Welcome teen visitors!

Since you’ve arrived here @ wtmlib.info, you know that you can visit us virtually as well as at our Main Street scene. You might be surprised, though, by all that there is for you here. So, as long as you’re here, take a look around …

Did you know that you can also visit us on Facebook? We look forward to your visits – in person, on Facebook and, here, on our web site! You can also reach us by phone at 860-652-7720.

Looking for reading recommendations from fellow teens? Check out YALSA's 2019 Teens' Top Ten Nominations.

Image © adam121/AdobeStock.com

Emoji Cookies

Who: Teens in grades 7-12
When: Thursday, March 12, 2020
Time: 6:30-8pm
Place: Library's Friends Room

Teens, come join instructor Jan Holland of Icing on the Cake to learn the basics of working with fondant! In this workshop, you will be able to decorate four emoji cookies of your own design. Embellish cookies with fondant circles, and add your choice of facial expressions using cutters and edible markers. This is a fun and tasty introduction to decorating with fondant! Seating is limited, so registration is required online or at the Reference Desk at 860-652-7720.

Allergy warning: The fondant used in this program is made in a facility that also processes tree nuts, eggs, milk and soy products.

Understanding Your Financial Aid Award Letter

Image © terovesalainen/AdobeStock.com

Who: Teens and parents
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Time: 6:30-8pm
Place: Library's Friends Room

The college admissions process is nearly over, and now it is time to choose a college! C2 Education has partnered with the University of Hartford to provide information about the different financial aid opportunities that you may receive. Come with your award letters, and hear from a financial aid representative about how much aid you're actually being offered, which monies are free and what needs to be paid back, and what the next steps are to enrolling. We will also discuss where to look for outside scholarships. Seating is limited, so registration is requested online or at the Reference desk at 860-652-7720.

College Entrance Exam Practice Session

Who: Students in grades 9-12
When: Saturday, March 21, 2020
Time: 10am-1pm
Place: Library's Friends Room

The Welles-Turner Memorial Library is partnering with C2 Education to offer free full-length practice tests for the PSAT, ACT and SAT for local high school students. Participants will get to experience a real test environment and will receive a score report with a comprehensive analysis of strengths and weaknesses via email. Please bring your own calculator and pencils – all other supplies will be provided. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot online or by calling the Reference desk at 860-652-7720.

Please note: Teens who attend multiple testing events are not guaranteed a unique exam each session.

Image: exam sheet © Andrii Symonenko/Fotolia.com

Peeps Dioramas

Who: Teens in grades 7-12
When: Thursday, April 2, 2020
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Place: Library's Friends Room

Teens, come join us for a Peeps diorama contest! We will provide cardboard boxes, decorating supplies and Peeps. You bring in your best idea for a Peeps scene - you may base your diorama on a book, a movie or something from your own imagination! You may also bring in your own supplies if you have a specific idea in mind. Once we’re done creating our dioramas, we will vote for best overall, most creative and other fun categories. Teens in grades 7-12 are welcome. Seating is limited, so registration is required starting March 5, online or at the Reference desk at 860-652-7720.

Teen Yoga

Who: Teens in grades 7-12
When: Monday, April 13, 2020
Time: 2:30-3:30pm
Place: Library's Friends Room

Teens, come join instructor Mandee Morris of Glastonbury Parks & Recreation for a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga class. Take this opportunity to be introduced to yoga through some simple, gentle poses and stretches. Please bring a towel or mat for the class. Teens in grades 7-12 are welcome. Seating is limited, so registration is required starting March 16, online or at the Reference desk at 860-652-7720.

Image: yoga mat © tatomm/Fotolia.com

Homemade Ravioli

Who: Teens in grades 7-12
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Time: 2-3:30pm
Place: Library's Friends Room

Learn how to make homemade ravioli with Registered Dietitian Katie Shepherd of Food Explorers! You’ll start from scratch by making your own pasta dough, then knead, roll and fill with a delicious cheesy filling. Come hungry, because it’s going to be delicious! Recipe will be nut-free, but contains dairy and eggs. Teens in grades 7-12 are welcome. Seating is limited, so registration is required starting March 18, online or at the Reference Desk at 860-652-7720.

Image: ravioli © mihrzn/AdobeStock.com

The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations were posted on the Thursday of National Library Week, and teens across the country voted on their favorite titles. Readers ages 12-18 voted online between mid-August and Teen Read Week™ in October on the Teens' Top Ten site. The winners were announced on October 16. Their rankings are indicated below.

Source: YALSA*

#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil (Freeform Books/Disney Book Group)

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (Dutton Books/Penguin Random House)

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody (Harlequin Teen/Harlequin Trade Publishing)

American Panda by Gloria Chao (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster)

The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster)

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian (Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House)

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu (Random House Children’s Books/Penguin Random House)

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform Books/Disney Book Group)

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough (Dutton Books/Penguin Random House)

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hatchett Book Group)

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson (Henry Holt & Co/Macmillian)

Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (Dial Books/Penguin Random House)

Frat Girl by Kiley Roache (Harlequin Teen/Harlequin Trade Publishing)

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake (HMH Books for Young Readers/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier (HMH Books for Young Readers/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan)

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hatchett Book Group)

Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert (Hyperion/Disney Book Group)

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperTeen/HarperCollins)

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (First Second/Macmillian)

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, Emily Carroll (Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillan)

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster)

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown (HMH Books for Young Readers/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Wildcard by Marie Lu (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House)

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (Dutton/Penguin)

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (Delacorte/Random House)

Warcross by Marie Lu (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin)

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo (Random House)

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Flatiron)

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster)

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez (Knopf/Random House)

Paper Hearts by Ali Novak (Sourcebooks Fire)

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (Little, Brown and Company)

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen (Viking/Penguin)