RA with Teens

I've really been enjoying my RA class this semester. It's really the only class I've been enjoying, actually. The assignments are fun and creative, and it's easy to see how practical they are as well as how they can actually be implemented in a real working situation. The more work I do in the RA courses, the more I think I would like to do this type of work when I do find a job. 

I'm not sure if I would want to work with teens only though. I do like children, though teenagers less so, but I find myself very awkward around them. Especially teens.  When I talk to them, in professional capacities, I find it hard to find the line between being the working, responsible adult and still being a person who is able to have a conversation with them. Knowing what's appropriate language, topics, etc. as opposed to, not inappropriate per se, but....hmm, I suppose, more how an adult would speak to them versus how they speak to their peers? 

Don't know if that makes any sense, but that's one of the things that makes me a little nervous about working with children and young adults.I like them, but I don't know how to relate to them. That, and sometimes teens are scary. I didn't really like them even when I was a teenager. 

I would definitely like to try though. I love the work that can be done for them and with them, with the programs that we as library staff can make available to them. I very firmly believe that all children, no matter their age, need a place where they can come and feel welcome and have services that cater to their needs. Sometimes they don't get that at home, and not even at school sometimes, depending on budget cuts. And if the library can offer that, then I think they have a responsibility as a part of the community to do so. 

Maybe it's cliche, but our children are our future and we need to foster their learning, their ingenuity and creativity, their health and well-being as much as we can. 

So yes. I think I would like to do RA work with teens. Or with anyone really. :)

Verse Novels

Before reading Karma, the most verse I had read was narrative poetry fanfiction. And I instantly fell in love with it. For me, poetry doesn't have to rhyme or follow a certain pattern. It's all about the flow of the words and the story it tells, no matter how disjointed it might get. I think I like verse so much because that's also how I like to write sometimes, so it's easier to enjoy and appreciate it.

Reading Karma was definitely an enjoyable experience, and I am definitely going to look for more verse novels that I might enjoy. For me, the experience of reading a verse novel wasn't about the content of the novel. I'm not a huge reader of realistic fiction, but for Karma, it was the style that won me over and made me love this book. I think part of my problem with realistic fiction is that I don't often find it realistic to my point of view and my experiences, which can make it hard to sink into. But with Karma, it wasn't a matter of relating to my experiences; it was more about getting a visceral reaction from me, the feeling that, yes this has happened. 

Karma is one of my new favourite novels, and I can't wait to find more like it. And who knows, maybe I'll try my hand at writing one too.

All Good Children

So. The CLA YA Book award committee states that "Austen's novel explores the nature and value of creativity, individuality and non-conformity with memorable characters and a gripping plot."

Huh.

Can't really say that I found either the characters memorable, nor the plot gripping. I thought it was a good plot, don't get me wrong. But gripping isn't really the word I would use to describe it. It really reminded me of Brave New World in the beginning, the way Max talked about the throwaways and the genetically superior kids, which I liked because BNW was a really interesting book. But I liked it better because of the faster moving plot. I think when you do a novel like this, creating a new world out of our own, you really need to move fast otherwise the reader can get too bogged down in the details and lose interest. 

The novel definitely explored all of the aspects the CLA states, but I think it could have been done in a more exciting way. This book didn't grip me at all, and I even had a hard time remembering anything about it after I had read it. So it wasn't very memorable at all, which I think is a hallmark of a good book. 

That being said, I can see how this book would appeal to younger readers, as it is intended to. Especially for those younger readers who like a slower paced read, who will really take the time to sit back and contemplate the issues that the book puts forth. I also think it's an interesting dichotomy to The Hunger Games, in which the masses are controlled through fear and violence. Here they are made to be peaceable little zombies. So definitely an interesting compare/contrast study could be done with those two books. 

But I just didn't find it all that memorable or exciting. :(