Show Your Card!

Did you know that September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month? To celebrate, several local businesses are offering either special discounts or free items when you show your Oxford Public Library card throughout the month of September. Don't have a library card? Stop by our circulation desk (the one across from Winston's tank) and pick one up. They're free!*

Participating Oxford Businesses Include:

A & A Flower Shop: 15% off any purchase, excluding wire orders, weddings & funerals

Beadifferent Botique: 10% off purchase under $25, 15% off purchase over $25.

Funky Monkey Toys: 10% off entire purchase, excluding sale items.

Great Lakes Mercantile: Free item.

Harvest Time: 10% off pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks & straw bales.

Lori's Pet Paradise: $5 any service.

Marathon of Oxford: 20% off food or beverage purchases.

Oxford Wine & Beverage: 5% off purchase.

Patterson Sav-More Pharmacy: 10% off purchase & free bookmark (perscription items not included).

Pink & Charlie Botique: $5 off purchase over $25.

Sweet & Savory Bake Shop: Buy 1 cupcake, get one free (closed through Sept. 10).

Uncle Boomba's & Dairy Queen: 20% off chicken, pizza, subs, DQ & Orange Julius.

Vendetti's Pizza and Pasta: $2 off purchase over $10.

Victoria's Delights: 10% off bill.

*If you are under 18, you must have a parent or guardian present when you apply for a library card. 

Teen Reviewer

Teen reviewer Olivia Upham, 14, recently devoured an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Darkest Path, by Jeff Hirseh. She loved, loved, loved this dystopian adventure:

 

"The Darkest Path is honestly one of my favorite books. Dystopian novels were getting a little dry because it was always the same thing: The government failed. But this book actually had a back story, and I loved that. Callum Roe, a defiant yet lost soldier of the Glorious Path, runs away with a dog after he kills the kennel worker. Every chapter has a plot twist, and there was not a dull moment in the novel.  It's the most intense book I've read, and he made even minor characters memorable. I'm truly at a loss for words. The ending left me speechless. I've already recommended this book to other people!" --Olivia Upham, teen reviewer.

 

The Darkest Path is scheduled for release September 24, 2013.

 

Olivia, if you enjoyed this ARC, you might want to try Safekeeping, by Karen Hesse, in which Radley, a teen missionary, returns home to find the US has dissolved into total anarchy while she was out of the country. Hoping to find her missing parents, she plans to flee to Canada. Along the way, she befriends a pregnant teen (also on the run). The story is not so much about what's going on with the government (or lack of), but of the girls' journey to safety and the bond they form out of necessity. Illustrating the story are some very cool photos taken by the author. 

What do you mean you don't have The City of Bones?

Oh No!!

The book you wanted isn't checked in!

"wut u meen u not haz book i wants?"

You know that One Book? That super-hyped book all your friends told you is awesome, the one Hollywood is making a movie about, the one that's all over the news, the one you absolutely can't wait to get your hands on and read for yourself? Yeah, that one. Well, there's nothing more frustrating than coming to the library, expecting to walk away with that One Special Book, and discovering it's not only checked out, but there's also a months-long waiting list for it. (At least there's nothing more frustrating in the library world). 

Oh No! What do you read now?

True that we at the Oxford Public Library Teen Department try to stay on top of what's currently popular. Whether it's The Mortal Instruments series, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or anything by John Green. But, unfortunately, we cannot have unlimited supplies of these titles. However, we do sympathize with the above situation and try to make sure no one leaves our building unsatisfied--even if they don't get the exact book they came to get. Therefore, we've set up a display of great books for you to read while you wait for that One Book to come in. You'll find it above the curved fiction shelf (just look for the sign featuring the begging kitty cat). 

Still don't see what you want? Ask the librarian on desk for recommendations.

Teen Reviewer

Teen reviewer Olivia, 14, read Shooting Stars, by Allison Rushby. Although she was mildly entertained by this romance, she felt the book was missing its target audience.

"First thing I have to say is I 100% would have enjoyed this book more if I'd been younger. So this review is a little biased because of the fact that I'm older. In Shooting Stars, sixteen year old ZoJo goes undercover for a paparazzi gig in a rehab center to take photos of celebrity Ned Hartnett, who she's in love with. Having the main character be 16 in a book meant for a 12 year old was a bad idea. When I read a book, I want to be able to relate to the characters, and 12 year olds will not relate to a 16 year old main character.  The author made Jo (act) way too old in some areas of the book and way to young in others. She never felt like a real 16 year old. Rushby had some witty, sarcastic, laugh out loud material in the book even I enjoyed. But besides that, there was nothing in the book to amuse or touch me. No character development:( However, I must say if I was 12, I would probably have loved this book. The idea is original with some very interesting concepts and morals/perspectives, which I did enjoy learning about.".

Although Olivia probably wouldn't recommend this to her friends or peers, she might give it to a younger tween.

Teen Reviewer

Teen Reviewer Annie, 14, read and enjoyed Through the Ever Night, sequel to Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky. Here is her review:

"Through the Ever Night picks up right where Under the Never Sky left off. Perry and Aria reunite, but not for long. With Talon and many others still in danger, Aria and Roar take off to the Horn's to get Liv back and get the location of the Still Blue. The Tides didn't accept Aria anyway, so to protect Perry's Bloodlord status, she and Roar leave without him. The book was well-paced and intriguing. Even though Perry and Aria were apart for most of the time, I thought that strengthened their relationship. There was a lot of Roar and Liv development, which was important considering the ending. They find out where the Still Blue is, but they lose Cinder because of it. I hope in the next book they get Cinder back and move the Tides to the Still Blue. Overall, the book was entertaining and better than the first." 

Annie recommends this series for teens 13 and up. The third and final book in this trilogy, Into the Still Blue, is due out in January 2014.

Book of the Day

Stop by the Teen Area and check out our newest feature: The Teen Book of the Day! 

You'll find this prominently displayed on top of the New Book Shelves. Unlike our other displays, which stay in place for a month or more, the Teen Book of the Day is a way for us to spotlight a large number of books in a very short time: One book for each 24-hour period. Sometimes they'll be new books, other times they'll be books we've had in the collection for a while. Sometimes they'll be popular books, other times they'll be what we like to call "hidden treasures." Fantasy, realistic, sci-fi, dystopian, horror, graphic novels, classics, audio books, pretty covers, plain covers... All are possibilities. As long as we've read and liked a book, it has the potential to be featured as a Teen Book of the Day.

But this shouldn't just be a staff choice. We want the help of you, our patrons and blog followers! Let us know about YOUR favorite books and why you love them, and we'll consider them for a Teen Book of the Day.--AJB

Waiting for John Green? Check This Out!

YA Author John Green is...well, he's made of awesome! Ask any teen. Or anyone even remotely familiar with the YA genre, for that matter. Chances are they've read (and loved) at least one of John Green's books. And, unlike many hyped-up things, these books deserve every iota of raving they get! Yeah, they're that good!

Seriously!

The good news is Oxford Public Library owns every book John Green has ever written--in both print and audio and downloadable formats. The bad news is these books so popular they're hardly ever checked in--and the wait list for them is likely longer than the one for the most recent book-to-movie adaption book. Bummer, huh? 

Not really.

We at the Teen Department sincerely sympathize with your jonsing for John Green Books. That's why we've created an entire display devoted to John Green read-alikes for you to read while you wait. While these titles may not have been penned by John Green, they're worth reading...and will satisfy your John Green craving until your holds come in. 

So stop by the Teen Area and check out this display! We promise you'll find something awesome here!