THE MIDDLE FILES
the e-newsletter for middle schoolers

Diary of a Middle School Kid

Maribella is more than just an avid reader. She's also an aspiring writer and setter on her volleyball team! 

She's co-writing a fantasy book with a friend, and I, personally, can't wait to read it one day. She loves hanging out with friends at her favorite place -- the library! She's been a middle school volunteer at the library since 6th grade, and has convinced a few of her friends to join her. 

She loves all the books at the library, particularly fantasy stories about magic -- especially when it comes to special powers. While the seventh Harry Potter book is her favorite, her biggest feat is reading five large books in one day!
Middle School Events

Looking for something to do? The library has some great fall programs just for you.  Check out the entire fall schedule on our calendar. Here are some highlights:



Do-It-Yourself Halloween Makeup
Saturday, October 7 | 1-3 pm
Learn to apply Halloween makeup - gory or glamorous - with professional makeup artist Allison Halver. Allison will demonstrate how to make wounds and prosthetic applications and offer tips on applying Halloween makeup. Allergy alert: participants will be working with latex. Reserve your spot.

Half-Day Hang Out
Friday, October 27 | 12:30-2 pm
A half day of school means pizza at the library! Eat pizza while playing games, making art, or just hanging out with friends.

The Jungle Book Read-A-Thon
October 1 through 31
Kids can help raise money for the Glen Ellyn Public Library by reading! Set a fundraising goal, collect sponsors, and then track your reading time in 20-minute increments. Earn a limited edition Jungle Book Ball patch when you read 8 hours. Visit  gepl.org/read-a-thon to get started.
New Book Spotlight

The Wrong Train by Jeremy De Quidt
Imagine you've just managed to catch your train and you realize it's the wrong one. You'd be annoyed of course, but not scared...yet. 

Imagine you get off the wrong train at the next station, hoping to catch a train going back the way you came, but the station is empty. Again, you'd be annoyed, but not scared...yet. 

Imagine someone comes to the station, someone who starts to tell you stories to help you pass the time, but these aren't any old stories...scared yet? 

You will be.
Riddle Me This!

Take off my skin. I won't cry, but you will. What am I?

Tell the answer to a staff member at the Youth Information Desk to receive a delicious prize! 

Mid-Lit: Peer Book Reviews

I am Maggie from Hadley Jr. High and the book I reviewed is called  Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

I loved this book. Margaret Peterson Haddix is a stunning author! As soon as I finished this book, I read the next several books in the series, which were all as fantastic as the first one. This book is the first book in the Shadow Children series and is about a place where you are only allowed to have two children. Third born children are illegal and known as "shadow children." 

Luke is a third child, a shadow kid, and he has spent the whole 12 years of his life in hiding. Until one day, he glimpses a girl through his window, a girl in a house where there are already two boys. He summons up his courage and cautiously visits the house where he saw the girl. There he discovers Jen, another shadow child who is planning a rally to try to win freedom for shadow children.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and suspense. Check out Among the Hidden.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME
By: Maggie G.

Hello again. I'm Maggie and I was about 8 years old when this happened to me. I wanted to make a cool picture that involved glue. I was trying to make a heart with multiple types of paper. After I made a heart shape, I wanted to get the heart on right away. So, I grabbed the first glue bottle I saw.

There are millions of different types of glue. So, if you get where I'm going with this, I didn't use the right kind. Instead of Elmer's glue, I ended up using this fabric glue that was hard to get off your hands. I ended up making a big mess and I had to clean it up. Little did I know that my thumb and pointer finger were glued together. I ended up panicking and tried to turn on my tap, to see if that would help. It was boiling hot water. The second I put my hand under the water, I ripped the glue while I was flinching and pulling my hand away from the boiling water. I had no idea what to do.

At least I did learn one thing: use the right type of glue or have someone who can use something and not spill it everywhere help because pain and panicking will occur otherwise.
Glen Ellyn Public Library | 400 Duane Street | Middle School Web Page
STAY CONNECTED: