2019 Morris Nominees!

It's book award season, and the Morris Nominees have been announced! The Morris Award is really awesome because it goes to first time authors writing books for young adults. Past winners include The Hate U Give,  The Serpent King and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

Here are the nominees for 2019, if you are looking for something to read this holiday season!

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
Check, Please! #Hockey by Nguzi Ukazu
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeymi
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper

Happy Reading!
Katie

Tonight: Random Fandom and Elf!

Just a reminder for those of you in grades 4-12 we are having our Gingerbread House and Elf night tonight! From 6:30-8 PM we will have all the supplies you need to make an amazing gingerbread creation, and perhaps take home one of these Elf inspired prizes!

Here are the details: This event is for those of you in grades 4-12 only. The event will run from 6:30-8 PM, in the Library Constitution Room. We will be showing the movie Elf, and making the houses out of graham crackers, icing and candy. Voting on houses will take place around 7:45, and awards will be given out at 8 PM.

I'll see you @ the library!

Katie

 

Random Fandom: Elf and Gingerbread Houses

Is smiling your favorite? Do you like to eat from all four of the major elf food groups, candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup? Do you answer the phone by asking people what their favorite color is? Are you in grades 4-12? Then come on in to the library for a night of Elf and Gingerbread fun!

We will have all the supplies for you to make an awesome Elf inspired creation, while we watch the movie Elf! We will have elvish prizes for the Best Overall House, Best use of Candy Canes, and Best "Elf" house.

Like all Random Fandom nights, this is just for those of you in grades 4-12.

That's December 13th, from 6:30-8 PM in the Library Constitution Room!

I'll see you @ the library,
Katie

Reading Lists for the End of Year

It's that time of the year! All the best book lists come out, and we are gearing up for book awards season. So here are some lists of books to keep on your radar.

Paste gives us the 30 Best Young Adult Novels of 2018. There is a lot of good books here, including one of my current reads Dread Nation by Justina Ireland.

If 30 titles isn't enough, here are 50 of the best Young Adult Books of 2018 from our friends at Epic Reads. Like they say, this should look like your "have read" list, but if it isn't you still have a few weeks, right?

NPR has given us their best books of 2018, spanning all genera and reading levels. Here is an awesome interactive list, where you can click on the subjects or reading levels you are interested in! Young Adult is the last option on the list, and I highly recommend the picture book We Don't Eat Our Classmates! 

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Upcoming Teen Events!

Welcome back from a (longer than planned) Blog Break!

Here are some events this December to mark on your calendar!

Saturday December 1st, 10 AM: Santa Bruce Storytime:

Hold up you say, this is TEEN events, not story-time events, and you are correct. HOWEVER, there may be some of you with younger siblings or who babysit, and what better way to celebrate kids than to take them to a story time, craft and have a chance to get a picture with Bruce the Bear! Plus, we will be selling copies of Santa Bruce that you can gift to others. This is really for the whole family, and there is no registration!

Thursday December 13th, 6:30-8 PM: Random Fandom: Elf and Gingerbread Houses:

Walk past the seven levels of the candy cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops and right to the West Allis Public Library for a night of holiday fun! We will be showing the movie Elf and making our own gingerbread creations. Don’t be a cotton-headed-ninny-muggins, and remember this event if for elves in grades 4-12 only!

Friday December 28th, 3:30-5:30 PM: Friday Fun!

Break the winter break blues with our December Friday Fun! We'll open the Constitution Room for patrons ages 12-18 (those of you in grades 6-12) to just hang out. We'll provide snacks, games and maybe even a craft. All you need to do is show up!

December 26- March 2: Winter Reading: 2019

Winter Reading is back! Much like summer reading, you read, count minutes and enter to win prizes. You can also earn an extra entry by submitting a Book Face picture! Prizes include mugs and gift cards, and everyone who reads 1000 minutes gets a free book! Registration will begin December 26th!

I'll see you @ the library!

Katie

Thanksgiving (Blog) Break!

We will be taking a "Thanksgiving Break" here at the West Allis Library Teen Blog, and will be back on November 26th, with YA book news and programs here at the library!

Don't forget the library will be closed on Thursday November 22 and Friday November 23!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Katie

Dumplin' Trailer!

If you haven't yet seen this preview, marked your calendar, and found a few a Dolly Parton records, what are you doing? Dumplin' is coming December 7th, and I can't wait! Don't forget to check out the book first!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Friday Fun: 11.16.18

It's about time for another FRIDAY FUN! This is when we open up the Constitution Room, set up some games and put out some snacks and teens can hang out. Don't forget we have our brand new Nintendo Switch that will be set up! Last month we had a blast playing Mario Party!

This event is for those of you in grades 6-12, or ages 12-18.

That's Friday November 16, 3:30-5:30 PM in the library Constitution Room!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Watch and Read!

Currently there are a ton of great YA books showing up in the movie theaters and on your TV. If you are wondering what to read or watch next, read on!

Are you watching The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina? Then here are some books you should read. There is a good mix of older and newer creepy titles here to keep up with all your witchey reading. (Epic Reads)

If you can't get enough Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before, here is a list of her other books. I recommend Shug, it's a great read for those not quite ready for " young adult romance"! (Book Riot)

Netflix is really rocking out the YA adaptions, and December 7th, brings us Dumplin'! This total empowerment book by Julie Murphy that if you haven't read, get on it! For more information check out this article from Screen Rant!

Finally, there are a ton of lists out there about what to read after The Hate You Give. Here is one from the New York Public Library that focuses on Graphic Novels and poetry! Here's another list from First Book, which gives you suggestions on books that focus on finding your voice, police and race relations, social justice and other issues in The Hate U Give.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

Random Fandom: 8-Bit Games

Thursday November 8th it's time for another Random Fandom! This time we are going to kick it old school with some 8-Bit Video Games! From Pearler Beaded characters to Pac-Man mazes and of course game fueling snacks we are going all out! We'll even have a few old school games to play!

Random Fandom is for those of you in grades 4-12, and the event will be Thursday November 8th from 6:30-8 PM.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

PS- Edited on November 7th to change the date. It's November 8th. Sorry!