Teen Book Reviews!

Looking for a worthwhile read? Try one of these books, backed by other local teens! Links go to the catalog, so you can request the book from home

Why I Fight by J. Adams Oaks: This was really good. The author really went deep into Wyatts mind. It expressed love and affection, as well as pain and hate. Overall, I give it 5 stars. It didn't remind me of any other books or movies because it was so original, and I would recommend this for everyone who likes to get absorbed in a book. -- Grace

Ever by Gail Carson Levine: Ever is an interesting story about a girl (Eki) who is doomed to be sacrificed to a false god, and an immortal (Olus), who wants to save her at any cost. It's a good story, but not as engaging and mature as this author's other book Fairest nor as fun as Ella Enchanted. Overall, 3/5 Stars -- Kelsey

Across the Universe by Beth Revis: I was not disappointed by this book. I thought the author balanced her sci-fi theme well with romance -- and a realistic romance at that! I was worried that, like so many of this type of book right now, this book would be all about the characters madly falling in love with each other and not at all about the problems facing them in space. But, like I said, I wasn't disappointed: the politics and science in this novel were totally within the realms of reality and a possible future. 4.5 stars out of 5. -- Linnea

Crush by Carrie Mac: This book was very different from all of the other books I've read. It wasn't bad, just different. I kinda fell in love with these types of books.* 3/5 Stars -- Kylie.

* These are the Orca Sounding and Orca Current books. They're fast paced and easy to read with quick plots. Look for them by the spine in the teen area.

What's up this week @ Aram Public Library

Don't forget -- the All-You-Can-Read Buffet (aka: teen book club) will be meeting on Thursday from 3-4:30 in the meeting room. We'll be discussing Lish McBride's Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. What's it about?

Sam LaCroix, a Seattle fast-food worker and college dropout, discovers that he is a necromancer, part of a world of harbingers, werewolves, satyrs, and one particular necromancer who sees Sam as a threat to his lucrative business of raising the dead.

This book's supposed to be a rollicking read, and it's even earned a nod from the American Library Association as one of last year's best debut (aka: first time author) books. Should be a blast to talk about.

Need a copy of the book? Bring your library card to the upstairs desk and ask. We've got one for you there.

Need a book to read?

Here's a handful of book trailers of some of the new books that have come into the library lately. Haven't seen a book trailer before? It's like a movie trailer, but for a book.

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Are you intrigued? We'll be discussing this one at our July 28 Teen Book Club discussion. Pick up a copy at the desk. Not only will we discuss it -- we'll be chatting with the author, too.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

This post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel will be one you want to pick up if you loved The Hunger Games. Saba, the main character, might be more of a tough girl than Katniss.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This fast-paced dystopian is another one fans of The Hunger Games will want to read, and this one's even set in Chicago. It's kind of cool to read about places you might be familiar with.

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

This is one of my favorite books in a long time -- it's set in Wisconsin (near Platteville) and is a great book for guys and girls. Felton's a hilarious and relatable main character.

Teen Book Reviews

We've been getting so many great book reviews from you guys that I have to keep sharing them. Check out any of these if you're looking for a good read!

Split by Swati Avasthi: OMG! This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. Considering that's thousands, it is a really, really good book. It reminded me of an episode of Law and Order SVU and would be a good book for people like me who don't squirm away from rough, violent, and very graphic stories. -- Grace

Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney: This was really funny. I liked the part where he turns into a fake vampire to get girls. It was also funny because his name is Finnbar. This book reminded me of Vampire Diaries and The Twilight Saga because of the vampires, and people who have read these books or like funny books would like this one. Four stars -- Grace.

Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger: This book was great. This girl grows up knowing who she thinks she is, then when she finds out her real self, everything in her life changes. 5/5 stars -- Kylie

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison: I really liked this book. I thought the love in this book was really strong between Jenny and Captian W. It was really well written. 5/5 Stars -- Keanna

Siobhan Vivian @ Aram Public Library

Don't forget that author Siobhan Vivian will be at the Aram Public Library this Wednesday at 3 pm! If you're a creative writer, you'll want to come learn how to hone your skills from an expert.

This program is best for those age 11 and up.

We have a few copies of Siobhan's book Same Difference left from our teen book club, so we'll raffle those copies off to random attendees who would like to get them signed by the author. Bring something to write with, and we'll supply small notebooks for attendees.

Want to learn more about Siobhan or her books before she comes? Check out her website!

Take a Road Trip!

There's nothing more exciting than a good road trip -- you pack up the car and hit the open road with friends for an adventure. Sometimes, these adventures include a plan and sometimes, they're completely open ended.

Check out these books about road trips this summer. All books can be found in the

teen section by the author's last name. Can't find it on shelf? Ask at the desk and we'll get you a copy through our system.

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern: Recent high school graduates Lil and Josh leave Illinois for Oregon seeking Lil's sort-of friend Penny, who faked her own kidnapping to escape problems at home and an abusive boyfriend, but Lil also wants to find out if she and Josh are meant to be more than friends.

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith: When her boyfriend Zan leaves high school in Utah a year early to attend Pitzer College, a broken-hearted Joy and Zan's best friend Noah take off on a road trip to California seeking "closure."

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson: After the death of her father, Amy, a high school student, and Roger, a college freshman, set out on a carefully planned road trip from California to Connecticut, but wind up taking many detours, forcing Amy to face her worst fears and come to terms with her grief and guilt.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green: Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray: In an attempt to find a cure after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, Cameron Smith, a disaffected sixteen-year-old boy, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital.

Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis: Teens Octavia and Tali learn about strength, independence, and courage when they are forced to take a car trip with their grandmother, who tells about growing up Black in 1940s Alabama and serving in Europe during World War II

as a member of the Women's Army Corps.

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson: Seventeen-year-old Destiny keeps a painful childhood secret all to herself until she and three classmates from her exclusive boarding school take off on an unauthorized road trip in search of "one fair day."

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez: While driving across the United States during the summer after high school graduation, three young gay men encounter various bisexual and homosexual people and make some decisions about their own relationships and lives.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury: When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.

Need Something to Read? Here's Some Ideas

Looking for a book to read? Check out these teen reviews for some ideas of books that might interest you. If you've read/watched/listened to anything this summer you want to tell other teens about, let me know. I'd love to post your reviews here!



Divergent by Veronica Roth: I loved this book; it is full of action, romance, moral crisis, and character growth. One of the things I loved was how mean Beatrice/Tris was at times. I think it made her character feel more real. It was refreshing to have a narrator who wasn't sympathizing with everyone -- seeing everything in black and white/good and bad. The thing I found myself questioning while reading was what the state of the rest of the world was in (since this particular installment was centered in Chicago). I decided to assume that the reader wouldn't know this information because Tris didn't wand hoped that it would be delved into in future books. 4/5 Stars -- Linnea


Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah: This girl feels ugly but one day she realizes that being beautiful isn't on the outside, but also comes from within, and she learns to love herself. 4/5 Stars -- Kylie

Laguna Cove by Alyson Noel: This book is about a new girl in town who impresses everyone at first sight. She shows everyone who she really is, unlike how she was at her old city she used to live in. 2/5 Stars -- Kylie

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead: I love this series, since it's very good. I love he way you can relate to the main character Rose and her forbidden love for a teacher. It is a great take on another society within our world. 5/5 Stars -- Dianna

This week @ APL

This week's event:

Come out this Thursday from 3-4:30 pm to the library to join in our discussion of Siobhan Vivian's book Same Difference. Here's the book's description:

Feeling left out since her long-time best friend started a serious relationship, sixteen-year-old Emily looks forward to a summer program at the Philadelphia College of Art but is not sure she is up to the challenges to be faced there, including finding herself and learning to balance life and art.

Pick up a copy of the book at the desk upstairs. You can keep this book and have it signed by the author next week, too!


This week's prize
This week, you have the chance to win a $25 giftcard to Best Buy. Read for 5 hours (or more) and/or complete 5 activities on the Teen Passport to Summer to enter. Easy!

Kick off your summer reading with a summer-y book!

Start your summer break with a list of books about summer breaks! All of these books are available at the Aram Public Library to check out -- and the links will take you to the catalog, where you can request the item from home to pick up at the library. Enjoy!





Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker: Quinn plans to enjoy her summer in Austin, Texas, working for a record company, even though she has to live with her cousin Penny.







Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz: Over the course of several summers on the Atlantic coast, Chase struggles with his feelings for his best friend's sisters in the beach house next door while trying to get his own family through seemingly insurmountable problems.





Chasing Alliecat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis: When she is left with relatives in rural Minnesota for the summer, Sadie meets Allie, a spiky-haired off-road biker, and Joe, who team up to train for a race, but when they find a priest badly beaten and near death in the woods, Allie mysteriously disappears leaving Sadie and Joe to discover the dangerous secrets she is hiding.




All You Get is Me by Yvonne Prinz: Almost sixteen-year-old city-transplant Aurora must adapt to life on an organic farm as she navigates an eventful summer when she falls in love, discovers that her mother has left for good, and watches her father take a bold stand in defense of the rights of undocumented Mexican farm workers.



A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin: In Iowa farm country, sixteen-year-old Aspen and her friend Laurel plan to get noticed the summer before their senior year and are unwittingly aided by pig triplets, a skunk, a chicken, bullies, a rookie policeman, and potential boyfriends.




Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Bell: Thirteen-year-old Genevieve's summer at a frontier family history camp in Laramie, Wyoming, with her parents and brother is filled with surprises, which she reports to friends back home on the cell phone she sneaked in, and which they turn into a blog.





Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita: When the exceptionally people-pleasing Sam spends a summer as a counselor-in-training, she learns how to say no, to stand up for herself, and what it feels like to have a crush on a great guy.



Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle: Fifteen-year-old Carly's summer volunteer experience makes her feel more real than her life of privilege in Atlanta ever did, but her younger sister starts high school pretending to be what she is not, and both find their relationships suffering.


Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald: Seventeen-year-old Jenna, an ardent vegetarian and environmentalist, is thrilled to be spending the summer communing with nature in rural Canada, until she discovers that not all of the rugged residents there share her beliefs.

Perfect Chemistry posters

Have you read Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry? Seen the poster in the teen area featuring the cute boys from the book trailer below?:

I've got a handful of extra posters. If you want one, I'd love to hook you up with one. They will be ready to be picked up starting NEXT Monday.

The Hunger Games movie

Did you guys see they're going to be making the Hunger Games trilogy into four movies?

What do you think about that?