A Universe of Stories

Bremen Public Library's Summer Reading Program blasts off this Saturday to the theme of A Universe of Stories. Grades 6 thru 12 can earn one entry into the prize drawing for every book read between June 1st and July 20th!

Gift baskets will be awarded to 5 lucky participants on July 22nd.

In addition, there will be 7 weeks of FREE programming with numerous GIVEAWAYS!

Fluid Painting - Tuesday, June 4th, 1:00 to 2:00

It's messy. It's artsy. It's fun. It's fluid painting (also known as pour painting) and open to middle and high school students. Artist Susie Schaetzle of Create-UR-Canvas will provide materials and instruction.

Registration is required and limited to the first 20 to register.

Photography Challenge - Tuesday, June 11th, 1:00 to 2:00

Grab your favorite picture-taking device and venture out on this field trip. Individuals will be issued a literary title and challenged to snap a photo to capture its meaning. This program is designed for students in middle and high school, but all ages are welcome.

Entries will be featured on our social media pages and three photographers will have the opportunity to win a special prize!

Nintendo Gaming - Tuesday, June 18th, 1:00 to 2:30

Show off your skills and get ready for some friendly competition as we gather for Nintendo Gaming! Nintendo of America representative Nathan Hilbert will be joining us to help demonstrate the latest and most popular games.

Prize giveaways for those in attendance!

Adventures in Clue - Tuesday, June 25th, 1:00 to 2:30

If you enjoy the board game Clue, you'll love it with a twist. Editions such as The Big Bang Theory, Scooby-Doo, and Harry Potter will all be on hand! Join us for this time of competitive fun. This program is designed for students in middle school and high school, but all ages are welcome.

Participants who dress up as one of the original Clue characters (Miss Scarlet, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Mr. Green) will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Clue game of their own!

Brick Club: The Lego Movie 2 - Tuesday, July 2nd, 1:00 to 2:30

Get ready for more building adventures in this extra-special LEGO Movie 2 themed Brick Club! Inspired by the film, these sets will send you on an epic journey to go where no brick has gone before. We'll be featuring Queen Watevra's Build Whatever Box, Emmet and Lucy's Escape Buggy, and the Pop-Up Party Bus. Young adults, children and families are encouraged to participate in this time of creativity and imagination.

Nintendo Gaming - Tuesday, July 9th, 1:00 to 2:30

Show off your skills and get ready for some friendly competition as we gather for Nintendo Gaming! Nintendo of America representative Nathan Hilbert will be joining us to help demonstrate the latest and most popular games.

Prize giveaways for those in attendance!

A Conversation with Author Tracy Korn - Tuesday, July 16th, 1:00 to 2:00

Everyone is invited to meet Tracy Korn, young adult author and veteran English teacher. She will discuss her science fiction series, The Elements, a four-book saga about transcending, facing fears, and of becoming who you're meant to be...all starting on the the ocean floor! Korn will give book talks, teach a writing workshop and conduct a cosplay contest. The hour will conclude with a time for Q & A and book signing.

Come dressed as a character from one of her books and you could win one of three prize packages! The grand prize is a set of hardcover book and a professional photo session. The photo will be featured on Korn's social media and in her newsletter. Second place is a set of paperbacks and third place a set of ebooks of the individual's choice.

Recently Added to the YA Bookshelf

Taking a look at some of the most recent additions gracing the shelves of our YA department:

Alex Rider: Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz

A universe-expanding collection of new and previously published Alex Rider short adventures finds the elite teen spy navigating explosive threats while infiltrating a terrorist hideout in Afghanistan and preventing an assassination attempt at a Christmas resort. 

"Once again amid races, chases, hails of bullets, and increasingly spectacular explosions, the teenage James Bond pulls off one awesome feat of derring-do after another." -- Booklist

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman

Relegated by a misguided act of heroism to a squad comprised of his school's hopeless misfits, a cadet in a 24th century space academy rescues a centuries-hibernating girl only to be swept up in a war millions of years in the making.

"This intergalactic space opera has it all: action, thrills, suspense, laughs, and all the feels." -- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Teen mother Emoni Santiago struggles with challenges of finishing high school and her dream of working as a chef.

New York Times Best Seller

Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid

The summer after senior year is not going as eighteen-year-old Lu Charles expected. After her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her, Lu can't write a single word, despite the fact that her college scholarship is tied to her columnist job at hip online magazine Misnomer.

From the acclaimed author of Let's Get Lost and North of Happy

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Eighteen-year-old mystery-loving Birdie's new job at a historic Seattle hotel leads her and her coworker, Daniel, to a real mystery about a reclusive writer who resides there.

Author of the RITA-nominated Arcadia Bell urban fantasy series

How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

Here is what happens when your mother dies. It's the brightest day of summer and it's dark outside. It's dark in your house, dark in your room, and dark in your heart. You feel the darkness is going to split you apart. That's how it feels for Tiger. It's always been Tiger and her mother against the world. Then, on a day like any other, Tiger's mother dies. And now it's Tiger, alone. Here is how you learn to make friends with the dark.

"An honest and extremely harrowing read." -- BookPage, Starred Review

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare

Magnus Bane learns that a demon-worshiping cult, the Crimson Hand, is wreaking havoc across Europe, threatening more than just his romantic getaway with new boyfriend, Alec Lightwood.

New York Times Best Seller

The Fall of Crazy House by James Patterson

Eighteen-year-old twins Becca and Cassie, now trained fearless fighters, hold the key to defeating the despotic United regime and freeing the people of the former United States. At what cost, though?

"Action-packed fight scenes, flickers of romance, and Patterson's signature speedy chapters should satisfy teens who like their suspense served with a side of political revolt." -- Booklist

Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan

A girl named Nadya, who hears the whispers of the gods inside her head. A prince surrounded by desperate suitors and deadly assassins. A monster hidden behind pale, tortured eyes (and a smile that cuts like a knife). The paths of these three characters become entwined during a centuries-long war filled with sinners and saints, magic and mystery, and a star-crossed romance that threatens to tip the scales between dark and light forever.

"If you like your young adult fantasy full of ice, blood, and angst, Wicked Saints will sweep you up in its wintry embrace." -- NPR

Three Year Anniversary

Three years ago, in May of 2016, the YA Volunteer organization was created. As the, at the time, new Young Adult Librarian at BPL, this was a front-burner venture for the many goals I wanted to see accomplished. A partnership that would simultaneously benefit both the library as an institution, as well as the youth in our community. Through joining forces, resources and services could be strengthened, providing students real-world opportunities in a world of books and beyond.

Fast-forward to May 2019. 59 individuals have officially contributed over 1,000 hours to our magnificent establishment! It is with their assistance that Bremen Public Library is a destination point for many. Thank you, dear volunteers, for helping us to evolve, grow, and meet the needs of this good town.