Wowed by Brent Hartinger
Wow. That’s all I can say - and what a lot of you said on your evaluations of Brent Hartinger’s presentation this week! If you weren’t there, Brent talked about making reading relevant for today’s teens, censorship, the history of teen literature and SO much more. He was inspiring, passionate, funny, and conveyed a deep respect for teens and their right to read - while being entertaining and engaging. The morning flew by and we all wish he could have stayed longer. If you attended, what did you think were the high points? What are the top two issues he discussed that you went right back and shared with other librarians or teachers? Add your comments and let’s keep it going!
I loved the trip down young adult memory lane. I remember my mom banning John Lennon’s poetry when I was a young teen and even as a senior in high school I had to read Catcher in the Rye under the blankets with a flashlight. Brent is a refreshing change in teen literature today. I do like that he calls it teen lit and not young adult lit and I think I will embrace the name change for myself. I still keep remembering bits and pieces of what he said and look forward to reading the rest of his works and frequenting his blog. Thank goodness for his voice for teens today. It is greatly needed and appreciated!