Issue in Materials for Young Adults

Dominican University Graduate School of Library and Information Science LIS 722 01 Library Materials for Young Adults Summer 2011 June 20, 2011

Introduction
Until very recently, we made little distinction between the early elementary years and the later elementary years, from about age eight to twelve. The new awareness of the special needs of this group is best shown in the emergence of the term tweenagers, signifying that these children are not kids in the sense that they were a few years ago, nor are they ready to be treated as teenagers.
(Susan Hynds, On the Brink: Negotiating Literature and Life with Adolescents, p.20 - Michael Sullivan, Fundamentals of Childrens Services)

Who are tweens?

Tweens fall into that time between childhood and adolescence when one is not quite a child, yet not quite a teenager. (Crystal Faris, Betwixt and Between: Tweens in the
Library)

A tween is a prepubescent between the ages of 8 to 14, 9 to 12, or 8 to 12, depending on whom you believe.
(Alicia de Mesa, Business Week)

Where did the term tween originate?

Tween is a blend of the words between and teenager.

(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

J. R. R. Tolkien described hobbits who were short of coming of age as tweens. (Fellowship of the Ring, 1954) Marketers began to use tween in the late 1990s to market specifically to 814 year olds.

What are some characteristics of tweens?

Middle school students are like skateboarders cruising through life and schoolpoised on the edge of childhood and young adulthood.
(Susan Hynds, On the Brink: Negotiating Literature and Life with Adolescents)

Tweens enjoy being in the know and want to feel that they are part of an ingroup.
(Crystal Faris, Betwixt and Between: Tweens in the Library)

Why are books for tweens different than books for teens?
Most publishers recognize that there is a tremendous difference between 12 year olds and 17 year olds, or even between 14 year olds and 16 year olds. (Nilsen and Donelson, Literature for Todays Young Adults) Tween books are fiction hanging on to the literary coattails of young adult fiction. (Pat Campbell, The Sand in the Oyster: Middle Muddle)

Tween readers are at a different stage of literary appreciation than teens.

Late elementary readers lose themselves in literature. Junior high readers find themselves in literature. In contrast, high school readers are venturing beyond themselves.

(Nilsen and Donalson, Literature for Todays Young Adults)

What are some characteristics of tween books?

Tween books are shorter and simpler, and because they are about younger protagonists, the love relationships and the language are fairly innocent. The prose is clear, simple, fairly easy to read, and books are relatively short. Serious themes are handled carefully.

(Nilsen and Donalsen, Literature for Young Adults)

What types of books do tweens read?

Tweens enjoy fantasy literature because of the magical elements, sense of justice, triumphs of good over evil, and themes relatable to their own experiences. Tweens enjoy the appearance of romance, but not necessarily the appearance of sex. (Crystal Faris, Betwixt and

Between)

Tweens like series books because they follow a sitcom style of story.

How are books for teens different than books for tweens?
Teen books generally answer a central theme, which is becoming an adult and finding the answer to the question Who am I and what am I going to do about it? Issues are complex and deep. Events may be shocking, violent, intense, things that make the reader uncomfortable. (Nilsen and Donalson, Literature for Todays

Adults)

Why is it important for librarians to find a way to serve tweens?

Tweens are at a stage in their lives when they become less interested in the librarybut they still need information as they make choices about their lives.
(Susan Anderson, Serving Young Teens and Tweens)

Libraries who dont serve tweens may lose tween patronage for life.

What is Middle School?

In the United States, middle school is the period in a students life that takes place after elementary school and before high school. Typically, the middle school grades are 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, although some districts include 9th grade in their middle school programs.
http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/educationissues/f/defofMiddleSchool.htm

What are Tweens interested in today?

Some Tween Facts

Ten percent of tweens already have cell phones, and the other 90 percent are jockeying to get one Ninety percent of tweens are online Marketers want your tweens money. It is estimated that the buying power of todays tweens is roughly $40 billion Tweens care what adults think about them and imitate their behaviors Forty-eight percent of tweens said theyve been bullied Forty-two percent of tweens admit to bullying occasionally A national survey of more than 2,000 girls age 8 to 17 found the majority are more worried about being teased than about natural disasters or terrorist attacks Twenty percent of 8th graders admit to being drunk one or more times Nearly one in three tweens say they have been in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. Sadly, more than one in four of tweens say that having sex is a part of tween dating Adolescents with gambling addictions often report beginning gambling at around age 10 http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/relatingtoyourtween/qt/tweenfacts.htm

Tween Media Habits (Ages 712)

45% of their media time watching TV (17 hours per week, according to BBM Nielsen Research) 14% on the Internet 12% on video games 11% on music 11% on radio 6% on DVDs 1% on cell phones
http://mediaincanada.com/2007/02/09/kids-20070209/

Magazines Tweens Read

Stagnant National Reading Scores Lag Behind Math

The scores continue a 17-year trend of sluggish achievement in reading that contrasts with substantial gains in mathematics during roughly the same period. Were not asking them to read nearly enough, Ms. Susan Pimentel (an expert on English and reading standards who is a member of the governing board that oversees the test) said.
Reading Scores Lag Behind Math NYTimes.com
Published March 24, 2010

Developmental Benefits
of Reading Literature

Academic Benefits
Cognitive Benefits Social and Emotional Benefits

http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/activitiesgameshobbies/a/BenefitsofRe adingLiterature...

Middle School, Reading and Tweens

Read Whats popular Consider Magazines Start a Book Club Enlist Their Help Prioritize Set an Example

http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/educationaissues/tp/tweenreading.htm?p=1

Popular genres of tween books

Adventure (Holes by Louis Sachar) Real Life (Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli) Princess & Fairy Tales (Into the Wild by

Sarah Beth Durst)

Fantasy (The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh) Science Fiction (Things Not Seen by Andrew

Clements)

Historical Fiction (Out of the Dust by Karen

Hesse)

In an interview with Louis Sachar

What is it about writing about young peopletweens and teensthat appeals to you?

Who are some of your favorite authors for tweens?

Checkley, K. (2006). A Writer for Tweens at Heart. Educational Leadership, 63(7), 54. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Statistics related to youth and reading

As the only government-funded, educational, and social service freely available to children, local libraries play a very important role in supporting children in their development as readers. (source: A Place for Children: The
Qualitative Impact of Public Libraries on Childrens Reading, 2007)

Childrens attitudes toward reading get more negative as they grow older. Negative attitudes are associated with lesser ability. Girls have more favorable attitudes [toward reading] than boys. (source: Childrens Attitudes Toward
Reading: A National Survey, 2004.)

Most adults (83 percent) rate library services to children as very important. (The Futures in the Balance: A Toolkit for
Libraries and Communities in the Digital Age, 2006)

What can the library provide for tweens?

Libraries can offer youth a constructive use of time. Libraries can empower youth. Librarians can support young adults by acting as positive role models. The library offers an environment for youth to make a commitment to learning.

Library programs for tweens

American Library Association, ALSCs Kids! @ Your Library Campaign

Glenview Public Library Summer Reading Program Dragon Devastation! Choices and Chances

Chicago Public Library, YOUmedia Center @ the Harold Washington Library Center

Libraries, technology and tweens

It is especially important for librarianswho are responsible for providing equitable access to information technology in their communitiesto help form beneficial and healthy relationships between children and technology.

Libraries are in a great position to inform parents about both the benefits and shortcomings of technology for children. By offering technology programs, libraries can remain relevant to modern children, and at the same time help them and their families to form healthy relationships with technology.

Walton-Hadlock, M. (2008). Tots to Tweens: Age-Appropriate Technology Programming for Kids. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 6(3), 52-55. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Technology within the library

Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu)
Online programming for 8-11 year olds Kids can create animations, music, and games

Albany New York Library

2 week computer camp for 9-14 year olds Kids create their own blogs, learn about successful and safe Internet searching, and develop an understanding the impact of digital media.

Finding age-appropriate technology

Entertainment Software Rating Board (www.esrb.org) ALSC Great Websites for Kids Committee (www.ala.org/greatsites)

Resources and reviews for books

Best Books for Middle School and Junior High Readers: Grades 6-9 by
John T. Gillespie and Catherine Barr, Libraries Unlimited, 2007

Library Journals:
- A Voice of Youth Advocates Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers - Teacher Librarian Journal

More resources

Young Adults Choices 2011 Reading List, Grades 7-12

http://reading.org/Resources/Booklists/YoungAdultsChoices.aspx

Horn Book Reading List for Middle Grades, Ages 8-12

http://hbook.com/newsletter/archive/2011/books_summer11.asp

ALA opportunity for professional development

ALA online workshop

Connecting with Tween Readers
Six week online course September 26 October 21

http://www.ala.org/ala/onlinelearning/servicedelivery/classes/als c/connectingtweenreaders.cfm

References

ALA Association for Library Services to Children Retrieved June 13, 2011, from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/index.cfm ALA Online Workshop, Connecting with Tween Readers. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from http://www.ala.org/ala/onlinelearning/servicedelivery/classes/alsc/connectingtweenreaders.cfmhttp://www.ala.org/ala/onlinel earning/servicedelivery/classes/alsc/connectingtweenreaders.cfm Anderson, S. B. (2007). Serving Young Teens and 'Tweens. Westport: Libraries Unlimited. Ayroso, C. (2007) Media in Canada, TV still rules kids media habits. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from http://mediaincanada.com/2007/02/09/kids-20070209/ Chance, R. (2008). Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librarian's Guide. Westport: Libraries Unlimited. Checkley, K. (2006). A Writer for Tweens at Heart, Educational Leadership, 63 (7), 54. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from EBSCOhost. De Mesa, A. (2005, October). Marketing and Tweens. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from Business Week: http://businessweek.com Faris, C. (2009). Betwixt and Between: Tweens in the LIbrary. Children and Libraries: Journal of the Association for Library Services to Children ,7 (1), 43-45. Fraser-Thill, R.(2011) About .com Guide, Developmental Benefits of Reading Literature. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/activitiesgameshobbies/a/BenefitsofReadingLiterature Glenview Public Library. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from http://www.glenviewpl.org/ Harris, T. (2009, January 30). What is a "tween"? Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Helium: Adolescence: http://www.helium.com/items/1319459-tweens

Hynds, S. (1997). On the Brink: Negotiating Literature and Life with Adolescents. New York: Teachers College Press.
Irvin, J.L. (1998). Reading and the Middle School Student: Strategies to Enhance Literacy. Boston, MA. JudScotKev. (2008, April 18). Difference between MG and YA. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from absolutewrite.com/forums: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138559 Nilsen, A. P., & Donelson, K. L. (2009). Literature for Today's Young Adults. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

References cont

O'Donnell, J. (2011). Definition of Tween. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from About.com Tweens: http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/tweenculture/g/TweenDefinition.htm?p=1 ODonnell, J. (2011). About.com Guide, Middle School, Reading and Tweens: Motivate Your Preteen to Read. Retrieved May 5, 2011, from http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/educationaissues/tp/tweenreading.htm?p=1

ODonnell, J. (2011) About.com Guide, What is Middle School? Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/educationaissues/f/DefofMiddleSchool.htm
Oxford University Press. (2011). tweenager(tween-ag-er). Retrieved June 13, 2011, from Oxford Dictionaries: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/tweenager?region=us Pollack, M. (2003-2011). What are Tweens? Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.wiseGEEK.com Soter, A. O. (1999). Young Adult Literature and the New Literary Theories: Developing Critical Readers in Middle School. New York: Teachers College Press. Taylor, B.M., Graves, M. F., and Van Den Broek, P. (2000). Reading for Meaning: Fostering Comprehension in the Middle Grades. New York: Teachers College Press. The Horn Book: Notes from the Horn Book,(Summer 2011). Retrieved June 13, 2011, from http://hbook.com/newsletter/archive/2011/books_summer11.asp tween - definition. (2010). Retrieved June 13, 2011, from WordIQ.com: http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Tween Walton-Hadlock, M. (2008). Tots to Tweens: Age-Appropriate Technology Programming for Kids. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 6(3), 52-55. Retrieved June 10, 2011 from EBSCOhost. Wikipedia. (2011, June 13). Preteen and Teen. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Wikipedia: the Free Dictionary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preadolescence#Tween wisegeek. (2003-2011). What are Tweens? Retrieved June 13, 2011, from wiseGEEK: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-aretweens.htm Young Adults Choices 2011 Reading List, Grades 7-12 . Retrieved June 10, 2011 from http://reading.org/Resources/Booklists/YoungAdultsChoices.aspx YouMedia. Retrieved June 15, 2010 from http://www.youmediachicago.org/2-about-us/pages/39-chicago-public-library