Movie Review: The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan’s novel The Lightning Thief is so full of fast-paced action and plot twists that it would seem destined to make a great movie. After reading the whole Percy Jackson series, I couldn’t wait to see Chris Columbus’ movie adaption. Unfortunately the movie was a disappointment. Major plot points from the book were skimmed over or cut out all together. For example, the big prophecy about Percy is never even mentioned! Instead the plot focuses on the kidnapping of Percy’s mother by Hades. The result is a movie that lacks the mystery and depth of the books. The movie does have its high points. Despite not having the world’s greatest dialog, Logan Lehrman does a decent job playing Percy and the special effects are really cool. Still, I was left wishing that the writers had stuck closer to the book rather than turning the movie into a generic fantasy with Greek gods. 2.5 of 5 stars Reviewed by: Alia

Operation: Cell Phones for Soldiers...a Success!

The Final Counts are in! Cherry Hill Public Library and Cherry Hill High School EAST teamed up for two months, successfully collecting 147 cell phones for the non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers. The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. That means we've raised enough money for soldiers to talk to their friends and families for 147 hours!

To find out more about Cell Phones for Soldiers or to donate a phone Click Here!

Staff Pick

Bliss by Lauren Myracle

Bliss doesn’t quite mind when her hippy parents leave the commune she’s grown up on. She could easily get used to the cushy life at her grandmother’s house in a ritzy Atlanta suburb. When she starts Crestview Academy all she wants is to make some new normal friends. But not all of the girls at Crestview are as normal as they seem. Someone has a dark obsession and soon Bliss finds herself mixed up a deadly power struggle. If you are looking for a truly creepy read, Bliss will leave you satisfied! (YA Fiction) Reviewed by: Alia

CALLING ALL TEEN BANDS!!!

We are looking for a few good local bands to play @ CHPL on Sunday, April 11 to help kick off National Library Week!

For more information, please contact Teen Librarian, Michelle Yeager at myeager@chplnj.org or

856-903-1232.

Logan Lerman Talks to Teen Vogue!

Check out what Logan Lerman had to say to Teen Vogue about his upcoming role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief coming to theaters on February 12!

Haven't read Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series yet? Check out a copy or reserve a copy from CHPL today! Simply click here to search for these titles:

Book #1: The Lightning Thief

Book #2: The Sea of Monsters

Book #3: The Titan's Curse

Book #4: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Book #5: The Last Olympian

Reading not your thing? Why not try an Audiobook!?

Staff Pick

I am a GENIUS of UNSPEAKABLE EVIL and I want to be your CLASS PRESIDENT
by Josh Lieb

Picture the movie Rushmore meets Artemis Fowl - that's this book. It's darkly funny at some points and fantastically silly at others. Everyone in Omaha thinks that 12 year old Oliver Watson is a loser. Not that Oliver cares what other people think. You see, Oliver is really an evil genius with a secret evil empire that has made him the third richest person on earth! But when Oliver’s father challenges him to win the school election, suddenly what other people think becomes important. Can Oliver win over his classmates and rule his empire all while keeping his identity a secret ? It’s a lot harder than you might think! Reviewed by: Alia (YA Fiction)

Staff Pick

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Hey Team Jacob, this is the book you wish Twilight was! Sam is a werewolf who spends only a shorter and shorter time each year as a human. For years, Grace has loved Sam from afar as her yellow-eyed wolf. When she meets him in human form it is love at first sight. But it can't last. Sam’s transformation is controlled not by the moon, but by temperature, and winter is right around the corner. As the weather gets colder, Grace and Sam must fight to stay together. You’ll want to curl up under a warm blanket to read this romance. You can almost feel the chill in the air as the temperature drops and Grace and Sam’s situation becomes more desperate. Reviewed by: Alia (YA Fiction)

....And look for the sequel this Summer!

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Expected release date: July 10, 2010