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Showing posts from 2017

John Green's New Novel Helped Him Figure Out His Own Mental Illness

In a visit to  AM to DM , Green talked about pulling from his early struggles with OCD to write the main character of  Turtles All The Way Down. In a chat on  AM to DM 's The Sit Down on Tuesday morning, best-selling author John Green talked about the ways in which his own experiences with OCD helped him write his new novel,  Turtles All The Way Down. The book follows 16-year-old Aza Holmes — who, like Green, has OCD and anxiety — as she tries to solve the mystery of a missing local billionaire. Green said he wanted to write a detective story in which the detective's obsessiveness is "distinctly unhelpful" in trying to solve the case. "A lot of times, detectives are portrayed as obsessive, and that's somehow linked to their observational genius," Green said. "But that's completely opposite to my experience having OCD, which is that when I'm really sick I can't notice anything outside of the world of myself."

Teens Literature Comes of Age

Here are some YA titles that are pushing the upper edge of the age designation, following the stories of teens the summer after graduation, on into college, and beyond: I'll Meet You There   by Heather Demetrios Follows Skylar, a recent high school graduate who is ready to escape her small town for art school with a few unforeseen complications. Fangirl   by Rainbow Rowell and  All the Feels by Danika Stone Features college freshman who are deeply engaged in online culture and fandom. How To Love  by Katie Cotugno Tells a love story in alternating time lines. A Little Something Different   by Sandy Hall Revolves around two students in a college creative writing class who have crushes on each other but just can't seem to get together- until they do. What We Left Behind   by Robin Talley About Toni and Gretchen, a lesbian couple, who solid relationship starts to crumble when they attend different colleges. We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mul

Here's a great App recommended by School Library Journal!

Buried Alive: The Secret Michelangelo Took to His Grave Time Travelers Tours with Mary Hoffman, 2017. iOS, requires 6.0 or later. Version 1.1; Android, requires 4.1 or Up. Version 1.4, Free. Grades 6 & Up. This extraordinary story is narrated by none other than Michelangelo himself, whose work has, in many ways, come to define the Renaissance city of Florence, Italy.  The examination of his personal story and his art, from his childhood to his later years, adds depth and focus to an experience not found in many travel books. Here, viewers learn about the man's creative life along with information about his family, influences, benefactors, and the politics of the day. The best way to use Buried Alive is on the ground in Florence, taking in Michelangelo's amazing work firsthand following his trail on foot. However, thanks to a clickable, zoomable map for speedy teleportation around the city, his fascinating story can be enjoyed from anywhere. There are 3 ways to exp

Part 2- Random Fandom

The following are literature-related fandoms. The Mary Sue www.themarysue.com/the-psychology-of-fandom/ Billing itself as the "heartbeat of geek culture", The Mary Sue explores a wide range of all things "fan". This particular article explores the psychology of fandom, providing insights into the brain science and the philosophy behind empathizing with characters and actors, as well as the emotional attachment that devotees may develop. National Book Festival loc.gov/bookfest This is the place to be if you are a bibliophile. Held in Washington D.C., the festival boasts a giant main stage, more than 100 authors, the Library of Congress Pavilion, and a variety of family friendly events. The NBF bring fans and book creators together in a celebration of the written word. Nerdcon: Nerdfighteria nerdconnerdfighteria.com The first ever Nerdfighteria Con will convene in winter 2017.  According to the preliminary site, those interested can "join members of

Yes We Con!

For those of you unfamiliar with the term "con" or " fandom", this blog will help you master the lingo on all things having to do with the con and fandom world. First some terms of endearment, I will offer a starter fandom glossary taken straight out of a School Library Journal article. Following that, I will list some sites where you can get more information on upcoming fandom and Comic Con events around the country. Level 1- The Basics Cosplay : A mash-up of the words costume and play , cosplay is both a noun and a verb. Cosplayers dress as favorite characters, celebrities, or anime characters; truly anything is fair game in cosplay. Imagine a cross between Halloween and your favorite pop culture phenomenon. Cons : An abbreviation of "convention". Comic-con San Diego (held annually in July for the past 46 years) is likely the most famed of cons. Fandom: A combo of the words fan and kingdom , which identifies a group of people with a common in

The Reading Without Walls Challenge

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature , Gene Luen Yang invites you to take the Reading Without Walls Challenge! Inspired by his official platform, the challenge encourages readers to explore books of diverse voices, genres, and formats. *Click flyer and certificate to download* *Click poster to print and hang in your classroom* Share the challenge on social media!   Take a photo of the book and post it on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag   #ReadingWithoutWalls .  Challenge your classroom or community! If you are a teacher, librarian, or bookseller, you can encourage your students, patrons, and customers to take up the Reading Without Walls Challenge! See what San Francisco’s  Live Oak School did this past school year ! Be a part of the fall 2016 pilot program! To participate: Email to let us know you are planning to participate ( shaina.birkhead@cbcbooks.org ) Conduct a pilot ‘Reading Without Walls’ program in your classroom Report back

Tools For SAT/ACT Prep

Here are three resources for test preparation. 1- Check out our free, comprehensive database :    You'll find it under the  Teen  banner on the Farmingdale Library website; scroll to Resource Help and Electronic Resources For Teens will pop up to the right. Click on it. Scroll down to Learning Express and click on either home use or library use. You will find SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT/NMSQT practice exams and career guidance. For details see below: ACT- preparation tutorials, practice tests for English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing, ACT complete simulated practice test and ACT test prep  eBooks SAT- test preparation tutorial, eBooks and practice tests AP - practiced and exam preparation eBooks PSAT/NMSQT - practice College Admissions Essay Writing - Learn how to write a college admissions essay 2- Another free resource is the College Board SAT practice site. This site helps with registration, understanding the format of the test, and setting up study groups,

An App for Telling Stories in 3D

Could you be the next Ana DuVernay or Steven Spielberg? A new, free app gives kids the tools to try their hands at directing. Toontastic 3D enables children to create their own animated movies. "We call it our movie studio in a box," says Andy Russell, a product manager at Google who helped develop the app. " The goal is to empower kids with the types of tools that Hollywood directors have to tell any kind of story". The story could take the form of a movie, a school report, or even a music video. Unlike other online tools that focus on the technical aspects of film making, Toontastic 3D puts the emphasis on storytelling. In this app, users can choose from three story arcs: short stories, geared toward younger children; classic stories, or epic tales; and science reports, which take students through the steps of conducting a science experiment. Student creators can choose from eight different setting in Toontastic 3D or can draw their own. Stude

7 New Badass YA Heroines for You to Love

According to Lisa Parkin, YA book Blogger, these strong YA heroines are confident and capable, not to mention fierce, and empowering in so many ways. All published in 2015, here are some literary winners and their inspiring protagonists you may have missed: Aya -   The Glass Arrow   by Kristen Simmons The Sitch : In a futuristic dystopia where women are bought and traded like cattle, Aya has remained hidden for years from the men who would sell her. That is until her luck runs out. The Skills : Despite getting caught, Aya refuses to accept her situation and masterfully plans her escape. When I say Aya is fierce, I’m not overstating anything. She has a determination so strong and an iron will so solid that I was left in awe. The Reason to Read : Aside from its epic heroine,   The Glass Arrow   offers incredible world-building and non-stop action and surprises. Shahrzad -   The Wrath and the Dawn   by Renee Ahdieh The Sitch : In this retelling of   A Thou