My slightly tweaked position on collection development

As a Latina woman, I have become particularly interested in the idea of providing diverse materials for teen in my library’s collection. When I was  a teenager, I scarcely read books related to my ethnicity. Although I read books which starred white females, usually with money and enjoyed them, I always wished to find books with the Latina hero or African-American. Some one like me. However, I lived in Brighton Beach, predominantly Russian. Books for black interested had to be held for me and sent from a different branch. This part of diversity enticed me most from the Booth and Jensen reading. It is important to provide materials related to teens for them have interest to be regular patrons. I, as a teen, was an avid reader so I read whatever  was made available to me. Also, take into consideration the demographics of the branch’s community.  Yes, we as librarians need to put hot trends,  like The Hunger Games on the shelves, but discover what teens are into these days (Booth and Jensen, p. 94).

As a librarian, I would also like to communicate with the teens about what they would like to read. We, as adults, are choosing these materials for teens but we need to listen to what they have to say. One of the many memorable things I’ve read that really enlightened me was the use of the word “young adult” in Agosto’s article being called out on by a teen. She was confused by the term  and I think it is important to note because it showed the librarian the slightest details could impact how teens view the collection in the library.

I think one of the resources that help pick these materials is NoveList Plus, found in our library database. It’s very easy to use and you can navigate what’s new and popular, be genre specific, and age specific. It’s definitely something I’d look into as a librarian to help me develop the collection.

Update: This semester, I’ve maintained my stance on how I’d like to be as a librarian. I’d also like to stress the importance e-books plays in the library. Through out the course I’ve accessed many of the required materials throw NYPL and BPL’s online catalog. This is very important for teens today as they relate to a technical world. Kindle, iPads, Nooks and other e-readers are a powerful tool and if we teach our kids how to use them we will be able to stay in sync with them.

Another important discussion was intellectual freedom. We should not censor teens to materials. I highly believe in letting them read what interests them. Heavily discussed was that we aren’t responsible for what they check out. I encourage independence of what materials they would like to access. I am not the parent. I’m just there to guide and assist. In the end it is their decision.

Agosto, D. (2013). “Envisaging Young Adult Librarianship from a Teen-Centered Perspective.” In Transforming Young Adult Services, edited by Anthony Bernier, pp. 3352. Chicago: Neal-Schuman.

Booth, H. & Jensen, K. (eds.) (2014). The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services. Chicago: ALA pp. 91-104.

Teen reviews and my analysis

Reviews

Patrick Ness delivers an emotionally compelling story in this fantasy novel,  A Monster Calls. Conor is a 13 year old boy with a sick mother who is dying of cancer. Bullied in school, having an absent father, and a grandmother he can’t stand, Conor lives a pretty  miserable life. After continuously waking up from the same nightmare every night at 12:07, the monster from the yew tree in his yard visits and thats when the fun begins. The monster tells Connor three stories, the fourth will be Connors “truth.” Through out the story, Connor represses a lot so his meetings with the monster certainly bring out his emotions. When he finally reveals his truth, your heart will ache for him and your face drenched in tears. The book is relatable to anyone who has suffered loss. The illustrations in the book are dark, give the story depth and reels you in. A Monster Calls is a story of a young boy who needs to come to terms of his own truth. It will definitely give you all the feels on this fantastical journey.

Paper Girls is a fun filled comic book series following four 12-year-old girls who deliver newspapers Halloween morning.  Their town is under invasion from a mysterious force from the future. It is up to the girls to figure out what is happening and fend for themselves as seemingly most adults are MIA. At first it may seem hard to follow,  but that is just the mystique being the story. Read along to find out what happens. It certainly  has a cool undertone to the story, 80s theme, and there is a lot of action going on. The pace is fast but satisfying. You’ll definitely want to read the next in the series. If you’re into sci-fi and like retro looking graphics you should definitely check it out. This comic book also gets a major kudos for featuring female leads that kick major butt. This book appeals to boy or girl, comic geek or not. Check it out  at your closest comic book dealer near you!

Review Analysis (A Monster Calls)

For the professional reviews, I consulted with Common Sense Media, Kirkus Reviews and Publisher’s Weekly. The alternative reviews were retrieved using google from Blogs of a Bookaholic and another blog called ReadRantRock&Roll.

• First thing to point out with the professional reviews, they restrict themselves to 200-250 words. The blog reviews have no limit and write as much as they need to. For instance, the Bookaholic blog practically writes an entire essay on the novel.
• The target audience is specified in all the professional reviews. Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly includes it at the end, in parentheses. The age is specified immediately on Common Sesne Media. The blogs make general reviews for anyone to read.
• While there is no mention of the cover art, both professional and amateur reviews did speak of the illustrations in the book. It is important to note that these illustrations add to the story so if neither mentioned it would lack merit, in my opinion at least. Bookaholic actually includes the illustrations in her review which I think should be excluded so readers can experience it for themselves.
• Of course writing is a big difference between professional and amateur reviews. Professional reviews are concise, comprehensible and grammatically correct to a tee.  That’s not to say the bloggers didn’t write well, they did, but their structure is different in which you can see the professionalism. Professional reviews are simply that: professional.
• The biggest point to add is writing style it self. I mentioned professional reviews are professional, it’s to say that amateur reviews are more customizable. They can be biased, where as professional will never include nouns like “I” or how they felt. Constructive criticism is active in professional, where as amateur includes emotions.

Well there you have it! Hope you enjoyed!

 

 

Comparative Discussion on Documentaries

For years, media has been the go-toto find out what is trending. Whether it be movies, music, tv, or in recent times the internet, we are always looking for the next big thing. When it comes to the teen demographic, the biggest consumers, there is a deep fascination marketers seek and ways they work around to appeal their trending taste buds.

Douglas Rushkoff presents, in two similar but different documentaries, the relationship between the media and teens. Teens are notably the biggest consumers so it is interesting to see how 13 years was a lot different from how things are marketed today. Merchants of Cool (2001) shows how corporations go as far as “cool hunting” to engage in whats the latest fad for teens. It definitely was a blast from the past to see how marketers reached teens in a time with no social media to influence us. I do remember as a teen watching Sprite commercials featuring hip hop, which was the hottest (still is) genre of music, as well as NBA players to sell their product. By marketers using these tactics, they’re baiting these teenagers to buy into their product. However, if marketers and other media conglomerates need to look to teens interests to sell their products, who is in control of the market?

Over the years, with the creation of social media, Myspace to start, teens began generating their identities and sharing their personality. With Facebook taking the social media by storm, teens began to swarm the site. Rushkoff is also the correspondent in Generation Like (2014), which focuses on teen use of social media and how it affects corporations. The like button seems to matter to society as a whole honestly. In the beginning of this documentary we see teens at a table on their laptops trying to figure out which profile picture works best. While clicking that “like” button on a peer’s picture may seem important and garnering these likes, marketers are also looking to see what these teens like to promote their  brand, whether it be a film, band, clothing, etc. Corporations use this to their advantage, even hiring teens to retweet things to grow their target audience. At one point in the documentary, we see a teenaged girl promoting for The Hunger Games, being offered rewards. However, it is up to the teen to decide if they want to continue. The people behind these marketing schemes may be using the teens as a pawn, but the end game is the teens building upon it. The success is in the consumer’s hands, it is just up to how marketers capitalize on their resource.

When you compare Generation Like to Merchants of Cool, you can see the shift in who controls how things are marketed. Being that social media wasn’t a tool in 2001 marketers had to figure out on their own by direct contact with teens. Social media just made it easier for them to find out what teens like. With “92% of teens going online daily” (Lenhart, 2015), it is no surprise that this is the route to follow when looking out for the latest trends. Lenhart reports that 71% of teens use Facebook, compared to Instagram and Snapchat. Her research also indicated that “91% of teens go online from mobile devices at least occasionally.” With smartphones, teens have more access to the internet. It takes a flick of a fingertip to hit that like button. Especially with teens using social media to get famous, whether it be through Instagram or Youtube, which Generation Like discusses in-depth. Companies usually pick up on this and will send their products to these kids to promote. While it may seem as if they are being used by free advertising, it is the teen that is attracting the attention and their choice to display it.

In my future library work, after viewing these documentaries, it became crystal clear that I would need to communicate with my young patrons to get an idea of what they would like. I think the focus groups are a very intelligible way to get an idea of what the teens want. It is my job to help them look for it. However, being that we are in a digital age we should find ways to connect with teens. Martens has a lot of discussion about gatekeepers and notes that by teens participating with publishers, we remove the adults as the gate keepers. We ourselves no longer serve as the gatekeepers because teens have found a way to express their opinions. As a librarian it is possible to achieve a personable relationship with a patron in regards as to what material should be on the shelves by way of social media. This generation responds well to this form and as long as libraries keep up with this age then we will continue to strive in supplying the demand. So who has the upper hand? Teens definitely do, we just need to know how to supplement the consumer’s needs.

References

Lenhart, A. (2015). “Teens, social media & technology overview 2015.” Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media- technology-2015/

Martens, Marianne (2011). “Transmedia teens: Affect, immaterial labor, and user-generated content.” Convergence: The Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 17 (1), 49-68.

Rushkoff, D. (2001). Frontline: Merchants of Cool. [Video file]. Retrieved from  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/

Rushkoff, D. (2014) Frontline: Generation Like. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/generation-like/

Let’s talk money…

McGuire, K. (2014). The teen money manual: A guide to cash, credit, spending, saving, work, wealth, and more. North Mankato, MN: Capstone Young Readers.

There’s very few things I love to do in the world and one of them is spending money. I picked it because the title made me wonder how much money could I have saved if I read this book as a teen. I was thinking “hey, maybe it’ll be useful now since I am obsessed with shopping.” Well, for the pros of this book, it seems organized and the graphics are attractive but that’s about it. This doesn’t help a 30 year old with rent and a hungry husband and English bulldog. It’s got a good idea, the book as a whole,but I don’t know how many teens actually need to Budget their ski trip with their allowance or after school job. I did appreciate mentioning jobs and keeping up education. Also, a sample resume was included which actually is useful now.

I don’t see this book being necessary for the teen collection but it wouldn’t hurt to include. It’s very subject specific and would probably be useful to a teen who is into finances or researching a project.

VOYA

Quality – 3Q Popularity –  1P, 2P Grade Level Interest – S, R

Appeal terms: Browsable, Concise, Big and Bold 

Kiyosaki, R. (2004). Rich dad poor dad for teens.  Scottsdale, Az: Plata Publishing.

I found this tie on Novelist. I think it is a little better suited for teens when it comes to saving money for teens in a more realistic approach. It list ways you can earn money, how to budget actual expenses for an average teen. I think I would put this in a collection before the prior selection.

What Made Maddy Run

Fagan, K. (2017). What made Maddy run: The secret struggles and tragic death of an all-American teen. New York: Little, Brown and Co.

I was a little picky this week. The title drew me in but I hate most media that deal with sports. This book is an exception due to the nature of it. I’m always intrigued by books or movies based on life especially something as tragic as this. I gave it a go and was very satisfied.  The whole time I read it I wanted to hug Maddy and tell her it was going to be ok and might have shed a few tears. Fagan did a really stellar job introducing this superstar, teenaged freshman in college. The irony is she really brought her to life. It was very moving and I found myself anticipating my read on the way to work. It was very powerful and compelling.  It’s definitely a go for me to add to teen collections, I’d say upper class men un high school (college application ready) to open their eyes and give them a perspective of transitioning and it is ok to ask for help. It’s a very important book. I also think adults should give it a read. I will say though that at times it dragged but it was relevant, in the in between chapters.

VOYA:

Quality: 3Q

Popularity: 3P

Grade Level Interest: S, A/YA

Appeal Terms – , heart-wrenching, emotionally intense, journalistic

 

I found this title on Novelist and Goodreads and the similarity is there in the sense that Suzy Hamilton was a runner and faced depression. It is an eye opening book, however, should be read for adults.

Simon Pulse

website: http://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/simonpulse/

Simon Pulse is an imprint of of Simon Schuster, one of the most well known publishers in the literary world. It is specifically aimed at teens, especially contemporary works. They cover any genre, so be it edgy and what is hot on the market now. Simon Pulse has been an imprint as far back as 1984. They include e-books in addition to print. Their earliest and well known works include the Fear Street series by the one and only R.L. Stine. One their latest works is familiarly When Dimple Met Rishi (2017), reviewed on Goodreads, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20 Years of Slaying: The Watcher’s Guide Authorized (2017). The teen publisher also has an online community called Riveted, for teens or anyone who loves YA fiction to discover new reads. Last, but certainly not least, Simon Pulse connects to the cyber world via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Be sure to check out their catalogue for what is new  or old.

 

A Monster Calls

Ness, P. (2011). A monster calls. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

I chose this book at first because of the name.  I looked it up and the illustration peaked my interest further leading me to read the description.  While reading it I was caught up in the fantasy of it. I honestly had no idea this was adapted into a film, so I’m glad because it kept my interest. It turned out to be a really wonderful book that had me crying by the end. Connor, the main character, dealing with his mom battling cancer really struck a chord with me. It was very relative for me and really resonated with my experience of losing my father to cancer. I strongly would recommend adding this book to teens and even tweens. I think they would enjoy the supernatural part of the book but maybe relate to dealing with loss and grief.  Also, the illustrations are very cool.

Grade level: M-J-S

Quality: 5Q

Popularity: 4P

Appeal Factors: fantasy, character driven, fantasy, fast paced, relative

Dowd, S. (2010).  bog child. David Fickling Books.

After looking up reviews of A Monster Calls on Goodreads I found Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd. I picked it because she wrote it because Ness wrote A Monster Calls  inspired by an idea she had before she passed. They both have dark settings and the mystery of it can definitely appeal to teens, more so in high school than middle. The difference is that this is more a mystery and in depth than A Monster Calls.

Part One: Professional Reviews

Professional Review: Style of School Library Journal

Thomas, A. (2017). The hate u give. New York: Balzer + Bray.

Grade 9 Up – Starr Carter’s world is divided in two parts. There is Starr from Garden Heights, daughter of an ex-gang member. Then there is Starr, one of the few black students at her mostly white private School, Williamson. When Starr attends a party in her neighborhood, gun fire ensues and she leaves the party with her childhood friend Khalil.  It is then, when Khalil makes a traffic stop, that Starr witness him being unjustly shot and killed by a white male police officer. Starr is suddenly caught up in the rapture of her emotions and outrage, as well as dealing with those in her family,  neighborhood and school friends. In her debut novel, Thomas provides a powerful perspective of Starr, as it is written in point of view, as to the damage she is dealt in the fall out. As readers, living through Starr, the emotion and outrage is felt. Thomas fleshed out her characters, reveals their flaws and takes you on a ride of the ugly reality when a young girl is dealt this hand. The greatest strength is Thomas’ use of dialect. She manages to eloquently convey the different ways Starr speaks in her two worlds: slang in Garden Heights and “white” to her white boyfriend, Chris, and Williamson friends. The Hate U Give is a book that strongly identifies todays issues with race and sums u what the Black Lives Matter movement is about,  VERDICT  An emotion rollercoaster that will leave you on the edge of your seat that should be part of everyone’s must-read.

Girard, M. (2016). Girl Mans Up. Harper Collins.

Grade 9 Up  – Pen, short for Penelope, is a 16-year-old girl, struggling with the classification of her gender. She carries a burden of over bearing Portuguese parents constantly expecting her to live to their expectations, being a former wingman to her ex-friend Colby, who unsuccessfully tried to have sex with her, and her big brother moving out.  Her life seems to be tearing apart at the seams. Pen must find balance of self identifying herself, seeking approval from those in her life, but more importantly herself. While everyone ridicules her on how she appears on the surface, things are not all bad. She makes new friends and catches the eye of her crush, Blake. In the midst of all her drama, Pen comes into her own and creates her own unique identity for herself. Girard creates a very realistic on a subject matter that is very important for the LGBTQ community. It is extra vital that this book is written for YA. She sets a very real portrayal of teens in terms of sexuality, drugs, alcohol and coming to terms of individuality. VERDICT A raw, page turner that catapults teen issues on the front burner. It is the YA book for the LGBTQ community we never knew we needed that every teenager can enjoy.

Paper Girls

Vaughan, B. K., Chiang, C., Wilson, M., & Fletcher, J. K. (2016). Paper girls (Vol. 1). Berkeley, CA: Image Comics.

I’ll be completely honest, I had no idea what I wanted to read. Quite frankly, I couldn’t really find a lot of the titles in my library or to e-read and Amazon had this for kindle for pretty cheap. That is the honest reason why I selected this title. I’m really glad I did though because I love graphic novels and thoroughly found this engaging and unique. First, the main characters are all female, which is quite a feat considering you don’t see many female leads in comics. It parallels Stranger Things,  which is insanely popular. I think it would be a greeting addition in the teen collection. It would be more for a high school audience, however. As a librarian, I’d consider the language and the violence.  I think teens would definitely find this a great read.

Grade Level: S

Quality: 3q

Popularity: 2p

Appeal Factors: action packed, colorful illustration, dark humor, female lead

Edwards, T. L. (2014). Vandroid. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Comics.

When I searched for Paper Girls in Novelist , Vandroid  was my only answer. I dig comics so I decided to give it a try.  While I enjoyed it for its action and story, I definitely would not say this is for teen collections. It is definitely geared for adults with the sex and nudity, language and violence. Of course we shouldn’t assume a teen wouldn’t be interest because of these reasons, but as a future librarian you will have angry parents. I did enjoy this, as in relation to Paper Girls, it’s very retro (80s). Its fantasy I guess, concepts of science fiction. I was also intrigued that it was supposed to be a film but wasn’t made because the studio was set on fire. 

On Record: The Rap Yearbook

Serrano, S., Torres, A., & Ice-T. (2015). The rap year book. New York: Abrams

Growing up in a Latino household, I grew up on salsa and  other various Spanish music.  Rap music was the first genre outside of Spanish music that I ever listened to so it was very exciting to see this book on the list.  Shea Serrano,  Ice-T, and Arturo Torres compile a very compelling and chronological history of rap songs. The way they explain what this book is about and what their intentions were really impressed me and really captured my attention as a “hip hop head.”  It was very nostalgic, especially reading up in the time that I was an avid fan. There is no doubt that rap evolved and became mainstream. Kids of any race listen, therefore, I believe it would be a cool, not necessarily important book to add to a teen collection. In terms of history and research, it should be included in a teen collection. It would certainly educate teens who are heavily influenced by the genre.

 

Bradley, A. (2011, September). The anthology of rap. New Haven: Yale University Press.

I decided to pair The Rap Yearbook with Adam’s Bradley’s The Anthology of Rap. When I was browsing the NYPL catalog for the first book, I stumbled upon this gem. The book discusses rap and breaks it down for those not familiar with the genre. I think its beautifully written and really shines light on the music as poetic (although some songs just aren’t).

VOYA

Grade Level – A/YA

Quality – 5Q

Popularity – 2P

Appeal: Evenly paced, nonfiction, appendix, colorful illustration, poetic tone, knowledgeable.