Calling all tween readers! Welcome to Tween Read Scene with the New Lenox Public Library! Tween Read Scene will be a monthly feature in the Youth Services Blog that will highlight books for ages 9-12. The posts will be jam-packed with information on new tween titles, upcoming library events, and helpful tips on how to find your next great read!
For the first couple of months, I will review fiction genres (one genre per month) and give examples and recommendations of each. This will help you, as a reader, identify what types of stories you enjoy reading already, and get you curious about genres you may not have read in the past.
What are genres?
Think about your favorite book. Now, think about what you like about that book in particular. Maybe you like how the main character fights dragons, or how there is a puzzle to solve within the story, or how you laugh out loud while reading it. Whatever the reason, it most likely has to do with the GENRE of the book. Genre is a fancy word that librarians and teachers use to describe how we sort books by subject matter, style of writing, and format.
Let’s get spooky!
Because it is October and we have Halloween around the corner, this month we will focus on the HORROR genre. The horror genre’s main purpose is to shock, frighten, and thrill its readers through the use of supernatural elements. If it’s got monsters, ghosts, or an evil next-door neighbor, you can pretty much guarantee you’ve got a horror book. You won’t want to turn your lights off after reading one of these!
| Book Cover | Title and Author | Catalog Link | Reading Level |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Missing Pieces (Hello Neighbor Series) Carly Anne West | J WES | Ages 10-14 AR: 6 Lexile: 940L |
 | Part of Your Nightmare (Disney Chills Series) Vera Strange | J DIS | Ages 8-12 AR: 4.9 Lexile: 660L |
 | Gloom Town Ronald L. Smith | J SMI | Ages 8-12 AR: 4.7 Lexile: 650L |
 | Slappy Birthday to You (SlappyWorld Series) R.L. Stine | J STI PLAYAWAY J F STI | Ages 8-12 AR: 3.6 Lexile: 490L |
 | The Night Gardener Jonathan Auxier | J AUX AUDIO CD J F AUX | Ages 8-12 AR: 4.9 Lexile: 690L |
 | Nightmares! (Nightmares! Series) Jason Segel & Kirsten Miler | J SEG AUDIO CD J F SEG | Ages 8-12 AR: 4.8 Lexile: 670L |
 | Scary Stories for Young Foxes Christian McKay Heidicker | J HEI | Ages 9-12 AR: 4.4 Lexile: 640L |
 | Small Spaces Katherine Arden | J ARD AUDIO CD J F ARD | Ages 10-14 AR: 4.1 Lexile: 570L |
Upcoming Tween Events
| Date | Program | Ages | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 25 | Super Scientists: Disappearing Pumpkins | 3rd-6th Grade | Registration starts October 11 |
| October 26 | Hocus Pocus Night | Ages 4-12 | Registration starts October 12 |
| October 29 | Halloween After Hours | 6th-12th Grade | Permission slips available now |
Check out the blog in November for our next genre, and have a fun and safe Halloween!