How to use this Page

“Youth of color have much more frequent contact with the justice system than white youth. Black youth account for 16% of the youth population, but represent 28% of juvenile arrests, 37% of the detained population, 38% of those in residential treatment, and 58% of youth committed to state adult prison”.

These numbers originated in The Sentencing Project’s Criminal Justice Primer: Policy Priorities for the 111 Congress 2009 and they’re often repeated to scare or concern us about black youth. I suggest you really read these numbers to understand what they’re saying. In the document, race is the only demographic used to describe incarcerated youth as if race alone determines one’s likelihood of becoming part of the penal system. This discounts the influence of family stability, income, education or other socio-economic factors. It also focuses so much on the disturbing rate at which black teens are incarcerated and camouflages  that the majority of teens incarcerated are White.

Does it matter?

It does if you’re librarian Amy Cheney who works tirelessly for the literacy rights of incarcerated teens. Amy wants to know her teens so she can know what they read. She wants them all reading.

You might know Amy from her YA Underground column in School Library Journal. From time to time, you may see her name pop up on a library listserv when posts updates regarding In The Margins Selection Committee. You may also know her as one of 10 winners of the inaugural “I Love My Librarian” award presented by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the New York Times, and the American Library Association that she won for her work at the Alameda County Library Juvenile Hall in California.

Amy visited my blog sometime ago to ask me to post a call for committee members for In the Margins. I got busy and never posted the call. I felt it was only right that I give my readers an opportunity to meet Amy and learn about the work she does so that they may consider volunteering for this committee the next time a call is made. Here’s Amy!

Amy, where did you grow up?

San Francisco, CA. And I’m still here. It’s a beautiful city.

Do you have any pets?

I do. A miniature black poodle named Roxie. I had to a lot to overcome the stereotype of poodles. I thought of them as yippy and prissy. I call Roxie a reverse rescue – she was a show dog and a breeding dog. She’d never been in a car, on a walking trail, to the beach. We are having a blast. She is quiet, smart and a great companion. And I feed the wild birds in my neighborhood. 

Meat or vegetables?

Both – but I eat local and sustainable, and I know sometimes it’s debatable how sustainable eating meat is.

Are there any books that stand out in your memory from your childhood?

As a kid I read It’s Like This Cat – it won the Newbery award in 1964. I was separated from my birth family but in 1986 I found out that my great aunt Emily Cheney Neville wrote the book. It still blows my mind – her book won the award and was the first book that didn’t have a “positive” ending and was about “inner city kids.”  It was considered quite edgy at the time. 

Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. And East of Eden by John Stienbeck. I read a lot as a kid and read a lot of adult books. 

What book(s) are you in the middle of reading right now?

3 books: Runaway Thoughts: the first Pain of the Prison System (P.O.P.S) Anthology from Venice High School; Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison by Nell Bernstien and War Brothers: the novel by Sharon McKay. I just finished Allison Van Diepen’s On the Edge – her new book coming out in November. 

How did you get involved as a librarian working with youth in custody?

This has been written about a lot – here is a recent interview.  But something I haven’t said in print before is that growing up as an adopted child I felt out of place, that I did not belong, that my parents didn’t want me, that I was somehow bad. I felt isolated. Also, the majority of adoptees today are still denied access to their own personal birth information and their original birth certificate. I could relate to prison – being separated from those you love, from your community and from information. From as early as 8 years old I was aware of prisons and the people in them, and had many nightmares about the holocaust and the separation lines. Many people in prison today got there through the foster care system. 

I often see you call for librarians to work with In the Margins Book Award and Selection Committee. Who are the teens this committee serves?

We strive to serve teens from the poverty classes – those that are in a cycle of poverty which often includes some form of street life/homelessness and juvenile institutions. 

But possibly the more important issue is that we are advocating not only for our teens living in the margins, but for authors and publishing by people living in the margins. There are several books – such as Marilyn Barnes’ From Crack to College and Visa Versa, Ebony Canion’s book Left for Dead - that deserve and need reviewing and promoting and don’t have either from the library world. We are filling a void between writers, reviewers, readers and the book world that shouldn’t be there and I hope will become less because of our work. 

What compels you, what surprises or confounds you about the population you serve?

That we live in the same world but on different planets. 

Could you describe the services these libraries typically provide for young people.

Hope. Possibility. A Lifeline. Diversity.

How do you begin to excite older students about books who have no relationship with them and/or poor reading skills?

It’s really about relevance. I love that my kids are so into BUCK and also MK Asante in general. They are dying to see his film 500 Years After – and they most likely would have never seen either the book or the film as relevant unless they met him.  I had a counselor come up to me and tell me that a kid spoke with her, in awe about a book that he is reading for the third time. He just loves this book, Jasper Jones.  The kid is a struggling reader – he reads about fifth grade level. Jasper Jones is a sophisticated book with challenging language, but the kid is completely relating to it and so is willing to engage. Jasper tries to deal with the dynamics of being blamed for everything. He is never innocent. He is always guilty in the eyes of the town he lives in. My kids can relate to this. 

Amy and I spent some time discussing authors who are taking non-traditional approaches to publishing and the appeal these authors have to the young people with whom she works. L. Divine and Jeff Rivera and two of the authors she mentioned.

Do you think self-published authors are doing a better job of filling the void for your readers?

I don’t think they are doing a “better job”, but I do think that their books are important, necessary and worth reading and promoting, and they are providing more books for my insatiable readers – many become insatiable once here and they have found excitement, diversion and relevance through books.  Including self-published/small press published books gives a different viewpoint on what is out there, what is available, what people are doing. Some people of color are not finding their place or even wanting a place in the mainstream publishing world due to a variety of factors.

What do you want those who read this to know about ways we can support libraries that house incarcerated teens?

If there isn’t a library in your detention center: Kids are there, kids are bored out of their minds – for the most part – and they need you, books and libraries. If there is a library in your local detention center, there are plenty of ways to partner with them, as well as group homes and other places that teens are living that need you, books and libraries. I asked a kid today what library they went to on the outs and they said, “barnes and noble.”  I had another kid ask me what library to go to and who to talk with at the library because she didn’t know and was afraid to talk to people there. it’s intimidating! remember that. 

Librarians can also support Amy’s work by nominating books to the In The Margins Selection Committee, by volunteering to join the committee next time the call goes out or by subscribing to the YALSA – Lockdown listserv so that we can be aware of issues, needs and concerns in prison libraries. Actually, ANYONE can nominate titles, not just librarians.

I find Amy’s work, energy and story to be quite captivating. I had to ask her how’s she’s doing with the memoir she’s working on.

Agh. I’m stuck. The hardest thing for me is structure. I took a class from one of my idols – Julia Scheeres who wrote a brilliant book about race, religion and adoption: Jesus Land. I admire her skill greatly. She encouraged me to take my 25 page experimental piece into a larger and full sized memoir. It’s hell to do, but her encouragement is what keeps me going. 

Finally, Amy what does diversity mean to you?

Being willing to step outside my comfort zone continually. Being willing to look at my own bias, filters and defensiveness, being open to considering a different viewpoint or way of looking at things, humility, listening, the unexpected understanding leading to connection with another.  

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and to learn more about the work you do.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day for us all to take a time to remember the non-profits. I’m a bit tired of the gimmicky ways to help me spend money. Cyber Monday is silly because we don’t need to go to work anymore to have internet access for online shopping. Opening stores on holidays defeats the purpose of the holiday. There may be fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the amount of money people have to spend is fixed as is the number of people we have to shop for. So much pressure to spend!!

Maybe someone will get creative and come up with Travel Thursday, a day for deep discounted travel. Perhaps I could then afford a midwinter vacation to Fiji to relax, to Jo’burg to explore or to Kaoshiung to visit old friends.

Do you take advantage of the “sales” on these days? Or use the reminder today to support a non-profit?

There does happen to be a lot of good stuff going on this week that won’t cost you a penny!

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, YALSA is pleased to announce that from January 1, 2014, forward, all live webinars will be free to YALSA members!  To participate in the Jan. 16^th webinar, “What’s Next for Teen Services,” sign up at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TBTFQ56.  Thank you for all that you do for YALSA and have a great day!

NPR is running #NPRBlacksinTech from 2-20 December to call attention to the small number of Blacks who currently work in the technology field, A mere 5% of America’s scientists and engineers are Black, according to a 2010 study by the National Science Foundation.  Follow the discussion on Twitter, on NPR’s Tell Me More Blog or on Flipboard (I follow it here on my cell phone.) Last night, the conversation was about how to raise a coder.

I bet the @BlackGirlNerds are following this convo!! I recently discovered this group on Twitter and was introduced to so many new and interesting activities and events! I searched to see if there was a Latina and Asian girl nerd group. Though I did not see one, I did notice names that would imply not everyone following @BlackGirlNerds is Black. Nerds rock!

I will post a December list of new releases, please be warned that it is EXTREMELY short!! While I don’t post self published on the list (too many, too hard to find them all) I do have to mention that Zetta Elliott has gone back to self publishing and yesterday released “The Deep”. I’ve purchased my copy and I’ll review it here once I’m done with BFYA.

Speaking of BFYA, I’ve received a grant through the Indiana State University Center for Community Engagement that will provide funds for me to distribute over 700 books published from late 2012-2013 to needy high school libraries throughout the state of Indiana. If you are an IN high school librarian/media specialist, please apply! And, please spread the word!

Do you need great learning apps for your children or students? Check out these apps for recording learning.

Lawrence Public Schools is looking for America’s Outstanding Urban Educators.The Sontag Prize in Urban Education recognizes outstanding teaching in Mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA) and other disciplines. Educators chosen for the Sontag Prize will lead classes as part of the LPS Acceleration Academy, a program designed to provide targeted small group support for students. Not only is this an rare way to recognize outstanding educators, it’s also a good way for Lawrence Public Schools to attract quality educators.

A new feature on Google Scholar is Google Library.

You can save articles right from the search page, organize them by topic, and use the power of Google  Scholar’s full-text search & ranking to quickly find just the one you want – at any time and from anywhere. You decide what goes into your library and we’ll provide all the goodies that come with Scholar search results – up to date article links, citing articles, related articles, formatted citations, links to your university’s subscriptions, and more. And if you have a public Scholar profile, it’s easy to quickly set up your library with the articles you want – with a single click, you can import all the articles in your profile as well as all the articles they cite.

In the Margins committee will select and review the best books of the year for: multicultural youth (primarily African-American and Latino) from a street culture in restrictive custody  who may be reluctant readers.  Titles of interest will be unusual, possibly un-reviewed, have multicultural characters, dealing with difficult situations including (but not limited to) street life, marginalized populations, crime, justice, war, violence, abuse, addiction, etc.

Find more information about the committee here: http://www.youthlibraries.org/margins-committee

To nominate a title, nominate here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERfNlAwOXMxSVJtbWw3amo2RXo0a2c6MQ

To apply to be on the committee next year, sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDZqR1RIQ0FQOGJkVTRJcmZoVWVfN1E6MQ

In the Margins Official Nominations, 2013

Asante, M.K. Buck. Spiegel & Grau. August 2013. 272p. HC $25.00. ISBN 9780812993417. A broken family and community are where he’s from;  poetry and music get him to where he wants to be.

Chris, Terry L. Zero Fade. Curbside Splender Publishing. September 2013. 294p. PB $12.00 ISBN 978-0988480438. How’s Kevin ever going to figure out his problems with girls, bullies, friends and the angst of seventh grade if his wise-assed mouth keeps getting him grounded?

Coley, Liz. Pretty Girl 13. Harper Collins. March 2013. 352p.HC $17.99. ISBN 9780062127372. She’s 16 but she can’t remember what happened the last 3 years.

Gagnon, Michelle. Don’t Turn Around. HarperCollins. August 2012. 320p. HC $17.99. ISBN 9780062102904. If you run, they will find you.

Goodman, Shawn. Kindness for Weakness. Delacorte. May 2013. 272p. HC $16.99. 9780385743242.

Greene, Robert and 50 Cent. 50th Law.  Smarter Comics. October 2012. 80p. PB $14.95. ISBN 9781610820066. Keys to power and words of wisdom.

Jacobs, John Horner. The Twelve-Fingered Boy.Carolrhoda Books.February 2013. 280p.  HC $17.95. ISBN 9780761390077. Jack’s hands aren’t the only things that hold secrets.

Johnson, Albert. H.N.I.C. Infamous Books. July 2013.128p. HC $11.95 ISBN 9781617752322. Will Black let Pappy get out alive?

Jones, Marilyn Denise. From Crack to College and Vice Versa. June 2013. 105p. ebook $9.99. ASIN: B00DH82HIA. The title says it all.

Kowalski, William. Just Gone. Raven Books. September 2013. 128p. $9.99 ISBN 9781459803275. The world contains strange truths.

Langan, Paul.  Promises to Keep. Townsend Press. January 2013. 151p. PB $5.95. ISBN 9781591943037.  Keeping his promise just might save his life.

Langan, Paul.  Survivor. Townsend Press. January 2013. 138p. PB $5.95. ISBN 9781591943044. Avoiding the past is not an option.

Lewis, John.  March Book 1 Top Shelf Productions.  August 2013. 128p. PB $14.99. ISBN 978-1603093002. ANNOTATION

Little, Ashley. The New Normal. Orca. March 2013. 232p. PB $12.95. ISBN 9781459800748. No hair, no sisters and stalked by a drug dealer. Where’s the upside to Tamar’s life?

McKay, Sharon E. War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. Illustrated by Lafance, Daniel.  Annick Press. 2013. PB $18.95. ISBN 9781554514885. Kidnapped and forced to kill for the Lord’s Resistance Army.

McVoy, Terra Elan. Criminal.  Simon Pulse. May, 2013. 288p. HC $16.99. ISBN 978144242622. Dee was everything to her. Until he killed a man for another girl.

Medina, Meg. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Candlewick. March 2013. 260p. PB $16.99. ISBN 9780763658595. It’s gonna happen.

Miller, Kirsten. How to Lead a Life of Crime. Razorbill. February 2013. 434p. HC $18.99. ISBN 9781595145185.  Can Flick stay alive long enough to find out what’s really happening at Mandel Academy?

Nussbaum, Susan. Good Kings, Bad Kings. Algonquin Books. May 2013. 304p. HC $23.95.  ISBN 9781616202637.  Most of them could make it on their own – if they could get out of lockdown.

Rivera, Jeff. No Matter What. CreateSpace. October 2013. 112p. PB $3.95. ISBN 9781493544141. Will Jennifer wait for Dio? Will Dio get it together?

Shantz-Hilkes, Chloe (ed.). Hooked: When Addiction Hits Home. Annick Pr. March 2013. 120p. HC $21.95. ISBN 9781554514755. PB $12.95. 9781554514748. Living with addiction can be just as painful as suffering from one.

Stella, Leslie. Permanent Record. Skyscape. March 2013. 282p. HC $17.99. ISBN 9781477816394.  New School. Will Badi revert to his destructive ways?

Van Diepen, Allison. Takedown. Simon Pulse. September 2013. 288p. HC $16.99. ISBN 9781442463110. How many losses before Darren can takedown Diamond Tony’s organization?

Young, Pamela Samuels. Anybody’s Daughter. Goldman House Publishing.  November 2013. 374p. PB $16.99. ISBN 9780989293501 When Brianna gets targeted and tricked into a sex trafficking ring, Uncle Dre using his connections as a former drug dealer fights against time to save her.

Youth Communications. Rage:True Stories by Teens About Anger. Free Spirit. July 2013.176p. PB $11.99. ISBN 9781575424149. How to manage your anger, create a life of control and a future with possibilities.

Wells, Polly (ed.). Freaking Out: Real-life Stories About Anxiety.Annick Press. June 2013. 136p. $12.95. ISBN 9781554515448. From phobias to PTSD, how can you get over Freaking Out?

Zambrano, Mario Alberto. Loteria. Harper. July 2013. 288p. $21.99. ISBN 9780062268549. The cards help Luz remember the hand she was dealt.