MFPL Teen Zone

Michael L. Printz Award Winners Announced

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has recently announced the winners of the Michael L. Printz Awards for young adult literature.

The winner is Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.

Four honor books were also chosen. They are Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, The Returning by Christine Hinwood, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

Our teen collection owns Where Things Come Back, Jasper Jones, and The Scorpio Races. We have just ordered When We Broke Up and will soon order The Returning.

-- Kifflie

Teen Gaming Nights

2012-01-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

Do you enjoy playing board games like Risk or Monopoly? Come to one of our teen gaming nights at the library! Gaming nights will be held the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Youth Program Room.

Dates include: January 17, February 21, March 20, April 17, and May 15. Open to ages 12-18. No advanced registration is required. Questions? Call Kifflie Scott, Teen Librarian, at 532-8910.

New Fiction for December

2011-12-14T16:23:00.001-08:00

Here are some new books that have been recently added to the teen collection:

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Welcome to Bordertown edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner
The Auslander by Paul Dowswell
The Project by Brian Falkner
The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas
Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen
Fateful by Claudia Gray
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
Addie on the Inside by James Howe
Legend by Marie Lu
Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
Tankborn by Karen Sandler
Between by Jessica Warman
Variant by Robison Wells
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

New Manga!

2011-12-14T16:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a generous grant, we've recently purchased some new manga for our teen graphic novel collection. Our new titles include:

Akira vols. 1&2
Kekkaishi 3-in-1 vols. 1-9
Monster Hunter Orage vols. 1&2
Negima! Omnibus vols. 1&2
Tsubasa vol. 1
Ghost in the Shell vol. 1
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon vol. 1
Codename: Sailor vol. 1

Stop in and see the new additions!

Kifflie

National Gaming Day this Saturday!

2011-11-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 12 is National Gaming Day! Come play games on the Nintendo Wii in the Meeting Room, or sit down to a board game in the youth library. Free to all, and there is no advance registration! Questions? Call Kifflie at 532-8910.

New Books!

2011-11-03T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some new books that have just arrived in the Teen Zone:

Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
iBoy by Kevin Brooks
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Crossed by Ally Condie
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Steampunk! edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant
The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer
A Web of Air by Philip Reeve
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard
Stick by Andrew Smith
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen
Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham
The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Underdogs by Markus Zusak

Stop in and check these out!

--Kifflie

It's Teen Read Week!

2011-10-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the Teens' Top Ten for 2011, as voted on by teens around the country:

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster)
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
3. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (Simon & Schuster)
4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (HarperCollins)
5. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin)
6. Matched by Ally Condie (Penguin)
7. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson (Little, Brown & Company)
8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (HarperCollins)
9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (HarperCollins)
10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Penguin)

Teen Read Week is Coming!

2011-10-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

October 16 through October 22nd. We will kick off this celebration of teen reading with a special showing of the movie "X-Men: First Class" at 6:30 PM in the Meeting Room. Bring your own snacks and covered beverages. Most of all, bring your friends!

Later in the week, we will announce the winner's of the Teens Top 10 for 2011.

--Kifflie

New Books

2011-09-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some new books that were recently added to the teen collection:

Sign Language by Amy Ackley
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Stay by Deb Caletti
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
The Dead by Charlie Higson
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II by Ron Koertge
Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Murdock
Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Firebirds Soaring: An Anthology of Original Speculative Fiction edited by Sharyn November
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey

Stop in and check them out!

--Kifflie

Teen Advisory Board Kick-off

2011-09-22T10:12:00.001-07:00

Do you have a great idea for our library? The Teen Advisory Board will kick off its 2011-12 programming year on Saturday, October 15th. We will meet in the Youth Program Room starting at 1:30 PM. After the business part of the meeting is over, stay for some fun with board games and the Nintendo Wii, up until 4:00 PM.

In addition, every teen who attends can put their name in a drawing for a prize. Refreshments will be served. Advance registration is suggested but not required. Contact Kifflie Scott, Teen Librarian, at (262) 532-8910 or kscott@mf.lib.wi.us

Teens' Top Ten Voting Now Open!

2011-08-16T10:16:00.001-07:00

You can now start voting for the 2011 Teens' Top Ten at this website: www.ala.org/teenstopten. You have until September 15th to complete your voting.

The nominated books have been flying off our display, so grab one while you can!

--Kifflie

Teens' Top Ten List

2011-08-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Here is the list of the Teens' Top Ten nominated books for 2011. Note: our library does not yet own all of these titles, but we will be happy to get any of them for you from other libraries if you are interested.

Bachorz, Pam. Drought
Beam, Cris. I Am J
Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne
Black, Holly and Justine Larbalestier. Zombies vs. Unicorns
Card, Orson Scott. The Lost Gate
Clare, Cassandra. Clockwork Angel
Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay
Collins, Yvonne. Love, Inc.
Condie, Ally. Matched
Cremer, Andrea. Nightshade
Fitzpatrick, Becca. Crescendo
Grant, Michael. Lies
Hawkins, Rachel. Demonglass
Hawkins, Rachel. Hex Hall
Kagawa, Julie. The Iron King
Lore, Pittacus. I Am Number Four
Moore, Peter. Red Moon Rising.
Nelson, Jandy. The Sky is Everywhere
Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall
O’Neal, Ellis. The False Princess
Patterson, James. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel
Pearce, Jackson. Sisters Red
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Blessed
Westerfeld, Scott. Behemoth
White, Kiersten. Paranormalcy

Voting starts online on Monday, August 15th, at www.ala.org/teenstopten

Chess Club

2011-08-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

Looking to improve your chess game? Ben Corcoran will be here on Tuesday, August 9th and Tuesday, August 23rd from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the Youth Program Room.

Ben is also planning a chess tournament and simul for Saturday, September 24th in the Library Meeting Room. More details will follow.

--Kifflie

Teens' Top Ten

2011-08-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Each year the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) sponsors the Teens' Top Ten. A group of teens has selected the 25 nominations for 2011. You can view them at this website. A display of the nominated titles is up in the Teen Zone at the library. Check out as many of them as you can before voting starts on August 15!

Kifflie

Summer Program Wrapped Up

2011-08-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Our 2011 summer program is complete. We had 76 teens in the reading program, and 112 prize entry forms were submitted. Thanks to all who participated!

Kifflie

New Chairs in the Teen Zone

2011-07-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Our colorful new chairs are here! They are located near the teen magazines, near the Maude Shunk Local History Room and the Teen Librarian's office.

Thanks to the Community League for their generous donation of funds.

--Kifflie

Reminder: "Project Girl" program on August 6th!

2011-07-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

[Reposted]

"Unmediafy Your Life!" Experience REAL girl power with Project Girl; bring a lunch and explore the harmful effects of media messages. Together we will learn to critically examine our media-based culture and explore key media literacy issues affecting girls. Come create incredible artwork, hang out with other girls, make new friends and take what you’ve learned about media back to your friends at your school. http://www.projectgirl.org/

Instructor: Emily Keown

Sat 8/6/11 @ 11:00AM – 2:00PM

Register by clicking on this link.

Questions? Contact Leslie Peterson at 532-8918.

Summer Update

2011-07-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

We have one week left of the Summer Reading Program here at the library! Hard to believe, yes, but it's true. So get those entry forms in by Saturday, July 30th for our grand prize drawing!

This Thursday at 2:15 PM, we will have our last Teen Matinee movie showing for the summer. Come see "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" for FREE in the Meeting Room!

Our signage in the Teen area of the Library has changed. It now matches the header on this blog. Thanks to JJ, one of our reference assistants, for the design.

-- Kifflie

Open Gaming Event

2011-07-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Library will hold an open Nintendo Wii gaming event on Saturday, July 16th, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Youth Program Room. Available games will include: Wii Sports Resort, Super Smash Brothers, and Mario Galaxy. Open to ages 12 through 19.

-- Kifflie

Coming Soon: Easy A

2011-07-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, July 14, at 2:15 PM, we will be showing the film Easy A in the Library Meeting Room. This teen comedy stars Emma Stone and is partially based on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The film is rated PG-13 and runs for 92 minutes. Admission is free. Bring your own snacks and covered beverages.

-- Kifflie

Book Review: Black Hole Sun by David MacInnis Gill

2011-07-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

On a terraformed Mars, Jacob Durango is a Regulator -- a highly trained and experienced enforcer. He is also "dalit," a mercenary outside the official channels of the Regulators -- basically muscle for hire. When the Draeu, a race of ruthless cannibals, begin threatening a group of miners, Durango gathers together a "davos," or troop of ragtag Regulators to protect the mining colony. Plenty of mayhem follows.

The plot is fast-paced and packed with action. The dialogue is snappy and at times hilarious, particularly between Durango and his AI implant, Mimi (who in her living days was Durango's commander in the Regulators). The author also does a good job in establishing settings on Mars without slowing down the pace of the story.

This book reminded me in many ways of Robert Heinlein's SF novels from the 1950's and 1960's, particularly the use of the first person narrator, the strong female characters, and the freelancing, anti-authoritarian bent of the work as a whole. It's refreshing to see this kind of writing making a comeback.

-- Kifflie

New Books

2011-06-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

We have added some more new books to the YA collection! Come check these out:

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender
Nightspell by Leah Cypess
The Dark City (Relic Master #1) by Catherine Fisher
The Lost Heiress (Relic Master #2) by Catherine Fisher
Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer by Van Jensen (graphic novel)
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Huntress by Malinda Lo
Die for Me by Amy Plum
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow
Everfound by Neal Shusterman
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Chaos by Rachel Ward
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Level Up by Gene Luen Yang (graphic novel)

Coming Soon: I Am Number Four

2011-06-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, June 30, at 2:15 PM, the Library will show I Am Number Four to kick off our series of Teen Movie Matinees. Admission is free. You can bring your own snacks and covered beverages. The movie is rated PG-13 and runs 109 minutes.

-- Kifflie

New Books

2011-06-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Looking for something new to read? These books were just added to the Young Adult Collection:

Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
Shine by Lauren Myracle
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

-- Kifflie

Book Review: Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

2011-06-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Charlie Tracker and Aaron Littleton (stage name: Fielding Withers) are the stars of the hit TV show Jenna & Jonah's How to Be a Rock Star. It's hard enough to pretend to be in love on stage, but the show's producers have pushed Charlie and Aaron to be a couple off stage as well, and at this point in their careers, they can hardly stand each other.

So it comes as somewhat of a relief when Aaron is the subject of a Hollywood rumor -- one that is serious enough to cancel their TV show and send both actors into hiding for a time -- until the paparazzi catch up to them once more. They can only really escape by joining the cast of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in a small Oregon theater camp.

Written in alternative points of view, this is a breezy read, somewhat predictable perhaps, but it does get inside the heads of both characters quite nicely and also has some great insights into what it means to truly become a good actor.

--Kifflie

Project Girl

2011-06-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

(From the "Fine Print for Kids" newsletter -- a great program for girls ages 11 and up!)

"Unmediafy Your Life!" Experience REAL girl-power with Project Girl; bring a lunch and explore the harmful effects of media messages. Together we will learn to critically examine our media-based culture and explore key media literacy issues affecting girls. Come create incredible artwork, hang out with other girls, make new friends and take what you’ve learned about media back to your friends at your school. http://www.projectgirl.org/

Instructor: Emily Keown

Sat 8/6/11 @ 11:00AM – 2:00PM

Register by clicking on this link.

Questions? Contact Leslie Peterson at 532-8918.

Summer Reading Program Begins

2011-06-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

The Teen Summer Reading Program at the Menomonee Falls Public Library starts today! You can sign up on the second floor of the library. Read at least one book per week and enter to win a flash drive or a book bag. Also, for the first three books that you complete, you will receive passes to local attractions such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Discovery World, and Pizza Hut.

The program runs through Saturday, July 30th.

-- Kifflie

Tonight -- Skateboarding Program

2011-06-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: Dennis Siegrist from TWEAKboarding will be here at the library tonight for a presentation on skateboarding. The program is FREE! Join us!

-- Kifflie

Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books

2011-05-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

The Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books will be held on June 17th and June 18th at UW-Waukesha. One of the festival's featured authors is Lynda Barry, who wrote and illustrated What It Is, which is a unique way of looking at the creative process (We own a copy of What It Is in our teen collection).

The Festival is a free event. Find out more at www.sewibookfest.com

Come Learn about Skateboarding!

2011-05-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

Dennis Siegrist from TWEAKboarding in Menomonee Falls will give a presentation about skateboarding in the Library Meeting Room on Thursday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Dennis and his family have been active skateboarders for a number of years. Come and learn more about this exciting sport. The program is free, and no advance registration is required.

-- Kifflie

New Chairs Coming for the Teen Area

2011-05-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a gift from the Community League, we will be receiving some colorful new "saucer" chairs in the teen area sometime within the next month! Our deepest thanks to the Community League for making this possible.

-- Kifflie

Summer Reading Program Preview

2011-05-09T08:44:00.001-07:00

Make sure "You Are Here" at the library for our Teen Summer Reading Program! Sign up on the second floor of the library starting Monday, June 6th. Read one book per week and enter your name to win prizes such as flash drives and book bags. This year, we will also have passes to local attractions such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Discovery World, Waukesha County Parks, and Pizza Hut. A grand prize will be drawn after the program ends on Saturday, July 30th. Take advantage of this opportunity to check out some great books in our teen collection!

-- Kifflie

New Books

2011-05-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

These books were added to the Young Adult collection recently:

Chime by Franny Billingsley
Red Glove by Holly Black
Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Eona by Alison Goodman
Mercury by Hope Larson
Wonderland by Joanne Nadin
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones

-- Kifflie

Free Movie This Friday!

2011-04-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for something to do over spring break? The library will be showing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One this Friday afternoon at 2:00. This is a FREE showing. Bring your own snacks and covered beverages.

Book Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King

2011-04-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

Vera Dietz is keeping secrets. A lot of them. Particularly about her next-door neighbor and former best friend Charlie Kahn. Charlie is now dead, but that doesn't stop him from haunting Vera as she tries to navigate her way through high school, a full-time job as a pizza delivery technician, and her father's expectation that she won't screw up her life the way he did.

The novel alternates between Vera's past and present, slowly revealing the hard truth of how and why Charlie died, and why Vera is trying so hard to get through her senior year without drawing too much attention to herself. But the truth does catch up with her eventually, and Vera comes around to do the right thing, even if it is extremely painful.

The relationship between Vera and her father is a strong highlight of this book. Ken Dietz is a fascinating character in his own right, and we are lucky to hear from him from time to time and examine his pithy "flow charts."

A gritty blend of humor, suspense, and character study, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a worthy Michael J. Printz honoree and a very good read.

Upcoming Teen Events

2011-04-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Teen Writers group meets this Saturday, April 9th, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Refreshments will be available. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome.

The next meeting of the Teen Advisory Board is Monday, April 11, at 3:45 PM in the Library Board Room. Summer will be here before you know it! I can use your input on program ideas. If you can't make the meeting, please email me your suggestions at kscott@mf.lib.wi.us

Hunger Games Casting Update

2011-04-05T11:01:00.001-07:00

The producers of the upcoming "Hunger Games" movie have cast Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.

Hemsworth is an Australian actor best known for his role as Will Blakelee in the 2010 film The Last Song. Hutcherson appeared in Bridge to Terabithia (as Jesse) and in last year's The Kids are All Right (as Laser).

The "Hunger Games" movie is scheduled for release on March 23, 2012.

Still More New Books!

2011-04-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest new books we've received in the Young Adult Collection:

I Am J by Cris Beam
Strings Attached by Judy Blundell
Spotlight and Glamour by Melody Carlson (in paperback)
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
The Limping Man by Maurice Gee (last in the "Salt" trilogy)
The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman
My Candlelight Novel by Joanne Horniman (in paperback)
Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (in paperback)
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
The Demon-Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver (in paperback)
Free Fall by Mindi Scott (in paperback)
The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Stop in and check these out!

-- Kifflie

Chess Club Simul This Saturday

2011-03-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

(Cross-posted from the main library page)

Our Chess Club instructor, Ben Corcoran, is going to play a "Simul" with all interested players on Saturday, April 2, 2011. A Simul means that Ben will take on multiple players at the same time. This will be Ben’s third Simul at the Menomonee Falls Public Library.

If you are interested, come to the Meeting Room by 12:30 p.m. on the day of the event to register. Play will start around 1:00. Prizes will be awarded to those who can beat Ben or play him to a draw.

Following the Simul, Ben will be available for a short lecture and demonstration for those who are interested in improving their chess game.

All are invited to attend, and there is no registration fee. Contact Kifflie Scott at 532-8910 if you have any questions.

More details on the event and prizes can be found at Ben's chess blog.

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2011-03-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Cassia lives in the Society, where all important decisions are made from above -- even decisions about who will be married, or "Matched," to each other. At a special ceremony, Cassia learns that her Match is Xander, who has been her best friend since childhood. However, when she looks through her Match datacard, another face comes up -- that of Ky Markham, an Aberration, an outsider who, theoretically, should never have been Matched to anyone.

So begins Ally Condie's debut novel, the first of a planned trilogy. I have read plenty of dystopic fiction over the years, from 1984 to The Giver to The Hunger Games, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this story. However, I found it compelling enough that I finished it in one day. Condie writes in the first person present tense, which is a difficult way to tell a story, but after the first few chapters of the book, I didn't even notice this.

The next book in the series, Crossed, is scheduled for a November 2011 release. It will be a long wait. But if you've enjoyed books like The Giver and The Hunger Games, give this one a try.

-- Kifflie

"Hunger Games" movie news

2011-03-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Lawrence has just been cast as Katniss in the upcoming "Hunger Games" movie, scheduled for a March 2012 release. She was a recent Oscar nominee for "Winter's Bone." No definite word yet on who will play Prim, Gale or Peeta.

More New Books!!

2011-03-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Our catalogers have been busy! Here are some more new teen books that we've just received:

Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel
Star-Crossed by Elizabeth Bunce
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
Trapped by Michael Northrop
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Grace by Elizabeth Scott
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
Blessed by Cynthia Leitch Smith
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Stop in and pick up a hot new read!

New Books Added to the Young Adult Collection

2011-03-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Below is a list of new books that have been added to the Young Adult collection in the past few weeks:

X-Isle by Steve Augarde
The Book of Spells: a Private Prequel by Kate Brian
Matched by Ally Condie
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
Hold Me Close, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Pegasus by Robin McKinley
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
Trash by Andy Mulligan
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Stop in and check them out!

-- Kifflie

Teen Advisory Board Meeting

2011-03-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

The Teen Advisory Board will meet this Monday, March 14, at 3:45 PM in the Library Board room. Topics will include choosing a logo for the teen area and planning for a teen movie showing over spring break.

Any teen who uses the Menomonee Falls library is welcome to attend and share your suggestions.

Teen Writers Group

2011-03-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, March 12, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Refreshments will be served. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend.

Teen Movie Night March 10

2011-03-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

The library will have a FREE showing of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" on Thursday, March 10, at 6:30 PM in our Meeting Room. Bring your own snacks and drinks in covered containers.

The movie is based on the popular graphic novel series by Bryan O'Malley. It is rated PG-13 for stylized violence, language, sexual content, and drug references.

March 6-12 is Teen Tech Week. Stop by the display in our Young Adult collection to browse classic and recent sci-fi and tech-related titles.

Book Review: Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

2011-02-25T07:04:00.000-08:00

Shayne Blank, sixteen, walks into a police station and confesses to Detective George Rawls that he's just killed someone. So begins Blank Confession, a fast-moving story of bullying, revenge, and how Mikey Martin, the shortest kid in his class, learns how to stand up for himself.

The story alternates between Rawls and Mikey, each of them giving their impressions of the mysterious loner Shayne. After coming to town, Shayne almost immediately clashes with the town bully and drug dealer, Jon Brande. The stakes keep going up throughout the book. Shayne does everything he can to resolve the situation peacefully, but as we find out, he can defend himself very well when things turn violent.

The action scenes in this book are well written. They have an almost cinematic feel to them -- which is no wonder, since the story is clearly based on a famous Western from 1953 starring Alan Ladd.

The book is only 170 pages, but it packs a lot between the covers. It gave me one very entertaining afternoon of reading.

Kifflie

Reminder: Snowboarding Program this Monday

2011-02-25T07:01:00.001-08:00

A reminder that Dennis Siegrist from TWEAKboarding will be here Monday night, February 28, at 7:00 PM in our meeting room to do a presentation on snowboarding. The program is free.

Book Review: Annexed by Sharon Dogar

2011-02-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

Anne Frank's diary of her experiences hiding from the Nazis became world-famous after her death. In Annexed, Sharon Dogar explores the story from the perspective of Peter van Pels, the teenage boy who shared living quarters with Anne for more than two years. It's a moving account that alternates between Peter's experiences in hiding and his final desperate hours in a concentration camp.

Unlike Anne, Peter did not leave behind any writings, so Dogar has tried to fill in the gaps for him. Compared to Anne, he comes across as more insecure and less in command of his feelings for most of the book. As he suffers in the camps, his memories of Anne do help sustain him for a remarkably long time, and his voice becomes stronger near the end of his story.

This is not an easy book to read, but it is powerful stuff.

-- Kifflie

Chess Tournament this Saturday

2011-02-07T09:39:00.001-08:00

Test your chess skills! Ben Corcoran, our Chess Club instructor, will be conducting a tournament in the Library Meeting Room this Saturday, February 12. On-site registration will start at 9:30 AM, and play is scheduled to begin at 11:00. Depending on the number of players, we are hoping to run four rounds of chess. Prizes (chess books and chess T-shirts) will be awarded to the best players. If you have any questions about this event or want to pre-register, call Kifflie at 532-8910.

Teen Writers Meeting

2011-02-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

The Teen Writers Group will meet this Saturday, February 12, at 2:00 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks and beverages will be served. All teens with an interest in writing are welcome to attend. Questions? Call Kifflie at 532-8910.

Snowboarding Program Rescheduled

2011-02-03T12:09:00.001-08:00

Due to this week's blizzard, the snowboarding program that was scheduled for Tuesday night has been moved to Monday, February 28, at 7:00 PM in the Library Meeting Room.

--Kifflie

College Goal Wisconsin

2011-01-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Are you planning to start college next fall? Need some help completing your financial aid application form?

On February 19 or February 20, you can get your questions answered at College Goal Wisconsin. Find more information at www.wicollegegoalsunday.org

Book Review: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

2011-01-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

Nailer is a ship breaker, a member of a crew that salvages metals from old oil tankers in what used to be known as the Gulf of Mexico. His life is full of scavenging, making quotas, and trying to stay out of the way of his dangerous, drug-addicted father.

Then one day, after a wild storm, Nailer and his friend Pima discover a wrecked clipper ship, a sleek modern vessel containing more riches than either of them have seen in a lifetime. They also discover that the ship's owner, a beautiful young woman named Nita, is very much alive -- and in a lot of trouble.

Should they help Nita? Or should they just take what they want and leave her for dead?

Set in a post-apocalyptic America, this book is a fast-paced adventure that also sounds a environmental warning of what might happen if we don't take care of the planet -- or each other. It is also the most recent Printz Award winner for young adult literature.

Kifflie

Snowboarding Program

2011-01-12T13:56:00.001-08:00

(Cross-posted from the main library page)

Do YOU think you might have what it takes to be the next Shaun White or Seth Wescott? On Tuesday, February 1st, at 7:00 p.m., Dennis Siegrist from TWEAKboarding, a new Menomonee Falls business, will be at the library to speak about the fast-growing sport of snowboarding.

Dennis and his family have been active snowboarders and skateboarders for a number of years. His program will cover the history of snowboarding, the types of equipment that are used in the sport, and will also include some video clips of snowboarding action. There will also be a question-and-answer session at the end of the presentation.

The program will take place in the Library Meeting Room. It is free and open to the public. No advance registration is required. For further information, please contact Kifflie Scott, Teen Librarian, at 532-8910 or kscott@mf.lib.wi.us.

Some new books in the YA collection

2011-01-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here are some new teen books that we have just added to our collection this week:

Runaway by Meg Cabot
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Factotum by D.M. Cornish
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (sequel to The Maze Runner)
Annexed by Sharon Dogar
Blank Confession by Pete Hautman
Entice by Carrie Jones
Crazy by Han Nolan
Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel
Love Bites by Ellen Schreiber
Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford
The White Horse Trick by Kate Thompson

Stop in and check them out!

--Kifflie

Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T06:44:00.001-08:00

The Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Challenge starts today! It is open to all Wisconsin kids and teens from third through tenth grades. Score "points" for reading books, magazines, and newspapers, and you'll receive a voucher for a free ticket to a Bucks home game.

Stop by the Youth Library to pick up a folder and a copy of the complete rules. The Reading Challenge ends on Saturday, February 26.

-- Kifflie

Chess Club dates for January

2010-12-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

The Chess Club will meet on Monday, January 10 and Monday, January 24, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the youth program room. Ben Corcoran of the Waukesha Chess Club will be here to give you pointers on your game. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome!

Ben is also going to play a "Simul" with all interested players on Saturday, January 15, 2011. A Simul means that Ben will take on multiple players at the same time. We did this back in November and it was a lot of fun! If you are interested, come to the Library Meeting Room by 12:30 PM that day to register. Play will start around 1:00. Prizes will be awarded to those who can beat Ben or play him to a draw. Ben will post information on the prizes on his chess blog: http://benzochess.blogspot.com/

--Kifflie

Teen Writers Group This Saturday

2010-12-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

The final Teen Writers Group meeting for 2010 will be this Saturday, December 11th, from 2:00 to 3:30 in the Library Board Room. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. If you have any questions, please contact Kifflie at 532-8910 or kscott@mf.lib.wi.us.

Teen Advisory Board Returns for 2011

2010-12-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Do you have a great idea for our library? The Teen Advisory Board is back for 2011!

Our first meeting for the new year will be Monday, January 10, at 3:45 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks will be served. Future meetings will be held on the second Monday of every month through the rest of the school year (February 14, March 14, April 11, and May 9).

Meetings will run no longer than one hour. If you would like to be part of this group and have not already been contacted, please call Kifflie Scott, Teen Librarian, at 532-8910 or send an email to kscott@mf.lib.wi.us to sign up.

Teens' Top Ten

2010-11-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

More than 8000 teens nationwide voted for their favorite books of 2010. Here are the Teens' Top Ten:

1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
2. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
3. Heist Society by Ally Carter
4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
5. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
9. Fire by Kristin Cashore
10. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

All of these books are located in the Young Adult section of the library. Come and check them out!

-- Kifflie

Book Review: Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

2010-10-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

Amber Appleton is a hope spreader. She befriends stray dogs, Korean immigrants, nursing home residents, kids with disabilities, and a lonely Vietnam veteran. Amber is bound and determined to make the world a better place.

And Amber is homeless. She sleeps in the back of a school bus that her single mother drives during the day, warmed only by a few blankets and her dog Bobby Big Boy. Amber and her mother have been living this way since Mom's last boyfriend threw them out into the street.

Through determination and faith, Amber has managed to succeed in school and become an advocate for society's misfits.

Until the night her mother goes missing and is eventually found dead.

Even though her friends rally around her, Amber sinks into a depression, stops going to school, and barely leaves her room in her newly adoptive home. Then one day, a crisis occurs that she cannot ignore, and slowly she begins to come back to her radically changed life.

Part Maniac Magee, part It's a Wonderful Life, this book runs the gamut of emotions. You will root for Amber all the way, even in her meanest moods.

-- Kifflie

November 13 is National Gaming Day

2010-10-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, November 13, the Menomonee Falls Public Library will observe National Gaming Day. Games for all ages will be available for play in the library.

In the Meeting Room, we will have table games such as Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Uno, and Pictureka set out for play from 9:00 AM to noon.

At noon, our Chess Club instructor, Ben Corcoran, is planning to play several simultaneous chess matches with any opponents willing to take him on. Prizes will be awarded for anyone who can beat Ben or play him to a draw!

Our Nintendo Wii will be set up for gaming in the Youth Program Room from noon until 4:00 PM. Games will include Wii Sports Resort, Mario Kart, Super Smash Brothers, and Super Mario Galaxy.

All are welcome to attend this event and to try out as many games as you like. No registration is required. Call Kifflie at 532-8910 if you have any questions.

Ghosts and Haunted Houses

2010-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

(Cross-posted from the main library page. If you like learning about haunted places, this program is for you! -- Kifflie)

On Monday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m., haunted house enthusiast Curt Strutz will lead you on a virtual tour of the nation's most haunted locations. Ghost hunters, history buffs and anyone with an appetite for the creepy should not miss this.

Ghosts and Haunted Houses is free of charge and open to the public. Due to the nature of the material, this presentation is intended for teen and adult audiences.

If you have any questions, please contact Karen at 262-532-8912.

Teen Writers Group This Saturday

2010-09-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, September 11, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend. Snacks and beverages will be served. Bring your ideas! Any questions, call Kifflie at 532-8910 or email her at kscott@mf.lib.wi.us

Guest Book Review

2010-09-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I have been on vacation for much of the last part of August, so that's why you haven't seen any posts from me. But I am gearing up for the fall, so watch for more announcements and book reviews.

In the meantime, here's a quick book review from Katie, a member of our Teen Advisory Board:

Love, tragedy, horror - these elements take readers for an incredible ride in Sarah’s Key, a New York Times bestseller by Tatiana de Rosnay. The novel alternates between the lives of two characters, both extraordinary in their own right - ten year old Sarah Starzynski, betrayed by her own country and a victim of horrific Holocaust events in the 1940s, and Julia Jarmond, a modern-day woman who struggles with her love life while uncovering the secrets of a past no one wants to remember. Readers will devour this heart-wrenching, page-turning novel as they discover the connections between Sarah and Julia; it will remain a favorite for many years to come.

Thanks, Katie!

- Kifflie

Book Review: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

2010-08-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

Blake Hewson is a pretty lucky guy. He has two cool parents, an older brother who doesn't aggravate him too much, a wicked sense of humor, and a sweet girlfriend named Shannon. Things are going along well for Blake until the day he brings his camera down to a rough part of town for a photography assignment and takes a picture of one particular homeless woman -- a woman who turns out to be the missing mother of Blake's classmate Marissa.

Blake finds himself drawn into Marissa's tumultuous family situation while at the same time trying to juggle his schoolwork, his friends, and his relationship with Shannon. He tries very hard to do the right thing by both girls, but inevitably he does make mistakes and has to learn to face the consequences.

Blake is a very likable, honest young man, and his family (even the dog!) are well developed characters in their own right. The novel's dialogue is snappy and funny, and the emotional scenes have genuine depth to them. I really found myself pulling for Blake and hoping things would turn out well for him. The ending of the novel, while not completely resolving everything that happens to Blake, is a good indication that he will come through just fine.

I can't wait to see what L.K. Madigan comes up with next.

Kifflie (eagerly awaiting the release of Mockingjay on August 24th!)

Teen Writers Group

2010-08-09T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, August 14, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks and beverages will be available. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend.

Teen Summer Reading Program Ends August 14

2010-08-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

The Teen Summer Reading Program ends this Saturday, August 14th, at 2:00 PM. I will draw for two final weekly prizes and then the grand prize. The grand prize winner will receive a $25 Target gift certificate AND a $15 Best Buy card. Sweet deal! And all for just reading. Get those entries in!

Kifflie

Book Review: Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick

2010-08-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a quick, suspenseful read, Revolver might be a good choice.

In the winter of 1910, fourteen-year-old Sig has just discovered that Einar, his father has frozen to death in the barren Arctic wilderness. He brings his father's body back to his isolated family cabin while his sister and stepmother go for help. Before too long, a strange and frightening man (appropriately named Wolff) appears at Sig's door. Wolff claims that Einar and he had made a deal years ago, and now he intends to collect on it, no matter if Einar is dead or not. A terrifying standoff ensues, and Sig begins to believe that his only hope is to get to his late father's hidden Colt revolver before Wolff realizes what's happening.

The story flashes back and forth between Sig's current situation and Einar's initial encounters with Wolff from ten years ago, when he worked in an Alaskan mining town. Sedgwick does a nice job of merging the two stories together, building up the excitement and presenting Sig with a pivotal moral choice at the story's climax. All this in about 200 pages, for a very solid read.

Kifflie (Next up: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan)

Teen Summer Reading Program Update

2010-07-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

We now have 89 people signed up for the Teen Summer Reading Program. We have surpassed last year's sign-ups, and we also have many more weekly entry forms being submitted. Thank you to all who have participated!

There are still three weekly drawings remaining in the program, along with our Grand Prize to be awarded on Saturday, August 14. Get your entries in!

Book Review: As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

2010-07-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ry is taking a long train ride to summer camp. The train stops in Montana due to some sort of mechanical problem, and Ry takes the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs. Before he knows it, the train takes off without him, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere. He is left with nothing except the clothes on his back, a few dollars in his wallet, and a cell phone with a dying battery.

So begins Ry's strange but somehow exhilarating journey back home to Wisconsin, and beyond. Assisting him is Del, a man who can't help fixing things, and an assortment of Del's friends spread around the country and even into the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Ry's parents, his grandfather, and even his dogs have their own series of misfortunes and strange journeys. Lynne Rae Perkins adds a nice touch by telling the dogs' adventures through a series of comic panels.

This story is packed with more than a few chuckles. And, as Ry comes to understand, "maybe, the more people you put in your family, the better."

Kifflie (Next up: Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick)

Wii Gaming for Teens This Saturday!

2010-07-21T08:54:00.001-07:00

The Library will host Wii Gaming for teens in the Youth Program Room from 1:00 to 4:00 PM this Saturday, July 24th. No registration is required. Cold beverages will be available. Come and play Mario Kart, Wii Sports Resort, and Guitar Hero World Tour!

Teen Writers Group This Saturday

2010-07-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, July 10, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks and beverages will be available. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend.

Book Review: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

2010-07-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

Caitlin is paralyzed by the suicide of her best friend, Ingrid. The two girls shared a passion for taking pictures, and Caitlin is sharply reminded of this when she goes back to high school for her junior year and sees Ingrid's work displayed in her advanced photography class. Furthermore, Ms. Delani, the photography teacher, seems unhappy to have Caitlin back in her class again.

One weekend, while searching for her stereo remote, Caitlin discovers Ingrid's last journal shoved under her bed. Over the course of the school year, she reads it, entry by entry, and gains some understanding of the pain Ingrid was experiencing before she killed herself. In the meantime, Caitlin finds herself spending time with Dylan, the "new girl" in school, and popular boy Taylor takes an interest in her as well.

Slowly, Caitlin emerges from her shell and rediscovers her artistic drive and talent for building things. While the pain of losing Ingrid still hurts, she's learned to transform it into actions that also help those around her recover as well.

This is a quick, honest story from a first-time author. Let's hope we see more from her soon.

Kifflie (Now starting As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins)

Wii Gaming Event July 24

2010-06-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

We're having Teen Open Gaming with the Nintendo Wii on Saturday, July 24, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in the Youth Program Room. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 19 is welcome to attend. Snacks and cold drinks will be served.

We will have Mario Kart, Wii Sports Resort, and Guitar Hero: World Tour available for play. Bring your friends! No registration is required. Call Kifflie at 532-8910 if you have any questions.

Teen Summer Reading Program Update

2010-06-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

So far we have 61 people signed up for our Teen Summer Reading Program. It's easy! All you have to do is go to the second floor of the library, fill out a registration card, and read! You get one entry per week for the Friday drawings. Last week we awarded a flash drive and a Wendy's gift card. Want to be in this week's drawing? Get your books read and your entries in by 2:00 on Friday, June 25!

Book Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

2010-06-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

Sydelle Mirabil, a talented weaver, lives in Cliffton, a desert town in the far west of the kingdom of Palmarta. The townspeople are living with rumors of war with the surrounding kingdoms of Saldorra and Auster. On one unforgettable evening, a sudden rainstorm hits, and a wizard named Wayland North arrives in town. Coincidence?

As "payment" for giving Cliffton's residents the much-needed rain, North takes Sydelle with him on a mission to the capital city of Provincia. Along the way they encounter friends such as the good-hearted soldier Owain, and enemies such as the deadly dark wizard Dorwan. Although a talented mage, North is haunted by an old family curse, and his mood changes are a challenge for Sydelle to handle. Sydelle also begins to realize that there is something unusual about herself; she has powers of her own that both attract and repel the wizarding community as it prepares for what could be a devastating conflict with its neighbors.

This is a fast-paced story. Scenery goes by swiftly, and secondary characters come and go with not much development. While I thought that the concept of this book was interesting, I wish there had been more depth to the characters and better descriptions of the countryside. Still, if you're looking for a quick fantasy read, this is a pretty good effort from a first-time author.

Kifflie (Now starting Hold Still by Nina LaCour)

Teen Summer Reading Program Starts This Friday!

2010-06-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that the Teen Summer Reading Program starts this Friday. You can register on the second floor of the library. Read a book per week and enter to win flash drives, iTunes cards, and restaurant gift cards.

A grand prize will be drawn on Saturday, August 14th. The grand prize is a $25 Target gift certificate and a $15 Best Buy card. All entry forms for the summer will be put into the grand prize drawing, so if you read at least one book per week, you improve your chances to win!

See you @ the library!

Kifflie

Teen Writers Group

2010-06-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Teen Writers Group meets the second Saturday of every month in the Library Board Room from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend. Snacks and beverages will be served.

Contact Kifflie Scott at 532-8910 with any questions.

Book Review: The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

2010-06-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

New Mexico is the setting for this latest novel by the author of Marcelo in the Real World. Seventeen-year-old Pancho Sanchez has lost both of his parents, and now his developmentally disabled sister Rosa has died under mysterious circumstances. Having been kicked out of his foster home due to violent behavior, Pancho finds himself in St. Anthony’s Orphanage, where he meets Daniel Quentin (better known as D.Q.).

D.Q. has brain cancer, and even though his mother is still alive, he is looking to become an emancipated minor. He wants to deal with his illness in his own way rather than submit to his mother’s wish for him to participate in experimental chemotherapy. He expresses his personal philosophy in a work he calls the “Death Warrior Manifesto.” In D.Q.’s words, “a Death Warrior is grateful for every second of time given and is aware of how precious each second is. Every second not spent loving is wasted. The Death Warrior’s enemy is time that is wasted by not loving.”

(At this point, those with literary tendencies might see some similarities between this D.Q. and a famous Spanish don with a sidekick whose name just happens to rhyme with “Pancho.”)

Pancho, meanwhile, is struggling with his own rage over Rosa’s death and his desire to get revenge on the man he holds responsible. At the same time he seems to adjust remarkably well to life in the orphanage and makes himself useful giving “rickshaw” rides to young cancer patients at a nearby health care facility. He meets and falls for Marisol, a health aide, who also happens to be the girl of D.Q.’s dreams.

The author treats us to memorable supporting characters such as Josie (a young cancer patient) and Johnny Corazon (a holistic healer). There is genuine suspense as Pancho finally confronts the man who was there when his sister died. But most of all, the book is about the deep honesty in the relationship between Pancho and D.Q. as each of them discovers for himself what it really means to be a Death Warrior.

All in all, this is another fine effort from Francisco X. Stork.

Kifflie (Now starting Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken)

Chess Club at the Library

2010-06-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

Are you a chess newbie, or would you like to increase your chess skills?

Ben Corcoran of the Waukesha Chess Club will be here this summer to show you how to improve your game. You are invited to attend any or all of the sessions listed below. Meetings will take place in our Youth Program Room.

Dates and times are as follows:

* Saturday, June 12 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
* Saturday, June 26 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
* Saturday, July 17 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Each session will start with a lecture, and then will continue with actual playing time. Chess boards and pieces will be provided. For further information or to register, please call Kifflie at (262) 532-8910.

Book Review: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2010-05-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

It’s been almost a year since the events of Life as We Knew It, the first book in this series by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Back then, a meteor struck the Moon and caused a cataclysm on Earth. Miranda Evans and her family continue to eke out an existence in rural Pennsylvania. Between scrounging for food, getting used to a new sister-in-law, and working to stay warm, Miranda writes in her journal and tries to keep up her spirits.

Change suddenly comes when Miranda’s father, stepmother, and their extended “road family” show up at the door. Among the newcomers are Alex and Julie Morales, last seen in book two, The Dead and the Gone. The adjustment is difficult for everyone, as already meager resources have to be shared, sleeping quarters are a challenge, and frayed emotions easily come to the surface. Death continues to haunt these survivors; Pfeffer pulls few punches in describing the horror and despair that threatens to overwhelm every one of them. Alex, haunted by his experiences in New York City, turns to Miranda for comfort. She responds, but it’s a rough process for each of them.

This World We Live In moves at a quick pace, yet Pfeffer takes the time to explore what life might really be like in America if volcanic ash blocked out most sunlight, if electricity only worked part of the time, and if weather behaved differently than it ever has before. What also is clear in this book is the importance of staying together and maintaining hope even in the most devastating of circumstances.

Although Miranda claims to be wrapping up her story in the last pages, I suppose there is some chance that there might be a fourth book from Alex’s point of view. We’ll have to wait and see.

Kifflie (Now starting The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork)

Teen Summer Reading Program

2010-05-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

“Make Waves @ Your Library” this summer! The Teen Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 11th and will run through Saturday, August 14th.

You can register for the program on the second floor of the library. Read one book per week and enter your name to win prizes such as flash drives, iTunes cards, and restaurant gift cards. Bonus: for the first book you finish, you’ll receive one coupon for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. A grand prize will be drawn on Saturday, August 14th. Questions? Call Kifflie at 532-8910.

Welcome to the MFPL Teen Zone!

2010-05-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Menomonee Falls Public Library Teen Zone! At the suggestion of our Teen Advisory Board, we have started this blog to communicate with the teens who use our library as well as anyone else who has an interest in books and programs for teens. You can expect to find book reviews, program announcements, information on when new books are scheduled to be released, and whatever else we can find that might be of interest to teens.

My name is Kifflie Scott, and I have worked at the Menomonee Falls Public Library since 2000. I became the Teen Librarian in 2004. I am the parent of two teens and an avid reader. Lately I have become a fan of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness (Both of those authors will be concluding their trilogies later this year, and you can look forward to my reviews when that happens). I also enjoy reading adult fiction by authors such as Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King, and Michael Connelly.

I am always looking for suggestions from teens about new items to get for our collection, program ideas, or anything else you can think of to improve our teen area. Please feel free to drop me an email at kscott@mf.lib.wi.us, or come to one of our Teen Advisory Board meetings (these will be announced on the blog and on the library’s main webpage).

Comments to this blog are also welcome. These will be moderated, so please keep them appropriate for a public forum.

We’re looking forward to a great summer! Our Teen Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 11. More details to follow in a few days.

See you @ the library!

-- Kifflie (Currently reading This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer)