Judy Blume- RECAP

Brought to you by Emily:

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Blubber

Superfudge

Freckle Juice

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Yes, we all read them and loved them. And we have Judy Blume to thank for keeping us in great books all through elementary and middle school!

Two Mondays ago (October 27th), Judy stopped by Books & Books to talk a little bit about her books, what it's like to be an author, and her feelings on the SUPERCHARGED presidential election - can you guess who she voted for?

It was such an incredible thrill to meet one of my childhood icons. I even got her to sign a copy of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, so I can go back and read it again (and then put it away for the daughter I will someday have!)

And for those of you who just can't get enough of Judy Blume, check out Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers, which she edited. This is a collection of original stories by YA writers who, like Judy, have found their work censored or challenged - authors like Julius Lester, Walter Dean Myers, Katherine Paterson and Jacqueline Woodson.

So, from all us fans.... Judy, we salute you!

Election 2008

We're exactly 4 weeks away from what is being called "the most important election in American History."  (Tuesday, November 4, 2008, folks... mark your calendars)

So, yeah, it's a pretty big deal.

Here's a book and some websites that might help you sort out the issues and candidates for yourself:

Declare Yourself:

Speak. Connect. Act. Vote. More Than 50 Celebrated Americans Tell You Why
Fifty famous figures, including authors, actors, athletes, and pop stars, each deliver the same message: young people need to vote! The varied efforts include earnest lectures, funny personal stories, and thought-provoking essays. Many of the contributors are not far past 18 themselves, so their stories may resonate particularly strongly with readers who are at or approaching voting age. Gr. 9 and Up BUY

Also:
http://www.declareyourself.com

Created to encourage 18-year-old voter registration, this nonpartisan site includes links to current election resources, voting FAQs, and strategies for encouraging others to register, along with a collection of persuasive (and often funny) celebrity videos promoting youth participation.

http://www.votesmart.org

An innovative non-partisan “voter’s self-defense system,” this organization collects data about candidates and office holders in areas such as voting records, interest group ratings, public statements, and campaign financing. The information is gathered and updated by team of thousands of mostly volunteer researchers.

-The YAthenaeum Team