Txt msging

I've sent about four texts in my life and they each took me about ten minutes to compose. But I still found this hilarious. And I think there's tremendous potential for T9/predictive text as a plot device in fiction.

Oh my . . .

Book cart drills at ALA!

As a former marching band geek (I actually went to band camp after I graduated), I can't help but feel I went into the wrong part of the book world. These are my people!

A Gold Star

Teensreadtoo.com liked Varian Johnson's My Life as a Rhombus. A lot. Check out the starred review.

An interview with Brian Mandabach

Melissa of the blog Poised at the Edge has a chat with Mandabach up now. It's even worth dealing with MySpace.

Carrie Jones needs your help!

Yes, she's Cybils finalist. Yes, she talks to Grover and to The Duke. Yes, it does seem like she's got it all, but now Kraft Foods has put her whole future in jeopardy. They've discontinued Postum!*

See her blog for the whole sordid story.

* Postum was created by C.W. Post in Battle Creek, Michigan, where I was born and raised, so this development causes me particular pain (even though I think it's nasty stuff).

Favorite kind of review

One from actual teen readers! Josephine 'N Kimra's Blog has a nice, short review of Starcrossed by Mark Schreiber (warning: you might want to turn your speakers down a touch before you click the link. Or maybe up. Who am I to say?). Thanks, ladies!

More awards for Simone Elkeles

How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles is a 2008 American Jewish Library Association Sydney Taylor Book Awards Notable Book for Teens. Not only is this a mouthful, but it is very cool. Congrats to Simone. Check all the books on this list here.

If only all Mondays began this way . . .

Congratulations to Carrie Jones for landing Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend on the Cybils YA shortlist! It's a great list of books and Carrie is particularly jazzed to share lsit space with her hero, Sherman Alexie.