Archive for the ‘hot topics’ Category

YALSA recently wrote about the Common Sense ratings (for books) that Barnes and Noble have been exhibiting on their website. Here’s a view from the Barnes and Noble web site of the Common Sense rating for Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (referenced in the article):

Readers, what do you think? As YALSA questions, could this be a slippery slope to further censorship? Should books be rated as movies are rated? “The thing is, who does get to own common sense and determine what’s right for a particular teen or a particular family?”

Good question! In my YA services class this week, we are discussing collection development, and as a part of that censorship. From a librarian’s point of view, my responsibility is to build up my collection as best will serve the teens at my library–I’m not the person to decide what they can and cannot read. I should choose age-appropriate titles, but who decides exactly what is age appropriate? The line is very fine, and this issue very sensitive with many parents and communities.

I’m going to keep an eye on the comments of the YALSA post. As someone new to the field, I don’t know the answer, but I think it worthwhile for librarians, parents, and even teens to consider these questions and, especially for librarians, keep these things in mind when considering collection development, as well as a teenager’s right to read and have access to materials that will help them grow.

Every season of American Idol has one. This year it’s General Larry Platt, a 60-something year old veteran that came out to audition (uhhh, yeah, he’s way over the age limit) and graced us all with this wonderful song:

And this new sensation is OUT OF CONTROL! There is a Facebook page, and many, crazy remixes and covers. I hate to admit it, but I love it. Check out some of my favorites!

Hi everyone, if you aren’t living in a hole you’ve heard of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti this week, killing thousands, and leaving many more trapped, destroying families and homes and leaving a nation that was already impoverished on the brink of disaster. Please consider donating to the Red Cross’ effort in Haiti by texting HAITI to 90999. Doing so will charge you $10 on your next cell phone bill, and the money will go to the relief effort. Spread the word!

I read about this intriguing livejournal post on the YALSA blog and had to share my own thoughts. I’ve heard this point of view before: Edward as the creepy, stalking, possibly emotionally (even physically) abusive “boyfriend” (can you call him a boyfriend if he’s dead?). I’ve read all of the Twilight books numerous times. I was into the books before they became popular. I’m not a fan of the movies, but I’ve seen both of them now.

What do I think? You can’t argue with the points made by the author of that post. Edward clearly exhibits some behaviors of an abusive person. C’mon, he’s so creepy. He does stalk Bella. He watches her sleep. He threatened and tried to commit suicide because he couldn’t live without her! Honestly, I had some of these thoughts before reading this, but didn’t realize how horrible, how awful this relationship between Edward and Bella really may be.

From the point of view of a fan–the reader gets lost in the book. It’s not amazing writing, it’s not even an always believable story, but there is something about it that sucks (ha) you in. Edward and Bella’s relationship is compelling to the type of person (young female) that gets drawn to this story. If you leave the story and take it for what it is on a superficial level, a novel, maybe you don’t see the fact that there is something seriously wrong in the way he treats Bella. Or maybe you do and you ignore it because sometimes he says great things or does something right. Or maybe you’re lonely and you can’t see beyond your own emotions.

Whatever the reason, I didn’t see this so clearly, and I’m glad for this post. I agree with many commenters on the YALSA blog. Education is always important. Equal access should be made to the Twilight books and to materials on abusive relationships. Communication is also important. Friends and families should discuss the content of these types of books–and recognize it for what it is: a story. And in your real life, if you know an Edward, it is not OK to be bossed around, abused–emotionally, verbally, or physically, or treated as a second-class citizen.

This is a very interesting topic and I hope it will be continued to be discussed across the blogosphere. I am very interested to hear others’ thoughts.

Have you ever heard of Book Divas? It’s this great online community/weblog/everything for young adult and college aged readers. And they give out books, lots and lots of books! Why are they my new BFF? Well, I just found out I won a copy of Justine Larbalestier’s new book, Liar, from them! Woohoo! I am very excited to read this book. If you read young adult lit blogs, you know the controversy behind this book.

A few months ago, the cover for Liar was released, and the ensuing blogosphere reaction was intense and amazing! Liar is told from the point of view of an African American teen that lies about everything, literally, but yet the cover of this soon-to-be-released novel featured a white teen. People were upset. The author was upset. Word spread like wildfire and people spoke out. Everyone talked about the publishing business and how this was not the first in a long line of atrocities it had committed against people of color.

Thankfully, the publisher decided to change the cover, which now features a young African American woman. But this isn’t the end of the debate–many people in publishing and outside still feel that covers with white people on them sell better. Is that true? Maybe so, but that doesn’t make it right. And this is definitely not the fault of just people in the business. We readers are at fault as well, if we just judge a book by its cover.

I definitely encourage everyone to read outside of their race, their gender, their age, and really–read outside everything you have ever known. Isn’t that the point of fiction and being able to read? To imagine new things, to become a new person, to feel what it’s like in another person’s shoes?

Later this month, Book Divas will be hosting an online discussion about Liar, and I encourage everyone to check it out, whether or not you have read the book yet. And definitely look for my review of it in the next month!

Many young adult authors have been blogging and tweeting about the injustices happening in Iran, as we speak. Scott Westerfeld, author of the Uglies series, noted that Iranian censors were seeking web sites set to Tehran local time in order to find out about, and shut down, protestors’ sites. He’s encouraged the blogosphere to change your web site or blog time to Tehran time (UMT +4:30) to help confuse the censors.

As soon as I can figure out how to do it, I will do the same for my blog.

If anyone out there is reading, I’d like to encourage you to do this. Or blog about the horrific events happening in Iran. This is a subject that we cannot and SHOULD NOT be quiet about. In America, we are given the freedom of speech. This is not a freedom granted everywhere in the world–it is something many people must fight for every day. And they are literally fighting for it–many people have been injured, and continue to be harmed. I have seen some of the photos other bloggers have posted, and they are terrifying.

I was going to try and explain the situation that is happening in Iran for the benefit of those who may not know, or those who may be confused, but I saw this wonderful video by John Green and realized he says it MUCH better than I ever will. So watch and learn!

I encourage everyone to stay informed on this situation and speak out!

Teri Lesesne over at the YALSA blog just recently posted a great article on censorship in the YA market. This is a topic especially near and dear to my heart, as I know I’ll come to face with it someday as a YA librarian. I agree with her main point immensely: can’t we give our teens credit that they have the brains to know when something in a novel is fiction? As a teen, I read a variety of novels, from Go Ask Alice to the Harry Potter books – and I never attempted being a drug addict or a witch.

I think this would be a great topic for study (perhaps I’ll take up research on it someday as a grad student), to take examples of the “extreme” ends of YA fiction and hold them up to real life, show who is reading these books, and how their behaviors may or may not mirror the stories. I don’t think the results would be thought-shattering, or even change the beliefs of many individuals, but it would be a huge topic of interest.

What do you think about censorship? Are teens gullible, prone to believe and “become” anything they read? Or are they capable of separating themselves from the books they read? You know what I think, share your thoughts!

For More: The ALA’s Banned Books Week is September 26 through October 3. Go here to read about the events and the most frequently challenged books.

Meg Cabot blogs about Judy Blume and Planned Parenthood

Judy Blume, revered author of such classics as Blubber and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, recently participated in an email campaign for Planned Parenthood, asking people to donate in honor of Mother’s Day. The response? Hate/flame mail! Here’s the thing–no matter what your personal beliefs regarding birth control, abortion, etc., is it ever really right to target someone and inflict hostility and pain because of their beliefs? There is still free speech in this country, right?

This is an issue of importance to women of ALL ages, especially teenagers and young adults, because no matter what your religious beliefs, no matter what your family has taught you, you are discovering sex during this period, one way or another. You may or may not be having it, but someone you know will, and everyone will, and should, have a informed, knowledgeable opinion on this issue.

I don’t have enough time to write about this now, but I wanted to share this with the rest of the world (what little of you are reading this!) and hope to spread the word for Judy’s cause, and the millions of women that have benefitted from Planned Parenthood.

Six years ago, a 13-year-old girl was strip-searched at her school based on the accusation of another student. This student claimed that Savana Redding was giving prescription-strength ibuprofen medicine to other students. The school found nothing, and later, Savana took the school to court, stating the strip-search was unconstitutional and humiliating. After two courts ruled in the school’s favor, and then a higher court ruled in favor of Savana, the case was appealed to the Supreme Court, where it sits now.

At issue here is this: should a school be allowed to strip-search a student based on accusations or suspicions that the student has illegal drugs (or even weapons) on their person? We all know that schools are allowed to search students’ lockers, even backpacks, based on suspicion, but is this going too far? On one hand, you have the 4th amendment, which protects us against “unreasonable” searches, but then on the other hand, you have the safety and security of a whole student body. Many would call the strip-searching of a young girl very unreasonable, especially when the item under suspicion was prescription ibuprofen, but then others may take it further, citing stories of teen drug-pushers, hiding drugs, prescription or illegal, under their clothing to pass to their classmates.

My opinion? Based on the little information given in the case, I lean on the side of Savana Redding. I believe all people, any age, deserve the rights of the constitution, and also the basic right of respect. Many news sources are saying that Savana was made to “shake out” her underwear, and that also her parents were not present: to me, these are the things that take this case too far, and I think that many people may share my same view.

I’m interested in seeing how this court case ends up, as it will have a very large effect on the future of teen rights in this country.

For More: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/19/scotus.strip.search/