Teens Only | If You Like a Good Puzzle...

This is the blog for you. I'm always reading reviews of teen books to find great things to read... and to of course recommend to you. So I came across a list of books that every teen should read. Gosh I don't like being told what I should read. So how about we call these books every teen should want to read. Better, right?



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Back to my penchant for puzzles. I am not going to make this easy for you. I will give you some clues to each title, but I'm not going to tell you the title. You're all super smart, and you'll be able to figure out the titles with just a little keyword searching in the library catalog.

Are you ready?

Our first book features a girl named Cath who is feeling left out when her best friend no longer shares their love for a favorite celebrity. So she finds herself all alone in her first year of college, has to deal with a not-so-nice roommate, and constantly worries about her father.

Ok. Do you know what book I'm talking about? Go ahead. See if you can figure it out. Quick hint: If you use the girl's name in a word/phrase search, and perhaps another word from the description I just gave you, you'll probably find it. And by the way, it sounds great and I'll be reading it very soon.

This next one was first published in 1967 and is about three brothers who struggle to stay together after the deaths of their parents. This book was made into a movie starring Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, and Tom Cruise. It's a great movie, and the book is even better. Do you know what the title is? Have you read it? If not, are you going to read it?

The last book in today's puzzle is by one of my favorite authors. This book is about a 16-year-old on trial for being an accomplice to murder. What's super cool about this book is that it is written in the form of a film script. It's a quick read that will really make you think. Do you know it?

Three books that are really great. If you're totally stumped, let me know by posting a comment. I'll respond soon.

In the meantime, happy reading!

Book Bucket List | Fangirl

In the world of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, who wrote the ever so popular Eleanor and Park,the Simon Snow series is one of the biggest franchises on the planet.  It is a series of seven books set in a magical world full of magical creatures and is written by a British author.  It is about the young mage Simon Snow who doesn't know he's a magician but finds out that he has been accepted to study at Watford School of Magicks!  According to the Rowell, the Snow series has been published in 52 languages and has movie adaptations that have broken all of the box office records.

Sound familiar?

The story follows the Simon Snow fanatic Cath, as she navigates through her first year in college.  When I call Cath a fanatic, I mean she is a HARDCORE Snow fan.  She dresses up for all the movies, participates in Harry Potter, I mean Simon Snow, forums on the internet, and even writes Simon Snow fanfiction.  Cath is dealing with her new found independence, snarky professors, and first loves all while being consumed by her Simon Snow obsession.

I really connected with the premise of this novel.  If you skim through my past blogs you might be able to tell that I'm a Harry Potter fan.  Anyone that knows me well knows that I'm a Harry Potter fanatic.  I've done the dressing up for book releases and movies, read the new book release in one sitting, and can tell you the middle names and birthdays of all the main characters. However, unlike Cath in the book, I never was interested in Harry Potter fanfiction.  I just want to MAKE THIS CLEAR! 

So when I first heard that there was going to be a book about a girl with similar ... proclivities as me, I knew I had to check out this book.

Teens Only | It's Hot

Duh, right? And the only thing I want to do on hot, hot days like the ones we had this past week is READ!

So let's chat about what's HOT in teen books right now. Some of these you may have read or heard about. One thing's for sure: you won't be disappointed. So find a cool spot, get comfortable, and read!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs: Get ready for a mysterious read that will keep you guessing. This story takes place in an abandoned orphanage on a mysterious island.  Sixteen-year-old Jacob unwittingly discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were not just really peculiar, they may still be alive! You won't be able to put this one down!

If you're in the mood for a love story, try Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. But it's not just a love story; there are some really big issues that teens Park and Eleanor have to deal with. They are outsiders who come together to form a really cool relationship. Again, it's not just relationship stuff; there's danger too! By the way, this story is set in the 1980s with lots of references to music and pop culture of that decade. It's getting a lot of good hype, so give it a shot! But be forewarned, I'm hearing the ending might not be a happy one. I've already place a request on this one!!

The next great summer read I want to mention is Richard Yancey's The 5th Wave. This sci-fi must-read is set in the aftermath of a crushing alien invasion in which the aliens themselves never appeared. But billions of humans have died in the months following the appearance of a giant mother ship. Think tsunamis, plagues, and implantation of alien intelligence into fetuses. The reviewers are saying this book will grab you from the beginning as venture into this survivalist thriller with characters Cassie and Ben. You'll be hearing lots more about this one, so read it now! I've also got a request on this one!

So 3 hot teen books sure to entertain you....or thrill you...or keep you up at night! As always, if you don't see one of these books at the library branch near you, ask staff to help you place a request. I know you won't be disappointed.