How to use this Page

Meet Them Where They Are and Open the  Door: Urban Teens, Street Lit, and Reader’s Advisory brought together the expertise of Megan Honig of New York Public Library, Beth Saxton of Cleveland Public Library, and Sofia Quintero, author of the YA novel Efraim’s Secret (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010).

Presenters Honig and Saxton demanded participants think critically about the definitions of “urban” and “street lit,” as well as admit, on paper, their biases, preconceived notions, and reservations about recommending street lit to young adults.  The discussion and reflection segments of this pre-conference proved particularly valuable.

Honig demonstrated, through the words of actual teens, why street lit is valuable and relevant to their lives.  While some librarians might have ideas about why teens are drawn to street lit, their interest in it may be as simple as the stories are accessible because of the language that is used, or that the novels are plot-driven and cinematic in nature.  Some teens like the drama.  Others feel that street lit tells stories that are real.  Street lit as risk-free thrill (a reader can watch a character involve his or herself in risky behavior, instead of the reader engaging in those activities) brought a new way for librarians to assess the value of street lit.  Honig’s comparison of Street Lit vs. YA Substitute (say, Teri Woods vs. Walter Dean Myers) illustrated how these types of books complement each other, sometimes, but recommending a YA Substitute to an avid reader of street lit is not always going to be successful.

Saxton offered practical reader’s advisory and RA-based programming ideas for librarians to take back to their schools and libraries.  She then demonstrated a booktalk method in which she booktalked 30 books in 30 minutes (under 22 minutes, actually; quite impressive).  She shared nontraditional book club activities that might help capture and retain new participants.  One of the most engaging suggestions she had for connecting young adults with new books is a customized reading list – perfect for summer vacation or school breaks – where, through a questionnaire in which the teen describes his or her favorite books, least favorite books, etc., Saxton offers a ten book custom reading list.  This engagement with teens is what makes lifelong library users.

Finally, author Sofia Quintero spoke about how her adult titles and new YA novel do and don’t fit into the category of street lit.  She shared with the audience her work with young people and the ways in which librarians can dignify and encourage teen reading through reader’s advisory.  She described reading aloud to people of all ages as, “a profound act of love,” and encouraged librarians to read aloud to their teenage populations.  She also offered practical activities such as “Judge a Book by its Cover” during which teens gauge their interest in a book first by its cover, then by its flap copy, and finally by spending a few minutes reading the first page or two.  Another activity she’s found success with is a book-to-film exercise in which a group will examine the film interpretation of a book and compare scenes from that film to the scenes in the source text.  This, she said, demonstrates the richness and vibrancy of t

The YA Literature Symposium is quickly approaching! Have you registered yet? The list of programs with times is now available.

The featured program this week/today is:

Meet Them Where They Are and Open the Door: Urban Teens, Street Lit, and Reader’s Advisory

Socioeconomically disadvantaged urban teens are often stereotyped as non-readers, reluctant readers, or readers of a single genre. But just as with other teens, urban teens’ reading choices are informed by their needs, interests, and social landscape. In this session, we will discuss factors that contribute to urban teens’ reading choices, demystify the increasingly popular genre of street lit, and demonstrate proven reader’s advisory techniques and programs for connecting urban teens with a variety of books that speak to them. Presenters:  Megan Honig and Beth Saxton

Presenters Megan Honig and Beth Saxton kindly answered my questions.

KH: Can you share one interesting or thought provoking fact from your presentation?
Beth:  There is not a large chain bookstore within the Cleveland city limits, or a bookstore selling a variety of new books for teens.  It would take a teen who lives near downtown at least an hour on the bus to get to the nearest Borders or Barnes & Noble on a good day.  There is a Borders Express at the mall downtown, the same mall that does not allow anyone under 18 without a parent.

KH: Who should come to your presentation?
Megan: Anyone who wants to learn more about why teens are drawn to street lit and how to do reader’s advisory for street lit fans (HINT: respect their reading tastes!!).

Beth: I think we could have called this “Respect the reader”.  I would say anyone who is interested in how to raise reader’s awareness of titles and who wants to get more books into the hands of their teens.

The full interview with Megan and Beth is available at the YA Lit Symposium Online Community.

The YA Literature Symposium is November 5-7 in Albuquerque, NM. To give everyone a sneak peek into the presentations I be posting portions of interviews with program presenters weekly until the symposium. Full interviews will be available at the YA Lit Symposium Online Community.