Teens
The Hanging Woods by Scott Loring Sanders
Written by hmartyn on 01/02/2010
The Hanging Woods is a dark story of deep family and personal dysfunction. Set in rural Alabama in 1975, the three main characters at first seem to live idyllic lives from a more simple time and place: whittling toothpicks from fence posts, building tree forts and eating boiled peanuts for a quarter a bag. Then Walter reads his mother’s diary and everything changes. He learns a terrible secret that plays a pivotal role in the events of that summer, ripping open a web of lies and leading to the destruction of three families. Part of what makes this book interesting are the details: the fact that Walter's mother will not acknowlege one of his friends due to a mysterious feud; a plan to gain fame by setting a record for the longest-lived fowl without a head; the trips to spy on the town's feared "Troll".
As the story unfolds, each character becomes more complex and the veneer of perfection disappears. The three boys, while best friends, are tied together as much by bullying and kept secrets as by friendship. Each is emotionally troubled, due to neglect, abuse and mental illness, and each deals with their problems in unhealthy ways. The outcome of their friendship is disaster and death. This is a good read—a tense thriller that moves toward a disturbing end.
Saturday in the Teen Lounge: Clueless Screening
Written by hmartyn on 12/31/2009
We're going to party like it's 1995 with this classic tale of a High School airhead.
When Cher can't get her teacher to give her a better grade, she and her friends decide that what is needed to get him to lighten up is love. She's also matchmaking for her friends, but when she realizes that she wants love for herself, she finds that the makeover she needs is more than a new outfit and shade of lipstick.
The plot aside, the "Fashion" in this movie is worth the watch. Did anyone really ever wear a yellow plaid suit to school?
Teen Lounge
2:30 PM
Saturday, January 2nd.
This movie is rated PG-13
Games we made using Scratch!
Check out these projects we made in our last workshop, taught by one of our teen experts, Matthew!
These games introduce basics such as:
- Background images for your projects.
- How to make sprites which are any characters or objects you use in a project.
- How to perform an action when certain keyboard keys are pressed.
- A simple counter to act as a control such as lives remaining.
- How to create a simple game over.
Here's an excellent resource Matthew recommended, that has cool sprites for use in your projects called the Spriter's Resource.
To learn how to do other cool stuff, check out the tutorials page in the Scratch forums.
If you are interested in learning Scratch, send an email to ahylton [at] darienlibrary [dot] org and keep on the lookout for our next workshop!
For Teens: WriteNow
Written by hmartyn on 12/26/2009
December 29th at 4 PM.
WriteNow is a monthly group for everyone who loves creative writing. If you are an author or poet, or hope to be one someday, come out to share your work and get inspired. We'll talk about writers and writing and start to prepare for the Teen Writing Competition. Bring your passion for writing!
Saturday in the Teen Lounge: Gremlins Screening
Written by hmartyn on 12/26/2009
There are three rules you must follow if you are gifted a Mogwai:
- never get him wet,
- keep him out of bright light, and
- never feed him after midnight
When Billy is given a Mogwai for Christmas, he is initially thrilled with his cuddly new pet. However, when he fails to follow the rules, he ends up pretty much destroying his town.
Watch December 26th 2:30 PM in the Teen Lounge
Fun Fact: Along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Gremlins is one of the movies credited with prompting the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating, after people complained that the violence was too much for a PG rating, but not enough for to warrant an R.
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith
Written by hmartyn on 12/26/2009
Elena is the most beautiful, and the most popular, girl in school, but she has always felt like something was missing. She returns from her summer vacation in France determined to break up with her quarterback boyfriend Matt, who she loves, but only as a friend. Then Stefen shows up at school. He’s Italian, mysterious, superhot, and does not even take a second look at Elena. Or so she thinks.
While Elena is becoming more and more obsessed with Stefen, Stefen is doing his best not to stare. He has enough problems trying to control his thirst and his powers, and now this girl, this girl who looks exactly like his lost love Katherine, is sitting in front of him in World History. Then, just as Stefen thinks he is getting control of himself, people start dying all over town.
The Vampire Diaries is a fun vampire romance, with a lot of horror mixed in. Elena is petty, superficial and vain, but she becomes more likeable as the book progresses. Stefen is brooding, but genuinely loves Elena for herself. Aside from Elena and Stefen’s romance, there is lots of intrigue and drama- both of the high school and the centuries-old-vendetta varieties. Fans of the The Vampire Diaries on the CW, or of Twilight, will want to check this book out.
Scratch - Video Game Design Workshop for Teens
Written by Alex Hylton on 12/18/2009
Calling all teens!
Want to create a super awesome video game project? Well don't miss out on this event! We'll be learning some new concepts in Scratch, taught by one of our expert teens Matt!
To register for this event, send an email to ahylton [at] darienlibrary [dot] org and join us on Wednesday, December 23rd at 4pm in the Tech Center on the Lower Level.
Check out some of the projects we did in our last class here!
See you there!
Crafts Saturday: Ultra Cool Bead Magnets
Written by hmartyn on 12/17/2009
2:30pm Saturday December 19th
Teen Lounge
Unleash your creativity in miniature to make these awesome magnets.
They're a great decoration for your locker or as a gift for a friend.
Chess Teen Titan Time Again!
Written by Alex Hylton on 12/12/2009
Can you say this title three times fast?
Probably not, but even if you can, you'll need more than that to crush your opponent in this battle of brains.
No matter what your skill level, come hang out, learn how to play, and join in on another round of EPIC chess battles - Tuesday, December 15 @ 4pm in the Power Library Study rooms on the Lower level.
Chess Sets will be provided!
Congratulations to our winners!!
Written by Sarah Ludwig on 12/06/2009
Congratulations to Zach Heyde, who won first place in Darien Library's talent competition, held last night in the Community Room. Zach played two beautiful piano pieces, including one he composed himself.
Second place went to Elizabeth Leimkuhler and Collin Shay. Elizabeth sang Bewitched while accompanied by Collin on the piano (and she accompanied herself on the kazoo).
All of our performers were WONDERFUL. Thanks so much to the Teen Advisory Board for putting on such a great show! Click on the photo of our winners to see more images from last night.
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