Russian Influence Suspected in Teen Summer Reading Choice

Every year New York’s Teen Librarians wait for the Department of Education’s announcement of the Teen Summer Reading Title with keen anticipation. “I have to say, War and Peace took me by surprise a bit,” said Teen Librarian Kim Larsen. “I mean it’s a good book and all, but it might be a little hard to relate to for many of our teens.” The secretive book selection process has come under suspicion in recent years.  “First it was And Quiet Flows the Don. That was okay because at least it had Cossacks and swords. Then last year we had Crime and Punishment. It had a murder, but that was about it. We need something our teens can identify with,” said Larsen. “I don’t know what they are doing up there in Albany.”