Folklore

·        The songs, stories, legends, folklore and myths of a people of as handed down by word of mouth.

·        Reflects the people’s concepts of themselves- their beliefs, hopes and fears, humor, and fascination with the supernatural.

·        Folktales are varied and include- quest stories or hero tales, transformation tales, and popular trickster tales

·        The setting of these stories are as varied as the enchanted places or the realistic geography of our world –from the deserts to the polar ice caps

·        A lot of conflict and action- The oral tradition made it imperative that the listeners be brought quickly into the action

·        Folktale characters are less completely developed than are characters in other types of stories-

o   characters are typed as bad or good

o   a witch is usually bad

o   the young heroine is fair, kind and loving

o   the youngest son is honorable, kind and unselfish

·        Trickster tales- a trickster figure can be godlike or greedy or foolish.

o   These tales often include ghosts, riddles. Laughter and moral lessons.

o   Jack- is an American trickster hero who outwits his foes

·        Pourquoi tales- Native American folklore includes many pourquoi tales, or “why stories”

o   Explaining natural phenomena- why the constellations are shaped

o   Answer a question- such as why birds are different colors.

o   Explain animals, plants or humans were created and why they act a certain way-

o   Students can make up their own pourquoi tales

·        Cumulative tales- tales that repeat actions, characters, or speeches until a climax is reached are found among all cultures. For example- The big turnip, gingerbread boy, henny penny,

·        Beast tales- Beast tales are among the most universal folktales that are found in all cultures.

o   Beasts in folktales often talk and act like people.

o   The coyote is a popular animal in Native American tales; the fox and the wolf are found in many European tales.

o   In some stories like “the Bremen Town Musicians” and the “3 Billy Goats Gruff” the animals use their wits to overcome an enemy

          Fables- Fables are brief tales in which animal characters that talk and act like humans indicate a moral lesson. Aesops “The Hare and the Tortoise”

·        Tale tales-

o   Tall Tales are exaggerated and imaginary stories from the 1800's.  They were made-up to tell about the courage many had while exploring and adventuring to the "WILD, WILD, WEST".  These stories entertained people around campfires, on steamboats, and many other places.

o   These tales describe a wide range of geographical settings and illustrate occupations that helped to develop the Early America. 

o   Johnny Appleseed and Davy Crockett were actual people.  The stories of their life were soon exaggerated and re-told until they became folk heroes.

o   Other tall tale heroes include Pecos Bill, Daniel Boone, Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Mike Fink, Sally Ann Thunder

o   Steven Kellogg author of many including library lil

·        Myths- truthful accounts of what happened in the past.

o   They are accepted on faith-taught to be believed

o   They are scared and often associated with theology and ritual

o   Origins of the world and humans

o   Main characters may be humans, animals or deities

o   Actions may take place in an earlier world-Greek myths

Legends- are closely related to myths

·        Many have been translated over centuries in the form of epics-such as “Beowulf” and “the Iliad”

·        Stories are considered facts based on a real person or event

·        The main character is usually a saint, king, hero, famous person that demonstrates heroic deeds and bravery ex. King Arthur, Robin Hood

Lesson ideas-

·        For tall tales- read Johnny Appleseed- give them a paper apple – on one side have them write a truth and on the other an exaggerated

·        Choose a common theme found in folktales such as the trickster stories from around world and compare the similarities and differences-

·        Read stories about an animal- is the animal revered or despised? Why?

·        Investigate the information you can learn about the culture, people and country from the tales

·        Compare versions

Fairy tale- is a sub-class of the folktale. They include:

Once upon a time in a far away place

Good main character versus a villain

Magic/ magical objects

Romance

Solution is solved after several attempts

Ends happily ever after

·        Fairy Tales offer hope for children who feel powerlessness and vulnerability.

·        Fairy tales speaks to the heart and sole of a child.  They confirm that the world may be cruel yet they send the message that if you have courage, you can accomplish any obstacle.  Uses of enchantment by Bruno Bethlehelm

Fractured Fairy tales-

·        When comparing to the original you may want to be the original first- don’t assume that they know it- they may only know a Disney version

·        Are often comical

·        In picturebooks the structure is usually the same as orginal

·        Fractured may tell the same story with a different gender

·        A retelling of a minor character

·        Different setting

·        Changing point of view-different perspective

·        New interpretation –does not marry the prince

·        Extend the story- continue a character’s adventures

LBGT Lit

Please read the 2 SLJ articles
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6296527.html

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/894412-427/lgbtq_lit_speaking_out.html.csp

     The American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table sponsors the Stonewall Book Awards honors non-fiction and ficiton books that have exceptional merit relating to the gay/ lesbian/ bisexual/ transgendered experience. Isabel Miller's Patience and Sarah received the first award in 1971. The books are adult books that may work in a HS library.

David Levithan’s groundbreaking 2003 feel-good novel Boy Meets Boy was the first teen novel about accpetance and celebration of homosexual high school realtionships written in this humorous style. Set in a high school where gays are accpeted and the popular football quaterback is also a cross-dressing homecoming queen the story is about dating and the sexual orientation of the main characters makes no difference.

            Since Boy Meets Boy a few other funny novels where sexuality is not presetned as a problem and homosexulaity is a given have hit the scence. In a few books a gay teen and his female best friend both have a crush on the same guy, in others students form a gay-straight alliance in their high school.

Totally Joe by James Howe

Written as a school assignment, thirteen-year-old Joe Bunch writes in his “alphabiography” about coming out to his supportive family and friends, starting a Gay-Straight Alliance group and heartbreak when Colin ends there relationship because he is not ready to go public.

The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Nina Bermudez, Avery Dekker and Melanie “Mel” Forest’s close friendship dramatically changes during the summer before their senior year of high school in Saratoga Springs, New York when Mel accepts that she is a lesbian and begins a romantic relationship with Avery while Nina falls in love with Steve Carson during a summer leadership program at Stanford University.

My Most Excellent Year: a Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, & Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

Told through diary entries, instant messages, a school assignment, memos and e-mails three eleventh graders write about their freshman year when baseball fan T.C. falls for Alejandra, Augie realizes he is gay and Alejandra discovers her passion for acting. 

Absolutely, Positively Not…. By David Larochelle

At first sixteen-year-old Steve DeNarski denies he is gay by hanging out with the jocks and dating every available girl in his school. When he finally accepts that he is gay his best friend, Rachel, and his dad are supportive but he finds real solace when attends a gay and lesbian support group.

Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle

Sixteen-year-old Lissa is confused and lonely when her best friend Kate snubs her after the two share a passionate kiss at a party until Lissa befriends Ariel and accepts that she is a lesbian.

A Really Nice Prom Mess by Brian Sloan

Cameron Hayes, an in-the-closet gay, at a conservative all boy high school in Washington D.C. disastrous prom begins when his sexy date, Virginia McKinley, threatens to out Cam to his parents. Cam’s misadventures continue when he gets in a fight with his football player boyfriend, Shane Wilson, leaves the prom with a bi-sexual drug-dealer, is involved in a police chase and comes to serious revelation that he needs to be honest to his family and friends.

Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

New York University freshman and childhood friends, Naomi and Ely find their close friendship strained when Ely, who is gay, breaks the “no kiss rule” by kissing Naomi’s boyfriend, Bruce the second. After Bruce decides to date Ely Naomi confronts the truth that Ely will never love her the way she loves him.

Is He or Isn’t He by John Hall

At the beginning of their senior year longtime best friends Paige and Anthony are both interested in making the cute new boy at Peppington Prep their boyfriend as soon as they figure out whether he is gay or straight.

The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina

After gossip quickly spreads in Winter Park, Florida that out-and-proud seventeen-year-old Jonathan Parish got drunk and had sex with a female friend rich Laura Schulberg offers Jonathan a trip to London to see his idol Kylie Minogue in concert if he will pretend to be her boyfriend for the rest of the school year.

M or F? by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbetts

In alternative chapters best friends and brain twins, Marcus Beauregard and Frannie Falconer explain how they both got a massive crush on Jeffrey Osborne when they chat with him online.

Getting It by Alex Sanchez

Inspired by the television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, 15-year-old Texan Carlos Amoroso asks Sal, a gay student, to give him a make-over that will get the attention of his crush, Roxy. Sal agrees to assist Carlos under the condition that Carlos helps form a Gay-Straight Alliance. 

Freak Show by James St James

After seventeen-year-old Billy Bloom, a drag queen, transfers into a conservative high school in Florida he is verbally and physically attacked until the football hero, Flip Kelly becomes his friend and demands that his classmates accept Billy. When Billy and Flip get into an argument after their first kiss Billy decides to run for homecoming queen.

 

Chick lit

What is Chick Lit

Chick lit is sub-genre within women's fiction which addresses issues of modern women often humorously and lightheartedly.

What makes the teen chick-lit genre so popular is that girls have found a way to escape into a fantasy world where they see themselves and their friends as the characters. The reader may not be a socialite or work in New York City like the heroine, but she does share the ups and downs of growing up and wanting to fit in. Even though the characters’ ages vary from middle school to adults in their twenties, they all go through challenging obstacles while still making the reader laugh.           

Covers Design

Most chick-lit covers show whimsical cartoons of pretty girls, clothes, or accessories against backdrops in bright colors such as hot pink and turquoise. In fact, the ubiquitous pink covers have led to the arrival of the term “pink lit” for teen chick-lit titles. If a reader is more interested in reading about the scandalous lives of being a nanny or an heiress, she will gravitate to covers that are more suggestive with photographs of beautiful models.  Only show the body and not the face of the model.

Brief History

Like those of her adult contemporary Bridget Jones, Georgia’s diary entries are full of laugh-out-loud episodes about obsessing over her looks (specifically her nose) and obsessing over boys (specifically the hunky rocker Robbie). Here is a sample entry: “7:00 p.m. In my room in front of the mirror. Practicing smiling without making my nose spread. It’s impossible. I must never smile again.” Despite the plethora of books about witty teens, Rennison’s diarist is by far the funniest.- now a teen nick movie.

Proving that not all teen chick lit is strictly fluff, the following fall, a pair of magic pants pushed the trend into the mainstream. In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, author Ann Brashares created characters who deal successfully with complex issues like sex, cancer, and death without weighing the novels down.

In 2002, the Gossip Girl series introduced readers to a new type of teen chick lit that later became known as “gossip lit.” Although gossip-lit books may have similar themes to traditional chick lit (such as dating, family, and growing up), they are exclusively about wealthy, beautiful girls who live in exciting places, wear trendy clothes, and date hot guys. Although the series has a reputation for being racy, like most reputations it is exaggerated. Yes, most of the characters smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol and yes, a few characters smoke marijuana, but most only talk about who is doing drugs rather than partaking in it themselves. They also have a reputation as being smutty. In the first few novels several characters are virgins contemplating when is the right time, and ‘hooking up’ usually means kissing in the corner at a party.  As the series progresses so does the sexual activity of the characters. 

After the success of the three different series, new chick-lit titles were quickly published in the beginning of the twenty-first century. Now, more than ten years later, teen chick lit encompasses almost all genres, including fantasies and mysteries. Today, teen chick-lit heroines come in all shapes and sizes. She can the girl next door, a teen witch who needs a date to the prom or a varsity cheerleader who also is an undercover spy.

The Princess Diaries. Chick-lit author Meg Cabot has written many successful books, however, her main claim to fame is how she tapped into the secret desire most girls have to be a princess. At the beginning of The Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis is a typical teenager living in New York City with her artist mother. She is a vegetarian who wears combat boots and is failing algebra. When Mia’s mom starts dating her math teacher, she thinks nothing could get worse. But when Mia discovers that she is the heir to the throne of Genovi, her life turns upside down. Mia has to go everywhere with a bodyguard and take princess lessons with her strict grandmother. With fourteen sequels, teens can’t get enough of this reluctant princess-in-training. Meg Cabot’s characters live the life that teenage girls daydream about but I think her success lies in the fact that her heroines are so normal, readers can relate to them.

Vegan Virgin Valentine- Mara Valentine is in control. She's a straight-A senior, a vegan, and her parents' pride and joy. She's aggressively competing with her ex-boyfriend for valedictorian before starting Yale in the fall. Mara has her remaining months in Brockport all planned out, but the plan does not include having V, her slutty, pot-smoking, sixteen-year-old niece -- yes, niece -- come to live with her family. Nor does it involve falling for her boss, Dan or dreaming about grilled cheese sandwiches every night. The sequel is Guyaholic.

My Big Fat Manifesto. Jamie decides to enter the National Feature Award scholarship program by writing the best, most outrageous, hilarious, school newspaper series ever. Not only will winning pay for her college expenses, it would be her chance to convey to the world what it’s really like to live as an overweight teen. In her Big Fat Manifesto, she calls herself Fat Girl, debunks myths, shares alarming statistics and even goes undercover with her skinny friends into a fashion mall, proving how horrid overweight people are treated. Meanwhile her football playing boyfriend Burke decides to get weight loss bypass surgery, which has huge risks associated with it. Jamie adds this unexpected twist into her articles, describing the gory details and heart-draining worry as she and his family brew in the hospital waiting room during the procedure.

Huge.  April and Wil couldn't be more different, but both of them are spending the summer at Wellness Canyon -- otherwise known as a weight-loss camp.  April knows that if she could just drop a little weight, she would be popular like she's always wanted. She's saved up for months to afford Wellness Canyon, which is more like a posh spa than a sleepaway camp. While April can't wait to jump into all the activities, Wil can't wait to get out of there. To get revenge on her parents, Wil decides she's going to gain weight at Wellness Canyon. During the summer the unlikely pair becomes close and even win the Wellness Canyon Olympics.

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up. Instead of admitting that she was rejected from NYU Harper Waddle announces that she will stay in Bolder Colorado to pursue her dream of writing a novel and convinces her three best friends Sophie, Becca  and Kate to join the Dream team and forget about college. Sophie moves to Hollywood to act, Becca becomes a ski coach at Middlebury College and Kate defers Harvard to travel through Europe.

The Jessica Darling Series. The humorous diary entries of sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling begins after her best friend Hope moves away from Pineville, New Jersey. During her junior year Jess feels surrounded by shallow materialistic classmates, is bored by her honors classes, writes honest editorials in the school paper and begins a strange relationship with Marcus Flutie.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend. High school senior Dominique Baylor starts dating and subsequently falls in love with shy Wesley Gershwin after they meet at a local football game. The inexperienced couple have their first sexual experiences together including losing their virginity on prom night.  The author dedicates this book to Judy Blume and it feels like a modern “forever” with it’s mature details about sexual discovery.

The Breakup Bible. High school junior Jen Lewis is having a great junior year.  She is the features editor of the school paper, and she's dating Max Brown, the paper's editor-in-chief. Everything is perfect-that is, until Max says, "Maybe it would be better if we were just friends." In shock and total denial, Jen wonders how she is going to deal with the pain of seeing Max in school every day. When her grandmother gives her a book that she heard about on the radio Jen decides to  follow the commandments in Dr. Emerson’s Breakup Bible.

Luxe.  In the first volume it is 1899 eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Adora Holland and her friends enjoy a luxurious lifestyle as members of Manhattan’s upper class. When Elizabeth is forced to accept wealthy twenty-year-old Henry Schoonmaker’s marriage proposal even though he is in love with her younger sister Diana and has had an affair with her best friend Penelope Hayes she takes drastic measures to be with the one she loves. Meanwhile her former maid Lina Broud plots her rise in social society.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life. Long Island author Jen Calonita Has created a likable Hollywood actress in her popular series. Sixteen-year-old Kaitlin Burke is very down to earth, despite the fact that she grew up acting on Family Affair, a popular night soap opera. Her manager mother, personal assistant and best friend help Kaitlin maintain her hectic schedule, which includes a lot of premiers and interviews. Her bad twin on Family Affair is Sky Mackenzie; Sky is a diva in training who goes out of her way to make sure Kaitlin gets her share of bad press. Throughout the novels Kaitlin reveals her Hollywood secrets, like celebrities do not like to watch themselves on the big screen.

Romance

·        First relationships and sexuality two topics that are of extreme interest to teens and tweens- this is new territory that they are about to explore-

·        Romance books are popular because teens want to know what it feels like to experience love and romance, how to behave with boys. They are able to experience the first date and kiss through vicariously through the characters.

·        It is hard to find a YA book that does not touch upon the two issues but they are probably not classified as a romance

·        To be classified a romance the book must: Have a central love story that emphasizes the experience of love, sexual feelings, and/or sexual acts, such as kissing and/or intercourse

·        This includes the range from crushes, first love, first sexual encounters and heartbreak

·        Unlike adult romance books, YA books do not have to have a optimistic ending

·        Contemporary romance may have a plot may revolve around social issues like homosexuality, rape, AIDS, pregnancy, abortion, death, racial or religious prejudice

·        Mostly girls do read romance- I am noticing a few more books in guy/ lad lit category

·        Like most genre, readers want to read about characters a little older than they are  

·        Teens seek out characters that they identify with-sexual orientation, ethnicity

·        Rocked by Romance is a comprehensive guide that breaks the genre down by: classic romance, contemporary, humorous, Christian, historical fiction and alternative reality. Includes a nice chapter on the history of romance stories.

Please read:

http://www.tanyastone.com/assets/files/pdfs/VOYA200602AuthorTalk.pdf

Graphic Novels

To answer the questions about the definition of graphic novels check out this PowerPoint"
http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=bsides&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Ddefinition%2520of%2520graphic%2520novel%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D8%26sqi%3D2%26ved%3D0CHIQFjAH%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fir.uiowa.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1013%2526context%253Dbsides%26ei%3Dl1ToT473J4mr0AHcwNDJCQ%26usg%3DAFQjCNFyEbPomCGwsyqHajcKmufRy2Bqsw#search=%22definition%20graphic%20novel%22