Book review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

With Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins has further solidified her standing as a YA author to watch...and one whose books readers will eagerly anticipate. In this companion story to Anna and the French Kiss, readers get to know Lola Nolan, her two dads, her rocker boyfriend Max, and the boy next door whom she can't seem to get out of her head.

Lola is creative and quirky, flawed and unsure. Her interior monologue, relationship with her parents and conflicting emotions about the two boys in her life convey solid realism while her clothing aspirations and sense of flair add a fantastic touch of whimsy.

Perkins has a true knack for capturing what it feels like to fall in love with "the one," the boy (or girl) with whom you're meant to be. Pairing this with snappy dialogue and heart-fluttering moments, her stories are sweet confections for romantic souls. Anna and St. Clair, the pair that started it all, serve as substantial secondary characters in Lola. It's nice to see the two of them are so comfortably situated with one another and in it for the long haul.

The third book in this series Isla and the Happily Ever After, is due out in 2012, and readers who tore their way through the first two books will impatiently await its arrival. Until then, they can satisfy their hearts with repeated visits with Anna and Lola and the boys who love them.

The teens have spoken...

During August and September, nine thousand of them voted to decide what the Teens Top Ten books would be for this past year. Yesterday, YALSA kicked off Teen Read Week by announcing the winners. Some of them were destined to be there. Others are making me scratch my head. My favorite of the bunch? Definitely Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, closely followed by Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.


Here's the list:

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
3. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
5. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
6. Matched by Ally Condie
7. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


What do you think? Is there a book they forgot to mention? I think it's an absolute crime that Anna and the French Kiss (my favorite book so far this year!) by Stephanie Perkins, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride and White Cat by Holly Black weren't part of the conversation.

Cash for Creativity

Is the world ready for what you have to say? The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers just might think so...and they'd be willing to put their money where your mouth is.

The 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition is now open. Since 1923, The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers has brought "teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent...to a national audience." They're also the largest source of scholarships for teenagers of the creative persuasion in the United States.

And it's not just about poetry or essays. The award categories include such written works as dramatic script, science fiction/fantasy, novel writing (Hello, NANOWRIMO!), journalism and more. They ALSO want your artwork, be it sculpture, jewelry, video game, photography, fashion design...the list goes on and on.

In a nutshell, if you're at all creative and in grades 7-12, this is the program for you. "Deadlines for submitting work vary by region and generally range from December 15, 2011 through January 15, 2012." So get on it, get creative, and let the world know what you have to say.

Party rock is in the house tonight...

The teens and I been talking about it and wishing for it for several years now. Finally, we have a chance to start a music group at the Library, and it will be just for teens. We're inviting you to be a part of our first meeting, which is tonight at 7 p.m. We'll discuss what we want to get out of the club and the ways in which we'll share and discover songs. If you are a music lover and between the ages of 13-18, then this new group is for you.

Click here for all the info.

Hope to see you there!

Earn library volunteer hours at home!

Did you know that you can earn library volunteer hours by reviewing Young Adult books for our new Teen Review Site? You can go here for all the details, but a few highlights are below:

>Your book needs to come from the Young Adult department of the Winter Park Public Library.

>You submit your review online and if it's posted on the Teen Review Site, you'll get 2 volunteer hours!

>You can earn a maximum of 20 volunteer hours this way.

>You need to be between the ages of 12-18 to participate.

Happy reading!

Deadline approaching for the Harry Potter puppet theater contest

Time's ticking away on our Summer of Harry Potter, and so far it's been a blast! This is a reminder from your friendly librarian that the deadline for the Harry Potter Puppet Theater Contest is Friday, July 29 by 5 p.m.

As you're busy creating your own Harry Potter puppet masterpiece, I wanted to share with you a few more reminders:

1. The puppet show should be five minutes or less.

2. Winners will receive a Harry Potter prize pack and points for their Hogwarts House. If members of more than one house are teaming up to create a winning puppet show, those members will have to split the House points.

3. Your video file MUST be in one of the following digital formats: .avi, .mpg (or .mpeg), .wmv, or .mov and no larger than 700 MB.

4.Don't forget to burn your video file onto a blank CD-ROM and turn it in at the children's desk of the Library.

If you have any questions, give me a shout. Good luck!

Fan Fiction Contest Deadline is Tomorrow!

Want to earn some serious points for your house? Turn in your entry into the Harry Potter Fan Fiction contest. The deadline is 9 p.m. tomorrow evening (June 30). First place wins 15 points for their house! For all details, click here. Good luck!