Summer Required Reading "Top Ten Picks"

Dive into WEGO Reading with the Top Ten Picks for Each Grade Level

Freshmen: Top Ten Book Summaries

Sophomores: Top Ten Book Summaries

Juniors: Top Ten Book Summaries

Seniors: Top Ten Book Summaries


Creator of these spectacular videos: Mr Begovich, English Teacher
Many Thanks to Mr. Begovich and  Ms. Kalvig for the book summaries.


Still not sure which books to choose? Try reading a book review from Good Reads

Enjoy your summer and read!

The Alex Awards: Written for Adult Readers, But Not Totally Lame

Every year, the American Library Association (yes, there is such an organization) gives out a number of awards for books. There is a branch of the association that is just for librarians who work with teenagers. Yes, a whole branch of the organization made up of people whose job it is to just work with teenagers. It's called YALSA.

So, YALSA has the best awards (in my opinion) because they get to hand out awards for the books that are written for or would appeal to teenagers. How cool is that? Anyway, most of  the awards are for books that are written for a teen audience. But one of their awards, the Alex Awards, are given out  to 10 books that were written for adults, but they are that have special appeal to teenagers.

Most of the titles are usually fiction, but they have some good nonfiction ones mixed in as well. The Alex Awards for 2013 were announced this week and we will be getting a copy of most, if not all of them. Check out the current winners on the YALSA website.The award goes back to 1998 and the awards and covers and descriptions of the winning books are also linked on the site.

Alex Award: Current Winners and Archives

If you want  to see which Alex Award winners the LRC has, just do a search for Alex Award, just go to our library catalog and type in Alex Award.

Missing Harry: More Series to Read if You Liked Harry Potter

So, the last Harry Potter books and movies have been realeased and you have read them all too many times to count. Here are some other series that you might want to read next.

Series: Bartimaeus Triology
Author: Stroud, Jonathan.
First Book: F Stroud, J  The Amulet of Samarkand.
About the Series: In London, where Parliament is controlled by magicians, the rise of apprentice Nathaniel is told through his eyes and those of Bartimaeus, the powerful and irreverent djinn he summons to help him seek revenge and gain influence.

Series: His Dark Materials
Author: Pullman, Philip
First Book: F Pullman, P The Golden Compass.
About the Series: The His Dark Materials trilogy follows Lyra and Will, two kids living in Oxford, England.  Their England is in a parallel world, one with armored polar bears, winged demons, other fantastic creatures and dangerous magical objects. Mixing science, theology and magic, the three books take the kids on epic adventures saving kids in danger to saving the world.

Series: Inheritance Cycle
Author: Paolini, Christopher.
First Book: F Paolini,C Eragon.
About the Series: In the land of Alagaesia, the Dragon Riders kept peace among all of the countries.  One of them, Galbatorix, ends up going mad when his dragon is slain.  He is refused another dragon and starts a war to seek revenge and gain control of Alagaesia. Against him is Eragon, a boy whose family is killed and village terrorized when he finds a dragon egg and becomes a Dragon Rider.

Series: Keys to the Kingdom
Author: Nix, Garth
First Book: F Nix,G Mister Monday.
About the Series: Arthur Penhaligon was supposed to die at a young age from a deadly asthma attack but instead is saved by a magical key. This key opens the door to a mysterious house transporting him to the real world of Second Realms. With the keys help,  Arthur fights his way out but the Fetchers, dog faced creatures are never far behind.

Series: Pendragon
Author: MacHale, D. J
First Book: F MacHale,D  The Merchant of Death.
About the Series: Good verses evil struggles to win in this extensive series. Bobby Pendragon is a 14 year old boy that is transported through time and space by a gateway worm hole with his uncle. He writes to his closest friends Mark and Courtney on earth. As his friends read the letters Bobby’s incredible adventures unfold..