YALIT/Crit

Teen Book Festival

Hello everybody...this post about the Teen Book Fest in Rochester comes about a week late, but I figure we didn't really have any class time to speak about class related stuff last week anyway.  So, first of all the book fest was really cool.  Not an enourmous turnout, but a large and excited group of young readers and their parents nonetheless.  Everyone we spoke to was just happy to be there and mostly happy to talk to us.  As a future English teacher, the experience was invaluable.  We talk so often in the program about kids that don't read, why they might not, and what we might be able to do about it, that often, I lose track of the kids who do love reading, and are going to be (and are now) excited and engaged members of our classrooms.   Well let me say, and I think I can speak for Andy and  Amanda on this, that I have never been around a more  eager  bunch of young readers. It was a wonderful for me as a kind of reminder that they really are out there.  And you could see on almost all of their faces, that they were not just readers but serious fans of the authors.  I mean the introductions ceremony with all the authors, practically turned into one of those games shows where the Host holds up the huge dial that is supposed to gauge the crowd volume.  The kids were really going nuts for their favorite authors, it was a lot of fun.   One girl I spoke to said she read seventeen of Tamora Pierce's books, and many others seemed to have traveled from far and wide to meet their favorite YA Authors.  It was just a festival of good will, and people who were enthusiastic about reading.  There were librarians and teachers and administrators there from all over the area.  We got to speak to and interview Barry Lyga, author of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Gothgirl, which Andy for one, really enjoyed, and also later videotaped his presentation.  We got some good footage and will likely be able to share some of it with you in class in a couple of weeks.  I think we are all glad to have gone, and glad that Karen suggested it.  I would absolutely recommend going next year, even better bring your son or daughter or students.  It is well worth the trip.            

Teen Book Festival

Hello everybody, I am writing to talk about the second annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival, which Andrew and I (perhaps Amanda et al) are planning to attend on March 31st.  We have been researching the authors a little bit and are starting to get excited.  It looks like its going to be a great day.   Here is a link to the website if anyone wants to check out the list of guest speakers/authors.  We are planning to bring some recording equipment and get some interviews if at all possible, in order to record our experience as part of a Final Project.  Ideally we will be able to talk to students, parents and even authors, like Nancy Werlin.   

I was thinking it would be cool if anyone had particular questions they wanted to ask Nancy Werlin (or any of the authors).  So just let us know, as part of the comments, if anyone has a Question For Nancy Werlin, and we'll make sure to ask her if we can!!!