The Best in Middle School Fiction

Are you looking for something truly awesome to read? Well, look no further . . . Here is a list of the top Middle Grade Fiction from 2007:

http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA200802top_shelf.pdf

If You Like the Gossip Girls . . .

There is something about series fiction that everyone seems to like. I think it has to do with the fact that we bond with characters and then get to keep checking in with them to see what happens. And in the case of the Gossip Girls, their lives are 10 times more scandalous then ours (I hope). If you've seen the show . . . well, these are rich kids gone bad. If you are a fan, you may also enjoy reading:

A-List by Zoey Dean
Au Pairs by melissa de la Cruz
The Clique by Lisi Harrison
The Insiders by J. Minter
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Anne Brashares

For mature readers

Okay girls, don't say I never did anything nice for you

Sometimes the best parts of a book or magazine are the pictures inside. A picture can speak volumes and be beautiful art. You've probably had that school assignment where you had to do a display board or some other project that required you to get a picture (Note to self: Google image search can be your friend). And then of course we drop in at the library to drool over the awesome pictures of whoever the latest heartthrob is in our teen magazine collection (What? You don't! Well, you should - just saying). One person is hot and then their star fades, only to be replaced by the next rising star (Bye bye Usher, hello Chris Brown). I completely understand, I have been there: Duran Duran, Keanu Reeves (just to name a few - and probably totally age myself). I skipped many a lunch to use my lunch money to buy the latest copy of Seventeen or Teen magazine. Here's a little secret: You don't have to skip lunch (in fact, it is not advised at all). You can just stop into the library and look at them - for free (free is kind of our theme). Older editions can even be checked out. Although the drooling can be kind of bad for the mags, so let's keep it to a minimum - k?

And don't forget to check out some of the awesome mags we have in the adult magazine collection. If you did, you would miss this awesome pictoral of Zac Efron (you know some of you are drooling over him) in the upcoming Entertainment Weekly:
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20232041,00.html

Magazines in our teen collection:
Breakaway
Brio
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Seventeen
Shonen Jump
Transworld Skateboarding
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
and more . . . there's a little something for everyone!

Twilight the Trailer

The countdown is on towards Twilight, the movie. If you haven't heard, Twilight is the first book in the bestselling teen book series. But seriously, who hasn't heard? It's a little over a month until the movie and now you can see the latest trailer at www.ew.com. To make it easy for you, just jump to the link below. Let me know what you think about the books and movie: What do you think about the casting? Are you going to go see it? And most importantly, what did you think of Breaking Dawn, the conculsion to the Twilight saga? Me, I was a bit disappointed. Seriously.

See the trailer here: http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/10/the-final-twili.html

TeenReads.com

Look, it can be really hard finding a book you want to read - I get that. There is nothing worse than starting a book that sounds awesome only to discover -eh, not so much. I used to finish reading every. single. book. that I started. And then I realized - I didn't have to. Think of all the time I have wasted reading absolute blech. There is nothing like a good friend though to tell you a good book to read. An awesome book. The best book ever. For a lot of us, that's how we discovered Harry Potter or Twilight. Me, I tell everyone to read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (seriously, read it) or The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (I have read it every year since the fifth grade - and no I'm not telling you how long ago that was.)

Sometimes though, a great website can be your friend telling you a good book to read. And here is that website http://www.teenreads.com/. They review a wide variety of books and keep you in the 411 about awesome reads.

Comment below to tell us the awesome reads that you always recommend.

Check here for some other teen books reviews:
Teen Angst Books http://www.grouchy.com/angst/
Reading Rants: Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists http://www.readingrants.org/

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

What can happen in one evening? That my friends is the subject of this creative book by author Rachel Cohn. Drawn together by their love of music and failed relationships, Nick and Norah spend the night going club hopping where they wax philosophical and just get their groove on.

You can see the movie starting tonight at theaters (and it is getting good reviews http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/03/ew.review.nick.norah/index.html). But remember: The book is almost always better. So check it out today.

If you like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, you may also like:
Any novel by Chris Crutcher or Sarah Dessen
Looking for Alaska by John Green
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

All for mature teens

It's Coming - Teen Read Week

October 12th - 18th is Teen Read Week

Join us at the Marion Public Library and for every 15 minutes you read during this week, you can enter into our prize drawing for a chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate to Blue Fusion. At Blue Fusion you can play video games, go bowling or play glow in the dark miniature golf. And - they have food!!!!!

Also, join us after school on Tuesday, October 14th from 3:30 - 5:00 PM to play Rock Band!!!! Snacks provided.

Have You Heard the News?

That's right - the Marion Public Library is THE new hot spot for teens on Tuesdays after school. Some of our Guitar Hero regulars, like Anthony and Josh, appeared in an article in the Marion Star. You can check out their cool pic here http://www.marionstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880910018. And join us after school on Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 PM, to play Guitar Hero, do your homework, or just sit around and gab. There is always chips, cookies and pop (until it all gets eaten).

Also, be sure to check out our monthly teen contests in the teen area. In honor of the popcorn festival, this month's contest is "Pop Trivia". Test your knowledge of current pop culture for your chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate.

Just for Fun

Sure, school is getting ready to start any day now. I know, you didn't want me to remind you of that - sorry. So let's do something fun. You can go here Http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm and find out what song was number one on the day that you were born. How fun is that?

The Countdown is On . . .

You have probably already seen ads for the movie Twilight, coming out in December. But before the movie comes out, you can read the 4th and final book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, which comes out in August. Will Bella allow Edward to turn her into a vampire so they can be together forever?

What's On Your iPod?

What's that you say - you don't have an iPod!! Well this summer - we're going to give you a chance to win a free one. Wait, there's no need to faint: it's true!! Just sign up and participate in our Teen Summer Reading Club for your chance to win a free iPod (or personal DVD player should you choose it over an iPod). Registration begins on May 31st and for each book you read, you get a chance to win - that's right, an iPod.

And for the record: my most recent iPod additions include Foo Fighters, One Republic and Maroon 5. And please don't tell anyone, but I keep finding myself downloading Ashlee Simpson songs. It's a dirty little secret, so please keep it to yourself.

Booed off of the stage

As I write this, I am at the Teen CoffeeHouse with about 43 of our "rockingest" teens. We meet on Tuesdays after school (3:30 - 5:oo PM, most Tuesdays check calendar for exact dates) and we usually play Guitar Hero or watch a movie. There is food of course. I played Miss Hanna today in Guitar Hero (version 3 if you must know) - and it did not say that I rocked. I got an 82%, but no one was impressed. In school, that would be a good solid B. But in Guitar Hero, it is less than impressive. So join us next Tuesday and see if you can beat my score. But be warned, if you are really bad - the game itself will boo you off of the stage (I know this from sad sad experience).

Welcome . . . and all that

Just in time for summer, Marion Public Library teen services is going live on the blog scene. You can check here to find out everything cool going on for teens: Programs and contests, awesome new books, prize winners and more! I promise to update this blog at least once a week(ish).

This month's activities:

Express Yourself Teen Poetry Contest
Teens grades 6-12 are invited to enter their original works of poetry into our teen poetry contest. One middle school winner and one high school winner will be selected and will receive a $20.00 gift certificate. In addition, your winning poem will be published in our newsletter - and right here in this blog. How cool is that?

Free Comic Book Day
Join us on Saturday, May 3rd for Free Comic Book Day. Each teen grades 6-12 will receive one free comic book of their choice (while supplies last) provided by Brad's Bookstore. Some of the comics being offered this year include The Simpsons and the X-Men. For more information about Free Comic Book Day, visit http://www.freecomicbookday.com/