ALA News "And Tango Makes Three..."

When reading this article, I can see why there is such thing as "Most Frequently Challenged" book list.  Although I do not have children, I feel that I would check out this list if my children expressed interest in a controversial book.  In the book And Tango Makes Three, there are 2 male Chinstrap Penguins from the Central Park Zoo that are formed as a couple and given an egg to raise.  This book has won many awards, but has also been at the center of debates.  It was the MOST challenged book in 2006, 2007, and 2008, slid to #2 in 2009, but is back to #1 in 2010.  In my own personal opinion, I feel that I would not read this book to my students, nor would I read it to my own personal children.

Controversial Books and what makes them so...

Young-adult fiction or young adult literature is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21.

Controversial books are considered that way for several reasons:
1. Language
2. Setting
3. Drugs
4. Homosexuality
5. Pre-Marital Sex
And the list can go on and on!  I researched a list of current books that are on the Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books...and here are the top 3:

1. "And Tango Makes Three," by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

This true story of two male penguins who hatched an egg and raised a penguin chick in New York's Central Park Zoo has been regularly challenged and/or banned in numerous American libraries and schools ever since its 2005 publication. The reasons listed for the 2010 challenges are "homosexuality, religious viewpoint," and a belief that the book is "unsuited" for young readers.

2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie

This semi-biographical young adult book tells the story of a young native American trying to find his way through the overlapping white and Indian worlds that he inhabits. The reasons listed for the book's 2010 challenges are "offensive language, racism, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence." Alexie told The Washington Post that, "It almost makes me happy to hear books still have that kind of power. And there's nothing in my book that even compares to what kids can find on the Internet."

3. "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley's 1931 science fiction classic is no stranger to controversy. The reasons for the book's 2010 challenges include "insensitivity, offensive language, racism," and "sexually explicit" material.

“Requirements for Healthy Development of Adolescent Youth"

When I was 22 I was teaching a classroom full of 3rd graders...to think that I would be considered an adolescent is weird! I can relate to this article, because my parents took the same approach with me. They always made sure that I knew to pray and seek God's favor before ever making a decision. I know that they would make sure that I had the right tools to make the best decisions. Since I do not have kids, I would have to relate this to my students. I have learned to NOT ask, "Are you talking?" or "Are you touching?" Those are too specific and don't make the kids think about their actions. Now I ask, "Are you doing the right thing?" I feel that this way they are having to take inventory of what their actions are. It works wonderfully for my classroom!

Young Adult Articles

When choosing 2 Young Adult articles, I searched high and low to make sure that I found articles that could really help in understanding such a difficult age!  The topic of psychology was a little scary, but I found an article that really enlightened me on teen boys.  The title is "Teen Depression-Boys". 
1.America's adolescent boys may look strong as they swagger down the street, but in reality they are the population at highest risk today for all kinds of serious problems. Rates of anxiety disorders and depression are soaring among them. For the first time, depression among males is nearly as prevalent as among females in this group. Then too, the boys, as well as their sisters, belong to the first generation of divorce. Instead of a stable and supportive family base to keep them from feeling overwhelmed at times of stress, many are the products of absentee parents and conflict.There is an immediate need to take action. If not, our sons face life-threatening consequences—drug and/or alcohol addiction, self-destructive behavior and accidents, suicide, and violence towards others. Such problems are already rampant.
2. Can technology turn kids onto reading? You bet. In 2008, teachers and students created a summer reading website, with the teens helping to select titles and write annotations. A survey was then conducted to determine the students’ reading interests and behaviors. Not only did 90 percent of the students like the website, but they were also 4.2 times more likely to read because it sparked their interest in books. A year later, two classroom teachers used the website to integrate social media with learning.
Here’s what the kids had to say about our program:

“I like to read …drama, realistic fiction… teen problems… romances… relationships… horror… mystery… urban fiction… action… sports… comic books… magazines… newspapers.”

“…because it’s fun if you have the right book that holds your interest.”

Teens who like to read feel it meets their intellectual needs

“…it helps me in my English class.”

“…it will help you read better…”

“…it betters my vocabulary and expands my mind.”

Teens who say they do not like to read feel this way because:

“…the majority of the time when I am reading it is not by choice...”

“…my teacher makes us read in class…”

“…I don’t like to read in school because the books don’t really interest me and we have to answer questions after we read.”

The school is still currently taking data to see if anything changes when the kids are given freedom of choice!  I can't wait to see if the data will change!

HAPPY READING

Who are YAs and what are they reading?

According to Rosemary Chance's book Young Adult Literature in Action , the American Library Association defines young adults as ages 12-18.
What are some of your favorite authors?Mary Pope Osborne, J.K. Rowlin,g R.L. Stine, Allison Noell, Dr. Seuss, Haddix
What are some of your favorite books?The Lost Hero by: Rick Riodian, Magic Tree House, Goosebumps, Percy Jackson, Twilight, Hunger Games, Radiance, Frannie K. Stein, Amber Brown, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, Falling, Artemis Fowl, Geronimo Stilton
What topics do you like to read about most?
Sports, Mythology, Adventure, Horror/Mystery, Comedy, Historical Fiction
Do you prefer a novel or an information book?Novel
What reading do you do on the internet?
Facebook, directions, twitter, research(school stuff), online novels, previews of upcoming books
These were a mix of boys and girls...and it looks as though they have the same preferences as already stated! I was surprised to see that some of them chose Historical Fiction as a topic they like to read about most!

Illustrators

I have been studying my illustrator of choice, Betsy Lewin.  I love learning about people and how that got to where they are now!  She is a very interesting woman with a love for drawing!  I am in awe of her, because I was not blessed with that gene! LOL Here is a sample of her artwork, from a book that you may not be familiar with...the book title is Gorilla Walk, and it is inspired from a trip that her and her husband took to Uganda.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

When reading about "The Invention of Hugo Cabret", I was sad to see the boy that lived without a family.  I could not imagine living in a train station by myself, at any age, let alone his age!  I could feel how scared he was when he met the shop owners daughter.  Could you imagine being scared that your whole life is in jeoperdy?????  I also loved the drawings...this is not just a picture book , or a graphic novel, it is a combination of the two!  And I think that Brian Selznick is genius for thinking of it!   I would recommend this book to other peers!

Happy Reading!