These are a Few of My Favorite Posts

Karen . . .

Show Me How to Live, guest blogger Eric Devine talks YA Lit to the guys in his class
I love this post for a couple of reasons. 1) TLT can be kind of Estrogen heavy and I always appreciate getting a guys point of view.  2) Eric writes really well and I love what he says here not only about guys, but about zombies.

The Animaniacs Guide to being a Faboo! Young Adult Librarian
Look, I’m not a funny person.  I am very serious.  I can’t tell a joke.  I think of a witty comeback hours after the conversation is over.  But it’s hard not to be funny when the Animaniacs is playing in the background and a 3-year-old is giggling.  So this one time, I was kinda funny. Please remember it.

Discuss: Is fat the last acceptable prejudice in YA lit?
Okay, I concede that this is cheating, but I have to go with our whole discussion of body image in YA lit.  I was stunned when Christie told me how she felt about Every Day by David Levithan and why – and then it got us both really thinking and talking via posts.

TPIB: Live Angry Birds
Look, this is the best program I have ever done and I owe it all to Heather.

Libraries are the Beating Heart (of communities)
This is why I do what I do.  It is what I believe.  In every way – this.

Stephanie…

The ABCs of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
I was so thankful for this post because Karen shared so much information about a disease which I knew nothing about.  I even share this post almost daily with people I know to increase awareness.

Don’t Underestimate the Value of ‘Hanging Out’
Exactly what it says and so very true!  One of my favorite things to do is not to have a ‘program’ but to just hang out and get to know my teens!

The Book Review for The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Love, love, love this book.

But What About? – A Guest Post from Lois Lowry 
Being able to coordinate a week celebrating The Giver was excellent in and of itself but when I was able to network and connect with Lois Lowry?  Best moment of my librarian life.  And I love her post!
 
Racial Stereotyping in YA Literature
This is always and will probably always be one of my favorite topics to discuss with fellow librarians/media specialists and teens!  

Christie . . .

Discuss: Is fat the last acceptable prejudice in YA lit?
I think this is one of my favorite things we’ve done on the blog.  We keep getting new comments from people every week who find it, and say, YES, you’re saying what I’ve been thinking! And I think it’s really opened us up to being able to talk about things on the blog that might not be the norm…

I’m Just a Girl
While I have the opposite of what most libraries have (an abundance of boys and a smattering of girls for programs and hanging out), there’s no denying that there are these messages that are coming through, and the fact that the way YA lit is marketed towards girls and women specifically is something we as teen services specialists need to focus on. What’s the message that’s getting to our teens?

A Zest For Nonfiction 
I had so much fun working with Zest and finding new books that I didn’t know about, and re-discovering ones that I did.  I think they’re doing good things, and I’m glad we got to partner with them.

Star Wars Reads Day
Oh, I had such fun with this program this year.  My library got lucky and was an official site, and we got surprised by a local branch of the 501st that came out and interacted with the kids.  SO much fun and excitement! 

We #MustacheYOUtoread at the Library
This has been hysterical.  It started out as a display  done by teens in Glendale, and then Karen started playing around with it and made it our blog holiday card. So I made paper mustaches, and the kids went nuts! They will wear them all day, it makes a really easy display- just print the photos out on a black and white printer on color paper, and tape them up on a door or window or wall.  They love finding themselves, and mine continue to show themselves off to friends and family.

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