SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

August 24, 2011 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Guest Blogger of the Day: Val, a slowly developing heart for reading

August 24, 2011 by Karen Jensen, MLS   1 comments

Val came into my life 6 years ago.  She was a teen member of my church, and an excellent baby sitter.  Val graduated high school in May, and I couldn’t have been prouder.  She was active in 4-H member and at one time marching band.  She has worked for the Boys and Girls Club as a mentor to younger children.  Despite how amazing she is, she has not always been an avid reader.  One time I finally convinced her to read If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson.  I think this is one of the most beautifully written books that captures the heart of a tragic love store while interweaving some beautiful poetry into the tale.  Val was shocked at home much she loved this book.  Sometimes you match the right book with the right reader and magic happens.  This is Val’s tale in her own words . . .

Val has even starred in one of my RA posters
Going through high school there was always that book assignment to read or that paper to write that no one really wanted to have anything to do with. Being a typical teen I struggled; Do I actually read or do I simply Sparknote the material? As good as a reference as Sparknote’s can truly be, I’ve learned reading the material is truly better.
Learning this lesson has came from knowing not only a good friend of mine but a local librarian. From the very beginning of high school the phrase “why don’t you just read?” came across in multiple conversations. It wasn’t until my junior and senior year in high school I finally started to listen to her. From when I first went to her  and said “find me a book for this project,” her help was key to finding my love for reading.
Once, I realized that reading wasn’t that bad and that all I just needed was the right book my English classes were no longer a problem anymore. Just simply reading one chapter during spare time made it so I soon stopped failing quizzes, made writing papers much easier and less time consuming, and the struggle to answer a simple question about the material much more easy. Not only did the work acquainted with my material become more simple but my grammar and writing skills increased tremendously. Suddenly my “C” in English became an “A” all because I listened to my librarian, decided to actually read and use the services my local library offers.

If you come softly
as the wind within the trees.
You may hear what I hear.
See what sorrow sees.
If you come slightly
as threading dew,
I will take you gladly,
nor ask more of you.
      Audre Lorde (1934-1992)

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Val sent me this text right after she finished reading If You Come Softly:  “Kar thank you for making me read the book if you come softly it was a great book and made me cry.”  The right book made all the difference.

Please note: this is a new feature and if you or one of your teens would like to make a guest blog post, please e-mail me at kjensenmls@yahoo.com.  Just e-mail me a copy of your story, some basic bio information, a head shot and any artwork if you so desire.

Filed under: Guest Blogger, Teen Involvement, Teens

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

August 2020

Why Does Nobody Ever Call the Police? by Teen Contributor Riley Jensen

by Karen Jensen, MLS

August 2020

Postcard Apps Review: Using Postcards to Stay Connected with TAG Members During a Pandemic and Virtual Burnout

by Karen Jensen, MLS

July 2017

Join the TLT Teen Advisory Board!

by Karen Jensen, MLS

October 2015

Everyone's Worst is Their Worst: A guest post by S.A. Bodeen

by Karen Jensen, MLS

June 2015

Abortion in YA Literature: Beyond the Issues, a guest post by Hilary T. Smith

by Karen Jensen, MLS

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The Yarn LIVE at ALA 2022!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Shining A Light Cover Reveal: A Talk with Author Veeda Bybee About the Trick With Collected Biographies

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #331 | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Sunday Reflections: On being a Librarian and a Christian parent to an LGBTQ kid with a uterus in 2022

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

'Ain’t Burned All the Bright' by Jason Reynolds, 'All My Rage' by Sabaa Tahir Win 2022 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards

SLJ, NCTE Launch Survey to Remake Summer Reading Lists

Reinvigorate Library Collections with "Active Nonfiction"

Resources for “Born on the Water” and Amanda Gorman Titles; ALA Statement; and More | News Bites

Making Space for Math in the Library

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. halffulllibrarian says

    August 25, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    This is one of the reasons I became a librarian…I would love to someday be able to match a reader with their perfect book too! Just need that elusive job after graduating in May…

    Thanks for sharing this wonderful story!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2022


COPYRIGHT © 2022