Trouble Around the Bend (West Bend, That Is)

I've been meaning to post about this library controversy in West Bend, Wisconsin for quite some time, but never got around to it. Oops. This tale of library censorship has grown and morphed over the past few months, but I'm surprised it hasn't made any national headlines. It's a long tale, so settle in with a cup of tea or something...

Backstory:
Back in March, a YA librarian posted on the YALSA-BK listserv looking for recommendations for books (fiction and non-fiction) with anti-homosexual themes and tales of "ex-gay" characters. The listserv blew up with a flurry of e-mails bashing the requester, jumping to conclusions about her motives and beliefs, and basically causing a virtual riot. After the furious posts died down a bit, the original poster responded to let everyone know that the reason for her request was that two patrons had recently filed a complaint against the library's collection practices and requested for the removal of several books from the library's young adult collection which she deemed "perverse and pornographic language" and the inclusion of "oppositional, i.e., ex-gay, faith-based materials" in the YA collection.

Spurred to action after finding an "Out of the Closet" booklist (which has now evidently and inexplicably been renamed "Over the Rainbow"on the library's website, patrons Ginny and Jim Maziarka made the following request (link is to the full post):

Our requests are three-fold: 1. To bring balance to the YA Zone as well as the adult section of our library by providing faith-based and ex-“gay” books that oppose a pro-homosexual ideology. 2. That the book recommendation list under the name “Out of the Closet”, which brings a pro-homosexual connotation to the list, be renamed and include an equal balance of faith-based and ex-“gay” books that oppose a pro-homosexual ideology. 3. We are asking for the removal of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Geography Club” for their explicit pornographic sexual nature. We have additionally requested "Deal With It!" be withheld, as it appears that it is in the works for our YA Zone.

What Happened:
The patrons provide a fairly good (and seemingly accurate) blog account of the process that they've gone through in order to have their requested honored. It's obviously a biased account peppered with their thoughts and beliefs on the situation, but you can at least get a sense for what has been happening and their reasons for the complaint. For a less-biased account, the Daily News also has an article. But basically, after filing a formal complaint, they met first with the YA librarian, then the library (both of whom refused their requests citing the library's collection development policy and use of book reviews, etc. Unsatisfied with the outcome, they intended to take it to a library board meeting, BUT the meeting was cancelled and the complaint rejected.

And Finally...
Since then, the request has morphed into a slightly different one, involving shifting and labeling of materials, restriction of Internet access, but still including the request for materials offering a "balanced perspective" on homosexuality, and there's been a signature campaign and a town meeting. Most recently, Publisher's Weekly notes that four members of the library board who disagreed with the patron request were dismissed/did not have their terms renewed.

Craziness.

What I'd Like To See:
I totally disagree with the patron's request, but I think it would be kind of awesome (in a not really awesome way) to see them label all materials in the collection that feature "sexually explicit" material. The entire Romance section would be one big label. And might children's books like And Tango Makes Three and Heather Has Two Mommies, be determined "sexually explicit" just for featuring homosexual relationships? What about books like Mommy Laid an Egg? Who makes that decision, anyway?

Hogwarts to Admit Muggles!

It's been a busy past few days for the LibrariYAn, conferencing first in Chicago for Teach For America and then in Long Branch, NJ for the NJLA Conference. Thus the lack of posts. But now I'm back, and what do you know, Hogwarts is headed to Chicago! Thank goodness I'm headed back there myself in June. I'll be busy, but I think I can certainly fit in a visit to Hogwarts!

It's true! Beginning today and running through September 27th, Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibit, produced by Exhibitgroup/Giltspur, takes visitors through a series of Hogwarts hot spots including the dorms, classrooms and forbidden forest, features a myriad of props and costumes from the Harry Potter movies. Artifacts from the sorting hat to a train car on the Hogwart's Express to Voldemort's wand are on display. Neato!

The bad news is that most of the exhibit is "look but don't touch," with small items enclosed in glass and others roped off. Happily, a few items are to be played with, including a baby mandrake (no word on whether a scream so painful that it makes you pass out will be emitted) and a chair in Hagrid's house where you can take a load off. For a preview of the exhibit, check out this video, which comes to us via the USA Today website:



Admission to the exhibit is separate from museum entry. Check the museum's website for the deets. Word on the street is that in the coming weeks, additional locations for the exhibit will be announced. Here's hoping for Hogwarts to come to you!

The Kat Fight That Wasn't

I had big plans for a Friday post entitled Kat Fight, but alas, Nancy Werlin has ruined those best laid plans. Sadly, Kristin Cashore's Graceling has fallen to Candace Fleming's The Lincolns in SLJ's Battle of the Books. So, instead of a Katniss (Hunger Games) / Katsa (Graceling) showdown, it'll be Katniss against Abe and Mary. Katniss was able to take down a whole field of stronger, better conditioned contenders in The Hunger Games though, so I have faith her to pull through once again. Cris Crutcher better not mess this one up.

'Tis the Season to Go Prom-ing (or Not)!

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, teenagers across the country are thinking about one thing . . . summer vacation. But before they can get there, there's prom.

Back in the 90s, when yours truly was a senior in high school, I couldn't wait for prom. I wasn't in the popular crowd*, but my ragtag group of drama and band geeks, who, at the time were obsessed with Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion (oh, who am I kidding, we still are!), successfully lobbied enough of the other geeks and nerds to vote Cindy Lauper's Time After Time as our prom theme. Prom would also be my first (and only) time that I attended a school dance with a boy NOT as "just friends." I bought a fantastic Cinderella-like baby blue gown and long white gloves. I got my hair and nails done. I danced the night away, and I had so much fun.

Of course, not everyone's prom goes that well. YA literature is full of hilarious prom mishaps like Mitch's peeing on his white tuxedo in Steven Goldman's Two Parties, One Tux and a Very Short Film About the Grapes of Wrath. And of course, no one ever had a worse prom than Stephen King's Carrie. Maybe that's why some folks - seemingly an increasing number - don't even go to prom. And for these reasons, John Green proposes that we get rid of prom.

Much ado is made about prom and love it or hate it, prom is something quintessentially American. In honor of prom, the YALSA blog brings us this fabulous post all about prom, with a little bit of history, a few links to help teens prepare to celebrate safely (whether attending the school-hosted party or an alternative prom), and of course, a list of YA novels about prom.

Of course, no prom post would be complete without movies! Afterall, what American girl hasn't seen Pretty in Pink and from that moment hoped for a guy like Blane and a friend like Duckie? There are tons of movies about prom. Elle brings you their top ten, while Gurl.com helps you find one to suit your mood.

And before I go, against my better judgement, but recognizing that you can't post about how you loved your prom and then not post any pictures. . .

It's the only one I could find on short notice, and I had to crop extensively to protect the innocent, but there I am. I have no idea where my gloves got off to, but those suckers came all the way to my elbows.

* Did you ever notice how no one ever claims to have been popular in high school? Somebody must've been popular, right? I assure you, it wasn't me.

Review in Two: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia is an accomplished cellist, likely to head off to Julliard next fall until one snowy day, her family is in a horrible car accident that takes the lives of her parents and younger brother and leaves her in critical condition. While Mia's physical body remains in the ICU, she watches and listens to the nurses and loved ones at the hospital, as she reflects on her life, and tries to decide whether to hold on to life or let go.


If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: April 2, 2009


Before this book was even released, the movie buzz seemed to be all I was hearing about. Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke has signed on to direct the film version, though no release date has been set. What with all the buzz, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters through Mia's memories and loved the way the music (her passion for classical and her parents' and boyfriend's punk) was woven into the story. Even though I was probably supposed to be more drawn to Mia's boyfriend Adam or her parents/family, I wound up liking her level-headed and wryly funny best friend Kim, who seemed like the kind of girl I'd want to be friends with, the most.

I'm not one to get emotional over books or movies, but I teared up at several points. It's a very quick read (208 pages) that keeps the reader turning pages, not only to find out whether Mia decides to live or to die, but also because the chapters, which alternate between the present and her memories, are so compact and revealing that you keep thinking "Well, I might as well read just one more. It's only a few more pages, right?"

Boys and Girls Action! Action! Action!

Finally, the wait is over. For years, it was an empty promise, but today it has become a reality. MTV is releasing the entire series of the sketch comedy show The State on DVD.

Back in high school, this was my favorite television show. I was one of the few people to own copies of the book State by State With the State and the Skits and Stickers VHS - both of which, sadly, my sister* lost and never returned after borrowing. I taped their CBS Halloween special, but it was eaten by a friend's* VCR. When I ran into Michael Showalter* and his mom at a Barnes & Noble in Princeton, he promised me that his friend Raph would send me a tape of all the episodes, but that never materialized.

All of my State-i-ness is gone. July 14th can't get here soon enough.

If you somehow missed The State, this trailer should set the tone...

The State - MTV Shows

My never ending thanks to Best Week Ever for notifying me of the scheduled DVD release, and making this truly one of the Best Week's EVER!

* Don't any of you think I've forgotten. Oh no. No. No. No.

Puzzle Party! (How Did I Miss This?)

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE board games and puzzles of all sorts. And so it comes as a shock to me that I somehow missed all the chatter going on in the kidlitblogosphere about Winston Breen's Puzzle Party*.

To celebrate the release of Eric Berlin's new book The Potato Chip Puzzles, a jim dandy of a puzzle contest is going on and there's a chance to win really awesome prizes!

The contest is pretty simple and straightforward:

Each day between April 16th and 22nd, a new puzzle will be posted on a different blog. Go to the blog, click on the puzzle link, solve the puzzle, and e-mail your answer to puzzleparty@gmail.com by midnight. Every day, one winner will be selected from the correct answers. That winner gets a signed copy of The Potato Chip Puzzles.

But it gets better! To answer the final puzzle on April 22nd, you'll need all of the daily answers. And the winner of the final puzzle will win not only a signed copy of The Potato Chip Puzzles, but two dozen other books from G.P. Putnam's Sons!

Today's puzzle is posted at Fuse #8, but be sure to go back and solve yesterday's puzzle over at A Patchwork of Books, and then head on over to Shelf Elf tomorrow, etc.

Yesterday's puzzle was easy, cheest, one, two, threesy, but today's is proving to be a bit more challenging. I've figured out most of it on my own, but I think it's time to call in the reinforcements.

*Note: I recognize that The Potato Chip Puzzles is a book for middle readers and not YAs, who doesn't love a contest with books as prizes and fun puzzles to solve along the way? Just participating is guaranteed to be fun!

SLJ's Battle of the Books: Round One Review

As with any tournament worth spectating, SLJ's Battle of the Books had an intense first round this week, with surprising victories and crushing defeats. There were some clear wins, some wins even the judges couldn't expect, and some amazing upsets. I hadn't predicted this many twists and turns so early on, but my, has this thrown my bracket for a loop (though, ultimately, possibly a good loop)!

See my quick takes on the Round One Match-ups below (winners in bold)

Match 1:

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nichols v. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II, Kingdom of the Waves by M.T. Anderson

Honestly, I haven't read either of these books, but when folks like John Green are obsessed with Octavian Nothing, declaring it "the greatest accomplishment in the history of children's literature," I figure we've got a blowout on our hands.

Match 2:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman v. The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman

Can you spell upset? Wowzers. This choice totally blew some people's brackets (though thankfully not mine!). Based on all of the smothering adoration Graveyard Book had received from kids, bloggers, award committee's, and Stephen Colbert, I thought this was an easy match-up. Leave it to Jon Sciescka to not like fantasy and have an apparent obsession with fun facts about Mark Twain.

Match 3:

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson v. Washington at Valley Forge by Russell Freedman

Historical fiction novel Chains makes a revolutionary triumph over narrative non-fiction Washington at Valley Forge (pun intended). Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Freedman's great, and I love his writing style, which makes non-fiction really come to life - but, seriously, how can you not pick Laurie Halse Anderson to win every time? You can't. She's amazing. Her fictional characters are so real and solid that nary a descriptor or turn of phrase is ever out of place.

Match 4:

Here Lies Arthur by Phillip Reeve v. Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

Seeing as I hadn't read Here Lies Arthur and also hadn't heard too much about it, I picked Tender Morsels to win this one. And still, I was surprised to see Tender Morsels take this one! It's certainly NOT a book for everyone, given, you know, the incest, gang rape, bestiality, and overall bizarreness (?) of the tale. In fact, when I visited my new middle school on Monday and saw that it had been newly purchased for the collection I gave a quick recommendation to the current librarian that she read it and then pass it on to the upper school collection instead of shelving it.

Match 5:

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart v. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro Baseball League by Kadir Nelson

Another crushing upset! Frankie was one of my favorite books of 2008, and I was stoked that it received a Printz Honor. I had Frankie winning this one, but the loss actually does me more good than harm, since I feared that John Green would've knocked out Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games in Round Two, to clear the path for Frankie. So, I see Frankie's graceful loss as (hopefully!) a future victory for my bracket. Now let's just hope that Nerdfighter chooses correctly in Round Two!

Match 6:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins v. The Porcupine Year by Louise Erdrich

Victory! Victory! Let's Repeat It! I've made it no secret that Hunger Games is my favorite. It's such an amazingly well-told story with action, suspense, and characters who you root for that really, I think, has such broad appeal. Young. Old. Boy. Girl. Fantasy. Adventure. You name it. I love this book.

Match 7:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore v. The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

Kaboom! Score another one for feminist fantasy. Having just finished my ARC of Kristin Cashore's upcoming Fire, (and loving every minute of that!) I was pumped for this match-up. I love Cashore's writing style, which judge Tamora Pierce aptly described as "pared to the bone." You learn everything you need to know about the characters while the story moves along, and characters grow and develop, struggle and triumph.

Match 8:

The Lincolns by Candace Fleming v. Nation by Terry Pratchett

I can't say I had a dog in this fight. I read only the first thirty-or-so pages of Nation (not because I didn't like it, but because I had a bunch of books checked out, and by the time I got around to Nation, it was time for it to go back to the library), and while I liked it, I can't say that I'd really gotten into the story. Obviously, it won a Printz Honor and I know many folks loved it, so it was my pick to make it to Round Two. Alas, those feisty Lincolns bested Nation.

In the end, five of my picks made it to Round Two, and my top choice remains in the running, so I'm feeling pretty good about my bracket. We'll see what happens next week though!

Oh, and might I add that I think my favorite part of this whole thing so far are the graphics that start off each post. There's something about books with arms and legs standing in their fight positions that I think is so comical and utterly enjoyable. You can almost hear the books growling at each other over the voice of the referee reminding the contestants about the rules against kidney punches.

Have Yourself a Tasty Little Tax Day!

And now for a post that has nothing to do with books or teens, but is fun, because you can get free and/or discounted food!

Here's some tax relief I think we can all get behind...


Whilst roaming the interwebs today I came across a bunch of really cool deals available today only. After you've made your last-minute tax preparations and have your return safely postmarked, be sure to swing by these retailers and take advantage of these deals. And if you hear of any additional ones, put 'em in the comments.

Chick-fil-A
Visit a participating restaurant and hang onto your receipt. The “Tax Relief Day Special” lets you return before April 30 to receive the same order for free.

Cinnabon
Stop by Cinnabon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for free cinnamon-roll bites. Word on the street is that this freebie is in high demand and quantities are limited, so don't dally!

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery
Get one free scoop of ice cream.

PF Chang ’s China Bistro
Dine at one of P.F. Chang's restaurant locations, and save 15% on the total bill.

T.G.I. Friday’s
Receive a $5 gift card when you spend $15 to $25, or a $10 card for a purchase of more than $25.

There's also a deal at Taco Del Mar, but since I don't know what that is, I'll leave it to you to find the deal in the links below.

Thank you to Yahoo! Finance, AOL's Wallet Pop, and Main Street for alerting me to these tasty forms of tax relief!

SLJ's Battle of the Books: Power to the People!

Last week I posted about SLJ's upcoming Battle of the Books (first round begins on April 13th) encouraging you to follow along. Since then, some exciting new twists have made this battle royale more interactive:

Peanut Gallery: Former college basketball stars often weigh-in on their predictions and provide assorted commentary throughout the NCAA tournament, so why shouldn't librarians and teens - and anyone else, for that matter! - get to contribute their two cents on which books should win and which judges are clearly being paid off? Share your thoughts in the comments section over at the BOB blog. I'll also be blogging my way through the tournament here as well, so stay tuned, and know that comments are always welcome!

People's Choice Poll: Stand up and be counted! Just because the judges are highly accomplished authors and professionals in the field of children's and young adult literature and decide the official outcome of this contest, and you, on the other hand, most likely, are not, doesn't mean your opinion won't be heard. Vote for your favorite book on the People's Choice Poll, and encourage your friends and other Hunger Games enthusiasts family to do the same! Remember, you can only vote once, so make sure you think long and hard about your selection before casting your vote. If you're HUNGRY, grab a snack, and think over who you really want to win the GAME. Don't rush the decision.

Library/School Pool: Everybody knows that gambling makes competition more exciting. Even the President of the United States had an NCAA bracket*. So gather your friends, students, teen patrons and/or co-workers, get them to fill out brackets, assign points, keep score, and make this competition interesting!

* Yes, ALA President James Rettig, YALSA President Sarah Cornish Debraski and ALSC President Pat Scales, I'll be looking for your brackets as well!

Awesome Quotes: Two Parties, One Tux and a Very Short Film About the Grapes of Wrath

"I then do what all sensible people do when they are dumped at their prom. I go to the bathroom and pee on my own pants, just to prove that it can, in fact, get worse." (Steven Goldman's Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film About 'The Grapes of Wrath', page 266)

We've all been there, haven't we?

Review in Two: Swim the Fly

Matt's a scrawny 15-year-old who's never kissed a girl and has a tendency to find himself in hilariously awkward and embarrassing situations, but he's not about to let that prevent him from achieving his two summer goals: seeing a real, live girl naked and swimming the 100-meter fly. Screenwriter Don Calame bursts onto the young adult scene with his first novel, Swim the Fly, with characters and scenes so vividly written that you'd swear you were laughing along in a crowded theater instead of reading a book.


Swim the Fly
by Don Calame
Candlewick
Release Date: April 14, 2009 (hardcover)

************************************************************************************

I'd heard a bit of a buzz about this book and knew it was something I'd want to get my hands on and write about before its release. I was not disappointed. Matt and his friends Sean and Coop are your typical awkward, fart-joke loving, girlfriendless group of guys trying to figure out how to get a girl to notice their existence. The group's schemes to see a naked girl and attempts to fit in with the popular crowd fail so miserably in such absurd, yet "oh my goodness, that could totally happen!," ways that the reader is in stitches over and over again.

Calame's experience as a screenwriter comes through in his descriptions of characters and situations, making it easy to visualize the action. Minor product placement throughout the novel made me see a movie in the book's future, but it wasn't overdone or annoying.

All in all, a fun read that I think would make a perfect summer read for most any teenage boy.