Sometime every summer, a little list slips onto the YA shelves near the School Summer Reading titles. Every once in a while, books featured on that list are on display and teen readers snatch the books up. This quiet little list is actually not that quiet at all. It is a nationally recognized list of books chosen by teens, for teens, and mostly about teens from a variety of genres.

This list is the Teens’ Top Ten Nomination list (compiled by YALSA-American Library Association).

Just by looking at the list this year, there are some really, really popular books everything from titles everyone can’t stop talking about to titles that make you remember “Oh yeah, I wanted to read that.” To me, this year’s list is extra good as I often find that almost everything is checked out!

Have you (or parents, your teen) been reading the titles? Have you read only a handful, but feel they are the best? Vote! Yes, vote for your favorite books and see if they make it to the Teens’ Top Ten List! Voting opened on August 23rd and goes until September 17th! Winners will be announced in October 2010, during Teen Read Week.

Until then, vote and tell your friends to vote, and pass the word! After you vote, check in October 2010 to see which books are the Teens’ Top Ten Books of 2010.

Remember this post where we sampled some of what maybe the most anticipated books-to-movies coming out for 2010?

Once again, 2010 is just full of books-to-movies coming out. Some of the latest have been:

• Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World based on the Scott Pilgrim series by Bryan Lee O’Malley.  (Due out August 13)
• Flipped based on the book by Wendelin Van Draanen (Due out August 27)
• It’s Kind of a Funny Story based on the book by Ned Vizzini (Due out September 24)

And some books to TV including the Pretty Little Liars series, which is based off of these books.

In Twilight news, Break Dawn is slated for a two part release, one in November 2011 and another in 2012.

Don’t forget to check the catalog for the books and for the DVDs (when they are released). Some in the previous post may be on DVD now.

Did we forget something you’re looking forward to (such as Beastly based on the book by Alex Flinn which has been pushed from 2010 to 2011)? Let us know in the comments.

We’re still here! And so is Y.A. Wednesday! We are in full Summer Reading Mode with lots of books being checked out as well as activities for Children and Teens hence why the blog has been quiet. Have you noticed the “Important News” toward the top of the web page? This is where we list upcoming events and closures so if you want to see what we have happening this week, just check that!

With the return of Y.A. Wednesday, I’d like to draw your attention to the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens (ages 13-18) still have time to sign up if they’d like a chance to win one of the two gift bags we have left or collect Book Dollars for the Big Bash on August 20th! The last day to sign up is August 6th by 5 PM! After that, teens will have 2 weeks to collect Book Dollars for the Big Bash or Raffle Tickets for the last prize bag so there is plenty of time to get something.

If you have signed up for the Teen Summer Reading Club or know a teen who has, but hasn’t been collecting Book Dollars or Raffle Tickets because s/he lost their log in information, contact us!

Happy reading!

From Poets.org

April is…National Poetry Month. This month is dedicated to poetry in all shapes and forms by authors young and old. How can you participate? Just read a poem! Read one a day or pick up some poem books or read a whole novel in verse (poetry) form. The library has books with poems, books about poets, and books in verse. Just ask!

Check out one of the displays in the library. Look for poetry books on your way up the stairs (or down) from the Children’s Floor or check out the display in our Teen Alcove. Just look for the blue sign that features a black and white “National Poetry Month” sign. If you are on the Lower Level, look to the book shelf beside the desk. We have poetry books for all ages!

Also, check out Poets.org for resources and to subscribe to their poem a day feature. Lots to explore!

Yes, you!

Chester County Library System is trying to improve customer service and we need your help! Please take the survey found on CCLS.org to tell us what you think.

Teen Tech Week is right around the corner: March 7th until March 13th, 2010.

What is Teen Tech Week? It is a celebration of the technology around you and that the library uses! We’ll have programs, book displays and a raffle during the week to win a cool prize, just for attending our programs! Attend one of the programs below and you are entered into the drawing! (All events are open to teens ages 12-18, in grades 6-12).

Monday, March 8, 6:30 PM until about 7:45 PM – Teen Advisory Board Meeting
Have you visited our  Teen Advisory Board Meeting? Now is a great time to do so and learn about the awesome programming we’re brainstorming for summer.

Tuesday, March 9, 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM – After School Cafe: Mario Kart Wii Practice Rounds
Do you like Mario Kart Wii? Never tried it out? Planning to attend our BIG EVENT on Friday? Here is your chance to stop by and try out Mario Kart Wii against other players! Free snacks! No registration!

Friday, March 12, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Mario Kart Wii Tournament
Play against your friends and see if you are the Mario Kart Champion! Registration required and there will be pizza!

Have questions or want to register? Call us at 610-696-1721 or e-mail us at wcplteens [at] gmail [dot] com!

Teen Movie Night is happening tonight at West Chester Public Library from 7 PM to 10 PM!

The event is open to any teen ages 13-18 and wants to see a movie on the library big screen, FOR FREE. We’ll also provide the snacks and pizza. Call before 5 PM today to reserve your seat, or take a chance and arrive at our doors at 7 PM as we’ll start the movie shortly.

Call the library to find out the title of the movie or ask your friends and see if they know!

Hope to see you there!

It seems 2010 is shaping up to be a busy year concerning books being turned into movies.

Titles to look forward to:

• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol (Movie Release: March 5, 2010)
• Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer (Movie Release: June 30, 2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) by J. K. Rowling (Movie Release: November 19, 2010)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (Movie Release: December 10, 2010)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Movie Release: April 2, 2010)
• Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan (Movie Release: February 12, 2010)

These are just a few titles. If you haven’t read the book, stop by the library today and read the book while you wait for the movie! Visit CCLS.org for the catalog!

GAME ON at WCPL
After School Cafe will be all about board games! Challenge your friends with some of your favorite games and try some new ones!

• Date and time: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM
• For Teens in Grades 6-12
• Where: WCPL’s Meeting Room
• NO REGISTRATION! Stop by whenever you want or show up when you open and stay the whole time! Bring a friend!
• Board Games include: Apples-to-Apples, Blokus, Rubik’s Race, Mad Gab, Chess, Checkers, Boggle, Clue, Chicken Out, TV Scene It!, Word Spot, and MORE!

Did you know…that every Tuesday after school, we offer a hangout just for teens in grades 6-12? We call the hangout After School Cafe and it happens Tuesdays, 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM. You’ll find snacks, friends, computers, sometimes the library Wii and other fun things for you to do! If you have not checked out After School Cafe, why not stop by February 2, 2010.

Pretty Dead
By Francesca Lia Block

Rethink everything you thought you knew about the life of a vampire. According to Charlotte Emerson, the least of her problems are perfect skin, perfect hair, and living a luxurious life in vintage fashions. Instead, Charlotte finds herself surrounded with everything a girl could want, but wishing for something she can’t seem to find. For her, the life of a vampire has only brought her death, sadness, and a loneliness and emptiness she was “born” (as a Vampire) with. Nothing for her will change as she tries to cope. That is, until the day she breaks a fingernail. Vampire’s nails don’t break, and this is only the first sign of events to come involving her growing feelings for a human and the need to face her past.

In this wildly different vampire love story about Charlotte, author Francesca Lia Block asks, “What if a vampire doesn’t want to live forever?”

Pretty Dead was a compelling read. I found it difficult to put down since I wanted to learn about Charlotte’s past and what was happening to her. While this book is a small book, it is a mature read and only recommended for older and mature teen readers. If you enjoy vampire stories and are open to a new interpretation, this novel is worth trying.