Cozy Fantasy

Recently I asked one of our teen volunteers what they were reading and what they'd like to see a display of in the teen area. The reply was "cozy fantasy." If you've not come across it before, cozy fantasy is a newish sub-genre of fantasy - imagine a warm fire, a comfy chair, a cup of cocoa that never grows cold, a plate of your favorite cookies, and a generally happy book with a magical narrative. Often cozy fantasy has a fairy tale or folk tale inspired setting and/or story line. In December I put up a cozy fantasy display in the teen area, which has since been replaced by a display of thriller novels (a swing of the pendulum here). But, in case you missed it shared below (with links to the catalog) are 13 of the titles that were in the display. I highly recommend both A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking, and The Goblin Emperor, if you want to try cozy fantasy. And, there are reasons why the Redwall series, and Howl's Moving Castle have not gone out of print since 1986, and are still in the teen collection, so if you've not already read them you might start with one of them (there are 24 books in the Redwall series).

The Charmed List, by Julie Abe, 2022. Gifted with special abilities, shy Ellie Kobata must complete 13 things on her Anti-Wallflower list, but when number four on the list goes horribly wrong, she is forced to go on a road trip with her former-friend-turned-enemy.

The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison, 2014. When the Emperor of the Elflands, & 3 sons in line for the throne all perish in an airship crash, 18-year-old Maia is recalled from exile & proclaimed heir to the throne. Maia, unschooled in the art of court politics, whose mother was a goblin, is transformed from pariah to messiah--attracting sycophants, schemers, & enemies.

 

Flowerheart, by Catherine Bakewell, 2023. Sixteen-year-old Clara accidentally curses her father with wild magic, and in order to save him, she makes a dangerous bargain with a local wizard, who happens to be her childhood best friend.

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman, 1999. Living in a Victorian countryside town overshadowed by an imposing stone barrier, Tristran is compelled to retrieve a fallen star for the woman he loves and crosses to the wondrous other side of the barrier, where he encounters dangerous rivals for the star.

Redwall, by Brian Jacques, 1986. (First book in series) When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones, 1986. Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl.

A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking, by T. Kingfisher, 2020. 14-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance. But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. 

 

Enchanted, by Alethea Kontis, 2012. When Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week, kisses an enchanted frog, he transforms back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland--a man Sunday's family despises.

 

Six Crimson Cranes, by Elizabeth Lim, 2021. After unleashing forbidden magic, being banished by her stepmother and unable to speak or her brothers will die, Shiori'anma must find a way to save them with the help of a paper bird, a mercurial dragon and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry.

Something Close to Magic, by Emma Mills, 2023. No-nonsense baker's apprentice Aurelie, who has the gift of Seeking, is reluctantly drawn into an adventure when a bounty hunter needs her help rescuing Prince Hapless from the dangerous Underwood -- and finds what's even more dangerous are the feelings she's starting to have for the prince.

 

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, by Axie Oh, 2022. In this retelling of the Korean legend The Tale of Shim Cheong, 16-year-old Mina is swept away to the Spirit Realm, where, assisted by a motley crew of demons, gods, and lesser spirits, she sets out to awaken the sleeping Sea God and save her homeland and family from deadly storms.

 

Sorcery of Thorns, by Margaret Rogerson, 2019. When apprentice librarian Elisabeth is implicated in sabotage that released the library's most dangerous grimoire, she becomes entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy that could mean the end of everything.

A Far Wilder Magic, by Allison Saft, 2022. Sharpshooter Margaret and alchemical apprentice Weston form an unlikely team competing for glory in a magical fox hunt--while she wants to lure her mother home, Wes needs the prize money to support his family and his political aspirations.

 

Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches, by Kate Scelsa, 2022. An atmospheric and romantic coming-of-age story about learning to make peace with the past in order to accept the beauty of the present finds 17-year-old Eleanor opening herself up to magic and romance again after a devastating loss.

Top 16 Fiction and Graphic Novel Checkouts of 2023

And, it's a wrap for 2023. Fantasy and Romance genres were favorites last year. Realistic/Contemporary fiction ran a close second. Two Biographical Fiction titles placed high in the top 16 checkouts this year. Not too surprising as one of them won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Do you need a book for your Independent Reading assignment? This list has some great titles. Come browse or put one on hold. May you have happy reading adventures in 2024!

Top 16 YA Checkouts 2023 by kclaire

3rd Annual Write the Hook Contest

The Library's 3rd annual Write the Hook contest is open! Write your hook for a story. What's a hook? A hook is the beginning lines or pages of a story written to hook the reader's attention. A hook impels the reader to want to continue reading to find out what happens next. We can't wait to read this year's entries!

 Link to the Online Entry Form 

 

🖉🖉 Contest Rules 🖉🖉

• Write the hook for the beginning of something longer; for the start of a story.
• Open to teens in grades 6 to 12, who are residents of Essex County in Massachusetts.
• Entry must be your original work and have a word count between 300(minimum) and 1,200(maximum)words.  
• Maximum of 1 entry per author.
• Give your story hook a title. 
• Entries due by midnight, Sunday, December 31, 2023.
  

The preferred method for story submission is via the online contest entry form. 

Entries will also be accepted in paper form, but it must be typed in 12 point Times New Roman font on 8.5"x 11" paper. If you submit your entry on paper you must include on the back of the last page: your first and last name, grade level, phone number, email, and word count. Paper entries that do not follow the above guidelines will be disqualified.

Our contest judges will use a rubric that scores points based on:

• Length: Is the entry between the minimum and maximum word count?
• Story Hook: Does the writing hook you? Do you want to find out what happens next?
• Character(s): Is/are the character(s) clearly described?
  
• Writing: Does the word choice convey a clear picture? 
• Grammar: How is the spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.?
• Creativity!: original ideas? surprising? imaginative?

 

 $ Cash Prizes to be Awarded $

Prizes are funded by the Friends of the Hamilton-Wenham Library.

First $60, and Second $40, place cash prizes awarded to: 

Writers in Grades 6-8

Writers in Grades 9-12

 

Contest winners and any honorable mentions will be announced in January 2024, both on this blog and individually to the winners. Winning stories, along with author's name and grade level, will be published here on the Library's Informed Teens blog.

Otherworldly October Thursdays

It's almost here - our Otherworldly October event series! Please join us for a series of magical & mysterious programs in October. Every Thursday evening there will be an event for teens & adults to enjoy in celebration of the Fall season.

Spirits of the Bay State: The Ghosts of Massachusetts with Roxie Zwicker

Thursday, October 5, 6:00—7:30 PM 

On October 5, join us to learn about the ghosts of Massachusetts in a spine-chilling presentation by “New England’s Scary Godmother” and "mystery maven," Roxie Zwicker. The Bay State is home to some of the most historic places in America, what ghostly stories can be found walking down its many old roads and highways? Find curious abandoned places, haunted beaches, tavern ghosts and eerie cemeteries. Take a spirited journey highlighting stops in many local cities and towns as we explore stories & legends of mysterious area haunts.

Intro to Tarot for Teens & Adults
Thursday, October 12, 6:00—7:30 PM
Join tarot teacher, Laura Campagna, for a fun workshop on how to read tarot. No experience necessary. Participants will connect with their intuition and gain confidence in reading for themselves or friends. Each guest will receive a Smith-Waite tarot deck to keep. Please bring a journal to use during the workshop. If you don't have one, no worries, there will be pens and paper available for use.
This workshop is open to teens (ages 13+) and adults.  Registration required, space is limited.

Autumn Lantern Craft
Thursday, October 19, 6:00—7:30 PM           On October 19th, join us to make an autumnal mason jar lantern. Bring a little light to the longer nights with this cozy craft. All supplies are provided, and patrons will leave with a finished lantern & flame-less votive candle. This workshop is open to teens and adults. Registration required, space is limited.

Thursday, October 26, 6:00—7:45 PM                   Drop in for a screening of The Addams Family (1991, Rated PG-13).  Synopsis: A stranger shows up on the Addams' doorstep, claiming to be a long-lost uncle. However, he is really a ringer in cahoots with a lawyer; and the two are trying to dupe the ghoulish family out of their fortune.

Graffiti Art Contest Winners

Congratulations to our Graffiti Art Contest winners!! There were 9 paintings entered in the contest. Over the past 4 weeks 192 votes were cast. Claire Adler received the most votes for Best Use of Color. Kai Geraghty-Sari received the most votes for Best Design, and Sam Bourque received the most votes for Originality.

August and Beyond

We've got two weeks to go in our summer reading programs - but, despair not, you can still register on our Beanstack platform and have a chance to win a prize. Speaking of prizes please drop by the teen area and vote for three of the graffiti paintings on display. I'll be announcing the contest winners here. Visit the Library to cast your votes on Saturday August 12, and enjoy an hour long indie-pop acoustic concert with singer-songwriter Peryle! Concert will start at 2:00pm. Peryle's songs are personal & introspective, often reflecting on love, loss, & self-discovery. Recently, Peryle unveiled her first single, Story. Hear for yourself why her voice & songwriting captivate audiences!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning August 15, you can sign up for the Chess Club that starts September 20. There will be 8 Wednesday afternoon sessions for beginning or intermediate players, ages 8 to 13. Find out more information and sign up for the beginner or intermediate session here. Space is limited to 10 participants, registration is required.

Coming up in October the Adult Services Librarian and I are collaborating on running a 4 week series of programs for teens and adults we're calling Otherworldly October, featuring a tarot workshop, New England ghost stories, and more. Check back, I'll be posting details soon.

Summer!

Find Your Voice this Summer--Programs start June 24 and continue through August 10. To register visit the Library's Calendar of Events and click on the workshop you'd like to attend. This year's summer reading challenge on our Beanstack platform also starts June 24. The challenge runs for 7 weeks with weekly raffle drawings for gift certificates to local businesses. You may enter the challenge at any time during the 7 weeks. Find out more information here. If you earn the reading challenge completion badge, you will be entered into an extra drawing in August for a fun goody bag and surprise gift certificate (there's already been a request for the Lego store...so maybe that will be in the goody bag or maybe something else...). The weekly drawings and winners are posted here.