Iris Greenwold is a dreamer; it's how she escapes her miserable existence. Her mother researches soybeans for an uncaring employer and her wacky father lives far away and pays almost no attention to her. Erebus Middle School is awful, with classmates who torment her and teachers who don't understand why she doesn't pay attention. And then, for her 12th birthday, Iris receives an incredible gift: Bulfinch's Mythology. Reading about the exploits of the Greek gods is right up her alley, but she is puzzled when mysterious messages start popping up in the book's pages and downright startled to discover that the gods are all living nearby at the New Jersey shore and in the Philadelphia area. Moreover, they desperately need her help. As she meets such figures as Poseidon (who runs a seaside oyster shack), Apollo (owner of a cool jazz club), and Aphrodite (stylist extraordinaire), she's also treated to firsthand accounts of Greek myths. This engaging story of an unhappy girl whose dreaming pays off in wonderful ways will be a hit with adolescents dealing with those difficult middle school years. Give it to readers who gobble up Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series (Hyperion/Miramax) and other novels where teens interact with the Greek pantheon. -- School Library Journal, July 1, 2007
Okay, okay, so I haven't been very diligent about updating lately. I know. Life happens, and it's been pretty busy at the library. I've been side tracked by my good friend, Amanda, who has been coming in on Saturdays to help out (and work off a hefty fine; ah the joys of the library!). But, here it is: discussion for our book The Reformed Vampire Support Group, by Catherine Jinks.
If you read as much as I do, you know that vampire books have been out and about for quite awhile now. It started way before Twilight, but it's been spiraling ever since. Catherine Jinx has a pretty unique view on vampires, and the group she focuses on in Reformed are just that --reformed vampires who deny the intake of human blood. Instead, they take supplements (of which I'm really sure ever really explained), which makes it possible for them to partake in animal blood instead (particularly, guinea pigs).
Rather than discuss vampires though, since that isn't exactly a new converastion --I'm instead going to bring up the topic of support groups. The group in the book was created because of one vampire --Casimir, who came to Australia to escape persecution in Europe. In promptly went about biting people, including a doctor who knew immediately what had happened, and that, in no uncertain terms, that he would not be becoming a true vampire any time soon. So, after entrapping Casimir in a stone coffin and concrete, he gathered his victims and began the vitamin regmine that they are all on today.
Support groups exist for just about every problem you could imagine. One of the most well known for kids includes Alateen, a group that focuses on helping kids who are around an (or many) adults with drinking problems. There are many online support groups to help kids and teens deal with stress, depression, anxiety, death of a loved one, drugs, and many of the other challenges that you face while just growing up.
Support Groups have a common goal: a safe space to speak your mind and be open about whatever is bothering you. Sometimes that has something to do with the common issue --say a parent who is drinking, but you also have the opportunity to discuss other problems, like a teacher who always seems to pick on you, or a sibling going through your personal items. There are many resources online for support groups, which are safe places for middle schoolers and teens to talk about themselves (and each other), in a safe manner.
One such place is TeenLine, which is an organization of teen volunteers, helping other teens. Similiar programs have been featured on television shows. I recently watched an episode of Hang Time on YouTube, which was a show from the 90s...yes, I am showing my age!, that dealt with a group very much like Teen Line.
The episode is cut into three parts, but if you'd like to watch it:
