(photo courtesy of Flickr user NightRStar

Monday's got you down?

We know how hard it is to get back into the Monday grind so we've made it a little bit more enjoyable for you.

Stop by the Teen Lounge every Monday at 3PM to take in a movie and enjoy delicious snacks.

Congratulations to Catherine, Claire, Daly and Julia winners of the first ever Teen Book Trailer Video Contest! Here are their winning videos.

First Place: Ingo

For it's creative cinemetography including underwater scenes, this video shares First Place. Filmmakers Julia Cornacchia and Catherin Gorey demonstrate excellence in storyboarding, script writing and directing. Ingo tells the story of Sapphy, who hears the call of the sea in this fantasy tale of longing, mystery and magic.

Ingo Book Trailer Submission from Darien Library on Vimeo.

First Place: Room

Filmmakers Claire & Daly Naughton share First Prize for their dramatic and suspenseful retelling of this dark and twisted tale of a captive woman and her young son. This video demonstrated excellence in video production, notable editing and strong performances by the actors.

Congratulations to our winners!

 Love stories have been around forever, but for way too long, only certain relationships were written about with honesty, humor, poignancy, and hope.  But in the last few years, an explosion of books with LGBTQ characters have appeared, running the gamut of fantasy thrillers to hilarious farces.  Check out our recommendations here or in the teen lounge.

Check out this new book trailer, created by budding filmmaking geniuses from the Darien Library.

The first book in Michelle Cooper's Montmaray Journals tells the story of the impoverished Montmaray royal family on their tiny (fictional) sovereign island in the Atlantic Ocean between England and Spain, living shoulder to shoulder with their dwindling populace (now just five or six subjects remain).  Princesses Sophie, Veronica, and Henry maintain their monarchical existence by fishing, keeping hens, and milking goats, and occasionally selling off one of the few opulent pieces that remain from Montmaray's long-past period of wealth and influence; the rest of their energy goes into restraining Veronica's lunatic father, King John.  

Narrator Sophie occasionally feels overwhelmed by the circumstances of their life--it's the 1930s and the unrest that menaces Europe is beginning to creep its way toward their rocky island and their relatives in England; she worries that she lacks the fortitude of her stubbornly intellectual cousin Veronica and her determinedly tomboyish sister, who rejects her full name of Henrietta.  But when Nazis invade their island, a murder is committed, and she discovers a complicated secret about her brother, the future King Toby, Sophie finds she has all the strength she needs. 

 YA books can be hilarious, sensitive, mysterious, frightening, all of the above.  They can deal with friendships, relationships, school, sports, creativity, crimes, and lots more.  In the Teen Lounge, we also have books that address some of the toughest issues to talk about, including death and grieving.  Here are list of books to read when you're going through a difficult time yourself, helping a friend deal, or just ready to read about how some people feel when the worst things happen.

The Savage, David Almond YA Real Almond

After his father died, Blue Baker began writing a story about a feral boy who can act out all the loneliness and anger that Blue feels. But then the violent creature Blue has created emerges into the world.

Hate List, Jennifer Brown YA Real Brown

Five months ago, Valerie's boyfriend, Nick, brought a gun to school and killed six classmates and then himself. Now Valerie must return to school, mourning her boyfriend, her classmates, and the things she thought she knew.

The Truth About Forever, Sarah Dessen YA Real Dessen

Since her father's death, Macy has led a tightly-controlled life of good grades and perfect behavior, but how long will she be able to pretend she's fine?

Before I Die, Jenny Downham YA Real Downham

Tessa knows her chemotherapy has stopped working, and she's terrified of dying before she has experienced life.

If I Stay, Gayle Forman YA Real Forman

Mia was a talented cellist with loving parents, an energetic little brother, and a rocker boyfriend. Now her family is dead, her boyfriend is at her bedside while she's in a coma, and her spirit must decide whether she can fight for a life full of grief, without her family.

Choices, Deborah Lynn Jacobs, YA SciFi Jacobs

Kathleen is a reality-hopper, moving between alternate worlds since the death of her brother. Though she doesn't know which world she'll wake up into, she does realize that her choices shape the lives she experience, including the discovery of a cute boy named Luke and the possibility of getting her brother back.

Last Summer of the Death Warriors, Francisco X. Stork YA Real Stork

After his sister's death, Pancho ends up sad and angry at a home for boys, where he meets D.Q., dying of a rare cancer, who teaches him how to focus on living.

Hard Hit, Ann Warren Turner  YA Real Turner

Mark Warren has an almost-perfect life, until his father is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The free-verse narrative reveals Mark's struggle to cope as his father succumbs to his disease.

Broken Soup, Jenny Valentine YA Real Valenti

Rowan's been worrying about her grief-stricken mother, caring for her little sister, and hoping for a glimpse of her preoccupied father since her brother's death. Then one day a strange boy appears who stirs up questions about her brother and her ability to build a new relationship.

Hero by Perry Moore

Thom Creed's father is a former superhero, bitter about the end of his super days and determined that Thom won't stick out in society the way he did.  So that's why Thom doesn't tell his dad when he discovers his new powers, or when he decides to try out for the League, an organization of superheroes dedicated to protecting the city.  But Thom has other secrets he tries to keep from his father too, like the boy with whom he's started a complicated, tentative relationship.  

Once in the League, Thom joins a group of unexpected heroes with unusual powers--maybe not the kind kids always dreamed of.  Scarlett can start fires, but she can't always stop herself from setting things alight. Typhoid Larry's hacking cough comes along with his ability to make anyone sick; Ruth can see the future, but the knowledge has made her cynical and unhappy.  Moore tells a remarkable story, funny, terrifying, and comic-book thrilling, about the power to find yourself.

(photo courtesy of flickr user HaPe_Gera)

If you're into graphic design and computer animation, put your skills to the test and compete for a prize. Use the Macs in the Teen Lounge or design a project at home. Hand your photo to a teen librarian on or before June 27th.  If I haven't already received your entry stop in today at 2PM in the Teen Lounge to add your finishing touches!

*The winner will be notified at the end of the week.*

If you know lots of random stuff or you're just a really good guesser join us today in the Teen Lounge at 3:30PM for a little Useless Trivia. If you get the high score you'll win a itunes giftcard!

Refreshments will be served.

(image courtesy of flickr user Blungeoner86)

(image courtesy of flickr user trix0r)

Just because school breaks for summer doesn't mean bullying will. If you feel like you have been a victim of bullying take a look at these resources, they may be of interest to you.

Check out this video on bullying.This video was provided by Maggie Gordon for the Speak Out Against Bullying Project launched byThe Stamford Advocate. For more imformation and to share your story click here.