264 Discussions Weeks 1,4,6,7,8,10,12,13,and 14.

264 - Week 1

Hooking Tweens on Reading

The importance of focusing on personal reading interests as a way of hooking readers is always vital in learning how best to serve library users of whatever age and this includes the young readers among the tween age group. This approach is both easy to understand and one that should find small resistance if any from both library planners and library users. Taking into account patron preferences should prove among the most concrete approaches of starting potential library users, including tween readers, on the way to become readers. It is vital always in library circles to seek out and all methods to avoid wastes when selecting library materials. Inasmuch as unused library materials become wasted materials and any time and money spent on their selection is also counterproductive.

It has been pointed by many in the library field that there is a great need for materials that can be utilized in a library’s outreach to the community. This endeavor would tie in with the point made by many writers that tweens pick up on what is happening around them and that the acceptance of differences and diversity is important to them. Exposing tweens to books with different views will add to the analytical skills of this group of library users.  Tweens as well as teen will always benefit from introductions to the importance of diversity.

We can include as another helpful approach the utilization of that nature of book that points to the overcoming of physical disabilities that readers and society at large experiences.  Such books can be quite beneficial in helping restore the self worth of readers who have developed physical challenges and ailments. This would coincide with the experiences of many young library users, including tweens, of the importance of libraries as places of refuge and as opportunities for education beyond that offered in our regular educational places.

Serving Young Teens and Tweens

Chapter 1

Naked Reading

Chapter 1

Mary Pedraza

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264 Week 6

Intellectual Freedom in School Libraries

“Intellectual Freedom in School Libraries” by Linda J. Shirley does well in explaining the doctrine we know as in loco parentis .  It does indeed refer to the safety and health of children.  It was however not devised/written/intended , surprise, surprise to some, as a provision of censorship.

Of course this area of legal doctrine can be baffling. Schools and school libraries do act in place of parents of students.  And the areas touched upon by this in loco parentis arena can include the area of material selections of curriculum and library materials.   It is when we wander into the connection between the practice of in loco parentis  and that of censorship that the picture gets much hazier and the issues extremely challenging.

It may strike some parents that the issue of censorship can be an easy one.  The majority of people may think that one is either for censorship or against it but try to put it into practice and watch the fur fly.  Not everyone is on the same page and what is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to anyone else and the reverse of also true as to what is unacceptable to a goodly number of parents/censors.  And now as though the censor crowd did not have enough of a share of the censorship pie to feed upon, we are now confronted with the creation and workings of the internet, together with the never resolved of censorship issues.

The internet in presenting an almost unlimited access to information, or all types and natures, has made the job of censorship more difficult.   As a reaction to this almost limitless field of information to all, including school children, some parents are quite willing to seek what their have always perceived as the safety net, censorship.  This time censorship has come to us in the form of a filtration process applied to internet sites.

Whereas the advocates of censorship of internet sites at schools may convince themselves that they have reached a good solution, such is not the case.  Ii as been established that this approach censorship is not without fail and that these filtering systems can be gotten around.  Worst of all it has also been shown that vital information can often be blocked even when it would normally be acceptable to everyone, even the portion of the population that is in favor of censorship usually.

“Intellectual Freedom in School Libraries” by Linda J. Shirley

Mary Pedraza

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264 - Week 7

Media Use, the Myth of Multitasking and Tweens

While the majority of the information provided in our readings coincided with articles that I have previously come across regarding the use of media by the public (including teens and tweens), I was disappointingly surprised when reviewing the Rideout work to find that talking on the phone or text-messaging (when used for purposes other than to listen to music, etc.) was not to be considered “media use” in its methodology. In trying to understand why phone or text-messaging was not media use, I thought that perhaps the distinction lay in the fact that what is usually considered as media use by our society concerns the use of, and the viewing of the creations of others, such as television entertainment. But no, that can’t be the case since the Rideout work covers measurement and information regarding the use of all sorts of media (and technology) including computers. In part I have very strong feelings on this point because I see the media in “media use” as being strongly intermeshed with “technology” and what could more technology-like than all those endless supplies of cell phones that are drowning our world?

On a personal note, in covering the use of cell phones by different groupings of young people under the age of 18, I was glad to see that this report went to the extent of listening rates of use by the different racial and ethnic groupings. This gives me an opportunity I have decided to not forego. The categories should actually be Black, Hispanic and the “Non-Hispanic White” (these are the categories used by the Census Bureau in listing racial and ethnic groups in the United States).

The inclusion of the topic “Media Multitasking” is both helpful and essential when dealing with questions of media use by teens and tweens but perhaps is not as up to date as would be ideal. We are very much aware that many in our present day world, including teens and tweens, try to do two, three and more things at once and undoubtedly the figures used in the Rideout work reflect actual practices of teens and tweens so-called multitasking.

At the time Rideout was produced, data (reported on a CBS news report in September 2010) declared that multitasking is not really what is happening when people try to do several things in close proximity in time. Since people can only focus in one thing at a time, only thing is being worked on first and then that task is dropped and attention is then given to the next task.  So when students (including teens and tweens) think they can study and talk and listen to music and do all equally well, at the very least, something is not getting done well.

 Thinking about these points has made clearer the importance of providing a non-distracting library atmosphere for students and especially the majority of students who already realize that they need silence in which to study.  It may come to the need to disregard the rationalizing by some students who insist that they can do good productive studying while carrying on a conversation no matter that they are distracting other students.

Rideout, V.M., Foehr, U.G., & Roberts, D.F.(2010). Generation M²: Media in the lives of 8- to 18-year-olds. Menlo Park, CA: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf

Mary Pedraza

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Readings - Week 8
Responding to Online Bullying
The Boyd Report, a voluminous work, covers such topics as the lives of youth, sexual solicitation of young people and whether these transgressions are committed in connection with the use of the internet or not. The statement is even made that that most cases of sex crimes against children do not involve the Internet at all. The purpose of presenting this information seems unclear to me. Inasmuch as I am not doing research in the fields of sociology or psychology at this time, I am uncertain why it was important for me to be informed that youth who have psychosocial issues, etc are more likely to be victimized than the average youth using the Internet. I only view such statements as being examples of the old “Blame the Victim” response some people offer when learning of the victimization of another person. The reading of this work seems to call for prior training in the methodology offered throughout its numerous pages in order to fully appreciate its full value. Unfortunately the connection between this Boyd Report and the New York Times article “Online bullies pull schools into the fray” was not evident to this reader. 
In starting to read the New York Times article “Online bullies pull schools into the fray” it was heartening to me to read about the parents trying to obtain immediate action in protecting their child who had received threatening text messages from another student. These parents were adamant in trying to obtain help from the authorities, whether from the school or from the police. While it turned out that the owner of the phone used to victimize this child was not the guilty party, the important point was that these parents had done all they could to protect their family.

            This New York Times article also points out what is known to many readers. The area of law pertaining to cyber bullying is yet quite unsettled.   Therefore we can see why schools are not always eager to step into the picture, especially when transgressions are not committed on school premises. This is the case even when both victim and transgressor are part of the school’s student body. 

Boyd, D. (2010). Risky Behaviors and Online Safety: A 2010 Literature Review http://www.zephoria.org/files/2010SafetyLitReview.pdf

Hoffman, J. (June 27, 2010). Online bullies pull schools into the fray. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/style/28bully.html?pagewanted=all

Mary Pedraza

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264 - Week 10

Gaming: A Choice in the Library

The three pieces of assigned readings for the discussion on the topic of Gaming and Tweens, in school or public library settings all make it very clear that gaming is extremely popular with teens and tweens. As such, library services now make gaming part of the services available to their tween and teen patrons and consequently the number of library users in these age groups continues to increase. In addition to being a draw for younger patrons, the availability of gaming activities at libraries has added to the number of book use in these patron groups.

By making gaming available among library services, libraries provide young library patrons with an opportunity to interact with others when engaged in gaming activities. No longer are libraries just for solitary endeavors. With the addition of gaming, libraries have made it clear that libraries are not confined solely to the collection and presentation of materials and services in book forms.

Libraries are now being used as a learning place in the art of collaboration which today is a very handy skill and one to be practiced as much as possible. When including gaming in outreach activities, libraries are making use of a valuable and effective tool that works well and assures that younger audiences are actually reached and maintained as library users.

Our reading acknowledges the challenge that the genre of gaming presents due to the overly violent nature of a number of gaming offerings. This problem can be one that libraries can turn into an advantage by making gaming selections that are both interesting and much less violent. Thus another choice is offered to patrons while still giving them what interests them.

Lenhart, A., Kahne, J., Middaugh, E., Macgill, A., Evans, C., & Vitak, J. (2008, September). Teens, Video Games and Civics. Washington, D.C.: Pew Internet and American Life Project. Available http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2008/PIP_Teens_Games_and_Civics_Report_FINAL.pdf.pdf

Czarnecki, K. (2007). A revolution in library service.  School Library Journal,  53(5). Available http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6438272.html?q=revolution+in+library+service

Oakley, T. (2008). Circulating video games. School Library Journal, 54(4), available http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6545437.html

Mary Pedraza

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Week 12

Great Library Service Continues With the Age of Tweenhood

In reading Lupa’s reference to programming on page 90, I became more convinced that library services geared towards the service of tweens require, so much, both a subtle and substantial effort. Differentiating between the tween age group of library users and the age group immediately younger in age is vital. They are not the same people at all. Programming for tweens deserves the greatest care and at least as much effort as is put into programming endeavors for any of the library service populations.

While tweens may be viewed by some as just “going through a temporary phase” libraries will do well to focus in depth on this age group. Libraries have done well in serving the very young patron. It would be tragic to drop the ball as these patrons reach the next phase of their lives. The age of tweenhood is one that must be addressed in library programming and addressed well. Library patrons must not be lost at any age due to lack of good services and programming.

Tweens find that their school interests and obligations have begun to expand greatly both in quantity and nature than ever before in their lives. As such it will help to attract tweens if this change in their lives is factored into the library programs geared to them.

By all means maintain the reading materials geared for enjoyment at a very available and attractive level but also focus on assisting tweens with their scholastic endeavors. Make the library one of the most important contributors to the success of tween academic endeavors.

Serving Young Teens and Tweens:

Chapters 4, 5.

Mary Pedraza

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264 - Week 13

The Role of Libraries in Promoting Literary in Tweens

As stated in Teri S. Lesese’s Naked Reading on page 67(Chapter 5), after looking at surveys of student feedback of their thoughts on reading and postreading activities, we need to also work at motivating these students to continue reading and then have them evolve to the point where they for pleasure. It all comes down to accomplishing two teacher and librarian tasks/work exercises at the same time. It is a matter of working at increasing reading by students so that they not only do the reading but become motivated to read on their own. In other words we need to increase our numbers, we, the pleasure reading public.

Libraries can play a major role in promoting reading among their tween patrons by the use of several approaches.

We can start with the development of a collection that appeals to the tween age group. We need to find materials with attractive appearances, that are currently popular with that age group and that are relevant to their life styles. It is essential that if any materials in the collection still have great value and are in tact in readable condition, these materials be considered for recovering efforts.

Lesese also suggests the importance of making changing in the variety of the presentation of reading materials. With constant changes readers are kept intrigued. She suggests that one approach be tried and then when it works to not hang on to that one methods forever but to go on to a fresh new approach. Yes, both teachers and librarians need to keep book presentations fresh for their students and patrons.

Several approaches to help tweens and other students, deal with the widely dreaded book reports assignments can also be adopted by librarians. It would be absolutely helpful if libraries make available copies of different book models for the patrons, including tween aged students, who have already driven themselves wild trying to envision just how to commence that report, even when they really enjoyed their book

Naked Reading

Chapters 3, 5.

Mary Pedraza

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264 - Week 14

Read an article that addresses an issue related to resources for tweens which we have not addressed or which requires more attention.

That the book review world has changed drastically in the last 15 years is not a surprise to us.  We need only search on Amazon and we usually find a number of reader reviews posted right next to the book we are considering as a purchase item.

 Book reviews now run the gamut ranging from the established professional reviews offered in the literary journals to the many found on the web, oftentimes in blogs.  As a consequence of this shift in book reviews, a number of professional book review entities have unfortunately fallen by the wayside and even the New York Times Book Review, one of the few original book review sources left standing, is now half the size of its former self.

The author of this article, Barbara Hoffert acknowledges that a great number of readers of these new source reviews are not always comfortable with these reviews and we are not surprised when we find ourselves agreeing with these objections.  Nevertheless the world of blogs that this article discusses is today’s standing in the book review world and it is actually an opportunity for librarians and educators to seize the moment and as I read the title of this article, I was reminded of a tween service that libraries can offer to this patron group that will have great payoffs in the future for all, including libraries.

 That tweens would benefit from practicing their writing skills and would be most likely, if given the opportunity, to write about books and other library materials they enjoyed, occurred to me when I read this article’s title.  Libraries are the most likely places in which readers, including tweens, can consider sharing their thoughts about the books they have enjoyed.  By involving tweens in this activity they can establish a greater relationship with their libraries and also it may most likely that other tweens would be more receptive from reviews offered by their peers.

 Perhaps this sort of approach to library patrons may be ongoing in other locations but I have not seen it carried out in the libraries I have visited.  In fact I find that unfortunately not enough is done for tweens.  Tweens need their own library spaces, carefully delineated and with their own full time librarians, not librarians that are snatched away for other duties constantly.  Tween patrons need much more recognition and respect.

Every Reader a Reviewer

By Barbara Hoffert

Library Journal

09/01/10

Volume 135 No. 14

ISBN 0363-0277

 Mary Pedraza

Is My Cat a Tiger? : How Your Pet Compares to Its Wild Cousins

By Jenni Bidner

(2006) ISBN 9781579908157

This book is just as wonderful as the “Is My Dog a Wolf?: How Your Pet Compares to Its Wild Cousin” book in answering the most basic and common questions that occur to so many of us pet owners.  Yes, our cats are definitely very close to their much bigger cousins but fortunately a little tamer, or at least enough to let us live with them.

And again readers of so many age groups will benefit from reading it for the information it provides to us and even more so for the humorous slant that this author puts into her pet books.  Readers will have a good time finding more about their felines and be glad to finally have some mysteries solved.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

By Barbara Robinson

(1972) ISBN 006447044X

This is a tale with many humorous sides to it.  It is necessary to make this clear because at first this story seems to be only about troublemaking but the essence of this book is the opposite.

We start when the six Herdman kids, who all the school see as the worst kids in the whole world, decide to take part in the Christmas pageant (because of all the goodies to be gotten).  The reader is told the Herdman father ran off, the mother works two jobs, instead of working one job and accepting assistance and that many in the town think they understand the absence of the parents once they meet the Herdman kids.

The Herdmans are basically raising themselves hitting one another, setting buildings on fire, stealing, hitting their classmates and even engaging in blackmail.  The narrator’s mother has been corralled into managing the Christmas pageant and she is faced with the Herdmans volunteering for the key roles, after they secretly threatened everyone into not volunteering.  The rehearsals are indeed colored since to the Herdmans, the Christmas story is something new and they insist on putting things into a more down to earth perspective.

By the time of the actual performance, everyone comes to see just what will happen.  As narrated, the Herdmans in participating in a manner comfortable to them actually make the play very real.  They do not bring gold and myrrh, they present the Christ Child with a ham (their own) and burp the Infant.  Everyone in the audience leaves knowing this has been the best Christmas play ever.

The illustrations are invaluable in helping convey the humorous side to this whole story.  This is achieved in part by use of some exaggeration in these pictures.  For example, the Herdmans are drawn as almost demonic but still very funny.  This technique is vital to help keep the mood of the book in a light mood.

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline

By Nancy Springer

(2009) ISBN 9780399247811

From start to finish this book holds the reader’s attention so well.  Not only is the main character, Enola Holmes, extremely and intelligent (not surprising inasmuch as she is the sister of Sherlock, that most famous of detectives) but her resourcefulness is truly amazing.  This is especially impressive in that during Victorian times in England still did not allow women and especially young girls like Enola much freedom.

Regardless of any and all obstacles that face her, Enola, keeps the reader truly amazed and always entertained.  That part of this adventure involves the very old fashioned, and thank goodness now gone, article of female clothing, the crinoline is a bonus to this reader.  This is because this reader has recently stepped into the world of fashion and the history of customs.

It seems highly fortune that there are a number of other adventures of Enola Sherlock already in existence and that is not necessary to say farewell yet to this great character.

Circle of Doom

By Tim Kennemore

(2001, 2003) ISBN 0374312842

While Circle of Doom ultimately proves to be quite a delight and the reader may be sorry to say goodbye to the Sharp Family on the last page, Circle of Doom does commence on somewhat of an unhappy note.

The Sharp Family children, Lizzie, thirteen years of age, and her two younger brothers, ten year old Dan and seven year old Max, are very upset with their next door neighbors, the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Potward.  It turns out that Mr. and Mrs. Potward insist on just about absolute quiet in their neighborhood, a neighborhood which would seem to already have too much of that the quality.  After all, the entire neighborhood consists solely of Cleve Cottage, the Sharp home and the Briars, the Potward home.  There are no neighboring houses within the range of a fifteen minute walk and, even worse and disappointing to the Sharp children, there are no children within less than a forty-five minute walk away.

The Sharp children, and in particular Lizzie, decide to take matters in their own hands.  Lizzie has recently decided that that she might possesses magical powers and doing something about the grumpy neighbors seems a worthy first magical project.  While Lizzie receives resistance from the skeptical Dan, the youngest sibling Max actually believes in his sister’s powers, agrees to help Lizzie with her first magical potion making.

While the first Sharp attempt at magic appears to be extremely successful and Lizzie sees herself embarked on a career as a witch, it is the skepticism of Dan and the existence of Max’s great friends, the Dumplings (otherwise known to the Sharps as imaginary friends of Max’s) that will ultimately cause great changes to the relationships between the three siblings and all three will achieve personal growth, in particular, Max.

This book is recommended both for the emphasis it places on relationships within a family as well as the fun and entertainment within its pages.  It is a treasure discovered by chance and readers, including tweens, will gain much enjoyment within its pages.

Bart Simpson: Son of Homer

By Matt Groening

(2009) ISBN 9780061698798

Within this graphic novel, the numerous fans of Bart Simpson, including those of tween age, can continue with their enjoyment of this highly irreverent boy and his family who range greatly in their grasps of reality and their perceptions of the world from one.  As a matter of fact it is sometimes difficult to quite understand the extremes in their outlooks.

Be as it may, Bart Simpson does appeal to a great number of viewers of the television series and in presenting the further adventures of Bart and his family, school companions and family members in a book format will help draw more patrons to the reading circle.  This can do nothing but good and therefore the inclusion of this work in library collections is to be encouraged.

Readers will be right at home with the illustrations since they are quite similar to those used in the televised series.

Picture-Perfect Peril!

By Sean McKeever

(2007) ISBN 9781599612126

This is another highly entertaining installment in the continuing saga of Peter Parker who we also know as the super hero Spider Man.

In this graphic novel presentation we meet another super villain, the Sandman and we, along with Spider Man, immediately begin to wonder just how is this villain to be handled and overcome by Spidey? Sandman’s form is much too malleable for Spider Man to use the techniques he has employed in his encounters with other villains.

Readers will not be disappointed as they see Spider Man creating a new approach to overcome Sandman and among these readers, those in the tween age group will greatly enjoy the excellent illustrations and text that form this work.

All about the Earth

By Schlessinger Media VHS 7117

(1999) ISBN 1572252316

This educational work is very entertaining and will hold the attention of its audience, one of the best techniques that can be used in any teaching approach.  The interest of the viewer is kept due to the excellent visuals and the well paced music.  In fact the music selected for this piece is geared to a young viewer’s taste.  Facts imparted to the audience are chosen for their interest level in this age group.  What young viewer would not like to know why it is we have life on earth whereas some plants are boiling hot and some others are absolutely forbiddingly cold.

The editing in this video has been well accomplished.  It provides the right amount and type of information that that young viewers usually seek.  This work is recommended for its high level of success in being both informing and entertaining.

Rosie’s Big City Ballet

By Patricia Reilly Giff

(1998) ISBN 0670877921

This book gives the reader an opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of ballet as it affects not just adult dancers but also young dancers aspiring to continue the work and art of that world.

The ballet world is perhaps just too mysterious for some readers but this book is a good gradual and easy to understand introduction.  One of the key and not to be denied elements of this world is that of competitiveness.  While the existence of competitiveness in the world of ballet is very much real, it is presented here in a gentle manner.

Rose, our main character, longs very much to be selected to for the summer ballet.  While   Rosie works on her routines she still manages to be a kid.  She is well balanced in her outlook and this serves her well when she is not selected at this time.  Rosie manages to cope in spite of this disappointment and this mature outlook will do much to serve the tween readers of this work who also face competitions of their own in their daily lives.

Ballet terms included in the book are clearly explained and can provide useful information for the readers who want to the specifics about ballet.  The illustrations are great in showing Rosie’s range of expressions and this is done in a delightfully minimalist manner.  They add the exact amount of lightheartedness needed in this story.

Summer Party

By Cynthia Rylant

(2001) ISBN 0689832419

It seems that we enter this world of the happy cousins, Lily, Rosie and Tess at the wrong time as their happy existence together is coming to an end.  Nothing tragic is going to occur, it is merely that their parents are returning from a world tour and the two sisters Lily and Rosie and their cousin, Tess, are returning to their regular and separate homes located at some distance from one another. They had temporarily been all staying with their beloved Aunt Lucy and loving loved every second they had been sharing the same household.

This story may seem a bit idyllic but nevertheless a pleasant world to visit.  Readers, including tweens, who picks up this book, may just go along for the relaxing ride.  Following the realization about their imminent separation, the cousins start to make the best of the situation as they realize that they can look forward to future get-togethers and they can especially focus on the upcoming wedding of Aunt Lucy to Michael and Michael is a person the cousins all adore.  Tweens will certainly benefit by learning from reading of characters that cope with one of life’s disappointment and make the best of a situation.

The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight

By Jack Prelutsky

(1980) ISBN 1404610340

For readers, and yes, including those in the tween group, who want to get scares, laughs and some fun poetry at the same time, this will fit the bill.  There is a wide range in the source of the horrors ranging from the Mummy, Zombies, the Abominable Snowman, and some just regular ghosts, ghosts with national identities like the Banshee and not to be overlooked, the Headless Horseman promised in the title of this book.

The author and the illustrator Arnold Lobel  work well together in not merely creating scares but with the use of the asides in the text and the comic side of the illustrations, to move the reader beyond the regular level of horror story terror.  The reader is scared with the use of the story telling it is true but the main point of the author and illustrator seems to be a careful cautioning of readers as well as pointing out that ultimately there is always the possibility of survival beyond these fun, fun scares.  Hopefully readers will read these poems with some company present.

Langston Hughes, Great American Poet

By Patricia McKissack

(2002) ISBN 0766016951

This book on one of American’s great poets is part of a series introducing readers to notable African Americans.  The writing is while simple manages to focus on the essential facts that readers may first wish to learn about a person completely new to them.  The facts presented in this book offered to the reader in an interesting manner and an approach that will win over its readers.  There is an overtone of sadness but it is encouraging to find out that Langston Hughes lived full of hope and appreciation for the beauty of life.  Perhaps that may be that being a creative person, Hughes would always look deeper at what was transpiring around him and see more than what is obvious to most people.

This is a book ideal for tweens as they search for information on our great poets.  With a book like this to reach more young readers, it is hopeful that the audience for the works of this gifted American poetry will increase in numbers.

The Courage of Sarah Noble

By Alice Dalgliesh

(1954, 1986) ISBN 0684188309

Even before Laura Ingalls Wilder there were other Lauras and some like Sarah Noble started even further back in the eastern portion of what was to be the United States before the birth of our country.

In this story,  Sarah has to truly be brave by accompanying her father as the two of them set out alone from the family home in Massachusetts to build the future home of the family in a new settlement in Connecticut.  Sarah is brave enough to the point where she agrees to live with a family of Native Americans while Sarah’s father goes back to Massachusetts and fetches the rest of the family.  Sarah and her father have made friends with the family of Tall John, a Native American and as it turns out Sarah learns much from the family and she is happy living with these new friends.  Nevertheless Sarah is overjoyed to see her family return safely for her.

Readers, especially tween readers for whom this book is designed, will receive much in history lessons from this engaging work.  The illustrations are well done, add immensely to the story retelling with the beauty they contribute.

The Courage of Sarah Noble was a Newbery Honor Book in 1955.

The Castle Mystery -The Boxcar Children Graphic Novels

By Shannon Eric Denton

(2010) ISBN 9780807510803

The Boxcar Children Series which first started in 1942 has been continued by the publisher and the Castle Mystery is among the latest installments in this series.

The Boxcar Children, who were given this group name because they, Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, like the original author, Gertrude Chandler Warner, are fond of watching trains go by and imagining what it would be like to live in a caboose, have joined their grandfather as he visits a friend who is in the process of turning a castle into a museum.

After their arrival at the castle the children involve themselves in being helpful but they find themselves baffled by disappearing keys and by music that emanates from deserted castle tower areas.

This adventure is presented in a graphic novel format, highly entertaining and fun to read seems to be made especially for tweens when they need something to read that is light in nature but also well executed with wonderful graphics and well written text.

Is My Dog a Wolf? : How Your Pet Compares to Its Wild Cousin

By Jenni Bidner

(2010) ISBN 9781579907327

For anyone who has a number of basic questions about the canine member of the family, this book is a valuable treasure.  The information that this volume provides includes answers to questions commonly heard as well as to questions about Fido’s behavior we lived with without realizing we had them.  And while some questions while in themselves are not exciting, they do have answers that are surprising and interesting.

Readers of various ages, and certainly readers of the tween age, will enjoy this great little book very much and gain a great deal from it.  Inasmuch as oftentimes tweens are stepping into higher levels of responsibility in their family groups, including the greater degree of care that they have of family pets, it would be a greatly aid to take a look at this work.

Oh, yes, this book is recommended and certainly for anyone who wants to find out the answer to the title question.   

Sally Ride, First American Woman in Space

By Carole Ann Camp

(1997) ISBN 0894908294

Being a biography of Sally Ride, this book provides the reader with more than enough information about this individual in order to arrive at an easy understanding how she chose her lifework and prepared for it.  It is important to keep in mind that this volume is much more than a book about one individual.  There is also an enormous amount of valuable information provided about the space program in general.

This work is quite detailed for a relatively short work but done in such a manner that the interest of the reader is always well maintained. The respect shown towards the privacy of the subject is noted and the writer is to be highly commended for this consideration towards Ms. Ride.  In a biographic work, when the individual is still living, it seems the better practice to withhold some unnecessary details.  This book follows this guideline quite well.  Even with all the information contained, this is a book that is easy to follow and will be a big help to young researchers including tween readers and scholars.

Meet Thomas Jefferson

By Marvin Barrett

(1967) ISBN 0375812113

This is a well rounded picture of a person very important to anyone researching the history of our country,  Since tweens often times do study this area of history, this book can prove to be a highly tool for them in their research endeavors. This book starts off with a good clear and interesting recounting of the family background of Thomas Jefferson.

Life was definitely not one of glamour and endless socializing.  The father of Jefferson was a farmer, with land to his name it is true, but a farmer nevertheless and he passed away when Jefferson was only fourteen years of age.  Jefferson then had many responsibilities handed to him which he carried out well and continued his education and he involved himself at a very young age in the political side of life. This behavior was risky inasmuch as by doing so Jefferson and his friends incurred the wrath of the King of England.  Jefferson, in becoming the author of the Declaration of Independence, ran the real danger of the English army sending soldiers for him.  When this actually occurred Jefferson did manage to escape them.  When the war ended, Jefferson continued involving himself in the life of politics and he eventually became the Third President of the United States.

This book places an emphasis on the fact, often alluded in the majority of works on Jefferson, that Jefferson was a strong opponent of the existence of slavery.  This is an issue that this book’s readers, most especially its tween readers, may like to research further.  The illustrations are very helpful to the reader in presenting good clues to the life of Jefferson and his world.

On My Honor

By Marion Dane Bauer

(1955, 1986) ISBN 0899194397

One can only hope that young readers, especially tweens, will take time to glance through this book and then proceed to travel through the pages of this interesting tale.  The subject is a serious one and the lesson learned while achieved is valuable for both the book’s characters as well as for readers who will learn it in this second hand fashion.  What is learned with this reading may actually serve as a lifesaver in the future.

After promising his father, on his honor, to refrain from risky behavior Joel proceeds to fall under the influence of a risk taker and tragedy strikes.  This aspect of the story is of course heartbreaking but its telling can be invaluable for young readers of this story and readers will see Joel going through the grieving process.  Joel starts out making much use of rationalization to a great extent as he tries initially to cope with the consequences of his life choices.  However when Joel does decide to reach out, although in anger, and by blaming another person, does resolution begin to be reached.  This story also demonstrates clearly the great value of one’s family in coping with the pain of loss.

The Newbery Honor (1955) award was well deserved.

And Then There Were None

By Agatha Christie

(1939) ISBN 0312330871

This is one of the most intriguing of the books that have the fortune to be included in the mystery genre.  Written by one of the major masters of mystery books, this tale has been presented on the stage and on the screen.  The most satisfying means of enjoying this story however is in the reading of it.

Reading the recounting of how ten people invited to an island by an unknown host are then killed one by one, by person or persons unknown, and with each upcoming death, all the remaining guests, by now fully unwilling guests, the level of terror climbs higher and higher.  It does not seem to matter what means the guests take to protect themselves.  They can’t seem to hide or to protect themselves and forming alliances with one another is totally out the question inasmuch as no one can conjure up sufficient trust of one another.  This book truly presents the ultimate in pleasurable reading for hardcore mystery genre aficionados.

What makes this particular mystery so perfect is that at the end, it is almost impossible to guess the identity of the person responsible for the deaths.  It is clearly established that there are no survivors and even the police detectives are baffled.  Christie however is not that heartless and there is an explanation that makes perfect once the reader is led to it in a postscript.

Tweens can especially have a wonderful time reading this well written murder classic and in the process will have the opportunity to learn a great deal about human motivations that are quite complex.

Little House in the Big Woods

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

(1932. 1994) ISBN 0064400018

On this return visit, decades after the first reading, the reader is just as charmed by Laura Ingalls and her family and their world as happened in the first visit.  Memories of specific incidents may have faded but the warmth of the Ingalls family circle has maintained itself over time and this reading after years of absence has been even more pleasurable by this revisit.  While one can realize that this recounting of American pioneer days is somewhat romanticized, this shortcoming is a minor detail swept along to the side due to the overall strengths of the writing by Ingalls.  The details about just how a family survived on the American frontier that Ingalls includes are just the right amount of information and never lead one to boredom.  The illustrations are quite welcome in getting a better understanding of the times of Laura and her family.  The modern reader is aided quite a bit by these illustrations of a historical time.

During this delightful re-reading of this book, one of the things that struck this reader for the first time was the sense of humor that Ingalls employs in her storytelling.  This has added further to the appreciation of this author’s work by this returning visitor to her childhood memories.  As a child the humorous aspect of Ingalls’ writing was not recognized in anywhere near the same degree.  Perhaps today’s readers, especially tween readers, may also undergo the same experience if as they progress in their lifetimes they also decide to pay a return visit to the Ingalls family.  With so much wealth to bestow on their readers may the Ingalls and their loved ones continue to thrive!

The Spell of the Sorcerer’s Skull

By John Bellairs

(1984) ISBN 0803701225

In the midst of a February fun get away, Johnny Dixon and his companion, Professor Roderick Childermass, find themselves stranded when the professor’s vehicle loses a battle with the snow.  Their only choice is to take shelter in the closest inn and that chance decision will color their lives for the next few months and lead to a life or death situation.

The first thing that happens when the travelers settle down for a quiet night is that they learn the innkeeper has in his possession a clock with the name Childermass engraved on it.  Johnny and the professor accept the offer to take a look at this timepiece.  As they view this clock, the professor states that the dollhouse portion of the clock is a replicate of the Childermass parlor and that the figure in this dollhouse parlor represents an uncle who died mysteriously within the actual family parlor of the family home in Vermont.  There is an accidental touching of a skull that is the contained within the clock’s parlor.  This incident leads in a short time to Johnny having to reach out for help from others when the professor turns up missing, nowhere to be found.

With the help of several friends, Johnny succeeds in finally locating the professor but not before several scary moments which include encounters with witches and warlocks.  Johnny finds he must not leave much to chance.  Not to be overlooked is the diligent library research work in which Johnny and his friends engage in during their search for the actual location of the missing professor.

Twisted Summer

By Willo Davis Roberts

(1996) ISBN 0689804598

Cici is a girl in a hurry.  This year, after spending the precious summer elsewhere, fourteen year old Cici’s family is headed back to their usual vacation site at Crystal Lake joining their extended family as well as various other families with whom they have become close friends.

This year Cici looks forward to fitting in with the big kids since she is almost fifteen and she especially longs forward to the possibility of being considered as a girlfriend by seventeen year old, Jack.  Upon arriving at Crystal Lake Cici is dismayed to learn that during the year she missed at the lake, Jack together with his family has been snubbed by the community due to the murder conviction of Jack’s older brother, Brody.  Cici decides to remedy this situation by making it her mission to clear Brody, who she believes is innocent.  Cici sees this endeavor as also an opportunity to get closer to Jack and his family and in Cici and Jack do work well together manage to come with justice for Brody.

 

The action throughout this book is well paced, the characters are highly believable and there is not a dull moment and as such highly recommended for readers in the tween age group.

The Hardy Boys, undercover brothers. #18, D.A.N.G.E.R. spells the hangman

By Scott Lobdell

(2009) ISBN 9781597071604

Frank and Joe are presented here in Manga style as they go undercover to stop a madman who has threatened to erase the competition in the national spelling bee.  When the reigning best speller is called away to serve another duty, Joe does double duty as the stand-in as the school’s spelling bee contestant.  This however leaves Frank with double duty in attempting to solve the mystery of who is the threat to the safety of the spelling bee contestants.

The Manga style of this adventure adds to the entertainment and excitement of this adventure and makes for a fun experience for the tween audience.

Dear Mom, Get Me Out of Here!

By Ellen Conford

(1992) ISBN 0316153702

Paul Tanner’s parents have accepted a work position in Switzerland and in order to catch their plane, they drop Paul off at his new boarding school, Burnside Academy, without ever meeting with the headmaster.  They feel somewhat confident about the academic standing of the school inasmuch as Uncle Jack attended this institution thirty years prior and since Uncle Jack has achieved much and is in fact very prosperous.  Paul, however, quickly learns that relying solely on past conditions of institutions can be such a mistake.

At Burnside the food served to the students is atrocious, the plumbing leaves a great deal to be desired and that is just the beginning of the list of atrocious conditions that the Burnside boarding school students must face.  The school’s teachers do any thing but teach and the coaches are extraordinarily lacking in any athletic skills or ideas as to what is involved in athletics.

Paul finds that while his fellow students are very much academically challenged to begin with and not being helped scholastically due to the poor quality of the school’s faculty, the students have bonded and are quite co-operative with one another, and in fact are a good hearted lot.

So when Paul contacts his mother, via mail in this pre-cell phone era setting, and asks that his parents inspect the school, he has conflicting feelings about leaving.  Things have changed and he does not want to leave his new friends.  All that Paul and his school mates ever want is for the leadership of the school to be changed.  The readers of this very enjoyable book will have fun learning just how the creative lads at Burnside achieve this goal.