If I Were a YA Novel...

Just a few bits of random fun today, as I look out at the much-welcome rain and eagerly anticipate something hot to drink...something in the tea or chocolate category, preferably...

Firstly, Fuse #8 has alerted us all to the coolest keyboard ever. Now that I'm thinking about it, if you could remove one key at a time from a standard keyboard (which I think you can), and then find some antique typewriter or adding machine keys and just perform a replacement, you could make something similar...Yeah, I'll get right on that... ;)

Secondly, via the YALSA blog comes a new social networking site called Assignment Zero, which enables anyone to take part in the creation of a news story, from interviewing to writing. Says YALSA blogger Linda: "Assignment Zero is just one of the many examples of web 2.0 social networking that helps support teen learning. It's another example of why social networking should not be limited in the school or the library. Assignment Zero can extend what's possible in the library and classroom. Check it out and think about how the teens you work with might be able to get involved."

This kind of thing reminds me of long-term group projects we did in sixth grade, where we had to be a news team and produce our own newscast complete with anchorperson (me--jeez) and reporters, and videotape it, or we were a trade ship with certain assets and we were posed a particular problem to solve each week that involved economic principles and group decisionmaking, etc. etc. Only it's SO MUCH COOLER because you're actually involved in the world and getting feedback. Fascinating stuff.

Lastly, via Little Willow comes a link to a fun and promising site called memegirls, the brainchild of YA authors Robyn Schneider and Jennifer Lynn Barnes. If you enjoy web memes, try out some of their original, literature-focused games. And on that note, I'm going to end with one:

This is a Meme Girls Original Meme. What's in a name? To find out, use the letters of your name to make a list of book titles. If you want to get crazy, assign a different genre to your first and last names. I tried to stick with mostly YA-type books, and I tried not to repeat authors. You'll notice I was lenient about the use of "A/An" and "The" at the beginning.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler
Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey

Thanks again to Memegirls!!