Teen Scene March Newsletter!

Teen Scene March Newsletter!

Why, hello everyone!

Check out the amazing pictures of our March Break Fandom Games Lock-In below!  This awesome program had us racing around the library throwing rings into Mordor, finding Nemo, and climbing through the Silent City.  The odds must have been in our favour!

Spring is coming and with spring comes new beginnings, opportunities, and of course the sun, making the green chairs in the teen section the perfect place to read.  Make sure you keep your eyes open for some awesome upcoming programs happening this month like the Make-a-Zine workshop, Inklings, and the Justice League.

Looking for volunteer hours? The library is gearing up for summer programs and will be looking to train new teen volunteers!

Hoping your days are crazy positive!
- Chloe (Teen Advisory Board President)

Check out the full Teen Scene March Newsletter at the OPL (in the teen section)!

Fandom Lock-In was Nerdtastic!

What a Fandom filled lock-in for 30 teens!

On Friday, March 11th, OPL hosted 30 teens after hours to kick off March Break Week.

The evening started with the Sorting Hat dividing our teens into Fractions.

The Fractions competed for glory with Fandom Trivia!

Onto Fandom Sc-Avengers Hunt!  Teens competed in challenges ALL OVER THE LIBRARY!  They were tested by brawn, ingenuity and bravery!

In the end, the Mortal Instruments Fraction prevailed and Pizza was had by ALL!!!

Thanks to the Teen Advisory Board, Lindsey and all our volunteers that made for an awesome event! We cannot wait for the next one!

Make-A-Zine Workshop

Let go and express yourself during our first Make-A-Zine workshop!  

Zines are a great way to creatively document your own artwork, writing, music, ideas, and more. This free program is for youth 16 to 22 year of age. This program is on Wednesday, April 6th 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. in the teen section.  Registration required.

Contact Lindsey at ltoutant@orilliapubliclibrary.ca or call 705-325-2338 ext 212 to register.

March Break Programs!

This March Break celebrate your favorite Fandom at the
Orillia Public Library! 

Start your  March Break off by signing up for The Fandom Games teen only lock-in!  On Friday, March 11^th from 5:30 to 7:30  we will be taking over the library and participating in 13 unique challenges that will test your fandom knowledge.  Free pizza included! 
This is a registered program for youth in grades 9-12. Add yourself to our Facebook Event!
The Fandom Games Lock-In!

Join us on Monday March 14th for a seven hour Dungeons and Dragons marathon quest!  This is a registered program for youth 16 to 22 years old.  Anyone interested, regardless of experience, is encouraged to come!  People new to the program should meet in the teen section at 11:00 a.m. to work with a volunteer to create their character.  All materials for the program are provided.

We can fill your Thursday March 17th afternoon from 3 to 7 p.m. with drop in Fandom crafts from 3-5 and a special Fandom themed Inklings program!  Inklings is a program for teens who like to think outside the box but colour in the lines.  Inklings is a colouring program for youth 16 to 22.
Can't make it to one of your teen programs?  No problem! 

Stop by the teen section any day from March 12^th to 19^th to play board games, make one of our Fandom crafts or complete the Fandom Games scavenger hunt. 

To register for a program or for more information contact Lindsey today at ltoutant@orilliapubliclibrary.ca or call 705-325-2338 ext 212.

TEEN BOOK REVIEW: Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Good Reads Summary

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other. 

Vanishing Girls has a magnificent plot line and story. The characters in this novel we’re great, they were very relatable and had unique personalities. The main character “Nick” who was the oldest sister was a great character to follow throughout the story, her determination and willpower to find her sister made her the best character to lead us through this novel.

The ending of this novel will really have you gasping. It has the most unexpected ending and will keep you wanting more. The novel is extremely well written and the grammar was extremely good as well.

Lauren Oliver is an amazing and creative author. This novel will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, till the very last page.

I highly recommend this novel to teens who like a mystery thriller read.

Teen Review

 

“Vanishing Girls” is an amazing novel written by Lauren Oliver. This novel is about two sisters, in which one goes missing and the other sets out to find her, whether her sister was kidnapped or ran away she’ll have to find out the truth the hard way. Vanishing Girls will always have your jaw dropping, with its unimaginable twists and unexpected events. The ending will definitely shock you.

Vanishing Girls has a magnificent plot line and story. The characters in this novel we’re great, they were very relatable and had unique personalities. The main character “Nick” who was the oldest sister was a great character to follow throughout the story, her determination and willpower to find her sister made her the best character to lead us through this novel.

The ending of this novel will really have you gasping. It has the most unexpected ending and will keep you wanting more. The novel is extremely well written and the grammar was extremely good as well.

Lauren Oliver is an amazing and creative author. This novel will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, till the very last page.

I highly recommend this novel to teens who like a mystery thriller read.

Anissa (Teen Reviewer)

TEEN BOOK REVIEW: Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer

Good Reads Summary

Then: That is, until the fateful flash of a photo booth camera transports the four of them back in time, to the summer they were fifteen—the summer everything changed.

Now: The girls must recreate the past in order to return to the present. As they live through their second-chance summer, the mystery behind their lost friendship unravels, and a dark secret threatens to tear the girls apart all over again.

Always: Summers end. But this one will change them forever.

Before: It was the perfect summer of first kisses, skinny-dipping, and bonfires by the lake. Joy, Tali, Luce, and Zoe knew their final summer at Camp Okahatchee would come to an end, but they swore they’d stay friends.

After: Now, two years later, their bond has faded along with those memories.

Teen Review

Proof of Forever is a heartwarming story that reveals what true friendship is, and that having it can affect you as a person. Four girls named Zoe, Tali, Joy and Luce, are all bound to Camp Okahatchee. Every summer they attend, as it is significant to their friendship. When their last summer at camp rolls around, they promise each other to be friends forever. Then, Joy leaves, and their friendship falls apart. Two years later, Camp Okahatchee has a reunion night, which they all attend. The four girls are transported back to that last summer at camp. This crazy, unexpected experience reveals secrets, gives the girls a second chance, and leaves them all asking one important question.

Are they stuck in the past?

In this beautiful, touching, and inspirational tale, Lexa Hillyer shows her readers the truths of friendship, and that when you receive a second chance, take it, as you may be surprised by what it leads to.

Overall, Proof of Forever was the most developed and complex book I've read this summer, even though it was Hillyer's first novel. I strongly recommend this novel to those looking for a soulful read, or those who like books that are thought-provoking. Hillyer's story will not disappoint, and will leave you breathless at the end. I guarantee you will not only enjoy, but learn something important from this book.

"What would you give for a second chance?"

Enjoy,

Tamara (Teen Book Reviewer) 

Teen SRC Wrap-Up Party!

On Friday, October 9th from 4-6 p.m. we are having the teen summer reading wrap-up party! Come play library mini golf, create your own book journal, eat pizza and win fantastic prizes! We're also giving away goodie bags filled with treats, book marks, buttons, and a $10 off library fines gift card! Registration required. Open to teens in grade 7-12. Call 705-325-2338 ext 212 to register.

Teen Book Review: Uncertain Soldier by Karen Bass

Amazon Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Erich is a prisoner of war working at a northern Alberta logging camp. Twelve-year-old Max goes to school—reluctantly—in the nearby town. The two would be unlikely friends, except that neither has anyone else to turn to. At the height of World War II, nobody wants to befriend a German. It doesn’t matter that Erich was forced into the military by his father, or that Max was proudly born in Canada. They are both easy targets for the locals’ grief and anger against the Nazis.

The other prisoners are no more welcoming, distrustful of Erich’s perfect English and his dislike for Nazism. Still, when a series of accidents shake the logging camp, they pressure Erich to question the Canadians and find the saboteur—even if his questions get him into trouble. Caught between angry prisoners and suspicious captors, Erich is afraid to take any action at all. It is only when Max’s schoolyard tormentors cross a dangerous line that Erich realizes that his real loyalties lie not with a regime or a country, but with his friend.

Teen Review:

Uncertain Soldier by Karen Bass is an exciting story that gives insight to what it was like in a Canadian prisoner of war camp during World War 2 as shown from a local boy and a German prisoner’s point of view. Daily struggles and conflicted viewpoints are shown from both prisoners and civilians, accurately portraying people from either side of the war.

I really enjoyed this book. There are some books I’ve read that have fulfilled the saying “I can’t put this book down”, and this was definitely one of them. The storyline constantly progressed, and it was entertaining. The story was easy to follow and I got a sense for the characters as I read because there was the switching viewpoint. It was realistic too, events in the book did or could’ve happened.

I found the characters relatable too, I could understand where they were coming from with their actions and feelings. It was also nice how it shows that not all the Germans were evil, some were just fighting for their country or forced to fight. I would recommend this especially to those who likes mystery stories or World War 2, but to anyone since it was a good book.

Ian (Teen Reviewer)

BOOK REVIEW: The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler

Good Reads Summary:

When Alice's father goes down in a shipwreck, she is sent to live with her uncle Geryon--an uncle she's never heard of and knows nothing about. He lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that is off-limits to Alice. But then she meets a talking cat. And even for a rule-follower, when a talking cat sneaks you into a forbidden library and introduces you to an arrogant boy who dares you to open a book, it's hard to resist. Especially if you're a reader to begin with. Soon Alice finds herself INSIDE the book, and the only way out is to defeat the creature imprisoned within.

It seems her uncle is more than he says he is. But then so is Alice.

Book Review:

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler is filled with adventure, a little romance and fantasy. Alice, the main character in the book is a studious young lady who after losing her father goes to live with one of her uncles who she has never met. In her new home, a mansion also known as "The Library" she meets Emma, a plain looking girl who is a servant on the estate. As Alice begins to settle in and explore her new home, she starts to question what happened to her father and looks to the others in "The Library" for answers, this is where the book gets interesting.

 

 

Django Wexler does a good job describing Alice and the other characters in the book so that it is easy to build a picture in your mind of what the characters are doing and expressing. The author chose the right number of characters so that the reader would not be confused about where they fit in. There are lots of plot twists that keep you interested. Each twist had lots of detail, and many supporting ideas that helped you feel connected to the novel. The chapters are the right length for reading in the car and the right length for capping over what was happening, enough detail so it was a good story but not too much that you would lose interest. It was an easy book to read and understand. I liked that the author put some images in the book. As the book goes on, Alice's adventures become more extreme. Alice moves into a fantasy world full of fairies, magic, and monsters. One of my favourite quotes from the book is:

 

"Ashes," Alice said, in a tone of extremely strained patience. "Where are we?" He sighed, which was an odd sound to hear from a cat.

"We're inside the book, of course. The one you read; The Swarm." Alice laughed.

"You're not serious."

"Don't ask questions if you don't want to hear the answers," Ashes said. He swished his tail, offended, and started off down one of the corridors. Alice, feeling the first thrills of fear, hurried after him.

"All right, all right," she said. "We're inside the book. How did we get here?"

"You brought us," the cat said. "You have the gift, apparently. You're a reader."

 

If you like fantasy books, action and mysteries, then this would be a great book for you to try to unravel. Once you begin you won't want to put the book down!

By Jillian (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

Amazon Summary:

   For fans of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones and Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone, The Girl at Midnight is the story of a modern girl caught in an ancient war.

     Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

     Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

     Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

 

Book Review:

    

     Melissa Grey’s “The Girl at Midnight” showcases the exotic and adventurous lives of the ‘Avicen’ people and will leave you on the edge of your seat. This story is narrated similar to a movie; where the characters are vividly expressed through a spectator-like position.  The reader is able to get a full grasp on all that’s happening.

     The story’s brisk plot-line and moderately short chapters allows the tale to flow together with ease making it an easy and enjoyable read. It is an upbeat and fascinating book that showcases the exploration of the legend of the Avicen. Overall, I really enjoyed this book as it has a little something for everyone and kept me engaged throughout every page. If you are a reader of magic, action, adventure, or all of the above, this book is perfect to satisfy your literature needs. This book was very well written and I would definitely recommend it. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars ★★★★★. Next time you step into your local library make sure to give this book a go!

 

Happy reading!

~Jenna (Teen Reviewer)

“One needs only a single match to start a fire”

“Every good fairy tale has a kernel of truth to it.”

~Melissa Grey, The Girl at Midnight

Teen Book Review: The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson

 

Amazon Summary:

     Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.

     This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

     Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material.

Book Review:

     The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson is an extra to both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. It’s about important life events of one of the most interesting and mysterious characters in the books; a powerful warlock named Magnus Bane. There’s 11 stories to explain how he came to be who he is, how he formed relationships with certain people, where he’s stood in positions of power and important events, just many different components to his character. It answers a lot of what hadn’t been said about him.

     I found this book read like a movie more than anything. I didn’t particularly relate with any characters, but it was entertaining and made me want to keep reading more. I liked how there was a lot of humour to it but kept it serious enough to have a story to it. In the previous mentioned series, there were many instances where an event would be mentioned but not fully explained. Many of those events were explained in The Bane Chronicles. I would recommend this book if you have read the other series. It was a fun and entertaining read and I enjoyed it.

Ian (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

 

Amazon Summary:

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

      As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her -- so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

      Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

Book Review:

     All Fall Down is about Grace Blakely a 16-year-old teenager struggling for answers. It's been three years since she watched her mother die. Her mother's death was ruled an accident but Grace knows her mother was murdered by a man with a scar. Three years and nothing has changed; until Grace's grandfather decided that she should live in the US Embassy with him. All is well, until Grace finds the murderer of her mother, the man with the scar. Also, Grace is reunited with some old friends and makes some new ones from the Embassy Row. Even with some help from her friends nobody believes Grace and they all think she's going crazy… again.

     Ally Carter is the New York best-selling author of her two series, Gallagher girls and Heist society. I personally thought the beginning of the book was slow but the more you read the book, the better it got. It was pretty fast-paced and I couldn't put the book down until I was finished. I would recommend this novel for mystery lovers. Overall, I gave this book a 4/5 rating.

~Cassidy (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: Galgorithm by Aaron Karo

 

Amazon Summary:

A romantic comedy that’s “a good choice for fans of John Green” (Booklist) about high school, heartbreak, and having all the answers.

What if the secrets of dating and love were revealed in one simple formula? That’s the tantalizing proposition high school senior Shane Chambliss offers the hopeless and hapless guys who come to him for relationship advice.

After the girl of his dreams breaks his heart, Shane devises a mysterious formula called the Galgorithm and establishes himself as the resident dating guru at Kingsview High School. But his attempts to master the art of romance go outrageously awry.

As Shane tries to navigate the ensuing drama, he must follow his heart, abandon all the rules, and ignore his own advice in a quest for true love. What he discovers, no formula could ever predict...

 

Book Review:

     Galgorithm is a book about a boy named Shaun who has had a terrible break-up, and has tried to make an algorithm to help fellow guys on how to get the girl of their dreams.  But... He seems to be having trouble with his own love life.  Though he has calculated everything to the last smile and batting eyelash, he soon discovers that no one can figure out the inner workings of the female mind.

 

     I would rate this book a nine out of ten, because of the originality and how the author describes the characters.  I also like how the chapters weren't extremely long and every time you started a new chapter it was like the author introduced a new problem that needed fixing.  I would most definitely recommend this book to people who love a good comedy and romance because every time I opened the book and started reading I was laughing to myself, and the occasional scandal occurred.  Overall, this book is one of my new favourites.  It is a must read and I hope you read it this summer.

Margaret (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

 

BONUS!  This fabulous book has 2 Reviews!

 

Goodreads Summary:

 

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!
 
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

 

Book Review #1:

 

All The Bright Places is a breath-taking, thought-provoking, and brilliant fictitious read.  Fans of realistic fiction, this book is a must read.  I heard this book was similar to The Fault In Out Stars by John Green.  Upon beginning All The Bright Places, I was really hoping the story would be diverse, and different from John Green's most popular book, as I didn't want to read a book that repeated The Fault In Our Stars.  Jennifer Niven did not disappoint.  She took a new take on realistic fiction, and explored a problem we are all familiar with.

This problem was teen mental health. Finch and Violet, the main characters, both suffered from traumatic experiences, causing them to experience unstable mental states. They help each 

other explore the world in a new way, a way that makes living a bit easier. This story is an eye-opener.  It sends a message to all teens that mental health is important, and there is ways to help ourselves.  The characters are easy to relate to,  and fall in love with. The story is beautiful. I strongly recommend this book, to every type of reader. If you love stories that bring tears to your eyes, that are page turners, and that are deep and relatable, this book is perfect for you. This is definitely a book that I would re-read. It is the kind of book you will learn something different from each time. I am in love with the characters, the story, and the lessons Niven leaves for us readers. Take the chance to experience this book yourselves, It will not disappoint. 

 

 “The thing I realize is, that it's not what you take, it's what you leave." -Finch

 

Enjoy,

Tamara (Teen Book Reviewer)

 

Book Review #2

 

The stand alone novel, All The Bright Places will have you hooked from the very first sentence. This is a story of love, friendship, loyalty and wandering into the unknown. For a teenage girl named Violet Markey this means befriending a seemingly odd Theodore Finch, who selected her as his Geography partner and in other scenarios, saved her life. For Theodore Finch this means staying Awake and resisting his fascination with death.

 

This novel had me on edge by every single word of every single page. It exposes us to the good and bad realities of life in their most extreme forms. I would strongly recommend this novel to The Fault in Our Stars fans and the readers out there who appreciate realistic fiction.

I hope you like this novel as much as I did!

Enjoy!

Jillian (Teen Book Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: Prison Boy by Sharon E. McKay

Amazon Summary:

     Little Kai is brought to the orphanage run by Bell, a fearsome Englishwoman whose dedication to her charges is unflinching. There, an older child, Pax, immediately takes Kai under his wing. It soon becomes apparent that Kai is a brilliant child, and given the right circumstances, could go on to achieve great things.
      Penniless and living amidst political strife and constant uncertainty, the children are nonetheless taken care of and protected -- until Bell dies and they are left on their own. Pax is determined to keep Kai safe, and to make sure he gets the education he deserves. But life on the streets is tough -- and dangerous.
      In a desperate attempt to make enough money to keep Kai in school, Pax agrees to work for a shady character known only as Mister. Mister sends Pax on a "special" mission -- carry a very heavy box to a pre-arranged location, and wait there. At the very last minute, Pax realizes that the box contains a bomb; it explodes, killing and maiming hundreds of people.
      Pax and Kai escape the deadly explosion, only to be arrested soon after and charged with terrorism. What follows is a descent into the hellish prison where brutal guards stop at nothing to make Pax talk. As a means of survival, he retreats into a magnificent fantasy world and finds himself on a journey of hope and discovery.
     This haunting novel brings home the tragic situation in which children in over 40 countries are tortured with impunity. But it also speaks to the strength of love under the most dire of circumstances.

 

Book Review:

      Prison Boy by Sharon E. McKay is an interesting look at the struggle for life in an unfortunate situation. It follows the story of an orphan living in a slum and doing whatever he can to keep himself and his brother-like friend safe, fed, and as comfortable as they can be. It shows just how important money can be for those without it, and how harsh the world can be.

     Though this isn’t a very big book, I found myself easily attached to the characters, hoping that something would work out in their favour and seeing why they would feel a certain way. In Orillia we don’t know how bad the character's conditions really could be but it was descriptive enough to give a good idea, and that contributed to connecting with the characters. I would recommend this book because it’s a better look into lives of the less fortunate that’s more understandable than different campaigns to raise money for places like in the book, so it gives more meaning to those things. I also thought it started out slowly but later on the storyline consistently progressed, so it was exciting.

 

Ian (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: D-Frag by Tomoya Haruno

Summary:

 

"D-Frag " is a new ongoing manga series that parodies high school clubs, nerd culture, and the slice-of-life genre in a side-splittingly hilarious storyline. For fans of manga series about otaku-centric high school clubs like "Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends, Genshiken," or "The""Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, ""D-Frag " has the last laugh, as it satirizes the genre like never before.

Kazama Kenji thinks he's a delinquent. He's got the look, the style and the attitude to match--he even has a second-rate entourage of sorts. Deep down, however, Kazama is a good-hearted kid who finds himself and his loyal gang in over their heads when they stumble upon the Game Creation Club. The club's formidable members, Chitose, Sakura, Minami, and Roka, are four girls who he might actually be attracted to if they weren't so freaking weird.

The girls claim to have otherworldly powers which they use to defeat Kazama's gang and force him to join their offbeat club. Can Kazama resist the girls' bizarre charms and return to some semblance of a normal, everyday life...or is it "game over" for our hapless hero?

 

Teen Review:

 

D-Frag is an excellent manga series and you should read it. Why? Because the characters, story and adventure in the first volume alone will leave you wanting more. In the first book an upcoming gang at a Japanese high school enter the Game Dev. Club looking to swipe some games. This does not go well for them and their leader is sucked into a world of gaming and make-believe. If you are a fan of manga or are looking to get into it D-Frag is the one for you.

Carson

Geek Out: 30 Books That Are Out of This World

It's that time of year again!  Registration has begun for our teen summer reading program. This summer read what you want, when you want!  The Orillia Public Library's Teen Summer Reading Club; Geek Out: 30 Books That Are Out of This World is all about celebrating reading.  Thirty exciting, "Out of This World" titles have been chosen from a variety of genres.  We are challenging Orillia youth ages 12-19 to collectively read 150, 000 minutes between June 27th and September 6th! In addition to a library wide reading goal we are challenging each of you to read for over 2500 minutes this summer.  Meet your goal and win a prize!  You can earn additional points throughout the summer by participating in programs, writing book reviews, and playing our Teen Scene Summer BINGO!  Click here for more details.

 

 

Book Review: Schizo by Nic Sheff

 

Summary:

Miles’s little brother Teddy is missing. The police believe he drowned at the beach—the very same day Miles had his first schizophrenic episode. But Miles knows better—Teddy is alive. Kidnapped. There was even a witness! Fueled by guilt, Miles sets off to rescue Teddy.

There is so much to overcome, though. The endless pills he must take. The girl who steals his heart and plays with it. The black crows that follow him.

As seen through Miles’s distorted perception, his world closes around him as he pushes to keep it open. What you think you know about his world is actually a blur of gray, though, and the sharp focus of reality proves startling.

The New York Times bestselling author of Tweak offers a fascinating and ultimately quite hopeful story of one teen’s downward spiral into mental illness.

My Review:

  Schizo is written by the New York Times best-selling author Nick Sheff of Tweak.  This fascinating and engaging story follows Miles's diagnosis and his point of view of life.    Miles thinks he's recovering well but in reality he's becoming a lot worse.

  Schizo is a story about a Schizophrenic teen name Miles.  He is a junior at a private school in San Francisco.  Miles feels guilty when his little brother Teddy goes missing.  A few months later he decides to go on a mission to find him because Miles believes Teddy is still alive.  The shocking story has Miles searching for clues to find his little brother Teddy until Eliza, a close childhood friend was or was not romantically interfering with his plan. With school and friends distracting him, Miles is chasing shadows in a cave closing in on him fast.

  Schizo is a fascinating and shocking book.  It is a book that teaches you to never give up no matter what tries to stop you.  Nic Sheff wrote this book from Miles's perspective and the other characters are left up in the air. Miles's character is very engaging but for him, he seems more confused and painful.  This book was pretty well paced, except for near the end it seems more fast-paced just to get it over with.  Overall, I write this book 3 out of 5 stars.

  "What you think you know about his world is actually a blur of gray, though, and the sharp focus of reality proves startling."

Cassidy
OPL Teen Reviewer

Book Review: The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

Summary:


For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now . . . not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?

 Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.

 And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .



Review:

            The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle is filled with rich romance, and finding your own path in the world, even if your parents are against you.

            Wren Grey and Charlie Parker fall hopelessly in love, and the author does a wonderful job in showing what real relationships are like. It’s not so much of a cheesy romance that would make you roll your eyes, but one that leaves you thinking about it even after you’ve stopped reading. One that seems real, and makes you feel something inside. Though not every relationship can be perfect…

            Even though Wren is all wrapped up with Charlie, she still has many issues to deal with. After high school, she plans on doing what she wants to do. She must battle with her parents for their acceptance with her wishes. Questioning her decisions, she is still confused with what’s in store for her. She is deciding what to do with her life, and finding out who she really is as a person. I think any teenager can relate to Wren in her situation.

            This very thrilling and captivating book is a must read for anyone who loves a great love story. The author beautifully captures the characters emotions and makes you want to never put this book down.

Book Review: The Young World by Chris Weitz

Summary:

Welcome to New York, a city ruled by teens.

After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos.

But when a fellow tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure for the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip, exchanging gunfire with enemy gangs, escaping cults and militias, braving the wilds of the subway--all in order to save humankind.

Review:

The Young World by Chris Weitz may possibly be the first book to a series. The viewpoint switches each chapter between two teens; Jefferson and Donna, who live together at a camp they took part in establishing. When a friend finds a chance at curing the sickness that kills all the children and people over 18, a group of 5 set out. On their journey they face the challenges of a world run by teens and find out who they are.

            This was a different but good take on an end of the world scenario. With everything run by teens, it’s really cool how the author has set up the many scattered societies, and they are very realistic. What makes the whole story seem real is how it’s written; it’s similar to the way teens talk and text and think so teen readers really feel in touch with the characters. I would definitely recommend it to teens as it also has a love story to it and it’s a fun adventure.

Teen Reviewer: Ian