AXIS: Info for Teens 12-18.
Blog Post
Hike @ Argo Nature Area tonight!
by eapearce
Join us and a representative from Ann Arbor's Natural Area Preservation on an informative nature walk tonight at 7:00pm at Argo Nature Area. This lovely 22-acre park runs along the Huron River offering beautiful views of the water through the oak, hickory and willow trees. The event will be a mixture of hiking the unpaved trail that runs along the river and learning about ecological restoration and native plants and animals from the NAP representative. Remember to wear comfortable clothing and bring water!
We will meet in the parking lot by the Argo Canoe Livery, just off of Longshore Drive.
Blog Post
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out
by krayla
Those interested in personal memoirs and stories will love Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin. Six honest teens from diverse backgrounds share their inspirational and often heartbreaking experiences in trying to find and identify who they really are. Each teen describes how they first realized they were a different gender and their transitional experiences since then. With a format based on taped interviews, readers will feel as though they are having a conversation with each teen in person. In addition to providing a great introduction to readers first exploring what it means to be transgender or intersex, "Beyond Magenta" would function well in teen book clubs or group discussions on identity. An extensive glossary and resource guide are located in the back of the book for extra clarification and further research.
Susan Kuklin is well-known for her raw and informative nonfiction books, including No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row and Iqbal Masih and the Crusaders Against Child Slavery. Many of her books, including "Beyond Magenta", feature her own engaging photography. To learn more about Susan Kuklin, visit her website.
Blog Post
Calling All Teen Volunteers!!
by sherlonya
Are you a teenager 14-18 years old looking to volunteer over the summer? If so, we have some opportunities for you.
You'll have a chance to help with select summer programs, help us get craft supplies ready for events, and/or package Summer Game orders.
Get started by filling out our online application. Your next step is to attend one of our orientations. It's at the orientation where you can sign up for your volunteer shifts.
June 18, 10:00-10:30 Downtown Board Room
June 19, 4:00-4:30 Pittsfield Program Room
June 24, 4:00-4:30 Traverwood Program Room
June 26, 9:00-9:30 Malletts Creek Program Room
July 2, 10:00-10:30 Downtown Board Room
July 7, 4:00-4:30 Malletts Creek Program Room
July 16, 9:00-9:30 Pittsfield Program Room
July 24, 11:00-11:30 Traverwood Program Room
If you've been waiting for your chance to help out at the library, we can't wait to see you!
Blog Post
Best Adult Fiction For Teens (And Adults!)
by manz
There are many fiction books written for adults that appeal to teens due to the subject matter or the teen protagonists in the story. The number of adults reading books for teens or featuring teens keeps getting higher as the genre becomes stronger with quality books. There are many good books that fall into this category. A few adult fiction novels featuring teens as main characters that I’ve read this year and recommend are:
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton Disclafani
In the midst of the Great Depression 15 year old Thea Atwell is sent to a boarding school for southern debutantes as punishment for her role in an unforgivable family tragedy. She ends up there longer than she expected, makes friends, excels at horseback riding, and learns a lot about herself as she tries to sort through being estranged from her family and being racked with guilt and feeling lost. The books is part family drama and part scandalous love story. I couldn’t put it down.
The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence
Alex is struck by a meteorite at the age of 10. He is a bookish, outcast, son of a fortune teller – so he hasn’t had the easiest life. As the story jumps forward to Alex at age 17, he befriends an cantankerous elderly neighbor Mr. Peterson and the duo bond over Kurt Vonnegut. The book opens with 17 year old Alex being pulled over at the customs border with illegal substances in the glove box and an urn of ashes in the passenger seat as he sits blaring classical music while having a seizure. There’s only one thing to do but be curious enough to read it.
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
Rosemary is a witty college student still coming to terms with the fact that her sister (who was raised as her twin) was removed from the house at a young age, which led to her brother running away from home, leaving Rosemary and her parents alone with what’s left of the family. What gets talked about? What doesn’t? It’s a beautifully written book based on experiments done in the 1970s regarding behaviorial psychology.
Here’s a list by School Library Journal of the top books in this category for 2013, and here’s a list of books that won the Alex Award this year – given to the top 10 books written for adults that appeal to teens. There's a bunch of good titles to put on your list!
It's All Write - All Submissions 2014
2014 submissions were accepted in the three grade categories - Middle School, Grades 9th/10th and Grades 11th/12th. The following are all the students and the work they submitted for this year's It's All Write Contest. The winning stories and finalists can be viewed here.
Middle School:
High School 9th/10th Grade:
High School 11th/12th Grade:
Blog Post
Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun
by manz
Summer and no school is just around the corner, and this giant book is full of ways to keep you busy with a variety of subjects. While the book features "serious fun," it's written more on the funny side. It has a great cover and great illustrations, which totally nudge me to like certain books more.
Unbored gives you big ideas and how to start them, including how to grow a science garden, make your own games, zines, and LED graffiti You can also learn how to perform kitchen experiments, blog, fix your bike, and lots more.
The book also features some fun lists! Including a list of banned books you should read, secret history of young adult novels, best ever sports movies, best ever stop-action movies, best ever animal movies, best ever DIY fiction, and the best ever clean hip hop songs.
There’s also informational bits thrown into the book. Learn some weird facts about condiments, or browse a list of kitchen cures, and learn how to train your grownup to be a ninja.
UNBORED! That’s what you’ll be at the end of the book. Be sure to check out the book preview to see examples of what's inside. And check out the awesome website for the book! There is a TON of great stuff to look at.
Blog Post
Join us for Chesstastic this Sunday at Traverwood!
by eapearce
Whether you are already a talented chess player or you barely know the rules of the game, whether you're retired or still in elementary school, the Chesstastic program is a great way to hone your chess skills, learn more about the game, and meet new people of all ages.
This Sunday will be our last Chesstastic event before the summer (don't worry; they'll resume again in September) so it's a great opportunity to come see what it's all about. Chesstastic goes from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Traverwood branch on Sunday, May 18th, and you can feel free to come for all or any part of the program. Chess sets, as well as refreshments, are provided for the players.
Blog Post
"It's All Write!" 2014 FINAL RESULTS
by krayla
If you weren't able to attend the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, the official list of the 2014 Winners of the "It's All Write!" Teen Short Story Contest is now posted! Finalists and winners that were absent from the ceremony will receive their awards in the mail.
Thank you to all who participated and those who support the writers of Ann Arbor and beyond!
Looking for cool writing events to attend now that the school year is almost over? Check out the upcoming Emerging Writers Workshops with Lara Zielin and Margaret Yang on May 15 and June 5!
Happy writing!
Film & Video Events
Claymation Puppet Workshop for Teens with Animator Brad Pattullo
Saturday July 5, 2014: 11:00am to
4:00pm
Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room
Teens In Grades 6-12
Blog Post
Tonight!: Hike @ Barton Nature Area
by eapearce
The first of our nature walks this season will be this tonight, May 8 at 7:00pm at Barton Nature area! The nature walks that AADL hosts throughout the summer are made possible by our partnership with Natural Area Preservation and are lead by a representative from NAP.
Barton Nature Area is a 102-acre park in northwest Ann Arbor. The part that we will be hiking in is known as the oxbow, and connects to Argo Nature Area. There is a lovely smaller part of Barton Nature Area as well, the Foster area, which is only accessible by boat via crossing Barton Pond. On our hike we will see lots of beautiful spring vegetation as well as a variety of landscapes. The oxbow area, where we will hike, includes wet meadow and shrubland, prairie and old field, mesic forest and emergent marsh.
We will meet at the parking lot off Huron Drive just north of the intersection with Bird Road. Make sure to dress for walking and bring water if needed! Arrive a few minutes early to make sure you don't miss the beginning of the hike. It's a beautiful warm day out, so come join us!