“Series books are defined as “a sequence of separate narratives, mostly about the same characters and usually written by one author” or ghostwriters under a pseudonym.
“Progressive series develop a story in sequential installments, while successive series can be read in any order, since each plot is separate and characters don’t age or change.” (p.xii)
Carpan, Carolyn. Sisters, Schoolgirls, and Sleuths: Girls’ Series Books in America . Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press,
2009. Print.

- Number of books in a series = 3 or more
- Often referred to by character, setting, number, and/or series name
- Continuity (same reading level, length, look) & predictability
(main characters do not change; main characters prevail)
- Popular- bestsellers; T.V. or movie tie-in
- Various Fiction Genres/Categories

1860’s- Little Women (Louisa May Alcott); Ragged Dick (Horatio
Alger, Jr .
); Elsie Dinsmore (Martha Finley)
Early 1900’s- Stratemeyer Syndicate- Rover Boys, Tom Swift, Ruth
Fielding, Hardy Boys (1927), Nancy Drew (1930)
Cart, Michael. Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism . Chicago: American Library Association, 2010. Print

1980’s- Romance (Sweet Valley High)
1990’s- Horror (Fear Street)
2000’s
- Harry Potter (fantasy resurgence)
- Gossip Girl (privileged chick lit)
- Twilight (supernatural romance)
- Hunger Games (dystopian sci-fi)
•
Cart, Michael. Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism . Chicago: American Library Association, 2010. Print

- Poorly written
- Unrealistic characters & plots
- Present false values
Keeps a child from reading “better” books
(p. 21-25)
Deane, Paul.
Mirrors of American Culture: Children’s Fiction Series in the Twentieth Century.
Metuchen, N.J.:
Scarecrow Press, 1991. Print.

“The fact that, after he has mastered the first book, he can sail through several volumes without mental effort, is exactly what makes the reading of series delightful to the child, and here is the greatest danger, for the child slips easily into the rut of easy reading. He soon demands mediocre books which may be read with the least possible exertion and resists any attempts to interest him in those books which lead to a broad, true understanding of great literature.”
Bowman, K. Irene. “Why the American Library Association Does Not Endorse Serials for Boys and Girls.”
Iowa Library Quarterly , 9, no. 3, p. 42 (July/August 1921). Print.
Mitchell, Lillian Herron. “Not to Be Circulated.” Wilson Bulletin for Librarians , 3, p. 580 (April 1929).

- Social aspect series books bring to the act of reading
Reid, L., & R. K. Cline. (1997) “Our Repressed Reading Addictions: Teachers and Young Adult Series Books.”
The English Journal , 86, p. 68-72.
- Role of pleasure reading & fluency in the development of a lifelong reading habit
Greenlee, A. A., D.L. Monson, & B. M. Taylor. (1996). “The Lure of Series Books: Does it Affect Appreciation for Recommended Literature?” The Reading Teacher , 50, p. 216-225.
- Ties between the amount of reading and overall reading achievement
Anderson, R. C., P. T. Wilson, & L. G. Fielding. (1988). “Growth in Reading and How Children Spend Their
Time Outside of School.” Reading Research Quarterly , 23, p. 285-303.

- True Believer (Make
Lemonade trilogy by Virgina
Euwer Wolff)
- Angus, Thongs, and Full-
Frontal Snogging (Confessions of Georgia Nicholson by Louise
Rennison)
- Tears of a Tiger (Hazelwood
High trilogy by Sharon M.
Draper)
- Wrinkle in Time (by Madeline
L’Engle)

“Kids like them. They’re a fast, easy read. Most of them are wonderful escapist entertainment. Modern kids can fit them into their busy lives.
- They fill a collection need for which there is an unending, voracious appetite, such as mystery, adventure, horror, science fiction, fantasy, romance, etc.
- They allow you to fill that collection need with the least output of time and money. Remember, all you have to do is read the first installment in a new series to determine if it is the one for your young adults, if it fills your collections needs, is well written…
It’s your duty as a professional to be knowledgeable about every literary genre and how it can be used to stimulate the interest or fulfill the needs of any young adult patron, to be able to discuss them knowledgeably with teenage patrons and with their parents.”
- Improve circulation
•
Makowski, Silk. Serious About Series: Evaluations and Annotations of Teen Fiction in Paperback Series . Lanham, Md.:
Scarecrow Press, 1998. Print.

“Teens are substantial users of public libraries and the primary users of secondary school libraries. Their presence and numbers as well as their developmental characteristics and life circumstances, present a distinct challenge for reference service providers. During adolescence, teens develop the ability to hypothesize and think about the future and foresee consequences for actions.

- Involve Teens
- listen to their ideas
- let teens predict
- have teens write reviews in print or online
Hastings, Samantha Larsen. 2008. "Stress-Free Programming for Teens: Stop the Stress and Do More by Doing Less."
Young Adult Library Services 7, no. 1: 28-29. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text ,
EBSCO host (accessed April 5, 2011).
- Have contests when new titles come out
Chen, Kristine. 2010. "Give Them What They Want." School Library Journal 56, no. 10: 29-32. Library, Information
Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text , EBSCO host (accessed April 5, 2011).

Carry multiple copies of books within a series
Start with a smaller set of books over a couple of series
Let readers share their ideas.
Reading the same types of books can appeal to “picky” readers.
• Calkins, Lucy McCormick. The Art of Teaching Reading.
Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2001.

- Midnight release parties
- Costume dramas
Reader’s Theater
- Magic themed events
- Movie nights
YouTube - Teen Twilight Madness @ HBPL
Farrelly, Michael Garrett. "YA Services in a Post-Harry Potter World." Public Libraries 46, no. 5
(September/October 2007): 48-9. OmniFile Full Text Mega, WilsonWeb (accessed April 15, 2011).

Skokie Public Library
YouTube - Books Alive! The
Lightning Thief
Mid-Continent Public Library
Lots of events!
- Book Clubs Discussions about book characters
Huntley Area Public Library
- Some good events for a smaller library.

Reading Series Fiction: From
Arthur Ransome to Gene Kemp.
(2000) by Victor Watson
Popular Series Fiction for Middle
School and Teen Readers: A
Reading and Selection by Rebecca
Thomas & Catherine Barr

Mid-Continent Public Library
Juvenile Sequels and Series database
Juvenile Series and Sequels: Subjects | mymcpl.org - Mid-
Continent Public Library
Websites
Series/Author Websites http://www.artemisfowl.com
http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/ http://www.bluebloodsbooks.com

Awards
Children’s Choice State Awards (Illinois Rebecca Caudill &
Abraham Lincoln Awards)
- YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Book Reviews:
- SLJ (Fiction Series Roundup)
- Booklist (Series Fiction in Brief)

1. What are some other benefits or downsides to series books in your library’s collection?
2. What are some other examples of ways series books have been used in your library or school’s programing?
3. Based upon the series books we have brought in as examples, what’s missing from here that you would want to include in your library collection?
4. Has anyone read any good series books lately?