With the start of June, our clientle increased to include the summer teens. As I’m sure you’ve experienced these pent-up Energizer rabbits who gather and demonstrate their restless spirits, let me share a few RA practices. Aha! I’ve discovered that their boredom and too much free time make them sitting ducks for listening to book topics. Of course literature is broached after a couple of weeks spent chatting on summer plans, new schools, friendships, relationships, the skatepark, and parents, but eventually I’ll introduce a few literature characters into the foray. For instance, I’ll dramatize a particular character say Lauren from Bloom.

When Lauren plays her flute she loses herself in the music. Reading the flight of notes dancing across the pages allows her momentary bliss as she temporarily forgets that her best friend Katie wouldn’t understand this passion for music nor why she’s unhappy in her relationship with Dave. Then again, Lauren doesn’t share her feelings with anyone, so it’s understandable the world considers Dave + Lauren the perfect couple. Dave treats her with respect and love but Lauren feels no passion in return. To Lauren, their relationship has become too routine.

Except that’s how it feels. Like I’m watching a movie. Looking at his hand holding mine, I don’t feel much of anything except worry that I don’t feel more of anything…Now I know exactly what he’s going to say, and “6:30″ is out before he’s finished saying, “What time should I pick you up tonight?”

Tension develops in Lauren’s life when she begins to fall for the new transfer student Ethan. From the beginning it is clear how this young love story will play out. Regardless of this forseen fraction, Bloom conjures character emotions that are on par to the swooning romances found in The Truth About Forever and What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. Teens with weakspots for tender romances can sympathize with Lauren’s indecision and may also enjoy a similar situation found in If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince: Lucy feels shafted by a father who has remarried, relocated, and left her alone and out of favor with a stepmother and two evil stepsisters all of whom seem to delight in spending her father’s money, not to mention her bedroom has only a blowup mattress for furniture. *inhales deep recuperating breath*

If teens feel indifferent towards Lauren and Lucy. Perhaps quoting Seuss and holding races on Fox in Socks readings will open a window for a favorite childhood book discussion. And for fanactics, vehemently discuss Harry Potter predictions (using the voice of Jim Dale’s Trelawney, of course) or propose the question found on the MySpace Twilight group “You know you’re obsessing over Twilight when…” We’ve still another month to attempt to reach reluctant and gung-ho readers before the start of school, so good luck, I hope these ideas may assist you in your endeavors.

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