Book Bag: Friendswood Youth Services Blog

So, I don't want to brag or anything but there was a small profile of me in the Houston Chronicle last week...and it started because of this blog. So I guess I should make sure I update it more often, huh?    Youth librarian uses blog to get young adults interested in reading In other news, don't forget that you can now follow me on twitter @FriendswoodYA AND tumblr!  http://friendswoodya.tumblr.com/ DFTBA, Sti

Yes it is almost the end of April and we're just finishing the YA March Madness. Because that's how we roll.  So...the winner of the 2014 YA March Madness is.....  I know, I know, it's all a big shock. That this book, an underdog really, came out on top of all the other worthy contenders was a big surprise to all of us here at the library.*  Raven Boys  by Maggie Stiefvater was our second place. If you haven't read it yet, you really, really should! It might not have a movie deal, but Maggie Stiefvater is an excellent writer and a really weird human being and the book is so good. When you've read it, come and tell me which character is your favorite. You know, if you can choose just one. I know I can't.   And now, have we talked about The Fault in Our Stars movie yet? Because I'm pretty sure it's going to break all of us. If you want to see the new trailer you'll have to go watch a movie about a wife and two mistresses getting reven...

Yep! March Madness strikes again! If you've been in the library in the past week, you can't have missed the GIANT BLACK MONSTROSITY blocking your view through the library. I don't even know what to call it besides a wall. A wall made of fuzzy velcro-y material to which we can attach things. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. Attached to said giant black wall is this year's bracket of YA books. We chose to go alphabetically first. So the first round pitted Airborn against Allegiant , Hold Me Closer, Necromancer against The Hobbit etc. But that was last week. This week is EVEN HARDER. Seriously, I'm getting hives just thinking about having to choose between some of these books. So here's the deal, all you have to do to help choose the winner is vote! We've got physical ballots conveniently located on the table in front of the aforementioned giant black wall and soon you'll be able to vote online as well! Stay tuned for more info! ...

Hey all! Thought I should dust off the blog and talk about our plans for this Spring! As usual, we've got Video Games every Tuesday (4:30-5:30), Teen Advisory Group Meetings every Wednesday (4:30-5:30), and crafts every Friday (4:30-5:30).  But we've got a few special things in store for you as well! Starting with... The Reichenbach Ball Do you watch the BBC series Sherlock? If you haven't heard of it, let me tell you all about it! It's a modern adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, and it is fantastic. Seriously. We're big fans of it here at the library, and, with the conclusion of third season the Teen Advisory Group decided we needed a celebration that was all Sherlock! We're calling it The Reichenbach Ball and it is going to be excellent. On Saturday February 8th from 6:00-8:00 we'll be meeting at the library dressed in our finest (or cosplay if that's what you'd prefer). We'll have some discussions about all the fangirly feels we...

It's the first day of NaNoWriMo!  Have you heard of National Novel Writing Month? It's exactly what it sounds like, you write a novel. In a month. I know, it's crazy, but totally achievable! Know how I know? I did it last year (while working full time, training for a 1/2 marathon AND going on a vacation). And so did Keith. Have you ever wanted to write a book but were afraid it would suck? Or you've been meaning to write down that great story but you just never seem to have the time (even though you spent 3 hours scrolling through your tumblr dash last night)? NaNoWriMo is the answer to your dilemma! Let me let John Green explain it, he does a waaaaay better job than I could. Plus there's puff! So, like he says, NaNoWriMo gives you the freedom to suck. The first draft of a book is supposed to suck. So if that's what's holding you back, stop it! Go sign up at http://nanowrimo.org/ (it's free) and start your book along with a HUGE online co...

I don't know if you're aware, blog readers, but I am a huge and I mean HUGE fan of the British series Doctor Who. Like a big, dorky fan  If you've never heard of Doctor Who, it's a British science fiction series about a time traveling alien. It's a scary, funny, poignant, and- in my opinion- important show. And if you hang around at library YA programs long enough, I will make you watch it. And you too, will become obsessed. Or at least learn the valuable virtue of patience while the rest of us obsess. This year Doctor Who will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on November 23. There will be a special episode airing and all the fans will lose their minds. It'll be great fun! BUT I couldn't let the celebration end after the 23 soooooo the Teen Advisory Group is hosting a 50th Anniversary Party! Join us on Saturday November 30 from 2:00-5:00pm to celebrate  All Things Who!  Snacks, crafts, games, and clips from the show! We're also having a co...

It's that time of year again. When the weather turns (just a little bit) cooler and night comes early. When things begin going bump in the dark and you see mysterious shapes out of the corner of your eye! That's right, it's All Hallows Read!  I know it's been a year, so here's a refresher, All Hallows Read is the holiday started by my close personal friend Neil Gaiman in order to share books with people! The official day is October 31st so as you can imagine the books we share are usually scary!  You know you can come in any time to get a good book from me, but I'll be pushing really good creepy/scary books until 10/31, so be on the lookout. Below are a few to get you interested. Seventeen-year-old Evie O'Neill is thrilled when she is exiled from small-town Ohio to New York City in 1926, even when a rash of occult-based murders thrusts Evie and her uncle, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, into the thic...