I head up postergirlz, the book advisory council for readergirlz. We were all very taken with Just Listen, this month's book pick, so we set up a virtual roundtable to discuss it further. We hope this post will encourage you to read the book and post your thoughts at the readergirlz forum. Miss Erin was unable to attend, but the other council members - Jackie, Alexia, HipWriterMama, and me, Little Willow - were present and very chatty. Feel free to Just Listen in!

HipWriterMama: I can't believe I read Just Listen in one sitting.

Little Willow: Go HipWriter Mama! I'm proud.

HWM: I put off reading the book, because the cover art didn't appeal to me. I figured I'd read a couple chapters and by then, I couldn't put the book down. It was really good.

Alexia: I read it in one sitting too! I completely ignored all of my homework, that was a problem the next day, but it was totally worth it!

LW: (said knowingly, not scolding) Do your homework, young lady.

Jac: I actually started Just Listen on audio book during a long trip. I was down to the last two CDs when I got home, and I just couldn't wait for the next time I got in the car, so I had to dig up the book and read it to the end right after I got home!

( Read more... )

Want to discuss this and other books with readers from all over the world? Visit the readergirlz forum, where we'll be discussing Just Listen all month long.

Sarah Dessen herself will also be dropping by the readergirlz forum throughout the month. We'll host an hour-long chat with her on Thursday, March 27th at 12:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM EST.

Related Posts: Check out other roundtable book discussions at Bildungsroman as well as my reviews of Sarah Dessen's novels.

I am a readergirl! Are you?
Read the new issue of readergirlz. (We hope you enjoy both the content and the brand-new layout!)

This month, readergirlz are discussing Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

Just Listen is a year in the life of a family coming to terms with the imperfections beneath its perfect facade. Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything." This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend, no peace at home, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong, a music-obsessed boy. With his help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Talk About It

Want to discuss Just Listen with other readers? Drop by the readergirlz forum, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can't wait to hear your thoughts on this fabulous book!

Want to chat with Sarah Dessen herself? Want to get your hands on her next book, Lock and Key? Join our Sneak Peek Lock and Key Party Thursday, March 27th at 12:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM EST at the readergirlz forum. Look forward to awesome Lock and Key swag and ARC (advance reader copies) giveaways!

Listen in as the postergirlz have a roundtable discussion of Just Listen.

Recommended Reads

Our March theme is Truth. With this month's book and theme in mind, the readergirlz divas and the postergirlz advisory council recommend the following books:

A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian (review + roundtable)
Stay With Me by Garrett Freymann-Weyr
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Kissing the Bee by Kathe Koja
Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
Red: The Next Generation of American Writers

New Downloads and Shareables

Celebrate Women's History Month and our one year anniversary with us!

The readergirlz Make History cards offer powerful quotes from books we featured during our first year. Save the cards in PDF or JPG form, print them, stick them on your locker or bulletin board, and send them to your best friends. Be encouraged to make your own history!

Read, reflect, and reach out with girlz around the world during our second year. Download and print the readergirlz vow.

Commemorate our first year with this limited edition readergirlz pendant, created and crafted by readergirlz member and jeweler Gypsy Wings.

Check out our brand-new page of downloadable goodies.

Visit the readergirlz archive.

Last month's featured book and author: Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
Next month's featured book and author: Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham

Related Posts:
Meet the readergirlz divas and the postergirlz advisory council
Read the original readergirlz press release
View all of the readergirlz-tagged posts at Bildungsroman
Read my review of Just Listen and all of Sarah Dessen's novels in Author Spotlight: Sarah Dessen
The postergirlz had a roundtable discussion of Just Listen

In 2002, a customer tapped a book that was facing out on the shelf. It was called This Lullaby. Her finger still on the cover, she turned to me. "Have you read this?"

"No, actually," I replied.

She was surprised. "But you've read everything!"

I smiled. "Not everything. Not that one - not yet." I told her that I hadn't read anything by the author, Sarah Dessen, but I intended to do so.

And I did. At the urging of one of my regular customers, a very passionate reader who was in high school at the time, I read Dreamland first. I quickly blazed through Sarah's backlist, reading them in the order they had been released. By the time I got to This Lullaby, Sarah had firmly secured a place on the list of contemporary authors I enjoyed. She has a strong following, and I feel she has earned it. Her writing is consistent, engrossing, and straightforward. I've enjoyed all of her novels and look forward to more.

Here is an overview of her books, in order of publication:

That Summer

All of Sarah Dessen's books have fitting titles and realistic leading ladies, and her debut is no exception.

( Read more... )

Someone Like You

Some best friend pairs are comprised of one outgoing person and one introverted person. Such is the case with dynamic Scarlett and quiet Halley.

( Read more... )

Keeping the Moon

Nicole "Colie" Sparks isn't the only girl who feels embarrassed by her mother. She is, however, the only daughter of Kiki, a woman who has become known for informercials. Both Kiki and Colie have lost a great deal of weight, but while Kiki seeks out the spotlight, Colie would rather hide out in the shadows.

( Read more... )

Dreamland

To simply say that Dreamland is the story of a girl who has an abusive boyfriend would be selling the book - and the girl - short. Though the physical abuse is a large portion of Sarah Dessen's darkest story, that is not all. Dreamland is also about the dissolution of a family.

( Read more... )

This Lullaby

My second favorite Dessen novel revolves around a girl who has no interest in romance and is haunted by a song.

( Read more... )

The Truth About Forever

When Macy was little, her father used to drag her and her older sister Caroline out to local marathons with him and sign them up for the kids' track. By the time she was eight, Macy knew she was a good runner - fast, focused, flying. Caroline was no longer interested in running, so it became something that Macy shared just with her father. He'd help her prepare for meets, and they ran together in the mornings.

One morning, that all changed.

( Read more... )

Just Listen

Annabel Greene lives in a glass house.

No, really.

( Read more... )

Check out the roundtable discussion of Just Listen with the postergirlz.

Lock and Key

Ask twenty people to define "family," and you'll get twenty different definitions. Ruby's definition of family is about to change, and she's not quite sure what that means.

For years, Ruby and her mother moved from apartment to apartment. They lived in random places and cramped spaces above other people's garages. When Ruby's mom takes off and doesn't come back, Ruby does just fine on her own - until child services steps in and sends her to live with her older sister, Cora, who hasn't seen Ruby in ten years.

( Read my full-length book review... )

Tidbits

All of Dessen's books are set in the same town, a fictional town called Lakeview. No book is a sequel/prequel to another book, but the books do have connections. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll put it this way: Keep your eyes open and you will see some familiar faces make cameos.

Though The Truth About Forever is my favorite Dessen novel, Lock and Key is home to the first Dessen protagonist that I can directly relate to - though not to the family situation, thank goodness, or the "bad stuff." Instead, I simply get Ruby, like I get Jade from Deb Caletti's novel The Nature of Jade. I share elements of Ruby's personality: her stubborn streak, her determination to do things on her own and her reluctance to let others assist her.

That Summer and Someone Like You were combined to make the film How to Deal. It was odd to see them mixed together into one film. Some characters weren't there, while others were combined. Some of my favorite moments from the books weren't in the movie.

Sarah has contributed short stories to anthologies such as Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, One Hot Second, and Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Artwork.

In 2006, when Just Listen was released, I had the opportunity to interview her.

In March 2008, Sarah will be the featured author at readergirlz, with Just Listen as the book group pick of the month. Learn more. Read the March 2008 issue of readergirlz.

Many thanks to Sarah for noting this post at her own journal. I'm honored!

Visit Sarah Dessen's official website and LiveJournal.

Christopher Golden and Maureen Johnson have at least two things in common:

One: I will read anything and everything they write. Their novels, their blogs, their shopping lists... If either ever chooses to write greeting cards, I will read those too.

Two: Each author has a varied backlist, allowing me to recommend their books to an audience just as varied. Like greeting cards, there's something for every occasion.

While the majority of Golden's books are in the horror/fantasy genre, Maureen tends to live in the land of realistic fiction. Her dramatic stories get me right in the heart. Her novels which are infused with elements of comedy make me laugh out loud.

Shiny Objects

Here's a rundown of Maureen Johnson's novels in order of publication:

The Key to the Golden Firebird

Three sisters deal with the loss of their father in vastly different ways. I recommend this book alongside The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, and The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando. They make for a well-written quartet of books about grieving. It just so happens that the titles all start with the same word.

The Bermudez Triangle

Nina, Avery, and Mel have been best friends for so long that nothing could ever change that. Right? Their close ties are tested when two of them start dating each other and senior year rears its ugly head.

This book has one of my favorite supporting characters: the instantly likable Parker. I think he would be friends with Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charlie from A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian. In fact, I wish he were my friend.

The Bermudez Triangle: Too Cool for School? details what happened when this book was challenged at a school in 2007.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Ginny is sent on a journey through Europe via letters from her aunt. Since Aunt Peg recently passed away, this is Ginny's chance to see how she lived and connect with her friends. She is instructed to open the envelopes one by one, which makes for an interesting scavenger hunt which includes airmail, famous sights, and foreign money. Oh, and washing machines, department stores, and braids.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes What a Girl Wants. Mention that movie in my presence and I will tell you about no less than three things, one of which is this book, which I read while traveling myself, though not to Europe.

Devilish

Warning: While reading this book, you may have a craving for cupcakes, but do not, repeat, do not accept cupcakes from strangers. Even if they are seemingly harmless new transfer students. This modern-day spin on Faust takes place at an all-girls prep school. Can we say dark comedy?

Girl at Sea

Clio was planning on spending her seventeenth summer at an art supply store, working alongside hip, artsy folks who would appreciate her unique style, and hanging out at home with her mom and her cat. Then the phone rang, and she ended up on a ship in Italy with her father and his co-workers.

This book is fabulous, and Clio may very well be my favorite of Maureen's protagonists. Read my full-length review of the book.

Suite Scarlett

Scarlett's story begins on her fifteenth birthday, and the most important gift she receives is a key to a suite. You see, she and her family live in a hotel that's been passed down through the generations, and her parents assign each kid a suite to care for on his or her fifteenth birthday. Scarlett gets more than she bargained for in Mrs. Amberson, the aging actress who occupies the Empire Suite. Mrs. Amberson has money to spare and plenty of opinions to share.

This book has burnt food, fresh bagels, unicyclists, Hamlet, a former actress, and shiny things. What more could you want? It also speaks volumes of truth about family ties.

Read my full-length review of the book.

Suite Scarlett will be available in May 2008.

Fan Movies

The creative team of Starlight Productions and Stun Gun, Inc. have made not one but two short films based on Maureen's blog entries. Maureen was very touched.

Random Thoughts

What I admire about Maureen - in addition to her impressive storytelling ability and her witty sense of humor, of course - is her sense of integrity. She has been honest throughout this whole endeavor. She has garnered the support of readers and authors around the world because she's earned it.

Read my interview with Maureen and The Bermudez Triangle: Too Cool for School?

Visit Maureen's blog and website.

Maureen will be blogging at http://www.insideadog.com.au - the YA site for the Centre for Youth Literature of the State Library of Victoria, Australia - from January 21st, 2008 until February 15th, 2008.

They tried to ban this book today.

This book she holds in her hand.

This book she held in her head, then shared with the word.

This book that, if it were a CD, readers would listen to on repeat.

This book that contains a scene which offended someone, which led to a challenge, which led to a committee review. They - the capital T-kind of They - decided that this book could stay on the shelves.

We should celebrate.

Shouldn't we?

They are going to keep this book in the library - and (partially, lightly, barely, noticeably) deface it. They are going to put a sticker on the front cover to let everyone know that this book is for "mature readers."

That's funny, considering it was an adult - whose maturity is assumed, based on age - who challenged it. Funny because adults are supposed to more mature than teenagers. More knowledgeable. More accepting.

What exactly is a mature reader? Will interested parties have to take a multiple-choice test before being permitted to check out this book? How many questions will truly have right answers?

What will be stickered? What won't be stickered? What will the stickers say?

Why not sticker everything? There's something for everything, something for everyone. Something to object, something to support.

"Happy ending."
"Sad ending."
"Predictable."
"Amazing."
"Overrated."
"Underrated."
"Warning: The dog doesn't live."
"Note: This book dares to be different."
"You'll wish you had written this book."
"You have to read this book."

Each person who checks out this book - that's this book, this challenged book, this book which will challenge you - should be allowed to put another sticker on the front cover. These stickers will depict their favorite symbols and characters. There will be labels that bear the names of readers. There may be scribbles that declare this book well-written and prove its readers discerning, appreciative, daring.

Then, even when the book is closed, the well-stickered cover will speak of its contents and its readers.

Then, even if They-with-the-capital-T remove the cover, the well-worn spine will speak of its chapters and its re-reads.

If the library were a beach, then each book would be a precious shell.

Hold this book up to your ear.

Can you hear the ocean?

Just Listen.

---

They Tried to Ban This Book Today, or,
There's a Sticker on the Cover of This Book
© Little Willow @ Bildungsroman

This piece was written on Friday, January 11th, 2008 as a response to this and that.

I was surprised and honored to find this piece linked at Beneath the Cover's Recommending Reading sidebar on Monday, January 14th, 2008. Thank you!

Please note: In speaking of the scene that caused the challenge, the article gives away a CRUCIAL part of the book. Also, the first line of this piece includes the word "ban" because it is part of a series about challenges, bannings, and censorship, and all of those pieces share the same opening line.

Check out the Just Listen roundtable with the postergirlz!

Open a book. Open your mind.

Listen in as Meg Cabot and I discuss, among other things, her books (and movies), past, present, and future, the difficulties faced when writing for different audiences, fighting censorship, blogging, and, yes, our cats.

Hi Meg! Thank you for chatting with me. I know you have a busy schedule, so I appreciate your time and your thoughts.

Thanks for having me, Little Willow! I've dropped by your blog often, so I'm delighted to be here!

You have written for more than fifty novels and short stories for kids, teens, and adults, ranging from romantic comedies and historical romance to mysteries and supernatural tales. Are there any other genres you'd love to tackle?

Hmmm, none that I can think that I haven't yet. Maybe some weird combination of ones you mentioned above that I haven't tried...supernatural tales for kids, or something. But I've got plenty keeping me busy at the moment!

( Want to find out more about Meg, Mia, Michael, and The Mediator movie? Keep reading! )

Visit Meg Cabot's website.

Celebrate Banned Books Week!

The ALA website lists The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.

( I have read many of them . . .  )

Additional Posts:

Learn more about Banned Books Week and consider my thoughts here or there.

The Alice McKinley series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor contains over twenty books that are frank, funny, dramatic, and realistic. I spotlighted the series in this post.

The Bermudez Triangle: Too Cool for School?
A report by Little Willow
Sponsored in part by The Edge of the Forest, the number 3, Kelly H., Angela N., and readers/viewers like you.

On March 4th, 2007, in Oklahoma, a book challenge was submitted to the school board of Bartlesville Public Schools in Oklahoma. Someone felt that a book had "no moral fiber" and asked for it to be removed "at once."

The book in question: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson, a bestselling young adult novel about three best friends whose once-balanced triumvirate tips and shifts when two of the teens start secretly dating each other.

( Read more... )

IN SUMMARY

The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson is being challenged/banned at a high school in Oklahoma because some people are claiming that the book is full of naughtiness and naked encounters. These claims are unfounded. There's only kissing, and even that is minimal. Furthermore, banning this particular book, let alone any book, makes little to no sense to me, and I do not believe they should prohibit people from reading this book. My review of the book, written years ago, closes with this: "Once you're in THE BERMUDEZ TRIANGLE, you won't want to leave."

Do yourself a favor, gentle readers. Read the book. Think for yourself. Do not let the negative opinions of others cloud your judgment or sway your vote.

For the latest news, please visit Maureen's blog within her website and look for entries tagged Bartlesville.

Maureen's posts make people not only laugh, but take action. Her coverage of The Battle of Bartlesville has inspired people to write posts of their own about the matter, to read the book, to give the book to friends, to speak up, to speak out, to think, to consider, to question - to do something.

I can only hope this post of mine encourages people to do the same.


FOOTNOTES AND CROOKED TOES

( 1 ) Clio, you're right up there too, but your book, Girl at Sea, doesn't come out until June 2007. I promise to give you plenty of airtime at that time because you are tres cool.

( 2 ) I met John once a year ago. I know he knows of me online, and that he knows me as Little Willow, but I do not know if he remembers having met me. There were lots of fangirls present at the time.

( 3 ) Referring to the form filed against this book, which is called A Citizen's Request for Removal of Instructional Materials.

( 4 ) You don't want to make me scream. I'm loud. Just ask those who have brought up The Battle of Bartlesville with me in the past month.

SIGN THE PETITION

If you are from outside of Bartlesville and wish to show your support for The Bermudez Triangle and Maureen Johnson, please sign this petition!

If you are actually from Bartlesville or neighboring communities, please sign the local petition!

UPDATE

I interviewed Maureen Johnson in June 2007. The night before we spoke, she'd received some interesting news. Here's the scoop, directly from Maureen:

I got a note from the local librarian -- the woman who brought all of this to light and who resigned her position over this mess. We've been waiting for weeks and weeks to hear what the committee recommended about the book. They finally decided -- after being pummeled with letters from around the world, and after they were caught violating public policy by exceeding their authority and pulling the book without telling the public -- that Bermudez belongs on the 'reserve shelf.' You'll need parental permission to check it out for 'classroom purposes.' Plus, they want to have some kind of day each year where the parents come in and monitor the library. (This part of their letter was written in a strange way and hard to understand.) This has a bad sound to me. They seem to be suggesting -- and this is just what I'm taking from this -- that parents should come in once a year and see what they approve of. It sounds like they want to put more on the naughty shelf.

I didn't think they could make it worse, but they did. So, the book isn't banned -- you just need a note to look at it. Until then, you can't even get at it.

My response:

I always want to accentuate the positive in life because silver linings are SHINY. I try not to be wholly negative. So - deep breath - this is not a solution, not an equal/even compromise, but at least the book has not been completely banned or removed.

However, by not allowing patrons to freely check out and read the book, the powers that be are causing another series of problems and lies. In sixth grade, my teacher* wouldn't allow students to read Stephen King books without expressed written permission from their parents, so kids simply forged notes. My teacher was so busy creating and enacting that 'permission necessary' rule for the King books that she forgot about the existence of other books and authors, and my classmates snickered as they freely passed around Christopher Pike books with the naughtier passages marked.

* It should be noted that this was the same teacher who refused to believe I read dozens of books every month and graded my book reports very harshly. Let's not talk about her anymore.

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2006, marks BBW's 25th anniversary (September 23-30).

BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.

-- The American Library Association

What I Think

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Read Read Read

Read a book because it's interesting to you - because it's a good book - because it sounds delightful - because it sounds intriguing - because you want to imagine, to learn, to belong, to consider, to challenge yourself, to dream, to wish, to cheer, to think, NOT to think, to escape. Read what you want to read. Read BECAUSE you want to read. Share your love of reading with others.

Here's a special post spotlighting the Alice McKinley series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has combined the frankness of Judy Blume's writing with the fun of L.M. Montgomery's stories, creating a likable protagonist that would be pals with Anne Shirley, were they contemporaries. Alice McKinley is, at times, awkward, uncertain, and shy; in other instances, she is bold, brave, and determined. She lives a good, clean life and makes good decisions most of the time, but is not afraid to ask questions and make her own decisions.

Alice lost her mother at a young age and barely remembers her. She adores her father, who works at a music store, and her older brother Lester. She has two best friends, one mama's girl and one slightly wild child.

Readers can grow with Alice. As the series progresses, Alice gets older, and the reading level (due to content) goes up too. The series tackles everything - name-calling, dating, religion, school, death of a parent, remarriage and stepparents, peer pressure, and more - without ever being preachy or saccharine. Alice discusses life issues and questions taboos with her father, brother and friends without shame, without fear - just openness and honesty. In turn, readers should feel encouraged to discuss these books with their families.

I recommend reading the books in order of publication:

( Read more... )

The official website AliceMcKinley.com offers excerpts from all of the books, reading group guides, and more.