Operation T*B*D
I decided a long time ago that I need to be wealthy so I can hide stashes of money all over the world for random strangers to find. Though my prospects for becoming wealthy are…let’s just say not good, okay?…dropping a couple of bookmark-studded YA novels satisfies the crazy-old-lady dream at least a little.
We scoped out the scene at the Dimond Mall in Anchorage. There was a school bus in the parking lot, waiting for a group of teens who were gathering outside a mall entrance. I thought about leaving one of the books on the bus. That would have been fun, but I’d just started, and I wasn’t ready to have the job half done in under a minute; I mean, I had fun to savor, too.
So Mike and I cruised the mall. I decided to leave one book, Band Geek Love by Josie Bloss, outside the movie theater. It was early, there was no one around but employees, who made faces and whispered about the parental types acting like loons, taking pictures with a book and then leaving it there.
Next, we went down to the skating rink and eatery where I left Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle, on another bench.
Each book contains the readergirlz bookplate, explaining Operation T*B*D, and a Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy book plate kind-of, sort-of explaining the attached (and matching, I might add, because I am that way) bookmarks.
I had a blast! I wished I had a dozen books to drop. Note to self: next year, make sure you have boy books in addition to girl books.
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Kat Wrote,
Love those bookmarks as well! Your finishing is so original! I’m curious, though. Did you go back later to see if your books were gone?
Link | April 17th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Jen Wrote,
I did not. Mike suggested we hang around and see what reactions they might get, but at least part of me doesn’t want to know. I like the idea of putting something out there and letting it have its own life.
Plus, there wasn’t time. Town trips are infrequent, so we always have tons to do, and the whole reason we went to town was for an evening engagement which was fast upon us. By the time that was over, the mall was closed.
Note: I did clip a note to the front of the books saying “If you want this book–it’s yours.” Otherwise, folks would likely assume it belonged to someone and ignore it.
Link | April 17th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Melissa Walker Wrote,
Love this! Would you mind if I snag a pic for the readergirlz blog (we’ll round up a few photogenic drops next week).
Link | April 17th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Becca Wrote,
This is so cool! Love the bookmarks and the idea. It would be fun to know what reactions you got. Hmm. Story idea.
Link | April 17th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Jen Wrote,
Help yourself, Melissa.
Becca, I like imagining possible reactions, too, which may be why I don’t want to witness the real ones.
Link | April 17th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Bev Wrote,
You did a fun thing!
Link | April 17th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
| kt literary Wrote,
[...] enjoying both books, she dropped both Band Geek Love and Let It Snow in Operation TBD! Here’s her recap of the events, and here’s the readergirlz blog featuring Jen’s [...]
Link | April 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Christina Wrote,
What a fun operation this was! I enjoyed reading about it and felt I was ‘there’ with you. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Link | April 28th, 2009 at 9:34 pm