Library Notes 22 March 2017

Published on March 22, 2017

Top 10 books

New Adult Fiction

The Gunpowder and Glory Girls by Rosie Archer
Murder at the House of Rooster Happiness by David Casarett
Daughters of Courage by Margaret Dickinson
The Shipbuilder’s Daughter by Emma Fraser
Drowning Tides by Karen Harper
Run by Mandasue Heller
The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters by Nadiya Hussain
Fatal by John Lescroart
Country Roads by Nicole Hurley-Moore
The Old Man by Thomas Perry

Wendy Fraser
Library Services Manager

Today’s young adult (YA) literature is often criticised for being all about teenage angst and sparkly vampires. The Twilight saga hit our shelves and screens 10 years ago and was both extremely popular and highly satirised. Next to do the same was the Hunger Games, a story about a society that sets children up in a fight to the death, criticised for being overly violent. These books created a phenomenon unlike any since Harry Potter. Regardless of one’s position on the content, these books got teenagers reading who previously may never have been interested in reading before. That makes them worth their weight in gold.

These types of books though are not all that fill our YA shelves. Many YA books deal with pertinent and hard hitting topics. Just last week we saw on the news 300 students protesting outside parliament; speaking out about rape culture in their school. Yes, in their school. Books such as The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis, All the Rage by Courtney Summers , Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens all deal with this subject in a way that doesn’t over dramatize it, nor minimise its impact on the lives which are affected.

Racism too remains front and centre on our evening news, both here and abroad. Diversity of culture, race, religion, and sexuality are important things we need to constantly be talking to our children and teens about if we want to foster a healthy society. YA literature certainly doesn’t shy away from these topics. My Twitter feed is often lit up by readers, bloggers and authors searching for books that better address diversity. Brand new to our shelves and recently made the New York Times number one bestseller for Young Adult fiction is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Bestseller John Green called it "A stunning, brilliant, gut-wrenching novel that will be remembered as a classic of our time." The story centres around a young African American girl, Starr, who lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood of her early years and her posh high school in the suburbs. Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a Caucasian police officer. Based on the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl's struggle for justice.

Of course there are still books with teenage angst, love and maybe even a vampire or two. But these in no way detract from the breadth of subject matter and the richness of diversity that is available on the young adult shelves. Come in and try one, you just might be surprised.

What’s on in Te Takere

Exhibitions

Oamaru Stone Sculptors from around the Hutt Valley Region– 3 to 31 March

Monday to Friday

Volunteer Resource Centre: Talk to the Volunteer Resource Centre about becoming a volunteer. They can help you match your individual skills and interests with a large number of groups who need volunteers. 10am - 12 noon.

Family and local history: Call into the Heritage Room for help and advice on researching your family tree 10am-3pm.

Today – Wednesday 22 March

Social crochet and coffee club: Jenny Goyne will teach you to crochet, or bring you own craft project along and join in the coffee and chat and meet new friends 10.30am.

Te Reo classes 6pm

Quiz night 7pm

Thursday

JP Service Centre Shannon Library 2-3pm

Youth Space Poetry Slam with Ramon Narayan! Contact Youth Space 3.30pm.

Friday

Lunchtime music: Liam Burgess 12-1pm
SeniorNet: Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops 2-4pm

Youth Cooking: Contact Youth Space 3.45pm

Saturday

Yoga 10.30-11.30am

Sunday

Sunday concert: Bullfrog Rata: 2.00-3.30pm

Monday

Tai Chi 10am-11.30am

Tuesday

Young Parent Coffee Group: Contact Youth Space 10am

JP Service Centre: Kowhai Room, Te Takere 11.30am-1.30pm

Guitar Club: Contact Youth Space 4-5pm

Teen Book Club 4-5pm

Wednesday 29 March

Social crochet and coffee club: Jenny Goyne will teach you to crochet, or bring your own craft project along and join in the coffee and chat and meet new friends 10.30am