Category: LHA

Sigh. And so my trip to snowy Central New York comes to an end. I almost had to borrow a team of sled dogs for part of the drive to Southern Cayuga C.S. yesterday, but my trusty Outback plowed through thedrifts and I made it, only one minute late. My voice held out all day long and I had a blast meeting all the kids there. Thank you very much Dawn and everybody at SCCS – it was a terrific day, lots of fun and very comfortable. And yes, we ate muffins!! Oh, and I got to meet illustrator/author David Kirk, because he lives down the road from SCCS. That was very, very cool.

I only have two school visits (PA and DE) next week, so I’ll be able to get back to the non-fiction revisions I am desperate to finish.

The sun is shining on the snow. Out my window the bare maples throw strong, stark shadows. To find beauty up here you just have to open your eyes. It is sad to leave the CWF and the BH, but I miss the PA branch of the family.

Time to pack.

It’s snowing; fat, lazy lake effect snowflakes. There is nothing more beautiful than Central New York in the winter. Especially when the Beloved Husband has built a roaring fire in the fireplace.

I spent the day talking with 11th graders at Solvay High School. They had done a terrific job exploring the themes and plots of SPEAK, and my visit was the last part of that unit. It was a great set-up in the library – very, very nice librarian and English teachers, too. My voice, which was sounding creaky and monstrous last night, survived nicely. I can feel an upper respiratory infection trying to brew in my lungs (we asthmatics are disgustingly intimate with our breathing apparatus) so I’m back on all the requisite meds. I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight and that should take care of it.

Not quite sure if my planned visit to Southern Cayuga High School is going to happen tomorrow. It depends on how much snow Lake Ontario decides to cough up.

Chris Crutcher has posted the panel from the Teen Titans comic that contains STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES and SPEAK in it. Here is the text from Chris’ page “Check out this cool panel from writer Geoff Johns and illustrators Mike McKone and Mario Alquiza, from TEEN TITANS #21, released February 16. Clearly, Green Arrow’s sidekick Speedy (blond) has great taste in books. Cyborg (non-blond) was cool to stack up her favorite books…”

Thank you, Kelly, for the link!

Also, with a nod to Jenna and Kelly at Solvay HS, here is the Muffanalia link again.

Chittenango Middle School was a blast, but my voice is wicked tired. Tomorrow is Solvay High School. Friday is supposed to be Southern Cayuga HS, but the weather looks dicey. Stay tuned.

But am I bummed? Distressed? Worried?

No way. Because the Wonderful Kevin King, Teen Services Director at Kalamazoo Public Library (MI), wrote to me today that both SPEAK and STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES (by my hero Chris Crutcher) are both mentioned in issue #21 of Teen Titans!!!!!!!!!!!

That’s right, folks. A comic book superhero likes my book.

I am here to tell you that it doesn’t get any better than that. I am loving life, even with this sore throat.

Off to gargle with salt water…

Thanks for everyone’s comments about yesterday’s question. I found myself thinking last night that cursing feels like a challenge to authority to some people. Which is why, of course, lots of teens do it. Adults, too. Hmmm… Maybe I should write a master’s thesis on the control of language in high school. It’s not just cursing when you think about it. Unpopular truths can get you in more trouble than four-letter words.

Chittenango Middle School today. My voice is getting hoarse.

Enjoyed a fantastic day at Skaneateles High School, which has one of the most gorgeous school libraries I have ever seen. Many, many thanks to everyone there – the whole school was involved in this one, and the students incredibly well-prepared. And nice. And friendly. The day flew by at warp speed. Good luck to the boy’s basketball team tonight!

One of my favorite authors, Chris Crutcher, is catching a lot of Michigan flack because he uses realistic language in his books.

What do you think? Should characters in books for teenagers (grades 9-12) use curse words? Is it realistic? Is it realistic to have a book for teenagers in which the characters don’t curse?