Final Thoughts

As the semester comes to and end, I thought I would take time to reflect on what I have read. Did I love everything? No, but I am elated to have been able to read as much as I did. I feel that as a librarian my job will not just be to familiarize myself with the books I enjoy, but with the books that might be enjoyed by my patrons. I feel that the reading lists from each genre, and the encouragement to read something new, have really stretched me to get to know what is out there for children. Because of that, I have in turn become closer with the older students in my school to which I have talked about these books. I know that that will translate into the library setting, with my knowledge of books allowing me to develop a relationship with the students who use the library. I hope to keep up with all styles of books throughout my career, never getting stuck in a rut!

Just in case you are wondering, my absolute favorite book I read this year was...

My second favorite?

And my least favorite?

You know, just in case you wanted to know. :)

Module 15- Journal

Choose one of the books from the reading list of censored books. Discuss the controversial issues in the book. Then discuss how a librarian might defend this book against censorship.

For the purpose of this discussion, I have chosen the book And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.

This story, based on a true story, tells of two male penguins Roy and Silo. While all the other penguins in the zoo were partnering to raise a family, Roy and Silo continued to partner with each other. The zookeeper noticed this long standing pair trying to hatch a small rock, and gave them an egg to raise. Roy and Silo took turns sitting on the egg, and worked as any couple might to raise the penguin chick after hatching.

The homosexual relationship of the penguins has caused such controversy that this book was the most challenged book in America for three consecutive years. Critics say that the book shines a positive light on homosexuality, the story presented is too mature for children, the entire story is not told, and that the book portrays mating rituals graphically while describing overtly sexual acts. These complaints have resulted in the book being banned, restricted, placed in non-fiction, and/or placed in a designated library area.

As a librarian I would explain to patrons that while the book may not be the right choice for their child, there are patrons within the community seeking out a book such as this in order to talk to their child about the issue. As a library, we are here to serve the needs of all patrons, and therefore, keep the book on the shelf for those that might have a need or desire for it. If they feel that it is inappropriate for their child, I would encourage them to share with their child that it is not to be checked out by them. If possible, I would also allow the parent/patron to put a restriction on the account of their child in order to prevent check out. While I would do my best to hear and validate the concerns of the complaining patron, banning it from every family would not be an option in my book.

Module 15: l8r, g8r

Summary:
Maddie, Angela, and Zoe are making their way through their senior year of high school, and are anxious about graduation. Written in "instant messaging" speak, the author tells the story of the three girls as they handle relationships of all sorts. The story begins as Zoe's boyfriend Doug returns from his semester at sea. Zoe is thrilled to see him, as is her friend Angela. Angela's friendliness with Doug becomes the source of a flirting rumor, started by the school with, Jana. Zoe blows it off, preferring to spend every waking moment with her boyfriend, consumed by the relationship. Angela and Maddie however, want to get even with Jana. As they plan their revenge through a series of pranks, the girls also deal with relationship drama in their own lives. Maddie starts seeing her ex, Ian, again, even though the relationship ended badly. Angela finds herself unable to break up with a boyfriend she doesn't love after he gives her a car. Zoe, still head over heels, begins to prepare to lose her virginity to Doug. Soon, the girls begin to receive their acceptance letters to college, with each going to different schools in different states. Although it's not ideal, the girls realize if they can handle all they went through senior year, they can easily handle being apart. After all, they can always instant message.

My Thoughts:
At first, it was hard for me to see why this book was so controversial. I thought perhaps it was the format, although I would hope that those reading this book already had a good idea of proper grammar and spelling. Then, after some research, I saw that the book was challenged and banned because of the content, with most of the issues taking place in a middle school environment. While I do feel the book is entirely inappropriate for middle schoolers, I believe older high school girls will really relate to this book. The story reminded me of many conversations I had with my own friends at that age, and the author did a great job portraying high school life. If parents do take issue with the book, I challenge them to talk with their high schooler and see if the story line is really all that different than their life, chances are, it's not. The book can be a safe place for high school girls to read about obsessive relationships, the trouble with rumors, and the need to be true to yourself. That being said, I don't think it will be popular for long. The technology, movie, music, and television references will quickly date this series. 5 years from now I doubt we see it around.

Their Thoughts:
Francisca Goldsmith's Booklist Review-
"The third book in Myracle's online chat trilogy, which began with ttyl (2004), finds Zoe, Angela, and Maddie spending most of their time considering boyfriends, college choices, and getting the better of a nasty classmate. Readers will recognize each girl's distinctive voice, personality, and particular chat style, all of which have remained consistent across the series. In this book Zoe loses her virginity--in her typical, carefully planned fashion; Angela has her pride damaged by a guy who first gives her a Jeep; and brash Maddie, who avoids getting into a romantic quagmire, sets the pace for the friends' rebellion against their parents' choices of colleges. This will certainly appeal to the characters' peers, but it's also a good choice for adults who want to know what's happening in teenagers' lives."

My Ideas:
Honestly, with the controversy surrounding the book, I don't know if I would necessarily "promote" the book through displays, programs, or book talks. While I believe that the book should be included in the library, I think that doing some sort of outright promotion or activity with the book is asking for trouble. I would certainly suggest it to teen girls with the maturity to handle it, but beyond that, this might be one that speaks for itself!

Module 14: Witness

Summary:
A group of people from a small Vermont town express their feelings as the KKK moves among their quiet neighborhoods. Leanora Stutter, the young African American girl and Esther Hirsh, the young Jewish girl, seem to bare the brunt of the burden as far as emotional strain. Knowing they are constant targets for no reason other than race proves to be quite taxing for the young girls. While some members of the community, such as Johnny Reeves and Harvey Pettibone join the KKK out of greed and hatred, others, such as Sara Chickering and Dr. Flitt, make a point to stand against it's principals. Threats and small crime run rampant, particularly in an attempt to run the "undesirables" out of town, but one night one town member takes the hatred even further. As Merlin is sent to poision the well used by the undesirable families, Leanora watches from behind the bush. As Merlin is deciding how far he is willing to go, shots ring out. Someone has shot Ira Hirsch through the keyhole as he sat with his daughter. Merlin was an obvious target for suspision as he ran the night of the crime, by Leanora stood up for him, telling the law that she saw him that night, but not with the Hirsch family. For so long Leanora was a witness to hate, but one day, she witnessed a change of heart.

My Thoughts:
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I though the plot was interesting, and found many of the characters to be quite rich. However, I found myself often needing to refer to the photos at the front of the book to help keep the amount of characters straight. With so many presented, each without the interaction of others, there were many that were difficult to visualize. As a child, it might help to have a sentence strip with enlarged photos and descriptions to help them visualize the characters.

Their Thoughts:
Horn Book Review, 2002-
"Eleven different voices record the Ku Klux Klan's effects on a Vermont town in 1924. Many of the fictional cast (two children and nine adults) feel more like types than complex individuals. The free-verse format works well for some characters, but with others, the entries sound heavy and obviously staged. Witness has a compelling story to tell, but one that is too complex to work effectively in this format."

Awards and Accolades-
5 State Reading List Awards
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2002
Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Books, 2001

My Ideas:
It would be fun to put on a 'Popcorn and Poetry' event in the library. The students could read their own original poems, and listen to the poetry of famous authors. Books in verse, like Witness, would be included to show the wide range of possibility for poetry. Many younger students think that poetry must rhyme, and exposure to many types would be beneficial.