Renton Library Teen Corner

What You're Reading, volume 5

2010-07-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

An 8th grader at Tillicum Middle School (Bellevue) turned in this book review of Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers:

What is this book about?

"A nanny called Mary Poppins comes to nanny Jane and Michael but basically has magic powers that take them on many adventures."

What did you like/dislike about it?

"I liked this book because I read it after I had seen the movie and I realized how much better it is."

Who would enjoy reading it?

"Those who like fairy tales."

Interested in checking out Mary Poppins? Click on the book jacket to reserve your copy! Don't forget to turn in your book reviews on a "Read 3, Get 1 Free" form to win free books and other prizes. We'll be featuring reviews by and for you on the blog all through the month of July. (If you want to enter but don't want your review published, you can always opt out.)

Happy reading!

What You're Reading, volume 4

2010-07-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

A 6th grader at McKnight Middle School turned in this book review of The Winter of Candy Canes by Debbie Viguie:

What is this book about?
"Candace Thompson applies for a winter job at "The Zone." She qualifies for the job and becomes an elf. A job as an elf sounds easy, but it's not. On the end of her shift one day, 3 little boys attack her and leave. Candace is rushed to the hospital and is badly damaged. As she goes through her wild adventures, she discovers the true meaning of Christmas. For that winter, she is known as Candy Cane."

What did you like/dislike about it?
"I enjoy how Debbie Viguie makes her story so realistic! She puts in perfect details that go with the plot of the story. Now I look forward to reading more of her books."

Who would enjoy reading it?
"I personally think pre-teens or young teenagers would enjoy. They will be able to connect well."

Interested in checking out The Winter of Candy Canes? Click on the book jacket to reserve your copy! Don't forget to turn in your book reviews on a "Read 3, Get 1 Free" form to win free books and other prizes. We'll be featuring reviews by and for you on the blog all through the month of July. (If you want to enter but don't want your review published, you can always opt out.)

Happy reading!

Calling All Manga and Anime Fans!

2010-07-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is our Anime Club day at the Highlands Library!

We are scheduled to watch FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood*, so you aren't going to miss this one! There'll be "sweet sushi," (sweeter than it sounds), manga drawing, origami, and prizes! Plus, anyone who wants to make their Read Flip Win video can have access to the flip video camera. Stop by at 4 p.m. for all the fun.

*DVD selection is always based on whether the UPS truck shows up at the right time and with the right package.

What You're Reading, volume 3

2010-07-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

A 7th grader at St. Anthony School turned in this book review of Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan:

What is this book about?

"When Esperanza's father got murdered by bandits, Esperanza's mother can't afford to stay at their vineyard. So they go away to Californina with servant friends to work in the fields."

What did you like/dislike about it?

"It was a really good book because it told me about what the life of a girl my age had to go through. The book also explained a lot about what she did and what she saw."

Who would enjoy reading it?

"Whoever likes something realistic from a long time ago."

Interested in checking out Esperanza Rising? Click on the book jacket to reserve your copy! Don't forget to turn in your book reviews on a "Read 3, Get 1 Free" form to win free books and other prizes. We'll be featuring reviews by and for you on the blog all through the month of July. (If you want to enter but don't want your review published, you can always opt out.)

Happy reading!

Spoken Word Revolution, Happening Live

2010-07-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

"The initial meeting was magic, my vision was real pleased
I met her on the pasta aisle near the macaroni and cheese.
Despite a dose of intimidation, I moved closer
Her glow was so ultra, I was nervous to approach her.
Was kinda out of practice, hadn't done this in awhile
But much to my astonishment, I was greeted with a smile.
I told her my name is K-Rino, she cut me off flat
She said "What's your real name? Your mama didn't name you that."
---"Solitary Confinement", K-Rino

Join us at the Renton Library, 100 Mill Ave S, this Thursday, July 15, at 2 p.m. for a Hip Hop Poetry Revolution. Bring your lyrics, or create some from the air (or from Google, from wherever). Beats, words, raps, and rhymes. Plus popcorn and soda. Come as you are. This is not your English teacher's poetry.

What You're Reading, volume 2

2010-07-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

A 9th grader at Lindbergh High School turned in this book review of Runaways: Escape to New York by Brian K. Vaughan:

What is this book about?
"This book comic is about 5 superheroes with powers and try to save Earth from being destroyed."

What did you like/dislike about it?
"I liked that the book is also a comic book."

Who would enjoy reading it?
"People who like Marvel Comics."

Interested in checking out Runaways: Escape to New York? Click on the book jacket to reserve your copy! Don't forget to turn in your book reviews on a "Read 3, Get 1 Free" form to win free books and other prizes. We'll be featuring reviews by and for you on the blog all through the month of July. (If you want to enter but don't want your review published, you can always opt out.)

Happy reading!

What You're Reading, volume 1

2010-07-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

A 7th grader at Nelsen Middle school turned in this book review of The Clique by Lisi Harrison:

What is this book about?

"This is about Massie, ruling her clique, who are all rich, popular, and all besties. Along comes Claire, not as rich and lives in Massie's guesthouse, and Massie is in for some unexpected changes in her perfect world."

What did you like/dislike about it?

"I like how Claire and Massie got along in the end, but I do not like the rival between Claire and the clique."

Who would enjoy reading it?

"People who like friendship, fashion, and comedy."

Interested in checking out The Clique? Click on the book jacket to reserve your copy! Don't forget to turn in your book reviews on a "Read 3, Get 1 Free" form to win free books and other prizes. We'll be featuring reviews by and for you on the blog all through the month of July. (If you want to enter but don't want your review published, you can always opt out.)

Happy reading!

We're Getting Spammed

2010-06-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed a few "this comment has been deleted by the blog administrator" remarks in our comments lately. Apparently, our blog has been noticed by some spammers and I've been deleting their comments because I don't think you should get bad ads or links to possible viruses and other nasties from our blog.

What do you think? Do you get spammed on your email/blog/Facebook account? Is my deleting the comments censorship, or just good blog maintenance?

School's...Out...for Summer!

2010-06-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well, almost. Celebrate the end of school and kick off summer reading this Wednesday, June 23rd @ 4:00, with Game On! at the Renton Highlands Library. We'll be debuting our Game Cube (kicking it old school) with Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, and we'll also have DDR, SingStar and more, plus board games and popcorn.

Want to participate in Read, Flip, Win but don't have a video camera or webcam of your own? Come by a couple minutes early or stay late at any of the teen programs at Renton Library or Renton Highlands Library during June or July ready to shoot your video and use ours. Questions? Email the Young Adult Librarian at kebaker@kcls.org.

Read 3, Get 1 Free - Summer Edition!

2010-06-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

This summer, if you are between the ages of 12 and 18 you can earn a free paperback book for every three books you read and review..... plus, you will be entered in a monthly drawing at your library for chance to win the grand prize.... a laptop computer. All entries must be received by August 31 to be eligible for the grand prize drawing, which will be held on September 15.

To get started, download a review form at http://www.kcls.org/teens/2010R3SummerEditionForm.pdf

You must be in Middle, Junior High or High School in September 2010 to participate.

It's an Ad-Venture

2010-06-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Advertisments really are everywhere...even on your backpack! Do flashy ads on your favorite websites bug you? Do we really need ads to read while riding the bus? Check out http://www.admongo.gov/ and go on a real-life adventure to learn what you're being sold and what you can do about it. Or leave a note in the comments telling us about the most annoying ad you've seen lately.

Are You an Otter?

2010-05-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe not that kind. KCLS is launching OTRs, or Online Teen Readers, for those of you who love books but don't have a lot of time to share the love. Chat online with others who share your love of books, hear more about favorite authors, and meet real-live authors at events just for OTRs.

We are launching TOMORROW with a special author visit by Laurie Halse Anderson, who will be visiting the Mercer Island Library via Skype. I know Mercer Island is a bit of a trek for you Rentonites, but this is an author you won't get many chances to meet and registration is still open! Contact the Mercer Island Library for details and to register, and check Facebook or the blog for more OTR information in coming months!

I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree

2010-04-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, young poets! Want to earn CA$H for your creativity? King County Library's Rhyme On! teen poetry contest runs through April 30. Check out http://www.kcls.org/rhymeoncontest/ for all the details.

Not a poet but still feeling the itch of creativity? Renton Libraries' teen zine still needs submissions of *your* artwork, comics, song lyrics, short stories, and other kinds of literary rambling. Bring your creations (a clean photocopy is fine) to either the Renton or Renton Highlands Library to turn them in. We'll be putting together our inagural edition during this summer's summer reading program, so stay tuned!

Teen Tuesday

2010-03-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hope you're all planning to join us

Tuesday, March 30th

for Teen Tuesday! We'll have video games, snacks, and as always, free prizes just for stopping by.

Teen Tuesdays are the last Tuesday of every month at the Highlands Library.

Renton Highlands Library

2702 NE 12th St

Renton, WA 98056

(425) 430-6790

Teen Tuesday Tomorrow!

2010-02-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Stop by the Highlands Library tomorrow for Teen Tuesday @ 3:00! We'll be watching the anime series Negima!? and eating Japanese snacks and goodies. There will be prizes from the (infamous) prize box, and plenty of down time to hang out and chat, so bring your friends!

Your Young Adult Librarian Recommends.....

2010-02-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (YA DASHNER)
For those of you who really enjoyed Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, and are biting your nails in anticipation of the next installment due this August, here's another nail-biter that will hold you over in the meantime, and offer some new and different excitement.

Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up, with no memory, in the middle of an unfamiliar place called the Glade--a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls and a vast maze. Just like Thomas, the other Gladers don't know why or how they got there. Thomas must find his role in the community and do what he can to keep himself and the others alive in this seemingly utopian but ultimately treacherous environment.

Rick Riordan Audio Jukebox

2010-02-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

If you are on the wait list for the next installment in the Percy Jackson series, you might like listening to an audiobook of it instead. Try them out ahead of time by listening to clips of each of the books here.

Teen Reads' Grab Bag of Books Contest!

2010-02-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

Teen Reads is offering another contest for a chance to win a Grab Bag of Books, which includes a signature tote bag! Stop by the Teen Reads site and enter their brief contest form to win goodies! The deadline is February 10th.

Write! Create! Get Published!

2010-02-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

Now is your chance to see yourself in print! Artists and authors in 6th through 12th grades are encouraged to submit items for publication in Renton Library’s new Teen Magazine!**

Send your submissions* (including original poems, stories, artwork, song lyrics, reviews, comic strips, personal ponderings, and more) to the Young Adult Librarian or turn them in at the Children's Desk or Information Desk!

*Submissions should include your name, grade, and contact phone number or e-mail address.

**We're also looking for a title for our Literary Mag. If you have ideas for a creative or catchy title, e-mail them to the Young Adult Librarian.

The 2010 Book Award Winners are Announced!

2010-01-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

The American Library Association has announced the winners of the 2010 book awards for kids and teens. Here are the results for Young Adult books. Check one out today!

YALSA Printz Award Winner

Going Bovine by Libba Bray
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..

Printz Honor Books

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

Newbery Medal Winner

When You Reach Me, written by Rebecca Stead

As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

Newbery Honor Books

Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

2010 Morris Award (honoring a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens)

Flash Burnout written by L.K. Madigan
In a tangle of life and death, love and loyalty, 15-year-old Blake emerges with a more sharply defined snapshot of himself.

Teen Tuesdays

2010-01-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

The last Tuesday of every month is "teen Tuesday" at the Highlands library! Middle and high schoolers can stop by for fun stuff like video games, movies, art, contests, prizes, and always free snacks!

Q: Why have teen Tuesdays?
A: For fun! Teen Tuesdays are a chance for teens to hang out, bring friends, get free stuff, and find out what kind of cool stuff your library offers.

Q: Who can come?
A: Anyone! Any teen middle or high school-aged (even if you go to school somewhere else or are homeschooled) is welcome, so bring your friends!

Q: What do you do?
A: Different things each month, but in the past we have played video games, watched anime movies, made cool art projects out of duct tape and dye, and just hung out. Oh, yeah, and there are always free snacks and prizes just for stopping by!

Upcoming Teen Tuesdays:
Tuesday, January 26, 3-4:30 p.m.
Video games! Stop by for Guitar Hero, DDR, SingStar (pop), and maybe a surprise game or two. Oh, yeah, and chocolate bingo.

Tuesday, February 23, 3-4:30 p.m.
Anime club! We will watch Japanese anime-style cartoons (rated TVPG), fold origami, draw manga, and eat real Japanese snacks and treats (they're tasty).

Questions about teen Tuesday? Email kbaker@rentonwa.gov. See you there!

Readergirlz' Latest Live Chat

2010-01-06T16:10:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Wednesday, January 6th begining at 6 PM PST, chat live with Young Adult author Beth Kephart, author of Nothing But Ghosts at the readergirlz blog!

THEN.....on January 20th, at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, you can chat live with E. Lockhart, author of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, and several other great young adult books. That will also be on the Readergirlz blog.

Read to Vote!

2010-01-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

Voting is a great way to express your opinion. You may not be quite ready to vote in an election just yet, but there are still opportunities out there for you to express your opinion. Every year, the Pacific Northwest Library Association provides an opportunity for you to vote on your favorite book from a list of nominated titles. Although the voting doesn't start until March, there's no time like the present to get start reading the nominees.

Read at least two books in your grade category, and then vote for your favorite title between March 15th and April 15, 2010. You may have even read some of them already.!

This year's nominees are:
Junior Division (Grades 4 to 6)The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal by Jeff Kinney
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Igraine the Brave – Cornelia Funke
Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Marley: a Dog Like No Other by John Grogan
Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
No Talking – Andrew Clements

Middle Division (Grades 7 to 9)
Alchemyst: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Zen And The Art Of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick
Peak- by Roland Smith
Plain Janes by Cecil Castelucci
Schooled by Gordon Korman
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landry

Senior Division (Grades 10 to 12)
Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney
Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Drop in at the Library This Saturday for Game Days!

2009-12-30T11:02:00.001-08:00

OK....you've been sitting around like a slug over the holiday break, haven't you? Well, here's your chance to get moving and have some fun. Stop by the Renton Downtown branch this Saturday, January 2nd for Game Days from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. We'll have Dance Dance Revolution, High School Musical karaoke, Guitar Hero, and board games. Come on, it's time to get off the couch and work off some steam at the library. Oh, and maybe check out a book or audiobook too.

Teen Tuesdays Go Big

2009-12-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

Sure, winter break is great...but what about that slow week after Christmas? Stop by the Highlands Library Tuesday the 29th for a Bigger & Better Winter Break Teen Tuesday!

Make your friends stars with your own cartoons. Make expansive art. Eat Bigger & Better holiday treats! Play SingStar, DDR, and Guitar Hero and take home free stuff!!

Teen Tuesdays are the last Tuesday of every month, 3-4:30 at the Highlands Library, and are always for teens only.
(image is courtesy of freeimages.co.uk)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2009-12-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

It's the day of the Reaping, an annual ritual in Panem, a futuristic world where hunger and starvation are the norm. Every youth between the ages of 12 and 18 from all 12 districts await the verdict. One boy and 1 girl will be selected from each district to participate in the Hunger Games, twenty-four in all. They will be trained for a week, with abundant food, exercise and clothing. And at the end of the week, they will be placed in the arena, where they will be observed by millions on live TV as they are forced to fight to the death.

16-year-old Katniss is used to hunting for food since she secretly poaches meat back home to feed her family, and to barter with at the market. So when her younger sister’s name is called to be a participant in the Reaping, Katniss steps forward to take her place. In another world, Katniss and the other participants might have been friends. Some might have even been more. But in the world of the Hunger Games, there can only be one winner, and that is the only person left alive.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

2009-12-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

It is the near-future where advances in biotechnology have made it possible to create synthetic body parts and even brains that behave just like human tissue. But it is still a controversial and very illegal practice. Jenna Fox has just woken up after a year in a coma, and the world she wakes up to is completely unfamiliar to her. Slowly a few memories begin to return, and not only her own memories, but she can recite Thoreau and the details of obscure events in history as though she pulled them out of a textbook, and she can even remember things that happened when she was only a year old. But she can't seem to remember the car accident or what happened to her friends Kara and Locke who were in the car. As her memories begin to return, Jenna begins to make some very disturbing discoveries about her existence, and even her own humanity. Is she real, or is she something else?

The Giving Season......Renton Library's Mitten Tree

2009-12-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hey Teens! How would you like to do something meaningful for others this holiday season? Between December 1st and December 31st, you can decorate the library's first Annual Mitten Tree with mittens, hats, scarves, socks, and other warm fuzzy things. Items donated will benefit mothers and children of the YWCA of Renton.

You might even try your hand at knitting some things yourself. The library has some great books on knitting.

Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Patterns by Shannon Okey

Knitgrrl 2: Learn to Knit with 16 All-New Patterns by Shannon Okey

Win a Basket of Books from Teen Reads!

2009-11-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the season with Teenreads.com's Fourth Annual Holiday Basket of Cheer contest! You have until December 10th to enter to win a "Basket of Holiday Reading and Fun," including 10 great books and holiday-themed prizes like chocolate and warm, fuzzy things!

Having trouble finding time to read…..try an audiobook!

2009-11-23T19:53:00.001-08:00

No one disputes the fact that teens have very little free time to read. Who does these days? So I want to let you in on a little secret that many adults have already discovered…….audiobooks. The Renton Libraries have a terrific selection of young adult audiobooks read by some really fantastic performers, oftentimes actors.

Audiobooks may not be for everyone, but if you haven’t tried one, you may be missing out on a really cool entertainment experience. And the beauty of audiobooks is that you can listen to them while you’re doing almost anything, like riding the bus, driving, or just messin’ around.

Here’s a list of some of my favorites:

Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, seventeen-year-old Jenna, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence.

The Immortals trilogy by Cassandra Clare
Werewolves, vampires, fairies, and a very handsome but tortured angel....what more could you ask for?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In a future where food is in very short supply, sixteen-year-old Katniss's survival skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games, a televised competition and fight to the death.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who has also been watching her.

Feed by M.T. Anderson
This story is set in a futuristic world where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment. Titus never questions the coolness of his feed even after he meets Violet, a beautiful, intelligent girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorize human thoughts and desires. What's great about this audiobook is that the commercials are performed as if the listener has his very own feed......Sinister!

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (performed by a full cast)
In a land where a person's soul is in the form of an animal companion, Lyra and her daemon Pan must set on on a mission to find out who is killing children's daemon's (and thus their souls) and to find the secret of "dust."

The Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett
A young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Percy Jackson and the Young Olympians series by Rick Riordan
After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
After fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live."

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
In a diary, sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

You can find these and other audiobooks in the YA section of the Renton Libraries, or you can place a hold on them in the library catalog using your Renton library card.

Teen Tuesday Goes Retro

2009-11-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ready to go back in time? This Tuesday, November 24, go wayyy back...to the 1980s!

Play Frogger, the ORIGINAL Super Mario Bros., PONG, and more. As always, there will also be free snacks and prizes. Bonus points for wearing your retro '80s gear.

Teen Tuesdays are the last Tuesday of EVERY month from 3-4:30 at the Highlands library. They are always free and always for middle and high schoolers only, so see you there!

(the "joystick hand" is courtesy of freeimages.co.uk)

RPL Young Writers Group

2009-11-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

Our next meeting will be this Thursday, November 19th from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. In the meantime, don't forget to write.

In light of the Holiday-itis with which we are undoubtably all beginning to suffer, for this week's workshop we will just plan to kick back and have fun with word games and warm-ups. Scrabble anyone? Hope to see you there!

Are you up for the challenge?

2009-10-31T17:05:00.000-07:00

Challenge yourself, and even challenge your friends! Can you write a novel in 1 month?

November is National Novel Writing Month, an annual challenge to writers to complete an entire novel in 1 month (November 1st to 30th). Take some time out this month from the demands of school and life and exercise your your creative thinking abilities.

More info on NaNoWriMo's Young Writers program can be found at http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/.

The 2009 Teens' Top Ten Picks Are In!

2009-10-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

More than 11,000 teen voted across the United States between Aug. 24 through Sept. 18 for the Teens Top Ten Books of 2009. The winners were announced during Teen Read Week by WWE Divas Brie Bella and Nikki Bella, with a special appearance by John Green. See the video here!

And the number 1 top pick as chosen by teens? Paper Towns by John Green! Find out why teens thought these were so great. Check them all out at the Renton Library.

Paper Towns by John Green
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Wake by Lisa McMann
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Read Beyond Reality - Teen Read Week 2009

2009-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

October once again means it’s time for Teen Read Week October 18th to 24th! Stop by the Renton Main Branch or Highlands Branch, and check out some books and audiobooks that will change your world.

Here are some suggested titles that are TOTALLY beyond reality....and super fun. You can find any of these in the Young Adult area. Check 'em out!

Evernight by Claudia Gray
The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
Zombie Blondes by Brian James
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jne Austen)
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schrieber
Demon Chick by Marilyn Kaye
Hollow Kingdom by Clare Dunkle
Shiver by Meggie Stiefvater
Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Roar by Emma Clayton
Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill
Need by Carrie Jones
Gone by Michael Grant
Wake by Lisa McMann
Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Kin by Holly Black

Teen Tuesday at the Highlands Library Goes Spooky

2009-10-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

Ready for Halloween? Stop by the Highlands library next Tuesday the 27th after school (3-4:30 p.m.) for some *slightly spooky* (rated TVPG) anime, free snacks, and prizes. Oh, yeah, and Halloween costumes are always welcome...shall we have a contest?

Featured New YA Book!

2009-10-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Forest Born by Shannon Hale
It's finally here! The 4th book in the Books of Bayern series by the Newbery Honor-winning author of Goose Girl and Princess Academy!
When her beloved forest no longer gives her comfort and her brother Razo invites her to the city to be one of Queen Ani's waiting women, young Rinna happily accepts. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies--magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters--as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead.

TTYL - Teen Review (with possible spoiler)

2009-10-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Review by Natalie Stembridge

"I read this book and thought it was pretty good. I did not like how the boy dumps Maddie, but it was a great thing to learn about tenth grade.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Read it! Review it!

2009-09-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

Read a good book lately? Your librarians would love to hear about it, and so would other teens. Send your fiction or non-fiction book review to the Teen Librarian, and it could get posted here on the Library's teen Blog!

If you decide to send us a review, please include the following:

Book's Title
Author
A brief summary of the plot (tell us what it was about, but don't give away any spoilers)
Describe what you liked about the book and why you liked it.

Try a Great Book!

2009-09-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry (YA BERRY)
When Lucinda Chapdelaine was five years old, her parents left for the royal ball, and never returned. Since that time Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude in her evil aunt’s jewelry store until the day when a mysterious visitor, a rare and beautiful piece of jewelry, and a handsome prince all enter her aunt’s shop setting in motion a series of events that will forever change Lucinda’s life. If you're looking for a great historical fantasy (with occasional nods to the Cinderella fairytale throughout), a spunky heroine and a well-developed plot, you will thoroughly enjoy this story.

2009-09-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Teen Tuesday at the Highlands Library

Last Tuesdays are teen days at the Highlands Library!

Does the start of school make you want to curl up and dye? Thinking about Halloween or just need some flair? Bring your white socks, shirts, scarves, and hairbands to the Highlands Library on September 29th @ 3 p.m. for tie dyeing. Plan on some pretty random colors, or leave your suggestions in the comments. While waiting for your masterpiece to soak, play Guitar Hero, Sing Star Pop Star, and other games and eat free snacks. Teen Tuesdays are always for middle and high schoolers only, so see you there!

Be a Rebel - Read a Challenged Book!

2009-09-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

This week's Teen Advisory Board group had a very productive discussion about Banned Books Week (September 26 to October 3, 2009). Every year, the American Library Association compiles a top-ten list of the 10 most challenged books of the previous year. Books face challenges every day by individuals or groups who feel the contents are objectionable in some way. These individuals often request that the materials be removed from library collections, making them unavailable to everyone. Most of the books featured during Banned Books Week were not successfully banned from library shelves due to the efforts of librarians and library boards to maintain them in their collections.

Here is the list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2007 - 2008:

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell - Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman - Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle - Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz - Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya - Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky - Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar - Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen - Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini - Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper - Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

During Banned Books Week, stop by the public library, and celebrate your freedom to read by picking out a challenged book.

We're on Facebook!

2009-09-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

Renton Library has a Facebook page! If you're on Facebook, become a fan of the Renton library. You can find us by searching "Renton Public Library" within the Facebook page.

Check Out a Cool Trailer for the upcoming book "Hush, Hush"!

2009-09-11T11:33:00.001-07:00

OK, for those of you who insist that books are boring, you might think differenly after watching this clip for Becca Fitzpatrick's debut YA novel, Hush, Hush coming out soon.

Click on the link at the left to check it out and enjoy....

The book is on order for the library so you can already place a hold on it in the library catalog.

Imagine! Create! Participate!

2009-09-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

Young Writers' Group @ Renton Main Branch
If you enjoy expressing yourself through the written word, then this is the group for you!

The library's new Young Writers' Group is a great way to share your writing, learn some new creative writing techniques, and build your creative portfolio in a relaxed, supportive setting.

Our first meeting will will be at the Main Branch on Thursday, September 24th from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.

If you're interested, you can sign up at the Children’s Reference Desk or Information Desk, or E-mail the Librarian or call 425-430-6610.

Teen Summer Reading Winners Are Announced!

2009-09-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

The drawing was held, and the Teen Summer Reading winners are in!

Grand Prize (4 GB Ipod Shuffle) - Kevin Malley, Grade 6

2 x $20.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Cards awarded to Ashley Wallace, Grade 6 and Marissa Madayag, Grade 9

Congratulations to the prize winners and to all those who finished the summer reading program this year!

Renton and Highlands Libraries would like to give a very special THANK YOU to Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes (900 S 3rd St # A, Renton, WA 98057, 425-235-1717) for their very generous sponsorship this summer. They gave a a free cupcake to every finisher of both the Children's and Teen Summer Reading programs making finishing extra sweet!

Teens Get to Vote Too!!!!

2009-08-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Those of you in grades 6 to 12 get a say in the annual Top 10 [Book] Picks for Teens. All you have to do is read a few of the nominated YA books (You've probably done that this summer, right?) and then Vote for Your Top Three Favorites at

Voting is open Aug. 24 through Sept. 18, 2009. Winners will be announced in a webcast at http://www.ala.org/teenstopten during Teen Read Week, Oct. 18-24.

2009 YA Fiction Nominees:
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Truancy by Isamu Fukui
Truancy: Origins by Isamu Fukui
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Paper Towns by John Green
Runemarks by Joanne Harris
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott
Wake by Lisa McMann
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Bloodline by Katy Moran
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Geek Charming by Robin Palmer
Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

You can place any of these books on hold with your Renton Library Card at http://hip.rentonwa.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=home#focus

Happy Reading!!!

What's Happening for Teens at RPL?

2009-08-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Teen Advisory Board
Main Branch
(Grades 6 to 12)
Exercise your creativity and develop leadership skills while socializing with other teens, and participating in fun activities. Snacks and drinks are free!

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

Thursday, September 17th, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 15th, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Libraries Aren't Just for Books Anymore

2009-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Sure, libraries are still a great place to go to find books for fun and leisure, personal enrichment, and learning new things. But did you know that libraries offer other great resources as well? No, not DVD's.....well, yes, we have lots of those too, but that's not what I meant. In fact, you don't even have to go into the building to check out some of the great information available through your public library.

I'm talking about Library Databases. What's a database you may ask? Well, allow me to introduce you. Library databases provide access to magazine, newpaper, and research articles online, many in full text, right at your fingertips! No more wading through evil microfische or Microfilm! These are subscription-based services, available for free to anyone with a current library card. You can find biographies, current events, science research, and more. And the best thing is, the information is CURRENT and RELIABLE, not always the case on the World Wide Web.

Next time you have to do research for a school report, just get out your library card and take a look the Renton Library's Online Databases.

Award Winning Titles at Renton Libraries

2009-08-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how librarians spend their free time? Probably not. Well, perhaps you've wondered how all those award-winning books get selected every year? Well, the answer to both those questions is: Librarians READ them of course. Now, there are a lot of books published every year, hundreds of thousands in fact. That's a lot of books to get through. So librarians like to talk with one another about the great books they're reading, then they team up and form committees, go to national conferences, and vote on the best of the best. How's that for Democracy?

Now you can virtually drop by Renton Library's handy new Award Winners Webpage featuring links to all the great award winners, both current and past, and then check one out from the Renton Library. You'll also find the nominees for the upcoming Young Readers Choice and Sasquatch Awards. Happy Reading!

Teen Game Days at Renton Libraries! - Summer Finale

2009-08-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

Renton Highlands Branch - Tuesday, August 25th, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Renton Main Branch - Thursday, August 27th, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. -

Stop by the one of the Renton Libraries the last week of August to play Guitar Hero2 - Aerosmith, Dance Dance Revolution, board games, High School Musical karaoke, eat snacks, create some artwork, and generally have fun.

Visit With a Critter at the Renton Main Branch

2009-08-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

“Max” is visiting the Renton Public Library, and he’s bringing all his furry friends!
The Seattle Humane Society’s bright yellow, 38-foot mobile adoption and education unit will be loaded up with dogs, cats, and even a few critters – all available for on-the-spot adoption.

WHAT: MaxMobile Visits Renton
WHERE: Renton Public Library Main Branch
WHEN: Tuesday, August 18th, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
WHY: Adorable animals available for adoption, or even just a cuddle with a warm, furry human!

Be sure to check with your parents before you head out, especially if you're hoping to bring anybody home. Remember, animals are a really big responsibility (food, vet bills, little wanted "presents" around the house, etc.) and require a big committment. Find out more at the Max Mobile.

Teens Love Polls, Right?!!!

2009-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Here's one about your library at http://allaboutrenton.wordpress.com/

Calling All Engineers of the Future!

2009-08-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

The National Engineers Week Foundations' 2009-2010 Future City Competition invites all seventh and eighth grade students in the United States to create cities of the future. The theme this year is "Providing an Affordable Living Space for People Who Have Lost Their Home Due to a Disaster or Financial Emergency." Contestants will first design a model of their city using SimCity 4 Deluxe software, and follow it up with a physical model using recycled materials and a research essay about it. The best part is, it's your chance at winning scholarships and travel!

For more information, visit http://www.futurecity.org/competition.shtm

There's Still Time to Win Prizes!

2009-07-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

Great News! There's still another month left of summer! And that means you still have time to check out some great books from the library, and complete your summer reading log. If you haven't picked one up yet, teen reading logs are still available at the Renton Main and Highlands Branches. You can also turn in reviews and tell us what you liked or didn't like this summer! Stay cool with some terrific summer reads!

Here's a list of some new and/or very hot titles to get you started. Check them out at the Renton Libraries.

Hotlanta by Denene Millner
Living a privileged life in Atlanta, wealthy and beautiful African American twin sisters, Sydney and Lauren, must deal with family secrets and scandal when their father is released from prison.

Graceling by Kristin CashoreIn a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

Suck It Up! by Brian Meehl
After graduating from the International Vampire League, a scrawny, teenaged vampire named Morning is given the chance to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a superhero when he embarks on a League mission to become the first vampire to reveal his identity to humans and to demonstrate how peacefully-evolved, blood-substitute-drinking vampires can use their powers to help humanity.

Gone by Michael Grant
In a small town on the coast of California, everyone over the age of fourteen suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between the remaining town residents and the students from a local private school, as well as those who have "The Power" and are able to perform supernatural feats and those who do not.

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey
In alternate chapters, Sadima travels from her farm home to the city and becomes assistant to a heartless man who is trying to restore knowledge of magic to the world, and a group of boys fights to survive in the academy that has resulted from his efforts.

The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd
In 2015, when England becomes the first nation to introduce carbon dioxide rationing in a drastic bid to combat climate change, sixteen-year-old Laura documents the first year of rationing as her family spirals out of control. Told in short diary entries filled with scrapbook clippings, this riveting ecothriller is one girl's attempt to stay grounded in a world where disaster has become the norm.

Teen Altered Book Craft at Renton Main Branch

2009-07-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 6th

You’d be surprised at what you can do with an old book. Using recycled library books, we will make original works of art or create a “new” book for a journal or sketchbook. All craft materials and tools will be provided. Call to Register: 425-430-6825.

Teen Tuesdays at the Highlands Library

2009-07-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 28th, 3:00 to 5:00p.m. - Highlands Library
This week, stop by the Highlands Library for our first ever Anime Party! Watch anime, show us your moves in Dance Dance Revolution, draw manga, try your hand at origami, and make your very own candy sushi. Oh, yeah, and did we mention there will be free snacks and prizes, too!

Tell Us What You Think!

2009-07-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

The City of Renton is considering a ballot measure to propose annexing the Renton Library System to the King County Library System. Now is your chance to have a say, and to actually have your voice heard! Take the survey, and then tell your parents to take it too! http://www.surveymonkey.com/rentonlibrarysurvey.

Strange Mad Libs

2009-07-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

Sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon, you'd think I'd have better things to do than play on the Internet. Well, actually I do, but since I'm reading the new Emily the Strange novel, The Lost Days, I got it in my head to check out her Website (http://www.emilystrange.com/) and wandered onto her strange Badlibs. Here's what I came up with:

"A LAB EXPERIMENT GONE HORRIBLY WRONG" A badlib by Jessica Marie.
"HORNK! GASPLUSH! BAKLOOIE! Terrible sounds poured from the Oddisee as Emily frantically pushed buttons and pulled levers, trying to find out what had gone so horribly wrong. She was in the final stages of a very important experiment to create a brand-new type of stalking cat. But unfortunately, it looked like she had created a hellish mutant sweet tortoise, instead! “I don’t get it,” Emily said out loud, while her faithful lab assistant and cat friend Mystery listened. “All I did was take some DNA from my big toe, add a little hairball and a cup of berry juice (you know, the stuff Johnny Depp drinks?) and mix it all in a beaker. My data shows that this should work! Mystery, where did I go wrong?” Mystery scooted loudly, then meowed into the microphone of the Oddisee. Her thoughts were translated on the screen: “bleedin' bimbo!! I mean, normally you’re pretty smart for a human, but today you acted like a big idiot. What made you think you should get DNA from your big toe? It should have come from your butt cheek! Also, I really think you should have used candy instead of hairballs - it ALWAYS makes my experiments much more interesting! And finally – I recommend blood instead of berry juice. I don’t care if Johnny Depp drinks a gallon of that stuff a day, it just doesn’t make a good stalking cat!” Emily slapped her earlobe and sighed. “You’re right, Mystery. You’re always right.” Then, turning some dials and fiddling with some ipods, she tried to end the experiment. But – fudgerola!-- it was TOO LATE! The hellish mutant sweet tortoise had escaped, and was running around the lab, breaking beakers everywhere. The last thing Emily saw was its huge, piehole mouth opening wide – and then, the total darkness of the inside of its eyeball. “HELP! MYSTERY! GET ME OUT OF HERE!” she yelled as loudly as she could. But all she could hear, from her prison inside the monster, was the sound of one cat laughing...

Even More Book Recommendations!

2009-06-08T09:59:00.001-07:00

After another busy week of visiting schools, here are a few more books we showed off in classes...just some of the fun titles you can grab to start your summer reading. Don't forget that you can put these on hold from home by visiting the library catalog or in person at either library branch.

Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go by Dale E. Bayse

Milton is a good kid...honest!! So why is he doomed to this place where even the boogeyperson doesn't think he belongs for all eternity...or until he turns 18...whichever happens first?

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz just turned 13 and his present was...a bag of sand. Some inheritance! But then suddenly everyone is after it...and it may be more valuable than he thought. He's off on a dangerous mission...to the public library? But watch out for dinosaurs. And sharks. And lots of other stuff those evil librarians have been hiding.

Hip Hop: A Short History by Rosa Waters
How far back to you think hip hop goes? A little history, and a few favorite stars in this quick read.

Teen Zone: Astrology by Jackie Barrow

Draw your own personal chart based on the time and place you were born and get an absolutely personal horoscope!

Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost

Warning: There is a big dragon in this book who will eat all of your candy if he is not stopped! Read the exciting story, and learn to draw one of your own in this all-cartooning adventure.

Renton Librarian Recommendations

2009-05-29T15:54:00.001-07:00

Kris and Jessica have been busily visiting schools to talk about summer reading, and along the way we've been sharing some fun and interesting books with everyone. In case you were enticed but can't remember the titles, here's a list of some of the books we've been sharing . You can place holds on them by visiting the Renton Library Catalog, and be sure to have your library card handy.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

In Tally's world, everybody gets to be supermodel pretty once they turn 16. But is that really as great as it sounds?

Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems by John Grandits

Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits

Guinness World Records to the Extreme

Observe some of the worst jobs in the world as well as some other pretty amazing (or disgusting) things.

An Artists America by Michael Albert

Check out the amazing artwork that can be made with everyday objects like cereal boxes and Campbell soup labels.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Travel to Elsewhere where everyone goes after they die and then ages backwards until they are reborn and sent back to earth to live a new life.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Travel into a distant future where hunger and starvation are just around the corner. 16-year-old Katniss volunteers to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised survival contest in which the winner is the last person left alive.

Acceleration by Graham McNamee

Can Duncan and his 2 sidekicks stop a potential serial killer before he becomes an ACTUAL one?

Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

14-year-old Giannine is stuck in a virtual reality adventure game in which the only way out is to win the game or die for real.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's...a Librarian?

2009-05-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

It's springtime here in...um...rainy Renton. For us in library land, this means we are getting ready to head to schools to talk about summer reading and all the great stuff we've got going on at the Main and Highlands Renton Libraries after school gets out. You may just catch a glimpse of a librarian in your school sometime in May or June, but if you miss us stop by and ask about summer reading. You aren't going to want to miss your chance to make stuff, watch stuff, play stuff, read, and, oh yeah, win free prizes. Happy spring!

This "wild woman librarian" image is courtesy of library_mistress and used with permission through Flickr's Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons

Renton Teens Expressed Themselves!

2009-04-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

We have the winners of the 2009 Express Yourself Teen Art Contest!

Charlie Jones, Grade 8 - 1st Place in the category of "Painting or Drawing"

Sydney Towne, Grade 11 - 1st Place in the category of "Sculpture"

Sarah Campbell, Grade 7 - 2nd Place in the category of "Painting or Drawing"

Winners received gift cards to Barnes and Noble.

Teen Book Review

2009-04-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Book: Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques

Reviewed by Sarah Campbell, Grade 7

Ben is a galley boy on [a ship called] the Flying Dutchman. Ned, the black labrador, is his best friend. Ben and Ned can magically communicate with one another. After the ship was cursed to sail forever, Ben and ned are swept overboard and meet a kindly old shephard. When they were swept overboard an angel told them they would roam the earth doing good and helping others. One night the shephard dies, and Ben and Ned move on. But that was 200 years ago. Now the pair are in a little town called Chapelvale where they have to find the town's deed before the town is destroyed. This is a race against time to save the town with the help of Jon, Amy, Alex, and Mrs. Wihn.

I give this book 5 Stars....It was Great!

Teen Book Review

2009-04-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Book: Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher

Reviewed by Mary Powell, Grade 12

This book was about a girl named Hannah Baker who explains 13 reasons for killing herself, and a boy named Clay Jensen who is trying to figure out why he's on the tapes she left behind. Although he wants nothing to do with them, he listens to the tapes anyway. I recommend this book to anyone especially to those who like mysterious stories. I loved it and would read it again anytime.

The YRCA Winners Are Announced!

2009-04-17T13:32:00.001-07:00

You voted, and here are the winners of the Pacific Northwest Library Association's Young Reader's Choice Awards!

Junior Division (4th-6th Grade)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo

Intermediate Division (7th-9th Grade)

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

Senior Division (10th to 12th Grade)
New Moon by Stephene Meyer

You can place holds on any or all of these in the Renton Library Catalog

If you didn't get a chance to vote on your favorite book for 2009, maybe you'd like to get a head start by reading the nominees for 2010. They are available on the Pacific Northwest Library Association's Young Reader's Choice Awards Webpage.

New Teen Book Group at Renton Main Branch!

2009-03-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

A book club is an awesome way to get together with friends, to meet new friends, and explore amazing books together. If you're interested in joining the Teen Book Group at Renton Main Branch, contact the Young Adult Librarian or come to our next Teen Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, April 9th from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. when we'll be selecting the first book.

"Express Yourself" Through Art at Renton Public Library

2009-03-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Renton Public Library's Teen Advisory Board invites you to submit original artwork for our first ever Teen Art Contest.

Art Categories:

Collage

Computer Graphics

Sculpture

Comic or manga

Painting or Drawing

Submissions Guidelines:

Entrant must be in 6th to 12th grade
Entrant must be a Renton Library cardholder
All art submissions must be original works
Entries must include name, grade, entry category, and phone number with submission.
Submissions are due to the Renton Main library by April 1, 2009.

Submit entries in person, or mail to:
Renton Public Library

"Express Yourself" Teen Art Contest

Attn: Children's & Young Adult Librarian

100 Mill Ave. S.

Renton, WA 98057

Or E-mail submissions in .pdf or .doc format to the Librarian.

Submissions will be judged by Teen Advisory Board Members and Renton Library Staff. Winners will receive great prizes such as free books and gift cards. Artwork will be displayed in the Renton Main Library. The Grand Prize Winner's submission may be used to promote the summer's "Express Yourself" Teen Summer Reading program.

Operation Teen Book Drop - April 16, 2009

2009-02-26T09:26:00.001-08:00

Operation Teen Book Drop 2009 (TBD '09) is being held in celebration of Support Teen Literature Day, April 16th, 2009.

Through an initiative sponsored by readergirlz (http://www.readergirlz.com/), GuysLitWire (http://guyslitwire.blogspot.com/), YALSA (http://www.ala.org/yalsa), and publishers, teen patients in pediatric hospitals across the United States will receive 8,000 new young-adult novels, audiobooks, and graphic novels.

Readergirlz is inviting teens and YA authors to leave a book in a public place on April 16th. Participants can download bookplates to insert into the books they'll leave behind. Participants are also invited to the post-op party at the Readergirlz MySpace group forum (http://groups.myspace.com/readergirlz) at 6:00 PM Pacific/9:00 PM Eastern. "Rock the Drop in 2009!"

Teen Book Review

2009-02-26T09:08:00.000-08:00

Book: How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler

Reviewed by Senay Kargaci, Grade 9

"Maggie has moved around all her life. Now she's moving away from her boyfriend and best friend, and she's tired of it. She's made a plan to become unpopular but in the end, will the plan backfire?"

Overall Rating: 5 Stars - It Rocked!

Teen Book Review

2009-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

Book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Reviewed by Senay Kargaci, Grade 9

"George is a smart guy who is the guardian of Lennie. They travel and work together. When they find their dreams becoming possible, will Lennie ruin it by flirting with a married woman? Can George save him? This was a very intriguing book that revealed to me that the American dream is sometimes possible."

Overall Rating: 4 Stars - It was pretty good

Teen Book Review

2009-02-17T10:24:00.001-08:00

Book: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by Paisley Ritchie, Grade 5

"A girl named Coraline moves to another house that's big, but she only rents some if it. And there is another world where everything is better, but it's all a trick........"

Overall Rating: 5 Stars - It Rocked!

Press Play Techno Art Project

2009-01-12T15:36:00.001-08:00

At Renton Main Branch
A 2009 Teen Tech Week Event
Thursday, February 12th,
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Hey Teens! Join us at the library, and make Techno Art! Bring your discarded computer parts to the library to make jewelry and artwork.

Cut-up circuit boards, old cell phone parts, broken CD’s, and keyboard keys work especially well. Use your imagination!

Art projects will be displayed at the downtown library during the month of March.

Teen Tech Week is a YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) initiative to encourage teens to use their local library and check out all the terrific technologies available, such as DVDs, CD’s, databases, audiobooks, Internet, Wireless connection, and more.

Free Life Coaching for Teens

2008-12-17T14:45:00.000-08:00

Now teens (10 – 19 years old) can get free personal coaching online. Whether your goals are higher grades in school, starting a career, improving your social life, or getting better at a sport, now you can get help defining your goals and achieving them. Check it out at http://www.goal33.com/.

Coraline, the Movie is Almost Here!

2008-12-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to see the preview for the upcoming movie Coraline, based on the amazing book written by Neil Gaiman. I can't wait to see it in 3-D. To curb my enthusiasm, I decided to read the graphic novel in the interim. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels, but I have to say, this is one that cannot be missed. Wonderful illustrations and a terrific adaptation of the novel. Check out the book and/or graphic novel from the library today before the movie is released this February 2009.

Teen Holiday Game Days!

2008-12-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

Play Dance Dance Revolution, board games and Bingo;
Test your singing skills with High School Musical karaoke and Singstar Popstar; Eat snacks, and relax at the library.

Thursday, December 18th
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Renton Downtown Library

Drop-In at the Library for Holiday Crafts!

2008-12-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Drop in at the Renton Main Library for hot chocolate and crafts. Get in the holiday spirit, and make your own one-of-a-kind personal holiday cards for your friends and family. This is a free program, and all materials will be provided.

Monday, December 15th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

YA Author Defends Teen Intelligence

2008-12-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post recently did an interesting article on YA author M.T. Anderson. Anderson, the author of several great young adult books including Feed and the latest volume of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: The Kingdom on the Waves, says "It's insulting to believe that teens should have a different kind of book than an adult should. Teens like challenges. They know the world is complicated, and they can tell when a book is simplifying life."

Check out the entire article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802766.html

Can You Write Like a Wimpy Kid?

2008-11-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

Here's your chance to win a visit to your school by Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Yes, you can become a Wimpy Hero at your very own school! How, you may ask? All you have to do is create an original comic on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of white paper, and send it in to the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Comics Contest. The deadline is January 31, 2009. See details here: http://www.wimpykid.com/contest.pdf

National Gaming Day - November 15th

2008-11-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

Bring your friends and family to the Renton Downtown Library on Saturday, November 15th and enjoy National Gaming Day with board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Boggle, Chess, Clue & the brand new Pictureka!

National Gaming Day is a new initiative sponsored by the American Library Association in an effort to promote games in the library. Gaming of all types encourages positive interaction among friends, family and community members, while contributing to the development of new skills and strategies for gaming and learning in a relaxed and fun environment.

November 10th Twilight Autograph Signing

2008-11-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

If you love Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series as much as the next person, you're not going to want to miss this chance to meet some of the stars of the upcoming movie.

When: November 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Where: Westfield Southcenter Hot Topic

Who: "Jacob", "Laurent" and "Victoria" from the new Twilight movie

Teens' Top 10 Books of 2008!

2008-11-04T14:30:00.000-08:00

The vote is in! More than 8,000 teens voted on this year's winners, and here they are!

The 2008 Teens' Top Ten is:

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

About the Teens' Top Ten
Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens across the country nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominations are posted in April during National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year during Teen Read Week.

Join the Teen Advisory Board

2008-11-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Hey, Teens! Do you love the library? Do you want to contribute to your community in a meaningful way? Renton Public Library is committed to being a teen-friendly environment. Join our new Teen Advisory Board and exercise your creativity and develop leadership skills. We are currently looking for new members for the Fall 2008 school year. Meetings are the 2nd Thursday of the month.

What a Teen Advisory Board Does:
Help develop teen activities at the library
Help plan special events and programs such as the Teen Summer Reading Program and Teen Read Week
Help select library materials (books, movies, music) for teens
Write book, movie, and music reviews
Help promote the library to other teens
Eat snacks, socialize, and have fun!

Upcoming Meeting Dates:
Thursday, November 13th, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 11th, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

If you're interested, fill out a TAB application today!

Letters about Literature Contest

2008-10-09T13:52:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy reading? Has a particularly good book ever changed the way you view the world or your place in it? Then you might consider writing a letter to the author of that great book, and submitting it for consideration in the Letters about Literature contest.

Competing at the national level can win you a $500 Target gift card and $10,000 for your community or school library. This is the fourth year Washington State Library has sponsored the competition as part of Washington Reads. For guidelines and to download an application, go to http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/lal/Default.aspx

Twilight Series - Edward's Story

2008-10-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

Can't wait for the next installment of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series Midnight Sun (Edward's version)? Well apparently neither could others, and the draft of the book was leaked on the Internet. Rather than fighting the problem, the author decided to post her "official" draft on her own blog. Take a look at
http://stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html

Happy Reading!

Featured Fun on the Web

2008-10-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Since I'm kind of a fan of supernatural stories, I couldn't resist picking up the new book Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley featuring a teen girl who wants desperately to be popular, and more importantly, to be noticed by a particular boy. While attempting to hang out with the popular girls, she accidentally chokes on a gummy bear, dies, and becomes a ghost. Of course, this presents an even bigger challenge for getting noticed. The book was based on a popular Website by the author. Take a look at http://www.ghostgirl.com/ and then consider reading Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley.

Get a Library Card Today....It's FREE!!!!!

2008-09-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. A library card is one of the most important cards you will ever own. With it, you have access to a wealth of books, audiobooks, magazines, music, movies, and information. And the greatest part is you don't have to spend any money.

If you don’t have a Renton Library card yet, stop by the Main branch or Highlands branch, and sign up for one today! It’s fast, it’s free, and it might even change your life! If you need to replace your lost library card, a replacement card only costs $1.00.

"Fall" into the Library

2008-09-10T13:54:00.001-07:00

Just because the summer is over, doesn't mean the fun has to end. We'll be having monthly Game Days for teens as well as other exciting new activities and events that the new Teen Advisory Board will be thinking up. Be sure to check back regularly for updates on teen activities as well as great new book recommendations and other info!

Metamorphosis Summer Reading Wrap-Up

2008-09-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Teen Summer Reading Program participants and finishers! Teens had an exciting summer at the Main and Highlands Branches. In addition to reading terrific books, teens enjoyed many fun events including a Chocolate Festival, Game Days, and an Anime Festival.

Congratulations to the Teen Summer Reading Grand Prize Winners!

Julie Nalay, Grade 6 - I-pod Shuffle (Grand Prize)

Abbey Stellingwerff, Grade 6 - $10 Target gift card
Lucia Gomez-Elegido, Grade 7 - $10 Target gift card