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Showing posts with label mrl. Show all posts

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Teens' Top Ten Books!!!

You guys may remember that we received some books last year to try out. We have more this year! There are seriously hardly any on the shelf, which means that you guys love them!

1. Check out these books.
2. Read/enjoy/love them.
3. When TTT voting comes around, vote for your favorites.

That's it!

Here are the books:

  • Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid
    • As Leila struggles to come to terms with her new life, she grasps for the only thing she knows is real, the northern lights. On her cross-country trip to see them, she meets four people that not only change her, but change because of her. She helps them in ways they didn't know they needed, and they help her more than she realizes.
  • Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
    • Samantha's mind is a blank slate after she disappeared with her best frienemy, Cassie. However, when Cassie's dead body turns up, Samantha's memories are the only clue to what happened that night. Unfortunately, Sam not having any memories may be the only thing keeping her alive. 
  • Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
    • Kyra is a thief. A talented one at that. When the leader of the mysterious Assassin's Guild offers her a job, she isn't sure. Tristam of Brancel is a Palace knight. When his best friend is murdered by the Demon Riders, a clan of fierce warriors who ride on bloodthirsty wildcats, he vows to take them down. Each time, he is thwarted by a talented thief, one who can easily slip past the Palaces defenses. When they are thrown together on a raid, they realize that their best-if only chance at survival is to join together. Loyalties are tested and a surprising secret is learned about Kyra's past-one that threatens to reshape their lives. 
  • Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake
    • For the first time ever, Cassandra and Athena have a mutual goal: to kill the remaining gods and goddesses that have taken refuge on Mount Olympus. If they could just figure out how to work together, they might be able to accomplish it. 
  • The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
    • Magnus Bane, the mysterious High Warlock of New York, has been alive for a long time and has a mysterious past unknown to most of his companions. In this thrilling novel, secrets and stories are revealed, of lovers, of adventures, and of friendships. 
  • The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
    • In a steampunk world, after the British Empire won the Revolutionary War, a young Patriot named Charlotte finds a boy in the woods, running from British war machines. When he claims he cannot remember anything, she and the other rebels with her decide to find his true origin by going to the heart of the Empire: New York.
  • Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira
    • After the death of her older sister, Laurel tries to cope with her feelings of guilt and anger with what starts out as an English assignment: write a letter to a dead person. As Laurel adjusts to high school and makes new friends, she continues writing letters to her idols. They become more detailed and thoughtful as she tries to grieve over her sister and works up the courage to finally be able to talk about the secret of her death. 
  • Into the Dark: The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain
    • Haden, the disgraced son of Ren Hades, King of the Underworld, has been chosen to go to the surface and bring back Daphne Vince, his boon. Daphne's alcoholic rock star father is giving her the chance she has dreamed of to further her music career, but in California, further away from home than she's ever been. Their fates are entwined, and they're about to meet for the first time. 
  • To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
    • Lara Jean has a teal hatbox under her bed filled with all her precious things, old feelings, and memories that should be buried forever. In that box, there are letters Lara has written to all the boys she has ever loved with no intention of ever sending them. One day, the hat box goes missing, marking the beginning of a series of confrontations she never thought she’d have to face. 
  • Unhinged by A.G. Howard
    • Finally back in the “real world” all Alyssa has left is to ignore her darker side and enjoy the normality of high school and her life with Jeb. But does Wonderland leave her alone? Can the Red Queen let Alyssa get away with what she has done? Everything would be easier if Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest.
  • The Young Elites by Marie Lu
    • Adelina Amounteru is a survivor of the plague, a Malfetto, a freak to the rest of society. The treatment of abuse over the years has caused a darkness to brew inside her. She believes there is hope for her yet as there is a group of other Malfettos, called the Young Elites. The Young Elites have not only survived the plague, but have developed unexplainable abilities. Is refuge with these people what Adelina always wanted, or are they just going to end up using her like everyone else?
  • Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
    • Celaena, the King’s Champion, has faced many challenges throughout her life, but none compare to what she must now face. As the King of Adarlan seeks to destroy all that she cares about, Celaena must learn to control her powers while deciding who should fight back: Celaena the assassin or Aelin the Fae princess. 
  • Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
    • Emily and Sloane are the bestest friends having an amazing summer, until one day Sloane disappears. Sloane leaves behind a to-do list of 13 tasks Emily would normally never try without Sloane by her side. With the help of Frank Porter, and a few other friends, will Emily finish the list?
  • The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen
    • War is on the horizon in Carthya, and Jaron needs to protect his country. However, the ruler of Avenia has also captured Jaron’s best friend and love, Imogen. Jaron needs to save both his friend and his country, but everything that possibly could go wrong, does go wrong. 
  • My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
    • As the perfect girl who had everything scheduled, always looked nice and studied hard, Jackie couldn't predict her parents’ accident. She also didn't see her future consisting of moving from New York to Colorado and living with twelve boys. How can she cope with her parents’ death, a dramatic change in lifestyle while still being the perfect girl she was? 
  • The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
    • As Lia tries to run from her bounty hunters, she begins uncovering one of her kingdoms deceptive secrets, hidden by the years passed. Meanwhile, she begins falling in love with two men who are not who they seem to be... 
  • The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
    • Kestrel is a noble of the vast empire Valoria. She only has two choices for her future: to become a military officer or get married. What she really wants is to be a musician. Her choice for her future becomes more complicated when she buys a slave named Arin who is in on a plot to free his people from enslavement. 
  • Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
    • Tella Holloway thought her life was bad. When she gets an invitation to save her brother Cody’s life, she learns what bad really is. Tella fights for not only Cody, but herself, her Pandora, and her growing love of a contender. It’s a fight for life, but will Tella die trying? 
  • I Become Shadow by Joe Shine
    • Ren Sharpe was abducted at fourteen, chosen by the mysterious F.A.T.E. Center to become a Shadow: an unstoppable guardian of a future leader/world changer. After four years of training, she is assigned to protect Gareth Young, one of these future beings, an easy assignment, until a team of trained and armed professionals attempt to abduct him in broad daylight. With nowhere else to turn, Ren breaks F.A.T.E. rules and tracks down the only person she can trust; a fellow Shadow named Junie Miller, and decides that her kidnappers may be able to see the future, but they are unprepared for the killing machines they've created.
  • Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
    • Grasshopper Jungle is a coming of age story revolving around three teenagers, told in layers, exploring the pitfalls and wisdom of history, complex issues of friendship and sexual confusion, and, of course, the story of how six-foot-tall man-eating praying mantises from Iowa, brought on the end of the world.
  • The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
    • Lucy and Owen get stuck in an elevator in a New York City blackout. When they finally get out of the elevator, they spend the night looking at the stars. Soon after the blackout, Lucy moves away to Scotland while Owen heads out west. With that night in-grained into their minds, they try to stay in touch with each other while trying to figure out what that night truly meant for both of them. 
  • Boys Like You by Juliana Stone
    • Monroe and Nathan are alike in so many ways. Their "one mistake" has hurt both of them and the ones they love. Can Monroe accept herself and help Nathan to do the same? 
  • We Should Hang Out Sometimes by Josh Sundquist
    • Josh is a boy who's good with math, but not with girls. He has the best pickup line- We should hang out sometime- but he never really gets a relationship out of it. Now, after many girlfriendless years, he tries to figure out why.
  • Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
    • As if being one of the first black students to attend Jefferson High School wasn't enough, Sarah Dunbar has to worry about keeping her secret. Linda Hairston, is the daughter of one of Davisburg's most vocal opponents to integration in schools. She too has a secret. When these two very different girls are forced to work together on a school project, both are forced to confront the harsh truths about race, power and love.


And here are some pictures of teens enjoying them:




Friday, July 17, 2015

2nd Annual Harry Potter Party!!!

Whoa, guys. You should be soooo stoked for the Harry Potter party on July 31 (check out the deets at the bottom). To get in the mood, here are some cool HP links to check out:

  • Daniel Radcliffe said he can't wait to see Fantastic Beasts, but will he be in the movie? He says no, but of course people are speculating that he will.
  • Speaking of Fantastic Beasts, you could be the newest star! Producers are holding a casting call in London on July 18 to find an actress for the role of Modesty. Luna Lovegood herself is signal boosting the call!
  • How much would it cost to go to Hogwarts? Research has been done, and the result is staggering. Reports say that with Galleon-to-Dollar conversion, Hogwarts tuition would be around $43,031 a year. WHOA. Makes you appreciate Ron's parents even more.
  • Fandoms collide! Here is a selfie of cast members for Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter. [If you don't know what a fandom is, check out The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Geek Girls by Sam Maggs (YA 302.23 M).]
A photo posted by @maisie_williams on





Happy Birthday, Harry Potter! @ Main Library

7/31/2015

July 31 is Harry's birthday, and it marks when he first gets his Hogwarts letter. Come out to the Library and celebrate this super wizard's birthday with crafts, games & snacks! Don't forget to dress as your favorite character!

Location:
Main Library - downtown Harrisonburg




UPDATE: 
The director of some of the HP movies wants to make more!! Yes, please!!!

Monday, June 1, 2015

2015 Summer Reading Games!!!

It's here, everyone!!! You can now officially enter the Summer Reading Games!!! Sign up at any of the MRL branches (Main, North River, Grottoes, Village, Elkton, Page, or Shenandoah). You'll get a...

  1. Gameboard
    Keep track of your reading! Every two hours, you'll get a Hero Prize. At ten hours, you'll receive a Superhero Prize Pack. For every hour after that, you can enter the drawing for one of our awesome prizes. All prizes have been graciously donated by these fantastic sponsors.
  2. Super Pool Pass
    Get into a local pool for free next week (June 7-13). Participating pools are listed here.
  3. Free Friday Wristband
    You can visit a new place every Friday for free! All you need is your Free Friday Wristband! Here is the Free Friday schedule this year. 


We also have some exciting programs planned. Here's what's coming up this summer: 

Every Hero Has a Story (ages 0-10)
  • Dome Theater @ YOUR Library
  • Fancy Nancy: The Musical @ YOUR Library
  • Stories from Aunt Nelly's Mountain Home @ YOUR Library
  • Family Flicks @ Main Library
  • Summer STEM: Heroes of Design @ North River Library
    • On Saturday, June 6, and Saturday, June 11, drop in to the North River Library between 10:30 AM and 12 noon to celebrate a well known hero who has created designs that better lifestyles for humankind and complete a creative design challenge of your own!
  • Mission Rescue: Dogs in Need of Forever Homes @ North River Library
    • Come to North River Library Thursday, June 11 @ 2 PM to hear from Laura Burchfield, a local teen whose family has made it their mission to rescue stray dogs and foster them until they find a forever home.
  • Everyday Heroes @ Main Library
    • Kids Like You! Saturday, June 6 @ 1 PM - stories from local kids who we think are real heroes!
    • Harrisonburg Police Department, Saturday, June 13 @ 1 PM - Police vehicle display including a cruiser, the DARE Mustang, a motorcycle, a bicycle, and possibly a command post truck! Plus more fun activities inside.
    • Fire Department, Saturday, July 11 @ 1 PM - A fire truck to check out as well as other interaction with real-life firefighters!
  • Job of a Firefighter @ North River Library
    • Local firefighters will share their stories of why they decided on their job, how they became firefighters, and what it takes to continue in their job on Thursday, June 18 @ 2 PM.
  • Read to the Rhythm with the Handley Puppeteers @ Village Library
    • Stop by the Village Library Thursday, July 16 @ 2 PM and welcome the teen puppeteer troupe from Handley Library! They will present a puppet show set to music with zany antics and designed to promote reading.
  • Read with... @ YOUR Library
  • Storytimes @ YOUR Library (storytime schedule is here)
  • Hero Construction @ YOUR Library
    • Kids in grades K-5, dig into craft conundrums and tunnel through intriguing books @ YOUR Library's Hero Construction craft time June 8-July 31. Dates and times are listed here.
  • Lego Club @ YOUR Library
  • Dogs 2 Read 2 @ YOUR Library
    • Grab a book, get comfy & read to YOUR library's very own registered therapy dog. All reading levels are encouraged.
    • North River: 4th Tuesdays @ 4 PM
    • Main: Thursdays @ 2:30 PM
Unmask! (ages 11-17)
  • Incredible Afternoon Movie @ Main Library
    • Come out Saturday, June 20 @ 1 PM, watch a great movie, and grab a snack from our popcorn bar, courtesy of DuPont Community Credit Union
  • Superhero Survival Skills @ Main Library
  • Happy Birthday, Harry Potter! @ Main Library
    • Celebrate this super wizard's birthday, Friday, July 31 @ 12:30 PM! We'll have potions, fortune telling, prizes, snacks and more! Don't forget to dress as your favorite character!
  • After Hours Teen Lock-In @ Main Library
    • Have you ever wanted to know what the library is like when it's empty? Saturday, August 15 @ 3:30-7 PM is your chance! We'll play the Awesome Library Race, decorate bookends, kind-bomb the library, eat pizza, and more! You'll even walk out of here with a free book. How cool is that?? Must register by August 8.
Escape the Ordinary (18+)
  • Escape... @ Main Library
    • Monday, June 1 @ 7 PM - Escape the Ordinary: In Search of the Paranormal 
    • Monday, June 8 @ 1 PM - Escape the Ordinary with Local Hero & Founder of Our Community Place Ron Copeland
    • Thursday, June 18 @ 7 PM - Escape Your Diet: The Gluten Lie
    • Monday, June 29 @ 1 PM - Escape the Funny Pages with Cartoonist John Rose
    • Monday, July 13 @ 1 PM - Escape the Ordinary Garden - Hobby Hydroponics: The Weedless Garden
    • Thursday, July 23 @ 7 PM - Escape the Planet: Why Do We Explore Mars?
    • Monday, July 27 @ 7 PM - Escape the City with Local Nature Photographers Ann & Rob Simpson
  • Super Screenings @ Main Library
    • Select Saturdays and Mondays in June and July, you can visit the Main branch of MRL for an awesome superhero movie! Look here for more info.


Whoa. That's a lot. Make sure you sign up for Summer Reading at any of the MRL branches to get started!

And finally, here are the hilarious videos the L.O.L. group made to promote the SRG. Hope you enjoy!




Thursday, April 16, 2015

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.

Monday, April 6, 2015

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!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Teen Tech Week!!!!!

Happy Teen Tech Week!!! We had an awesome kick-off party on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who showed up!

And now...the moment you've all been waiting for (even if you didn't know it): The YA March Mayhem Book Bracket is online! Vote for your favorite YA books online or at Main. Each week we'll narrow down the favorites until only one book is left standing! It's like The Hunger Games, only much less violent and much more...well...literary! I'll update this post each week with the new voting link.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

March Book Club Post!!

We're doing a super special book club post for March! Since we have four YA authors coming to the library on March 19, all their works are March Book Club Books!

Joy N. Hensley 
Rites of Passage
*The Harder You Fall

Jodi Meadows 
New Soul series: Incarnate, Asunder, Infinite, "Phoenix Overture"
The Orphan Queen series: *The Orphan Queen, *"The Hidden Prince," *"The Glowing Knight," *The Mirror King, *etc.
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves (with several other authors)
*My Lady Jane (with Brodi Ashton and Cynthia Hand)

Lisa Maxwell 
Sweet Unrest
*Gathering Deep
*The Stars Turned Away

Cristin Terrill 
All Our Yesterdays series: All Our Yesterdays, *Tomorrow and Tomorrow, *etc.

* = not published




Our event: 

Young Adult Author Panel @ Main Library
3/19/2015

Join a panel of young adult authors March 19 from 6-8pm for a discussion on their works and the YA genre. Authors include Joy N. Hensley (Rites of Passage), Jodi Meadows (Incarnate series, The Orphan Queen), Lisa Maxwell (Sweet Unrest), and Cristin Terrill (All Our Yesterdays). We will have copies of their books available for signing. If anyone age 11-17 signs up for L.O.L., they'll get a free copy of Sweet Unrest!

Location: 
Main Library - downtown Harrisonburg





More about the authors: 

Four YA Authors to Discuss YA Popularity, Their Books

2/23/2015
Massanutten Regional Library has noticed the popularity of young adult novels, and has invited four YA authors to visit its Main Library Thursday, March 19, 6-8 pm to discuss not only their published works, but the popularity of YA fiction.  This event is free and open to youth and adults alike.

It comes as no surprise that young adult novels are not just for teens anymore.

According to an ongoing biannual study of Bowker Market Research, fully 55 percent of buyers of YA novels are 18 years or older, with the largest segment aged 30 to 34, a group that alone accounted for 28 per cent of YA sales.   Typically YA books are written and published for kids aged 12-17.  When asked about the intended recipient, 78 percent of the time consumers stated they were purchasing for themselves.  These statistics are courtesy of Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer in the Digital Age.

 “Obviously dystopian YA fiction has become a booming genre,” says Emily Correa, Youth Services Assistant at Massanutten Regional Library.  “Book series such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner, and The Giver have only gotten more popular with the release of their film adaptations. Most of the books that were turned into movies and released last year (The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner, The Giver, If I Stay, and The Fault in Our Stars) barely reached our shelves.  As soon as one of these books got checked in, they were put on hold for another patron.  Right now, these books are still getting checked out.”

Jodi Meadows, an Elkton resident, is the author of four dystopian YA fiction books and will return to MRL as a member of the YA panel and discuss her writing and publishing experiences on March 19.  Her Incarnate novel, the very first novel in her Incarnate trilogy series, made the Top 10 Young Adult Fantasy Books in 2012 as recommended by Lisa Parkin, a columnist for The Huffington Post, along with such national favorites asDivergent, by Veronica Roth, and The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.

According to Meadows, fantasy comes naturally to her when writing.  “Fantasy is where my heart is. I've always loved the idea of magic, how people might use it, and the ramifications of that,” says Meadows. “Every now and then I think I might have an idea for a more contemporary story -- but it never really seems like mine without an element of magic.” 

A prolific reader, Meadows mainly focuses on YA material when reading since that is what she writes.  She tries to keep up with what is popular and hitting the best seller lists.  Meadows advises aspiring writers to be prepared for negativity. 

“Writing is not an easy career to have.  There’s a lot of heartbreak and rejection, and all of it feels personal, but if you love writing and telling stories, then there’s nothing else quite like it.”

Northern Virginia author Lisa Maxwell’s first book, Sweet Unrest, combines the present with the past and follows its main character through a paranormal adventure.  The setting of the novel is New Orleans, a place she visited and did research for the YA novel.  She also went to Oak Alley (the plantation that the fictional plantation LeCiel Doux is based on) and toured the house and grounds.  Upon her last trip to Oak Alley, Maxwell wrote her last third of the book there.  The book has a dark setting and eerie tone.

Maxwell will join the panel and discuss not only her novel, but what it is like to work as a college professor and write novels on the sideline.  Her second book, Heartless Things, debuts in 2016.

Joy N. Hensley’s debut novel, Rites of Passage, creates a strong female student who enters a military school.  Reviews of the novel describe it as “intense, hard-to-put-down, and a surprising” read.
The idea for the book came from a dare of one of her high school friends. 

“After my freshman year in college, she dared me to go to military school for a year.  If I survived, she’d give me $25.  That was right after VMI started accepting females.  I ended up being accepted to two military universities and decided on Norwich University in Vermont since they’d had females since the 70s.  Rites of Passage comes from my experiences there.”

Hensley presently is writing another YA for HarperTeen.  “I’m also working on a new adult book (a story where the main characters are college-age), and an adult romantic suspense,” says the young author.

 Hensley will join the panel and discuss her experience of writing and publishing.

The last guest panelist, author Cristin Terrill, says her love of science fiction started when she was young and read Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.  Her debut novel,  All Our Yesterdays, is classified as science fiction and has been described by one reviewer as a “masterpiece.” 

Terrill’s writing ritual is set with a daily word count she prescribes for herself daily.  “Sometime I hit my goal in an hour and other times it takes me most of the day.  On average, though, I spend about three hours writing per day,” states the young author.  “I didn't really choose to write YA. It's just that the stories in my head all happen to be YA!”


Friday, February 20, 2015

Bonus Post: Calling All Writers!

The Virginia Festival of the Book is coming up! After our YA Author Panel here in Harrisonburg on March 19, Charlottesville will be packed with authors from March 17-22. One of the very cool panels will be for teen writers. Submit a short story and get feedback from three authors! One of the authors is Jodi Meadows, who will be at our YA Author Panel. (How many times can I promote our YA Author Panel in one post??)

Here's the information about submitting a story: 


StoryFest & Pub Day: First Pages for Teen Writers
Sat. March 21, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
215 E High Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Hosted by: Charlottesville-Albemarle creative writing teachers and Young Writers Workshop of the University of Virginia

A StoryFest and Pub Day Event! Are you a teen (13 to 18) who likes to write? Teen writers may each submit one page (no horror or erotica) to receive anonymous feedback from authors Jen Karetnick, Jeff Martin, and Jodi Meadows. Priority will be given to pages submitted to VABookTeenWriters@gmail.com by March 16. You may bring a page to the panel, but we cannot guarantee that it will be discussed. 
Important! To make sure that we have time for as many entries as possible, each page must be no longer than 250 words AND properly formatted. (Se example here: Teen 1st pages submission format.) We will return improperly formatted submissions.
Why Should You Attend?
You will have a terrific opportunity to learn from the authors' feedback, but only if you submit!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Adaptation Newzzz!!


  • In case you haven't heard, The Duff is out in theaters this weekend! It's based on the YA novel The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger. The movie's got a crazy good cast, and the trailers look pretty promising.

    Unfortunately we don't have The Duff in our library collection, BUT you can always request that we purchase an item you want to check out! We love to hear what people want to read. We may not purchase the book, but if we do, we'll put you on the holds list and you can check it out as soon as we get it in! You can get a purchase request form at your local library branch. Check out the synopsis from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
 
But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Take three friends. Add an old cookbook. Combine with cute boys and a pinch of magic…and see what kind of chaos ensues! When Kelly Quinn and her two BFFs discover a dusty old cookbook while cleaning out the attic, the girls decide to try a few of the mysterious and supposedly magical recipes that are inside. To their surprise, the Keep ’Em Quiet Cobbler actually silences Kelly’s pesky little brother and the Hexberry Tart puts a curse on mean girl Charlotte. Is it possible that the recipes really are magic? Who wrote them and where did they come from? And most importantly of all, when boys get involved, what kind of trouble are the girls stirring up for themselves?
This is another book we don't currently have in our collection, so if you'd like to read the book before you watch the show, be sure to request it!
via Deadline.com

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Bonus Post: ANTI-VALENTINE'S BLACKLIGHT PARTY!!!!

Do you have plans for Valentine's Day, or are you thinking of boycotting the holiday? How about doing both! We're having an Anti-Valentine's Blacklight Party! Come to the Main branch (Downtown Harrisonburg) on Saturday, February 14 from 1-2:30 PM and dance in the dark! We'll have glow-in-the-dark everything, heart (pinata) breaking, sock volleyball, hi-liter t-shirt signing, and more! It's going to be da bomb dot com. (Do kids still say that? I guess only the cool ones do.)



Anti-Valentine's Blacklight Party @ Main Library
2/14/2015

Join us for a non-Valentine's Day glow party from 1-2:30pm! We'll have dancing with glowsticks, highlighter t-shirt signing, and blacklights! You could even win one of the books from Amy Kathleen Ryan's Sky Chasers series (Glow, Spark, or Flame).

Ages 11-17

Location: 
Main Library - downtown Harrisonburg

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Snowflakes!

Don't you guys just love snow? Come into the Main branch to make your own snowflakes! I mean, they're made of paper, but they're cool--and we'll put them on display on our bulletin board! We have a few instructions printed out, but for awesome designs, look at samples online!

And speaking of snow, when people say, "No two snowflakes are alike," they're totally right. But they don't mention how incredible snowflakes are up close! Here are some samples from a photographer named Alexey Kljatov (who even teaches you how to photograph snowflakes on his blog!):


Unreal, right?!

And for more snowy weather fun, grab a mug of hot cocoa and settle in with one of these books for snowy days (all of which are available through the library system!):
  • Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
  • Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
  • Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Matt de la Pena, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, and Kiersten White
  • Six Months Later by Natalie Richards
  • Starry, Starry Night: Three Holiday Stories by Lurlene McDaniel
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
  • The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (we have the graphic novel and audiobook, too!)
  • Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
  • The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa
  • Holiday Princess by Meg Cabot
  • Tug-of-War by J.C. Pearce
  • The Year the Wolves Came by Bebe Faas Rice
  • The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
  • Far North by Will Hobbs
  • The Trap by John E. Smelcer
  • Winter On Her Own by Elizabeth Howard
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (or really any HP book; they have great winter scenes)



Thursday, November 13, 2014

Book Publishers + Social Media

I know a lot of you guys are on social media. (I mean, come on--who isn't?) Here's a tip--look for your favorite book publishers to follow! You get immediate, up-to-date news straight from the source. If you follow Harper Teen on Twitter, you can find out about contests, giveaways, and new book releases before anyone else. You can send asks to the Penguin Teen Tumblr to find out about the publishing business and what's next for your favorite author. And who doesn't want to see cool links on their feed from Random House Children's Facebook or Scholastic's Pinterest? It's great news about stuff you're interested in, coming directly to your fingertips, and you don't have to pay anything. Amazing, right?

You can also follow YALSA on social media. (YALSA stands for Young Adult Library Services Association. You may remember that we have some supercool books from them.) They are the people who organize the Teens' Top Ten voting and hold Teen Read Week & Teen Tech Week. They're on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, Google+... you can pretty much virtually follow them however you want.(Check out their website for links.)

(While you're at it, follow us on social media, too! We're on Facebook and Twitter!)

And finally, we hope you're a little more generous with lit than this kid:

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Random News!

Ready for a bunch of cool news and links? Here we go:

via ScreenRant.com
  • In case you haven't already seen them, here are some amazing new pictures from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. How awesome does Cressida look? And Katniss looks completely different from Catching Fire, doesn't she?
  • CNN made a list of 40 new YA books released this fall that you should read! The list includes Rick Yancey's The Infinite Sea (sequel to The 5th Wave), Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield (author of the Uglies series), and On A Clear Day by the late Walter Dean Myers.

    [Is there anything on the list that you want to read but we don't have? You can request a book purchase! Pick up a form at the Circulation Desk or in the Children's Section.]
  • Are you excited for JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie? CinemaBlend came up with some possible spoilers and theories related to the characters. News also broke that Fantastic Beasts is going to be a trilogy! The three films are set to be released in 2016, 2018, and 2020. And HP director David Yates is back for Fantastic Beasts!

    [If you like this, be sure to see our post about Queen Jo's Fantastic Beasts Twitter hint! (Small spoiler alert for the link.)]
  • In other JK Rowling news, she's planning on building Hagrid's hut on her property! Here are the plans and more information. I mean, come on--who wouldn't love a perfect replica of Hagrid's hut in their backyard?
  • Want to read awesome YA book reviews? Check out Reading Rants! It includes reviews of awesome new books, book trailers, movie adaptation trailers, interviews, and more.

    [If you want to write a review for this blog, email it to ecorrea@mrlib.org]
  • Do you need Halloween costume ideas? Check out these YA costume ideas from BuzzFeed, Teen.com, Read Breathe Relax, and Forever Young Adult.
  • And finally, have you been looking forward to The Office writer BJ Novak's new children's book, The Book With No Pictures? Well, here's your chance to see him read it to an enthusiastic group of kids! It's definitely a use-your-imagination-and-a-silly-voice kind of book.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Bonus Post: Teen Read Week Giveaways!!!

Don't forget, guys: Saturday is the last day to enter our Teen Read Week drawing! All you have to do is check out a book--that's it! Write your name and age on your checkout receipt and drop it in the box at Circulation. After Saturday, we'll draw for winners. You could win a prize from one of these fantastic Downtown Harrisonburg businesses:

Blue Nile
Bella Luna
Benny Sorrentino's
Earth & Tea Cafe
Las Chamas
You Made It!
Larkin Arts
Glen's Fair Price Store
The Indian & American Cafe

Be sure to check out a book tomorrow or Saturday to enter!

Ages 11-17

Book Dominoes Video!!!!!!

Okay, no one's as excited about the book dominoes video as I am. But it's so cool! I love it! If you haven't seen it yet, here it is:


During one week of the 2014 Summer Reading Games, the Massanutten Regional Library circulated 1,189 young adult items and 10,857 items in the children's section. We asked our teen and tween volunteers to help show you what that looks like. They set up 1,189 books like dominoes...and then they knocked them over!
For more information about MRL and our services, visit our website!www.mrlib.org

Thursday, October 9, 2014

BONUS Bonus Post: Teen Read Week!!!

I totally forgot to mention that we're having a kick-off party for Teen Read Week!!! The theme this year is "Turn Dreams Into Reality," and we're going all out! We're going to brighten up the library with banners and sidewalk chalk, decorate a cloud bookshelf, and eat pizza and cloud Jell-O!

We're having a fun night on Thursday, Oct. 16, too! The JMU Golden Key group is going to teach us how to make dreamcatchers, and we'll enjoy ice cream floats!

You guys will also get the first chance to enter in for one of our TRW drawing prizes! If you drop your check-out receipt in the box at Circulation, you'll be entered in a drawing for one of the amazing prizes! We have gift certificates and goodies from all over Downtown Harrisonburg. You could get a prize from:

Blue Nile
Bella Luna
Benny Sorrentino's
Earth & Tea Cafe
Las Chamas
You Made It!
Larkin Arts
Glen's Fair Price Store
The Indian & American Cafe

All you have to do is check out a book to enter! How amazing is that?!

Here are the deets:


Teen Read Kick-off @ Main Library

10/11/2014
Get ready for Teen Read Week (October 12-17) by celebrating with a party! Snacks will be provided. Make awesome art and watch the video from the Book Domino event. You can even enter your name for prize drawings! This event is for ages 11-17.

Location:

Main Library-downtown Harrisonburg



A Night on Cloud 9 @ Main Library


10/16/2014
Celebrate Teen Read Week and "Turn Dreams Into Reality!" Teens, ages 11-17, come make a dreamcatcher and enjoy an ice cream float, provided by JMU Golden Key. Don't forget to drop your checkout receipt in the box at Circulation for a chance to win a prize! We have over $100 in prizes from awesome businesses in downtown Harrisonburg!

Location:

Main Library - downtown Harrisonburg

Thursday, October 2, 2014

"Can You Get Too Old For YA Novels?"

The Denver Post published an article called "More Adults Than Youths Are Reading Young Adult Fiction." If so many adults are reading YA, that makes us wonder why they're interested in books targeted toward a younger audience.

Here are some reasons we've compiled as to why adults are reading YA:
  • Young adult author John Green wrote an article for Cosmopolitan--yeah, you read that right--about the YA phenomenon across age groups. Green contends that the YA genre is so appealing to other age groups because the books contain "unironic emotional honesty."
  • Alyssa Rosenberg wrote in the Washington Post that some adults are "highly engaged readers, and are simply adding YA novels to other categories of books they read."
  • Rosenberg also believes that even YA novels with unhappy endings prepare us for the blow better than adult novels.
  • Others believe YA books are popular because it's a chance for adults to recapture their glory days.
  • Another reason could be that YA books are more abundant, popular, and relatable today than before. Even though YA pioneers like Judy Blume, Madeleine L'Engle, and even Mark Twain did wonders for teen lit, the YA genre is booming now.
  • A staff member here believes it's a form of escapism; adults like to forget their adult-ish problems and focus on a YA character.
  • Some parents also like to read what their YA children are reading as a way of connecting to them. (Remember that episode of Parks and Rec about the dad who reads Twilight with his daughter?)
  • In the comment section of this CNN article, one reader sums it up: "A good book is a good book regardless of its intended audience."

What do you think? If you're a young adult, why do you believe adults love the genre more than ever before? If you're an adult, why do you love to read YA books? Comment with your opinion!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Bonus Post: Teen Dominoes!

We're having an awesome event on Saturday. We'll be setting up books like dominoes! It will go a little like this:

Come help us make something amazing! There will be pizza!

Teen Dominoes @ Main Library

9/6/2014
Were you ever obsessed with dominoes? Put those skills to use and help us make a domino chain of books! Enjoy pizza, fun, and book dominoes! You may even end up on an impressive video to promote the library. Come back in a month for the Teen Reed Kick-off (October 11) for the video premiere!
Ages 11-17 Event.

Location:
Main Library-downtown Harrisonburg

Audiobook Dream Narrator?

Back in 2012, Flavorwire made a list of their ideal celeb narrators for classic and modern novels, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt for The Catcher in the Rye. Which got us thinking...
  • What is your favorite book?
  • Who would your ideal narrator be?
  • Would you include sound effects/music or just stick to the narrator's voice?
A lot of movies (many of them based on books) have main characters that narrate the action. But what actor would you love to narrate your favorite audiobook?

Comment with your audiobook dreamcast!

PS don't forget that you can download audiobooks for FREE! All you need is your library card! Here's the link to the downloadable media page through our library (OneClick is for audiobooks), and here's a list of all the supported devices.
You guys, I use these services all the time. They're supercool.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

TTT Voting - Starting August 15!

You guys are definitely enjoying the Teens' Top Ten nominee books we received from YALSA. We barely have any on the shelf at any given time! (To know if you have one of these books in particular, see if it has a blue sticker on the spine. It has been chosen.)

Here is the complete list of 25 nominees, including synopses and a cool intro video.

  • The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
  • Of Triton by Anna Banks
  • Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
  • Love In The Time Of Global Warming by Francesca Lia
  • The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau - download it through Overdrive or OneClickDigital
  • The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
  • Earth Girl by Janet Edwards
  • The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason - download it through Overdrive
  • Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray - download it through Freading
  • The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry
  • Splintered by A. G. Howard
  • Teardrop by Lauren Kate
  • Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
  • Monument 14: Sky On Fire by Emmy Laybourne
  • Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards - download it through Freading
  • Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  • This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
  • Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
  • This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
  • Winger by Andrew Smith
  • A Midsummer Night’s Scream by R.L. Stine
  • Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Tucholke
  • In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters - download it through OneClickDigital
  • The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

  • If you see one you really want to read, put a hold on it! Check it out! Read it! Download it! Listen to it! Fall in love with it! Or maybe just have a crush on it. Then you can vote on your favorites when the Teens' Top Ten voting starts on August 15.

    What better way to have your voice heard than vote for the Top Ten YA books? Oh right! Comment below with which of the 25 nominees are your faves, or which ones you think should have made the cut!