READING IDEAS May 27, 2008
Posted by Ms. Klemundt in Reading Recommendations.trackback
We didn’t have room in the Summer Reading Booklet for all of the information about where to find more ideas for good books to read or interesting ways to approach your reading.
One of the best places to start is your local public library. They have resources online as well as in print. And don’t forget the librarian! Most public libraries have someone who specializes in “teen” reading. They can help you find new books to read based on what you currently like to read. Just so you know the jargon, libraries call this “Reader’s Advisory.” Speaking of jargon, libaries also use “Young Adult” for those in their early teens through early twenties. This might help you navigate their websites! Here are the web addresses for some local public libraries:
- Chicago Public Library (http://www.chipublib.org/forteens/index.php)
- Niles Public Library (http://www.nileslibrary.org)
- Eisenhower Public Library District (http://www.eisenhowerlibrary.org)
- Park Ridge Public Library (http://www.parkridgelibrary.org/ya/yaindexorange.html)
The Chicago Public Library has brochure called “The Best of the Best” highlighting some outstanding books for teens that were published in 2007. We have a stack in the Res Library so stop by and pick up a copy. The Niles Public Library is running their Summer Reading Program starting June 9. You can read any books in their adult or young adult collection and even your required English reading counts toward your total. More information is available at the Niles Public Library.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, sponsors many book awards each year. They post the list of winners at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists and this is a terrific way to find “good reads.” Unfortunately, they usually don’t provide any description of what the book is about. However, you can use the NoveList database (Res has a subscription to this) to find out more about award winners that sound interesting. Some titles also have Book Discussion Guides, which might be handy if you are part of a Book Club. You can also use Amazon.com to look up a book, then scroll down to the “Editorial Reviews” section where you can find a plot summary or description as well as reviews.
My buddies at Palatine High School run a reading program for their students during the school year called “The Top 16.” They very graciously post their lists on their website and the lists include short plot summaries. When I’m browsing for something good to read, I often start with one of the Top 16 lists.
In the Summer Reading Booklet we mentioned GoodReads (http://www.goodreads.com) as an online site where you can track your reading, provide reviews, get reading ideas, etc. Two other sites like this are LibraryThing (http://www.LibraryThing.com) and Shelfari (http://www.shelfair.com).
Shake up your reading by reading “up” or reading “down.” Read “up” by tackling some adult books. For some authors, NoveList provides a “Read A-Likes” section where they will give you ideas about what other authors to read if you like, for example, Barbara Kingsolver. Libraries also provide “Reader’s Advisory” services to adults, so feel free to stop and talk with that person about what you like to read. He or she should be able to suggest some titles to try. Read “down” by reading some books for middle school students. They’ll be quick reads for you and they’re usually fast-moving storylines.
Spice up your summer reading by picking a theme. Read only a certain genre (historical fiction or mystery or westerns) or a certain author. Read only biographies or immerse yourself in learning about a hobby or your special interest. Have a Books-To-Movies theme – read the book and then rent or go see the movie version of the book. Read books (fiction or nonfiction) by or about people in other countries. I could probably go on and on, but you get the idea!
A little later this week we’ll post some resources for reading with children — although, really, all you have to do is plunk yourself down on the floor of the children’s section in any library or bookstore, pull out a book, start reading, and probably 5 little kids will come over and plunk themselves down next to you for an impromtu “story hour”!
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