In this issue:

Young People's Poetry Week

Tayshas Reading List

HCPL YA Staff

New Young Adult Books

Young People's Poetry Week

Tayshas Reading List

Harris County Public Library celebrates Young People's Poetry Week; April 16-22, 2007.  Young People's Poetry Week is in April which is National Poetry Month. 

Young People's Poetry Week was created to encourage people to celebrate poetry—read it, enjoy it, write it!  Each of our libraries will have programs revolving around poetry during April for teens, children and adults. 

Poetry Slam Book List

Sarah Davis

Branch Librarian

Stratford Branch Library

Sarah Davis

Sarah Davis is the Branch Manager of the Stratford Branch Library.  She does the young adult programming at her branch library.

What do you like to read?

Harry Potter, of course!  Also, I like reading mysteries.  Some of my favorite authors are:  Patricia Cornwell, David Baldacci, and Mary Higgins Clark.  In the children's books, one of my favorite authors is Kate DiCamillo.

What was your favorite book when you were a teen?

I don't think I had a favorite book as a teen.  I read comic books:  Dick Tracy, Archie, Veronica, Casper and I read Nancy Drew books alot.

What do you like best about your job?

I love meeting the public.  I also like everything there is to do at the library.  I view everything as a challenge, puzzle/mystery, or housekeeping.  I like a neat and orderly place where people can come and not only find what they need, but feel comfortable and relaxed.

What was your most embarrassing moment as a teen?

Well, no one else knew or could tell, but I went to school with my shorty pajama bottoms on under my skirt!  Now, this was when the skirts were a full circle and had lots of crinolines under them to make them stand out--like in the 60s.

What is your best memory of being a teen?

One of my best memories was performing in various high school plays in front of public audiences.  One play of which I don't remember the title of, I played the main character and had the center stage by myself for most of the play.  There were only 3 characters in this play.  That was scary, but I felt exhilarated afterward for having not forgotten any of my lines.

If you could give advice to your "teen self,"  what would it be?

Don't let others make you feel that you have no self worth.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

My favorite relaxing thing to do is go to the beach.  I could easily be a beachcomber!  I love the ocean and all the shells and sea life.  I have been to the Baja part of the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean, the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and the Irish Sea.

Terence Blacker.  Parent Swap

Because his life is a bit of a mess, thirteen-year-old Danny Bell agrees to let ParentSwap(tm) try to match him with his ideal parents, but he soon realizes that the company is about more than giving adolescents a new start.

Jean Ferris.  Much Ado about Grubstake

When two city folks arrive in the depressed mining town of Grubstake, Colorado in 1888, sixteen-year-old orphaned Arley tries to discover why they want to buy the supposedly worthless mines in the area.

Hilari Bell.  Forging the Sword

Farsalans, including Lady Soraya and her half-brother, Jiaan, Kavi, and others, work relentlessly and often secretly in their shared strategies regarding the ultimate defeat of the Hrum.

P. J. Haarsma.  The Softwire:  Virus on Orbis 1

When thirteen-year-old Johnny and his sister arrive on Orbits in a space ship of orphans, he finds he has a unique ability to communicate with computers.

Kathe Koja.  Going Under

Alternating passages that draw on the myths of Persephone and Narcissus juxtapose the differing viewpoints of a teenaged girl and her older brother as she tries to prevent a manipulative psychotherapist from using her journal as material in a book.

Nora Raleigh Baskin.  In the Company of Crazies

Troubled thirteen-year-old Mia Singer enrolls in the Mountain Laurel School for Alternative Education, where she learns a lot about herself by paying close attention to others.

Kevin Waltman.  Learning the Game

When he and his high-school basketball teammates steal from a fraternity house in their small Indiana town, Nate contends with his guilt, his loyalty to his friends, and his desire to help his older brother who comes under suspicion for the crime.

Cecily Von Ziwgesar.  Reckless:  An It Girl Novel

Popular Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey is making a splash at Waverly Academy, an elite boarding school in New York horse country where glamorous rich kids don't let the rules get in the way of an excellent time. It's less than a semester into school, but Jenny's already become notorious, just like Tinsley Carmichael - who won't give up her Waverly "it girl" crown without a fight.

Joyce Sweeney.  Headlock

High school senior Kyle is determined to become a professional wrestler but his dream is threatened by a loved one's illness and the dramatic reappearance of a long-absent relative.

Linda McCarthy.  Own Your Space:  Keep Yourself and

Your Stuff Safe Online   This short, handy guide introduces the basic online threats teens face as well as the tools and behaviors that can mitigate trouble. Topics addressed include nasty code (viruses, worms, trojans), nasty people (hackers, spammers, pretenders), ethical choices (downloading music and game hacks), and privacy (how to shop, understanding cookies, and encrypting email). This book also covers public places like MySpace and private blog.

Lois H. Gresh.  The Ultimate Unauthorized Eragon Guide

The hidden facts behind the world of Alagaesia.

Anne M. Fletcher.  Weight Loss Confidential

How teens lose weight and keep it off--and what they wish their parents knew.

Rachel Korn, ed.  How to Survive Getting Into College

Hundreds of students share their hard-won wisdom, thoughts, strategies, struggles, and even failures. Filled with tips, tricks, humor, and horror stories, as well as practical advice on applications, interviews, and financial aid, the book is a lifeline for high school juniors and seniors.