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Hi book-type friends:

I received the below letter from a publishing colleague of mine and wanted to be sure to spread the word. Teen Central is an invaluable resource that needs your support!


Dear Publishing Friends,

As you probably know, in Fall 2008 the Donnell branch of the New York Public Library will close. It will reopen three-and-a-half years later—a state-of-the-art, but much smaller, facility. Due to size constraints, Teen Central, the portion of the Donnell that houses the young adult collection and serves as a teen hangout, will not have a place in the new library. Teen Central hosts many author events and other programs, provides free internet access to teens, and generally serves as a cool place for kids who like books to spend time.

Right now the NYPL is still deciding upon Teen Central’s fate. It may be split into two separate locations, one uptown and one downtown. That’s certainly better than nothing, but keeping a central Midtown location is very important to the teens who have come to rely on Teen Central. Why? Many of the teens who come to Teen Central are from low-income families. They live in neighborhoods with few free after-school programs. Some are gay, but they aren’t out at or close to home. Some are made fun or for being smart, or for what they wear. It’s very important for these kids to have someplace to go away from where they live, away from the people they see every day, where they can come together with other likeminded teens from all over the city.

Will you take a moment to write a brief email to Anne Hoffman, Chief Librarian at the Donnell to ask her to make a place for Teen Central in Midtown?

[email protected]


As children’s and young adult publishing professionals, this is our opportunity to speak out in order to save an extremely valuable institution for teen literature. Please forward this email along to others in our field.

I know it's early, but I want to let everyone know about the Burlington Book Festival coming up next month.  Burlington, VT hosts an incredible book festival each fall, just as the leaves are changing color in New England.  If you live in the Northeast (or even if you don't but you really, really like autumn leaves and books), it's worth the trip.  Most of the events are being held at Waterfront Theater on the shores of Lake Champlain.



I'll be presenting  on Sunday, September 16th at the Children's Literature Festival.  Here's my blurb from the festival website:

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

KATE MESSNER

Join Kate Messner for a trip back in time to the American Revolution on Lake Champlain. Kate will read from her middle grade historical novel Spitfire, set during the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776, sign books and present an interactive multimedia slide show about the real 12-year-old who fought in the battle. Kids will be invited to taste the food and try on the clothes of an 18th century sailor, handle artifact replicas and design their own powder horns to take home.

Waterfront Theatre Black Box, 3rd Floor

Right after my presentation, Linda Urban (lurban) will read from A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT and talk about the journey of writing and publishing a children's book.  (Even though Linda says it will make her nervous, my kids and I are definitely going to be in the audience!)

Also on tap for the Sunday kids' day... Tracey Campbell Pearson, James Kochalka, Anna Dewdney, Harry Bliss, Jim Arnosky, Barbara Seuling, Marie-Louise Gay, Barbara Lehman, and Warren Kimble.

And the rest of the Book Festival is nothing to scoff at either, with writers like Chris Bohjalian, Howard Frank Mosher, Russell Banks, and Joyce Carol Oates speaking on Saturday, September 15th.  The full schedule is posted at the festival website now. If you're in the area that weekend, please stop by the Children's Literature Festival and say hello! 

Every once and a while it is fun to revisit the pop culture of another decade via books and music. This week I picked the 1970s. Now, the books and music don't necessarily need to be written or produced in the 1970s but they must pay tribute to that time. For my trip back to the '70s I picked the book We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. While reading this family tragedy my imagination skipped to the thought, "What 1970s pop songs might the characters have been listening to on their car radios?" To answer that question I turned to the new Donny Osmond Love Songs of the '70s. I really like this album and so does the U.K. since it has gone gold over the pond. The other album on my playlist is Mika's Life in Cartoon Motion. Although none of the songs are from the 1970s when listening to Mika I am reminded of the happy pop music of the '70s and on some tracks, such as Grace Kelly, of Freddie Mercury and Queen. So, what's on your playlist this week?

I haven’t read much of Joyce Carol Oates’ writing for adults, but I’ve quickly become a fan of her YA novels. Her writing is simple but powerful, and I find it hard to put her books down.

I have, in fact, finished this one in the span of about 2 hours.

Francesca, Franky to her friends, is the daughter of a well-known sportscaster and former athlete. On the outside, her family is perfect. They have the perfect house and what appears to be the perfect life.

On the inside, though, things are not so perfect. At a young age, Franky learned not to provoke her father, for fear of his “discipline.” She seems to know that the long sleeves and scarves her mother wears are hiding something, but she’s too afraid to say anything.

A part of Franky emerges that’s not afraid, though; a part Franky has named “Freaky Green Eyes.” And when Franky’s mother disappears, it’s Freaky who finds the courage to act.

It was a quick and compelling read; the emotions are understated, but hit hard. I continue to look forward to JCO’s young adult work.

After hearing lots and lots about it, I finally signed up for an account at PaperBackSwap. I’ve got five books on their way to interested swappers, and a copy of Stargirl is on its way to me. (I’ve read it, but I read a classroom copy and wanted one of my own.)

I’m pretty excited about it…I knew I would be, but was just too lazy to actually sign up.

Not only can you request books that have been posted, but you can wish list books that haven’t. Then, when a member posts a book on your wish list, you’re notified. Pretty nifty.

I also responded to an invitation to join GoodReads, a sort of myspace for books. If you’re interested, sign up and ask me to be your friend! I just signed up, and I haven’t had the time to actually post anything yet, but I’ll get around to it soon.

Other than that, I’ve got several titles on my “to-read” list…I went to the library last week and checked out two Laurie Halse Anderson books (not the new one–it wasn’t available yet), and Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates. I’ve really enjoyed her YA efforts so far, so I’m looking forward to that one.

As always, suggestions are welcome!