Betwixt and Between - a review

The article is called Betwixt and Between: Tweens in the Library by Crystal Faris. I actually find this article to be quite informative and intellectually stimulating. The presentation of age ranges for tweens, the advertising strategies towards tweens, and data gathering companies' methods provides an interesting insight into who the tween is. I find it particularly interesting the emphasis on the estimate of how much tweens are worth. It seems that many focus on the potential profits of these tweens, even to the point of questionable ethical practices, rather than a way to positively connect and assist this age range of youth through these difficult years. Faris mentions the GIA or Girls Intelligence Agency, who "cultivates nearly forty thousand tween girls who are influencers of their peers"(p.44). These girls apparently "set the standard" for what is popular to wear and do. The GIA employs these young girls to throw parties that serve the purpose of finding out which products the girls invited are interested in. Although I see this as a insulting violation of trust and privacy I am not naive to the fact that many people exist to make money. But is this negative social engineering? Is this negatively influencing girls to be preoccupied with what to wear and do rather than what to become?

Lesesne references in Naked Reading an article in Newsweek magazine that emphasizes the Five C's: competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring. She then presents a list of books which portray characters who demonstrate these attributes. This is what tweens need from libraries and society in general, not parties teaching an objective "standard of cool".

Faris, C. (2009). Betwixt and Between: Tweens in the Library. Children & Libraries, 7(4), 43-45.

Lesesne, T. (2006). Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers. Portland, Maine: Stenhouse Publishers.