FA 2015 TtUS General Questions and Answers

[Bea]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ah, I misunderstood that. Books not at BPL are deemed not shelved as YA by them and therefore the Lexile rule does not apply. Does that answer what is being asked? ."

Yes, I think so. Maybe Valerie can check in and confirm.

[Anika]

Okay...so I think I caught that thread late and now need it re-answered :-/ sorry! I read a book (Killing Hemingway:) that is not at BPL and not on Lexile (looks like it's self-published, distributed through Kindle/Amazon). Can I use it for this challenge? While it has been tagged as "Young Adult" on Goodreads, I would argue that people are tagging it that way based on the fact that we follow the protagonist from childhood to adolescence. The writing was reminiscent of The Rosie Project and while it did have the "coming-of-age" element, it also dealt with adult themes...

[Kate S]

Anika wrote: "Okay...so I think I caught that thread late and now need it re-answered :-/ sorry! I read a book (Killing Hemingway:) that is not at BPL and not on Lexile (looks like it's self-publ..."

From our FAQs

"Since a book not shelved at BPL cannot have a YA designation, you're good with those in any case."

We will accept it.

[Anika]

Kate S wrote: "Anika wrote: "Okay...so I think I caught that thread late and now need it re-answered :-/ sorry! I read a book (Killing Hemingway:) that is not at BPL and not on Lexile (looks like ..."

YAY, Kate! You just made my night! :-)

[Amanda]

I am worried that The Stone Diaries will not be 50% Indiana as it starts in Cananda and ends in Florida, does The Magnificent Ambersons work ?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Amanda wrote: "I am worried that The Stone Diaries will not be 50% Indiana as it starts in Cananda and ends in Florida, does The Magnificent Ambersons work ?"


Though I haven't read it, you should be fine with Ambersons. In the description: "[It is] a typical story of an American family and town--the great family that locally ruled the roost and vanished virtually in a day as the town spread and darkened into a city. [emphasis added]

[Amanda]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I am worried that The Stone Diaries will not be 50% Indiana as it starts in Cananda and ends in Florida, does The Magnificent Ambersons work ?"


Though I ..."

Thanks Elizabeth, what i read identified it as an imagined version of Indianapolis, and I figured that if it was identifiable as such it would work.

And I found I'd downloaded it 2 years ago, so have better access than other books I was looking at.

[Denise]

>

[Denise]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I am worried that The Stone Diaries will not be 50% Indiana as it starts in Cananda and ends in Florida, does The Magnificent Ambersons work ?"

Though I haven't read it, you should be fine with Ambersons. "

Wasn't there a problem awhile back about this book being YA Assignment with no Lexile?


BPL

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

D wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I am worried that The Stone Diaries will not be 50% Indiana as it starts in Cananda and ends in Florida, does [book:The Magnificent Ambersons|..."

Good catch, D. I did not look at that in observing that it takes place in Indiana.

[Denise]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "D wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I am worried that The Stone Diaries will not be 50% Indiana as it starts in Cananda and ends in Florida, does [book:The Magnificent ..."

I had submitted a Lexile request for it after the initial realization of the YA, but for some reason they never got to it.

[Amanda]

D wrote: "Wasn't there a problem awhile back about this book being YA Assignment with no Lexile?."

Bummer! I am just concerned I'll read The Stone Diaries and will find it won't fit.

I'll keep looking .. Guess it might be time to use my "I'm a foreigner" card and look for authors from Indiana!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Here's the Wiki list for Indiana. Be careful, though, because Wiki might list someone who is associated with a state but not necessarily born there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...

[Denise]

Amanda wrote: "D wrote: "Wasn't there a problem awhile back about this book being YA Assignment with no Lexile?."

Bummer! I am just concerned I'll read The Stone Diaries and will find it won't fit. ..."

:-) Good luck, whatever you decide!

[Amanda]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Here's the Wiki list for Indiana. Be careful, though, because Wiki might list someone who is associated with a state but not necessarily born there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor......"

Thanks, was already there ;)

It would seem that Kurt Vonnegut would work, so I'll pull out Cat's Cradle, as I missed getting to this last season.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Cat's Cradle has a Lexile of only 790, so not eligible for TtUS.

[Amanda]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Cat's Cradle has a Lexile of only 790, so not eligible for TtUS."

I am not winning with YA today! Wonder if I have another Vonnegut lying around .. that i haven't read, which cancels out Breakfast of Champions and Slaughterhouse-Five.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Amanda wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Cat's Cradle has a Lexile of only 790, so not eligible for TtUS."

I am not winning with YA today! Wonder if I have another Vonnegut lying around .. that i haven't read, ..."

No, you're winning. Kate kindly pointed out to me behind the scenes that Cat's Cradle is on the Canon, so the Lexile rule does not apply.

Go for it!!!!

[Amanda]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "No, you're winning. Kate kindly pointed out to me behind the scenes that Cat's Cradle is on the Canon, so the Lexile rule does not apply.

Go for it!!!! "

Yay!!! Thank you Kate!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I think I'm going to make another change and skip my title for Washington, DC. I have many choices of where I can go for a substitute: New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

I don't have to make a decision immediately - I have two books before I'd have head to New Jersey, and the other states can be last after Massachusetts.

So ... (drum roll, please)

bring on the recommendations! I'm thinking a good, well-written mystery (police procedural, thrillers OK, but not ready for Stephen King) might be what fits best, but I'm open to almost anything sort of mainstream. You all know the sort of thing I like!

[Sam]

Plays are okay for this as long as they're over 100 pages, right? I'm looking at The Glass Menagerie, and the most popular edition is 104 pages.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sam wrote: "Plays are okay for this as long as they're over 100 pages, right? I'm looking at The Glass Menagerie, and the most popular edition is 104 pages."

Yes! Go for it!

[Sam]

Woo, thanks! I was looking at my itinerary and the rest of my books are all paranormal/fantasy series so I think I'm going to need a break from that before I finish this out!

[Rebekah]

I looked but I don't always trust what I think it says but want to double check that Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is not YA.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rebekah wrote: "I looked but I don't always trust what I think it says but want to double check that Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is not YA."

You are correct - it is not shelved as YA. Several branches have it as New Books, so they may be intending to change that. I'm not going to look it up again if so.

[Rebekah]

Thanks ; )