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December 31, 2005
Inconceivable!
So... every time I mention we're showing The Princess Bride here at the Library, someone chimes in with phrases like... Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. OR Have fun storming the castle! OR Marriage! Marriage is what brings us together, today. If these strike a chord with you, you'll definitely want to join us for the movie. And if they don't, well, the Teen Advisory Board would probably ask if you'd been living under a rock to have missed this cultural icon.
The important stuff - Friday, January 6th at 7 p.m. for teens grades 6 to 12. Giants, pirates, maniacal Sicilian plotters, and of course, Buttercup and Wesley await you.
Posted by Caitlin at 08:21 PM
December 30, 2005
Nutmeg Teen Voting
Be a part of history. For the first time, teens grades 6 - 9 have a chance to vote for their own Nutmeg Book Award, Connecticut's book award for youth. Voting takes place this January, and teens are encouraged to cast their votes in the Library. Vote for your favorite of the ten nominees and become a part of Connecticut's history.
Posted by Caitlin at 05:29 PM
December 15, 2005
Stop in for Some Winter Break Reading!
Since you'll have a week or two off, stop by the Library for some reading material. Here are a few plans of attack:
1. Adventure - Our teens swear by Capt. Hook, by James V. Hart and the new Kenneth Oppel Skybreaker looks to be a good one. Then go read some Anthony Horowitz or Cornelia Funke for old times' sake.
2. Mystery - Return to childhood - take on Chasing Vermeeer by Blue Balliett and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Then jump forward and try some adult mystery; Elizabeth Peters (historical mystery); Agatha Christie, or my personal favorite Arthur Conan Doyle.
3. Fantasy - I'm rather fond of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (vampire romance) and Spook's Apprentice (horror story) by Joseph Delaney. Then switch over to some old favorites and grab all the Tamora Pierce's or Patricia Wrede or some Robin McKinley or Garth Nix.
4. Eclectic Mix - Read new additions to the Library across genres. The Penderwicks is big this season. The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce is the newest in the Circle of Magic series. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (author of So Yesterday) is sure to be cutting edge. 47 by Walter Mosley is a tough account of slavery in 1832. And I've heard a lot of positive buzz about the Five Ancestors series by Jeff Stone about animal-morphing martial arts.
5. Comfort Reading - This would be all the books that have always made you happy. So, it's a different list for everyone, but I'm thinking The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, (okay, picking more modern ones) Because of Winn Dixie, So You Want to Be a Wizard. Oh, I could go on. Just a couple more. Something by E. Nesbit or Roald Dahl, Gerald Morris for those Arthurian fans, Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. Okay, stopping. Done. Well, not really, but out of room.
Enjoy!
Oh, P.S. Audio I'm very partial to Peter and the Starcatchers (reader Jim Dale), Sahara Special (reader Phylicia Rashad), Wee Free Men, and The Penultimate Peril.
Posted by Caitlin at 04:41 PM
December 12, 2005
Winter 2006 Teen Exploits
Confidentially, when I started to make the winter teen flyer, I thought it would fill half a page. Now, looking at the double sided full page list of teen events, I'm very pleased at everything we have to offer in the upcoming months. There isn't room here to describe it all, so I'll direct you to the full online schedule, and then mention just a few highlights.
- Volunteering - Teen have always been a crucial part of many of our larger Children's Room events, and we'd love to see teens volunteer this January to help paint decorations and be assistants at our Nutmeg @ Nite event.
- Computer Classes - After paying close attention to our Teen Advisory Board, parents, and teachers, we're offering 3 classes - Photoshop, Excel, and Invisible Web. Sign ups begin January 2nd.
- Teen Advisory Board - Our Teen Advisory Board is awesome! They've helped plan a movie showing in January (The Princess Bride), a chocolate workshop in February, and two other meetings in March and April. New members are welcome, and sign ups start in January.
A great schedule, and I've just skimmed the surface of everything. More soon.
Posted by Caitlin at 12:30 PM | Comments (2)
December 11, 2005
Graphic Novel Recommendations
For the older teens (say, high school) who like graphic novels like Mars, my new favorite is Kare First Love by Kaho Miyasaka. Shy Karin attracts the attention of a popular boy, and the enmity of a so-called friend. Further tribulations are sure to follow in future volumes. I enjoyed it because Karin's voice is 100% genuine. When she's embarrassed herself yet again in front of her crush, the artwork, the dialogue, the panels all combine to express her emotions perfectly.
And, to move away from romance, I'll recommend Initial D, which is a graphic novel about auto racing, and One Piece, which is a hilarious series about the search for pirate's treasure. The main character can stretch himself out like rubber (so this tells you how serious the novels are!)
Posted by Caitlin at 12:38 PM