TKB at the 26th Annual Minnesota Book Awards
April 5, 2014
St. Paul's Union Depot
Carrie Mesrobian's Sex & Violence wins the 26th Annual Minnesota Book Award for Young People's Literature.
Teens Know Best is a teen book club sponsored by Metropolitan State University and St. Paul Public Library. Our teens read books, blog about books, and participate in lively book discussions at monthly meetings. Follow these links to read member reviews of Sex & Violence:
Guanani's Review
Sophie D's Review
Elise S's Review
During her acceptance speech, Ms. Mesrobian thanked librarians for having the courage to put a book titled Sex & Violence on their shelves. Minnesota boasts a passionately engaged community that nurtures, advocates, educates, and celebrates all aspects of the book. Teens Know Best would like to acknowledge that community, congratulate the finalists and winners of the 26th Annual Minnesota Book Awards, and thank The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library for the opportunity to volunteer and attend the gala event.
TKB Members on Reading Rainbow Rowell Panel
October, 2013
St. Paul, MN
Excerpt from Publishers Weekly (follow this link to view the entire story):
Rowell participated Tuesday evening in a panel discussion at Metropolitan State called Reading Rainbow Rowell: A Community Forum on Suppression of Young Adult Literature, which was moderated by Minnesota Public Radio senior reporter Sasha Aslanian. The other panelists were Julie Blaha, president of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota; Sarah Park Dahlen, assistant professor at St. Catherine University; Maureen Gormley, information director at Dakota County Libraries and chair-elect of the Minnesota Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; and Kit Katz and AJ Gerick, teen reviewers for Teens Know Best galley group.
After hearing that Rowell had been disinvited to speak to local teens about her YA novel Eleanor & Park, the St. Paul Public Library and Metropolitan State University quickly extended another invitation. The two institutions coordinated three appearances around the Twin Cities metro.
Eleanor & Park has been a favorite with the members of TKB. Follow these links to read their reviews:
The Star Tribune also covered Rowell's visit to Minnesota. Read the full articlehere.
October, 2013
St. Paul, MN
Excerpt from Publishers Weekly (follow this link to view the entire story):
Excerpt from Publishers Weekly (follow this link to view the entire story):
Rowell participated Tuesday evening in a panel discussion at Metropolitan State called Reading Rainbow Rowell: A Community Forum on Suppression of Young Adult Literature, which was moderated by Minnesota Public Radio senior reporter Sasha Aslanian. The other panelists were Julie Blaha, president of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota; Sarah Park Dahlen, assistant professor at St. Catherine University; Maureen Gormley, information director at Dakota County Libraries and chair-elect of the Minnesota Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; and Kit Katz and AJ Gerick, teen reviewers for Teens Know Best galley group.
After hearing that Rowell had been disinvited to speak to local teens about her YA novel Eleanor & Park, the St. Paul Public Library and Metropolitan State University quickly extended another invitation. The two institutions coordinated three appearances around the Twin Cities metro.
Eleanor & Park has been a favorite with the members of TKB. Follow these links to read their reviews:
The Star Tribune also covered Rowell's visit to Minnesota. Read the full articlehere.
Twin Cities, MN - Teens Know Best Author Series
February, 2013
Twin Cities, MN
Minnesota is THE place to be this winter if you're a teen or just love YA lit. The Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) has partnered with the Teens Know Best (TKB) book club to host some of the best loved young adult authors during the Teens Know Best Author Series.
Saturdays in February, March, and April provide opportunities for you to meet:
- 2/9 Jay Asher - Thirteen Reasons Why
- 2/16 Steve Brezenoff - Brooklyn Burning
- 2/23 Lauren Myracle - Shine
- 3/9 Jordan Sonneblick - Notes from a Midnight Driver
- 3/16 Neal Shusterman - the Unwind trilogy
- 3/23 Andrea Cremer - Rise
- 4/6 Tamora Pierce - Mastiff: the Legend of Beka Cooper
- 4/13 Barry Lyga - I Hunt Killer
As fans of this blog, you know that TKB is blessed to have an awesome group of teen readers/reviewers. Recently, a couple of our members have become local media stars! Check out this segment from KARE 11 that features our very own AJ and Elise (and Sally Lederer from MELSA) as they promote the Teens Know Best Author Series:
An event like this takes an amazing amount of time, creativity, and effort to plan and execute. So, for everyone involved, please know you have our appreciation for your contributions.
Thanks MELSA and TKB for making Saturdays in the Twin Cities a whole lot hotter!
TKB on Banned Books Week Panel
October 26, 2011
St. Paul, MN
TKB members participated on a panel hosted by Metropolitan State University Library that focused on how GLBT characters are portrayed in Young Adult literature. Photo courtesy of By the Book (November, 2011)
