The Teen Scene

Enter the World of the Iron Fey

2011-04-15T15:20:00.008-04:00

When most girls turn 16, they look forward to having a big party, a new boyfriend, maybe a car. Not Meghan Chase - she has a destiny she could never have imagined. A stranger is stalking her and it turns out that her dad is a Faerie King and she is a pawn in a deadly war. Meghan's story begins in The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. You can read an excerpt of The Iron King here

The world of faerie is the stuff of dreams: powers unimaginable, love, magic, quests - and often romance. There are a wide variety of good faerie books out there for you to read. Although, if I were you, I would never trust a faerie.

For other books about the world of Faerie try . . .

The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr

#1 Wicked Lovely

#2 Ink Exchange

#3 Fragile Eternity

#4 Radiant Shadows

#5 Darkest Mercy

The Need series by Carrie Jones

#1 Need

#2 Captivate

#3 Entice Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

The Faierie Path series by Frewin Jones

The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

Who Killed Wesley Payne?

2011-02-11T11:45:00.001-05:00

Prom and Prejudice

2011-01-14T10:58:00.004-05:00

How early do you start thinking about prom? There are a number of great prom reads out there to help get you in the spirit, and it may just help with those winter blahs.

Coming soon (as in already on order) is Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg. And here is a fun trailer for it . . .

Other great prom reads include

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Ashley Hannigan does. not. care. about. prom. At all. But everyone else does - including her best friend Natalia, who is head of the committee. But when the faculty advisor steals all of the prom money, Ashley suddenly finds herself helping to put a dance together with almost nothing. Anderson is one of my favorite teen authors and I heartily recommend this book.

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Look, I love a good zombie book. And what can be better than an unpopular girl who is trying to protect her boyfriend from the clutches of the cheerleading captain inflicting a zombie virus on the entire school? Nothing. Nothing is better. Quite a fun read.

Top 10 Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro

When you get stood up for the prom, what do you do with the dress? Nicolette is forced to answer this and other questions while she tries to manage her own feelings and help her parents navigate through their divorce. Touching and funny.

Prom Anonymous by Blake Nelson

Chloe Thomas is going to the prom. Of course, she doesn’t have a date, she needs a dress, and she's the last person anyone expects to see there. Why on earth did she agree to do this?

Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore (a part of the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series)

When her classmates start falling prey to bizarre accidents, the intrepid reporter Maggie Quinn can't ignore the story. In the end Maggie will end up throwing down with a demon at her senior prom. That probably won't happen at yours, but it sure is fun reading about the Nancy Drew wannabe with a supernatural twist Maggie Quinn.

The 2011 Michael L. Printz Award Winners

2011-01-13T10:40:00.008-05:00

The 2011 Michael L. Printz award winner for best Teen Fiction is Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. Set in a bleak future, 17 year-old Nailer's job is to scavenge ship wrecks for profit. When he stumbles across a girl who is barely hanging on to life, he must decide if he should slit her throat and sell her for parts or take a chance and help her. Fans of Sci Fi like The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins will enjoy this book.

Honor books include . . .

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

The rugged Australian outback becomes Gemma’s prison after she is drugged and abducted by a handsome, obsessed stranger in a first novel filled with searing imagery and archetypal characters.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Vera Dietz wants to be ignored, but the ghost of her ex-best friend won’t leave her alone in this dark comedy that examines relationships, identity, grief and flowcharts.

Revolver written by Marcus Sedgwick

In Sedgwick’s grim, chilling story set in the Arctic Circle, Sig finds his father’s frozen corpse as human predator Wolff arrives seeking retribution and a hidden Gold Rush treasure.

Nothing written by Janne Teller

Pierre Anthon’s nihilism causes his classmates to begin a search for life’s meaning in this bold, unsettling parable translated from Danish.

Hush Little Baby Don't Say a Word, Momma's Gonna Buy You a Mockingbird

2010-11-30T08:41:00.003-05:00

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

When Alex wakes up in bed next to a guy whose name she can not remember, the evidence suggests one thing - she has been date raped. Her friends urge her to see out the help of the mockingbirds, a secret society which puts the students to trial for their crimes. If you are found guilty, you must give up the thing you love most. If you are found innocent, then your accuser must give up the thing that they love most.

The author, Daisy Whitney, was a victim of date rape in college. That is the reason that the after affects of the rape feel so real. Alex goes out of her way to avoid even a chance encounter with her rapist. She stops going to the cafeteria to eat. She maps out elaborate routes so she doesn't run in to him on the campus. She lives in fear as the details of that night slowly come back to her.

An interesting part of the story is the backstory of how The Mockingbirds came in to existence. They are based on the theory of justice and inspired by the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. And there are people involved that will surprise Alex.

Mockingbirds is a stunning, realistic read. From the very first sentence we are plunged into Alex's nightmare. Because of the subject matter, this book is recommended for older teens.

Teen Read Week 2010 and Zombies

2010-10-25T15:24:00.001-04:00

Last week was Teen Read Week and I want to say thanks for all the teens who participated.

There was lots of zombie fun - and zombie reading.

Some of you even read some zombie books, and just in time for Halloween.

Just as we were getting ready for Zombie Read and Rock, a new zombie book crossed my desk - Zombies vs. Unicorns. This is a collection of short stories which argues the age old question of which is better, zombies or unicorns. Each short story is written by a different author. If you are a fan of either (or both), you should check it out.

Zombie fans will also want to check out Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. In this world, zombie hunter is a totally recognized profession. And everyone must have a job by the age of 15 or else they will lose their food rations. So zombie hunter seems like a good idea, right? But what does it truly mean to be human?

Teens' Top Ten 2010

2010-10-19T12:36:00.003-04:00

Every year YALSA (an organization of librarians who serve teens just like you) lets teens vote on their favorite books of the year. Yesterday they announced the Teens' Top Ten for 2010. This is a list of the best books for teens voted on by teens.

The Teens' Top Ten 2010 is:

#1 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

There are a lot of great reads on this list, but my vote for #1 would definitely be If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

Follow this link to view a video of WWE Diva Eve Torress announcing this year's winners!

It's Teen Read Week! October 18th - 23rd

2010-10-18T10:29:00.004-04:00

Check out this message from teen author Nikki Grimes about Teen Read Week

Be sure to stop in the library this week for a wide variety of activities as part of our Zombie Read and Rock fun . . .

All week long, for every 15 minutes you read fill out a Read Around the Clock slip for your chance to win a prepaid $50.00 gift card. All entries must be turned in by closing on Saturday, October 23rd.

Guess the amount of candy in our Ghoulish Candy Guess Jar for your chance to win it all.

Also, be sure to fill out a Nightmarish Reads contest entry form.

In the News: Bullying

2010-10-05T14:04:00.006-04:00

Let's face it, bullying sucks. Seriously. It doesn't matter if it happens online or in person. And as we keep hearing in the news - it can have serious consequences. What is it like for someone to get up every day and know that they are going to have to go somewhere full of fear and pain? There are lots of stories out there that deal with bullying and one of my all time favorites is Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher. Whale Talk is the story of T.J. and his misfit group of students that make up the school swim team. Imagine what could happen if this group of outcasts could earn a letter jacket and rub it in the face of the tormentors. And yet, somehow, along the way it becomes about more than just that letter jacket - it becomes about them revealing themselves and being there for each other.

Another oldie but goody is The Misfits by James Howe. This is the stroy of Skeezie, Addie, Joe and Bobby and the 7th grade. First Addie refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Then all of the sudden, they are creating a new political party and running for student council. This year, the 7th grade, is there chance to be more than what others try to make them, but to be themselves.

Perhaps the most gripping story of what it is like to be an outcast is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. At the beginning of the school year, no one will talk to Melinda - and Melinda will not speak. You see, over the summer she was at a party and she called the police. Everyone hates her because they got busted. Throughout the course of the school year Melinda must slowly come to terms with what happened at that party, what caused her to call the police . . . she must find her voice, she must learn to speak again.

Sometimes we hear in the news about those teens who have been victims committing suicide. And of course, sometimes we hear about them getting revenge. The Hate List by Jennifer Brown is about one of those times. Valerie and Nick made a list of the people they hated. The people that bullied them. The people that tormented them. The hate list. Valerie had no idea that one day her friend Nick would go to school and shoot the people on that list. Valerie is shot herself trying to stop Nick, right before he kills himself and some of the kids on that list. Now Valerie must deal with the after. Valerie must return to that school her senior year and deal with it all. Her emotions. Her guilt. Her classmates. The Hate List is a powerful and moving story about what it is liked to be bullied, and what happens when someone takes revenge.

Other books that deal with bullying, old and new, include . . .
Names Will Never Hurt Me by Jaime Adoff
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Undone by Brooke Taylor
By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
The Shadow Club by Neal Shusterman
What Happened to Lani Carver by Carol Plum Ucci

You can read Teen Author Amy Holder's and see Ellen Degenere's plea to stop bullying here

If you or someone you know is being bullied, tell someone. Learn more about bullying at kidshealth.org

The Awakening Book Trailer

2010-10-02T13:19:00.002-04:00

The Awakening Kelley Armstrong Book Trailer - Watch more Funny Videos

Banned Books Week: Hey, You Can't Read That!

2010-09-27T10:27:00.006-04:00

Throughout history the apple has come to signify the idea of forbidden fruit, the taboo . . . It is ironic that it appears on the cover of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Edward is, of course, the ultimate forbidden fruit - a vampire. To love a vampire is to put yourself in mortal danger every day. But today it means more than that, you see there are those who think you shouldn't be able to read Twilight. That the book itself should be forbidden.

Throughout history people have been challenging books and trying to say that one or another is bad for us and we shouldn't be able to read it. There is nothing more powerful than words and thoughts, which is exactly why we need to continue to fight for the freedom to read . . . as we read and open our minds to new thoughts, to new ways of living, to new ways of thinking, we allow ourselves to be open to change. If we never opened ourselves up we would still think the Earth is flat and the center of the universe. We might still condone slavery and women might not have the right to vote. The computer that you are reading this on, it exists because someone had a vision of a future with a technology beyond their wildest dreams and they worked to make it happen. What would a world without the freedom to read look like? Try reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or 1984 by George Orwell. Thought police and book burners, not cool.

You don't have to like each and every book you read. In fact, there are many in your life that you will be offended by. When you come across a book like that, stop reading it. Or finish it and talk to someone about it. But don't say that no one should be allowed to read it because it personally offended you. That is what the freedom to read is about: You should the books that are right for you and allow others to choose the books that are right for them.

Visit VOYA.com for a list of the top 10 teen books challenged in 2009 and the reasons why. And remember to celebrate your freedom to read by reading.

His Bruises are Not His Own

2010-09-02T10:05:00.004-04:00

They call him Bruiser, because he is big and distant and it seems like he could take on anyone. But the truth is something they could never imagine. His real name is Brewster. And if he allows himself to become close with others, he can take their pain. When his brother falls off of the roof, it is Brewster whose arm is broken. And when his mother develops cancer, she sends him to live with an uncle so he does not die what should be her death.

Bronte and Tennyson are twins whose family is falling apart. Soon Bronte begins dating Brewster. She knows that he can take away her physical pain, but she does not realize how far his power reaches. How much like a drug it can be.

What would life be like if you never had to feel pain again? And can you really feel joy if you never feel sorrow or anger or the hurt that comes with life? Can the three of them find a way to love each other and save Brewster from this terrible "gift"?

Told in alternating viewpoints, this is a great story. From the moment that you first see what Brewster looks like without a shirt on, you are routing for him. At the end I cried satisfied tears at a story well done and a journey into a life that I genuinely cared about. Read it today. you won't be sorry. And then ask yourself, if you could take away someone else's pain but had to feel it for yourself - would you?

Also recommended, Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Angels Falling Everywhere

2010-08-11T10:46:00.005-04:00

Pink is the new black and fallen angels are the new vampires. What else is popular?

Adult authors writing for teens. James Patterson is doing it with the Maximum Ride series and The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Neil Gaiman does it (Coraline).

Now - you can get both trends in one place with this handy two for one deal: The Madison Avery series by Kim Harrison. Kim Harrison is the popular adult author of the paranormal series starring Rachel Morgan, who happens to be a witch.

In Once Dead, Twice Shy teen Madison Avery has been struck dead. Well, kinda. She is in a kind of purgatory. Here she is helping Barnabas, the light reaper, try to fend off the dark reaper who is taking the souls of those making serious life altering decisions. Madison's new death is quite the challenge. (Early to Death, Early to Rise is book 2 in the Madison Avery series.)

For other series with fallen angels, try Fallen by Lauren Kate (Torment, book 2 in this series, comes out on September 28th) and Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (Crescendo, book 2 in this series, comes out on October 19th).

I Know What You Read This Summer

2010-07-23T10:22:00.003-04:00

The Teen Summer Reading Club has come to an end (insert sad face here), but here is a look at what you all read and what you thought about it.

Amy S. (9th grade) read Fang by James Patterson and said "I want MORE!!!!!!!" (Exact number of exclamation points duplicated for authenticity's sake :) )

Megan H. (10th grade) read Red Palms by Cara Haycak and said it was "Child-ish and unrealistic". Ouch.

Lydia S. (9th grade) read Let it Snow: 3 Holiday Wishes and said it was "good but weird."

Katherine S. (7th grade) read The Lost Queen by Frewin Jones and said, "I loved it! I can't wait to read more!!"

Aulbri S. (11th grade) read Crank by Ellen Hopkins and says, "I thought the format was original. It's a series of shaped poems that make up a novel. It's depressing but needed."

Paige M. (8th grade) read When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and said she "thought it was a really good book." (One of my faves :) )

Seth I. (8th grade) read the graphic novel Batman: Hong Kong by Dough Moenah and said, "Very good graphics. Well done." He also read The Quality of Mercy by Gilber Morris and said it was an "awesome Christian mystery."

Stephanie B. (9th grade) read Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr and said: "This is one of the best books I have ever read. A faerie that's considered a dark court hound falls in love with Devin a high court faerie and they help each save themselves."

Rayanna P. (1oth grade) read Dreamrider by Barry Jonsberg and said: "I like how they take a kid who is always getting picked on and beat up power. I like that he is using his power for good and not evil."

Evan H. (6th grade) read The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner and said, "The plot of this interested me, with all the fantasy."

Can You Hear the Whispers?

2010-07-16T11:23:00.003-04:00

We've all that, at one time or another, that it would be cool to be able to hear
what others are thinking. You walk by a group of girls in the school hallway and wonder if they are talking about you. You wonder what the boy you like is really thinking. But what if you heard someone you love thinking that they would kill themselves if they had to . . . ?

Joy and Jessica are sisters, and they both can hear the "whispers" - brief thoughts from others. And while Joy thinks this talent is a gift, Jessica thinks it is a curse - and she will do anything to make it stop. Can Joy help her sister embrace her gift before she tries to destroy it, and perhaps herself? Read Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis.

Twilight: Eclipse Movie

2010-07-06T14:55:00.002-04:00

So it seems like we can't really be at a place right now where we just don't mention the Twilight movie Eclipse. I did go see it. And I have decided that really, out of all the characters - I can't stand Bella. I'm sorry, but she is just mean and selfish to these two boys that she supposedly loves. Of the two boys I think the relationship with Edward is definitely less healthy - I mean, he sabotages her truck to control where she goes. That is just not cool. If you are in a relationship with a guy and he is acting like Edward - please do yourself a favor and run in the other direction. But I won't spend a lot of time rehashing what I thought about the movie, because this movie review says it so well:
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-motion-captured/posts/the-m-c-review-the-twilight-saga-eclipse

And I can't say it enough - if you love Twilight, please give Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater a read. Seriously. Go now.

Miley Cyrus to Star in Wake by Lisa McMann

2010-06-17T10:15:00.004-04:00

From the back cover . . .

She is floating. Not the falling dream again, she thinks. She is sick to death of the falling dream.

The scene changes immediately. Now Janie is outside. It’s dark. She’s alone, behind a shed, but she can hear muffled voices. She’s never been alone before, and she doesn’t know how people can have dreams that they are not in. She is curious. She watches nervously, hoping this isn’t somebody’s nightmare about to explode through the wall of the shed, or from behind the bushes…

Wake is the story of Janie, who is drawn into other people's dreams. It has just been announced that this series (which includes both Fade and Gone) is being made into a movie which will star Miley Cyrus (http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/17/miley-cyrus-wake/)

Perfect 10s

2010-06-03T10:20:00.004-04:00

A boy pushes someone off of a cliff (Freefall)
Valerie's boyfriend open fires on his school (Hate List)
Jessica learns that she is a vampire princess (Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side)
What do these books have in common?
They all received a perfect ten score. Kind of like getting a perfect 10 on Dancing With the Stars or at The Olympics. You can see the full list of 18 titles here . . .
http://www.voya.com/2010/05/28/voyas-perfect-tens/

You Don't Really Want to Sleep Tonight . . . Do You?

2010-05-26T16:08:00.002-04:00

"These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years. The one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me."

Will, age 12, is an orphan and assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop. This doctor's specialty is monstrumology, the study of monsters. A grave robber comes visiting in the middle of the night and brings them both the deadliest case they have ever seen. And the nightmares will never end . . .

The reviews say:
"This gothic thriller will appeal to kids who like scary with high brow Dickensian writing...Yancey builds the action towards the climactic cemetery scene while also deftly handling the changing interpersonal dynamic between the doctor and Will. Readers who enjoyed Yancey's Alfred Kropp* series...won't want to miss this one. Recommended."--Library Media Connection

"Yancey takes...gore and violence...to thrilling new levels in this sophisticated tale."--School Library Journal

"This story is gothic horror at its finest and most disturbing. A cross between Mary Shelley and Stephen King, the tale will force readers to stay up late to finish and then remain awake, afraid to shut off the lights...The richness of the language, the strain of wry humor, and the perfectly drawn characters make it a marvelous read...This book is perfect for readers who want their nightmares in a literary package."--VOYA

"This has all the elements of the best Victorian mystery and horror...Readers who like their horror truly horrible and yet archly distant and peppered with ecstatic Victorian-scented comments on the woes of the human condition will jump right in and not emerge until the last relieved gasp."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

And a grandma says . . . "I'll probably have nightmares for a long time over this, with the cold mist of the fog over cobblestone streets and unthinkable things that go bump in the night." (amazon.com)

*Also, do try the Alfred Kropp series, which mingles modern day life with Arthurian legends and super spy stories.

Now Watch This . . .

2010-05-21T15:31:00.000-04:00

Cool Female Authors for Cool Chicks

2010-05-13T14:44:00.002-04:00

Today we can read a wide variety of books by female authors. There are even some teen ones, like Amelia Atwater Rhodes. But did you know that S. E. Hinton, author of The Outsiders which you have probably had to read in class, was a woman? She published under her initials so that no one would know she was. And she was still a teenager when she did it.

Many of the classics that we read today (such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott) were published in a time when it was harder to be a female author. Today, some of the biggest and best selling authors are women: Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, Patricia Cornwell and Rachel Vincent (one of many who write both adult and teen series).

I tell you all of this just so I can show you this: An awesome video that spoofs the fight that the Bronte Sisters may have had trying to get their books published. (Side note: Jane Eyre is one of my favorites, not so much the other two.)

P.S. - The S. E. stands for Susan Eloise. She went on to write other popular titles like That Was Then, This is Now and Tex.

Cool Female Authors to Try:
Laurie Halse Andersen
Holly Black (Fairies!)
Melody Carlson (Inspirational Fiction)
Sarah Dessen (One of my all time favorites)
Lois Duncan (Horror!)
Louise Rennison (Hysterical)
Nancy Werlin (Mysteries)
Ellen Wittlinger
Ellen Schreiber (Vampires!!)

Teen Summer Reading Club Promo #2

2010-05-06T11:53:00.000-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

It's Coming . . .

2010-05-05T12:58:00.001-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

What Do the Numbers Mean?

2010-04-30T13:53:00.003-04:00

When Jem looked into her mother's eyes, she saw a number. Everytime she looks into someone's eyes, she sees numbers. When her mother died, Jem realized what the numbers meant - they are the date that someone will die. And they are always right. Jem tries hard not to be around people, but Spider won't let her be. Soon they are in a hesitant relationship. She doesn't want to be, because she knows that he is going to die soon. In fact, if the numbers she sees around London are correct - and they always are - a lot of people are going to die soon. But when Jem and Spider flee, they soon are the prime suspects. The clock is running out for a lot of people.

The Countdown is On

2010-04-22T14:32:00.000-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Go Green: Check Out, Read, Return, Repeat

2010-04-22T10:14:00.002-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

"Glee"ful Reads

2010-04-21T13:44:00.005-04:00

Are you a fan of Glee? Me, I'm a fan. I love music. Seriously. So let's talk about music and/or musicals in teen fic, shall we?

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman is the story of Wallace Wallace (not a typo). Wallace Wallace never tells a lie. So when he reads a book assigned by his English teacher, his report states matter of factly that he hated the book. Wallace is assigned detention where he is forced to re-write his book report. In what turns out to be a very cool detention, he is forced to sit day after day where the theater group is rehearsing the school play which is, of course, based on the very book he hated. Leave it to Wallace to turn a book about a dead dog into a disco musical. You'll want to read every funny page to see what happens to Wallace in detention.

And in Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which I mentioned last week, the 2 Will's create a school musical.

Other books that deal with music, musicals, and the theater in general include:

Act I, Act II, Act Normal by Martha Weston

Secrets of My Hollywood Life series by Paul Riditis

Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot

If I Stay: A Novel by Gayle Forman*

Pay the Piper: A Rock 'N Roll Fairytale by Jane Yolen

Troll Bridge: A Rock 'N Roll Fairytale by Jane Yolen

Rockstar Superstar by Nelson Blake

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen**

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning

Confessions of a Backup Dancer by Kevin Shaw

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon

Pop Princess by Rachel Cohn

*This is one of the BEST books of last year, why have you not read it? It is seriously THAT good. Also, for those looking for tearjerkers - this is the only book that has ever made me cry.

** Read my blog entry about this book here

Congratulations to Our Teen Draw It Contest Winner

2010-04-20T11:39:00.002-04:00

During March we held a teen drawing contest - and we have a winner!! Audrey W (grade 6) is this year's winner. Her artwork is featured on the publicity for the upcoming 2010 Teen Summer Reading Club: Making Waves @ Your Library. In addition, Audrey wins a prepaid $50.00 Visa card.

You'll want to be sure and participate in this year's Teen Summer Reading Club (from here on out referred to as the TSRC to make my life easier). One lucky grand prize winner will get their choice of an iPod Touch or a Wii. In addition, we will have tons of other prizes like gift cards to your favorite fast food joints and stores. All the fun kicks off on Saturday, June 5th.

Tine Fey Says to Read It!

2010-04-19T14:38:00.004-04:00

There was this movie called Mean Girls. Tine Fey wrote it based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. It was a pretty awesome movie, made before Lindsay Lohan basically fell apart at the seams.

Well, Rosalind Wiseman has written a new book called Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials. And Tina Fey gives the best book blurb ever: "You can't put this book down . . . or it will talk about you while you're out of the room." Actually, Tina Fey writes a pretty awesome book blurb. But what about the book?

Charlie is entering High School and looking to have a drama free year (aren't we all!). But nope, it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Her year is not helped by the return of Will, a former male bff who's back, HOT, and popular. So Will gets involved in a prank gone bad and Charlie must decide what she is going to do about it: Should she tell or keep her mouth shut?

And if you're a Meg Cabot fan - well, she says to read it too!

Nerdfighters!

2010-04-16T11:25:00.004-04:00

So the other day I was getting my semi-regular Nerdfighters (1) fix and thought to myself - Why Have I Not Shared This With You? You should be mad at me. Nerdfighters is described as a place where "nerds gather and play" to "increase awesome and decrease suck." (2) The site was started by teen author John Green (more about him in a moment) and his brother. They have a blog and make fun video posts.

John Green is the awesome and talented writer of books like Looking for Alaska (a Printz Award Winner), An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns. His books are DEFINITELY for older, mature teens. But they are awesome. Seriously.

Green recently wrote an online book that you can only get to if you solve a series of riddles at www.thisisnottom.com. I haven't read the book because the riddles are wicked hard and I haven't gotten to it yet. (3) But I am loving the process and the concept. It is wicked fun. And if you look around the net you can get cheats and hints.

In a recent article for librarians (4), Green talked about the "magical moment when the space between you and me evaporates, and we are all of us making a story real together". He says that "reading is an act of translation—taking seemingly random scratches on a page and turning them into a story in your head—a book is, more than any new media, a cocreation of reader and writer." (School Library Journal, January 1, 2010). Imagine that - an author who respects the reader.

John Green's newest book is Will Grayson, Will Grayson with David Levithan. This is the story of two boys, both named Will Grayson, and how their lives come to intersect with each other. The two authors got together and decided they would write a story - each one focusing on one of the Will Graysons. Levithan chose the characters first name and Green chose the characters last name. As the two become friends they produce a high school musical (5) that tell their story. And this book - it is laugh out loud funny. And touching. And amazing.

Awesome quotes by John Green:

"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."

"Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back." - An Abudance of Katherines

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?" - An Abundance of Katherines

"The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive." - Looking for Alaska

"So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane." - Looking for Alaska

"'Francois Rabelais. He was a poet. And his last words were "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.' " - Looking for Alaska

"What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person." - Paper Towns

"The town was paper, but the memories were not." - Paper Towns

This is me trying to be witty and copy John Green's source notes:

1. Go to http://www.nerdfighters.com/

2. More awesome is good.

3. Seriously, if you figure it all out PLEASE let me know. I need help.

4. Hey, that would be me :) Guess that's why I read it.

5. No, not THAT high school musical.

Graphic Novels 101

2010-04-08T15:50:00.009-04:00

Graphic novels and manga are so popular right now, even your favorite books are being made into graphic novels. Some popular titles include Twilight (yes, THAT Twilight), the Maximum Ride adventures, Artemis Fowl, Cirque Du Freak and Alex Rider series. Popular adult authors like Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Sherrilyn Kenyon are also diving into this very popular and very graphic medium. Harlequin, the popular romance publisher, even produces a line of romantic graphic novels known as Harlequin Pink

Some of the most popular manga series (Don't know what manga is? Just check out the handy GN Dictionary below) include: Beauty Pop, Blade of Heaven, Bleach, Chroncles of the Cursed Sword, Dragon Hunter and Naruto. Some of the most popular Graphic Novels include Bone and The Simpsons. And of course whatever superhero is popular at the moment.

GN Dictionary
Comics - The big umbrella term for stories told with pictures and words
Graphic Novel - A graphic book, or collection of comic books, that are put together like a book
Anime - Japanese animated cartoons
Manga - A Japanese comic book, usually black and white and read from right to left
Manga style - Like manga, but produced outside of Japan
Mecha - Anime or manga featured mechanical creatures, usually awesome giant fighting robots
Shojo - Comics for girls, usually romantic
Shonen - Comics for boys, usually action/adventure

Other interesting terms:
Panel - One part of a comic book page
Gutter - The space between the panels

Great GN and Manga Sites:
Bookshelf: Diamond Comics
Comic Book Resources
Comics Worth Reading
Newsarama
No Flying, No Tights

Free Comic Book Day with Brad's Bookstore and Marion Public Library

Join us on Saturday, May 1st for Free Comic Book Day. We will be giving away free comic books, provided by Brad's Bookstore and Comics, to teens who come visit (while supplies last). Each teen will have their choice of 1 of the titles provided.

April is National Poetry Month

2010-04-05T09:43:00.003-04:00

It's April . . . which means it's National Poetry Month. Poetry is everywhere.

Poetry is in you. It's in the air you breathe. The chair you sit. And the car

you drive. It is simple. It is complex. It is everything. It is nothing.

So don't just sit there . . . get creative! Want a place to start? Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words by Susan Wooldridge is one of the best poetry writing books ever. The author gives you great tips such as collecting words and creating a wordpool: "A word can trigger or inspire a poem, and words in a stack or thin list can up make up poems" (p.10).

Other great things she talks about include grocery weeping (and we're not just talking about the cost of your grocery bill or wilted lettuce), joywriting, poem sound and song, fear of poetry (come on, some of you have it), dreamsense and being visited by words. Imagine answering the knock on your door and there at the open door stands the word "awesome". I'd like to be visited and told that I am awesome. As Wooldridge says, "Writing this way seems like being visited. And as with any visitor, I have to make room and time" (p. 190).

Or you can go online and play at "magnetic poetry." You know, those little word magnets that you put on your fridge and rearrange to make a poem. You can go here to create your own magnetic poetry.

Or use the following URL and make any page you love into your own person magnetic poetry kit. Simple replace the part after the url= with your own web address and presto - it is magnetic poetry. Here's this blog done as magnetic poetry.

http://wearehugh.com/public/2003/02/poetry.cgi?url=teenservicesmarionpubliclibrary.blogspot.com

So have fun with poetry this month . . . and remember the words of Piri Thomas:

"Each child is born a poet and every poet is a child."

What is Your Favorite Book Playlist?

2010-03-25T15:11:00.004-04:00

What would movies and tv shows be without a soundtrack? The truth is, music helps build mood and is part of the expression of an artist and the story they are trying to tell. The best soundtrack I ever got was the soundtrack to the movie Garden State. I hated the movie really. But the music was awesome.

Music can also play a role in books. For some books, music is an integral part of the story. In Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Annabel spends a lot of time listening to music. Annabel's life is changing - old friendships are strained, her family may be falling apart, and she is finding herself friends with an angry loner named Owen. This is teen fiction at its best. And honestly, Sarah Dessen is one of the best teen authors out there.

Sarah (we're on a first name basis, she just doesn't know it) is so awesome she put together a playlist for her book. Here is the playlist and a reason why she choose each of the songs.

Then I thought - how awesome is that, making a playlist for a book? I am not the only one who thought that. Here is a lists of book playlists put together by authors or fans of some of your favorite books.

I think that should be everyone's challenge: Take your favorite book and come up with a music playlist that best expresses the book.

Reading Rants

2010-03-25T14:51:00.003-04:00

Our favorite book review site gets a new look! Check out the newly updated Reading Rants to get great book reviews.

For example, I get asked every few days for a book that will "make me cry". Well, here you go. These books are rated by the number of hankies you'll need. These books are weeptastic. One of the books on the list, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, even made me cry.

Vampire lovers can check out Fanging Around. Those of you who like psychological thrillers should check out Nail Biters. One of my favorite lists is Cool Classics You Never Even Heard Of. Sure we all know about To Kill a Mockingbird and Shakespeare - but what about Cheaper by the Dozen? That is a fun read.

Reading Rants also has links to other great reading blogs and authors. You do not want to miss out on author John Green's Nerdfighters page where they "fight to increase awesome and decrease suck."

Other great sites to find great reads:
Teen Reads.com
Chicklish - a UK readers site with the awesome UK humor
Bookshelves of Doom - Seriously, how can you resist a site called Bookshelves of Doom?

Of course keep checking back here to read my book reviews and see cool book trailers (I am totally obsessed with book trailers).

Read Irish for the Day

2010-03-17T15:28:00.004-04:00

Want to celebrate good ole' St. Patrick's Day? How about reading a book by an Irish Author? Check out The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, a tale of friendship between a little boy and the Jewish man wearing striped pajamas behind a wire fence in Hitler's Germany.

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up– . . . Through the eyes of Bruno, a naive nine-year-old raised in a privileged household by strict parents whose expectations included good manners and unquestioning respect for parental authority, the author describes a visit from the Fury and the familys sudden move from Berlin to a place called Out-With in Poland. There, not 50 feet away, a high wire fence surrounds a huge dirt area of low huts and large square buildings. From his bedroom window, Bruno can see hundreds (maybe thousands) of people wearing striped pajamas and caps, and something made him feel very cold and unsafe. Uncertain of what his father actually does for a living, the boy is eager to discover the secret of the people on the other side. He follows the fence into the distance, where he meets Shmuel, a skinny, sad-looking Jewish resident who, amazingly, has his same birth date. Bruno shares his thoughts and feelings with Shmuel, some of his food, and his final day at Out-With, knowing instinctively that his father must never learn about this friendship. . . –Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (read the complete review and more at www.amazon.com).

Never Judge a Book By Its Cover?

2010-03-15T09:32:00.002-04:00

You know you've done it. We all have. You walk up to the shelf and there sits a book - you think it might be good, but man is that cover lame. The truth is, the cover art on a book is in fact one of the main things that draw us to a book. So is the title. And lots of time we don't even get past the first page if it doesn't draw us in.

Right now on Goodreads (which is a site that helps you keep track of the books you read and rate and share your reviews - kind of like Facebook for readers) they are rating book covers. Amazingly, almost all of the top 50 books rated as having the best covers are teen books (http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4581.Judge_A_Book_By_Its_Cover_)

Because We Just Don't Talk About Twilight Enough

2010-03-10T11:08:00.002-05:00

Here you go, the trailer for the Eclipse movie . . .

Teen Tech Week entry form - download it!

2010-03-09T08:58:00.001-05:00

Here you go - print it off, do the deeds, turn it in - and you could win!!!!

Learn * Create * Share

2010-03-09T08:39:00.003-05:00

Teen Tech Week is here. Participate in our online scavenger hunt and you could win a $50.00 gift card. Complete at least 3 of the 5 challenges below and submit your entry form for your chance to win. The person who completes the most challenges will win; random drawing will break a tie. Other participants will win USB drives and $5.00 gift certificates. Up to 10 winners total. Entry forms must be turned in by closing on Saturday, March 13th. For teens grades 6-12.

So, in order to complete task #2 on your entry form . . . leave me a comment letting me know what you like to do with technology!

Vampires Are Out - The End of the World is In

2010-03-04T10:42:00.002-05:00

Dystopian (adj.) - ad bad as can be, grim, characterized by human misery.

Sounds fun, right? The truth is, right now everyone is living in some tough times. People are losing jobs, the economy is bad and many of you are feeling the effects of it. Maybe your parents are out of work. Or maybe you just can't find a job for yourself. And in the news it seems all we hear about are pandemics (oink oink says the flu), terrorism, global warming, and war (what is it good for?). Books have a tendency to reflect the world we live in, so it is no surprise that a lot of the most popular and soon to be released books are what is known as dystopian fiction. Otherwise known as apocalypse NOW!

The Hunger Games is one end of the world scenario (we discussed it earlier on the blog). But it is certainly not the only one. Classics include 1984 (one of my favorite books ever), Fahrenheit 451 (also in my top 10) and Brave New World (which I have never read, oops).

You can also catch the Life As We Knew It trilogy by Susan Beth Pfeffer. The final book, This World We Live In, comes out soon.

Or how about The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carry Ryan? It's a dystopian novel - with zombies!

Coming Soon . . .

Empty by Suzanne Weyn - What if the earth ran out of oil?

Epitaph Raod by David Pateneude - What if most men simply disappeared?

The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen - What if we could grow humans from plants?

The Line by Teri Hall - What if a physical barrier completely enclosed the U.S.?

Girl in the Arena by Lisa Haines - What if we still had fight to the death gladiator wars?

Bottle Cap Crafts

2010-03-01T09:33:00.004-05:00

The Ohio Wesleyan Lacrosse team joined Marion Public Library, Heart of Ohio Mentoring, and Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention on Saturday, February 28th to make Bottle Cap Crafts. We learned about recycling our bottle caps into awesome craft projects. You can save the world and have fun, how cool is that?

One of cool projects that was made included picture frames. Other projects included earrings, bracelets, magnets and lapel pins. A good time was had by all. You can see more pictures of the event on our Facebook fan page.

If you are artistic - don't forget to participate in the Draw It teen art contest which is happening now.

6th Annual Draw It Teen Art Contest

2010-02-23T10:29:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again - help us draw the artwork for our 2010 Teen Summer Reading Club: Making Waves @ Your Library. Just print out (or pick up) the contest entry form, create your artwork and turn it in. You may be our $50.00 prize winner and have your artwork displayed throughout the Marion area on all of our publicity posters. How cool is that? Deadline for contest entries is closing time on March 31st.

Complete Rules and Entry Form Follow . . . . .

Rules:
Contest is open to all teens grades 6-12.
Teens may enter as many original 8 1/2 x 11 drawings as they would like, but each entry must be submitted with an official entry form (photocopies of entry forms are acceptable). All entries must represent and display the phrase, “Making Waves @ Your Library”.
Please use no more than four colors, one of which must be black.
Please do not put your name or any identifiable information on your drawing.
The Marion Public Library reserves the right to disqualify any entries that display or promote objectionable material or language.
Original, digital artwork that meets the above requirements will be accepted.
Deadline for entries to be turned in to the Reference desk is closing time on
March 31st.

Go Green, Get Funky - Bottle Cap Crafts

2010-02-12T12:23:00.003-05:00

Looking for a way to be green and have fun? We've got it. Join us on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 to make Bottle Cap Crafts. Don't throw out those bottle caps, get creative with them! You can make beaded curtains, pins, ear rings, necklaces, belts and more. We'll have everything you need (for free even!) - just show up. Provided by Marion Public Library, Heart of Ohio Mentoring and Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Opens on Friday

2010-02-10T11:00:00.003-05:00

This weekend I am heading out to the movies to see Percy Jackson - the series that just may be good enough to be the next Harry Potter. It can't replace HP in my heart. But everyone needs a good fantasy and adventure series to fall in love with. Plus, mythology - so that's a bonus.

I'll be sure and post my movie review on Monday. Until then, I am snowed in and reading Beautiful Creatures . . . Speaking of being snowed in. This is a great time to read, read, read. And if you are a middle school student looking for something to read, be sure to check out this year's annual list of Top Shelf fiction for middle school students http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA2010TopShelfFiction2009.pdf

More Teen Fiction Coming to the CW

2010-02-05T11:31:00.004-05:00

Are you loving the Vampire Diaries on the CW? Or maybe you are a Gossip Girls fan. Both of these series are based on teen book series. The CW has now optioned the rights to another teen book series to be developed into a TV show: Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith.

The lives of Morgan, Ondine and Nix have always been touched on the edges by a mystery. One night, Morgan wakes to find blood under her fingernails. When Ondine looks at a painting, it comes alive. And Nix sees halos of light around people that are about to die. At a secret summer rave in the woods, the three teenagers learn of their true, changeling nature and their uncertain, intertwined destinies.

Read the book before the series premieres on the CW . . .

Steampunk Rocks! Leviathan Book Trailer

2010-02-04T09:25:00.002-05:00

What is steampunk you ask? Steampunk is a type of science fiction and fantasy that are set in an era where steam power is still used and rebellion is a central theme. They are focused on an alternate history. It is by nature retro. If you have read The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, then you are familiar with steampunk. H G Wells wrote a lot of steampunk. So did Jules Verne. I have heard steampunk described as goth goes sepia. And yes, there is a fashion element to steampunk - lots of gears, corsets and goggles (oh my!).

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a great re-imagining of World War I. In this war, 2 societies have emerged: the Clankers and the Darwinists. The Clankers use technology to fight their war while the Darwinists use animals. Since Westerfeld does everything awesome (You have read the Uglies, right?) - this was an awesome read.

Other steampunk reads include Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Grand Tour by Patricia C Wrede, and Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.

Celebrity Mash-Ups Contest, February 1 -13

2010-01-29T10:41:00.003-05:00

Here you go blog viewers (and Facebook fans) - you can get up to a
3 day jump start on the upcoming Celebrity Mash-Ups contest. People are doing amazing things with technology - and creating some freaky pictures. Practice your Internet searching skills to discover what 2 celebrities make up each 1 picture for your chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate. You'll need to identify both celebrity halves in each picture to win. Most correct answers wins, a random drawing will break a tie.

While you are out there searching the webs, see what kind of cool pics you can find. And hey, you may even want to try your hand at creating some cools pics of your own. The skills will come in handy for next month's Draw It contest - your chance to draw the artwork for our 2010 Summer Reading Club.

Here are some cool photo galleries for you to check out:
www.freakingnews.com (A gallery which highlights photoshopped pictures generated from the news.)
www.worth1000.com (Artist galleries and contests. An awesome collection of fun and creative photos. They have a great set of mash-up photos of celebrities mashed up with art masterpieces.)

Quotastic!

2010-01-28T09:05:00.004-05:00

Everyone has a hobby, right? Some people collect stamps. Or Magic cards. Or postcards. Me? I collect quotes. I love the power of words. So when I am reading a book, I keep a journal close by to jot down a quote that speaks to me. Here are some . . .

"It was a pleasure to burn." Ray Bradbury, from Fahrenheit 451 (One of my top 10 all time favorite books).

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going inti it, if you want to know the truth." J.D. Salinger from Catcher in the Rye

"It was a wild, windy, southwestern spring when the idea of killing Mr. Griffin occurred to them." Lois Duncan from Killing Mr. Griffin

"When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it's never good news." Anthony Horowitz from Stormbreaker

"We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck." M. T. Anderson from Feed

"We will rise to the occasion, which is life." Virgina Euwer Woff from True Believer

"Strange how when you most want to say things, your brain gives you the least vocabular." Will Weaver from Claws

"Hope and sense aren't exactly kissing cousins" Margaret Peterson Haddix from the story Destination Unexpected

"All I know now was that nothing lasted forever, even a friendships, and that being different felt the same as being alone." Lauren Myracle from Kissing Kate

"Maybe people were always coming to each other - from the beginning of their lives. Maybe Miah had always been coming to me, to this moment, sitting in Central Park holding hands. Coming softly." Jacqueline Woodson from If You Come Softly (and if you really want to read an amazing love story, read this book.)

"As the hours crept by, the afternoon sunlight bleached all the books on the shelves to pale, gilded versions of themselves and warmed the paper and ink inside the covers so that the smell of unread words hung in the air." Maggie Stiefavter from Shiver

And I will leave you, dear blog reader, with this interesting discussion about boys in the novel Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer . . .

"Like all males, Hope, he has a code that has to be deciphered."
"What's the code?"
"I have no idea. But it's probably weirder than hieroglyphics."

And with the immortal words of Dr. Seuss . . .

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

Drop me a comment and let me know what your favorite book quotes are.

Fallen Book Trailer

2010-01-25T09:51:00.002-05:00

I admit it, I'm obsessed with book trailers. How cool are they, come on?

But actually, I am reading this book right now. Literally, right this very moment. And if you are a fan of Twilight - chances are you will love this new series. Fallen is book number one. Luce is sent to Sword and Cross reformatory school after a night that she can't remember ends with her date going up in flames, literally. She doesn't know what happened, but she knows is must have something to do with the dark shadows she always sees. On her first day at Sword and Cross she meets Daniel, but she can't escape the feeling that she has met him before. Soon there is another fire and other strange happenings. And there is Cam - he too seems to be interested in Luce. But which one is good for her - if any of them are? It seems that is has all happened before. Can they stop it from happening again?

Other books you may be interested in: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Need by Carrie Jones, Meridian by Amber Kizer, The Immortals series by Alyson Noel

Beautiful Creatures Book Trailer

2010-01-22T15:28:00.001-05:00

Beautiful Creatures is the next book on my To Read list - so I was excited to find this book trailer for it. Can't wait to read it - review coming soon.

COSI was Here, Harding Band Rocks!

2010-01-22T10:33:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, COSI came to the library and offered a fun Launch into Space program. About 20 members of the Harding High School band came and helped out. One member got up and demonstrated what it was like to wear the first space suit. Then everyone got their hands dirty and helped the kids do a variety of fun activities, including making space food and practicing space experiments using space gloves. You can see the complete photo album by becoming a fan of The Teen Scene @ Marion Public Library on Facebook.

And thank you to the Harding HS Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010 Alex Awards

2010-01-21T12:44:00.002-05:00

As you may know, it's awards season. Oscars. Golden Globes. Emmys. Grammys. And yes, there are book awards, too. Book awards that you may care about. The Alex Awards represent the top 10 titles written for adults that teen readers may think are awesome. So here they are . . .

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
The Bride’s Farewell by Meg Rosoff
Everything Matters! by Ron Currie, Jr.
The Good Soldiers by David Finkel
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir by Diana Welch and Liz Welch with Amanda Welch and Dan Welch
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson

Honestly, I have read none of them. I did just finish reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters which Stephen King said was one of the best 10 books of 2009. It's a gothic ghost story, very reminiscent of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights in tone. Although I liked it, kind of, it is not really on my top 10 list. And I may have posted on my Facebook status that Stephen King's pants were on fire for saying this is one of the best books of last year. But if you like historical fiction and ghost stories, this is also a good adult read for older teens. It's kind of slow starting, but once it gets going you want to know what is happening. You can get Stephen King's complete top 10 list for 2009 here (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20317203_20331246_10,00.html)

Actually, fans of Stephen King should know that he writes a regular column for Entertainment Weekly and he is quite humorous. He talks about movies and music as well as books.

2010 Printz Awards Announced

2010-01-18T10:11:00.004-05:00

The Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for teens were announced . . .

Going Bovine written by Libba Bray is the 2010 Printz Award winner.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named:

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman,

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Punkzilla by Adam Rapp

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical

Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

Awesome Read - The Hunger Games

2010-01-13T10:41:00.003-05:00

What would you do if you were chosen to participate in a fight to the death? The Hunger Games is the first book in an awesome trilogy set in the future. In the future, the U.S. has completely collapsed and has been replaced by Panem, a country divided into 12 districts. Each year, 2 people from each district are brought in and forced to participate in Gladiator type games - a fight to the death. Katniss and Peeta, teenagers just like you, are chosen to represent their district and must fight stronger competition who have trained to be gladiators their entire lives. This is an exciting, action packed read that you will not be able to put down.

Book 2 in the series is called Catching Fire. And book 3 is scheduled to come out in August. You can click here for a countdown clock and fun and games based on the popular books (http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/).

The Teen Scene on Twitter

2010-01-12T10:31:00.002-05:00

Look to your left and what do you see? That's right - we're on Twitter now. I am just twitterpated. I am not, however, a twit. Ha. But I guess that means I will have to tweet. Lots of bird lingo involved her. And I got all techno savvy and put the Twitter feeds right here on the blog. I looked up how to do it, that's what we librarians do - look things up. So now I guess the Teen Scene is all caught up technology wise. Until, you know, 5 minutes from now when the next big technology wave comes out. Actually, it probably will literally be a wave - Google Wave that is.

Speaking of Google, go to google.com and put in Chuck Norris. Now hit "I'm feeling lucky". Go ahead, I'll wait. Funny isn't it? Thanks Foz for pointing out that bit of Google fun for me.

Anyhow, if you want to follow the Teen Scene on twitter we are TeenServicesMPL. Or just keep checking back here - you can get the latest Twitter updates, book reviews, movie news and happenings here at MPL.

Resolve to Read

2010-01-08T13:28:00.002-05:00

January is the time to make new year's resolutions - and this year you
should Resolve to Read!!!! And we're going to help you. For every 15
minutes you read in January, you can fill out a prize entry ballot and place
it in the prize drawing box at the library. Each week we will be giving away a $20.00 gift certificate. You know you want a free and easy 20 bucks. Plus, it's snowy and cold out there - it's a great time to read.

Read whatever you want: Horror, Romance, Inspirational, Mysteries . . .
It doesn't matter what you read. Heck, you can read the newspaper or magazine. Just spend 15 minutes reading and get a ballot turned in.

Check this space next week for great reading suggestions and our first prize winner.

The End of the Year is For Countdowns

2009-12-14T10:23:00.002-05:00

After everyone has opened their presents and overeaten, a new countdown will begin: the countdown to January 1st. My favorite part about the end of the year is all the year end lists which highlight the best of the best . . .

The best movies:
Stark Trek - Seriously, it was awesome.
The Vampire's Assistant - I loved how campy fun this movie was
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Appealed to this Sci Fi fan girl

New Moon does not make my list . . . but it was an improvement over Twilight. Sorry Twihards.

The best books:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- What would you do if you were forced to compete in a competition where you must quite literally take out your opponent?

Fallen by Kate Lauren - Suspected in the death of her boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Luce is sent to a Savannah, Georgia, reform school where she meets two intriguing boys and learns the truth about the strange shadows that have always haunted her.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia - Ethan Wate meets the girls of his dreams, literally - she has been haunting his nightmares for months.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman - Kind of like The Lovely Bones, Mia finds herself outside of her body after a terrible car accident where she must examine her life and decide if she is going to fight to live.

Shiver by Maggie Steifvater - Twilight brought us vampires, and shiver bring us werewolves. Grace is fascinated by a wolf that has saved her from being attacked by his pack. Sam is that wolf. Soon Sam may lose the ability to turn human again, just as Grace is falling in love.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld - First off, Westerfeld is one of my favorite authors. If you are not reading his stuff, you should start. ASAP. This is the story of World War I, but re-imagined by this great sci fi/fantasy author. Enemy lines become blurred, teens are involved in epic conflict, a war machine that walks on two legs and a girl who is hoping it is not discovered that she is, in fact, a girl.

Other books to look into . . .
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X

Here are some links to other Best of 2009 Teen Fiction Lists:
NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121173632
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&plgroup=1&docId=1000446581

Tell me, what are your picks for the best teen books of 2009?

Book Buzz: When You Reach Me

2009-12-09T10:07:00.003-05:00

Have you ever read the book The Time Traveler's Wife? Or maybe you
saw the ads for the movie? When You Reach Me may remind you of this. It is the story of Miranda - named after the Miranda rights by her mom who wanted to be a lawyer. One day Miranda mysteriously gets a note - which turns out to be the first of four - that asks her to write a letter giving specific information. As the story progresses, Miranda loses a friend, gains some friends, gets a job . . . and learns that the future can affect the present and the present can affect the future. In the end, she will discover what the mysterious notes mean and help save a friend's life.

I loved loved loved this book. (Thanks Kim for recommending it). This is a great read for Middle School students.

The Teen Scene on Facebook

2009-12-01T10:42:00.003-05:00

The Teen Scene @ Marion Public Library now has a Facebook page and you can become a FAN!! Get the latest news on upcoming programs, contests, books and more. You can also participate in discussions. This month's discussion: What do you think of the Twilight series?

In other news, there are only 3 more Teen CoffeeHOuses left in 2009 - we'll see you on December 1, 8 and 15 from 3:00-4:30 PM.

Yet Another Gratitious Twilight Shout Out - Shark Boy Fun!

2009-11-11T12:12:00.003-05:00

Each day we get closer to the New Moon movie premiere and learn new, interesting facts. Today I learned that Jacob (Taylor Lautner) was Shark Boy in the Adventure of Shark Boy and Lava Girl. Seriously, I have seen this move a lot (not for me, for my 7 year old) - and as soon as I heard this, of course he is. Duh. You can see him in a promotion clip for the movie (http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/11/taylor-lautner-new-moon-2005-interview/) demonstrating his martial arts skills.

And the other night I was watching some heist movie on Disney channel and there was Kristen Stewart. After a brief IMDB search (really, this is the go to spot to find out what movies someone has been in) it turns out the movie is called Catch That Kid. In fact, she has kind of been in a lot of movies - see here http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829576/. But I still think she comes across as a terrible (no really - seriously bad) actress in Twilight. I really would have liked them to cast someone else. Don't hate me for that.

And you do know that Rob Pattison was in the Harry Potter movies, right? Okay, good.

Books and Movies, Movies and Books

2009-10-30T14:54:00.003-04:00

So I go everyday and look at Popwatch (the Entertainment Weekly blog about popular culture) and lo and behold, it turns out The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is being made into a movie (get more info here http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/10/30/first-look-diary-wimpy-kid/). Everywhere you look, books are being made into movies. In January, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is being made into a movie. Well, more technically, it is being made into a movie right now and it will be released sometime next year.

Sometimes it is awesome to see a book made into a move - I loved loved loved The Vampire's Assistant movie that I saw last Saturday (2 thumbs up I say). I did not, however, love love love Twilight. In fact, I kind of thought that Kristen Stewart and, dare I say it, Robert Pattison were not that great of actors. First off (please don't stone me) - I think Edward should be way hotter. Seriously. I will, of course, be going to see New Moon and hoping that somehow they have improved in their abilities. But I probably won't be holding my breath. I don't look good in blue.

But back to the Vampire's Assistant - maybe it helped that I hadn't really read the books (gasp, it is true - I have read every vampire book in our teen collection EXCEPT for this series). Anyhow, because I hadn't read them, I had no pre-conceived notions of what I expected. However, having seen the movie, I really want to go back and read the books and see what they are like. The movie is a lot of fun. The actor playing Cresley was PERFECTLY cast (unlike Bella and Edward, cough cough). And in a brilliant meta moment, the first scene in the movie is a bucket of popcorn - thus you know what you are in for, a fun, campy, popcorn movie. And it did not disappoint. If you asked, I would totally go see it again - but you are going to have to buy the popcorn :)

Random Facts About Your Favorite Books->Movies

2009-10-23T15:52:00.002-04:00

I would be a negligent Teen Services Librarian if I did not tell you that there was an awesome New Moon trailer available for your viewing pleasure at Fandango.com (http://www.fandango.com/hdmovietrailers/exclusivetvspotevent-1303163152/)

And I am going tomorrow night to see Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant so I can give you my review. This popular vampire series has in fact been made into a graphic novel series which is being processed right now as we speak. So be sure to come in soon and check it out.

In fact, lots of teen novels are being made into graphic novels right now: Vampire Kisses, Cirque Du Freak, Maximum Ride and even Avalon High by Meg Cabot. I'll work on getting a more complete list to you next week.

Keep enjoying Teen Read Week 2009. Join the Read, Read, Revolution.

Dance Dance Revolution 2009

2009-10-23T14:55:00.004-04:00

Hey Everybody, thanks for coming and hanging for the Dance Dance Revolution - as demonstrated to the left by one of our Teen Read Week 2009 participants.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the final day for entry ballots to be turned in. I'll be calling a winner next week.

Teen Read Week is Next Week

2009-10-15T10:29:00.003-04:00

Teen Read Week is October 19-24th - and you can win!!!!!

For every 15 minutes that you read, fill out an entry form and place it into our prize drawing box for your chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate.

Also, try to guess the number of pieces of candy in our Candy Guess Jar for your chance to win all of the candy. Just in time for Halloween.

Join us Tuesday at 3:00 for Dance, Dance, Revolution at the Teen CoffeeHouse.

Ellen Schreiber Came, Conquered

2009-10-07T08:38:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was an awesome day for teens in the Marion area - Ellen Schreiber (author of the Vampire Kisses series) came and talked about her books and sign copies. Ellen was a lot of fun. Teens in the audience, including one Marion teen whom Ellen knew and described as her "biggest fan", asked really great questions about the characters, the storylines and the art work. Ellen talked about making her books into manga and reported that her Vampire Kisses number 3 manga was on the New York Times manga best seller list - it is the only U.S. title on the list.

Thanks Ellen for such a great event, and thanks to all the teen fans for coming out and showing her the love.

Ellen signed pretty much everything - backpacks, jackets,

school i.d. cards and yes, copies of her books.

Ellen's #1 stalker, I mean fan :) --->

Guest Teen Blogger - Connie

2009-10-06T16:17:00.002-04:00

At the Marion Public Library writer Ellen Schreiber spoke about her books Vampire Kisses, as well as her previous books. In my own opnion she is a very interesting, talented writer.
Since I am in journalism I came here to see her speak about her books. During her talk she described her life and why she wrote Vampire Kisses. When I talked with her afterwards she took the time to talk with me about her writing and her inspirations. Unlike what I had expected she was very enthusiastic and open to answer my questions. Originally her books were released in Belgium and then spread to the U.S. If anyone is interested in her writing I suggest to do so, she is a talented author. Another thing, if she is doing a book signing near you, I suggest you go. It is a great time to find out about her writing and the background to the stories.

9th grader, Harding

Ellen Schreiber to Visit Marion Public Library

2009-09-18T13:17:00.003-04:00

Don't forget - Ellen Schreiber, author of the Vampire Kisses series, will be visiting Marion Public Library on Tuesday, October 6th at 3:00 PM. You'll want to be sure and be here to meet her and get signed copies of her books. Copies of the books will be given away as door prizes.

Ranger's Apprentice

2009-09-18T13:07:00.002-04:00

15-year-old Will is selected to become a ranger's apprentice where he learns ranger skills such as archery, knife-throwing, horse riding and tracking. He soon finds himself on the quest to help save his kingdom by taking on the creatures called Kalkara. It is in battle that Will must prove himself as a ranger in the this first book of an awesome fantasy series.

Ranger's Apprentice series:

#1 Ruins of Gorlan

#2 The Burning Bridge

#3 The Icebound Land

#4 The Battle for Skandia

#5 Sorcerer of the North

#6 The Siege of Macindaw

For complete book information, visit www.rangersapprentice.com

Last Chance to Vote in Teen Top Ten

2009-09-15T16:44:00.001-04:00

Hurry, hurry - Friday is your last chance to vote in the ALA/YALSA's (American Library Association and the Young Adult division of said organization) Teens Top Ten list. You can go here and vote: www.ala.org/teenstopten

Because Zombies Make Everything Better

2009-09-04T10:06:00.006-04:00

Okay so we are going to take a break from vampires today to talk about (dun dun dun) - Zombies!!!!

Pride and Prejudice is an awesome, classic work of fiction by Jane Austen where people attend balls and follow the proper rules of society. So wouldn't it be awesome if you took this classic work of fiction and threw some zombies into the mix. That is what has happened - and it totally rocks. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies maintains 80% of the original content - and adds zombies into the mix. (And I tell ya, I just can not say the word zombies enough - what a fun word!). So while everyone is attending the ball and doing their waltzes, some unique party crashers show up. Awesome.

Now in all truth, Pride and Prejudice is actually a really good book in its own right. Really, even though it does show up on high school reading lists - it is good. So read the original, and then pick up the zombie-fied version and compare notes.

Then you can read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. And Sense and Sensibilities and Sea Monsters. And War of the Worlds Plus Bloog, Guts and Zombies. All coming soon.

So I leave you today with this awesome piece of Zombie flair . . .

This Just In: Ellen Schreiber - author of Vampire Kisses - is coming to Marion Public Library

2009-08-31T14:41:00.005-04:00

I am so excited to announce that Ellen Schreiber, the author of the Vampire Kisses series, will be coming to Marion Public Library on Tuesday, October 6th at 3:00 PM. She will be here to talk about her books and she may have a few moments to sign a copy for you if you would like. I can not wait to meet her. Stay tuned for info.

Kinda Like Facebook + Love of Books = Shelfari!!

2009-08-27T11:02:00.003-04:00

If you like to use social networking tools like myspace and Facebook and you love books, then you might also like Shelfari. Shelfari creates a virtual bookshelf of all the books you've read, are reading, and want to read and allows you to share it with your "friends". Here you can review books, give them a rating, and comment/discuss with other readers.

You can view my Shelfari bookshelf on the right side of this blog. This is a great way to get book reviews and suggestions for titles to read.

There are other bookshelf sites - such as Good Reads - that you may want to check out. Both sites allow you to put a widget on your myspace of facebook page to share your reading list with others.

You can find out more information at www.shelfari.com or www.goodreads.com

If you do get a Shelfari account, be sure to friend Teen Services Marion Public Library - I'd love to hear what you think about the books you read.

Because There Are Just Not Enough Vampires on this Blog

2009-08-24T15:59:00.002-04:00

When I first started as a Teen librarian (How long ago? I won't say) there were these vampire books that were very popular - The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith. They have remained popular, and certainly now that people everywhere can't get enough vampire books they have been re-released. Well, they are being made into a show on the CW. Truthfully, I will totally be watching to see what it is like (and if you haven't already - be sure to check out Supernatural on Thursday nights. I love that show.)

The Vampire Diaries follows Elena, who finds herself drawn to the mysterious Stefan. At a bonfire, one of their friends shows up bleeding from a horrible neck wound. Stefan thinks he knows who did it . . . his long lost brother Damon. Soon Stefan and Damon are fighting for Elena's soul as well as for those of her friend's and family.

The show debuts Thursday, September 10th at 8:00 PM. You can check out the books today at Marion Public Library.

An Awesome Gratuitous Twilight Shout Out of the Day

2009-08-24T12:32:00.004-04:00

Okay, so In Style magazine (which you can check out here at the library) has asked 10 designers to design the wedding dress they think that Bella would wear based on descriptions from Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. You can see the dresses here http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20241149_20299475_20661914,00.html

Not all of them are great, but what a cool concept for a story. And some of the sketches are very . . . um, bizarre.

And Now for Something Not Twilight - Or Even Vampires

2009-08-12T12:15:00.003-04:00

Sarah Dessen, Author Extraordinaire

If you want to read a good book. You remember a good book - something that just tells a good story. No vampires. No werewolves. No magic, except of course the kind that happens when normal boy meets normal girl and sparks just fly (although sometimes they just kind of kindle and simmer and grow). Well - let me introduce you to Sarah Dessen. Sarah Dessen writes the kind of story that stays with you.

Her most recent book - Along for the Ride - debuted at number 1. That is something exciting to celebrate.

Along for the Ride is about Auden and the summer before she starts college. She decides to spend it with her father . . . here she becomes involved with a fellow bike riding insomniac Eli and together the face the facts about who they are and what they have been through.

Read it today. In fact, read all of her books today. In my opinion, you won't regret it.

From Along for the Ride: "I don't know. It's like, we're headed out somewhere. You never know what's going to happen. So you stop for supplies."

For more about Sarah Dessen: http://sarah-land.ning.com/ and http://sarahdessen.com/home

Gratuitous Twilight Shout Out of the Day

2009-08-12T12:01:00.005-04:00

Okay, for the record - I am not a Twilight maniac. Or a "Twifan" as I recently heard. I mean, I have the soundtrack (and the score). I've read the books (but I vehemently hated, loathed and was extremely irked by Breaking Dawn). But I know that some of you - well you are Fans - with a capital F I tell ya. So I thought you would appreciate hearing that there is in fact going to be a line of Edward and Bella Barbie dolls. You can read more about it at http://twilightguide.com/tg/2009/04/22/edward-bella-twilight-barbie-dolls/

And for the record, when I was a huge X-files fan - well, I was deeply upset that I could not afford the $80.00 Mulder and Scully Barbies. So I understand fandom, that is why I am here for you.

For Twilight Fans Who Just Want More . . .

2009-08-11T14:59:00.003-04:00

The awesome folks at Kanawha County Public Library have put together a great resource that allows you to read more, do more and hear more related to Twilight. (Technically it's called a reading map, but I know you don't really care.) Anyhow, if you just need more - you'll want to go here. They have some reading lists, a list of songs you might want to listen to if you are in the Twilight mood (including Here With Me by Dido, one of my favorites) and a list of online communities where you can meet with other Twilight fans. For more, go here http://kanawha.lib.wv.us/readingmaps/twilight/

By the way, did you see that Twilight won something like 11 Teen Choice awards last night? And what was Kristen Stewart wearing? Okay, I half way apologize for that shallow moment. But only half way.

And finally . . . what do you think of the New Moon recasting? Learn more about that at Twilight Central at Popwatch http://www.ew.com/ew/package/0,,20234559,00.html

The Vampire's Assistant Movie Trailer

2009-08-10T09:03:00.002-04:00

So I went this weekend to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (didn't like it) - but I did see trailers for some other great teen books that are being made into movies.

Like The Vampire's Assistant (movie trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMME_Af7fBM&feature=player_embedded) and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

And I did get to see the trailer for New Moon. It looks okay - hope the movie is better than the trailer makes it look.

But the one I am really looking forward to Is Where the Wild Things Are. Admit it, you love that book too. Right? Come on, don't leave me hanging.

The Second Best Vampire Series

2009-07-24T09:39:00.004-04:00

Just to be clear . . . you know the #1 vampire series is Twilight, right? Okay. Thought so.

But there is another popular vampyre* series, House of Night by P C Cast.

16-year-old Zoey Redbird is marked . . . she will either become a vampyre, or if her body rejects the change - she will die. The House of Night is the school where marked individuals go to make the change. In a world where vampyre's exist, Zoey must now wait to see if she will become one . . .

#1 Marked
#2 Betrayed
#3 Chosen
#4 Untamed
#5 Hunted
#6 Tempted (coming in the fall)

These books are always checked out, so you'll have to put a hold on them. We also have them on audio cd so you can listen to them while you drive or work out or whatever.

You can visit the House of Night website and get your own vampyre tattoo (http://www.houseofnightseries.com/)
You can get a sneak peek by reading chapter 1 here http://www.houseofnightseries.com/pages/markedxrpt.html

* And yes, really, that is how they spell vampyre in this series. I'm not making a big ole typo I tell ya.

Flights of Fantasy (and Science Fiction), Part II

2009-07-22T08:21:00.009-04:00

Wow - I am so proud of you guys. You read a lot. So here's even more Science Fiction and Fantasy reviews by you . . .

Dead Girl Dancing by Linda Joy Singleton

"Almost all the books I've read this summer have been by this author." - Abbey, 8th grade

"The seer series is a really great series it sucks you in and you can't stop." - Abbey, 8th grade

The Giver by Lois Lowry

"I loved this book. I was horrified at the society of the future so beautifully described. Could life really become this way?" - Aulbri, grade 10

Gilda Joyce - The Dead Drop by Jennifer Allison

"The mystery was great! I love those series too!" - Hannah, grade 7

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (this is the sequel to Inkheart)

"I loved the book. It was amazing but I absolutely hated the ending." - Allison, grade 8

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

"Absolutely amazing" - Allison, grade 8

The Faire Path by Frewin Jones

"Can't wait to read the next!" - Jennifer, grade 8

The Wish List by Eoin Colfer

"The book is amazing" - Allison, grade 8

Tithe by Holly Black

"Love faeires. This book was awesome." - Megan, grade 9

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle (part of the Time Quartet series)

"I loved it! It was really interesting." - Amy, grade 8

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flannagan (part of the Ranger's Apprentice series)

"Amazing, can't wait for the next book." - Allison, grade 8

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

"This is now my favorite author." - Eric, 6th grade

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

"Absolutely amazing" - Allison, 8th grade

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

"This book made me want the second book in the series as soon as I finished it." - Kierra, 8th grade

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

"What an awesome book! I love her take on vampires! This is the most entertaining book I've read in a long time. I absolutely love this." - Aulbri, 10th grade

Next time, all the other books.

Flights of Fantasy (and Science Fiction)

2009-07-22T08:07:00.002-04:00

And now on to our continuing saga . . . vampire books are not the only thing you read this summer. Science Fiction and Fantasy (two of my personal favorites) were abundantly reviewed by you. Here's what you read and what you had to say about it.

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
"I love the futuristic setting and the mysterious plans and schemes" - Kayla, 9th grade

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld*
"At first it seems boring but the the time I got to the second chapter I was hanging on to every word." - Kayla, 9th grade

*If you want to read a really good vampire book, read Peeps by Scott Westerfeld.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
"It had a whole bunch of mysteries and twist in the plot, I could barely put it down!" - Amy, 8th grade

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (one of the all time best ever in my opinion)
"An excellent book full of metaphors, ironies and interesting eerie predictions of the future" - Nick, grade 12

Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
"Great book, action packed" - Cheyenne, 10th grade
"It was really good" - Amy, grade 8 on School's Out Forever
"I love this series, and a lot of other people must too because I had to wait forever to get this book!" - Amy, grade 8 (sorry about your wait Amy).

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
"A good romance story for anyone." - Kimberly, grade 9 (Twilight fans will probably like this one).

Evernight by Claudia Gray
"A girl goes to Evernight Academy and meets Lucas who turns out to be a vampire hunter. They become separated but their love is strong." - Abbey, grade 8
"This book is one of my favorite." - Abbey, grade 8

Evermore by Alyson Noel
"Great. I am speechless." - Brittany, grade 11
"This book is one of my favorites." - Abbey, grade 8

Fanging Around

2009-07-20T11:36:00.003-04:00

I'm back with another look at what you read during this year's Teen Summer Reading Club . . . . and vampire fiction was very popular. Yes, yes it was. Here's a look at what you had to say:

Vampire Academy series by Rachel Mead
"I loved the story line." - Jacob, grade 9
"Awesome book"
"Really exciting book" - Alex, grade 12, talking about Frostbite
"Awesome book" - Alex, grade 12, talking about Shadow Kiss

The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
"The beginning of the book was slow in the dorm room but Claire makes things seem more interesting" - Kierra, grade 8, talking about Glass Houses (book 1)

(editor's note: this is an interesting series about a college that is next to a town where vampires not only are abundant and "out", but rule the town.)

Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan (and I am surprised by how popular this series still is)
"It was a great start to a really good series. I *heart* vampire books" - Jacob, grade 9
"This book was very interesting and once I started reading it I could barely put it down" - Robert, grade 9, talking about Killers of the Dawn
"This is the best book yet" - Aulbria, grade 10, talking about The Vampire Prince
"My favorite so far" - Aulbri, grade 10, on The Vampire's Assistant

Blue Blood series by De La Cruz
"I like the plot in the series. I'm ready for the 4th book after reading the 1st 3" - Kierra, grade 9

House of Night series by P. C. Cast (we now have this series on CD)
"Really good. Read all of series." - Bianca, grade 9
"Great twist and different outlook on vampires" - Brittany, grade 11
"This is the best House of Night novel so far. Not only is the style of writing cool but there is so much meaning. I think the main message is acceptance of those who are not like you because nobody is ever what you expect." - Aulbri, grade 10, on Untamed
"I love this series" - Aulbri, grade 10
"This is definitely the best yet of the House of Night series. It drew me in from page 1, and I finished it in only a few hours. I can hardly wait for the next one." - Kathleen, grade 8, on Hunted

Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber
"I've always liked books that involve vamps. This one is among my favorite." - Kierra, grade 9

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klauss (one of the original, and the best)
"I really liked this book. I think the one downside is that it doesn't have a sequel." - Sierra, grade 11
"It was really good through most of the book but I was a bit disappointed with the ending" - Brittany, grade 11

The Vampire's Beautiful Daughter by S. P. Somtow
"Very good" - Taylor, grade 6

Salem's Lot by Stephen King (going old school)
"A wonderful vampire book. The vampires are vampires not pretty glittered up dolls. The disasters brought unlikely people together. It is revealed the victims are just as horrible as the monsters that drain them." - Aulbri, grade 10

We Have a Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-20T08:20:00.002-04:00

That's right folks - we have a winner for the Teen Summer Reading Club 2009. Cheyenne, 10th grade, is the winner. She chose the iPod Touch.

Keep coming back for more opportunities to win. We have contests all year long.

Teens Take on Twilight in TSRC

2009-07-16T09:18:00.003-04:00

I've been going through the reading ballots for the Teen Summer Reading Club, and a lot of you read the Twilight series. Here's what you had to say . . .

Twilight
"Vampires are awesome! TEAM EDWARD"
"Not your typical vampire book. :) an excellent read - BETTER than the movie 10 fold."
"It starts one of my fav. series"
"Best book ever!"
"Excellent book, I really enjoyed it."

And one naysayer says, "Well I'm not sure I appreciate all the screaming teen girl fanatics. The original story is good. Bella makes Washington seem cool :)" Aulbri, grade 10 (Wait 'til you hear Aulbri's take on Breaking Dawn)

New Moon
"A really good book and sequel"
"My favorite of the Twilight series. It's absolutely depressing in an exciting way. I love that werewolves are introduced into the series (there's kind of a foreshadowing of this in Twilight when Bella was talking to Jacob on the beach). I respect this book more than the others." Yes, it's Aulbri again.

Eclipse
"I love it"
"Loved the book"
"I like the Twilight series . . . until book 3. This is just a filler book to me and it's not as romantic as the 1st two. The only interesting part of this book is the vampires vs. werewolves conflicts." From my hero, Aulbri

Breaking Dawn
"Great ending to the Twilight saga"
"Another amazing book by Steph. The Twilight series rocks!"
And my favorite review ever, from my new BFF Aulbri - "What is this crap? The birth part was the only good part. Ew this book is terrible. Breaking Dawn completely destroyed the Twilight series. She's writing as if she is running out of time from her publishers. What's worse is everyone loves this one the best."

So there you go, some mixed reviews on the Twilight saga (you go Aulbri). Next post: Just Fanging Around with Vampire Fiction, your thoughts on other vampire fiction that you read during this year's Teen Summer Reading Club.

What Does the Library Mean to You, Part IV

2009-07-09T09:56:00.002-04:00

You may have heard me mention it, but public libraries in Ohio may have to reduce hours and services due to state budget cuts. In an effort to help everyone know that even teens love libraries - we took a poll: What does the library mean to you?

And you answered . . .

It's a place for you to get on the Internet since you don't have access at home (33%)

I can't get my homework done without it (surprisingly 0% of you chose this answered, even though I personally have helped you do your homework. What is up with that I say :) )

I can't get the books I want to read without it (33%)

I love to rock out at the Teen CoffeeHouse (0% - come on people, I am not feeling the love here :) )

All of the above (33% - thankfully, this means that some of you do love the Teen CoffeeHouse, which I really already knew since you ask often if we can have it more than one day a week.)

Thanks all for voting and letting us know what Marion Public Library means to you.

It's the Final Countdown

2009-07-09T09:49:00.002-04:00

Today is Thursday, July 9th - that means you only have 3 more days to get your ballots in for the Teen Summer Reading Club. All reading ballots must be turned in by 5:30 PM on Saturday, July 11th. I will be working on doing the grand prize drawing next week. I hope that YOU are the lucky grand prize winner who will get their choice of either a Wii or an iPod Touch.

Check back next week to pick up a survey and let us know how you think we are doing. You get to tell us what to do - and win. Check back here next week for more info, details and all the hub bub. (What is hub bub? I do not really know, but I'm a gonna say it 'cause I want to.)

Tick tock - what are you doing still reading this? Finish your book and turn in your ballot already :)

What Does Your Library Mean to You, Part III

2009-06-30T10:34:00.002-04:00

Check out what these teens did to express what their library means to them - Chalk Drawings. How cool is that? An article appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal, which you can read here Teens Chalk to Save Our Libraries (http://www.ohio.com/news/48983171.html)

Once Again, We Have Winners!!!!

2009-06-30T10:22:00.003-04:00

Wow - I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by (sorry to mention that). We have now completed 4 of our 6 week Teen Summer Reading Club. Once again, we have 10 gift certificate winners and 1 contest winner. They will be receiving $10 and $15 gift certificates to Subway, Kroger, Wal Mart, etc. There are just 2 more weeks to read and participate in this year's TSRC. If you haven't yet - YOU WILL WANT TO get a ballot turned in for your chance to win either a Wii or an iPod Touch. That is right - we are giving away awesome prizes this year.

ALL ballots for the Teen Summer Reading Club MUST be turned in by July 11th - so get reading :)

What Does the Library Mean to You, Part II

2009-06-24T08:07:00.008-04:00

The library is more than just fun and games . . . well, we do have a lot of fun. In fact, last year 1,636 teens (that means you - and you are cool) attended programs or participated in contests. There were 704 ballots turned in as a part of our Teen Summer Reading Club, which means that in just 6 weeks you guys got together and read 704 books. And one lucky teen won our Grand Prize - a personal DVD player. (This year's Grand Prize is your choice of either an iPod touch or a Wii).

And you say you don't like to read - but there were 5,959 books checked out of our teen area. If you figure the average cost of a book is $10.00* - well, that means that Marion Public Library saved the teens in our community $59,590.00. You don't have that chunk of change just sitting around in your piggy bank, do you? And really, we all know that you read more than that because you check out books from the J area - and lots of adult fiction (Stephen King, Dean Koontz, vampire books, Danielle Steel, and more vampire books.)

Plus, you have the cost of free food at our programs (free to you, not us), prizes! prizes! and even more prizes! - and well, that all adds up like this:

Cost of Books for Teens: Over $100,000

Cost of Programs and Services**: A lot (and paid for in part by the Friends of the Marion Public Library).

Marion Public Library in the life of Teens: PRICELESS***

Thank you all for your support. I hope we can keep rocking out in the future.

* Okay, in truth - the cost of a paperback is anywhere from $5.99 to $15.95 and the cost of a hardback book is anywhere from $15.95 to $29.95. But $10.00 is a very easy number to multiply by (what - I rock at a lot, but not necessarily math.)

** Last year's program highlights include a special Twilight screening, Free Comic Book Day, Teen Read Week, the Teen Summer Reading Club, craft programs, and of course - Teen CoffeeHouse, where about 70 of us hang out each week to eat and play games.

*** And yes, I ripped off the MasterCard add. It's not like you haven't done it before, at least in your head.

What Does the Library Mean to You?

2009-06-22T15:16:00.003-04:00

Have you been to one of our after school Teen CoffeeHouses? Have you visited the library for help completing a school assignment? Do you visit the library to get online - whether it be to use MySpace, to do online schooling, to keep up to date with the latest news (come on - you know you are looking at your favorite celebs blog or twitter?) or any of the other millions of things you can do online? The library has lots to offer - and our teen services program really rocks (if I do say so myself - and I am totally not biased in any way :) ) But the truth is, it has been awesome sharing the fun of the Harry Potter and Twilight saga, giving aways tons of free prizes, and getting together to play Guitar Hero and Rock Band. So tell the adults in your life what the Marion Public Library means to you, and ask them to contact the Governor and local representative. And hey, even though you can't vote, let them (you know, the Governor) know what the library means to you, to your personal life and education. Together we can help SAVE OHIO LIBRARIES.

www.olc.org/SaveOhioLibraries.asp#library

We Have Winners!!!

2009-06-16T15:40:00.002-04:00

The first 2 weeks of our Teen Summer Reading Club - Luau @ the Library - are done and we have 10 lucky winners. They will receive $10 and $15 gift certificates to Subway, Cold Stone Creamery, Wal Mart, Kroger and more . . .

In addition, Kaitlin is our winner of the Shark Attack contest. She wins a $10 gift certificate to Wal Mart.

There are still more chances for you to win. There are 4 more weeks to read and 2 more contests. The current contest is Teen Book Title Bingo, and entry forms can be picked up in the teen area. While you are there, be sure to pick up reading ballots for your chance to win.

All of the reading ballots will go into the Grand Prize Drawing. One lucky teen will win their choice of either a Wii or an iPod Touch. You don't want to miss your chance to win a $250 prize.

Congrats to all our winners, and good luck.

2009-06-03T14:00:00.002-04:00

The Teen Summer Reading Club is Here!!!!

This is your chance to win an iPod Touch or Wii

How you ask? Simple - READ!!!

For every book you read from now until July 11th, fill out a ballot and place it into our prize drawing box in the teen area or one of the branches. Each entry is your chance to win.

There are prize drawings every 2 weeks for gift cards to Subway, Burger King, Kroger, Wal Mart and Cold Stone Creamery. There are 10 winners every two weeks (for those of you who have already forgotten your math, that's 30 winners.) Then all of the entries will go into the Grand Prize Drawing. One lucky winner will get their choice of an iPod Touch or a Wii.

We also have fun activities every Tuesday from 3:30 - 5:00 PM

June 9 - Guitar Hero

June 16 - Movie and Snacks

June 23 - Guitar Hero

June 30 - Movie and Snacks

July 7 - Rock Band Luau

See you there . . .

Most Awesome Book Awards Ever

2009-04-17T14:45:00.003-04:00

Recently, School Library Journal (February 2009 edition) put together the most awesome awards list . . .

Most Likely to Get Married - Twilight of course by Stephenie Meyer

Best Declartion of Love - Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Best Budding Relationship - Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Headiest Falling in (and Out of) Love Scenes - Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Most Likely to Break Your Heart - The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

Best First Kiss - Suck It Up by Brian Meehl

Most Romantic Gestury - I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Best Romance Under Duress - The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld

Most Likely to Melt Your Fingers While Reading Because It's So Hot - Graceling by Kristin Cashore - according to the author of the article, this romance puts Twilight to shame

Draw It! Contest for Teens

2009-02-27T13:05:00.004-05:00

If you like to draw, here’s your chance to shine! Help us produce the publicity posters for this year’s Teen Summer Reading Club, Luau @ Your Library and you could win a $25.00 gift certificate to Wal-Mart and have your artwork appear throughout the Marion community and on the Marion Public Library’s teen blog. To enter, simply follow the directions below.

Rules:
Contest is open to all teens grades 6-12.
Teens may enter as many original 8 1/2 x 11 drawings as they would like, but each entry must be submitted with an official entry form (photocopies of entry forms are acceptable).
All entries must represent and display the phrase, “Luau @ Your Library”.
Please use no more than four colors, one of which must be black.
Please do not put your name or any identifiable information on your drawing.
The Marion Public Library reserves the right to disqualify any entries that display or promote objectionable material or language.
Original, digital artwork that meets the above requirements will be accepted.
Deadline for entries to be turned in to the Reference desk is closing time on March 31st.

Click to download and entry form and contest guidelines --------------->

Good luck :)

This One's For the Guys

2009-02-24T11:56:00.005-05:00

Well, I did a post earlier just for the girls so now it is the guys turn.

<----------------------- GuysRead.com

You know you like to read, you don't like to read a lot of the stuff people are always telling you to read. Like seriously, they make you read Pride and Prejudice or Romeo and Juliet.

John Scieszka (rhymes with Fresca) is a funny guy (really, he wrote a book called The Stinky Cheese Man - can't get much funnier than that). He launched a project called GuysRead.com. Here you can put in a favorite author or title or subject - and it will let you know other books you may like.

Also, you can check out this collection of short stories that will absolutely make you want to read -------------------------------------------------->

You may also be interested in the horror stories from Anthony Horowitz (who also rides the Alex Rider series, a kind of teenage James Bond), the Cirque Du Freak and Demonata series by Darren Shan, or authors like Chris Crutcher, Christopher Paul Curtis, Will Hobbs, Gordon Korman, Gary Soto and Rich Wallace.

FYI: Whale Talk (for older teens) by Christ Crutcher is definitely on my list of Top 10 books

Are You Having a Boo Radley Moment?

2009-02-18T12:22:00.004-05:00

Marion Reads: To Kill a Mockingbird

There is always one book that changes your life (and hopefully sometimes more). For me, it was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I just really love this book, and I loved my 11th grade teacher who made me read this book (she rocked!!!!). If you haven't read it - well, what is your problem? Anyhow, there is a character in the book named Boo Radley - he is a quiet presence. And whenever I space (What? I space? - No, not me) I always think, "Oh, I'm having a Boo Radley moment." I would like to take credit for this ingenious expression, but really it comes from the movie Benny and Joon starring the incomporable Johnny Depp (No seriously - he does rock!!!).

Why - you may ask - are you talking about To Kill a Mockingbird? Well, soon the Marion Public Library will be working with several area locations (including the Palace Theater and OSUM) to host a big community reads event called Marion Reads. We are going to ask all of Marion to read To Kill a Mockingbird and we will be having several cool events to coincide with the reading. In fact, we will wrap it all up with a presentation of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Marion Palace Theater on April 23rd.

You never know, maybe this book will change your life like it did mine . . .

Here's a bonus pic - Benny and Joon

"Having a Boo Radley moment, are we?"

Bonus Benny and Joon quote (just for fun - a discussion about raisins):

Sam: You don't like raisins?

Joon: Not really.

Sam: Why?

Joon: They used to be fat and juicy and now they're twisted. They had their

lives stolen. Well, they taste sweet, but really they're just humiliated

grapes. I can't say I am a big supporter of the raisin council.

Sam: Did you see those, those raisins on TV? The ones that sing and dance

and stuff?

Joon: They scare me.

Sam: Yeah me too

Love Your Library

2009-02-17T09:15:00.005-05:00

For Valentine's Day we invited teens to tell us why they lurve the Marion Public Library and this is what you said:

This is why I love my library . . .

"because I can check myspace since I don't have a computer in my house"

"it has a bunch of good books and movies that I pick out"

"because I can get free movies and the librarian is very nice" (I'm going to pretend the librarian this teen is talking about is me :) )

"because they are always helpful"

"I can find any book - novel, mystery, how-to, biography - and if I can't find it there is Inter Library Loans . . . What's not to love?"

"there are so many books!!! Awesome inspirational section"

"because it's cool" (simple and to the point this teen is)

"I love to read"

"I love to get on the computer - It is fun to come here and hang out with friends. and I learn a lot of things when I read books here"

"because there's always something to read and a quiet place to work, study and on Tuesdays there's the Teen CoffeeHouse that give us teens something to do when school work piles up. That's why I love my library." (Yeah - someone mentioned Teen CoffeeHouse, Tuesdays 3:30-5:00 PM when there is school so come hang with me)

"the staff is really nice and is always willing to help"

"because it has my favorite books"

"I love that there's so much to do: there's fun contests, there's lots of books to choose from & I can study there too! I also love how the librarians are so friendly."

"I can always come here for whatever I need. It is a great place to have in the community and also is wonderful because of the fact that it keeps the community united." (I don't know who this teen is, but wow!!)

So there you have it, teens everywhere agree - Marion Public Library rocks!!!!!

The Best in Middle School Fiction

2008-11-11T10:29:00.002-05:00

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 . . .

2008-11-11T10:17:00.002-05:00

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

The Teen Scene

Enter the World of the Iron Fey

Who Killed Wesley Payne?

Prom and Prejudice

The 2011 Michael L. Printz Award Winners

Hush Little Baby Don't Say a Word, Momma's Gonna Buy You a Mockingbird

Teen Read Week 2010 and Zombies

Teens' Top Ten 2010

It's Teen Read Week! October 18th - 23rd

In the News: Bullying

The Awakening Book Trailer

Banned Books Week: Hey, You Can't Read That!

His Bruises are Not His Own

Angels Falling Everywhere

I Know What You Read This Summer

Can You Hear the Whispers?

Twilight: Eclipse Movie

Miley Cyrus to Star in Wake by Lisa McMann

Perfect 10s

You Don't Really Want to Sleep Tonight . . . Do You?

Now Watch This . . .

Cool Female Authors for Cool Chicks

Teen Summer Reading Club Promo #2

It's Coming . . .

What Do the Numbers Mean?

The Countdown is On

Go Green: Check Out, Read, Return, Repeat

"Glee"ful Reads

Congratulations to Our Teen Draw It Contest Winner

Tine Fey Says to Read It!

Nerdfighters!

Graphic Novels 101

April is National Poetry Month

What is Your Favorite Book Playlist?

Reading Rants

Read Irish for the Day

Never Judge a Book By Its Cover?

Because We Just Don't Talk About Twilight Enough

Teen Tech Week entry form - download it!

Learn * Create * Share

Vampires Are Out - The End of the World is In

Bottle Cap Crafts

6th Annual Draw It Teen Art Contest

Go Green, Get Funky - Bottle Cap Crafts

Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, 2009

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Opens on Friday

More Teen Fiction Coming to the CW

Steampunk Rocks! Leviathan Book Trailer

Celebrity Mash-Ups Contest, February 1 -13

Quotastic!

Fallen Book Trailer

Beautiful Creatures Book Trailer

COSI was Here, Harding Band Rocks!

2010 Alex Awards

2010 Printz Awards Announced

Awesome Read - The Hunger Games

The Teen Scene on Twitter

Resolve to Read

The End of the Year is For Countdowns

Book Buzz: When You Reach Me

The Teen Scene on Facebook

Yet Another Gratitious Twilight Shout Out - Shark Boy Fun!

Books and Movies, Movies and Books

Random Facts About Your Favorite Books->Movies

Dance Dance Revolution 2009

Teen Read Week is Next Week

Ellen Schreiber Came, Conquered

Guest Teen Blogger - Connie

Ellen Schreiber to Visit Marion Public Library

Ranger's Apprentice

Last Chance to Vote in Teen Top Ten

Because Zombies Make Everything Better

This Just In: Ellen Schreiber - author of Vampire Kisses - is coming to Marion Public Library

Kinda Like Facebook + Love of Books = Shelfari!!

Because There Are Just Not Enough Vampires on this Blog

An Awesome Gratuitous Twilight Shout Out of the Day

And Now for Something Not Twilight - Or Even Vampires

Gratuitous Twilight Shout Out of the Day

For Twilight Fans Who Just Want More . . .

The Vampire's Assistant Movie Trailer