Teen Read Week 2003—

Encouraging Young Adults To Read, And To Try Some Poetry

By Shannon Hicks

C.H. Booth Library is joining with libraries, schools, and bookstores across the country to celebrate the 6th Annual Teen Read Week. The event is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of American Library Association (ALA), and like many other observances, Newtown’s library is making the most of its resources –– making posters, hosting contests and programs, and generally talking up the idea of reading for young adults.

Young Adult Librarian Margaret Brown has worked with members of the library’s Young Adult Council to drum up enthusiasm for Teen Read Week, which this year will run October 19–26. “Slammin’ @ Your Library” and the celebration of poetry is the theme of this year’s Teen Read Week, and YAC is planning a major event: a poetry reading at the library on Friday, November 7.

The reading is being held later than the official close of Teen Read Week because YAC members wanted to expand their knowledge of poetry and its creation, and to allow their peers to do the same, before presenting their work to the public. While the readings will be done by young adults ages 12 to 18, all ages will be welcome to attend the event.

A meeting with a few members of The Young Adult Council last week proved that the library is of course supporting the idea of reading in its younger population. Even more promising: The young adults are enjoying what they are reading, and love the idea of getting their friends even more involved in reading-related programs.

During an informal gathering with four members of YAC last week, members had very strong –– and differing –– opinions on poetry.

“Poetry really comes from the heart,” said Candace Woods. “I find you have to be inspired before writing.” Candace has had her work published before, so she was undoubtedly happy to hear that this year’s celebration is centered around poetry.

“I can write a poem any time,” countered Zach Richter, who has not been published but enjoys writing nevertheless. “I have no trouble. Point to anything, and I can write about it.”

Chelsea Fowler, also an eighth grade student at Newtown Middle School and YAC member, said many of her friends “already love poetry so it should be easy to talk them into participating” in the poetry reading next month.

Former English teacher Liz Arneth will help young adults prepare for their poetry program. Mrs Arneth has volunteered to lead a pair of workshops –– the first on Monday, October 20, and the second on Wednesday, October 29 –– that help students with their writing and even reading of poetry. Each session will run from 3 to 4:30 pm.

“I’ve taught poetry to kids as well as adults,” Mrs Arneth, who teaches a number of programs at the library and is also a board member, said this week, “and this time we’re going to try different types of free verse. We’re going to get away from rhyming and look at different types of poetry.”

Mrs Arneth’s resources for the workshops will include Joseph Tsukimoto’s Teaching Poetry To Adolescents and Getting The Knack, a book by Stephen Dunning and William Stafford that offers a series of poetry exercises.

“The point of this will be to make poetry fun and interesting,” Mrs Arneth said. “It’s also in preparation for the poetry slam.

“I’ll be teaching the students, I hope, poetry appreciation as well as writing. I’d like them to see how challenging it can be to write something that’s entertaining as well as understood by your audience.”

Students are encouraged to bring a poem they have already written or even one that they have begun, or just an idea, to the workshop. Those who plan to participate in the poetry evening will need to attend both workshops as well as a rehearsal before November 2. Original poems are encouraged, but readers can also read something by one of their friends if they wish.

For additional workshop information or to register, call Mrs Brown at the library, 426-4533.

Teens’ Top Ten Books

In addition to the poetry night, Booth Library is sponsoring a second activity during Teen Read: Young adults are invited to vote at the library or online for the 2003 Teens’ Top Ten Books List.

Six pilot groups met in 2001 to decide on the criteria for future balloting of the Teens’ Top Ten (TTT) Books. The students were from diverse locations –– Fort Wayne, Ind.; Sylacauga, Ala.; Overland Park, Kan.; Carmel, Ind.; East Lansing, Mich.; and Mesa, Ariz. –– and their adult counterparts hoped that their views would help uncover the thoughts of young readers across the country.

Interestingly, the six groups came up with a total of six standards to meet before they would be considered for nominations. Those standards are as follows:

*Appeal and Involvement (“a lasting TTT Book should have lasting and universal appeal to teens between the ages of 12 and 18 –– not necessarily mass or popular appeal –– [and] should keep readers’ interest … should also be memorable and worth reading again”);

*Literary Quality (a book “should be ‘of substance,’ not ‘fluff,’ and should be unique –– not a clone of every other teen book … a TTT Book offers a new perspective, a new way of thinking”);

*Characters (TTT Books have characters similar in age to the reader, are realistic and compelling, and readers can relate personally to them even in fantasy or horror);

Content and Style (a TTT Book’s subject matter must apply to teens, and social issues must be treated realistically, not sugar-coated, “a TTT Book is never condescending to the reader”);

*Plot (TTT Books must have strong, memorable plots so that “imagining the events is effortless,” and the ending must be satisfying even if not necessarily happy); and

*Genres (the list of nominees should represent as many genres and interests as possible).

 The young adults who culled this year’s TTT Book List are members of teen book groups in school and public libraries in Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Washington. The nominating groups change every two year and are selected based on their experience in discussing books.

All of this year’s books have been published during 2002 or 2003. Most titles are available at Booth Library, although it may be difficult to borrow them during the upcoming week –– some of the most popular ones have already been checked out or are on a waiting list to be read.

The nominees this year include fantasy, history, mystery, nonfiction, romance, a number of “realistic” titles, a sci-fi graphic novel (Wake #4/5 : The Sign of the Demons) and even an anthology (First French Kiss and Other Traumas). There is also a book of poetry, Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems from WritersCorps, which includes original works by the San Francisco teen group WritersCorps.

Among the nominees is Abhorsen, the third in a series by Garth Nix. The fantasy series are popular with Newtown’s readers.

“Abhorsen is definitely jumping out at me” as a book to vote for, said Chelsea Fowler. Zach Richter was taking the book home to read last week and said that he knew “without reading it that the book [was] going to be good.”

The book follows Sabriel and Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr, released, respectively, in October 1996 and April 2002. The young readers said they are hoping for a fourth book in the series and Zach pointed out that the books are good for all ages.

“Abhorsen ended with such a cliffhanger that I can see another book being done,” said Candace, but Chelsea said she had read an online note by the author that said he wants to retire the series “for a while, at least.” Nix is also the author of the Kings to The Kingdom series and The Seventh Tower series, among others, so readers may indeed be in for a wait before they see another Charter Magic installation.

Also mentioned last week was The Second Summer of The Sisterhood by Ann Brashares. The sequel to The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants was “loved” by Bethany Morin, who was also sitting in at the informal meeting (and Teen Read Week preparatory workshop) last week.

Readers vote for their three favorites during Teen Read Week. Visit the Young Adult Department to vote in person at the library or vote online by going to www.ala.org/TeenRead. Click on Teens’ Top Ten at the bottom of the left hand side menu, and then near the center of the next page click on Quick Link to 2003 Nominated Titles.

The winners of the 2003 TTT Books List will be announced in November.

Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and other concerned adults. Its goals are to give teens time to read for the fun of it, allow teens to select their own reading material, and to help teens get into the habit of reading regularly and often.

In addition to learning about and respecting poetry this month, teens will be encouraged to always “Read For The Fun Of It,” so their reading skills will stay sharp and they will develop a lifelong reading habit.