Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Funny, Romance

Format: Book, E-Book, Downloadable Audiobook

Plot: A continuum of the Carry On series, our group is now on a road trip, in America! However, wherever Simon goes, trouble seems to exist, and this trip is no exempt. New threats are facing the magic world, and Basil, Penelope, and Simon are there to receive the brunt of it. Follow along this high-paced magical tale and watch as new secrets come unraveled and relationships grow stronger in the 2nd book to this beautiful trilogy.

Review: This was one of my favorite books ever! I love the dialogue between characters and seeing the characters grow more mature. Rainbow Rowell’s true representation of the traumatic consequences of their adventures is amazing which is a real refresher in comparison to other books. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed books like Six of Crows or other YA fantasy books. The fandom itself is wonderful! #snowbaz!!!

Rating:

~Kayleigh, Teen Book Reviewer

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Greek Mythology

Format: Book, E-Book, Downloadable Audio Book

Plot: This book is about Zeus sending Apollo to Earth in mortal form even though he is a god and is immortal. He wakes up in a alleyway of New York City then checks his drivers license and Apollo sees he has the name of Lester. Two thugs come up to him and try to mug him but he gets saved by a girl named Megan. Apollo does not know what’s happening so he goes to Percy Jackson for some advice. Then Percy Jackson leads them to Camp Half Blood and Apollo explains the situation to the leader of the camp. Then there is a race located in the Labyrinth the biggest Maze known in Greek Mythology and that is where the plot twist happens.

Review: My opinion about this book was that it had a very interesting plot twist in beginning. This makes readers want to read more to know how the antagonist is going to handle the situation; I really like when books do this. I think other teenagers will enjoy this book because it wants to make you read more and more till the end. Mostly I would recommend this to people who liked the book “The Lightning Thief” or people who like Greek Mythology.

Rating:

~Jonathan, Teen Book Reviewer

Infiltration by Sean Rodman

Genre: Adventure, Fiction

Format: Book

Plot: Bex is a young boy who has a personal hobby of urban exploration, or exploring abandoned buildings. Things go downhill for Bex when he makes friends with a boy named Kieran that moved from another school. Kieran is a troubled kid who has gotten in big trouble in the past. When Kieran finds out who Bex is, they instantly become friends and they talk about what Bex does. However, things go really badly quickly when Kieran reveals a grand scheme, which involves stealing, something that Bex doesn’t want to do when urban exploring and after that, its really up to Bex as to what he does.

Review: This book wasn’t really exciting to enjoy. The ending of the story was very bad and was very anti climatic. The plot was interesting at first, but then it got really confusing at times. It also felt really short and I probably wouldn’t recommend this book.

Rating:

~Allison, Teen Book Reviewer

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Genre: Adventure, Dystopian Fiction, Science Fiction

Format: Book, E-book, Downloadable Audiobook

Plot: Sixteen year old Tris begins life in her new faction. She is alone, navigating and fighting her way to stay in her new home. When things finally seem to settle down, she makes a few friends and tries to keep them from learning her secret.

Review: This book is incredible. It has so much adventure and suspense. I think other teens would enjoy this book, and after they finished they can watch the movie too. Also, if they really like it there are two more books in the series. I would recommend this to someone who likes dystopian novels and maybe anyone who read the Hunger Games series.

Rating:

~Sarah, Teen Book Reviewer

The In-Between by Barbara Stewart

Genre: Adventure, Horror

Format: Book

Plot: Elanor, Ellie for short, and her family were moving to a small town in the Poconos. On their way there, a car came flying down the mountain and crashed into their car, Elanor was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. In one world, known as the in-between, her father survived and she meets a new friend named Madeline. Elanor wants a new life but being haunted by Madeline, she doesn’t show who she really is to others. Madeline is ruining her life, until she’s not.

Review: I personally loved this book, the chapters aren’t long and you never know what is going to happen next. Although quite gory sometimes, I never wanted to put the book down at night. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes twisted stories that don’t make sense until you finish it. It’s not too long of a book either so its an overall fun book to read independently.

Rating:

~Khrystyna, Teen Book Reviewer

Want to see your teen’s book reviews here? Have them fill out our Teen Book Reviewers Request Form. Three hours of community service available for each review; up to three reviews a year.

When I was a kid I really loved to color. It was one of my favorite activities. It made me feel so happy and relaxed and I’m sure my mom was thrilled that I was doing a nice quiet activity that helped develop and improve my fine motor skills. Since I grew up coloring has had an explosion in popularity and there are adult coloring books, fancy pens and colored pencils. In our house we’ll be having a family coloring party to celebrate with the Oceans of Possibilities coloring book I made below.

Are you a member of the BTS Army or a Monbebe? Do you love watching fancams and dance videos? K-Pop is taking off and whether you are an avid fan or just learning about it these books will give you a peek into the K-Pop world; where aspiring stars go through intensive training together to see if they can persevere and become idols.

Check out these amazing YA titles while you wait the next comeback.

Spring is here and our seed library is open. In past years my kiddo and I have grown tomatoes and peas from our seed library seeds. We’ve really enjoyed container gardening on our patio.  There will be seed bundles to grow herbs and vegetables, as well as special Bee-way Builders! It’s been a great way to help my kiddo understand where food comes from and to get her to try some new things.

In addition to the seeds, the library has lots of resources and important information on Gardening for kids where you can learn about what to plant, local growing seasons, controlling weeds without chemicals and much more. Once you learn how to sow and save your seeds from your harvest, you can share with the library and others if you’re interested.

On January 24th the American Library Association virtually announced the winners of the Youth Media Awards; it’s like the Oscars for books. The top awards went to Donna Barba Higuera for The Last Cuentista; winner of the Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award; illustrator Jason Chin who won the Caldecott Medal for Watercress, written by Andrea Wang and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Picture books; and Angeline Boulley for Firekeeper’s Daughter who won a Printz Medal, a William C. Morris Award and an American Indian Youth Literature Awards Young Adult Honor. For a small sample of the award winners look below; you can watch the awards and learn about other award winners and honorees here.

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature: 

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: 

Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African-American author of outstanding books for children and young adults AND Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African-American illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: 

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: 

Pura Belpré Award honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose children’s and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: 

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

Stonewall Book Award—Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

As 2021 comes to end it’s that time of year where everyone starts posting their best of lists and here at the library we want to share our favorites too. Without further ado these are the Youth Services favorite books we read and listened to this year.

Ms. Andrea, Youth Services/Family Engagement Coordinator

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould: When Logan, the adopted daughter of reality television ghosthunters, teams up with Ashley to search for missing teens in Snakebite, Oregon, they find themselves falling for each other as they uncover a hidden evil.

Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale: Dropping out of high school to pursue her Broadway ambitions, a talented performer lands in a directionless job before a visit to the library catapults her into the plotlines of the books she reads.

It’s All Your Fault by Paul Rudnick: Seventeen-year-old Caitlin Singleberry is a proper Christian teenager and member of a family singing group, but today she has been given a truly impossible assignment–keep her cousin Heller Harrigan, Hollywood wild child, out of trouble for the last weekend before her first big movie debuts.

Ms. Charlotte, Teen Librarian

Spy X Family by Tatsuya Endo: Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him procuring both a wife and a child for his mission to infiltrate an elite private school. What he doesn’t know is that the wife he’s chosen is an assassin and the child he’s adopted is a telepath.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson: Liz Lighty has always done her best to avoid the spotlight in her small, wealthy, and prom-obsessed midwestern high school, after all, her family is black and rather poor, especially since her mother died; instead she has concentrated on her grades and her musical ability in the hopes that it will win her a scholarship but when that scholarship falls through she is forced to turn to her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen, which plunges her into the gauntlet of social media which she hates and leads her to discoveries about her own identity and the value of true friendships.

Ms. Cheryl, Youth Services Librarian

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The Berenstain Bears Around the World by Mike Berenstain: The Berenstain Bears travel around the world, from Africa to the Great Wall of China, using their Anywhere-Anyplace Machine.

Danny and the Dinosaur and the New Puppy by Syd Hoff: Danny gets a brand-new puppy, and the dinosaur can’t wait to join in on the fun! What happens when you play fetch with a dinosaur or ask him to roll over?

Pass the Ball, Mo! by David Adler: With the big game coming up, Mo Jackson, the shortest member of the basketball team, is determined to learn how to pass the ball in time to help his team win.

King and Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats by Dorie Hillestad Butler: King’s human, Kayla, has baked some treats for a friend’s new puppy, Thor, but some go missing and it is up to King to find the culprit.

Humphrey’s Really Wheely Racing Day by Betty Birney: When Mandy, one of the students from classroom 26, brings a special hamster-sized racecar to class, it means just one thing–Humphrey is going to be in a hamster race.

Kylie Jean Gymnastics Queen by Marci Peschke: The Summer Olympics inspires Kylie Jean Carter to take gymnastics lessons, but even better than that is making a new friend, Abby, who is deaf, and starting to learn sign language.

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling: A boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein: Twelve-year-old Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of 12 children chosen to stay in the new town library for an overnight of fun, food and games, but in the morning, the kids find all the doors still locked and must work together to solve secret puzzles in order to discover the hidden escape route.

Overboard by Terry Lynn Johnson: Eleven-year-old Travis and twelve-year-old Stacey, separated from their families after being thrown into the ocean off the coast of Washington, battle hypothermia as they struggle to survive. Includes Coast Guard-approved cold-water survival tips.

Jeanna, Youth Services Librarian

Bone Gap By Laura Ruby: Eighteen-year-old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favorite Roza, but his inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying.

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de La Peña: While Milo and his sister travel to a detention center to visit their incarcerated mother, he observes strangers on the subway and draws what he imagines their lives to be.

Ms. Jessica, Youth Services Librarian

There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher: Encourages the reader to shake, tilt, and wiggle the book to remove the little monster inside, but once it is out, another problem arises.

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone: An 11-year-old boy confronts the realities of race relations, past and present, and the mysterious agenda of his unconventional grandmother during an unplanned spring break road trip through the once-segregated American South.

The Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley: Micah Tuttle loves living at the magical Circus Mirandus, but when a dangerous enemy from the past threatens his new home, every magician will have to be ready to fight–including Micah.

Lisa Kropp, Library Director

Pax by Sara Pennypacker: When his father enlists in the military and makes him return his beloved pet fox to the wild, Peter, who has been sent to live with his grandfather hundreds of miles away, embarks on a journey filled with astonishing discoveries in order to be reunited with his fox.

Ms. Rosalia, Teen Librarian

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus: Deciding to ditch school together, former friends Ivy, Cal and Mateo, in one chance move, find their day turning from dull to deadly when another student is murdered right in front of them.

Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro:  Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it’s up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what’s wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it’s too late?

Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare and Some Underwear by Jory John: Jeff the bear is sure he has forgotten something when he sets out from home, but none of the animals he meets initially inform him that he is only wearing his underwear, until he reaches his friend Anders the hare–who quickly thinks of a way to avoid embarrassing Jeff, by starting a fashion trend.

Creative writing has tons of benefits.

• It expands the imagination and improves their ability to come up with alternatives which leads to better problem solving skills.
• Kids can have a hard time understanding and expressing how they feel. Through creative writing they have a safe space to explore their feelings which leads to better self expression.
• Writing lets kids assert themselves and use their voice leading to self confidence.

These are only some of the benefits of creative writing.

To participate on the NaNoWriMo website kids over 13 can register themselves on the NaNoWriMo website and kids under 13 can be registered by there parents with an adult’s e-mail address. You can also do something less official and write in a notebook or with your own typing software.

If you want to participate in NaNoWriMo as a family then check out the main portion of NaNoWriMo’s website.

Want to inspire your child or teen with some books on creative writing? Look for these titles in our catalog and Libby. If it’s not in our express collection, let us know.  We can get it for you.

Fall in general and Halloween specifically put a lot of people (ME) in the mood for something scary. These books are entertaining if you can stomach the story.

Banned Books week is September 22nd-October 2, 2021 and this years theme is Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us. Banned Books Week began in the 1980s, at a time of increased book challenges and bans. The American Library Association, along with 14 other organizations, works to bring an awareness of censorship during this week each year.

According to the American Library Association (ALA), “Sharing stories important to us means sharing a part of ourselves. Books reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, creates barriers.”

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Another aspect that Banned Books week celebrates is the fact that many of these materials do remain available and are ultimately not banned.

The video below highlights the ten most challenged books of 2020 and why they were challenged. This years titles range from children’s novels, young adult fiction and adult fiction and nonfiction. In the past the list has included picture books:

Want to learn more? Check out ALA’s Banned Book FAQ here.

I always try to read a challenged book in honor of Banned Books Week. Want to read one of the top ten? Click on the books title for a physical copy; ebook and audiobook lead to digital downloads in Livebrary. If the physical book is not available in the Express Collection we can help you interlibrary loan it.

George by Alex Gino: ebook audiobook

Stamped–Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi: ebook audiobook

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds: ebook audiobook

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: ebook audiobook

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie ebook audiobook

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano audiobook

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ebook audiobook

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck ebook audiobook

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison ebook audiobook

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas ebook audiobook

There are currently fifteen notebooks on many different topics for all age group from A Community Cookbook for all Mom and Dad’s cooking tips and tricks to A Wordless Picture Book for our youngest pre-writers. To learn more about how to participate check out our website where you can see our full guidelines and all of the available topics.

By adding your own thoughts and artwork to the journals, you or your teen or child will be engaging in dialogue and connection with other community members. All adults, teens and children are invited to join the library in this collaborative creative adventure. Look for the journals on display next to the library’s main entrance.