Attention all Local Teen Bands!

We're having our End of Summer Bash on Sunday, August 28 and we're looking for a few good acts for the Teen Band Showcase! If you're interested, e-mail Teen Librarian Michelle Yeager.

Staff Pick

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Ordinary high schooler Doug Lee had never imagined he'd be turned into a creature of the night. But if he'd had to, he definitely wouldn't have expected vampire life to be so unsatisfying. First of all, walking into the sun just makes him sunburned, not sparkly. Second, turning into a bat may sound like a cool way to make an exit, but for Doug it means leaving his clothes behind and waking up somewhere naked. Third, he's constantly thirsty for human blood, but finding a steady source of it in his suburban Pennsylvania town (well... a source that doesn't involve luring innocent girls to their death) is proving difficult. And to make matters worse, being immortal and unchanging means that he'll have to spend eternity in his chubby, awkward teenage body. But Doug's life is about to get even more complicated, because he's attracted the attention of a band of vampire "hunters" desperate to slay something -- anything -- and they're hot on his trail.

Judging this book by its cover (and the blurb on the back), I expected a quick, funny read that would take jabs at paranormal romance series like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. But this book is more serious and dark than its title lets on. Fat Vampire definitely has a sense of humor, but it'll make you stop and think more than it'll make you laugh out loud.

Reviewed by: Melissa

Make a Difference: Water Aid

Did you know?

• 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world's population. 
• 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation. This is almost two fifths of the world's population. 
• 1.4 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 4,000 deaths a day or one every 20 seconds. [source: wateraidamerica.org]
  

WaterAid is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping communities gain access to safe, clean water, and we're raising money to help the cause! If you want to earn some community service hours by helping plan and organize a fundraiser that will bring sanitary water to a community in need, then join us tomorrow, Wednesday July 14, from 6-8 PM in the craft room.

You can learn more about WaterAid America at their website, http://www.wateraidamerica.org.

Six-Word Memoirs!

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure

From your brains to our blog -- here's a selection of the six-word memoirs that Cherry Hill middle schoolers wrote at our school visits!

I followed my MIND, I got grounded.

Life: It's funny because it's true.

I'm trying to do something AMAZING!

Be courageous and take many risks.

I like to sleep whenever, wherever.

I am secretly a super ninja.

No matter what, I'm something major.

Shattered expectations, didn't pick them up.

No Mom, I won't practice violin! 

Never give up, keep moving forward.

I'm not what people see me as.

My life is a total comedy.

Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, believe.

Staff Pick

The White Cat by Holly Black

Imagine a world where people have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, with just a touch of their hands. That’s the world Cassel Sharpe lives in.  Cassel is the youngest in a family of curse workers but he has no such abilities. Unable to fit in with his family of magical criminals, Cassel’s worked hard to build a normal life for himself. Well, as normal as he can, considering he killed his crush, Lila when he was fourteen.  But that was years ago, his family covered it up, and now Cassel is almost ordinary.  But then a sleepwalking incident gets Cassel kicked out of his boarding school and he has nowhere to go but home.  There, he starts to believe someone is stealing his memories. But how do you solve a mystery when you can’t remember what it is?

This thriller has both mobsters and magic; you won’t want to miss it!
Reviewed by: Alia

Books on the Big Screen: a summer update

So many YA books are being made into movies lately! Here's the latest gossip news we dug up on the book-to-movie front:

1) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman has apparently been optioned for production by 1492 Pictures, the production company run by Chris Columbus (who directed the first two Harry Potter movies -- and Home Alone!). Word on the street is that unlike the last adaptation of Gaiman's Coraline, which was filmed in stop-motion, The Graveyard Book will be live action.

2) Beastly's release date has been pushed back from July 30th to... wait for it ... March 28, 2011! That's quite a delay! Officially, the reason for the change is to prevent competition between Beastly, starring Vanessa Hudgens, and Charlie St. Cloud, starring Zac Efron. But we think there might have been another reason.

3) Warner Bros is making a movie version of I Am A Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President, which we reviewed here at NOISE Online! No director yet, no casting news, and no release date, but we'll keep you posted.

4) It's official! Miley Cyrus is set to play Janie Hannagan in the movie adaptation of Lisa McMann's Wake. Exciting news, but do you think she can pull off Janie's troubled personality? Hmmm....

Finally, here are some trailers for some YA book-to-movies that are coming out this summer (the ones that don't have to do with wizards or vamps, anyway):

Flipped (based on the book by Wendelin van Draanan)


Legends of the Guardians (based on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series by Kathryn Lasky)

Summer Preview

Here's just a taste of what's coming up this summer @ CHPL:

June Highlights

The Lightning Thief Release Toga Party

Free movie viewing of The Lightning Thief, a toga competition, prizes and more! [Wednesday, June 23 @ 6 PM]

Countdown To Eclipse Party

Trivia, games, and refreshments, all Twilight-themed. Don't miss it!  [Tuesday, June 29 @ 6 PM]

July Highlights

Blogging And Podcasting: Rants and Raves

Write or record a review of your favorite book -- you'll be featured right here at NOISE Online! [Monday, July 26 @ 6:30 PM]

Pretty Little Liars Murder Mystery Party 

After you've solved the mystery, stay to watch the new episode of Pretty Little Liars. [Tuesday, July 27 @ 7 PM]

Craft-tastic Summer Series

Join us for summer-themed DIY projects on these days: 7/7, 7/21, 7/22, 7/29 @ 6:00 in the Craft Room

August Highlights

Food For Thought: Food, Inc.

We'll be viewing and discussing the documentary Food, Inc. You'll never look at food the same again! [Monday, August 16 @ 6 PM]

First Annual CHPL Hunger Games

 Think you've got what it takes to be a Victor? Show us what you've got and you might win a copy of Mockingjay. [Monday, August 23 @ 6 PM

End Of Summer Teen Band Showcase II

Get one last day of fun in before the summer ends! E-mail Michelle if you want your band to be showcased! [Saturday, August 28 @ 1 PM]

Intrigued? This is just the tip of the iceberg! Check out our calendar in the sidebar to see all of our events and programs this summer.