Flint Memorial Teen Corner

Our next YAB meeting is tomorrow, March 1, at 4:30pm in the Library Activity Room. Bring your calendars to help plan our next Coffee House!

New members are always welcome, so bring a friend (or two).

I'm currently reading Candyfreak by Steve Almond, a hilarious look at candy, where it comes from and why we like it so darn much. I have literally laughed out loud, it's that good. And, an interesting aspect is that a decent chunk of the book focuses on the candy history of Boston. Did you know that the Scrafft building (the bright pink-ish purple neon light off of I-93) was once a candy factory?

Reading the, of course, has got me thinking about candy....a lot. Do you have a favorite candy that you'd absolutely die without? What do you think you would do if the candy company were to discontinue it? Abba Zabba was my favorite candy as a kid (in California), and I still remember exactly how it tasted!

As promised, here’s a list of YA authors and their respective online journals/blogs. By no means is this a comprehensive list, so if I’ve missed somebody that you know has a blog, let me know!

• Holly Black - author of Tithe and co-author of the Spiderwick Chronicles


• Libba Bray - wrote A Great and Terrible Beauty


• Meg Cabot - author of the popular Princess Diaries as well as many other YA and adult books


• Cecil Castelucci - author of upcoming Boy Proof (well-reviewed by fellow teens in YAB)


• Sarah Dessen - has written many books, including This Lullaby and Truth About Forever


• E. Lockhart - author of the new book, The Boyfriend List, due out in March


• Laurie Halse Anderson - wrote Speak, Fever 1793 and Catalyst, her new book is Prom (awesome read!) and is due out in March


• Neil Gaiman - prolific author of both novels and graphic novels, including the Sandman series and American Gods


• Linda Sue Park - author of the Newbery Award winning A Single Shard, among other books


• Mary E. Pearson - has written a number of books including David v. God and Scribbler of Dreams, also has a new book coming out this spring


• Laurie Faria Stolarz - author of Blue is for Nightmares and White is for Magic


• Zoe Trope - wrote Please Don't Kill the Freshman while she was in high school
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• Melissa Wyatt - author of Raising the Griffin


• Lara Zeises - author of Bringing up Bones and Contents Under Pressure


• Ned Vizzini - recently wrote Be More Chill

Take some time to read a few of these journals. You never know, you might be able to get in touch with your favorite author!

The Flint Memorial Library Youth Advisory Board was one of five teen groups in the country chosen to preview, The Convicts, the new book by Iain Lawrence. At our next meeting, Tuesday, February 15 at 4:30pm we will be discussing the book and generating some questions for Mr. Lawrence. And, guess what? He will be answering the questions personally!

If you're not yet a member of YAB, but still want to take part in the book discussion, stop by the library to talk to me (Christi) or email me at cshowman@mvlc.org. And, as always, anyone in grades 6-12 is welcome to come to the YAB meetings for yummy snacks, great conversations and lots of laughter!

The author of the new book Country Girl, City Girl (which a number of YAB members requested last week), Lisa Jahn-Clough, is going to be the guest speaker at an online chat this coming Tuesday, February 8. Go to YA Authors Cafe at 8:30pm on Tuesday to join the chat.

Our gopher friend, Punxsutawney Phil, has decreed that there will be another six weeks of winter. I guess I'm not too surprised! Well, it's good news for all of you who are hoping to get some more skiing in this season.