Renton Librarian Recommendations

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?

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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!