Teen Space (Hastings District Libraries, New Zealand)

"Teen Space." Accessed April 2, 2007, from http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/libraries/teenmenu.htm.

Comments:
The colors of this web page are appealing, but there's not much else that is. At first I thought that it looked ok, and then I realized that the teen page is inside the larger Hastings District web site. The "Teen Space" just has an extra navigation bar (in lime green) on the top of the few links that make up this teen web site. Since all the navigation bars from the parent web site are still visible when viewing the teen web site, navigating away from the teen site is quite easy (and recommended!).

The main sections of Teen Space are "Teen Reviews," "New Stuff," "What We Have," and "Helpful Links." The reviews are very limited, and the first outside link on that page doesn't work. The new stuff is one post about a New Zealand YA book award won last May. "What We Have" consists of a general overview of what's available for teens at the library, along with links to two databases. The "Helpful Links" sections is the only one that might be useful, as it has links to homework help (it also has links to the same two databases from the previous section).

I can't see teens using this web site very often. The parent web site has much more information available and is easier to navigate. If the Hastings District Libraries added some more content, they could definitely improve the teen web site. It has some potential!

Louisiana Hurricane, 1860

Duey, Kathleen. (2000). Louisiana hurricane 1860. New York: Pocket Books.

Reading level: Grades 7-10

Summary:
Madelaine LeBlanc is a sheltered, plantation owner's daughter. This particular year, Louisiana has been hit with a number of hurricanes. Slave labor isn't enough to keep the plantation running, so Mr. LeBlanc has to hire Cajuns as temporary workers. One of these Cajun's is Francoise Jarousseau, a handsome man who comes from mixed blood. Can Madelaine and Francoise overcome society's barriers, or will they be torn apart?

Comments:
One thing that was good about this book was its description of Louisiana. I've been fascinated with Louisiana ever since the Mayfair Witches books by Anne Rice, who often uses New Orleans as her setting. There's not much else of value in this book. It may be historically accurate, but the characters aren't authentic. Madelaine's instinct that slavery is wrong is innate; no one else talks about the issue with her. As discussed in the seminar presentation on historical novels, Madelaine's thoughts on slavery reflect today's society, not her own. Madelaine's character was also very passive. She didn't effectively speak up for herself or make her own decisions. The last line of the book is, "Madelaine leaned close to be kissed." She can't ever take the initiative to kiss the man she is supposedly madly in love with! There was lots of talk about the imminent civil war, yet the book ends before the war starts. This leaves too many questions about how the characters' lives are going to change.

Strangely, this book is part of a series of teen historical romances that focuses on disasters. Other books in the series include, Hindenburg, 1937, San Francisco Earthquake, 1906, and The Great Chicago Fire, 1871. I guess the concept is interesting, but perhaps a bit morbid. I prefer modern teen chick lit to this historical romance. Since there was hardly any flirtation, all the fun of an adult historical romance was missing. I would recommend this book to teens who aren't quite ready for adult romance, but who want to see what the genre's all about.

Rating: 2/5