The Teen Review from the Marathon County Public Library

Attention Teens! Voting has started for YALSA’s Teen Top Ten!

Julie Kinney / Library Services — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:27:41 GMT

If you have visited the TeenZone over the summer, you probably noticed our display of books that have been nominated for YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten! If you haven’t, check out the picture of the display.

Every year YALSA works with teens and libraries around the country to choose nominees for the Teens’ Top Ten. Teens read and nominated books for inclusion on this list. Publishers supply books to teen reading groups. After reading, the books are evaluated by the groups and a list of nominees is chosen. All teens are then invited to read and vote for the books they think that other teens would enjoy reading.

There is still time to read and vote! If you haven’t had a chance to read any of the books, stop by the library and pick out one or two. While our display was pretty empty during the summer months, it’s started to fill back up. Is there a title you’re interested in, but it’s not there? You can also request a specific book using your smart phone or tablet by scanning the QR code for the book. You can also stop by our reference desk and ask our friendly staff members to help you request a book.

The voting has started and will continue throughout the month of September, ending on October 18. You can see a list of nominees here.

You can vote for your favorite book here.

There are also signs in the TeenZone with a QR code that will link you to the voting as well as book trailers for all of the nominees. Read and vote and look for the results in late October.

"Eleanor And Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Anna J. — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 12:39:41 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

Park sits on the bus, trying to stay out of the way of the school bullies, when a new girl steps on the bus, looking for a place to sit. He grudgingly shares his seat, wondering why he let the weird girl sit down.
Eleanor has just been allowed back into her alcoholic stepdad's house after being kicked out for a year. She dreads going to school and all the bullying that comes with. By then she meets Park, who begins to see her for her intelligence and humor, not for her Goodwill clothes.
Will Park ever give Eleanor the chance she deserves? Will Eleanor ever escape her rough home life?

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"Eleanor And Park" by Rainbow Rowell

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Anna J. — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 10:26:57 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

Narrated by Death himself, this book tells a heart-wrenching story of a girl in Germany during World War II. She learns what it means to keep a secret from Hitler and his followers during the Holocaust, and she realizes that love is the greatest gift, and hardship, of all. One of my favorite books; it literally had me it tears!

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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

"Impulse" by Ellen Hopkins

Marissa H. — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:47:47 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

Tony had a painful childhood that led him to the streets and pills. Vanessa has a secret that nobody knows. She cuts to stop the pain. Connor may seem to have a perfect life, but all the pressure plus his own secret leads him to pull the trigger. "Impulse" by Ellen Hopkins is an amazing book that deals with such difficult issues. Tony, Vanessa, and Connor meet in the Aspen Springs Psychological Hospital. Their journey there, sometimes together and sometimes painfully alone, is not one you will soon forget. They must learn to live after all they've gone through.
This is a great book that I would definitely reccomend. However it does deal with some really tough issues, so it isn't for anyone too young.

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"Impulse" by Ellen Hopkins

"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Ann S. — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:07:54 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

Before you see the movie, read the book!
Bilbo Baggins is an ordinary hobbit. But his comfy life changes forever when dwarves start lining up at his door! As it turns out, Gandalf, the legendary wizard has chosen him for a quest. They are going to the dragon Smaug's lair to steal back treasure taken from them. Bilbo at first is uneasy at the prospect, but a part of him longs for adventure. On the way, the group faces goblins, wolves, tough terrain, elves, and Bilbo finds the ring that started it all.
This fantasy book is an exciting prequel to The Lord of the Rings series, and any fan of the movies should check this book out.

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"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

"Bitterblue" by Kristin Cashore

Ann S. — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:03:35 GMT

Rating: Good (4)

The third book of the Graceling trilogy follows the story of Queen Bitterblue, now age 18. Bitterblue feels like her advisors at the castle are overprotecting her, so she decides to sneak out of the castle and into her city, not just for adventure but also to learn more about her people and their needs. There, she stumbles upon a graceling (a person with a special talent) named Sapphire, nicknamed Saf. At first, they share an obvious distrust for one another, but eventually they grow closer. But Bitterblue hates every lie she has to tell him about her identity.
Back at the castle, Bitterblue is trying to make up for the crimes her father, Leck (a grace long who told lies people believed) committed. But with her advisors hiding information from her, and startling news from the city, the task seems impossible.
Along with that, Bitterblue must deal with the secrets kept from her, the secrets the castle itself keeps, young love, her growing loneliness, and come to terms with her mother's death-- and her father. I recommend this book o fantasy fans. It can seem sow at times, but it is worth the read.

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"Bitterblue" by Kristin Cashore

Entwined" by Heather Dixon

Alex S. — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:38:20 GMT

Rating: Good (4)

Azalea has finally come of age and is ready to host her first Yuletide ball. Everything feels perfect, as if it were a wonderful dream-but that dream suddenly turns into a nightmare. Azalea's mother dies after giving birth to her twelfth child, Azalea's eleventh sister. The palace submerges to mourning, meaning no colors, no outside, and, worst of all, no dancing. Her father, the King, becomes more and more detached, leaving Azalea alone to care for her sisters. In a stage of rebellion, the twelve princesses discover an enchanted passage that leads them to an extraordinary pavilion, and allows them to meet Keeper, a man who had been trapped in the walls of the palace for centuries. Despite mourning, the girls dance there every night, making them happier then they had been for quite some time. But there's a price to pay. Keeper likes to keep things.
A great take on the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and a whole lot darker. Excellent for those who love fantasy!

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"Entwined" by Heather Dixon

"Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet" by Kashmira Sheth

Jenna B. — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 08:09:00 GMT

Rating: Good (4)

Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet follows Jetta, a sixteen year old living in Mumbai, India. As Jetta's two older sisters go through the process of finding a husband through an arranged marriage, Jetta realizes that she does not want the same thing. When she befriends Sarina, the wealthy and liberal daughter of a judge, Jetta finds the importance of an education and the possibility of being more than she ever thought.
Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet is a great novel which shows off a culture so different from our own. Although there is a romance in this book, I would place it in the genre of romance. The true struggle in Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet is for the characters to see that although breaking tradition is difficult, sometimes it is necessary. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to learn about different cultures around the world.

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