Big Apple, Day 1

So I wound up bringing my computer to New York after all. I answered a ton of email on the train. Of course, my computer is having a hissy fit about the Internet server here at the hotel and I can’t mail out anything, but at least it’s written.

I spent the morning at Teen Central, an amazing part of the Donnell Library on 53rd Street in New York. Are you are teenager (in spirit or in body) in this Big City? Then you should go here. It is filled with books and music and computers and is staffed by terrific librarians.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com The YA library staff has one bathroom. By moving the beads to either Neo or Wonder Woman, they turn it into a men’s or women’s bathroom.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com We had teens from six different schools, I think. Thanks to the administrators who let the students come, the teachers who accompanied them, the New York Women’s Agenda for making the whole thing happen, and especially the teens. You guys were a great audience. Thanks also to my buddy Cara and her group for the amazing goodies!!

Image hosted by TinyPic.com This is Roz Abrams, who is smart and powerful and sweet all at the same time. She is the co-chair of the New York Reads Together program (along with doing fifty million other things). In a couple hours I’m giving another presentation. I think this one is for adults, and I’m told Roz will be asking me questions. This is going to be fun.

I’m speaking some place in Brooklyn tomorrow afternoon, then I race home for the Parent Preview performance of Mer’s drum line. They leave for the World Championships Wednesday night. Go Hatters!

Right now I’m going in search of a very large cup of tea to drink while I sit and read. I’m taking bets on how much the tea will cost.

45 Replies to “Big Apple, Day 1”

  1. I posted in one of your previous entries, but am compelled to do so again! I was at this presentation today, as a chaperone to a group of students. I was so impressed with your ability to truly connect with this group, to hear the honesty with which they asked questions and the honesty you provided in answering.

    As a social worker who has worked with teens and children who have been abused and neglected, I cannot agree more that we adults need to tell our children that they need to SPEAK, they need to let people in to help them. Your message came across loud and clear without sounding judgemental or “I’m the grown up, and that’s why”. Thank you for that, as well as your words. Your books are fantastic.

    As for the tea? I’m guessing $2.25. If it were coffee, I’d be willing to wager $3.85.

  2. I posted in one of your previous entries, but am compelled to do so again! I was at this presentation today, as a chaperone to a group of students. I was so impressed with your ability to truly connect with this group, to hear the honesty with which they asked questions and the honesty you provided in answering.

    As a social worker who has worked with teens and children who have been abused and neglected, I cannot agree more that we adults need to tell our children that they need to SPEAK, they need to let people in to help them. Your message came across loud and clear without sounding judgemental or “I’m the grown up, and that’s why”. Thank you for that, as well as your words. Your books are fantastic.

    As for the tea? I’m guessing $2.25. If it were coffee, I’d be willing to wager $3.85.

  3. I posted in one of your previous entries, but am compelled to do so again! I was at this presentation today, as a chaperone to a group of students. I was so impressed with your ability to truly connect with this group, to hear the honesty with which they asked questions and the honesty you provided in answering.

    As a social worker who has worked with teens and children who have been abused and neglected, I cannot agree more that we adults need to tell our children that they need to SPEAK, they need to let people in to help them. Your message came across loud and clear without sounding judgemental or “I’m the grown up, and that’s why”. Thank you for that, as well as your words. Your books are fantastic.

    As for the tea? I’m guessing $2.25. If it were coffee, I’d be willing to wager $3.85.

  4. go us! Tell Ms. November I say hello if you all meet up. Kevin too! I really have no idea what you are doing. Thanks for calling and checking up on me.

  5. go us! Tell Ms. November I say hello if you all meet up. Kevin too! I really have no idea what you are doing. Thanks for calling and checking up on me.

  6. go us! Tell Ms. November I say hello if you all meet up. Kevin too! I really have no idea what you are doing. Thanks for calling and checking up on me.

  7. I found your journal from Sarah Dessen’s LJ which I frequently visit, after realizing your name sounded familiar. Then, reading your userinfo, I was pleased to find that you wrote “Speak” and “Catalyst”. I’d just like to say I LOVED and thoroughly enjoyed reading those books (they ROCKED!) and that I wasn’t even aware you had a new book out, so I’ll definitely try to check it out ASAP. You’re a great writer.

  8. I found your journal from Sarah Dessen’s LJ which I frequently visit, after realizing your name sounded familiar. Then, reading your userinfo, I was pleased to find that you wrote “Speak” and “Catalyst”. I’d just like to say I LOVED and thoroughly enjoyed reading those books (they ROCKED!) and that I wasn’t even aware you had a new book out, so I’ll definitely try to check it out ASAP. You’re a great writer.

  9. I found your journal from Sarah Dessen’s LJ which I frequently visit, after realizing your name sounded familiar. Then, reading your userinfo, I was pleased to find that you wrote “Speak” and “Catalyst”. I’d just like to say I LOVED and thoroughly enjoyed reading those books (they ROCKED!) and that I wasn’t even aware you had a new book out, so I’ll definitely try to check it out ASAP. You’re a great writer.

  10. He is fantastic. I begged him to give me his email so my kid who is talking serious library school can bug him about YA librariandom. And he was nice enough to give it to me.

  11. He is fantastic. I begged him to give me his email so my kid who is talking serious library school can bug him about YA librariandom. And he was nice enough to give it to me.

  12. He is fantastic. I begged him to give me his email so my kid who is talking serious library school can bug him about YA librariandom. And he was nice enough to give it to me.

  13. I’m the librarian at a high school just down the street from the Donnell Library Center, and I was there with a group of my ninth-graders. They were transfixed! Not a peep or a fidget out of any of them, which for ninth-graders is quite a feat. Afterwards, several of them commented about how much they enjoyed your talk and how funny you were. Direct quote: “I thought it was going to be, like, long and boring and stuff? But she was, like… mad simple.” Which apparently is a good thing. Thank you!

  14. I’m the librarian at a high school just down the street from the Donnell Library Center, and I was there with a group of my ninth-graders. They were transfixed! Not a peep or a fidget out of any of them, which for ninth-graders is quite a feat. Afterwards, several of them commented about how much they enjoyed your talk and how funny you were. Direct quote: “I thought it was going to be, like, long and boring and stuff? But she was, like… mad simple.” Which apparently is a good thing. Thank you!

  15. I’m the librarian at a high school just down the street from the Donnell Library Center, and I was there with a group of my ninth-graders. They were transfixed! Not a peep or a fidget out of any of them, which for ninth-graders is quite a feat. Afterwards, several of them commented about how much they enjoyed your talk and how funny you were. Direct quote: “I thought it was going to be, like, long and boring and stuff? But she was, like… mad simple.” Which apparently is a good thing. Thank you!

  16. Hey Laurie

    You are an amazing person. I thought you were hysterical. I was at your book signing at Donell Library Center in Manhattan. I go to J.K.O. You have got to be the funniest person I’ve met in a really long time. I really enjoyed myself. What I like about you is…you were straight up with everyone and you didn’t hold back about sex or anything. Most adults tip toe around it trying their best to avoid the sex talk. But not you. I admire you for coming out with the fact that you were sexually harassed. I feel your pain. My experience with rape was exactly like Melinda’s. When I read that part in your back I got chills up my spine. Your kids are very lucky to have had a mother like you growing up. And from the way that you talked about them…it seems they know it to. I wish I had a mother just like you. And that whole age thing were you can go up as many years as you can go down…really got me thinking. Thank you.
    Jazmine
    P.S. I read Catalyst after that whole presentation of Speak.

  17. Hey Laurie

    You are an amazing person. I thought you were hysterical. I was at your book signing at Donell Library Center in Manhattan. I go to J.K.O. You have got to be the funniest person I’ve met in a really long time. I really enjoyed myself. What I like about you is…you were straight up with everyone and you didn’t hold back about sex or anything. Most adults tip toe around it trying their best to avoid the sex talk. But not you. I admire you for coming out with the fact that you were sexually harassed. I feel your pain. My experience with rape was exactly like Melinda’s. When I read that part in your back I got chills up my spine. Your kids are very lucky to have had a mother like you growing up. And from the way that you talked about them…it seems they know it to. I wish I had a mother just like you. And that whole age thing were you can go up as many years as you can go down…really got me thinking. Thank you.
    Jazmine
    P.S. I read Catalyst after that whole presentation of Speak.

  18. Hey Laurie

    You are an amazing person. I thought you were hysterical. I was at your book signing at Donell Library Center in Manhattan. I go to J.K.O. You have got to be the funniest person I’ve met in a really long time. I really enjoyed myself. What I like about you is…you were straight up with everyone and you didn’t hold back about sex or anything. Most adults tip toe around it trying their best to avoid the sex talk. But not you. I admire you for coming out with the fact that you were sexually harassed. I feel your pain. My experience with rape was exactly like Melinda’s. When I read that part in your back I got chills up my spine. Your kids are very lucky to have had a mother like you growing up. And from the way that you talked about them…it seems they know it to. I wish I had a mother just like you. And that whole age thing were you can go up as many years as you can go down…really got me thinking. Thank you.
    Jazmine
    P.S. I read Catalyst after that whole presentation of Speak.

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