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TEENREADS.COM
NEWSLETTER
AOL Keyword: The Book Bag
Teenreads.com
July 26, 2001
Dear Reader,
As part of the official festivities surrounding the 50th Anniversary of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE J. D. Salinger
personally asked me to channel the spirit of his angsty hero. My body has been seized by
the spirit of Holden Caulfield!
This is a lie. (Or is it? Holden was a terrific liar. Lied about everything. Maybe I'm
just lying about lying, hmmm.)
No really, it's a lie. Salinger is a famous recluse and supposedly a very bizarre man, so
it's not very likely that he called me up and said, "Sarah. Listen here. I know I'm a
recluse and supposedly a very bizarre man but I do subscribe to the Teenreads.com
Newsletter. Read it religiously. Your stories, Sarah, they speak to me. So much ranting
and raving about what you don't like and what annoys you. Boy you're sensitive. And really
self-involved. Even a little pathetic. Now that I think of it, you know who you remind me
of? Holden. Wait! I just thought of something. What if, for the 50th Anniversary of my
book, you became Holden Caulfield for a couple of days? You know, like, channel his
spirit? What do you think about that?"
No, I suppose it's not very likely that Salinger and I had this conversation. Then again,
for all you guys know I'm actually J. D. Salinger masquerading as your
Newletteress...Intense, man. Intense.
Lonely Hearts Clubbers Unite!...
Is it us? Is it them? Is it the water? My vote is "them," but that's
just me. I really did feel better about my love woes after reading all your horror
stories. Bless all your little, romantically defective hearts. Here's a particular
favorite of mine:
Datewise, I think I am god's guinea pig and I just don't know it yet. Take, for
instance, the time I went on a blind date and the guy shows up 35 minutes late...insists
we sit in the smoking section because coffee is better when there's smoke around (since
when is anything better with second hand smoke???). Our dinner conversation jumped from
him failing his last midterm to seeing car races with his older brother who is his
idol...who I might mention still lives at home and works the register at a bagel shop. It
only gets better from here (rolls eyes repeatedly)...
We drive over to the movie theater, because he wants to make it up to me that he was late
--- I choke in his car because of all the air fresheners. Then he thinks he's making the
biggest sacrifice in the world by letting me choose the movie...he LET me have a choice
between Tomb Raider and Swordfish. So Tomb Raider it was. But all during the movie his
hand kept crawling up my leg, around my shoulders, through my hair...needless to say I got
out of his car with just a quick whisper of thank you. --- Leeneybond@aol.com
Wherefore art thou posters?...
If you got my little Shakespearean reference above (if not, try replacing posters with
Romeo), you are definitely the kind of teen who should be posting on our Message Boards.
Message Boards are a venue for
teens across the nation to swap thoughts on topics like Favorite
Authors and School Reading Lists, and to post Original
Poetry and Short Stories.
Here's a little sample of what goes on the Quote of the Day board:
"I prefer to describe my profession as that of a 'Contemporary Anthropological
Interactive Observer' because it has just the right amount of flair. Besides, 'stalker' is
such an ugly word." -- The Onion
"The future is no place to place your better days." -- Cry Freedom, The Dave
Mathews Band
Don't miss out. Join the Message
Board craze that's sweeping the nation!!
NEW THIS WEEK...
Win A Free Copy of LOVE & SEX by Michael Cart!!!
Many of you took my advice and posted your reading suggestions on Teenreads' Word of Mouth. You are all very smart, and I
am sooo proud of you. Three of you smartees even won a free copy of LIREAL by Garth Nix. Unfortunately, there are
still a stubborn few who have not yet joined in the Word of Mouth fun. Heed my words, you
stubborn few: YOU ARE REALLY MISSING OUT!
Stubborn few, here's a change to redeem yourself (smartees, keep on keeping on)...
THIS WEEK we are giving away two free copies of LOVE & SEX edited by Michael Cart to two
randomly chosen contributors to Word of Mouth.
For details on how to enter, click here.
Teenreads.com Chats With...
Louise Rennison, author of ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING and ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I AM NOW THE GIRLFRIEND OF A SEX-GOD
British comedian and writer Louise Rennison
leaves no stone unturned in her quest to detail the minutiae of being a teenaged girl.
Join the snog-a-licious Lucy Burns as she chats with the fabbity fab fab LR about English vs. American slang and the
trouble with writing what you know. There are also reviews of both ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING and ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I AM NOW THE GIRLFRIEND OF A SEX-GOD.
And...
Isobel Bird, author of Circle of Three series.
She doesn't wear a pointed hat and ride a broom, but author Isobel Bird does write really amazing books about
Wicca for teenagers. Check out what Teenreads.com's most mystical writer (Lucy Burns)
found out about The Craft and the craft of writing in her conversation with Lady Bird. There is also a full review of the Circle of Three series.
Out, Proud and In Print...
Confused? Scared? Out And Proud? It's not easy being a teen, but it's doubly difficult
being a gay/lesbian teen. In recognition of this, Teenreads has a collected some books to help you celebrate (and understand)
yourself.
Love, Sex, and Relationships 101...
The three R's of high school SHOULD be Reading, 'Riting and RELATIONSHIPS. But since that
important topic is rarely mentioned during the school year, we at Teenreads bring you LOVE, SEX, AND RELATIONSHIPS 101. Find out what
your favorite authors have to say about luuuv and maybe even why your crush is a rotten
dog.
Before Georgia, There Was Holden...
On July 16, 1951 J. D. Salinger introduced America to the madman world of Holden
Caulfield. In honor of TCITR's 50th Anniversary, Teenreads.com brings you a sampling of
some other great classics that continue to
relate and make us think.
Summer Reading Lists From 5 Authors You Love...
Admit it. You don't really get cracking on your required reading lists until, like, the
week before school starts. So, in the interim, why not do a little reading for FUN? To
help you get started on your Purely-For-Pleasure reading list, 5 of your favorite teen authors have
offered Teenreads a peek at what's on their reading
agenda for Summer 2001.
Question of the Week...
I hate to keep harping on this Smartee vs. Stubborn issue, but I'm a harper. Sue me.
Many of you answered last week's Question of
the Week about your favorite book about
the summer. (Judy Blume's SUMMER SISTERS won by a long shot, btw.) Thanks to those who
wrote in. You are an inspiration to all of us.
Still, I think we can do better. Make me proud and post the bejeezus out of this week's
question: Does a book's cover ever affect
your decision to buy it? Which book do you think has a great cover?
Five Best Books Featuring Angsty Teenage Boys...
In honor of the 50th anniversary of J. D. Salinger's classic book of alienated boydom, we
bring you five recent fiction titles
dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a teenage boy.
More Reviews...
A STEP FROM HEAVEN by An Na
Young Ju sees the beauty everywhere, even in the harsh reality of her family's struggle
for assimilation in America. A lyrical and beautiful book, every character you meet will
touch you deeply and make you reevaluate your sensitivity towards outsiders.
ROOSTER by Beth Nixon Weaver
Sick of just about everything, Kady can’t wait to go to high school. She can’t
be bothered with chores and whatnot, all she cares about is Jon. But what happens when
Kady gets too involved and starts thinking only about herself? As she spirals into a world
of lavish overabundance, she forgets about Rooster...
SIGHTS by Susanna Vance
Baby Girl can see the future. Except her own, that is. But she doesn’t need sight to
see that her own father wants her dead. Now Baby Girl and her mother must run away, and
the future seems more uncertain than ever. Can Baby Girl use her sight to help them
survive their new lives?
THE LIFE HISTORY OF A STAR by Kelly Easton
Stars form spontaneously, when conditions are right, and disappear without notice. Kristin
Folger is a star of her own, forming an identity. How is her coming-of-age story different
from that of a thousand other books? She's a teenager in the '60s, growing up against the
backdrop of a terrifying war and turbulent social change.
STILL GOING STRONG...
SHRINK YOUR OWN HEAD
Reviews of 8 non-eye-rolling-inducing books to help you get your acts together.
LIREAL by Garth Nix
The eagerly anticipated sequel to SABRIEL. There is also an interview with Garth Nix.
BAD BOY: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
Myers's life story will force you to consider very important questions about race,
community, culture, and literature. There is also an interview with Walter Dean Myers.
BREATHING UNDERWATER by Alex Flinn
This compelling debut explores an abusive relationship between two highschoolers from the
abuser's perspective.
FINN by Matthew Olshan
A modern take on Twain's classic, THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN.
THE GREAT GOOD THING by Roderick Townley
In this magical tale, characters come alive in dreams, taking readers to never before seen
places.
THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS by Ron Koertge
This inventive and engrossing poem/novel explores the timely and all-too-real topic of
teen violence.
RECENTLY REVIEWED...
ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE by Mary Higgins Clark
THE BLUE NOWHERE by Jeffery Deaver
FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA by Jaclyn Moriarty
FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE by Markus Zusak
LEONARDO'S HAND by Wick Downing
GIRLHEARTS by Norma Fox Mazer
DRAGONS OF A LOST STAR by Margaret Weis and Tracy
Hickman
A DIAMOND IN THE DUST by Carla Joinson
WRITE WHERE YOU ARE: How to Use Writing to Make Sense
of Your Life by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Ph.D.
A MOTHER'S GIFT by Britney and Lynne Spears
Hope you are all having a great summer! And remember, if you have any ideas for the
newsletter or Teenreads.com, or if you just want to say hello, write to: Babyswingster@aol.com.
--- Sarah Brennan for Teenreads.com
Talkback@Teenreads.com
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