In honor of my new job...

So, I transferred to a new branch last week! Everyone keeps asking me how I’m doing and I tell them I’m experiencing culture shock. The patrons are so much different than what I’d become accustomed to that it’s almost as if I’m re-learning how to be a librarian. And of course, with a new workplace comes new co-workers and all of their little quirks. Overall though it’s been a really positive move and I’m finally working with the age group that I love best...Young Adults! So, to celebrate this fabulous new move I thought I’d bring everyone’s attention to a really awesome new social networking site...

YA For Obama
http://yaforobama.ning.com/

It was started by Maureen Johnson and has YA authors from all over the country contributing to the blog, links to news stories and videos, political cartoons and while I haven’t gotten to explore it completely, anywhere with links to “The Daily Show, or, as we like to call it, ‘real news.’" or to a website with Presidential Commercials from the 1950’s onward and of course the ALA’s Banned Books Week website is pretty much awesome in my book!

I also want to plug a really intriguing book by YA author extraordinaire (and 1/2 the team that is bringing you “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”) David Levithan. “Wide Awake” tells the story of America in a near future where the first Gay, Jewish president has been elected and the upheaval that ensues when the Governor of Kansas decides to withhold his states electoral votes. That’s when Jimmy and his boyfriend Duncan decide to join with activists from all over the nation as they converge literally on the Governors front lawn to protest for their rights. Jimmy and Duncan soon see that the journey is the destination as they try to explore their relationship while trying to change the world they live in. It’s a wonderfully optimistic vision of our country and the young people who help shape and challenge it!