Teen summer reading club starts through LAPL
Emily Henry | 6-2-2010 | Comments |
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Nothing complements the long, hot days of summer like a good book. With zombies, of course. LEFT: Pride and Prejudice with Zombies adds a quirky twist to a classic tale, perfect for teenagers who find traditional literature hard to swallow.As L.A.'s schools come to a close, the last thing teenagers may want to do with their summer is pick up a book or three. But the Los Angeles Public Library is encouraging youths to keep reading... even when they don't have to.
June kicked off the LAPL's Teen Reading Club, a free program allowing teenagers to engage with books — and each other — in their local branches as well as online. This year's mission is to "reduce, recycle and read" with an environmental theme to the festivities. The LA Teens Online website provides a list of recommended summer reading and a place for teens to post their own book reviews. June boasts a packed schedule at the Los Angeles Central Library (630 West 5th Street), including summer book readings, movie screenings, and even video game days. Click here to view calendar below.
According to Scholastic, summer reading loss or "summer setback" is a greater problem for children from low-income families. "Their reading achievement typically declines an average of three months between June and September, while that of typical middle-class students improves or remains the same," notes Anne McGill-Franzen and Richard Allington in "Bridging the Summer Reading Gap."
The result, over the course of the child's school career, can be significant. A loss of three months each year accumulates to a two-year gap by middle school, according to McGill-Franzen and Allington. Regardless of how effective the child's school may or may not be, the summer reading gap produces detrimental effects that can be avoided if reading throughout the summer months is encouraged. "It suggests that focusing all of our efforts on improving the schools isn't going to work," the Scholastic authors write. "Children need to read outside of school."
Some highlights from LAPL's list of recommended teen reading include:
Seventh-grader Maleeka feels tormented at school because of her dark black skin. When a new teacher with a birthmark on her face is hired, Maleeka is forced to confront her self-doubts and recognize her strengths, talents, and beauty.
After centuries of intergalactic warfare with the alien bugs, mankind’s best hope are the children who are selected and trained in the military academy. A genius among geniuses, Ender is the best of these children. Can he rise up to the expectations of the entire human race? Of course he can; he’s Ender! After you read this book, try book 2—Speaker for the Dead and the rest of the Ender series.
Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic. Born in 1929, Anne Frank received a blank diary on her 13th birthday, just weeks before she and her family went into hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
This is the story that started it all: the tale of a vampire named Count Dracula who needs the blood of the living to remain living as one of the “undead.” A young real estate agent in London, England, travels to Transylvania, an area of Eastern Europe. There, the agent meets a man named Count Dracula. The Count lives in a creepy castle and is interested in buying a house in London so he can pursue his blood lust. Little does the real estate agent know that the Count plans to suck the life out of the agent’s girlfriend and family. If you want a good scary read that will last a lifetime, this is it.
Teen 'Scape Calendar: June:
June 5th, Saturday: The Hero’s Journey
2:00 PM @ Central Library
What makes a hero? For thousands of years, humans have used stories as tools for living. Today we will watch a film and after the film a lecture will discuss how the hero of the story progresses through experience for the reward of greater self-knowledge.
June 7th, Monday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 8th, Tuesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 9th, Wednesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story.! We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 10th, Thursday: Hollywood Recycling
3:30 PM @ Central Library
Two different movies. Two different casts. Same great source material. See how Hollywood recycles the great Roald Dahl book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
June 11th, Friday: XBOX Game Day
4:30 PM @ Central Library
Play X-box, Wii or board games with your friends and maybe make some new ones.
June 12th, Saturday: Student Smart Seminar: Financial Aid
12:30 PM @ Central Library
Come learn about the Financial Aid process and how it affects college admissions. Presented by Princeton Review.
June 14th, Monday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 15th, Tuesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 16th, Wednesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 17th, Thursday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 18th, Friday: XBOX Game Day
4:30 PM @ Central Library
Play X-box, Wii or board games with your friends and maybe make some new ones.
June 19th, Saturday: Student Smart: SAT Practice Test
12:30 PM @ Central Library
Princeton Review will administer the full-length test. Follow-up for this Practice SAT test will be held on Saturday, June 26 in Teen’Scape 12:30-1:30pm.
June 21st, Monday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 22nd, Tuesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 23rd, Wednesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 24th, Thursday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 25th, Friday: XBOX Game Day
4:30 PM @ Central Library
Play X-box, Wii or board games with your friends and maybe make some new ones.
June 28th, Monday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
June 29th, Tuesday: Teen Council
4:30 PM @ Central Library
Since I can’t take you to the beach, let’s make sand castles using marshmallows.
June 30th, Wednesday: Summer Read Aloud
4:00 PM @ Central Library
The lazy days of Summer are here, so come “hear” a story. We’ll read from the same book every day in June.
Tags: book club books literature los angeles public library reading summer teen fiction teen reading teen reading club