Queens Teen Book Slam

Best Slam EVER!

2011-09-16T09:50:00.008-04:00

As you can see from the long list of fabulous Book Slammers, this was the most successful summer yet!

We had 46 teens play this summer and everyone did a wonderful job!

Like last summer, because the final scores were so close, I decided to award the "special" prize to everyone who scored above 90. Of course, the rest of the players will also receive a terrific prize.

Here are the final results:

1st Place: 100 Points
Aiman, Ayesha, Bibi, Carolina, Chitra, Elizabeth, Lily, Magda, Magi, Miaoru, Sara, Tasfia

2nd Place: 99 Points
Chimaera, Danny, Hailey, Jennifer M., Marlene, Nirvana

3rd Place: 98 Points
Jenine, Jenny D., Saara, Uzbah

4th Place: 97 Points
Araceli, Matthew

5th Place: 96 Points
Abeda

6th Place: 94 Points
Sharmin

7th Place: 92 Points
Tahmina

All of Our Other Amazing Book Slammers
Nasreen, Maliha, Salma, Israt, Amena, Sanya, Ivanka, Maria, Rosa, Linda, Efaz, Gabby, Fathema, Sonia, Jody, Rita, Sasha, Sarah, Barnabas

The Books: How I Live Now

2011-07-22T15:11:00.002-04:00

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

There seems to be a theme to some of this summer's books--ones I heard about for years before I read. Huh.

How I Live Now fits that description, having received the Michael L. Printz Award for literary excellence in young adult literature in 2005. I finally picked it up this year specifically for the Book Slam and read it in one sitting on a long subway ride. There is something about the tone and feel of it that reminded me of The Hunger Games as well as historical novel I'd read (and loved) years ago about a couple who both experience the emotional devastation of war.

Again, a gutsy book for a teen audience.

http://www.megrosoff.co.uk/

The Books: The Book Thief

2011-07-22T15:05:00.002-04:00

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is yet another book that got tons of buzz and recommendations that I ignored until I happened to be in a spendy mood in Target and picked it up.

I am embarrassed to admit that I kept confusing this in my head with The Thief Lord (further proof that a) I am getting old and b) I read too much--or perhaps not enough).

I was struck by how powerful and how brave a book this is. I also always appreciate Death as a character!

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

The Books: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

2011-07-22T15:01:00.002-04:00

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

I read 13 Little Blue Envelopes when it came out in 2006 and even used it for a teen book program at my old job. So when I saw that its sequel The Last Little Blue Envelope finally came out in April of this year, I decided to add the first book to the Slam.

Five years later, I remembered NOTHING about the first book so it was like getting to read it for the first time. Sheesh, I'm just getting old!

http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/index1.html

The Books: Tears of a Tiger

2011-07-22T14:55:00.003-04:00

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper

The first book in Draper's powerful Hazelwood Trilogy, followed by Forged by Fire and Darkness Before Dawn, I was inspired to use Tears of a Tiger for the Book Slam when a young man I was working with on another project gave it an enthusiastic recommendation.

Tears of a Tiger joins the short list of books that made me cry, while reminding me how it important it is for we adults to really listen to what you teens are trying to tell us.

http://sharondraper.com/

The Books: The Wee Free Men

2011-07-22T14:40:00.003-04:00

The Wee Free Men by Sir Terry Pratchett

The first book in the Tiffany Aching series (and to my mind, the funniest), followed by A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith and I Shall Wear Midnight.

Connected to Pratchett's brilliant Discworld series, but completely able to stand on their own, the books in the series tell the story of young Tiffany Aching, trainee witch.

I remember The Wee Free Men getting a lot of buzz when it first came out, but it was years before I read it. It was both worth the wait and unfortunate I waited so long!

This book contains two of my favorite quotes ever, including the best description of myself I have ever read. Can you guess what I'm talking about?

http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/

Book Slam 2011

2011-05-26T15:27:00.001-04:00

The books are chosen and the blog is back!

Check back soon for more details and to get your Slam on for 2011!

The End!

2010-09-24T12:49:00.007-04:00

Thank you to all of this year's Book Slammers for a great summer of reading! We had more people play this year than ever before and way more books read and slammed, too! Because the final scores were so close, I decided to award the "special" Top 5 prize to the players with the Top 7 scores (everyone who scored above 90). Here are the final results:

1st Place: 100 Points
Jennifer, Hailey, Aiman, Tasfia, Anika, Fathema

2nd Place: 99 Points
Nirvana, Magda, Saara, Kadie, Miao Ru

3rd Place: 98 Points
Danny

4th Place: 96 Points
Jenine

5th Place: 94 Points
Aisha

6th Place: 93 Points
Chitra

7th Place: 92 Points
Maliha

All of Our Other Amazing Book Slammers
Tenzin, Ahias, Tahmina, Linda, Elizabeth, Lily, Sanya, Salma, Araceli, Rita, Rosa, Maria, Barnabas, Fahmeeda, Sahil, Sharmin, Mashrika

And an EXTRA SPECIAL Shout Out to the Players Who Read & Slammed the "Extra" Books!!

Two Extra Books
Lily, Miao Ru, Nirvana

One Extra Book
Danny, Fathema, Tasfia, Tahmina, Anika

Everyone did a wonderful job this summer! As always, the Book Slam was a highlight of Queens Library Teen Services' summer and I look forward to slamming with you again next year!

EXTENSION of DEADLINE

2010-09-04T13:22:00.000-04:00

Okay, folks. Because the library had an email breakdown and because the library is closed all weekend for the holiday, I have decided to extend the deadline for the Book Slam until 6:00pm, Tuesday, September 7th.

ALL answers must be submitted by then. If you still need questions, you may request them until NOON tomorrow (Sunday, September 5).

When Librarians Become Slackers

2010-07-21T15:23:00.004-04:00

It happens, Book Slammers!

In my case, I just haven't gotten around to reading the three book substitutions listed below. Ahem. Sorry about that.

But here is my plan:

1) I WILL read them eventually (I am not promising dates because that gets me in trouble).

2) If you want to read any or all of these books INSTEAD of one of the original five, let me know at teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org so I can read faster.

3) If you want to read any or all of these books IN ADDITION TO the original five, also let me know. Your answers won't count towards your Book Slam total, BUT there will be extra prizes for reading the extra stuff.

Happy reading! :)

We Interrupt This Blog for an Important Announcement

2010-06-30T16:08:00.005-04:00

Hi, book slammers and wanna-be book slammers,

It is Vikki, your trusty moderator and librarian. I have 2 announcements for you:

1. Not all of the trivia questions are ready yet--but they will be by sometime on Friday, July 2, so we're just a day behind schedule (in my defense, it's been very hectic here in library-land and I DID read or re-read ALL five books in less than a week, so I know you'll cut me some slack!).

2. Some people are having trouble getting copies of some of the books. So I will allow SUBSTITUTIONS of the following titles:

Catching Fire instead of The Hunger Games
The Kingdom on the Waves instead of The Pox Party
Fire instead of Graceling

PLEASE NOTE: Questions will not be available for the substitution books until 7/15/10 (so yours truly can read/re-read these titles, too and write the questions).

I am debating if and how I may want to do "extra credit" for those of you who read the three substitutions in addition to the original five books. I will let you know what I decide by 7/15, as well.

Happy reading!

The Books: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

2010-06-25T13:55:00.002-04:00

The Book: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

The Author: E. Lockhart http://e-lockhart.com/main/ E. Lockhart is the author of several books for teens (including Dramarama, a previous Book Slam Book). The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is an honor book for the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and was a National Book Award finalist.

What It's About: Frankie Landau-Banks, known as Bunny Rabbit to her family, is realizing that she refuses to be underestimated. While her sophomore year is starting out with a new look and a new boyfriend, it's not enough, and when she sees the chance to stir up her boarding school and the old-boy network that still rules it, she dives in head-first.

Why I Picked It: This is another award-winner with lots of buzz when it came out and lots to say about it.

What I Thought of It: I am . . . torn . . . about this book. I reread it for the Book Slam and am as torn now as when I first read it. I love the way it's written, the author's narrative style, the Wodehouse-isms. It's the story and the characters that bug me. I think what gets me most is that Frankie never questions the structure and dynamics that give young, rich, white boys so much power; she doesn't question the fairness of them having it, she just wants to have it, too. And I get stuck too, that it is only when she miraculously blossoms into a swan and thus conforms to the accepted beauty standard that she gains the opportunity to infultrate the boys club at all.

The Question I Leave You With: One of the first things the reader learns about Frankie is that during the summer between her freshman and sophomore years in high school, she turned into "a curvaceous young woman with an offbeat look that boys found distinctly appealing." Could Frankie have pulled off her plans if she HADN'T become "attractive"?

The Books: The Hunger Games

2010-06-25T13:54:00.006-04:00

The Book: The Hunger Games

The Author: Suzanne Collins http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/ Suzanne Collins has written for children's television, and is the author of The Underland Chronicles, a five-part series that includes Gregor the Overlander and explores some of the same themes as The Hunger Games in an urban-fanstasy setting. The Hunger Games is the first of a trilogy, book two, Catching Fire was released in 2009 and the final book, Mockingjay will be published on 8/24/10.

What It's About: In Panem, a nation that was once North America, citizens are kept in their place through a yearly death match between two children from each district. When Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games, she sets in motion

Why I Picked It: It's super-popular, really thought-provoking and with Mockingjay coming out in August, what better time! Plus it and Uglies are similar in many ways and since Uglies was a surprise hit in last year's Book Slam, so I thought it would be a good read for players who hadn't read it before.

What I Thought of It: I will admit that when I first started hearing all the buzz about The Hunger Games on the different librarian mailing lists and forums, I was unimpressed (okay, I thought the same thing when it happened with Harry Potter and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and I was wrong here and then, too. At least you can never accuse me of being a band-wagon-jumper-on-er!). But I did finally read it and I liked it a lot. It's so powerful and exciting, with issues that really make the reader think.

The Question I Leave You With: If you were Katniss, would you have taken Prim's place?

The Books: Graceling

2010-06-25T13:54:00.005-04:00

The Book: Graceling

The Author: Kristin Cashore http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/ Graceling is the debut novel of Kristin Cashore; Fire, her second novel, is what she describes as "Graceling's stand-alone, prequel-ish companion book. She is currently working on a third book, Bitterblue that takes place six years after Graceling and includes some of the characters from the first book.

What It's About: Katsa has a Grace, an extreme talent, that has marked her as different since she killed a man with her bare hands at the age of eight. Now, ten years later, she is both an enforcer for her uncle, the king, and the founder of a secret council that fights for justice in the kingdoms. During one of these missions, she meets Po, another Graced fighter and together they discover a shocking evil in the kingdoms that only they can make right.

Why I Picked It: Because I LOVE THIS BOOK. Seriously, I squee about this book. I went to an all-day Book Convention last year just to get to meet Kristin Cashore and get a signed copy of Fire.

What I Thought of It: (See above.) I love that Katsa is a strong, independent person and that she kicks butt! I love Po and Raffin and Bitterblue, Leck creeps me out even now having read this book at least 3 times. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what Katsa wants to do in the future for girls.

The Question I Leave You With: If you could pick, what Grace would you most want to have?

The Books: The Pox Party

2010-06-25T13:52:00.004-04:00

The Book: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, vol. 1: The Pox Party

The Author: M.T. Anderson http://mt-anderson.com/ M.T. (short for Matthew Tobin) Anderson has written several picture books, middle grades books, and novels for teens and adults, including Feed. Both volumes of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation were named honor books for the Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature. The Pox Party won the 2006 National Book Award.

What It's About: Octavian lives with his mother, an African princess, in Boston as the Revolutionary War approaches. They live with a collection of scientists, philosophers and artists who call themselves the Novanglian College of Lucidity and raise Octavian with a classical education while also studying him like a specimen.

Why I Picked It: I am totally embarrassed to admit that I hadn't read this when it came out in 2006 and everyone was talking and raving about it. So I figured this would be a great time to read it and get to share it with all of you, too.

What I Thought: WOW! This is an amazing book. I love that the author respects his readers' intelligence and at no point tries to make this story anything less than it is because it's for teen readers.

The Question I Leave You With: After reading Volume 1, is Octavian a traitor to the nation?

The Books: Flush by Carl Hiassen

2010-06-25T13:49:00.004-04:00

The Book: Flush

The Author: Carl Hiassen http://www.carlhiaasen.com/index.shtml
Carl Hiassen was born and raised in Florida, and has been a reporter and columnist for The Miami Herald since 1985. He has written many books for adults, as well as three books for tweens: Hoot (which was made into a movie in 2006), Flush, and Scat.

What It's About: Noah's Dad, who can be a little . . . impulsive, gets arrested for sinking a casino boat he is sure is dumping its sewage (everything that gets flushed in its bathrooms--eeww!) into the ocean, which is contaminating local beaches and hurting wildlife. So Noah and his sister Abbey take up the cause with help from an unusual cast of characters. Can they Flush out the real bad guy?

Why I Picked It: Full disclosure, I was looking for a good book about a boy (girl book slammers have out-numbered boys 35 to 2 over the last two years, so I keep trying to get more boys interested). I liked Hoot when I read it, and of course, with the horrible oil disaster in the Gulf, I've had the oceans on my mind. Flush was the natural choice.

What I Thought: I liked it! Fast-paced, funny, with really memorable characters (I can't decide if Abbey or Shelly was my favorite) and lots of detail about Florida, this is a great summer book.

The Question I Leave You With: Noah's Dad says that "the smart humans owe it to every other living creature not to let the dumb humans wreck the whole planet." Do you think he's right and what might we do as smart humans to help with the oil spill in the Gulf?

The Books: Your Moderator's Guide to What We're Slamming this Summer

2010-06-25T13:44:00.003-04:00

So I've decided to do something a little bit different this year with the posts about the different books. I will add some of the basic information as I have in the past, and I'll work on getting the authors to participate like 2 years ago, but I am going to indulge myself a little and talk about MY thoughts on the books! Basically, why I picked them for the Book Slam and what I thought of them.

I will end each book post with a question for you. You all invited to add your own thoughts in the comments; I'd really like to hear what you think as you're reading your way through the books.

Happy reading!

Vikki, your Book Slam Moderator

Change in End Date!

2010-06-17T17:16:00.000-04:00

The last day to submit answers to questions has been changed to Saturday, September 4, 2010.

Questions will still begin being available on July 1.

All Is Revealed . . .

2010-06-09T11:53:00.019-04:00

At long last, here are the new rules for Book Slam 2010!!

TO REGISTER TO PLAY

1)Send an email to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org

2)In the email, include
a)Your name (no LAST NAMES)
b)Your age
c)The library you visit most often (here's the list of Queens Library locations: LIST)

3) The moderator will send you an approval to say you are registered to play.
The Queens Teen Book Slam is for Teens ages 13 - 18 ONLY!
If you are younger than 13 but will be in at least 6th grade in September, you may play WITH YOUR PARENT'S PERMISSION. Email teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org for more information.

TO PLAY

There will be five books this year. You may read them in ANY ORDER and answer questions as you finish the books BEGINNING 7/1/10. The last day to submit answers for any books will be 8/13/10.

When you complete a book, email teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org to tell the moderator which book you are ready to slam. She will reply with your questions.

Each trivia question you answer correctly is a point. As in the past summers, we will keep track of your scores and let you know how you're doing.

PRIZES

Everyone who participates (reads and answers questions for at least 1 book) will receive a prize.

The TOP 5 trivia contest scores will win special prizes.

It's That Time

2010-05-04T22:10:00.002-04:00

Hey, book slammers!

It's almost summer, that means it's time to start thinking about the Queens Teen Book Slam!

For our third summer, we have some tricks up our sleeve, five fabulous books, and a few surprises.

All will be revealed on 5/31/10!

Congratulations!

2009-09-08T14:16:00.005-04:00

Our Second Annual Queens Teen Book Slam has come to an end!

Congratulations to the players who scored the Top 5 Scores:

1st Place: 100 Points: Ahias, Miaoru, Sanya
2nd Place: 98 Points: Aayesha, Aiman, Hailey, Jenine, Jennifer, Khadija, Magda
3rd Place: 95 Points: Linda
4th Place: 94 Points: Anika, Fathema, Sahil
5th Place: 93 Points: Mashiyate

And to our other fabulous Book Slam Players:

Rita, Chitra, Sylvia, Ileana, Allen

Great job, everyone! Prizes will be delivered soon!

Week 5 Trivia Questions: Maximum Ride:The Angel Experiment

2009-08-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

List the members of the flock in age order (oldest to youngest).

How long is Max’s wingspan?

What is Jeb’s last name?

How old is Ari?

In what state is the School located?

In what mountain range is the flock’s house?

What is Nudge’s real name?

Where does Nudge think her family lives?

What’s the name of Ella’s dog?

What does Ella’s mom do for a living?

How much money does the flock take from the ATM from the jerk in fancy grey car?

The flock lands in Central Park during a concert. Who is playing?

The flock takes the Madison Avenue bus to what stop?

What’s the password for the ATM card Max finds with her name on it?

What’s the address of the Institute in New York?

What’s the name of the fancy restaurant where the flock tries to eat?

Nudge senses the password to the computer in the Institute. What is it?

What is the name of the dog Angel rescues from the Institute?

What’s the code name/number for the Nudge on her records?

What’s the address they find for Gazzy and Angel’s parents?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 29!!

Week 4 Trivia Questions: Dramarama

2009-08-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

What is Demi’s middle initial?

Who are the three girls Sadye ate lunch with before she met Demi?

What is the name of Sadye’s dance teacher in Brenton?

What songs does Demi sing for his audition to Wildewood?

The song Sadye uses for her Wildewood audition is from what Broadway musical?

How many hours does it take to drive from Brenton to Wildewood?

Theo is the first person who calls Sadye bilingual; besides English, in what other language is she fluent?

Who are Sadye’s roommates?

What two electives does Sadye take at Wildewood?

Who is the choreographer at Wildewood?

What six shows are being performed at Wildewood the summer Sadye and Demi are there?

Where is Blake from?

What is the real name of the auditions called the Meat Market?

What play do the teachers perform soon after everyone arrives at Wildewood?

What part does Sadye get in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?

In what airport does Nanette lose her wallet?

What part in Cats does Sadye get offered?

What college is Demi going to?

What is Sadye’s summer internship?

Who are Sadye, Demi and Lyle going to see on Broadway?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 22!!

Week 3 Trivia Questions: The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian

2009-08-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

What is Junior’s full name?

Junior and his best friend Rowdy have the same birthday. When is it?

The Spokane Tribe has a powwow celebration every Labor Day. How many have they had?

How old are the Andruss brothers?

What is the medical name for Junior’s “water on the brain”?

What’s the name of Junior’s dog?

What does the family call Junior’s sister?

Junior finds his mother’s name in his geometry book. What is her name?

What kinds of books did Junior’s sister want to write?

How many miles away from the rez is Reardan?

What kind of bike does Eugene drive?

Who is the teacher Junior corrects about petrified wood?

What town is the reservation Mary moves to after she gets married?

Junior discovers that Penelope has a secret. What is it?

What is the name of the drunk driver who kills Junior’s grandmother?

What does Billionaire Ted have that he thinks belongs to Junior’s grandmother?

How many funerals has Junior attended in his 14 years?

On Junior’s final report card, what is his grade in Geology?

What’s the name of the lake on the reservation (where Junior’s Dad saw the horse drown)?

What college is Roger going to on a football scholarship?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 15!!

Week 2 Trivia Questions: Uglies

2009-08-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

What is Tally’s last name?

What’s the name of the mansion where Tally goes to find Peris?

What color does Tally describe the early summer sky as?

What kind of mask does Tally wear to sneak into the mansion looking for Peris?

What are young children called before they become uglies?

What month were Tally and Shay born?

Who is Dr. Cable?

What are Tally’s parents’ names?

What kind of food packets does Tally take when she goes to find Shay?

What is the name of the place where Shay and the others who decide not to become pretty go?

What are the things with “fire-bug eyes” that Shay puts in her clue?

What side does Tally despise?

What’s the scientific name of the whites flowers beyond the ruins?

What are David’s parents’ names?

In the Smoke, what is the Boss in charge of?

What were David’s parents before they left the city?

How many food packets does Tally trade for her sweater?

Which Smoky suspects there is something wrong with Tally’s story?

Who are the uglies who create the distraction to help Tally and David get into Special Circumstances?

What got infected by a bug during the Rusties time that caused the panic?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 8!!

Week 1 Trivia Questions: Dairy Queen

2009-07-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

What is the name of the old, sick cow the cattle dealer takes away?

What kind of car does Brian drive?

What grade did D.J.’s mom teach?

What store does Amber work at as a checkout girl?

What is the name of the hairdresser who cuts D.J.’s hair?

What is the name of Bill’s college roommate?

Where else does Coach Jeff work?

What else does D.J.’s Dad put into the chicken dish D.J. won’t eat (but then eats all the leftovers of)?

The Schwenks are fans of which pro football team?

What is D.J.’s grandfather’s first name?

What is the name of the girl Brian breaks up with?

What is the name of the church program Brian’s mother runs?

What does Curtis want to be when he grows up?

What is D.J.’s full name?

What did D.J. name the family dog after?

Who are the Jorgensen twins?

Who is Jimmy Ott’s wife?

What three things does D.J. have to buy at the grocery store for her dad?

Why did D.J. give Justin Hunsberger a black eye in the fourth grade?

What does D.J.’s dad give her as a joke for her 16th birthday?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 1!!

How to Play

2009-07-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

The start of the trivia contest is only ONE WEEK away!!

Here's how it will work: Every Monday at 9:00 am, I will post a list of 20 QUESTIONS (yes, I'm making it a little harder this summer!) on that week's book. You have until the Saturday of that week to answer the questions and submit them.

If you're already regsitered to play, just email your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org.

If you're NOT registered yet, you MUST register before you play (see instructions on the right side of the page).

Each correct answer will earn you a point and I'll send you an email back telling you your score for that week (and your running total for all five weeks).

If you have any questions about the trivia contest or the books, NOW is the time to ask!! Email me at teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org or post your question as a comment on the blog (go to the end of this post and click on (#) comments, then select the Name/URL option to add your comment. Please use the nickname you used to register for the Book Slam and again, NO LAST NAMES!).

Happy reading!

Vikki, Book Slam Moderator

Discussion Questions for Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

2009-07-15T10:57:00.004-04:00

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment Curriculum Guide

When Angel is taken, the Flock is devastated because they know she has been taken back to the School for more tests and experimentation. What options do they have for rescuing her? Why are they willing to put themselves in harm’s way to save her?

Each of the six children in the Flock possesses a supernatural skill. How do these skills work together to make the Flock stronger? How does each child’s strength contribute to the Flock? What similar characteristics do all six children possess?

Max and Fang are the same age, so why is Max the leader instead of Fang? What characteristics does she possess, which Fang lacks, that enable her to safely lead the Flock? What are the drawbacks to her leadership? Would Fang be a better leader? Why or why not?

Why is Jeb’s betrayal more hurtful than even some of the experiments and tests the children have endured?

The Flock’s search for their parents gives them hope for a new way of life. What do they expect to happen when they find them? Are their expectations realistic? Why or why not?

Iggy is blinded when scientists operate on him to try to improve his night vision. What does this show about the character of the scientists at the School? How does Iggy adapt to his blindness? How does his blindness affect the Flock?

Max hears a voice in her head, but she doesn’t know whose it is or if she can trust what it says. How does she determine whether or not she can trust it? To whom could the voice belong? Why?

Maximum Ride:The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

2009-07-15T10:32:00.004-04:00

Imagine no parents telling you what to do, no teachers making you spend all day in school and do homework at night. Sounds great, right? But what if the cost for that meant not just having to take care of yourselves, but being genetic mutants caught up in an unknown and terrifying experiment?

That's what Max, the leader of a band of "bird children" she calls her flock, are facing in the first Maximum Ride book. Did you know there's also a manga version of The Angel Experiment? Check your local Queens Library location to check it out.

Author James Patterson has written more than 50 books, sold more than 150 MILLION copies, and holds the record for most books on the New York Times best sellers list--45 all together! His website is http://www.jamespatterson.com/

There is also a website all about Maximum Ride and Patterson's other books for teens (Daniel X and Witch and Wizard): http://www.max-dan-wiz.com/

Discussion Questions for Dramarama

2009-07-10T10:25:00.003-04:00

(Yes, I know I said Wednesday and today is Friday--I am a slacker librarian!)

There may be some secrets revealed in these questions, so be warned if you haven't finished the book yet!

If you want to discuss the questions, use the comments (go to the end of this post and click on (#) comments, then select the Name/URL option to add your comment. Please use the nickname you used to register for the Book Slam and again, NO LAST NAMES!).

******SPOILER ALERT**********

How important is it that Demi and Sadye changed their names? Would their story have been different if they had stayed Douglas and Sarah?

The characters in Dramarama revel in their over-the-top personalities and the drama around them. Do you have friends like that (are YOU like that?!)? Would you want to be friends with "theater folks"?

Do you think Sadye was right to challenge Reanne about the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Most of the students at Wildewood accept everything Jacob Morales tell them, except Sadye. Do you think her point that they are all terrified of him is valid or is she making excuses?

Would you have taken the fall for Demi and Lyle if you were Sadye?

By the epilogue, Sadye has found a way to match her gifts and talents to the theater world she loves. What do you think her future will be like?

Information on Dramarama by E. Lockhart

2009-07-06T13:05:00.002-04:00

Dramarama is the story of Sadye and Demi, two high school students from Ohio whose theater dreams take them to a summer drama institute where they learn way more than how to hit the high notes and nail a tap routine.

The coolest thing--I think--about Dramarama is that you get this glimpse into this whole other world that's going on all around us--the theater world! It's as razzle-dazzle as Sadye hopes it will be, equal parts hard work, sweat, bandaged toes and glitter. As Sadye puts it, "Theater folk are like this, I realized. Physical right away. Kissy, huggy. . . . Theater people will act like your oldest friend when you've just met. And they do it while they're competing with you."

E. Lockhart is the author of several other books for teens, including one of last year's most talked about books, THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS. You can visit her website here: http://e-lockhart.com/main/index.php

She also has a blog at http://www.theboyfriendlist.com/e_lockhart_blog/ Follow the link in the Categories section "Dramarama Stuff" (on the right side of the page) for videos, music and blog posts related to Dramarama.

Discussion questions on Wednesday . . .

Discussion Questions for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

2009-07-01T09:00:00.002-04:00

There may be some secrets revealed in these questions, so be warned if you haven't finished the book yet!

If you want to discuss the questions, use the comments (go to the end of this post and click on (#) comments, then select the Name/URL option to add your comment. Please use the nickname you used to register for the Book Slam and again, NO LAST NAMES!).

******SPOILER ALERT**********

How is Junior’s life similar to/different than your ideas about life on a reservation?

How do alcoholism and violence impact life on the Spokane Reservation?

When Junior asks Gordy for advice about getting Penelope to like him, Gordy comes back
and tells Junior he’s a racist just like everybody else. Is he?

Junior loses three people he loves to alcohol-related accidents in a very short time. How
do these losses affect him and shape his views about life?

What do you think about “The Unofficial and Unwritten (but you better follow them or
you’re going to get beaten twice as hard) Spokane Indian Rules of Fisticuffs”? Why do you think Roger and his friends think it’s okay to call Junior names but freak out that he responds with a punch?

Junior explains Rowdy’s anger and sense of betrayal by saying that “Some Indians think
you become white if you try to make your life better.” Gordy argues that if that were true,
all white people would be successful. Who do you think is right, Rowdy or Gordy?

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2009-06-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is Sherman Alexie's first book for teens (he's written many award-winning works for adults) and won a bunch of awards including the National Book Award.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is the story of Arnold Spirit Jr. (just Junior), who lives on the Spokane Indian reservation and who decides to shock everyone he knows by leaving the rez to go to high school in the nearby white town. Splitting his time between two very different worlds, Junior finds love, faces many tragedies and starts to figure out who he is and who he wants to be.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is lol funny and make-you-cry sad. It's really all about hope and how to keep fighting when everyone tells you you're nothing.

The best news? There's a sequel on the way! That's right, Sherman Alexie is working on The Magic and Tragic Year of My Broken Thumb, the story of Junior's second year in high school. For more information on the book and Sherman Alexie, visit his website: http://www.fallsapart.com/index.html

Info and Discussion Questions for Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

2009-06-22T16:46:00.005-04:00

In a future just a couple of hundred years from now, turning 16 means turning pretty. An operation makes you stunningly gorgeous and starts a life of non-stop parties and excitement. Tally is the last of her friends to turn 16 and as she's waiting to turn, she meets Shay, who raises the question: What if you stayed ugly when you turned 16?

This is something Tally has never even considered, but her friendship with Shay introduces her to an underground society of uglies who question the very nature of turning pretty and whose lives Tally changes forever.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Pretties, Specials and a fourth book, Extras. For more information about Scott Westerfeld, the Uglies (and his many other) books (and a cool interview about why he wrote Uglies) check out his website: http://www.scottwesterfeld.com/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

There may be some secrets revealed in these questions, so be warned if you haven't finished the book yet!

If you want to discuss the questions, use the comments (go to the end of this post and click on (#) comments, then select the Name/URL option to add your comment. Please use the nickname you used to register for the Book Slam and again, NO LAST NAMES!).

******SPOILER ALERT**********

1. When you first started reading about being pretty, did it sound like fun? Did it sound like something you'd want to do at 16?

2. At first, did you hope Tally would get the operation? When did you change your mind? (Or did you?)

3. Would you give up your ability to think independently in exchange for being happy, beautiful, perpetually healthy, and rich?

4. Were you surprised when David's parents revealed that the pretty operation also changes people's brains? Why or why not?

5. When did you figure out that "the Rusties" were us, people living in the 21st century?

6. After finishing Uglies are you planning to read the rest of the series?

Discussion Questions for Dairy Queen

2009-06-20T22:36:00.005-04:00

Dairy Queen could be described as a sports story, a family story, or a romance. Which description do you think fits best?

Curtis, Amber, and D.J.’s mother are also keeping secrets. What does it mean to D.J. when she discovers them?

D.J. often identifies herself through her physical appearance. Do you think she has a healthy or unhealthy body image?

In what ways does Brian match and break the stereotype of a popular high school quarterback? Did your impression of him change over the course of the story? If so, how was this accomplished?

What do you think will happen to Curtis in eighth grade and high school?

Is D.J. an appropriate role model for fifteen-year-old girls? If she attended your school, would you consider her a role model?

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

2009-06-15T11:54:00.003-04:00

The first book we're slamming this summer is Dairy Queen. It's the story of D.J. Schwenk who is basically running her family's Wisconsin dairy farm while her dad recovers from hip surgery. She is also asked to train the quarterback for her town's rival football team (her two older brothers are star college football players), which gets a little complicated when she starts to wonder if a guy like Brian (popular, smart, gorgeous) could fall for a girl like her.

One of the things I loved most about Dairy Queen is that D.J is NOT a typical teen fiction heroine. The line from the book that sums it up is "Because us Schwenks aren't rich, and we're not that smart, and except for Bill, and Mom when she was thin back before she got married, we're nothing to look at. But one thing we can do is work. you want to learn how to work hard? Just look at us."

What about YOU? What did you like (or not) about Dairy Queen?

Did you know that Dairy Queen is the first book in a trilogy?! D.J.'s story continues in The Off Season and will conclude this fall with the tentatively-titled Front and Center.

For more information about Dairy Queen and Catherine Gilbert Murdock, visit her website: http://www.catherinemurdock.com/

Later in the week, I'll post more detailed discussion questions for comments, but I want you to have a chance to read the book first! ;)

THE BOOKS

2009-06-12T11:40:00.011-04:00

Book 1:

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Discussion starts: 6/15

Trivia contest starts: 7/27

Book 2:

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Discussion starts: 6/22

Trivia contest starts: 8/3

Book 3:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Discussion starts: 6/29

Trivia contest starts: 8/10

Book 4:

Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Discussion starts: 7/6

Trivia contest starts: 8/17

Book 5:

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Discussion starts: 7/13

Trivia contest starts: 8/24

Book Slam 2009 Kicks Off 6/15/09!

2009-06-03T12:31:00.005-04:00

Welcome to Queens Library Teen Book Slam 2009!

We have a new look and 5 new books so it's a sure to be an exciting summer!

The TRIVIA CONTEST officially kick-offs on Monday, July 27, 2009 but starting Monday, June 15, there will be posts about each of the books we're reading this summer and a chance to use our comments feature for discussion!

The titles will be announced on Monday, June 8th, so check back!

Congratulations to All Our Players!!

2008-08-26T15:46:00.003-04:00

The Queens Teen Book Slam is officially closed for the summer, but not before we congratulate all our players!

Special congrats to our Top 5 Scorers:
Miaoru, Aayesha, Diana, Anika, Sanya

And to the rest of our fabulous readers and book slammers:
Lauren, Ashley, Alexis, Sylvia, Hilda, Danny, Jackie, Terrissa, Terry-Ann, Frederica

You all did a great job--thanks for playing!!

See you in 2009 for the next Queens Teen Book Slam!

Week 5 Trivia Questions: Street Love

2008-08-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

1. Which Shakespeare play is Street Love based on?

2. What’s Junice’s sister’s name?

3. What college has Damien been accepted to?

4. Who is Arthur Williams?

5. Who is Ernestine Battle?

6. What is the name of the coffee shop Junice, Damien, and Melissa go to?

7. What is the name of the prison Junice’s mother is sent to?

8. What is the first name of Miss Davis, the social worker?

9. Why does Junice decide to go to Memphis?

10. Where do Sledge and Damien fight?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 16!!

Week 4 Trivia Questions: Sold

2008-08-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

1. What is the name of the boy who will be Lakshmi’s husband?

2. How old is Lakshmi’s mother?

3. What kind of vegetable does Lakshmi grow and give names to?

4. What is the name of the brothel Lakshmi is taken to?

5. What is the name of the sweet yogurt drink given to Lakshmi?

6. What American soap opera do the girls watch?

7. Which soccer player is Harish obsessed with?

8. According to her record book, how much did Mumtaz pay for Lakshmi?

9. What is the name of Mumtaz’s spy?

10. What is Harish’s sister’s name?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 9!!

Week 3 Trivia Questions: Looking for Alaska

2008-07-27T08:00:00.006-04:00

1. Who came to Miles' going away party?

2. What is Miles' dorm room number?

3. What is the Colonel's real name?

4. What did Alaska name the cafeteria's bean burrito?

5. Who is Marya?

6. Who does Alaska think will be a good girlfriend for Miles?

7. What three religions are they studying in Dr. Hyde's class?

8. Who is the Eagle?

9. Who is the Colonel's girlfriend?

10. What happened on January 10, 1997?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 2!!

Week 2 Trivia Questions: American Born Chinese

2008-07-20T09:00:00.005-04:00

1. What does the old lady in the herbalists shop say you have to give up in order to be anyone you want?

2. Which of these five is NOT one of the four major heavenly disciplines prerequisite to immortality?
a) Fist Like Lightning
b) Thunderous Foot
c) Fart Like Monkey
d) Heavenly Senses
e) Cloud As Stead

3. How does the Monkey King free himself from the mountain of rock?

4. How are Danny and Jin-Wang related?

5. What does Cousin Chin-Kee do to a can of Coke?

6. What does Jin use as a deodorant on his date?

7. What are the five pillars of gold?

8. What does Wei-Chen’s toy robot turn into?

9. What’s the name of Wei-Chen’s girlfriend?

10. Why was the Monkey King not allowed to attend the dinner party in heaven?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, July 26!!

Week 1 Trivia Questions: Story of a Girl

2008-07-13T08:11:00.002-04:00

1. Jason's hoodie features what band?

2. What kind of car does Tommy drive?

3. What snack does the girl in Deanna's story share with her father?

4. On what side of his face does Tommy have a scar?

5. What does Tommy call Deanna?

6. How do Deanna and her friends refer to Pacifica?

7. Where does Darren look for Stacy when she disappears?

8. What is Deanna's middle name?

9. Who does Stacy hang out with when she leaves?

10. According to Michael, how many screw-ups does a person get?

Send your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org by 11:59 pm on Saturday, July 19!!

Almost Time . . .

2008-07-08T11:20:00.006-04:00

The start of the trivia contest is only five days away!! Here's how it will work:

Every Sunday we will post a list of 10 QUESTIONS on that week's book. You have until the Saturday of that week to answer the questions and submit them.

If you're already regsitered to play, just email your answers to teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org.
If you're NOT registered yet, you MUST register before you play (see instructions to the right).

Each correct answer will earn you a point and we'll send you an email back telling you your score for that week (and your running total for all five weeks).

If you have any questions about the trivia contest or the books, NOW is the time to ask!! Email us at teenbookslam@queenslibrary.org or post your question as a comment on the blog (go to the end of this post and click on (#) comments, then select the Name/URL option to add your comment. Please use the nickname you used to register for the Book Slam and again, NO LAST NAMES!).

Happy reading!

Street Love by Walter Dean Myers

2008-06-26T10:43:00.001-04:00

Walter Dean Myers had “Romeo and Juliet” on his mind when he wrote Street Love, the story of Damien and Junice, star-crossed lovers in Harlem. The setting and story are totally today, but like Shakespeare's story, it is told through poems and rap, in a rhythm Myers picked up by listening to real NYC teens talk.

Damien is steps away from a fabulous future his parents worked hard for--he’s been accepted to Brown University and knows his life is pretty much planned out for him. Junice, on the other hand, is struggling to keep her family together. Her mom just got 25 years for selling drugs, her grandmother can barely remember who she is, and the city wants to take her little sister away from her. As different as their lives are, Damien and Junice fall in love and fortunately, unlike Shakespeare’s teens in love, these two have a shot at a happy ending.

Walter Dean Myers has been writing full time since 1977 and has written more than 80 books! He has received the Coretta Scott King Award (five times!), two Newbery Honors, has been a National Book Award finalist twice, received the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution to young adult literature in 1994 and his book Monster was the first book ever to receive the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

Myers grew up in Harlem and is deeply committed to interacting with inner city teens today. This spring, he visited with students at Passages Academy in the Bronx, a school for teens in the juvenile justice system.

Check out what Myers has to say about writing Street Love. And don’t forget to check out your own copy.

Sold by Patricia McCormick

2008-06-26T10:04:00.004-04:00

Sold is the story of Lakshmi, a thirteen-year old girl in Nepal who helps her family and dreams of her future. When monsoons destroy her family’s crops, her stepfather arranges for her to go to the city to be a maid for a rich lady, but instead, she is brought to a brothel in India to become a prostitute. At first, Lakshmi, barely understands what is happening to her; when she does, she believes she will be able to buy herself out of her the brothel, but the manipulative woman named Mumtaz who runs the place will never let that happen. While she’s there, Lakshmi makes friends and begins to hope again. American rescue workers try to save Lakshmi and the other young women, but the girls have been convinced it is another trick that will end with them being shamed in the village. Will Lakshmi be brave enough to take the risk and have a chance at freedom?

Patricia McCormack’s website has lots of stuff to check out, including information about the real girls in Nepal and other parts of the world who are victims of trafficking, torture and other human rights abuses. Here are a couple of places to find out more: MAITI Nepal and Vital Voices. Sold was a National Book Award finalist in 2006 and received lots of terrific reviews. It's also on the NYC 2008 Teen Summer Reading booklist.

**NEWS**Patty will be chatting live with NYC teens on the Summer Reading website on Thursday, July 24 @ 2:00 pm. Stay tuned for more information about how to talk to Patty live!

I have to say that Sold was one of those books that I was actually nervous to read because I knew it was going to be upsetting. Since I had to read it to review for the magazine VOYA, I sat myself down at my desk at work and read it there (figuring I’d be less freaked out in the office). I read the whole thing in one sitting, with tears in my eyes almost the whole time. In the end, it became the only book I have ever reviewed for VOYA I gave a “5Q” (the highest rating for quality). When I booktalked it at a juvenile detention center, I couldn’t get through the talk without getting goose bumps and chills (when I told the students this, they wanted to read it even more!). I rave about this book ALL THE TIME so find a copy now and read it!

Looking for Alaska by John Green

2008-06-23T12:15:00.002-04:00

In Looking for Alaska, John Green’s debut novel, his hero Miles Cavalry meets the beautiful and charming Alaska Young at his new Prep School and begins a journey to discover the “Great Perhaps” of life. There's a lot in there about famous last words, so if that gets you thinking, take a look at this website John links to on his blog about last words.

John won the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature for Looking for Alaska in 2006. The following year, his second novel An Abundance of Katherines was a Printz Award Honor Book and a teen fiction superstar was born!

Check out John's website Sparks Fly Up which keeps fans up to date on his adventures and features his very entertaining blog about books, politics and the rest of life. His newest book, Paper Town is due to be published this October.

Greetings from Gene Yang!

2008-06-19T12:02:00.001-04:00

The Book Slam is excited to share greetings from another of our authors, Gene Luen Yang! Here's what he said:

Hello Teens in Queens,

Thank you so much for choosing to read American Born Chinese! It's an honor. I hope the book will lead to some fruitful discussions. Cartoons are often dismissed as art for children, but they can be very powerful tools for communication. They can pack a punch that's difficult to replicate in other media -- just take a look at the Muslim cartoon controversy that's been going on in Denmark for well over a year.

In American Born Chinese, I address how cartoons have been used to stereotype Chinese- and Asian-Americans through my character Cousin Chin-Kee. To fully understand him, you have to know a little something about the history of stereotypes in comics, and particularly Asian stereotypes. A great place to start is Dr. K's analysis of Chop Chop, one of Cousin Chin-Kee's precursors and a DC Comics hero who's still around:

http://doctor-k100.blogspot.com/2008/02/day-job-keeping-up-with-chop-chop.html

Hope that helps, and happy reading!

Gene

Thanks, Gene!

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

2008-06-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

American Born Chinese became the first graphic novel to be a National Book Award Finalist and to win the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature. It also got lots of really good reviews from all the journals and magazines that review books for teens, and won a bunch of other awards.

American Born Chinese began as a web comic with a loyal following. Gene Luen Yang started drawing comics in the fifth grade and eventually won (another!) really important award to help him keep drawing. Besides being a successful novelist, Gene is also a high school computer science teacher. Check out Gene’s Favorite Graphic Novel Moment and his website, too. There’s even a link to site all about the Monkey King!

The book is three stories in one, featuring:

Jin Wang, who just wants to fit in when his family movies to a new neighborhood
the Monkey King, the kung-fu master of ancient stories
Danny, whose life is ruined every year by the arrival of his cousin Chin-Kee, the worst Chinese stereotype

These three tales come together to create a modern fable about growing-up, fitting in and learning to be who you are. American Born Chinese has been praised for its brilliant writing, strong, clean graphics, and the way it addresses things like racism, shame and friendship while still being fun and entertaining.

Visit http://www.queenslibrary.org/ to find a copy!

Interview with Fabulous Author Sara Zarr

2008-06-04T12:18:00.004-04:00

Sara Zarr, the author of Story of a Girl and Sweethearts and an amazingly cool person, generously agreed to be interviewed for the Book Slam blog. Thank you, Sara! Here's what she had to say:

QL: We love the chapter titles for your life on your website. If you were writing the chapters, which one would make you laugh out loud? Which would make you cry?

SZ: You know, I think they would all make me do both. Even when I’m retelling some of the most painful episodes from my life, I can find a humorous take on it. Most people I know who have successfully survived a childhood with an alcoholic parent or other rough times have done so because they’re able to look at the whole situation with some humor, and compassion for everyone involved.

QL: Do you have a (good, bad or ugly) library memory from your teen years?

SZ: I’ve always loved libraries! I could never really afford to buy books---maybe one or two a year---so libraries were my source for everything. When I was in high school a branch in my neighborhood was remodeled and had a special teen section with beanbag chairs and I just though that was the coolest thing ever.

QL: What kinds of books did you love most as a teen?

SZ: I loved Judy Blume. I loved Robert Cormier and M.E. Kerr. I was also really into the Madeleine L’Engle books about the Austin family and the O’Keefe family. So, basically I loved the kind of books that I try to write now, books in which the teen characters have complex lives and experiences and struggle with the fundamental stuff of what it is to be human.

QL: What songs (or bands) would be on the soundtrack of your high school life?

SZ: It was the eighties, and there was a huge range of popular music. You had classic rock bands and singer/songwriters of the seventies still putting out music, and then New Wave and punk, as well as soul and funk still going pretty strong. So, let’s see, Billy Joel and Elton John were on the radio all the time, and albums that got heavy rotation in my life: Def Leppard’s Pyromania, Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair, Alphaville’s Forever Young, Bryan Adams Reckless, and of course U2 The Joshua Tree.

QL: What’s your favorite tech gadget or web tool?

SZ: Wikipedia! It knows everything!

QL: What’s the best movie you’ve seen in 2008?

SZ: I think it came out in 2007, but I saw it in 2008: Lars and the Real Girl. It’s so beautiful, and so much about love…one character has a great speech in the middle about what the community has done for Lars and it’s the best picture of real, non-romantic love I’ve seen in a movie in a long time.

QL: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

SZ: It was a process. I always loved to write, but it wasn’t until I was about 25 that I knew I wanted to do it as a career.

QL: Is the life of a full-time writer what you expected?

SZ: No! I really romanticized it, the way a lot of people do. I pictured myself sipping coffee and typing away and never really struggling. It’s way harder than I thought it would be. Writing is still hard work. It never gets easier, and it can be lonely and frustrating, but the finished book is always worth it.

QL: What’s your advice to teens who want to be published writers?

SZ: I think it’s important to spend awhile – at least four or five years – just totally focusing on the writing and putting the whole publishing business out of your head. Finish a book, then work on making it good, then start educating yourself about the business. Studying creative writing in college is optional. I never did, and a lot of writers I know never did. I think it can help compress the learning process so that you learn more, faster, and you write more in a shorter amount of time, but don’t feel bad if college doesn’t happen for you or you end up studying something else. You can still write.

QL: Are you working on something now?

SZ: Yes, I’m working on my third book. And it’s killing me. (But I feel that way about every book!)

QL: Having your first novel be a National Book Award finalist is awesome! What did you do when you found out?

SZ: I walked around in a daze for a few days. Then I started shopping! There were all these events to go through and I needed clothes. That whole season – from the time the finalists were announced in October to around Christmas – was just surreal. And wonderful.

QL: Where did the idea for Deanna’s story come from?

SZ: Deanna showed up as a side character in another book I wrote that was about the character Lee. When I finished that, I thought Deanna was the most interesting thing in the book and wanted to write a story in her voice. So I just sat down and started writing and the story itself developed over a few drafts.

QL: The characters are all so complex; which was the hardest to get a feel for?

SZ: I was really lucky with that book because most of the characters felt fully formed when they walked into my imagination. I think Deanna’s mom evolved more over drafts---I wasn’t sure how Deanna’s relationship with Tommy got under her radar, but once I figured out that she was just so tired, I knew how to write her.

QL: It’s hard to know how to feel about Tommy, even after Deanna forgives him. How do you feel about him?

SZ: Oh, Tommy Tommy Tommy. I confess that I really like Tommy. I don’t think he’s a bad guy. He’s like a lot of guys I knew in high school who weren’t malicious or cruel or anything, just selfish, like a lot of us are at that age. He’s clueless about the path of destruction he’s leaving, and I think he’s truly shocked when Deanna confronts him about everything he did and the effect their relationship has had on her life. He’s not anyone I would want my daughter to date if I had a daughter, but…he’s human. Like we all are.

QL: What do you hope readers take away from Story of a Girl?

SZ: I hope the characters are real to them, and that they have a great reading experience, and if they’ve been through anything like Deanna has been (with a guy, or with friends, or with parents) that maybe they’ll see some hope in her story and have a little compassion for themselves.

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

2008-06-04T10:31:00.006-04:00

Story of a Girl is the first of the books we’ll book slam this summer. It is on the New York City teen summer reading list, too. Check your local Queens Library location for a copy or click here to request one from Queens Library online.

Story of a Girl was a National Book Award finalist (a very cool big deal!), got lots of really good reviews, was a 2008 Best Book for Young Adults and more (while you're there, check out the rest of Sara's website, including her blog where she gives the Book Slam a shout out!).

About the Book:
It's been three years since Deanna's dad caught her in the backseat of a '77 Buick with Tommy. She was 13, Tommy was 17, her brother's best "drug buddy."

Three years, and Deanna is still considered the Terra Nova High School slut even though it was only ever Tommy. Three years and her father still can't look her in the eye.

This is the defining moment in Deanna's life, but only part of her struggle. The only good thing about her life at home is that her brother, Darren, and his girlfriend, Stacy, live in the basement with their baby. Both Deanna’s parents work long hours in soul-crushing jobs, the house itself is a wreck and just being there makes Deanna miserable.

But she has a plan, to get a job and save up as much money as possible, then convince Darren and Stacy they should all move out together. Nothing ever goes as planned, though. Deanna takes a job at a strip-mall pizza place only to find out Tommy (yes, THAT Tommy) works there, too.

On top of that, things between Deanna and her best friend Jason get weird--romantic weird--threatening her friendship with her other best friend Lee (who is also Jason’s girlfriend).

Why this Book ROCKS:
There’s a realness about Deanna and her story that just blows you away when you read it. She’s still being punished in a lot of ways for something that happened when she was pretty young, something that the adults in her life could have handled way better. But as worn down as she is by it all, Deanna still has hope. She’s super tough on herself, but she’s honest with herself, too, so you really feel connected to her.

Already read the book? Use the Comments to tell us what you think. The trivia questions for Story of a Girl will be posted on Sunday July 13th!

And don't miss our interview with Sara Zarr in the next post!

The Plan

2008-06-02T11:25:00.004-04:00

Starting this week, I'll be posting information about each of the five books we'll be "slamming" this summer. This means summaries, questions, author details and any other goodies I think are worth you knowing. Add your comments and questions, PLEASE!!

THEN, starting July 13, I'll post the trivia questions. Details on how you'll answer will follow soon. Here is the schedule:

July 13 - July 19: Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

July 20 - July 26: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

July 27 - August 2: Looking for Alaska by John Green

August 3 - August 9: Sold by Patricia McCormick

August 10 - August 16: Street Love by Walter Dean Myers

The party will be at the end of August (date TBA).

Happy reading!

The Books

2008-05-05T10:46:00.001-04:00