​Red and her five friends are on a road trip to the beach for Spring Break when disaster strikes on an isolated road. The RV's tires are shot out by a sniper who is threatening the six until they give up a particular secret. Will Red and her friends be able to give him what he wants before the deadline at dawn? As the eight hours pass, find out the deadly secrets of each, who will turn on who, and ultimately, which of them will make it out alive. 
 
While the second half of this book is an exciting whirl-wind, be prepared to push through the first half. If you enjoy this one, check out Holly Jackson's series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, in my opinion, even more of a thrill ride than this one!

At least 90 people attended the open house located at the North Webster Community Public Library, where Friends from the North Webster and Syracuse libraries provided appetizers and SPL’s Rebekah Sceniak performed live with her violin.

Prizes were awarded in three brackets based on grades. In the sixth through seventh grade group, winners were Raily Klinefelter (first place), Emerie Walker (second place) and Eva Kennelly (third place). Eleanor Nightingale (first place), Julia Stover (second place) and Kendall Toumey (third place) were the winners in grades eighth through ninth. Finally, Skye-Leigh Kitson (first place), Katianne Bolinger (second place) and Jackson Hayes (third place) were the winners in grades 10-12. Because of an anonymous donation, the gift card amounts were increased, so first-place winners received $100 gift cards, second-place winners $50 gift cards and third-place winners $30 gift cards.
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Pieces were judged by five volunteer judges, all of whom are local artists: Emily Austin of Emily Austin Design; Deb Connett; Angie Deak of Made on Main; Fred Clark of Sturdy Oaks; and Golden Seaton, whose art is currently displayed at 2nd Floor Gallery & Studio. Wawasee High School art teacher Christi Ziebarth and her students also helped with the judging.

All art pieces will be displayed at NWCPL from Jan. 16-27 and then at SPL from Jan. 30-Feb. 10. At the end of these displays, teen artists can pick up their pieces from their home library, which they had listed on their entry forms.

The 2023 summer reading theme will be "All Together Now," and teens are encouraged to embrace that theme by sharing their thoughts about what they would like the program to look like. Fill out the online survey about the type of programming you'd like to participate in, what prizes would be best, etc.

Finally, mark your calendars to attend the "Help Plan Teen Summer Reading" session from 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the Rosalyn Jones Room/YA space. Help build the summer reading program of your dreams!

For information, contact Michelle at mparker@syracuse.lib.in.us.

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As infants, twin sisters Charlie Yates and  Magnolia Heathwood were secretly separated after the brutal lynching of their parents, who died for loving across the color line. Now, at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, Charlie is a young Black organizer in Harlem, while white-passing Magnolia is the heiress to a cotton plantation in rural Georgia.

The sisters reunite as teenagers in the deeply haunted town of Eureka, Ga., where ghosts linger centuries after their time and dangers lurk behind every mirror. They couldn’t be more different, but they will need each other to put the hauntings of the past to rest, to break the mirrors’ deadly curse — and to discover the meaning of sisterhood in a racially divided land. 

Pick up copies at the library. Digital e-books and audiobooks are available on Libby.

Discussions occur from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, and from 12-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, in the Rosalyn Jones Room/YA Space.

Email Michelle, mparker@syracuse.lib.in.us, or Amber, aweber@syracuse.lib.in.us, with questions.

Teen artists, their families or guardians, their friends and the rest of the community are welcome to attend this event, which will showcase the young talent within the North Webster and Syracuse communities.

The Syracuse Public Library’s Rebekah Sceniak will perform live violin music while attendees browse the artwork and enjoy refreshments. Local artists will judge each of the pieces and award places first through third within each grade range. Winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m.

If you cannot attend the open house, all art pieces will be displayed at NWCPL from Jan. 16-27 and then at the Syracuse Public Library from Jan. 30-Feb. 10. At the end of these displays, teen artists can pick up their pieces from their home library, which they had listed on their entry forms.

This contest has been a partnership between the North Webster Community Public Library and the Syracuse Public Library. For information, contact Michelle Parker at mparker@syracuse.lib.in.us or Hanna Kunkel at hanna@nweb.lib.in.us.

The Syracuse Public Library's young adult services department is introducing NOTE-ABLE Books. These books allow library patrons to write thoughts, create drawings, or underline favorite passages. All notes and drawings must be kept G-rated.

NOTE-ABLE Books can be found in the Rosalyn Jones Room/YA space under the nonfiction books. These books will have "NOTE-ABLE" labeled on their spines. On the first page, there is also a label, describing it as a "NOTE-ABLE BOOK" and encouraging readers to write in it.

Do not write in any library book that does not have the "NOTE-ABLE" designation.​

We hope this program will encourage readers to engage with books in new ways and spark different readings for their fellow readers.

This is a luscious historical fiction based in Sacramento in the late 1800s; but with intriguing paranormal elements. We follow twins Edie and Violet, who are mediums trying to make their own way in life. They run away from their father who tried to lock them in an asylum and go on the road with a Traveling Spiritualist Show. Mysterious occurrences bring them to suspect that something is going on in the spirit world; could it have to do with their mother's death? 
 
Things that blew me away in this book: 

• The fast pacing: It kept me wanting more but it didn't feel rushed or without character development.
• The paranormal elements: They were written so believably and gave me chills.
• The encompassing writing: When I listened to the audiobook the world came to life behind my eyes, so much so that I listened to it all in one day.
• The sibling relationship: It was beautiful and heart-warming. 

 
If you like historical mixed with paranormal, this is the book for you!  

The escape room will now only be available while Young Adult Service Librarian Michelle Parker is available. She is the escape room's engineer and best suited to ensure it runs smoothly. 

New hours will be:

• 12:15-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7
• 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16
• 12-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17
• 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21
• 12-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28
• 12-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30

We also encourage that you schedule your escape room experience by emailing Michelle, mparker@syracuse.lib.in.us, or call and ask for her at (574) 457-3022.