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) - March 2015

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):

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka - You usually can't go wrong with a Caldecott Medal winner, but some parents get intimida
ted by a book with no pictures.  My advice - trust yourself as a storyteller!  Wordless picture book are a great way of interacting with your child while reading.  If your child is fairly verbal, ask them to help you tell the story.  Ask them questions about the pictures and what is happening on each page.  Doing this will help develop their vocabulary and increase their narrative (storytelling) skills.  Plus, with wordless books each time you read it can be different!  Now back to Daisy.  This is a lovely and colorful book about a dog (Daisy) who has a treasured red ball.  Unfortunately Daisy must cope with the loss of her ball when another dog pops it.  But have no fear, this book has a happy ending.  The story is simple and sweet, and kids of all ages who have lost a beloved toy, or even those who have not, will sympathize with sweet Daisy.

Sidekicks by Dan Santat - Dan Santat is the creator of the Disney show "The Replacements" and most recently the author and illustrator of the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner "The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend."  Somewhere in between, Santat wrote Sidekicks, a fun graphic novel for kids ages 8 and up.  Sidekicks is a superhero comic with a twist: Captain Amazing, an aging superhero, is looking for a new sidekick and his eclectic group of pets are determined to win the role.  The book is funny, action-packed, and heart-warming too.  Great for the superhero-fans who are getting beyond Batman first readers, the animal lovers, and any reader who likes a satisfying story where the good guys win in the end.

Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan - After reading this book I suffered from severe book-mourning.  That is, I didn't want to read any other book because this one had been so good.  At the age of 12, Willow Chance's parents both die in a car crash, leaving her to fend for herself in a world that often doesn't understand her.  She is an incredibly brilliant girl but has a hard time relating to other people.  She makes her way through her loss with the unexpected friendships she finds in an unqualified school counselor, a family keeping a secret, and a friendly cab driver.  The ending wraps up so nicely that in any other book it would seem too easy, too neat, but readers will be rooting so hard for Willow that this won't even cross their minds.  Definitely a winner for middle grade and middle school readers who like moving realistic fiction.

Have you seen our new ipad?

Last week we installed a new ipad in the Children's Department! Located next to the public access computers, this ipad features a wide range of apps for kids of all ages!  Browse through folders of apps for toddlers, pre-schoolers, and fun apps for older kids.

This ipad joins our wall-mounted ipads, which each feature one hand-selected app per week. Check out app recommendations and tips for using technology with children on our Apps page.  Wondering what all of this is doing at the library?  Read more about why we have apps at the Wellesley Free Library!

Some highlights on the new ipad include:

Toca Kitchen

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Come check it out!