SLP Challenges

I don't know that I spoken yet about the interesting predicament that my library found itself in this summer. On top of the usual chaos that comes with the Summer Reading Program, our Head of Youth Services gave birth to her first baby in early June - right before the chaos began. While we were all thrilled about the baby, the rest of us had to scramble a bit to figure out how summer was going to work. After all, it is our busiest time of year and we would be without the person in charge. What's a library to do?

Well, we all had to step it up a bit. The library director took responsibility for managing the children's department and making the big executive decisions. Myself and the other assistant kept most of the day-to-day stuff rolling along. Thankfully we've both been through SLP a few times so we knew pretty much what to expect. Programming was unfortunately cut back a little because we just didn't have the man-power to have so many events. We did hire some extra LTE (limited term employee) help, but given their position and lack of training they were mostly there to help with SLP check in and keeping the area clean. Mostly we learned flexibility and how to tackle problems as they come.

This summer was certainly challenging and contained some high and low points. Even though we had some leadership from the director, she also had her regular job duties and the rest of the library to worry about so she wasn't physically there to help at every moment when we would have liked. The LTEs proved to be more helpful than expected given their training and expectations. Our total number of participants was sadly down just a little bit from last summer, which we attribute to the fact that our HoYS was unable to do school visits. While some programs were cut from the summer schedule, the ones that were held proved to be huge hits.

One big lesson that I take from this experience is that it's so important to make sure that more than one person can do a given job. Under my library's current union contract, myself and the other assistant can only be given so much responsibility, so we weren't aloud to take on all of the HoYS' responsibilities when she was gone. If we had been able to take on some additional responsibilities (programming, decision making, etc.) then things might have been a lot easier. I also think that it's huge to have the entire staff involved at least in some aspect with planning. Because of the responsibility structure, the HoYS did all of the planning for SLP...and then wasn't there to see it though. Those of us who were there to implement the program weren't involved in the planning so there were a few holes in our understanding of how things were supposed to work. If everyone works together on all stages though, then it's easier for things to flow smoothly when something goes wrong.

Despite the challenges, SLP proved to be a major success. The kids all had a great time and it was fun to see so many faces at the library. Even if there were a few bumps along the way, nothing burned down so it couldn't have been that bad...right? ;)

New Blog Design!

I decided that this blog needed a bit of a face lift. Sort of a "new job, new color scheme" sort of thing. After all, the design templates on Blogger have grown to include a lot more designs and customization is easier than ever. What do you think?

I'd also like this opportunity to ask my readers (small in number though you may be) if there's anything in particular you'd like me to post about - a book, a particular library or literacy issue - whatever you're interested in along this general theme. Suggestions might keep me a bit more active during the coming weeks of madness.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Tommy is a kid with a problem. He needs to find out if his super-freak classmate, Dwight's, origami Yoda can really predict the future. He seems to have given excellent advice to other kids, but Tommy's friend Harvy insists that Yoda's wise powers can all be explained away. After all, it's Dwight who controls Yoda - what can this kid possibly know? But part of Tommy wonders - could origami Yoda be for real? He needs to know the answer ASAP because Yoda has given him some advice that he's terrified to follow. If Yoda is right, then everything will be perfect. But if he's wrong it will mean certain humiliation. What's a kid to do?

I have to say, this was one awesome little book. Middle-schoolers are a real challenge to capture correctly in books, and author Tom Angleberger does a great job of creating interesting, believable characters. Dwight, the dopy kid who creats Yoda, is especially well-drawn. He's a kid who's truly strange. Everyone knows it, everyone makes fun of it, and there's no denying even to the adult reader that this kid is weird. But you can't help but love him anyway, especially as the book goes on and you realize that not everyone will just write him off because of his eccentricities.

The hardest part of creating a great middle-grade novel is capturing the "in between-ness" of the middle-school mind. Some kids at this age think that they're on top of the world, while some are struggling to get by. Some are huge and/or hugely popular, and some flounder along at these other kids' mercy. It's sometimes tempting for authors to generalize and age middle-school kids either too much or too little - as either full-fledged grown-up teens or still little kids - but Angleberger has done a good job of finding the right balance between the two.

But enough critique. This book is a ton of fun to read. It's funny and it makes you think. It'll definitely put a smile on your face. Besides, who doesn't love Yoda? And who doesn't love a book about a good weird kid? After all Diary of a Wimpy Kid proved that millions of middle-grade readers love weird kids. Just like DoaWK, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda will find a readership with kids of various ages and genders who just want a good, fun story - no fuss, no muss - and it will keep readership because of it's awesome quality of writing and characterization.

Overall Grade: A+

Exciting Announcement!

It's been nearly two weeks since my last post and things are likely to be just as sporadic over the next month or so. Why? I got a new job! I've now officially graduated from Overqualified-Library-Assistant-Who-Nonetheless-Mostly-Loves-Her-Job to Full-Fledged Youth Services Librarian. Huzzah! I'm really excited about the new job. It seems like it will be a great opportunity and I'm totally excited to plan programs and order books for the kids and teens in my charming new community. While I don't start the new job until the end of August I am a bit distracted with trying to pack up my life and move to this new town, so my reading and blogging time may be cut short. But I'll do my best to keep you all entertained.

Meanwhile, Summer Reading Program is in full swing. I've talked to a couple hundred kids this summer about all of the books they've been working on. My favorite conversation thus far was with an eight-year-old boy who's been working his way through a series of biographies about all of the presidents. Wow! Here are just a few other books that I've seen pop up this summer:



















































What else have you all been reading this summer?

The Mysterious Howling

Penelope Lumbly is a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females seeking a position as a governess. After all, what else is there for a Poor Bright Female to do? Penny is lucky enough to get a job working at the Ashton household, but quickly discovers that her charges are far from ordinary. The three children, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia were all found living together in the woods, and they seem to have been raised by wolves. Instead of teaching them French and Latin, Penny quickly finds herself needing to teach the children to not chase squirrels and how to eat with a knife and fork. Things being even more complicated when Lady Constance Ashton announces that she will be holding a grand Christmas party that the children must attend. Will they be ready in time, or will they humiliate Lady Constance? Where did these children come from in the first place? And why does Penny keep hearing talk of a hunting party on Christmas?

The Mysterious Howling is the first in an expected series by author Maryrose Wood. In her first novel for younger readers (her previous books have been for teens) she brilliantly blends and old-fashioned type of story with perfectly paced humor that kept me laughing. Describing the style of this book is a challenge - the best I can do is to say that it's kind of like a bizarre blend of Jane Eyre, Mary Poppins, and Lemony Snicket. It all works very well. Very few of the questions and mysteries set up in this first volume are fully solved which will make readers eager to pick up the next volume, expected to be published in 2011. Some might find this wait frustrating, but the book is a light enough romp and the kids are such delightful characters that many will probably not mind the lack of true resolution. It's hard to say if this series is destined to be a favorite just yet, but I have a gut feeling that if the next book in the series is as fun and as funny as its predecessor then readers will be in for a real treat.

Overall Grade: A-/B+

The Cardturner

Alton's summer doesn't look exciting at first. His girlfriend dumped him for his best friend and his parents are forcing him to spend time with his elderly great-uncle at a bridge club acting as the blind man's cardturner. His whole life Alton's parents have forced him to kiss up to his "favorite uncle Lester" in the hopes of securing a significant inheritance, and they're sure that this quality time will secure their fortune. But things become much more interesting than Alton could have imagined. First off, he discovers that the game of bridge is much more interesting than he first thought, full of strategy and dynamic team play. He slowly begins to understand the great amount of skill that the game requires, especially for his uncle who can't see the cards and has to memorize his hand. And who knew that Uncle Lester, better known to his bridge club as simply Trap, was actually a nationally renowned bridge player? The only thing that Trap has yet to achieve is a national championship, something he hasn't even attempted in over thirty years. Slowly Alton uncovers the story of Trap's early bridge-playing days and the brilliantly human story of his former partner, Annabelle. The summer shapes up to be even more interesting when Alton begins to spend more time with Toni, Annabelle's pretty granddaughter, and the two find themselves trying to help Trap on the long road to the nationals.

Author Louis Sachar has created another brilliant gem for readers to enjoy. This is a book about the game of bridge, but it's about a lot more than that. It's about learning to not be manipulated and how to take chances. It's about starting over fresh. And I loved it. The characters are strong, expertly built and easy to love (or, in the case of Alton's parents, fun to dislike). They make it easy for readers to enjoy a book so wrapped around a game that most of them have likely never played. If you hesitate to grab this one because of the bridge stuff though, fear not - Sachar does a great job of explaining what you need to know about the game as you go. Older readers who loved Holes will likely enjoy Louis Sachar's newest book for its tone, its endearing characters, and bits of magical realism that make the story come full circle.

Overall Grade: A

White Cat

Cassel comes from a family of powerful curse workers - magicians who are able to perform magic that affects other people. Some are able to change others' luck, or their memories, or can even kill a person with a single touch. These curse workers are generally feared by the public for the work that they do. Fortunately (or unfortunately) Cassel himself does not have any powers; he's just a normal kid in a family with a long history of working. While Cassel wishes he had the abilities that his mom and brothers have so that he can belong, part of him is happy to be normal. But Cassel's history isn't quite as perfect as he pretends it is - at the age of 14 he killed his best friend. He does not even remember doing it, but Cassel has never quite gotten over this event and has desperately tried to be as typical of a teenager as possible. The wall of normalcy that Cassel has built around himself comes crashing down however when he begins sleepwalking and slowly begins to uncover the truth about himself and his family.

Holly Black is the author of such other beloved fantasy books as Tithe and The Spiderwick Chronicles. White Cat is the first book in what will become a series about Cassel and his life among the curse workers, and it pleases on all counts. Black has done a good job of creating a sort of alternate history peppered with the struggles that the workers have endured over time and a world where being a worker is both a great blessing and a curse. I greatly enjoyed the extra dimension of the crime family that Cassel's family works for, which creates some extra intrigue to keep things fresh and intense. Parts of the story are a tad predictable, but this is comforting rather than irritating and peppered with just enough twists to keep readers on their toes. Now that things are set up I'm very curious to see where Black goes with the rest of the series.

Overall Grade: A

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Living in Chicago's suburbs are two teenage boys named Will Grayson. One, from Evanston, has a history of not caring that is complimented by his gay best friend, Tiny Cooper, and his lust for life. The other, from Naperville, is a depressed ball of angst full of anger and desperate affection for a mysterious boy named Isaac who he met online. The two live completely separate lives but are thrust together one night by sheer chance. Tiny Cooper becomes the thread that connects the two Will Graysons as all three learn something about how love makes you a part of the human race.

This book is co-authored by prolific YA authors John Green (An Abundance of Katherines) and David Lavithan (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist). Alternating chapters narrate the story from the perspectives of each Will Grayson and the distinct voices of each author, remaining distinct while still blending their stories together. I personally have never been much of a David Levithan fan, but I gave this book a chance because I adore John Green. While I distinctly preferred the chapters written by Green (Evanston Grayson), I greatly enjoyed this book as a whole. The entire novel is a great discussion about love and how learning to care about people and take chances with them is necessary for all of us to truly be happy. And Tiny Cooper, the fabulous and flamboyant character who ultimately ties the two stories together, is truly one of the most endearing characters I've seen in awhile.

Overall Grade: A

Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf

As Ginny begins the seventh grade things look promising. She has a a big To-Do list full of things she'd like to accomplish (ranging from looking good in her school photo to getting a dad to ignoring horoscopes). She has plans to baby-sit her way into the money she needs to buy a coveted yellow sweater (as long as it isn't Tiffany Kurtz). And she really wants to win the role of the Sugarplum Fairy in her upcoming ballet recital. Unfortunately, nothing goes quite as planned. Ginny gets her new dad when her mom remarries, but doesn't like it when her family's dynamics change. Her school photo is ruined when she botches an attempt to dye her hair. It seems that Mrs. Kurtz is the only one who ever needs a baby-sitter. And Ginny looses the role of the Sugarplum Fairy to her ex-best friend Mary Catherine Kelly. How can things possibly get worse? They can when her delinquent brother takes things one step too far.

Middle school really is a difficult time for a lot of kids (myself included) and this book really does a great job of capturing the changes and the different emotions that kids of this age experience. From the mundane to the extreme, Ginny seems to experience an awful lot during this trying year but really does come out stronger in the end despite the challenges she faces. The story is told not in regular prose or even in diary entries, but in everyday items such as report cards, notes, receipts, and school papers. This unique format still manages to be emotionally moving and really shows how the everyday and seemingly unimportant really can be everything in the world to someone else.

Overall Grade: A

Shredderman: Secret Identity

Nolan has spent his whole life as a nerd. He doesn't have a lot of friends and bully Bubba Bixby seems to have made it his goal to make Nolan's life miserable. Things are bleak until one day when Nolan has an idea. A great idea. One that will change his world forever. He decides to create a secret identity, a superhero named Shredderman, and put Bubba Bixby in his place! Nolan uses his greatest asset - his brains - and builds a website devoted to exposing Bubba for the cruel bully he really is. When Shredderman.com goes live Nolan starts by posting a few jokes, later adding photographic evidence of Bubba's misdeeds obtained from his cleverly hidden camera. Soon traffic on the website is growing and Shredderman, champion of truth and justice, is the most popular thing to hit the 5th grade.

Children always cry for justice, while their parents tend to beg for mercy. This book is perfect for every kid who's ever wanted a villain to get his just deserts. After all, I'd hate to be Bubba Bixby after everything that Shredderman puts him through! Nolan's spy tactics are very clever and engaging. This story is pretty straightforward, an easy read that can still appeal to slightly older kids. Best of all, Shredderman's adventures continue on in three additional volumes.

Overall Grade: A-