12/13/2010

Teen Book Review

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Reviewed by Morena Holland
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

     Huckleberry Finn is a boy who gets tired of the constant rules and regulations he has to follow everyday. He lives with Widow Douglas, a very nice and decent woman, but Miss Watson, the sister of the widow is the one person Huck probably hates the most. Although Miss W's intentions are good, her efforts to make Huck civilized only make him dislike her even more. Despite not being in custody of his father:,Pap, Huck avoids being with Pap. Pap is an alcoholic, resulting in abusive, and disturbing behavior. Being a rebellious teenager, Huck decides to fake his own death, and runs away. During the beginning of his journey, his friend Jim (Miss Watson's slave), looks out to find Huck. After Huck and Jim reunite, they experience many problems during their adventures. Jim being a runaway slave, Huck dealswith many inner conflicts. He decides no matter what, he is going to help Jim to freedom. Together they experience a fascinating journey and their friendship begins to grow stronger. Huck shows maturity at the end of the story.


Review:

This book was a great novel. It shows many subliminal messages and the how humankind/society truly needs to change its judgmental ways.
Morena Holland

www.myspace.com/morenaholland


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMGnjuUcNyE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM_x1e5CICg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-YYmm5frV8&feature=related

12/06/2010

A new option for digital books

The Google eBookstore opened today. While many of the books on the site are available for purchase,  classics are available absolutely for free. This might be a helpful service when you've procrastinated on a school assignment and you just can't find that book you're supposed to read!

Many websites are debating whether or not Goole joining the world of literature is a good thing. What do you think? Do you like to read e books, or do you prefer paper? Do you own an eReader or an iPad? Do you want one? Share your thoughts!

More on this topic:

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/12/google-bookstore/comment-page-1/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/06/google-ebooks-store-to-ch_n_792538.html?ir=Technology

12/01/2010

Top Ten Holiday Movies

Break out the sparkly holiday lights and hot chocolate! It's the most wonderful time of the year!
In December, I love to watch all of my favorite holiday movies. Luckily, the library owns all of them so if you have a library card you can get all of these movies for free! So here, are my top ten holiday movies!

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The original cartoon, not the live-action film. That one's just creepy)


8. A Christmas Story ("You'll put our eye out!")




4. Love Actually (Yes, I'm a sap)

3. Elf ("We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.")



I'll always have a soft spot for Gonzo and Kermit the Frog. No doubt I'll watch it a dozen times between not and the end of the month.
What's your favorite holiday movie?

11/17/2010

Holiday Stuffs

Here are some things happening in the next few weeks!

Chocolate Wonderland
November 16, 2010- December 31, 2010
4:30 to 10:00pm
2 Cactus Drive, Las Vegas NV
Phone:(702) 435-2655
Stroll down Ethel’s Cactus Garden’s illuminated cacti pathways spread over 3 acres, featuring 6000,000 holiday lights. Santa will be available from 6pm to 8pm every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 19th.

Gift of Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
November 19- January 2, 2011
5pm to 9pm Sun-Thurs
5pm to 10pm Fri, Sat, and holidays
Phone: 702-451-1641

Celebrate the holidays by experiencing over 400 animated and sparkling displays in a convenient, comfortable drive-thru setting! Enjoy millions of lights, plus festive arches and tunnels. A Vegas holiday tradition you won't want to miss and great fun for the entire family. This year all the displays have been refreshed with the latest generation LED lighting and saving 90% in energy compared to old fashioned incandescent lights.


Special pricing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: standard vehicles are just $10 when donating gently used items to Goodwill of Southern Nevada. All other evenings receive $2 off with a donation. Coupons are available at the event, any Goodwill retail store or Goodwill donation locations.


WinterFest
December 9-11, 2010
Henderson Convention Center & Events Plaza
Complimentary Admission

The City of Henderson will host its annual WinterFest celebration, December 9-11, at the Henderson Events Plaza and Henderson Convention Center, both located at 200 S. Water Street, in the Water Street District. The event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities including an official tree lighting ceremony with Mayor Hafen and Santa Claus, as well as the WINTERFEST PARADE, train rides, petting zoo, pony rides, gingerbread house displays, A Charlie Brown Christmas production and much more! Admission for all activities is complimentary.
Please visit: http://www.hendersonlive.com/special-events/winterfest

New Graphic Novels @ Gibson Library!

We just got some new graphic novels at the Gibson Branch! Here are a few of Sarah's favorites.

Koko Be Good by Jen Wang

Koko's always cooking up new projects, even though most end in disaster. But she promises herself that thsi time will be different. This time she will Be Good. But where will she start if she doesn't even know what that means?










Dawn Land by Will Davis; Adapted from the novel by Joseph Bruchac

"Ten thousand years ago, Young Hunter set out on an epic quest to overcome the Stone Giants who were terrorizing his people. Pitted against creatures of legend, Young Hunter journeyed to the innermost heart of his own humanity, even meeting the very gods of the land. He was entrusted with his tribe's most dangerous secret, a weapon that would change mankind forever."




Brain Camp by Susan Kim, Laurence, klavan, and Faith Erin Hicks
"Neither artistic, dreamy Jenna nor surly, delinquent Lucas expected to find themselves at an invitation-only summer camp that turns problem children into prodigies. And yet here they both are at Camp Fielding, settling in with all the other loosers and misfits who've been shipped off by their parents in a last-ditch effort to produce a child worth bragging about. Bust strange dissapearances, spooky lights in the woods, and a chilling alteration that turns the dimmest, rowdiest campers into docile zombie Einsteins have Jenna and Jucas feeling more than a little suspicious...and a lot afraid."




A Home for Mr. Easter by Brooke A. Allen

"Tesana has never really fit into anything before but her daydreams. But when making an attempt to connect to her peers by joining in a pep rally planning committee she suddenly discovers a little white rabbit that lays brightly colored eggs. Realizing that she may have found the REAL life Easter bunny, Tesana embarks on an epic quest in an effort to get him back to his natural habitat and into safe hands. However as she progresses on her fanciful journey she gains more and more undesired attention until the quest becomes a race to stay ahead of greedy pursuers and find a safe place for her new friend...wherever that place may be"

28 Days Later: London Calling by Michael Alan Nelson


"Picking up whre the first movie left off, this original graphic novel continuation bridges the gap between the first film and its sequel 28 Weeks Later. Revealing the never before told tale of Selena as she makes her way back into Great Britian to face The Infected."

10/20/2010

Beyond Vampire Reading List

So you're tired of Twilight? Yeah, me too. So is Betsy C., a staff writer at Teen Ink (which, by the way, is a pretty cool place to get your writing published if you're a teen and you like to write). Here's a link to a very short article recommending some non-Twilight books with strong female protagonists. There are a lot more where these came from, so feel free to ask for some recommendations next time you're at the library:)


http://www.teenink.com/Weekly/2010-10-19-article

Thrill the World!

Zombies are taking over Gibson Library this Saturday!
Support your fellow teens during a worldwide simultaneous dance event to break the world record for the most people dancing to Michael Jackson's Thriller at the same time! The dance begins at 4:30pm sharp but you'll want to come early! Starting at 1pm we'll have all things ZOMBIE from jeopardy to crafts, even zombie themed snacks! (dont' worry, we won't be feasting on braaaaains).
Thrill the World also kicks off a month-long food drive to benefit Three Square, so don't forget to bring a canned good to help fight hunger in Southern Nevada!

10/13/2010

Spooooooky

Here are some spooky things to do during the month of October! For even more ideas, visit http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/events/halloween/

Galleria Mall at Sunset
Halloween Fun Town Carnival
Mon-Fri 4-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm

The District at Green Valley Ranch
Carnival of Horrors-Trick or Treating
Sunday, October 314-7pm
“The site of an old run-down traveling carnival is a great place to pick up some candy for some trick-or-treating excitement! Just watch out for the side-show characters who have been hanging around this place for years and years and years. Kids can trick or treat from a number of ghoulish carnival characters, and take a ride on The Carousel of Doom! Sponsored by Mix 94.1 FM”

Fright Dome at Circus Circus
Thursday-Sunday 7pm to midnight
“Spread throughout five acres, this haunted theme park features dark, fog-filled attractions complete with ghoulish and gore-clad professional actors. Fright Dome includes roaming scare actors, high powered strobes, multi-colored lasers, and eerie sound effects”
Tickets are $34.95, but there is also an option for a group tour. Visit Frightdome.com for more details.

Pumpkin Smash at Shooting Park
Clark County Shooting Park archery range, 11357 N. Decatur Blvd.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30
$8 general admission, $4 for children 17 years of age and younger
More info: 702-455-2000
The "fun shoot" will consist of an archery shoot at paper pumpkin targets and a shoot-out every hour at pumpkins that ooze green. Hot dogs and drinks will be available for purchase. There will also be balloons for the kids. The age groups will be 8 and under, 9 to 11 years old, 12 to 17 years old and 18 years and older.

10/09/2010

FREE Dew Tour Tickets

Are you into all things BMX and skateboarding?

You're in luck, because Henderson Libraries is giving away FREE TICKETS to the Dew Tour Champtionships at the Hard Rock Hotel on October 16th!

If you wanna score these free passes, ask how at your library's Youth Services Desk. But hurry! We have a limited number of tickets available!

10/06/2010

101 Fun Things for Fall

From About.com, here are a bunch of ideas to keep fall fun. Head over to the actual site for how-to links!

1.Drink apple cider.


2.Make a friendship bracelet and send it to your friend.

3.Start or update a checking account.

4.Plan a Harvest Party.

5.Plan a Halloween Party.

6.Plan a fun filled trick with friends.

7.Hike a rail trail and check out the fall foliage.

8.Ride a trail on a ATV.

9.Stuff a scarecrow.

10.Make a leaf rubbing.

11.Make a gravestone rubbing.

12.Tell a ghost story.

13.Take a picture looking up into a fall foliage tree with your cell phone and send it to a friend.

14.Write a note to a friend that is far away.

15.Leave a motivational quote on a friend's social networking page.

16.Write a thank you note to someone who has helped you.

17.Play a murder mystery game.

18.Make a fall or Halloween pin using our safety pin patterns.

19.Make falling leaves earrings.

20.Visit a corn maze.

21.Make a blue jean craft for school.

22.Eat candy corn.

23.Decorate for Halloween.

24.Take a hunters safety course and go hunting.

25.Attend a school football game.

26.Attend a high school soccer game.

27.Attend a school field hockey game.

28.Attend a volleyball game.

29.Learn a new make-up trick.

30.Write a haiku about a leaf you've found.

31.Offer free babysitting for one night to someone who could use the break.

32.Take pictures of the fall foliage.

33.Join a new school club or invite someone new to a club you are in.

34.Picnic at a local park.

35.Have an overnight movie marathon.

36.Have a bonfire/campfire complete with marshmallows.

37.Bike five miles.

38.Sketch a tree that is losing its leaves.

39.Play in a pile of leaves.

40.Volunteer in a community effort for your local food pantry.

41.Camp in your backyard.

42.Visit the local library and ask what is coming in that you may be interested in.

43.Sit or look outside and write a poem.

44.Sit or look outside and write a song.

45.Sit or look outside and write a play.

46.Start your novel.

47.Make a website.

48.Give your social networking page a fall look.

49.Friend someone famous on your social networking page.

50.Write in your journal, "My Top Ten Favorite Fall Activities".

51.Get your community's events list for the fall and attend an event.

52.Get a new hairdo.

53.Watch last year's cool fall flick on DVD.

54.Go to this year's cool fall flick in the theater.

55.Make a leaf t-shirt.

56.Make a fall leaf shaped collage out of fall fashion magazines.

57.Go pumpkin picking.

58.Go on a hayride.

59.Take your dog/pet for a mile-long walk.

60.Clean out and organize your junk drawer so you have room for this school year's junk.

61.Create a sidewalk mural with chalk, use a fall theme.

62.Have a fall color scavenger hunt.

63.Make a Taffy Apple Pizza Dessert for your family.

64.Write in your journal: "10 Things I'm Thankful For".

65.Got a sibling in college? Send them a goofy picture.

66.Read something that moves you emotionally.

67.Read something funny.

68.Take a poll of your friends on something you feel is an important issue.

69.Do a crossword puzzle.

70.Put together a jigsaw puzzle.

71.Learn one thing about your favorite actor/actress that you didn't already know.

72.Roast pumpkin seeds.

73.Collect pine cones for the holidays.

74.Make a new after school snack.

75.Start a new healthy habit.

76.Visit a historical site.

77.Play hopscotch.

78.Organize a yard sale.

79.Organize your favorite links.

80.Add a folder for homework help sites to your favorite links.

81.Add a folder for sites on a new interest to your favorite links.

82.Think of three ways you can make your life better. Employ at least one of them.

83.Create a family newsletter to send to your whole family.

84.Create a cartoon character.

85.Hug your parent, a friend and yourself.

86.Play Apples to Apples.

87.Join a book club.

88.Play with Magnetic Poetry.

89.Experiment and decide what way is the best way to eat leftover turkey - journal it.

90.Carve a Pumpkin.

91.Make a dream catcher.

92.Paint a funny face on a pumpkin.

93.Make place cards for dinner.

94.Change something about your bedroom.

95.Give your email signature a fall look.

96.Paint your nails in a fall color - toenails too!

97.Make Apple Cinnamon Lip Gloss.

98.Take a bath in Autumn Peach Bath Salts.

99.Create a school friends scrapbook album.

100.Learn how to make a favorite family recipe.

101.Write out your school holiday schedule on the family calendar.

9/28/2010

Anticipaaaation!

So I just finished reading an awesome book! Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is the second installment of the Caster Chronicles, a southern gothic supernatural series set in tiny (and some might say backwoods) Gatlin, South Carolina. Earlier this year, I devoured Beautiful Creatures, and I just couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book! The tale is dark and romantic, and it's beautifully written. You can almost feel the humidity and taste the southern cooking!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami GarciaBeautiful Darkness


Ethan Waite was an average teenage guy until he met Lena Duchannes. All he ever wanted was to escape his small town life for college somewhere far away-- especially after his beloved mother died in a mysterious accident and his dad went off the deep end. Then he literally met the girl of his dreams (dreams from which he often woke covered in soil or water), and began to learn that there's a lot more to Gatlin than meets the eye. Lena is a caster. You might call her a witch, but she'd just laugh at you. The Caster Chronicles  follow Lena from birthday to birthday, as she learns whether she will practice light or dark magic. It's a big decision for her because her family is cursed, and her decision carries very real consequences.

In Beautiful Darkness, Lena remains confused about her future, and she's convinced she doesn't fit in anywhere. Her romance with Ethan is heating up to the point of electric shock, but she keeps pushing him away because she fears she may be Dark, and she doesn't want to hurt anyone else. When John Breed, a mysterious demon/caster hybrid makes his way into Lena's life, Ethan finds himself on a dangerous underground journey to save the girl he loves, accompanied by his best friend Link, caster-librarian-in-training, Liv, and a cat named Lucille. In the caster tunnels below Gatlin and beyond, the trio meets demons and vexes who threathen to suck the life right out of them, quite literally. This book kept me turning the pages, and I can't wait for the next one!! Beautiful Darkness comes out on October 12, and it'll make a great read to get you in the Halloween spirit! If you haven't checked out Beautiful Creatures, make sure you grab it quickly, so you'll be ready for this one!

9/24/2010

New Books at Gibson Library!

Here are some new fiction titles we’ve put out on display here at Gibson Library!

Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon
Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins
Deception: A Haunting Emma Novel by Lee Nichols
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson

Click on the links to see more about each book. If you have your library card number, you can put a hold on the book and have it waiting for you when you come in!

8/25/2010

Vote Now . . .

. . .for your favorite teen book of the year! The Teens' Top Ten poll allows you to pick your favorite book of the year from a list of ten titles chosen by teen reading groups across the country.

Vote here!

They ask you to choose up to three books, which is a bit confusing. You're voting for the ONE TOP BOOK, so if you like three titles equally well, go ahead and choose three. Otherwise, you can just pick your favorite.

I'd vote for Beautiful Creatures, but I'm not a teen, so go pick your fav!!

Here are the nominations:

Abbott, Ellen Jensen. Watersmeet. Marshall Cavendish. 2009. (9780761455363).
We're ordering this one. . .











Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls. Penguin/Viking Books. 2009. (9780670011100).






Brown, Jennifer. Hate List. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009. (9780316041447).






Carter, Ally. Heist Society. Disney/Hyperion. 2010. (9781423116394).






Cashore, Kristin. Fire. Penguin/Dial. 2009. (9780803734616).






Clare, Cassandra. City of Glass. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry. 2009. (978-1416914303).






Clayton, Emma. The Roar. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2009. (9780439925938).












Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic/ Scholastic Press. 2009. (9780439023498).






Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride. Penguin/Viking. 2009. (9780670011940).






Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron. Penguin /Dial. 2010. (9780803733961).






Fitzpatrick, Becca. Hush, Hush. Simon & Schuster. 2009. (9781416989417).






Forman, Gayle. If I Stay. Penguin/Dutton. 2009. (9780525421030)






Garcia, Kami and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for

Young Readers. 2009. (9780316042673)











Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd. Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009. (9780316008099).






Golding, Julia. Dragonfly. Marshall Cavendish. 2009. (978-0761455820).
We're ordering this one. . .











Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group. Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2009. (9780152066093).






Lieb, Josh. I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President. Penguin/Razorbill. 2009. (9781595142405).






Ockler, Sarah. Twenty Boy Summer. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009. (978-0316051583).






Patterson, James. Witch and Wizard. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009. (9780316036245).






Pierce, Tamora. Bloodhound. Random House. 2009. (9780375814693).






St. Crow, Lili. Strange Angels. Penguin/Razorbill. 2009. ( 9781595142511).
We're ordering this one. . .












Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver. Scholastic . 2009. (9780545123273).






Tanigawa, Nagaru. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009. (9780316039017).
We're ordering this one. . .












Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. 2009. (9781416971733).






Yep, Laurence. City of Fire. Tor/Starscape. 2009. (9780765319241).

8/14/2010

Would you survive The Hunger Games?

If you think you can survive the Capitol's Hunger Games (or just can't wait for Mockingjay to come out) you might want to check out a new board game!

In The Hunger Games: Training Days, you have been selected as a Tribute to represent your district in the Hunger Games and must test your skills in the Training Center. The goal is to prepare for the Games by impressing sponsors and Gamemakers while increasing your Approval Rating. The game comes with Tribute Cards, District Effort Tokens, a deck of 45 Challenge Cards, and an Approval Tracker.

8/07/2010

Thrill the World!!

How would you like to impress your friends at this year's Halloween party by busting out with your Thriller moves when the song comes on (and if it's a good party, you know it will)? Well, you can learn the dance, meet new friends, and have a good time at the library this fall. Beginning in September, Green Valley Library will hold training and practice sessions every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Gibson Library will also hold training sessions (more info to come), and on Saturday, October 23 we will have a zombie party and dance the Thriller at Gibson Library to take part in Thrill the World, a world-wide, simultaneous dance of the Thriller. We may even help set a world record! We did this last year at Green Valley and it was a lot of fun!

7/22/2010

More Library Videos

I'm having too much fun rounding up library-inspired videos. You should probably watch them, but even if you don't, I'm amusing myself, so it's cool.

I read a blog today that said libraries are going to be the next big thing, sort of like cupcakes. We're going to get our fifteen minutes of fame! This person also suggested that we should have a library reality show. I'm thinking this would be great, but only if we get to act like Jim on The Office.

Anyway, here's a parody of the Old Spice guy, followed by the actual Old Spice guy, telling us all why libraries are great:



7/14/2010

The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes

If you love to cook and have been waiting to be recognized for your tallents, here's your chance! Although this year's winner has already been announced, you can start thinking about a winning recipe for next year's Art Institutes Best Teen Chef. Visit the link above for rules and regulations for this year's competition.

6/21/2010

Outdoor Picture Show

The District at Green Valley Ranch

"The Outdoor Picture Show™ presents free movies under the stars that the whole family can enjoy! Screenings take place every Friday and Saturday evening at dusk from Spring through Fall at The Green, adjacent to Whole Foods Market and The Carousel. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets to sit on, and picnic baskets with snacks to enjoy. Complimentary popcorn is provided."

Fantastic Mr. Fox
Friday, June 25, 2010
8:00pm
MPAA Rating: PG
"Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Clooney and Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson). But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean - who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost."

6/11/2010

Library Ladies Recommend

I keep making resolutions to write up some awesome book reviews for some awesome books and post them here, and it keeps not happening. So instead of a formal review, here's what I've been reading lately.


Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan.

This one is the most recent book from two popular authors of young adult literature. John Green is absolutely hilarious, and you can check out his vlogs and other fun stuff on his Nerdfighters website. I highly recommend the video about how to make a baby. Don't worry: it's not as creepy as it sounds. Green's works include Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns-- all funny/realistic portrayals of high school life for a certain brand of intelligent, indie-music-loving, and possibly-nerdy teenage boy and his friends.

David Levithan is well known for his skillful writing about teen relationships. He's published many great books covering the full gammut of like, love, and lust, and he doesn't shy away from GLBT themes. He co-wrote the novel Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, which I'll bet you saw on the big screen in 2008.

Together, these two have created a funny, heartfelt story of two Will Graysons, one gay and one straight, both of whom find themselves in the orbit of the very fabulous, very large, and very gay Tiny Cooper.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson is on my shelf just waiting for me to finish this weekend, so I can't offer a full review of the book yet, but I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys humor and realistic fiction. Green's Will Grayson is very similar to the male protagonists featured in his previous novels: he's shy, he's witty and sarcastic, he's into music, and he just isn't sure how to approach Jane, the smart-cute girl he's trying hard not to like. This will Grayson is starting to learn that he really does enjoy having Tiny as a best friend, even though Tiny's a little brash and egocentric. I'm hoping that this Will manages to give up his determination to "shut up and not care" before I turn the final page. Levithan's Will Grayson starts out depressed, frightened, angry, and a litte unpleasant. Slightly more than halfway through the book, he's still fighting his depression, but he's a lot less angry and more entertaining once he meets and falls for Tiny Cooper.  I'm disturbed by this Will's blatant disregard for capitalization, but it does help readers figure out which Will is narrating each chapter.

I'm really excited to learn how the rest of the story unfolds, and I am in love with all of the characters. Tiny is larger-than-life and fully lovable, both Will Graysons are complex and amusing, Jane is the girl I sort of wished I could be in high school, and all the supporting characters are interesting in their own right. Definitely put this one on your to-read list. You can request it here, and start earning some minutes for the Summer Reading Program while you're at it!

5/25/2010

Teens Read Review by Emma

Defining Dulcie by Paul Acampora, is the story of 16 year-old Dulcie Morrigan, who, after her father dies in a fatal custodial accident, is dragged from Newbury, Connecticut to California. But when her mom threatens to sell the last piece of her father left, Dulcie hightails it back to her hometown in her dad’s old fire-engine-red Chevy to find some sanctuary in her grandfather. But when Dulcie’s grandfather’s new employee, Roxanne and Roxanne’s suspicious mother are added to the mix, you can tell Dulcie’s definitely not going to forget this summer.
I thought that Defining Dulcie was a wonderful family story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Dulcie and what she thought of the events around her. I liked that she is sarcastic and humorous, but you can see her sensitivity shine through her tough exterior.

“And yet Dad’s accidental demise fast-forwarded me into some kind of real-life-meets-Cartoon-Channel thrill ride, a crazy collection of episodes and moments that made me pause in front of small mirrors and whisper, ‘Dulcie, are you all right?’ The girl in the reflection usually answered, ‘I think so.’ But sometimes she’d say, 'Define 'all right''."

I also liked how the author made it seem that the only thing that was keeping the situation from falling apart was the tight family bond seen throughout the book.

“Frank wiped his hands on the back of his blue workpants, “It seems to me,” he said, “that the wind is blowing from west to east today Roxanne.” Then he turned to me and gave me a big smile. Before I knew what was happening, he wrapped me up in a huge Frank Morrigan hug. “And look what the wind blew in,” saidFrank, “Just look what the wind blew in."

Overall Defining Dulcie is a heartwarming story about how family is glue keeping all of life pieces together. At only 165 pages, this is a short read, perfect for those times during summer when you’re taking a break from the sand and away from your friends. Two thumbs up!

5/19/2010

Who you gonna call?

Improv Everywhere is known for playing "extraordinary pranks in ordinary places." You've probably seen the group impersonating Best Buy employees, or asking, "Where's Rob?" at a Knicks game. My personal favorites are, of course, the pranks that take place in a library! Check out this video of the group busting some ghosts at the New York Public Library! NYPL actually invited the pranksters to put on a scene in order to bring attention to the library in the midst of budget cuts. My favorite quote from the story?

Guard: Sir, what are you doing?


Rodgers: Um… haunting the library.
 


For more library pranking fun, check out the Library Musical by Prangstgrup:



I wanted to end this with a video from the recent episode of Glee where a stereotypical librarian calls the gleeks cute after their performance of M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," but the video was removed from YouTube! At any rate,  if there are any awesome performers out there who want to stage a musical number in my library, I say bring it on. My manager might say otherwise, but I guess there's only one way to find out!

5/15/2010

froZEN 75


Looking for something to do on a Saturday night? Why not hang out at Club froZEN 75? This teen only night club is a place to meet people and enjoy some of today’s hottest music.

"Club froZEN 75 is open every Saturday from 7:30 to 11:30, and there is a $15.00 cover charge. Come dressed to impress… that means no plain t-shirts or sportswear!"

Be sure to visit their website below for important information on rules of conduct and restrictions.

http://www.clubfrozen75.com/index.html

5/05/2010

Hey Anime Fans!

Have you had a chance to visit VIZ Anime? It's Viz Media's new interactive website that includes more than 400 episodes from its hit series, such as Bleach, Death Note, Honey & Clover, and Naruto Shippuden. Episodes can be streamed for free and new ones are being added weekly! Viz hopes the new site will encourage its anime fans to connect with each other, discuss their favorite shoes, and offer ratings and opinions of hte various episodes. So what are you waiting for? Start streaming!

Or if you prefer some face-to-face interaction with other Anime fans, you really should check out the monthly Anime Club meetings at the Gibson and Green Valley Libraries. Head to Henderson Libraries' calendar of events to check it out!


4/20/2010

Picture Book Report: Illustrators offer cool tributes to their favorite books

A Wrinkle in Time. The Giver. Where the Red Fern Grows. Peter Pan. Alice in Wonderland. Sabriel.

Chances are you've read and loved one of these books. The website Picture Book Report has brought together 15 of the best illustrators and artists to post drawings inspired by their favorite books.

The website is updated daily, so check it out!

These were a couple of my favorites!





ArtFest of Henderson

May 8-9, 2010
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Henderson Events Plaza,
200 South Water Street
FREE ADMISSION

Looking for something to do? Head down to the Henderson Events Plaza on May 8th and 9th for over 150 booths of international art! On display and up for sale will be jewelry, photography, pottery, paintings, and much more. There will be live entertainment and lots of food... best of all, admission is FREE!!!

For more information visit: http://hendersonlive.com/special-events/artfest

4/14/2010

Another Book-y Contest for You!

Here's another book blog for you to read, as well as another chance to WIN some BOOKS! Oh yeah, and you can also win some clothes to go with your books. If you like Meg Cabot, visit Green Bean Teen Queen here, and enter to win the Airhead novels and a $50 American Eagle gift card! Delicious!

3/08/2010

Win Free Books!

Lately, I've been enjoying the book review blog I Heart Monster. The author is awesome, she has an awesome blog name, and she helps keep me up to date on young adult literature (aka teen books)! Throughout March, she's giving away a bunch of fun new books! To check out her site and enter the numerous contests, click on the banner below. Who could say no to a chance to win free books???

31 Days of Giveaways at I Heart Monster

2/18/2010

Do you feel supported by your community?

Today, I came across an interesting survey online. Precious Voices was created by Crittenton Services of Greater Washington’s Youth Advisory Board after members read the teen novel Push by Sapphire, which inspired the recent film Precious. Members found themselves asking how many young women in the United States experience abuse, neglect, or other issues that lead to low self esteem and lack of motivation.The survey found that, among the 99 teen women surveyed

59% have felt voiceless at one time in their lives
54% have been subjected to physical force from someone in their home
40% do not trust that when they tell a teacher about an issue, that they really care and will help
37% have witnessed their parents/guardians hitting each other
31% have been touched in an unwelcomed way by someone close to them
18% have been in a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend who used physical force with them

See the full survey here. The website offers links to resources for young women experiencing such problems. Reading the survey made me think about teenage boys, too. What issues do boys face at home and in the community that might cause them to struggle with self esteem? A websearch led me to a study conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services which addresses challenges faced by young men, as well as potential solutions. View that study here.

If you are a teen struggling with abuse, neglect, or plain old dysfunction at home or eslewhere, the libraries offer resources to help you establish goals and grow beyond the struggle! You can find links to a variety of websites for teens at the HDPL Teen Spot: http://www.mypubliclibrary.com/teenspot/itsyourlife.html. The websites provided here offer everything from advice, to information about abusive relationships, and even college and career info. If you don't find what you're looking for there, we have plenty of nonfiction books in the library to help with issues, and we also offer plenty of fiction that might help brighten your day! Check out the catalog here. You could even think about attending a teen event at your nearest library. One of the best ways to develop self esteem and feel better about life is to find new hobbies and meet people! We offer weekly teen events for all kinds of interests. What's the bottom line? The Teen Services Librarians at Henderson Libraries are here to help you find the information you need to improve your life. We'd love to see you in the library.

2/04/2010

Teen Volunteers Recommend

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Reviewed by Schaller D.

See if it's available at your library!
Summary
Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste. She leaves town and her little hat shop, and she hops aboard Howl's Moving Castle. Unbeknownst to her, Howl has a mysterious past full of wizardry and magic. Sophie meets new friends, has one huge adventure, and has mix ups of her own. Read the book to find out the full story!

Review
Another shnawesome (my personal word) book of mystery, full of puzzles to be figured out and magic. Jones puts it together nicely with lots of "Gotcha!" twists I never expected. I didn't want to put it down! Sophie's adventures are always different, along with the other characters'. Jones is talented and writes a mystery-filled magic book well. I would put it next to Harry Potter.