DBRLTeen

“All I can tell you is that you better live each day like it was your last, because you never know.  Take a lesson from me, one minute I’m picking figs, the next minute I’m dead.”

Teens always want to be famous.  Now don’t try to deny it!  Mrs. D. knows you all hope to be famous performers or sports stars or writers or scientists or celebrities of every sort and description – it’s in your blood and you can’t help it.  It’s human nature to want recognition from others, and the more the better!

But what if you never become famous?  Aren’t there enough silly celebrities running around making fools of themselves in public?  What if you just live an ordinary life?  Is such a life even worth bothering with? 

That’s why Mrs. D. recommends Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, by Fannie Flagg.  Elner Shimfissle, an elderly woman known only by her friends and family, is the center of this story (even though she is dead for much of it!), and if you thought it wouldn’t be fun to be old, think again!  Elner is the kind of person we all like to be around – friendly, funny, and still curious about life.   Although this book wasn’t written for teens, Mrs. D. thinks its a great way for teens to experience how wonderful life is, even when you’re old, and not famous at all. 

The problem is if you spend all your time dreaming about being famous in your future, you’re missing your present.  Are you living right today?

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States for young people aged 15 to 24.  Of course the only thing many adults can think of to say about this issue is “DON’T!!!” – such a waste to end your life due to temporary circumstances or feelings.  So this book by Jay Asher is a good way to think and talk about this serious issue.  And the author had a great idea – after high school student Hannah commits suicide, her classmates start receiving a series of cassette tapes in the mail from the girl, who recorded her thoughts and feelings about how they mistreated her.  The book is a kind of dialogue between the girl’s voice on the tapes, and the thoughts of Clay, one of her classmates who receives the tapes.

It is difficult to decide whether to recommend this book or not.  Although it is thought-provoking, our concern is that some readers may feel Hannah was justified in killing herself because of mistreatment by her classmates.  Was she? Or was she just trying to hurt the people who hurt her – understandable maybe, but not really very nice. Teenagers treat each other poorly all the time – is that because they’re mean, thoughtless, and uncaring, or just young and still learning how much unhappiness their actions can cause others?  Should Hannah have tried different ways of dealing with her situation, and would they have worked?  Are there really high schools where so many students are so bad?

This is a well-written, thought-provoking, “can’t put it down” kind of book, a great basis for discussion of this important issue.  But don’t forget it’s only fiction, and no one should base critical life decisions on fiction!

Know someone who needs to talk about feelings of sadness, loneliness, depression or suicide? Suggest they call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Their website is:
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Grant’s Website: www.grantaustintaylor.com

Grant on Myspace: www.myspace.com/grantaustintaylorband

Any talented teens in Columbia, Boone or Callaway Counties? Let us know!

If you’re a fan of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, you’ll want to sign up today for our Twilight Party.  Join us for a book discussion, trivia contests, scavenger hunts, crafts, prizes, music, and blood-red food.  Ages 13 and older, and that includes adults too!  Sign up by calling the library at 443-3161, or stopping by the Children’s/Teen desk on the first floor.

Columbia Public Library – Friends Room
Monday March 23
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

DBRLTeen knows guys and girls often prefer different kinds of books.  Here’s a great book for the guys, made up of almost 100 writers and illustrators, writing about their boyhood or teenhood or how they got interested in reading, writing, or drawing.  DON’T WORRY!  Each author only gets a couple pages, and most of them are pretty funny.  Its an easy book to browse, skipping the authors you’re not interested in.  Lots of well-known authors contributed, including Avi, Eoin Colfer, Matt Groening, Neil Gaiman, Jack Gantos, Anthony Horowitz, Brian Jacques, Stephen King, Darren Shan, and many more.

A personal favorite is the one by Jack Gantos, telling how in his childhood his friend’s older brother would launch them through the air with a home-made catapult.  Jack’s mother could not comprehend why the boys did this when the results were always painful.  Some things mothers never do understand…

Guys Read is actually a great website (www.guysread.com) started by Jon Scieszka, writer of the Time Warp Trio series.  It recommends books that boys of all ages enjoy reading.  No girl books allowed!

This book is a Young Adult nonfiction book, so its upstairs on the 2nd floor in the Columbia Public Library – YA 810.8092.  Click this sentence to see if we have any on the shelf.