Book Club & Sculpty Modeling Clay Art Program, La Puente

Wednesday, August 29, 16 young adults at the library enjoyed the CalBook Discussion Group & Art Program, in which we sculpted with Sculpty modeling clay. The program was held on the main library floor, so I acted as bouncer to the underage siblings who were hyped up on a First-School-Day-Over Anxiety Release High. (Don't worry we have craft times for kids, too!)
Suggestions for Future Programs:

"Things that are fun and exciting." Paula V.

Evaluation Form Comments:

"It was cool." Kimberly R.
"Keep J. out!" Jennesa P. (J. was released from the meeting shortly after Jennessa expressed this. J. was especially hyped up after the first day of school. Fortunately, his mother [the real bouncer] was watching the meeting closely from a nearby study carrel.)

Quick & Dirty Book Review

Freak the Mighty, by W. Rodman Philbrick
ALA Best Book for Young Adults & ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
"Nani gigantum humeris insidentes."
"A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself."
Well-written, climatic tale of two young outcasts, one freakishly tall (Kevin), the other suffering from Morquio's Syndrome (Max). Ironically, though committed to personal and intellectual growth, Max's body stagnates at toddler-size. As learning-disabled Kevin lifts Max to his shoulders, the two begin to adapt a similar worldview.
Paralleling the tale of King Arthur and his knights of the round table, the two boys fight local evildoers and overcome forces much larger than seems plausible for two young boys.

Project Runway for Young Adults, La Puente

Project Runway
On August 15th, 29 young adults cut, stitched, and painted T-shirts in an effort to win Fashion Oscars, fashion-oriented books, cool backpacks, and a variety of hip gift cards at La Puente Library's Project Runway. YA Services Coordinator Debbie Anderson kept the sewing machine hot and advised teens on how to rehab old garments or reinvent the shape and look of the basic T. Pictures of the winners are attached!

Book Review

Shaw, T. Confessions of a Back-up Dancer
2005 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
K.K. is obsessed with getting THERE when she dances to the top 40 hits of her favorite pop stars. Through luck, hard work, and the encouragement of her gay guy bud, she finds herself dancing as a back-up for one of her favorite stars, a Britney/Jessica Simpson-like Texan flanked by an overpowering mother figure. When K.K. gets THERE around this mater familia, she finds herself in a Tejas-sized heap of trouble. Balancing her dancing, her pride, and her need to scrounge up the moolah to cover the tuition for her juvenile delinquent brother's reform school --- it all proves exhausting for K.K. Will she make it through the summer without breaking her dance contract or losing her realness?

Book Review

Flake, S. G.
Who am I without him?: Short stories about girls and the boys in their lives.
ALA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection.
Though the title implies that these will be nonfiction shorts written by various young adult writers, in fact all are composed by author, Sharon Flake. This creates a nice consistency. Another surprise: the stories are not all narrated by female characters, for example, the final tale is actually a loving letter composed by a deadbeat dad offering cautious dating advice to his blossoming teenage daughter.
Each vignette is engaging, but also, each is a downer! If you want a good cry about a lousy ex-bf, read Who am I without Him?

Book Review

Book Review of Darren Shan’s Lord Loss

Young Adults! Wait no longer for your daily dose of pulse-quickening horror and suspense. A compelling book…a plot full of twists, which leaves the reader hungry for more. This high praise comes from record-breaking Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, for Darren Shan, author of the Demonata series. Lord Loss is the first in the series --- a step up for readers who loved Shan’s Cirque du Freak as pre-teens, are getting into YA lit and developing a thirst for gore.

As Lord Loss begins, Grubs Grady is a nondescript teen whose most pressing challenge is his current punishment for smoking on the high school campus. After weeks of being grounded for this nasty habit, his parents, curiously, lift the penalty a few days early. Then, they drop him off at the dull home of a creaky relative and disappear to enjoy an evening at the ballet, sans son. When Grubs devilishly sneaks out that night, he discovers:

1. The ballet was just an alibi,

2. Vicious, murderous, chess-playing demons exist, and

3. He exhibits incredible strength when attacked by supernatural forces.

Grubs spends the next few months/200 pages wrestling with the repercussions of what he discovered that evening. Does he utterly destroy the demons that have just ruined his life? No. It isn’t indulging too much to reveal that the ending satiates suspense built throughout the story, but is also refreshingly realistic.

A Librarian's Rating of Manga/Graphic Novels: A Semi-Itemized Consideration

I haven't found exactly what I want in terms of graphic novel ratings. Comic book and manga publishers apply inconsistent ratings even within one series, much less among all of the series. I use my term Barbie naked here to describe the kind of nudity used in manga that is drawn for the young adult crowd --- basically, nipple-free with non-specific genitalia rendering. I have written the following list bluntly/quickly, rating the manga and comic books that were handy. I plan to add titles regularly. I'm not judging graphic novels in general, just offering the details some librarians (or parents) might want, not being able to catch every detail of every book. Disclaimer: My list may have some missed details as well, let me know. My writing is not a reflection of the opinion of my employer.
--- M Delatte
Young Adult ok
Adams, S. Build a Better Life by Stealing Office Supplies: Dogbert’s Big Book of Business. Adams, S. A Cubicle’s Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads, & Other Workplace Afflications.
Adams, S. The Dilbert Future: Thriving on Stupidity in the 21st Century.
Adams, S. Dogbert’s Top Secret Management Handbook.
Arakawa, H. FullMetal Alchemist, rated T (teen), series is poorly-written and violent, v.2, v.4, v.8, v.10, v.11 are all extremely violent, v. 12 is less offensive than v.10, which features the statement, "I can't help it, sir. I just love big boobs."
Azuma, M. Elemental Gelade: 2, rated T, chaper 6:Barbie naked, p. 4, 22, 58-72, p. 72 naked fighting; p. 73 "you pervert!"
DC Comics. Batman in the Sixties.
DC Comics. Justice Society Returns.
Ellis, W., Doran, C., & Stewart, D. Orbiter. Goldberg, R. Inventions by Maynard Frank Wolf.
Gross, E. Spider-Man Confidential: From Comic Icon to Hollywood Hero.
Guindon, R. The World According to Carp: A Guindon Collection.
Guisewite, C. Revelations from a 45-pound Purse.
Harvey, R. C. Cartoons of the Roaring Twenties, v.1
Helfer, A. A Graphic Biography of Malcolm X. Not rated, content is appropriate for young adults. Very well-written, descriptive, visual account of the life and struggles of Malcolm X.
Hutta, Y. Hikaru no Go, A (all ages), v.6,v.7,v.8 are okay for all ages.
Iwase, M. Gundam Seed Destiny. 13+, v.1 seems ok, very few words, more visual
Llander, N. My Cat’s Not Fat, He’s Just Big Boned.
Johns, G. Green Lantern: No Fear, a bit gorey. High-action, stimulating book esp. good for boys.
Johns, G. Infinite Crisis.
Kahn, J. The Greatest Golden Age Stories Ever Told.
Kanan. Galaxy Angel, 13+, v.1, p.24-25, ridiculously large breasts & showy top,v.3 ok, v.4 ok, v.5, p.72, 73, Barbie naked in bed, suggestive.
Kaniger, R. The Metal Men: Archives, v.1.
Kaplan, S. 101 Ways to Count Sheep: Or Holy Cow, Not Another Sheep!
Katchor, B. Julius Knipl: Real Estate Photographer: The Beauty Supply District.
Ketcham, H. Dennis the Menace: His First Forty Years.
Howard, G. & MacIntosh, C. I Gave at the Office.
McCloud, S. Understanding Comics.
Oda, E. One Piece, T, series is violent, reviewed v.11, v.12, v.13, and v.14. Note that v.13 was generally sexy. Style of art seems inspired by Ralph Steadman (an artist who worked with Hunter Thompson).
Ona, F. Ghost Hunt. T, squeaky clean, reviewed v.2-v.6.
Satrapi, M. Persepolis: 1, 2, Violence, good message.
Tachikawa, M. Mink, rated for youth/10+, v.1, ok, v.2, p.111, gratitous panty shot, v.5, more of the cosplay-style outfitting (see first page of ch.24), towards the end of ch.23, there is mild shadow nudity for 3 characters.
Takaya, N. Fruits Basket. An ALA 2005 Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.
Thaves, B. Are We There Yet? A Frank and Ernest History of the World.
Thomas, R. The Chronicles of Conan, v.4, Sexy outfits, violence, but ok.
Thomas, R. Ghost Rider, v.1, Sexy outfits, violence, seems ok.
Thorp, G. Silver Anniversary Yearbook: 1958-59, 1983-84.
Toriyama, A. DragonBall Z, v.12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19-26.
Trudeau, G. In Search of Cigarette Holder Man. A Doonesbury Book.
Unger, J. The Second Herman Treasury.
Van Amerongen, J. High-Stepping through the Neighborhood.
Veitch, T. Star Wars: Dark Empire I & II.
Watterson, B. Calvin & Hobbes, Scientific Progress Goes Boink.
Watterson, B. Calvin & Hobbes, Yukon Ho, p. 116 “Why aren’t you at the library?!?”
Wilson, G. Is Nothing Sacred?
Yang, G. L. American Born Chinese. Angst-ridden, pokes fun at Chinese stereotypes, a good read.
Yasuhiko, Y. Joan: Book One, Joan of Arc series.
Yatate, H. and Tomino, Y. Gundam Seed Destiny, v.2.
Yu, L. Y. Kiss Me, Kill Me, T, v.5.Neels, B. and Itoh, K. A Girl in a Million (Harlequin).

Young Adult Questionable

Bendis, B. M. and Oeming, M. A. Powers: Roleplay, v. 2, p. 3 “I don’t even have time to whack off” and “What the fuck.”
Clamp. RG Veda, T, v.7, p.32 & p.50, Barbie-naked, p. 181, half-naked embrace, v.9, book is fine, but there are little cat-like characters in an implied pose of lesbian oral sex.
Fujishima, K. Oh My Goddess! p. 28 Goddess w. naughty bits vaguely covered by flowing hair, p. 42. Unwanted breast-grabbing attack on goddess, p. 46 Unwanted hip-grabbing with tongue-action.
Fuyumi, S. Mars, v.1, boy kisses statue of boy p.41-42, teacher feels student’s boob with no punishment p.33-34.
Moriyama, D. Chrono Crusade, T, series features plenty of nuns and cleavage, v.3, p.146 "Damn," p.28-29 Barbie-naked in shower.
Nakajo, H. Hana-Kimi For You in Full Blossom, v.3, p.151-165, rape scene.
Soryo. F. Samurai Deeper, rated OT, v.2 p.84-85 Barbie naked; v.3, p.156 boob-grabbing, p.193 Barbie nude;v.6, p.1 Barbie naked; p. 194 @ hot spring Barbie naked girls together.
Takei, H. Shaman King, T, series is sexy in general, the style is influence by American comics, v.6, p. 175-176, weird shower scene, v.10, p.112, 118, 140, weird, pseudo-naked pixie, v.11 sexy in general.
Watase, Y. Alice 19, T, v.5 pp.22,27-29 violence, p.76 high school girls undressing to bras in locker room, v.3, pp.14-15, younger and older girl in tub together in bunny ears, p.17 frame of person tied up in ropes next to woman covering her naked body with a piece of Chinese-style fabric (or towel?).

Adult
Groening, M. Work is Hell. 3rd fr. final page, “third base: digital vaginal contact” not sure if this statement is adult or YA, but the overall book is targeted to older crowd.
Niles, S. Wake the Dead.
O'Neill, K. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: I, Violence, gore.
O'Neill, K. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: II, pp.35, 49, 66, 73 violence, gore, pp. 89-90, 93-95 Female nudity, consensual adult sex depicted.
Samura, H. Blade of the Immortal. OT, pt.II, entire book is violent/gore-filled.
Yoshido, S. Trinity Blood, rated OT, v.1, seems ok besides violence.

Book Club for Young Adults, La Puente

8.1.07 Caught in the Crossfire: Young People and War
A Book Club for Young Adults Sponsored by the California Center for the Book

Five young adults discussed Soldier's Heart and The Gadget. YAs also wrote haiku about war, to be compiled in a newsletter at the end of the summer.

CalBooks evaluation form Q&A:

Is this the first time you attended a book discussion at the library?

"Yes, but not the last." - John Kim, 17

Did you enjoy the Caught in the Crossfire discussion program? Why or why not?

"The discussion program was very enjoyable, because I gained a deeper insight of what others thought about war."
- Caren Chang, 17

"Yes, because it was fun talking about war." - Daisy, age 15

"It was a good discussion and kind of funny." - Claudio, age 14

"Love talking to others." - John

"Yes, because we get to talk about the books." - Linda

What do you think about the books that were chosen for the program? Were there any you really liked or disliked?

"They were hot." - John

Attached are pics from the book club and a very busy storytime craft, which teen volunteers helped to wrangle.