Why Do You Read YA?

This article says that YA experiences are universal and timeless; people will be writing and reading YA books for a long time.

What do you think? Will you continue to read YA after you're out of the age group? Or is it dependent on the book, not the genre?

And for that matter, why do you read YA? Is it about the characters or the subject? Take the poll below!

Why do you read YA?

To relate to a teen character

Because I'm 16-25 years old

It's all about the author

I'm into a genre where the books are mainly YA

I'm an adult but I like to go back to those times

I'm just reading today's popular books

I'm a parent, and I want to read what my kids read

I read everything

pollcode.com free polls

Literary Playlist: Beautiful Music for Ugly Children

At the start of Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, Gabe's neighbor hooked him up with the gig of a lifetime: his own radio show. Gabe's going through his own stuff right now--transitioning, fighting off feelings for his best friend, trying to finish high school in one piece, dealing with his not-so-supportive family--but the radio show is his favorite part of the week. And it leads to new things for Gabe. Some of them aren't so great, and most of them scare the heck out of him, but Gabe's hopeful they'll lead to a new life for him.

Gabe is the new Elvis because he's ready to start his real life.

Read Beautiful Music for Ugly Children and listen to his Elvis-filled playlist.
[NOTE: This is a playlist of songs the author mentioned in the book. MRL is not responsible for nor does it endorse the content of non-MRL websites. Users should use critical judgment in relying on information found in these websites and determine what information is appropriate to their needs.]

Earth Day + Recycled DIY Crafts Event!!!!

On Earth Day (April 22), we'll be making super-awesome DIY crafts using discarded trash! That's right, trash!! Here are the deets:

Recycled DIY Crafts

4/22/2015

Celebrate Earth Day by creating cool crafts with recycled products, Wednesday, April 22, from 6-7 PM! Make a duct tape wallet, soda box pencil case, book safe, and more! Enjoy snacks and book paper origami, too.

Location: 

Main Library - downtown Harrisonburg

And while you're here at the library, be sure to turn in your essay and/or artwork for the Honored Teachers Contest!

Honored Teacher Essays/Artwork Due

4/22/2015

All students, K-12th grade, are eligible to enter the Robert B. and Gladys Hopkins Strickler Honored Teachers Writing and Art Contest. Essays/artwork are due today.

Location: 

Main Library - downtown Harrisonburg

And finally, how perfect is this compilation of 2014's greatest hits using household items? We are so going to watch this on repeat during the Recycled DIY Crafts event.

Prim Dances!

If you're a THG fan who watches Dancing With the Stars, you may have gotten a treat. In this week's challenge, contestants had to commemorate their most memorable year in dance. Willow Shields, who plays Prim in The Hunger Games movie series, themed hers around THG!!! Check it out below:

MRL YA March Mayhem Book Bracket WINNER!!!

...And the winner is... The Giver! 

(Wow, you guys must like the classics! The Giver was the earliest-published book on the bracket and it took the cake!)

Thanks to everyone who voted!

April Book Club Post!

Title: The Boy in the Black Suit

Author: Jason Reynolds

Copyright: 2015

Call Number: YA Fiction REYNO

It's the beginning of senior year, and Matt has already missed the first few weeks. His mom was sick--cancer--and passed away. And now Matt has to go back to school. Classes aren't bothering him--he's done well in high school, so he only has to go half a day--it's the other kids. They're looking at him like he's broken or different. And he is different; he's had to grow up fast, and now he's changed, probably for forever. His boy Chris is still trying to treat him normal, but his dad is getting lost in a bottle. Matt doesn't even want to cook anymore, since that was something his mom did with him.

To fill his time, Matt decides to get a part-time job. He expected to walk out of the Cluck Bucket with a job on the fryer, but he ends up leaving with an offer to work at Mr. Ray's funeral home. He's always known Mr. Ray as the guy who survived cancer twice and is now trying to inform others of the disease. Now Mr. Ray is looking out for him: paying him to help set up for funerals, picking him up from school, and helping when Matt's dad goes off the deep end. 

The one thing Matt loves about his new job is going to funerals. He wants to see someone go through what he went through with his mom. It makes him feel better, as strange as it sounds. One of those people is Lovey. She'll be the first one to roll her eyes at any joke you have about her name. She just lost her grandma--Matt was at her funeral--and as they help each other through that pain, they realize they have more in common than they thought.