See You At Harry's

Many people have been telling me to read this one for quite some time now, but it just never came across my desk.  I put matters into my own hands, downloaded a copy, and read it in virtually one gulp.

Fern feels a bit invisible in her busy family. They own Harry's, a casual restaurant and ice cream joint that takes up most of her parents' energy.  All of the kids are expected to pitch in, and Fern's after-school time is usually spent in a booth doing homework and trying to keep an eye on her sticky ball of energy little brother Charlie.  But things in Fern's world are beginning to shift.

First off, she is starting middle school.  Now she is going to school with big brother Holden since the high school and middle school share a building.  After a somewhat cryptic warning about bus etiquette from Holden, Fern is distressed to realize just what goes on during the bus ride.  She has always been closest to Holden, and now he wants her to pretend she doesn't know him...all for her own good.  Her big sister Sara has been teasing Holden about his J-Crew sense of style and has been egging him to address who he really is, but Fern had never considered how this might translate on the bus and at school.

Then there are her father's crazy schemes to get more business into their restaurant.  Just before school started, he had the family shoot a basic cable style commercial, and now everywhere she goes she hears little brother Charlie's tagline - "See you at Hawwy's!".  She tries to channel her best-friend Ran's zen nature and starts thinking of his mantra - all will be well.

But suddenly, all is decidedly not well.  After a tragic turn of events, Fern's busy family is broken.  At this time when she needs her parents and brother and sister more than ever, Fern finds herself feeling incredibly misunderstood and guilty. 

Jo Knowles has written a powerful story about family and self that packs a punch.  Readers will be able to see themselves in each character turn by turn for better and for worse.  The idea that families really are sets of individuals who fulfill different roles at different times is explored gracefully.  Knowles also gets the voice of the kids and the adults down perfectly.  From Holden's excitement and distance in his first relationship, to Fern's concern for Charlie to her mother's need to get away rather than argue, each character feels authentic and whole. See You At Harry's is a definite must-read for the tween set.

Just a word of warning...make sure to have some tissues handy!

Real Life T(w)een Reluctant Reader

Lately, I've been thinking about kids who choose not to read.  As librarians we know that there are many reasons why certain kids are not readers.  I have a few of them in my life, and I am probably quite annoying to them, as I tend to foist books on kids at every turn.

Nick is one of those kids.  I know him from my real life, not my school life.  I am not his teacher or librarian...simply a neighbor in the summertime.  I've pushed a few books his way over the years...books that I thought he might enjoy, based on what I know about him.  No dice.  Nick is a kid who doesn't like to read.  He was nice enough to answer some of my questions about his reading habits.

Do you consider yourself a reader?
I don't consider myself a reader.

When was the last time you read a book for fun (not for school)?
The last time I read a book for fun, was the fifth grade. 

What was that book?
It was the Harry Potter series.

What do you like to do besides reading?
I like to practice my instrument or watch TV.

If you have to read something for school, how do you get through it?  Do you read the whole thing?
If I have to read something for school, I read the whole thing only because I have to and I don't want to fail the essay on the book.

Do other people in your family like to read?
The only person in my family who likes to read is my mom.

Why do you think reading is not your thing?
I think reading is not my thing because  I have a hard time getting into the book, and I think it's easier to just watch the movie.

Maybe someday I will find something for Nick to read.  Maybe someday he will find the perfect book without my help.  Maybe he will never turn into a reader of books.  The question that I have to ask myself as an adult and a reader and a librarian, is how far to go with the suggestions.  Not all kids like to read, and maybe that's just going to have to be okay.

On The Clipboard

The kids around school have been reading up a storm lately!  I don't know what it is, the the amount of fiction that I have been shelving lately, is epic!  Here are some of the titles that I have been shelving over, and over, and over again!

Throne of Fire, by Rick Riordan

The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman

A Month of Sundays, by Ruth White

Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool

We'll Always Have Summer, by Jenny Han











Every now and again I have to pinch myself.  I work in a school where there is an amazing reading culture.  Readers advisory is seen as a skill, and our kids pick up on it and book talk back to us all of the time.  I can't wait to hear about what they read over the summer!

Summer of the Gypsy Moths, by Sara Pennypacker

Stella is spending the summer living with her Great Aunt Louise on the Cape.  She is going to help Louise tend to the summer cottages adjacent to her little house.  Louise isn't a big one on emotion, and Stella is surprised when after talking to Louise about her mother and blueberries, Louise wraps her in a hug.  This pleases Stella, because she loves the idea of ties between people.  Since her own mother isn't exactly dependable, Stella likes the even nature of Louise and her clean house and tidy garden.  She even is trying to find a way to get along with foster kid Angel, who Louise took in thinking could keep Stella company. The two girls couldn't be more different, and Stella can't imagine why Louise thought having two girls was a good idea.

The thing is, Louise is older and she's not well.  Angel and Stella make a gruesome discovery when they come home from school one day, and they have some heavy choices to make.  Can they make a go of the summer on their own?  Should Angel run?  What will happen if folks find out they are living without any adult supervision?  And what are they going to tell George - the local who is supposed to help Louise take care of the rentals?  Most importantly, what are they going to do with Louise?

The girls decide to make a go of it, and have to figure out a way to get along.  Their differences turn out to be a good thing as Stella could use some fire and Angel could use some forethought.  Readers see the girls deal with bills, finding food, lying about Louise's whereabouts, and dealing with their own guilt.  All of this is wrapped up in Sara Pennypacker's rich prose, describing the Cape, the cottages, the beach, as well as the interconnected nature of life.  "I like to imagine the ties between us as strands of spider silk: practically invisible, maybe, but strong as steel.  I figure the trick is to spin out enough of them to weave ourselves into a net." (p.1)

Readers will be left wondering what they would do if they were ever in Stella and Angel's  predicament.   Honestly at first, I was wondering who I would give this book to.  It's clearly not for the same audience as Clementine.  There are heady issues in Summer of the Gypsy Moths, and at times the bigger ideas are a little scary.  Ultimately, however, this is a story of friendship, survival and hope, and thoughtful tweens will be ready for the serious nature of Stella and Angel's situation.

On the Clipboard

Here are some of the titles that our tweens have been checking out lately.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Selznick

The False Princess, by O'Neal

Science Fair, by Barry and Pearson

The Prophet of Yonwood, by DuPrau

The Adventures of Tintin, by Herge











What are your tweens reading these days?

Press Release - Jacqueline Woodson

Here at Tweendom, we don't often take part in press releases, however, this is Jackie Woodson.  She is appearing at the 92nd Street Y, and if you are in the area this weekend, you should check this out.

-Our friends at 92Y’s Children’s Reading Series are offering free tickets to Jacqueline Woodson’s appearance this Saturday afternoon. To claim yours, write to them at Unterberg@92y.org by Friday, April 20.

Jacqueline Woodson’s award-winning books include Miracle’s Boys, Locomotion, If You Come Softly and After Tupac and D Foster. She “writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story of nearly adolescent children, but a mature exploration of grown-up issues,” said The New York Times. Visit her website: jacquelinewoodson.com

Targeted toward 8-12 year-olds (and kids of all ages!), 92Y’s Children’s Reading Series meets on Saturday afternoons and features classic and contemporary literature read by authors and actors. In the last few years, the series has hosted Judy Blume, Brian Selznick, Jim Dale, Kate DiCamillo, Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, Natalie Babbitt and Jon Scieszka—and special events on the stories of E.B. White and Oscar Wilde, as well as a 50^th anniversary event on The Phantom Tollbooth (with Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer), a 45^th anniversary event on A Wrinkle In Time (with Madeleine L’Engle’s grand-daughters) and an 80^th-birthday celebration of Maurice Sendak.

On the Clipboard

The check outs have remained fast and furious these last few weeks.  Here are some titles that our tweens have been checking out!

Newsgirl, by Liza Ketchum

Dumpling Days, by Grace Lin

Midnight Over Sanctaphrax, by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages

Pie, by Sarah Weeks











What have your tweens been reading lately?

The Secret Tree, by Natalie Standiford

The town of Cantonsville has it's fair share of weirdness going on.  Not only are there rumors of the Man-Bat, but there's the witch lady on the other side of the woods, the legend of Crazy Ike, and one day when Minty and Paz are hanging out, Minty sees a creature in the woods followed by a flash!  Minty crashes through the woods trying to find it.  She loses the creature but finds a strange tree.  It seems to be murmuring and when Minty reaches in the big hole in its trunk she finds a note that she quickly stuffs in her pocket to examine later.

Minty and Paz are best friends with some pretty big roller derby dreams.  Minty, aka Minty Fresh, and Paz, aka Pax A. Punch, have been practicing their moves since they were 8 years old and saw the local team The Catonsville Nine in action.  Paz, however, seems to be distancing herself from Minty in favor of things that are decidedly not roller derby:  things like hanging out at the pool with Isabelle, and wearing glittery nail polish and barrettes.  Minty's summer is definitely not going how she planned.

When Minty is walking down her street she sees that mysterious flash again and takes chase.  This time she ends up at a model home next to the witch's house on the other side of the woods where she finds a boy.   His name is Raymond and he apparently lives there.  Like Minty, he knows about the secret filled tree, and like Minty he is in need of a friend.  Soon the two are skulking around town, finding secrets by good old spying.  But some secrets cannot be stuffed in a tree and forgotten.  Some secrets bubble up and create a big mess before they can be made better.

Standiford has written an ideal summer read for the middle grade set.  Perfectly paced and tightly written, The Secret Tree is filled with mystery, family, friendship, and long summer hours.  Readers are bound to start looking at people and trees through new eyes. 

Highly recommended.

Remarkable, by Lizze K. Foley

Remarkable is a town that is filled with remarkable people and remarkable things.  Everyone is pretty much the best at what they do, and special talents abound.  As the front cover reads, "Welcome to the town of Remarkable where every day in this remarkable place filled with remarkable people is positively remarkable for absolutely everyone except Jane".

Poor Jane.  Born to remarkable parents and wedged in between a remarkable older brother (Anderson Brigby Bright Doe III - excellent painter in the style of photo-realism) and a remarkable younger sister (Penelope Hope Adelaide Catalina -- a remarkable mathematician) Jane is an average kid.  She is used to being overlooked and underestimated, and she takes this in stride.  Only her Grandfather Jonathan is less remarkable than she.

Jane is spending her lonely days as the only student at the public school (the rest of the children go to the Gifted school) when a couple of events start some big changes in motion.  First off, there are the Grimlet twins.  They are a nefarious brother/sister duo who are always up to no good.  They adore loud noises and chaos, and always have a plan in the works.  They have been trying their darnedest to land themselves in public school, and their latest prank proved just the thing.

Next is the arrival of the pirates.  First came Captain Archibald Rojo Herring, who seems rather obsessed with the new bell tower that is being constructed as a part of the post office to keep it from being so ordinary.  Following the Captain,  stinky Jeb, Ebb and Flotsom land in Remarkable making the pirate population quite unacceptable.

What follows is an adventure exploring the idea that things aren't always what they seem.  With a missing composer, unrequited love, a lake serpent, a public school teacher with a secret identity, and plenty of shenanigans, readers will have a rip roaring time figuring out what makes Remarkable tick.  Over-the-top characters will have you laughing out loud, and readers are sure to cheer for Jane and those Grimlets in equal measure.  Fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society as well as Lemony Snicket should approve.

The Humming Room, by Ellen Potter

Roo is a crafty kind of girl.  When she doesn't want to be found, she heads beneath her father's trailer where she can look at her treasures and put her ear to the ground and listen to the earth.  It is here where readers are introduced to Roo, as her neighbor Mrs. Quick is talking to the police about what happened above her.  The officer tells Mrs. Quick that Roo has an uncle (a rich one) who is willing to take her in. This is news to Roo, as she has never been told about any family...it's always been Roo, her father and a various string of girlfriends.

After a short stint in foster care, Roo is gathered up by her Uncle's assistant Ms. Valentine.  They travel to the island of Cough Rock on the St. Lawrence where her uncle lives in the old St. Theresa's Children's Hospital.  Roo is not so happy with the boat ride as she has never learned to swim.  Once she arrives, she realizes that the water is the least of her worries.  Her uncle wants nothing to do with her, she is forbidden from entering the East Wing of the building, there are the unexplainable sounds, and before long she is under the eagle eye of her tutor Mrs. Wixton who loves to gossip about Roo's family.

But Roo is a wily one, and rules have never really applied to her, and she soon learns to evade Mrs. Wixton and uncover some of the secrets of Cough Rock.

Inspired by The Secret Garden, The Humming Room is a ghost story of sorts coupled with Roo's coming of age.  Ellen Potter has written a creepy story that ultimately has hope at its heart.

The Popularity Papers: Words of (Questionable) Wisdom

Oh Lydia and Julie, I just can't quit you!

Lydia is back home, and ready to get back of the swing of things in 6th grade in the States.  Lydia comes with a plan of course, laid out in list fashion, but after her first day back, she and Julie decide to try to implement a new plan.  Lydia shares the things that worked for her while she was in London...which includes trying to befriend some kids who don't have lots of other friends and forgetting about the popular crowd.

To help them focus their efforts on more important things, the girls put together a "trunk" (re bucket) list.  Letting popularity go, what could be on the list?   Things like starring in the school play, staying up all night, and being friends with Chuck again.  As usual, while Lydia and Julie have their hearts in the right place, their plans go awry.

What I love about this series is that the girls are growing.  Amy Ignatow doesn't simply employ a formula time and time again, the characters grow and learn from the experiences they have had in the past.  It's actually heartwarming to witness!

Fans who have enjoyed the first and second installments will eat this one up, but I can see new fans jumping on-board as Julie and Lydia grow-up bit by bit.

Fun!

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio

Middle school is difficult enough for most kids, but for August Pullman, it's especially hard.  August has never been to regular school before, and now for some reason, his mother thinks 5th grade is the perfect time for him to start.  "The universe has not been kind to August", you see.  At 10 years of age he has had twenty seven surgeries to correct a cleft palate and other facial abnormalities.

August starts school early, by meeting a few kids and getting a tour of the school.  The kids are nice enough, but August has been around enough to notice the kinds of things that most adults do not; fake smiles, a shifting gaze, a quick look when others think he's not looking.  Jack, Charlotte, and Julian seem nice enough but August can tell they were hand picked and told not to talk about his face.

Surprisingly, things start off pretty well...at least as good as can be expected.  A girl named Summer sits with him at lunch, his teachers seem nice enough, and August does well in school.  Kids are not flocking to him to be his friend, but he has a small group he can talk to.  As Halloween approaches, August is super excited.  It's his favorite day of the year, because everyone wears a mask, and no one has to look away when they see him.  But a last minute costume switch leads him to overhear a conversation that cuts him to the quick.  How will August get through the rest of the year without friends?

But August is not the only one with a story to tell.  August's sister Olivia, her friend Miranda, her boyfriend Justin,  and middle schoolers Jack, Summer, and Julian all have sections in the book told from their points of view; and in my opinion that is what makes Wonder such a success.  August's situation is extraordinary and is bound to affect everyone around him.  Knowing the motivations of these superbly written secondary characters not only makes August's character more well rounded, but enriches the story immensely. 

As with most books with buzz, I went into Wonder cautiously.  I was fearful it might be too precious.  I am happy to say my fears were unfounded.  The voices of the tweens and teens in this book are spot on.  I could easily picture the hallways of Beecher Prep and the students and teachers within.  This is a book that is likely to open some eyes to the idea of compassion, empathy and trying to walk a mile in shoes that aren't one's own.

Real Life T(w)een Reader

G is a kid who reads more than anyone I know.  More than folks on Newbery or Printz, more than any reviewer I have ever met.  He reads constantly.  No joke.  More than a book a day, and often.  Today he asked me for a recommendation, and I had nothing for him (notice his last answer).  Everything I have read, G has read...and more!  He is another who has rolled over into the teen zone, but he has been reading this way ever since I met him.  I've said it once, and I'll say it again...not all boys are reluctant.




Do you consider yourself a reader?
I guess so...

What are your favorite genres to read?
Anything that catches my attention.


How do you select the books you want to read?
I take a look at the spines of books and then I read the blurbs of any titles that catch my eye.  Then if I like the blurb, I read the book.

What is your favorite book so far?
Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan
Drizz Do'urden books, by RA Salvatore
and various other books that I can't remember.


What is your favorite thing about reading?
You can imagine that you actually are there, and it serves as a welcome distraction from life.

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer?
I prefer the paper version.

What kinds of books do you think are the most popular with kids your age?  Why?
Fantasy and romance because they are between adults and kids so they like both.  They like to read what they dream about.

What are you reading?
Currently nothing, but I am trying to find something.

On the Clipboard

Hey there.  I have been shelving and shelving!  Here are some things that our tweens have been checking out on the clipboard!

 We Are Not Eaten by Yaks, by C. Alexander London

 Dragon in the Volcano, by Kate Klimo

A Long Way From Chicago, by Richard Peck

Hades, by George O'Connor

13 Gifts, by Wendy Mass












What have your tweens been reading lately?

Saying Goodbye To My Newbery Year

Chances are, if you read this blog you know that the ALA announced the Youth Media Awards on Monday morning.  It was a bitter sweet time, as it signaled the end of my Newbery tenure.

This past year (and a half) has been filled with more books than you can possibly imagine.  I was reading with a critical eye, thinking and re-thinking, reading and re-reading.

I am particularly proud of our committee and our hard work.  It does seem a little strange to be reading for the sake of it, but I am pleased that this blog will be going back to its old format.  I will be keeping up with the tween interviews and the "on the clip-board" posts, but they will be interspersed with book recommendations!

ALA

Like many of you all, I will be winging away to Dallas Texas to attend the ALA Midwinter Conference.  I will be in meetings most of the time, but will hopefully get onto the floor to check out what's coming next in the world of tween literature!
If you see me out and about, please stop me and say "hi"!

Real Life Tween Reader

"Mak" is a kid who defies categorization.  He is a reader, an athlete, and a music fan among other things.  He can be counted on to provide his peers with book-talks, especially when they show some interest in a series that he enjoys.  He's a kid who is always on the go, and even though he has officially entered teendom,  I took advantage of a quiet moment in the library today to get him to answer some of my questions!

Do you consider yourself a reader?
Yes, I enjoy reading.

What are your favorite genres to read?
Action, adventure and realistic fiction (books about high school life).  I enjoy humor in books.

How do you select the books you want to read?
I am a fan of following a series!  If not I usually hear about them from from my friends or librarians.

What is your favorite book so far?
The Ranger's Apprentice   series [Flanagan] and  the Harry Potter series [Rowling].

What is your favorite thing about reading?
I love that reading makes me feel like I am there in the moment.

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer?
No.

What kinds of books do you think are the most possible with kids your age?
It really depends on the person, but two very popular ones in my grade are Pretty Little Liars  [Shepard](I don't read them), and Harry Potter.

What are you currently reading?
Ranger's Apprentice 10.

Holiday Break

Source: fb, reddit, anthropolgie

Well, here we are at winter break once again.  Most of my time will be spent traveling and reading.  Since I am not posting a top list this year, I am more interested than ever in hearing about your top picks for tweens!  Please use the comments to list your top 5 of the year!

Happy reading to all!

On The Clipboard

Astronaut Academy, by Dave Roman

N.E.R.D.S. 3: The Cheerleaders of Doom, by Michael Buckley

Marzi, by Marzina Sowa and Sylvain Savoia

Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick

On the Clipboard

Holy cats!  I am up to my eyeballs in reading, and have been neglecting this here blog.  All apologies!  Without further ado, here's what our tweens have been checking out this week!

The Apothecary, by Maile Meloy

Ranger's Apprentice 10: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja, by John Flanagan

Mercury, by Hope Larson

The Aviary, by Kathleen O'Dell

How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Crowell











So, what are your tweens reading these days?

Real Life Tween Reader

Mizzy is a reader who is what I consider open.  She is a passionate reader, and loves to tell you why she loved a particular story.  She is another reader who is happy to give us the gift of a test-drive for something where we want the reaction of a tween reader.  Here is what she has to say about her life as a reader!

Do you consider yourself a reader?
Yes, I consider myself a reader.

What are your favourite genres to read?
I think now, my favorite genres is like realistic fiction.  I still like a few fantasy books now and then.

How do you select the books you want to read?
I get most of my books from recommendations from friends or my teachers.

What is your favourite book so far?
My favorite book so far is called Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.

What is your favourite thing about reading?
My favorite thing about reading is probably just getting to sit down in a chair, opening up a novel and just passing the time with my nose in a book.

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer?
I personally don't really like e-readers because I just love being able to flip a page.

What kid of books do you think are the most popular with kids your age?  Why?
I'm pretty sure kids my age are starting to read more young-adult books because we all know we are getting older by the minute and we have an advantage of reading those books.

What are you currently reading?
Currently, I am reading Sweetly, by Jackson Pearce.             

On the Clipboard

School is back and we are flying through September.  Books are circulating like mad, and here are some of the titles that have been checked out in the past week or so.

If you are new to this blog, these clipboard posts tell you what some of the students at my school have been checking out on their own for fun!

Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry, by Jonell

A Whole Nother Story, by Soup

Between Two Ends, by Ward

NERDS 2, by Buckley

Pish Posh, by Potter