1. Naruto Vol. 50 by Masashi Kishimoto

2. The Walking Dead, Book 1 by Robert Kirkman

3. The Walking Dead, Book 6 by Robert Kirkman

4. The Walking Dead, Book 2 by Robert Kirkman

5. Maximum Ride by James Patterson

6.  Brightest Day by NaRae Lee

7.  The Walking Dead, Book 4 by Robert Kirkman

8. The Avengers, Vol. 1 by Brian Michael Bendis

9. Black Butler by Yana Toboso

10. Scarlet by Brian Michael Bendis

Again, these are just the Top Ten. Graphic Novels and Manga were super popular this year. You all checked out over 1,342 individual titles out of the 1,645 titles in the collection.  That’s over 80%!

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

3. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

4. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

5. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

6. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

7. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

9.  Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher

10. Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

These are just the top ten.  You all also checked out over 1,150 invididual books out of 1,790 total books in the Teen Collection. This far exceeded my expectations for the year. This doesn’t even include Graphic Novels and Manga.  Keep it up in 2012!

2012 Winner

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

“Witty, sardonic Cullen Witter agonizes over the disappearance of his beloved brother, Gabriel, while everyone else in his stiflingly dull Arkansas town thrills to the apparent return of a long-extinct woodpecker. Kidnapping, bromance, arcane religious texts, and ornithology collide in this ground-breaking coming-of-age tale.”

2012 Honor Books

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

“In this beautiful piece of bookmaking, heartbroken movie obsessive Min Green dumps a box of relationship ephemera on ex-love Ed Slaterton’s porch, each item attached to a raging, loving, insecure and regretful letter explaining how each memento contributed to their breakup.”

The Returning by Christine Hinwood

“A large cast of characters from two fictional kingdoms recover from a drawn-out, brutal war in a portrait both sweeping and specific as it explores the ramifications of the conflict on Cam, the only one who lives to return to his village.”

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

“Spurred by the mysterious death of a schoolmate, Charlie confronts racism and his fears as he learns about family, friendship and love in the oppressive heat of small-town 1960s Australia. Silvey weaves themes of freedom and loyalty with moments of humor in this wrenching novel.”

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

“A bloody, intoxicating horse race on the Island of Thisby is the backdrop for this atmospheric novel. The heart-pounding story pits two teens against death – to win is to survive.”

“Read the Abe’s” is a new series were I, your friendly, neighborhood librarian, highlights an Abraham Lincoln Award nominee every other week.”

Reality Check by Peter Abrahams

Cody is almost 17 and on top of the world.  He has a bright future as a football star and awesome girlfriend, Clea, but it all comes crashing down.  Shortly after learning Clea is leaving town to attend a wealthy boarding school in New England, Cody breaks up with her and soon after suffers a career ending knee injury.  With his future taken away from him, Cody loses interest in school and soon just stops going to take a full-time job delivering construction materials.  It is only when he learns Clea has disappeared from her boarding school that Cody snaps out of his aimless state.  Unable to get Clea out his head, Cody drives across the country to join the search.

In spite of the somewhat familiar story (boy from the wrong side of the tracks falls for the wealthy, smart girl), I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Abrahams is a master at writing suspenseful and gripping mysteries.  I couldn’t put it down.  For me, the most important thing when it comes to mysteries is if the story is believable.  Can a 17 year old in a strange town really solve the mystery behind the disappearance of another person?  In some respects, I think this is a tall order, but Abrahams executes beautifully.   All the clues Cody either stumbles on or figures out seem natural and not forced.  It sucked me in.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast- paced and  thrilling mysteries.

Next up:  Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Anime Club

Share your love of anime and manga with others of like mind.  Join us every second and third Monday for an anime film screening and other fun stuff, such as making your own manga and playing Yu-Gi-Oh!

Ages 12-18

Monday, January 16 and 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday, February 6 and 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday, March 5 and 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday, April 2 and 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday, May 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Manga Design

Want to learn how to make your own manga? Come to Manga Design and learn the ins and outs on how to use our fancy new Manga Studio software so you can make you very own manga.

Monday, March  5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Gaming Tournaments

Test your skills and see if you are the best.  Each tournament will have a champion, but every participant will be awarded points based on performance after every tournament.  The player with the most points after all the tournaments will be crowned library champion.

Modern Warfare 3

Monday, February 13, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Black Ops: Zombies

Monday, March 12, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Street Fighter

Monday, April 9, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Gears of War 3

Monday, April 14, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments

Bring your cards and show off your skills. Each tournament will have a champion, but every participant will be awarded points based on performance after every tournament.  The player with the most points after all the tournaments will be declared library champion.

Saturday, January 28, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 25, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 24, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 28, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Open Gaming

Kill some time on your day off gaming @ the library!  The Xbox and Wii will be up and running.  We will also have tables set-up for Yu-Gi-Oh!

Tuesday, March 27, 1:00-3:30 p.m.

DIY: Designer Jewelry

Come make some super cute Marc Jacobs inspired faceted earrings, necklaces, and rings.

Monday, February 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Sticker Design

Create and edit your own images and then turn them into professional grade stickers.  Registration Required.  Limit 12 people.

Monday, March 26, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Summer Volunteer Meeting

The library is interested in finding a handful of teens who want to work with children in the Youth Department.  These teens will have the opportunity to help plan and run programs for children during Summer Reading.  If this sounds like something you would like to do, come to this meeting so we can start the planning process.

Monday, April 23, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

AP Exam Study Crunch

Looking for a quiet study space and/or a place to study with a group?  Come to the library.  We will provide snacks and caffeine as well as places to study.  Your teachers may even stop by to answer last minute questions.

Monday, April 30, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 1, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 3, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Monday, May 7, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9, 4:30-8:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 10, 4:30-8:45 p.m.

College Financial Aid Advice

The FAFSA due date is just around the corner. Get helpful advice from Illinois Student Assistance Commission on what financial aid is, how to apply, and how the FAFSA works into all this.  Make sure you know all your options.  All this will be covered in Part 1.  In Part 2, you can fill out your FAFSA and receive expert answers to all your questions about the form.  Both events are for students, parents, and nontraditional students.

Part 1: Financial Aid…What is it?

Wednesday, February 15, 5:00-6:00 pm

Part 2: Fill Out Your FAFSA

Wednesday, February 21, 5:00-6:00 pm

I have never been the biggest fan of the Alice in Wonderland stories,  so when I read “Lewis Carrol got it all wrong” my interest was piqued.  In The Looking Glass Wars,  Frank Beddor takes all the characters and basic story from Alice in Wonderland and stands them on their head.  Gone is the helpless Alice and in her place is a deposed heir to the throne who can use her imagination as a powerful weapon.  Gone is the kooky Mad Hatter and in his place is Hatter Madigan an elite, bodyguard.  And perhaps the biggest change is that Alice isn’t lost Wonderland this time…Alyss is lost in our world.  She is forced to flee to our world after her evil aunt, Red (Queen of Hearts), steals for the throne from Alyss’ mother.  She desperately trying to get back to her own world to take back the throne from Red.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I thought it was a clever retelling of classic story.   There is plenty of action and a compelling story.  This book really gripped me from beginning to end.  Most fantasy lovers will have a hard time putting it down.

Next up:  Reality Check by Peter Abrahams