Community Corner

Ferndale Public Library Staff Recommends: Gear Up for Teen Read Week

Young Adult Services Librarian Susan Paley shares a couple popular picks for teens, plus one book for adults and an unusual exercise DVD.

This article was written by Jeff Milo and Susan Paley.

Teen Read Week is coming! The Young Adult Library Services Association champions the nationwide literacy campaign that runs Oct. 13-19; locally, you’ll want to talk to Ferndale Public Library Young Adult Services Librarian Susan Paley at the Reference Desk. Our teen reading theme is “Seek The Unknown @YourLibrary" – encouraging teens to explore and learn about the unknown through various genres (mystery, adventure, sci-fi and fantasy books). 

Susan is readying a Teen-Book display featuring the Top 10 Teen Book nominees. The Teens Top Ten is a list of the best books of 2013 so far, as voted on by teens.

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This week, Susan has two Young Adult picks and a few others. Thanks for checking us out!

Susan’s Picks


The Program 

By Suzanne Young
YA Young

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Fast-forward into the future, into a world where, because teen suicide has become such a problem it’s now considered a “behavioral contagion.” In order to deal with the “behavioral contagion,” the United States has adopted “The Program” that makes sure teens who are unhealthy get better, but at the cost of having their old identities and possibly dangerous memories taken away. Seventeen-year-old Sloane witnessed her brother’s suicide and has seen several friends taken to the program. She’s flagged and taken in herself, after someone else she loves falls apart. Once she’s locked away from the outside world she realizes not a single one of her old memories are safe. With each day of treatment, she forgets more and more about who she is. Then, she meets a boy who gives her one piece of information that lets her hope that maybe her past isn’t completely dead. She decides to fight the mind control or go down trying. A chilling thriller, this book is a must-read read for fans of Divergent, Hunger Games or anything dystopian.


Twenty Boy Summer 

By Sarah Ockler
YA Ockler

This title made the American Library Association’s list of banned or challenged books in 2011-2012. I’m glad we have a copy in our library because it’s an excellent book. The perfect mix of bittersweet loss and summer romance, it’s the story of Frankie (short for Francesca) and Anna and their broken hearts because earlier that year, they both lost Matt, the only boy either of them had ever loved. Matt was Frankie’s older brother, secretly Anna’s boyfriend and he died the year before the story begins. Anna has kept their romance secret from Frankie. Now, the two girls are off to California for the summer trying to be happy, but not doing very well. Enter Sam and Jake, two local boys, midnight sneak-outs, and major sunburn. Over time, the girls realize they’ve changed, and while they will never be the same without Matt, maybe there’s hope for who they will become in the future. Maybe just for the summer, there will be hope for new romance. While this book is bittersweet, it’s also funny and not sappy.


Lean In:  Women, Work & the Will to Lead 
By Sheryl Sandberg 
658.409 S

This nonfiction national best seller is a great advice guide for women in all stages of their careers. At only 172 pages (not including notes and acknowledgements) it is a quick read. Sandberg, the CEO of Facebook, encourages women to “keep their hand up” and “lean in” joining in work discussions, becoming an advocate for women and equality in the workforce and beyond.   

 

New York City Ballet Workout 1 & 2
DVD
613.711 N

If you are looking for something new to switch up your exercise routine, try these two DVDs. The workouts incorporate stretching and abs exercises to increase flexibility, muscle tone, and build a strong core. The DVDs include workouts for women and men and are designed to accommodate all fitness levels. 


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