Bookish Distractions

It's time for some Bookish Distractions!

School may be a few weeks off, and some of you may be dealing with all the denial, excitement and change that comes with starting school! Epic Reads has your back though, so check out these lists, both 11 Books for Dealing with Senior Year and 17 Relateable Books to Read Before College can help you process, deal and relax before school starts!

In fun news, here is the list of reasons why the Princess Diaries books are better than the movies! Remember, the movies came out before the series was finished, but really, the books are so much more awesome than the awesome movies. Plus, there is the new series about Mia's little half sister now! Mia and Michael 4 eva! (Buzzfeed)

Have you ever wished you could just talk with a character from a book? Here's a list from Riveted of YA characters they wish were real. It's a good list but I would add a few more, like Blue from the Raven Boys and Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer.

Do you love Ally Carter, best known as the author of the Gallagher Girls series? Then get ready to love her even more, as her new book is all advice for teen writers! Dear Ally comes out next March, and it's going to be advise from herself and other YA authors to Teen writers!  Entertainment Weekly has the details, as well as an interview with the author!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Friday Fun: August 17

Are you ready to shed a small tear? It's time for our LAST event of Teen Summer Reading.

This Friday, from 3:30-5:30 it's time for Friday Fun! We'll have games, snacks and some coloring sheets. You show up, maybe bring a friend, and we provide the space and the stuff!

Don't let the start of school get you down, we'll still have Friday Fun during the school year, and we have some awesome events for Teens coming up this fall!

In summary: Friday Fun, Friday August 17th, 3:30-5:30 PM, Library Constitution Room, teens only (those of you going into grades 6-12).

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Summer Reading: Prize Update

First off shout out to the 113 readers who earned coupon packets! That's awesome! Also, an added fist bump to the 38 readers who reached 2000 minutes and came to the library and picked out a free book. In a busy summer it is awesome to see so many of you reading! 

Are you curious about the raffle prizes? Do you want to know your chance of winning? Well this is the post for you!

There are 14 BIG prizes that will go home with 14 different teen summer readers this year!

For starters 10 Readers will take home book sets this summer! There are too many choices to advertise here, but every book set has at least 3 books, and there is everything from Percy Jackson to Historical Fiction and Middle Grade to Teen favorites!

Secondly, those of you who earned entries into the gift card drawing, we are going to be drawing for 4 $25 gift cards! That means you could have $25 to spend at Marcus Theaters, Target, Barnes and Noble or Game Stop!

So keep reading! You have until August 31st to get those reading logs back to the library, and pick up prizes. 

I'll see you @ the library!

Katie

Bookish Distractions

State Fair is almost over, summer is quickly coming to an end, and it's time for some Bookish Distractions!

Does anyone ever get on your case for reading YA? Then check out this list from Bustle on how to deal with those people who read only the highest of quality literature. Of course the line "every book has its reader!" works for me.  Of course, you can always send them over to Book Riot to remind them that everyone is allowed to read "fluff".

So many under the radar YA books are being released or coming soon. Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before will be released on the 17th of August and here is a quiz to figure out which sister you are! Andrea Bracken's The Darkest Minds was released over a week ago, and here is the director talking about making the film. (Book Riot and Den of Geek)

Have you seen the posters for the Great American Read? If not, you need to check them out! I'm seriously hoping to order poster size ones some day! Visit Hogwarts indeed!  (Buzzfeed)

Need an uplifting story to get you in the mood for school? Here is an awesome story of the old girls vs boys verity regarding college quiz bowls and an unlikely victory! (Slate)

I'll see you @ the library!

Katie

Library Pop Up: Farmer's Market

Hey all, the library is going to be at the West Allis Farmers Market Saturday August 11th from 2-4 PM! We'll have Summer Reading registration (it's not too late!), books to check out, library card registration!

Don't forget to enter our song lyric guessing game contest! If you know what song our lyric of the week is, you can enter to win an ukulele! Rumor has it we will also accept part of the iconic choreography as well. 

I'll have Library's Rock (Temporary) Tattoos for all interested parties, and book marks to hand out.

So what are you doing Saturday afternoon?

I'll see you @ the Farmers Market!
Katie

Random Fandom Reminder!

Don't forget that tomorrow is the LAST Random Fandom of the summer. Don't worry, we'll be back in September with new Fandoms to celebrate!

We are going to celebrate music from 2000 to today! Take our name that tune challenge, this time with a Kidz Bop twist. We'll have our button maker so you can show off your favorite groups. Play our musical guess who name tag game (dibs on Beyonce). As usual we'll have snacks and you can call out your favorite songs to rock out to!

This event is for teens and tweens, so those of you going into grades 4-12. We'll be in the Library Constitution room from 2:30-4 on Thursday August 8th.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Coming Up: Random Fandom!

Next week is out final Random Fandom of the summer! We will be celebrating all the new(er) music you know and love. Any artists, groups or songs that hit is big after the year 2000 will be featured, so if you've been waiting to show your undying love for Taylor Swift, One Direction or Imagine Dragons this is your chance!

Like all Random Fandom events, this one is for those readers going into grades 4-12. It will take place on August 9th from 2:30-4 PM in the Library Constitution room! We'll have games, crafts and snacks. Winners for the music trivia will go home with prizes!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Teen Summer Reading: Count Down Begins

It's August 1st. Final vacations are scheduled, if not over, school starts in a matter of weeks, not months, and yes, Summer Reading is starting to wind down.

What do you need to do? First off, KEEP READING! All those minutes (up to 2000) count toward awesome entries into prize drawings. Don't forget you can earn 5 entries into the Gift Card Drawing by writing book reviews! You can do this on paper or online, if you have questions stop in the library!

Secondly, make sure you stop in the library and redeem those entries! Even if you've been doing the program on-line, let us know that you've earned some prizes. Don't forget to get your coupon packet at 200 minutes, and your free book at 2000 minutes!

Finally, thanks for being awesome readers this summer! In case you didn't know we've had more teen readers and more prize winners than ever!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Bookish Distractions:

Hey all! Summer reading is racing on, school is both a far memory and a soon to be reality, so take some time out for some Bookish Distractions!

With the All Star Break over, summer is quickly running down. Here is a quick list of some YA books you don't want to miss in the very quick summer of 2018! (Book Riot)

Musical fans rejoice! Two big YA news items came up this past week. First off, YA classic The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is being made into a musical! So find your three best friends, one pair of jeans, and get ready to sing your friendship out! Hamil-fans take notice, and mark October 23rd on your calendar! Lin Manual Miranda is publishing a book of his morning and evening tweets to get your day started and ended on a great note. (Entertainment Weekly and Book Riot)

Predictive text is both a time saver and a source of frustration, however some people turn it into fun! Here are some Famous First Lines of novels rewritten with predictive text. I don't want to give any away, but Harry Potter + predictive text is always fun. (Electric Lit)

Want to know the title of your life's YA adventure story? Here's a link from Epic Reads to help you figure out what your life's story would be called, in the vein of "The Loneliest Girl in the World". Make sure you have the first letter of your name, your zodiac sign and the last digit of your birth year!

I'll see you @ the library,
Katie or "The Unluckiest Chicken in the Kingdom"

Nonfiction Books that Rock!

Libraries Rock! This summer we are all rocking and rolling, and here are some nonfiction books that you might enjoy about rockers and or rollers!

Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel: Janis Joplin was one of the first women rock stars, and it lead to her early death. Learn about this rock legend and her quick but bright life.

Behind the Song by various authors: Ever wonder what songs inspire your favorite authors? Here are some short stories and essays that look at the songs that shaped some of your favorite writers!

California Dreamin': Cass Elliot Before the Mamas & the Papas by Penelope Bagieu:
This is a Graphic Novel that looks at Cass Elliot, better known as Mama Cass, before she joined the Mamas and the Papas. It looks at her desire to be a star, and her years in Paris. Just a heads up, this is a Graphic Novel and is a bit more of the "A" end of "YA".

John Lennon: All I Want is Truth by Elizabeth Partridge: John Lennon is one of the most iconic rock figures of all time, and the influence of his music, both with The Beatles and as a solo artist are still popular today. This biography gives you a look of his whole life, peppered with awesome pictures.

Legends, Icons, and Rebels: Music that Changed the World by Robbie Robertson et al: Not sure who the rock and roll legends are? This books gives you some information on dozens of awesome rock stars that helped shape music as we know it. It also contains CDs music with the songs mentioned!

Keep Reading On!
Katie