WPL TEENS

New Books for Fall

2011-09-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Next Teen Book Chat is Tuesday, October 11 at 4:00 p.m. We'll discuss American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. It's the first graphic novel to win the Printz Award for best YA literature of the year.

The latest work by Gene Luen Yang: I loved it! It's a quick, fun read.

Where Have You Been? Where Are You Going? Photo Contest

2011-07-25T13:19:00.001-05:00

Check Out the New Books!

2011-06-08T12:36:00.000-05:00

Michelle here.
I can't figure out how to get into Peg's Shelfari account (on the bottom right corner of this page) so I'm just going to point out new books here. I've also put printed copies on the wall in the teen area.

Brain Camp by Susan Kim, et al. :

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer:

Digital Photo Madness! by Thom Gaines:

No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve:

The Genius Wars by Catherine Jinks

Ghostopolis by Doug Tennapel:

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch:

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan:

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford:

Trash by Andy Mulligan:

Summer Reading Program has begun!

2011-06-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Stop by the teen area, grab a BINGO card, and sign up for programs! Grand prize this year is a Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader! The Nook can download titles from the library's Overdrive e-book collection = you don't have to buy books to use a Nook. Plus, many classics are available for free.

Book Spine Poetry Contest Winner

2011-06-08T09:55:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Emma Anderson! She won a $20 Mullen's gift card for her poem, which is still on display in the teen area.

Lily's Poem: Transformation

2011-04-27T14:52:00.001-05:00

National Library Week Book Spine Poetry Contest

2011-04-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

Celebrate National Poetry Month (April) AND National Library Week (April 10-16) at the same time by creating a book spine poem. Stack your selected titles on top of each other to make your poem. Then snap a photo of it and either send it to me (libraryyouth@hotmail.com) or upload it onto my Facebook page (Michelle Wyler, Watertown Public Library.) Click on the link for examples and inspiration. ;-)

Wer ur Peeps@

2011-03-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

Stop by the teen area March 28—April 1 for three chances to win a 1lb. Chocolate Bunny. Activities will include:

Peep in a Book contest

Use Peeps to create your favorite scene from

your favorite book. The most creative scene will win.

Peep and Find @ the Library

Peeps are hiding everywhere in the teen area

of the library. See how many you can find for a prize.

How many Peeps?

Peeps will be squished in a jar!

Can you guess the correct amount of Peeps?

Author Visit

2011-03-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

DEREK GOODMAN PROGRAM:

Date: Wednesday, March 23

Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Watertown Public Library Meeting Room

Join us for a night with local author Derek J. Goodman. Derek’s work is flavorful, intelligent, and humorous too. He writes in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genre. Enjoy Derek’s work as you listen to a reading, learn more about getting published, and participate in an author Q&A. Register at the Reference Desk and grab a seat today!

PHOTO CONTEST Teen Tech Week

2011-03-02T16:43:00.000-06:00

Mix & Mash @ Your Library
March 7-April 1

The theme for Teen Tech week this year is Mix & Mash @ Your Library. Show us your technology skills by altering your best photo with technology. Photos will be accepted March 7 - April 1 and prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. All participants will be invited to a party on Monday, April 4th from 3:30-4:30pm. Your photos will be displayed for the enjoyment of the library community from April 4th-April 16th. For an entry form visit the teen area of the library. If you have further questions, ask at the Children's Dept.

Teen Photo Contest Entries

2010-08-14T22:49:00.001-05:00

Teen Photo Contest Entries

2010-08-14T21:55:00.000-05:00

First place picture teen photo contest
Amber Mueller

Photo Contest

2010-07-18T15:19:00.000-05:00

The deadline for submitting entries for our first teen summer photo contest ended on July 14. Stop in the teen dept. to view the fantastic photos by 8 creative photographers. Winners will be announced on July 30th.

2010-06-26T23:18:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for a great book to read this summmer? Check out Teenreads, a website dedicated to teens and the books they read.
Click here to visit the Teenreads website

Rosie's Reviews

2010-06-26T23:02:00.000-05:00

Surface Tension by Brent Runyon

For Luke, his family’s annual trip to their house on the lake each summer is something to look forward to. He swims in the lake, hikes to the waterfall, goes canoeing with his dad, and looks on the beach for luckystones, a special type of stone with a hole through the middle. During four summers when he is ages thirteen to sixteen, many different things occur. For instance, a pastor moves into a cottage by Luke’s family. He is incredibly rude and flies a confederate flag on his dock. The family on the other side of Luke’s families cottage hates the minister and forms a friendship with Luke’s family. On a later visit, the minister’s house catches on fire, and Luke, having seen a girl in the house, saves her while the minister is not there. At another point, Luke cuts his leg on some shale and has to get stitches. In addition, Luke brings a friend on a visit, breaks up with his girlfriend, exchanges fruit with a girl in a nearby cottage, and patches up his relationship with the daughter of a family friend.

This book was a bit interesting to read just because of the sheer number of different things going on- the minister hatred, friendships, relationships, lake-related activities, and heaps of other stuff. It did, however, contain a lot of frank dialogue and included teenage drunkenness, so I would question this book’s overall influence. It’s a good book if you get past the not-so-appropriate parts. Throughout the book, Luke gets a better understanding of who he is during his visits to the lake. Because of these factors, this book receives a score of ‘cool’ on the Teen Reading Scale. It is a good read for boys who like realistic fiction.

Rosie's Reviews

2010-06-26T23:00:00.001-05:00

The Goodbye Season by Marian Hale

Mercy’s family is very poor, so her father goes to the city to work and she is sent to the Bonner farm to stay and help out. However, when an influenza epidemic kills one of the hired hands and Mr. Bonner falls ill, Mercy is sent back home for her health. When she gets there, she finds that her family has died from the flu as well, and she goes to the city to look for her father. She meets Emma Sayers, who lets her stay in the back room of her café. Eventually, she gets a job helping Cora Wilder take care of her children. She notices that Cora seems disturbed, and Cora’s stepson Daniel tells her that it most likely has to do with the fact that her mother and brother were both trampled by horses. Around Christmas, Cora learns that her father is coming, which seriously puts her on edge. When Mercy leaves on Christmas, she visits Emma and she pieces together that Cora’s father killed her mother and brother because he wanted land. She and Daniel go after Cora and her father, who went for a horse and buggy ride. They get there and try to stop Cora’s father, but he shoots Cora before being run over by the buggy himself. Cora dies, and Mercy leaves because there are no adults staying there, which would cause rumors if she stayed. Daniel proposes to her, but she says no because she doesn’t want to end up like her mother. She gets a job at an inn, but after one night she realizes what she wants, and it has been right in front of her.

This book was really interesting- there was a mixture of different emotions throughout the story: sadness, concern, love, anger, and confusion. I liked the romance between Daniel and Mercy because it helped Mercy see that sometimes, the very thing that you don’t want in life is actually the thing you want the most. Daniel is a good character, because he really cares about his stepbrother and stepsister, and even though he has a bad leg, he still puts himself to use fixing cars and buggies. On the Teen Reading Scale, I give this book a score of ‘mega-awesome’ and recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Rosie's Reviews

2010-06-26T22:54:00.000-05:00

Itch by Michelle D. Kwasney
Itch is living a normal life with her grandparents when her grandfather suddenly dies and her grandmother decides to move to Ohio. At first, Itch hates the idea, but eventually she gets used to Ohio and makes friends with a girl named Gwendolyn who is a baton twirler with a mother who is overly serious about winning. Eventually, she notices that Gwendolyn has a number of welts and bruises, and she and her new sort-of friend Billy think that her mom beats her. Their suspicions are confirmed when Itch sees Gwendolyn’s mother beat her while she is hiding. When Gwendolyn runs away, Itch and her grandmother go get her and bring her to their trailer to spend the night. Itch’s grandmother notices Gwendolyn’s bruises and they go to her house. Gwendolyn’s mother denies everything, but Itch tells them what she saw. Gwendolyn’s father is shocked and asks Gwendolyn’s mother to leave. With just the two of them in the house, Gwendolyn’s father makes it his mission to give Gwendolyn a normal childhood without the baton twirling.

I thought this was a great book with a powerful message: it is not okay to abuse children. I also admired Itch’s courage, because she stands up for Gwendolyn. I think it was noble of Gwendolyn’s father to try to give her a normal life and I liked when her mother realized that she needed to change and sought help. Overall, this is a very well-written novel that I enjoyed. On the Teen Reading Scale, I would give this book a score of “rockin.’” I would recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction.

2010-06-26T22:46:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday evening (June 22) a small but talkative group met at Tribeca to discuss the books they've been reading this summer...some of the books we discussed included
      The Mysterious Benedict Society (a 3 book series) by Trenton Lee Stewart
      My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald
      Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Shadow Children series)
      The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
      Meg Cabot's Allie Finkel's series
      Nancy Drew mysteries
     The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
We have another get together scheduled in July...check the teen calendar for the specific time and day.

Historical Fiction

2010-06-07T22:44:00.002-05:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Rosie's Reviews

2010-03-09T15:33:00.000-06:00

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern (YA F HAL)

This book is about a girl named Jessie who is in the smart classes in school. Her life is turned on its side when her two best friends turn punk and one of them throws herself on Jessie’s bad-boy crush. At the same time, her brother Barrett gives up being a punk, shaves off his orange mohawk, and starts dating the prom princess. Then, Jessie makes some new friends who enjoy Dungeons and Dragons and finds that it’s not so bad to be a nerd, which she had feared. She even realizes that she likes one of the boys in the group.

I thought this book was pretty good, even though it contained what I would consider to be very inappropriate language. It was an interesting plot because people always assume that all nerds are basically the same, but (as Jessie found) they aren’t. Also, I liked Jessie’s brother because he was supportive of Jessie and he really wanted to protect her, which I thought was a really good thing for an older brother to do, even though I don’t have an older brother myself. On the Teen Reading Scale, I would rate this book as “rockin.’” I don’t know if I would recommend it to my friends, but it’s an OK book to read.

Rosie's Reviews

2010-03-09T15:28:00.002-06:00

Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz
This is the eight book in a series about a boy named Alex Rider who repeatedly finds himself involved with MI6. In this book, Alex agrees to investigate a man working at a genetic engineering lab. While he is there, he sees that there is a structure entirely devoted to poisons. He also learns that the wealthy founder of a charity known as First Aid, Desmond McCain, is working closely with the scientist. After reporting his findings to MI6, Alex is kidnapped and taken to Kenya, where he finds out that Desmond McCain is plotting to create a disaster in order to get funds for his charity, which he then will keep instead of putting them towards helping with the disaster. After escaping death, Alex must stop the disaster from happening by halting the spread of a substance that will activate a poison grown into much of the wheat in Kenya and a few surrounding countries.

I really enjoyed this book because I enjoy adventures and Anthony Horowitz is a good adventure writer. This book is just as good as or better than the other books of the series. It was a real page-turner because it was full of suspense and I finished it in one day, as I do often with books I really like. I like Alex’s character because he is only 14 but he is clever and good at getting things done, like escaping, hiding, and sneaking around, and sometimes his insolence makes me laugh. I also like the fact that he always has the good fortune to be able to escape death, whether it is by his own means or with the help of others. On the Teen Reading Scale, I would have to say that this book is mind-blowingly amazing and I would definitely recommend the whole series to those who like adventures.

Rosie's Reviews

2010-03-09T15:16:00.002-06:00

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

This is the story of Sleeping Beauty, but with a modern twist. In this book, the princess, Talia, is cursed and pricks her finger on a spindle. Almost 300 years later, a 17-year-old boy named Jack stumbles upon her kingdom, Euphrasia, after it had been hidden from the rest of the world by a dense forest of thorny plants. He finds the princess and kisses her, and she wakes up. However, no one thinks that Jack is really her ‘true love,’ the only one capable of breaking the curse. Since Talia’s family is mad at her, she runs away to Florida with Jack, causing an uproar at home. While Talia is with Jack, she learns about the modern world while secretly trying to make Jack love her. Not satisfied, Malvolia, the faerie that cursed Talia takes her back to her cottage in Euphrasia. She originally plans to kill Talia, but then she decides not to and instead chooses to have Talia prick her finger on another spindle, only to be woken up if she is kissed by her true love. Jack and his father hurry to Euphrasia to save Talia, and Jack finds the hill with Malvolia’s cottage on top. However, he must pass some tests to get to the top, and another test inside the cabin. He kisses Talia and she wakes up. They go back to her father’s castle, where Jack’s father has been talking with the king, and find out that Jack’s father and Talia’s father have decided to turn Euphrasia into a tourist attraction in order to exist in the modern world.

I thought this book was pretty good. It was a little cliched and I generally don’t like books that mimic fairy tales in this manner, but it wasn’t actually that bad. The plot didn’t really go anywhere and there weren’t really any really cool twists in the story. It was a good story, but it was also kind of lame. The characters in this book are OK, but not really awesome. Jack is kind of rude a lot of the time, and Talia is rather bratty. They get over it eventually, but it is present throughout most of the book. On the Teen Reading Scale, I would give this book a score of ‘cool.’ I probably would not recommend it to other people to read, because it’s not really worth it and there are a lot of other books out there that are a lot better.

Rosie's Reviews

2010-02-11T15:31:00.003-06:00

Wings by Aprilynne Pike
The book Wings by Aprilynne Pike centers on a girl named Laurel who discovers that she is a faerie who has been sent to live with a human family. In the midst of many questions about the faeries and her past life , she must also stop her mother from selling the land that has been in the family for generations and holds crucial faerie secrets.
Complications arise when Laurel discovers trolls in the area. With the help of a faerie named Tamani and support from her best friend David, she takes on the challenges involved in guarding the most important faerie secret from the trolls, while also trying to deal with David and Tamani competing for her attention.
I enjoyed reading this book because the plot was very interesting...I finished it in one day because I couldn't put it down. This book had a variety of interesting twists and developments and contained danger, suspense, mystery, and even romance...which are all very good elements for a book to have. I especially liked David because the author portrays him as a kind, supportive, and respectful best friend, which in my opinion is one of the most ideal types of people. This book also deviated from traditional fairy tales, which also makes books more interesting. On my delightful engineered Teen Rating Scale, I would give this book a "mega-awesome". I would be willing to read more books by this author, especially if she wrote a sequel to this one!

Suggestions and Ideas...

2010-02-09T22:25:00.000-06:00

A new year brings a new book budget! I'm looking for exciting and interesting titles to add to our
teen fiction or nonfiction collection. Any suggestions?

New Books

2010-01-26T22:08:00.000-06:00

We've added new books to the teen collection! Ten of the new books are
shown on the Shelfari widget...I hope you'll find a good book to enjoy.
Just a note...we've moved the teen non-fiction books. We've run out of
room in the teen area so we've interfiled the YA books in with the
adult non-fiction. If you need help finding a book please stop at the
Children's Room desk or the Reference Desk.

Teen Read Week

2009-10-31T22:21:00.001-05:00

Teen Read Week is over and teens across the US voted for their top 10 books for 2009.
I've created a list of the books on Shelfari...check the books out from the library...do you agree that these are the best books for teens from 2009?!?

2008-10-31T23:10:00.004-05:00

2008 Teen's Top Ten
The vote is in... More than 8,000 teens voted on this year's winners.

The 2008 Teen's Top Ten Books Are:

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Friday Fun!

2008-10-31T20:19:00.004-05:00

YAC (Youth Advisory Council) is hosting a night of fun that will take you back to the 60s.
We will watch a few TV shows(black and white of course!) from that "groovy" time in history, try our hand at 60s trivia, listen to some great 1960s music, and enjoy some snacks. Don't miss out on the fun! Register today in the Children's Dept. or call the library at 262-4090 Ext:23
Peace!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7
6:30-8:30 (After the library is closed)
Grades 6-12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6QO7qKXhc0

Books With Bite

2008-10-08T13:37:00.007-05:00

Teen Read Week ...October 12-18

2008-10-08T11:40:00.003-05:00

“Books with Bite @ Your Library” is the theme for the 11th annual
Teen Read Week (TRW). ‘Sink your teeth’ into a deliciously scary, mysterious, adventurous book...just for the fun of it!

Metamorphosis

2008-04-30T11:12:00.004-05:00

The 2008 teen summer reading theme is Metamorphosis...
Check out the video and watch as magical things happen and books take wing.

Game Night

2008-04-14T17:41:00.004-05:00

Rock the stacks at the library with Guitar Hero III or DDR. YAC is hosting a game night on May 2nd from 6:30 - 8:30. Eat snacks, hang out with friends and play Wii.
The library will be closed which also means the Internet computers will be available to play Runescape or other Internet games. If you want to play online you must have an Internet sticker on your library card...so bring your card with you!
We will also provide a variety of board games if you would like to try something less techy.
All participants must: pre register; be on time; and stay for the entire evening. Seating is limited to the first 20 who sign up. Please register at the Youth Services Desk in the Children's Room or call 262-4090 Ext.23 by Thursday May 1.

The Seer...a new psychic mystery series

2008-03-12T22:50:00.007-05:00

The Seer is about 16-year old psychic Sabine Rose, who has visions. She keeps these visions a secret until dangerous things begin to happen around her.
You can locate all five books of the series in the YA dept. on the new book shelves.
Grades 6-8.

Don't Die Dragonfly:
After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift."

Last Dance :
Sabine Rose travels with her new goth friend to Pine Peaks, CA to find an old remedy book that may save the live of her grandmother. Even before the trip, a girl named Chloe who has fallen off of a cliff, begins to haunt Sabine Rose's dreams.

Witch Ball:
Volunteering with her friends to help run the psychic booth at their school's fundraising carnival, Sabine discovers too late that the fake crystal ball she meant to bring has been mysteriously switched. In its place is the strange "witch ball" she locked away after her grandmother refused to have it in the house. Now the haunted witch ball's predictions are coming true, and Sabine must solve the mystery before its final prediction-her own death-becomes a deadly reality.

Sword Play:
"Help her," insists the spirit of Kip, the jock from her old school who died in a car accident. But his cryptic message is the last thing on Sabine's mind as she packs up to move back home. She's not happy about leaving her friends, her boyfriend, and Nona who's gravely ill, but won't dare challenge her mother's orders.

Fatal Charm:
Sabine Rose is reunited with her ill grandmother Nona and her friends at Sheridan Valley. But the excitement of curing Nona-and discovering love with someone new-doesn't outweigh the burden of her father's dark secret: a daughter no one but Sabine knows about. Riddled with curiosity, Sabine uses astral projection to spy on her half sister Jade. One night-while out of body-she witnesses a gruesome murder and the victim appears to be Jade's mother.

The author will have a new series starting the fall of 2008 called Dead Girl Walking.

For more information about the author, Linda Joy Singleton, check out her website at
http://ljsingleton.com/

Youth Advisory Council...YAC

2008-03-04T15:59:00.003-06:00

What is YAC??
YAC is an advisory group for teens in grades 6-12 who are interested in creating a teen-friendly space at the public library.

Would you like to recommend books for purchase?
Your participation gives you a voice in deciding what materials, programs, and services the library should offer local teens.

Earn volunteer hours and meet new people plus your
participation looks great on job resumes and college applications!

YAC meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm...
Snacks and soda provided!

For further information contact Peg at 262-4090 Ext: 23

2008-02-28T09:58:00.008-06:00

The Duck Tape company has recently released the dates for their annual
Stuck at Prom: Duck Brand Duct Tape scholarship contest! The contest begins March 3 and ends June 11, 2008.

What is the Stuck at Prom contest? It is a fun program that offers scholarships to the top three couples who have made their prom clothes entirely out of duct tape. Check out the past winners for proof!

If you need some ideas to get you started...check out these books available through the library.

Dangles and Bangles : 25 funky projects to make and wear
by Sherri and Michelle Haab

The crafty diva's D.I.Y. stylebook : a grrrl's guide to cool

creations you can make, show off, and share
by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Ductigami : the art of the tape by Joe Wilson

Got tape? : roll out the fun with duct tape!
25+ quick and easy duct tape projects for the whole family
by Ellie Schiedermayer

Welcome to the WPLYA blog...News for library teens

2008-01-19T19:17:00.000-06:00