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Shakespeare for Teens
No. 95 (2013)This edition of the YA Hotline is about Shakespeare for teens. It examines a broad range of topics from Shakespeare's influence on other literature to the use of online social media in Shakespearean theatres. On the whole, the message we want to convey to teachers and librarians is that Shakespeare still matters, and is both relevant and accessible to teens. This issue of the YA Hotline will show how Shakespeare's works are continually being 'played with' and reinterpreted through novels, graphic novels, musicals, movies and even Twitter. It will also discuss how teens themselves can connect with Shakespearean works, and will demonstrate that through learning the works of Shakespeare teens will not only gain knowledge about one of the greatest storytellers of all time, but will also develop a deeper understanding of human nature and themselves. -
Always Wired In
No. 94 (2012)Teen Technologies and how YOU can use them to reach out to your Young Adult Patrons -
Vampire Fiction: Books with Bite, or, Books that Bite?
No. 90 (2010)Although vampire fiction has been around since the late 1800s, the release of Stephenie Meyer's vampire series, The Twilight Saga, has lead to a resurgence of vampire fiction in mainstream popularity over the last few years, especially among young adults. As a result, librarians are faced with the daunting task of:- providing reader's advisory for a genre they may not befamiliar with
- coming up with vampire themed programmes
- selecting the best titles from the vast amount books that have been published
- understanding what the genre is, and what makes it so popular
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Crafts
No. 89 (2010)In terms of internal assets that are important for teens to develop, crafting encourages learning new skills and planning ahead. Interpersonal competencies are also reinforced when teens are encouraged to work collaboratively. Crafting projects can involve learning about other cultures and techniques used in various societies, helping teens to broaden their world-view and encouraging empathy for people outside their community.Because the teens have control over their projects and will improve their self-esteem through successful project completion, crafting also helps teens develop positive self-identity. With all that being said, please enjoy this crafty issue of the YA Hotline! -
Exploring Spirituality
No. 87 (2009)The theme of this YA Hotline is religion and spirituality. It includes pratical resources to assist teens who are exploring ideas of faith. This issue includes a brief overview of faiths from around the world. While we could not include every religion, we selected and compiled key resources that highlight a broad range of religious groups and spiritual beliefs. We have included programs, activities, multimedia resources, recipes and recommended fiction and non-fiction titles. -
Gaming
No. 86 (2009)Gaming has exploded over the past few years, becoming one of the top forms of entertainment. There is a continuous argument as to whether video games have or will in future out sell movies. Looking at packaged media in 2008 (includes movies and games), sales were up 20% for video games, while movie sales dropped 6% . This meant that video game sales ended up representing 52.46% of “package sales” while movies were 47.54% (Connors, 2009, ¶ 1).
If there is such a demand for video games, then what exactly is the reason libraries shouldn’t be offering video games and related programming? Libraries should reflect the interests of their communities, and while books will likely always be the number one purpose of a library, video games, like movies and music before them, are a way to draw in patrons who may not have thought to use the library before. -
Shiver Me Timbers : Resources on Pirate and Piracy for Young Adult Librarians
No. 84 (2008)With the popularity of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films, the pirate theme has been brought back as a teen interest. There are numerous classic and modern pirate novels out there for young people to read. Beyond reading, however, there is a wealth of other pirate-themed activities and programming (and more!) which can be done at or through a public library. -
Zines
No. 83 (2008)When deciding on a topic for this issue of YA Hotline, we knew we wanted to explore an alternative aspect of teenage culture. Self-produced publications, known as zines, have long been recognized as providing an alternative outlet for personal expression which would otherwise have no place in mainstream media.
Included in this issue are: investigations into the historical and cultural significance of zines, popular movements associated with zines, tips and suggestions for including zines in libraries, and reviews of zines and zine resources. We also had the pleasure of speaking with a zinester whose passion for zines is truly unmatchable.
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Radicalism and Dystopia
No. 81 (2007)Welcome to this issue of YA Hotline. We hope to introduce to an important theme for young adult readers: dystopia and political literature. When we were first exploring possible topics for this issue we were torn. We were interested in dystopia, political activism, radicalism and ideology. The bigger question was how to bring these related ideas together, as they do not fit into a single genre. In trying to tie dystopia and politics together, we realized the link: The teenage years are about defining who you are and what you stand for. Often during these years, teens distance themselves from the ideals that they received from their parents. They begin to explore the ethics and politics of the world around them. Hintz and Ostry mention that utopian and dystopian writings “may be a young person’s first encounter with texts that systematically explore collective social organization” (p.2).
Although utopia and dystopia are both important in discussions of society, we felt that teens were more drawn to the dark feel of dystopia. We hope to present the non-fiction works in thisHotline as a bridge from dystopic literature into the real world. -
Magazines for Girls : La Petite Mort, or Just Plain Dead?
No. 80 (2007)With teens seemingly living on online social websites and using the library more as a Vídeo store than a place to gather reading material, are magazines even popular anymore? I believe this issue answers that with a resounding "Fo' shizzle" (which is teen-speak for "duh"). Now, more than ever, teens are turning to magazines maybe not for the latest celeb drama (gossip blogs have that covered), but for info on fashion, health concerns and of course... embarrassing stories!
This issue of YA Hotline explores all ofthe great ways librarians can use magazines to reach their teen patrons. Our editors plum the depths of their teen years - humiliating stories and prom tales included! Some of us loved magazines as teens (see our tribute to the late, ìamented Sassy), others express their “outsider perspective.”
After the months-long process of devouring every teen mag we could lay our hands on, we’ve gathered up hot info for all youth services librarians. We tackle everything fiom programming and collections issues to body image and feminism. On a lighter note, we have loads of fun stuff like “Astrology from the stacks” or our quiz in Librarian Style.
This issue is full to the brim with everything magazine... nothing "periodical" about it! (Sorry, library humour) -
Wanderlust : A Teen's Traveller's Guide
No. 78 (2007)The idea for this issue of YA Hotline came during Susan Maelntosh’s French immersion course at l’Université de Moncton, NB, in summer 2003. For a presentation topic, a classmate who had just graduated from high school asked us for traveling tips and advice. I gave her my suggestions along with others in the class, but the idea stuck with me as I later pursued my own travel research. While there is an enormous amount of print and online travel infomation, there do not seem to be many comprehensive Caanadianbased resources aimed at the specific needs of young adult travelers.
Wanderlust.“ A Travel Guidefor Young Adults is a proper answer to my classmate’s question. I know there are growing numbers of young adults who have the same desire to explore unknown places, but, like her, may not know where to begin to acquire much-
needed infonnation about this large and varied Subject.
My co-authors and I have developed an overview of some resources we’ve found to help young adult travelers make Wise and well-informed decisions about Where, when, or if they want to travel within Canada or abroad. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list; instead, it gives an introduction to the world of overseas travel for work, volunteer experience, or to broaden your perspective of yourself and the World. We hope you find this publication a practical resource for traveling, volunteering and/or working abroad.
Susan Brooks
Susan Macïntosh
Barbara McLennan
Jennifer Thornhill -
Graphic Novels and Young Adults
No. 77 (2006)This YA Hotline is devoted to Comic Books and Graphic Novels. It is intended to help you, the reader, better understand their history and impact. It is intended to help you, the librarian, grasp the social, political, and practical implications of such collections. Finally, it is intended to help you, the educator, begin seeing such entertainment as teaching tools. Comic books are quickly developing and finding their place in schools and libraries, but have been in the hands of teens for quite some time.
Less than a decade ago, the GN industry was on the brink of collapse. Interest and readership was at an all-time low, and even the biggest GN publishers were struggling with impending bankruptcy. Now, comics have been embraced by teens, each with varying genres and styles, and coming from many nations. Graphic novels are everywhere and influence other media. Many of the biggest blockbuster films being released originate from comic books. Cartoons and television shows are being produced that are either loosely or strictly based on comics. Manga-based cartoons are permeating the North American market. Novelized stories of comic book characters are popular reads.
The graphic novel industry is feeding, and being fed by, every medium that is appropriate for young adults of any age. Subsequently, the industry is enjoying a brand new renaissance of compelling works. Labours of love, independent works, and mainstream series (which have become institutions of their own) are swarming the market. Now is the perfect time to bring teens and graphic novels together, and libraries are the perfect place to do it. -
Fantasy
No. 76 (2006)When we first started planning this issue of the YA Hotline we found it hard to believe that no one else had ever chosen fantasy as a topic. After all, fantasy has been around for hundreds of years, and it is one of the most popular genres among teens. You would think it would have been discussed long ago. In any case, we chose to correct this oversight.
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Access Denied: Controversy and Censorship in Young Adult Fiction
No. 75 (2005)Books have produced controversy throughout history for a variety of reasons. Today, this is especially true for young adult literature. We often hear of books that are challenged due to subject matter, language, and general ideas that individuals feel are inappropriate for younger readers, and librarians should be prepared to deal with such challenges.
In this issue of the YA Hotline, we have attempted to address a range of issues related to controversy over fiction written for a teen audience. We hope that you will find the information included both informative and useful.
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Spread the World, Publish!
No. 74 (2005)Teen writers, just like their adult counterparts, need encouragement. Publishing may seem like an insurmountable goal for an aspiring teen, but many accomplished authors began their writing careers as teenagers. Mary Shelley was only 19 when she wrote Frankenstein and Gordon Korman's first novel, This Can't Be Happening at McDonald Hall, was written as a 7th grade English assignment. Publishing can be a positive outlet for teen energy and creativity. Seeing their writing in print or on the web encourages a sense of belonging and self-worth. Libraries can play a part in this process by educating teens about the publishing process and encouraging their active participation.
Young writers also need to be inspired. By sharing success stories, librarians can make the goal of publishing seem that much more attainable. In addition, teenagers respond to the voices of their peers. Published teen writing has value beyond the cost of a paperback novel. Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl has educated generations of young adults about the holocaust. Teens relate to her voice because it is genuine. The power of publishing, in print and on-line, has made it possible for teens to share their experiences with one another. Libraries can assist this positive exchange, by encouraging and inspiring their teenage patrons to publish their writing.
