Yesterday's opening workshop in Philly was packed. The room was so poorly arranged that I bet half of the folks there could not see a thing (big column in middle of room, screen set far in one corner). We had to bring in chairs before I could begin (darn!). Joan Kaywell chaired with her usual measure of energy and asked everyone to join ALAN. I talked books for 70 minutes and then sat down dripping sweat. After the session, we went to the Middle School Get Together to listen to Cris Tovani. Another overly packed room with no open chairs. So, we stood outside. That proved fortuitous as I ran into loads of friends. Jim Burke, Bob Probst, Kylene Beers (and her husband and daughter, too) and scads of others came and went as we stood and gulped down what I think was Hawaiian Punch (we spare no expense at conference). Dinner was snacks in concierge lounge where even more NCTE friends had gathered (shout out to Spring Branch folks).

Today is my husband's bday. I am always gone to NCTE for this, but I assure you he was showered with gifts and meals out and a card is waiting for him at home. Now, shower is on order. Have sessions that begin early and go to the end of the day. Will tweet and perhaps blog from them as I can.

Happy Friday. Happy Bday, H.

After a bit of a delay, the plane took off and arrived in Philly a tad late. But that was yesterday. Now I am ensconced in the Marriott in my jammies updating the blog and reading all the tweets I missed during my travels.

First, WOO HOO to the NBA for selecting Philip Hoose's CLAUDETTE COLVIN as the winner for Young People's Literature. Nonfiction!!!! And Colvin was there. How I wish I could have seen that.

Second, I read a book on the plane, ELI THE GOOD by Silas House. (Candlewick, 2009)




The summer of Eli's tenth year is a momentous one. His father is returned from Vietnam; the country is getting ready to celebrate the Bicentennial. Eli's best friend's parents are divorcing; his aunt Nell is living with the family. This compelling story is all about the DETAILS. They serve to slow the story down, to make it move as slowly as those summer days of Eli's youth. As Eli notes, "Sometimes being still is the best thing you can do for yourself." (96)

Told in four parts, this is a story first and foremost about family. And family is not just traditional. Edie, Eli's best friend, is family. His sister's boyfriend is family. Family, war, friendship: all themes resonate here. This quiet novel is worthy of readers of all ages.

Go see this fabulous posting from Traci Gardner about teaching literature at the NCTE blog:


http://ncteinbox.blogspot.com/2009/11/secret-to-teaching-literature.html

WILD THINGS by Clay Carmichael (Front Street, 2009) is the story of an orphaned girl, her uncle, and an abandoned cat find each other and create a family. Zoe comes to lie with her Uncle Henry after her own mother commits suicide. While she is still surveying her new territory she notices a feral cat lurking at the edge of the property. Zoe begins her attempts to lure the cat closer, to get the cat to trust her. She shares much with this cat, prefers to be independent so as not to be hurt. Uncle Henry is careful to give Zoe space as well, letting her find her own way into his life.

This pitiful summary does not even come close to doing justice to this compelling story about how separate lives become entwined, how individuals come together as a family. The language sings, settings come alive. characters enter into your heart. Interspersed into Zoe's story is the tale of the feral cat who observes much out in the woods. This dual narrative works well: they are often echoes of each other, giving a wonderfully round shape to the story.

Interesting post about Oxford's WORD OF THE YEAR here: http://blog.oup.com/2009/11/unfriend/

Yes, the word is unfriend. I have had a run-in with an unfriending situation this year. Talk about something that can make blood boil.

Other than that one incident, I honestly do not keep track of how many friends or tweeps I have.

But unfriending sucks.

I have been collecting pop-up books ever since I took a course on the history of children's literature and did a research project on the history of the movable book. Last week, I received the newest offering from Mo Willems entitled, BIG FROG CAN'T FIT IN. Before I could even remove it from the plastic sleeve, two of my colleagues pounced in it and played with it until they have uncovered every movable part. Today, when I got to the office ahead of the throng, I had my chance.

Frog is too big to fit into a book. Solution: a bigger book. Lots of fun with perspective here and the pop-ups though simple are clever in design and in engineering.

The resident of the back bedroom had to play at the football playoff game last night in Waco and so did not return to the school until the wee hours of Sunday morning. We all decided to sleep in and then have an early b-day celebration for my better half since his bday always falls when I am at NCTE. Then, it was serious napping. Needless to say, not much else was accomplished.

I did, however, read an interesting piece in the NYT about teachers scoring $$$ for sharing lessons online. There was some question as to whether or not this was kosher. If plans were written using school district resources and materials, it seemed to be the conclusion that the plans belonged to the district and not the teacher. In some ways, we are confronting some of this at the university level. For instance, I have taught two online classes and conducted two webinars for professional organizations with the blessings/permission of my employer. The question remains, though, who owns these materials? Early contracts awarded "custody" to the professional organizations. I refused to sign them as I consider this work my own intellectual property. I do not want to sign away the rights to present these same ideas in workshops and articles.

So, what is the ethical stance here? We are entering some gray areas in the days of online instructional environments.

I will say again that I hate falling back. It makes Scout insane as he knows he is supposed to be fed when And it ensures we are up even earlier than we need to be on a Saturday. Ah well. More time to read, eh?

GRAY BABY by Scott Loring Sanders (Houghton Mifflin, 2009) is the story of Clifton. On his 8th birthday, Cliff is sitting in the back seat of the family car heading to the drive-in with his parents. Police stop the car, drag his father from the vehicle and beat him to death. His crime: driving a new car with a white woman passenger. Never mind that the woman is Cliff's mother. The death is ruled an accident.

Flash forward 8 years. Cliff's mother is a barely functioning alcoholic. Cliff is isolated from everything and everyone. The release of some balloons by his class at school does give him an idea of how to connect to SOMEBODY. Cliff places notes into his mother's empty wine bottles and sets them adrift in the river. One day, he receives a response from his letters. Ultimately, Cliff becomes friends with Swamper, an old man who lives outside of town. The friendship will be essential to Cliff as he deals with new obstacles in his life and the lives of those he loves.

"History" (yes, I know that this is not history to those who read this blog but it is to the resident of the back bedroom and many other teens) comes alive in this story of a young man's search for his own identity and for some justice for his murdered father. What Cliff learns is an important lesson for us all: sometimes there is no justice. But perhaps there is some redemption.

No cover to show as Amazon's cover is "locked" and Titlewave did not have one available.

How can you not pick up a book with a blurb from Jon Stewart on the cover? I never miss THE DAILY SHOW, the best news program on TV. So, when one of his producers writes a book for kids, I want to read it. I AM A GENIUS OF UNSPEAKABLE EVIL AND I WANT TO BE YOUR CLASS PRESIDENT probably will appeal more to older than younger readers. It is smart and funny but mostly snarky. Oliver masquerades as a bullied 8th grader. In reality, he is one of the wealthiest people in the world. Now he wants to win the election as class president to settle a long standing score against his own father. How he goes about manipulating the entire process is painfully funny, painful as there is some truth to the extent Oliver will go to in order to win the election. Short chapters with a breezy narrative means it is a quick read as well.

Here, BTW, is the new photo of yours truly taken by my hubby yesterday. Who is this old lady with too many chins? When did she take over?

1. getting to have dinner with David Lubar who is in Houston doing school visits.
2. getting free dinner.
3. being called a goddess.
4. enjoying great food and tastier company.

Really, what a great job I have.

Hubby just snapped some new photos of me for back of forthcoming book. How did I get so old? And fat? Nothing like a photo to bring reality crashing back.

On a happier note, I did finish a few "almosts" today. Before I depart for NCTE I want to have the stack of TO DO cleared. Then I can enjoy the week with less guilt and not return to craziness with any luck.

Here is the ever photogenic Scout.

From the mind of Ze Frank

Here is the power point for the session I will do on new YA books next week at NCTE.

I have spent the last several days listening to Art Slade's THE HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS in audio form. From the opening passage that sets up a mysterious and sinister plot to the final throes of a battle between the evil Dr. Hyde's mechanical destructive machine powered by children (and Prince Albert) this is a riotous romp of an adventure. Meet Modo, a baby abandoned near Notre Dame and reared by Mr. Socrates to become part of his spy network of young people recruited from abandoned children (shades of Oliver Twist). Modo is set to the task of discovering what he can about a secret society. What he uncovers are the machinations (literally) of Dr. Hyde in his laboratory far below the streets. Why is Hyde conducting these inhuman experiments? Can Modo and Octavia (his partner in espionage) stop Hyde and rescue the children Hyde is using for his nefarious plots?

Take a soupcon of Jekyll/Hyde, add in some elements of Frankenstein and the Hunchback of Notre Dame along with some 007 and other literary allusions, and you have some idea of the great good fun that awaits you with this story. Steampunk, adventure, mystery, tragedy, comedy: all come together in a fast paced tale brought to life in this pitch perfect audio.

Please, sir, may I have some more?

After all the hustle and bustle from the conference yesterday, it was lovely to relax this morning and take time to read. We head out shortly to meet the newlyweds for a late lunch and then go to church to watch the resident of the back bedroom receive Confirmation. All in all, a good weekend.

GRINGOLANDIA is the story of Daniel, a teen whose family fled to the US after his father was arrested in Chile. Daniel's father has spent many years in prison being tortured by the Pinochet government. He is finally released to rejoin his family in the US, but he is a changed man. Daniel does not know quite how to deal with his father and the recurring nightmares that jolt the family awake at night. But Daniel's girlfriend, Courtney, a young woman Daniel's father refers to as "la gringa" gets him to tell the story of his imprisonment. With her assistance, these stories appear as published articles in small newspapers.

There is precious little available for YA on this historical period (yes, I know, but it is history to teens) and the writing is immediate. Miller-Lachmann draws readers into the story by making them care about young Daniel who witnesses the brutality of the soldiers who break into his home at night and take his father away. By focusing on the reactions of Daniel and his sister and Courtney, the book becomes more than a history lesson. Given some of the dictatorships still present in the world, teachers and librarians should consider this a book to bring to the attention of readers through booktalks.

What a grand day. It began with Jackie Woodson and ended with Christopher Paul Curtis. In between, I had the chance to talk to friends, colleagues, former and current students. Here are a couple of photos from the day.

Tomorrow marks the first conference I have not coordinated for our department in 20 years. That is why I am actually at home tonight reading and watching TV instead of at the university taking care of last minute details. Christopher Paul Curtis and Jacqueline Woodson are the stars of the show tomorrow. I will tweet and post to FB as I have the chance. I am so looking forward to sitting and listening to the speakers, eating lunch, cruising the book sales and then leaving.

On Sunday we will celebrate the resident of the back bedroom's Confirmation. Great weekend.

Read ms of a forthcoming 2010 YA. As soon as I get the go-ahead, I will post about it here. Here is a photo of the photogenic Scout.

Jenny Moss' WINNIE'S WAR is a wonderful story of a plucky (love this word and it really applies) young girl living in Texas at the time of the influenza outbreak in 1918. Winnie would do anything to keep the disease from entering her home and threatening her sisters, her mother and father. But no one seems to know what to do to keep the flu at bay. In the meantime, Winnie has to deal with a cantankerous grandmother, a best firnd who seems to be better friends with someone else, and maybe a budding romance. Moss handles both the tragic losses and the everday ins and outs of Winnie's life with aplomb. I am looking forward to meeting Moss at NCTE.

WILLOW by Julia Hoban (Dial, 2009) is the story of a teen whose parents are killed in a car accident, an accident that occurred while she was driving the car. Willow now lives with her brother and sister-in-law and niece. While she appears relatively all right on the surface, Willow is hiding a dark secret: she cuts herself. Enter Guy, a fellow student at her high school who discovers Willow's secret and wants to tell someone about it. Willow persuades Guy to keep her secret and he agrees. However, Willow has to make a promise that she will call Guy if she feels the need to injure herself. An interesting take here where the cutting is known and that there is someone trying to intercede.

Cutting is something that affects many teens. Patricia McCormick's CUT and Laurie Halse Anderson's WINTERGIRLS both deal with this issue, too.