Week 16 Prompt

These questions loosely tie-in with a discussion I had with my friend, whom I work with in a school library, that started with, "Am I just OLD?"
Most of the time, I cannot identify with the reading habits of kids today; if it's not a graphic novel, they are not interested, and usually, nothing I can say to the contrary makes a difference. I ask the students what elements they like about a graphic novel and I try to match it with a chapter book or YA in the library. Usually, this is not a successful practice for me. I have literally had a student say to me, "Why would I look at a book that didn't have pictures? That is so boring!" Not only this, but most of the students can read some of our graphic novels in less than a day, so I see them more than once. I will sometimes say, "Since you got through that so quickly, why don't you try a novel that will last longer?" That is met with a resounding "no." But, I think I could stand to heed the advice of Neil Hollands in his article Every Book Its Reader where he says, "Find common ground in your love for a good story, in the empathy that comes with reading, in the emotional needs that you share, or in the ideas found in books that somehow make life a little better." Just because we do not like the same things, does not mean we cannot find a common ground. 
I do not want to be the lady that cannot flow with the times, but it breaks my heart that these kids aren't willing to explore what else is out there. We have tried book talks and author visits, but it only briefly piques their interest. 
I am 36-years-old, and I find myself turning into a crotchety old lady that starts sentences with, "Well, when I was a kid..." It's happening, so I may as well lean into it for this prompt. 
When I was a kid, I read books, chapter books, then longer books, voraciously. Some of the things I read had pictures such as the Great Illustrated Classics (which all know were awesome) and "Archie" comics (I named my first goldfishes Archie and Veronica). Also, my parents read to us every night before bed, usually a chapter from a novel each night, which is one of my happiest memories. The graphic novels we have today were not something I was familiar with in the late 80's or early 90's. 

Obviously, it is not only graphic novels that are being written, but the new YA seems heavier to me now than they used to be, especially with the rise in popularity of dystopian fiction. Also, I think death is a prominent feature in these books. I remember one romance/death author- Lurlene McDaniel! I feel as though reading and books have changed since I was a kid, but the world and what is offered for reading has changed a lot, too. When I was a kid, there was no Internet, no tablets... but there was Sega Genesis and Nintendo, which was often played! Perhaps it was that I enjoyed reading so much that I did it often or, maybe there was less distraction back then. Also, things have personally changed for me by the mere fact that I am an adult now, not a child- I have more responsibilities and more things weighing on my mind that distract me when I try to relax with a book. 

One could say that TV viewing has taken over as entertainment and taken away some of the need for reading- it is no longer needed to fit into society. Ursula Le Guin said that readers aren't viewers, they recognize their pleasure as different from that as being entertained. I think people are still reading quite often. Maybe it is because I work in a school and I see people reading, but local book clubs are booming, and I see many people perusing shelves at my local library branches. I read people talking about book they have read or wanting recommendations on social media. I think that e-readers and tablets will be a part of reading from now on due to the convenience of them, but I think readers will always revel in the feel and smell of a book. Books will still be published, but I do not think it will be like it was before the introduction of tablets. I think the popularity of print will come back around- it's like how I see the style from the 90's coming back. People long for the past and romanticize it. Books will be no different. 

Hollands, N. (2016). Every Book Its Reader. Booklist, 113(7), 27. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Le Guin, U. K. (2008). Staying awake: notes on the alleged decline of reading. Harper's Magazine, 316(1893). [Files - Canvas]

Week 15 Prompt

Nancy Herther's article Goodreads: Social Media Meets Reader's Advisory begins by saying that social media is becoming a standard means of communicating ideas across industries. In our present time there is no way to deny this, and I believe it is the future of marketing a library collection.
First, I would crowdsource publishing and marketing for the library, as Herther discussed in her article; a library would offer reviews online have new, maybe self-published authors be showcased. This is a way to introduce authors to the community that don't yet have a "big name." Self-published author Scott VanKirk states in Goodreads that, "Instead of paying $50 for a book which will last a couple dozen loans, or paying $50 for an ebook they can only loan out a certain number of times," he says, "libraries can get self-published books for cheap or mostly free." This gets works more publicity, which leads to more reviews, which leads to more traffic for a book and for the library. Book reviews hold a lot of weight with readers. 

Next, I would increase the library's presence on social media on platforms such as Twitter. This allows patrons that are social media users to discover new materials that are available at the library. It also allows patrons to interact with each other through comments to potentially see what others are reading and enjoying. Also through re-tweets, a larger audience will see the library's tweets. In her article The Expanding Scope of Reader's Advisory, Nann Hilyard discusses ways to utilize Twitter to the library's advantage. To make it work, the tweets have to be interesting regarding RA such as, "if you liked (this), try (this)." To engage more readers, the library could use interesting hashtags for library events such as #BannedBooksWeek or #NationalLibraryWeek. 

Social media is a great way to market a library, but not everyone prefers to get their information that way. I think a way to introduce patrons to new books and authors is to have a "Book Speed Dating" program at the library; a few new books or authors, maybe descriptions of new e-books would be available at each table. Patrons could take a few minutes at each table perusing what it new before moving on to the next table. This could lead to RA conversations between the patron and whoever is running the program, or between patrons- word of mouth is a great way to recommend books. 

Herther, N. (2013). Good Reads. Online Searcher. 37(4). 38-41. Retrieved from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.

Hilyard, N. (2010). The Expanding Scope of Readers’ Advisory. Public Libraries. 49(1). 10-25. Retrieved from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.

Week 14 Prompt

Forming my thoughts for this prompt proved to be difficult for me, mostly because I was not sure how to align my personal beliefs with the ethics of librarianship. I know that the difficulty I originally felt is a good thing because it made me think outside the box. I read the articles, *re-read* the articles...and read them again! I read excerpts from them to friends (including a librarian friend) and co-workers. From this, I received different opinions and insights. This issue really has really stuck with me this week as I have been reading more about it, because I know there may come a time that I have to shelve my ethics for the ethics of librarianship. Honestly, the articles that were provided to us in this Prompt regarding the LGBTQ materials being shelved in a separate location in the Orange City, IA personally rubbed me the wrong way. A flier regarding this issue written by a local pastor referred to homosexuality as "depraved, detestable, and an abomination." But one of the residents, self-proclaimed Christian Kurt Korver, was quoted as saying, "The people of this town are not censors or homophobes, just simply caring residents." One of these things is not like the other... It is hard to buy into Korver's explanation when a fellow Christian is saying otherwise.  Because of these statements, the petition of these books being shelved elsewhere seems like a witch hunt. Judging by the comments on the articles, others felt the same way. Also, the ALA is clearly pro-LGBTQ inclusion in libraries, judging by a quick search of their site that pulled up 15,000+ articles and mentions- all of which were positive and for inclusion just on the first few pages of hits that I read.

LGBTQ materials should be shelved within the rest of the collection. A justifiable reason to separate them is to use them for a display- perhaps commemorating Pride (these activities -marches, festivals- generally take place in/around June). Displaying these materials would be akin to displaying any others for occurrences such as Black History Month or Women's History Month.  (The ALA dedicates a part of their site recommending this at http://www.ala.org/rt/glbtrt/glbt-book-month)

1) The library is all-inclusive for a community; for absolutely everyone. To shelve certain materials in their own section because it makes certain groups uncomfortable is not a fair practice, because where does that end? Any subject matter that makes anyone uncomfortable would have to be separated from the collection if the library were to operate that way.

2) The example used in the case of the Orange City, IA library was the book Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, which is about a little boy who likes to wear a tangerine-colored dress to school and his classmates don't understand. Regardless of how it personally affects you, issues like this one are happening in society. To hide them, or to not add them to the collection at all, is showing these children that they are "too different" or worse, invisible. (The ALA has a list of books and programs from a list titled, Serving ALL Families in Your Library: Inclusive Library Collections and Programs for LGBTQ Families & Children found here: http://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/2016Institute/Serving%20ALL%20Families%20in%20Your%20Library%20Inclusive%20Library%20Collections%20and%20Programs%20for%20LGBTQ%20Families%20%26%20Children.pdf)

3) Children, who are the focus of the issue in Iowa, deserve to see themselves portrayed in the media. An article from the website www.pen.org titled Missing From the Shelf: Book Challenges and Lack of Diversity in Children's Literature speaks of the importance of children seeing themselves and also, seeing the world as it is. "Access to diverse books is not just important for children of color, of course. For all children, a crucial part of education is learning about differences, learning to value other cultures, histories, and experiences, and understanding the breadth of experiences that comprise both our own society in the U.S. and the wider world. Education can also help children to see truths about society. A book collection that misrepresents the world children see around them presents a skewed view of the world and does children a disservice. For children being raised in a majority minority nation and in an increasingly globalized world, navigating diversity will be an essential life skill." (From the Shelf 14)

Pen.org. (2016, August 31). Missing From the Shelf: Book Challenges and Lack of Diversity in Children's Literature. Retrieved from: https://pen.org/sites/default/files/PEN_childrens_lit_report_FINAL_online.pdf

Week 13 Prompt

I work as an assistant to the librarian in an elementary school, and we sometimes discuss the merit of graphic novels, but as it relates to children. Just today, I had a student bring back a graphic novel he had just checked out, saying he read it quite quickly. I said that maybe he could try a novel because it would last longer and he could really get into a story. He said, "I would never do that. It is too boring." I have this conversation often- some kids don't want to read anything that doesn't have graphics, no matter how much I talk up certain novels. Will these be the future adult graphic novel/YA literature-reading adults?
Until I worked in an elementary school (K-5) library, I did not read YA or graphic novels, but I am glad I do now. I like to read books that are geared more toward "adults," but I also like having a quicker read, or something that had a different pace, or relationships I would not find in other kinds of books. I also like being able to recommend books I have actually read to the students. I recently read the YA book Life as We Knew It and I thought the most powerful relationship was between the mother and the teenage daughter, told from the daughter's perspective. I read the graphic novel Real Friends recently as well, and it was a touching story about how hard it can be to make friends in middle school. This is relatable for a current middle schooler, as well as for me, who was in middle school over 20 years ago- I remember those days and feelings. For someone who thought they'd never give YA a chance, I now feel all the feelings when I read some of these stories! Just because they are geared toward young people, doesn't mean they cannot be thought-provoking- that is discounting the feelings of the young. People read books for different reasons, sometimes personal reasons, and it is not up to anyone to decide whether or not they should.
The Bookover article What's New About New Adult? brought up a point with which I agreed- authors like Sarah Dessen and Lauren Myracle are known for YA titles, but are now getting into the New Adult genre. Bookover states that fans of theirs are growing up, being nudged into adulthood by these authors' NA works. (What's New 42) As these older young adults become older adults, why should they be expected to abandon a genre they know they like?
Caitlin Flanagan's encapsulates her feelings about reading YA in her article What Girls Want when she talks about reading Twilight as an adult, "Reading the book, I sometimes experienced what I imagine long-married men must feel when they get an unexpected glimpse at pornography: slingshot back to a world of sensation that, through sheer force of will and dutiful acceptance of life’s fortunes, I thought I had subdued." (What Girls Want) YA can be satisfying for adults for reasons that are totally different from young adults that enjoy YA. Because of this, it is important that librarians do not discount adult readers of the genre. Librarians should keep adult readers of YA and NA in mind, as it is an upcoming trend. NA books discuss many subjects of which older adults can also relate such as "...transitioning to that next stage of life...depression, suicide, drug abuse, identity, sexuality, bullying, incest, fear of failure, independence, and mental illness." (Betwixt and Between 42)
Based on current trends, graphic novels, YA, and NA are genres that are here to stay that appeal to all age levels. Librarians should take note of this when building the collection.

Brookeover, S. (2014). What’s New About New Adult? Horn Book Magazine, 90(1), 41-45. 

Cataldi, Erin. (2015). Betwixt and Between: New Adult Fiction. The Library Journal. Retrieved from http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2015/08/collection-development/betwixt-and-between-new-adult-fiction-collection-development-september-1-2015/

Flanagan, C. (2008). What girls want: A series of vampire novels illuminates the complexities of female adolescent desire. The Atlantic, 108-120. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/12/what-girls-want/307161/

Young Adult Annotation

Synopsis of Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer: 

Miranda is a high school sophomore whose home life has gone through a lot of changes recently; her parents got divorced, her dad is expecting a baby with his new wife, her mom seems listless, her brother, Jon, is focused on being a sports star, and her brother, Matt, is away at college. This book is told from the POV of Miranda writing in her diary.

Although many changes have occurred in Miranda's life, the world has been going along as normal- until a meteor hits the moon, moving it closer to Earth. This is a catastrophic event that causes weather changes and disasters all over the world. 

Miranda is forced to grow up quickly; food becomes sparse, and one by one, important buildings such as schools, hospitals, and the post office begin closing. Once the weather makes it hard to venture out of the house, Miranda and her family are shut off from the outside world, leaving them mostly alone to face hunger, illness, and death. The friends she once held so close begin to fall away when their families desperately search for a safe place to live or when they succumb to the devastation. This is a story about survival of an unimaginable event.

Elements of Young Adult Fiction (science fiction):

Story Line: According to Saricks, science fiction authors, including YA, take an idea and an explore it in a setting outside of our own world or out of everyday contexts. A meteor hitting the moon and devastating our planet is something we do not think about outside of a random, fleeting thought, so it is definitely out of an everyday context. This story is appealing to young people because of the family and friendships dynamic. 

Frame/Setting: This book is visual for the reader in the sense that it paints a picture of the devastation that Miranda and her family endure; vicious snow storms, volcanic eruptions, and what the moon looks like having been pushed closer to Earth. As I read the book, I wasn't sure if the science behind these claims were correct, but I feel if the book had been overly technical it would not be as appealing to young readers (or some older reader, too!). 

Style/Language: This story is written as excerpts from Miranda's diary. The language is easy to follow and it is fraught with worry. There is devastation going on around her, but she still writes about how her personal relationships with friends and family are affecting her life. 

Characterization: The writing of this book sets relatable people in an extraordinary circumstance. Miranda and her family could easily be your next door neighbors. As the book goes on and the reader finds out more about how the moon is wreaking havoc on the Earth, more is learned about Miranda's family dynamic. I am sure more of this is explored in the other books in this series (there are 4).

Pacing: This was a fast-paced story; the meteor hits and it's almost like the reader is down the rabbit hole of tragedies unfolding. As the book goes on, it is amazing that the family is still alive, and you wonder how much more they can endure.

Read-Alikes: 

Each of the following books are about young people surviving a cataclysmic event, with no supernatural elements:

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian

The Living by Matt de la Pena

(Life as We Knew It is the first of 4 books in the series. Book Two is The Dead and the Gone, Book Three is This World We Live In, and Book 4 is The Shade of the Moon)

Non-fiction Annotation (biography)

Synopsis of Bossypants by Tina Fey

Tina Fey uses humor to write this endearing work about her life. Below the surface of the fame is woman who lived through tragedy, awkward teenage years, and years of hard work to get to where she is today. She does this with comedy and also earnestness
Tina grew up in a middle class family in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania that included her parents and her older brother. She knew she was interested in comedy from a young age. She was introduced to it by her father, who loved sitcoms and comedies from the 50's and 60's and shared this love with Tina and her older brother. By her account, she had a loving family and a great childhood, although part of her childhood was marred by tragedy. When she was 5 years old, a stranger with a knife slashed her face while she played outside her home. Tina does not disclose much information about this event, only to say that it happened and it greatly affected her and her parents.
Going through high school and college, Tina felt that she had awkward experiences with dating and trying to fit in with the crowd. She recounts dating stories that seem terrible, but she relays them in a way that you laugh with her and not at her.
She graduated from college with a degree in Drama. She moved to Chicago and her first job out of college was working for her local YMCA where she met colorful people. She landed a spot with an improv group called Second City, and this led to a job writing for Saturday Night Live. While writing for the show she became a featured player and host of Weekend Update within SNL. From this, she moved on to writing successful TV shows such as 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as well as movies like Baby Mama. 
While Tina was working for SNL, she met her husband, Jeff Richmond, with whom she has two children. Fey talks candidly about struggling with their decision to have a second child. Besides the discussion of her professional life, she discusses raising two daughters and her hopes for the people they will hopefully become.

Elements of Nonfiction

Appeal: This book would appeal to those that like comedy or gentle reads. Fey's book deals with family relationships, celebrity, women, and identity. Her writing is candid. Knowing this appeal helps to advise potential readers to highlights of the book so they can decide whether or not they want to read it.

Pacing: The book moves quickly through Tina's life but in a way that reader feels as though they are getting a realistic glimpse into her life. Those that are interested in Fey's career might find that the book is an easier read in comparison with those who read it that are not familiar with her work. I agree with Neal Wyatt when she states that a strong narrative hooks the reader and helps them navigate through their reading experience.

Characterization: In this autobiography, of course, Tina is the main focus. Many readers of nonfiction will find that they like reading about real people- as Neal Wyatt says, a sense of reality adds fascination to nonfiction. Since Fey is so candid about her life and experiences, the reader feels as though they know her throughout all the stages of her life. Though she is the main focus of the book, there are secondary people that enrich the story of her life, such as her parents and husband- even those that are part of the not-so-fond memories from childhood and college.

Story Line: Bossypants has a strong narrative. Due to this, Neal Wyatt believes this book would do well for a book club. This book is not fact-based nonfiction and more imaginative, so the book may seem easier to readers. Fey's intent is not to provide facts, but to entertain the reader. This book would be advisable for those who are not looking for something dense or fact-ridden.


Read-alikes:
I Know I Am, but What Are You? by Samantha Bee
Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
Yes, Please! by Amy Poehler

“1.” The Readers' Advisory Guide to Nonfiction, by Neal Wyatt, American Library Association, 2007.

Week 12 Prompt

Author: Mary Roach

Title: Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers

Publication Date: 2003

Number of Pages: 304

Geographic Setting: Roach covers practices in Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, as well as current practices regarding the different uses of cadavers in the United States.

Time Period: Mary Roach researches what happens to cadavers donated to science in the present (present being 2003 when the book was published) and the past going back 2,000 years.

Subject Headings: Human experimentation in medicine. Dead. Human dissection.

Type: Science

Series Notes: This is a stand-alone book.

Book Summary: The subject of human cadavers and archaic medical practices is not usually thought of as humorous, but Mary Roach combines facts and humor in Stiff.
Medicine has made great strides since the days of surgeons performing operations with no anesthesia and low mortality rates.  Presently, those who donate their bodies to science are well-respected by the medical students that hone their surgical skills on cadavers. Not only do cadavers help in the medical field, but in others such as the automotive industry- cadavers were once used as human crash test dummies.
Roach believes that cadavers deserve the utmost respective for advancing humankind's endeavors.
This book is appealing because one does not need to have a vast understanding of science to appreciate it. Roach explains it in a way that is easy to understand. Not only easy to understand, but she uses humorous footnotes to keep the tone informative, yet light.
There is no vulgar language or sex, the only violence would be seen in the archaic medical practices that were used in the past.

Reading Elements: Learning/experiencing: Roach brings to light a subject that is not often discussed in the media. There is a rich history of cadavers that had advanced over time. People may not know the areas that cadavers have helped advance.
Writing style: Informative and humorous
Pacing: Roach begins by discussing the mood and attitude of those working with cadavers in present time. She then flows back into history and propels the reader forward in time with stories and facts.
Tone/mood: The text is informative and the subject matter could be viewed as macabre, but Roach peppers this with humor.

1-3 Annotation: Human cadavers have powered medical advances for centuries. Human bodies have endured post-mortem surgeries, car crashes, and dissection with a respect and gratitude from the living that benefits from what the cadavers teach us.

Similar Works: Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales by William Bass
The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead by Heather Pringle
Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab by Christine Montross

Name of Annotator: Kelly Kindle

Week 11 Prompt

Ebooks and audiobooks are a part of our landscape, and this has appeal for some readers, while it repels others. With ebooks, there is an ease for readers, especially voracious readers or those who are traveling, as you can store many books in one device. This is also true for audiobooks, where many books can be stored on a phone within apps such as Audible/OverDrive.
Inevitably, there will be resistance to change and those who prefer the feeling of a book in their hands. While this is true, I do not think that reading a book on a device affects knowledge of the genre, per se, but it may change someone's reading habits. Instead of perusing through a bookstore and spending time choosing a seemingly perfect title for yourself, a device will tell you what to read next based on your previous choice. While the choice is not taken away from you, of course, it can replace discussion with a friend about what they recommend.
But, it cannot be denied that ebooks are alluring in several ways. Besides excellent storage in ebooks, readers are able to change the font and color of the text. While I do not think it changes the tone of the book (that comes through in the way it is written, not on the device on which you read it), I do believe it changes the pace. As Kate Dunneback stated in her article, E-books and Readers' Advisory, ebooks often times do not show page numbers, so the reader does not know how many pages are left to read. It is not the same as having a physical book in your hands;  knowing you only have 50 pages left so you stay up late to read it because you *have* to know how it ends! When I read on my device, I have to make sure the lighting is perfect, especially when reading in bed so I do not disturb my husband. On the flip side of that, it is nice to have that option so I do not have to have a lamp on to see, illuminating the whole room. Also, perhaps because I am not terribly technologically savvy, I sometimes have a hard time keeping my place or going back to a page to reread a section. I sometimes will press something on the screen by mistake and end up getting a dictionary definition for the word "the"- these instances are what I find to be aggravating about reading on a device. One part of the ebook experience that I like on my Kindle is seeing the parts of the book that have been highlighted the most by other readers. It gives the book a sense of community for me that I do not have when reading print material.
Since I have two small children and I tend to fall asleep the second I sit down in the evening, I have done most of my reading with audiobooks; I listen in my car, when I am doing housework, or when I go for a walk. I am in full agreement with what Kaite Mediatore said in her article Reading With Your Ears- "Imagine sitting in rush hour traffic and not getting frustrated. Or walking an extra mile and not realizing it. Or folding the laundry and not feeling bored." This is the power of audiobooks. It is an efficient and easy way for me to hear books I want to read. I use the Audible app, which I find to be easy to use and I have never had a problem with it not keeping track of where I am in the story. I can pick right up where I left off (this is also true with a basic bookmark in print material!). I have listened to several lengthy books and trilogies, such as Needful Things and The Bill Hodges Trilogy, both by Stephen King. I am a huge fan of King, so this is a great way for me to stay as current with him as possible. Without listening to the audiobooks while on-the-go, it would have taken me months to get through these stories. King narrated Needful Things, which I thought was excellent. Will Patton has narrated several of Kings' books, and he is excellent; his voice is soothing and his voices and acting are perfect.
There are positive characteristics of ebooks and audiobooks, but also drawbacks. Most of this comes down to the preference of the reader. While the preference of the reader is paramount, it is also important for librarians to be able to recommend these mediums based on the needs of the patron, as well as have a basic understanding of the electronic formats on which they are used. 

Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-9. 

Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers' Advisory and Audio Books. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-23. 

Historical Fiction Annotation

Synopsis of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The story of the Nightingale begins in the year 1995 with an old woman ruminating about her past but quickly goes back in time to France at the beginning of World War II. It follows the lives of Vianne, her husband Antoine, their daughter Sophie, and Vianne's seemingly ne-er do well sister, Isabelle. Vianne and Isabelle have a strained relationship due to events that transpired after their mother died when they were young, and they have lived apart since Vianne was a teenager. As World War II unfolds around the world, Isabelle is expelled from a school for girls and Antoine is sent to fight for France. Isabelle and Vianne are reunited and they still feel the tension after years of unresolved conflict, and sour feelings about their father who did not seem to care for them after their mother died. Soon after they are reunited, the Nazis occupy their small French town and the women's lives spiral down a path of war and survival. Amid the brutality of the War, the women are pushed to their limits and beyond, which allows them to see each other in a different light. The sisters are not content to lay idly by while others suffer at the hand of the Nazis, so they help to save those that would otherwise be persecuted. They are always walking the line between their heroics and caution. Isabelle the Nightingale helps people cross from France into Spain in the cover of darkness. Vianne fights her own battles at home trying to survive for her child and a town that needs her. This is a story of War, compassion, heartache, brutality, and the enduring bond of two sisters that lasts throughout decades. 

Elements of Historical Fiction

Setting: The novel takes place mostly in France in the duration of World War II. It gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for the people who lived there during that time. The country and the people are described, as well as the route the Nightingale took from France to Spain in her effort to help people escape. 

Tone/Mood: While this book has aspects of romance and suspense, the tone is somber due to the subject nature. It is somber, and the reader is immersed in a time of great distress, but hopeful for the characters' future.

Storyline: The characters are living during World War II. The novel focuses on the relationships between the sisters, their love interests, and other family ties, but the War itself is almost as equally in the forefront.

Characterization: Isabelle and Vianne are not real people who lived during the time, but they accurately portrayed as women living in the 1940's during war and oppression. It is known that they speak French with each other, but due to the book being written in English, that is the language that is used for the reader. 

Pacing: The story is told from the first occupation of France through the end of the War. This is several years' time. The book is long, 440 pages, which gives the author time to delve into the characters' lives and the events of the War. 

Read-alikes

The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Book Club

I work in an elementary school library where I am the assistant to the librarian. I belong to a book club that is informal and mostly made up of teachers and other educators. We usually meet every 2-3 months for the discussion and the meeting is held in the library where I work. There are a few members of the book club that attend every meeting, but it is usually a different mix of people; some people cannot make it or choose to not participate, while others participate every few months- whatever schedules allow. We always meet at lunchtime. While there is no one in charge of the group, per se, someone volunteers at the previous meeting to be in charge of taking a poll for what we have for lunch at the next meeting. An email goes out to all the members of the club with a few options for lunch that are close to the school. Majority wins, we give the volunteer our order, the school pays for the lunch order, but we reimburse them by paying for our own orders on the day of the meeting. The atmosphere of the book club is relaxed and inviting. Before the meeting starts, there is a lot of chatter, people catching up with each other, and getting their food together. 

There is not a leader of the group. Once everyone is situated, the conversation usually begins with someone saying, "So, what did everyone think?" We begin by taking turns giving our basic opinions of the book; "I liked it" or "is was boring" or "I liked this character." All, some more than others, give their opinions without judgment. At our most recent meeting, we discussed a thriller where the protagonist had a mysterious past, the book had several disturbing scenes and a twist ending. We had a fulfilling discussion about about the main character's past and how that molded her present. This aspect of my book club is reminiscent of a quote from Bill Goldstein's article Reads Well With Others, "Book club discussions tend to focus on how the plot or characters relate to our own lives or perspectives" ("Reads" 32) While I believe that all of the members of the group participate during the discussion, I would not say the participation is equal. I think some members are more comfortable speaking in a group than others. I tend to be more open with my opinions in a book club setting and I enjoy engaging with others to see if their thoughts align with mine, or get fresh opinions on what we have read. 

A few meetings ago, the members of the book club compiled a list of books that we could potentially read. Everyone gave their opinions and a list was made with the title of each book and a synopsis. The person who had been in charge of lunch for that meeting made an online poll where the members voted on which books sounded the most interesting to read. The top three selections were decided to be the books for our next three meetings. Several different genres of books were in the running, but ultimately, thrillers won the top 3 spots. After the last meeting, a few of us voiced that maybe we could give thrillers a break and focus on something lighter. We will vote again at the next meeting. Knowing far in advance is helpful, as many of us get copies from the library and we need to hold popular titles. A few aspects of my book club are in agreement with the I Love Libraries website's article "Structuring a Meeting;" we choose 2-3 titles at a time and so far, we have not chose any megahit "favorites." According to the article, we should mix up genres to keep things interesting- a point of which I agree. ("Structuring" 2015) 

Goldstein, B. (2005). Reads Well with Others. Publishers Weekly, 252(21), 30-34.

“Structuring your meeting.” I Love Libraries, 2015, www.ilovelibraries.org/booklovers/bookclub/structure-meeting.

Special Topics Paper

I work in an elementary school library. We recently finished reading a series of award-nominated books to second and third-graders; The Show-Me Readers Award nominees (for us in the Show-Me state- Missouri). The award is geared toward grades 1-3 and the purpose is to promote literature, literacy, and reading in Missouri, and also to recognize favorite authors and illustrators. There are certain criteria that nominees have to meet, such as they must be published in the United States, be an easy read-aloud with literary value, and appeal to young children. We read the books to the students and have them vote on their favorite. They quite enjoy the process.

The Special Topics paper coincided with the end of the the voting in our library for the Show-Me award. This led me to think about awards that are bestowed in the United States that are considered prestigious. The research into this topic led me to how people feel about awards; mainly the thought of "What are they good for?" On a positive note, I read that awards are good for the author's book sales, and it helps them with future publication. On the flip side, some feel that awards cannot please everyone; with every award that is bestowed, people will feel that certain authors were slighted, and that other "big name" authors monopolize the award scene.

There are quite a few book awards given in the United States. Every search I did on awards seemed to pull up another one of which I had not previously discovered. It would be quite an undertaking to discuss them all. I chose to write about two adult fiction-centered awards and one for children- The Man Booker Award, The Nobel Prize for Literature, and the John Newbery Medal. Each award has its own distinguishing characteristics and the award-winners, and often, the nominees, enjoy increased book sales and accolades.

Week 7 Prompt

I read The Smoking Gun (TSG) article about James Frey titled "A Million Little Lies." I had heard about the author and that the book was considered to be fictitious, but I did not know any details. I have not read this book. I found the article to be fascinating; really, I was hanging on every word. I find fake memoirs intriguing.
Ultimately, I had conflicting feelings about the author and this work. The book was chosen as part of Oprah's Book Club and it became somewhat of a phenomenon, including Oprah's employees at Harpo Studios. They are quoted in the article as saying, "...we were staying up late at night reading it, we'd come in the next morning saying, 'What page are you on?'" In emotional filmed testimonials, employees of Winfrey's Harpo Productions lauded the book as revelatory, with some choking back tears." This book seems like it is brimming with powerful emotions and inspirations. 
TSG conducted a six-week investigation on Frey's book, delving into his claims and uncovering hard facts about his true life. They found that police reports, court records, interviews with law enforcement personnel, and other sources have put the lie to many key sections of Frey's book. According to the article, "the 36-year-old author, these documents and interviews show, wholly fabricated or wildly embellished details of his purported criminal career, jail terms, and status as an outlaw."
When I first started reading the article, I felt like it was unfair of Frey to pose as someone who had fought his way out of the depths of the hell of addiction to recovery and becoming a bestselling author. One of the more loathsome lies that was uncovered by TSG was regarding a car accident that killed two girls that attended Frey's high school. Frey wrote that he was close with one of the girls who died in the accident, and that due to circumstances leading up to the accident, the whole town turned against him and blamed him for the tragedy. What TSG uncovered in their research was that, according to the girl's parents, Frey had no relationship with their daughter, and the police stated he had no connection to the victims- he was never even interviewed by the police. Frey seemingly used this event to push his agenda, which is inexcusable. 
As of January 2006, A Million Little Pieces "had sold more than 3.5 million copies and, thanks to Winfrey, sat atop The New York Times nonfiction paperback best seller list for 15 weeks. Next to the latest Harry Potter title, Nielsen BookScan reported that Frey's book sold more copies in the U.S. in 2005--1.77 million--than any other title, with the majority of that total coming after Winfrey's selection." This book had tremendous reach and popularity. 
So, on the other hand, if Frey's so-called recovery and his sharing of the horrors of his life has prompted people to seek help for their addictions, can it really be all bad even if the stories are embellished or downright false? I don't think so. But, I also do not think it should be labeled a memoir. I believe that dims the light of actual memoirs that are actually true that deal with the same issues. 

Horror Annotation

Synopsis of Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines horror as "painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay." Indeed, this feeling is often evoked in the reader who is traveling the twisted tale of Olde-Heuvelt's work Hex. 
On the outside, Black Springs, New York seems like any other quaint American town filled with beautiful homes, hardworking people, and playful teenagers. But Black Springs is harboring a centuries old secret- the town is held hostage by the Black Rock Witch; a woman named Katherine who has been dead for centuries. She walks the town and enters homes at will. Despite the fact that her eyes and lips are sewn shut, the townspeople live in fear of the power she possesses, and they know they can never let the rest of the world know that she exists. As previous generations have learned the hard way, one word from Katherine's mouth can cause total chaos to those in her path. Once you enter Black Springs, you are a resident for life. This is a system that has worked for the town for years, but a group of teenagers decides that they have had enough; they want more freedom so they want to expose their town and Katherine to the rest of the world. This decision leads them to face unspeakable horror and threatens life in Black Springs as they know it. 

Elements of Horror

• Olde-Heuvelt explores malevolent deeds or characters in this book. Not only the terror that Katherine has unleashed on the town, but the actions of the townspeople in charge that will stop at nothing to keep the witch a secret from the outside world. 
• Feelings of shock, fear, and dread are found throughout the book. The reader learns what series of events transpired centuries ago that turned Katherine into the monster she is today. Her eyes and mouth were not always sewn shut, and she was able to unleash horror in the town with a single word. There is also an element of mystery there (how were they able to catch her and contain her long enough to sew her up) and in her mere existence- why can't Katherine rest? What will she do next?
• Shocking plot twists and story reveals are peppered throughout the book. If Katherine's existence is revealed throughout the world, how can the townspeople expect their lives to change, but how will the world change if she is able to reign?
• The reader is immersed in horror from the very beginning of the book. There is no build-up to it like one might find in other horror books or other genres. From the beginning, Katherine in invading homes without being invited, roaming around town threatening exposure, and she has been known to drive men to suicide with one word. All of this is discovered within the first hundred or so pages.

Read-Alikes

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike
Dead Spots by Rhiannon Frater
Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay
Experimental Film by Gemma Files

Week 6 Prompt

February is the perfect time of year to promote the romance genre at the library. I work at an elementary school library and we set up a decorated table with Valentine's Day-themed books. The students enjoy perusing the table and they check out books they would not normally pick up and choose. 

There are several avenues one could take to promote romance in a public library. I think the best part of the romance genre is that you can let go while you read; not take yourself too seriously and fall into the book. The fun aspect that I see in the romance genre could be played up with programming and displays.

A fun program that could attract patrons would be "Book Speed Dating;" several tables are set up with 5 or 6 romance novels at each table, with other novels off to the side for possible replenishing. At the beginning of the program, the patron chooses a table and begins taking some time looking through the novels on the table. This gives them some time to get a first impression of the book; the cover, the font size, any illustrations- not just choosing a book by its cover! Once they get past the first impression, they can start reading the first chapter for a few minutes. If they find a book that they think they might enjoy reading in its entirety, they can take it to the next table with them where they will start the speed dating process over again. The area for the program could be decorated with hearts or a heart chain which is easy to make. This is a fun, lowkey way to promote romance in a program. 

An eye-catching display that could be pitched to your boss would be a "blind date" with a book; wrap the book in paper, listing on the front a few key points of the book. The patron would decide based on a little information, without knowing the title or the author, whether or not they wanted to check it out. Along with this, adding incorporated advisory to the mix, would be a read/watch-alike display; If you like Jane Austen's Emma, you may enjoy a comedic take shown in the movie Clueless. If you liked Every Day by David Levithan, you might enjoy the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love. These connections could be made with books and movies that are currently part of the library collection. 

Week 5 Prompt

Ebook only books, which are increasingly popular (especially in the romance genre) see little to no reviews in professional publications unless they have a big name author, and then still it's usually only RT Reviews (formally Romantic Times) or other genre heavy publications. How does this affect collection development?

Having little to no Ebook reviews in professional publications can negatively affect collection development. Also, reviews from non-professional publications could be taken into account, too. Many books have positive and negative reviews that would be useful when making decisions. Collection development should fulfill the needs of the community and be patron-driven. There are so many books out there from which to choose, it would be beneficial for any part of the collection to be built on reviews. The person in charge of collection development should not have to make choices blindly. Books that do not come from big name authors deserve a chance to become part of a library's circulation, and many patrons use materials solely in Ebook format. 

I have posted two more documents in the week five files. One is two reviews of an ebook only romantic suspense novel, one from a blog and one from amazon. Look over the reviews - do you feel they are both reliable? How likely would you be to buy this book for your library?

Both of the reviews are reliable, and both of them are positive in their own way. The Amazon reviewer, Deborah, seemed to be much more enamored with the book- it made her cry and she described it as "beautiful" and "sweet." 
The blog reviewer described it as "light & cozy," but admitted that she read it because it was short, and free for the Kindle. Ultimately, she seemed to be ambivalent about the plot; it was too Christmassy, the plot was odd, and the story was just OK. 
Although it seems to have positive reviews, I do not think I would purchase this for my library. It seems to apply to a specialized niche that would not appeal to a majority of patrons. Also, the title is free on Amazon, so most patrons that would want it could get it there. 

The other document contains some reviews of Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt, an incredibly popular memoir. These reviews are all from professional publications, feel free to find more on your own I just nabbed a few from the Book Review Digest database for you. How do these reviews make you feel about the possibility of adding Angela's Ashes to your collection?

The reviews of Angela's Ashes would persuade me to add the work to my library collection. Personally, I have not read this book, but the reviews had me checking my local library to see if it was available for checkout. It had me thinking about Frank's strength of spirit, and how he overcame the childhood he endured. The story is rich in heartache, triumph, and history, which could appeal to a vast amount of patrons. 

Do you think it's fair that one type of book is reviewed to death and other types of books get little to no coverage? How does this affect a library's collection?  And how do you feel about review sources that won't print negative content? Do you think that's appropriate? If you buy for your library, how often do you use reviews to make your decisions? If not, how do you feel about reviews for personal reading, and what are some of your favorite review sources?

I do not think it is fair that certain books are widely reviewed while others are not. I believe that in this lies the importance of non-professional book reviews such as Kirkus or GoodReads. This affects the library's collection because worthwhile books are overlooked for those that are highly reviewed- though those books are potentially worth high praise, as well. I think review sources that will not print negative content are not giving the reader a wide spectrum of opinions. Just because a review is bad, does not mean it is not legitimate. Some books that are widely popular are not thoroughly enjoyed by all who read it (example: when I read "Gone Girl"!). 
Usually when I read a new book, I go on the advice of my friends because we typically enjoy the same kinds of books across genres. When I was looking for a new horror book to read, I Googled "Top Horror Books of the Year" and went through a few lists, reading descriptions on different sites until I found one that sounded interesting (it is!). When I use review sources, I trust GoodReads and NoveList. 

Kirkus Style Review - "11/22/63" by Stephen King

An English teacher finds a portal that allows him to travel back to 1963.

Jake Epping is an English teacher going through a difficult time in his life. He is recently divorced and teaching a night class to those looking to obtain their GED.  His friend, Al, confides in Jake that he had discovered a portal that will take him back to a specific time in 1958, and years could pass there with only minutes passing in the present. Jake decides that the world would be a better place had JFK not been assassinated, so he decides to spend the years leading up to 11/22/63 stalking Lee Harvey Oswald and planning to save the President. What Jake discovers is that his actions in the past, while noble, have major unforeseen consequences personally and historically. He falls in love with a woman from the past, and his cause results in steering her life in a dangerous direction. Ultimately, Jake's once-simple plan leads to him making decisions that could forever affect humanity.
This story has many twists & turns and upon reflection, many levels. King heavily researched the time period, which is evident in the writing. He concludes that Oswald was the lone gunman, despite numerous other (conspiracy) theories. At times the novel is verbose, but excellent in its explanation.


Anyone who appreciates a beautifully written tale woven with magic, history, heartbreak, and the effects of time will enjoy this novel.

Publication Date: November 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781451627282
Page count: 849

Secret Shopper

For my secret shopper assignment, I visited my local library. I recently moved and have not had the opportunity to visit this library often, so I did not think the librarians or staff would recognize me. I work in an elementary school library and I decided to use a question a student had asked me as the question I asked the librarian; "I am looking for a book like Twilight- what can you recommend that is paranormal, romantic, but has no sex scenes?"
The librarians that helped me were very thorough with their online searches and they helped me find two books that seemed to fit my criteria. Overall, I found them to be quite helpful and it was a good experience. I would definitely go there for advising in the future, if needed.

Prompt Response - Week 3

1. I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita 
Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!

Using the NoveList site and searching by series, I found out that the 4th book of the 
series is called “Lunatic Cafe.” By viewing the series list, I also learned that as of June 
2016, there are 25 books in the Anita Blake series.

2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara
Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the 
way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.

The writing style of Prodigal Summer is described as “descriptive, lush, and lyrical.”
 If you liked the style of this book but are looking for something a bit faster paced, I 
would suggest The History of Bees by Maja Lunde. It has the same kind of fascinating 
ecological message as Prodigal Summer, but Lunde’s book portrays different 
characters from across the world and through different eras in time!

3. I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could 

you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the 
author describes it so much it feels like I was there!

I searched NoveList with the keywords “Japan history.” I then updated the results 
to show only adult fiction, and I searched by popularity, not relevance. The novel 
about historical Japan that readers seem to like the most is Memoirs of a Geisha.
 It is described as, “one of Japan's most celebrated geishas describes how, in 
1929, as a little girl, she is sold into slavery; her efforts to learn the arts of the geisha; 
the impact of World War II; and her struggle to reinvent herself to win the man she
 loves.” This novel is quite popular and it was made into a movie.

4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder 
and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like 
John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any 
suggestions?

If you liked the storyline and pace of Well-Schooled in Murder, I would recommend 
reading the works of P.D. James. Her work is fast-paced, realistic, and modern 
without the creepy factor of John Sandford. Start with James’ book Cover Her Face;
 it is the first book in the Adam Dalgliesh series- if you love that book, you can look 
forward to an entire series to enjoy!

5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking 
Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?

If he enjoys reading about the way society could potentially deal with a devastating 
uprising of zombies, I would recommend Blackout  by Mira Grant. Her writing is post-
apocalyptic, but manages to have a twinge of humor. Like World War Z, this novel
is filled with horror and a look into what mankind if capable of, or not, when the 
zombies attack. If your husband enjoys reading a series, I would suggest The Night 
of the Living Dead graphic novels.                    

                               

6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you 
recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.

On the NoveList site, I searched Quick Links, which has a section devoted to books
that are being turned into movies, including books that are being turned into movies 
this year.  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle has been made into a movie, as 
has Every Day by David Levithan. Personally, I enjoyed the most recent literary 
book-turned-movie Beowulf.

7. I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and 
fast paced.

I checked with the readers on GoodReads, and if you are looking for something 
clean, fast-paced, and thrilling, I would recommend the author Mary Higgins Clark; 
her work is compelling, well-received, and known to be free of cursing and sex. I would 
recommend I’ve Got You Under My Skin, the first book in the Under Suspicion series.