The County Library discussion

So what do we teens get to read? You guys at SLCLS on Goodreads should make a teen online book discussion category. who agrees?

I agree Katie. I am the teen librarian at South Jordan and basically teen is mostly what I read. Just finished by Clare B. Dunkle and really liked it . .spooky too. How many other teens do you think are on Goodreads and would be interested?

I have maybe 12 people from my friends on goodreads that I bet will do it. A teen librarian.. So cool. Never even knew that existed :D I'll be sure to check that book out. Scary books are great... perfect season too :)

Great idea! What do you think it should look like? Should we make a main teen category, and then you can post whatever you like there? Should we have a monthly teen book discussion? We could do both pretty easily. Thanks for posting, Katie!

My daughter just signed on and I keep trying to get my son to as well. My girl would do some group reads.

Maybe you should do a category that's called Online Book Club Discussions-Teen. Have it just like the regular one, monthly book discussion, start on this day, end on that, except have us do YA.
I was also thinking that libraries could put some papers up talking about Goodreads, saying that teens should sign up and do the online monthly discussions, try to get more people to do it...?

Absolutely. Will you help, Allison? What should we do for our first book?

If you still want to read a scary book, you can't go wrong with The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey- and the second book was just published- The Curse of the Wendigo!

Patricia wrote: "If you still want to read a scary book, you can't go wrong with The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey- and the second book was just published- The Curse of the Wendigo!"

Have you read it yet? Is it as bloody as the first one?

Have the book but haven't read it yet- the cover is fantastic- but apparently this is a different monster- a "vampiric creature" & there's a love interest for Will, who gets his first kiss. Booklist gave it a starred review! I think it may not be as gory as the first one- let you know when I have read it, which will hopefully be soon...

White Cat by Holly Blackis really, really good.

I think Down the Rabbit Hole would be a good one but it's part of a series... I read it about a year and a half ago .. I'm pretty sure you don't need to read the next one to finish the first one, if you know what I'm saying.

Okay- we'll start with Leviathan by Scot Westerfeld for November, since I already had a lot of people vote for that against the adult books, and then I'll put up a poll to decide which of these books we'll read for December. So vote, please!

Hey Jennifer,

I would be glad to assist. What did you have in mind?

Isn't Leviathan part of a series too? Or is like the one I talked about?

Katie wrote: "Isn't Leviathan part of a series too? Or is like the one I talked about?"
It's the first book in a series, but it stands on its own. I don't think the second one is out yet.

Jennifer wrote: "Katie wrote: "Isn't Leviathan part of a series too? Or is like the one I talked about?"
It's the first book in a series, but it stands on its own. I don't think the second one is out yet."

yes the 2nd book Behemothis out, but i haven't read either one. Is there an official date I should shoot to have Leviathan read by?

Allison wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Katie wrote: "Isn't Leviathan part of a series too? Or is like the one I talked about?"
It's the first book in a series, but it stands on its own. I don't think the second one is..."
No. Our book discussions sort of center on a specific month, but they aren't closed after that and people are welcome to post on the old ones.

Oh ok. Can't wait then.

Hi! This is Patricia, another teen services librarian, and I also read mostly teen fiction, because I do a monthly webpage suggesting newer teen fiction titles for the library system's Reader's Cafe. I just read two outstanding titles that I'd like to recommend: The first is Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler- about a 17-yr.old girl battling anorexia, who is visited by Death, who invites her to become Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This will be a series, and it's a fascinating take on eating disorders. The second title is Dark Water by Laura McNeal, a National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Fiction, and it's a stunning story about a 15-yr. old girl who gets involved with a young migrant worker on her uncle's avocado ranch. They get trapped together in a raging wildfire, & you will never forget what happens to them!

Patricia wrote: "Hi! This is Patricia, another teen services librarian, and I also read mostly teen fiction, because I do a monthly webpage suggesting newer teen fiction titles for the library system's Reader's Caf..."

I loved Hunger. It was not exactly what I expected but I could not put it down.

Susan says: Teen fiction gets a lot of use, because it is between kid and adult fiction. That means older elementary kids, teens AND adults are all reading. I think teen fiction has some of the best stories. I read it most of the time.

Who has read the whole trilogy of "The Forest of Hands and Teeth?" If you like end-of-the-world stuff, you may like these books.

I've never heard of it before... I will check it out though.The only apocalyptic-like reading I've ever read is The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

I have been reading the series by Cassandra Clare, Mortal Instruments. The first is City of Bones, then City of Ashes and last City of Glass. These are really good and definitely in the Urban Fantasy Genre. I am really enjoying listening to them when I drive.

So almost a month has passed and I am curious if anyone out there read "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" and what they thought about it...

Susan wrote: "So almost a month has passed and I am curious if anyone out there read "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" and what they thought about it..."

I read it ages ago, when it first came out. I gave it 4 stars, but I didn't really like the narrator of the audiobook. I thought it was a fun zombie story, but I never read the sequels. Did you?

Jennifer wrote: "Susan wrote: "So almost a month has passed and I am curious if anyone out there read "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" and what they thought about it..."

I read it ages ago, when it first came out..."

I did finish the last one and thought they got a bit more into the personal relationships than the first. I found them to be interesting reads.

I have tried several teens books lately and haven't found a really good "winner" for awhile. Many teen books are becoming more edgy and adult. As a librarian, I am curious about how you who read this are feeling about teen fiction and the current trends toward less innocent content...

Read Jenni James books. They are based on Jane Austin's and are very cute and readable. I just got through with Northanger Alibi which is actually her second one. I will read her first soon, I have it on hold. Just too cute and fun!!

Susan wrote: "I have tried several teens books lately and haven't found a really good "winner" for awhile. Many teen books are becoming more edgy and adult."

I know what you mean. I don't really like the "edgy" titles, but maybe that's just because I don't like the style. I sometimes think the authors are trying to hard to be "edgy" and it comes across as strange and disconnected. I'd rather read a well written book with an interesting story line than something that's "in." I also think some of the YA authors are getting too close to adult-level and still calling it YA because they feel it'll help them sell books.

Some authors certainly do try to attain a level of "cutting edge" to get attention, which gets them more sales. I just wonder if these authors would want their own children (if they have any) to act the way their characters do!

Vicki wrote: "Read Jenni James books. They are based on Jane Austin's and are very cute and readable. I just got through with Northanger Alibi which is actually her second one. I will read her first soon, I have..."

Thanks for the recommendatio- I agree. She is a pretty popular new author, and local.

Susan wrote: "Some authors certainly do try to attain a level of "cutting edge" to get attention, which gets them more sales. I just wonder if these authors would want their own children (if they have any) to ac..."

I actually like the edginess. Of course, there will always be a place for gentle reads, but I think there's something in the psychology of teens that craves the edginess.

The more experienced teens are looking for a book they can relate to- that feels real to them. The books let them know that they aren't the only ones dealing with the issues, and that there are lots of different ways to handle them.

As for the less experienced teens, these books give them an understanding of the issue and a safe place to form their ideas about it. For instance, wouldn't it be great if every teen could read Story of a Girl before they become sexually active?