Written by Teens

What do these three books have in common?


The Outsiders
By Hinton, S. E.
1997-11 - Puffin Books
014038572X Check the Library's Catalog



Eragon
By Paolini, Christopher
2003-08 - Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
0375826688 Check the Library's Catalog


Frankenstein
By Shelley, Mary
2001-11 - Oxford University Press
0195149017 Check the Library's Catalog

All are popular, great reads. But they were also all written by teens! S. E. Hinton was only 16 when The Outsiders was published. Christopher Paolini wrote the first draft of Eragon when he was 15, and Mary Shelley was just 19 when she wrote Frankenstein. If they (and others!) can do it, why couldn't you? Happy NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and good luck writing!

For more books written by teens, click here.

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month! National Novel Writing Month...get it? This is the month when you write as much as you can on the novel you've always been wanting to work on. Or if you're not interested in writing a long story, you could try short stories or poems. The point is to actually make time this month and write, write, write. There's even a Young Writers Program, so check it out. Need encouragement? YA author Maureen Johnson participates in NaNoWriMo AND blogs about it!

Keep checking the Teen Zone blog this month for more posts about writing & other teens who write. Good luck on your novel, short story, or poem!

November events

Hey guys, there are lots of things going on this month @ MGPL. Register now! Hope to see you there!

To register:
Online: Go to http://calendar.webrary.org
By phone: Call 847-929-5101
In person: Stop by the Reference or YS Desk

Ready, Set, Draw Game!
Sat. Nov. 7th, 2-3 pm, activity room
Professional comic book author Russell Lissau will lead ages 10 and up in a "pictionary" style game, participants will put their artistic skills to the test by drawing people, places and things from popular comic books, action movies and television-come join the fun.
Registration is required.

DIY Gifts
Sat. Nov. 14th, 1-2 pm, activity room
Come to the Library and make gifts for your friends, family, or yourself! Instructions and supplies are provided. grades 7-12 only.
Registration is required.

Scrabble and Chess for Teens & Adults
Wed. Nov. 18th, 2-4 pm, conference room
Teens and adults are invited to play chess and Scrabble. Light refreshments are served.
Registration is required.

Gettin' Saucy Teen Cooking Class
Wed. Nov. 18th, 2-4 pm, kitchen
Learn to prepare delicious food! Supplies and instructions provided. Registration required. grades 7-12 only.
Registration is required.

Teen Tech Workshop
Tues. Nov. 24th, 7-8 pm, conference room
Have a project or paper to do for school? Learn about a few websites to help you stay organized! Grades 7-12 only.
Registration is required.

Twilight Series Trivia!

Don't forget to sign up for Twilight Series Trivia this Saturday October 24th from 2-4! Answer questions about vampires, werewolves, & all things Twilight. Bring your friends & prove once and for all who knows the most about the series. There will be PRIZES!

To register, call (847) 929-5102 or http://calendar.webrary.org to register yourself.

See you there!

Read Beyond Reality for Teen Read Week!

Next week is Teen Read Week and to celebrate Morton Grove Public Library is having a drawing for YOU! All you have to do is fill out a short entry about a science fiction or fantasy book you've read and turn it in to the raffle bucket at the Reference Desk. Then you'll be entered to win a Visa gift card or one of three books! And as long as you turn in at least one entry form, you'll get a candy bar after the drawing!

You can get the form in the Teen Zone or download it here, but remember to turn it in at the Reference Desk. Fill out several forms for different books you've read, and you'll have MORE chances to win! Write about a book you loved, thought was ok, or even hated. When the drawing is over, reviews will be posted here on the blog so we'll all know if we should race to the Library to pick up an awesome book or stay clear of one.

The time to submit entries starts Monday (the 19th) at 9 AM and ends Sunday (the 25th) when the Library closes at 5. Stop by the Library to fill out your entry (or entries!) and check out a book while you're here!

Good luck & happy Teen Read Week!

Gettin' Saucy Cooking Class (10/8)

Last Wednesday we had an awesome turnout for October's Gettin' Saucy Cooking Class! We made pizza to eat, pizza dough to take home, and delicious banana-strawberry smoothies. Here are some pictures of the fun:

If you missed this one, don't worry. The next cooking class is Wednesday, November 18 from 6-7. Go register today!

Banned Books Week

Two weeks ago you probably saw books on display at the library for Banned Books Week. Young Adult books are usually some of the most questioned books across the United States. Common reasons for challenging a book are "offensive language", "unsuited to age group", and "violence." Just because a book may be challenged somewhere, doesn't mean it's bad. Sometimes the challenges raise awareness about a book or subject and teens can discuss it and what they think about it. Other times a book may be questioned by someone who hasn't even read it but thinks it contains material that's not suited for teens - you. Here are some of the most frequently challenged books in the last few years.

• What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
• TTYL by Lauren Myracle
• Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
• The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
• Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
• The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
• Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

It's never too late to celebrate, highlight, and discuss books that are questioned. What do you think? Have you read any of these? What would you say if someone told you that you (and everyone else) shouldn't be allowed to read something?