Ballou Book Fair

Every year, Colleen from Chasing Ray and Guys Lit Wire sets up a special book fair connected to Ballou Senior High School in Washington, D.C. In Colleen's own words:

Every year, Guys Lit Wire lends its platform to host a book fair for Ballou. Working with librarian Melissa Jackson and her students, we build a wish list of titles they need and then ask the internet to buy a book (or 2) (or more) and send some joy their way. It's quick and it's easy and for book lovers in particular, it's a no-brainer.

We all know that books matter to kids, and we all know why buying books for teens who do not have wide access to them is a smart investment in our world's future. For Ballou, the school fund for book purchases is not large and as a Washington Post article showed earlier this year, the dollars for books in DC often go to wealthier neighborhoods. Also, when they get money schools like Ballou are often not able to purchase the sort of fun or seemingly frivolous titles that teens would really to read.

That is where the Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Ballou comes in. We buy the books the kids ask for, plain and simple.

The mailing address is already set-up for checkout and there are nearly 400 books to choose from with a price range that starts under $5. We do hope you will find a book that you want to send to Ballou and help us fill their shelves with the titles these kids want so very much to read.

Here's the wishlist: http://tinyurl.com/BookFairforBallou

Please share the link to the wishlist as well as the link to Colleen's post at GLW via your blogs and social media to help spread the word.

Don't let it stop there. If you know of a library, school, shelter, or hospital that's in great need of books and other items, give back. Rally up your co-workers, patrons, students, and friends, gather donated items (new or gently used), and donate them to your chosen organization or charity. Share your good fortune and good spirits with others.

Reach Out Reads: Live Author Chats All Month Long!

ReachOut.com is a place where teens and young adults can go online to improve their understanding of mental health issues, develop resilience and build their coping-skills.

Reach Out Reads is a new campaign launching this month and running through the end of May (National Mental Health Awareness Month). YALSA has a list of recommended titles (a few of which are readergirlz picks too!).

Reach Out Reads will be streaming live chats with YA authors throughout the month of May! The first one is Tomorrow Night (Tuesday 5/3, 5pm PST/8pm EST) with the amazing Blake Nelson... click for more info:

We'll keep you posted on upcoming Reach Out Reads chats this month via the blog, twitter and Facebook. Enjoy!

March Community Service Spotlight: SADD

This month's theme at readergirlz is Risk-Taking. Please note that there's a difference between stepping out of your comfort zone by taking a chance on love, trying a new hobby, or speaking in front of a crowd and engaging in risky behavior that may put your life or the lives of others in jeopardy. Take a moment. Take a beat. Think twice, and if something doesn't feel right, don't do it - and please help someone out if you think she or he is about to take an unhealthy risk.

March Community Service Spotlight

Originally, SADD was created to encourage teenagers to say "no" to drinking and driving. Now, they have widened their focus, becoming a peer-to-peer education, prevention, and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions related to (but not limited to) drug use, teen suicide, underage drinking, and underage drinking. SADD now stands for Students Against Destructive Decisions.

Read the SADD mission statement.

Get involved at http://www.SADD.org

charity : water

February Community Service Spotlight

One in eight people in the world don't have access to clean drinking water. charity : water is a non-profit organization which brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations to charity : water goes directly to funding water projects.

Their research states: "By 2050, the world's population is estimated to grow by three billion and 90% of this growth will be in the developing world. Unless sustainable water solutions are scaled fast, regions already stressed for safe water sources will be over capacity. We’re expanding our reach to meet these demands and will not stop until every person has safe water to drink."

Help hydrate the world. Learn more at http://www.charitywater.org

This Star Won't Go Out

In August, we lost a young member of our extended internet family: 16-year-old Esther Earl. Her friends rallied together and created the aptly titled Friends of Esther through The HP Alliance. Now, there is a foundation: This Star Won't Go Out Foundation. Their mission statement is as follows:

The purpose of This Star Won't Go Out foundation is to financially assist families struggling through the journey of a child living with cancer. Caring for a seriously ill child creates tremendous stress for the family system, and having to worry about money is both burdensome and distracting. TSWGO's goal is to carry a bit of that burden for hurting families through financial gifts.

TSWGO has a second goal, and it's tied to why the foundation got started in the first place. TSWGO was established in memory of 16-year old Esther Earl, an avid Nerdfighter and passionate Harry Potter Alliance fan. Her online friends and causes met many of the social and emotional needs in her life, hampered as she was by her progressing thyroid cancer. Yet Esther (Persian for "Star") lived life fully, getting involved in social justice issues, loving her friends, her family and cats, and always remembering to be awesome. With the goal of never letting her Star go out, TSWGO will also be funding occasional projects that fit Esther's quirky, compassionate life vision.

Learn more at http://www.tswgo.org

Bookmark this DFTBA link for the bracelet designed by Alexa Lowey and Melissa Mandia. 100% of the proceeds made from bracelet sales (minus shipping costs) will benefit families of children with cancer and other efforts made in Esther's memory. The bracelet is currently sold out, so bookmark that link and keep checking to see when they restock the item.

December Community Service Spotlight

Ready to reach out? Join the Young Artists for Peace and Justice!

In their own words: Young Artists for Peace and Justice (YAPJ) is a youth outreach division of Artists for Peace and Justice, founded by Paul Haggis and friends, an organization that has been providing basic healthcare and education in Haiti since 2008, and has most recently opened the first free secondary school for the children of the slums.

Inspired by her experiences in Haiti before and after the earthquake, Olivia Wilde created YAPJ with friend and fellow APJ enthusiast Barbara Burchfield to mobilize America's Generation Y to be a part of a movement to empower youth throughout the developing world with education.

Visit the Young Artists for Peace and Justice website.

Visit the Artists for Peace and Justice website.

Attend or book an event.

Want to get active in your community, but not sure where to start? Check out Yes You Can!: Your Guide to Becoming an Activist by Jane Drake and Ann Love. This awesome book will inspire you to get up, help out, and speak out. Yes You Can! shines the light on some of the world's most famous organizations, such as Greenpeace, as well as groups that may not be as well known but could make just as much of an impact. It details how these groups began and what they do, and why and how the authors themselves have been moved to help change the world.

Lisa Fuller Designs and End the Backlog

Please feel free to link to this blog post at your own blog or social network page like Twitter or Facebook. Shine light on this great cause. Thank you!

My favorite jewelry designer, Lisa Fuller, is supporting the efforts of End the Backlog and has created some beautiful (and inexpensive!) pendant necklaces with 100% of the sales going to the charity. Please help spread the word!

http://www.lisafullerdesigns.com/backlog.html

The federal government estimates that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in the United States. The Joyful Heart Foundation, along with president and founder, actress Mariska Hargitay, have started a movement at www.endthebacklog.org to shed light on this horrible epidemic.

Lisa Fuller Designs is offering one-of-a-kind pendant necklaces to help raise awareness. 100% of the sales of these necklaces will benefit The Joyful Heart Foundation and their efforts to END THE BACKLOG!

# Hand crafted
# Recycled denim
# Beaded accents
# Wide color selection

Browse our ETSY shop for the current selection of necklaces.

Lisa has a variety of pieces available, and creates all sorts of beautiful lines. She also takes custom orders. Contact her with custom design requests.

Thanks for your support!

November Community Service Spotlight

Want to give back to the world by making a donation to a reputable charity and a good cause, but not sure where to start? Check out http://www.globalgiving.org Their mission statement:

"GlobalGiving connects you to the causes and countries you care about. You select projects you want to support, make a tax-deductible contribution, and get regular progress updates - so you can see how your gift is making a difference."

Learn more at their website: http://www.globalgiving.org

Reach Out: Body heART for Positive Body Image

Body heART is, in their own words, "dedicated to bringing awareness to positive body image. In today's society there is an unrealistic standard of beauty and we intend to shatter that illusion...We believe all of us are walking works of ART that are meant to be celebrated and valued."

Their photo campaign features un-retouched images of girls and women of all shapes and sizes. Find out how you can get involved in their photo campaign!

Also, every month, they feature a different woman (such as Dollhouse actress Miracle Laurie) at their website. Check out their videos at YouTube.

For more information, please visit bodyheart.org

Reach Out: Friends of Esther, Vlog by John Green

This month's theme is Family. We recently lost a young member of our extended internet family. As posted by John Green on Vlog Brothers:

If you'd like to honor Esther's memory, please visit Friends of Esther, where donations will help Esther's family with expenses related to her care. Checks may be sent to:

Friends of Esther Earl
118 Billings Street
Quincy, MA 02171

You may also make donations in her name:
The HP Alliance
PO Box 441640
West Somerville, MA 02144

Reach Out: The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children

Margo goes missing in Paper Towns, just like many kids do every year in the US and around the world.

The National Center for Missing Exploited Children's mission is, in their own words, "to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them."

The NCMEC, which has been operating since 1984, relies on volunteers. If you are interested in being a volunteer or an intern at one of their local branches or at their national headquarters in Virginia, please click here to learn more about such opportunities.

Their website and toll-free tipline 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any information regarding a missing or exploited child, whether it is a recent and ongoing related investigation or a cold case, please contact the NCMEC. Your assistance could help save a life.

March Reach Out: Model UN

Are you interested in world politics, or conflict resolution? Do you love debating? If so, you should check out Model UN.

In their own words, UNA-USA's Model United Nations is "a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization's agenda."

If your school doesn't have a Model UN chapter yet, click here to learn how to set one up.

February Reach Out: Haiti Relief and Development

On January 12th, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. The devastation was immense, made worse with every aftershock. The number of persons killed, injured, or displaced continues to rise.

Many service organizations are providing relief, and they need your assistance. The International Red Cross has multiple ways to donate funds or other means of support. If you go to the donation page at their website, you will see these options, one of which is Haiti Relief and Development. You may also contribute to their Disaster Relief Fund or learn how to get involved with Your Local Red Cross Chapter. You may donate in honor or memory of someone special instead of or in addition to your own name.

Zynga, the company which created and runs well-known online games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars, has taken note of the impact of social gaming, stating at their website, "We are thrilled to be able to offer our players the opportunity to be part of change in a way that can represent positive contributions to human kind." Three of their top games are participating in a special relief campaign to help earthquake survivors in Haiti, donating 100 percent of the proceeds raised by online users to the World Food Programme (WFP). For more info, please visit zynga.org or email socialchange@zynga.com.

January Reach Out: Give a Boost to Students on the Edge

According to a report by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University released earlier this year, almost 6.2 million students in the USA between the ages of 16 and 24 dropped out of high school in 2007. That's 16 percent of the population in the United States at that time.

BoostUp.org is dedicated to helping high school students graduate through positive reinforcement. By simply offering words of encouragement, you can boost the spirits of others and help them succeed.

BoostUp states that "approximately 7,000 high school students drop out every school day, which translates to one in three students." Let's help to change those numbers by offering positive feedback and support to our friends, family members, and others in the community. Go to http://www.boostup.org to send a boost to any of the students profiled there or to anyone you know.

One of the television spots for BoostUp features President Obama:

Reach Out: Amnesty International

Since 1961, Amnesty International has made a world-wide effort to stop the abuse of human rights. In their own words, Amnesty International is "a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity."

Want to start up a chapter of Amnesty International at your school? Check out the Student Center at the Amnesty International website, where you may register your AI student group and receive an activist toolkit for your group. (We think Trickster's Choice protagonist Aly would have been a fan.)

For more information, visit amnesty.org.

Young Women in Science (YWS)

Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of my favorite places on Earth. On a recent visit to their website, I learned that they offer various programs for teens, including one called Young Women in Science (YWS) which may be of particular interest to our readergirlz still in middle school:

This week-long, summer day-camp is designed to get young women excited about and involved in science, the ocean and conservation. Through a variety of hands-on field activities, we strive to increase their knowledge and to spark a personal connection with the natural world that will lead them to become future stewards of the ocean. Kids get the opportunity to explore ocean habitats by joining in activities such as surface scuba diving, boogie boarding and kayaking.

We aim to serve young women regardless of primary language or economic background. We offer three camps in the summer that are conducted in both English and Spanish. Young women entering grades 6, 7 or 8, who reside in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties, are eligible to apply.

For more information on this and other teen programs related to the aquarium, email teenprograms@mbayaq.org

November: Saturday is National Family Volunteer Day!

In Marlene Carvell's Sweetgrass Basket, Mattie and Sarah long for family. The two sisters would probably agree with Alex Haley, who said, "In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future."

Link with your family on Saturday, November 21st for National Family Volunteer Day. Volunteering as a family is the perfect way to spend quality time with your loved ones while doing meaningful work in your community.

Visit http://www.serve.gov for a searchable database of volunteering opportunities near you and encourage the whole fam to get out and make a difference!

Art Saves: Sarah Miller

In December 2007, we featured the book Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller. Today, Sarah's our guest blogger.

In celebration of Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg's The Plain Janes, Little Willow invited me to take part in the readergirlz Art Saves! project -- to create or display an image of how art affects us. Here's my booksy-artsy story...

Once upon a time, I shelved books five nights a week at the little library down the street. Down in the children's room where I spent most of my time, there was a book called Jon O.: A Special Boy. I'm not sure why its spine ever caught my eye, except that it was so euphemistic and dated. And also, so rarely checked out that it was something of a landmark on the shelves -- to the extent that I remember my co-worker, Alisha, making a Vanna White-style presentation of shelving it one day.

But the cover had this irresistible picture of Jon O. himself flashing a look-at-me grin. The book's since been discarded and I can't find an image of the cover online, which is a shame, because if you could see that, you'd understand why this face, smiling down at me from the art showcase stopped me dead in the middle of the hallway one day at school:



"You painted Jon O!" I gushed to Alisha the next time I saw her at work.

"You saw him!"

You bet I did. And somehow I hinted and wheedled so effectively that before Alisha left for college the next year, she gave me Jon O. He grins from just inside my bedroom doorway to this day. Look at me, Jon O's face says. And how can I resist?

(Oh, and Alisha? Nowadays, Alisha's designing her own line of clothing in New York.)

- Sarah Miller

Visit Sarah's website and blog.
Read Little Willow's interview with Sarah.
Read Little Willow's review of Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller.

Art Saves! Get Involved!

How do you think Art Saves? Show us! Click here to download the Art Saves template, then print it out and decorate it however you'd like. Scan or photograph the final version and email it to us as a JPG.

You are not limited to the template, nor must you draw something. Make this your own special Art Attack! Send us your sketches, collages, photos - anything you think represents the thought that Art Saves. We'll post contributions at the readergirlz blog all month long, then archive them at the readergirlz website at the end of July.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Take a picture of your favorite bookstore, your best friends, or your pets.
- Piece together a tote bag made out of old clothes.
- Draw with chalk on your sidewalk. (Try making shadow outlines like those in Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian, one of this month's rec reads!)
- Gather with friends, dress up as the Janes, and recreate the book cover.
- Set up a park or beach clean-up day.
- Run/walk a marathon for a good cause and sing or dance every time you finish a lap.
- Go to an animal shelter, ask if you may take pictures of the critters and make posters to help get them adopted.
- Volunteer at a local library or hospital during arts-and-crafts time.

Don't stop there - Pay it forward! If you're a teen, make copies of the template (on recycled paper, naturally) and pass them out to your friends. If you're a teacher or librarian, distribute copies to your students or patrons, and have a drop-box where they may turn in their completed pages. Parents, break out the markers and crayons and have each member of your family make his or her own art - or have everyone contribute to the same picture!

Psst . . . Cecil Castellucci is also drawing up a little something for this, and we can't wait to see what she comes up with! The readergirlz divas and postergirlz are also getting in on the action, as are some of your favorite contemporary YA authors, artists, activists, and bloggers. Keep checking the rgz blog throughout July to see their designs!

Update: All of the Art Saves contributions have been added to the July 2009 issue of readergirlz. You may also see each piece at the blog: Click here to view all of the Art Saves posts.

Reach Out: DREAM Act

All over the country, young students are being forced to give up on their dreams of a college education because of their immigration status. Many states deny in-state tuition benefits to students who entered the U.S. illegally, even if they've been here since they were young and have spent their entire school lives in America. This is an issue that our featured book, Red Glass, touches upon. And it couldn't be more timely.

Right now, Congress is considering The Federal DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), which would provide undocumented immigrant youth in America with conditional residency and a chance for citizenship if they came to the U.S. before they were 16, graduated from high school or obtained a GED, attended two years of college or joined the military, and have no criminal records.

If the act doesn't pass, "another entire class of outstanding, law-abiding high school students will graduate without being able to plan for the future, and some will be removed from their homes to countries they barely know," says DreamACTivist.org on its site, which is dedicated to the passage of the DREAM Act. "This tragedy will cause America to lose a vital asset: an educated class of promising immigrant students who have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing members of our society."

Want to take action? Here are some ideas.