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Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Books explore relevant topics for today’s teenagers

 In an effort to promote reading and share an interest in books; provide high school students an opportunity to openly discuss difficult topics in a safe environment; help students feel connected to Laredo Public Library; and promote and enhance critical thinking skills, the Laredo Public Library has created a book club specifically for teenagers, called the iBook It Teen Reading Club.

 Meetings for the iBook It Teen Reading Club will take place once a month for the next two months in the Laredo Public Library Multi-Purpose Room.  The book club already concluded its May meeting, reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  The next two books will be Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Participation in the book club is voluntary and not required, but students can receive community service hours for participating.

 Books may contain adult content and/or themes, adult language, violence, and other issues so teenagers are required to have a permission slip, signed by their parent or guardian, to participate in the Laredo Public Library iBook It Teen Reading Club.  Students are encouraged to preview the books with parents/guardians and select books that he or she is comfortable with.

 The second meeting, discussing Uglies, will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the Laredo Public Library HEB Multi-Purpose Room.

 Uglies is set in a world in which everyone is turned “pretty””by extreme cosmetic surgery upon reaching age 16. It tells the story of teenager Tally Youngblood who rebels against society’s enforced conformity, after her new found friends Shay and David show her the downsides to becoming a “pretty.” Uglies is available for check out at the Laredo Public Library.

 For additional information, including library hours and other teen events, visit the Laredo Public Library at 1120 East Calton Road, call Kelly Simms at (956) 795-2400, ext. 2235, e-mail at kelly@laredolibrary.org or visit the Laredo Public Library’s website at www.laredolibrary.org.