Teens Blog - Kalamazoo Public Library

It's Your Turn

Karen S — 2009-11-20T14:54:00Z

Here in the Teen Services department, we are constantly striving to provide the kinds of programs that Kalamazoo's teenagers want. We know that gaming, crafts, and Japanese pop culture are popular. And Galley Group attracts new enthusiastic teen readers almost every month. Besides those, however, are there other programs we could offer that would bring you and your friends to the library? If so, we want to hear from you! Among the ideas that we have recently scheduled that either had to be cancelled due to lack of registrants or had few, if any, attendees include reader's theatre and workshops in the library's computer lab.

If you are a teenager and you have some good ideas about how the library can better serve its teen patrons, please leave your comments below. Better yet, consider joining the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.), which meets once a month. The next meeting is Wednesday, December 2, from 3:30 to 5 in the Van Deusen Room. We look forward to your feedback!

Meet the Authors!

Stewart F. — 2009-11-16T14:54:00Z

Karen posted earlier about the upcoming visits by great authors during 2009-2010, and we're about to kick things off with a visit by this year's visiting Youth Literature Seminar authors Lisa McMann and James A. Owen. Lisa's suspense-filled Wake is one of this year's Teen Top Ten award winners, and James' Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series is sure to appeal to fantasy lovers. Hear Lisa and James talk about their work and read selected passages from their books (including possible sneak previews!) There will be time for Q&A and book signing as well, so if you're a fan of Lisa and/or James, or if you're just curious about the writing process, be sure to come to Central at 6:30 PM on Thursday for the Meet the Author event!

Book

Lisa McMann

lisa-mcmann-photo-160

http://www.kpl.gov/teens/meet-the-author.aspx

It’s Teen Read Week, and time for Teens’ Top 10 winners!

Stewart F. — 2009-10-19T14:54:00Z

Teen Read Week started yesterday, and we’re celebrating down in the Teen Area. You may have noticed our banner and a list of fun themes for each day, but even if you haven’t stopped by there’s still plenty to do. If you don’t do anything else this week, why not grab one of our science fiction and fantasy-themed books from our display and try out a genre you’ve never read before? If the sci-fi/fantasy thing doesn’t do it for you, why not vote for next year’s theme? Finally, what we’ve really been waiting for down here is the announcement of this year’s Teens’ Top 10 Awards! The full list of winners can be found at the ALA’s Teens’ Top 10 page(did any of your favorites win?) but here in the Teen Area we’re very excited that Wake by Lisa McMann is one of this year’s winners! You can see Lisa speak in person about her books and more on November 12, when she visits Kalamazoo as part of the Youth Literature Seminar. Congratulations to Lisa and to all of the Teens’ Top 10 winners!

Wake

9781416953579

Book

“We are not supposed to comprehend something like this.”

Karen S — 2009-09-28T14:54:00Z

How many times have you recalled, in conversations with friends and loved ones, exactly what you were doing when you learned about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001? For me, my kids had their very first play date that morning with a new friend who has since become like a son to me and whose mom has become one of my closest friends. So not surprisingly, those two events--the 9/11 attacks and that play date--will be forever connected.

In David Levithan's newest title for young adults, Love is the Higher Law, three New York teenagers whose paths had barely crossed before the attacks find similar connections in the days, weeks, and months that follow. Claire, Jasper, and Peter, each in a distinctive voice, relate their story in alternating chapters. Insightful but not overly preachy, Levithan sheds a shining light on how a young person might have reacted to and internalized the horrors of that day.

Book

Love is the Higher Law

9780375834684

Teen Top Ten Voting is Open!

Stewart F. — 2009-08-24T14:54:00Z

If you signed up for the Teen summer reading game at the Teen desk this year, chances are you got a folder with the list of nominees for this year's Teen Top Ten awards. You might even have checked out a few, or maybe even the entire list! Well, if you've been waiting the whole summer to vote for your favorites, now's your chance: From now until September 18, voting is open at the ALA's Teen Top Ten page! Head there to check out more info about the awards and voting, or if you're just ready to vote, head on over to the ballot page to cast your vote! Teens can vote for up to three of their favorites, nd the winners will be announced in a webcast featuring WWE Superstars and Divas during Teen Read Week. Voice your choice- vote for your favorites now, and then come back and let us know what your favorite Top Ten-nominated books for the summer were!

King of the Screwups

Karen S — 2009-08-20T14:54:00Z

Picture this: You're about to start your senior year in high school; you have lots of friends; you're good at sports; you're even well dressed. From all outward appearances, you've got it made. But what others don't know is that somehow or other you keep disappointing the person whose opinion matters to you more than anyone else's...your dad's. Sure, maybe you're made a few mistakes, but in his eyes, you can't do anything right. And you're starting to believe him.

So your self esteem takes a nose dive and on top of that, after your most recent exercise in poor judgement, you are sent away to live in a trailer park with your glam rocker uncle whom you barely know. What good can possibly come of this?

This is Liam Geller's story, written by K. L. Going, and it is funny on many levels. But it's also a sad commentary on how damaging relationships--with parents, kids, friends--can be when one person forgets to consider the feelings of the other person. It's such a simple and universal theme...in fact, I'd be surprised if you don't recognize someone you know before you finish the book.

King of the Screwups

9780152062583

Book

Aspiring writers?

Karen S — 2009-08-01T14:54:00Z

While I consider myself to be a fairly good writer, I often wish I had been a little more willing to step outside of my comfort zone and try new ways of expressing myself on paper, for instance through poetry or fiction or other forms of creative writing. Perhaps I would have ended up going down a slightly different path and become a professional writer. Nonetheless, one of my favorite things about being a librarian is having the opportunity to hear authors speak about their development as writers. When did they know they wanted to do nothing else but write? How long did it take to get their first book published? What inspires them to write the things they write about?

If these kinds of questions interest you, you will be glad to know that the Teen Services department at KPL often brings well-known young adult authors to Kalamazoo so that you can ask them these questions (and more!) yourself. For instance, in the last several years, we've had Sharon Draper, Chris Crutcher, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jacqueline Woodson, John Green, Angela Johnson and M.T. Anderson, just to name a few. And this year is no different. We are busy getting ready for fall visits from authors Lisa McMann (Wake and Fade) and James A. Owen (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series), as well as some other favorite authors who will be coming later in the 2009-2010 year. You'll definitely want to keep checking back here for the latest news on upcoming author visits.

In the meantime, if you have read any of Lisa McMann's or James A. Owen's books, what did you think about them? We'd love to know!

Wake

9781416953579

Book

Want a sneak peek?

Karen S — 2009-07-08T14:54:00Z

The most recent teens books I have read, Hate List by Jennifer Brown and The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson, were galleys, which means they haven't been published yet. Therefore, unfortunately, I cannot link the titles to a KPL catalog record since they have yet to be added to the Teen collection. BUT...if reading new books before they are even published is something that interests you, I'd like to invite you to join Galley Review Group. Members of GRG have the opportunity to read these pre-publication versions of new books and then provide their opinions to the publishers by filling out this review form. We meet once a month to talk about the titles we've read and to discuss which ones we think should be nominated for the Teens Top Ten list.

If you are an avid reader and would like to get in on the fun of reading new teen titles before everyone else, call the Teen desk at 553-7807. Of just come to our next meeting which will be Thursday, August 6 at 4:00 at the Central branch downtown.

Hope to see you there!

Book

Galley Review Group

teens-reading-111-160

http://www.kpl.gov/teens/galley-group.aspx

Bubble Wrap Creativity!

Stewart F. — 2009-06-25T14:54:00Z

Yesterday's bubble wrap printing program was an awesome success! Check out what some resourceful teens and tweens made with just some bubble wrap, paint, and paper at our Flickr set for the Bubble Wrap Prints program.

Summer Reading: Suggestions by teens for teens

Karen S — 2009-06-19T14:54:00Z

Looking for something to read this summer? Want to know what other teens are recommending? Take a look at this list...these are the books that have been nominated for the 2009 Teens Top Ten list that will be announced during Teen Read Week in October. Fifteen teen book groups across the country, including our own Galley Review Group, have helped create this list of nominations from the hundreds of pre-publication titles provided by publishers during the last year. After you've read your choices, make sure to vote for up to ten of your favorites between August 25 and September 18 at www.ala.org/teenstopten.

City of Ashes

9781416914297

Book

Summer Reading Game Starts NOW!

Stewart F. — 2009-06-11T14:54:00Z

If you're reading this, chances are you literally just got out of school for the summer! I know, the last thing on your mind might be more reading- but now's the time to come down to any library location and sign up for the Summer Reading Game! We've got library staff ready and waiting to sign you up, and there are tons of excellent prizes to earn- all just for reading anything with pages over the summer(yes, really)! Read more info about the games at the Reading Games page on our website, or stop in and pick up your game board and find out the rules in person!

Picture Book for Teens?

Karen S — 2009-06-10T14:54:00Z

So, Stewart, you may find this hard to believe, but I've just read a graphic novel that we've recently added to the Teen collection...Thomas Ott's The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8. Okay, I'll admit, I didn't actually read it cause it doesn't have any words. But I looked at it from cover to cover. And boy, is it weird...in a good way. It's like Twilight Zone with the picture puzzles of Graeme Base and the wordless stories of Shaun Tan. It all centers on a small scrap of paper with the number of the title written on it. Throughout the story, the paper changes hands once or twice, and the significance of the numbers takes on different meanings. But there are odd twists and turns that caused me to go back a couple of pages to make sure I was following everything correctly. I like any book that challenges my thinking of reality, and this one certainly did that.

Book

The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8

9781560978756

We've Redecorated

Stewart F. — 2009-06-02T14:54:00Z

The pillars at the entrance to the Teen Area were recently decorated in anticipation of this year's Teen Summer Reading game: Wild Style! If you haven't been downstairs recently, you really ought to stop by(of course, if you're reading this in the Teen Area you already know). We decided to throw a little color around down here and I think it turned out great. We'll have a whole post about the game and Summer activities soon- but for now, come on down and take a look at our mess!

More Holocaust Fiction

Karen S — 2009-05-27T14:54:00Z

We can’t leave the subject of Holocaust fiction without talking about The Book Thief by award-winning Australian author, Markus Zusak. Published in 2006, this 550-page volume went on to win a Printz honor award—for excellence in young adult fiction—in 2007. Narrated by death, it is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who, after witnessing the death of her little brother and becoming separated from her parents in Nazi Germany, is then taken in by foster parents in a small town on the edge of Munich. Liesel’s life intersects with many others, including the Jewish man hidden in her basement, the mayor’s wife who leaves the window to her personal library open so that Liesel has free access, and the neighbor boy who becomes her lifelong best friend. Throughout, Liesel learns to draw on the power of her stolen books as a means of survival.

One of my favorite things about Zusak’s writing is how he personifies inanimate objects or ideas. By describing something otherwise lifeless in human terms and human actions, the reader gets a heightened sense of what the characters feel and think. Consider these two examples:

“As the book quivered in her lap, the secret sat in her mouth. It made itself comfortable. It crossed its legs”

“Before they proceeded to their respective homes, Rudy’s voice reached over and handed Liesel the truth. For a while, it sat on her shoulder, and a few thoughts later, it made its way to her ear.”

Although published as a book for teens, The Book Thief has been popular with adults as well. Regardless, its impact as an example of literary excellence will endure. Please read it.

The Book Thief

0375831002

Book

And now for something completely different...

Karen S — 2009-05-01T14:54:00Z

My husband’s parents came to the U.S. from Cuba in the mid-1960s , so perhaps it’s easy to understand why any books about this tropical destination, albeit out of reach for most of my lifetime, are often of particular interest to me.

We have recently acquired Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle (The Surrender Tree), a novel in verse about a time in Cuba’s history that we don’t often read about…1939-1942, or World War II. Thirteen-year-old Daniel has escaped Nazi Germany, but sadly, without his parents. While their destiny waits in the balance, he sails by himself toward safety on a ship full of Jewish refugees. After being turned away in both New York and Canada, the ship finally lands in Havanna, where Daniel eventually discovers a new life.

Written in the alternating voices of Daniel, Paloma, a young Cuban girl, and David, the ice cream seller/Russian refugee who also escaped to Cuba’s shores many years ago, this fast-moving tale cleverly illustrates how one’s culture and history can affect one’s perception of the world, but also how easy it is to see things from someone else’s perspective when circumstances beyond one’s control make that unavoidable.

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba

9780805089363

Book

Zombie Comics, or Two Ways of Saying “Arrrrrgh”

Stewart F. — 2009-04-23T14:54:00Z

With all the hoopla over vampires (i.e. Twilight) lately, you'd think that people were starting to forget all about the other major threat to our existence- I'm talking, of course, about zombies here. Fortunately there's several quality graphic novel series that help underscore just how serious the zombie menace is. I'll be looking at two very different titles in this post: The Walking Dead series, and Eric Powell's Eisner Award-winning slapstick gore-fest The Goon. (A word of warning: readers with an existential fear of returning from the grave with an unnatural hunger for brains should skip down to Karen’s excellent post on Francisco X. Stork’s Marcelo in the Real World.)

The Walking Dead is the most straightforward, classic us-versus-zombies title of the bunch. While it owes a huge debt to George Romero’s Living Dead films, it goes much further in it’s depiction of what the long-term effects of a total zombie takeover might be like on society. Fighting off hordes of the undead is one thing, but things really get nasty when different factions of the human survivors begin turning on one another for control of the few remaining resources. Due to a totally unflinching and ultra-graphic depiction of life after the zombie apocalypse, The Walking Dead is not recommended for the squeamish.

The Goon, on the other hand, takes the classic zombie menace theme, bolts on a cast of hard-boiled gangsters, werewolves, Spanish-speaking mutant lizard-men and other assorted bizarre characters; adds a dash of 1950’s science-fiction; and sets the whole mess in an unidentified Prohibition-era port city. It’s a formula that just shouldn't work, but yet totally does. The Goon is a musclebound mob enforcer who happens to live in a city infested with zombies(the zombies have their own section of town on the wrong side of tracks). With his sidekick Franky (a short, skinny loudmouth whose favorite fighting technique is called “Knife to the Eye”, for good reason), The Goon protects his city against the forces of the Nameless Zombie Priest by any means necessary, which usually involves lots of Warner Brothers-style violence and destruction.

The Goon is also not recommended for the easily-offended, due not only to the typical zombie blood and guts, but also some crude humor. Fans of Sin City, MAD Magazine, or Hellboy will love it. As an extra bonus, Goon creator Eric Powell is working on a big-screen animated version, due out sometime in 2010.

Remember, kids: Vampires come and go, but zombies are forever… or at least until someone removes their heads.

A good read...

Karen S — 2009-04-20T14:54:00Z

Stewart and I are going to start trying to post more mini-reveiws here about the teen books we've been reading. And we tend to have pretty different tastes from each other so you're eventually bound to read about a title that you might want to check out. One of my recent favorites, which also happens to be new to the teen collection, is Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork.

It's the summer before Marcelo's senior year in high school and he's about to start a new job working at his dad's law firm. But he has never had opportunities to interact with people in the "real world" because he has high-functioning autism and most of his expereiences have been in a more protected environment surrounded by other kids with special needs. Not surprisingly, Marcelo is a little anxious. "Following the rules of the real world means, for example, engaging in small talk with other people. It means refraining from talking about my special interest. It means looking people in the eye and shaking hands." Nevertheless, off he goes, to work in the corporate world of the big city. What ensues is a summer of revelation, friendship, deceit, and mystery, and Marcelo learns more than he wants to about how people sometimes treat each other in the real world.

This book hooked me on many different levels: It has the feeling of a legal thriller like The Firm, because of the case that attracts Marcelo's attention while working for his dad; it is told in a unique and genuine voice, reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time; and it raises moral questions not only for the narrator, but for the reader as well, similar to I am the Messenger.

It left me so much to ponder, I'm thinking this one might be worth a second read...

Marcelo in the Real World

9780545054744

Book

Support Teen Literature Day - Thursday, April 16

Karen S — 2009-04-11T14:54:00Z

Come on down and help us celebrate YOU, our teen patrons, and the books being written and published for you. See how many of the Teens Top Ten nominations you've already read--we'll have a display of all the nominations--then get ready to make your "gotta read next" list so that you'll be ready to vote for your favorites during Teen Read Week (Oct 19-24, 2009). Here are just some of the nominees: Graceling by Kristin Cashore; Paper Towns by John Green; The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness; and Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee.

See you on April 16!

Prom Prep Hints Part 2: Incredibly Strange Tuxedos

Stewart F. — 2009-03-27T14:54:00Z

In case you've forgotten(and how could you), this coming Saturday is our annual Prom Prep event! We've got all sorts of outfits, shoes, and accessories for you to take home! While honestly, most of the stuff we've got is for the ladies, in the interest of fairness I didn't want the guys to feel completely left out. I've found some awesome tuxedo ideas for the gents out there, and I think I'll let the sites speak for themselves. Presenting: The Corxedo! The Coke Can Tuxedo! And my personal favorite: The Bacon-Scented Bacon Print Tuxedo! We'll be looking for all three of these at this year's Kalamazoo-area proms.

Prom Prep Hints Part 1: Duct Tape Corsage

Stewart F. — 2009-03-16T14:54:00Z

Leading up to our Prom Prep event on April 4th, I thought I'd post a few tips and tricks I found all over the net on making your prom memorable, or at least different. Our first hint comes to us courtesy of the always-awesome Instructables blog. Short on cash but flush with duct tape at home? Save yourself some money and make your date's corsage and flowers out of multi-colored duct tape! Easy, step-by-step instructions over at Instructables. For extra bonus recycling points, be sure and check out the dress made out of Skittles wrappers!

Check back soon for more prom prep tips...

Michigan Merit Exam Day

Stewart F. — 2009-03-10T14:54:00Z

Today's the first day of the Michigan Merit Exam for all students in 11th Grade. Sorry about that.

However, if you're not taking the exam today, there's a ton of fun stuff to do all over town. Teen staff will be heading over to the Douglas Community Center armed with the Wiis, Guitar Hero, DDR, and Mario Kart for hours of fun between 11 am and 3 pm. There's also other recreational activities planned at the Douglas as well, so stop in for fun and games! A full list of sites participating in today's MME activities can be found in the latest issue of Excelsior, or at the Kalamazoo Public Schools website.

2009 Film Fest Winners!

Stewart F. — 2009-03-02T14:54:00Z

This past Friday, we had an overflow-capacity crowd show up at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art to watch this year's selected films for the 6th annual Teen Filmmaker Festival. The audience grabbed free popcorn, candy, and Jones Soda and took a seat for the hour-plus screening. We had a mix of all different kinds of films this year- science-fiction, comedy, horror, animation, and more... sometime within the same films! We've uploaded the winning films to our YouTube page... be sure to check 'em out if you missed the Festival. And don't forget to catch the replay of the Fest on the Public Media Network to see not just the films but also interviews with the filmmakers, sponsors, and facilitators of this year's event! More info and a list of all of this year's film and winners can be found on the Film Fest page. Once again, congratulations to all of our winning filmmakers and thanks to everyone who participated!

Teen Film Festival is Almost Here!

Stewart F. — 2009-02-24T14:54:00Z

The Oscars may be over, but the 6th annual Teen Filmmaker Festival is almost upon us! We've sat through a mountain of submissions, made some tough choices, and now it's your turn to check out the best films by teen directors of 2009. Check out the updated Teen Film Fest page for info on the films to be screened, prizes, dates and times and more!

Personally, I think we need a "Best Title" category... Winnie The Pooh: Chainsaw Massacre would easily get my vote.

Donate your old prom outfits and accessories!

Stewart F. — 2009-02-10T14:54:00Z

Prom season is right around the corner! The Teen Services department is proud to host the 2nd annual Prom Prep event on April 4th. We'll have everything teens need to prepare for the prom. Of course, this means we are once again seeking donations of formalwear, jewelry, shoes, or any other prom-related accessory! Last year we were able to match dresses to 35 local high school girls, and over 50 took home other prom accessories. We will be accepting donations throughout the next two months, right up to the day of the event. Donations can be dropped off to the Teen Services desk any time during library hours.

2009 Printz Award Winners

Stewart F. — 2009-01-26T14:54:00Z

The winner of this year's Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults was just announced moments ago, and I'm proud to say we have all of them available in our collection. Here's the complete list of the winning books!

Printz Award:
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Printz Honors:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 2: The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks: A Novel by E. Lockhart
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

It's an amazing list of titles this year. How many have you read? Are there books that you wish were on the list but aren't?Let us know what you think!

Book

Jellicoe Road

9780061431838

Teen Film Fest Deadline Almost Here! (UPDATED!)

Stewart F. — 2009-01-21T14:54:00Z

If you're thinking of entering a film in the Teen Film Fest this year, make sure you get your entry in to the Teen Services desk by 9:00 PM on Monday the 26th! If you haven't started shooting your masterpiece yet, well... there's still time, but you gotta hurry. After Monday it'll be too late until next year, so don't spend too long in the editing booth...

Update: Tom Sullivan, who has done special effects and makeup for the "Evil Dead" series, has agreed to be one of the celebrity judges for the Teen Film Fest. Tom lives in Marshall, and is looking forward to meeting Film Fest entrants and seeing their work. He joins Kalamazoo native Matt Dunstone, who worked on such films as Office Space and The Rookie, and James Sanford, film reviewer for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Get your films in front of these guys!

Update 2: If you're short on budget and you're still looking for ways to shoot your masterpiece on the cheap, check out this free download on how to make your own SteadyCam rig out of steel pipe, bicycle parts and barbell weights!

Teen Services Department: Now With Even More Wii!

Stewart F. — 2009-01-12T14:54:00Z

Behold! The new Teen Services Wii!

The newest member of the Teen Services Department gaming family was delivered this past Friday. Do not be fooled: It may look cute and cuddly, but behind the glowing green power LED and glossy white exterior lies a force to be reckoned with. With the arrival of the third Wii, we have now become more powerful than any other library in the known universe. It has already siezed control of our outgoing communications and is attempting to incorporate all Teen Services staff into it's hive-mind. Feel the power of the new Wii at a gaming event soon!

Video Game Day: A Mixed Bag of Awesomeness!

Stewart F. — 2008-12-23T14:54:00Z

This past Saturday saw our Teen gamers assemble in the auditorium to get their game on with our first ever Wii Game Day Tournament! Players could choose to beat each other senseless (figuratively speaking, of course) with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or peel out and take hairpin turns at breakneck speed with MarioKart. We quickly set up a tournament ladder for MarioKart, while the Brawlers used the internal tournament mode to duke it out. Then, during the final elimination round, we discovered a fatal flaw in our plans: Our Wii consoles couldn't get through the KPL firewall to connect with Ann Arbor District Library in order to do some cross-state butt-kicking! Curses! Nevertheless, our players all had a great time and had a couple of hours of Wii gaming together.

Check out photos from the event at our Flickr page!

J-Pop Club: Pick our next movie series!

Stewart F. — 2008-12-01T14:54:00Z

OK, J-Pop fans... if you've been coming to the last few meetings, you know we've finally finished off the last of the Outlaw Star series and we're moving on to something new! Now's your chance to let us know what we should watch next. On the right-hand side of this page, there's the new, handy poll feature where you can choose from a list of the more recent anime titles to come through KPL's doors. Here's the list:

Make your choice soon... this poll will only be up until next week!

Update: It was very close, but Vampire Hunter D squeaked out just ahead of Bleach and Cowboy Bebop to win! So, starting on December 22nd we'll begin the first disc of Vampire Hunter D. Thanks to everyone who voted!

New Polls!

Stewart F. — 2008-11-26T14:54:00Z

Frequent visitors to the Teen page may have noticed a new feature: Polls! They're over on the right-hand column, in the space marked "Sound Off!" You'll be able to cast your vote for pressing issue of the day, such as the most recent poll: Who's your favorite superhero? (Section 8's Dogwelder won in a surpise landslide!) The next poll will be up shortly, so keep watching this space!

'tis the season...

Karen S — 2008-11-18T14:54:00Z

It's that time of year when publishers and booksellers come out with their "best of the best" lists. We're always curious to see what teen titles are being recognized and whether or not our circulation statistics and casual conversations with you, our teen patrons, reflect these trends. What do you think? Have you read any of the titles below? Are there titles that aren't on this list that you think should be? Let us know what you think! Maybe we'll come up with our own KPL list!

Publisher's Weekly - Best Books of the Year - Children's Fiction (includes teen titles)

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 2: The Kingdom of the Waves by M.T. Anderson

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (on order)

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

Savvy by Ingrid Law

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Teen Halloween!

Stewart F. — 2008-10-29T14:54:00Z

This past weekend saw a collection of vampires, tigers, pandas, princesses, zombies, zombie snowboarders (what?), and other odd characters invaded the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts for the annual Teen Halloween event. Nearly 120 costumed teens showed up for a night of Halloween fun, including a performance by Crawlspace Eviction, a costume contest, and a dance with some seriously excellent music. If you weren't there, you missed out! You can still see what you missed by checking out our Flickr page for the event.

Read-A-Thon Pledges Due November 1st

Stewart F. — 2008-10-29T14:54:00Z

The annual Teen department Read-A-Thon fundraiser for Loaves and Fishes was a big success(just look at the photos!) and the donated food items are starting to roll in! Just a reminder: if you've got pledges you still need to turn in, the deadline for getting those in to the Teen department is November 1st... so hurry and get those canned goods in!

Sharon Draper visits KPL

Stewart F. — 2008-10-13T14:54:00Z

Recently, we were honored to have award-winning author Sharon Draper visit Kalamazoo to talk about her work. Ms. Draper gave a fascinating and entertaining presentation here at KPL on Wednesday, October 1st and spoke about a number of topics including the inspiration behind her stories and characters, how she writes her books, and if her novels will be made into movies(hint: if Denzel Washington is out there somewhere reading this post, please call Ms. Draper's agent).

If you missed it, take a look at our Flickr page for photos of the event!

Book

Sharon Draper visits KPL

sharon-draper-2-160

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoopubliclibrary/sets/72157607874818186/

We're Back!

Stewart F. — 2008-09-29T14:54:00Z

The re-carpeting project is finally over, and the Teen department is back and better than ever. Come on down and check out:

our new and improved comics section!
the new arrangement for the tables and seating area!
and, of course, the fancy new carpet!

Be sure to look at our Flickr gallery of before and after pictures to see what we went through. We're still looking to come up with even more improvements so if there's something you'd like to see in the Teen area, leave us a comment or stop by the desk and let us know!

Voice your Choice!

YBS1 — 2008-09-27T14:54:00Z

Do you wish you could vote in the upcoming presidential election but are not legally allowed to do so due to your age? If so, then Teens' Top Ten might just satisfy that need you have to let your voice be heard. KPL's own Galley Review Group was one of fifteen teen book groups across the country that helped select the nominated titles. And now, when YOU go online to cast your vote during Teen Read Week (October 12-18), you help ensure that the 2008 Teens' Top Ten list is truly representative of the reading tastes of teens everywhere. So go read one or two more of the nominated titles, then cast your vote between October 12 and 18. Check our calendar for other Teen Read Week programs.

Please Pardon Our Dust

Stewart F. — 2008-09-22T14:54:00Z

If you haven't been down to the Teen department lately, well, now is most definitely not the time to come down. The reason? We're closed! The final phase of the lower level re-carpeting project starts today, and we've barricaded ourselves inside the Teen office until it's finished on Friday the 26th. Fortunately, we'll still be running our great programming all this week, including J-Pop, Tween Central, and T.A.B. so you won't miss a thing. Be sure to stop in next Monday to check out our new carpet. It'll be worth the wait, seriously!

Coming Soon: Teen Halloween!

Stewart F. — 2008-09-10T14:54:00Z

It's that time of year again- the days are getting shorter, darker, and colder, and the vampires are coming out to feast on human blood. OK, maybe not that last one... but it's definitely time to start thinking about all things scary! While you're planning your costume this year, make sure you don't forget to check out Teen Halloween on October 25th at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts! Co-sponsored by KPL, the KIA, and Kalamazoo Education for the Arts, Teen Halloween is a celebration for teens only. This year's festivities include a live performance by Kalamazoo's own Crawlspace Eviction, a costume contest with great prizes, and a dance with a live DJ spinning your favorite tracks. Doors open at 6:30, and the program starts at 7:00. Look for free tickets at the Teen desk or at the KIA soon!

Things My Grandma Thinks are True

Karen S — 2008-08-22T14:54:00Z

Things my grandma thinks are true

She says my brown eyes are a fluorescent blue

No grandma that's not me it's you!

She say ducks are born from chicken

No grandma ducks are born from geese and chicks from hen

She says uncle louise has gotten his wife pregnant again

No grandma you mean aunt louise and she doesn't have a boyfriend or husband

She says the bark on a tree taste like honey one bite will make you feel like a star of a show!

No grandma...wait, I can't say no because the answer to that I don't even know.

Tyesha P., 17

Written in creative writing workshop for teens held at the KPL in July.

Hi! My name is...

Stewart F. — 2008-08-01T14:54:00Z

Good hello, and allow me to be introducing myselves! My name is Stewart Fritz and I'm the new lead librarian here in the Teen department. While I've worked at KPL since 2006, if you weren't in the Children's Room a lot, or attended one of the programs I ran, or were a member of the J-Pop Club, then you may not know who I am. Here's a quick summary:

I graduated from Loy Norrix High School, way back in the dark days when cell phones were the size of small cars and the Joker still looked like Jack Nicholson. I have a bachelor's degree in art, and I worked for many years at a major video game company doing interface graphics for games like Mortal Kombat(RARRRRRGH!). I've also been a web designer, camp counselor, cook, and radio station disc jockey. I got my librarian degree in 2005 and started at KPL in 2006 in the Children's Room. I quickly was drafted to take over the monthly J-Pop animation club, and soon after found myself running other programs for Tweens and Teens.

I'm a big fan of fantasy and science fiction books and films, and I really love graphic novels so you may find me rummaging through our stacks for the titles I haven't already read a hundred times. I occasionally can be coaxed into a game of Guitar Hero, although my DDR skills are notoriously awful so don't ask. I still draw and do printmaking and I'll listen to just about any kind of music. My favorite color is black, my favorite book this month is Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society, my favorite video game is Katamari Damacy and my secret weakness is the famous Hot Doug's in Chicago. Look it up next time you're in town and tell him Stewart sent you.

That's about it... if you're in the Teen area stop by and say "hi!"

Creative writing workshops

Karen S — 2008-07-03T14:54:00Z

Even though school's out for summer, you can still keep your pencils (and brains) sharp by coming to one, two, or three writing workshops for teens. They will be held at the Central branch on July 7, July 14, and July 21 from 1 to 4:00 pm. Local writers will lead you through various writing exercises that will spark your creativity and hopefully inspire you to keep writing throughout the summer.

Then on Wednesday, July 23, at 7:00 pm you will have an opportunity to read your own writing aloud (but only if you want to!) and listen to others' work at the Open Mic Night.

Refreshments will be served at each workshop and at the Open Mic night.

Advance registration required. Call 553-7807 to get your name on the list.

Calling All Artists!

Cory — 2008-06-27T14:54:00Z

Anime, manga, and graphic novels continue to be crazy-popular, and this popularity has led tons of people to learn to draw in these styles. Of course, every artist has their downfall, and for many people, this means hands. Let's face it, hands are just hard to draw! Check out this video of Mark Crilley giving pointers.

We found this video on Drawn: The Illustrating and Cartooning Blog, which is a great resource for anyone who likes to draw.

Farewell to Our T.A.B. Senior!

Cory — 2008-06-12T14:54:00Z

Sabrina DeRoo: Class of 2008

Every year, the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.) sadly says goodbye to the seniors who have contributed so much over the years. This year’s graduating senior is Sabrina “Sabby” DeRoo, who has been a member of T.A.B. for six years. For this past year, Sabby has been an active member of the T.A.B. Executive Board, which means you may have seen her friendly face leading the twice-monthly meetings. Her love of manga (and I mean the Japanese kind, not the stuff that gets mislabeled as manga) has made her a fixture at our monthly J-Pop Club meetings, too. But no mention of Sabby would be complete without a plug for her favorite holiday, Pyromas, which we refuse to let her celebrate at the library. Good luck!!!

Guitar Hero Tournament

Cory — 2008-06-06T14:54:00Z

Wednesday, July 09, 1 - 4 pm, Central Library

Scoring will be based on technical ability only! Guitar Hero 1-3 will be available. An audience is part of a rock star’s life, so come to play or come to watch !

Join the Galley Review Group

Cory — 2008-06-06T14:54:00Z

Get a sneak peek at upcoming teen books! Read the newest titles by your favorite authors like Chris Crutcher, Sharon M. Draper or Laurie Halse Anderson. Help discover new authors on their way to literary stardom. Join the Galley Review Group.

What is a galley?

Straight from Japan

Cory — 2008-06-06T14:54:00Z

J-Pop Club

June 23, July 28, August 25, 3 pm, Central Library

Manga, anime and...Pocky! Enjoy the latest media (and food) straight from Japan.

Glowfriends at Mlive

Cory — 2008-06-06T14:54:00Z