Teen Photo Contest

Are you 13-18 years old?
Are you creative?
Do you have a favourite book?

If so, then why not enter the YALSA 2011 Teen Read Week photo contest? All you have to do is create a visual version of your favourite book’s title. You could win gift bags, signed copies of books, and more. One lucky winner will walk away with an e-reader, pre-loaded with great teen titles!

More information, including rules and entry guidelines, can be found on the YALSA website at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/trw/trw2011/trw11photocontest.pdf.
Good luck!

And the Nominees Are...

Voting is underway for the ALA Teens’ Top Ten list! There are twenty-five nominees, but only ten will make the cut and be announced victorious during Teen Read Week (October 16-22, 2011). Vote for your favourites at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/teenstopten.cfm before September 15 to make your opinion count!

Here is the list of nominees…

Bachorz, Pam. Drought. Egmont USA. 2011. (978606840160).

Beam, Cris. I Am J. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2011. (9780316053617).

Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne. 2011. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. (9780316077422).

Black, Holly and Justine Larbalestier. Zombies vs. Unicorns. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2010. (9781416989530).

Card, Orson Scott. The Lost Gate. Tor Books. 2011. (9780765326577).

Clare, Cassandra. The Clockwork Angel. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry. 2010. (9781416975861).

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. Scholastic. 2010. (9780439023511).

Collins, Yvonne. Love, Inc. Disney/Hyperion. 2011. (9781423131151).

Condie, Ally. Matched. 2010. Penguin/Dutton. (9780525423645).

Cremer, Andrea. Nightshade. Penguin/Philomel. 2010. (9780399254826).

Fitzpatrick, Becca. Crescendo. Simon & Schuster Children’s. 2010. (9781416989431).

Grant, Michael. Lies. 2010. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books. (9780061449093).

Hawkins, Rachel. Demonglass. Disney/Hyperion. 2011. (9781423121312).

Hakwins, Rachel. Hex Hall. Disney/Hyperion. 2010. (9781423121305).

Kagawa, Julie. The Iron King. 2010. Harlequin. (9780373210084).

Lore, Pittacus. I Am Number Four. HarperCollins. 2010. (9780061969553).

Moore, Peter. Red Moon Rising. Disney/Hyperion. 2011. (9781423116653).

Nelson, Jandy. The Sky is Everywhere. 2010. Penguin/Dial Books for Young Readers. (9780142417805).

Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2010. (9780061726804).

O’Neal, Ellis. The False Princess. Egmont USA. 2011. (9781606840795).

Patterson, James. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel. Little, Brown & Company. 2011. (9780316036207).

Pearce, Jackson. Sisters Red. Little, Brown and Company. 2010. (9780316068680).

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Blessed. Candlewick Press. 2011. (9780763643263).

Westerfeld, Scott. Behemoth. Simon Pulse. 2010. (9781416971757).

White, Kiersten. Paranormalcy. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2010. (9780061985843).

She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva

4/5 Stars
This book was very drama-packed. It kept me wondering throughout the whole time. Overall the book was very well written. And I hope to get the chance to read more of Cherry Cheva’s books. She’s so Money is about a girl who got into Harvard but was forced to cheat and do other peoples’ homework to keep her parents' restaurant from going bankrupt.

Madeleine P.

Doo-Wops and Hooligans by Bruno Mars

3/5 Stars
On this CD, I only know like six songs. I really like Bruno Mars. He’s an awesome singer. Marry You and The Lazy Song are my two favourite songs from this album.

Sarah N.

Page by Tamora Pierce

5/5 Stars
Amazing. Just absolutely amazing. “Page” was even better than First Test. Instead of focusing mainly on the sexist areas of knighthood, Tamora focused on the changes in a female’s life, and adolescence. She showed both sides and feelings of womanhood. Also, unlike First Test, she showed the maturity of the pages and how people change over time. She showed the improvement in how Kel was treated, and how finally Lord Wyldon accepted her as “one of the boys”. Kel experiences love, heartbreak, and jealousy. She also experiences a stronger friendship with Neal and Cleon. Kel expands her learning and, doing so, she starts to teach those who cannot do as well as she can.
Alexandrya S.

She's The Man

5/5 Stars

In this hilarious movie, Viola tricks the school into thinking she is her brother, Sebastian. She gets into the dorm room with the boys and goes to tryouts. Viola tries out for varsity soccer and ends up making it. Her brother comes to the big game day against Cornwall and everybody finds out she’s not Sebastian. Cornwall thinks they can still beat them even with a girl playing. Do you think they’re wrong? Or are they right?

Lauryn P.

My Worlds Acoustic by Justin Bieber

5/5 Stars

I really like this CD. The music’s really good and his singing is amazing. The guitar also sounds really good with Justin’s voice. My favourite song would be Down to Earth, or Never Say Never. I hope he keeps writing /singing more songs. I love his music and him :)

Sarah N.