37. Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub

Staub, Wendy Corsi. (2007). Lily Dale: Awakening. New York: Holtzbrinck Publishers. ISBN 0802798438.

Plot Summary
After Calla's boyfriend breaks up with her via text message she doesn't think life could get any worse. Weeks later her mother dies in an accident. Calla is sent to live with her grandmother in the town of Lily Dale while her father heads to California for a new job. Calla is surprised to discover that Lily Dale is a town whose residents have a long history of being psychics. Calla begins to experience strange things like seeing the ghost of a missing girl. Soon she begins to realize that maybe her mother's death wasn't an accident and that Calla may be next in the line of the family of psychics.

Critical Evaluation
The book, the first in the Lily Dale series, is well-written story perfect for teens who enjoy the supernatural. Calla must deal with the loss of her mother while discovering new things about herself. The topic is one that many teens can relate to. Staub throws action and romance to keep the reader hooked and connected to the stories characters.

Reader's Annotation
Seventeen year-old Calla goes to stay with her psychic grandmother after the death of her mother. She soon discovers secrets about her mother that shake her to the bone.

About the Author
New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy published novels and has sold more than three million books worldwide. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women's fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Barnes and Noble Top Ten, and Bookscan bestseller lists.

Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Genre
Mystery, supernatural

Curriculum Ties
N/A

Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the moments when Calla begins to realize her psychic abilities.
2) Discuss the history of the town of Lily Dale. Is it a real place?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+

Challenge Issues
Psychic phenomenon

Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Lily-Dale-Awakening/dp/0802798438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292314345&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Wanted to include a mystery title

36. Street Artists: The Complete Guide by Eleaonor Mathieson and Xavier A. Tapies

Editors: Mathieson, Eleanor; Tapies, Xavier A. Photography: Arango, Glenn. (2009). Street Artists: The Complete Guide. London : Graffito Books. ISBN 9780956028419

Summary
Street Art is an informative and comprehensive look into actual people who have created some of the most famous graffiti art around the world. Because graffiti, or "tagging" is considered illegal in most places, the artists go by nicknames like Bansky and Swoon. The book's pages are filled with colorful photographs, interviews and history of the artists and where there work has been seen.

Critical Evaluation
Anyone who has lived in urban areas like New York, Los Angeles, London, and San Francisco can attest to the fact that street art, or "graffiti" can be found around every corner. The photographs taken of the graffiti art are colorful and prove that some of the artists' work is better than pieces by well known artists in museums across the world. The book should be considered a platform for young artists to use because it shows that art comes in all forms. Teenagers inspiring to be graffiti artists do need to realize that it is illegal and that these artists have become known for not only their work but also alluding the police. That being said, the art in the book is beautiful, innovative, and fresh.

Reader's Annotation
Dive into the history of the most well known graffiti artists from around the world.

About the Editors & Photographer
Eleanor Mathieson and Xavier A. Tapies are the authors of Street Art and the War on Terror: How the Best Graffiti Artists said NO to the Iraq War.

Glenn Arango is from Chicago. For the past ten years he has travelled the world photographing street art in the world's urban centers. He is based in San Francisco where he works in the internet industry.

Genre
Nonfiction, Art

Curriculum Ties
Art, Art History

Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the differences in graffiti art and more traditional art forms.
2) Would the art form of graffiti be the same if it was legal?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+

Challenge Issues
Graffiti, legal issues

Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book by reading it and examining the photos.
-Refer to different forms of art including graffiti.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf

Why Included in Titles Selected
A lot of teenagers at my library are interested in art and graffiti and I've always loved the graffiti I've seen living in both San Francisco and New York City.

35. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (Database)

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. (Database). San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org

Summary
(http://www.gale.cengage.com/InContext/viewpoints.htm)

Opposing Viewpoints in Context is the premier online resource covering today’s hottest social issues, from Offshore Drilling to Climate Change, Health Care to Immigration. Opposing Viewpoints in Context helps students research, analyze and organize a broad variety of data for conducting research, completing writing assignments, preparing for debates, creating presentations and more.

In addition to the engaging, streamlined interface and media-rich topic pages, the product's unprecedented collection of content and curriculum-focused tools that help students explore issues from all perspectives include:

• More than 14,000 pro/con viewpoint essays
• 5,000+ topic overviews
• More than 300 primary source documents
• 300 biographies of social activists and reformers
• More than 775 court-case overviews
• 5 million periodical articles
• Nearly 6,000 statistical tables, charts and graphs
• Nearly 70,000 images and a link to Google Image Search
• Thousands of podcasts, including weekly presidential addresses and premier NPR programs
• A national and state curriculum standards search, correlated to the content that allows educators to quickly identify material by grade and discipline

Critical Evaluation
This database is offered by the San Francisco Public Library. In order to access the database, the user must have a library card. The database can be used for research papers, debates, and presentations. The topics are endless so a student would do best approaching it knowing what he or she is looking for. Once the user clicks on a topic, for example "Cloning", a definition of the word or topic is shown with a history of the topic. There are videos, images, and articles that the user can browse and the bibliographic information also given. The amount of resources may be overwhelming for students who aren't used to doing heavy research. The more intellectually gifted student will most likely find the database exciting and fun to browse.

There is also an easy link that allows the user to browse all the issues and topics available in alphabetical order. Another interesting and useful tool is the link to the curriculum standards in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.

The database is an excellent resource for the older teen just finishing high school or in college.

Annotation
Database showing diffferent views on a variety of topics.

About Gale
Gale®, part of Cengage Learning, is a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. Best known for its accurate and authoritative reference content as well as its intelligent organization of full-text magazine and newspaper articles, the company creates and maintains more than 600 databases that are published online, in print, as eBooks and in microform.

The Gale family of publishing imprints includes such noted reference brands as Macmillan Reference USA™, Charles Scribner's Sons® and Primary Source Media™.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
All

Reading Level/Interest Age
All ages

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include databases in the blog.

34. Teen Health & Wellness (Database)

Teen Health & Wellness. (Database). Rosen Publishing: San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org.

Summary
This database offered by San Francisco Public Library has information from experts on diseases, illnesses, disabilities, and alchohol, plus additional information on mental health, friendship, dating, family life, grief, sexuality, and life skills for teens.

Full list of links:
Body Basics
Developmental Disabilities and Disorders
Diseases, Infections, and Conditions
Diversity
Drugs and Alcohol
Eating Disorders
Family Life
Friendship and Dating
Green Living
Grief and Loss
Mind, Mood, and Emotions
Nutrition, Fitness, and Appearance
Safety
Sexuality and Sexual Health
Skills for School, Work, and Life

Critical Evaluation
This is a useful tool for teens of all ages. It can be accessed through the library with a library card number and password. Teens can use it for personal reasons, or for research.

Annotation
Database for teens discussing health and wellness.

About Rosen Publishing
Founded in 1950, Rosen Publishing has a long history of providing high-quality nonfiction books for children and young adults. Early on, Rosen recognized an urgent need for self-help material written specifically for teens. Rosen’s flagship book on venereal disease, the first of its kind for teens, met with acclaim and approval, and marked the beginning of a publishing program for the school and public library communities. Rosen Publishing gained a strong reputation for its sensitive treatment of difficult subjects; accurate, age-appropriate information; and reassuring tone.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
Health Education

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include a database.

33. Learning Express Library (Database)

Learing Express Library. (Database) Available through San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org

Summary
Learning Express Library provides online practice tests based on official exams for the SAT, GED, GRE, GMAT, Civil Service Jobs, ASVAB, and more. It is a resource for all ages and offers other services like U.S. Citizenship, information for Spanish speaking users, and all levels of education.

Critical Evaluation
This database is available through the public library. New users must register an account and that is the only negative thing. It can't be accessed with just a library card. Once registered, users have access to all the college prep tests, GED preparation, and job search links.

Reader's Annotation
Online practice tests for teens furthering their education.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
College Prep

Reading Level/Interest Age
All ages

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include a useful database for the college bound teenager.

32. CollegeSource Online (Database)

CollegeSource Online. (Database). CollegeSource, Inc. Available through San Francisco Public Library @ www.sfpl.org

Summary
This database is accessible with a library card and password. It provides full text college catalogs for 2-Year, 4-Year, and Graduate schools in the United States and other countries. Other resources include:
-Assessment Testing and Preparation
-Associations of Education & Library Professionals
-Career Resources
-College Guides and Planning
-Financial Aid Resources
-State Departments of Education

Critical Evaluation
CollegeSource is a valuable tool in finding schools all over the world. Its great to let college-bound teens know that the choices are limitless as far as education goes. They just need to be prepared and stay on top of their grades. This database has resources to guide them to success.

Annotation
Find information and catalogs for thousands of colleges and universities.

About CollegeSource, Inc.
CollegeSource, Inc. is a small but dynamic company with a mission to serve institutions of higher education and the students who use education to become more employable, engaged citizens. Our current focus is college catalog and institution research tools, primarily in the area of transfer credit evaluation. CollegeSource, Inc. is about making the work of researching college catalogs faster, easier, and cheaper. The result is tremendous time savings for administrators and a better experience for transfer students.

Genre
Database

Curriculum Ties
College Preparation

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 16+

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include information for the college bound teenager.

31. Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper

Draper, Sharon M. (1997). Forged by Fire. New York : Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 0689818513.

Plot Summary
As a child, Gerald Nickleby lives with his drug-addicted mother who often leaves him alone for hours at a time. When she is home she is cruel and abusive often apologizing after her many violent episodes. Gerald is fascinated by fire and his fascination leads to him burning the house down while his mother is gone. Luckily he is saved. His wheelchair-bound Aunt Queen gains custody of him while his mother is sent away to jail after authorities see the signs of abuse on Gerald's body. Aunt Queen is a kind woman who nurtures Gerald and gives him the love he missed growing up with his mother. The morning before his ninth birthday Aunt Queen gives him the news that his mother is out of jail and coming to visit. To make up for the bad news, Aunt Queen gives Gerald his birthday present early. A brand new bike is hiding in the garage. The birthday arrives and with it comes Gerald's mother along with her new husband, Jordan, and his shy daughter, Angel. Jordan is a cold man with darkness in his eyes. Gerald's mother brings more bad news with her. She wants Gerald to live with her, Jordan, and Angel. The news is too shocking for Gerald and with tears in his eyes he runs out the door. When he returns his mother and Jordan are gone, but Angel is still there with Aunt Queen. Gerald and Angel immediately form a bond. He feels like he must protect the tiny girl, but doesn't yet know or understand why. He takes Angel out to ride his new bike. When they come home bursting through the door and laughing they find Aunt Queen lying on the floor. She is dead. Gerald's life with mother and new family begins. He soon realizes why he must protect Angel. His stepfather is hiding a horrible secret. Gerald and Angel grow up into teenagers and form a bond that allows them to survive the abuse Jordan directs at them. Gerald isn't scared of Jordan and does his best at making smart decisions, but Angel is terrified. She too holds a dark secret. Will the secret destroy the family, or will the secret come out and save the kids from their horrible life?

Critical Evaluation
Forged by Fire is the second book in Draper's Hazelwood High trilogy. Many of the characters from her first book in the series, Tears of a Tiger, appear in this book. Draper creates vivid and emotionally aware characters that the reader wants to see overcome their obstacles. Jordan is portrayed as a monster, but one that so many teenagers from abusive households have encountered. This is an important book that touches on the topic of abuse. It has a message that abused teenagers have the power to change the circumstances they are in even if it doesn't seem so. Forged by Fire is touching, heartbreaking, and well worth the read.

Reader's Annotation
Gerald must protect his stepsister from a violent father while growing into a man and keeping his dignity.

About the Author
Sharon M. Draper lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught English for twenty-five years. She has been active in the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and was named National Teacher of the Year in 1997.

Draper's other books include Tears of a Tiger, Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch.

Genre
Series, Multiple and Unique Issues, African American

Curriculum Ties
Sociology

Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the unique bond between Gerald and Angel.
2) Discuss the reasons why you think Gerald's mother ignored the abuse happening in the family.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+

Challenge Issues
Physical abuse, sexual abuse/incest

Challenge defense ideas
-Coretta Scott King Award (1998), ALA Best Book for Young Adults
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Sharon-M-Draper/dp/0689818513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292386475&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
I read the Bluford High series by last semester and wanted to read something similar.