If you've got a Facebook profile, you may have noticed a new link: "See Your 2012 Year in Review." The roundup goes beyond your own pictures, new friends, and how many pages you liked, though. Facebook Trends from 2012 includes quite an interesting feature revealing the books that were most read by Facebook users in 2012. And, unlike our own Best Books of the Year list (which focuses on books published in 2012), this list ranges from an entire modern series to decades-old classics.
Topping the list in positions 1, 2, and 3 is Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy in sequential order. At least among Facebook users, the beginning of the Harry Potter saga continues to attract new readers and re-readers. Classics To Kill a Mockingbird (which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year)and The Great Gatsby (soon to star Leonardo DiCaprio in the big screen remake) add a little canon to the mix, while Fifty Shades of Grey stands out as an R-rated anomaly on an otherwise PG-13 list.
Here, in order, is what Facebook users read in 2012:
Every year Banned Books Week (September 30-October 6) is devoted to reminding the reading public and the book community at large that having the freedom to read what we want isn't always a given when it comes to schools and libraries. Though I've seen the list countless times I'm always struck dumb by the titles that are frequently challenged or have been removed from school libraries--the majority of them being some of the most popular titles of the day like The Hunger Games (#3 on the Top 10 Challenged Books of 2011), or books like The Catcher in the Rye that are synomous with classic literature (see more banned and challenged classics here).
2012 marks the 30th year of Banned Books Week and the American Library Association created a really cool timeline that shows a significant banned or challenged book representing each of the last 31 years (it includes 2012) and the reason each title made the list. It's quite a representation of the big names in publishing and children's books in particular--Maurice Sendak, Katherine Patterson, Kurt Vonnegut, Judy Blume, etc. 2009's representative title may look especially familiar as you've probably been seeing trailers for the movie adaptation ofThe Perks of Being a Wallflower--the book was challenged in both VA and WI for references to drug use, homosexuality, and suicide. Something tells me there won't be the same reaction to the movie version.
It's hard to believe with all the reality shows that have taken over television in recent years showing young people doing drugs, having sex, not just drinking but getting completely hammered, that BOOKS are still challenged... I get it that these are books in schools and libraries and it's the use of our (rapidly dwindling) public funds that get some people in a twist, but as a parent I would much rather have my kid read about drugs and become more informed, than try to learn by doing. Whatever your thoughts on censorship and books, I hope this week to celebrate reading inspires us all to read something new, share a favorite book, or just remember some of the best reads of your life. Here are a few of my favorite books that have been challenged in recent years--what are yours?
For the past two weeks, the first thing I check when I get to work is the Pottermore site, hoping today will be the day in "early April" that the site becomes available to everyone. Well, the wait--most of it anyway--is over, and the site is open for registration.
I am now signed up for Pottermore, having created my account with the usual basic info, plus answering a question about which of the Harry Potter books and movies I have read or seen (and yes, there is a box for All). My input was deemed magical and my name added to a list of magical folk, right above Harry Potter, before directing me to choose a username from five different choices--I assume this will come into play later when I am sorted into a house.
Sadly, I am still waiting--likely a result of the page crash that happened when we first learned about Pottermore last spring, there is now a process in place that will give new users access to the full site over the course of a few days. According to the site, once access is granted, "you'll get sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses, have a wand choose you, and discover exclusive new writing from J.K. Rowling." In the meantime, I'm checking out the Pottermore blog that has some great illustrations and a sneek peek video. Have you signed up yet? --Seira
Perhaps like many of you, Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. PST--okay, maybe 3:55--I began madly hitting the refresh button on my Blackberry (I was at the beach, and yes, I know how lame that looks...) trying to gain access to early registration for Pottermore. Sadly, I never got any farther than the "due to overwhelming demand" message, but when I checked back later I discovered that all was not lost. On each of the seven days between July 31 and August 6, a new clue will be posted pertaining to the corresponding Harry Potter book (so Day 1 the clue was from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). Solve the clue and you have the last piece of a URL leading to The Magical Quill, where the registration magic happens. Do I even have to tell you how much I want to see that clue? I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it. So Day 3 is fast upon us, and I'm trying to refresh my memory of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban before 4:00 this afternoon. If I don't answer my phone later, you'll know why... Did any of you Harry Potter-loving Omni readers make it through to The Magical Quill this weekend? --Seira
Chelsea Handler--Publisher: Comedienne and bestselling author Chelsea Handler goes one step further than the likes of Jon Stewart and Sarah Silverman--she's getting her own publishing imprint, courtesy of Grand Central Publishing. Handler has a three-book deal for the new imprint, Borderline Amazing / A Chelsea Handler Book, and the inaugural title is said to be Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me, in May 2011.
Barack's picture book: Today the long-awaited picture book written by Barack Obama before he was President Barack, goes on sale. Of Thee I Sing is gorgeously illustrated by award-winner Loren Long, and the list of 13 Americans profiled, information previously under wraps, includes Sitting Bull, Billie Holiday, and Cesar Chavez.
“I once e-mailed her and asked her what were the 12 uses of dragon’s blood” — information that is taught to Hogwarts students — “and she wrote back in 30 seconds what they all were. If I ask about Ron’s uncle, I get back five pages about Ron’s uncle, who never appears in the books.”
Moving & Shaking: Author Kristin Kimball talked blood, sweat, and dirt on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday, bumping her book The Dirty Life up our Movers & Shakers this morning.
First there was Austenbook, then Hamlet joined Facebook, we took a stab at Meyerbook, and now (long overdue), the Hogwarts crew has joined the world of social media thanks to New York Magazine's Daily Vulture imagining how Harry, Draco, and the Weasleys would act on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It's pretty spot on, too--Dobby the house elf stalks Harry's wall, Bellatrix Lestrange has an Etsy account (selling "Original Apparel-Jewelry-Collectibles-Muggle Ears"), and (who would've thought?) Cho Chang tweets "TEAM EDWARD FOREVER <3 <3 <3 <3."
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary. Publishers Weekly has the scoop on this book out in March, a "a behind-the-scenes from the author’s perspective, about the moviemaking process." (From author Jeff Kinney: “I was fascinated by the filmmaking process, and I thought my readers might be as wide-eyed and interested as I was. In The Wimpy Kid Move Diary, I’ve tried to tell the story of how a movie gets made in a way that will entertain and inform kids.”)
Katherine Paterson named new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Don't miss Lauren's post on the big kid-lit news of the week, re: the author of Bridge to Terabithia and many other popular books. Outgoing ambassador Jon Scieszka wishes her well Yoda-style: "You are in good hands with the crazy wonderful and hardworking crew of the Children's Book Council. Use your powers for good. Already know you that which you need. A Jedi's strength flows from the force..."
Another "Thursday Three": Cybils Finalists. Pam at PBS Booklights devoted her "Thursday Three" to discussing some of the Cybils "Fiction Picture Book" Finalists (revealed on January 1st) that are most likely to receive Caldecott recognition.
"Mush! North Pole Adventures." School Library Journal put together an intriguing Arctic-themed reading list "featuring explorers and adventurers, both canine and human." The ages range from K through 8, including fun titles like Matthew Henson, Arctic Adventurer ("This graphic biography does an excellent job of capturing the key turning points in the African-American explorer’s life and work alongside Lt. Robert Peary, co-discoverer of the North Pole. A good choice for reluctant readers...").
The economic impact of Harry Potter. From none other than the Economist: "The recession of 2008-09 has been accompanied by bold claims about businesses’ economic importance. As carmakers teetered many people put it about that one in ten American jobs depended on the industry. The figure turned out to include taxi drivers. Similarly adventurous claims have been made for telecoms and road-building. As a single-handed creator of jobs and wealth, though, few can match the writer Joanne Rowling." The rest gets pretty interesting.
Storm in the Barn wins 2010 Scott O'Dell Award. This year's Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction has gone to Storm in the Barn. You can read about the award on Roger Sutton's blog--along with some quasi-controversy over whether a graphic novel can win a prize for historical fiction. Whatever the case, it's a wonderful book:
Turn your iPhone into a wand! There's a new Harry Potter app out now called "Spells," which lets you join a Hogwarts school, learn spells (from Stupefy to Expelliarmus), and duel with other "students" (via wifi or Bluetooth).
"Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical." School Library Journal talks to Mo Willems about his Knuffle Bunny series, and especially the upcoming musical appearing in the Kennedy Center's 2010 season. ("The Kennedy Center was foolish enough to let me write the script and song lyrics, although they did give me a fantastic dramaturg named Megan Alrutz to help me focus on the emotional through line of the story instead of spending all my time figuring out the giant puppet man-eating brassiere.")
2009 Winter Blog Blast Tour. Chasing Ray sponsored and scheduled last week's 2009 Winter Blog Blast Tour, a ton of author interviews across a smattering of great blogs. If you missed it, go back and check it out.
PBS Booklights' Thursday Three: Thanksgiving. Hopefully Pam gets to take *next* Thursday off, but last week she was kind enough to serve up some seasonal selections, with three picks for Turkey Day: Thanksgiving in the White House by Gary Hines, This Is the Turkey by Abby Levine, and ’Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by good ol' Dav Pilkey ("The book is blunt at times about the fate of these birds, but always funny, especially when the kids leave the farm considerably fatter and with feathers sticking out from their coats.").
A middle-grade H1N1 novel. Wha? It's true: Publishers Weekly has the story on Finn Reeder, Flu Fighter, a new novel about a 13-year-old coping with the pandemic. ("Somehow, he survives infection. As their class size dwindles, Finn and his friend Amy face down the school bully, draw comics, catch the principal ordering pizza, and even manage to study once in a while. And when finally, Finn is the lone student remaining in school, he manages to win—and lose—the most intense game of solo dodge ball ever.") You can download it for free before the January 1 release date.
"Hollywood Takes a Closer Look at Picture Books." In which we learn, among other things, that there's going to be a Where's Waldo? movie(!).
Jason Schwartzman interview. Speaking of Hollywood, Jason Schwartzman (currently Ash in the Fantastic Mr. Fox, based on the book by Roald Dahl) was just interviewed by ReadKiddoRead, about his favorite books as a kid:
"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." This week, the New York Times had an article with a bunch of new details on the upcoming Potter-inspired Universal Studios theme park, which "will open in the spring and allow visitors to tour Hogwarts, buy quidditch gear and drink butterbeer." Its three big rides are "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," "Flight of the Hippogriff" (a roller-coaster that simulates a hippogriff training flight), and "Dragon Challenge" (a Triwizard Tournament-esque high-speed roller-coaster). (via Educating Alice)
Margaret Mahy author interview. Prolific New Zealander Margaret Mahy talks to School Library Journal about the writing life. Her latest picture book, Bubble Trouble--"a giggling romp about a baby bobbing through the air"--recently won a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award.
Babymouse #11: Dragonslayer. Jen Robinson is always spotting fun books, and the latest installment in the Babymouse series--"full to the brim with creativity and fun"--looks to be no exception. Check out her review to learn more.
2010 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nominees. The list of nominees for the 2010 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is up, including "authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and promoters of reading, working in various literary traditions and languages," with 168 nominees from 61 different countries total. This nearly million-dollar award is in its eighth year.
Three classic chapter books. I'm addicted to Pam's "Thursday Three" feature over at the PBS Booklights blog, and last week's installment had yet another trio of thoughtful recommendations--in this case, three classic chapter books "that practically beg to be read aloud, especially those where the reading level is a bit high for the intended audience": The World of Pooh, Jenny and the Cat Club, and the Paddington Treasury.
Harry Potter theme-park video. I couldn't resist learning even more about Universal's Harry Potter theme park, and thankfully 100 Scope Notes had this fun "fly-through" video:
Interview with The Lincolns' Candace Fleming. School Library Journal has a fun and frank Q&A with the author behind one of our favorite books from last year, The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. Fleming talks about Mary Todd Lincoln, Barack Obama, and even the Battle of the Kids' Books: "I never thought The Lincolns would make it past the first round of Battle of the (Kids') Books because it was nonfiction. When it came up against Hunger Games I said, 'Even I would vote for Hunger Games!'"
"Harry Potter and the Pint of Liquid Courage." The New York Times ran a story on the role of alcohol in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, specifically as seen in the new movie. On the lower end of the hand-wringing spectrum, this quote from the father of a 9-year-old girl: "Trying to put 2009 American norms into play seems kind of silly. Plus, in a world where dark wizards are kidnapping or killing people on a regular basis, a little under-age drinking is the least of their problems."
Interview with Jerry Pinkney. Publishers Weekly has a short Q&A with the prolific, multiple-award-winning Jerry Pinkney, as he talks about two new upcoming books, Sweethearts of Rhythm and The Lion & the Mouse.
Eric Carle anecdote and video. Elizabeth Bluemle at ShelfTalker recounts a touching anecdote about visiting Eric Carle's studio, and also points us towards a sweet video about Carle's collaboration with Bill Martin Jr. Don't miss the part about Martin's process just past the one-minute mark:
"Two Decades of Monkey Business." "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!" is our two-year-old's current rock anthem and all-purpose refrain--so you can bet that we're going to try to track down a copy of the Five Little Monkeys Storybook Treasury, which celebrates and collects together five of the popular Eileen Christelow books.
More kid-lit marketing on Dodge Sprinters. After showing off the Diary of a Wimpy Kid van last week, I feel like I have to give equal coverage to the new vehicle promoting the sixth book in the "Ranger's Apprentice" series, The Siege of Macindaw. According to Publishers Weekly, "readers in 27 U.S. cities will be able to see a theatrical performance entitled 'Escape to Araluen,' based on the first Ranger’s Apprentice book, The Ruins of Gorlan." Cool!
|
|
Pin It
|
|
|
|
