Best Books of 2013

The end of the year brings many "Best of" lists, including lists of the best Teen Fiction titles over the past year. Check out some of the lists below for reading ideas or to see if any of your favorites made the cut:

Amazon's Best Books of 2013
Goodreads Choice Awards 2013
2013 Teenreads.com Reviewers' Picks

Winter Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer your time by helping our Youth Services Department with one of their programs this Winter. Registration is required to volunteer. You can register online at our Calendar of Events.

Montgomery Campus

Saturday, January 4    12:45-2:15 pm

Assist with the Maker Space program

Saturday, January 18    12:45-2:15 pm

Assist with the Maker Space program

Sunday, January 19    12:45-1:45 pm

Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Monday, January 20    1:45-3:45 pm
Assist with the Magic Tree House program

Saturday, January 25    10:45 am-12:15 pm
Assist with the Rockets program

Sunday, January 26    12:45-2:15 pm   
Assist with the UFO Flying Competition

Saturday, February 1    12:45-2:15 pm
Assist with the Maker Space program

Sunday, February 2    12:45-1:45 pm
Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Saturday, February 8    10:45 am-11:45 am
Assist with the Cookie Mouse program

Saturday, February 15    12:45-2:15 pm
Assist with the Maker Space program

Sunday, February 16    12:45-1:45 pm
Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Oswego Campus
Saturday, January 11    12:30-2:15 pm
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Saturday, February 8    12:30-2:15 pm
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Special Location-Plank Jr. High Cafeteria
Saturday, February 1    10:00-11:30 am
Assist with the 'Llama Llama Drama' performance at Plank Jr. High

Fall Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer your time by helping our Youth Services Department with one of their programs this Fall. Registration is required to volunteer. You can register online at our Calendar of Events.

Montgomery Campus
Sunday, September 15    12:45-1:45 pm        
Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Thursday, September 19    6:15-7:30 pm      
Assist with the Kids Create: Rubber Band Bracelet program

Saturday, October 5    1:45-3:45 pm              
Assist with the Make a Mask program

Sunday, October 13    12:45-1:45 pm        
Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Monday, October 14    12:45-2:15 pm      
Assist with the Science with 4-H program

Monday, October 14    2:00-3:30 pm        
Assist with the GPS Fun with 4-H program

Monday., November 4    6:15-7:45 pm          
Assist with the Kids Create: Duct Tape Wallet program

Sunday, November 10    12:45-1:45 pm        
Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Sunday, November 17    12:45-3:15 pm        
Assist with the Brownie Girl Scout program

Sunday, December 8    12:45-1:45 pm          
Assist with the Super Sunday Story & Craft program

Wednesday, December 11    4:45-7:45 pm        
Assist with the Santa Visits the Library program

Wednesday, December 18    6:15-7:30 pm        
Assist with the Kids Create: Fleece Pillow program

Oswego Campus
Saturday, September 14    12:30-2:15 pm      
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Friday, September 20    6:15-7:30 pm          
Assist with the Kids Create: Rubber Band Bracelet program

Thursday, September 26    6:15-7:30 pm      
Assist with the Kids Create: Jr Airplanes program

Saturday, October 12    12:30-2:15 pm        
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Saturday, November 9    12:30-2:15 pm          
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Saturday, December 7    12:30-2:15 pm          
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Free ACT Practice Tests

Kaplan Test Prep is visiting the Montgomery Campus this Summer to provide free ACT Practice Tests to our patrons. Registration is required so be sure to visit our Calendar of Events to sign-up. Check out the dates and times below:

Saturday, July 13th 10 am-12:30 pm

Tuesday, August 6th 5-8:30 pm

Montgomery Campus

Summer Reading 2013: Dig Into Reading!

Join our 2013 Summer Reading Program and win prizes!  Summer Reading starts Saturday, June 1st and it's really easy to participate.

To Enter:
1. Read or listen to 5 books
(Print books, eBooks, graphic novels and audiobooks are all good choices).

2.Submit a print reading log at the Adult Services Desk OR submit your log online
(Print reading logs can be picked up at the Adult Services Desk).

At the end of the summer the library will have a raffle where you can win all kinds of prizes like movie tickets and gift cards!

Summer Reading runs from June 1st to August 4th. To get yourself started with a great book, visit our New Teen Titles page or our Find A Good... page.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Help our Youth Services Department with programs this Summer by volunteering your time! Registration begins 10 days before the event.  To register, visit our Calendar of Events.

Montgomery Campus

Saturday, June 1      10:00-12:30 pm      
Assist with the 'Summer Reading Kick-Off Celebration'

Sunday, June 9         1:45-3:00 pm        
Listen to younger kids read at our 'Reading Buddies' program

Thursday, June 13    2:15-3:45 pm        
Assist with the 'Young Explorers: Make a Fossil' program

Friday, June 21          1:45-3:45 pm        
Assist with the 'All Things Egyptian' program

Sunday, June 23        1:45-3:00 pm      
Listen to younger kids read at our 'Reading Buddies' program

Saturday, July 6         1:45-3:15 pm      
Assist with the 'Kids Create: Make a Terrarium' program

Sunday, July 7            1:45-3:00 pm      
Listen to younger kids read at our 'Reading Buddies' program

Thursday, July 11       2:15-3:45 pm      
Assist with the 'Young Explorers: Archaeology' program

Saturday, July 13        1:45-3:45 pm      
Assist with the 'Meet the Masters: Pollock' program

Sunday, July 21          1:45-3:00 pm      
Listen to younger kids read at our 'Reading Buddies' program

We are also looking for volunteers to come in weekly to assist with our 'Dig Into Science with 4-H' program at the Montgomery Campus. The volunteers must come to the training session. We ask that they be able to attend at least 5 of the 6 regular sessions if they are signing up for the Weekly Volunteer Opportunities.

Tuesday, June 4         9:45-11:00 am      
Mandatory Training Session to assist with 4-H science programs

The 6 sessions will be held at 9:45-11:00 am at the Montgomery Campus on these dates:

Tuesday, June 11
Tuesday, June 18
Tuesday, June 25
Tuesday, July 9
Tuesday, July 16
Tuesday, July 30

Oswego Campus

Tuesday, June 11       1:45-3:15 pm
Assist with the 'Meet the Masters: Calder' program

Thursday, June 13      6:15-7:45 pm
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Thursday, July 25        6:15-7:45 pm
Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Teen Top Ten Nominations 2013

The Teen Top Ten Nominations were just released. This is a teen nominated list sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Readers between the ages of 12 and 18 can start voting for their favorites in August at the Teen Top Ten Website, with the winner of the award to be announced in October.

If you're looking for Summer Reading ideas, try adding a few of these to your list!

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
In a futuristic world, Spinsters are women with the power to weave everything into form, whether it be food, buildings, or peoples' very lives.  Adelice Lewys has this talent, and she is whisked away into a world of luxury and elegance because of it.  Although it is often advertised as the perfect life, it is far from it, as things are never how they seem.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Emma has never really questioned her ability to communicate with fish, her strange violet eyes, or her awkwardness on land, but when her best friend, Chloe, dies in a shark attack and the attractive, mysterious Galen keeps showing up in her life, Emma soon learns that she belongs in a different world - one that is underwater.  In the meantime, Galen, the prince of the Syrena, must learn why Emma seems to not quite fit in with either the humans or the Syrena while battling the strong attraction he feels toward her.  As the relationship between the two develops, they are faced with difficult decisions between duty and desire that could lead to a huge change of Syrena history.

Underworld by Meg Cabot
In the second book of the Abandon series, Pierce Oliviera has been, yet again, kidnapped by John Hayden, the ruler of the Underworld.  However, this time she can't escape, and when she gets a video on her phone predicting her cousin, Alex's, death, Pierce panics and begs John for help.  She will do anything if only he will help her cousin out, including staying with him forever in the Underworld.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
When her evil father, King Leck, dies, Bitterblue is made queen of a kingdom she knows nothing about.  As she struggles to come to terms with both who she is and the legacy her father left the city, Bitterblue tries to discover the secrets of her father's crimes by walking the streets of her own city in disguise.  Filled with struggle, suspense and surprises, will she be able to turn her kingdom into a better place?

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
What really happens at the end of the world?  Cannibals, baggers, people try to sell you - and in this world, sixteen year old Evie is one of the few healthy teen girls.  Evie sets out on a quest to find herself, all the while things heat up between her and Jackson, the troubled bad boy from across the tracks.  She knows life will get even worse as she comes to realize that she isn't like other people.  Luckily or maybe unluckily for her, Jackson is the only one that can help her survive.

Skinny by Donna Cooner
Ever had always wanted to live in a fairy tale, but with 302 lbs weighing her down, it's difficult to achieve.  It's even harder with Skinny, her own private critic, constantly belittling her.  In this inspirational tale, Ever discovers the truth of learning how to overcome and accept the issues that plague her.

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
After being raised her whole life by her fairy godmothers, Mirabelle runs away to the town where they said her parents had died at.  But when she gets there, she starts to notice that this isn't any ordinary town and that the teens that live here are fated to play out the Grimm's fairy tales.  So when Mira finds out that she too has a role to play, it's only a matter of time before her story could lose its happy ending.

Croak by Gina Damico
Lexington "Lex" Battleby is a juvenile delinquent who is sent to her Uncle Mort's after her latest stunt.  Once there, she discovers that she is a Grimm Reaper.  She was born to have the ability to take the souls from the dead bodies and send them to the afterlife.  On the job, she feels the need for justice for the poor people, but they aren't allowed to do anything but transport the souls.  As she deals with this struggle, her limits are tested as she discovers how far she will go to help the souls and herself.

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
For as long as he can remember, Gene's father has always taught him how to keep a low profile so no one can notice that he's different.  He can't run as fast, he can't go outside in the daytime, and he doesn't have a lust for blood.  Gene is human and each day is a battle to keep his secret locked away or be devoured by everyone around him.  When he is chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last few remaining humans, he is thrust into the fight of his life and into the orbit of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible.  Little does he know, she has a few secrets of her own.

172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
When NASA holds a world-wide contest for returning to the moon, no one - not even the three teenage participants - can fathom what is really in store for them up on the airless, empty gray mass.  Or is it truly empty...?  Unbeknownst to them, what they find up there will change not only their lives, but the lives of everyone on Earth.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Dragons and humans have finally achieved peace, and the anniversary celebration is fast approaching.  For Seraphina Dombegh who is half dragon and half human, life is about blending in.  However, a series of events will place her in the path of the Prince Lucian, Captain of the Queen's Guard, and a hunt for a killer determined to start a war.

Wake by Amanda Hocking
Three mysterious girls have just blown into town and everyone has their eyes on them.  Little does everyone know, they also have their eyes on the towns' residences.  Gemma in particular has caught their eyes and they want her.  Little does Gemma know, she's about to be thrown into a situation she might not be able to get out of very easily.

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins
Tilt tells the story of 3 teenagers, all wondering about who they are and how they fit into the world.  One struggles with a teen pregnancy, another deals with AIDS while the last must overcome an abusive relationship.  As things begin to change drastically, with them not in control, all they can do is hang on for the ride.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Sunday loves to write stories, the only problem is that when she reads them aloud, they tend to come true.  So when a frog claiming to be a cursed human comes along, he asks her to do two thins, to read a few stories that won't harm anyone and to kiss him.  What Sunday doesn't know is that if she kisses him, her life will change forever.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Ismae is the daughter of the God of Death.  After a near escape from her arranged marriage to a convent, Ismae is trained in the arts of a handmaiden of Death-assassination.  Sent to the household of a possible traitor, Gavriel, Ismae begins to see glimpses of faults within her convent, and honor in the man she is sent to spy on.  Despite any feelings or doubts, she knows her first duty is to Death, but she has to wonder, what will her duty cost her and the man she is coming to love?

Butter by Erin Jade Lange
Butter is morbidly obese teenager who is sick of being invisible but who doesn't really want to make a splash either.  One day, he's finally pushed over the edge, and he posts a blog about his last meal, the one that he plans will kill him.  This blog post brings him instant popularity, making Butter happy for once in his life.  But Butter knows that his life is still far from perfect, and he must struggle with himself to determine who he will be and what course his life will take.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Fourteen kids deal with terror, fear and love all while trapped inside a supermarket.  They are unable to leave as a monster hailstorm has hit, leading to a variety of disasters, like a chemical weapon spill.  Now they must find a way to escape their town, Monument, and get to safety.

Every Day by David Levithan
A wakes up in a different body every day.  It has always been that way for A and A has rules to live by, like not getting too involved in the person's life.  Then, A meets Rhiannon, the girlfriend of Justin, the boy whose  body he is inhabiting.  Suddenly, none of the rules apply because A has found himself falling for Rhiannon and she won't leave A's mind even after A has left Justin's body.

Son by Lois Lowry
In this new branch of the dystopian story started by The Giver, we follow the life of Claire, a birthmother in Jonas's community.  When Claire gives birth and her baby is taken from her, we see the first signs of emotion from someone other than Jonas in the community.  In this riveting tale about the strength of a mother's love, you'll be whisked through an epic adventure of good vs. evil that explores the concepts of freedom, love and sacrifice.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
Jazz is the son of an infamous serial killer and has witnessed crime scenes from the killer's point of view, so when a body is discovered, Jazz wants to use the skills he knows to help find the killer.  However, he's not just trying to prove to other people that he's not like his father; he's also trying to prove it to himself despite what he already knows.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Echo is a high school girl with "freaky" scars on her arms and no memory of how it happened.  Noah is the high school stoner who uses girls and has no future.  Over the course of their senior year, their lives will intersect in a way they never could have imagined, going through a journey that will prove to them and each other that they are more than what their reputations demand.

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
In a faraway land, civil war is brewing.  To unify his kingdom's divided people, a nobleman named Conner devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him on the throne.  Four orphans are forced to compete for the role, including a defiant and clever boy named Sage.  Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point - he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed.  His rivals have their own agendas as well, so Sage must trust no one and keep his thoughts hidden.  As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of lies unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that may very well prove more dangerous than all the lies taken together.

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult
Delilah is a lonely, straight-A, freshman student who is shunned by nearly everyone at her school except for her punk best friend, Jules.  Her mother pushes her to get out more by making her join the swim team even though she always gets last place.  Her father left her for another family and never visits.  So it's no wonder she would rather spend her days reading.  She finds a fairy tale that she can't stop reading and falls in love with the prince of the story.  Too bad he's not real...or is he?

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
War is brewing and unrest is widespread.  The breaking point is a single incident in the dying nation of Paelsia.  While three kingdoms battle for power, four young people find themselves greatly affected by it as they experience things like betrayal and war.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
In the sequel to Divergent, Tris Prior is safe housing at the Amity compounds with her fellow survivors.  With the whole city at war with itself and Jeannine looking for all the divergent, Tris must learn to embrace her own divergence and understand it, though it might prove a dangerous task.

Immortal City by Scott Speer
The Immortal City, where guardian angels only protect the richest people.  Maddy doesn't quite understand what all the hype on angels is about, but when the most desired angel, Jacks, asks her for help, she finds out more about angels than she ever expected possible.  Soon after, they begin to fall in love, but when someone threatens this love, what will they do about it?

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
A thrilling adventure that captures you and takes you down the supernatural path with a daring girl named Blue, four complicated guys and one life-altering quest involving the search for the Glendower King.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Verity is held captive by the Gestapo in 1943.  She is told to reveal the secrets of the pilot who brought her to France or face the brutal consequences.  As she does this, she weaves a story of an unlikely friendship and the bonds formed by it.  Their tales intertwined form a suspenseful, breathtaking narrative of espionage, hope, horror and friendship.

Spring Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Help our Youth Services Department with programs this Spring.  Registration for each opportunity begins 10 days before the event. To register, visit our Calendar of Events.

Montgomery Campus
Sun., April 21 1:45-3:15 pm
    Assist with the 'Make a Bird Feeder' program
Mon., April 22 6:15-7:15 pm
    Assist with the 'Give Back to the Earth' program
Sun., April 28 1:45-3:15 pm
    Assist with the 'Springtime Tea Party' program
Sat., May 4 1:45-3:45 pm
    Assist with the 'Star Wars Drop-In' program
Sun., May 5 10:00 am-12 pm
    Assist with Summer Reading preparation
Wed., May 8 6:45-8:15 pm
    Assist with the 'Kids Create: Mother's Day Gift' program
Sat., May 11 10:45-11:45 am
    Wear the 'Spot' costume for our 'Spot' program

Oswego Campus
Thur., April 25 6:15-7:45 pm
    Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program
Sun., May 5 10:00 am-12 pm
    Assist with Summer Reading preparation
Thur., May 23 6:15-7:45 pm
    Assist with the 'Construction Challenge' program

Check Out Our Digital Magazines

Have you heard about our magazine service, Zinio? It allows you to read some of your favorite magazines online or on your tablet and smartphone.  There are no holds, so magazines are available all the time and the service is updated regularly, so you'll always have the latest issue at your fingertips. Go to our Zinio page to sign-up!

10 Flower Arrangements for 10 Books

This is a perfect remedy to winter and a reminder that spring is coming soon! Check out this fun post at Epic Reads, which pairs 10 beautiful flower arrangements with 10 YA books! It's hard to pick a favorite.

Lauren Oliver Novella 'Raven' Preview

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive preview of the novella Raven, a short story about the character Raven from Lauren Oliver's Delirium series.  This short story will be included in the book Delirium Stories, which will also feature stories about Hanna and Annabel.  Delirium Stories comes out March 5th, the same day of the final installment of the Delirium series, Requiem.  Check out their preview here.

One Week Left for Winter Reading!

Just one week left to turn in your Winter Reading Logs AND you don't even have to leave your house to do it. If you've read or listened to 5 books since January 2nd, then just submit your list here and be entered into a drawing for all kinds of prizes, like free books and gift cards.

Winter Reading ends February 28th.

Best Fiction for Young Adults 2013

Recently, the Young Adult Library Services Association announced their Best Fiction for Young Adults of 2013.  This is a great list to use if you're looking for a good read, but don't know where to start.  Here's a peek at the top 10, but check out their site for the whole list.

Top 10:

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Greg and Earl are forced to spend time with a classmate recently diagnosed with leukemia. Will their lives change for the better or just stay the same as usual?

The Diviners by Libba Bray
New age, old magic.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Intriguingly, in this world, dragons can transform at will into the body of a human. Part human, part dragon, Seraphina must hide her heritage as the tenuous peace her country has with dragons seems likely to slip away as unknown elements are stirring up trouble that even Seraphina's music can't assuage.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Sunday's child may be able to find her story with the help of a frog.

Every Day by David Levithan
How can love survive if each day you wake up as a different person?

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
Arn is taken from his home by the Khmer Rouge and force to become a child soldier. What will he do to survive?

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick
A chronicle of grief paralleling Finley's silence and immersion in the repetition of basketball with Boy 21's belief that his murdered parents will return from space and take him to the cosmos.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Aristotle and Dante could scarcely be more different, but through the years of growing up, they become more to each other than they ever imagined.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Sargent has been told her whole life that she will kill her true love. She stays away from boys, but when one boy's ghost shows up on the corpse road, which is a promise of death within a year, Blue understands that she can no longer avoid the Raven Boys. When she teams up with them to search for ley lines and lost kings, she knows that something has started and that her life will never be the same.

Code Name Verity Elizabeth Wein
Verity and Maddie are friends working in the war effort. When the Gestapo captures Verity, she trades information for freedom. Meanwhile, Maddie tries to free her. This is their story.

Winter Reading 2013

Warm up with a good book this Winter and win some prizes!  The Winter Reading program is rolling at the library.  This is an easy way to win prizes, like gift certificates to local restaurants and movie theater tickets.  To participate:
1. Read or listen to 5 books
2. Submit a reading log to the Adult Services desk (Print out a log on our Winter Reading page, or pick one up at the Adult Services desk).
3. Repeat

Winter Reading ends February 28th.  See how many logs you can finish!