JCPL Teens

My six-word memoir is “I follow where books lead me.” 

Here I am in high school
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, here I am now, after the TEEN Summer Reading CHALLENGE and dyeing my hair BLUE! I really love it and am contemplating my next color-definitely purple first, but then maybe bright red????

 

 

Questions I have been asked…and ask me MORE anytime!

Favorite Teen Book
Then: probably Pride and Prejudice or Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret. Oh, and Go Ask Alice.
Now: Hunger Games, anything by Louise Rennison, The Book Thief and so many more!

Favorite Movie
Then: Empire Strikes Back, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Now: Departures, SLC Punk!, Immortal Beloved, Grave of the Fireflies, Ponyo

Furthest I Was from Home
Then: Taxco, Mexico
Now: Scotland

Favorite Candy
Then: Hot Tamales
Now: Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Favorite Band
Then: Sex Pistols, The Clash
Now: The Killers, The Ting Tings, NIN

This is my manga face!

Who says you can't learn something on YouTube?

I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets is a compilation of 600 six-word phrases from 600 real teenagers, all ages 13 to 19. The idea is originally from Ernest Hemingway, who was challenged to write a story in merely six words. He returned the challenge with, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” People have been fascinated with the idea of six-word phrase since. So, SMITH magazine in recent years asked adult authors to send in their six-word quotes about their life and it sparked a movement across the country. Schools, teachers, and readers of literature became intrigued with the few-word-long quotes. When SMITH learned of its success, they asked teenagers to continue the trend and send in their quotes. This book is an absolute must read. It is fast, but deeply moving and an insight to people’s lives everywhere. It is amazing how much someone can say in six words. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

What’s your six-word-story?

(It's not nearly as boring as you assume.)

A few years ago, a group of teens, librarians, teachers, and parents on an email list called Adbooks (teens can join!) decided they didn't like the official award winners and they would make their own award for the best teen book of the year. They named the award the JHunt after Jonathan Hunt, a librarian who is influencial in the world of teen librarians.

This is the short list of nominated titles for the 2010 JHunt Award:

 

 

 

 

Members of the email list will discuss and vote on these books until three remain, and then choose a winner on January 9th.

Have you read any of these books? What do you like or dislike about any of them? Which would you choose as the best book of the year? What book would you prefer to see on this nominees list?

Teenreads.com is sponsoring a contest for teens!

Are you a fan of Jennifer Donnelly’s book, A Northern Light? If so, you will be happy to know that she has another book that just came out called Revolution. The story spans centuries and continents, and explores the world of genetics. You can win a copy of your very own if you enter the Teenreads.com contest by Dec. 15!

Read more and enter the contest!

Do you love hip-hop, Jimmy Fallon or Justin Timberlake? Last week on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy, Justin, and The Roots doing a pretty amazing medley of the biggest hip-hop hits of the past 30 years. Check it out!

So much duct tape, so little time. Come and explore your creative side with a roll of duct tape. Teens can drop by the Standley Lake Library to learn how to make simple duct tape crafts.

4-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15
Standley Lake Library

For the month of November, you will see a display of my favorite books in Belmar’s Teen Lounge. Inside each book, you’ll find a bookmark that has three questions for you to answer:  

1. Did you like the book?
2. Why or why not?
3. Recommend a book for Allison and the other teen librarians to read.

Please fill out the bookmark and return it with the book.

I can’t wait to read your thoughts on my favorite books. Plus, I’ll share your recommendations with all the librarians.

Do not watch this one alone in the dark.

For those aspiring writers out there, we have a program at the Library this month called Writing Workshop for Teens. This fun and hands on program will be run by two real live authors! 

Another related program is Book Covers Redux. At this program you will get to take a yucky book cover you don’t like (Ewww!) and redo it with something you do like (New!).

And just for fun, check out this cool website! http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/