a surge in the quality of young adult literature have combined to create unprecedented levels of teen book buying and library use. It's certainly good news for those of us who value reading and teen books.

Using Music to Bring Life to Poetry

2007-03-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

When I was a teacher, I enjoyed incorporating music in my poetry units. I thought it was a good way to ease students in to the study of poetry by starting with something that was a bit more familiar. Check out my article, Using Music to Bring Life to Poetry, at Associated Content to read more about this practice.

Shiny - Young Adult Speculative Fiction E-zine

2007-03-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

Shiny is a new speculative fiction e-zine for young adults. Right now, the e-zine is in the planning stages, but it looks like an interesting publication to keep an eye on. If you're an author, check out the blog's first post for submission guidelines. Readers can pre-order a downloadable copy for AUS$3.

Random Reading Thoughts

2007-03-06T19:48:00.000-05:00

I just can't resist the library. I have piles of books to read, but I can't resist checking out the new releases and browsing around the place when I'm in the area. I rarely leave without at least one book, if not several. I think it's a sickness. Does anyone else have this problem?

Have you ever been the first person to check out a library book? That happened to me with two books yesterday. It felt like I'd found a new treasure, and I was excited that I was the one who got to it first.

For instance, I returned volume 2 of Kare Kano to the library, and noticed volume 3 on the shelf and immediately snatched it up (it was one of the new books I was talking about). Now, I'm looking up information on future volumes. Yet I can't say that I entirely like the series. I get annoyed with the characters, and I've found some of the situations they've ended up in fairly contrived or silly. Yet I still find myself wondering what happens to the main characters and their relationship. I don't know if that makes me a hopeless romantic or just hopeless.

Teacher Resource - Reading Reminders by Jim Burke

2007-03-05T23:38:00.000-05:00

One of my all-time favorite teaching resources is Reading Reminders: Tools, Tips, and Techniques by Jim Burke. Even though I'm not currently teaching, and I've sold a few of my resource books because I didn't think I'd be using them any time soon, I just can't make myself part with this one. Jim Burke writes with a straightforward style while giving you a sense that he's a seasoned professional, sharing with you the tips that have made him a success. The book is a compilation of 100 reading strategies, and it includes numerous reproduceable graphic worksheets. This is a real hands-on book that is sure to leave you with ideas for your own classroom.

Dealing With Inappropriate Content

2007-03-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

Teen book authors are creating some of the best young adult literature in years as the stories, characters and overall craft of the writing become increasingly sophisticated. But along with increased quality comes increased realism. Sex, drugs, bullying, underage drinking, shoplifting, and other negative behaviors all find their way into today's best and most popular teen books. What should you do if you're faced with content in a teen book that you feel is inappropriate? Read more at All Info About Teen Reading.

Quick Book Review - La Línea by Ann Jaramillo

2007-03-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had the chance to read La Línea by Ann Jaramillo, and I highly recommend it. The book is on a highly topical subject - illegal immigration to the United States. However, La Línea doesn't speak to the current political debates on the topic. It follows two young teens as they head for la línea, the border, from their home in San Jacinto. They want to be reunited with their mother and father who went north years before in search of better opportunities. The author says she was inspired by her own ESL middle school students, many of whom had to go through similar experiences to make it to the U.S. It's a short but powerful work.

Teen Reading Organization - ALAN

2007-03-02T22:03:00.000-05:00

The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE (ALAN) is a leading group dedicated to promoting young adult literature. Visit the group's website for interviews, book reviews, and news.

Teen Book Reviews

2007-03-02T00:20:00.001-05:00

On occasion, I write teen book reviews for other sites, and I wanted to share some of these great books with AIA Teen Reading visitors. Visit my list of non-AIA teen book reviews for more great reading.

Book Review - Gossip Girl

2007-02-28T22:09:00.001-05:00

Dive into the fabulous high-class world of New York's most elite teenagers in this popular series. The Gossip Girl books are practically the definition of a guilty pleasure, but I still love them. I do feel, however, that the series has dragged on a bit past its prime in the most recent installments. That still hasn't stopped me from reading them, though.

LoveToKnow Teens

2007-02-27T19:59:00.000-05:00

In my freelance writing work, I've been involved with the LoveToKnow family of sites for around a year. One of the newest channels is LoveToKnow Teens. You can find helpful advice on the latest fashions, making new friends, and finding time for homework. As a wiki, it's an interactive site, so you can add your own comments and suggestions to any article. I hope you find the site interesting and useful!

Book Review - Seven Daughters and Seven Sons

2007-02-26T23:31:00.000-05:00

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy is a novel about one young woman's quest for acceptance in the historic Middle East. It is a good book that has never gotten much attention, as far as I am aware. I picked it up after attending a session at a social studies conference on incorporating more information about the Middle East in the classroom. It's interesting in its own right, but it would also make a great cross-curricular piece in conjunction with a study of the history and cultures of the Middle East. I find I tend to think about this book in teacher terms because I first learned about it in an educational context, but from a pure reader standpoint, I thought it was a good coming-of-age tale if you're interested in historical fiction.

The Ultimate Teen Reading List

2007-02-25T23:08:00.000-05:00

Teenreads.com has compiled the Ultimate Teen Reading List. On this alphabetical list, you can find everything from 1776 to You, Maybe, and it includes a great mix of adult, classic, teen, and non-fiction literature. The editors at Teenreads.com say, "Our dream is that schools will use this list to help them make their own for summer reading, or even better, suggest that students just read what they want from this list." It's also a great place to start in creating your own "must-read" list.

Author Profile - The Poetry of Sonya Sones

2007-02-24T21:10:00.001-05:00

When you think of poetry, what do you normally think of? Do you think of it telling a story? Probably not. While much of the poetry we come across concerns itself with creating a single image or communicating a specific feeling, there are authors out there who use their skill with poetic verse to create a larger story.

Sonya Sones is one of these talented authors who have perfected the art of creating a novel out of poetry. Give her a try, even if you think you don't normally enjoy poetry.

Something for the Younger Teens

2007-02-23T22:09:00.000-05:00

Middle School: How To Deal by Sarah Miller, Alex Stikeleather, Sara Borden, Maria Valladares and Miriam Yelton
Learn the ins and outs of middle school with five girls who have lived through it, and lived to tell the tale.

Author Profile - The Books of Gordon Korman

2007-02-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

From This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall to Son of the Mob, Gordon Korman has been making me laugh for years. I also always enjoyed the fact that he was first published when he was a teenager. Read more about Gordan Korman's books at All Info About Teen Reading.

Links

2007-02-21T22:23:00.000-05:00

Just a few links to share today.

First, I found an interview with Katherine Paterson. Bridge to Terabithia is a bit young for most teen readers, but it's most likely a novel they remember fondly from their elementary school days; the movie adaptation is currently playing in theaters. The interview was conducted by a Catholic magazine, but it's a fairly general interview about her work and the upcoming movie, with a bit of talk about the religious content in Bridge to Terabithia.

I also found the AS IF! Authors Support Intellectual Freedom blog. The blog offers commentary on current censorship battles, which all too often involve young adult literature.

Paying It Forward

2007-02-20T17:43:00.000-05:00

The All Info About Teen Reading blog was plugged in today's edition of Pay It Forward Tuesday at Deb Ng's Freelance Writing Jobs. The idea behind paying it forward is that you help someone out with the understanding that he or she will help someone else out, and hopefully the chain continues with tons of good deeds accomplished in the end. So in keeping with the spirit of paying it forward, here are two sites I would like to promote:

I just discovered Young Adult Creative Writing Workshops when Patrizia left a comment. The interview with author Linda Gerber first caught my eye, providing an interesting look at the creative process and the YA market. The most recent post also mentions a great fiction-writing contest from Highlights, open to writers 16 and older. But you'd better hurry because the deadline is February 28th!

From the All Info About Network, All Info About Reading Education offers great resources for teachers, parents, and tutors. Find everything from sight word lists to Adult Literacy Resources.

Resources for Parents

2007-02-19T13:47:00.000-05:00

All Info About Teen Reading offers the following resources for parents:

Resources for Teachers

2007-02-19T13:37:00.000-05:00

All Info About Teen Reading offers the following resources for teachers:

Review of Reading Reminders: Tools, Tips, and Techniques by Jim Burke - one of my personal favorite teaching resources
Five Ways for Teachers to Encourage Reading
Five More Ways for Teachers to Encourage Reading
Dealing With Inappropriate Content
Worksheets - featuring graphic organizers and question sets from several pieces of classic literature

Paperback Swap

2007-02-18T22:12:00.000-05:00

Read my review of the PaperBackSwap.com service.

Email Teen Book Club

2007-02-17T22:09:00.000-05:00

Looking for a little daily reading? The DearReader.com book club will email you a bit of a book every morning - they aim for five minutes of reading. After you've read two or three chapters of the book, they move on to another title, and you can choose to leave the first book behind or seek it out at your local library or bookstore. You can sign up for the teen edition here. It looks like a great way to sample new books. They're currently reading Tangerine, a book I personally love. You can also share your thoughts on what you're reading in the site's forums, and some libraries also offer discussions and programs connected to the book club.

Whatever Happened to Samurai Girl?

2007-02-16T22:01:00.001-05:00

Over the course of six books, I found Samurai Girl to be an entertaining and action-packed series. And then it just stopped. Searching for information on the series is difficult because searches for "Samurai Girl" bring up numerous pages for Samurai Girl:Real Bout High School, an anime and manga series. I did see a rumor once that the author was involved in a contract dispute with the publisher, but like most online rumors, it's difficult to say how much truth there is to it. Maybe no one else liked it as much as I did, and it wasn't a big seller? I still recommend the series, but you should go into it realizing you will probably never find out how it all ends and just enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Book Review - Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

2007-02-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

Just Listen is the newest book from popular young adult author Sarah Dessen. When Annabel falls from the top of the high school social order, a surprising new friend helps her put her life back together and emerge stronger than ever. I highly recommend this book, along with the rest of Dessen's work.

Why do I bother?

2007-02-14T19:09:00.000-05:00

So why does someone who is well past her teen years devote her time to a site on teen reading? Read more about the inspiration for my interest in young adult literature.

Teen Trend Magazine

2007-02-13T21:07:00.000-05:00

I came across a link to Teen Trend Magazine's subscription drive recently. It's a small magazine that's trying to gain the attention of major advertisers by boosting its subscription base. Through this offer, you can enjoy a year's subscription for only $1. Now, I've never read the magazine, so I can't personally vouch for it, but I'm interested in its status as an alternative to mainstream teen magazines. And you really can't beat the price. You can read about the magazine's purpose/mission here.

Book Review - Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances

2007-02-12T22:57:00.000-05:00

Miyazawa is the perfect student, popular and adored by her classmates, and first in everything. At least she was. Until Arima came to her school. Are these two destined for rivalry or romance? Find out in Kare Kano.

Teen Book Clubs

2007-02-11T21:04:00.000-05:00

Are you interested in starting a teen book club or discussion group? They can be a great way to enjoy books by discussing them with your peers in a casual setting. Check out my article on Starting a Teen Book Club and Starting a Teen Book Study Group by Rachel Paxton.

Author Interview - Nadja Halilbegovich

2007-02-10T23:05:00.000-05:00

Witness the horror of war through the eyes of a young teen with My Childhood Under Fire: A Sarajevo Diary, and then learn more in my interview with the author, Nadja Halilbegovich.

Award-Winning Teen Books

2007-02-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

Are you interested in learning about the best the world of young adult literature has to offer? Visit All Info About Teen Reading's Award-Winning Reading links. I like that the American Library Association offers such a wide variety of awards and lists, so both the "literary" and the "popular" can be recognized. The 2007 award winners were just announced last month, so this is your chance to catch up on the cream of the teen book crop.

Book Review - Sisters/Hermanas

2007-02-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

Sisters/Hermanas, written by Gary Paulsen and translated by Gloria de Aragón Andújar, is a bilingual story about the suprising link between an illegal immigrant and a teen beauty queen. Now I don't know about everyone else, but when I think of Gary Paulsen, I think of Hatchet and similar stories, but this is something completely different. It's a book that I don't think gets nearly enough attention, and I hope someone else tries it out because of my recommendation.

Interested in manga?

2007-02-07T23:23:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite sources for quick reviews of new manga is Anime News Network's Right Turn Only column. You can find the most recent edition here. The site has also upped its number of longer manga reviews recently with the hiring of additional reviewers. Look to the right-hand side column for the latest additions, or search the site for a particular title.

Book Review - The Wave

2007-02-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

By creating a new school movement, a history teacher tries to help his students understand the kind of thinking that could lead average Germans to follow Hitler in World War II. Based on a true story, The Wave presents a disturbing look at how seductive a sense of belonging and comradeship can be and how quickly a mob mentality can spiral out of control. While I found the story a bit dated, I still think it has an interesting message to offer, and I can see it having cross-curricular possibilities.

Random Thoughts

2007-02-05T23:11:00.000-05:00

Just a few thoughts I originally posted on a discontinued Teen Reading site...

When you start to think about the sheer number of books written especially for teens, it can be both exciting and daunting. The possibilities are exciting - lively new characters, page-turning adventures, heart-wrenching drama, breathtaking fantasy. It's the potential dilemmas that come from trying to find the right book for the right reader at the right age that can be daunting.

One common problem with teen books is the potential for inappropriate material. When a "teen" can be anywhere from 13 to 19, you're going to get a wide range of material targeting the teen demographic. And a book that would be wonderful for a 17-year-old senior might be inappropriate for his 14-year-old brother. Of course, maturity also comes into play so some 13-year-olds will be ready to read about situations that would disturb many 15-year-olds. If you think your teen is reading something inappropriate, the best reaction to such a situation is a thoughtful and considered reaction. Think about how you would deal with inappropriate content in a book before it becomes an issue.

Whether they're reading complex science-fiction or the latest Oprah pick, many teens gravitate towards books classified as adult fiction or non-fiction. Some students devour the classics as preparation for college or AP English exams. While I never picked up a Stephen King book until I was out of college, I've seen many a seventh-grader pick up Pet Sematary. There's nothing inherently wrong in this, but they could be missing out on some great books that relate directly to their lives. If a teen is used to delving into the classics, a young adult book can be a refreshing change of pace. You should be proud of your teen's reading ability, but encourage him not to discount books written especially for teens.

What happens when a favorite series is released over the course of several years? Harry Potter is perhaps the most notable example of this phenomenon. Just try and keep an older teen away from book six in the series she's been reading since she was ten. But what about A Series of Unfortunate Events? This series, while popular, has less "all-ages" appeal. The first book was written in 1999, and the final book in the series was released in late 2006. Will the high school student who first picked up the series in fourth grade be willing to carry a copy of The Penultimate Peril into homeroom? You should encourage your teen to read whatever interests her. Don't dismiss these books just because they might seem "young." In fact, you might want to give them a try for yourself.

Best Teen Books

2007-02-04T21:03:00.000-05:00

I wrote an article on the Best Teen Books for LoveToKnow Best. What do you think of my picks?

Squidoo

2007-02-03T22:34:00.000-05:00

I've also started an All Info About Teen Reading lens at Squidoo. Check out Encourage Teens to Read!

Harry Potter is coming!

2007-02-02T23:34:00.000-05:00

We've known for a while that the title of the long-anticipated seventh and final Harry Potter book will be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But now we know when it's coming – J.K. Rowling has revealed that the book will be released on July 21. Reserve your copy today at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

On a side note, I found something interesting while looking up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. In the UK, they release "children's" and "adult" versions of the Harry Potter books. They have the same content, but different covers. I know I've never worried about carrying around a book with a cover that's obviously designed for kids or teens, but I wonder if the lack of cartoony drawings on the cover makes the book appeal to even more older readers? I think when it comes to Harry Potter, though, it doesn't matter too much. It's such a widespread phenomenon there's no shame in carrying around a "kids' book."

2007-02-01T22:34:00.000-05:00

Orson Scott Card, author of the popular teen science fiction novel Ender's Game, gave the book Speak his seal of approval in a recent review column. It's always good to see someone else get behind one of my all-time favorite books. Interested in learning more about Speak? Read the AIA Teen Reading profile of author Laurie Halse Anderson.

In related news, I got an advanced copy of Anderson's next book in the mail today, and I can't wait to check it out!

Welcome!

2007-02-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the companion blog to All Info About Teen Reading, a part of the All Info About Network. In this blog, I hope to include information on articles I post to AIA Teen Reading, as well as quick reviews and commentary that don't make it on to the site. I hope you enjoy this look at some of the best teen books on the market. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like to see from AIA Teen Reading or this blog.