 | The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi "It shows a very possible future of America and is very vivid." -- Kylee |
 | The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti "It is a fictional story about a real historical figure that most people don't know about. This book was inspirational to me." -- Abrah |
 | A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah "We usually do not see the horrors that go on or have gone on in third world countries or countries in war. This book educates the reader on what went on during Sierra Leone's civil war." -- Ernesto |
 | The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken "It provided an interesting (and more than a little horrifying) story of what could happen to our country in the future. The characters were equally likeable and distainable. This book's ending and climax provided to be more surprising than that of a mystery I recently read." -- Liam |
 | Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea "It is such a sweet story. This story is for everyone. I like how the class doesn't like Mr. Terupt at first but then he means the world to them. Overall I definitely recommend this AMAZING book." -- Lizet |
 | The Eye of Minds by James Dashner "It is what the technology can become, but with a little bit of mystery and action." -- Kylee |
 | Fear Itself by Matt Fraction "It had a good plot and wonderful art. I am usually a DC fan but I thoroughly enjoyed this title." -- Nathan |
 | Still Alice by Lisa Genova "It really opens your eyes to Alzheimer's disease, and the readers get to see it through the perspective of the actual victim rather than the caregiver's. It was emotional so if you bawl easily with books, keep a tissue at bay…" -- Deniz |
 | Light by Michael Grant "It's full of excitement and action. This is also the sixth and last book in the series. There were many suspenseful moments and cliffhangers that I couldn't stop reading! However, there are some gory details, in my opinion they made the story better, but if you're sensitiveto that it may not be for you." -- Jocelyn |
 | Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter "It is an amazing story filled with suspense, thrills, excitement, and includes more than one love story." -- Jessica |
 | Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas "This book is an action book written by a female that does not rely soley on love interests to carry the plot. Simply a fasinating read." -- Kate |
 | Unwind by Neal Shusterman "I recommend this book because it really makes you think and shows the growth and journey of three people who end up together and try to stop the government. This book is good for you if you enjoyed The Maze Runner series." -- Ellie |
 | Nimona by Noelle Stevenson "The plot was great. The author managed to make it begin with comedy and slowly morph it into an adventure story." -- Nathan |
Blog for teens from the Fox River Valley Public Library District in East Dundee, Illinois. Find new books, recommended reads, and information on upcoming teen programs.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Teen recommendations from summer reading
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
New books and graphic novels out today
Gotham Academy. Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan
Gotham City's most prestigious prep school is a very weird place. It's got a spooky campus, oddball teachers, and rich benefactors always dropping by...like that weirdo Bruce Wayne. But nothing is as strange as the students! Like, what's up with Olive Silverlock? Is she crazy or what? Where did she go last summer? And what's the deal with her creepy mom? And how come that Freshman Maps is always following her around? And is she still going out with Kyle? P.S. Did you hear the rumor about the ghost in the North Hall?! Collects Gotham Academy #1-6 GOTHAM ACADEMY is a new teen drama set in the shadow of Batman and the craziness of Gotham City, with new characters and old plus a secret tie to Gotham's past..
Ms. Marvel. Vol. 3: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson
Sheltered seventeen-year-old Emmy's childhood best friend Oliver reappears after disappearing with his father ten years ago.
A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes
A mysterious book and ancient magic bring together four young people in modern-day Toronto and the ancient kingdoms of Mytica.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Teen review of "The Look" by Sophia Bennett
The Look by Sophia Bennett is an enchanting setting where two sisters become closer through trials, hope, cancer, and love. The novel is led by protagonist Ted Trout, whose perspective is delightfully hilarious and exuberant; her character is sculpted beautifully by Sophia Bennett. The plot is unexpected and fresh, accompanied by daring turns and caring friends. I totally recommend this book!
-- Lydia
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Make cassette tape wallets and more in our Read to the Rhythm Craft Lab series this summer!
This summer our Read to the Rhythm Craft Lab series includes four projects that reuse, or remix, discarded CDs and audiocassette tapes.
| Cassette Tape Wallets Convert cassette tapes into handy, vintage-looking wallets. Thursday, June 11 @ 2 p.m. (Dundee Library) Friday, June 12 @ 2 p.m. (Randall Oaks) |
 |
| CD Art Paint and use etching techniques on CDs to create small works of art. Friday, June 19 @ 2 p.m. (Randall Oaks) |
 |
| CD Weaving Modify old CDs into your own handheld looms. Reuse yarn scraps to produce beautiful designs! Thursday, June 25 @ 2 p.m. (Dundee Library) Thursday, July 9 @ 2 p.m. (Randall Oaks) |
 |
| Mosaic CD Picture Frames Transform plain picture frames by using cut up CD pieces. Thursday, July 16 @ 2 p.m. (Dundee Library) Thursday, July 23 @ 2 p.m. (Randall Oaks) |
 |
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Read to the Rhythm: Dancers in teen literature
Click here for a printable copy of the list.
 | Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela DePrince TEEN BIOGRAPHY DEPRINCE Michaela DePrince lived the first few years of her live in war-torn Sierra Leone until she was adopted by an American Family. Now seventeen, she is one of the premiere ballerinas in the United States. |
 | Dancing in the Dark by Robin Bavati TEEN BAVATI RO TEEN BAVATI Passionate about ballet, Ditty Cohen signs up for dance class despite being forbidden to by her Orthodox Jewish parents, then must face the consequences when the two worlds collide after five and a half years of study. |
 | Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black TEEN BLACK Fifteen-year-old Vanessa follows her sister Margaret to an elite Manhattan ballet school, not only gaining admission but also earning the lead in a production of The Firebird, while trying to uncover why and how Margaret and other lead dancers have disappeared. |
 | Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton RO TEEN CHARAIPOTRA Three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet academy compete for the status of prima ballerina, with each willing to sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best. |
 | Pointe by Brandy Colbert TEEN COLBERT Four years after Theo's best friend, Donovan, disappeared at age thirteen, he is found and brought home and Theo puts her health at risk as she decides whether to tell the truth about the abductor, knowing her revelation could end her life-long dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. |
 | Panic by Sharon Draper TEEN DRAPER As rehearsals begin for the ballet version of Peter Pan, the teenaged members of an Ohio dance troupe lose their focus when one of their own goes missing. |
 | Bunheads by Sophie Flack TEEN FLACK Hannah Ward, nineteen, revels in the competition, intense rehearsals, and dazzling performances that come with being a member of Manhattan Ballet Company's corps de ballet, but after meeting handsome musician Jacob she begins to realize there could be more to her life. |
 | Before You by Amber Hart TEEN HART Faith Watters has a picture-perfect life. She's captain of the dance team, popular, happy. She even spent her junior year traveling the world before returning to Oviedo High School for senior year. But she's living a lie. Diego Alvarez hates his new life in the States, but staying in Cuba is not an option. Covered in tattoos and scars, Diego doesn't stand a chance of fitting in, and doesn't want to. His only concern is his secret past, a past, which if it were to surface, would cost him his life. Everyone knows that Faith and Diego don't belong together. But fate has its own plan. All they want is to be free. What they get is something different entirely. |
 | Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor RO TEEN KANTOR Zoe thought that being cut from her ballet program was the worst thing that could happen, but when her best friend Olivia is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Zoe quickly learns that not being able to dance is the least of her problems. |
 | Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by Elizabeth Kiem RO TEEN KIEM After a harrowing defection to the United States in 1982, Russian teenager Marya and her father settle in Brooklyn, where Marya is drawn into a web of intrigue involving her gift of foresight, her mother's disappearance, and a boy she cannot bring herself to trust. |
 | Someday Dancer by Sarah Rubin RO TEEN RUBIN In South Carolina in 1959 Casey Quinn dreams of being a ballerina, and though she has never had the money for lessons, she follows her dream to New York City and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. |
 | Various Positions by Martha Schabas RO TEEN SCHABAS When talented, dedicated fourteen-year-old Georgia Slade becomes a student in an elite Toronto ballet academy, her confusing feelings toward one of her teachers lead to disaster. |
 | The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma TEEN SUMA Orianna and Violet are ballet dancers and best friends, but when the ballerinas who have been harassing Violet are murdered, Orianna is accused of the crime and sent to a juvenile detention center where she meets Amber and they experience supernatural events linking the girls together. |
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Add to our sticky note lyrics wall
Add some lyrics, your favorite band name, or a musical doodle to our sticky note lyrics wall in the teen area! It will be up all summer long.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Sign up for summer reading!
Sign up now at the Dundee Library or Randall Oaks Branch Library!
And don't forget to sign up for our upcoming Craft Lab projects. These projects involve reusing discarded CDs and audiocassette tapes.