Teen Blog

This readalike is in response to a patron's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you. 

Here are some titles you might like, based on your interest in Marked by P.C. Cast.

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.
 

Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde
Kerry's got a tough night ahead of her. What begins as a simple lost-and-found trip to the Laundromat turns into a nightmarish odyssey of murder, vampires, and - quite possibly - true love.

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
When Miranda's guardian angel Zachary recklessly saves her from falling into an open grave and dying, the result is that she turns into a vampire and he is left to try to reinstate his reputation by finally doing the right thing.

This readalike is in response to a patron's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you.

The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith is a popular series! If you liked that series, you may also like these titles:  
 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizzare world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster. Mortal Instruments Book #1  
 

Evermore by Alyson Noël
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's life story by touch Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school-but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste... Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Immortals Series Book #1

 

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
Welcome to Morganville, Texas. Just don't stay out after dark. College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Morganville Vampires Series Book #1  
 

This readalike is in response to a patron's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you.

Ender's Game:
Andrew "Ender" Wiggins is the result of a desperate breeding experiment, combined with years of harsh & unforgiving training. Ender thinks he is only playing computer simulated wargames--in fact, he is commanding the last great fleet of Earth.

If you liked Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, you may enjoy these other titles:

Archangel by Sharon Shinn
A dash of science fiction, a handful of fantasy, and a sprinkling of suspense enliven the story of the Archangel Gabriel and his reluctant wife Rachel.

The City of Ember (and series) by Jeanne DuPrau
In a post-apocalypse city on the verge of collapse, 12-year-olds Lina and Doon join forces to flee to an unknown world above ground.

 

D.A. by Connie Willis
Theodora Baumgarten has just been selected as an IASA space cadet, and therein lies the problem. She didn't apply for the ultra-coveted posting, and doesn't relish spending years aboard the ship to which she's been assigned. But the plucky young heroine, in true Heinlein fashion, has no plans to go along with the program. Aided by her hacker best  friend Kimkim, in a screwball comedy that has become Connie Wills' hallmark, Theodora will stop at nothing to uncover the conspiracy that has her shanghaied.

Boring, can’t relate, and dull, dull, dull. That’s what some people think when they hear the word, “classic,” and you’re talking about books (not cars). Classics are often required reading in high school. But any book your English teacher assigns must be ancient as dirt and just about as exciting, you think. Classics may have stood the test of time, but do they stand up to today’s standards of young adult literature? From murder and romance, to dragons and magic spells, young adult books of the 21^st century are thrilling, relevant, and escapist. With the plethora of incredible reading choices for teens now, how many classics would you bother to pick up? But these books are around for a reason. They are stories of adventure, death, and love. They hold you in awe, in fear, and in suspense. Give them a shot – you just might find yourself recommending them to your own kids when you’re ancient as dirt…

Check out this list of Must-Read Classics that are worth reading, even if your English teacher doesn’t recommend them.

There will be no late charges for overdue materials returned October 18-24 (extended through October 31 for Outreach patrons).

National Teen Read Week is October 17-23 (and we're celebrating all month long with a teen video contest), so that's two great reasons to celebrate at your local library. Spend time with a book each day, and spend less on overdue fines next week!

This readalike is in response to a patron's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you.

There are a lot of powerful books around that deal with different types of abuse and addiction. The following titles focus on drug abuse specifically.

If you like  Crank by Ellen Hopkins, here are some other books that you may like: 

Glass (sequel to Crank) by Ellen Hopkins
In a powerful sequel to Crank, Kristina is determined to manage her addiction to crack in order to keep her newborn child, but when she is unable to manage her use of the drug and the pull becomes too strong, her greatest fears are quickly realized.

Go Ask Alice by anonymous
A powerful, fictional diary of a teenage runaway and her decent into drug abuse.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Now acknowledged as fiction and not a true story, this is the author’s account of his drug addiction and rehabilitation. 

Let’s face it, people--this vampire craze might just be on its way out. Passé. Gone from undead to dead again. A new kind of hero has been taking their place. A powerful being with brains, creativity, and money on his side.  This is a new kind of hero for the ages: The Super-villain.

It happens all the time. You’re sitting in the movie theater with your friends, waiting for the show to start. The screen goes green with a preview message, then suddenly blasts alive with a trailer for an upcoming movie. It’s all over in less than a minute, but you know by that time that either a)you have to see it and are already mentally marking your calendar for the release date, or b) it looks like another lame romantic comedy/action-thriller/horror flick you’ve seen a hundred times before and you’re not wasting your money on that.

But what if you had the chance to tell the story? Oftentimes, a good trailer can make even a lame movie seem pretty appealing. People across the country, especially teens, are being given the chance to do just that, but for books through book trailer contests. And, because so many books are being turned into movies these days, it’s easy to find creative fodder for the aspiring teen film directors out there.

This is Week 12 of a 12-Week series of blog posts reviewing new young adult books. To see all of the reviews, click here.

In Kathryn Erskine's "Mockingbird," Caitlin’s world is black and white, and she likes it that way, whether it’s her view of life or her meticulous monotone drawings. Since The Day Our Life Fell Apart when her brother Devon was killed in a school shooting, she and her widowed father keep to simple routines. This is important to kids like Caitlin, a fifth grader with Asperger’s Syndrome. Clear boundaries make it easier to cope, especially when she’s trying hard to follow her counselor’s advice to Look At The Person and Mind Your Manners. 

This is Week 11 of a 12-Week series of blog posts reviewing new young adult books. Check back each Monday for a new review.