TeenScene @ WPL

THE RACE IS ON!

Posted on June 3rd, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Okay, you signed up for Summer Reading and you chose a team…WHAT? You haven’t signed up yet?

Go here and do it. Now.

Ok, so you are signed up–awesome! The four teams are reading like crazy to try and out do each other…
Here are the stats…

Aren’t sure how to get some hours in? Here are some tips:

• Take a book to the pool…just try not to get it too wet!
• Read some comics on the web–heck, yea it counts!
• Read your favorite picture book to your snotty little brother–maybe if you read together he won’t be so snotty!
• Come to the library–if you attend a program it counts toward your log–here’s what is going on.
• Put a zombie sticker on your head and read a book about brains at the park…why not? You get double fun for being a weirdo… (so says Teen Volunteer, Kat!)
• Listen to a book on your ipod or computer or ipad or whatever techno gadget floats your boat…I just listened to The Hobbit and it was awesome-have you ever heard dwarves singing?
• Grab a magazine–they are fun to read and they have pictures!

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Cover Stories: Book Cover Judginess

Posted on April 27th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

I do it, you do it and I bet your Auntie Muriel does it to. YA Bloggers do it and librarians do it too…everyday. Do what? Judge books by their covers. And why shouldn’t you? A book cover is designed to grab your interest so you’ll pick the book up and give the words a try!

In our Teen ARC (soon to be Beta Books) meetings we talk about book covers quite a bit and even play games where we try to make up stories based solely on book covers…it gets kinda funny (remember the spanked by flowers cover?). We really like picking covers apart to talk about what we like and what we don’t like to see in a teen book cover. The top offenders?

• Plain Janes: We don’t like it when there is absolutely nothing on the cover at all! What’s up with that? Give us something to look at!
• Imagination Killers: Sometimes the fun of the book is imagining the characters for yourself instead of imaging the cover model as the character.
• NO PDA! We don’t like to watch people making out in real life and we don’t want to see it on the cover either…that goes double for those too sexy models in impossible poses on the cover. Seriously, no one can really arch their back like that. Ouch.

So how do you judge your books? Give me a shout out in the comments.

And finally for your viewing pleasure, here is how a specific book cover was made sped up to show the whole process in 1 minute and 53 seconds.

4 comments.

Haven’t Been There, but I’ve Read That: Historical Fiction for Teens

Posted on April 24th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Can you imagine what it felt like to grow up in a Medieval village in the depths of the Dark Ages? What about how stressful it must have been to be a fighter pilot strapped in the belly of a plane hurtling through the sky towards enemy airspace? Of course you can imagine it! Although you can’t live in the past, you can visit it…when you read about it.

If you aren’t the type to follow wizards into dark mines or hitch rides in alien ships, than you may just be a fan of historical fiction.

BUT WHAT *IS* HISTORICAL FICTION?? I can hear you shouting. (Seriously–you don’t need to shout, I am sitting right here.)

Let’s ask the professor:

So there you have it. Mostly real, but not quite. But it will feel real to you…so go ahead and step into historical fiction. The feelings are real, but the dumb souvenir t-shirt is totally optional. Browse the catalog now because history is cool.

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How Many Have You Read? YALSA Announces Teens’ Top Ten Nominees

Posted on April 16th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Have ya’ll seen this yet?

These are the nominees for the coveted Teens Top Ten list this year. Teens nominate the titles and teens vote on the winners.

I like a lot of these picks, what do you think? Any gems that were missed? Any included that you hated? Give me a shout back in the comments.

If you haven’t read all of these–get cracking!  You can see the whole list in our catalog and you’ll have months to read them all. I’ll be bugging you to vote for your favorites this fall.

Seriously…go read. Get thine nose in a book... Now.

3 comments.

The Titanic: Long Gone but Not Forgotten

Posted on April 9th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

With the 100 year anniversary of the sinking approaching on April 15, %2012 and the brilliantly timed release of James Cameron’s Titanic in 3D much of the world is very interested in the rusting and romantic heap of history on the bottom of the ocean floor.

Why do we love history? Is it the romance? Is it the adventure? Is it the cool costumes? Who knows–but historical fiction is gaining in popularity with adults and teens alike!

So what happened that cold night in 1912? Why weren’t there enough lifeboats and how did it feel to look into that dark 28 degree water and know you were about to plunge in?  No helicopter rescue for these folks…and none of them are around anymore to ask. Here is how National Geographic thinks it may have happened:

They aren’t the only ones piecing together stories from the past. Some try to piece together the facts and others try to match the facts up with feelings and human emotions–that is the beginning of historical fiction. These authors want you to listen to their take on the disaster. Are you up for some adventure?

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Road Trip! Books that go the Distance

Posted on March 26th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Yes, sports fans–it is that time again!

Spring Break is on and teens are ready to hit the road and we are ready to offer up or annual pick of the buddy books about road trips, travel and spring break shenanigans!

Catch and Release by Blythe Woolston
Eighteen-year-old Polly and impulsive, seventeen-year-old Odd survive an deadly outbreak of flesh-eating bacteria, but resulting wounds have destroyed their plans for the future and with little but their unlikely friendship and a shared affection for trout fishing, they set out on a road trip through the West.

Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger
Sixteen-year-old Hattie and eighteen-year-old Delores set off on a road trip that takes unexpected turns as they discover the healing power of friendship and confront what each of them is fleeing from.

Don’t Stop Now by Julie Halpern
Recent high school graduates Lil and Josh leave Illinois for Oregon seeking Lil’s sort-of friend Penny, who faked her own kidnapping to escape problems at home and an abusive boyfriend, but Lil also wants to find out if she and Josh are meant to be more than friends.

Rivals by Lauren Kunze
Callie Andrews has looked forward this semester but Lexi is still after her, boyfriend Clint wants her back but Gregory has decided to fight for her, Vanessa still has not forgiven her, and working on the Harvard Crimson is taking a toll, causing Callie to yearn for spring break.

What is your favorite road trip book?

1 comment.

Spring is for the Birds: The Not-So-Twitterpated Book List

Posted on March 21st, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Ahhh…Spring–that magical time when everyone’s thoughts turn to love and beauty…right? Spring…the birds are singing, the freshman are batting their eyes at potential prom dates and all the flowers beg for attention from the pollinators. It is inevitable, right? All creatures’ thoughts turn to romance in the Spring time…

Well, not everyone…some people like to balance those frisky rabbits and google-eyed love birds of spring with a box of tissues and a sad story. Grab some snacks and turn off the phone (like you need one more text about your BFF’s new crush) and enjoy these  weird relationships, tear-jerkers and bad romances…

Boy meets girl, girl goes crazy, girl runs away…ah teenage love can be so one-sided. In this scrapbook of make-believe and truth readers have to decide for themselves where the story ends. Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony–after you read this, come talk to me. I have some theories about what may be going on.

In White Cat by Holly Black, Cassell is pretty sure he was in love with his best friend…too bad he is pretty sure he killed her with his secret powers. That’s awkward.

When you know you are going to die, is it still ok to fall in love? What if you can’t stop it? Is it worth living even if the living is what is killing you? How the heck did Anne Frank manage to live with her crush under her roof and the Nazis outside her door? Grab your tissues for this one folks…The Fault in our Stars by John Green is gonna clear out your sinuses.

Cas’s girlfriend is gorgeous…and she’s also a blood thirsty ghost who has been known to rip the limbs off of his friends..maybe double-dates are out of the question? Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

He thinks she is a boy, but she finds herself hoping he’ll see her as more…oh yeah and the fate of the world is at stake in an alternate history of WWI…love…it is tricky, especially when you are riding around in a live whale that has been made into an airship. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

So finding books with weird romance was kinda fun…and kinda hard. I am sure there are tons more that I haven’t read. Do you know of any star-crossed, love-hate, sobbing-crazy love stories? Give me a shout back in the comments. We need a good long list of these gems.

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Give a Book a Hug, Pweeze?

Posted on February 28th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Here are some exciting new reads that are brand new and waiting for you to take them home and love them *insert puppy dog eyes*.

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‘Listen With’ this! Facebook’s New Feature and Books with Playlists

Posted on January 19th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Have you heard of  “Listen with” on Facebook yet?

This new feature looks like it will be kinda cool, I think–it basically lets you play DJ and listen to music with your friends in real time. Kinda of like the mix tape 2.0. Remember mix tapes? The playlists of the pre-ipod era? Here is how Mashable says it will work…

The feature will start rolling out within the next few weeks. To use it, look for a music note in your chat sidebar. This shows who is listening to music. When you hover over someone’s name, you’ll see a “Listen with x” button that plays the song through whatever service your friend is using. When your friend chooses a new song, you’ll continue to hear what they hear.

“So”, I can hear you thinking. “Yeah, that is great and all, Mickie, but this is a book blog–where are the books?” Well, my friend…be ready to be amazed. We all know that sharing music with people really brings us closer and is a fun way to make memories together (shout out to my buds who saw NKOTB with me at the Ohio State Fair in 1989 WOOT!) and authors know it too. So how can you get closer to the characters you love in the books you read? Why listen to their mix tapes, of course!

Here are some books with playlists for your perusal and more here.

Click on the book to view the playlist. Is there a book you have made a play list for or is there a song that always reminds you of a character–give me a shout about it in the comments.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Paper Towns by John Green

The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

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Lizzy Bennett in a Pair of Pink Chuck Taylors: Books for Teen Fans of Ms. Austen

Posted on January 13th, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Do you still live with your parents, but long to spend time at a wealthy relation’s house in London? Do you have a Regency Era dress in your closet, but wonder if you can wear it to prom?  Do you find yourself attracted to guys with “brooding eyes”? Do your friends make fun of you for saying words like “brooding”? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be a Jane Austen fan.

If you are an Austen fan, check out these modern teen reads inspired by the tales of Lady Jane…

Prom and Prejudice
by Elizabeth Eulberg
For Lizzie Bennett, a music scholarship student at Connecticut’s exclusive, girls-only Longbourn Academy, the furor over prom is senseless, but even more puzzling is her attraction to the pompous Will Darcy, best friend of her roommate’s boyfriend.

Enthusiasm
by Polly Shulman
Julie and Ashleigh, high school sophomores and Jane Austen fans, seem to fall for the same Mr. Darcy-like boy and struggle to hide their true feelings from one another while rehearsing for a school musical.

Epic Fail
by Claire LaZebnik
In this modern take on “Pride and Prejudice,” Elise Benton, who has just moved to California, is a junior at an exclusive prep school where, in spite of her initial bad impression, she finds herself attracted to the moody and handsome son of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity couple.

Sass & Seredipity
by Jennifer Ziegler
Unlike her romantic sister, Gabby is down-to-earth and does not put her trust in relationships, but when the richest boy in school befriends her, she discovers that emotional barriers might actually be getting in the way of her happiness.

Or for some Funky Jane in Graphic Novel form, don’t miss:

Like Jane, but ready to try something new?  Try these three on for size…

The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone
by Dene Low

Petronella’s fashionable friends are arriving at her country estate near London to celebrate her sixteenth birthday and her coming out party. During the festivities, important guests are disappearing, kidnapping notes are appearing, many of the clues are insects, and Uncle Augustus (who has developed a bug eating compulsion) is surreptitiously devouring evidence. Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer In 1817 in England, two young cousins, Cecilia living in the country and Kate in London, write letters to keep each other informed of their exploits, which take a sinister turn when they find themselves confronted by evil wizards. Austenland by Shannon Hale Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

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Calling All Writers: The 2012 Celebrate the Arts Writing Contest

Posted on January 9th, 2012 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Events, Words & Writing.

Psst! Writers! It’s that time again! Our annual writing contest is back, in which the Arts Council of Westerville, the Westerville Public Library, and the Westerville News & Public Opinion invite participants of all ages to submit original work of 800 words or less. The entry deadline is Tuesday, March 6, %2012, at 9 p.m., so you’ve got lots of time. Full details can be found here. What are you waiting for? Write up those great stories and send ‘em in!

And if you find yourself with a little case of writer's block, be sure to check out some of our great resources, whether they are from this very blog or ye olde library bookshelf!

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During Football Season, Every Game Day is a Holiday: Books for Football Nuts

Posted on January 3rd, 2012 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

If you are reading this blog…

…you may live in Ohio and if you live in Ohio (especially Central Ohio) you know what I am talking about when I say we have some football nuts who live here (not just this guy). For many Ohioans the next upcoming holiday is the next game day… Ohio LOVES football and isn’t afraid to show it!

If you eat and breathe football or bleed team colors…you may enjoy these pigskin reads.

Overweight, somewhat timid Mitch reluctantly agrees to be the sports reporter for the Lincoln High newspaper because he’s determined to be a writer, but he senses a real story in Angel, a talented football player who refuses to stand out on the field–or to discuss his past.

This quick read (only 48 pages!) is just one in a series of quick reads that aim to capture urban teen life–the ups, the downs and the in-betweens of High School.

Kadeem Jones is a star quarterback for Southside High. He is thrilled when college scouts seek him out. His visit to Teller College is amazing, but then NCAA officials accuse Teller’s staff of illegally recruiting top talent. Will Kadeem decide to help their investigation, even though it means the end of the good times? What will it do to his chances of playing college football?

High school senior Adonis struggles to do the right thing when his fellow football players escalate their bullying of a new classmate, Alan, who is transgendered.

Twelve-year-old football stars Troy White and Ty Lewis are eager to face each other in a seven-on-seven tournament being held at the Super Bowl in Miami, unaware that bad choices made by members of their families will put both boys in danger.

Eighth-grade star quarterback Nate Brodie’s family is feeling the stress of the troubled economy, and Nate is frantic because his best friend Abby is going blind, so when he gets a chance to win a million dollars if he can complete a pass during the halftime of a New England Patriot’s game, he is nearly overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed.

Best friends Cassie and Greg get caught in the middle of a decades-old football rivalry between their high school teams, the Spartans and the Trojans, in this novel loosely based on Homer’s classic tale, The Iliad.

Lonely after a midsummer move to a new town, sixteen-year-old high-school quarterback Marcus Jordan becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker who is great at training him, but whose childish behavior keeps Marcus in hot water.

In a small West Texas town, an Australian exchange student becomes a star on the football field and soon finds himself torn between the lure of America and the ties that bind him to his home in Australia.

Groomed by his father to be a star player, football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson, who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life.

1 comment.

The Hobbit trailer: It’s time to get yer Tolkien on

Posted on December 22nd, 2011 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Books, Movies.

It’s here! It’s here! Our first glimpse of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey movie adaptation! Are you in a comfortable seat? Is the sound turned up on your computer? OK, now take this in:

HOW EXCITED AM I?! Enough to shout on the interwebs, that’s how excited. New resolution for %2012: I’ll be re-reading the book and re-watching the amazing movie series in preparation. More details here.

2 comments.

Michael Jackson and Edward Cullen Discuss Upcoming Teen Events…Comixed Style

Posted on December 21st, 2011 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

"So, uh, hey Mike...I hear you are getting pretty excited about the WPL We Love the 80s party next Thursday 12/29 at 7pm?"

"Yeah...Edward, I am pretty excited about the party. I was kinda a big deal in the 80s...maybe you heard about that? Anyhoo--at the party there is going to be rad 80s food and a costume contest and music and stuff. Pretty Bad--as in good, you know like I was in the 80s."

"You know, you WERE pretty big in the 80s...if you are into that whole Thriller thing or whatever. Personally, I like classical music and tree-climbing more than werewolves doing silly dances in tacky red leather. You know, I'm kinda a big deal now and I, uh, SPARKLE."

"Oh, geesh...awkward. You see Edward, I sparkle too--'xcept when I do it, it is cool. Ouch."

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Now Read This! Gateway Books to the Classics

Posted on December 20th, 2011 by Mickie.
Categories: All posts.

Lately I have seen several teens come into the teen room looking for a “classic” for assigned school reading. These teens don’t look happy. I imagine in their minds the classic is synonymous with old, wordy, too long and B-O-R-I-N-G. And, well, yeah some of them may be (looking at you Tale of Two Cities). BUT–many classics are classics for a reason–they are the precursors of the books we love today.

Just like you can’t have a Raichu without first having Pichu and Pikachu, you just wouldn’t have The Hunger Games without first having Anthem or The City of Ember. You get a lot more understanding out of the books you love if you have read some of the giants who came before…

So still think you don’t like the Classics? I have reverse engineered some of today’s hottest reads (with some help from Figment and the famous Becky) to help you find a Classic that you can enjoy reading…even if you are forced to for school.

If you liked….

Then try this classic…

Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennett meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy--Can they get it together?

If you liked…

Then try this classic….

If you liked…

Try this classic…

This is where Merlin and Arthur and the Watery Tart (if you are a Monty Python Fan) got their start.

If you liked…

Try this classic…

Pirates and villains and BURIED TREASURE! And miles of sun-stroked beaches to be marooned on--sounds like the worst vacation ever, but a really exciting read!

If you liked…

Try this classic….

If you liked…

try this classic…

If you liked…

Try this classic…

They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere! Ah...dashing and elusive...how le romantic. sigh.

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