The Ultimate Teen Reading List

Looking for a recommendation for a good book? Teenreads.com has compiled what they consider to be the ultimate reading list for teens. The books on the list were chosen because they are inspiring and spark discussion. Newer, older, and classic books are included. Both teen and adult books of interest to teens made the list. I was happy to see many of my favorites on the list, including two from recent years, Dairy Queen, and its sequel, The Off Season, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, but was disappointed that one of last year's offerings, Graceling, by Kristen Cashore was missing from the list. What book(s) would you include on your own ultimate reading list?

Round Three

The Battle of the Books continues! Last week, eight titles were whittled down to four:

Octavian Nothing vs Chains
Hunger Games vs The Lincolns

Next week, one of these four books will be crowned champion. Is your favorite still in the running? Have you weighed in with your vote for the People's Choice?

Battle of the Books, Round 2

Round 2 of School Libray Journal's Battle of the Books begins today! In case you missed the action in last week's round one, here are the winners to date:

Octavian Nothing, vol. II, by M.T. Anderson
The Trouble Begins at 8, by Sid Fleischman

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

We are the Ship, by Kadir Nelson
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
The Lincolns, by Candace Fleming

The book pairs above will face off against each other this week with a whole new slate of judges. Check the Battle of the Books site daily for results and be sure to vote for your favorite in the People's Choice Poll!

Which book will come out on top?

School Library Journal is hosting a Battle of the Books tournament! Sixteen of the top books published in 2008 will compete in a March-Madness style event. Each contest will be judged by a prominent author of juvenile or young adult books. As the winner of each contest is determined, the list of contenders will be whittled down from 16, to 8, to 4, to 2, and finally one will emerge as the champion.

Details about the event and bios of the judges can be found here. You can weigh in with your opinion, too! Fill out the People's Choice Poll to vote for your favorite and track the results.

The battle begins April 13. During Round One, two winners will be posted on the site each day from the 13th through the 16th. Round Two winners will be posted April 20th - 23rd and Round Three winners will be posted April 28th and 29th. Finally, the Round Four winner will be revealed on May 6.

Contenders for the first round are:

• Octavian Nothing, vol. ll, by M.T. Anderson v. Ways to Live Forever, by Sally Nicholls
• The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman v. The Trouble Begins at 8, by Sid Fleischman
• Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderseon v. Washington at Valley Forge, by Russell Freedman
• Here Lies Arthur, by Philip Reeve v. Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart v. We are the Ship, by Kadir Nelson
• The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins v. The Porcupine Year, by Louise Erdrich
• Graceling, by Kristin Cashore v. The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt
• The Lincolns, by Candace Fleming v. Nation, by Terry Pratchett

Let the fun begin!

Poetry anyone?

April is poetry month! To commemorate this annual event, the Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch is sponsoring a poetry contest. Poets of all ages are invited to submit their finest work for consideration. Poems must be submitted to the library by April 20th. Prizes will be awarded April 30th.