Seventeen

Bibliographic Information: Shocket, A. (Editor).  Seventeen.  (2012). USA: Hearst Corporation.
Website URL: Seventeen

Plot Summary: Seventeen is made up of four core sections: Fashion, Beauty, Health, Love, Life; as well as an And... section which offers magazine regulars like, Traumarama and the monthly horoscope. The titles of these sections are very intuitive and offer any young lady the newest updates in what to wear and what's currently trendy, how to best groom oneself, how to best exercise and get the best out of a healthy diet, how to deal with relationships, and open discussions on life and a variety of important topics (texting, monet issues, mental health etc.).

Critical Evaluation: N/A

Reader’s Annotation: For years, Seventeen magazine has offered girls and young women fresh advice on all that's important in life; fashion, love, health, and relationships.

Information About the Magazine: Seventeen, the magazine, officially began in 1944 amidst World War II (seventeen.com, n. d., slide 1). The first Editor in Chief, Helen Valentine (aka the Ann Shoket of 1944!), envisioned Seventeen as a way to give young women a voice and role models to look up to (seventeen.com, n. d., slide 1). All featured subject matter is geared towards average young girls and young women who are quickly developing into the strong women they will one day be. Seventeen is currently owned by the Hearst Corporation (wikipedia.com).

To date Seventeen has featured young women of all races and walks of life and works hard to represent a variety of styles and cultures. Seventeen recently made a pledge to eighth-grader Julia Bluhm, that they will no longer Photoshop or edit any of the photo shoots featured in the editorial section of the magazine (Hu, 2012). This was a result of Bluhm's long campaigning, asking that Seventeen to set a great example for young girls everywhere (Hu, 2012). 

Genre: Magazine

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: 
1). What does Seventeen show about modern day young female culture and expectations?
2). Does Seventeen uphold their motto of empowering girls and young women?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15+

Challenge Issues: May include some articles of a sexual or mature nature. I would use the following items to defend this magazine if it was ever challenged:

1) Refer to Library Bill of Rights, see items: I, II, and III (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill).
2) Refer to San Diego Public Library collection policy - (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/freedom.shtml).  Original site: The American Library Association (ALA) Freedom to Read/View Statement (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstatement).
3) Refer to California School Library Association (CSLA), Model School Library Standards - September 2010 (http://www.csla.net/index.php/publications/school-library-standards). PDF: (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/librarystandards.pdf).

4) Refer t0 American Association for School, Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner (http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf)

5) Contact Office of Intellectual Freedom for any further support, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223 or oif@ala.org.

6) Refer to legitimate book reviews, such as: School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book and others; found on either Academic Search Premier, Follett's TITLEWAVE, or Amazon.com.

Why did you include this magazine in the titles you selected?: I selected this magazine because of its emphasis on empowering the average girl or young woman. I think it is often hard for young girls to find role models that can relate or help them through difficult teen decisions. This magazine offers girls a community that can help them healthfully grow as individuals.

Reference Page:
 
seventee.com.  (2012).  65 years of Seventeen!. Retrieved July 8, 2012 from http://www.seventeen.com/fun/articles/65th-anniversary-cover-archive#slide-1

Hu, E.  (2012).  'Seventeen' magazine takes no-Photoshop pleadege after 8th-gradeer's campaign. Retrieved July 8, 2012 from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/07/05/156342683/seventeen-magazine-takes-no-photoshop-pledge-after-8th-graders-campaign

wikipedia.com.  (2012).  Seventeen (magazine).  Retrieved July 8, 2012 from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeen_%28magazine%29

Cover art from: http://emseyespybeauty.blogspot.com/2012/04/seventeen-magazine-april-2012.html