Ages 11-18
Blog Post
V2 Launched!
by K.C.
Last night a new 826Michigan book was launched at Neutral Zone. Vacansopapurosophobia 2: Fear of a Blank Page (V2 for short) is a collection of stories and poems written by local youth and teen writers.
According to its teen editors V2 is “one of the niftiest, funniest, saddest, most incredible collections of student writing around. . . Topics range from life lessons learned through cashews, to a romp through modern life with some of Shakespeare's characters, to poetry that could be read beautifully up and down the page."
A copy will soon be available in the AADL collection or if you want to buy your own copy go to 826Michigan and click on the "826Michigan Store" tab in the upper right corner.
Blog Post
Judges for the 2007 "It's All Write!" Short Story Writing Contest
by Bertha
Thanks for sharing your expertise and giving each story your careful considerations.
Steve Gillis – Author of the novels, Walter Falls and The Weight of Nothing, both finalists for the Independent Publishers Book of the Year. Steve’s stories, articles and book reviews have appeared in over three dozen journals. Giraffes, a collection of stories, was published in February 2007 by Atomic Quill Press. A member of the Ann Arbor Book Festival Board of Directors, and a finalist for the 2007 Ann Arbor News Citizen of the Year, Steve teaches writing at Eastern Michigan University and is the founder of 826 Michigan.
Travis Holland – Travis Holland’s stories have appeared in Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and Five Points. His first novel, The Archivist’s Story, is published by Dial Press. A graduate of the University of Michigan, where he received his M.F.A., he lives in Ann Arbor.
Jim Schaefer – Jim Schaefer is teaching part-time (English) at WCC and Wayne County Community College, has an M.A. (Teaching Writing) from Eastern Michigan University, is a teacher consultant with the Eastern Michigan Writing Project, and was co-founder and publisher of a small literary (poetry/fiction) magazine for 14 years.
Michael Shilling – Michael just received his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. His stories have been published in The Sun, Fugue, and Other Voices. He is currently working on a novel.
Michael Spradlin – Born and raised in Michigan, Michael is the author of Spy Goddess: To Hawaii, With Love and Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop, which the latter received a Mystery Writers of America Edgar Nomination for “Best Young Adult Mystery” 2006
Carolyn Stone – WCC English-Writing Instructor and Creative Writing Consultant
Shutta Crum - An award-winning poet and author of one novel, SPITTING IMAGE, and eight picture books including THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE which was an IRA/CBC Children’s Choices winner, and listed on the Chicago Public Library’s The Best of the Best. Many of her titles have appeared on the Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year lists, and have been short-listed for various state awards. A FAMILY FOR OLD MILL FARM, her newest book, is available this month. For more info on Shutta visit her web site.
Ami Walsh – Ami earned her MFA in creative writing from Warren Wilson College. She has received fellowships from The Ragdale Foundation (2005, 2006, and 2007) and the University of Michigan Bear River Writer’s Conference (2006).
Kristen Bledsoe – WCC English-Writing Instructor
Blog Post
"It's All Write!" Congratulations
by Bertha
During the Ann Arbor Book Festival, teen author, Ron Koertge spoke to finalists of the short story writing contest with humor and insightful advice. And the winners are. . .(click "read more" below)
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #64
by muffy
If you had missed Still Life, Louise Penny’s debut of her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, don’t despair. Check out the books on CD while you are waiting for the second in the series A Fatal Grace, due out this month.
Still life was the winner of the New Blood Dagger in Britain and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada for best first crime novel. It was also named one of the Kirkus Reviews Top Ten mysteries of 2006.
This lovely cozy is set in Three Pines, a ficticious and picturesque small village in Canadian Quebec, a short drive from Montreal. The beloved local retired teacher is found shot to death in the woods and Chief Inspector Gamache from the Sûreté du Québec must sort out the killer among the locals which include artists, a gay couple who runs a little bistro and only B & B in town, a cantankerous poetess, teenage troublemakers, a too-eager to inherit estranged relative.
Snappy dialogue, well drawn characters, lovely and atmospheric settings made for a pleasurable read. Don't miss this one.
Blog Post
2007 Andre Norton Award
by K.C.
The first book in an amazing trilogy, Magic or Madness, by Justine Larbalestier was chosen as the winner of the 2007 Andre Norton Award. The story? When her rational, magic-hating mother suffers a mental breakdown, Reason is taken to live with her grandmother, Esmerelda, where she discovers that something as simple as stepping through a door can bring forth a world of danger and yes, magic!
What a page-turner! The action is tense and suspenseful. And the portrayal of the dark side of magic. . . well, just try it and the two other titles in the triology, Magic Lessons and Magic’s Child.
Blog Post
Lloyd Alexander, 1924-2007
by joy k
One of our best-known writers for children, Lloyd Alexander, passed away on Thursday at the age of 83. Alexander was the author of over 40 books, mostly fantasy novels for children; his series included the Prydain Chronicles, the Westmark Trilogy, and the Vesper Holly Adventures. He won the National Book Award for The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian, the American Book Award for Westmark, and the Newbery Medal for The High King. Read the Washington Post obituary or visit his website for more information on this great author.
As a child, I wrote a fan letter to Lloyd Alexander, and he took the time to write a very kind reply. I know several other people who have similar stories. He’ll be missed.
Blog Post
"It's All Write!" Awards Ceremony with special guest Ron Koertge
by Bertha
Winners of the "It's All Write" contest will be announced and all Finalists honored at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 19th at the Modern Languages Building, Auditorium 3, corner of Washington and Thayer Streets, as part of the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Ron Koertge, a nationally known teen book author and poet, will be the featured speaker.
Students who participated in the 2nd Tuesday Writers Series and who read Stoner and Spaz and Margaux with an X can meet Ron and have him sign their books.
Blog Post
Rurouni Kenshin @ Animanga Club, Thursday, May 17th
by joy k
Join us this Thursday @ the Malletts Creek branch from 7:00 to 8:30 as we travel back to Meiji-era Japan with the Rurouni Kenshin anime and manga. We'll be watching episodes of the anime, courtesy of Media Blasters, and doing a fun trivia quiz (with small prizes for the winners!). Not a fan of Kenshin? Do you think Peacemaker Kurogane or Kaze Hikaru has better swordfighting action? Come anyways! You can talk about ANYTHING relating to anime, manga, Japan--and give us your ideas for summer events. Snacks and drinks will also be served. See you there!
Blog Post
Teen Volunteers Needed at AADL
by K.C.
Summer is quickly approaching and with it the busiest season of AADL’s year. Volunteers are needed at AADL’s four branches (Northeast, West, Malletts Creek, and Pittsfield) to sign up Summer Reading participants June 15-June 29. If you are interested and between the ages of 12 and 18, stop by the information desk at a branch and pick up some forms. Return the completed forms by June 11.
Jump in and lend a hand to make this our biggest summer yet!
Blog Post
If you don’t know, now you know
by jillean
Check out Tyrell by Coe Booth, the winner of the 2007 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction. Fifteen-year-old Tyrell lives in a South Bronx homeless shelter with his mother and seven-year-old brother Troy. His mother refuses to find a job, his father is in jail, and his little brother is smart as a whip but stuck in special education classes so his mother can continue to collect Social Security checks. He wants to stay faithful to Novisha but how can he with Jasmine knocking on his door? Tyrell needs to make money to appease his mother, make sure his brother gets the education he deserves, stay faithful to Novisha, and help Jasmine realize her potential. And he wants to do it all without hustling. I can't put this book down! I hope there will be a sequel.
Already read it? What did you think? How unique to the Bronx is Tyrell’s situation?