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Greetings! As the title of this website suggests, we are teen readers from Portsmouth
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We want to share with you our views and opinions on the books we’ve read, both as a group and individually. We also want your opinions, to find out what you think about books you've read, and share them with others, making recommendations and discussing various aspects.
The books we read vary from ‘teen reads’ to adult books, covering many different issues, cultures and situations. The best thing is that we read books we wouldn’t normally pick up and often end up enjoying them. There are also plenty of books we have hated, but that's OK. We believe that you are not obliged to read the whole book – it isn’t a punishment!
The Small Print (literally small)
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Portsmouth's Teen Reading Group takes no responsibility for the content or security of any external site or third party advertising, whether accessed via this site or otherwise.
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Furthermore, site users are responsible for their own postings. Whilst we delete comments that are offensive, libellous, 'off-topic' or spam, readers may occasionally find some comments controversial. The responsibility for the posting lies with the poster himself/herself and not with Portsmouth's Teen Reading Group.
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!!!STOP PRESS!!! Loving fiction twenty-four-seven.Create a story in 247 words! A brand new online writing competition from the publishers, Blomsbury! Check out the website www.247tales.com Google's Setting up Something new... Which is Bad...
Google, the Internet giant which everyone uses in their day to day lives, is setting up something which is receiving more complaints about anything else that has ever been released by them... It is named Streets View, and instead of using just Google Earth and Google Maps to view the world from a birds eye view, Google has now made it possible to view a 3D image of a house anywhere in the world.
Okay, it has not happened in Britain yet, but there are reported sightings of vehicles emblazoned with Google's multicolored lettering and carrying massive, 3D cameras round snapping up private pictures of homes across the country. Several complaints have risen concerning the way theft may be increased, because criminals will now be able to plan an escape route even if they are on the other side of the world. There have also been complaints about the way several persons have accidentally been captured on image and yet still sent to the Internet without the persons permission.Google's CEO tells everyone that faces are automatically blurred by the software they use, but have not yet said anything concerning numerical car plates. There are worries that criminal activity will increase with this new information and massive database of 3D pictures of homes across the world.
Although it has not happened in Britain, the Internet giant has already admitted that it will. Pictures like above mentioned have already been collected and published to the web in major areas throughout America.
By Steve
Book about penguin family with two fathers tops list of 'challenged books' in USA.
"And Tango Makes Three," released in 2005 and co-written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, was the most "challenged" book in U.S. public schools and libraries for the second straight year, according to the American Library Association.
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Check out this article from
THE BOOKSELLER. Apparently, some librarians have reported that "police forces are requesting information on the library borrowing records of individuals under police surveillance". What do you think? Do the police have a right to do this? Do only the guilty need to be concerned? Your comments are, as ever, eagerly awaited.
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Rapper Snoop Dogg is set to release an illustrated children's book series. The rapper - real name Calvin Broadus - is reportedly in the process of creating the "Where's The Cheese" series of urban books.
Snoop is writing "Where's The Cheese," which will be illustrated by his cousin Joe Cool, to help city youngsters cope with the problems that can arise in their environment.
The series will focus on a character called Lil Mouse and her constant quest for cheese, reports AllHipHop.com. The website also claims an animated Where's The Cheese TV show is in development - which may be narrated by Snoop's daughter Cori 'Choc' Broadus.
Last month, Snoop announced his youth is to be turned into an animated series for Comedy Central cable TV network.
Can anyone think of some good titles for Snoop's books...?
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Science Fiction legend Arthur C Clark has died, aged 90.
You many be interested to read this
tribute on the BBC website by Portsmouth's Teen Reading Group favourite Terry Pratchett...
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Do any of you have any comments/suggestions you would like to add regarding the format for the reading group over the next few months? Is there a particular book you would like to read? Should we widen the group to include audio/visual content, as well as the printed word.
The choice, as they say, is yours.
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Check out this recent story from the Washington Post.
A children's book about two male penguins that hatch and parent a chick was pulled from library shelves in London County elementary schools this month after a parent complained that it promoted a gay agenda.
Read the whole article
here.
Your comments, please...
The winner of the
2007 Booktrust Teenage Book Prize, recognising and celebrating the best contemporary fiction written for teenagers, is My Swordhand Is Singing, by Marcus Sedgwick
You can get your hands on the winner and this years other shortlisted books (as well as previous winners and nominees) from Portsmouth Central Library. They are on display as you walk in. If you can't find them, ask a lovely librarian!
Or an evil one, the choice is yours.
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Writing in The Observer, Rachel Cooke reported that Yinnon Ezra (director of Recreation and Heritage at Hampshire County Council) has said, 'We have to ask whether fiction should remain in libraries when most people buy books.'
What do you think? Should fiction remain in libraries?
Do most people buy books?
In the UK, Hampshire, not USA, New Hampshire or Virginia.....