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!