Gettin' Saucy Teen Cooking Class (12/29)

For December's Gettin' Saucy Teen Cooking Class, we got into a wintery mood and made graham cracker cottages! We had a great time mixing icing, building houses, decorating with all kinds of snacks, and watching as some cottages stood and others...fell.

Here are a few of the pictures:


Don't miss out on the fun! The next cooking class will be Tuesday, January 26th at 6 pm. Registration opens on January 12th. See you there!

Book Review: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Marcus Yallow was just an average high schooler with an above average knowledge of how the Internet, computers, and technology work...until a terrorist attack hits his hometown of San Francisco. Suddenly he and his friends are believed to be terrorists and get picked up by the Department of Homeland Security. After finally gaining freedom from DHS custody, Marcus fights back against the paranoia and loss of rights as the government begins to carefully watch San Francisco citizens' every move.

This is a very interesting book that will make you think about the way technology works in our society and how people feel about the government appearing into their lives after a devastating national attack. Recommended for high schoolers who are self-professed tech-geeks, fans of 1984 by George Orwell, or readers who enjoy thrillers.

Little Brother
By Doctorow, Cory
2008/04 - Tor Classics
9780765319852 Check the Library's Catalog

BookPage Notable Title

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. WHO'S WATCHING BACK? ...More

Follow MGPL Online

Morton Grove Public Library is all over the Internet! You may have noticed a new social media toolbar on the Library's website (http://www.webrary.org). The toolbar includes links to stay in touch with MGPL online.

Become a fan on Facebook and keep updated on upcoming programs, events, and other Library-related news. You can also view pictures, find out which books MGPL librarians love, and maybe even learn things about the Library that you didn't know. If you see something you like, give us a thumbs up or leave a comment! And don't forget to tell all of your friends!!

Subscribe to one, two, or all of our blogs. Just don't forget to subscribe to the Teen Zone blog, so you won't miss a single post!

Watch the Library's videos on YouTube. Keep checking back for more!

View photos from Library events. Don't see yourself? Keep coming to teen programs, and maybe you'll appear in some!

What to Read, What to Read...

Now that classes are out and you have some free time, are you looking for a good book to read? Check out the Teen Book Lists!

There are lists full of recommended books on a variety of genres -- adventure books, mystery & suspense, teen horror. There are recommended reads from other teens -- Abraham Lincoln H.S. Award 2010, STAR Volunteer 2009 Favorites, and TLC's Favorite Books 2009. There's also themed lists -- Books with Bite (vampires and werewolves), Rockin' Reads (music-related), and Twisted Myths (fictionalized mythology).

With all of these lists of recommended reads, you're sure to find something you're interested in. Be sure to come back and post a review if you find and read something great!

Book Review: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

For Valerie Leftman and her fellow high schoolers, life changed drastically on May 2nd. That was the day Nick Levil, Valerie's boyfriend, opened fire on his classmates, killing six and wounding many others before killing himself. Although Valerie had no idea of his plan and was shot herself while trying to stop Nick, everyone believes she was involved because of the "hate list" - a notebook Nick and Valerie kept of names of people who had angered or upset them. Valerie used it as a way to vent her frustrations, but for Nick it was much more.

During the summer, and as she heads into her senior year, Valerie is forced to deal with the physical and emotional pain of recovering. The story of the shooting unfolds for readers through newspaper articles and flashbacks as Valerie attempts to move on. Hate List is a heavy but captivating book. Fans of realistic fiction like Wintergirls, If I Stay, 13 Reasons Why, and Nineteen Minutes should give it a try.



Hate List
By Brown, Jennifer
2009-09 - Little, Brown Young Readers
9780316041447 Check the Library's Catalog

After Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opens fire on their school cafeteria, Val is shot trying to stop him, but is implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. Now, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. …More

Winter Reading Program

Bundle up with a book! The six-week Adult/Teen Winter Reading Program officially begins today! Here's the deal -- sign up, read books or listen to audiobooks checked out from MGPL, and win prizes!

What kind of prizes?

• After 1 book read - 1 entry form for the grand prize drawing
  
• After 3 books read - 1 MGPL coffee mug with spoon or a Dairy Queen coupon for half-off the price of a small blizzard (good at the Niles store) and 1 raffle ticket
• After 6, 9, 12, and 15 books read - 1 entry form for the grand prize drawing
  

You could get up to 6 raffle tickets to win...drumroll, please...an MGPL tote bag filled with a genuine Snuggie and other items to keep you warm this winter! Yep, a Snuggie!
You know you've always wanted one to show off to your friends. So get reading and win!

There are two ways to sign up:

1. Come to the Reference Services Desk. At registration, you'll receive a bookmark with program details and paper quilt squares to write book reviews if you choose.
2. New this year -- register yourself online! Go to TimeToRead.webrary.org and click the Sign Up button in the upper-right hand corner of screen.

Any questions? Visit the Reference Desk, call (847) 929-5101, IM a librarian at MGPL, or send an email to info@webrary.org.

Submit Your Writing

Now that you've spent all month writing for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), you should submit what you wrote! There are lots of great places that are looking for short stories, poems, artwork, etc. from teens like YOU, for teens like YOU to read. Here are just a few...

Teen Ink has a website, print magazine, and books filled with teen writing. You must be between 13 and 19 to submit, and they accept poetry, nonfiction, fiction, opinions, reviews, college essays, artwork or photos, and more. Submissions are always accepted, and they also have contests all the time. The Library has four Teen Ink books, so be sure to check them out.
http://www.teenink.com/



What Matters
By Meyer, Stephanie H.
Editor Meyer, John
Editor Veljkovic, Peggy
2003-04 - Hci Teens
0757300634 Check the Library's Catalog

Through poetry, stories, and photos, teens reveal what matters most in their lives. …More

Young Writer is "the magazine for young people with something to say." They have a website and magazines of writing by teens up to age 18. The website has book reviews, a picture gallery, links, and more.
http://www.young-writer.co.uk/

Teen Reads is a website full of book reviews written by teens. If you're more interested in reviewing others' books than writing your own, you can become a reviewer for the website. You can write your opinions of books you've read and help other teens decide whether or not they should read them.
http://www.teenreads.com/


Good luck!

Book Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

Even if you haven't read the extremely popular YA novel Graceling by Kristin Cashore, you should still check out the new companion novel Fire. It takes place in a slightly different place and time, and only one character from Graceling appears, so you don't have to have read Graceling to understand Fire. The books could be read in any order, but especially for fans of romantic fantasy, they should both be read!

In the novel, Fire is the last human monster, who struggles with the way the world sees her and the way she sees herself. She possesses the ability to control the minds of others, but in the Dells where she lives, war is coming, and even her ability may not be enough to help.

Although Fire started off slowly for me, it did get more interesting up and I finished reading most of it in one day. I highly recommend it for teens who love books like The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.



Fire
By Cashore, Kristin
2009-10 - Dial Books
9780803734616 Check the Library's Catalog

BookPage Notable Title

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the acclaimed "Graceling" has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in the previous book. This story features a girl named Fire, whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. …More

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?

New Books!

Looking for something new to read? A few books that have already gotten a lot of buzz come out TODAY!

Fire by Kristin Cashore

She is the last of her kind... It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to

unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

This fantasy novel is a considered a prequel to Graceling, but you don't have to have read it to pick up Fire.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

You may have read Scott Westerfeld's other books - Uglies, Pretties, Peeps, etc. - but this is a brand-new sci-fi trilogy. The first book, Leviathan, takes place in an alternate 1914 Europe. Fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, on the run from the Clanker Powers who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery, forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn who, disguised as a boy to join the British Air Service, is learning to fly genetically-engineered beasts.

While these two are processing to get out on the shelves asap, be sure to get your hold on them today. And in the meantime, here's a few other new books out recently that you may have missed...

Pop by Gordon Korman

Lonely after a midsummer move to a new town, sixteen-year-old high-school quarterback Marcus Jordan becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker who is great at training him, but whose childish behavior keeps Marcus in hot water.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Libba Bray was well-known for her Victorian-gothic Gemma Doyle trilogy. Her newest novel, Going Bovine, is nothing like her other books. Cameron Smith, a disaffected sixteen year-old who, after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital in an attempt to find a cure.

These (and A LOT more!) are available at the Teen Zone in the library. Stop by and pick them up today! Have you already read any of these? Let me know what you think!

What did you read this summer?

With sooooo many books to choose from--what did you read this summer? Let us know!
Here's what some YA authors read:

Stephenie Meyers: Dreamhunter and Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Neil Gaiman: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas, and Flight by Sherman Alexie

Upcoming Fall Programs

Here is an early look at the Library's fall programs/events for teens. Register now!

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

Teen Library Council (TLC)
Tues., Sept. 8, 6 pm
Tues., Oct. 20, 6 pm
Meet new friends, get involved in fun activities,
tell us what you want to see at the library, and earn
volunteer service hours in the process!

Twilight Series Trivia
Sat., Oct. 24, 2 pm
How much do you know about Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series?
Hang out with your friends and play this trivia game at MGPL!
Registration is required.

Gettin’ Saucy Teen Cooking Class
Thurs., Sept. 10, 6 pm
Thurs., Oct. 8, 6 pm
Learn to make and prepare delicious food!
We only have room for 8 chefs, reserve your spot today!
Registration is required.

Dangles and Bangles
Sat., Sept. 19, 1 pm
Sat., Oct. 10, 3 pm
Bring your friends to the Library to make
chainmaille and beaded jewelry! Instructions
and supplies are provided. For grades 7-12.
Registration is required.

PSP Games and Nintendo DS @ MGPL

MGPL has PSP and Nintendo DS games available for checkout!

All PSP games are in the Teen Zone and Nintendo DS games are located in the Youth Services Department.

Don't see the game you want? Go to the Circulation Desk and make a request!

Park View Teens found in Youth Services!

Three 7th grade boys from Park View were seen Tuesday night playing with the new train table in the Youth Services Department.

Do you know these teens??

WE WANT YOU!

To volunteer at the Library this summer! We're looking for teen volunteers to help with the Summer Reading Program. The 2009 Summer Reading Program begins Monday, June 8th, and ends on Sunday, August, 2nd.

Responsibilities include helping with children's games, listening to children talk about the books they've read, handing out prizes, and some clerical duties.

If that isn't enough to get you motivated, don't forget that volunteering is a great opportunity to fulfill community service credit for college applications, National Honor Society, and/or confirmation requirements.

Besides, all the cool kids are doing it.

Come to the Youth Services Desk on the lower level of the Library and fill out an application. We'll be holding mandatory training sessions for volunteers on Tuesday, May 26th, 7-8pm and Monday, June 1st, 6-7pm.

To register for ONE of these sessions: stop by, call 847-929-5102, or register online. (If you register online during the month of May, don't forget to "Register To Win" a $25 VISA gift card, good anywhere VISA is accepted. And that's pretty much anywhere.)

Got Game?

Let's see how much game you've got! Join us Saturday, May 23 between 2 and 4pm for Teens-only video gaming in the Baxter Room! We'll have Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and other games on the Wii, and we'll be rockin' Rock Band, Guitar Hero and more on the PS2. Bring your friends!

Hey! What are you DIYing this Friday?

As part of the library-wide "Going Green" initiative, we've got a new program coming up: DIYing: Reclaim, Redesign, Recreate! Our first project: make a tote-bag from a T-shirt.  If you have a great T-shirt that you never wear (too small, too big, something weird on the armpits), but has a cool design, bring it to the library this Friday, May 8th @ 4pm and I'll show you how to turn it into a bag you'll use everyday! If you're not sure about using your own T-shirt just yet, come anyway, and I'll show you how it's done using one of ours.

Registration is required. You can register online, by phone (847-929-5101), or in person at either the Adult or Youth Services reference desks. 

If you register online, don't forget to "Register to Win!" one of three $25 gift cards, just for learning about our new calendar system! 

Find a Good Book...

Looking for a new book to read?
Check out the booklists from our Teen Zone webpage!

Click here for books!

The final scores are in!

Here are the results of the 2009 Battle of the Books:



Golf Middle School: 185 points
Old Orchard Junior High: 336 points
Our Lady of Perpetual Help: 434 points
Park View School: 317 points
Plato Academy: 238 points

All who participated should be proud of their efforts. Congratulations to the students of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, our high scoring team for the fourth year running. The students should be aware of the plaque on the wall near the entrance to the Youth Services Department, which will very shortly have a new plate engraved, declaring the O.L.P.H. Book Bombs champions of this season's meets.

Thanks for helping to make this year's Battle of the Books a success!
Want to get started reading next year's books? Click here!

Battle Weekly Score Update

O.L.P.H. (98 points) v. OOJH (88 points)
Golf (55 points) v. OOJH (87 points)
Plato Academy (54 points) v. O.L.P.H. (121 points)

With one team completely finished, and four teams with one more battle left, here are their total scores:
Golf- 120
OOJH- 261
OLPH- 434
Park View- 226
Plato Academy- 192

Only one more week to go!

BoB Weekly Score Update

O.L.P.H. (122 points)( 215 points total)
v.
Golf Middle School (16 points)(65 points total)

We have three battles at the Library next week. Good luck everyone!

Battle of the Books Weekly Score Update

Two new battle scores this week!

Park View (88 points)
v.
O.L.P.H. (93 points)

Golf Middle School (49 points)
v.
Park View (86 points) (226 points total)

Battle of the Books Weekly Score Update

We've had two battles so far. Here are the scores from both:

Park View 52 points
v.
Plato Academy 76 points

Old Orchard Junior High 86 points
v.
Plato Academy 62 points (138 points total)

Great job teams!

Battle of the Books 2009

Battle of the Books for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade has begun! Five schools are competing this year:

Golf Middle School
Old Orchard Junior High
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Park View School
Plato Academy


Keep checking the blog for score updates--they will be updated every week! Want to know what they've been reading? Click here.

Want to see a battle? Every meet is in the Baxter Room at 4:00. The schedule is below--


February 11th
Park View (52 points) v. Plato Academy (72 points)

February 18th
OOJH v. Plato

February 24th
Park View v. O.L.P.H.

February 25th
Golf v. Park View

March 4th
O.L.P.H. v. Golf

March 10th
O.L.P.H. v. OOJH

March 11th
Golf v. OOJH

March 12th
Plato Academy v. O.L.P.H.

March 17th
Park View v. OOJH

March 19th
Plato Academy v. Golf

Homework Help

Need help answering a math problem, or want someone to proofread your paper before you hand it in? Take a look at MGPL's 24 Hour Library Page.
You can:
- download books, audiobooks, and videos to your computer or PDA
- ask a Librarian a question
- use online resources: encyclopedias, reference books, magazines, newspapers, and more
- get live homework help from experts that will give you step by step help!

Get everything done without leaving your house!

Golden Globe Award winners @ the Library

Check out some of these award winning DVDs-

In Bruges
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
The Dark Knight
WALL-E
John Adams

If they are checked out, put a hold on them on our website or let us help you at the Reference Services desk!

January and February Events

Come in and check out these events @ the Library...

Teen Library Council (TLC)
Tues., January 20, 7:00 pm
Tues., February 17, 7:00 pm
Meet new friends, get involved in fun activities, tell us what you want to see at the library, and earn volunteer service hours in the process!

Video Gaming
Mon., February 16, 2-4:00 pm
Play video games on your day off!

Gettin’ Saucy Teen Cooking Class
Thurs., January 29, 5:00 pm
Join us to prepare and eat Italian specialties.

Thurs., February 26, 5:00 pm
Learn to make delicious desserts.
Reg. Req. Call 847-929-5101

Beads for Teens and Chainmaille Jewelry
Sat., January 17, 3:00 pm
Sat., January 31, 1:00 pm
Sat., February 14, 3:00 pm
Sat., February 28, 1:00 pm

Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces…
Come to the Library and make gifts for you,
your friends and family. Supplies and instruction
will be provided.
Reg. Req. Call 847-929-5101