TeenDirect

August was an exciting month for teen programs in Suffolk County. From Breaking Dawn parties to Battle of the Books and great end-of-summer events, there has been a whirlwind of activity in teen library services.

Hope that September gives you a chance to slow down from summer's hectic pace and catch up on YA reading. Some great titles are available this fall.

Happy Reading!

Best,

Barbara

Battle of the Books

Approximately 1,000 people converged on the campus of Stony Brook University for the twelfth annual Suffolk County Battle of the Books. Teams representing thirty seven libraries competed for this year's championship. Monday night's final battle was a thrilling finish, with two overtime rounds needed to break the tied score. Top honors went to Patchogue-Medford Library. Other teams receiving recognition were Sayville Library, second place, North Babylon Public Library, third place, and Huntington Public Library, fourth place.

Coaches receiving special recognition were Brian Cooper, Harborfields Public Library, and Neely McCahey, Hampton Bays Public Library. To see photos of all participating teams and view a listing of all non-scoring awards, visit SCLS Teen Services.

Summer Programs in Suffolk

Library programs for teens in Suffolk County have appealed to a wide range of teen interest. Here are examples of a few of the outstanding programs available to teens this summer: Sachem Public Library invited community members to participate in a blood drive with V.I.P. concert passes given to the sixty individuals who offered to donate blood. Patchogue-Medford Library and Middle Country Public Library held their annual combined theater event. This year the teens presented a "Strictly Broadway" revue during Patchogue's "Alive and Five" community event. The Camp Rock dance team was a hit! Port Jefferson Free Library decided to hold a Battle of the Bands on August 16, the same day as Battle of the Books. Eight bands performed at Harbor Memorial Park.

All the libraries I visited looked fantastic. I enjoyed the "ants" crawling up to the teen program at North Babylon Public Library, the waterfall at Harborfields Public Library, and the hatching butterflies at Patchogue. The Smithtown Library- Main sent photos of their Fear Factor competition and Middle Country shared pictures from their Music Fest. Thanks for sharing news of your successful events.

View photos at SCLS Teen Tour and Flickr.

Good Reasons to Read This Fall

So many wonderful titles will be released this fall! Here are two not-to-be-missed young adult novels.

Terry Pratchett's Nation is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. Mau, a young island boy on the verge of manhood, returns to his island village and finds that it has been destroyed by a storm. He meets Daphne, a proper young English girl and shipwreck survivor. Slowly the two build a colony composed of refuges from the storm. Filled with humor, action, and adventure, this book brilliantly explores concepts of survival, community, and maturity. If you enjoy this book, you may want to attend Terry Pratchett's October 14 appearance at New York Public Library.

Siobhan Dowd drew her inspiration for Bog Child from the Bog Child cover

lyrics to Imagine by John Lennon and a television documentary on "bog people," preserved human bodies found in sphagnum bogs . She weaves together a powerful story of Fergus, caught in Ireland's political "Troubles" and the life of a young girl whose body Fergus discovers in a peat bog. This story explores the value of life and why an individual may choose to sacrifice that life. I now view the political unrest in Ireland, hunger strikes, and the price of peace with new understanding. Dowd is a powerful writer, whose voice I will miss.

Please consult the SCLS Professional Collection for a complete listing of all titles available for examination. Online reviews available at SCLS Reads and Paperback Preview.