October Tween Read Scene: Ghoulish Graphic Novels

It’s that time of year again, the leaves are falling, the nights are chilly, and everyone is looking for a spooky read to cuddle up with! While there are many great scary novels available, gruesome graphic novels really turn up the fear-factor with their visual displays of frightening fun.

You’ll be sleeping with the lights on after indulging in one of these ghoulish graphic novels!

Sheets by Brenna ThummlerJ GN THUAges 9 & Up
AR: 3
Lexile: 400L
Fake Blood by Whitney GardnerJ GN GARAges 10 & Up
AR: 2.5
Lexile: 150L
The Sleepover by Michael ReginaJ GN REGAges 8-12
Apocalypse Taco by Nathan HaleJ GN HALAges 8-12
AR: 2.5
Lexile: 150L
This Was Our Pact by Ryan AndrewsJ GN ANDAges 10-14
AR: 3
Lexile: 350L
The Witches of Brooklyn by 
Sophie Escabasse
J GN ESCAges 8-12
AR: 2.9
Be Wary of the Silent Woods by Svetlana ChmakovaJ GN CHMAges 8-12
AR: 2.7
Paranorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hop-Calypse by Stephanie CookeJ GN COOAges 8-12
Garlic and the Vampire by Bree PaulsenJ GN PAUAges 8-12
Nightlights by Lorena AlvarezJ GN ALVAges 8-12

UPCOMING TWEEN EVENTS

October 1-31
TinkerCAD Challenge: Create a Stencil Board
Best for 4th Grade & Up
Registration begins October 1

October 3-31
Ghost Hunting Scavenger Hunt | All day
All Ages
Registration not required

October 5
Art Attack: Mini Cauldrons | 6-6:45 pm
4th-8th Grade
Registration begins September 21

October 15
Goofy Ghouls | 10-11:30 am
Spooky games, crafts & treats
All Ages
Registration not required

October 21
Wild Explorers: Leaves! | 4:30-5:15 pm
4th-8th Grade
Registration begins October 7

October 25
Geek Out! Graphic Novel Club | 6-6:45pm
The Okay Witch by Emma steinkellner
4th-8th Grade
Registration begins September 27

May your Halloween be safe, spooky, and spectacular! Come back next month for more great reads!

Youth Services Fall Staff Picks 2022

Calling all Fall Readers! Youth Services has collected their favorite reads for Fall 2022 and we are ready to share them with you! Come check out our Staff Picks display located near the Youth Services Main desk anytime now through the end of November and take home a great read! If you prefer to chose your books digitally, just click on one of the covers below and use our catalog to put the title on hold. Happy Fall Reading, Y’all!

Picture Books & Easy Readers

Chapter Books & Graphic Novels

Non-Fiction

Audio-Visual

September Tween Read Scene: Super Sports Stories!

With the start of a new school year, sports seasons are upon us. Whether you are a player, spectator, or avid fan, sports stories can be enjoyed by all. Offering lessons in perseverance, teamwork, and respect, sports stories give us GOALS to aspire to in our every day lives. KICK OFF the new sports season with one of these HOME RUN titles!

Takedown by Laura ShovanJ SHOAges 9-12
AR: 4.1
Lexile: 610L
Wrestling
Checked by Cynthia KadohataJ KADAges 10-14
AR: 4.9
Lexile: 760L
Hockey
Ten Thousand Tries by Amy MakechnieJ MAKAges 8-12
AR: 3.9
Lexile: 590L
Soccer
The Underdogs by Mike LupicaJ LUPAges 10 & Up
AR: 5.2
Lexile: 840L
Football
Ghost by Jason ReynoldsJ REY

AUDIO CD J F REY
Ages 10 & Up
AR: 4.6
Lexile: 730L
Track and Field
Kenzie Kickstarts a Team by Kit RosewaterJ ROSAges 8-12
AR: 3.8
Roller Derby
Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barbara HigueraJ HIGAges 8-12
AR: 4.7
Baseball
Up for Air by Laurie MorrisonPLAYAWAY J F MORAges 10-14
AR: 5.7
Lexile: 900L
Swimming
A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil BildnerJ BILAges 10-13
AR: 4.1
Lexile: 690L
Baseball
The Fifth Quarter by Mike DawsonJ GN DAWAges 8-12
AR: 2.2
Basketball

UPCOMING TWEEN EVENTS

September 1-31
TinkerCAD Challenge: Use Codeblocks to Create a Gyro Keychain

Best for 4th Grade & Up
Registration begins September 1

September 6
Geek Out! Graphic Novel Club | 6-6:45pm

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
4th-8th Grade
Registration begins August 9

September 12, 19, & 26
Let’s Go Fishin’ | 5-6 pm

Ages 6-12
Registration begins August 29

September 14
Art Attack!: Ceramic Apples | 6-6:45 pm

4th-8th Grade
Registration begins August 31

September 16
Wild Explorers: Soil! Get Your Hands Dirty | 4:30-5:15 pm

4th-8th Grade
Registration begins September 2

September 19
Soapy Roads: Make Your Own Soap | 5:15-7:15 pm

Ages 8-13
Registration begins September 5

August Tween Read Scene: It’s Time to Go Back to School!

Backpack

#2 Pencils

Notebooks

Great Back-to-School Read

As much as we would like these warm summer days to last forever, a new school year is right around the corner.  Out with the swimsuits and sunscreen; in with the bonfires and football games. Show your school spirit with one of these fantastic back-to-school reads!

The Losers Club by Andrew ClementsJ CLE
PLAYAWAY J F CLE
Ages 8-12
AR: 5.5
Lexile: 860L
Posted by John David AndersonAUDIO CD J F ANDAges 8-12
AR: 5.1
Lexile: 750L
Real Friends  by Shannon HaleJ GN HALAges 8-12
AR: 2.6
Lexile: 290L
Those Kids From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada KellyJ KELAges 8-12
AR: 4.4
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita VaradarajanJ WEE
PLAYAWAY J F WEE
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.8
Lexile: 780L
New Kid by Jerry CraftJ GN CRA
AUDIO CD J F CRA
Ages 8-12
AR: 2.9
The Unteachables by Gordon KormanJ KOR
PLAYAWAY J F KOR
Ages 8-12
AR: 5.1
Lexile: 740L
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara DeeJ DEE
PLAYAWAY J F DEE
Ages 9-13
AR: 4.2
Lexile: 630L
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris TebbettsJ PAT
AUDIO CD J F PAT
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.5
Lexile: 700L
Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin YunJ YUNAges 9-12
AR: 5

UPCOMING TWEEN EVENTS

August 1-31
TinkerCAD Challenge: Create Emoji Tokens
4th Grade & Up
Registration begins August 1

September 6
Geek Out! Graphic Novel Club | 6-6:45pm
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
4th-8th Grade
Registration begins August 9

July Tween Read Scene: 2023 Rebecca Caudill Award Nominees

The Rebecca Caudill Award is given each year to the author of the book voted for most by Illinois 4th-8th grade students. To learn more about the award and Rebecca Caudill herself, visit https://www.rebeccacaudill.org.

Come in to the library to check out one of the outstanding 2023 award nominees below!

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. AlstonJ ALS (2023 CAUDILL)Ages 8-12
AR: 4.9
A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil BildnerJ BIL (2023 CAUDILL)Ages 10-13
AR: 4.1
Lexile: 690L
The Blackbird Girls by Anne BlankmanJ BLA (CAUDILL 2023)Ages 9-12
AR: 4.8
The Benefits of Being an Octopus  by Ann BradenJ BRA (2023 CAUDILL)
PLAYAWAY J F BRA (CAUDILL 2023)
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.9
Lexile: 770L
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker BradleyJ BRA (2023 CAUDILL)
AUDIO CD J F BRA
Ages 10-12
AR: 3.6
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo CartayaJ CAR (2023 CAUDILL)
AUDIO CD J F CAR
Ages 10+
AR: 3.9
Lexile: 580L
Efrén Divided by Erenesto CisnerosJ CIS (2023 BLUESTEM)
AUDIO CD J F CIS (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.5
Lexile: 710L
The Only Back Girls in Town by Brandy ColbertJ COL (2023 CAUDILL)
AUDIO CD J F COL (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.4
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna CuevasJ CUE (2023 CAUDILL)
AUDIO CD J F CUE (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.7
Lexile: 740L
Scritch Scratch by Lindsay CurrieJ CUR (2023 CAUDILL)Ages 10-14
AR: 4.3
Lexile: 610L
A Thousand Questions by Saadia FaruqiJ FAR (2023 BLUESTEM)
AUDIO CD J F FAR (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.8
Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by Rob HarrellJ HAR (2023 CAUDILL)Ages 9-12
AR: 3.9
Lexile: 580L
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar MohamedJ GN JAM (CAUDILL 2023)
PLAYAWAY J F JAM (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 9-12
AR: 3.7
Lexile: 530L
This is Your Brain on Stereotypes: How Science is Tackling Unconscious Bias by Tanya Lloyd KyiJ 303.385 KYI (CAUDILL 2023)Ages 11-14
AR: 6.8
Lexile: 910L
Chirp by Kate MessnerJ MES (2023 CAUDILL)
PLAYAWAY J F MES (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 10-14
AR: 4.6
The Best at It by Maulik PancholyJ PAN (2023 CAUDILL)
PLAYAWAY J F PAN (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 8-12
AR: 4
Lexile: 620L
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker RhodesJ RHO (2023 CAUDILL)
PLAYAWAY J F RHO (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 8-12
AR: 3.4
Lexile: 400L
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina SoontornvatJ 796.52 SOO (2023 CAUDILL)Ages 8-12
AR: 7.2
Lexile: 1020L
Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable and Stephanie YueJ GN VEN (2023 CAUDILL)Ages 8-12
AR: 3
Lexile: 340L
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline WoodsonJ WOO (CAUDILL 2023)
AUDIO CD J F WOO (2023 CAUDILL)
Ages 10+
AR: 4.5

UPCOMING TWEEN EVENTS

July 1-30
TinkerCAD Challenge: Create a Derby Car

4th Grade & Up
Registration begins July 1

July 11
Wild Explorers: Rockss + Geology | 10:30-11:15am

Grades 3-6 with a caregiver
Registration begins June 27

July 11
Mad Science: Growing Geodes | Video posted at 4:30pm

Kindergarten-6th Grade
Registration begins June 27

July 15
Chalk the Walk | 11-11:45am

All Ages
No registration required

Happy Reading!

June Tween Read Scene: School’s Out for Summer!

Congratulations! You made it through another school year! School may be out, but reading is still totally in. The books on this list are set in the summer and contain camping, exploring, and good old-fashioned summer fun!

Check out these awesome reads sure to put you in the summertime frame of mind!

Be Prepared by Vera BrosgolJ GN BROAges 10-14
AR: 2.6
Lexile: 360L
The Misfits Club by Kieran CrowleyJ CROAges 9-13
AR: 5.1
Lexile: 740L
Caterpillar Summer  by Gillian McDunnJ MCD (2023 BLUESTEM)Ages 8-12
AR: 3.8
Lexile: 540L
The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla MagoonJ MAGAges 8-12
AR: 3.8
Lexile: 510L
Camp Murderface by Josh Berk and Saundra MitchellJ BER
AUDIO CD J F BER
Ages 8-12
Float by 
Laura Martin
J MARAges 10-12
AR: 5.5
Lexile: 840L
Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn BigelowJ BIGAges 8-12
AR: 4.4
Lexile: 630L
Lions & Liars  by Kate BeasleyAUDIO CD J F BEAAges 9-12
AR: 4.8
Lexile: 720L
Roller Girl by Victoria JamiesonJ GN JAMAges 8-12
AR: 3.2
Lexile: 440L
BenBee and the Teacher Griefer by K.A. HoltJ HOLAges 8-12
AR: 4.7
Lexile: 980L

UPCOMING TWEEN EVENTS

June 1-30
TinkerCAD Challenge: Create a Bird Feeder
4th Grade & Up
Registration begins June 1 

June 4
Summer Learning Challenge Begins!
All Ages 
Join us for our summer kick-off at a Medieval Faire from 11am-1pm

June 11
Pilcher Park Animal Friends  |  11-11:45am
Ages 4-12
Registration begins May 28

June 13, 20, & 27  | 6-7pm
Let’s Go Fishin’!
Ages 6-12
Registration begins May 30

June 28 
Geek Out Graphic Novel Club: Camp by Kayla Miller
4th-8th Grade
Registration begins May 31

May Tween Read Scene: Out-of-This-World Sci-Fi

Do you love space stories, time travel, and awesome alien adventures?  Well then, the Sci-Fi genre was made for you!  Like the Fantasy genre, Sci-fi takes its readers on wondrous journeys to other worlds.  But unlike Fantasy, all elements of Sci-Fi could actually happen in real life.  These stories are packed with action, adventure, and hi-tech hi-jinks. 

Travel to space and beyond with these great Sci-Fi novels!

Book TitleCall NumberReading Level
Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox by Michael BuckleyJ BUCAges 10-14
AR: 4.6
Lexile: 630L
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba HigueraPLAYAWAY J F HIGAges 10-14
Weird Kid by Greg van EekhoutPLAYAWAY J F VANAges 9-12
AR: 4.4
A Problematic Paradox  by Eliot SappingfieldJ SAPAges 10-14
AR: 6
Lexile: 850L
Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano & Emily ChenowethJ MARAges 8-12
AR: 4.4
Lexile: 590L
The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away by Ronald L. SmithJ SMIAges 10-12
AR: 4.3
Lexile: 600L
Space Battle Lunchtime by 
Natalie Riess
J RIEAges 9-12
Lexile: 370L
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos HernandezJ HER
PLAYAWAY J F RIO
Ages 8-12
AR: 4.9
Lexile: 700L
The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. HolmJ HOLAges 8-12
AR: 4
Lexile: 530L
Felix Yz by Lisa BunkerJ BUNAges 10-14
AR: 5.3
Lexile: 940L
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar GilesJ GIL
PLAYAWAY J F GIL
Ages 8-12
AR: 5.2
Lexile: 740L

UPCOMING TWEEN EVENTS

May 1-31
LEGO MAY-NIA
Help us build a LEGO tower and join in on other fun LEGO activities

May 1-31
TinkerCAD Challenge: Balloon-Propelled Car
4th Grade & Up
Registration begins May 1

June 4
Summer Learning Challenge Begins!
All Ages
Join us for our summer kick-off at a Medieval Faire in the Commons