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Category: Teen Zone
JANUARY 29, 2013
2013 Award Winners: Newbery, Caldecott, Seuss, and Printz
The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books for children and young adults this week. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the awards encourage original and creative work. Please note this is a partial listing. Use the link at the bottom of this post for a complete list.
Nintendo Wii is now available for students 8-12 years old in the Tween Scene at the Wausau Library! The new gaming system offers tweens a new way to learn and experience gaming.
"Why do libraries celebrate gaming? Library gaming programs encourage interaction between patrons of all ages and cultures. As games have evolved over the years to become more dynamic – requiring more interaction and socialization amongst players – so have libraries, by re-energizing themselves as community learning centers. Libraries still provide traditional services, but continue to change by offering new formats like video games and programs like family gaming nights...." states the American Library Association at http://ngd.ala.org
So, you're ready to play the Wii--it's easy!
Tweens must give their library card to staff at the children's desk.
Staff will provide tweens with the equipment needed to play.
Play is limited to 1/2 hour sessions.
Tweens return the Wii equipment to the children's desk when they are finished.
Stop by the Tween Scene at the Wausau Library to play and learn on the Nintendo Wii.
A creative writing contest and workshop for grades 6-12.
Teens throughout Marathon County are invited to submit their best original spine-chilling tales to be featured on the MCPL website! Winning entries will be featured in the 2013 edition of "Pixels & Pages," the library's annual magazine of teen creative writing and art, and excerpts two entries will be published in the October 18th issue of the City Pages!
Stories may be submitted online at www.mcpl.us/scarystory. (Stories should be at most 1,500 words, original and not published elsewhere.)
Plus, teens can attend our Scary Story Writing Workshop (Sat., 10/13, 2:00pm @ MCPL Wausau) to improve their stories before submitting them to the contest!
Due to licensing restrictions, we cannot advertise the movies' titles online, but if you call 715-261-7200 or email us, we'll tell you. Otherwise, sign up for our monthly "Featured Events" email newsletter!
These books are on my e-reader and in my book bag. I heartily recommend all of them. If you can suspend reality for a while you will enjoy these fun, absorbing adventures. Happy reading!
Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey -- In 1192 A.D. on Wilde Island, Tess, the daughter of a cruel blacksmith, is accused of witchcraft and must flee, but when she meets a handsome and enigmatic warden of Dragonswood who offers her shelter, she does not realize that he too harbors a secret that may finally bring about peace among the races of dragon, human, and fairy. Janet Lee Carey definitely knows how to tell a story; you won’t be disappointed.
Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey -- In 1145 A.D., as foretold by Merlin, fourteen-year-old Rosalind, who will be the twenty-first Pendragon Queen of Wilde Island, has much to accomplish to fulfill her destiny, while hiding from her people the dragon's claw she was born with that reflects only one of her mother's dark secrets. This companion novel to Dragonswood, was named the best book of the year by the American Library Association and School Library Journal. This enthralling story of a girl searching for her identity will keep you turning pages and perhaps rooting for the dragons. This is a wonderful story for teens and adults.
Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones -- Although an orphan, Earwig has always enjoyed living at St. Morwald's, where she manages to make everyone do her bidding, but when she is taken in by foster parents who are actually a witch and a demon, she has a hard time trying to turn the situation to her advantage. This plucky heroine’s story is a fun read.
Fateful by Claudia Gray -- When seventeen-year-old Tess Davies, a ladies' maid, meets handsome Alec Marlow aboard the RMS Titanic, she quickly becomes entangled in the dark secrets of his past, but her growing love puts her in mortal peril even before fate steps in. This timely read will appeal to fans of the Downton Abbey series and those interested in stories about the RMS Titanic.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate -- When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life. This tender story will capture your heart and perhaps leave you thinking more about our relationship to other living creatures; a story for all ages.
The Other Felix by Keir Graff -- Worrying about his father losing his job and the bully at school, fourth-grader Felix has terrifying dreams of the same monster-filled place every night until he meets someone there who looks and sounds strangely familiar. This story may help children facing similar challenges.
2012 Award Winners: Newbery, Caldecott, Printz and more...
The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books for children and young adults this week. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the awards encourage original and creative work. Please note this is a partial listing. Please use the link at the bottom of this post for a complete list.
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos -- Winner: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.
In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses.
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai -- Honor Book: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.
Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.
In the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, ten-year-old Sasha idolizes his father, a devoted Communist, but when police take his father away and leave Sasha homeless, he is forced to examine his own perceptions, values, and beliefs.
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka -- Winner: Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
A wordless picture book showing the fun a dog has with her ball, and what happens when it is lost.
Blackout by John Rocco -- Honor Book: Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
When a busy family's activities come to a halt because of a blackout, they find they enjoy spending time together and not being too busy for once.
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith -- Honor Book: Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
A child explores the ordinary life of his extraordinary great-grandfather, as expressed in his topiary garden.
Me … Jane by Patrick McDonnell -- Honor Book: Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals. Includes biographical information on the prominent zoologist.
Seventeen-year-old Cullen's summer in Lily, Arkansas, is marked by his cousin's death by overdose, an alleged spotting of a woodpecker thought to be extinct, failed romances, and his younger brother's sudden disappearance.
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler -- Honor Book: Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults.
Sixteen-year-old Min Green writes a letter to Ed Slaterton in which she breaks up with him, documenting their relationship and how items in the accompanying box, from bottle caps to a cookbook, foretell the end.
The Returning by Christine Hinwood -- Honor Book: Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults.
Cam Attling, having lost an arm, is the only one from his town of Kayforl to return after twelve years of war. All his fellow soldiers were slain, and suspicion surrounds him. When his betrothal to Graceful Fenister is called off and his role in the community questioned, Cam leaves to find the lord who maimed him but spared his life, seeking answers and a new place in the world.
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey -- Honor Book: Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults.
In small-town Australia, teens Jasper and Charlie form an unlikely friendship when one asks the other to help him cover up a murder until they can prove who is responsible.
Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races, both trying to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.
Have you or a member of your family ever dreamed of being a writer? Then don’t miss hearing nationally recognized author, Marion Dane Bauer on Tuesday, October 25, 6:30pm at the John Muir Middle School auditorium in Wausau. “My Story, Your Story: Creating Stories Together” is a free, family-friendly presentation blending short readings from some of her books with tips for beginning writers.
Marion Dane Bauer has written 81 books, receiving a Newbery Honor Award for her book, On My Honor in 1987. She has written books ranging from baby board books and picture books, to novels for tweens and teens, and books on writing for young people.
Her books will be available at the event for purchase, courtesy of Janke Book Store. The Marathon County Public Library is providing a free writers journal, which will be given to the first 200 children and teens who attend this event. Ms. Bauer will be happy to autograph these journals and copies of her books.
Join us on Tuesday, 6/28, 6-8pm @ MCPL Wausau for a fun and helpful video chat session with Sarah Beth Durst, author of Ice, Enchanted Ivy, Drink, Slay, Love, and other books for young adults. We will also have a few writing activities to help kick-start your inner creativity. Both adults and teens are invited to this event.
Give us your best work for Marathon County Public Library's Teen Publishing Project! Submit artwork, poetry, stories, and essays for publication on our website and the chance to be featured in our second annual magazine. (Click here to see last year's magazine).
Hurry! Time is running out! Entries must be in by December 31, 2010.
Click here to submit your work online, or if you'd rather submit a paper copy, click here for a printable submission form.
Thanks to students in Ryan Priebe’s art class at John Muir Middle School in Wausau, the Library @ Wausau has wonderful, original artwork to mark sections of Fiction books in the Teen Zone. The letters “A” by Danielle K. and “B” drawn by Alex S. are pictured here. Other artists’ alphabet works on display are by Adam B., Renee H., Rachel S., Brad H., Miranda B., PJ Y., Tanner B., Curtis B., Patrick H., Samantha N., Kirsten M, Zenas L., Sydney H., and Miranda C.
The artistic “letters” will be on display through the end of the school year, and new creations will be in MCPL Teen Zone the following school year.
Come and see these, and the rest of the unique alphabet creations, in the Teen Zone on the second floor of the Wausau Library today!
Our friendly staff are happy to help during our regular hours of operation. If you can't make it to the Library in person, call the Reference Desk in Wausau at (715) 261-7230. You can also email us at ref@mcpl.us or use the "Ask a Librarian" window to communicate "live" with our Reference Staff.
Be sure to check out our National History Day Help page with lots of great online resources and links to help with your project!
Teens are invited to submit their poetry, stories, essays, and artwork for publication on our website and the chance to be included in our second annual magazine!
We’ve received dozens of entries to date, but we want more!
Include your full name (only first name, last initial will be published), grade, school, address, phone, title of your entry, and category (poem, story, visual)
Entrants must be in 6-12th grade at time of entry.
Entrants must be residents of Marathon County, WI.
Entries must be newly-created original work of the entrant, must not infringe upon copyright laws.
Entries must not have been previously published in a copyrighted print format.
Entries may not include obscene or offensive content.
Sat., 11/13, 1-4pm @ MCPL Wausau(Grades 6-12) -- Visit the Library for an afternoon of board games and video games! Plus, Johnny Cee Cards will be on-hand for awesome gaming demonstrations!
The MCPL Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is a great opportunity for teens to make a difference at the Library!
As part of TAG, teens recommend new materials for the library’s collection, assist with events, write reviews, create book displays, and help with other projects as needed. Members are asked to attend monthly meetings at the Marathon County Public Library in Wausau and volunteer for one hour each month.
Our next TAG meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th from 6:30-8:00 at MCPL Wausau. If you have questions, please call (715) 261-7200 or email us.
Did you know the Library offers video games for checkout? This collection is only a few years old, but it's been growing rapidly in size and popularity. We offer video games for Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, X-Box, X-Box 360, Nintendo DS, PSP, and PC.
We've just added a large number of video games for all platforms and age levels, so even if you've browsed this collection before, you'll want to look again today!
The main collection is held at the MCPL Wausau Headquarters, but you can request these games for pick-up at any of our nine convenient locations throughout Marathon County! Video games may be kept for up to 14 days, with the ability to renew once for an additional 14 days (unless someone else has requested it in the meantime). You may only check out one game at a time, and there's a $1.00 per day late fee. (Click here to view our complete Check-Out Policies.)
You may browse our complete Video Game Collection online at the following link: www.mcpl.us/teenzone/games
Plus, if you're at MCPL Wausau and have some time to kill, don't forget about the Gaming Corner in TeenZone on second floor! We have a PS2 connected to a big-screen TV and two networked computers for instant gaming action!
"When a meteor hits the Moon, Miranda must learn to survive the unimaginable. Told in journal entries, this heart-pounding story chronicles Miranda's struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world."
Are your kids and teens looking for something to do? Join us for these upcoming events in Wausau!
Read to a Dog! for Young Readers. Thurdsay, July 30th from 1-3 pm at the Wausau Library. Practice your reading with the most adorable friends. Certified Therapy Dogs from Therapy Dogs International will be on hand to listen to young readers.
Hip-Hop and Modern Dance for Teens with professional choreographer and dancer Brenton Wildman. Tuesday, August 4th from 6-8 pm at the Wausau Library. Join us to learn some new moves. Afterwards, challenge your friends on DDR.
Read to a Dog! for Young Readers. Thurdsay, August 6th from 1-3 pm at the Wausau Library. Practice your reading with the most adorable friends. Certified Therapy Dogs from Therapy Dogs International will be on hand to listen to young readers.
Join MCPL at the Wisconsin Valley Fair’s Family Fun Day! Saturday, August 8th Join us for crafts, games and activities for everyone. The fun starts at 10am and goes until 2pm. We’ll have a special craft for you! Come find us near the Garfield Ave. entrance, between the Field House and the Youth Building. Admission to the fair is free for kids 12 and under. On Saturday, adults can get $1 off admission when they bring two non-perishable food items.
Pool Party! At Memorial Park in Wausau. Tuesday August 11th from 1-5pm Admission is free with a library card or a ticket from your Summer Library Program Goodie Bag. Enjoy some water fun and crafts too!
Wire and Junk Sculpture for Teens with Joel Pataconi, art teacher from Wausau East. Tuesday, August 11th from 6-8pm at the Wausau Library. Turn wire and junk into something cool! Bring a sketch or picture that inspires you.
Read to a Dog! for Young Readers. Thurdsay, August 13th from 1-3 pm at the Wausau Library. Practice your reading with the most adorable friends. Certified Therapy Dogs from Therapy Dogs International will be on hand to listen to young readers.
Game Night for Teens with Johnny Cee Cards Tuesday, August 18th from 6-8 pm at the Wausau Library. Join us for Magic: The Gathering™, board games, videogames and snacks!
Teen Book Club Tuesday, August 25th at 8 pm at the Wausau Library. Join us to talk about a romance book with zombies: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Get recommendations of other books you may enjoy, and be the first to get your hands on some of our newest teen books.
Bob Kann captivated children and adults alike with juggling, magic tricks, tongue twisters, and games. In this photo from the 2:00pm program he is teaching the audience how to juggle . He is doing another program tonight at 6:30pm and at the Rothschild Elementary School this Thursday, June 18 at 11:00am and 1:30pm
Don't miss out! There are lots of fun, exciting programs planned for the Summer Library Program. Check out the programs and activities for Children and for Teens this summer. These programs are the best deal in town--they are FREE of charge. And don't forget all of the books, DVD's, CD's, games and other items that are available for you to check out for free! Plus you will be eligible for prizes by participating in the Summer Library Program.
Join us for lots of free summmer fun at any of our 9 locations.
How your children spend their summer matters. Research shows that how students spend their summer has an impact on their academic achievement during the school year. Reading this summer will help your teen succeed next fall.
So how do you get them to read? Our recommendation: help them find something they want to read. Our staff at every location are are always happy to help you or your teen find a great book or graphic novel - stop in, call, email, or meebo! You can also visit our teen page to find new books for teens available at MCPL.
This summer MCPL is offering an added incentive for teens who read: a chance to win awesome prizes! Here’s how it works:
Complete one Online Reading Ticket for every 200 pages you read. (Note: Pages beyond 200 count towards your next ticket, so keep track!)
Repeat! Keep reading to increase your odds of winning the prize of your choice!
Teens can also double their chances to win by telling us about one of the books or graphic novels they read, including what it's about and whether or not they enjoyed it (and why).
And what are the awesome prizes?
·Clay Corner Studio Package: Private clay class for you and 3 friends. Choose your piece from plates bowls or pinch pots
·Games Package From Johnny Cee Cards: Baewolf the Legend board game Magic the Gathering starter pack and Pirates of Davy Jones Curse constructble strategy game.
·4 Passes to the Eve of Destruction at State Park Speedway
·Sudio E Salon and Spa Package: Pampering for you and 2 friends. Includes shampoo cut, style partial foil,and brow wax.
·Car Package: 5 Auto Select Oil Changes and $50 Gas from IMRbp
The following free movies will be shown at the 
Have you or a member of your family ever dreamed of being a writer? Then don’t miss hearing nationally recognized author, Marion Dane Bauer on Tuesday, October 25, 6:30pm at the 
Improve your creative writing!
MCPL is proud to announce: OverDrive's app for iPhone® & Android™ now supports eBooks.
Our friendly staff are happy to help during our regular 
Teens are invited to submit their poetry, stories, essays, and artwork for publication on our website and the chance to be included in our second annual magazine!
Sat., 11/13, 1-4pm @ 
The MCPL 
Did you know the Library offers video games for checkout? This collection is only a few years old, but it's been growing rapidly in size and popularity. We offer video games for Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, X-Box, X-Box 360, Nintendo DS, PSP, and PC.
For Tuesday, May 11th, the Teen Book Club at 
Phone: