YA reading suggestions
Fans of YA best seller “The Hunger Games” may also like Veronica Roth’s sci-fi trilogy, set in a dystopian version of Chicago. The first book, “Divergent,” was number one on last year’s Teen Top 10.
Two YA novels on King’s recent reading list are “Enchanted (The Woodcutter Sisters)” by Alethea Kontis, and “Between the Lines,” by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha van Leer.
The website GoodReads.com recommends books in various genres, with the “Harry Potter” books at the top of list for YA fantasy. Other books include “The Lightning Thief,” by Rick Riordan, “The Giver,” by Lois Lowry and “Graceling,” by Kristin Cashore. “Graceling” is also listed as one of many books with strong female characters.
October is also a time when more readers choose horror novels, and tweens/YA readers are no exception. Two recent GoodReads recommendations in this genre are “Zom-B,” by Darren Shan, and “The Zombie Chronicles,” another book recommended for girls and women, by Chrissy Peebles.
Great Bend Public Library will celebrate the unknown during Teen Read Week, Oct. 13-19, said Jennifer King, the Young Adult/marketing librarian.
Events will be taking place all week long at the Teen Spot in the library, including Teen Movie Monday at 4 p.m. on Oct. 14. (There’s also a movie at 4 p.m. this Monday.) King invites teens to pick up sci-fi books, adventure books, fantasy titles and more. “Stop by today and dare to read, just for the fun of it,” she said.
The Teen Spot, located in what used to be the Education Room, is open to students in grades 7-12. The site has a new television and other equipment, having recently benefitted from a memorial donation in honor of Joyce Ney, the mother of Terri Hurley, King’s predecessor as the YA librarian and marketing director at Great Bend Public Library. Equipment purchased with the gift included a Blu-ray disc player and laptop computer.
King also invites local students to be part of the library’s Teen Advisory Group. “Teens help me pick what programs we do, and what movies we want to see,” she said. This Tuesday, the Teen Sport will offer a “Day o’ Stuff” at 3:30 p.m., where students can make and take CD scratch art.
TAG members can also recommend books they enjoyed to fellow teens. For example, Lindsey, an eighth-grade TAG member, recommends “The Girl of Fire and Thorns,” by Rae Carson.
Horror novels are in season for many readers, and there are some teen precursors to Stephen King, Jennifer King said. “Some people really like that element of a good scare.”
There’s a huge diversity of YA books for all tastes, she added. Subjects ranging from current topics such as eating disorders to historical fiction.
This month, students are going online to vote on the Teen Top 10 through the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA). Unlike other book awards, these winners are chosen by the intended readers. “It gives them control, instead of adults choosing books for them,” King said. “It allow them to participate in things that affect them.”
Voting for the YALSA Teen Top Ten continues through Oct. 19, and may be done online at www.dogobooks.com/book_clubs/teens-top-reads. The winners will be announced Oct. 22.
One finalist for the Top 10 that blends historical fiction and the paranormal is “Grave Mercy,” by Robin LaFevers.
Events are going on in the Teen Spot all week long so check out the website at greatbendpl.info or call King at Great Bend Public Library, 792-2409, for more information.
