Teens' Top Ten!

Do you ever follow book awards and wonder how on earth that title won an award when the books you love never seem to get any recognition? Then look no further than the Teens' Top Ten list! Every year, groups of teens all over the country read and select books for teens just like you to vote on and make a list of the top ten titles for teens, as decided by teens!

With no further ado, here is the list for 2018!

1. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
2. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus 
3. Warcross by Marie Lu
4. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
6. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
7. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez.
8. Paper Hearts by Ali Novak
9. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
10. Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Check out the YALSA page for more information aboout Teens' Top Ten!

I'll see you @ the library!

Katie

Friday Fun: October 19, 3:30-5:30 PM

This Friday it's time for Friday Fun! That's right, we'll get out the snacks, board games, and yes our new Nintendo Switch, and we will hang out right here at the library!

Remember this event is for teens, those of you in grades 6-12, and will be Friday October 19th from 3:30-5:30 PM in the Constitution Room!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Bookish Distractions:

It's Saturday, it's October, it's time for some Bookish Distractions!

First off, do you like to read scary books? Well, Book Riot has 30 YA Horror books for you. I'm not a huge fan of horror books, but some of these are getting really good reviews!

If you are more of a spooky movie type, Seventeen has you covered with over 40 of the best Halloween movies. The best thing about this list is that it has something for everyone, and movies range from kind of spooky to silly to all out horror.

Speaking of Halloween movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas is one one of the classics you might want to watch this time of year.  Here are 21 Things You Didn't Know about the movie from Mental Floss.

In book news, Markus Zusak is publishing his first book since the Book Thief in 2005, and here is a little bit about the book, and why it took so long to write. Don't forget to put your name on the list to read Bridge of Clay! (Entertainment Weekly)

Finally, Five Books About Girls Who Don't Care if You Like Them or Not from Tor.com. This list has classics like Lyra from The Golden Compass, and new books like the just released Boneless Mercies, and will have you thinking.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Random Fandom: Franken-toys!

It's that time of year when things get a bit spookier out there, and we are celebrating by making our own creepy creations! We've got old toys, and some paints and other craft supplies. You get to take apart the old toys and make something totally new...a FRANKEN-TOY!

This Teen and Tween event will be on Thursday, October 11th from 6:30-8 PM. Like all Random Fandom events this is for students in grades 4-12. Please keep in mind we will be using tools like pliers and screwdrivers as well as hot glue guns to make the toys. While there is some staff assistance, we do expect the teens and tweens to work independently.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Book Review: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

Spoiler Alert: If you have not read Strange the Dreamer, there are spoilers ahead. You've been warned....

Sisters Kora and Nova were like one, together. Ever since they took their mother, the girls knew they were meant for more than the frigid landscape they called home. They would be tested, turn blue, and be taken away to live like queens, complete with the thin blue crowns of mesathuim around their heads. And then then when ship came, it decided to tear the two apart.

Sarai was dead, and like many of the dead in Weep, her life was dependant on the moods of Minya. Lazlo, the simple librarian, who she had just met, was now blue, and depending on who you asked a hero for saving Weep, or a betrayer for being one of them. Minya held her life in her had, and through her she had Lazlo, the smith who could save them.

Down in Weep people are fleeing the city, afraid of what it all means. There were still godspawn after all these years, and even more Lazlo is a godspawn, or at least he turned blue. What does this mean for the citadel above the city, the residents, and most of all, who is still up there?

Fans of the first book will not be disappointed with the sequel to Strange the Dreamer. You have the same cast of characters, some new memorable faces, and of course, old favorites. Laini Taylor enchants with lyrical writing that makes you feel like you are in a familiar world, and maybe it is a world you have visited before. I don't want to give anything away, but Muse of Nightmares is a deeply satisfying read, that makes you hope for more stories. There are always more stories.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

This review is written from an Advance Reader of Muse of Nightmares from the publisher and Boswell books. Just a FYI.

Tomorrow Night: Laini Taylor @ the West Allis Public Library

It's one more sleep until the library is hosting awesome YA author Laini Taylor, and we are getting ready for the big event!

If you are planning on coming to the event, please keep in mind that National Avenue is under construction. The library is still accessible via 75th street. I know construction and detours can be a bit of a challenge. Things to consider: there is no Elmuthaleth desert to cross, just a bit of rock, and I promise there is no Tizerkeane army around the library. So compared to Lazlo, you've got it easy!

The event will take place in the Teen Space, with a lot of seating. This is in the open area of the library, and most people should be able to hear and see the event. We will have a signing in the Constitution Room following, and books will be available to purchase from Boswell Books, our co-sponsor in this event!

Dressing up is encouraged, and we will accept all humans, chimaera, seraphim, and godspawn who wish to attend! Registration is encouraged, however no one will be turned away!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

October Events!

Hey all it's finally Fall! And here are your October Teen Events!

First off, have I told you we are hosting author Laini Taylor next week? That's right, awesome YA author Laini Taylor will be here at the West Allis Public Library on October 9th at 6:30 PM. I started Muse of Nightmares, the sequel to Strange the Dreamer, and there are no words. I will tell you I love it, and it is very hard to put the book down to live life and work. Click here if you want to come to this free, all ages event!

Next, just two days later we are putting on our best creepy hats, and making Franken-toys, that is taking old toys and making something new, and scary or just goofy. Franken-toys is a teen and tween event, so for those of you in grades 4-12, bring some old toys, and a creative mind! Franken-toys will take place on October 11th, from 6:30-8 PM!

Finally we have Friday Fun! This is our monthly teens only event where you can hang out @ the library. October's event is on the 19th, from 3:30-5:30 PM in the Constitution Room. We have a brand new Nintendo Switch for you to try out, as well as board games and snacks. You must be in 6-12th grade to come to Friday Fun!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Author Visit: Laini Taylor

Just a reminder that we are less than two weeks away from an AWESOME author visit from Laini Taylor!

This is for her new book Muse of Nightmares, and I for one can not wait. If you need to get caught up, please go check out Strange the Dreamer, because this a series you won't want to miss. Here's a link to the review from this very blog.

If you know you are coming don't forget to register!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Bookish Distractions:

It feels like fall, right now while I'm posting this. I'm sure by the time you are reading this, it will feel like a different season, so let's ignore the Midwest weather, and check out some bookish distractions!

Did you know September is Suicide Prevention month, and in order to keep you aware of your mental health, we have an in house display of Mental Health books? If you can't get to the library, here is a list from Penguin Publishing, which includes my favorite, Turtles All the Way Down. Stop the Stigma!

If you are just looking for something to read, Epic Reads has The 12 Most Exciting Books Coming Out This Fall. I'm seriously stoked for Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor, and NOT just because she is coming to the library, because her books are awesome. (But she is coming to the library, on October 9th. So come.)

Have you ever wondered what you can do to help your favorite authors, especially when you use the library, and don't have a ton of spare money for books? Check out this awesome post from Book Riot, which incidentally includes lots of suggestions from the local library! (And including supporting authors by coming to their events. So come see Laini Taylor on October 9th @ the West Allis Public Library!)

And finally, it's a year away, but I can not WAIT for this new Rainbow Rowell Graphic Novel. It's called Pumpkinheads and I feel like it's the perfect fall blend of friendship, pumpkins and the big perhaps. (Entertainment Weekly)

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Friday Fun: September 21st

Friday September 21st stop by the library for our monthly Friday Fun program! Friday Fun is for teens, those of you ages 12-18 or in grades 6-12, to just hang out!

What do we have? Well, games, snacks, and of course we will be debuting our new Nintendo Switch!

So that's Friday, September 21st, 3:30-5:30 PM, in the Library Constitution Room, for teens!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie