Teen Readers’ Advisory
Book ‘Em! Find it, Read it, Talk About it
Dr. Jessica E. Moyer
December 3, 2014
Laws of Leisure Reading
“Never apologize for your reading tastes” - Rosenberg’s First Law of
Reading
“Every reader his [or her] book. Every book its reader” - S. R.
Ranganathan’s 2nd and 3rd Laws of Library Science
The Rule of 50: If you’re under 50 years old, read the first 50 pages [of a
new book]. If you’re over 50, subtract your age from 100, the result
is the number of pages you should read before deciding whether or
not to continue” Exception: Finish it, if the book is for a bookclub or
a school assignment. - Nancy Pearl’s Rule for Reading
“ No two people ever read the same book.” Diana Herald, RAO Blog,
5/9/2008
What is Readers’ Advisory?
“[A] patron-centered library service for adult leisure readers. A
successful readers’ advisory service is one in which knowledgable,
nonjudgemental staff help fiction and nonfiction readers with their
leisure reading needs.” (Saricks, pg 1, emphasis added)
“Quite simply, it is the act of putting people together with the books
they love. Librarians, booksellers, literature teachers—anyone in the
business of helping readers find the books they love—are readers'
advisors”. Diana Herald, Genreflecting website
"An exchange of information between two people with the purpose of
one person's suggesting text for the other's later reading interest."—
Kenneth Shearer
Do Teens Actually Read?
YES!! Children and teens consistently choose leisure
reading as an out of school activity
Teens would like to read more if they had easy access to
books they would like
Children and teens read the most over school breaks,
especially summer vacation
Children and teens are motivated to read books that are
about topics in which they are interested
When Do Teens Read?
2007
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
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Research Review: Conflicting Results
NEA Report 2004 – Reading At Risk
Less than half of American adults read literature, from 56.9%
(1982) to 46.7% (2002)
Over the past 20 years, young adults (18-34) have declined from
being those most likely to read literature to those least likely
The decline in reading correlates with increased participation in a
variety of electronic media, including the Internet and video
games
Research Review: Conflicting Results
2007 NEA Report – To Read or Not to Read
Less than one-third of 13-year-olds are daily readers, a 14 percent
decline. Among 17-year-olds, the percentage of non-readers
doubled, from nine percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004.1
Americans ages 15 to 24 spend almost two hours a day watching
TV, and only seven minutes of their daily leisure time on reading.
Reading scores for 12th-grade readers fell significantly from
1992 to 2005, with the sharpest declines among lower-level
readers.
Research Review: Conflicting Results
Reading is good for teens: for developing social skills and empathy –
(Bookworms vs. nerds, Mar et al 2005)
Fanfiction and “other” literacy activities
Surveys of teens in Europe, Canada, Australia and US report: teens do
choose to read books, newspapers, magazines, more than 20% read at
least 3 hrs a week and YA books sell and circ
Girls tend to prefer narrative fiction books or graphic novels. Adult
fiction is also popular.
Boys are more likely to pick comic books, graphic novels (F or NF),
gaming manuals, magazines, newspapers or any type of NF
Boys are less likely to consider these real “reading” and more likely to
describe themselves as “nonreaders” to adults
Teen Reading Choices
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
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2005
2006
2007
Examples of RA Interactions
Teen with Gossip Girls series (for the 3rd time)
“Aren’t you ready to read something else?”
“You’ve already read that, don’t you want something better?”
OR
“I’ve noticed how much you seem to enjoy reading Gossip Girls, I
thought you might also be interested in this list of similar books”
“Let me know when you might want some more books, I’ve got some
suggestions from other teens who like these that I think you might like”
Examples of RA Interactions
Teen reading Shakespeare graphic novel
“We have the real book, here it is” (puts in hand)
OR
“Did you know we have a GN collection with other classic
stories? Here are some of the others I’ve heard are good (lays
GNs on table)”
“Did you know there are several different versions of that play
in the library?”
Examples of RA Interactions
Young looking teen in adult fiction area
“These books are too mature for you, let me take you to the
childrens (or YA) area”
“ Are you sure you want to reading such adult books?”
“Would your parents think it was OK?”
OR
“There are lots of books to choose from here, are there some
authors you like in this area? Would you like some ideas on
which ones you might enjoy the most?”
Examples of RA Interactions
I recently read Outsiders in school and I liked it, do you
have anything else like that?
“I LOVED Outsiders when I was a teen!! It was my
favorite book!! You must read Annie on my Mind, that was
my other favorite book in high school”
OR
“I’ve read that, it was pretty good, wasn’t it? What was it
about Outsiders that made it so great for you?”
Examples of RA Interactions
“I’ve read all the Georgette Heyer books in the adult section
and they are pretty good, but I don’t like a lot of other adult
romances, too much sex”
“You’ll want to read the original Regency romance stories, by Jane
Austen. They are so much better than anything written now.”
OR
“She’s a great author, isn’t she? Barbara Metzger is an adult
romance author who writes stories that are lot like Heyer, you
might like them. Here’s a book that you might like to browse for
more ideas.” (Show Genreflecting or Rocked by Romance)
Guidelines for Young Adult RA: DON’T
•
EVER make any kind of judging statement when talking to teen
readers
•
Suggest really old materials (as in I loved that when I was a teen)
(exception for still publishing authors)
•
Push your favorite books
•
Encourage teens to read “quality” books or “move them up” to better
books
•
Tell teens only books (or fiction) count as really reading
•
Read only YA books
•
Forget the Rules of Leisure Reading
Guidelines for Young Adult RA: DO
• Stock popular materials & replace them when they wear out or walk out
• Have nonfiction, graphic novels, magazines and audiobooks in your YA
collection
• Read nonfiction, graphic novels, manga, magazines and adult fiction,
and listen to audiobooks of all types, even if it is only in “10 Minutes”
• Keep a journal to remember what you “read”
• Suggest nonfiction, graphic novels, manga, audiobooks, and adult
fiction
• Be specific, not abstract when describing your suggestions
• Admit your likes and dislikes when asked – be honest with your teens!
Appeal Factors: Pacing
How quickly are character/plot revealed?
Dialogue v. Description
Short sentences, short paragraphs, short chapters?
Multiple plotlines, flashbacks, different points of
view, straight line plot?
Is the ending open or closed?
Appeal Factors: Characterization
Are characters fully developed or are they one
dimensional stereotypes?
Is focus on a single character or several who intertwine?
Is characterization or characters the most important
aspect of story?
Is character developed during the series or in one book?
Are there memorable or important secondary characters?
Appeal Factors: Storyline and Frame
Storyline
Does the story emphasize people or events?
Is the focus interior/psychological or exterior/action?
What is the author’s intent? Serious v. light; comedy v.
drama?
Frame
Is the background detailed or minimal?
How does the book make the reader feel? What mood
does the book evoke in the reader?
Is a special background integral to the story?
How To Read A Book in 10 Minutes:
A quick way to familiarize yourself with new books
1. Cover: What does it tell you? Is it embarrassing or dated?
2. Jacket blurb: What does it tell you about the book/author?
3. Typeface: How easy is it to read? Better for younger or older readers?
4. Heft - Can they carry it? Open and read it easily?
5. Read a sample: First and last chapters, pages in the middle
6. Evaluate--genre/type; pace; clarity. How does it fit into the appeal factors?
7. What is the format? Hardcover, paperback, illustrated, etc.
8. Connect this book to other books.
9. Who will enjoy this book?
Activity Time: Read a Book in 10 Minutes
1. Pick out a book that you have not read before, and preferably by an
author you don’t know
2. Follow the steps on the previous slide. You have only 10 minutes so
use your time wisely.
3. Make notes as you evaluate your book
4. Prepare to share your book with your classmates in a 30 to 60 second
summary.
--What is the book about?
--What other books are like it?
--What kind of reader would enjoy it?
5. Share books with class
Crossover Advisory:
Adult Books for Teen Readers
Teens read and enjoy titles published for adult readers
Many (but not all) adult titles will appeal to teen readers
Library Journal has an Adult Books for Teens section,
http://www.slj.com/category/reviews/adult-books-4-teens/#_)
Check for Booklist for YA notes at the end of reviews
Make connections with their current interests
Encourage exploration
Coming Soon from Libraries Unlimited/ABC-Clio:
Crossover Readers’ Advisory by Jessica E. Moyer
Science Fiction
If they like Dr. Who, Star Wars, or Firefly
Scalzi, John. Old Man’s War
Lee, Sharon and Steve Miller. Fledgling, Liaden
Johnson, Jean. A Soldier’s Duty, Theirs Not to
Reason Why
SF based Steampunk (i.e. Leviathan by Scott
Westerfelt)
Ballantine, Pip and Tee Morris. Phoenix Rising,
Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
Brooks, Meljean. Kraken King, Iron Seas
Mann, George. Affinity Bridge, Newbury and
Hobbes
Fantasy
If they like dystopias and dark themes (Mortal Engines or
Lemony Snicket)
Lynch, Scott. Lies of Locke Lamora, Gentleman
Bastards
McClellan, Brian. Promise of Blood, Powder Mage
Bledsoe, Alex. The Sword Edged Blonde, Eddie
Lacrosse
If they like traditional fantasy (Tamora Pierce)
Freeman, Pamela. Blood Ties, The Castings Trilogy
Jemisin, N.K. Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The
Inheritance Trilogy
Lackey, Mercedes. Foundation, Heralds of
Valdemar: The Collegium
Urban Fantasy
If they like Shadows by Robin McKinley
October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire
Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne
Libriomancer by Jim Hines
If they like Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
(fantasy based steampunk)
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna
Clark
A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz