Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
Stars (out of 5): 5
Review: This book was written so beautifully and the characters really came alive to me. This delicate story is really powerful and thought-provoking. I most enjoyed Oskar’s narration and his interesting observations. They made the book so emotional and personal.
This review was written by a 10th grader.
Write your own book reviews! Join the Teen Summer Reading Program.
Title: The Truth about Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Stars (out of 5): 5
Review: Sarah Dessen comes through with another good read for me and I highly recommend reading this book. It’s something almost everyone can relate too such as the feeling of wanting to change and the feeling of wanting for everything to stay as they are when a tragic event occurs when Macy’s father dies of a heart attack. We’ve all felt what it’s like losing someone and this book illustrates that everyone grieves at a different pace.
This review was written by a 12th grader.
Write your own book reviews! Join the Teen Summer Reading Program.
Title: Ender’s Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Stars (out of 5): 4
Review: It is very futuristic and earth is being attacked by alien buggers, Ender Wiggin goes on a mission to a battle station in space and they are being trained to fight the buggers to save the human race.
This review was written by a 9th grader.
Write your own book reviews! Join the Teen Summer Reading Program!
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Stars: (out of 5) 5
Review: At first I didn’t think the book was interesting until after Katniss volunteered to be in the hunger games for her little sister in district 12.
This review was written by a 9th grader.
Write your own book reviews! Join the Teen Summer Reading Program.
If you are going into grades 6-12, take part in our teen summer reading program! Everyone who participates gets a free ice cream at Lizzy’s Homemade Ice Cream and you can win gift cards to Barnes and Noble! Just fill out a form every time you read a book. Get extra credit if you write a review and then read your review online! You can read books, comic books, graphic novels, or magazines. You can even write a review of a movie and we’ll post that, too!
On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, Laura and Aileen met with a group of about 11 teens and preteens for an hour to discuss topics concerning young adults and the Waltham Public Library. Teens expressed their opinions and knowledge regarding…
· what they like about the library,
· dislike about the library,
· how they use the library,
· what they would change about the library,
· and behavior in the library.
The most popular response for why teens like/use the library is to get together with friends. They strongly disliked the furniture in the YA room, and would like to see more color and newer posters in the YA room.
Other responses for visiting the library included use of computers, accessibility to the library, doing homework, reserving study rooms, having a snack room, and affordable vending machines.
If you’d like to help make the library a better place for young adults, all who are in grades 7 – 12 are invited to join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 from 3 – 4p.m. We’ll meet in the YA Room here at the Waltham Public Library. Light refreshments will be served!
Thanks to all of you who came to the library’s Young Adult room yesterday and gave your thoughts about the library! 11 teens and tweens in middle school and high school came and spoke with librarians, Aileen and Laura, about what they liked about the library, what they didn’t like about the library, what they would change, and how they think they should behave in the library. It was a great meeting and we enjoyed hearing what you all had to say.
Below, one of our meeting members, Alex, shows us what we all talked about at the meeting.
What would you Change about the Library?
What Do You Like about the Library?
How Should I Behave at the Library?
What I Don't Like about the Library
Always Remember: Respect Others, Respect Library Property, and Respect Yourself!
posted by Laura
Are you in middle school or high school? Let your voice at the library be heard!
Come join us in the Young Adult Room on Tuesday, May 8 from 3 – 4 pm, and give your thoughts about the library.
Food will be served!
P.S. Read the latest blog post on the main WPL blog on one librarian’s favorite TV characters. What are your favorite TV characters?
P.S.S. Did you know that the library has a Facebook page? Like us!
The Hunger Games movie is opening today. Were you at a midnight showing? Are you planning to go this weekend? Are you excited about this movie opening or do you think there is no way it could be any better than the book? Read a good review and a bad review. Read about other YA book movies that didn’t do too well.
In November, YA author, Micol Ostow, was nice enough to donate some time to conduct a Skype session with members of the Waltham High School/Waltham Public Library joint book club. The students gathered at the Waltham High School Library and due to the magic of the Internet (and some help from a camera, a microphone, and Mr. MacLeod), were able to have a great conversation with Ms. Ostow. Here are some pictures from the event.
Laura from the public library getting the ball rolling with the first question
A book club member asking Micol about her use of verse in the book Family
Micol answering a question.
Some students gave up their lunch periods to talk with Micol.
Some of Micol’s books include Family, Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa, What would my Cell Phone Do, and So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint your Mother)
