Tag Archives: Teen Room

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Teen Takeover! Cozy Stories and Hot Chocolate: The Perfect Pair!

One of the best things to do during the winter months is snuggling up with your favorite blanket, a cup of cocoa, and a good book. Lucky for you we’ve got the best reads picked out matched with a complimentary cup of cocoa!

Trapped by Michael Northrop

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive. Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. For a chilling adventure we recommend pairing with a hot cup of peppermint hot chocolate!

The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody

Ryn finds herself trapped in the Denver International Airport on New Year’s Eve thanks to a never-ending blizzard on the one-year anniversary of her best friend’s death, fate literally runs into her, and his name is Xander. When the two accidentally swap phones, Ryn and Xander are thrust into the chaos of an unforgettable all-night adventure, filled with charming and mysterious strangers, a secret New Year’s Eve bash, and a possible Illuminati conspiracy hidden within the Denver airport. This story is full of sweet fluff and a beautiful message of acceptance, moving on, and creating new relationships. Pair with a BIG mug of dark chocolate hot cocoa with an extra scooping of marshmallows!

Let It Snow by John Green & Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. For stories this sweet and bright we recommend warming up with a orange flavored hot cocoa for a cozy atmosphere.

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? For a whirlwind of excitement and adventure pair this exciting read with some sweet white chocolate hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and sprinkles!

My True Love Gave to Me by Various Authors

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year’s there’s something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love. With this book we recommend one of the best things you can do during the holidays…invite over friends and family! Get yourself together with friends, set out a hot chocolate bar for guests, and read aloud with each other!

Happy Holidays lovely readers!

 

To find recipes for the hot cocoas and a video on how to make the ultimate hot chocolate bar check out the links below!

The Ultimate Hot Chocolate Bar

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa

Orange Hot Cocoa

Funfetti Hot Chocolate

 

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Teen Takeover! New Autumn Releases We Can’t Stop Talking About!

While the start of Autumn may mean back to school it also means new book releases! Here are some of our favorites from the Teen Room! Enjoy!

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

A Pride & Prejudice retelling set in modern day Brooklyn! The tale follows Zuri Benitez and her four wild sisters through the struggle of teenage crushes, understanding family pride, and finding her place in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Bushwick. While staying true to the original’s themes and tone this story holds its own with a well written plot and colorful characters that are easy to relate to!

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

This is Hank Green’s debut novel which we couldn’t be more excited for! April-May becomes an overnight internet sensation after her and her friend Andy take a video of the “Carls”, robots that resemble a samurai Transformer, and ends up being swept up in a whirlwind of international fame, never-ending questions, and her own emotions. The story is quirky, well-written, and focuses on the unification of humanity.

The Lady’s Guide to Piracy and Petticoats by Mackenzie Lee

The second installment in the Montague Siblings Series picks up a year after the adventure from Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, starring our favorite moody sister Felicity! Felicity wants nothing but to be a doctor, but when the subject of her gender is brought into question she embarks on a journey through the German countryside to find Alexander Platt, an eccentric physician, to take her on as a research assistant.  Lee has outdone herself again with Lady’s Guide by continuing to use her voice to tackle subjects like misogyny, intersectional privilege, and racism while keeping the tone exciting and relatable. Another five star story from Mackenzie Lee!

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins

One tense week brings all six people into close contact in a town wrought with political and personal tensions. This story revolves around the theme of gun violence which has been a point of concern in the last year. While this novel is not one of her usual free-verse style stories People Kill People still contains elements of her signature style. Though slower than her normal narratives this novel is masterfully written with a powerful message that reflects issues in our everyday life.

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

From the best selling author of Dear, Martin comes a new story of self exploration, reuniting with old friends, making new friends, and self-discovery. Stone’s new novel revolves around three teens, each dealing with hardships that only the others can help figure out. The story deals with sexuality, friendship, and inward reflection making it an important novel for any high school aged teen. This book will break your heart but then carefully and lovingly put it back together again.

Happy Reading! Let us know which ones you’ll be checking out next!

 

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Teen Takeover! Back To School: What Do I Keep In My Locker?

Going back to school can seem really daunting and being prepared can be a struggle, so we have a few tips on what to keep in your locker to keep on keeping on all school year long!

  1. Extra school supplies: Pens, pencils, paper clips, you name it. You are going to need these at some point so it’s good to keep a secret stash for yourself so you’re never without a writing utensil!
  2. Deodorant: You are going to get smelly and this is going to be your saving grace. Whether you just got out of gym class or you woke up too late for a morning shower, this is an essential in keeping yourself feeling fresh!
  3. Gum: Listen, that onion bagel might have been great but your breath will not be. Keep some minty fresh gum around for bad breath emergencies!
  4. Extra Outfit: Now this might seem a little weird but you never know if you’ll need a change of clothes. Spills, dirt, bloody noses, paint, and a whole lot more can happen anytime and walking around with stained clothes can really suck. We recommend keeping a bag with an extra shirt, pants, socks, and some flip flops.
  5. A Go-To Good Book: We recommend something easy to hop in and out of, and something you don’t mind carrying around in a bag. Books are a great way to de-stress, get some alone time, and can come in handy if you end up having a particularly long bus ride home!

Skip the stress about back to school this year with these tips and you’ll be set for the semester!

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Teen Room Takeover! Where to go for Summer Fun!

During the summertime it can be easy to fall into a rut of sitting on the couch, eating fritos, and watching bad daytime television. One of the easiest ways to get up and have fun is to check out local spots in your area that are cheap or even free of charge! Check out some of the recommendations from our teen room staff and teen volunteers.

Pick Your Own Strawberries at Brooksby Farm
Tis the season to pick succulent summer fruits like strawberries and blueberries at Brooksby Farm! Afterwards you can visit the farm store or meet the barnyard animals and while away the hours.

Cool Off with Treadwell’s Ice Cream
 One of the hottest spots to be in Peabody! The lines can get long sometimes but the huge sundaes and frappes are worth the wait. Treadwell’s has been around for over 70 years and they’re still going strong, how can you turn down a visit?

Come to be an activist!
You can join the fun in our Activism Boot Camp and help make the world a better place! Learn how to participate in your community and help build a Little Free Library! Sign up here!

 

Stay safe and have a fun summer!

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From the Teen Room: Beach Reads!

Looking for a good beach book? Prefer reading by the pool? Or maybe you’d rather cuddle up in a well air-conditioned room? We’ve got you covered! Here are the Teen Room’s summer-time recommendations to keep you going even on the hottest of days!

Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories: Written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

When Dimple Met Rishi: Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Carmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great: they were worn, dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer, Carmen decides to toss them. But Tibby says they’re great. She’d love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them. Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

An Abundance of Katherines: On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun–but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

Happy summer reading everyone!

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From the Teen Room!

Join our Teen Room staff as they explore the perfect picks for readers who love Valentine’s Day….and for those who don’t!

Pro-Valentine’s Day – Do you love Love? Melt over all things cute and fluffy? Well grab one of these great reads and get ready to gush!

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon – First loves and firsts of pretty much everything for Maddie who has been coaxed out of her bubble by the boy next door!

 

Anna And The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – Your quintessential overseas teen romance with a foreign boy in the romantic city of Paris.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – A sweet story about how two eccentric teens fall in love over the course of the year.

Simon Vs. The Homo-Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – Simon is looking for the perfect boy while also trying to discover who he is inside.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green – Probably his only book that won’t make you cry and it’s super duper cute!

Anti-Valentine’s Day – Don’t have a date? Recently ended a relationship? Pick a book, buy some ice cream, and do that self-love thing for yourself!

They Both Die At The End by Adam Riveras – I mean … you can guess what happens at the end. The lead up is a great LGBT romance between two Latino boys who really just need a friend for their last day on earth.

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare – Spoiler alert, it doesn’t end well.

Looking For Alaska by John Green – In his first heart wrenching novel you’ll find that the guy does not, in fact, get the girl and the manic pixie dream girl trope gets squashed into the dust.

The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor – For the recently single Valentine’s Day woes this book is a great and hilarious “how-to” to get over that ex!

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – Heathcliff: The benchmark for all revenge-obsessed lovers in literature

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From the Teen Room!

Reviews From The Fiction Shelf

Release by Patrick Ness

Ness returns with another intriguing novel inspired by Mrs. Dalloway and Judy Blume’s Forever, as we follow Adam Thorne on what seems to be an ordinary day…that is until a prick from a rose changes everything. While I would love to write an in depth synopsis of this novel I’m unable to find the right way to walk through it for new readers. Why? The story has a sense of the bizarre and mystical while also being a slice of life story. The beginning took me a while to get through, but significantly picked up halfway through. The romance scenes between Adam and his boyfriend Linus are beautifully tender and realistic, which some YA novels don’t always get right, and the “Queens” scenes are mystifying and exciting. So should you read it? Yes. Absolutely! If you’re looking for something a little different and love YA then you are going to be in for a treat. Happy reading!

 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

As I’m sure everyone has heard, Clines 1980’s, pop-culture, gamer, nerdtopia novel is coming to life in theaters and the responses seem to have a huge divide. When I first saw the trailer I was bombarded by an oversaturation of nerd gamer culture and CGI, so naturally, I was a little overwhelmed. After my second viewing I figured reading it was worth a shot to see what all the hype is about. My ruling? It’s mostly just hype. While the premise of the story was impressive and exciting, the world-building and storytelling just wasn’t there. Throughout the story of Wade Watts journey to uncover the biggest easter egg in the online world of OASIS, we get glimpses of interesting backstory that boasts promises of exciting story arc… and then you get an enormous info dump of old school 80’s nerd trivia that really takes you out of the enchantment of this really cool virtual world. A lot of this extra “info fluff” is unnecessary to the story and the novel could have easily cut about 100 pages to create a less long-winded adventure. Throughout the rest of Cline’s novel the story just pats itself on the back for nerd elitism against “noobs” and “fake gamers” which is the exact opposite of what we need in today’s culture towards female/younger/new gamers. All in all, I was unfortunately not impressed. My opinion, however, is if you are into all things geek (especially that old school 80’s nostalgia) then give this story a go! Maybe it will resonate differently with you! Happy reading!