CHPL Comic-Con 2015!

CHPL Comic-Con 2015!

Saturday, February 28

12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Library Lower Level

All Ages!

Join us for our 3rd Library-run Comic-Con! Local comic shops, artists' alley, and a little bit of something for everyone!

Special events for teens:

Mighty Writers Comic Madness Workshop - registration required (ages 10-14)

Anime Meetup

Cosplay Dating Game

Live Superhero Trivia Crack

Whovian Meetup

Not Your Grandma's Cross Stitch

"LSP cross stitch" by Mandy Jouan, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Feeling crafty? We'll teach you the basics of cross stitch and show you how to make samplers featuring lyrics from songs or 8-bit characters.

Wednesday, February 25, 7 - 8 p.m.

Children's Story & Craft Room, Upper Level

Open to grades 8 - 12

Registration required.

Staff Pick: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

From goodreads.com:

Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.

Pick it: if you love stories that are mystical and romantic, but without the ghouls and goblins of paranormal fiction. This book had me hooked from the beginning - I love tales of mysterious, strange families.

Pair with:  Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick for more haunting magical realism.

Reviewed by: Deena

Club Anime: Shonen

"002 - Chicken or Beef?" by rhodaboat, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Watch anime, meet other fans, and enjoy snacks, crafts, and other activities. This month we will explore the shonen genre. We will screen Soul Eater and One Piece and make our own ramen creations! Feel free to bring your own anime or manga from the shonen genre to screen or share with the group.

Wednesday, February 18, 6 - 8 p.m.

Joyce Alexander Walker Multicultural Room, Lower Level

Open to grades 8 - 12.

Registration required.

Teen Movie Zone: Lonely Hearts Club

"Lonely Heart" by Stefan Van der Straeten, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

No need to be alone this February 14! Come to CHPL and enjoy a teens-only free flick. We will choose between a few romantic comedy selections. Popcorn on us!

Saturday, February 14, 2 - 4 p.m.

Joyce Alexander Walker Multicultural Room, Lower Level

Open to grades 7 - 12.

No registration required.

Prose & Cons

"Writing is best way to..." by Melissa W. Edwards, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Come hang out with other teens who write fiction for fun! Bring what you're currently working on to get encouragement and feedback. Or get inspired through writing games and creative story starters.

Wednesday, February 11, 6 - 8 p.m.

Children's Story & Craft Room, Upper Level

Open to grades 8 - 12. 

Registration required.

Staff Pick: Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

Children's librarian Alia picked this as one of her top reads of 2014!
From goodreads.com:

When the picture tells the story…

Senior year is almost over, and Jamie Peterson has a big problem. Not college—that’s all set. Not prom—he’ll find a date somehow. No, it’s the worst problem of all: he’s fallen for his best friend.

As much as Jamie tries to keep it under wraps, everyone seems to know where his affections lie, and the giggling girls in art class are determined to help Jamie get together with Mason. But Jamie isn’t sure if that’s what he wants—because as much as Jamie would like to come clean to Mason, what if the truth ruins everything? What if there are no more road trips, taco dinners, or movie nights? Does he dare risk a childhood friendship for romance?

This book is about what happens when a picture reveals what we can’t say, when art is truer than life, and how falling in love is easy, except when it’s not. Fan Art explores the joys and pains of friendship, of pressing boundaries, and how facing our worst fears can sometimes lead us to what we want most.

Pick it: for a super cute read. No fantastical monsters or deep dark issues here, just the drama of high school, and figuring out what (and who) you want. You'll be shipping Ja/son in no time.

Skip it: if you're looking for something with strong plotting and consequences. This book is an entertaining read but it's definitely fluffy.

Pair with: David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy for another sweet LGBTQ book.

Reviewed by: Deena 

Minecraft @ CHPL

Time for more Minecraft @ CHPL! Experienced 'Crafters are invited to bring their laptops or tablets and take on our latest build challenge. Players will need a Minecraft account to compete.

Thursday, February 12, 6 - 8 p.m.

Half Conference Center, Lower Level

Open to grades 6 - 12. 

Registration required.

February Fandom: Valentine's Party

"A Whovian Valentine" by DuckDodgersStorytime, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0

Valentine, Shmalentine. Every February we celebrate what *really* matters: your fandom! There will be music, food, a costume contest, and other activities to help you celebrate whatever you love, from Doctor Who to Frozen to Captain America.

Saturday, February 7, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Children's Story & Craft Room, Upper Level
Open to grades 7 - 12

Registration required.

"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" Wins Sundance Grand Jury and Audience Awards

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl just swept the big awards at this year's Sundance Festival. This one was missing from our YA Movies to Watch in 2015 - I didn't even know they were making it into a movie!

We're big fans of Greg, Earl, and Rachel's quirky, funny, sweet story here at CHPL. Check out Melissa's staff pick review from 2013!

Will you be seeing this one when it hits theaters?

CHPL Closing at 7 p.m. Monday, 2/2

The Cherry Hill Public Library is closing early today (Monday, February 2) at 7 p.m. due to inclement weather. Roads and untreated surfaces are expected to be icy, so be careful out there!

2015 ALA Morris, Printz and Nonfiction Awards Winners Are Here!

The American Library Association (ALA) named its youth media awards this morning at its midwinter meeting in Chicago, IL. Find out what YA books were at the top of the list for 2015!

http://www.ala.org

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

2015 Winner:

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

 
2015 Honor Books:

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley (on order)

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki (on order)

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

2015 Winner:

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero (on order)

Finalists:

The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley (on order)

The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston (on order)

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: 

2015 Winner:

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

Finalists:

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw (on order)

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

Ida M. Tarbell: The Woman Who Challenged Big Business—and Won! by Emily Arnold McCully (on order)

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin (on order)

 

 Have you read any of the winners or finalists? Any books you loved that were snubbed? Let us know!