Adult-Friendly YA Books

Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA,) celebrated each year during the third week in October. This week is dedicated to fostering a love of reading among teens. There are a plethora of great books aimed at teens but, the truth is, many of these books have the same appeal for adults. Most people are probably quite familiar with some of these genre-defying gems, such as Twilight and Harry Potter, but there are a host of other excellent adult-friendly YA books. In celebration of Teen Read Week, here are a few highly recommended books that both YA and adult readers are sure to enjoy:

*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

*Graceling by Kristin Cashore

*The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

*The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

*Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

*Madapple by Christina Meldrum

*The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

*What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Are there any YA books that you recommend?

Another "Lost Symbol" Twist

Marilyn Schlitz, president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California, woke up one day to find that Dan Brown's clever surprises weren't confined to the pages of his best-selling books. After reading rumors on Twitter that one of the main characters in The Lost Symbol was a researcher at the Institute, Schlitz picked up a copy and read through the night.

She was amazed to find many correlations not only between the Institute's research and the book's plot, but also between the fictional character Katherine Solomon and Schlitz herself. She noticed several experiments done at the Institute in The Lost Symbol, but also found much that tended more toward science fiction. In addition, despite a lack of physical similarities, Schlitz and Solomon both started their careers at age 19 and studied prayer and healing and distant intention and both women's father and brother were 32nd degree Masons and members of the Scottish Rite.

Schlitz was especially surprised to find herself and the Institute starring in The Lost Symbol because she had never spoken with Brown. The day the book was published, however, "Dan Brown sent a very sweet e-mail saying, 'As you know, I'm a big fan of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. I had hoped to give you a heads-up,' Schlitz says. 'But because of the security around the book, he wasn't able to. But he was hoping we were enjoying the attention'" (Hagerty). With increased activity on the Institute's website and calls for interviews with NPR and Dateline NBC, it seems as though Schlitz truly is finding this to be a pleasant surprise.

Hagerty, Barbara Bradley. "Woman Reads Dan Brown Novel, Discovers Herself." NPR. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113676181>.

TV on DVD

It's that time of year again - when TV stations debut their new Fall lineups and air season premieres. There are old favorites and new pilots on every channel. This is the perfect time to check out the library's TV on DVD collection. Featuring a wide range of entertaining and educational programs, this collection has something for everyone. Search the library's catalog for programs such as 24, 30 Rock, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Band of Brothers, Cranford, Damages, Gilmore Girls, House, M.D., Mad Men, Midsomer Murders, Lost, The Office, The Presidents, The Rosa Parks Story, Survivorman, The Tudors, Unlocking the Great Pyramid and many more!

Is there a particular show that you look forward to watching each season? Are there any new shows that you're hooked on?

Fall Fiction

Looking for something interesting to read this Fall? Here are a few highly recommended works of fiction:

*The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim - A beautiful piece of historical fiction, this book follows the life of a young girl in 20th century Korea

*The Longshot by Katie Kitamura - A must-read for sports fans, Kitamura's debut goes behind the scenes of Mixed Martial Arts to share the powerful story of an underdog fighting to prove himself as a competitor and understand himself as a man

*Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan - Family rivalries, unique characters and a dash of magic make this an interesting and enjoyable read

*The Arms Maker of Berlin by Dan Fesperman - This first-rate thriller involves four missing WWII documents and plenty of international intrigue

*Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon - A gripping tale of three distinct characters and their peculiarly connected lives from a National Book Award finalist

Banned Books Week

It's fitting that this blog can count Banned Books Week as its birthday, because both this special week and libraries worldwide champion intellectual freedom. Here are some fun facts in honor of Banned Books Week (Sept. 26 - Oct. 3, 2009):

*The 1987 Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved by Toni Morrison has been challenged multiple times on the grounds of violence, language and sexual content.

*One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey was challenged by a California school district in 2000 after parents protested that teachers "can choose the best books, but they keep choosing this garbage over and over again."

*Little Red Riding Hood retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, a 1984 Caldecott Honor book, was pulled from recommended reading lists in two California school districts in the early 90s because one of the items the heroine carries in a basket for her grandmother is a bottle of wine.

Do you read banned books?

Thanks to the American Library Association and multiple newspapers, including The Seattle Times, for the image and information. For more info, please visit the ALA's Banned Books Week website.