Rob: Do you like to read? According
to a recent National Endowment for the Arts analysis of
2002 census data, fewer than half of American adults
read literature outside of work and school. And people
in their twenties (my cohort!) are said to be reading
less and less…
However, there’s a flip side: overall sales in the
consumer publishing sector rose 6.3 percent in 2003,
driven by huge gains in children's and young adult
books. According to recent figures released by the
Association of American Publishers, sales of children's
and young adult hardcover books grew by 19 percent last
year—reflecting a big resurgence in reading among
preteens and teenagers.
Say what? Teens and tweens are reading more? It was a
surprise to me -- too often, I think of kids being
turned off by books with so many other forms of
entertainment available. Obviously, I don’t know
everything about teen and tween reading habits. That’s
why I’m hosting this chat for kids, parents, teachers
and librarians – to ask some questions, share some
answers, and to hear some thoughts from our exceptional
guest experts.
Today, I have with me Dr. Twila Liggett, the founder
and executive producer of PBS-TV’s Reading Rainbow.
She’s been a state reading coordinator and has shared
the joys of reading with many kids through classroom
teaching. Over twenty years ago, she had the idea for a
show that she hoped would get kids excited about books.
Today, Reading Rainbow incorporates current literacy
understanding with research, humor and entertainment to
ensure that viewers will be absorbed and will remember
the show even years later. Also joining me is Ned
Vizzini, a 23-year-old twice-published author. His first
book, Teen Angst? Naaah…, is based on a compilation of
clips from his New York Press column. The Weitz
brothers, of American Pie movie fame, recently optioned
Vizzini’s most recent novel, Be More Chill, for film.
What did you like to read when you were a kid? If
you're a tween or a teen, what do you like to read now?
Why? Do you have any ideas for keeping the wave of
middle and high school book reading strong? Share your
ideas. Let's Begin.
Jeanette Larson, author of “Bringing
Mysteries Alive for Children and Young Adults”:
There has been a lot of discussion recently about
incentives to encourage reading. What are your thoughts
about “rewarding” teens and tweens for reading?
Twila: Dear Jeanette, my view is to
encourage and motivate kids to read about topics,
subjects and authors that they really like and/or are
interested in. There are all kinds of fiction and
non-fiction books for kids who love motorcycles, sports,
mysteries (no surprise there), animals, adventures, etc.
My goal is to find that right book/author that "hooks" a
kid and thus he/she experiences that most important of
all, INTRINSIC reward of pleasure and the joy of a good
book. And, as with younger children, the example of
parents, teachers and others who read a lot is a
powerful influence.
And don't forget, these kids still like to be read
to. My friend Jim Trelease (“The Read-Aloud Handbook,”
Penguin Books) says that reading aloud to tweens can
truly help change negative attitudes toward reading into
positive ones and in one study where a middle school
instituted daily read-aloud sessions that students who
read at home for pleasure increased from 40 percent to
75 percent!
Rob: My two cents: When we live in a
society where parents are paid to read to their kids -- and
people have proof that that works, I say why not reward
kids for reading? However, because I cover childhood
obesity, I think it’s important not to reward them with
unhealthy food. Does anyone know if Pizza Hut still does
Book It -- where kids get a stamp towards a personal
pizza for every book they read -- or has that program
disappeared? I have to admit, I think I only read books
at one point to get that free pizza.
Connor, Ontario, Canada: Ned, you
say you write for yourself how come so many teens have
taken a liking to your books? Was there ever an intended
audience?
Ned: I'd like to think that
teenagers like my books because I'm a good writer and
the books speak to them. But in terms of there being an
intended audience, mostly it's just smart people. I want
to respect my readers' intelligence and write stuff that
doesn't waste their time and delivers real stories to
them that they can laugh at, relate to and learn from.
Is that so wrong?
A comment from Jose Cruz, California
Literacy’s statewide director of coalition and member
development: The big difference in selecting
books for children...is not a difference at all. As a
young reader, I was intrigued by comic books...though
adults
always thought these books were bad for us.
MAD Magazine was supposed to be
forbidden literature.
Kids have always loved this material. It makes them want
to read! So, today, you see the popularity of “Captain
Underpants”...and even higher level children's
literature like “Harry Potter” that some folks deem as
bordering on satanic...which is nonsense.
So, children love fantasy. The joy of hearing those
first words, “Once upon a time...,” is immeasurable! The
world is a tremendous place. Kids have curiosity and
they are also very open to possibilities. Fantasy
presents all forms of possibilities. Children want to
know that there is some semblance of truth to fantasy.
They like true stories that border on being fantasy.
There is somewhere where both meet. It's "cool" when
reality looks like fantasy or when fantasy can be close
to reality.
And, of course, humor that borders on being naughty
is very good...which accounts for the Captain Underpants
craze.
Rob: Thanks for sharing, Jose, and
for reminding me about the infamous “Captain
Underpants.” My editor, Susan Phillips, wrote a cool
editorial on that caped hero last summer. (FYI: she
likes him!) Here’s a link to the story: http://www.connectforkids.org/resources3139/resources_show.htm?doc_id=185259
Mary S., Seattle: Are there any
nationwide events that focus on teen reading?
Rob: One of the more interesting
events that I’ve come across in doing research for this
chat is the Young Adult Library Association’s Teen Read
Week. Organizers of the event encourage teens to read
from a list of books chosen by their peers in high
schools throughout the U.S. -- and then readers can vote
on their favoritess during teen read week.
Take a
look at the complete list of books nominated for
Teens’ Top Ten Books 2004 by teen readers.
The official Teen Read Week this year takes place
October 17 - 23, 2004. Readers aged twelve to eighteen
can vote online, anytime that week. Read more about the
event here: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/trw/teenreadweek.htm
Katya: If they're not already
planning on doing this, can you please ask the two
guests to suggest some Web sites where teens can go for
some good suggested reading lists? (There are just so
many sites out there, it's hard to tell which offer
selections of good books that many teens will enjoy and
which are more arbitrary.)
Ned: I'm not sure which websites
have the best recommendations for teens, sorry--that's
something I should know! It's such a good idea that I am
going to post my own reading list on the message board
in my website, http://www.nedvizzini.com/, and you
can see that grow (seriously, i'll do that as soon as
i'm done with this). But briefly: 1. Gary Paulsen,
Hatchet 2. Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park 3. George
Orwell's Essays 4. James Frey, A Million Little Piece 5.
Megan McCafferty's books
Rob: Be sure also to check out the
side resources on this page.
Twila: I really like to go to either
bn.com or amazon.com and ask for Young Adult literature
and you'll find the latest titles and more. Both of
these sites give a short synopsis of the book, a
publisher review and sometimes other reviews by someone
who has read the book. I would certainly start there.
Rob: Earlier in the chat, we
answered a question from author Jeanette Larson. She
wrote a book for librarians and educators called
"Bringing Mysteries Alive for Children and Young Adults"
that came out earlier this year. Can you put on your
librarian cap for a moment and offer some examples of
mysteries that tweens and teens really enjoy?
Jeanette: Some favorite mysteries
for tweens and teens:
Colfer, Eoin. “Artemis Fowl.” New York: Hyperion,
2002. 277 p. Artemis is a criminal genius and he is
hatched a plot to steal the pot of gold from the fairy
folk. Grades: 5-8
Cooney, Caroline B. “Face on the Milk Carton.” New
York: Laurel Leaf, 1991. 184 p. Janie realizes that her
parents must have kidnapped her when she sees her own
face on the milk carton. Grades: 8-10
Cross, Gillian. “Phoning a Dead Man.” New York:
Holiday House, 2002. 256 p. Hayley finds herself in
danger as she investigates the accidental death of her
brother. Could he have been involved with the Russian
mob? Grades: 6-8
Plum-Ucci, Carol. “Body of Christopher Creed.” San
Diego, CA: Harcourt, 2000. 248 p.
After the town
outcast disappears without a trace, sixteen-year-old
Torey Adam's finds his life changed as he deals with the
fact that some mysteries are never solved. Gr. 7-12
Werlin, Nancy. “Locked Inside.” New York: Laurel
Leaf, 2001. 272 p. The wealthy daughter of a super-star
who was killed in a plane crash, 16-year-old Marnie
meets a mysterious boy in an Internet game room.
Kidnapped and locked away, Marnie faces many painful
truths. Grades: 7-10
Two that are particularly timely are:
Crowe, Chris. “Getting Away with Murder: the True
Story of the Emmett Till Case.” New York: Phyllis
Fogelman Books, 2003. 128 p. The true story of a young
Chicago boy who was murdered in Mississippi during the
early days of the Civil Rights movement. Grades: 6-9
”Chasing Vermeer” (Scholastic, 2004; 0439372941) by
Blue Balliett. It's being called “The Da Vinci Code” for
kids.
Lee McClain : In light of all the
teen books about princesses, wealthy kids, and young
movie stars, I wonder what Dr. Liggett and Mr. Vizzini
think about teen "issue" fiction--what used to be called
the Problem Novel. I'm the author of a new series of
books about teens in foster care, starting with MY
ALTERNATE LIFE, a September release from Dorchester
Books.
Ned: Lee, go for it--we need more
books about real teens and less about fairy tales.
Absolutely a big market for issue books right now. It's
a funny secret that you can get away with a lot more in
a YA book than you can in a PG-13 movie. I think that
your book can definitely be a serious success,
especially if you keep putting it in caps--you've got to
always be pushing.
Rob, on behalf of Alfonzbob146: Ned,
we’ve received a few “is squip real?” questions. Now,
I've read “Be More Chill” so I'm in on what a squip is.
But can you please definitively answer that question now
once and for all? And how did incorporating a
pretty-cool-intrigue factor like a squip help you get
more teens interested in your book?
Ned: Definitively and once and for
all: the squip is not real. It's a creation of the book.
The squip is a supercomputer pill that you eat that sits
in your brain and tells you how to be cool all the time.
I invented it for my book as a plot construct. Then we
went out and made all these squip Web sites as a sort of
“meta-satire” on the idea that any product (designer
jeans, big earrings, an iPod) can make you cool.
We're encouraging people from all over the world to
get involved and contribute to the project. We want to
point out to big corporations how messed up teen
marketing really is. So please contribute by going to http://www.nedvizzini.com/ and talking
about the squip in my message board or signing up to put
up squip stickers in your area!
And this has helped me reach out to teens by giving
them something to contribute to. I don't just want
people to read my books; I want them to read them and
then contribute something of their own and think about
their lives in a slightly different (and funny) way.
Lee McClain #2: Ned, I was struck by
Megan McCafferty's analysis of BE MORE CHILL--"Sharp
social commentary disguised as a high school sex
comedy." Maybe that's the best way--wrap the issues in a
fun package?
Ned: Since my first book TEEN ANGST?
NAAAH..., I have tried to go for something a former
editor of mine called "twisting the knife." That's when
you hit the reader with humor, humor, fun, humor, but
then at the end of a passage/chapter/whatever, you twist
the knife into seriousness to make the reader
feel/realize/understand something important. that's a
powerful combination that is a great way to express big
ideas to readers. Not that BE MORE CHILL has that many
big ideas...
Anonymous: Are there any books that
would encourage children of this age to want to write,
or be writers?
Ned: SAHARA SPECIAL by Esme Raji
Codell is about a girl who discovers herself through
writing. PLEASE DON'T KILL THE FRESHMAN by Zoe Trope is
a story of a girl finding her identity--and a $100K
advance--through writing. COMEDY WRITING SECRETS is a
great how-to book that was given to me when I was
younger. Also, on my website, I have in the FAQ section
a guide to how I got started writing and how other
people can to. The best strategy is to give the person a
REALLY GOOD BOOK... that'll inspire them.
Washington, DC: If parents push
teens to read, won't that make them less likely to want
to pick up a book? Is there a way parents can suggest
reading without "assigning" a book list?
Rob: Officials at the Reading is
Fundamental organization have some great advice on this
subject. Some of their suggestions: 1) Let your kids see
you reading for pleasure; 2) Leave books, magazines, and
newspapers around. Check to see what disappears for a
clue to what interests your teenager; 3) Look for books
and articles that feature their favorite sports teams,
rock stars, hobbies, or TV shows. Give a gift
subscription to a special interest magazine; 4) Read
some books written for teens. Young adult novels can
give you valuable insights into the concerns and
pressures felt by teenagers. You may find that these
books provide a neutral ground on which to talk about
sensitive subjects; 5) Acknowledge your teen's mature
interests. Look for ways to acknowledge the emerging
adult in your teens by suggesting some adult reading you
think they can handle.
Reading is Fundamental has
many more ideas for parents online at:
http://www.rif.org/parents/tips/tip.mspx?View=18
Amanda: How do we convince adults
not to censor the materials available to young adults?
Twila: It's been my observation that
most adults do not want to censor books for young
adults, witness the plethora of books that deal with
major issues - death,
divorce, sex and more that
flourish and are read by a lot of kids.
However,
there are a few people who would try to
"protect" young adults from current
issues, language
usage. I'm not sure how to convince this small core
of
activists. I guess I'd try to have them realize
that kids today are dealing with
many challenging and
unsettling issues and any literature that helps
them
understand and deal with these things is a
positive contribution.
Max Elliot Anderson: I write chapter
adventure books for readers 8 and up, so I'm tuned into
that segment of the market. These young readers are the
adult readers of tomorrow, and readership is going down
in our society at an alarming rate. I don't find nearly
enough being done to encourage them to read, especially
boys. As we battle TV, video games, and DVDs, what can
the publishing industry do to attract larger numbers of
readers in the tweener age group?
Twila: As the Executive Producer of
Reading Rainbow whose sole (now proven highly
successful) mission is to get kids to read (and love to
read), I think we use these mediums to get the message
across. Why not a book based TV series for tweens? Why
not video games and DVD's based on books such as
yours... Just so you know, I have a lot of ideas that I
think would work for this age group but haven't found a
funder. So, maybe that's where the publishers could
help.
Washington, DC: Twila, have you ever
thought about creating a show focused exclusively on
books for teens?
Twila: Oh, yes, I have. I think that
the "daughter" of RR could be formatted and produced
effectively for tweens and I would LOVE to see my idea
for it find funding! Any help out there, just let me
know!
Dana, New York City: Ned, What kinds
of issues affected you as a teenager?
Ned: As a teenager i was affected by
issues of self-worth and social pressure. I always felt
like I wasn't part of a designated crowd of people--the
Cool People--who were always having more fun than me.
Then, once i started writing, I tapped into issues of
writing about the people in my life, which can be dicey.
I was also hypercompetitive, worried about the future,
and worried about money. A lot of those issues are still
issues that I am dealing with today.
Kim, Boston, MA: Ned,How did you
come up with the idea of the squip? What were some of
the things that inspired you? Was one of them the
Manchurian Candidate? Ned Whoa, the Manchurian
Candidate? How does that relate to the squip? I'd love
to know.
Ned: I was inspired to come up with
the squip when I started thinking about the ultimate
product. I was particularly sparked by a song by a band
called Drunk Horse called "Am/FM Shoes". It's about a
guy whose life is terrible, except he has special shoes
that play the radio, and when he puts them on he feels
cool. I started thinking, "What if there was a product
that REALLY made you cool?"
Melanie, Houston, TX: I have many
teens in my library who see reading as uncool or
something they have to hide from their peers. What do
you see as a solution?
Twila: This is a difficult one. As a
librarian, you must have tried the usual "role model"
approach, e.g., NBA stars who read, movie & TV stars
who love to read, etc. I also like to get kids involved
in a project that involves books but also online
research - which of course involves a fair amount of
reading. Changing these attitudes is difficult and quite
frankly needs some kind of national effort, in my view.
Ned: I think you have to give your
teens the right books. Teens are inundated with
text--IMs, emails--and they just need to have it turned
around in their head that books are as cool as that
other text. I think that books like PLEASE DON'T KILL
THE FRESHMAN, the new one HEART ON MY SLEEVE (all emails
and IMs), Megan McCafferty's "Jessica Darling" books and
anything by Marty Beckerman has instant cool cred. Try
hardcovers, things that are up-to-the-minute, and give
out flyers--teenagers dig flyers.
Jennie Garner, Teen Librarian North Liberty
(Iowa) Community Library: I have a passion for
teen literature and read almost solely from our young
adult section so I've read Ned's first book “Teen Angst?
Naaah…” and thought it was quite funny. I haven't had a
chance to read “Be More Chill” yet, but I am wondering
what made Ned decide to write a novel targeted for
teens?
Ned: Jennie, I wrote “Be More Chill”
for myself, not for any particular audience. I didn't
have any idea it was going to be published when I wrote
it and I wasn't sure what market it would target. When I
brought it to my agent, since it was set in high school,
we decided to go for a young adult book again. I was
very happy with that because of the tremendous rewards I
got from “Teen Angst? Naaah…”: letters from kids across
the country (and the world), speaking engagements at
schools, excited handshakes and signatures. I think that
writing for teenagers has it's own rewards--when you hit
people at that age, the praise is very genuine and the
respect is heartfelt. Those are the advantages to
gearing Be More Chill to a teen audience. But if any
adults (like yourself!) want to come along for the ride,
feel free!
Angela, Columbus, Ohio: I'm
currently doing some work with incarcerated teens and am
looking for exciting read-alouds that will entice them
in the first few lines. I read to them every other week
for 1/2 hour. Some of these teens have drug/alcohol
issues. Can you think of anything that would be exciting
and hook them in right from the get go?
Ned: Ooh, I'm just re-reading a book
now that is amazing and gripping about a drug/rehab
situation that I think would appeal to the teens you
work with. The book is large but grabs you right from
the get-go: James Frey, A MILLION LITTLE PIECES. It's
piercing and fantastic. I really think it would connect
with your teens and it might keep some of them from
getting further into drinking/drugs. It's all true life
and James Frey went through some serious stuff.
Twila: We just discovered a lovely
book called, "Finding The Right Spot: When Kids Can't
Live With Their Parents" by Janice Levy - Imagination
Press which deals with a kid whose mother is sent to
rehab... I think it's a grabber.
John McIntosh, Omaha, Nebraska: In
your experience, do tweens usually like novels? Is this
literary form an OK way to reach young people?
Twila: Dear John, novels can be many
things - funny, message driven, inspiring and most of
all, engaging. Which in the land of reading, where I
live, is a wonderful thing. In fact, there is a treasure
trove of positive, uplifting novels for tweens (which I
would define as 9-12 years old) that includes such great
authors and stories that do all of the above.
Just to name a few, there are established authors
such as: Judy Bloom—“Are You There God, It's Margaret”;
Judith Danzinger—“The Cat Ate My Gym Suit,” or for a
really fun read, Thomas Rockwell's “How To Eat Fried
Worms.”
Then some newer authors who write for an older
audience have taken a try. One of the more notable is
Carl Hiaasan's “Hoot,” which is a humorous novel but
with a strong pro-environmental message.
There are many other authors I haven't named, just go
to the Internet or try Amazon, Barnes & Noble and
specify books for ages 9-12... You'll find some of the
best and most intriguing writing you've ever
experienced. And great ways to read and expand your
mind.
California: I'm up on “Harry Potter”
and “Captain Underpants.” I know I am behind on the
news…so, what's the new stuff that's being released out
there that's making kids excited about reading?
Rob: To answer this question, I’ll
let some kids speak for themselves. In the following
online video link -- brought to my attention by educator
Cris Crissman -- various students from North Carolina
schools offer their takes on their current favorite
books. The students first wrote about their favorite
books in blogs, then talked on camera about the ones
they especially like. Kid comments begin at about eight
minutes into the Web cast. Enjoy watching it AFTER the
chat: http://video.dpi.state.nc.us/eforums/printz/index.htm
Some of the books they brought up as “must-reads”
are:
“At the End of Words” by Miriam R. Stone
“Claws” by Will Weaver
“Keeping You a Secret” by
Julie Anne Peters
“Sweetblood” by Pete
Hautman
“The First Part Last” by Angela
Johnson
“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round
Things” by Carolyn Mackler
“Fat Kid Rules the World”
by K.L. Going
Deidre, Birmingham, AL: What kind of
books would interest teens to read when not in school?
Ned: When you're not in school, read
fun stuff. Michael Crichton's stuff is great. Stephen
King, especially IT, is great. If you can get your head
around it, Chuck Pahalniuk's LULLABY is great--in it a
man discovers a phrase that, if spoken, kills everyone
who hears it, and has to prevent it from getting out to
the world at large. I don't believe that summer reading
has to be books about women wearing high heels and
finding nice apartments.
Twila: I would go straight to
barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com and ask for Young Adult
Fiction. There are so many really fun and exciting books
that anyone would love to read when not in school. Just
put in the keyword, Young Adult books and then read the
descriptions. I'm sure you'll find some very interesting
choices. Or, go to your public library and ask for some
recommendations!
Gale Burge: Hi...I'm in a Master's
program for teaching. I would like to know more about
how to make reading fun in the classroom. I thank you
for your time and
effort in advance.
Twila: Dear Gale, the first step is
to work for a school district that supports creative
teaching. In my best of all worlds school, I have found
that focusing on the individual student's interests and
abilities is the best place to begin. With middle school
students this assessment is somewhat easier since you
can create a short questionnaire or even better, talk to
the individual students because then you can direct them
to materials, especially recreational "real" books that
they are truly interested in.
One of the approaches I found the "project or topic"
approach to get most kids excited about reading and
learning. In this approach, also, I would have kids in
small groups of two or three who agreed upon a topic and
then prepare a presentation that can be written, spoken
and even done with multi-media. So, for example, a team
might all be really interested in space, especially the
Mars probe. With the teachers help, they would divide up
the work which would include: up-to-date information on
the Internet and/or news media, magazine articles and
books written about the effort, some
background/historical information on NASA, and so forth.
Maybe with a "sidebar" on female and minority
astronauts. The list could go on.
The next thing you know, kids are busy researching,
writing, discussing, problem solving and possibly making
an online site or video piece for their project. Anyway,
I think this is a dynamite way to go -- even with a
school's prescribed reading list, there could be a way
to bring aspects of this idea to those books as
well.
Finally, the topic of one's family tree is always a
good one. My stepson was assigned to make a "career"
family tree and he busily interviewed his parents,
grandparents and some aunt and uncles. In fact, we
learned that one of his great-grandmothers was a radio
personality plus ran a grocery store on the same site
where her husband had a gas station! As a teacher, I
would extend the project to include books that are about
multi-generational families, etc. I hope I've given you
some ideas that you can try out.
Rob to Twila: Last year, I wrote a
Connect for Kids story about how you and LeVar Burton (the host of
Reading Rainbow) were reaching out to funders. Is
funding still lean for the program? Have there been new
obstacles?
Twila: Funding is still a huge
problem. Although we have support from The Children's
Place clothing store chain, our current funding barely
supports the production of five new shows and we're
still not solid for a next round. We should be producing
TEN episodes, not just five. Further, the budget is so
tight that we have to let our PR agency go which means
we have to depend on free exposure for the new shows
we’re currently working on.
A big problem for us and PBS programs in general is
that giving for a good cause has generally been down. It
continues to be a difficult as to find the right
corporations and/or foundations who understand the
social value and common good in consistently vigilant
and keep reaching children with the importance of
reading message in order to develop life long, literate
adults. This job is not done once but over and over.
Brent Hartinger: I think it's worth
noting that the quality of teen literature has never
been higher. When adults read my work, they often want
to read other YA writers, and when they do, they're
struck by how much "better" the books are than when they
were teenagers themselves. I guess the upshot is,
teenagers themselves are pretty good judges of books.
Twila: I totally agree. I'm finding
that when my teenage stepson finishes a Young Adult
book, I end up reading and enjoying it for myself...
Rob to Ned: You've told me, Ned,
that usually a lot of adults are at your
readings.
Why do you think that is? Do you ever wish there were
more teens
there?
Ned: I love the fact that there are
a lot of adults at my readings. Just last
night I had
a grandmother and mother tell me my work was
cross
generalizational and of course that means a
lot. We want to hope that humor
is a universal and it
can cross over to non teens. I'd like to be so
proud
as to think that the reason it happens is
because I don't suck as a writer
but I can't be too
sure.
So far I have not had a problem with wishing there
were more teens. The
teen count has been fine and
dandy. Lots of amazing smart young people show
up at
my readings and its great to see them there. Last night
(at the same
event), I had some younger fans with
great comments and questions.
Deidre, Birmingham, AL: I'm the teen
librarian at my library and currently have a Teen Book
Club. They are a special group of teens who enjoy
reading. But I would like suggestions on books that
would be great for both genders. What titles would you
suggest?
Ned: It's tough to get books that
appeal to teen guys and girls. Megan McCafferty's
Jessica Darling books LOOK like girl-only, but are
pretty hilarious for guys too. Problem is you have to
convince them to open a cover with a girl's legs on the
front; you'd think that would be easy. I think Stephen
King writes very convincingly as a woman, and if content
is not a problem I think his stuff has universal appeal.
Also, humor--Dave Barry, Hunter S. Thompson... Humor has
appeal to both sexes.
Twila: What a great idea. I would
start with Christopher Paolini's "Eragon" which seems to
appeal to both genders. Also, what about some classics,
such as "Lord of the Flies," or "The Red Badge of
Courage" both of which have been shown to have appeal to
both boys and girls. Good luck!
Michigan: Are there any books out
there from teens who are writing about
teens?
Ned: There are many. Zoe Trope's
“Please Don't Kill the Freshman” was published when she
was 19. A 16-year-old named Kelly McWilliams has a new
book coming out called “Doormat.” And my own first book,
a memoir of being a teenager called “Teen Angst?
Naaah...” was published when I was 19 myself.
Deidre, Birmingham, AL: I checked
out the list that is linked to this website. But most of
the titles that are reviewed are either fantasy,
historical fiction, science fiction. Are there any good
titles in the mystery genre that someone could suggest
to read?
Ned: I'm not big into mysteries
myself... Do you count Paul Auster books as mysteries?
His recent ORACLE NIGHT is, I think, his best. When it
comes to hard-boiled myster stuff, I'm not the best
person to ask.
Washington state: How do teenagers
learn about books? In my experience, it's still word-of
mouth, but more cyber-word-of-mouth: chat rooms, message
boards, IM, email...
Twila: My view is that you're quite
right about the way teens learn about books with the
occasional exception such as the "Harry Potter" books
(which appeal across a lot of levels) and the "Princess
Diary" books, both of which have had extensive media
exposure. While Reading Rainbow targets a much younger
group of children, our show features a variety books
across genres in an entertaining format and has been
extremely successful. The Reading Rainbow books
literally fly off the shelf. It is my view that there is
a real need for a compelling book driven show for
tweens/teens even though this audience is notoriously
"picky" about television.
Rob: Jeanette Larson, can you tell
us more about your book's focus and why the mystery
genre clicks with a lot of young adults?
Jeanette: It covers the genre with
examples of types of mysteries, history of mysteries for
young people, etc. and then provides curriculum tie-in
and program ideas. The book came out in March and there
is really nothing else like it available to teachers.
It’s available from the publisher, Linworth.
And why do kids love mysteries? Author Michael O.
Tunnell states, “Mysteries vicariously fill the need,
especially in an adolescent, to become a competent,
self-sufficient, and productive individual. The young
protagonists in mystery stories…take their courage in
hand and, against all odds, come out on top. Good
problem solvers and detectives are bloodhounds for facts
and clues. They are systematic.” Joan Lowery Nixon, a
four-time Edgar award winning author, said it best—“kids
love a mystery!” Nixon often related the story of a
fourteen-year-old girl who had, by her own admission,
never read a book all the way to the end. That is, the
child told Nixon, until a friend shared a copy of The
Stalker with her. “I loved it,” the girl told Nixon.
“I’ve read every mystery you’ve ever written and
mysteries other authors have written. Mysteries are the
way to go.” The young girl then thanked Nixon for the
gift of reading.
By the way, I manage ten technology centers for
tweens/teens. We lure them in with the computers and
then surround them with books. While they wait for a
computer, they read graphic novels, advance reader
copies (they love those!), comics, and such. We
encourage the kids to read and recommend books for other
kids. You can see the reviews at http://www.wiredforyouth.com/bookreview/index.cfm?action=wfy_review,
but we also print recommendations in the center
newsletters. Our Web site is http://www.wiredforyouth.com/.
Darren Toledo, Ohio: Ned, Do you see
any concern with teens having online journals? I, for
one, am concerned that they might put too personal
information online for the world to see.
Ned: Darren, I have to say I have
the opposite reaction to teen journals--I think they're
a great way for teens to express themselves and start
writing. They (hopefully) have been educated about the
dangers of the internet and know to hide behind a
username. I really think it's the parents'
responsibility to police that. I think that the dangers
of trash-talking and mud-slinging (which definitely
happen) are outweighed by the network of support on
places like LiveJournal.
Brent Hartinger, author of the "Geography
Club" and "The Last Chance Texaco": One thing I
hear again and again from teachers and librarians is
that the award-winning books aren't necessarily the
books that teenagers want to read. In fact, one
librarian told me that one of those metal "award"
stickers on a book is a MAJOR turn-off to all the kids
she talks to. What gives? Too much broccoli, not enough
dessert?
Ned: That kind of goes back to the
teenage mentality of "don't trust anybody over 18." Once
you see one of those stickers, you think that a
committee of snooty librarians has designated this book
as a "must read" and you assume that it's going to be
difficult to get through.
The truth, of course,
is the complete opposite. Librarians (who have been very
helpful and indeed, instrumental in supporting my
career) are cool, often young, and they have plenty of
good taste. They pick those books not from an ivory
tower but from the same perspective of being a book
lover that many young people have. Their picks should be
honored, not ignored. The metal medal always means good
things to me.
Jinette, Sonoma, CA: Hi. Along with
my two sons ages 12 and 11, I've belonged to a
mother-son book club for 3+ years. We've read great
fiction together and assemble to discuss it with our
friends once a month. We're all motivated to finish the
read by the knowledge that we'll be rewarded with an
evening of merriment and good discussion with our
friends. Both my boys now love to read, but initially it
was the spinach on the pizza approach--i.e. you can see
your friends if you read this book--that got them
motivated.
Grace, Birmingham, AL: Recently,
there have been some teen writers hitting the publisher
lists. I find it interesting they these young writers
are writing fantasy. What do you think of ERAGON or
FAIRY TALE?
Twila: I have not read "Fairy Tale,"
but I loved Eragon as does my step daughter. I
especially like the maps and fantasy world in the book.
If "Fairy Tale" is as good, I'd say this is a great
development.
David Anaheim, California: Twila,
Why is it so hard to get funding? Children are our
future - you'd think there would be more funds available
for education.
Twila: You have asked the million
dollar question! My view is as follows: the slump in the
economy has had an impact on foundations and other
charitable giving; the idea that getting kids to read
and love reading as Reading Rainbow has done so
effectively is NEVER done. There's always more kids and
a lot of giving is done with the idea that a short term
"fix" is all that is needed. Children are our future but
it's mostly lip service.
Kim, Boston MA: What do you think
about the fact that teens have a higher reading level
than adults because they have to read books in school,
like THE NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS and
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X and then have to analyze
them for papers? Isn't it ironic?
Ned: Kim, that's a great point. It
certainly is ironic. I find it particularly amazing that
the "great books" in our culture--MOBY DICK, DAVID
COPPERFIELD, in some cases even ULYSSES--are read in
high school! Then all the adults read is books written
by ex-Bush cabinet members. I loved the AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
MALCOLM X myself and i would love to see the study (I
didn't realize there was one) that showed that teens
have a higher reading level than adults.
Cris, Raleigh, NC: Thanks for your
nod to the outstanding readers of the Middle Creek High
School Mock Printz Club, Rob. Their facilitator, Teresa
Brantley, works hard each year to get the latest books.
Learn more about the Printz Award at http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/Printz,_Michael_L__Award.htm
It,s the teen equivalent of Caldecott and Newbery.
Rob: Thanks Chris. Happy to share
the info.
Rob: I'm sorry to say it, but time's
up! Thanks for an exceptional chat,
everyone. The
archive will be available on the Connect for Kids
homepage. |
Dr. Twila
Liggett
Ned Vizzini
