Staff Picks: New Releases

Looking for a good read? CHPL has got! You! Covered! We've hand-picked our favorite new fall releases, check them out! (...literally...)

 A girl wakes up in skeleton face paint slumped over a subway seat, with absolutely no memory of how she got there. Sure, before she went to rehab this would have been just another Sunday morning. But when she sees the words "HELP ME" drawn into her chest, she knows there's something strange going on. Miss Melissa says, "Like The Hangover, but not funny."

What would you do if you had the house to yourself for six months -- no parents, no rules, unlimited funds? Hot tub parties? Junk food for breakfast? Adopt that kitten you've always wanted? If you answered "all of the above!" you may want to read this book -- you'll find a lot to love in the plucky narrator.

 We here at CHPL absolutely loved Julie Halpern's Into the Wild Nerd Yonder and have been waiting for this one! Miss Melissa says: "Any book that starts out in a mental institution sounds good to me!"

 We don't even know what this book is about, we just had to include it because it is the most awesome book cover EVER. (Just kidding, it's about a college student who loses his way after the death of his father -- until a foursome of adorable angels arrives, who will stop at nothing to help him achieve his DESTINY.)

 Goodreads reviewer #1 says: "This book was beautifully written. The ending will STUN you." Goodreads reviewer #2 says: "I hated everything about this book except the cover." This sophomore novel from Nova Ren Suma has been stirring up controversy since its release...which side will YOU take?

Fall Fun at CHPL

This fall we're all about books, geekery, and a bit of Serious Business. Check out what's on our event calendar this September!

The Danger Diabolique Comic Book Club: Addicted to graphic novels or manga? Come hang out, snag cool freebies, enjoy some snacks, and find out what's coming up in the world of comics! Thursday 9/8 AND Thursday 9/22. 6:00-7:00 PM in the Craft Room.

Writer's Block: Calling all aspiring novelists and poets! Writer's Block is a place to 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! Wednesday 9/14 AND Wednesday 9/28. 6:00-7:30 PM in the Craft Room.

Acting Up: Join us for some fun improv and acting! Play games, perform skits and act a fool! (P.S. No experience needed! :P) Wednesday, 9/21. 6:00-8:00 PM in the Craft Room.

Anime Nite: Anime and candy sushi: could there be a better combination to de-stress in the middle of your busy week? We think not. Tuesday, 9/27. 6:00-8:00PM in the Multicultural Room.

Dungeons and Dragons: Transport back to the time of myth and explore a fantasy realm in this classic tabletop game. Local Dungeonmaster Matt Brinn leads an epic 3-hour afternoon session of battling, puzzle-solving, and monster-slaying. Newcomers and veterans welcome! Saturday 9/17. 1:30-4:30 PM in the Craft Room

College Prep Series: College App season is upon us! We’ve teamed up with KAPLAN to bring you these workshops and practice tests:
Financial Aid 101 - a one-hour workshop about the basics of applying for financial aid. Thursday, 8/29. 7:00-8:00 PM.
ACT & SAT Practice Tests - full-length, proctored exams that will show you what to expect in a test environment. ACT: Saturday, 10/8. 11:00AM-3:00PM SAT: Saturday, 10/15. 12:00-4:30PM.
ACT vs SAT- a one-hour workshop outlining the similarities and differences of these two college entrance exams. Thursday, 10/27. 7:00-8:00 PM.

Register for all of these events today! Just click here.

Summer 2011 Recap!

Thank you to everyone who came to our programs, helped with kids programs, manned the Summer Reading desk, and visited to borrow books and chat! We hope you enjoyed Summer 2011 as much as we did!

HUGO

That's the new name of the page-to-screen adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which will be directed by the legendary Martin Scorcese. I have to admit I was hesitant when I heard they were making a movie of the book, but this trailer looks kind of awesome! It's set to premiere in November 2011 -- what do you think? Would you go see it?

Shocking Revelations: A Short, Short Story by the Writers Block Crew

This story has it all: deception, underwear models, a cameo by the President... but I'm getting ahead of myself. This is what happens when 10 teen writers (and one teen librarian) create a story sentence by sentence. Behold:

A guy stuck in a nuclear facility with no escape was busy fixing the hole in his dress when...

his suicidal half-brother's cousin ran into the room with a knife!

The cousin's jaw dropped, and the knife slid from his hand.

"Merry Christmas to you too, RuPaul!" he screamed.

"Tyra, you're not kidding anyone anymore!"

But Tyra continued to spread the gospel of "smize" to wannabe Top Models all over the country.

However, the President decided that "smize" were to be deemed illegal because he could not make his own eyes smile.

This decision cause him to reminisce on his days as a model when he was fired due to the aforementioned inability to make his own eyes smile.

Whenever he tried, he ended up making other people's eyes smile instead of his own -- thus ending the President's underwear modeling career.

Depressed by this, he attempted to kill Harry Potter, but died when a rampaging Hyperbole [editor's note: inside joke.. you had to be there?] bit off his head, because everyone knows that Harry Potter WON'T FREAKING DIE.

Written by Mason W., Michael C., Marissa C., Gigi L., Patricia S., Sarah K. Ms. Melissa, Ambar S., Maya J., Sarah K., and Julia D.

OH. EM. GEE.

We are DYING over the new Hunger Games "motion poster." What do you think of it?

Awesome Alert!

Fans of Holly Black's The Curse Workers trilogy, check this out!

Etsy seller Hebeldesign has created a special line of rings, pendants, and charm bracelets inspired by objects from White Cat and Red Glove -- books set in a world where curses are real and bare hands are deadly weapons. We think they fit perfectly with the edgy, dark, and mysterious tone of the books!

The Con Artist Bracelet, $46.00

The Resurrection Diamond, $74.00

Protection Amulets, $28.00 each

Aren't they awesome?? A little pricey, but worth the splurge if you're a die-hard fan!