A Book for Chicago Right Now

Like most educators in Chicago Public Schools, I am feeling exhausted and weary after this incredibly rough year. The strike was one thing, the budget crisis another, and now the 3,000 layoffs. Librarians were some of the main jobs on the chopping block, and our community is beyond angry - just resigned to disappointment in a school system that refuses to acknowledge the need for skilled 21st century educators. But the one thing that I keep being impressed by is how my laid-off colleagues are staying on message. I haven't heard a single educator ask, "How will this affect my pension?" Rather, they ask, "How will this affect our kids?" 

I just finished reading G. Neri's devastating graphic novel Yummy, the true story of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer. As a young member of the Black Disciples, Yummy made national headlines in Time Magazine when he shot and killed Shavon Dean in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood. He was 11, she was 14. The story is told by another boy named Roger, who gives us a complicated picture of Yummy. He's a reckless force who beats up Roger and shoplifts. He's a little kid with a squirt gun and a teddy bear, with a prostitute mother and a father serving time. After the murder, Roger seeks to answer one simple question: Why was Yummy the way he was? He gets answers from his classmates, his teachers, the news, and President Clinton himself - but he never gets a clear answer. Roger's own brother Gary is a member of the Black Disciplines Nation - what happens to his Gary after the story? I was chilled by the comparison given to Yummy by Monster, the leader of the Black Disciples: "Right now he's just a pit-bull puppy, but when he grows up, watch out!" The same gangsters who offered this boy solace end up shooting him in the head, to take the heat off them.

So whose fault is it when an 11-year-old joins a gang? Greg Neri doesn't specifically give an answer, but instead gives readers a large picture of the complicated community our kids are snarled in. I've been building relationships with kids in schools for a long time, and I want to clarify something for the reader: there are definitely "Yummys" out there, more than you know, and their pain is real. I'm just a librarian, and I'm not the person most qualified to discuss the topic, but I do know from my experience that for every "Yummy," there are many "Rogers" - amazingly curious, intelligent, resilient kids with the passion to stand up against a prescribed future. Children are not pit-bulls, they're humans. Please don't walk away from this story with a sense of devastation. Walk away from this story with the knowledge that children are powerful, and they have the power to choose.

Everyone in Chicago must read this, especially against the backdrop of school closings. Schools are the safe havens from gang violence, and often the one stable place in a kid's life. When they're closed, the good work of dedicated teachers is undone and children are endangered within the walls of the new schools. CPS teachers are fighting to give the children of Chicago the tools to build their own futures.

Do me a favor and sign the Daily Kos petition to Rahm Emanuel, telling him you prioritize the safety of our kids over a basketball arena for DePaul.

Extra Resources for Educators
- Vimeo: Book Trailer (AMAZING)
- Interview with Author G. Neri and Illustrator Randy DuBurke

ALA 2013!

You know where ALA's HQ is, right? :)

Yesterday was  my first ALA Convention, hosted at McCormick Place! For those of you who don't know what ALA is, it's the annual convention hosted by the American Library Association. Basically, it's San Diego Comic Con, but for librarian's best practices, and a celebration of the relationships between librarians and the literary world. My star-struck self had an awesome time, described below.





Cool Things I Saw

1. The ALA Store: Wanted to buy all of the things. Some librarians have credit card problems, okay?

2. Graphic Novels!: Jon Scieszka (who is a RIOT and one of my all-time favorites) moderated a session on kids' graphic novels with Raina Telgemeier, Jarrett Krosoczka, and Doug TenNapel. Ms. Telgemeier was gracious enough to personalize a copy of Drama for my student who adores her. A 7th grader is about to be very happy!

3. Edwards Luncheon: Best of all, I attended the Margaret Edwards Luncheon, to honor the body of work put out by the venerable Tamora Pierce. I say "venerable" because of the immense respect I have for this young adult giant. Ms. Pierce is known for her fictional realm Tortall, inhabited by heroines like Alanna of Trebond, Daine Sarassri, Kelandry of Mindelan, Beka Cooper. The Circle of Magic series saw her rise to even greater heights. She writes diverse stories about girls who face tyranny, war crimes, misogyny, changing bodies, sex, racism, and everything else women fight. For the past 25 years, she's destroyed gender roles with a smile. Without her work, YA wouldn't be the female-friendly zone it is today. I wouldn't be the warrior I am today.

My mother read me Alanna's Song of the Lioness series when I was in third grade, and I've reread it dozens of times into adulthood. At the time, I wrote her a letter and she wrote me back, saying I was one of the youngest people to ever write to her. I've held onto that letter since. Later, a fellow GSLIS student met Tamora and sign a book for me, saying "Hi Kristy, what are you doing now?" (Thank you again, Eti.)

I attended with two colleagues: the aforementioned GSLIS alum, and my mentor librarian who recommended me SoL back in the day. First, Tamora punked the audience by pretending to be a doddering old lady, but then laughed at us all and launched into a brilliant speech describing her frustrating childhood full of male heroes. In the spirit of "Write the book you want to read," Tamora decided to write fantasy books about heroines who weren't princesses, but knights and soldiers and policewomen. Her books resonate with me and other women who take on physical roles protecting others, and who mentor other women who want to make change. ALA, I need for you to put up a transcription of this speech ASAP!

Attending the session with my mentor librarian, Stephanie, was extra special. Steph pushed me up to meet her, despite the fact that I was already reduced to tears by her speech. Wordlessly handing her that letter seemed to be pretty overwhelming for the both of us. Because I was shamelessly bawling, Steph had to talk and tell her my story. Such a special moment for all three of us.

My experience with Tamora Pierce reinforced several things for me:
- Librarians and educators must help children build relationships with authors. Author studies should be a critical part of emergent literacy.
- Text-to-self connections are an instant win for readers.
- Seeking mentors is an important life skill. Becoming one is the way you repay the favor.

I wish you could see TP's pendant: a double-edged battle axe. WIN.

ETA: Here is School Library Journal's writeup of the event, summarizing some of the best points.