SALISBURY — The nominations are in and teens across the country are reading the books that may comprise the 2013 Teens’ Top Ten list. This list is not compiled by teachers or librarians, but rather it is a selection process done by teens throughout the United States.
From early 2012 through early 2013, 16 pre-selected groups of teens received hundreds of books that had just been published for consideration. Each of these groups would read the books and send their list of nominated titles to YALSA, Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, which compiles the official list of nominations. Nominated titles will then be read and voted on by teens throughout the country from Aug. 15 through Sept. 15 and the results of the next Teens’ Top Ten List will be revealed during Teens Read Week in October.
Teens right here in Rowan County looking for a good book to read over the summer now have the opportunity to read books recommended by their peers and cast their vote for the next Teens’ Top Ten. There are 28 nominated titles covering many different genres that may appeal to a diverse group of teens. Previous Teens’ Top Ten titles come as no surprise based on their popularity with teens when they were published, such as books from the Twilight Series, Harry Potter, “Eragon” and the Hunger Games, but there are many books that have made the lists that teens might not be aware of.
Some previous Top Ten winners include:
Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (Teens’ Top Ten 2005). When his younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia, 13-year-old Steven tries to deal with his complicated emotions, his school life and his desire to support his family.
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin (Teens’ Top Ten 2006. What happens when you die? Where do you go? Sixteen-year-old Liz Hall finds out when she is killed in a hit and run accident. As Liz struggles with all she has lost in her life, going to the prom, getting her driver’s license, she almost misses out on the new life she can have in Elsewhere.
Paper Towns by John Green. (Teens’ Top Ten 2009) Quentin “Q” Jacobsen lives a boring, predictable life. With both parents being therapists, he views himself as the well adjusted smart kid. Then one day his beautiful and exciting neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman knocks on his window and convinces him to go with her on a midnight adventure to right some wrongs and then she mysteriously disappears.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Teens’ Top Ten 2009). Frankie, a sophomore at an elite boarding school, is excited when she starts to date gorgeous senior Matthew. Only as they spend more time together, Frankie learns of a secret society that both Matthew and her father belong to. Only they won’t talk to her about it because she is a girl. That is when she takes matters into her own hands to not only become a member, but to create the best pranks the society has ever seen.
A complete list of 2013 nominated titles and past Teens’ Top Ten lists can be found at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten.

Dig into Reading this summer: Rowan Public Library and the Friends of RPL invite children of all ages to Dig Into Reading this summer. Sign your child up for a summer of programs and reading. Registration continues at all library locations for children ages 12 months to rising fifth-graders. Children will be able to earn prizes by reading throughout the summer. For more information please call your nearest RPL location.
Beneath the Surface teen summer reading: Teens will be exploring the underground through events, activities and reading. Registration continues at all library locations for rising sixth- through 12th-graders. Each week teens will focus on exploring our underground world, including mummies, gems and cities below the surface. Teens can earn library dollars to enter various raffles. For more information call 704-216-8234.
Book Bites Club: South (only), Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., “The Cookbook Collector” by Allegra Goodman. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.
Library closings: May 25-27, all locations closed for Memorial Day.
Displays for May: headquarters, Older Americans month by Jo Kearns; South, student art by South Rowan High School art class; East, Winnie the Pooh by Kim Davis.
Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.