Bookish Distractions:

Hey it's time for some Bookish Distractions!

I get it summer reading is over, and you are BUSY with school and everything. However you may have a minute or two to check out something new! Here's Book Riot with some debut novels you may have missed. I love checking out books by first time writers, in fact some of my favorite books of the year were debuts (See Serpent King by Jeff Zetner).

Have you fell into the well of library Instagram accounts? Here is Buzzfeed's list of book pictures to infuriate you and some to relax you. Personally, books arranged by color are pretty, but infuriating as a librarian. How on earth do you remember if it's in the blue or red section? Also well loved personal books are just fine by me! (PS- The library is on Instagram! @westallis_library)

If you like John Green, Vlogbrothers, and Nerdfighters., then maybe you'd like to check out Hank Green's first book coming out next year? So it says it's for Adults, not teens, but if you love the first three things, is it being published for adults going to stop you from reading it? (Entertainment Weekly)

And while we are talking about the Green Brothers, here's an excerpt from Turtles All the Way Down. (Buzzfeed)

Finally, banned book week is September 24-30th this year, and I hope you get the change by reading what you you want to read! Here is a bit more information on what Banned Book Week is and why it's important, and some of the most challenged books from 2016. Believe it or not, 8 of the top 10 books are found in the Children's or Teen areas in the library.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Friday Fun: September 22, 3:30-5:30 PM

What are you doing Friday? How about hangout out at the library for our first Friday Fun of the fall, September 22nd from 3:30-5:30 PM!

What is Friday Fun? It's time where we open the library Constitution Room for teens (those of you ages 12-18, or in grades 6-12) and you just hang out! We'll have games, including the Wii, snacks and even some coloring sheets. Bring your friends and hang out @ the library!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Save These Books!

As the dust of Summer Reading settles, I go through all the books in the Teen Collection to see what is being checked out and what is not. Getting rid of the books you aren't checking out and reading helps make space for all the AWESOME new books that are coming out.

However, there  are always a few books on the list that just break my heart, whether for personal (the book that I loved) or professional (it won ALL the awards) reasons. So this fall I invite you to save a book!

Here are some books that I will be sad to see go:

Carter Finally Gets it by Brent Crawford: This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. It is suffering from a case of "got rebound-itus" and is sadly out of print, and I highly recommend not eating Taco Bell while reading this book. It's about Carter, and his first year of High School as he tries to, well, get it.

Fat Cat by Robin Brande: This book is for those of you who are doing Paleo, or your friends, which is kind of like Cat's senior project for science. She decides to eat like a caveman for a year and measure the changes in her body, which was a bit more revolutionary in 2009. Still this is a fun realistic read, and I remember loving it when I read it!

Mad Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller: The year is 1909, and Victoria "Vicky" Darling has everything she wants, until she is sent home to London, and forced to enter "society" to cover up her scandal. What she doesn't realize is that history is happening all round her, including the Woman's Suffrage movement. This is a great historical fiction book that kind of un-romanticizes a time that's easy to imagine as glamorous.

Save a Book @ your Library!
Katie

Teen Summer Reading Wrap Up!

School is in session, Labor Day weekend is a memory, and here are some Teen Summer Reading statistics!

Thank you to all 164 of you who signed up for Teen Summer Reading this summer! We tried something new with on-line registration, and while there were some bugs, it really worked well!

85 of you turned in at least one reading log, and the first 50 took home a Wisconsin State Fair ticket! I hope you were able to enjoy a cream puff, and check out some of the animal barns, at least that's what I like to do at the fair!

We had 199 entries into the grand prize drawing, meaning almost all of you turned in more than one reading log! Winners were contacted yesterday, and I left a lot of messages, so be sure to check your voice mail!

Thanks again for reading with us! Keep checking back here for more awesome programs, and reading contests @ the library!

Katie

Closed for Labor Day Weekend!

Just a reminder that the library will be closed for the holiday weekend, Saturday September 2, Sunday September 3, and Monday September 4. We will reopen Tuesday September 5th at 12 PM. Summer reading winners will be announced sometime after that as well!

If you are looking for something to read, check out yesterday's Bookish Distractions Post!

I'll see you @ the library!

Katie

Bookish Distractions

Summer Reading 2017 is officially in the books! You have a nice LONG weekend ahead of you, and here are some Bookish Distractions!

I love book lists that take you across the country, a reading road trip so to speak. Here is a great list of fiction, non-fiction and a classic title from all 50 states! (Literary Hub)

This crazy-pants story about a (not so) best selling YA book broke last Friday, and I'm not going to lie, it is FASCINATING to see how YA authors, publishers and Twitter solved the mystery of the book that was a best seller, that no one could seem to buy. (Pajiba)

Want to know what some real hot new books are? Check out this list from Good Reads, which gives us hottest debut novels from regular Fiction and YA. Looks like a good place to find good read!

Are you more of a non fiction reader? I love this list of books about women in sports. No matter if you are a star player, bench warmer or spectator, you will be inspired by these awesome athletes! (Signature-Reads)

Do you ever wonder what Lin Manuel Miranda is reading on vacation? You know that's where his inspiration for Hamilton came from right? Then check out this list of what he is reading from Bustle. Who knows, you might just read his next musical before it hits the stage!

Finally, if you are looking for a new back to school look, have you thought about Elf Ears? YA author Holly Black is featured in this kind-of-crazy article about people choosing to either wear or get more permanent elf ears. While this sounds fun, I prefer my more "human" ears! (New York Times)

A lot of Bookish Distractions for a long holiday weekend!
Katie

Last Call for Teen Summer Reading 2017

This is it Teens! The last day to get in those reading logs, pick up those raffle entries and be part of Teen Summer Reading 2017!

You have until 9 PM tonight (August 31st) to get those reading logs into the library. You HAVE to talk to someone at the Adult Information/ Reference desk to get your entry forms, even if you wrote reviews on line. We are doing the drawing from the paper entry forms, and not the reading logs.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Teen Summer Reading Count Down: Two Days Left!

Okay, it's the final couple of days of Summer Reading 2017.

Have you been filling out paper reading logs? Great! bring then to the library to get your official raffle entry forms, so you have a chance to win one of our grand prizes!

Have you been writing reviews on line? Awesome! Then be sure to stop in the library to pick up your raffle entry forms at the Adult Reference/ Information desk. We'll check off that you wrote those reviews, and make sure you have a chance to win one of the 7 prizes we are giving out!

Here's the post where I talk about the book prizes in a bit more detail. The other choice is for one of three $25 gift cards, and yes you can only win one of the seven prizes, just to keep it fair!

Good luck, and good reading!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Teen Summer Reading: 4 Days Left!

Now is the time to finish those books, write those book reviews, and get them back to the library!

You have until the library closes on August 31st to stop in and redeem your prizes! If you are writing your reviews on paper, bring those in to get your entry forms, if you are doing your reviews on-line, be sure to stop and ask for your prizes! You did the work make sure you get the rewards!

Don't forget, we are doing 2 separate drawings, and you have a chance to win one of 4 prizes! I'm not going to lie, the drawing for the 3 $25 gift cards has A LOT more entries than those 4 book packs....

So I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

PS- If you have yet to turn in your 1st yellow reading log, we still have a few of those coupon packs left!

Bookish Distractions: Summer Reading Countdown

Can you believe summer is almost over? We are counting down the days of summer reading, our teen finale was Thursday night, and soon (if not already) you will be starting school! Good thing I have some Bookish Distractions for you!

Were you able to check out the total eclipse of the sun on August 21st? If not, here is a great list for when and where the next eclipses will take place. Contrary to what the Internet made it feel like, they happen pretty regularly, and it shouldn't be too hard to catch one, if you are willing to travel! (Time and Date.com)

Speaking of "total eclipse of the..." are you singing that song right now? Total earworm right? Check out this list of books with earworm worthy titles, and get ready for a new song to be stuck in your head! (Book Riot)

Book Riot is on a roll this week! In light of news that they might make more Twilight movies, they have given us a list of YA books that might make better movies. While once upon a time I may have been first in line for the next adventures of the Cullens, this list gets an astounding "YES PLEASE" as I would go see all of these movies!

And lastly, leave it to Epic Reads to remind us that September is right around the corner with their list of awesome YA titles to look forward to next month. Clear some space on your TBR list and get ready for a fall of awesome YA reads!

That's all, and for you WA-WM peeps, enjoy your last week before school starts!
Katie