Teen Summer Reading

by Hope Loman Rowan Public Library

If you have noticed any of the promotional materials that the Rowan Public Library has circulated recently, you might know that our summer reading program is already in full swing and set to run through August.  I have to admit that I like the theme this year, “Build a better world,” because of the various ways it can be interpreted, something which I and the other librarians explored as we created the different  programs that are planned for this season.  From building things, to connecting with other individuals (especially those with different backgrounds or from other cultures), learning about conservation and the environment, or even becoming educated on new and emerging technology, there are multiple ways for us to build a better world together at Rowan Public Library this summer.

For those participating in summer reading this year, I encourage you to check out something related to the building a better world theme as you read to earn points or log hours; even if you and your family are unable to participate, I still recommend that you browse our collection for some fitting literature.  Broad enough to encompass different genres of fiction, non-fiction, and even graphic novels, with a little searching, I’m sure you will find something both enjoyable and educational.  Here are some recommendations, separated by age group: 

For younger patrons, there are a wide variety of subjects to choose from in the juvenile non-fiction section. 50 Things You Should Know About the Environment is a great introduction to Earth’s habitats, climate change, and pollution, while 50 Things You Should Know About Inventions shares the stories behind the creation of the bicycle, dynamite, and other items.  For those that are more interested in construction, the You Choose Engineering Marvels series covers engineering feats such as the Empire State Building and the Transcontinental Railroad.  Finally, if your children are more interested in reading fiction, they might wish to read books like The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis or One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, both of which are award-winning novels set in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement.

            Building a better world is a recurring subject in most of the YA dystopian books that have recently become popular, such as Divergent and its sequels or James Dashner’s Maze Runner series.  Even Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why, the source material for the popular Netflix series, fits in with its treatment of relationships and the importance of being kind to others.   In terms of YA non-fiction, there are selections such as It’s Getting Hot in Here by Bridget Heos, a guide to climate change and global warming, and The Story of Seeds by Nancy Castaldo, which chronicles where food comes from and where it is going.  Teens that read graphic novels will also enjoy the three volumes of March by John Lewis, a first-hand account of the author’s struggle for civil and human rights from the 1960s through the present day.    

            Finally, adults also have a wide range of choices to explore on this theme. Beyond Earth by Charles Wohlforth ­is for all hopeful space travelers, outlining how Saturn’s moon Titan could one day host human life. For those who like exploring but prefer to stay on terra firma, Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer, the founder of AtlasObscura.com, is a “bucket-list guide to over 700 of the most unusual, curious, bizarre, and mysterious places on earth.”  Are memoirs more to your liking? Then I recommend My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a selection of writing and speeches from the Supreme court Justice that gives a fascinating glimpse into her life.

            This is obviously not intended to be a comprehensive of books that fit the “build a better world” theme, but hopefully it can be a jumping off point.  If you are interested in reading these books or similar titles, stop by the library this summer!

Encouraging Boys to Read

by Amber Covington  Rowan Public Library

Are you looking for ways to connect a young man with a book? There are several things to keep in mind. As a parent or caregiver we spend a lot of time with our children and finding ways to connect a boy with a book is a start to get him interested in reading. Talk or discuss various topics that interests the child and locate books about such things. All children look up to adults in their lives and generally model their habits after the adults they are around. Parents and caregivers are the main contact with children and are the leading role models to build strong readers and boys are more likely to mirror the actions of a male figure in their life. Find a way for fathers, stepfathers, uncles, or grandfathers to spend time reading with a boy. Building a boys reading interests can take form in a variety of ways with the help of any family members and always visit the local public library for reading materials and ideas or suggestions.

Growing up in a world with fast changing digital trends, Online games, gaming consoles, computers, and other technology devices are seen as major components of boy's life. Boys are more likely to read if the topics appeals to his interests. Also, books may not be the best way to get a boy’s attention for reading. Magazines, websites, blogs, newspapers, or comic books may attract them better. The most important thing is to let them begin to read material that interests them to build their reading habits.

Often times, women are the main people boys see reading or that teach them to read. As humans we all like to follow someone that looks like us. Men are great resources in young boys lives and can make a big difference in their reading habits. A father, stepfather, or grandfather can play an important part of encouraging boys to read because often boys look to them as behavior models. Often, boys see men reading magazines or newspapers. That is ok, encourage boys to pick up those if that is what makes them comfortable. Also, do not be discouraged if you are a single mother. Continue to spread joy in reading and encouragement, it means more than you think.

Pam Allyn, educator and author, has several suggestions to encourage parents, caregivers, and educators to instill reading in boys of all ages. Developer of the READ model, Pam Allyn believes boys can become lifelong readers. The model’s acronym stands for R-ritual, E- environment, A-access, and D-dialog.  

The model encourages parents and caregivers to establish a ritual for reading daily. Set aside time for daily reading as a family. Creating an inviting environment is a way to set the mood. Establish a reading corner or special bean bag in an area that is comfortable. Be sure to provide access to a variety of books, ebooks, magazines, newspapers, comic books, or baseball cards. It is also a good idea to expose readers to a variety of genres, authors, and reading levels to boost their child’s reading level comfort.  The local public library is a great place to check out books weekly or simply use your library card to download ebooks onto a device. It is critical for Parents and caregivers to create dialog with their child during and after reading. Have your child discuss their likes and dislikes or  openly express their opinion about what they are reading. There are several resources discussing the READ model and other reading practices from Pam Allyn. Check out “Pam Allyn’s Best Books for Boys: How to Engage Boys in Reading Ways That Will Change Their Lives.”

Don’t forget, your local library is your secret weapon to help your boys develop a love of reading. Boys best develop interests in reading through others encouraging them to pick up a book and read. It is critical that role models are clearly present in their lives and everyone is supportive.

Looking for ways to encourage a boy to read? Check out the following books at your local library branch.
“Serving Boys Through Readers’ Advisory,” by Michael Sullivan
“Get Those Guys Reading!: Fiction and Series Books that Boys Will Love by Kathleen A. Baxter and Marcia Agness Kochel.
“Pam Allyn’s Best Books for Boys: How to Engage Boys in Reading Ways That Will Change Their Lives,” by Pam Allyn.
“Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who loves to Read,” by Diane W. Frankenstein
“Read With Me: Best Books for Preschoolers by Stephanie Zvirin
“Raising Passionate Readers: 5 Easy Steps to Success in School and Life, “ by Nancy Newman

Jane Austen's Writings

by Laurie Lyda  Rowan Public Library

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader in search of a good story must read Jane Austen. Well, that’s not “exactly” how the quotation goes, but I think it’s still an accurate statement.

I first read Austen when I was 11 and a librarian who saw me wandering the stacks looking for new titles recommended “Pride and Prejudice.” I quickly worked my way through all of Austen’s novels, and while I was much too young to understand the socio-political significance of her oeuvre, I certainly enjoyed the narratives she crafted and populated with memorable characters like Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy from “Pride and Prejudice” and Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth from “Persuasion.”

As I grew older, I continued to return to Austen’s worlds on a regular basis, and I’ve quite honestly lost track of the number of times I’ve read “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma.” I’ve studied her works as an academic, and I’ve taught them as a professor. When teaching, I usually assigned the same classic I’d started with as it’s become such a pop culture touchstone, and I often included film adaptations and books inspired by “Pride and Prejudice,” too. The rise of transformative works and their increasing mainstreaming invites so many more individuals into the audience for Austen’s narratives, and there’s a version to suit so many different literary palates now. Here are a few of the works I’ve recommended:

First published in 1813, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen is superficially a classic novel of manners. Dig a little deeper and discover the author’s wry and subversive humor as she satirizes social conventions and expectations. No matter how closely you interrogate the novel (or don’t), the stories of the various couples navigating their way across the dance floor, through the parks, and down the marriage aisle make for an enjoyable read.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s 1940 version of “Pride and Prejudice” is a classic, but don’t look to it for historical accuracy or adherence to the novel. From the costumes to the narrative, ideas are conflated and rearranged to fit the then-audience and the 118 minute run-time. Greer Garson portrays Elizabeth and Laurence Olivier delivers a Darcy for the ages. This film is part of RPL’s circulating collection.

A&E’s 1995 mini-series “Pride and Prejudice” is a masterpiece of an adaptation – at 300 minutes, it’s also a monster-sized one. It’s well worth the time investment, though, with carefully chosen aesthetics and dialogue that’s loyal to the novel. Jennifer Ehle gives us a memorable Elizabeth, and Colin Firth’s portrayal of Darcy (and the wet shirt scene that is a slight deviation from the novel) launched his status as a leading man. The entire film is a delight and is part of RPL’s circulating collection.

Inspired by Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (1996) is cheeky, British humor, and a diverting read. After Bridget crosses paths with Mark Darcy, comedic shenanigans ensue as she learns what she values in life and in a partner. The backstory of the novel is also fun to explore: It began as a column in “The Independent” and has now grown into a multi-novel series. Perhaps most exciting for fans everywhere: Fielding fashioned the Darcy character with Colin Firth (who was fresh off of his success portraying Fitzwilliam Darcy in A&E’s “Pride and Prejudice” adaptation) in mind. For him to actually play Mark Darcy in the film adaptions of Fielding’s books is an explosion of fandom goodness. Fielding’s books are part of RPL’s circulating collection, though you have to look elsewhere for a copy of the R-rated films. (RPL’s film collection only includes G, PG, and PG-13 titles.)

More recently, adaptations of “Pride and Prejudice” have taken on a new twist: the incorporation of monsters -- specifically, zombies. Years ago, when I first heard of Seth Grahame-Smith’s “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” I rolled my eyes. “Why?,” I wondered, “would anyone add zombies to Austen’s meticulously crafted narratives?”

When I finally read the monsterized adaptation, I learned why: It’s entertaining. For those interested in cultural theory, it’s also intriguing to consider how the now-popular monsterized versions of classics (many put out by Quirk Books) reflect anxieties about our own society and mores. And when you juxtapose those theoretical ponderings with Grahame-Smith’s accounts of how he wrote the novel – which involved, in part, using a full-text version and adding zombiefied bits in red to each page – you can conjure some very fun explorations of the writing process, the reflection of social change, and our culture’s love affair with horror. Plus, whether he fully intended to or not, Grahame-Smith participates in Austen’s witty social critique, too: The image of a clueless Mr. Collins and his zombie wife Charlotte Lucas says so much about the machinations of marriage in Austen’s time. The novel “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Grahame-Smith and Austen is part of RPL’s circulating collection.

Though the 2010 graphic novel version of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” isn’t yet available through RPL’s circulating collection, I recommend it as well. The artistic renderings of the novel’s adapted events, combined with the narrative’s conversion into bite-sized bits, offers a fantastic gateway into discussion about the reading process and how we interpret visual narratives. (Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art” (1994) is an enlightening supplement, too.) Perhaps most importantly, though, the graphic novel is simply a lot of fun.

The 2016 film version of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” which is part of RPL’s circulating collection, is on my own to-watch list. Starring Lily James and Sam Riley, the film’s stylized aesthetic and energetic adaptation of Grahame-Smith’s narrative looks like it’ll be popcorn-worthy fun.

Also on my list of new adaptations is Jenny Hubbard’s upcoming theatrical adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice.” Hubbard is a reference librarian at RPL Headquarters and the author of the novels “Paper Covers Rock” (2011) and “And We Stay” (2014).  Tickets for the Lee Street Theatre production will go on sale June 20; play dates are July 20-23 and 27-29. RPL East Branch Supervisor Emma Rose has been cast as Elizabeth Bennett.

While this is far from an exhaustive list of Austenian adaptations, it hopefully offers a starting point for exploration. It’s important to remember that while Austen’s prose may not be for everyone, the modern transformations of her classic novels offer translations that wider audiences can enjoy. For example, fans of Alicia Silverstone’s 1995 “Clueless” don’t always realize that it was inspired by Austen’s 1815 novel “Emma.” So, even if you never want to read the original novel, by watching “Clueless,” you’ve been exposed, at least in part, to a representation of Austen’s satirical commentary on, among other themes, how socioeconomics shape the institution of marriage.

To locate Austen’s works or additional adaptations or even criticism about these titles, visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. You can also visit your nearest branch and ask any RPL staff member for assistance.