Wednesday, September 18, 2013

3 More Book Posters - Easy Readers' Advisory

JPEG files for these Book Posters are available here.




Saturday, September 14, 2013

2 New Book Posters on Resource Page



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Review: The Clockwork Girl by Sean O'Reilly & Kevin Hanna

He had to make me different...
Different is why I can be here
with you. Right now.

In a far away land, two rival scientists try to create the ultimate invention - one by melding different organisms together, the other using pure machinery.  The results are the Clockwork Girl and the Wolfboy who develop a friendship that defies logic.

The Clockwork Girl was originally published as a limited run comic series between 2007 and 2008. All five volumes of the series are combined in a full-color,  hardcover edition that includes an introduction by the creators.  The colors are rich and the lines are clear; each character is given individual detail.  There are some minor inconsistencies between the cover art and the characters within the graphic novel (Tesla's nose is different) but readers are unlikely to be bothered.


The plot of forbidden friendship is not original and the reader will likely be able to see how the story will end. However, this graphic novel is not about the destination but rather the journey to friendship. The weakest area of this graphic novel is the dialogue between characters.  There is almost no character development and dialogue seems to be an afterthought.  Given the richness of the illustration, perhaps the creators would have been better served to make this a story told solely with pictures.  Younger readers will enjoy this graphic novel, but those looking for a deeper story should give it a pass.

Book Source: Local Library
Reviewer: Rebecca

Recommended Ages: 10+
Recommended for Readers of:

Monday, September 9, 2013

20 Teen Writing Contests

Creative Communication
Type: Poetry & Essay
Ages: Students in grades K-12 in the United States and Canada.
Deadline: Varies (3 Times a Year)

Figment
Type: Varies
Ages: Varies
Deadline: Varies

Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration
Type: Family History Story/Essay
Ages: U.S. Grades 4-8 or International students ages 9-14
Deadline: Ongoing

"It's All Write!"
Type: Short Story
Ages: Grades 6-12
Deadline: January to March

Type: Poetry
Ages: Ages 9-21 (multiple categories)
Deadline: January

The Legacy Project's Listen to a Life Contest
Type: Interview a Senior Citizen (50+) and write essay based on interview.
Ages: 8-18 years
Deadline: September

Letters About Literature
Type: Write a letter to an author (living or dead).
Ages: Grades 4-12
Deadline: Ongoing

NANO Fiction
Type: Fiction 300 words or less
Ages: All
Deadline: September

The National WWII Museum Annual Essay Contest
Type: Essay
Ages: Student
Deadline: Unknown. Details announced January.

One Teen Story
Type: Fiction
Ages: 14-19 years
Deadline: May-June 2014

Optimist Club
Type: Essay Contest
Ages: Current students under 19 years of age
Deadline: February

Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest
Type: Fiction
Ages: Teen
Deadline: Contact contest for details

Type: Varies (Comic Book, Novel, Essay etc.)
Ages: Grades 7-10
Deadline: Varies

Texas Book Festival Annual Fiction Contest
Type: Fiction
Grades: 6-12 (Texas students)
Deadline: Contact contest for details

Teen Ink Contests
Type: Fiction, Poetry & Non-Fiction
Ages: Teen
Deadline: N/A

Teen Summer Writing Contest - HCPL
Type: Poetry & Short Story
Ages: Grades 6-12
Deadline: July
Contact "cc teen at hcpl dot net" for details.

The Writing Conference, Inc
Type: Poem, a Narrative, or an Essay
Ages: Elementary, Middle & High School Students
Deadline: January

Write Loud, Right Now
Type: Play
Ages: Younger than 18 years
Deadline: January

YC Teen Essay Contest
Type: Non-Fiction/Essay
Ages: 14-19 years
Deadline: September

Young Voices Foundation: Mentoring Young Writers
Type: Short Story
Ages: Grades K-12
Deadline: August

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Stick a Pin in It: Pinterest Program for Teens

This is an inexpensive, passive program that engages teens' imaginations
 and encourages social media participation.

5 Easy Steps:
I'm a QR code!
  1. Set up a Pinterest profile for your library.
  2. Create a QR code that links to your Pinterest page. Free QR codes can be created at a number of websites such as QR Stuff or Go QR.
  3. Print out quarter-sheet fliers advertising the activity. Include the QR code on flier and the instructions for getting approved to pin on specific boards (see below).
  4. Advertise your program on social media sights and wait for the follows.
  5. When a teen follows your library's Pinterest board invite them to pin on YA specific boards to create YA lit collages.
Instructions for program flier:
  • Follow *Pinterest Profile Name* on Pinterest
  • Accept the invitation to pin that *Pinterest Profile Name* will send you
  • Pin YA Literature related items to appropriate boards. Note: Pinning of inappropriate materials will result in Pinner's account being blocked and reported.
Don't know how to invite people to pin on a group board?  Check out Pinterest's Help page.

Suggested Ideas/Themes for YA Group Boards:
  • Dystopian Future
  • Favorite Teen Reads or Favorite Authors
  • Hunger Games
  • Manga
  • Mortal Instruments
  • Paranormal
  • Percy Jackson
  • Program Ideas/Suggestions
  • First Love