Revolutionary Trends: Genre-fying the School Library

Presentation Slides from TLA 2012, Houston.

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Genre-fying my school library, part one

Genre-fying my school library, part two

New Girl, by Paige Harbison

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend…but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.


Ever read Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca? This is an updated, YA retelling of it.
 
It's a good one, too. The modernizing of the characters is incredibly well-done (Dana is Mrs. Danvers, who never really lets go of Becca). It's a sort of romantic, definitely suspenseful, escapist story. It's page-turning, in that you want to get to the end to make sure everyone's okay, but an adult does a fair amount of eye-rolling at the overly typical teenage behavior. BUT, it's a Harlequin title, sooo...I guess that's to be expected.

The story flashes between "New Girl's" story, post-disappearance of the beloved Becca the school year before, and Becca's story, from the time she arrived at Manderly Academy to the night she disappeared. Becca is, well, crazy. There's clearly something going on under that blonde hair, and it's not good. She is manipulative and vindictive. A perfect romance novel anti-heroine. Her roommate Dana has even left everything exactly as it was the last time Becca was in the room. Never mind that a new student has been assigned that bed.

New Girl is just trying to get along. She never expected her parents to somehow get her in to the private school she said she wanted to attend when she was 13. But now that she's a high school senior, she's away from home  and making new friends. She isn't trying to replace anyone, she's just trying to make it through the year. Then she meets Max.

It's teen romance/suspense novel. What I'd call "fluff"  reading. You don't have to get emotionally involved with anyone or become too invested. It is what it is.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from HarlequinTEEN through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.


High School isn't supposed to be so...frightening. Rory is spending her senior year in a new school in a new country. Adjusting isn't so bad, really, even if there is a serial killer on the loose in London.

It's the other stuff. The nearly dying the first evening at dinner. Then seeing people that no one else does. Nothing quite prepares you for being the only witness to a murder.

This is NOT your typical Maureen Johnson (think, Suite Scarlett), but remember, authors, much like books, cannot be judged by covers--or previous works. It's not humorous, but it, despite revolving around serial murders, isn't dark, either. The serial killer and murders are almost secondary, beyond all the usual boarding school drama filled with romance, roommates, and just stuff. Oh, and Jack the Ripper-like murders. But the story is definitely paranormal and mysterious. And she threw a plot twist in there, too.

There's enough of the known history of Jack the Ripper to make the story interesting to those who like that sort of thing. The fact that it's Maureen Johnson who wrote it makes it approachable to those who just want a good story to read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This book is part of the library collection for the school library I work in. I was not solicited to write a review, nor am I receiving any compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Emily Beaver's Top 10 Escapes

**Emily Beaver, the author of Slipping Reality, graciously agreed to give us a littler more insight into her world. Emily is a senior in California.


In keeping with the "escape" theme of her book, I asked Emily to share her Top 10 Escapes.

1   1.      My front lawn – When I’ve got nowhere else to go and I start to feel trapped in this big old house, I head straight to my front lawn. I love it. My driveway is kind of insane – it goes up a steep hill and winds a bit, and its surrounded by trees. But to the visitor’s left of the driveway is this sprawling green lawn that I just love to lie down on. During the summer’s I’ll have picnics with my friends there, but most of the time its just me, my iPod, and my journal, and I just lay back in the sun and write myself out. It’s not as private or secluded as I’d like it to be, as all the cars passing by have a full view of me and what I’m doing, but I kind of like that position. I really enjoy sitting back and being a spectator to the life going on around me – I like taking those kinds of breaks, I think they’re important. And looking out at all the houses and trees, the clouds and the green, just kind of puts me in my place in how much I love the world.

2   2.      Disneyland – I’ve mentioned this one often. On the back of my book, even. Disneyland is my ultimate happy place. I have a pass and I’m basically the girl who’s begging to go every weekend. This was especially true when Matthew was in chemotherapy, because I’d get overwhelmed by the hospital and at Disneyland I felt like I could live some of the childhood I’d left behind in the wake of Matthew’s illness. Whenever I go to Disneyland I feel like I’m spending time with an old friend, the part of myself that’s a little girl who squeals when she sees Ariel and tries to get everyone waiting in line to join her in a sing-along. For some reason, I never really feel more like myself than when I’m at Disneyland. It’s the no-worries zone, Hakuna Matata, because once I walk through those gates, my outside world doesn’t matter anymore. Its no wonder my big college dream is to work there!

3   3.      The beach – I’m a California girl, the beach is a given. I don’t go as often as I should, but when I do, I value my time there so much. The weather always seems perfect at the beach, and its ideal for just lying back and letting the good thoughts flow. Two sounds in my life will calm me down in times of stress: One is Frank Sinatra, the other is the ocean. I could listen to the ocean forever. I feel a lot of power when I stand in the waves and hear them crash, and its great inspiration for writing.

4   4.      Piano – When the weather outside is too cold or hot for the front lawn, I take to the piano. I played piano for five years, and quit when I was ten, taking seven years off. Last year, sometime over the summer, I found a love for piano I never knew I had. A lot of it came with my experience studying voice – my choir teacher had told me at my audition for the choir I’m in, Women’s Ensemble, that it is extremely useful to a singer to be familiar with another instrument, particularly piano, and I can’t thank her enough for that advice. With piano I can read and understand music so much easier, and I love being able to hear a song and think to myself, “I can play that.” Granted, I’m no prodigy that can sit down in front of new music and play like I’d known it my whole life, but it’s a fun challenge for me and takes a lot of patience, and therefore, a hearty and extremely rewarding distraction. Music’s another world. I can’t live without it.

5   5.      Frank Sinatra – That being said, I mentioned earlier my love for Frank Sinatra. I’ve been a fan a long time, but it was last year that I especially got into him, because at that point I had never been stretched thinner. I was in two productions, one in school and one outside of school, and had rehearsals for both on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Essentially, my schedule was I’d get up at 5 and go on a run, go to school until 2:30, have rehearsal until 4:30, and then my next rehearsal from 5-9. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I had my Hebrew language courses I took outside of school on the evenings. On Tuesdays I also had voice lessons, and on Thursdays I also had piano lessons. And finally, on Sundays, I’d get up at 8 to teach 3^rd grade Sunday School. And then, somehow, two AP classes and honors courses fit in there somewhere. Not to mention the book publishing process. So, you could say, I was a little stressed out. But one day I bought a Frank Sinatra album and the moment I hit Play those stresses would just melt away. Frank is The Voice, by my opinion, and there’s nothing quite like him. One time I was venting to a friend about how stressed and overwhelmed I was, and while I was talking he reached into his pocket and put on Frank Sinatra from his iPhone. I immediately melted into a puddle of relaxation and now he uses it all the time on me. Frank Sinatra is magical. I’m a fan of the entire Rat Pack, really, but Frank Sinatra is simply the best.

6   6.      Movies – What’s better to take your mind off reality than a good movie? You sit still for a couple hours and watch another world. What’s not to like? I depended heavily on movies when my brother was dying, and while I don’t watch them as frequently today I still can’t ever resist the temptation for a good movie. Naturally, I’m a huge Disney buff, so I’ve got most Disney movies as they become available and watch them often when I want to smile, sigh, and relax. But when I really want to get invested, I’ll put on a movie like The Dark Knight or V for Vendetta. Essentially, anything with Christian Bale or Heath Ledger in it will leave me thrilled (I know neither are in V for Vendetta, but that’s my brother’s favorite movie and one of mine, too). I also love musicals – Singin’ in the Rain is my all-time favorite movie, followed by Chicago. I really prefer movies to TV because I get a full story, but there are some TV shows I’m absolutely obsessed with – I really love British television. Steven Moffat, now there’s a writer. I escape a lot into his shows – Sherlock and Doctor Who – frequently.

7   7.      Books – How could I not include books? Whenever I’m particularly sad, I’ll take out my favorite, Little Women. That kind of feel-good book (much like feel-good Disney and feel-good Gene Kelly) really picks me up when I need it. Other times, I love a deep, moving story. The Lovely Bones and She’s Come Undone will probably haunt me forever. My mom used to make a fuss over me reading Chicken Soup for the Soul books when I was younger, but I couldn’t get enough of those real, thought-provoking stories. I love reading about people, much more than plot. But, of course, I love and grew up with Harry Potter and the Pendragon series, so they will always stay close to my heart.

8   8.     Yoga – I’m just starting to get into Yoga so I can’t speak as an expert at all, but from what classes I’ve experienced its just unreal. I’m a person who hates exercise, and while Yoga’s not particularly cardiovascular, it combines my preference to stay in my mind with the need to relieve stress by getting the body moving. It takes me out of my mind just enough so that I can relax, but not so much that I get bored – I’ve tried just working out and I can’t stand it. But being able to really connect with my body and my mind is the perfect key to a calm and good week.

9   9.      Animals – I have two German Shepherds, a male and a female, and they are my life. I’ve never had a time growing up that we didn’t have at least two dogs, and when the going gets tough, I get ruff (I did not just do that). The older one, Rocket, whom I affectionately refer to as either Scooby or Bear, used to be a little ball of energy, but he’s never done a bad thing in his life. He won’t bark at any stranger unless he knows they’re a threat, and it’s truly remarkable how intelligent he is – because he can always tell. He’s very protective over me but a total sweetheart, and whenever I need a good pair of eyes to rest on me and listen, I go to him. He’s really my perfect dog. But then there’s Nala, named after the fierce lioness of The Lion King (yeah, that was my idea), who’s nearly two. She’s essentially me in dog form, because she doesn’t shut up, loves to sing, and never wants to be bored. She’ll always hide with me when the vacuum comes out, and lays under my feet when I play piano. She gets really pissed off when I play the wrong note, and will always let me know by whining at me. I love playing with her because she’s really quite a funny dog – I sometimes refer to her as the Psycho Fuzzball – but when I really need it she’s there for me. Puppy love is one of the greatest escapes you could ask for.

1   10.  Friends – How could I not put this one? I love my friends to death. My two closest friends both moved to the East Coast a few months after Matthew died, and while that was really hard on me, we’re still as close as ever and Skype as much as possible. They have an understanding of me that sometimes is just plain scary, but I love them for it. Back home, I’ve got friends who I just spontaneously make plans with and I love it. Sometimes things get really stressful second semester senior year – deciding where you want to go, how much you don’t want to do homework, etc. – and it is so great to have the freedom to let all of that go, call up a friend, and say, “Hey, it’s 1:30 PM and I’m bored, wanna get pancakes?” You gotta live for these things, and I’m so lucky. 

          Find out more about Emily at her website, Emily's Reality

Slipping Reality, by Emily Beaver

In a time of hardship and heartbreak, sometimes, reality just isn't enough. Slipping Reality is the story of fourteen-year-old Katelyn Emerson, who, when faced with the glaring reality of her brother's illness, rebels against the truth by slipping away into the depths of her own imagination. There, she finds the kind of support and comfort she feels she deserves. There, she does not have to feel so alone. And yet, as Katelyn's grasp on reality begins to unravel, so too does the story of a girl who grew up too fast and fell apart too soon.


I swear to you, I will read something happy or at least not that made me cry very, very soon. Actually, I've already read something, but that review hasn't been written yet. :)

Who hasn't wanted to escape reality? Slip away just for a little bit, to not have to deal with a truth too painful to believe? Not that deep down you don't know that the truth is inevitable, but if it could just be put off for a little while it would be nice. If only.

Especially when the reality is the impending death of your older brother, your best friend, from a long battle with cancer.

As you read through this, there is no question how the "real" story ends. The question is how the escape from reality turns out. Reading this story, I found myself connecting with Katelyn. My brother, though younger, is among my very best friends, and though we did clash growing up, we were frankly as thick as theives. It's difficult to even consider not having him around today.

Katelyn is altogether too real and believable. But this, and I'm not spoiling anything here, is because Emily lived this experience while writing this book. While the possibility of truly "slipping reality" just doesn't exist, the emotional upheaval and turmoil Katelyn goes through can't be anything but honest. There were times that I had to put the book down and walk away to distance myself from the emotion. I didn't want to, but it had to happen. This isn't an escape book, it's a book to connect with. And maybe to heal with, if you've experienced such a situation.

A good first novel by a young (teen) author. I see good things in her future writing.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from AuthorHouse through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”