In this issue:

Teen Read Week

Teens' Top Ten

HCPL YA Staff

New Young Adult Materials

Area teens will be reading for the fun of it as Harris County Public Library celebrates the tenth annual Teen Read Week(TM), October 14 – 20, 2007. They join thousands of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, "LOL @ your library®." Teen Read Week(TM) is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).  This year’s theme encourages teens to read humorous books and graphic novels just 'for the fun of it'.

Funny Fiction for Teens book list

The nominations are in, and during Teen Read Week, October 14-20, you can vote for your favorite young adult book of the year!  Join the fun by going to www.ala.org/teenstopten/ and casting your ballot for the best teen book. Books were nominated by members of teen book groups across the country.

Teens' Top Ten Nominations List

Book list of the nominations--read them now and vote during Teen Read Week!

Randa Abdel-Fattah.  Does My Head Look Big in This?

Year Eleven at an exclusive prep school in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, would be tough enough, but it is further complicated for Amal when she decides to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, full-time as a badge of her faith--without losing her identity or sense of style.

Malín Alegría.  Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in

Mexico   When Southern California high school senior Sofi Mendoza lies to her parents and crosses the border for a weekend party, she has no idea that she will get stuck in a Mexican village with family she has never met before, unable to return to the United States and the easy life she knew.

Royce Buckingham.  Demonkeeper

When Nat, the weirdest boy in Seattle, leaves for a date with the plainest girl in town, chaos breaks out in the houseful of demons of which he is the sole guardian.

Stephen Cole.  Thieves Till We Die

Teen geniuses Jonah, Motti, Con, Tye, and Patch, working for their mysterious benefactor, Coldhardt, are out to recover more stolen artefacts when one of their members is kidnapped, and they must add a rescue operation to the mission.

Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout.  The Black Sheep

Fifteen-year-old Kendra Bishop quickly regrets her rash decision to write to a new reality television show when she finds herself in Monterey, California, living with a large family of activists rather than in a Manhattan apartment with her uptight, money-oriented parents.

Dan Gutman.  Getting Air

After foiling a terrorist hijacking aboard their airplane, fourteen-year-old Jimmy, his younger sister, and two skateboarding friends crash-land the plane and try to survive in a forest wilderness until help arrives.

Pete Hautman.  All-in

Having won thousands of dollars playing high-stakes poker in Las Vegas, seventeen-year-old Denn Doyle hits a losing streak after falling in love with a young casino card dealer named Cattie Hart.

Melissa Marr.  Wicked Lovely

Seventeen-year-old Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see faeries, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle between the Summer King and the Winter Queen, and the survival of her life, her love, and summer all hang in the balance.

Judson Roberts.  Viking Warrior:  Denmark A.D. 845

Despite being the son of a chieftain and a princess, fourteen-year-old Halfdan lives as a slave in Denmark in A.D. 845 but through a tragic bargain he gains his freedom and sets out to claim his birthright.

Sharon M. Kaye.  Philosophy for Teens

Covering a wide range of philosophical concepts, this volume address what are considered life's "big questions."

Bisco Hatori.  Ouran High School Host Club 1

In this screwball romantic comedy, a poor girl at a rich kids' school ends up working for the school's swankiest club-- and gets mistaken for a boy !

Jim Ottaviani.  Levitation Physics and Psychology in

the Service of Deception  The amazing story of the most dazzling illusion ever performed on stage, and features a cast of characters that will enlighten and astound you.  Graphic Novel.

Martin "Cyber Tuna" Signore.  Fantasy Football for

Dummies  Packed with expert advice and timely tips.   Fantasy football can be an addictive hobby. But if you've never played before, how do you start? Have no fear! This friendly guide explains the game to you from start to finish.

Joyce E. Suber.  The Road to College

Outlining a wide range of fun and meaningful activities that can positively impact a high schoolers life, as well as his or her college applications, this guide is essential for a students planning for college. It guides readers to explore what they love early in high school in order to develop a sense of which college will suit their individual needs.

Stephenie Meyer.  Eclipse

Bella must choose between her friendship with Jacob and her relationship with Edward, both vampires, but when Seattle is ravaged by a mysterious string of killings, the three of them need to decide whether their personal lives are more important than the well-being of an entire city.  Read by Ilyana Kadushin.

Jordon Sonnenblick.  Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie

When his younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia, thirteen-year-old Steven tries to deal with his complicated emotions, his school life, and his desire to support his family.  Read by Joel Johnstone.

Nancy Werlin.  The Rules of Survival

Seventeen-year-old Matthew recounts his attempts, starting at a young age, to free himself and his sisters from the grip of their emotionally and physically abusive mother.   Read by Daniel Passer.

Michael Scott.  The Alchemyst

While working at pleasant but mundane summer jobs in San Francisco, fifteen-year-old twins, Sophie and Josh, suddenly find themselves caught up in the deadly, centuries-old struggle between rival alchemists, Nicholas Flamel and John Dee, over the possession of an ancient and powerful book holding the secret formulas for alchemy and everlasting life.  Read by Denis O'Hare.

Celia Rees.  The Vanished

It all started as stories. Playground tales handed down for generations. Stories of plague graves, vanished children and hidden steps leading to a festering underworld. But when another child goes missing, Fraser wonders if there's some truth in the tales. The dank tunnels running under the city are real enough. Who knows what horrors their depths contain? Only Billy. He knows about a decaying kingdom far more terrifying than anyone could imagine.  Read by Shirley Barthelmie.