When the weather gets cooler, I feel my favorite time has come. Longer nights! Candied apples! Apple cider! (Okay, pumpkin spice is fine, but not for me.) Cooler weather also brings in another chill – stories that take us safely into the dark to explore zombies, serial killers and monsters. With that, I hope you enjoy this sampling of spooky Young Adult reads. Check out the full list in the the library’s catalog. Continue reading “Dark and Eerie Reads”
We’ve had another amazing season of Summer Reading at the Daniel Boone Regional Library! After surveying the teen book reviews that were submitted throughout June, July and August, I’ve compiled a list of the most popular reading trends. I loved seeing what you all enjoyed, and I’ve added quite a few titles to my personal To-Be-Read list. Continue reading “Most Popular Books of Summer Reading”
2019 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees (PDF)
The “Teens’ Top Ten” is a “teen choice” list where young adults nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. This project is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
Fifteen young adult book clubs from school and public libraries nationwide are responsible for determining a list of nominees for teens to consider. (Does your book club want to get involved? Learn how.)
Based on the recommendations of these teen book clubs, the list of this year’s 25 nominees was announced in April during National Library Week. Readers ages 12-18 are now invited to vote online through October 12 to narrow this list to the top ten selections.
The winning titles will be announced the week of October 14. Be sure to subscribe to our our email newsletter so you can stay updated!
Gateway Readers Award Finalists (PDF)
The Gateway Readers Award honors a young adult novel that is selected by Missouri high school students. To be eligible to vote, students must read at least three of the finalists. Voting will occur at participating schools early next March, so you can use the summer months to get crack-a-lackin’ on this list! The winner will be announced in April 2020.
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
Starr Carter witnesses her friend’s death at the hands of a police officer. Her life gets complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her to learn what happened the night Khalil died.
“The Names They Gave Us“ by Emery Lord
Lucy was ready for a perfect summer hanging out with her boyfriend, working at Bible camp on the lake and spending quality time with her parents. When her mom’s cancer reappears and long-hidden family secrets emerge, Lucy must discover what grace really means. Continue reading “2019-20 Gateway Award Finalists”
Truman Readers Award Finalists (PDF)
The Truman Readers Award honors a book that is selected by Missouri junior high students. To be eligible to vote, students must read at least four of the finalists. Voting will occur at participating schools early next spring. While the winner won’t be announced until April 2020, this is a great list of summer reads for students in grades sixth through eighth.
“Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds
Fueled by sadness and anger over his brother’s death, Will gets on the elevator, gun in hand, intent on seeking revenge. At each floor, someone connected to his dead brother gets on and has something to share with Will.
“Piecing Me Together” by Renée Watson
Tired of being singled out as an at-risk kid at her mostly-white private school, Jade resists joining “Women to Women,” a mentorship program for at-risk girls, in favor of applying for the school’s amazing study abroad program. Continue reading “2019-20 Truman Award Finalists”
2019 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees (PDF)
The Teens’ Top Ten is a “teen choice” list of recommended reading sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Fifteen young adult book clubs from libraries across the country are responsible for narrowing down a list of nominees for teens to vote on nationwide. Below is this year’s full list of Top Ten nominations. Don’t forget that the library offers print, eBook and audiobook editions of these titles.
“#MurderTrending” by Gretchen McNeil
Dee has been wrongfully convicted and sent to an island dubbed Alcatraz 2.0., where the worst criminals are murdered in terrifyingly creative ways for an app called Postman. She refuses to go down when she knows she’s innocent. Can she make it out with her Death Row Breakfast Club before they’re all killed off one by one?
“An Absolutely Remarkable Thing” by Hank Green
April May and her best friend Andy have fame thrust upon them after their video of a strange statue in New York goes viral. As the world discovers that there is far more to the statues than people initially suspected, April finds herself becoming the primary source of authority concerning the statues. At the heart of a viral marketing campaign and with her fame growing, April risks losing her relationships, her security, and her own identity. Continue reading “2019 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees”
After two months of nail-biting competition, central Missouri teens have selected their March Madness Teen Book Tournament Champion! We began with a list of 16 finalists which included perennial favorites like “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, bestsellers such as “Red Queen” by Victoria Aveyard and newcomers like “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi.
Many thanks to the teachers and school librarians who have supported this program, and to all the teens who have participated! And now, our 2019 champion is….
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
Subscribe to our teen program newsletter to get a sneak peek at this year’s Summer Reading program, “A Universe of Stories.” Through this program, the library challenges young adults to read for 15 hours, share three book reviews and do seven of our suggested activities. Complete the challenge, and you will be eligible to win some pretty awesome prizes like an Amazon Fire tablet!
Summer Reading begins May 22 and we have programs for children, teens and adults. Download our info sheet to learn more and share the library love!
A new season of book rivalries has begun! DBRL is hosting its eighth annual March Madness Teen Book Tournament. Young adults can vote online for their favorite titles from a pool of the 16 most popular teen books of the year. Then, each week in March, you’ll vote to narrow down the list of contenders and crown the 2019 Mid-Missouri teen book champion!
Each round you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. March Madness is open to all teens ages 12-18 who live in either Boone or Callaway County, Missouri.
How It Works:
- Round 1: VOTE NOW through March 10 for the Elite 8.
- Round 2: Vote March 12-17 for the Final 4
- Round 3: Vote March 19-24 for the final two contending titles.
- Round 4: Vote March 26- April 4 for the book tournament champion.
- April 5: The champion is announced!
Each round that you vote, your name is entered into our prize drawing! Limit one ballot per person, per round. Continue reading “2019 March Madness Contenders”
I love comic books and graphic novels. So, I’m super excited that Hoopla has teamed up with Marvel Entertainment to add more than 250 Marvel comic books and graphic novels to its catalog! Now with your library card, you can download titles from series like “The Infinity Gauntlet” or “Black Panther” directly to your mobile device. You can get ready for the upcoming movies in mere moments!
If comics aren’t your thing or you prefer the feel of a physical book in your hands, the library also has you covered. Here are a few of my recent favorite graphic novels:
“Friends With Boys” by Faith Hicks
After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and three older brothers, Maggie enrolls in public high school, where interacting with her peers is complicated by the melancholy ghost that has followed her throughout her entire life.
“Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too” by Jomny Sun
Here is the unforgettable story of Jomny, a lonely alien who, for the first time ever, finds a home on our planet after learning that earthlings can feel lonely too.
“Poe: Stories and Poems” by Gareth Hinds
A beautifully dark volume of graphic novel renderings of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most well-known works including “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.”
