I’ve finished the final pages of MOCKINGJAY, and feel the need to extend my foray into children’s literature.  While anxiously awaiting the galley of THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES by Carrie Ryan, and having already read REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly, I am now in need of guidance.

I’ve consulted 1001 CHILDREN’S BOOK YOU MUST READ BEFORE YOU GROW UP and made an exciting discovery.  I’ve never read EMILY OF NEW MOON by Lucy Maud Montgomery!  So I turn to the classics for the moment.  But what should come next?

What are your favorite, must-read books in children’s literature?

-Erica

So I just finished two weeks of grand jury duty where I spent my workdays sitting in a room with 22 other people hearing mutliple cases and voting on whether to indict the defendants. A case would come, we’d vote, and then we’d wait for another. Sometimes the wait time was 20 minutes and sometimes it was two hours. This means I had a lot of time to read so of course I flew through some wonderful books!

I started by finishing the last few chapters of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. Out in October from Random House Children’s this engrossing historical read combines the story of a troubled teen growing up in contemporary Brooklyn with that of a rebellious young woman living during the French Reniassance.

Next came Dracula in Love, a staff favorite and an alternate take on Bram Stoker’s classic from the point of view of his love interest, Mina Murray. It has been heralded as Twilight for grown-ups and I agree!

After Dracula I tried a non-Random House title, Matched, which is the newest in dystopian YA fiction and would definitely appeal to fans of The Hunger Games.

From there I did a little more cheating and buried my nose in two titles I’d been told to read for a while now: The Shadow of the Wind and The Help. Both were excellent reads.

Now it is back to the grind and while I find I very much enjoyed all my reading time, I’m glad to be back amongst my wonderful colleagues. What have you all been reading lately?

-Marie

Over the weekend I was chatting with a friend about a favorite Random House Children’s YA book of mine, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Around this time last year, I blogged about the latest in the series, The Dead-Tossed Waves and how much I loved it so I recommended it to my friend who, like me, loved Hands and Teeth.

When I got home I had this link in my e-mail inbox. Guess who is rumored to be assuming the lead role? None other than Bella herself – Twilight movie alum Kristen Stewart. If this is true, she will certainly have established herself as the undead genre heroine of choice. I’m not so sure about this casting. What do you think?

If you have not yet read Carrie Ryan’s series, make sure you check it out!

-Marie

Most who know me know I love dogs. But few know the name I’m considering for my future dog. He will be big and oaf-like, a bull in a china closet, mischevious with a heart of gold. And he will be named Huck Finn. Blame the book nerd in me.

So it seems only fitting that I add the new book by the same name to my ever-expanding reading list. In the same vein as Marley or Dewey, Huck is the story of what happens to a community when a boy’s beloved pooch is lost. Never under estimate the power of a dog to galvanize a handful of would-be strangers.

Huck hits shelves in September. Be sure to add it to your list. And while we’re on the subject, does anyone have a Huck or a Marley? What are your pets’ names? Or, if you’re like me, future pet names?

-Marie

No doubt your younger patrons are anxiously awaiting their impending summer freedom and are chomping at the bit for some great reads, bounding up to your reference desk with eyes full of anticipation.

Or not.

Whether you are met with more reluctance than voraciousness at your branch, you are all surely in need of some great books to recommend.

Enter Random House Academic’s new 12 Best Bets For Summer Reading brochure and Summer Reading webpage. Both resources are chock full of the newest graphic novels, adventures, could-be classics, and biographies… a collection your kids will dig. The Summer Reading webpage also features free teacher’s guides, articles for professional development, links to lesson plans, author biographies, and an educational calendar marking key anniversaries with teachable book suggestions.

Authors visits are exciting.  You might think that working for Random House, we would be bumping into them in the hallways every day.  But sadly we don’t.

So when Peter Buffett visited yesterday to celebrate the publication of his memoir and perform for us, it was amazing.  His music and message are beautiful and inspirational. We’re all still talking about how moving it was.  I started reading it immediately last night. 

I’m happy to share a special treat with one lucky YA librarian – a signed copy! Please explore Peter’s website and let us know which popular musician he has collaborated with to promote his passionate, philanthropic work.

“Peter Buffett has given us a wise and inspiring book that should be required reading for every young person seeking to find his or her place in the world, and for every family hoping to give its daughters and sons the best possible start in life.”
–President Bill Clinton

“Knowing and admiring Peter as we do, LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT captures his spirit, passion, and values beautifully. As parents, it’s the kind of dialogue about our life’s purpose and opportunity we’re having with our children. We will have everyone in our family read and discuss LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT .”
–Bill & Melinda Gates

“With home-spun, heart-felt wisdom, Peter Buffett ponders how to make a meaningful life, while making a living. LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT is thought-provoking, worthwhile reading.”
–Ted Turner

Download a free collection of Peter’s music at: www.peterbuffett.com/PBMusic
Enter code: lifeiswhatyoumakeit

A couple of readers recently commented (thanks!) on my review of the new memoir, I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. Since this book has sparked conversation and contemplation, I thought I’d share this recent op-ed piece in The New York Times  by Pulitzer-Prize winner Nicholas D. Kristof whose book, Half the Sky, is a Random House, Inc. bestseller.

Feel free to comment and let me know what you think! I’d love to discuss.

-Marie

Perhaps you’ve seen them at ALA, those glossy editions of RHI magazine focused on subjects such as “Reaching Reluctant Readers” and “Promoting Citizenship” and “Censorship and Banned Books.” If you’ve flipped through them you’ve no doubt read original articles by professionals in various fields and cherished Random House authors and pieces by then Senator Barack Obama and literary great Maya Angelou.

Now RHI is back and going green for the fourth edition. Take a look at the new RHI Magazine on the Web focusing on environmental education (appropriately) and also allowing readers to chime in. You will also find original pieces by such notable authors as Stephen Rinella (American Buffalo), Matthew Pearl (The Last Dickens) and an introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

You may also download past issues of RHI Magazine via the highschool webpage. Be sure to check back often as new and wonderful content is always forthcoming!

On the Trekkie scale, I probably average about a 4 out of 10.  I don’t have a costume and only recently, finally, saw all of the original movies. But I’m a fan nonetheless. I loved the J.J. Abrams movie last summer and am thrilled to see that Library Journal gave a stellar review of Star Trek: The Art of the Film from Titan Books!

“Director J.J. Abrams bold—and smart—reimagining of the dying Star Trek franchise was a pleasant surprise to both critics and especially rabid fans, whose phasers were set on kill if he mistreated their baby. He didn’t. Both Abrams and the screenwriters handled the material with the utmost seriousness and respect it deserved, creating a thrilling sci-fi action adventure revealing the iconic characters’ beginnings. This tie-in volume sports text by NY Times best selling author Vaz (an old friend to sci-fi film fans), and a ton of concept art, screen grabs, and behind-the-scenes shots covering all aspects of the film’s technical production. Chapters cover the creation of the assorted alien species, ships (the Enterprise, of course, gets more than 20 pages of coverage), props, uniforms, poster art, and more. Publisher Titan does Art of books right and this is no exception, the photos and illustrations are outstanding and what fans really want. Just loads of coolness for Trek heads, who’ll be crazy for this book. Grab it.”—Mike Rogers, LJX/LJ

This past weekend Erica, our RHAcademic co-worker Lani, and I flew to Atlanta for the National Council for Social Studies conference. Aside from the great perks of traveling (my personal fave is not having to make my own bed!) one wonderful thing about conferences is that it gives me a chance to discover or rediscover books that somehow missed my radar. This was the case with I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.

I picked up a galley copy of this slim book as I was drawn to the  image of a beautiful little girl on the cover. Then I noticed the title. 10 years old and divorced?! I was immediately intrigued. Nujood, a Yemeni girl, had no record of the exact date or year of her birth but it was around age ten that she was married, without her consent, to a man three times her senior. She endured life as a wife, forbidden to play or do other childlike things, until one day she decided to get out. She slipped away to a courthouse where she asked to see a judge and demanded a divorce. Her request was granted and Nujood became the first child bride in Yemen to divorce her husband, setting precendence for so many others. 

She writes, “I am a simple village girl whose family had to move to the capital, and I have always obeyed the orders of the men in my family. Since forever, I have learned to say yes to everything. Today, I have decided to say no.” Nujood’s story is written in her voice and its childlike simplicity is exactly what makes it so powerful. Actions are alluded to, feelings are described, and the reader experiences it all with Nujood, from her family struggles to tasting “bizza” and “bebsi” for the first time.

While reading, I often found myself imagining what it would have been like to read this book as a young adult. It is a perfect addition to your Young Adult collection, great for parent/teen reading groups and school assignments. I have no doubt readers of all ages will be inspired and humbled by Nujood’s experience.  

I am Nujood will be published in March 2010. Be sure to add it to your lists!  

 -Marie