Serious about Series: Evaluations and Annotations of Teen Fiction in Paperback Series

by Silk Makowski, Dorothy M. Broderick (Editor)

Overview

Teen paperback series, routinely castigated or ignored by Young Adult librarians despite their popularity with young adults, should be considered for inclusion in collections alongside other genres. In Serious about Series, Makowksi provides distinct criteria by which these series can be judged for quality within their genre, and emphasizes them as an inexpensive way to fulfill patron needs and increase circulation by bringing young people, often considered "non-readers," into the library.
Makowski's book is an insightful evaluation of over fifty popular series, and includes an introduction that analyzes the teen series paperback genre and its significance for both teen reading practices and library services. Hundreds of titles are annotated in the book, allowing librarians to develop "in-house" bibliographies of favorite teen series titles, making this a truly useful reference source for the young adult librarian.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810833043
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/15/1998
Pages:	299
Product dimensions:	5.48(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.69(d)
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Silk Makowski is a Youth Services Librarian for the Milford Township Library in Michigan. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan, Ms. Makowski has been a specialist in youth and young adult services in public libraries for over twenty years.

Editorial Reviews

...author Silk Makowski takes the guesswork out of selecting the best series...analyzes over 50 series, critiques their quality within the genre, and provides annotated lists of installments.

American Libraries

...as a reference, this volume is useful.

The Lion and the Unicorn

Makowski's evaluative comments on each series are both witty and insightful. This book will serve as a useful reference guide as well as a timesaver for those who want to be responsive to their young readers' interests but are reluctant to spend the time becoming familiar with each title.

American Reference Books Annual

...an excellent collection building tool which will be of immense help to teacher-librarians who are attempting to appeal to teenage non-readers to help them improve their literacy skills.

Gloria Hersak

...a great aid...clear and concise...valuable to young-adult librarians...

Public Libraries

Explained in the introduction are the criteria used to assess young adult series' offerings. A thorough index enhances its usefulness. This is an excellent resource for collection development.

Book Report

She evaluates and annotates over 50 series, and she does so candidly and with a sense of humor...Love, mystery, horror, supernatural, humore and realism are all represented in this one-stop shopping for teen series books.

Teacher Librarian

...gives a well-thought-out justification for studying teen paperback series...describes succinctly why teen series amount to a genre unto themselves...The annotated listings of titles will be invaluable for readers' advisory...

Joys

...recommended for librarians and students of librarianship.

Orana - 1999

...a useful reminder that series are still big in young adult reading...

Library Review

Makowski's evaluative comments on each series are both witty and insightful. This book will serve as a useful reference guide as well as a timesaver for those who want to be responsive to their young readers interests but are reluctant to spend the time becoming familiar with each site.

Lisca

Makowski...examines over 50 popular series here with care and wit. She's honest and opinionated. Public YA librarians in particular will want this book, and teens may want to check it to make sure they haven't missed any installments in their favorite series.

Kliatt

At a minimum, anyone in charge of purchasing books for teens should read the introduction, including the criteria for review and the genre definition. Then read the evaluations and annotations and discover a whole new world out there.

VOYA

...recommended for librarians and students of librarianship.

From the Publisher

...recommended for librarians and students of librarianship. 1999

Orana

...as a reference, this volume is useful.

The Lion and The Unicorn

...as a reference, this volume is useful.

Jhu Press The Lion and The Unicorn

Makowski's evaluative comments on each series are both witty and insightful. This book will serve as a useful reference guide as well as a timesaver for those who want to be responsive to their young readers' interests but are reluctant to spend the time becoming familiar with each title.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

All you ever wanted to know about series" could have been an alternate title for this comprehensive work. Following introductory material on the genre, each chapter cites a series, explains and evaluates it, and provides an annotated title list with ISBNs and publication dates. Makowski covers more than 50 series of all types, including romance, horror, sci-fi, "Tom Swift," and the "Hardy Boys." Comparisons between series of similar nature are helpful. Makowski's writing is lively and readable and will appeal to librarians and teens alike. The index lists entries by author, book title, and series title. Fitting well with What Do I Read Next? (Gale, 1993) and Diana Herald's Genreflecting (Libraries Unlimited, 1995), Serious about Series is an excellent resource for high school and public librarians building collections for YAs who want "another book like this one."-Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CA

School Library Journal

Filling a perceived gap in the work of most Young Adult librarians, the author lists and reviews some fifty novel series from Beverly Hills 90210, through Sweet Valley High and Horror High, to The X-Files. Reviews are written for both librarians and teen readers and include publishing information, plot synopses, and ISBNs. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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