At the Daniel Boone Regional Library, preparation for March Madness begins in the early winter months when we announce our 16 of our most popular young adult books. This gives you several weeks to read as many of these titles as possible.
Vote NOW through March 1 for your favorite eight books. Then, the tournament heats up as those titles are seeded and face off in head-to-head competition. Each week in March, teens vote to narrow down the list of contenders until a single title emerges as the Mid-Missouri teen book champion!
Each round you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win cool prizes. March Madness is open to all teens ages 12-18 who live in either Boone or Callaway County, Missouri.
How it Works:
Round 1: VOTE NOW through March 1st for the Elite Eight.
Round 2: Vote March 4-10 for the Final Four.
Round 3: Vote March 11-17 for the final two contending titles.
Round 4: Vote March 18-28 for the book tournament champion.
March 31st: The champion is announced!
Each round that you vote, your name is entered into our prize drawing! Limit one ballot per person, per round.
And the Sweet 16 are…
Continue reading “2025 March Madness Begins!”
No, you aren’t seeing double! We are highlighting books that were so nice our readers reviewed them twice. It looks like our readers agree about these faves this time, but we’d love to hear your thoughts! Don’t forget you can fill out our review form any time for a chance to be featured on our blog! Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: Double Vision”
Young Adult books aren’t just for teens! In fact, many of our staff regularly read YA so we asked them what their favorites were this year. We asked them to describe their favorite books in three words and to rate them on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. Check out some of their picks below or you can check the full list here! Continue reading “2024 Staff Picks”
We’ve had several staff blogs about J. R. R. Tolkien (read them here, here and here) but now it’s time to hear from our patrons! Check out what our readers had to say about this beloved book series. Whether you are reading them for the first time or for the umpteenth time now is the perfect time to roast some potatoes, light the fires of Gondor and curl up with these classics! Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: J. R. R. Tolkien Books”
My sadlings, you have returned for more Sad People Music!
This time of year is filled with complicated emotions and lots of memories. When everyone is pushing the “holiday cheer,” sometimes you just want permission to be a downer. Sad music helps us know we’re not alone. Luckily for you, I have even more sad songs to add to the playlist you put on repeat when you’re all in your feelings. Continue reading “Sad People Music – Vol 2.”
Ugh. It’s fine. Not every book you read will change your life. Not every book on BookTok is earth-shattering. Sometimes the movie IS better. These are all books our readers thought were ok. We’re sharing them in November because it’s probably dreary or whatever. Read these books or don’t. They’re probably better or worse books out there. *shrugs and pulls hoodie over face*
Continue reading “Meh Teen Reader Reviews: Books with ★★★ or less”
It’s getting colder, the leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter.
That’s right kids, it’s sad people music season.
Sad people music is a mood. A vibe. It’s songs for when you want to feel your feelings. Wallow in bed and be miserable for a little while. Let someone else perfectly describe the angst of existing as a sentient creature on a rock hurtling through space. There is a kind of joy in knowing that other people have felt like us, have worried like us, have cried like us. Continue reading “Sad People Music”
I’ve wanted to cosplay for many, many years. Before this year, however, I never had the courage. I always assumed that I would take up too much space, that people would look at me too much. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that taking up space is not actually a bad thing. If people judge me adversely for cosplaying, that’s their problem, not mine. With this in mind, I recently created my first costume! One of the absolutely hardest parts for me was starting. With many projects, it can seem incredibly daunting at first. Luckily, we have many resources here to help with that. Regina made an absolutely wonderful list of costuming books. Though it’s labeled as being for Halloween, many of the titles work year-round! If even a book is overwhelming, keep reading for my list of how to get started. Continue reading “First Time Cosplaying Tips”
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
Anne Shirley, “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery
Just like Anne (with an e) we love October at the library! Our teens love this spoopy, leafy, ghostly time of year too! Check out our readers’ reviews below. We’ve got everything from classics to some downright grisly reads!
Continue reading “October Teen Reviews”
In 2009, EA released “Dragon Age: Origins.” For the first time, players were introduced to the world of Thedas and tasked with protecting it against the monstrous Darkspawn scourge that periodically arose. Two years later, “Dragon Age II” was released. This time, players became Hawke, a human who becomes a legend over the course of a decade of strife. Following the same breakneck pace, only 3 years after “II,” “Dragon Age: Inquisition” graced our screens. We followed the Inquisitor as they tried to close the Breach, a tear in reality that allowed demons to come forth. Then, there was silence. For the past 10 years, fans have been waiting for a new “Dragon Age” title. And it is finally happening. On October 31st, EA will release “Dragon Age: The Veilguard,” a direct sequel to “Inquisition.” Whether you’re waiting that final week for the game to finally be released or you’ve been playing a while and are trying to prolong the experience, these books are for you. From canon-accurate novels to my favorite dark fantasy, any of these next titles will help you stay connected to “Dragon Age.” Continue reading “If You’re Playing (or waiting for) Dragon Age: The Veilguard”
