Ferndale Library Staff Recommends: Susan's Picks for Teen Readers

Teens keen on keeping their finger on the pulse may want to take note of Susan's picks.

Through her first two initial Patch Picks submissions, she proved a fairly early proponent of the now-sensational/ubiquitous British boy-band One Direction, as well as one of the first to suggest the now widely-acclaimed (and award-winning) novel The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. 

Our Teen-Services Librarian (and key programmer for awesome events such as the Animanga-Club) does not disappoint us this week, with comparably intriguing, ahead-of-the-curve picks - (though I'm sure most of you are familiar with the singer featured for her #1). Start your 2013 with some dance, some humor and some theatrical melodrama. 

Susan's Picks 

By Susan Paley

1. Red by Taylor Swift [CD SWIFT]

Reportedly inspired by a “rough” year Taylor Swift’s latest album, Red isn’t as light and happy as her previous recordings, but it’s still a must-listen for all the “Swifties” (the name Taylor’s diehard fans call themselves) out there.  Between “We are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together”, “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “22” teens (and likely a few adults) are going to want to blast the music as loud as possible, and sing along.  You can see how Taylor’s style has changed, she’s definitely morphed her good-girl sweetness into an edgier, tougher version of herself-but it works.

2. First Position [DVD 798.8F]

This ballet documentary follows six young dancers (three boys and three girls) as they compete in the North American Youth Grand Prix, the world’s largest youth ballet competition.  Winning a top prize gives these dancers either a job as ballet dancer in a professional company, like London’s Royal Ballet or a full scholarship to a ballet school, like NYC’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Ballet School.  Each dancer gets only 90 seconds on stage to prove they are the best, but the training and sacrifices made by the dancers (three teens and three younger kids) amount to an entire career, yet they are all under the age of 19.  You see the dancers in ballet class, meet some of their family, and see them compete against each other. 

Ballet may look like a very girly and delicate art, but this documentary shows the intensity and sport of the dance.  You’ll be on the edge of your seat, I promise.

3. Bunheads by Sophie Flack [YA FLACK]

Continuing with the ballet theme, this is a novel about 19 year-old Hannah Warren, and her career as a dancer in the Corps de Ballet of the New York City Ballet. 

Dance has always taken up all of Hannah’s life, until she meets Jacob Cohen, a 19 year old musician who shows up to play at her uncle’s bar.  Suddenly, Hannah realizes there are things she’d rather not miss out on just because of dance, all the hours of rehearsal, extra workouts and hundreds of performances of the Nutcracker in a row get to be a drag compared to the freedom of hanging out with Jacob.  When the top ballet teachers of the school start watching Hannah, and there’s a chance she might get promoted, what will she pick-the boy? Or the ballet?  Well-written, intense and satisfying, Hannah and the choices she facing are very real and relatable. 

What makes the book even more interesting is that Sophie Flack, who is only 26, danced with the NYC Ballet for 9 years before “retiring” to write.  Bravo!

4. Lucky Fools by Coert Voorhees [YA VOORHEES]

David Ellison is a senior at Oakfields Prep, an exclusive high school right down the street from Stanford University in California.  So, his family, his friends, his teachers, pretty much everyone he knows can’t understand why he wants to study acting at Julliard in NYC instead.  However, “Big Pro” his drama teacher, thinks David can make it big-coaching him for months on his audition scripts, and giving him the lead in the school’s play.

When David’s relationship with his girlfriend starts falling apart as he finds himself falling for the new girl (the lead in the play) and a mysterious prankster called “The Artist” starts exposing certain secrets among the students, can David ace his audition or is his entire world as he knows it doomed? 

A funny, satirical book about how things never turn out the way you think.

5. Swim the Fly by Don Calame [YA CALAME]

If you love funny books, this is hilarious, you must read Swim the Fly.  Now.  Do not pass go.  Do not collect $200 dollars.  Just check it out ASAP. 

It’s the first day of summer vacation, and Matt Gratton and his two best friends Cooper and Sean have to come up with a “finish-it-by-the end-of the summer” goal because it’s their tradition.  On the way to accomplishing their goal, Matt somehow volunteers to swim the butterfly in the end of the summer swim meet even though he’s the worst swimmer ever, dresses up like a girl (he needed a quick disguise), ends up in the hospital, meets a new friend named Ulf, and gets a girlfriend.  To find out if Matt and his friends accomplish their goal, and the details of what happens along the way, read Swim the Fly. 

Note: when you’ve stopped laughing, Don Calame has also written Beat the Band about Matt’s friend Cooper and Call the Shots about his friend Sean.

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EVENT: Teen / Tween Library · By Ferndale Public Library - TEEN SPOT

• Saturday, January 26, 2013
• 12-2 p.m.
• Come hang out at the library for a fun afternoon of beach party games, tropical music, crafts and pizza! Grades 6 and up! Registration Required. Limit of 15.

Ferndale Patch thanks Susan Paley and Jeff Milo at the Ferndale Public Library for contributing to Patch! Check back soon for more ideas from library staff. Are you looking for recommendations on something specific? Email jessica.schrader@patch.com, and we'll pass on your questions to the library.