Monday, December 31, 2012
December @ the LIbrary
Teens made candy, created magnificent nail art, & book trailers:
Some candy went home, some stayed for patrons. Thanks! It was delicious--and appreciated!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Twilight @ the Library
Teens created sparkling lotion, vampire treats, Kristen Stewart-type bracelets, group poems & more. They played Twilight Pictionary & Survive Jeopardy & Feel Like a Millionaire. They read minds with Zenner Cards & went on a Twilight by Dewey Scavenger Hunt. Check out some of the pictures:
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| Guess the famous scene! |
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| How about this one? Check out some of the poems, too. These are Cinquains, poems that follow certain rules for number of words, syllables, and lines--they are easy & fun. Sparkles Glitter Edward Sparkling Shining Brightening Edward sparkles in daylight Glittery Edward Preppy Charmer Fighting Sparkling Running Not a real vampire Alucard Bella Human Awesome Caring giving Loving Bella fancies charming Edward Kristen Jacob Beautiful Cute Caring Loving Shape Shifting Jacob is very fluffy Taylor Forest Wet wolves Frightening Horrifying Terrifying Wolves in the forest Woods |
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Teen Advisory Board
Earn volunteer time, play games, make & eat snacks--all at our monthly T.A.B. meetings on the first Monday of every month @ 4. On Dec. 3 we will begin planning for 2013--and we will begin making book trailers--so start thinking about some of your favorite books. Not a member yet? Just see any staff member to sign up! 12 & older are welcome!
Check out this book trailer for the new book, Enclave by Ann Aguirre.
Sound like a good book? Reserve a copy for yourself: Enclave.
Check out this book trailer for the new book, Enclave by Ann Aguirre.
Sound like a good book? Reserve a copy for yourself: Enclave.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Events for Teens @ the Cedar Lake Branch Library
BOOK BRACKETOLOGY
ALL MONTH LONG
Enjoy a March Madness-style tournament all month in celebration of Teen Read Week. Top ten nominated books for 2012 will be posted bracket-style. Every time you vote for your favorite in the daily pairing, you will be entered into a drawing. The winning book and the teen winner will be announced at the end of Oct. Nominated books will be on display and available for check out.
GAMEFEST
Wed. Oct. 31 @ 3
PlayStation & Wii games, tournaments & more!
SNACK & PLAN
Mon. Nov. 5 @ 4pm
Members of T.A.B., Teen Advisory Board, & those wishing to join (12 to 17 years of age) will eat, play games, & plan programs. Earn volunteer hours.
FROM VAMPIRE TO WEREWOLF, TWILIGHT TO BREAKING DAWN
Thurs. Nov. 15 @ 4
Vampire/human/werewolf/monster! You choose. Crafts, food & games for prizes!
GAMEFEST
Wed. Nov. 28 @ 3
PlayStation & Wii games, tournaments & more!
Volunteer Opportunities @ the Cedar Lake Branch Library
If you are a library volunteer, please let us know if you can help at any of these programs:
LEGO MANIA
Thurs., Nov. 1 @ 4:30
Children build and display Lego creations. You help them find pieces, build, and display them.
READER LEADER WITH PIPER & BAILEY
Tues. Nov. 20 @ 4:30
Work with younger children on reading and reading games & activities.
SUPER SCRABBLE
Fri. & Sat. Nov. 23 & 24, 10-2
Children and families are play Scrabble at the library.
CELEBRATE BOOKS CRAFTING FUN
Sat. Nov. 10, 10-12
All ages will celebrate Children's Book Week with a variety of crafts, including envelope books!
HOLIDAY MAGIC FAMILY FUN
Mon., Nov. 26 at 6:30
Celebrate the season with stories, crafts and more. Make an ornament for the library tree & one to take home, too!
If you are not a library volunteer, but want to help, just see a staff member at the desk to sign up! You must be 11 or older.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Mad Science @ the Library
19 teens experimented with baking soda, 
corn starch, liquid starch,
glue, heavy cream, mentos & diet pop, vegetable oil & water and
made goop, silly putty, Oobleck, volcanoes, butter, biscuits, & lava
lamps. Check it out! Lots of creative minds working!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The latest book by Award winning Indiana author, John Green, is amazing!
The Fault in Our Stars sounds like a downer. Stage four cancer patient Hazel Grace meets gorgeous cancer surviver Augustus Waters at support group for young cancer victims. What follows is the development of a wonderful, insightful relationship between two fascinating and amazing teens. Sure, it's a tear jerker at times--but not often. More often this is a laugh aloud funny story narrated by Hazel Grace that will make you rethink living, loving,--and dying. And most of the story takes place in our own Indianapolis! This book has been nominated by teens for the 2012 Top Ten Teen Books of the Year.
Legend by Marie Lu is another great new book for Hunger Games fans. June is a star pupil about to be one of the youngest to ever graduate from Harvard. She is also the first to ever receive a perfect score on her Trials, the tests all ten-year-olds must take to determine their future. When her beloved older brother, a renowned soldier for the government, is killed by a renegade criminal only known as Day, she is allowed to graduate early and go undercover to capture him. What June doesn't know is the truth--about her brother, Day, her parents, the government, and herself. This book has been nominated by teens for the 2012 Top Ten Teen Books of the Year.
The Michael L. Printz Award for most outstanding teen book of 2012 is...
Where Things Come Back by John Whaley. This is a dark, sometimes tragic, often, oddly enough, funny story about teens in a small town in Arkansas. Cullen Witter, his best friend, Lucas Cader, and just about anyone who ever was a teen in Lily, Arkansas dreams about getting out of the boring dead end town. Then the Lazarus woodpecker is spotted (maybe) and the town could become famous. In the meantime, Cullen has to identify the body of his dead cousin, deal with the fact that his crush has a trail of dead boyfriends, and try to figure out the small things, like--you know--the meaning of life. Then his brother, beloved, smart, witty, and insightful, inexplicably disappears. As the weeks drag on, hope wanes. At the same time, readers learn about Benton Sage who thought he should be a missionary, but failed to find meaning in his first mission trip, was shunned by his family and enrolled in college. There his roommate learned about Benton's experiences, questions, and what he had learned about an ancient, often forbidden, and mostly unknown book of the Bible. A suicide, a failed marriage, and a crazed search for meaning lead all the characters to Lily, Arkansas where they collide in a stunning ending.
Chime is Fran Billingsley's new dark romantic fantasy. The language is beautiful. As you read you can feel the amazing, terrifying swamp that is so important to the tale; you can see and here the fascinating characters that live in the village.
Briony is a twin; she is beautiful; she is kind and helps care for her sister and helped her dying stepmother. But Briony believes she is evil, that she caused her sister's condition and her stepmother's illness. And although Briony is quite taken with the handsome and kind newcomer, she knows that she is incapable of love. You see, she believes she is a witch and that she deserves to be hanged. It may be the only way to break the spell that has made her sister sick and killed many of the children in her village. This is a dark, chilling, and romantic tale that will keep you guessing until the end.
Watch for it! Hunger Games, the movie, is coming out in March, 2012. In the meantime, if you need more of the same, may we recommend a few titles that should appeal to those who loved the Hunger Games series:
Divergent by Veronica Roth In a future Chicago, Beatrice must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life. The decision is made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.
Matched by Allyson Condie All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well? Perfection is not what it seems to be. Not at all...
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
When a prediction is made that a meteor will hit the moon, no one is particularly worried. In fact, the night of the impact is like a party--everyone outside watching. It happens, they watch, and like goes on as always. But in truth, it will never be the same. Because when a meteor hits the moon, its orbit is changed. It moves closer to the earth. The tides change. There are tsunamis and massive flooding. Volcanoes erupt and the ash blocks the sun. The temperature plummets. Millions upon millions die. Because Miranda's mother managed to hoard all the food she can, she and her family think they will be fine until things get better. Then the electricity stops. There are no services, no food, no help. Miranda must learn to survive the unimaginable. Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda's struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.This is the first in an amazing trilogy.
If you could see into your future and change it, would you? Even if it meant hurting someone you love?
The Future of Us by Jay Asher (13 Reasons Why) asks that very question. The year is 1996. There is no Facebook. The Internet is new. Emma gets her first computer and her best friend, or at least he used to be, Josh, gives her an AOL disc he got in the mail. She installs it and something funny happens--an odd icon on her computer. She clicks on it and goes to Facebook She has never heard of it. But slowly she begins to realize that her future self knows about it, because there she is, years in the future, posting messages. She shows Josh and they both begin learning about their future selves. Josh will be happy, married to the hottest girl in school. But Emma is very unhappy in the future and so she sets about trying to change that unhappy future. She does change her future, but not for the better. She trisd again and she changes it, but she's not happy. At the same time, she may be changing Josh's future too--and other people--without knowing. She knows she has to stop, but how can she when her future is at stake? And anyway, she's not sure she wants Josh to end up with someone else. And neither is Josh...
At the Cedar Lake Branch teens voted during the month of October for THEIR favorite book of the year. And the winner here was...
I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore John Smith of rural Ohio looks like an ordinary teen. But he's really one of nine alien children who fled to Earth when their world was destroyed. Now the enemy is killing them off, one by one, and friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting. If this is a series you enjoy, look for more in the Lorien Legacies. Book 2, The Power of Six is out & available @ the library. Book 3, The Rise of Nine, is due out in August, 2012.
The votes are in for Top Ten Teen Reads of 2011 and the #1 favorite of the year is....
If you liked Cassandra Clare's Immortal Instrument series, you just might like this one even more! A clockwork angel watch is all that Tessa has left to remember her mother. She has no idea of its meaning, or what has happened to brother, or that she herself is not really human. She travels by ship to London to visit her brother, her only remaining relative, but he is not there to meet her. Instead, two seemingly kindly old ladies are there with a letter from her brother telling her that he cannot meet her, but that she should go with them. She does and so begins a tale of kidnapping, torture, rescue, adventure, other worldly and underwordly creatures. Tessa, who is frantic to find her brother and to discover who and what she really is, is forced to become a part of this strange new world. This prequel to the Immortal Instrument series takes place in 19th century England, a wonderful setting for this dark and fantastical tale.
Every year teens nominate and then vote for their favorite books of the year. This year the nominees are:
Beam, Cris. I Am J. J is a boy and has always identified himself as such, but he was genetically born female. As a teen, J acts like a boy and dresses in baggy clothes to hide his feminine body. He wants to begin testosterone treatments to transfer physically to a man, but his parents and best friend do not accept him as male. J decides to run away and enroll in a school for gay and transgender students, where he is able to begin to find acceptance. More than just a story of a transgender teen, this is the story of how teenagers live and love and cope.
Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne. Teenage Dalton Rev is a private eye. He is sent to a high school to find out about the death of Wesley Payne. Was it really a suicide? The school's tight cliques have gone insane and lost control. It’s up to Dalton to sort through a huge mess of betrayal in order to restore the hierarchy.
Black, Holly and Justine Larbalestier. Zombies vs. Unicorns. 2010. Are you Team Unicorn or Team Zombie? In this anthology of twelve fast-paced stories, popular teen authors make strong arguments for both sides in the long and gruesome debate concerning the awesomeness of zombies versus unicorns.
Card, Orson Scott. The Lost Gate. Danny thought he was a “drekka,” one without magic, until he discovers he has magical powers as a gate mage. The only problem: all the magic families made a pact to kill any person who could make gates to transport themselves. Danny is forced to run from everything and everyone he knows in an attempt to unravel the secrets behind his powers.
Clare, Cassandra. The Clockwork Angel. In this prequel to the Mortal Instruments series, Tessa Gray travels to England to search for her brother, her only remaining relative. She is captured by the mysterious Dark Sisters and discovers that there is a fantastical world thriving alongside her own. She finds that she must ally with the unknown shadowhunters to save her brother.
Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. The final book in the Hunger Games series finds Katniss Everdeen rescued from the horrific 75th Hunger Games—but not her fellow tribute, Peeta Mallark. Now she must lead a rebellion against the evil capital with the help of District 13, which is not destroyed, but has been quietly sowing the seeds of war for years. As Katniss becomes more entangled in war and revolution, the question of who she can trust becomes ever harder, and she must fight for her life once again.
Condie, Ally. Matched. In Cassia’s society, most of her choices are made for her, including the person with whom she will spend the rest of her life: her Match. At age 17, Cassia is happily surprised when her Match turns out to be her best friend Xander, but when a glitch occurs and another boy’s face appears on her screen, Cassia can’t help but wonder what would happen if she were able to choose her own Match. Now she must decide between conforming to society and pursuing a life where she can make her own choices.
Cremer, Andrea. Nightshade. Penguin/Philomel. 2010. (9780399254826). When Calla, who is a Guardian, saves a boy on her mountain from a bear attack, the consequences are farther reaching than could be imagined, especially when that boy shows up at her school and appears to be a favored companion of her masters, the Keepers.
Fitzpatrick, Becca. Crescendo. In this sequel to Hush, Hush, a few months have passed since Nora’s lab partner Patch, actually a fallen angel, saved her from his murderous vassal Nephil and became her guardian angel. She and Patch are now dating, but she is starting to doubt his love for her. Is he keeping something from her? And is she really safe now?
Grant, Michael. Lies. Lies continues the story that began in Gone and Hunger. Is death the only answer? Life is getting hard for the under 15s who survived. Food is running out, the beach is burning, and things are getting tense. The situation is getting worse for the survivors and everyone has their own battles to face.
Hawkins, Rachel. Demonglass. An unbelievable betrayal, an ancient spell, and a love triangle all make Rachel Hawkins’ sequel to Hex Hall impossible to put down. When Sophie goes to her father’s mansion for the summer, she thinks she knows exactly what she wants: to undergo the Removal and get rid of the demon inside of her. But when it turns out that someone else is making demons, she has to question everything and everyone—especially Archer Cross, the boy she can’t get out of her head.
Hakwins, Rachel. Hex Hall. 2010.Sixteen-year-old Sophie is a witch sent to live at Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (witches, faeries, shape-shifters, etc.), after she bungles a spell at prom and attracts too much attention from normal humans. At her new school, Sophie must face the usual teen troubles of mean girls and crushes with the added dimension of magic and learning about her own powers.
Kagawa, Julie. The Iron King. 2010. On the eve of her 16th birthday, Meghan starts seeing dark creatures in the most unusual places and senses that everything is about to change. But she could never have imagined the truth—that she is a princess, the daughter of a mythical faery king. When she finds out her little brother has been kidnapped and replaced by a changeling, Meghan ventures in to the fey world to rescue him.
Lore, Pittacus. I Am Number Four. 2010. Number Four is one of nine aliens that escaped from the planet Lorien just ahead of the evil Mogadorians, a rival alien race bent of their destruction. He’s settling into another new town on Earth, trying to get a handle on his developing powers, when he gets the news: Number Three is dead. If Number Three is dead, that means Number Four is next.
Moore, Peter. Red Moon Rising. 2011. In a world dominated by vampires, half-vamp, half-wulf Danny is used to hiding his true nature. When he experiences strange changes, it appears that his wulf side has become active. In a world where wulves are not treated equally, Danny faces a difficult choice: a dreary future as an inmate once a month or life as an illegal, unregistered wulf.
Nelson, Jandy. The Sky is Everywhere. After Lennie's sister suddenly dies, she finds herself torn between two boys. One is the new boy in town, and the other is her sister’s ex-boyfriend. While she is genuinely attracted to one, the other really understands her feelings, yet she knows it is wrong. Who will she choose?
Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall. Popular, rich, and attractive Sam Kingston never worried about how her behavior affected other people. After dying in a car crash, Sam is forced to relive the last day of her life for seven days. She progressively becomes a better person as she realizes the ripple effect of her actions and uses the second chance to fix her most dire mistakes.
O’Neal, Ellis. The False Princess. At sixteen, Princess Nalia learns that the king and queen have used her as a false princess to protect their real daughter from an omen of death. Princess Nalia, now Sinda, is sent away from the palace to live with the one relative she has left in a world she does not know. Sinda struggles with her new life and uncovers a secret that may change her country forever. Magic runs through her veins, and theories of corruption in the royal bloodline keep her entangled in the royal family's affairs.
Patterson, James. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel. . In book seven of the Maximum Ride series, the titular character is devastated after a fellow “bird kid” leaves to start his own flock of mutant heroes. Scientists tell her that another “bird kid”, Dylan, is her perfect mate, and that she’s been created to save the world. When the Doomsday Group starts hypnotizing children, Max heads to Paris with her flock to investigate. Unfortunately, Fang and his new flock are investigating as well.
Pearce, Jackson. Sisters Red. Sisters Rosie and Scarlett March are left as orphans at eleven after their grandmother is killed by a Fenris, a soulless creature that takes the form of a man and can turn into a wolf. Scarlett loses an eye in the attack and decides to devote her life to hunting the Fenris. Eight years later, the sisters have vowed to protect their town from the Fenris. Silas, a young woodsman, returns to town. Rosie knows the Fenris deserve to die, but she's not ready to commit her entire life to hunting them. Can the sisters learn to live with their differences as Rosie and Silas’s friendship blossoms into something more?
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Blessed. Quincie, everyone’s favorite teen restaurateur and vampire, is back in this follow-up to Tantalize and Eternal. This time, she has even more on her plate. She just died, became a vampire, said goodbye to her true love/ werewolf boyfriend Kieren, and she has to stop the most powerful and evil vampire in centuries and find a way to save her own soul and the souls of the soon-to-be evil vampires.
Westerfeld, Scott. Behemoth. This sequel to Leviathan picks up where the last book left off with Alek, the lost Austro-Hungarian prince, and Deryn, a girl disguised as a boy, on the airship Leviathan heading to the Ottoman Empire. Upon arriving, Alek escapes and starts a revolution to overthrow the Sultan and try to stop a war.
White, Kiersten. Paranormalcy. Normal? Yeah, right! Evie's biggest dream ever was to be normal, but with a faerie ex-boyfriend and a mermaid for a best friend, she might as well just throw the word “normal” right in the trash can. Evie has the unique ability to see through paranormals’ glamours, which has made her a valued asset of the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). When someone breaks into the Agency headquarters, Evie meets an unusual Paranormal: a boy who can shape-shift into any human. Can Evie save the lives of unarmed Paranormals from something that is after her.
The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer just may be about everything. Thomas is 9 & lives in post WWII Netherlands, its effects still being felt by his family and neighbors. He has one goal in life: to be happy. But Thomas sees things other people don't see--the truth about some of his neighbors--are they really witches? He can see what seems to be the future. And he talks to Jesus, who visits on a regular basis. He sees beauty where others don't. But he also sees his father hit his mother and he himself is a victim of that abuse. This slim novel tells the story of Thomas' search for that happiness & those who step forward to make a difference.
You by Charles Benoit gets inside Kyle's head and into yours. You're a 'hoodie', a slacker, and you might be hanging with the wrong kind of kids. But that doesn't really matter, does it? When did it all start to go wrong? When you stopped trying in middle school? When you lost your best friends when you started high school? When you broke into the school? When you didn't get the job--or the girl? When your parents started yelling at you--or when your teachers became sooo boring. Or maybe it was when you met Zach? Yeah, maybe it was Zach's fault. But no, it started before that. But still this can't possibly be your fault, can it? But the blood, all that blood. If it's not your fault, then whose?
The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt takes you into the heart and home of the younger brother of a returning war veteran. Levi knows that when his brother, Boaz, finally comes home from war, things will be different. But he never thought Boaz would be so changed. Their parents think Boaz just needs time to adjust, but Levi slowly begins to realize that Boaz needs help. Then when Boaz leaves to go on a hiking trip, Levi knows that Boaz is lying. He doesn't know where Boaz is going or why, but he is determined to go after him and find him. So begins the road trip with two of his best friends to find Boaz and somehow bring him home.
Trash by Andy Mulligan tells the story of three dumpsite boys in an unnamed third world country. They live near the dump and work every day going through the garbage to find things to sell and food to eat. Everyone in their dumpsite community gets by doing the same thing. Then one day the boys find a satchel and a wallet with money. For some reason the authorities come looking for these things and the boys lie, afraid they will be jailed if they tell the truth. With help from the unsuspecting local priest, they begin to uncover the truth behind the discarded wallet and money--a truth that means they will have to leave their families and home forever if they have any chance of surviving.
The Votes Are In!
Teens voted all month for their favorite books of 2010. The winner was Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Next was Witch and Wizard by James Patterson. Catching Fire is the 2nd of the fantastic Hunger Games Series. Start with Book 1, The Hunger Games, Then keep on reading, because the third and final book of the series just came out--Mockingjay. If you like action, romance, torture, political and social intrigue, this amazing series if for you! The sequel to Witch and Wizard is coming to your library soon. Watch for Witch and Wizard: Battle for Shadowland.
Teens' Top Ten: Vote for your favorite book of 2010!
Top Ten Books are nominated by teens around the country and now it's your turn to vote for your favorites. The nominees are:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls
Lia has an eating disorder she is trying to hide. But it is killing her. So is the realization that she could have saved the life of her best friend if only she had answered her cell phone when her friend tried to call her so many times that fateful night.
Brown, Jennifer. Hate List
Valerie and her boyfriend Nick create a hate list of kids at their school who pick on them. But then her boyfriend acts on that list, bringing a gun to school and killing and wounding kids and teachers. Valerie survives but she must live with the consequences. Is she just as responsible as Nick for what happened?
Carter, Ally. Heist Society
Katrina has grown up in a family of thieves and is herself very skilled at the craft. Now she wants out and she almost succeeds, but to save her own life she has to steal one more time.
Cashore, Kristin. Fire
Fire is beautiful, and she is a monster, the last of her kind. She can read and manipulate minds. Her father was a monster who controlled people for his own gain. She wants to be different, but there are those who want to use her. When she tries to help the king and his family maintain their rule, she risks everything and discovers that she may NOT be the only monster in the world.
Clare, Cassandra. City of Glass
The the last of The Mortal Instruments series Clary journeys to the City of Glass to save her mother and confront the father who would kill her and those she loves.
Clayton, Emma. The Roar
Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire
By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.
Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride
When Auden impulsively goes to stay with her father, stepmother, and new baby sister the summer before she starts college, all the trauma of her parents' divorce is revived, even as she is making new friends and having new experiences such as learning to ride a bike and dating.
Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron
To free herself from an upcoming arranged marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.
Fitzpatrick, Becca. Hush, Hush
High school sophomore Nora has always been very cautious in her relationships, but when Patch, who has a dark side she can sense, enrolls at her school, she is mysteriously and strongly drawn to him, despite warnings from her best friend, the school counselor, and her own instincts. Just who and WHAT is Patch? Is her really trying to kill her?
Forman, Gayle. If I Stay
After a horrific accident, Mia wakes up to find the bodies of her family scattered across the road. She slowly realizes she is not dead, even though she can see and hear everything going on around her. She's in a coma and now Mia, a gifted cellist, must decide whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.
Garcia, Kami and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures
In a small South Carolina town, where it seems little has changed since the Civil War, Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday.
Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd. Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
A collection of twenty-nine short stories about geeks. Lol stories from top teen authors.
Golding, Julia. Dragonfly
Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group
Teenage vampire Nina has been stuck for fifty-one years in a boring support group for vampires, and nothing exciting has ever happened to them. Then one of them is murdered and the others must try to solve the crime.
Lieb, Josh. I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President.
Omaha, Nebraska, twelve-year-old Oliver Watson has everyone convinced that he is extremely stupid and lazy. He is actually a very wealthy evil genius, and when he decides to run for seventh-grade class president, nothing will stand in his way.
Ockler, Sarah. Twenty Boy Summer
While on vacation in California, best friends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna's first kiss. Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.
Patterson, James. Witch and Wizard
A sister and brother, along with thousands of young people, have been kidnapped and either thrown in prison or turned up missing after accusations of witchcraft were made against them, and the ruling regime will do anything in order to suppress life and liberty, music and books.
Peters, Julie Anne. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead
High school student Daelyn Rice has been bullied throughout her school career and has more than once attempted suicide. She makes plans to kill herself, in spite of the persistent attempts of an unusual boy to draw her out.
Pierce, Tamora. Bloodhound
Having been promoted from "Puppy" to "Dog," Beka, now a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, and her former partner head to a neighboring port city to investigate a case of counterfeit coins. Second in the "Beka Cooper" series.
St. Crow, Lili. Strange Angels
Sixteen-year-old Dru's psychic abilities helped her father battle zombies and other creatures of the "Real World," but now she must rely on herself, a "werwulf"-bitten friend, and a half-human vampire hunter to learn who murdered her parents, and why.
Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver
In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who, in his turn, has been watching her with increasing intensity.
Tanigawa, Nagaru. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan
In an alternate 1914 Europe, fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, on the run from the Clanker Powers who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery, forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn who, disguised as a boy to join the British Air Service, is learning to fly genetically-engineered beasts.
Yep, Laurence. City of Fire
In an alternate world, Scirye and her companions travel to Houlani, a new Hawaiian island created by magic. There, they enlist the help of volcano goddess Pele in an attempt to stop an evil dragon and a mysterious man from altering the universe.
To vote online just click here! Results will be posted during Teen Read Week, Oct. 17-23.
Teens' Top Ten is a program brought to you by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), a division of the American Library Association.
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Imagine being a survivor after a nuclear holocoust. You survived because your father is a billionaire and he built a luxurious compound to save his family in the event of an attack. The attack came. Your father got you and your mother sisters down into the compound--to safety. But where is your twin brother? Your grandmother? Your dog? Your cat? They didn't make it. But you all have everything you need for the next 15 years. Because that's how long you have to stay in the compound. It won't be safe to leave before then. And you can't. There's a huge steel door and only you dad knows the code to open it. But then after 6 years something has gone wrong with the food supply. But that's ok becuase your dad has a contingent plan. Your mom's been having babies. Your dad calls them "the supplements" and they never leave the room with the yellow door. You've never met them. You don't want to because you know what they are for. But then you connect to the Internet. The Internet! There's not supposed to be any Internet anymore! How could there be? And it's what your dad has told you. If your dad has been lying about that, what else is he lying about?
reviewed by Linda
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
The fat kid in Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going is Troy. He's about to commit suicide by jumping in front of a commuter train at the subway station. Then a skinny kid named Kurt calls up to him from the floor. Kurt is a homeless drug user who is also a great musician and very sick. He wants Troy to be the drummer in his new band. Together, maybe, they can help each other...
reviewed by Linda
Teens Recommend...
These titles were recommended by teens during Teen Read Week. Click on the link to learn more about each book. Request the ones you want & we will send it to your library of choice.
Devil's Kiss by Chadda Sarwat
15-year-old Billi SanGreal has grown up knowing that being a member of the Knights of Templar puts her in danger. If she is to save London from catastrophe, she must make sacrifices greater than she imagined.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
When Bella moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets alluring Edward, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Called "Freakin' sweet" by our reviewer.
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil elfin prince. In order to break the curse, she must perform 3 impossible tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both. Our reviewer says, "It has major twists in it. This book is about that anything is possible."
The Fault in Our Stars sounds like a downer. Stage four cancer patient Hazel Grace meets gorgeous cancer surviver Augustus Waters at support group for young cancer victims. What follows is the development of a wonderful, insightful relationship between two fascinating and amazing teens. Sure, it's a tear jerker at times--but not often. More often this is a laugh aloud funny story narrated by Hazel Grace that will make you rethink living, loving,--and dying. And most of the story takes place in our own Indianapolis! This book has been nominated by teens for the 2012 Top Ten Teen Books of the Year.
Legend by Marie Lu is another great new book for Hunger Games fans. June is a star pupil about to be one of the youngest to ever graduate from Harvard. She is also the first to ever receive a perfect score on her Trials, the tests all ten-year-olds must take to determine their future. When her beloved older brother, a renowned soldier for the government, is killed by a renegade criminal only known as Day, she is allowed to graduate early and go undercover to capture him. What June doesn't know is the truth--about her brother, Day, her parents, the government, and herself. This book has been nominated by teens for the 2012 Top Ten Teen Books of the Year.
The Michael L. Printz Award for most outstanding teen book of 2012 is...
Where Things Come Back by John Whaley. This is a dark, sometimes tragic, often, oddly enough, funny story about teens in a small town in Arkansas. Cullen Witter, his best friend, Lucas Cader, and just about anyone who ever was a teen in Lily, Arkansas dreams about getting out of the boring dead end town. Then the Lazarus woodpecker is spotted (maybe) and the town could become famous. In the meantime, Cullen has to identify the body of his dead cousin, deal with the fact that his crush has a trail of dead boyfriends, and try to figure out the small things, like--you know--the meaning of life. Then his brother, beloved, smart, witty, and insightful, inexplicably disappears. As the weeks drag on, hope wanes. At the same time, readers learn about Benton Sage who thought he should be a missionary, but failed to find meaning in his first mission trip, was shunned by his family and enrolled in college. There his roommate learned about Benton's experiences, questions, and what he had learned about an ancient, often forbidden, and mostly unknown book of the Bible. A suicide, a failed marriage, and a crazed search for meaning lead all the characters to Lily, Arkansas where they collide in a stunning ending.
Chime is Fran Billingsley's new dark romantic fantasy. The language is beautiful. As you read you can feel the amazing, terrifying swamp that is so important to the tale; you can see and here the fascinating characters that live in the village.
Briony is a twin; she is beautiful; she is kind and helps care for her sister and helped her dying stepmother. But Briony believes she is evil, that she caused her sister's condition and her stepmother's illness. And although Briony is quite taken with the handsome and kind newcomer, she knows that she is incapable of love. You see, she believes she is a witch and that she deserves to be hanged. It may be the only way to break the spell that has made her sister sick and killed many of the children in her village. This is a dark, chilling, and romantic tale that will keep you guessing until the end.
Watch for it! Hunger Games, the movie, is coming out in March, 2012. In the meantime, if you need more of the same, may we recommend a few titles that should appeal to those who loved the Hunger Games series:
Divergent by Veronica Roth In a future Chicago, Beatrice must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life. The decision is made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.
Matched by Allyson Condie All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well? Perfection is not what it seems to be. Not at all...
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
When a prediction is made that a meteor will hit the moon, no one is particularly worried. In fact, the night of the impact is like a party--everyone outside watching. It happens, they watch, and like goes on as always. But in truth, it will never be the same. Because when a meteor hits the moon, its orbit is changed. It moves closer to the earth. The tides change. There are tsunamis and massive flooding. Volcanoes erupt and the ash blocks the sun. The temperature plummets. Millions upon millions die. Because Miranda's mother managed to hoard all the food she can, she and her family think they will be fine until things get better. Then the electricity stops. There are no services, no food, no help. Miranda must learn to survive the unimaginable. Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda's struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.This is the first in an amazing trilogy.
If you could see into your future and change it, would you? Even if it meant hurting someone you love?
The Future of Us by Jay Asher (13 Reasons Why) asks that very question. The year is 1996. There is no Facebook. The Internet is new. Emma gets her first computer and her best friend, or at least he used to be, Josh, gives her an AOL disc he got in the mail. She installs it and something funny happens--an odd icon on her computer. She clicks on it and goes to Facebook She has never heard of it. But slowly she begins to realize that her future self knows about it, because there she is, years in the future, posting messages. She shows Josh and they both begin learning about their future selves. Josh will be happy, married to the hottest girl in school. But Emma is very unhappy in the future and so she sets about trying to change that unhappy future. She does change her future, but not for the better. She trisd again and she changes it, but she's not happy. At the same time, she may be changing Josh's future too--and other people--without knowing. She knows she has to stop, but how can she when her future is at stake? And anyway, she's not sure she wants Josh to end up with someone else. And neither is Josh...
At the Cedar Lake Branch teens voted during the month of October for THEIR favorite book of the year. And the winner here was...
I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore John Smith of rural Ohio looks like an ordinary teen. But he's really one of nine alien children who fled to Earth when their world was destroyed. Now the enemy is killing them off, one by one, and friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting. If this is a series you enjoy, look for more in the Lorien Legacies. Book 2, The Power of Six is out & available @ the library. Book 3, The Rise of Nine, is due out in August, 2012.
The votes are in for Top Ten Teen Reads of 2011 and the #1 favorite of the year is....
If you liked Cassandra Clare's Immortal Instrument series, you just might like this one even more! A clockwork angel watch is all that Tessa has left to remember her mother. She has no idea of its meaning, or what has happened to brother, or that she herself is not really human. She travels by ship to London to visit her brother, her only remaining relative, but he is not there to meet her. Instead, two seemingly kindly old ladies are there with a letter from her brother telling her that he cannot meet her, but that she should go with them. She does and so begins a tale of kidnapping, torture, rescue, adventure, other worldly and underwordly creatures. Tessa, who is frantic to find her brother and to discover who and what she really is, is forced to become a part of this strange new world. This prequel to the Immortal Instrument series takes place in 19th century England, a wonderful setting for this dark and fantastical tale.
Every year teens nominate and then vote for their favorite books of the year. This year the nominees are:
Beam, Cris. I Am J. J is a boy and has always identified himself as such, but he was genetically born female. As a teen, J acts like a boy and dresses in baggy clothes to hide his feminine body. He wants to begin testosterone treatments to transfer physically to a man, but his parents and best friend do not accept him as male. J decides to run away and enroll in a school for gay and transgender students, where he is able to begin to find acceptance. More than just a story of a transgender teen, this is the story of how teenagers live and love and cope.
Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne. Teenage Dalton Rev is a private eye. He is sent to a high school to find out about the death of Wesley Payne. Was it really a suicide? The school's tight cliques have gone insane and lost control. It’s up to Dalton to sort through a huge mess of betrayal in order to restore the hierarchy.
Black, Holly and Justine Larbalestier. Zombies vs. Unicorns. 2010. Are you Team Unicorn or Team Zombie? In this anthology of twelve fast-paced stories, popular teen authors make strong arguments for both sides in the long and gruesome debate concerning the awesomeness of zombies versus unicorns.
Card, Orson Scott. The Lost Gate. Danny thought he was a “drekka,” one without magic, until he discovers he has magical powers as a gate mage. The only problem: all the magic families made a pact to kill any person who could make gates to transport themselves. Danny is forced to run from everything and everyone he knows in an attempt to unravel the secrets behind his powers.
Clare, Cassandra. The Clockwork Angel. In this prequel to the Mortal Instruments series, Tessa Gray travels to England to search for her brother, her only remaining relative. She is captured by the mysterious Dark Sisters and discovers that there is a fantastical world thriving alongside her own. She finds that she must ally with the unknown shadowhunters to save her brother.
Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. The final book in the Hunger Games series finds Katniss Everdeen rescued from the horrific 75th Hunger Games—but not her fellow tribute, Peeta Mallark. Now she must lead a rebellion against the evil capital with the help of District 13, which is not destroyed, but has been quietly sowing the seeds of war for years. As Katniss becomes more entangled in war and revolution, the question of who she can trust becomes ever harder, and she must fight for her life once again.
Condie, Ally. Matched. In Cassia’s society, most of her choices are made for her, including the person with whom she will spend the rest of her life: her Match. At age 17, Cassia is happily surprised when her Match turns out to be her best friend Xander, but when a glitch occurs and another boy’s face appears on her screen, Cassia can’t help but wonder what would happen if she were able to choose her own Match. Now she must decide between conforming to society and pursuing a life where she can make her own choices.
Cremer, Andrea. Nightshade. Penguin/Philomel. 2010. (9780399254826). When Calla, who is a Guardian, saves a boy on her mountain from a bear attack, the consequences are farther reaching than could be imagined, especially when that boy shows up at her school and appears to be a favored companion of her masters, the Keepers.
Fitzpatrick, Becca. Crescendo. In this sequel to Hush, Hush, a few months have passed since Nora’s lab partner Patch, actually a fallen angel, saved her from his murderous vassal Nephil and became her guardian angel. She and Patch are now dating, but she is starting to doubt his love for her. Is he keeping something from her? And is she really safe now?
Grant, Michael. Lies. Lies continues the story that began in Gone and Hunger. Is death the only answer? Life is getting hard for the under 15s who survived. Food is running out, the beach is burning, and things are getting tense. The situation is getting worse for the survivors and everyone has their own battles to face.
Hawkins, Rachel. Demonglass. An unbelievable betrayal, an ancient spell, and a love triangle all make Rachel Hawkins’ sequel to Hex Hall impossible to put down. When Sophie goes to her father’s mansion for the summer, she thinks she knows exactly what she wants: to undergo the Removal and get rid of the demon inside of her. But when it turns out that someone else is making demons, she has to question everything and everyone—especially Archer Cross, the boy she can’t get out of her head.
Hakwins, Rachel. Hex Hall. 2010.Sixteen-year-old Sophie is a witch sent to live at Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (witches, faeries, shape-shifters, etc.), after she bungles a spell at prom and attracts too much attention from normal humans. At her new school, Sophie must face the usual teen troubles of mean girls and crushes with the added dimension of magic and learning about her own powers.
Kagawa, Julie. The Iron King. 2010. On the eve of her 16th birthday, Meghan starts seeing dark creatures in the most unusual places and senses that everything is about to change. But she could never have imagined the truth—that she is a princess, the daughter of a mythical faery king. When she finds out her little brother has been kidnapped and replaced by a changeling, Meghan ventures in to the fey world to rescue him.
Lore, Pittacus. I Am Number Four. 2010. Number Four is one of nine aliens that escaped from the planet Lorien just ahead of the evil Mogadorians, a rival alien race bent of their destruction. He’s settling into another new town on Earth, trying to get a handle on his developing powers, when he gets the news: Number Three is dead. If Number Three is dead, that means Number Four is next.
Moore, Peter. Red Moon Rising. 2011. In a world dominated by vampires, half-vamp, half-wulf Danny is used to hiding his true nature. When he experiences strange changes, it appears that his wulf side has become active. In a world where wulves are not treated equally, Danny faces a difficult choice: a dreary future as an inmate once a month or life as an illegal, unregistered wulf.
Nelson, Jandy. The Sky is Everywhere. After Lennie's sister suddenly dies, she finds herself torn between two boys. One is the new boy in town, and the other is her sister’s ex-boyfriend. While she is genuinely attracted to one, the other really understands her feelings, yet she knows it is wrong. Who will she choose?
Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall. Popular, rich, and attractive Sam Kingston never worried about how her behavior affected other people. After dying in a car crash, Sam is forced to relive the last day of her life for seven days. She progressively becomes a better person as she realizes the ripple effect of her actions and uses the second chance to fix her most dire mistakes.
O’Neal, Ellis. The False Princess. At sixteen, Princess Nalia learns that the king and queen have used her as a false princess to protect their real daughter from an omen of death. Princess Nalia, now Sinda, is sent away from the palace to live with the one relative she has left in a world she does not know. Sinda struggles with her new life and uncovers a secret that may change her country forever. Magic runs through her veins, and theories of corruption in the royal bloodline keep her entangled in the royal family's affairs.
Patterson, James. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel. . In book seven of the Maximum Ride series, the titular character is devastated after a fellow “bird kid” leaves to start his own flock of mutant heroes. Scientists tell her that another “bird kid”, Dylan, is her perfect mate, and that she’s been created to save the world. When the Doomsday Group starts hypnotizing children, Max heads to Paris with her flock to investigate. Unfortunately, Fang and his new flock are investigating as well.
Pearce, Jackson. Sisters Red. Sisters Rosie and Scarlett March are left as orphans at eleven after their grandmother is killed by a Fenris, a soulless creature that takes the form of a man and can turn into a wolf. Scarlett loses an eye in the attack and decides to devote her life to hunting the Fenris. Eight years later, the sisters have vowed to protect their town from the Fenris. Silas, a young woodsman, returns to town. Rosie knows the Fenris deserve to die, but she's not ready to commit her entire life to hunting them. Can the sisters learn to live with their differences as Rosie and Silas’s friendship blossoms into something more?
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Blessed. Quincie, everyone’s favorite teen restaurateur and vampire, is back in this follow-up to Tantalize and Eternal. This time, she has even more on her plate. She just died, became a vampire, said goodbye to her true love/ werewolf boyfriend Kieren, and she has to stop the most powerful and evil vampire in centuries and find a way to save her own soul and the souls of the soon-to-be evil vampires.
Westerfeld, Scott. Behemoth. This sequel to Leviathan picks up where the last book left off with Alek, the lost Austro-Hungarian prince, and Deryn, a girl disguised as a boy, on the airship Leviathan heading to the Ottoman Empire. Upon arriving, Alek escapes and starts a revolution to overthrow the Sultan and try to stop a war.
White, Kiersten. Paranormalcy. Normal? Yeah, right! Evie's biggest dream ever was to be normal, but with a faerie ex-boyfriend and a mermaid for a best friend, she might as well just throw the word “normal” right in the trash can. Evie has the unique ability to see through paranormals’ glamours, which has made her a valued asset of the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). When someone breaks into the Agency headquarters, Evie meets an unusual Paranormal: a boy who can shape-shift into any human. Can Evie save the lives of unarmed Paranormals from something that is after her.
The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer just may be about everything. Thomas is 9 & lives in post WWII Netherlands, its effects still being felt by his family and neighbors. He has one goal in life: to be happy. But Thomas sees things other people don't see--the truth about some of his neighbors--are they really witches? He can see what seems to be the future. And he talks to Jesus, who visits on a regular basis. He sees beauty where others don't. But he also sees his father hit his mother and he himself is a victim of that abuse. This slim novel tells the story of Thomas' search for that happiness & those who step forward to make a difference.
You by Charles Benoit gets inside Kyle's head and into yours. You're a 'hoodie', a slacker, and you might be hanging with the wrong kind of kids. But that doesn't really matter, does it? When did it all start to go wrong? When you stopped trying in middle school? When you lost your best friends when you started high school? When you broke into the school? When you didn't get the job--or the girl? When your parents started yelling at you--or when your teachers became sooo boring. Or maybe it was when you met Zach? Yeah, maybe it was Zach's fault. But no, it started before that. But still this can't possibly be your fault, can it? But the blood, all that blood. If it's not your fault, then whose?
The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt takes you into the heart and home of the younger brother of a returning war veteran. Levi knows that when his brother, Boaz, finally comes home from war, things will be different. But he never thought Boaz would be so changed. Their parents think Boaz just needs time to adjust, but Levi slowly begins to realize that Boaz needs help. Then when Boaz leaves to go on a hiking trip, Levi knows that Boaz is lying. He doesn't know where Boaz is going or why, but he is determined to go after him and find him. So begins the road trip with two of his best friends to find Boaz and somehow bring him home.
Trash by Andy Mulligan tells the story of three dumpsite boys in an unnamed third world country. They live near the dump and work every day going through the garbage to find things to sell and food to eat. Everyone in their dumpsite community gets by doing the same thing. Then one day the boys find a satchel and a wallet with money. For some reason the authorities come looking for these things and the boys lie, afraid they will be jailed if they tell the truth. With help from the unsuspecting local priest, they begin to uncover the truth behind the discarded wallet and money--a truth that means they will have to leave their families and home forever if they have any chance of surviving.
The Votes Are In!
Teens voted all month for their favorite books of 2010. The winner was Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Next was Witch and Wizard by James Patterson. Catching Fire is the 2nd of the fantastic Hunger Games Series. Start with Book 1, The Hunger Games, Then keep on reading, because the third and final book of the series just came out--Mockingjay. If you like action, romance, torture, political and social intrigue, this amazing series if for you! The sequel to Witch and Wizard is coming to your library soon. Watch for Witch and Wizard: Battle for Shadowland.
Teens' Top Ten: Vote for your favorite book of 2010!
Top Ten Books are nominated by teens around the country and now it's your turn to vote for your favorites. The nominees are:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls
Lia has an eating disorder she is trying to hide. But it is killing her. So is the realization that she could have saved the life of her best friend if only she had answered her cell phone when her friend tried to call her so many times that fateful night.
Brown, Jennifer. Hate List
Valerie and her boyfriend Nick create a hate list of kids at their school who pick on them. But then her boyfriend acts on that list, bringing a gun to school and killing and wounding kids and teachers. Valerie survives but she must live with the consequences. Is she just as responsible as Nick for what happened?
Carter, Ally. Heist Society
Katrina has grown up in a family of thieves and is herself very skilled at the craft. Now she wants out and she almost succeeds, but to save her own life she has to steal one more time.
Cashore, Kristin. Fire
Fire is beautiful, and she is a monster, the last of her kind. She can read and manipulate minds. Her father was a monster who controlled people for his own gain. She wants to be different, but there are those who want to use her. When she tries to help the king and his family maintain their rule, she risks everything and discovers that she may NOT be the only monster in the world.
Clare, Cassandra. City of Glass
The the last of The Mortal Instruments series Clary journeys to the City of Glass to save her mother and confront the father who would kill her and those she loves.
Clayton, Emma. The Roar
Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire
By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.
Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride
When Auden impulsively goes to stay with her father, stepmother, and new baby sister the summer before she starts college, all the trauma of her parents' divorce is revived, even as she is making new friends and having new experiences such as learning to ride a bike and dating.
Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron
To free herself from an upcoming arranged marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.
Fitzpatrick, Becca. Hush, Hush
High school sophomore Nora has always been very cautious in her relationships, but when Patch, who has a dark side she can sense, enrolls at her school, she is mysteriously and strongly drawn to him, despite warnings from her best friend, the school counselor, and her own instincts. Just who and WHAT is Patch? Is her really trying to kill her?
Forman, Gayle. If I Stay
After a horrific accident, Mia wakes up to find the bodies of her family scattered across the road. She slowly realizes she is not dead, even though she can see and hear everything going on around her. She's in a coma and now Mia, a gifted cellist, must decide whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.
Garcia, Kami and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures
In a small South Carolina town, where it seems little has changed since the Civil War, Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday.
Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd. Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
A collection of twenty-nine short stories about geeks. Lol stories from top teen authors.
Golding, Julia. Dragonfly
Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group
Teenage vampire Nina has been stuck for fifty-one years in a boring support group for vampires, and nothing exciting has ever happened to them. Then one of them is murdered and the others must try to solve the crime.
Lieb, Josh. I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President.
Omaha, Nebraska, twelve-year-old Oliver Watson has everyone convinced that he is extremely stupid and lazy. He is actually a very wealthy evil genius, and when he decides to run for seventh-grade class president, nothing will stand in his way.
Ockler, Sarah. Twenty Boy Summer
While on vacation in California, best friends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna's first kiss. Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.
Patterson, James. Witch and Wizard
A sister and brother, along with thousands of young people, have been kidnapped and either thrown in prison or turned up missing after accusations of witchcraft were made against them, and the ruling regime will do anything in order to suppress life and liberty, music and books.
Peters, Julie Anne. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead
High school student Daelyn Rice has been bullied throughout her school career and has more than once attempted suicide. She makes plans to kill herself, in spite of the persistent attempts of an unusual boy to draw her out.
Pierce, Tamora. Bloodhound
Having been promoted from "Puppy" to "Dog," Beka, now a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, and her former partner head to a neighboring port city to investigate a case of counterfeit coins. Second in the "Beka Cooper" series.
St. Crow, Lili. Strange Angels
Sixteen-year-old Dru's psychic abilities helped her father battle zombies and other creatures of the "Real World," but now she must rely on herself, a "werwulf"-bitten friend, and a half-human vampire hunter to learn who murdered her parents, and why.
Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver
In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who, in his turn, has been watching her with increasing intensity.
Tanigawa, Nagaru. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan
In an alternate 1914 Europe, fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, on the run from the Clanker Powers who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery, forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn who, disguised as a boy to join the British Air Service, is learning to fly genetically-engineered beasts.
Yep, Laurence. City of Fire
In an alternate world, Scirye and her companions travel to Houlani, a new Hawaiian island created by magic. There, they enlist the help of volcano goddess Pele in an attempt to stop an evil dragon and a mysterious man from altering the universe.
To vote online just click here! Results will be posted during Teen Read Week, Oct. 17-23.
Teens' Top Ten is a program brought to you by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), a division of the American Library Association.
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Imagine being a survivor after a nuclear holocoust. You survived because your father is a billionaire and he built a luxurious compound to save his family in the event of an attack. The attack came. Your father got you and your mother sisters down into the compound--to safety. But where is your twin brother? Your grandmother? Your dog? Your cat? They didn't make it. But you all have everything you need for the next 15 years. Because that's how long you have to stay in the compound. It won't be safe to leave before then. And you can't. There's a huge steel door and only you dad knows the code to open it. But then after 6 years something has gone wrong with the food supply. But that's ok becuase your dad has a contingent plan. Your mom's been having babies. Your dad calls them "the supplements" and they never leave the room with the yellow door. You've never met them. You don't want to because you know what they are for. But then you connect to the Internet. The Internet! There's not supposed to be any Internet anymore! How could there be? And it's what your dad has told you. If your dad has been lying about that, what else is he lying about?
reviewed by Linda
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
The fat kid in Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going is Troy. He's about to commit suicide by jumping in front of a commuter train at the subway station. Then a skinny kid named Kurt calls up to him from the floor. Kurt is a homeless drug user who is also a great musician and very sick. He wants Troy to be the drummer in his new band. Together, maybe, they can help each other...
reviewed by Linda
Teens Recommend...
These titles were recommended by teens during Teen Read Week. Click on the link to learn more about each book. Request the ones you want & we will send it to your library of choice.
Devil's Kiss by Chadda Sarwat
15-year-old Billi SanGreal has grown up knowing that being a member of the Knights of Templar puts her in danger. If she is to save London from catastrophe, she must make sacrifices greater than she imagined.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
When Bella moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets alluring Edward, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Called "Freakin' sweet" by our reviewer.
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil elfin prince. In order to break the curse, she must perform 3 impossible tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both. Our reviewer says, "It has major twists in it. This book is about that anything is possible."
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Teens Top Ten of 2012
Nationwide teens nominated their favorite books of 2012 and now it's time to vote for the winners. You can vote at Teens Top Ten 2012. You can find most of the books on display at the Cedar Lake Branch--and in the library catalog. Click on a title to find it in the catalog.
The nominees are:
Austen, Catherine. All Good Children. Max, his sister Ally and their mother return home to Middleton to find Ally’s classmates acting strange. It is the future, and the government has created a “vaccine” to make kids easier to teach- they are less rowdy, less likely to question, and willing to obey any direction. Max’s family has a choice: to be “vaccinated”, to flee their home, or stay and fight.
Bick, Ilsa. Ashes. Alex, Tom, and Ellie join forces after an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky. The pulse kills most of the world’s population and destroys all computer devices, but it also turns some who remain into zombies or gives them superhuman senses.
Cabot, Meg. Abandon. Pierce has experienced death before and barely escaped. When she moves from her old town to a town called Isla Huesos - Island of Bones - for a new start, she realizes that death wants her back. Can she escape death once again?
Cross, Julie. Tempest. Jackson is a typical college kid until the day his girlfriend, Holly, is shot. Jackson decides he must use his one incredible gift, the ability to time travel. He goes back in time two years, trying to discover a way to alter the future so that Holly lives. The future is full of uncertainty and the past is full of betrayal- is there anyone Jackson can trust?
Dessen, Sarah. What Happened to Goodbye. Ever since Mclean’s parents divorced, she has lived in four towns in two years – each time taking on a new persona. Mclean expects to leave Lakeview in six months, but soon finds that she doesn’t want to – she just wants to be herself.
DeStefano, Lauren. Wither. In the future, experimental genetics ensures that males only live to 25 and females to 20. When 16-year-old Rhine is kidnapped and sold into marriage, she is determined not to let her walls down for anyone so she can escape and go home to her brother. But when she meets her sister wives and Gabriel, a handsome servant, she finds it harder than ever as she tries to plan her escape under the watchful eye of her sinister father-in-law.
Forman, Gayle. Where She Went. This sequel to Gayle Forman’s If I Stay is narrated by Adam, Mia’s ex-boyfriend. Shortly after the devastating accident that killed Mia’s family, the talented cellist moves to New York, where an accidental meeting brings them back together.
Gaughen, A.C. Scarlet. Will Scarlett is one of the Merry Men, Robin Hood’s legendary band of thieves, but what few people know is that Will Scarlett is actually...a girl! Disguised as a boy to escape from her past, Scarlett robs from the rich and gives to the poor. When an old enemy of Scarlett’s appears, she must choose: Keep her identity hidden? Or keep the people of Nottingham safe?
Goodman, Alison. Eona: The Last Dragoneye. As the battle for ultimate control of her home draws near, Eona finds herself waging an internal battle that might cause more damage than the war threatening to break out across the kingdom.
Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. Hazel and Augustus meet and forge a relationship at a support group for kids battling cancer. As Hazel and Augustus struggle with the “side-effects of dying,” they come to learn the strength of wishes, the complexities of long human lives, and the wondrous ways of the universe.
Gulledge, Laura Lee. Page by Paige. When Paige Turner and her family move to Brooklyn from rural Virginia, she tries to make sense of her new life through her sketchbook, which exposes her true personality and helps her find herself.
Lu, Marie. Legend. June, a fifteen-year-old military prodigy, is hunting Day, the outlaw she believes is responsible for her brother’s death. What will happen when the two meet and discover the government is corrupt?
McEntire, Myra. Hourglass. Emerson Cole sees dead people- ghosts from the past blending in with her surroundings. When a new consultant from a secretive organization shows up at her door to try to cure her, everything changes. But diving into the world of the mysterious Hourglass Society proves to be dangerous as the past merges with the present.
Meyer, Marissa. Cinder. A futuristic retelling of the classic Cinderella, Cinder, a cyborg and talented mechanic, lives with her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters in the plague-ridden New Beijing. Soon after meeting Prince Kai, Cinder must find the truths of her past, which may help to save the future.
Myracle, Lauren. Shine. When her best friend falls victim to a horrible hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover the culprits in her backwoods town in North Carolina.
Ness, Patrick. A Monster Calls, Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd. Illus. by Jim Kay. Conor suddenly wakes up just past midnight to find a monster outside his window. This monster wants something from Conor that he is reluctant to give: the truth.
Oppel, Kenneth. This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. In this prequel to Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is on a dark quest to save his twin’s life. With help from his best friend Henry and his lovely cousin Elizabeth, the three go on a quest to concoct the mythical Elixir of Life. How far is he willing to go to save his twin?
Revis, Beth. Across the Universe. Cryogenically frozen centuries ago, Amy and her parents are on their way to a new planet aboard the spaceship, Godspeed. Unplugged from her cryo chamber, Amy discovers she has been awoken 50 years early, in a failed murder attempt. With Elder, the future leader of the ship, by her side they are on an adventure filled with murder, lies, dreams, and stars.
Riggs, Ransom. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. When Jacob was little, his grandfather would tell him stories of the fantastical children’s home where he grew up and the seemingly magical kids who lived there with him. When his grandfather is killed, Jacob sets out to find the home where these children lived, unearthing a magical secret and uncovering his true heritage.
Roth, Veronica. Divergent. Abnegation (selfless), Erudite (intelligence), Candor (honesty), Amity (peace), or Dauntless (brave): where would you fit? Beatrice lives in a society where she must choose either to remain with her family’s faction or set off towards independence and her beliefs. And what happens when the unity between these factions begins to fall apart?
Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. In 1941, Lina, her mother, and younger brother are taken from their home in Lithuania and sent to Siberia. The only thing that keeps her going is her secretly created art and the hope that one day she’ll be reunited with her father.
Stiefvater, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. Every November, the beaches of Thisby come alive with the Scorpio Races. The water horses are vicious, the terrain is treacherous, and death is likely, but the reward can be beyond anything you could imagine. Puck Connolly is racing for her family, Sean Kendrick for his passion—but only one can win The Scorpio Races.
Zarr, Sara. How to Save a Life. A year after Jill’s father dies, her mother decides to adopt a baby. Mandy’s been living in different places, but now that she’s pregnant, she wants to make sure her baby has the love and support she never did. A story of two girls dealing with grief, new life, and everything in between when their paths cross.
Zevin, Gabrielle. All These Things I’ve Done. In 2083, water is rationed, paper is rare, and coffee and chocolate are illegal. Anya Balanchine balances a mobster family, ailing grandmother, and forbidden love - until it all comes crashing down.Check out a book. Then vote for your favorites. There will be 3 top winners. Vote until Sept. 15. Then in Oct. vote for your favorites all month long as teens play Book Bracketology. Pick the favorites in Cedar Lake!
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Volunteering @ the Library
Putting on puppet shows!
Making spiders for storytime fun.
Painting for program games
Making worms for storytimes
Celebrating National Poetry Month
Teens composed over 50 poems & displayed them using words cut from magazines.
