December events and books for teens

Christmas isn’t the only occasion to celebrate this holiday! December 17 marks the release of the third Hobbit movie – The Battle of the Five Armies. Teens are invited to The Hangout Hobbit party at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, December 11 to celebrate Hobbit style! Make-up artists will help transform teens into their favorite Hobbit or fantasy character. Enjoy a Hobbit feast prepared by Hotel Tavern and accept a quest to test your Hobbit movie knowledge as you travel along An Unexpected Journey. Let your creativity soar while creating Hobbit house gardens using clay as well as bark, moss, sticks, and other natural items.

There’s no better way to end the first half of the school year than with a Holiday Bash at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 19 in the library teen section. Bring a book to swap in a game of white elephant. Then, make your own digital greeting card using JibJab, which animates random pictures of you and your friends set to Christmas carols. Hang around to decorate Christmas cookies and create your own wrapping paper to use for your special someone. 

Looking for some good books to curl up with this holiday season? Check out these new YA reads in the Ashe County Public Library teen section.  

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson 

YA BAN

If you enjoyed The Mortal instruments and The Infernal Devices, this new installment, previously published online, can't be missed. Through a collection of eleven short stories, The Bane Chronicles brings to life Magnus Bane, famed High warlock of Brooklyn, a main character in both of these earlier series. 

Endgame: The Calling by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton 

YA FRE

After years of training and preparation, twelve teens find themselves thrust into the EndGame, an ancient game of life or death with only one rule - there aren’t any. In this first installment, these young players are tasked with finding the first of three keys hidden somewhere on earth to win the game. While following along with the puzzle in the book, readers can also play their own real-life Endgame online, powered by Google's Niantic Labs, and battle with other virtual opponents. 
See the official book trailer here. 

The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott 

YA MOT

After a tragic airplane crash, thirteen-year-old Ava discovers her gift to heal others of their physical ailments when she places her hands on her injured friend, Wash, and dissolves his wound. Once her magic powers become known, people begin flocking to her doorstep, seeking the services of this young miracle-worker. Yet with each healing, Ava grows weaker and must decide if she will sacrifice herself in order to save others. 
See the official book trailer here.