12.04.2012

Staff Pick: Graphic Novelist Rick Geary


Looking for the ultimate 90's throwback? I recently rediscovered Rick Geary's Treasury of Victorian Murder and Treasury of 20th Century Murder (originally published in the mid-to-late 90's) and I'm officially obsessed. Each book details the events of an unsolved murder or mystery -- from the famous Borden tragedy to the disappearance of the Lindbergh baby -- presenting just as many questions as it does answers. The black-and-white illustrations keep the books from being gratuitously gory... but make no mistake, this is some brutal stuff. Geary's style draws you in from the first panel, blending historical fiction, investigative journalism, and just a bit of comic book pulp.

The bottom line?

Pick it: if you like some veracity to your tales of true crime. Geary presents only the facts and refrains from exaggeration and unnecessary speculation.

Skip it: if you're looking for twist endings, ultra-violence, or sensationalism. The measured, almost clinical tone may be less compelling to some than others.

Pair with: The True Crime nonfiction series by Brenda Haugen, which picks up in the 20th century where Geary leaves off!

Reviewed by: Melissa

11.20.2012

Lord of the Rings Extended Editions Marathon

We're really excited to announce this event :D

You're invite to a three-day screening of the extended editions (aka the only editions, amirite?) of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

More info on the flyer below -- click to enlarge:


Each movie exceeds 3 hours in length, so it's literally going to be epic! We recommend wearing comfy clothing and maybe doing some meditation exercises beforehand... you know, to prepare your mind for the long journey into the heart of Mordor.

Spread the word, bring a friend. Hope to see you there!

11.05.2012

Goodbye Ms. Jaclyn!


We're proud and happy to announce that Ms. Jaclyn starts her new job as the library's Circulation Supervisor today! We're also a little bit sad, because that means that she no longer serves as one of our Teen Librarians. It's a bittersweet symphony, this life :-\

We did a quick interview with Jaclyn on her thoughts about leaving the department:

What will you miss most about being a Teen Librarian?
I'll most miss talking and interacting with teens on a daily basis.

What is your fondest memory from your time as a Teen Librarian?
I have so many great memories, some of my fondest are:
- the “You are Here: Hogwarts” event (Summer of 2011)
- the TAB-run, Pajama Party-themed Family Fun Night (December of 2011)
- organizing Comic-Con!

How can our teen patrons keep in touch with you?
Teen patrons are always welcome to visit me at the main circulation desk! Please stop by to say hi!

If you didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Jaclyn at the library this weekend, feel free to leave a message to her in the comments! We'll make sure she gets them.

Best of luck to you, Jaclyn! We miss you already!

Mega-Album of Behind-the-Scenes Photos from The Hobbit

Look what we found!

150 -- count 'em -- 150 images from the production of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, which premieres in exactly one month.



It might be too early to call, but... THIS MOVIE IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE ::flails::

Loving the concept design for the goblins and Radagast's house (!!!). What are your thoughts on Peter Jackson's vision of Middle Earth?

10.22.2012

We have a winner!

It was no easy feat, but we chose a winner for our IT CAME FROM THE LIBRARY scary story contest.

The winning submission is...


Don't Blink by Daniel Backal

Daniel's psychological thriller left us chilled to the bone! We aren't posting it here, but keep your eyes peeled (ha!) for it in the next issue of Bridges, our teen and literary zine.

Congratulations, Daniel!

10.16.2012

Staff Pick: Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

From Amazon:

Elvie Nara was doing just fine in the year 2074. She had a great best friend, a dad she adored, and bright future working on the Ares Project on Mars. But then she had to get involved with sweet, gorgeous, dumb-as-a-brick Cole—and now she’s pregnant.
     Getting shipped off to the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers was not how Elvie imagined spending her junior year, but she can go with the flow. That is, until a team of hot commandos hijacks the ship—and one of them turns out to be Cole. She hasn’t seen him since she told him she’s pregnant, and now he’s bursting into her new home to tell her that her teachers are aliens and want to use her unborn baby to repopulate their species? Nice try, buddy. You could have just called.
     So fine, finding a way off this ship is priority number one, but first Elvie has to figure out how Cole ended up as a commando, work together with her arch-nemesis, and figure out if she even wants to be a mother—assuming they get back to Earth in one piece. 

Pick it: for the snarky narrator Elvie, whose ability to be sardonic without ever sounding bitter or cruel reminds us a lot of another famous fictitious pregnant teen, Juno MacGuff.

Skip it: if you can't get on board (see what we did there?) with the far-fetched premise. To fully enjoy being in Elvie's world, you have to be able to suspend your disbelief.

Pair with: The Pregnancy Project: a memoir by Gaby Rodriguez, a teenage "pregnancy" story that is almost as outrageous as Mothership but 100% true.

Reviewed by: Melissa

9.27.2012

It Came from the Library short story contest


CHPL TEENS & Teen Read Week 2012 Present:

IT CAME FROM THE LIBRARY...

...a horror-themed short fiction contest

 

Like to write? Want to be published? Submit a gruesome tale for a chance to be published in Bridges, our literary 'zine and win other prizes!
RULES & GUIDELINES:
1. Entries must be between 500-1,000 words.
2. Include your name, age, phone number and email address with your submission.
3. Submit your entry at the Youth Services Desk at the Cherry Hill Public Library -or-
    e-mail JHarmon@chplnj.org (please use subject line: "TRW 2012")
4. Contest deadline is October 17, 2012.
One high school winner and one middle school winner will be revealed on
October 20, 2012
at our It Came From the Library Party
(open to all students grades 6-12.)

GOOD LUCK......BWUAHAHAAHA

9.04.2012

Teen Activity Board: Now Accepting Applications!



Are you interested in becoming more involved in your community? Meeting new people? Earning volunteer hours?

Apply to be a member of the CHPL Teen Activity Board (TAB for short), where you'll help plan and promote teen and children's events at the library! We have two separate Boards, one for middle school and one for high school. Here's how to apply:

1) Download an application by clicking here, or pick one up next time you're at the library.

2) Carefully read the "Duties and Guidelines" portion of the application. Being a TAB member is a year-long commitment -- make sure you have enough time in your schedule for meetings and other library events!  

3) After you've filled out both sides of the application, bring it to the Youth Services Desk at the Library on or before Friday, October 12th.

Questions? Concerns? Email Ms. Jaclyn or Ms. Michelle, or call the Youth Services desk at 856.903.1229.

Staff Pick: The Year of the Beasts

From goodreads:
Every summer the trucks roll in, bringing the carnival and its infinite possibilities to town. This year Tessa and her younger sister Lulu are un-chaperoned and want to be first in line to experience the rides, the food... and the boys. Except this summer, jealousy will invade their relationship for the first time, setting in motion a course of events that can only end in tragedy, putting everyone's love and friendship to the test.

Pick it: For its unique format (the chapters alternate between traditional prose and graphic novel) and for its fresh take on the "summer romance" novel.

Skip it: If you are looking for a typical summer romance novel! This one goes to dark, sad, and twisty places, so if you're in the mood for a Nick Sparks read-alike, this is not the book for you.

Pair with: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, another book about betrayal and tragedy, set in a different season.

Reviewed by: Melissa

8.22.2012

Teen Writing: Genre Mashups!

We challenged our Writer's Block members to imagine what happens when you play musical chairs with the biggest trends in YA Lit. After being given a random pairing of popular YA genres, the teens were instructed to write the summary that would be on the back of their hypothetical book. Here's just a sampling of what they came up with:

Coming of Age + Sherlock Holmes
Young Sherlocka Holmes just wants to be a normal teenage girl. However, she can't suppress her intense desire to solve mysteries! And after one too many run-ins with the police for investigating crimes, she's moving away. Away from her school, her friends, and everything she's ever know. However, when people begin mysteriously disappearing and ghosts are seen around her new town, it seems like Sherlocka just can't escape her detective side. And when questions arise about her family history, Sherlocka finally begins to uncover the mysteries behind the unusual town... and the mysteries within herself.
Written by Elizabeth P., age 15

Breakup novel + Outer space
Number 8376, known as Arsenie, has just about had it with her boyfriend. It's time to call it quits, but that's going to be difficult, considering they're about to embark on a three year journey through the universe, on a search for the last hope of saving their home planet. Three years. Together. On a spaceship. Not to mention she'll be dealing with asteroids, space creatures, and an annoying stowaway who just might have a crush on her would-be-ex-boyfriend. So a breakup isn't really in the cards right now. A story of adventure, discovery, and an arrogant fool who spends too much time looking in the mirror, Hormonal and Hopeless is a heart-warming tale of how much one girl can stand before pressing the self-eject button.
Written by Marissa C., age 16

Vampires + rural setting
Fifteen-year-old Abigail Perkins has just moved to Missouri after her parents' recent divorce. She is expecting small town life to be nothing like her glamorous one in New York City. She surely wasn't expecting to meet Damien, the mysterious boy who lives next door. Initially, she is intrigued by the strange things she notices about him. She wonders: why does she never see him during the day? Why did he refuse to accept her garlic bread on National Garlic Day? And why does he have a coffin in his house?! She's about to find out...
Written by Daria M., age 15

Fallen angels + High school dramedy
You know that singer with the "voice of an angel"? The popular starlet with an "angel face"? The charity founder with a seemingly "angelic" disposition? Well, heavenly attributes don't come free, and Shane wants his back. Kicked out of Heaven so that a rising celebrity could reach the height of their fame, Shane is miserable. Once a citizen of the sky, he has become just another pimply high school loser. He finds himself unable to bear life without his perfect hair, smooth skin, and angelic glow. Desperate, Shane uses the last of his heavenly abilities to enroll in the prestigious former high school of the wannabe star who stole his angel wings. Determined to reclaim what is rightfully his, he's about to find out that high school is hard -- but it's even harder when you're a fallen angel.
Written by Maya J, age 15

***

Are you as blown away as we were? I'd totally read some of these books, if they were real! Join us for creative games, writer talk, and fun writing prompts like these at Writer's Block, the teen creative writing club. Check out our event calendar to register for this month's sessions!

8.07.2012

Teen Review: Quarantine by Lex Thomas

When a virus that kills adult is quickly spread through a high school, a lockdown is enforced and students find themselves thrown into a fight for survival. Supplies are limited, and cliques quickly become gangs. The jocks rule the school, and the outcasts are left to fend for themselves. But if they work together, they just might be able to make it out alive.

Rating: 3 out of 5, "a good read"

Reviewed by: Marissa C., Age 16
 
**

This teen reviewer was able to read Quarantine months before it was released to the public, through Writer's Block ARC Review program!

ARCs (or Advance Reader Copies) are preview editions of soon-to-be-released books, which publishers send to libraries and reviewers to create buzz and entice them to order copies. At Writer's Block you can browse through the many ARCs we receive every month and even take one home as long as you agree to write a review! Writer's Block meets every other Wednesday from 6-7:30 PM. Register today!

6.26.2012

Staff Pick: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake


From goodreads:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.


Yet she spares Cas' life...

Pick It: For the jaw-dropping horror sequences! Anna’s story will haunt you (pun most certainly intended) for weeks after reading this book. She is one scary ghost – she truly earns her grisly nickname.

Skip it: If you don’t want to get caught up in another series. A sequel, Girl of Nightmares, comes out this summer.

Pair with: Carrie by Stephen King, another spine-tinglingly (yes, that’s a word) scary book about a girl dressed in blood.

Reviewed by: Melissa
 

Win Prizes for Reading This Summer!


It’s a simple process, really.

 Step 1: Read! Read anything – books, audiobooks, manga, graphic novels, magazines and newspapers, comic books, the backs of cereal boxes – whatever! 

Step 2: Track your minutes online (create an account by clicking on “Sign Me Up” on our Summer Reading homepage)

 Step 3: Wait to hear from us! For every 30 minutes you read, you’ll be entered into our weekly prize raffle, where you can win awesome prizes like gift cards, free books, and free DVD/video game rentals from the library. 

BONUS STEP: Submit book reviews online to be entered into the raffle even more times!
For more information, check out our summer flyer!

5.21.2012

New Releases for Summer 2012: Series!

School's almost out and you need books to read this summer! Take a look at all of the new additions to your fave series that are being released in the next few months:

5/22: The Enchantress by Michael Scott
(Book #6, The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel)
6/5: Stunning by Sara Shepard
(Book #11, Pretty Little Liars)
6/12: Rapture by Lauren Kate
(Book #4, Fallen)

8/7: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
(Book #2, Anna Dressed in Blood)
8/14: The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan
(Companion to Heroes of Olympus)
7/31: Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard
(Book #4, The Lying Game)

7/10: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer
(Book #8, Artemis Fowl)
8/14: UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
(sequel to Unwind)
8/14: The Kill Order by James Dashner
(prequel to The Maze Runner)

Mark your calendars! You're gonna be busy this summer :P

5.08.2012

Comic-Con Highlights!

Last weekend was our first ever CHPL Comic-Con and not to toot our own horns, but IT WAS AWESOME. We had a great turnout and we hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves as much as we did!








Thanks to all our vendors, volunteers, and all who just showed up to join in on the fun!


4.23.2012

Teen Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway


Vee has narcolepsy. Or at least that's the clinical term. In reality, when she has one of her "episodes," she doesn't just pass out. She slips into someone else's body and sees the world from their eyes. That's how she knows that her sister's best friend's suicide isn't a suicide. Because she was in the murderer's body when it happened. The only problem is Vee is the only one who knows.

Slide is a book worth reading if you're into paranormal/sci-fi type novels. The characters are likeable and the writing is engaging. The only problem I had with the book was that it was a little far-fetched, even for a sci-fi novel. However, if realistic plot elements are not a requirement for you, and if you enjoy strong female characters, put Slide on your reading list.

Rating: 3 out of 5, "a good read."

Reviewed by: Maya J, Age 15.

**
This teen reviewer was able to read Slide months before it was released to the public! Want to read and review books before they even hit the shelves? Introducing the new Writer's Block ARC Review program!

ARCs (or Advance Reader Copies) are preview editions of soon-to-be-released books, which publishers send to libraries and reviewers to create buzz and entice them to order copies. At Writer's Block you can browse through the many ARCs we receive every month and even take one home as long as you agree to write a review! Writer's Block meets every other Wednesday from 6-7:30 PM. Register today!

4.17.2012

Book Spine Poems by the Writer's Block crew

At last week's Writer's Block meeting, we tried our hand at some book spine poetry in honor of National Poetry Month.

Book spine poems are crazy easy and fun -- you "write" a poem using the titles of books you find on your shelves. Here's what we came up with:

We want to see your book spine poetry! Pull some books off of your shelves, stack them up, snap a photo, and send it to Ms. Melissa at MMijares [@] chplnj [dot] org. We'll post our favorites here!

4.09.2012

Staff Pick: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

From goodreads
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When an otherworldly stranger—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on Karou in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Pick it: For Karou, one of the most complex, mysterious, and kick-ass heroines we've seen in any book this year-- and for tall, dark, and fiery Akiva, who completely redefines "swoonworthy."

Skip it: If fantasy bores you. Though the book is initially set in the "real world" (Prague, to be specific), things get imaginary fast.

Pair with: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, for an alternate take on the end-of-days story imbued with Prachett's signature brand of British humor.

4.02.2012

Presenting our very first COMIC-CON

Click on the image to see the large version!

CHPL Teens is taking over the basement foor of the library to provide you with a day of comic, anime, and manga-related fun! Bring a friend (or two...or four)!

[Pssst... calling all artists! We want your stuff for our Artist's Alley! For more info, contact Michelle Yeager at myeager@chplnj.org!]

3.26.2012

Books on the Big Screen: What's The Next Big Thing?

Now that The Hunger Games has hit theaters nationwide, everyone's already talking about what the next big YA Movie might be. Here are our top picks for most intriguing projects in development:

Matched by Ally Condie

All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well?

NOISE says: Dystopian thriller with a juicy love triangle? Sounds familiar! We'd love to see what the seemingly perfect yet sinister Society looks like on the big screen.


The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.

NOISE says: With its action sequences, sci-fi monsters, and big plot twists, The Maze Runner has the potential wide appeal of the Harry Potter series. But with its huge ensemble of characters, we think its success will defintely depend on the casting.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

To free herself from an upcoming arranged marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.

NOISE says: Dark, urban fantasy at its finest! Incarceron will need hardcore visual effects and CGI to live up to any reader's portrayal of the book's setting.



Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged stranger who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low... and in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

NOISE says: Dark and twisty! We are hoping that chimerae and demons will be the new werewolves and vampires.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

In a small South Carolina town, where it seems little has changed since the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday.

NOISE says: The southern backdrop will set Beautiful Creatures apart from its otherwise fantasy- or future-based competition -- but is paranormal romance so over, or here to stay?


Did you see The Hunger Games this weekend? Do you think any of the above movies have what it takes to be the Next Big Thing?

3.15.2012

What's On Display: March


In honor of Women's History Month, we've spotlighted books about girls who changed the world, girls who kick butt, and girls who stick together. Pick one of these up today!

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Modern-day teen Emily March turns to Louisa May Alcott's famous book for a school assignment and finds herself mysteriously transported to the world of "Little Women," where she undergoes surprising changes. 

Girl Goddess #9 by Francesca Lia Block
The cutting-edge author of Weetzie Bat once again breaks new ground with Girl Goddess #9, nine stories about girl goddesses of every age and shape and color and size, wearing combat boots and spiky hair or dressed all in white.

Let Me Play by Karen Blumenthal
Up until the 1970s, if you were a girl, you were told you shouldn't play team sports, or go to college. But, in 1972, Title IX changed that, by ensuring that girls have the same opportunities as boys to participate in sports and classes. But that change did not come without a fight.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
During their first summer apart, four teenage girls, best friends since earliest childhood, stay in touch through a shared pair of secondhand jeans that magically adapts to each of their figures and affects their attitudes to their different summer experiences. 
 
All American Girl by Meg Cabot
A sophomore girl stops a presidential assassination attempt, is appointed Teen Ambassador to the United Nations, and catches the eye of the very cute First Son. 

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes by Cecil Castellucci
When Jane moves to the suburbs, she thinks her life is over, but she meets three friends who form a club called P.L.A.I.N., but can art really save a group of misfits from high school?

girlspoken by Heather Holland, Jessica Hein, and Carol Kauppi
From pen, brush, and tongue, girls and young women (ages 13-19) speak their truths, tell it like it is, and call for change.

Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Fed up with boys and the way they have treated her and her friends, high school junior Penny Lane--named after the Beatles song--forms a club whose members vow to stop dating, but the repercussions are surprising.

Jane by April Lindner
In this contemporary retelling of "Jane Eyre," an orphaned nanny becomes entranced with her magnetic and brooding employer, a rock star with a torturous secret from his past.
 
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
During World War II, a light-skinned African American girl "passes" for white in order to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

3.05.2012

Staff Pick: Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

15-year-old Laurel has just moved to a new town and stepped into what seems like a perfect life: cheerleader, member of the popular crowd, and girlfriend of the school's star basketball player, T-Boom. But nothing can make her forget the hurricane that washed away her hometown. Nothing can erase the painful memory of leaving her mother and grandmother behind to perish in the flood waters.

Then T-Boom gives her that first hit of meth. And as it washes over her, it also washes away her guilt and anguish. But this numbness comes at a price. As Laurel spirals into addiction, she alienates the people who truly care about her and ends up on the streets, desperate to get one more hit of "the moon" -- and closer to death than she even realizes.

What will it take for Laurel to pull herself out of the floodwaters of addiction?

Pick it: if you like intense, dark subject matter; you need a fast-paced, quick read; you like novels written in journal form.

Skip it: if you're looking for an in-depth portrayal of meth addiction and distribution in America (Laurel's story is very moving, but Woodson paints in broad strokes and spares the reader the grisly details of drug addiction.)

Pair with: Tweak: growing up on methamphetamines by Nic Sheff.


2.23.2012

Check out our new 'zine! (...literally)

It's here!

It's here!

We are SO excited and proud to announce that the first issue of Bridges, our teen art and literary 'zine is finally here! And just as we promised, it's full of fantastic poetry, artwork, photography, and short stories by Cherry Hill teens like you.

But wait, you are thinking, How shall I access this great resource of local teen art and writing? Not to worry, dear reader. All you have to do is come to the Children's Desk at the library, we have copies just waiting for you to check them out! Stop by anytime!


P.S. Also keep your eyes peeled for an online version of this issue to be posted on our website and blog in March!

2.14.2012

Say what you really mean this Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, NOISE readers!

We here at CHPL recognize that many Valentine's Day cards you find in the store can be overly sentimental or awkwardly suggestive in nature. It can be hard to find something that truly expresses your feelings for that special someone. Never fear -- we've found a few cards that get straight to the point (and let you keep your street cred -- bonus!)

For those who take a literal approach to things. From some ecards.

Any vampire lover (or Joss Whedon fan) would be smitten after receiving this one. From etsy seller FaithHopeTrick.

Lame puns AND Harry Potter? Be still, my heart! From Yenniper.


 For that special someone who you'd travel across time and space for. This is my personal favorite. From this tumblr.

Enjoy!

2.09.2012

Roundup: Ongoing Programs & Events

Want to get involved at the library? Join one of our clubs! No experience or special equipment necessary -- and did I mention they're all 100% free?

All of these programs meet at least once a month, every month. For specific meeting dates in this month, click here to view the library events calendar.

Teen Activity Board - Middle School/High School
 Local teens -- we want to hear your voice! Earn community service hours and help with book lists and purchases, plan and run events for young children and tweens. (There are two separate boards: one for middle school and one for high school.) - Meetings held every other week -

The Danger Diabolique Comic Book Club
Addicted to comics, manga and graphic novels? Come hang out, snag cool freebies, enjoy some snacks, and find out what's coming up in the world of comics! - Meetings held every other week -

Writer's Block
Calling all aspiring novelists and poets: find new inspiration, talk to fellow writers, and get feedback on your writing. Writer's Block members are also the editors and designers of our literary 'zine! - Meetings held every other week -

Anime Nite
Easily our most laid-back program! Come chill out with us in the library basement as we pop in a great anime series or movie, eat some snacks, and (sometimes) work on some anime-related crafts. Come early to vote on which movie we'll watch!  - Meetings held once a month -

Dungeons & Dragons
Transport back to the time of myth and explore a fantasy realm in this monthly 3-hour session of battling, puzzle-solving, and monster-slaying. Newcomers and veterans welcome! - Meetings held once a month -

1.23.2012

And the winners are...


Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

Winner: 


Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Honor Books: 
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
The Returning by Christine Hinwood
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Yalsa Award for Excellence in Nonfiction 

Winner:

 The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin

Honor Books:
Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition written by Karen Blumenthal
Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy
Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin\

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens

Winner: 

 Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Honor Books:
Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Click here to view all of the winners from the 2012 ALA Youth Media Awards!

1.17.2012

It's awards season again!

What's your pick for best book of 2011?

...Oh, you thought we meant movie awards season? Hmm, we'll save that thought for another post. No, we're talking Printz, people! The winner for the best YA book of last year will be announced on Monday, January 23! That's less than a week away! So what do *we* think will win? It's anyone's game; plenty of great books came out this year -- but here are a few we think could be worthy of the honor!



Chime by Franny Billingsley
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard 

Shine by Lauren Myracle
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness


Divergent by Veronica Roth
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma


Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
How to Save A Life by Sara Zarr

Interested? Come visit us and check one of these buzz books out!