11th Annual Teen Read Week

Erika Kosin


Do you have a teen that likes to read but doesn’t know which book to read next? Have him or her check out titles that have made the Teens Top Ten List. Each year the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) sponsors Teen Read Week an event that helps remind teens to “read for the fun of it” stating that “it’s free, it’s fun and it can be done anywhere”. This year’s 11th annual Teen Read Week event was held from October 12th thru October 18th and many libraries throughout the country helped celebrate. As part of the celebration teens across the nation, ages 12-18, were encouraged to vote for their favorite nominated book published in 2007. All books nominated for the final vote during Teen Read Week were selected by committees of teens throughout the country making this the ultimate recommended for teens by teens list.

Each year to help in the celebration a sub-theme is chosen by teens during the previous Teen Read Week. This year’s theme was “Books With Bite @ Your Library”. This theme served as a possible guide for public and school libraries to center their celebration, whether on books about animals, technology, cooking or even, just in time for Halloween, vampires. The chosen theme is meant remind teens that reading books can be a form of entertainment in an age where reading sounds dull compared to the multi-media competition. With the internet, television, movies, and video games having a flashier appearance, Teen Read Week is a time when libraries and publishers push books to the forefront of the competition boasting an inexpensive way to escape the everyday hassles, especially if you have a library card. Why do we do this? Well studies have shown that teens who read for fun tend to have higher proficiency levels at school and are constantly expanding their language and vocabulary skills.

So what books have topped this year’s list? After over 8,000 teens voted, the top three spots went to:

#1 - Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
In the third book in “The Twilight Saga” Seattle is being ravaged by a string of murders that seems to be caused by a vampire looking for revenge once again placing Bella in harms way. Meanwhile, Bella is forced to choose between her love for Edward Cullen and her friendship with Jacob Black, knowing that her decision has the power to awaken a battle between the Werewolves and the Vampires that will hurt those she loves. Will Edward and Jacob be able to put their differences aside? Will Bella be able to finally decide whether to remain human or become immortal?

#2 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The seventh and final novel in the Harry Potter Series finds Harry, Hermione, and Ron searching for items that will help them destroy Voldemort while at the same time uncovering the mystery of the Deathly Hallows.

#3 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley knows he isn’t popular, but he still wants to fit in. Follow along with his journal (NOT a Diary!) as he both illustrates and records his observations of life in middle school. This is a very realistic and funny account of life in the Middle School halls and fun for all ages.

See the complete 2008 Teens Top Ten winner’s at www.ala.org/teenstopten .