WHAT DO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS REALLY WANT TO READ? An Interview with Librarian Extraordinaire, Karen Yingling--by Michael Gettel-Gilamrtin

Karen Yingling in time travel mode

In the blogging world, you come across scads of interesting people whom you would never know about if it weren't for the web. (Yay, internets!) One of these brilliant types is Karen Yingling, who may well be the most well-read person I know. I "met" Karen through the Cybils awards, where she and I were on the MG 1st round panel in 2011. In 2012, we both got promoted, with Karen being the MG panel coordinator, and I a round two judge. Karen writes a fantastic blog, Ms. Yingling Reads, which along with her straight-shooting reviews has bunches of links to blogs which encourage boys in particular to read. I decided it would be a grand idea to get to know Karen a bit better, to share her expertise with Project Mayhem readers, and to find out just what those actual middle schoolers are reading. Here are the fruits of my research:

1. What is the name of your school, and what is your position?

Blendon Middle School, Westerville, Ohio. Librarian.

(MGG: I looked up a map of Ohio, and found Westerville just a wee bit north of Columbus.)

2. How long have you worked there?

Ten years. Before that, I was a Latin teacher.

3. What has changed since you started your career?

I no longer have an entire wall of reference books! It's down to six shelves, although we get a ridiculous amount of use out of the print encyclopedias the public library donates to us.

4. How many kids come through your library on a weekly basis?

I see almost every student in the school at least once a week. We have 750 students. I check out about 1250 books per week.

5. What is flying off your shelves? Are your students interested in YA novels?

Notebook novels are always very popular, as are romance books for the girls. Anything with action is good-- Horowitz's Stormbreaker is always out. New Rick Riordan books are much in demand, but most of my students have read what is out already. I can never have enough football and basketball books. There are a few of my 8th graders who like YA, mostly the girls who like paranormal romance. We're very fortunate that the public library will deliver books right to our school. I'll buy some YA if it's appropriate, but YA tends to be slower paced and too introspective for my students. Again, action is key. If "nothing happens" the book is doomed.

6. What are the students not interested in?

Maybe 20% of my students like fantasy books, and yet over half of the MG books I see are fantasy! Sure, the readers who read fantasy read a lot of it, but if I had to say one thing to aspiring writers, it would be "Don't write a fantasy book!!!!!" There is almost nothing for middle grades on wrestling or skateboarding, and lots of requests. There are, however, a thousand books about children being hurtled into a fantasy dimension and having to save the world. It's been done. The best thing I've read lately was Alexander Vance's The Heartbreak Messenger. Romance AND dog poop. It was brilliant.

7. What would you like to see more of in middle grade?

More sports of all kinds, and more funny, realistic books for boys. I'd love to see a series for boys like Betsy Byar's Bingo Brown  series.  Mysteries that are a little edgier than "who is stealing the neighborhood dogs" but not gory.

8. Have e-readers made any inroads into students' reading?

A few students have e readers, but not many. Again, our public library is a tremendous resource, so students can check out e books from there. I don't plan on purchasing any digital titles any time soon. Too many platforms, too hard to use, and my students have enough trouble picking out titles to read when the actual books are in front of them!

9. What is the best way to encourage students this age to read?

Students need books flung at them constantly. Lots of book talks, lots of cover displays, lots of opportunities to visit the library and talk to a librarian. At least 50 students a day come in to the library with a hang dog look saying "I need a book". They have no idea what they want to read, so there is a lot of discussion. Do you want something happy? Sad? Modern? Historical? Once the student gets the right book, a lot more reading occurs!

10. Apart from the voluminous reading you do, what other interests/hobbies do you have?

I coach cross country, so I try to keep up with my own running. Sometimes I'll take a break from reading and quilt, but not very often. This summer there may be less reading and a bit of writing, but what librarian doesn't secretly think she could write a novel?

Karen, thanks so much for stopping by. Your book reviews are always interesting, and I like how you always point out what you consider to be a book's strengths and weaknesses. I hope you have a summer with some writing. Go you!!