February 20th - William Durbin - author of Broken Blade, El
Lector, Darkest Evening and Sampo Lake (and others - some
in the My America serics) will be at the Heritage library
in Lakeville on Wednesday, February 20 at 7:00 pm.
February 23rd - Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference (as
announced in the recent Kerlan Friends Newsletter):
The 16th Annual Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference will
take place Saturday, February 23, 2008, from 8:30am-3:00pm
at the University of St. Thomas O’Shaughnessy Educational
Center on the St. Paul Campus. The 2008 event features Jane
Yolen appearing with Adam Stemple, and Lisa Westberg Peters,
as well as breakout sessions focusing on children’s literacy
topics. To register & for complete program information, visit
http://www.stthomas.edu/education/events/hubbs/default.html.
or call (651)962-4983 for more information.
April 3 - Barbara Joosse (author of Mama, Do You Love Me?)
will discuss her newest book "Grandma Calls Me Beautiful"
at 4:45 at U of MN Libraries' Andersen Library on the West
Bank Campus. This event is open to the public.
May 2 - Extreme Censorship - Banned, Battered, and Burned
Books - Noon to 1:00 pm in Andersen Library. This is part
of the libraries First Friday series, but may be of
specific interest to our group. Speakers will include
Marie Harvat from Children's Literature Research
Collections (CLRC) on the banning of children's and young
adult literature of the 19th & 20th Centuries in the US
and special guest Dr. Heino Beckmann, the German Honorary
Consul, who will speak on Nazi censorship in the context
of modern Germany (sponsored by the Tretter Collection for
GLBT Studies). Event is open to the public.
May 10 is the Kerlan Award Ceremony & Kerlan Professional Day
with speaker Walter Dean Myers. The Kerlan Award is
"presented annually in recognition of singular attainments
in the creation of children's literature and in appreciation
for generous donation of unique resources to the Kerlan
Collection for the study of children's literature". Contact
The CLRC for more information at: clrc@umn.edu
June 24 - Chase Lecture - speaker poet Paul B. Janeczko will
give the lecture at 4:30 pm. More information to come on
CLRC's website:http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Upcoming events in the area
Thought I'd throw these up... I think it would be great to share local events via our blog. You can either e-mail me or post your events yourself if you are a member of our bookclub.
Monday, January 28, 2008
CUBA15 and AMERICAN BORN CHINESE
Our inadvertent theme this month seemed to be cultural identity struggles. Both of these books deal with main characters trying to find themselves among a split cultural identity.
While most everyone enjoyed CUBA 15 by Nancy Osa, there was a feeling that overall it lacked enough poignant moments that would lend itself for good discussion points regarding multiculturalism with younger readers. There were some feelings of frustration with the book, but we discussed whether this was intentional on the author's part wanting the reader to feel as frustrated as the main character, Violet Paz. We also discussed whether or not the author may have purposefully chosen to not focus on the real angst of the multi-cultural situations in the book and more on the actual coming of age of Violet. Was the author's intent to gloss over some of the racial and cultural situations or was she choosing to be "color blind" and not dwell on the possible tensions and issues? Again, final word on the book from the bookclub: Sweet, enjoyable, but not as poignant as expected.
AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang seemed to capture and force people to think more about the struggle which many multicultural youth face whether American-born within a multicultural family or a new immigrant trying to understand a new culture. The three stories are intricately told through graphic novel. We felt this was an excellent way to tell these stories which are all inter-connected and deal with finding and accepting ones true self. This is a book that anyone can learn a lesson from and resonate with even if they are not specifically Chinese-American. We discussed this book's merit in receiving the 2007 Printz Award and felt that it has a broader resonance for readers than several of the others. Our thoughts: this is an intense, sometimes uncomfortable, but powerful and thought provoking book worthy of its award and honors.
While most everyone enjoyed CUBA 15 by Nancy Osa, there was a feeling that overall it lacked enough poignant moments that would lend itself for good discussion points regarding multiculturalism with younger readers. There were some feelings of frustration with the book, but we discussed whether this was intentional on the author's part wanting the reader to feel as frustrated as the main character, Violet Paz. We also discussed whether or not the author may have purposefully chosen to not focus on the real angst of the multi-cultural situations in the book and more on the actual coming of age of Violet. Was the author's intent to gloss over some of the racial and cultural situations or was she choosing to be "color blind" and not dwell on the possible tensions and issues? Again, final word on the book from the bookclub: Sweet, enjoyable, but not as poignant as expected.
AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang seemed to capture and force people to think more about the struggle which many multicultural youth face whether American-born within a multicultural family or a new immigrant trying to understand a new culture. The three stories are intricately told through graphic novel. We felt this was an excellent way to tell these stories which are all inter-connected and deal with finding and accepting ones true self. This is a book that anyone can learn a lesson from and resonate with even if they are not specifically Chinese-American. We discussed this book's merit in receiving the 2007 Printz Award and felt that it has a broader resonance for readers than several of the others. Our thoughts: this is an intense, sometimes uncomfortable, but powerful and thought provoking book worthy of its award and honors.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ALA announces literary award winners...
The news is out!
"Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schiltz is 2008's Newbery Award winner.
"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick is 2008's Caldecott Medal winner.
See all the honors and other award winners at American Library Associations website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/announce08.htm
We'll have to consider some of these for our 2008 reads!
"Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schiltz is 2008's Newbery Award winner.
"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick is 2008's Caldecott Medal winner.
See all the honors and other award winners at American Library Associations website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/announce08.htm
We'll have to consider some of these for our 2008 reads!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Recap CLAY and ERAGON...
In a nut shell we thought CLAY by David Almond "creepy". Some of us thought it was "creepy" good while others of us thought it was "creepy" bad. For those of us who didn't care for the book the main issue was the "bad child". In the end, we discussed who/what Clay really was - was he real? magic? or simply an alter ego to express what happen? Was the book using magic realism or playing on hypnotic games?
If you are expecting another SKELLIG this may be a bit disappointing. There's not really the warm sense that the magic of SKELLIG created in this tale. It's more along the lines of a Stephen King type book. As a matter of fact, if you enjoy Stephen King you will probably enjoy this book.
ERAGON by Christopher Paolini, on the other hand, was more widely well-liked by those who had read it. A typical hero journey, but with many twists and turns to keep the adventure exciting for any reader. Characters are well developed and well-used. For example, Brom's character tends to slow the learning of Eragon and keeps the story from moving too quickly. What more could you want, legends, dragons and a young adult who is key in saving his world!
If you are expecting another SKELLIG this may be a bit disappointing. There's not really the warm sense that the magic of SKELLIG created in this tale. It's more along the lines of a Stephen King type book. As a matter of fact, if you enjoy Stephen King you will probably enjoy this book.
ERAGON by Christopher Paolini, on the other hand, was more widely well-liked by those who had read it. A typical hero journey, but with many twists and turns to keep the adventure exciting for any reader. Characters are well developed and well-used. For example, Brom's character tends to slow the learning of Eragon and keeps the story from moving too quickly. What more could you want, legends, dragons and a young adult who is key in saving his world!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
ALA announces Teen's Top Ten 2007...
Making the list:
Interesting that the number one book picked is the sequel to TWILIGHT which our group all enjoyed! Of course, to complete the series one should continue on with ECLIPSE after NEW MOON.
Any of the other ones sound good for future book club choices?
- New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).
- Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (Viking Children's Books, 2006)
- How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles (Flux, 2006).
- Maximum Ride: School's Out - Forever by James Patterson (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).
- Firegirl by Tony Abbott (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).
- All Hallows Eve (13 Stories) by Vivian Vande Velde (Harcourt, 2006).
- Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Harcourt, 2006).
- River Secrets by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury, 2006).
- Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe (HarperCollins, 2006).
- Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks (Chicken House, 2006).
Interesting that the number one book picked is the sequel to TWILIGHT which our group all enjoyed! Of course, to complete the series one should continue on with ECLIPSE after NEW MOON.
Any of the other ones sound good for future book club choices?
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
CC & Me...
Here's the photo that I mentioned in the comments section of STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES.
I don't know who actually took the photo or what credit I should give, but I thank whomever it was that took it as I am actually in it! The original photo (without my notation) can be viewed at http://www.chriscrutcher.com/content/blogcategory/117/96/
Just thought I'd share.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
What we've read so far (revisited & updated)...
What we've read so far...
2007
Jan. - Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare & Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
Feb. - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Mar. - The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Apr. - Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David
Levithan
May - An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
June/July - Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
August - Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
September - Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
2006
June - Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
July - Hoot by Carl Hiassen
Aug - Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Sept. - Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Oct. - Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Nov. - Blankets by Craig Thompson
Dec. - NO MEETING
2007
Jan. - Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare & Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
Feb. - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Mar. - The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Apr. - Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David
Levithan
May - An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
June/July - Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
August - Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
September - Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
2006
June - Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
July - Hoot by Carl Hiassen
Aug - Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Sept. - Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Oct. - Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Nov. - Blankets by Craig Thompson
Dec. - NO MEETING
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