Teen Read '09

Listening Library's Fantasy Road Trip Contest

Calling all filmmakers!  Listening Library is sponsoring a video contest and they want to see your films.  Read on for more information about the contest:

THINGS TO KNOW:

 

Ø       CONTEST INFO: Listening Library is sponsoring a video contest for teens ages 13-18 to create short films that answer the questions, “If you could go on a road trip with a character from your favorite audio series, where would you go?  What would you do along the way?  How would you travel?” 

 

Ø       PARTICIPATING AUTHORS: Libba Bray, author of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing), Tamora Pierce, author of, among many, many titles, the Beka Cooper series (her current series, so far it includes Terrier and Bloodhound), and Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (including the latest, The Last Olympian).

 

Ø       HOW TO ENTER: teens can visit www.fantasyroadtripcontest.com for all the details about how to enter, video requirements and information about the authors and their books.  Don’t miss the animated video introducing the contest!

 

Ø       WINNERS: Authors will judge the videos and then each author will pick a winner (for a total of three), who will receive an 8GB iPod Touch and a collection of signed audiobooks.

 

Ø       DATES: The contest will be open from June 1-August 17; it’s a great activity to keep kids entertained while they’re home for the summer! 

What I saw and How I Lied

Well, this is certainly one of those books that you CAN judge by its cover! I was so intrigued by the vintage look of the cover: 40s hair style, the vivid red lipstick, that I just HAD to read "What I Saw and How I Lied," by Judy Blundell. Then, I started reading a lot of buzz on the book: the critics loved it, it was being mentioned as a possible candidate for the National Book Award; the author was better known as Jude Watson, writer of the children's Star Wars series. That sealed the deal.

Have YOU read the book yet? Are you interested in yet another coming-of-age story, but one filled with intrigue, murder, deception, anti-semitism, the loss of innocence on multiple levels? C'mon on back here when you've finished the story so we can share notes! I promise you won't be disappointed by this retro story filled with 21st century elements.

 

Place holds on The TeenRead '09 books

The books listed on this summer's blog are available at your local library!  If you live in Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk or Wood Counties in South Central Wisconsin you can put a hold on any of these titles and have them delivered to your local library.  Just click on any of the titles below to place holds on these great books.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Evernight

Graceling

The Graveyard Book

Home of the Brave

The Hunger Games

Impossible

Inkheart

Inkspell

Inkdeath

Jellicoe Road

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Little Brother

Nation

Paper Towns

Savvy

What I Saw and How I Lied

can wii control the world?

I'll admit that I'm not a techno-geek (a term I use with great admiration) but any time somebody takes away my right to email, blog, talk on the phone or even write a letter in privacy, I am one mad chica!  But really, what could I do about it?  Would I have the guts (let alone the brains) to stand up for my rights or subvert the system?

Would you have the skills and courage to be the next "w1n5t0n"?

Check out Cory Doctorow's Little Brother!

Graceling: what is your grace?

If you had the grace for killing what would you do with it?  Is there another grace you would rather have?  I hope you enjoyed Graceling as much as I did, but if you didn't, let us know why!  Did you have a favorite part?  A part you hated?  Would you have the courage to stand against a brutal king?   What color are your eyes..?

Graveyard Book: does it deserve the Newbery?

What did you think of "The Graveyard Book"?  Does it deserve the Newbery or was there another book you thought should have won for this year?   Although I usually don't like creepy stories, I was pretty intrigued by this book!  The idea of a human baby being raised by ghosts and able to cross certain ghostly boundaries was definitely a unique idea, and I loved how Bod is caught between the two worlds...  I was surprised that it was chosen by the Newbery Committee, however, as they have chosen some fairly bland books in the past and this one seems sure to raise controversy.  (if parents complain that Harry Potter is too scary, this is sure to ruffle some feathers..)  Is it too scary for younger kids?  What do you think--does it deserve the Newbery Award?

Admiring The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Who is Jenna Fox?  What is time?  What is identity?

Watch the book trailer video and learn more about Mary E. Pearson at the novel's web site.

I'm re-reading this novel and I'm going to blog about the book as I read it.  Have you read this book?  Are you reading it right now?  What are  your impressions of the book?

Impossible discussions!

Like the melody of a familiar tune, Impossible is a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.  If you haven't read the book yet, you might enjoy reading a little bit about the story behind the book at Nancy Werlin's web site.  Be sure to check out the great book trailer on this page, too!

I won't give anything away about this book in the very first post, but I'm looking forward to blogging about it this summer.  Have you read it?  What are your impressions?

Blog Rules

Our rules are simple and easy to follow!

• Respect the opinions of all participants
• There are no right answers
• There are no wrong answers
• No profanity

Posts or comments containing profanity or flames will be removed immediately. Anyone breaking any one of these rules will be permanently removed from the discussion.

For Parents

Teen Read '09 is a moderated book discussion blog for teens that is sponsored by the South Central Library System and participating member libraries. All comments are reviewed by youth services librarians. Personal identification and e-mail addresses are never revealed or exchanged. Participants agree to follow the blog rules.

Are you interested in learning more about great books for teens? Visit the YALSA web site for book lists and suggestions.