TeenThing

How to Beat A Reading Slump

2010-03-10T15:25:00.006-06:00

Maybe it's the warm weather and Spring fever, but I've found myself in a reading slump. Do you ever have those slumps where no matter what book you pick up nothing sounds good and you just can't get into reading?

I have some go-to reading slump books that help me get back to reading, so if your reading is dragging too, check these out:

Airhead by Meg Cabot (or really anything by Meg Cabot!)
Quantum Prophecy: The Awakening by Michael Carroll
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman (another author where any book is good)
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

Do you have any favorite reading slump reads?

Mockingjay is coming

2010-03-05T16:23:00.003-06:00

The third book of The Hunger Games trilogy will be hitting shelves August 24, 2010. To help us count down the days, Scholastic has made a very cool Mockingjay countdown. Pretty cool, right? And for the record, I'm totally Team Peeta!

If August seems too far away, you can always check out these other dystopian novels:

Candor by Pam Bachorz
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman
Gone by Michael Grant
The Giver by Lois Lowry

Who is Your Lit Crush?

2010-02-13T15:46:00.004-06:00

Valentine's Day is almost here and we're celebrating at The Library Center with Girls Night Out: Book Crush. Join the fun February 19 at 7pm as we talk about our favorite lit character crush, cast the dream movies of YA books, and of course, eat chocolate!

So, who are my top lit crushes? I have a long-time crush on Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables. I'm very much on Team Peeta, from The Huger Games. And if I were going on adventure to save an entire kingdom, I'd want Po from Graceling by my side. Haven't read any of my lit crushes books? Check them out from the library (but be warned-you may fall in love!)

So, who's your lit crush?

Teen Night: Mystery Night

2010-02-03T16:23:00.002-06:00

Love mysteries? Head to Teen Night at The Library Center Friday from 9:00-10:30pm. There will be a famous detective quiz, Clue and a library murder mystery to solve. It's your turn to be the detective, investigate the crime scenes and solve the case.

Need some good mysteries to read in the meantime? Check out these great reads at the library:

The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin
Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
Right Behind You by Gail Giles
The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding
Fake ID by Walter Sorrells

Food for Fines

2010-01-26T15:51:00.003-06:00

Do you have fines on your library card? We have a way for you to wipe away those fines and help wipe out hunger.

Between January 24 through January 30, 2010 bring non-perishable items to any library branch and you'll receive a 50-cent credit on your existing library card balance for each item you bring in. The food will then go to fill the Ozarks Food Harvest-The Food Bank. You can find more info on the Food For Fines week here.

So start the year off with no fines on your card and help fill The Food Banks shelves.

Author Chat with Maggie Stiefvater

2010-01-15T16:32:00.003-06:00

Have you ever wanted to talk to an author? Join our live Skype chat with Maggie Stiefvater, author of the New York Times Bestseller, "Shiver" on January 23rd at 1pm in The Library Center's Harrison Room.

Maggie is the author of "Shiver," "Lament," and "Ballad."

Favorite Reads of 2009 and A Chance to Win a 2010 Read

2009-12-16T11:57:00.005-06:00

With the year coming to an end, "best of" lists are all over the place. I'm working on making my "Best Books of 2009 List" and I'd love to know what titles you think belong on it. You can pick either a book that was released this year, like Shiver or Catching Fire or you can pick a book that you read for the first time this year that was released before 2009.

And to sweeten the deal, by leaving a comment, you'll be entered for a chance to win a copy of a 2010 release-before it even hits the shelves!

So what books deserve a spot on this year's "Top Ten?"

Holiday Romance

2009-12-10T11:01:00.003-06:00

I love the holidays and I'm always up for a good holiday-themed romance. What better time to curl up with a good warm fuzzy read and drink some hot cocoa? Why not check out some of these great holiday romances:

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Mistletoe by Hailey Abbott, Melissa De la Cruz, Aimee Freidman, and Nina Malkin

Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott

French Kissmas by Cathy Hapka

Last Christmas: The Private Prequel by Kate Brian

What Child Is This by Caroline B. Cooney

Movie News

2009-11-25T11:58:00.003-06:00

Did you know that current Gateway nominee Beastly by Alex Flinn will be a movie next year? I loved this modern take on Beauty and the Beast and I can't wait to see it on the big screen. Here's a sneak peak:

What do you think? Are you excited for Beastly the movie?

Want More Paranormal?

2009-11-19T11:33:00.003-06:00

New Moon hits theaters Friday-will you be there? If you're looking for more paranormal reads, check out some of these new releases:

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater-a love story with werewolves-perfect if you're on Team Jacob! (Also, keep an eye out for our upcoming chat with Maggie-we'll be talking to her in January!)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick-If you thought Edward Cullen was crushworthy, wait until you meet Patch! Lots of mystery, suspense and romance all wrapped up in a exciting read.

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor-Three short stories about first kisses and supernatural love.

Shadowland by Alyson Noel-Have you been following the story that started with Evermore and Blue Moon? The third book, Shadowland, is brand new and you can expect another threat to the growing relationship between Ever and Damon.

Want more suggestions? Ask your teen librarian for more book ideas. And be sure to stop by and let us your thoughts on the New Moon movie!

2009 Teens Top Ten

2009-10-21T12:13:00.004-05:00

Happy Teen Read Week!

The 2009 Teens Top Ten list is here. Did your favorites make it? Of course, you can check out all the teens top ten books at the library.

The 2009 Teens Top Ten is:

1. Paper Towns by John Green
2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
5. Identical by Ellen Hopkins
6. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
7. Wake by Lisa McMann
8. Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Happy Reading!

Teens Top Ten Voting

2009-08-28T13:10:00.001-05:00

Teens Top Ten voting is open! Click here to vote and check back during Teen Read Week to see if your favorites won!

Are You Ready for the Cold??

2009-08-13T16:00:00.001-05:00

Want to read the book? You can check it out from the library here.

Teen Night: Movie Night

2009-08-04T13:14:00.002-05:00

It's the first Friday of the month and that means Teen Night at The Library Center. And this month we're joining forces with the other branches to bring you a huge party.

We're hosting a movie night which means movies, popcorn, trivia, and of course a red carpet runway with movie star gocks.

The party starts at 9pm in the auditorium and goes until 10:30pm. Hope to see you there!!

Percy Jackson Movie

2009-07-22T16:38:00.003-05:00

So if you saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in theaters, you probably saw this teaser trailer for the movie version of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

If not, don't worry-you can check out the trailer right here! And be sure to catch up on the Percy Jackson series before you see the movie-you can check out the books at the library!

Vampire Reads, Part II

2009-07-20T10:50:00.003-05:00

Time to show you the rest of Kristi's vampire reading list!

By the by, it isn't too late to sign up for Summer Reading. With a couple weeks to go, you can still get a crack at a Nintendo DSi not to mention your flipcard and fine waiver card. For details, click that link over there on the right.

------

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer (Series: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod)

Vlad is pretty much your average eighth grader, except for being a vampire. His story starts with a disappearing teacher, a love interest who seems more interested in his best friend, and a strange new substitute teacher who just might know his secret. The characters were easy to relate to and the plot line was intriguing (if not quite scary.) This book got off to a bit of a slow start, but it's worth reading to the end.

Night World Vol.1 by L.J. Smith (Series: Night World)

I wasn't a huge fan of this series. It was a decent concept, but the characters and plot lines fell flat. The heroines were the wilting, whiney variety, and the heroes didn't play as central a role as I would have liked. Only the villains were delightfully evil enough to stand out. If you need a quick vampire romance fix this will provide it, but not much else.

Evernight by Claudia Gray

It starts out mysterious, with a major twist in the middle that completely changed my perception of the characters. Unfortunately, this wasn't necessarily a good thing. The storyline and suspense which were well-built in the first half of the book lost most of the momentum and thrill in the second half. The action was present, but the conflict and resolution were sadly lacking.

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz (Series: Blue Bloods)

This book was the perfect mix of mystery, drama, and compelling characters. A group of rich teenage socialites are swept up in a world of murder, past lives, and secret societies. Blue Bloods was well-written and suspenseful, and left me ready for the sequel.

Happy Reading!

Vampire Reads, Part I

2009-07-01T16:27:00.010-05:00

I'll admit it: I'm not passionate about vampire fiction. Whew! Good to get that off my chest.

Not to worry though; you don't have to rely on me. We have several librarians that really know their brooding, dazzling, misunderstood creatures of the night. One of these fine folks is Kristi, at the Republic Branch Library.

When I saw an annotated list of teen vampire fiction that she created for her branch, I begged her to let us put it on TeenThing. She graciously agreed.

I've split it into two parts. Look for Part II later this week. Please feel free to post your responses in the comments. We would love to see what you have to say about these titles!

*****

Dear Vampire Aficionados,

I enjoyed the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, but hold a healthy skepticism of all the vampire novels that came in its wake. I thought of dozens of Meyer impersonators trying to sell me their watered down version of Bella and Edward's romance. Or worse. After all, there are tons of vampire novels out there now, and not all of them can be as original and winning as Twilight. So I've taken it upon myself to narrow down the field, for those of you who love vampires, but don't know where to start.

Enjoy,

Kristi Taylor

Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast (Series: House of Night)
For those of you who love vampire series, this is a great place to start. The authors use an interesting mix of vampire lore and Cherokee legend to create a world of danger and magic. I loved the characters and the story line was so compelling I had to run out to buy the next book in the series.

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber (Series: Vampire Kisses)
This is a must read for teen vampire lovers. The heroine is a quick-witted and spunky goth girl who is completely comfortable being the out-of-place eccentric in a boringly normal town. The storyline is marvelously entertaining. It proceeds with more humor and hijinks than drama and angst. As a bonus: There is also a Vampire Kisses graphic novel series.

Suck It Up by Brian Meehl

Dracula meets Superman? Starring a gangly, vegetarian teen vampire? This unlikely, hero goes from trying to blend in to volunteering for the massive challenge of saving the world for vampire kind. Quirky side characters and persistent evil vampire villains add to this great read. This off-the-wall concept created a novel that would make any comic book proud.

....to be continued.

Beach Reads Not Your Thing?

2009-06-23T15:34:00.005-05:00

Check out the Darken Your Summer Days website! And don't forget to count your reading towards the Teen Summer Reading Program!

You can find these books at any branch of the Springfield Greene County Library. And be sure to ask your teen librarian for more summer reads!

Teen Takes & Book Trailers

2009-06-19T13:13:00.003-05:00

You still have time to enter the 2009 Teen Takes contest! Entries are open until June 30.

You know what I would love to see this year in Teen Takes? Book trailers! A book trailer is like a movie trailer, only it previews a book. Do a search on YouTube and you can find all sorts of book trailers. Or come to The Library Center tonight at 6:00pm for a Teen Takes workshop and learn how to make your very own book trailer all online-no cameras required!

Check out some of my favorite book trailers:

Summer Reading, Day 12: TeenTakes

2009-06-17T10:58:00.003-05:00

You have just under two weeks left to submit your entry for TeenTakes. It's another one of those links on the right side of this page. Go ahead; check it out. I'll wait.

...

Oh, good, you're back.

So, as you can see, you could win a $50.00 gift card from Best Buy! If friends help (you can have up to three people on your team), they can win too!

The rules are pretty straight-forward. Be sure you get your clip posted to YouTube and submit the link in the next week or so.

If you want to see an example of a book-related clip try out this one.

It's summer, and you could use a gift card.

Summer Reading, Day 11: Bone!

2009-06-16T15:58:00.005-05:00

Looking for something funny, sad, and exciting? Something that you can pick up and get into immediately? Maybe something highly visual with a distinctive look? Perhaps a highly influential landmark of design that's readily available at your local library? That's great. I've got just the thing.

Try out Jeff Smith's series Bone. The comic was originally published in a 55 book series, but then it was collected into nine books which are available at the library:
Out from Boneville
The Great Cow Race
Eyes of the Storm
The Dragonslayer
Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border
Old Man's Cave
Ghost Circles
Treasure Hunters
Crown of Horns

To make things simpler you could check out the single volume version simply called: Bone. This book collects all the Bone adventures (all the nine books listed above) into a single, tidy 1,332 page volume. Just remember: lift with your legs, not with your back. Oh, and happy reading!

Your pal,
John

Summer Reading, Day 10: The Library Station Rocks!

2009-06-15T20:36:00.003-05:00

So, Friday's Midtown vs. the Station showdown was a bit of a blowout. Midtown just didn't show up. *tsk, tsk*

Granted Midtown did send over a Twilight buff (kudos to Mike and Ike for their trivia prowess). However, in the end, the bout was halted due to the mercy rule. Better luck next time Midtown. Shall we do it on your turf?

So what's going on this week? Lots! Look over to the far right of the screen. See! Right over there? Where it says "Programs"? Midtown has three (count 'em!) events going on. Brentwood is showing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to kick off their Harry Potter movie series. Fair Grove has a do-it-yourself magnetic poetry project. Friday, the Library Center has a Teen Takes Workshop (it's not too late to submit an entry). Saturday, Jeff Thompson is going to be at the Republic branch to talk about how to start a band... a band!!! So cool!

Anyway, get yourself to the library. It's where summer is happening!

Your pal,
John

Summer Reading, Day 6: Teen Night Rumble

2009-06-11T10:37:00.004-05:00

Friday the Library Station is hosting a Teen Night, and this time, we've invited some company!

It's Midtown vs. Station in a battle for north-side supremacy! ...Or it's just friendly videogame/trivia contest. Regardless, there might be a traveling trophy involved, so there is pride on the line. Teen Night starts at 9:00pm and lasts until 10:30pm. You can't leave before 10:30 unless a parent or guardian picks you up.

If you hang out at the Station or Midtown (or both) come and represent your branch. Even if you tend to enjoy our branches a little farther south (Brentwood and the Center), or if you are a regular at one of our county branches (Ash Grove, Fair Grove, Strafford, Republic, or Willard), or if you hang out at Park Central, or if you hang out with Rob on the bookmobile... Join us!!! We'll let you pick sides. Neutrality is an option (the Swiss option).

There will be GuitarHero, Wii Boxing, and trivia contests. As always, you're welcome to just hang out and use the computers.

Though I shouldn't have to remind you, I will anyway: Sign up for summer reading! (It's still that link over on the right side of this very screen.)

See you at 9:00pm at the Station!

Your pal,
John

Summer Reading, Day 1: It's here! It's here!

2009-06-06T10:01:00.005-05:00

Express Yourself @ Your Library! It's the summer reading program, and it's finally underway. If you haven't signed up yet, click the link (should be just over there on the right side of the screen). I'll wait...

Have you signed up yet? Hmmm? I'm serious! You better sign up.

Okay? Okay. Good! Now, on to other matters...

If you can't decide what to read, may I humbly suggest you check out the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominees. It's also over there to the right with the other booklists. You might be asking: If these are nominees, how do they become a Teens' Top Ten Winner? Excellent question! The American Library Association will open voting during Teen Read Week in October, and you (YOU!) pick the winners. If you start right now, you should be able to read quite a few of these nominees before October, so get to it.

It's summertime! Grab a book and a hammock! Let the lemonade flow!

Sarah Dessen Equals A Great Summer Read

2009-06-03T12:21:00.002-05:00

In my eyes, Sarah Dessen can do no wrong. I love her books, and she writes some of the most crush worthy guys in teen lit. I know there are lots of Sarah Dessen fans out there that agree with me! So why not check out Sarah's new book at the library this summer? Along for the Ride will be released on June 16. Until then, why not check out this new video Sarah made talking about her inspiration for the book.