Events | Readers Be Advised

No ‘case of the Mondays’ here

Maybe it was because I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the Bills and the Chiefs game that jazzed me for the week. No, that can’t be it. It was the impending Youth Media Awards on Monday morning that got me excited for the week. Being the chairperson for the Excellence in Nonfiction Award, this was the day. The day where we awarded the winner her medal in front of a pre-recorded but live-stream of the ceremony at the advantageous time of 9am EST and shared the finalists (which had already been shared in December) so that everyone could go out and read them widely– although I’m pretty sure many had already had these titles on their radar.

I wore a new dress, I bought myself a chai tea latte– which I never do– and drove in to work early to log in to our committee’s watch party Meet. My body was buzzing and I was overcome with emotion. It was a different emotion than being in Seattle in 2019 where everyone was together in person for the ALA annual conference and Youth Media Awards both because it was a shared in-person experience but also because it was my first on an award committee. I had already served on a selection committee, but an award committee has a whole different feel. This emotion was a mix of pride, excitement, honor, and pure joy.

The watch party was exactly where I wanted to be because my committee made up of two Lauras, Janet, Rebecca, Mike, Ginny, Yolanda, and Jeana was phenomenal. We had fun and got our work done. We talked for hours about the crop of nonfiction books published in 2021 over the course of a year. We debated. We respectfully disagreed. We laughed. Then Monday morning, we had Oregonians who were logging in at 6am, barely a cuppa something hot in their hands and those of us that were a bit into our work day. And we shared the same excitement to share the books out and hear what the other committees selected as well.

If you’re a librarian, it’s one of the most indescribable feelings to work together toward a shared goal like committee membership is. I urge you to take the leap if you haven’t already.

If you’re an avid reader and book lover, tune in each year to celebrate the love of children’s and young adult literature. Buy the books. Share the books.

If you’re a child or young adult, read. Read. Read. You’re who the authors and illustrators write for.

I won’t pretend I didn’t tear up because I’m good at hiding it. But I was so damn proud. Of the work we did, of the American Library Association and YALSA for their efforts to continue the tradition of the Youth Media Awards, of the authors and illustrators who do the work that we get to celebrate. It’s a shared love of knowledge, art, and words that fills my cup in ways that other things just can’t. There was certainly no ‘case of the Mondays’ for me yesterday. I’ll probably be riding this excitement until February 24th when we get to celebrate with the finalists and winner. Tune in because it’s not over quite yet.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on January 25, 2022 in Authors, Events, Nonfiction, Young Adult

It usually begins with a book

20 Jan

My middle school sons spent the last few months working with a talented group of middle schoolers (and a few elementary schoolers) in their junior production of Willy Wonka. It was a magical experience altogether and not just because my kids were a part of it but because the directors chose bright and fun props and costumes to make the viewer experience a feast for the eyes. And isn’t that what Willy Wonka does when the Golden Ticket winners enter the factory that has been closed to the public for many years?

When it all came to a close after the third and final performance, I reflected on where it began. With a book by Roald Dahl called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

And isn’t that how most things start… with a book? We don’t give them nearly enough credit sometimes. The best blockbuster movies (and then the reboots upon reboots) and plays, fanfiction and t-shirts– usually based on a book. There are two versions of the book made into a movie, both of which were watched by my kids in preparation for their theatrical performance.

But it usually begins with a book.

And of course I decided to do what I do best and return to the OG- Dahl’s book and found that I highlighted one of the closing passages that seems to always stay true in any version:

“Listen,” Mr. Wonka said, “I’m an old man. I’m much older than you think. I can’t go on forever. I’ve got no children of my own, no family at all. So who is going to run the factory when I get too old to do it myself? Someone’s got to keep it going- if only for the sake of the Oompa-Loompas. Mind you, there are thousands of clever men who would give anything for the chance to come in and take over for me, but I don’t want that sort of person. I don’t want a grown-up person at all. A grownup won’t listen to me; he won’t learn. He will try to do things his own way and not mine. So I have to have a child. I want a good sensible loving child, one to whom I can tell all my most precious candy-making secrets- while I am still alive.”

Imagination. The way a child’s brain works to find the magic and the beauty, right from their own imagination. I can hear the music now.

If ever you need a break, borrow a children’s book (or five) and unlock your own imagination. It can begin with a book.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on January 20, 2022 in Authors, Childrens, Events, Fiction, Middle grade, Shows

The 31 Days of December: Book flood

24 Dec

It is Christmas Eve which means I’ll be celebrating with family today which includes homemaking pierogies and having meatless delights like clam chowder and mushroom soup, dill galumpkis, and of fish. Then after mass in the evening we’ll return to our house before we turn in for the night, awaiting Santa Claus. What I’m hoping for before we turn in, is a little bit of uninterrupted reading time with some chocolates which is exactly was Icelanders do for their annual book flood that most Americans know about by now.

Months before Christmas Eve a catalog goes out for Icelanders to pick and purchase books for one another that are exchanged on Christmas Eve before they retire for the night to snack on chocolates and read. For the book lovers, this is a dream though sometimes unattainable because it’s not as culturally ingrained as it is in Iceland. But one can try. I’m going to make the effort to do just that, even if for a short while.

If this is a part of your Christmas Eve, share it in the comments!

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on December 24, 2021 in Blogging, Events

The 31 Days of December: Excellence in Nonfiction finalists announced

17 Dec

I’m a little biased because over the past year I’ve worked with a group of phenomenal librarians: Ginny, Laura, Laura, Yolanda, Jeana, Mike, Janet, and Rebecca. Together we make up the 2022 Excellence in Nonfiction Award Committee through YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), a division of the American Library Association. Our charge is to select the best written, researched, presented nonfiction writing targeted toward kids ages 12-18. We read through hundreds of books, nominate the special ones, debate their merits, whittle it down to five finalists, and then by next month, select the winner to be announced at the Youth Media Awards. It’s the most rewarding work. And here are our finalists:

Check out the full release with annotations on YALSA’s website. I’ll sign off so I can go pop a little bubbly that they’re out in the world!

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on December 17, 2021 in Blogging, Events, Graphic novels, Nonfiction, Young Adult

National Book Lovers Day: 5 photos

09 Aug

Pass up the opportunity to go back through the photo archives and share my favorite bookish pictures? Never! A story in five pictures. Share your favorite bookish photos too!

The only #bookface I’ve ever done and it was spectacular, probably because this book is one of my favorites.

My first YALSA *award* committee. These were the finalists (*Darius the Great Is Not Okay* by Khorram won) for the William C. Morris Award that year. I’ve sat on others and am currently the chairperson for the Excellence in Nonfiction Award Committee. This is in addition to the mountains of books I’ve read for Great Graphic Novels for Teens and Best Fiction for Teens, both selection committees. If you have the opportunity, lend your readership to these lists.

As a high school librarian, I get to play host for some amazing YA authors for our students who are book lovers too. Slater’s visit was a fabulous example of the power of nonfiction.

My love for books runs so deep and excitable that I often present about books: locally, state-wide, and nationally. It’s my favorite kind of presentation to do because the prep work is *reading*.

In addition to presenting, I write about books too. It’s one of the reasons you’re here on my professional blog, but I also spent time writing for our local newspaper’s Books Blog before it was retired. This was my cover photo among some of my personal library’s books.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on August 9, 2021 in Authors, Blogging, Events, Miscellaneous, Style

#24in48 whirlwind

10 Feb

I often post about my participation in the Dewey’s 24-hour readathon. It’s a break from reality which involves snack planning and stack prepping in addition to the amazing experience of focusing on your reading life for 24-hours (or as close to that as you can get).

Well from great ideas come more great ideas. One of the participants was inspired by her participation in Dewey’s but also knew that 24-hours straight was an unrealistic expectation for her so she created #24in48 in 2012 which expands upon the concept: in this one you strive for reading 24 hours over a 48 hour weekend that begins at 12am Saturday morning and ends at 11:59pm on Sunday night.

This was my first participation and I’ll now keep these events on my calendar alongside Dewey’s. Did I manage at least 24 hours this weekend? Yes, I managed more than 25 and probably could have done more but I did take the time to enjoy the Superbowl on Sunday night. I filled the time with audiobooks and unadulterated print books throughout the weekend which included finishing two audiobooks and several e- and print books.

What I liked most was the inclusion of social media posts to include in an Instagram story centered around current reads and progress but my favorite was the “quotables” where readers could share a quote from a book they were reading with the book cover. I’m a quote lover, so it’s something I’m going to take from the readathon and share more of on social media: quotes that resonated with me in the hopes they lead to discussions with other readers.

Here’s what I read:

The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist by Balko and Carrigan
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by May
Witch Hat Atelier #7 by Shirahama
Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America’s Most Wanted Crime Boss by Sherman and Wedge (audiobook)
Reef Life: An Underwater Memoir by Roberts
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Brown
Troop 6000: The Girl Scout Troop that Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World by Stewart (audiobook)
The Low, Low Woods by Machado and DaNi

Are there reading events that you participate in? If so, which ones and why do you love them?

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on February 10, 2021 in Adult, Events, Fiction, Graphic novels, Manga, Nonfiction, Young Adult

Mid-survey questions for October’s readathon

24 Oct

It’s halfway already??? Here are my answers to the midway survey.

What are you reading right now? Cursed, a collection of retold fairytales edited by O’Regan and Kane
How many books have you read so far? I think 6?
What book are you most looking forward to in the second half of the readathon? Definitely my animal books: Where Have All The Bees Gone? and My Penguin Year.
Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? A few including taking about an hour break to attend church. But I also do have a family and a dog, so random questions and dinner interrupted, so I roll with it.
What surprises you most about the readathon so far? How quickly it has gone by when it starts at 8am.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on October 24, 2020 in Blogging, Events, Miscellaneous

Opening survey questions for October’s readathon

24 Oct

I’m cutting to the chase here for the Dewey’s readathon by answering the questions of the opening survey.

What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

Upstate New York

2. Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

The graphic novel, Belonging which has been recommended by many

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

A hand-packed pint of Pumpkin Pie ice cream from Stewart’s

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I’m an obsessive Call the Midwife fan.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I’m a hooked participant of the readathon for the last handful of years. As for doing anything different for this one, I don’t know if there’s anything specific. But right now it looks like it might rain so my workout will be on an elliptical and not on the trail.

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on October 24, 2020 in Blogging, Events

In celebration

06 Sep

Today is National Read a Book Day, but let’s be real, every day should be national read a book day. If you follow “national day” celebrations, it’s also coffee ice cream day. Ironically, yesterday I bought a half gallon of Stewarts’ cream and coffee fudge ice cream. So, I’m all set for this Labor Day weekend Sunday.

Today I’m finishing up the audiobook for The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky which is a second read (well, listen) because I’ll be joining a “Forever YA” book discussion and this is September’s book. The things you forget after five years!

When I take my reading outside with a drink (ice cream will be for later), I’ll also finish up The Brave by James Bird before diving in to Erik Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts.

What are you reading on National Read a Book Day?

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Posted by Alicia Abdul on September 6, 2020 in Events, Nonfiction, Upcoming Releases, Young Adult

A readathon in pictures

09 Aug

I’m a shameless promoter for the Dewey’s 24-hour readathon because it’s a welcome break from other life activities in order to spend time doing something I love.

Here is my readathon in pictures and narrative:

I always end the readathon by thanking my husband for tolerating being ignored for generally all of the event or hearing the echo of an audiobook wherever I’m moving in the house. He built the fire for ambience on a beautiful summer night when I enjoyed my amaretto cocktail at the 8pm end time in celebration.

I also high-five my two boys who are now middle schoolers who participate– both for about 8 hours of the 24 hours. They packed it in around 12:28am for bed which I wasn’t expecting since they were at a sleepover the night before.

There was the midnight-ish snack which has become a readathon tradition, having a hand-packed pint or pre-packed pint of ice cream from Stewart’s, which is totally an upstate New York thing. I picked a seasonal hand-packed pint called Mango Dragon Fruit Sherbet and it was stellar. It was a perfect pick for a blast of summer in a cup.

Which if you can see the book pictured with the ice cream, it lent itself to the hour 7 Instagram challenge of matching your book cover- I think I nailed it. While I didn’t post the picture until later for the hour 13 challenge, when I’m munching and reading a print book, here is my favorite recent gift: a book weight. This has saved my reading life in so many ways.

Another tradition is my bathtub reading. I’m of the same mind as Sylvia Plath who is quoted as saying

There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.

So a few book options came with me into the tub. I don’t have a fancy set up but I did throw in some bath salts.

And even though the goal is 24 hours of reading, I also still have a household to keep running, so I spent a few of those hours still doing housework or cooking while listening to an audiobook. And I got my workout in too, which was a square on the BINGO card. I listened to The Feather Thief while hitting the elliptical. This audiobook is also another tradition for me for readathons, reading or listening to a book about animals, this one about a heist of bird feathers that is part of a larger ring of the illegal sales of banned bird species skins and feathers. While I did finish that one, I also rolled into the other audiobook about a girl growing up with her grandfather who was a beekeeper.

I spent most of the day Saturday outdoors since the early morning thunder and lightning ushered in a cool but still warm weekend day where I also enjoyed some iced coffee. I don’t always drink coffee, but when I do, it’s iced.

I take breaks throughout with my audiobook on, including eye breaks in general but also when I moderate a few hours of Goodreads discussions on the readathon page. In addition, I co-hosted hour 7’s post on their WordPress site. I love the connection to other readers and find it’s another way to do this and also show my appreciation for the organizers.

Alas, I was getting close to the end and knew I had a blackout BINGO card which I shared along with my read stack when the clock struck 8pm. Needless to say, I slept well that night: a combination of sleep deprivation and a beautiful summertime fire.