Play the computer games created by teens in our Scratch class:

Are you interested in learning how to use Scratch? If so, email Alex at ahylton [at] darienlibrary [dot] org. :)

This is the latest book by the author of Elsewhere, and it is even better.  In Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, Naomi falls down the stairs at the front of her school, hits her head and passes out.  When she wakes up the first thing she hears is James telling the EMTs that he is her boyfriend.  When they get to the hospital, Naomi knows her name, but she doesn’t know why she is in the hospital, what year it is, that James is not her boyfriend, or that her parents are divorced- she has forgotten the last four years of her life.  Once she gets out of the hospital, she has to try to start living her life again, but it’s not easy.  Along with her memories, she’s lost her likes and dislikes: why she’s dating boring, binge-drinking athlete Ace; why she spent hours every day co-editing the yearbook; what made her mad enough at her Mom to give her the silent treatment for three years; why she hates her Dad’s fiancée.  Everyone expects Naomi to go right back to her old life, but without her memories, she’s no longer the person she was. 

This is a really good story, and an excellent read.  It’s partially a family story, and partially a romance, but mainly it’s about a girl who is trying really hard to put the pieces of her broken life back together.  While her amnesia is in no way a good thing, in some cases it gives her a new perspective on her choices and lets her try things that she might not have in her pre-accident life.
 

Good Read!

Molly and Trevor have been dating for three months, ever since Trevor dumped Barbie-doll Felicia.  Trevor is pressuring to take things to the next level, but Molly’s not so sure.   Kissing Trevor feels amazing, but it’s only been three months and he’s still refusing to meet her family.  When Molly catches Trevor kissing his ex, she’s heartbroken but vows to move on.  With Trevor trying to win her back, and her best friend trying to set her up with a string of rebound guys, Molly finds solace in the place she least expected it: her little neighbor’s Girl Corps troupe.  Sure, at fifteen she looks out-of-place among the pre-teen Girl Corps, but hanging out with the troupe is giving her a sense of empowerment and identity she’s never had before.   

Girl to the Core is a really fun read.  Molly is a good character and her relationships with her friends and with the younger girls are interesting and authentic.  She gets herself into some difficult situations, but with her strong sense of family and the lessons she learns at Girl Corps, she manages to become a stronger person because of them.
 

image courtesy of user All Glass Photo

Calling all teens! Are you a Chess Rookie, self-proclaimed Chess Titan or a Seasoned Hardcore Veteran Chessmaster?  Whatever your level, test your wits and put your mate in check this Tuesday, September 29 from 4 - 5:30 P.M., in the Power Library Study Rooms on the Lower Level.

Come and:

-Learn how to play.

-Join in casual pick-up games.

-Just hang out and spectate your fellow mates!

Sets will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you'd like, along with your friends and your A game. See you there!