What I'm Reading: Dystopian Fiction

Thanks to a member of the Teen Advisory Board who recommended this wonderful book, I've found one of my favorite novels of 2008!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an amazing work of dystopian fiction. Set in a futuristic North America, the capital, Panem, controls the 12 districts with authoritarian rule. Every year two teens from each district are chosen via lottery to participate in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death that brings glory and wealth to the winner and their district. The "tributes" must endure harsh natural obstacles, finding food, water, and shelter; all while being hunted by the other tributes. Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the Games to save her younger sister, who was chosen from the lottery. Thus begins Katniss's journey from the depths of poverty to the opulence of the capital to the frightening reality that is the Hunger Games.

Other great YA dystopian novels I've read:
The Giver by Lois Lowry

Uglies; Pretties; Specials; and Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Feed by M.T. Anderson

The Declaration by Gemma Malley

The Silenced by James DeVita

Teens' Top Ten 2008

More award information to announce!
The Teens' Top Ten for 2008 have been selected. The Teens' Top Ten is an award voted on by teens from around the country during Teen Read Week in October.

Here are this year's winners:

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

National Book Award

The National Book Award finalists for 2008 have been announced! The finalists in the "Young People's Literature" category, which includes youth and teen fiction, are:

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

The winner will be announced on November 19.

Teen Read Week

This week is Teen Read Week, a national initiative sponsored by the American Library Association to promote teens and reading.

Here at the library we promote teens and reading everyday! We have book groups, an online newsletter of new teen books, a Summer Reading program, tons of great books, and special events happening all the time.

This year to celebrate Teen Read Week, the library's Teen Advisory Board is sponsoring a Read-A-Thon!

So find a great YA book and celebrate Teen Read Week!

TAB Read-A-Thon

The Teen Advisory Board is "Reading to Raise Money" for the Shorewood Intermediate School library and your invited to help!

Here's how it works:
1. Pick up a Donation Form (or print it from our website)
2. Ask for donations
3. Come to the Read-A-Thon on Saturday, October 18th
4. READ
5. Turn in the donation money to the Shorewood Public Library by Sunday, October 26, 2008
6. All donations will be given to the SIS library for the purchase of Playaway audio books.

The day of the Read-A-Thon will include FOOD and PRIZES!

So go ahead, raise money for a great cause and have fun reading!

Banned Books Week

This week is Banned Books Week, a time to focus on freedom of speech, the meaning of censorship and celebrating the freedom to read.

The American Library Association tracks challenges to books across the country and each year lists the 10 most frequently challenged books. ALA also has lists of the top 10 challenged authors, the top 100 banned/challenged books from 2000-2007, and many others.

The books on the list may surprise you. Take a look and celebrate your freedom to read!

What I'm Reading: Graphic Novels

Just a few graphic novel recommendations!

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (ages 12+)
Award winning graphic novel about the struggles of being perceived as different. Tells three interrelated stories: being the only Chinese American boy at a new school, a Chinese fable about the Monkey King, and about being embarrassed by a stereotypical Chinese relative.

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (ages 14+)
Combines both Persepolis books in one volume. Follows Marjane from childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution through adolescence in Europe and her return to Tehran for college.

Miki Falls by Mark Crilley (ages 12+)
On a lighter note, Miki Falls is about the romance between Miki and Hero, a boy with secrets...a boy who might not be human. For anyone who loves a supernatural romance.

Letters About Literature

Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Created a strong emotional impact? Or made you think seriously about an issue? If so, now is your chance to write a letter to the author of that book. Let them know how much their novel, poetry collection, play, etc. made an impact on you. The Library of Congress and Target are sponsoring a contest called Letters About Literature. Write a letter to the author of the work you made a personal connection with, send it to the Letters About Literature competition, and you could win a $500 Target gift card and $10,000 for your local school or public library.

Entry forms are available at the Shorewood Library or online at www.lettersaboutliterature.org.

Good luck!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

One of my favorite books of 2006 was Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. And now it's being released as a movie next month starring the amazing Micheal Cera and Kat Dennings. Check out the trailer and check out the book!

What I'm Reading: Realistic Fiction

I wanted to share a few good realistic fiction books I've read lately.

She's So Money by Cherry Cheva

Maya's always been the good girl; studies hard and gets good grades all while helping her family at their Thai restaurant. Then Maya makes a huge mistake at the restaurant, hides it from her parents, and gets into deep trouble with local hottie Camden King.


Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley

Snowboarder, Syrah, has long been defined by her father, a cell phone billionaire. After an accident that prevents Syrah from snowboarding, she begins to find a new life that allows her to step out from her father's shadow and show everyone the real Syrah Cheng.


The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman

Katie and her sister Michaela do everything together. That is until they move from New York City to small town Fir Lake and Michaela becomes Miss Popularity. Katie misses the city, her friends, and ballet, but not as much as she misses her sister.