Stellman the Librarian

This week we put on our Nancy Drew hats and did some investigating: what do REAL teens REALLY like? In case anyone has some preconceived notions about teens liking "fluff" — those notions can be  forgotten immediately. Today's teens are interested in social justice, anti-bullying, and more. Judging by these books, I think the future is in good hands.  Yousafzai, Malala. (2013.) I Am Malala. New York City, New York: Little, Brown and Company. Plot summary: Malala Yousafzai bravely fought for her right to an education under Taliban rule. As a result, when she was 15, someone tried to execute her — by shooting her in the head. Despite all odds, Malala survived, and has become an international symbol of human rights, and a speaker at the U.N. Where I found it: A friend’s teen daughter recommended I am Malala, as it is her favorite book. Why I chose it: Malala is many things, including brave, eloquent, and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. She is a role ...

This week's focus was on "Nutritious books" - books that are non-fiction or historical in nature, and can be used for instruction in the classroom. There's somehow a world of exciting and instructional books out there - but here are just four. Swanson, James L. (2009.) Chasing Lincoln’s Killer. New York City, New York: Scholastic Press. Plot Summary: This story, which is built upon primary resources, details the desperate 12-day hunt for Abraham Lincoln’s killer, John Wilkes Booth. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer is a YA adaption of Swanson’s bestselling book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer . Where I found it: I read an excerpt of the book on NPR.org and then found the book at the Thayer Public Library in Braintree.  Why I chose it: Many students visit Washington, D.C., as part of a school group at some point during their high school career. In addition to providing a wealth of information on John Wilkes Booth and the conspiracy to murder Presiden...

This week's focus is on "What Teens Like: Geeky Books, Science Fiction and Fantasy." Well, sign me up, because I enjoy these things too! Some of my favorite books and short stories as a teen dealt with other worlds/alternate realities ( The Giver , The Lottery ), fantastic situations ( The Most Dangerous Game ) and possibilities ( Einstein's Dreams ). I'm excited to see that the tradition continues with today's teens. GEEKY BOOKS (said with love) De La Peña, Matt. (2019.) Superman: Dawnbreaker . New York City, New York: Random House. Plot Summary: Superman: Dawnbreaker is the fourth book in the wildly popular DC Icons series. This story, which addresses the struggles of immigrants, covers Superman’s youth and the development of his powers while battling evil in his hometown of Smallville.  Where I found it: I found this on the recommendation of Christina Dufour, the Teen Room Librarian at Thayer Public Library in Braintree. Why I chose it: ...

Part of an essay series for LBS 803. This essay was from the week that focused on "SEXY/ROMANTIC" books... Russo, Meredith. (2016.) If I Was Your Girl . New York City, New York: Alloy Entertainment. Keywords: LGBTQIA+, the South, high school, senior year, friendships, romance. Recommended grade level: grade 9 & up.  Fiction, Novel.  Topic: How does Amanda’s desire to be true to herself drive the novel? Throughout If I Was Your Girl , Amanda struggles with two opposing forces: her desire to share the truth of her past versus that she “won the genetic lottery” in regard to “passing.” Amanda is, at heart, a fundamentally honest person who feels strongly in living her convictions. The strongest evidence in support of this is that she transitioned to a woman. Transitioning is a very hard path, both physically and emotionally, for someone to choose, and she only decided to take this brave and life-altering step after a near-successful suicide attempt. On page ...

This week’s focus is on SCARY books and Bibliotherapy! While it seems like a random pairing at first (sorry, Barb!), I realized that people derive comfort AND strength from characters who are undergoing the same hardships as them (mental health challenges) and from characters who are overcoming incredible and unrealistic situations (zombies, ghosts) with bravery and resilience. Below are my selections for this week. I dabbled in mental health, a modern day horror story, and a throwback that has probably entertained four generations by now! Matters of Mental Health Chisholm, Holly. (2019.) Just Peachy: Comics About Depression, Anxiety, Love, and Finding the Humor in Being Sad . New York City, New York: Skyhorse Publishing.  Plot summary: Author and illustrator Holly Chisholm bares her soul in this comic collection that explains and explores  her life grappling (and making peace) with depression and anxiety. The pocket-sized book is broken into four parts: depres...

As part of this week's assignment, we were to find three romance YA novels and annotate them. I did not read any of these books in full, which is new for me. During the first six weeks of the course, we focused on picture books and books for tweens - and I closely read each one that I annotated. It feels strange to annotate something that I'm only barely familiar with - but this is good practice for the real world. Most librarians will never be able to read through their entire collection, but they will need to know how to make recommendations! Ps...please hang with me as I work through formatting qui rks over the next few posts! Stone, Nic. (2018.) Odd One Out. New York City, New York: Crown. Plot Summary: The classic love triangle gets a modern twist. Boy meets girl in elementary school, boy falls in love with girl. Fast forward to high school. The girl - Jupiter - is an out and proud lesbian. When a new girl named Rae comes to town, the three friends have to...