What's new in the youth room?

Are you looking for a new Middle School/Teen read?

Look no further than the Quigley Youth Room!

Here are some of the books on our new shelf.  Check them out the next time you're in - there's something for everyone!

Science Fiction/Thriller  Charisma by Jeanne Ryan : Tacoma, Washington, high school junior Aislyn's extreme shyness has crippled her socially and cost her a college scholarship, so she jumps at the chance to try an illegal gene therapy, but although she is finally able to date her long-term crush, Jack, the therapy becomes a contagious disease that can be fatal.

Sports/Realistic Fiction  Game Seven by Paul Volponi : A sixteen-year-old shortstop in Cuba who dreams of playing with the pros must choose between his country and his father who defected to the U.S.

Historical/Paranormal Jackaby by William Ritter : Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which,Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature.

Realistic Fiction Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz : Auditioning for a New York City performing arts high school could help Etta escape from her Nebraska all-girl school, where she's not gay enough for her former friends, not sick enough for her eating disorders group, and not thin enough for ballet--but it may also mean real friendships.

Fantasy Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman : Sequal to Seraphina - Seraphina, half-dragon and half-human, searches for others like her who can make the difference in the war between dragons and humans in the kingdom of Goredd.

Action Terminal by Kathy and Brendan Reichs : Fifth book in the Virals Series- Tory and her comrades must track a new pack of rogue Virals who have brought on the attention of a shadowy government organization intent on learning the secret to their powers.

Memoir Turning 15 on the road to freedom: my story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery : One of the youngest participants in the 1965 voting rights march in Alabama, Lowery provides a moving first-person account of her experience. Through this thought-provoking volume, the picture of an incredibly courageous young woman emerges. Lowery effectively conveys the enormity of the injustices in her world and the danger that those she knew encountered daily. Lowery shows what people, including children, are capable of when they stand together. 

Fairy Tale A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas  : One hundred years after falling asleep, Aurora wakes to the kiss of a handsome prince and a kingdom that has dreamed of her return, but her happily-ever-after seems unlikely as she faces grief over the loss of everything she knew and a cruel new king.

What WFL Children's Librarians are reading (and loving)

Do you ever wonder what the WFL Children's Librarians are reading?  While we can't read every Children's and Youth book out there, we try to keep up with the best of the best, the most popular books, and also those that interest us personally!

Here are some books that I've read recently (and enjoyed):

Picture Book:

Sophie's Terrible Twos by Rosemary Wells

You generally can't go wrong with Rosemary Wells, creator of the beloved Max and Ruby characters.  I have been reading her newest book, Sophie's Terrible Twos, with my toddler nearly every day for the last few weeks and she can't get enough.  Sophie is a mouse who just turned two and "got up on the wrong side of the crib."  After a grumpy morning she goes out on the town with her granny and comes home with an unexpected surprise!


Children's Fiction:

The Other Half of my Heart by Sundee T. Frazier

This book caught my attention when it was nominated from the Massachusetts Children's Book Award last year, and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to read it! It tells the story of biracial twins who look very different: one with their father's light skin and fine hair and one with their mother's dark skin and curly hair.  The girls travel from their small and very white town in Washington State to North Carolina to stay with their grandmother and participate in the Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America program.  Throughout their trip and experience with the pageant/program, both girls develop new understandings of identity, prejudice, bravery, wisdom, and sisterhood.  While this book could potentially read like an after-school special or a didactic tale, it does neither, instead presenting important lessons along with a rich plot and a story that is a joy to read.


Young Adult Fiction:

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

I'll be honest that I had no interest in reading this book when I first heard of it.  There was something about the description and the cover (and let's be honest, we do judge books by their covers at times) that seemed unappealing to me.  But after the umpteenth award nomination and starred review, I felt it was my duty to give it a try.  And I am so very glad I did!  Although a completely bizarre premise - it is narrated by Jacob Grimm, who, as a ghost, accompanies the main character throughout his life in small-town America - the plot draws you in and then takes unexpected turn after unexpected turn.  From teenage romance to fairy tales and game shows, there is nothing formulaic or predictable about Far Far Away.  I can't say too much more other than that a very satisfying ending (as opposed to a cliff-hanger) is much appreciated in a YA novel these days, and this book certainly delivered.

Great gifts for Middle Schoolers: graphic novels!

Looking for something new and fun to read?  Look no further than our latest additions to the Youth Room Graphic Novel section! These books would also make great holiday gifts for avid Middle School graphic novel readers!

Sisters 
The latest from Raina Telgemeier (author/illustrator of Smile and Drama) about her relationship with her sister over the course of a family cross-country trip.






 
The Graveyard book  
Graphic Novel version of the dark Newbery-medal-winning book about a young orphan who is adopted by ghosts in a graveyard.










The Shadow Hero 
Well-known graphic novel author Gene Luen Yang invents an origin story for the not-well-known superhero, The Green Turtle, the first Asian-American superhero character.



 

Through the Woods 
This is a spooky collection of fairy-tales gone wrong.  Not for the faint-of-heart, grizzly tales are made even more dark by haunting illustrations.





 


Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey 
This non-fiction graphic novel portrays the travels of Earnest Shackleton as he explored the Antarctic. 






 


Lies in the Dust: A Tale of Remorse from the Salem Witch Trials 
A letter of apology from Ann Putnam Jr., a key witness in the Salem Witch Trials, comes to life in this graphic novel.





 


El Deafo
An autobiographical story about a girl navigating making friends and fitting in while using a hearing aid.

The Dumbest Idea Ever 
This fun autobiographical graphic novel tells of how the author discovered his love of comics and illustrations while bedridden, after missing out on his championship basketball game due to illness.

2014 Teens Top Ten Booklist!

Looking for a great book that other teens have loved?  Look no further than YALSA's 2014 Teens Top Ten list, a list of the 10 best books written in 2013, nominated and voted for by Teens!  Most of these books are available in the Youth Room at the Wellesley Free Library, and many are available as downloadable ebooks.

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
2. Splintered by A.G. Howard
3. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
4. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
5. Monument 14: Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne
6. Earth Girl by Janet Edwards
7. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
8. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
9. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
10. The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

6 books to read before 6th grade

In the last question of the Countdown to 6 challenge, we asked Wellesley's rising 6th graders to name and review 6 books they thought all rising 6th graders should read.  Here are the top 6 answers!

#1 Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling

Reviewed by Ultimate Fangirl

AMAZING. About a boy with magical powers who defeats an evil wizard. (Honestly, I could go on for hours about it, it's that good.)


#2 Percy Jackson (series) by Rick Riordan

Reviewed by SophieM

Percy Jackson has never been normal. He has dyslexia and ADHD and has been kicked out of every school he's ever attended. His life about to get weirder, when in one day he arrives at a camp for
half-bloods, find out he's half god, his mother is kidnapped, and the gods are on the point of a civil war. Can he and his friends set things right?


#3 Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Reviewed by GingerNeev

August is a boy who was born with 'extreme facial abnormalities' and is homeschooled. He then switches to private school entering fifth grade, and he struggles being another ordinary student while lots of kids are staring whispering and talking about him in the hallways. Even how he looks on the outside is extraordinary, he is ordinary inside; he is really smart and funny. Along the school year, August finds friends which appreciate him for who he is, and he realizes that he is special to not only his family but to the world. Read the book to find out more. 



#4 Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper

Reviewed by Snowhusky

It's about a girl named Melody who can't walk, talk, or write.  It's been like that since she was born.  But when she goes up a grade the special kids join the normal kids, and Melody becomes friends with Rose.  But is Rose really a good friend?


#5 Dork Diaries (series) by Rachel Renee Russell

Reviewed by Artistic Mind

The reason I think that Dork Daries is such a great book is that it is about a girl named Nikki J. Maxwell who is new to the school and most of the people that go to this school is kind of rich ad the only reason she is in this school is from her dad working for the school and she faces some challenges with the mean girl aka (Mackenzie). But she over come her troubles with her friend. So she is starting to like her new school.


#6 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Reviewed by eddiebaseball

Bilbo Baggins meets nice people and evil goblins on his quest to a mountain full of gold! I liked it because it was very exciting.

Books into movies!

It seems like every other day a kids or teen book is made into a movie!  But, of course, some are left out.  Here are Wellesley's rising 6th graders' takes on what books they wish would be made into movies!

Andrew2014 would like to see "The Twits by Roald Dahl because I would like to see if the movie producer changes the story line in any way and the book is already really funny so I would like to see if the movie plot line is more or less funny."







Henry2014 would like to see I Represent Sean Rosen by Jeff Baron "because it would be great to see Sean pretending to be his own manager and trying to get his movie made."








Bob123 says "The book The Saturday Boy [by David Fleming]should be made into a movie because it is really funny and you never know what will happen. Also, some parts will be heart touching and emotional just like real life."







Pennywar would like to see "The Grimm Conclusion by Adam Gidwitz because the author described things so well I had a whole "movie" playing in my head.  If there was a movie, I could compare my version with the real one."







What do you think?  What book do you think should be made into a movie?

Spotlight on Series: Middle School Book Reviews

Looking for something to keep you busy over the summer?  Start a new series!  Check out these reviews of the first books in series, written by Middle School students participating in the 25 in 25 Reading Challenge.  Find these books, and more, in the Quigley Youth Room at the Wellesley Free Library!


Heist Society by Ally Carter
Reviewed by mdubwags, grade 6


This book was really exciting, and made me want to read it a lot! Kat's whole family has a very crooked past. When she was three Kat's parents took her to the Louvre to case it, and for Kat's seventh birthday she and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Australia to steal the crown jewels. She's trying to get a new life, but crime has called to her


The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Reviewed by beastmode24, grade 6


I enjoyed this book. It is about a kid who is dropped in a mysterious world and remembers nothing about himself except for his name. The world is surrounded by a dangerous maze. The author makes the book have a lot twists.





Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Reviewed by 4869, grade 7


This book is about a girl named Katsa who has an amazing skill of fighting and killing. The king, Randa, uses her skill to punish his people unfairly. Katsa does not like how she is being used and she runs away. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy action. This is a story for both boys and girls.



Middle School- The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson
Reviewed by Wardog5000, grade 7


This was a great book. It really kept my attention. The characters were well thought out and very realistic. I also very much enjoyed the illustrations. This is a fun read with a lot of laughs.






Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Reviewed by t_mac, grade 8


This book was great! It is about a boy named Ethan who lives with his dad in a small town where nothing ever seems to happen. Then, weird things start to happen. A song called "Sixteen Moons" appears and disappears on his iPod at random. Also, a new girl shows up- and Ethan thinks she is beautiful. However, she is part of a family that has powers-but these powers come with consequence. On Lena's sixteenth birthday, The Book of Moons (a book that controls the fate of her family) will decide whether she will be Light or Dark-good or evil. To find out what happens, read the book!

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Reviewed by wms111, grade 8


Although this is a long book, it's an amazing one for all those who love fantasy with dragons, mystery and adventure in it. Beware of the Shades... You never know where they are... Unless...