Week 7: Assignment 2: Two Articles

You know that moment where you want to hug someone even if you don't know them? That's how I feel about Meg Wolitzer. Nevermind that I loved both her novels The Interestings (which, although was not YA, spends a significant amount of time in the lives as the characters as heartbreakingly flawed teens; Ruth Graham probably LOVED The Interestings because it was a complex and beautiful "adult" book) and Belzhar (which I reviewed for the Between the Covers blog), but this article about loving YA not because it's an escape for the adult mind but because it can be a lovely trip back to your teen self with the benefit of knowing yourself as an adult. 

When I taught high school, I was so wracked with grief over the possibility of teaching The Catcher In The Rye. Not because I didn't like it, but because I LOVED it too much when I was 16. I had made a conscious effort as an adult to never read it again because I didn't want to ever lose that feeling of being so wrapped up in a book that "got" me when I was a kid. 

Well, I had to read it again. It stood up. Not because I felt like I could relate to Holden, but because I knew that 16-year old Jessica could relate to Holden. It was the pleasure in being that me again that made me love that book in a new and unexpected way. 

My favorite novel of 2013 was Eleanor and Park; it was gorgeous and complex and realistic. I will fight anyone in the Rosedale parking lot who says otherwise. (Not really, but I *will* think about punching them in the face.) I'm glad it gets a mention here, but it also makes me think. According to my Goodreads account, I read lots of "worthy" novels in 2013: books by Khaled Hosseini, Jessamyn Ward, Kate Atkinson, Toni Morrison, even Meg Wolitzer's book; so why did that one stand out in my head as the "best"? Is it because I found the story so much more relatable than some of the others? I have lived the life of the overweight, quirky teen. I haven't say, lived the life of a privileged New Yorker whose parents could afford to send her to a prestigious art camp. That usually doesn't matter to me, though. I found The Kite Runner to be an amazing book of friendship and loss and I've never been in Afghanistan. 

I don't know. I do know that Eleanor and Park will be a book I reread, and that doesn't happen often in my ever-growing stack of crazy books.

The "New Adult" article was interesting from a marketing perspective. My first initiation to that term was through this Entertainment Weekly article from a while back: http://www.ew.com/article/2014/06/13/sex-and-single-reader

That article focused primarily on the success of the Fifty Shades series and how to market sex to readers past the YA timeline. The article by Rachel Deahl is older and only marginally addresses the Fifty Shades boom (which by this point in 2012, would be happening in a few months). I think a great representative of this genre (?) is Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl; what happens when a YA protagonist goes to college? 

At the library level, would "new adult" work as a term? I'm not convinced. First, we use "new" to talk about...new books. Just released. We don't need to confuse people. 

Maybe I'm just grouchy about this designation because I'm not even close to its target age range? 

Assignment 3: Two websites

OMG. HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT SOMEDAY MY PRINTZ WILL COME?!?! I'm a huge fan of SLJ's Heavy Medal blog for Newbery contention, so how did this escape my notice??? HOW?!?! 

I need to get on my reading game for the awards in January. Lots of great info for reading and good reviews. Here's the thing about awards like the Printz and Newbery that gets asked every year: are these really what kids want to read, or just what adults want kids to read? I'm hoping it's the former. I will be visiting this page every day leading up the MLA Midwinter conference. (Already put several books on hold from the list.)

I also am in love with Forever Young Adult. (Mostly for their sweet t-shirt game.) If I could just get a #NoShameYA t-shirt, my life would be set. I can see utilizing the resources on this blog if we start up a YA book club!!

Assignment 4: Publishers and Trends

Quite frankly, the Teens @ Random page has got it going on. Whereas the other pages are mostly about upcoming new releases (will we ever escape paranormal romance? Thanks, Twilight.), Random has an engaging community for teens and emphasizes teen writers. It looks like they have taken the Makerspace movement to the writing world. I particularly love the Figment Chat section where authors respond to teen questions. What a cool feature! Each "chat" goes live for a week and you can read the archives. 

Week 6: Street Fiction and Subgenres

Week 6: StreetFiction.org

The great thing about StreetFiction.org is that the reviews aren't just of what is new and upcoming in the system; there are some old favorites that may have been left behind before a lot of the reading public picked up on Street Lit, and certainly before the library started carrying a major selection of titles. Emako Blue was a very popular high school Black-Eyed Susan Award Nominee when I was teaching, and just being reminded of it just inspired me to cull those lists for other Street-friendly titles. 

The reviews aren't updated as often as maybe I'd like to make it a daily or even a weekly visit. I might have a better time with Urban Reviews for more current information.

I appreciate the designations of the subgenres of Street Lit, like Christian Fiction (which circs really well) and Urban Erotica. 

Of particular interest to me, though, is the Teen Urban section. Teen Urban fiction is something that would really circ well at this branch if we had more selection and our kids knew where it was. I know the standard-bearers in terms of authors are Coe Booth and Nini Simone for this particular subgenre of Street Lit, but there are other authors to explore. I have all sorts of cool ideas about it now!

Assignment 3: Subgenres

In reviewing the subgenres I know the least about, I stumbled upon these three:

1. historical romance: These are very popular at Rosedale, and I'm not complaining. There's lots of hot dudes in kilts on the display covers at our branch as a result. 

2. urban fantasy: While I consider myself to be pretty well-versed in Street Lit/Urban Fiction and that this area is my most seasoned in terms of Reader's Advisory, I haven't yet found a lot of readers who are into Urban Fantasy as a subgenre. 

3. Native American western: At LA, we had one customer who was responsible for our entire Western collection; he would order 10 - 15 Westerns at a time, read them quickly, and then order more. He was very committed to Traditional Westerns, particularly by William Johnstone (like the Mountain Man and Son of the Mountain Man series). Beyond that very nice customer, Westerns seem to be a very niche market at each branch; one or two dedicated customers love that genre. I have no experience with the Native American western subgenre. 

More fun with subgenres:
In looking at Christina Dodd's books in particular, I found it interesting that she as a romance writer covers a lot of genres. I was focusing on the historical romance (she does a lot with Renaissance/England/kings and queens), but she has several fantasy romance series as well that feature mind-control, spells, and myths. Her Chosen Ones series lurches into the paranormal romance subgenre.

Week 5: Building Base Knowledge

Week 5: Building Base Knowledge

Assignment 1:
EarlyWord has been my go-to resource. I love knowing what is coming out and up! One particular category that I love is the "RA Alert"; basically, it tells you about readalikes or new authors that are about to blow up. Particularly popular right now (to no one's surprise) are Girl On The Train readalikes.

I also like how it follows the trends from all the lists and publishers. I can narrow down the Barnes & Noble and Amazon best-seller lists, too.

Assignment 2:
I'm at a new branch at Rosedale, so I was eager to learn about which authors are most popular at this branch. At Lansdowne, James Patterson and Urban Fiction rule the day, so I was anxious to see if my knowledge of those books would translate well here. I've been very pleased that two of my strongest RA interactions so far have centered on Urban Fiction (a customer actually came into the branch to thank me for recommending the Murderville series to her!), so I've retained some of that from LA. Of course, James Patterson is the most circ'ed author at RO (just like every single other branch). Popular authors also include David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Patricia Cornwell (no surprises there). But the #2 and #3 most popular authors? Nora Roberts and Debbie Macomber. Crap.

Romance novels do not stay on shelves here. At all. This is a little intimidating for me because that is not in my wheelhouse. My first way to combat it is to read some Debbie Macomber and some Nora Roberts. (I'm also so glad that Debbie Macomber will be the basis for the Genre Boot Camp in October!) The second way to combat my intimidation? Using The EarlyWord "Titles to Know and Recommend" feature, to keep an eye on upcoming releases from these popular authors.

Assignment 3: Amazon Best Books of the Month

Days of Awe: A Novel by Lauren Fox

When Isabel's best friend dies in a car accident, she's suddenly thrown into a life outside of her comfort zone: her husband leaves and her preteen daughter becomes a monster she doesn't recognize. Alone, she feels as though she needs to learn how to navigate a new life. 

Perfect for fans of authors like Anne Tyler, this novel is all about characterization: how the fragile Isabel reacts to the circumstances around her in often hilarious and unexpected ways. It is being heralded as a dark comedy, so those readers looking for a wry tone will not be disappointed. I can imagine this being popular with book clubs.

Week 4: GOODREADS LOVE!

Hi. My name is Jessica. I'm a GOODREADSaholic. 

Goodreads is without a doubt the most-used app on my phone. I check it in the morning when I wake up. I check it after my lunch. I check it sometimes when I'm in the bathroom. (TMI? Sorry.) I check it before I go to bed. Whereas most of my friends are tethered to their phones to post on FB or Insta or Twitter, I'm the one who is constantly monitoring my Goodreads feed to see what progress has been made on what books. (Jenny is on page 176 of Clash of Kings?!?! HOORAY! Jean just finished a book I have no interest in reading because she gave it 2 stars? Good to know!) I joined in 2008, and I've been so pleased how it has evolved over these years.

The disconnect I have with Goodreads is that I primarily use the app and not the website, so there are some features that I am not using all the time, namely the Explore and Listopia functions. 

As far as Listopia is concerned, well, it's a popularity contest, isn't it? There's a recent list going around Facebook about the list on Goodreads called, "Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once." While I certainly agree with a lot of the choices (*sigh* To Kill A Mockingbird...only two more sleeps until Go Set A Watchman comes out! Gatsby, Where the Sidewalk Ends, etc.) there are some head-scratchers. Twilight?!?! The Time-Traveler's Wife?!?! Look, I'm all for a book touching you in a way that changes your worldview and gets you to read non-stop. Both of those books probably mean that to people, and that's okay. If you had asked me when I was eight what the greatest contribution to literature had ever been, I would have responded with The Babysitter's Club #8: Boy-Crazy Stacey, so clearly I'm in no position to judge. (At age 15 it would have been Douglas Coupland's Generation X and at age 16 it would have been The Catcher In The Rye; at age 36 (almost 37), I have to go with the best book I've read in the past year, and that would be Station Eleven by Emily St. Mandel, but I'm sure this will change within in the week.)

Listopia can help me as a librarian; I tend to think that I'm pretty hip to the YA game and I love reading YA books (#noshameYA), but there are some on the lists of YA I haven't yet read or even heard about, and there's room for me to grow. 

With the Explore function, I was able to enter a few giveaways (yay, free books!) and then look for new releases for some upcoming books I may enjoy (a tell-all memoir written by Judy Garland's secretary?!?! YES, PLEASE!). At LA, we already are most of each other's friends on Goodreads, and it's easy to send some recommendations through the grapevine (See: Why Everyone At This Branch Has Read Both Station Eleven and Ready Player One, or Why Everyone Can't Escape Jessica's Loud Mouth and You're Welcome, LA!), but I will try a few more to get the word out. 

Week 3, Assignment 1: "The RA Conversation" by Neal Wyatt

Hey, our friend Neal Wyatt is back again! The most important thing I took away from the article is the fact that no one expects me to know every book ever published. Why do I so often put that type of pressure on myself? Oh yeah, I guess it's because he also says we only have 15 seconds to grab their attention. On the floor, in front of a shelf, it feels like 2 seconds! I do try to ask as many questions as possible and try to narrow down what the reader is looking for best in a book. I have also found it beneficial to explore the most popular authors (James Patterson) and the most popular sections (Urban Fiction) we have in the library. I found Vanessa Irvin Morris' The Readers' Guide to Street Literature enormously helpful in understanding the subtle nuances and subgenres of Street Lit, and armed with that knowledge, I feel pretty confident in finding authors that appeal to Street Lit readers. 

I'm grateful that my friends and family look to me for good book recommendations because it lets me practice my RA skills in a way that doesn't make me nervous. Believe it or not, RA is one of my least-utilized skills as a librarian at my branch, so when someone comes in looking for a book, I really want to impress him/her with a book that will knock his/her socks off!

Week 3, Assignment 2: Nancy Pearl's Book Recommendations

If Nancy Pearl wants to read the phone book and comment on the people's names or numbers she likes best, I'm willing to listen. I really dig how she considers which books will appeal best to certain types of readers; she doesn't spend too long on one book, but highlights what will grab someone's attention immediately. 



Week 3, Assignment 3: Customer Conversations

Customer 1: Eat, Pray, Love-Lover

The first thing I noticed about this reader was that she was very into what everyone else is reading or popular (she says so, and also the Oprah booklist was a big tip); I also know that a lot of the Oprah selections are more literary, so I might steer her towards 2014's amazing Station Eleven as there's a lot of meat there for a Book Club to discuss and enjoy. She also seems to enjoy the memoir, so I might suggest funny women like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Jen Lancaster, and Mindy Kaling's memoirs as well. 

Customer 2: I. Hate. Twilight.

A vampire story that *isn't* Twilight! Do those exist? My first thought might be Anne Rice, but maybe this person is looking for something a little more lighthearted? In this case, I would recommend the Charlaine Harris books. It's a series, there are vampires, quirky characters, and not a lot of teen angst! If they're looking for something else, Laurell K. Hamilton's books are very popular and more sinister.

Customer 3: Non-fiction/Action/Adventure

This reader wants something fast-paced and true. They like something that would be difficult to put down. A good fit would be Erik Larson's books (probably The Devil In The White City would be the best fit) and Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. 

Week 2, Assignment 1

Exercise 1: Reader Profile

This group of books represents the list of books that I either a) immediately recommend to people when they ask what I've read that's really good lately, b) think about often, or c) want to reread at some point when the stack dwindles down.

Station Eleven by Emily St. Mandel
Delicious Foods by James Hannaham
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia

The first thing that comes to mind about all five of these novels is the heavy emphasis on character. The characters (flawed, quirky, and odd are descriptions that suit all, though they're unique and individual in each case...seems contradictory, I know) are what drive each story. Rather things happening to them, they're the catalyst for action in each case...mostly.

Each of these books are also very well-written and, for lack of a better term, are genre-bending. Post-apocalyptic stuff isn't my bag, but hey, both Station Eleven and Ready Player One could be lumped in with that genre and I adore both of them, so maybe it's not as beyond my liking as I thought.

Basically, I'm willing to try anything once. I'm also willing to read whatever Entertainment Weekly gives an A and whatever my friend Jenny or my coworker Anne recommends.


Exercise 2: List of Appeal Titles

Instead of flip-charts, I used Post-Its. I. LOVE. POST-ITS. Anyway, I found that a lot of the titles I was bringing to mind could fit in a few categories, but that's okay. I know I could brainstorm some more titles if pressed, but for now I think three per category is sufficient, particularly since I see quite a few people who aren't doing these exercises under this assignment anyway. (Did I read the directions wrong? Oh, I guess I did. Oh well! I'm going to finish these up anyhow. I want to show off my cool Post-It notes!)

Exercise 3: RA Madlibs

In this fast-paced novel, Tim Pulver, known for creating action-oriented mysteries, crafts a highly believable story of war and its aftermath.

In this carefully wrought novel, Tim Pulver, known for creating finely tuned characters, crafts a wistful and dramatic story of war and its aftermath.

In this timely novel, Tim Pulver, known for creating scientifically-accurate thrillers, crafts a haunting story of war and its aftermath.

Exercise 4: Appeal Thesaurus

Oh my gosh! I can't wait to use these in my blog-writing!

Pacing: stumbling, relaxed, nail-biting

Characterization: cruel, peppy, unreliable

Story Line: action-oriented, formulaic, familiar

Language: revelatory, age-appropriate,

Setting: sprawling, futuristic, foreign

Detail: lush, numerous, varied

Tone: cautionary, cold, mocking

Learning/Experiencing: didactic, educational, high-interest


Week 2, Assignment 2

Am I cheating if I copy and paste some of my reviews for the Between the Covers blog here? No? Great! Special bonus: these are as-yet-unreleased blog reviews! Woot!

Writing for the blog definitely makes me tune into what appeals to readers; just because I don't like a book, it doesn't mean another reader in the system won't love it!

A God In Ruins

Where Life After Life focused on the time-bending reimagining of the life of Ursula Todd, A God In Ruins’ lead character is her brother, Teddy. We see Teddy come of age and go off to war, but this isn’t just a war novel. We are treated to every aspect of Teddy’s life: his marriage to girl-next-door Nancy, raising his daughter, Viola, and even his interactions with his grandchildren. His multiple triumphs and disappointments make it easy to root for his happiness.

The story isn’t chronological; rather it is told back-and-forth between different points of Teddy’s life, leaving the reader to make connections and judgments about events, waiting to see if those predictions are realized. Thanks to the richly developed characters and winning style, the novel is an engaging read. It is a wistful letter to the Todd family, and overall, to what it means to be a part of a family and part of our collective humanity.

Atkinson has said that she doesn’t view this novel as a sequel, rather as a companion piece to her previous bestseller. Those who enjoyed Life After Life will be glad to dive into A God In Ruins to catch up with the characters they loved; both of these novels are also an excellent fit for those who have just finished All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and are looking for a similar great read.

Appeals highlighted: characterization, language

The Doll Maker

Detectives Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne are back and hot on the trail of serial killers in Richard Montanari’s The Doll Maker, the eighth installment of this series about his Philadelphia-based investigators.

A girl sits placidly on a painted yellow bench as if waiting for a train, a half-smoked cigarette in her fingers. A passing cyclist initially doesn’t think anything is wrong, but then goes in for a closer look. The girl is dead, and her elaborately staged scene around her is part of a sick puzzle designed by killers who call themselves Mr. Marseille and Anabelle. When Detectives Balzano and Byrne stumble upon an invitation to tea the next week at the murder site, they know they’re racing against the next death.

The next death happens, and this time it is two young people, but there’s something even more eerie waiting for the detectives: a doll designed to look exactly like the first victim and another invitation to tea for seven days from now. The victims seem random, but something about them triggers a memory for Byrne about a case that he worked long ago.

Full of twists and turns and heart-stopping action, The Doll Maker is one to read for those who want to be spooked enough to sleep with the light on. Readers who enjoyed James Patterson’s stand-alone The Postcard Killers, fans of a series like Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, those who enjoy a show like Criminal Minds will want to dive into the entire Balzano/Byrne series, starting with the first book, The Rosary Girls. 

Appeals highlighted: pacing, story line, tone

The Teenage Brain

“What was he thinking?” is the first line of The Teenage Brain, and anyone who has ever given birth to or even encountered a teenager at some point may very well have uttered that same question. Being a teenager is difficult, and interacting with a teenager can also be very hard. Luckily, Dr. Frances Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt are here to answer that particular query: the answer is brain science.

                In The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults, Jensen breaks down the tumultuous and terrifying teenaged brain, a long-neglected niche in the field of brain study. While more has been learned about the human brain in the last ten years than the whole of human history, the startling revelations of what actually happens to us in those years from 12 to 22 are just recently becoming well-known. While past research has been quick to blame “hormones” for every idiotic thing teens do on a day-to-day basis, Jensen points out, it is really the teen brain’s inability to deal with those surging hormones is the real culprit. As she explores the myriad of ways that teens are wired for impulsivity and poor decision-making skills, we get a better sense of why everything is a big deal to a teen. Minor inconveniences seem like life-and-death situations to teenagers because in their blossoming dendrites, they are!

              

  This book is written in such a way that doesn’t intimidate nor talk-down to the reader. Chock full of helpful information on everything from risk-taking, driving, sex, drug and alcohol use, video-game addiction, and the differences in the genders (and with plenty of great ammunition for winning that argument against your teen who wants to wear earbuds while studying), this is the perfect read for parents, educators, and everyone who enjoys working with young people in this age range.

               

  So the next time you think you’ve had it up to here with your teen, take a deep breath, remember this book and think that it isn’t personal; it’s just brain science.

Appeals highlighted: learning/experiencing, language

Week 1 Assignment

Week 1: Assignment 1: That darn quiz!

I scored 20/24. I'm embarrassed I didn't remember Where the Red Fern Grows, and I recognized Eragon, but couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called. Boo.

Week 1: Assignment 2: Matching book covers

I got 9/12. Clearly, I need to brush up on the different SciFi genres! That was tough!

Week 1: Assignment 3: Golden Rules of Readers' Advisory

All great things to keep in mind! I'm glad that I write for Between the Covers because I get to really think about the appeal factors for the books that I read for the blog, but this was a bit of a wake-up call to branch out. I don't want to only know about contemporary literary fiction because that isn't what is most popular at my branch.

Week 1: Assignment 4: Choosing Recommended Links for Genre and Books

Books: It would be oh-so-easy for me to choose Goodreads for this one, as it's on my phone and I use it more than any other app on my phone, but seeing as how we're supposed to branch out, I'm choosing EarlyWord. It sucked me in with an interview with Naomi Jackson. It will be a great resource for scoping out new titles for BTC blog, too.

Genre: Easy. StreetFiction.org. We have a permanent Urban Fiction "display" at our branch, and besides James Patterson (who seems to be the top-circing author at every branch), our Urban Fiction gets the most circs here. I liked that it broke down the different subgenres of Street Fiction and has upcoming titles.

Week 1: Assignment 5: Just for Fun!

Wow! She was scarily accurate about Gatsby, huh?