Book Review: The Loser's Guide to Live and Love

The Loser's Guide to Life and Love by A. E. Cannon
Review by Koumudi

Overall this book was okay, not the best and not the worst. The plot was one large cliche, and cheesy doesn't even begin to describe the ending. Yet, the characters were dynamic and the writing was good. In fact, sporadic portions of the book were pretty funny. This is definitely a feel good book. It's an excellent choice for a light read, but it is not something that I would pursue over and over.

Teen Summer Reading Club

If you haven't turned in a slip for teen summer reading yet, why not?! It's easier than ever, with no registration and no requirement to read library materials. That's right...read whatever you've got already and still get credit! Win a prize every time you read five books, enter to win weekly prizes, and automatically get invited to our end-of-summer prize party! You can't lose!!

Visit the teen summer reading display in the

children's room to pick up your materials!

Big Bad Bug Report

Yesterday, 24 people came out to our teen summer reading kick-off event, Big Bad Bug Movies! Our screening of the 1954 cult horror classic Them! went really well. You can't beat giant mutated killer ants for hilarity. But when we got to Men in Black, the library's copy of the DVD was in terrible shape and wouldn't play. Luckily, Beth ran downstairs and got another movie. But it wasn't what we had planned! We will definitely show MIB another time. Anyway, we had air conditioning, food, and prizes, so it wasn't all bad. And everyone was very patient, so thanks for that!

Book Review: The Otherworldlies

The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler

Review by Meg

Fern has never been a normal kid. She's got colorless eyes, burns in the slightest bit of sunlight, has awful stomachaches for no real reason, and can get her dog to do anything (even climb a tree). But when she closes her eyes in English class and opens them on the beach, it becomes apparent that there's more to her than meets the eye. As it turns out, she's an Otherworldly--or, to use the more common term--a vampire. And not just any vampire, either. She's one of eleven extremely powerful vampires with abilities previously unheard of in vampire kind. This has made her a target for the singlemost feared vampire in the world, Vlad, aka Dracula. This was a good book with an intriguing plot, but it had its share of problems. First, the constant use of vampire slang occasionally made coversations difficult to follow. Also, there were points at which the plot seemed to drag on and on without ever really going anywhere. The ending also seemed rather abrupt, although that could be easily fixed by a sequel. On the whole, though, the plot's twists and turns kept me intrigued even through the slower bits. A solid book overall, especially from a fairly new author.

New New New

Yup, the books keep coming in! We have been getting a lot of extra copies of the summer reading books for UD schools, as well as new teen fic and nonfic:

FICTION

• Cherry Heaven by L. J. Adlington
• The Diary of Pelly D by L. J. Adlington
• I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
• Airman by Eoin Colfer
• Night Road by A. M. Jenkins
• Cheater: A Novel by Michael Laser
• The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
• At the Sign of the Star by Katherine Sturtevant
• The Last of the High Kings by Kate Thompson
• Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen
• The Empty Kingdom by Elizabeth E. Wein (Mark of Solomon series)

NONFICTION

• Race: A History Beyond Black and White by Marc Aronson

Book Review: I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert
This book will be published on July 8, 2008.

SUMMARY: Emily Black's parents blew out of their rural hometown in 1974 on a motorcycle with no thoughts of coming back. But when her mother hit the road to follow the exploding music scene, Emily's father was left to raise an infant alone. And the only place he knew how to do it was in his hometown of Carlisle, Wisconsin. It wasn't exactly the punk rock lifestyle he had intended, but he still raised Emily differently than her peers. And it showed. At first directionless and chafing against small town gossip, Emily channels her passion for music and longing for her mother into a punk band named She Laughs. If anything will bring Louisa back into Emily's life, it will be the music. With moderate local success, the band moves to Chicago hoping to hit it big. Instead, they hit personal and professional roadblocks that almost derail their dreams. Abusive relationships, drugs, poor management, alcohol, and other bad decisions bring She Laughs to the breaking point. This is a story about living hard core and living to tell about it.

OPINION: I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is a saga of pain, loss, and music. It spans decades, telling the stories of both Emily and her mother as they each seek out a solution to their personal pain. At times, this book read like a punk chronology rather than a narrative, but the strong central characters always emerged to take back their story. The characters are flawed in such realistic ways that I cared about their struggles through problems with no easy answers. While I found many parts of this book moving, what drew me in most was the complex relationship between Emily and her father. It is rare to see such a devoted father in a teen book, especially one as alternative as Michael. He is more of a peer to Emily in some ways, yet cares for her throught challenging times as only a parent can. And I loved him for it.

MUSIC NOTE: Joey Ramone lent his name to the title, via a Sleater-Kinney quote, but the Ramones are not a real presence in this novel. It's a nice tribute to a very recognizable punk band, but doesn't contribute to the plot other than as a metaphore. Nevertheless, this book will make you want to go make a kick@$$ playlist of acts like The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Social Distortion, and Patti Smith. Or check out Stephanie's playlist on the book's MySpace page.

PERSONAL NOTE: As I was reading this book, the 90s cultural references really rang true to me. And then I realized that I am about the same age as Emily Black. That was strange...my youth as historical fiction!! Of course, I was more neo-hippie than punk back then. But I wasn't totally out of touch!

Nintendo Night

Last night, 28 teens came out for our quarterly Nintendo Night. It was crazy, so I was really glad that Beth and I were there together!!

We did two new things at this event. First, we switched our big-screen tournament from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Brawl, and we did a team battle. We randomly assigned pairs for the battle, and, as luck would have it, David and Maher were teamed up. Everyone fought valiantly, especially Martha and Mike P. in the final battle, but David and Maher were victorious. They each got a $15 gift card to GameStop. All four of the top finishers also got candy.

The other new thing we did was replace the Pokemon DS tournament with a Mario Kart DS tournament. 16 people entered the DS tournament this time, so I think the change was helpful. Connor S. beat Mike P. in the final to win a $10 GameStop gift card. The top four finishers, which included Mike R. and David, also got candy.

As usual, my old NES was popular. Everyone tried the Mario games, but for some reason people always end up playing Jeopardy. Go figure!

We will do this again in the fall, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, join our Monday afternoon Gaming Club. Summer membership is open until June 16.

Book Review: Gem X

Gem X by Nicky Singer

SUMMARY: 16-year-old Maxo is accustomed to perfection. He is a GemX genotype--preposterously intelligent and physically exquisite. He and his parents have an ultracomfortable apartment in the Polis, where only flawless, enhanced humans are allowed to live. But something goes very wrong. A small but noticable indentation appears on Maxo's perfect face. He knows he must find a cure immediately. As his search takes him into the violent and ugly world of the Dreggies--unenhanced humans who are not allowed to live in the Polis--he meets Gala and Stretch. Although he should be repulsed, Maxo is powerfully drawn to Gala. On a quest of their own, the siblings believe Maxo could be useful. What none of the teens understand is that they are pawns in a much bigger game--one that could have dire consequences for them all.

OPINION: This story follows a typical dystopian structure. On one side, enhanced humans with beauty, brains, and power. On the other, oppressed average humans who struggle for their day-to-day existence. While this story had some potentially interesting elements, such as its exploration of genetic enhancement and parent-child relationships, it ultimately failed to capture my attention. Singer's imagining of the future was fairly uninspired and involved a lot of capital letters. Better examples of this genre include The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick and the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.

Brawl Battle Results

For the past eight Saturdays, David has been running a Super Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament at the library for his senior project. It was a lot of gaming, but yesterday the winners were announced! Maher came in first with a KO to KO'd ratio of 2.138, and won a $50 GameStop gift card. So, he is officially our Ultimate Brawl Battler! Connor and Mike virtually tied, with ratios of 1.570 and 1.569 respectively. But, Connor was officially second and got a $25 gift card, while Mike had to settle for third with a $10 gift card. Other people with great KO to KO'd ratios included Rachel (1.472), John (1.302), and Evan (1.299). Thanks to everyone who stuck with it and attended throughout April and May, including Kevin, Tyler, Martha, Avis, Katie, Mohammed, Andrew, and Sarah. See you all at Gaming Club this summer!

Cleaning the Craft Closet

Last night, 9 teens came to our first-ever Craft Closet Cleanout program. There were a lot of leftovers from previous DIY craft programs, including this year's Toolbox Jewelry, Pimp My Phone, and Crafts for Your Hair events. I even managed to help one guy make a duct tape holder for his DS without any actual directions. He didn't even have the DS with him, but the case turned out really well! Everyone went home with several new crafts and I got rid of leftover stuff. So everybody got something out of this event!! We will do this again at the end of July.

Anime Club

Today, 9 members of the Anime Club showed up for our May meeting. It was a small group, but we had a great time. Tim planned a special Azu Manga Daioh event, complete with voting for favorite characters, copies of the manga, and prizes from Japan. Tim is seriously dedicated to anime, and we are really lucky to have him!

The Anime Club will continue to meet this summer on the final Fridays of June and July. We will also have two manga drawing classes in July, run by artistic library grads. Check out the summer schedule for more details!

I made fake chicken stirfry for our snack. It's really just pineapple

chunks, cashews, and colored fruit roll ups!

Checking out Tim's display

Looking at artwork

Eating with chopsticks

Book Review: The Last of the High Kings

The Last of the High Kings by Kate Thompson
Click on the book cover to see which libraries own it.

SUMMARY: A generation after The New Policeman, J.J. Liddy's daughter Jenny is running wild. She disappears into the countryside for hours on end, constantly inconveniencing her family and refusing to go to school. Jenny's mental stability is also questionable, as she claims to converse with a ghost and a goat. But as J.J. discovers that Jenny is speaking the truth, and that she is involved in something potentially sinster, he is forced to reveal family secrets that have long been hidden.

OPINION: Despite being labeled as a sequel to The New Policeman, this book stands alone as a wonderfully atmospheric tale of fairy and other legendary folk. The infusion of Irish lore into a contemporary setting made it feel entirely possible for the fairy realm to actually exist alongside our own. It started out slowly, but all the parts of the story came together into an exciting climax. I began it while eating a plate of nachos, kept reading after they were gone, and ended up finishing the entire book while sitting at my table! Even if you usually prefer your fairies to be more urban punk than Irish pranksters, you will not be disappointed by The Last of the High Kings.

Book Review: The Dead and the Gone

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Reviews by Gretchen, Meg, and Debbie (Meg's mom!)

Click on the book cover to see which libraries own it.

GRETCHEN SAYS: The Dead and the Gone is a companion to Life As We Knew It, and it is even more chilling. It made me change my Facebook status to "Gretchen just finished The Dead and the Gone and feels the urge to stock up on canned goods." In this book, the disaster and survival scenario is replayed in New York City rather than rural Pennsylvania. On the day of the disaster, siblings Alex, Brianna, and Julie find out their parents are among the gone. As they try to survive on their own, they face all kinds of struggles in their once-familiar neighborhood. Although the references to their Puerto Rican heritage sometimes feel like a plot device, the reactions and interactions among the three siblings are totally believable. Despite echoes of 9-11, the author thoroughly portrays the new horrors that tidal waves and tsunamis bring to this city of islands. The urban enviornment also adds new levels of chaos with food shortages, death in the streets, an active black market for all kinds of goods, and major illness epidemics. If you have not read these books before, start with Life As We Knew It. Even though The Dead and the Gone an incredible page-turner, I still want to know what happens next! There is a sequel in the works, known as P3B (for Possible Third Book), which you can read about on Susan Beth Pfeffer's blog.

MEG SAYS: What would happen to the world if an asteroid pushed the moon closer in orbit to the earth? Like Susan Beth Pfeffer's earlier novel Life as We Knew It, this is the question that is explored in The Dead and the Gone. Rather than continuing the story of a rural Pennsylvania family from Life, the author instead focuses on the same events from a different perspective. This book is about 17-year-old Luis, who lives with his sisters in New York City. The book follows his struggles to survive after his parents die in the initial distruction the asteroid causes, and later as the city descends further and further into chaos. I loved Life as We Knew It, and this companion piece lived up to my expectations. I enjoy fairly realistic sci-fi novels, and this was no exception. The book remains realistic in its portrayals of a world gone crazy, from stampedes in food lines to Luis' increasingly desperate search for a way to get his sisters out of the city. I also liked that, while Luis and his family were devoutly religious, the various priests and nuns were characters rather than stereotypes, and the book rarely got preachy. I would highly recommend both his book and the original to anyone looking for a fast-paced, realistic dystopian novel.

DEBBIE SAYS: The Dead and the Gone retells the story of Life as We Knew It, detailing the impact to life on Earth when an asteroid hits the moon, knocking it closer to Earth. The perspective of this version is of a teenage boy whose parents die in the initial impact, and who now must care for his two younger sisters. This family lives in an apartment building in NYC. The original version is about a teenage girl living with her mother and brother in rural Pennsylvania. The author paints a vivid, realistic picture of life in the post-impact world with none of the utilities and resouces that we take for granted today. My only disappointment was with the depth of the character description. I felt I knew and understood the characters in the original version much more and found them to be more believable.

Summer Teen Schedule!

Even though I won't be here for a lot of the summer, we are still having programs! Beth Hallowell will be "me" for the summer, and she is awesome. Check out the list of great events below. (I didn't include our two book groups because they are not accepting new members. But they will meet all summer as well!)

TEEN SUMMER READING CLUB
June 9 through August 15
Read for school, read for fun, read whatever! Fill out a sheet for every five age-appropriate fiction or nonfiction books, magazines, audiobooks, or graphic novels you read. They can be from the library or from your own collection. Turn in the sheet at the children’s desk, get a small prize, and be automatically entered to win our weekly book prizes, including some signed by the author. Big end-of-summer prizes can also be yours at our Prize Party!

SPECIAL EVENTS

Nintendo Night
Friday, June 6, from 6:30 to 8:30
Race head-to-head in a Mario Kart DS tournament, enter a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament on the big screen, play games on an original NES, and more! Permission slip required. Registration begins May 19.

Big Bad Bug Movies
Tuesday, June 17, from 1:00 to 4:00
Come enjoy two great bug movies at our teen summer reading kick-off event! First, we’ll watch the cheesy horror movie Them (NR). Giant mutant killer ants run rampant in this 1954 classic! Then, we’ll enjoy Men in Black (PG-13), a 1997 sci-fi action thriller starring Will Smith. Creepy snacks will be provided. Registration begins May 19.

Book Swap & Disney
Saturday, June 28, from 1:00 to 4:00
Trade in your old books for new reads, enjoy Enchanted (PG) and Disney Scene It? on the big screen, and eat food! Sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board. Registration begins May 19.

Breaking Dawn Bridal Shower
Friday, August 1, from 6:30 to 8:30
Get ready for the August 2 release of Breaking Dawn at our bridal shower. We hope that Bella and Edward tie the knot, but who knows what Jacob will do! Celebrate Stephenie Meyer’s popular vampire series at this event sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board. Registration begins July 7.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Celebration
Tuesday, August 5, from 1:00 to 4:00
Get ready for the release of the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 on August 8! We will watch the first Sisterhood movie (PG), make denim crafts, eat snacks, and enjoy activities related to the movies and books. Registration begins July 7.

Dance Dance Revolution
Tuesday, August 12, 2:00 to 4:00
Show your moves at our Xbox DDR program! We will project the game onto the wall so four people can dance at a time. Dance for fun, or enter our dance contest! Permission slip required. Registration begins July 7.

Teen Summer Reading Prize Party
Friday, August 15, from 7:00 to 8:30
If you participated in the teen summer reading club, you are invited to this event! (Not sure? Ask a librarian.) Every slip turned in over the summer will be put in a drawing for great prizes. The more you read, the more you can win! Everyone will go home with something. Can’t make it? If your name is drawn, you will still get the prize. No registration.

PROGRAMS CREATED BY TEENS

Manga Drawing Classes
Fridays, July 11 and July 25, 6:30 to 8:30
Library grads Marissa, Kara, and Caitlin will teach you skills to improve your manga drawing. Basic materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own supplies and artwork. Sign up for one program or both! Registration begins June 16.

Summer Knits
Thursdays, June 19 to August 14 (No meeting June 26)
2:30 to 4:30
Join our summer knitting group open ages 10 to adult at any experience level! If you are a beginner, Meg will teach you the basics and get you started on your first project. If you are an experienced knitter, bring your own project or work on a charity project with the group. Some materials provided. Drop in anytime and stay as long as you would like! No registration.

DROP-IN CRAFTS
Come by the library between 2:00 and 4:00 any Tuesday in July to make a craft! No registration. The projects will be available until supplies run out.

Flower Power
Tuesday, July 1, 2:00 to 4:00
Make a vase of colorful paper flowers to keep or give away.

Robot Uprising
Tuesday, July 8, 2:00 to 4:00
Make a funky robot or two to hang on your key chain, zipper, phone, or anywhere!

Beaded Bracelets
Tuesday, July 15, 2:00 to 4:00
Make a cute beaded bracelet on memory wire.

Dog Days of Summer
Tuesday, July 22, 2:00 to 4:00
Make a toy and a treat for your favorite dog.

Craft Closet Cleanout
Tuesday, July 29, 2:00 to 4:00
Materials and instructions for a variety of projects will be available. Surprise yourself with a random craft!

CLUBS

Gaming Club
Mondays, June 2 to August 11 (no meeting June 23)
3:30 to 5:00
Bring your Yu-Gi-Oh! deck, Game Boy, Magic: The Gathering deck, PSP, or any other game stuff you’re into. We'll also hook up the Wii or Xbox for multiplayer gaming. Hang out, relax, and play whatever you want! Players provide their own gaming materials. Permission slip required. Must register by June 16 to participate for the summer.

Anime Club
Fourth Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
June 27, July 25, no August meeting
Join our anime club! We meet once per month to watch and discuss great shows, as well as do anime-related activities. If you like to watch or create Japanese-style animation, this club is for you! Permission slip required. Registration is ongoing.

Primos Branch Young Adult Book Group
Third Mondays, 7:00 to 8:00
June 16, July 21, August 18
Open to students entering grades 6 to 12, this group meets at the Primos Library at 409 Ashland Ave. in Primos, PA, 19018. Call them to register: 610-622-8091.

Library Teen Podcasts

Today was the first meeting of our podcasting program. Hopefully by next week, we will have a completed podcast to post on this blog. Meanwhile, we are not exactly on the cutting edge of technology...other library teen groups have been podcasting for a while. Check out these podcasts from all over the country!

Cheshire Public Library Podcast (CT)
"a teen-driven cultural magazine"

Hennepin County Library (MN)
teens present reviews of books, movies, and more

Bluford Library (MO)
the Teen Library Club (TLC) podcasts about their lives, issues, and the library

If you would like to create your own podcasts, here is a helpful article published by YALSA for Teen Tech Week 2008. It is written for librarians, but it walks you through the process in a way that is easy to understand. Also, check out Podcasting News, a one-stop info website for podcasters of all levels. Too complicated? OurMedia lets you create your own audio and video podcasts right on their site!

To make our library podcast, we are using free Audacity software. We will upload our finished product to the Internet Archive and link it to this blog. We might use copyright free music from Creative Commons to keep it interesting...and legal!

Book Review: Night Road

Night Road by A. M. Jenkins
Review by Kaitlyn B.

Night Road was absolutely amazing! I have read a lot of vampire books, and I have to say that this book is almost at the top of my list. I think that it was pure genius the way A. M. Jenkins came up with a story with two extremely pessimistic main characters and then threw an extremely lighthearted and optimistic main character into the mix. The optimistic character brought a twist of comedy into this genre, making it a completely original novel that anyone would enjoy. I would definitely recommend Night Road to any vampire novel fan. With all the comedy, suspense, and action packed into this book, it is impossible for any reader not to fall in love with it!

Philadelphia Night

Last Friday, 20 teens came out for our first-ever Philadelphia Night! As people came in, they wore a nametag of a famous Philadelphian for a tic-tac-toe style icebreaker. There are lots of people who are linked with Philly besides historical figures like Ben Franklin! We did several activities related to our city, like a Tastykake spelling test (brought to you by the letter K) and a cheesesteak trivia quiz. We watched movie clips from Rocky and National Treasure, showing great Philadelphia landmarks. For a craft, everyone made three marble magnets of Philadelphia symbols. Sports team logos, college seals, and public art were some of the items people put on their magnets. Our snacks included cheesesteaks, and Herr's Potato Chips (not strictly from the city, but at least regional!). It seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves, so maybe we can do this again sometime!

More Philly stuff we didn't even get to do...

1. We tried to watch some YouTube videos, including American Bandstand and the mummers, but I had a setting wrong on the computer and couldn't get the screen to come up on the projector. So, watch them now!

2. Philly has been a backdrop for many movies and TV shows, so check out this Wikipedia article to find out what to watch.

3. We didn't even talk about public art in Philly, like our murals or our giant clothespin. Maybe next time we can do a clothespin craft!

4. Philadelphia Soul, popularlized in the 1970s, is an actual genre of music named for our city. At the next Philly Night, we'll have to listen to some of the famous songs.

5. We also didn't talk about our pretzels, sports teams, radio stations, and public transit system...all things that make us unique!

Rings-N-Things

On Wednesday, 7 teens showed up after school to make rings for their fingers and toes! It was a lot of fun, and I wish more people had been there. As it was, everyone went home with bunches of rings. We made stretchy rings with beads and buttons, memory wire thumb rings, and even rings out of paper clips. If you couldn't be there, look for some of these projects at the Craft Closet Cleanout on Friday, May 30, from 6:30 to 8:30.

Hard at work!

Modeling the creations.

Stuffed Shelves

The teen section is literally going to explode one of these days from overcrowding! Here's the latest. I linked all the titles that were reviewed by the Teen Advisory Board or me on this blog.

• Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
• Exodus by Julie Bertagna
• Airhead by Meg Cabot
• The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
• The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
• Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
• Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks (sequel to Evil Genius)
• Cheated by Patrick Jones
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (sequel to Wicked Lovely)
• Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
• How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle
• The Final Warning by James Patterson (Maximum Ride series)
• Teen, Inc. by Stefan Petrucha
• Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip Pullman (companion to His Dark Materials series)
• Demon Apocalypse by Darren Shan (Demonata series)
• Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth
• Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught
• Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Purse Projects

On May 2, 9 girls came out to design purses at our first-ever purse project night! You know I am not the craftiest person in the world, so I am really glad that only 9 people came. Even then, it was completely crazy and I ended up finishing projects for people the next day. Nonetheless, everyone went home with two cute projects. One was a clutch made out of a folded placemat, and the other was a hand-beaded bag.

If you missed this event, make your own! I got our supplies at Dollar Tree and JoAnn Fabric and Crafts, so it is fairly inexpensive. Here are some helpful books with great ideas:

• Designer Style Handbags: Techniques and Projects for Unique, Fun, and Elegant Designs from Classic to Retro by Sherri Haab
• The Hip Handbag Book: 25 Easy-to-Make Totes, Purses, and Bags by Sherri Haab
• Crafty Bags for Stylish Girls: Uniquely Chic Purses, Pouches & Pocketbooks by Elizabeth Ingrid Hauser
• Chic Bags: 22 Handbags, Purses, Totes, and Accessories to Make by Marie Enderlen-Debuisson

Beading purses

Another purse-beading shot

Posing with the purses!

New to Us

Teen books continue to crowd the shelves, so here's what is newest:

FICTION

• Names Will Never Hurt Me by Jaime Adoff
• Zenith by Julie Bertagna (sequel to Exodus...I ordered it from England!)
• Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
• Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (replacement copy)
• Bratfest at Tiffany's by Lisi Harrison (Clique series)
• Sealed with a Diss by Lisi Harrison (Clique series)
• Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby
• Frostbite: A Vampire Academy Novel by Richelle Mead
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
• Baby by Joe Monninger
• The Highwayman's Footsteps by Nicola Morgan
• ttyl by Lauren Myracle (replacement copy)
• School's Out--Forever by James Patterson (Maximum Ride series; replacement copy)
• Dragonfire by Donita K. Paul
• Dragonknight by Donita K. Paul
• Dragonquest by Donita K. Paul
• Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul

NONFICTION

• Comic Book Guy's Book of Pop Culture
• Halo 3: The Official Guide
• MarioKart Wii (Prima Official Game Guide)
• Naruto: The Official Fanbook
• Pokedex: Official Pocket Version
• The Ralph Wiggum Book
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Prima Official Game Guide)
• World of WarCraft Master Guide

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, volume 15, by Clamp
• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, volume 16, by Clamp
• Pita-Ten, volume 3, by Koge Donbo
• Naruto, volume 28, by Masashi Kishimoto
• Naruto, volume 29, by Masashi Kishimoto
• Gon, volume 1, by Masahi Tanaka

Book Review: Generation Dead

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Click on the book cover to see which libraries have it.

Review by Meg

What would you do if your best friend died, and then knocked on your door a week later looking for a place to stay? This is the problem facing America in Daniel Waters' novel Generation Dead. It is set in an upper-middle-class high school with one of the best programs for the "differently biotic" in the country. A few normal students, like Goth-girl Phoebe and football star Adam, develop close relationships with the living dead, but the majority fear them. Some, namely the mentally unstable Pete, want the dead to stay dead--and aren't afraid to use violence to make it happen. When Phoebe finds herself falling for the leader of the living impaired, it sets off a chain of events that will change the lives (or afterlives) of everyone involved.

I loved this book for its extraordinary characters, fast-paced action, and deeper message. I will the be the first to admit that, upon discovering the "zombies in high school" premise, I was expecting comedy, and likely bad comedy at that. Instead, despite occasional flashes of humor, the book quickly takes a turn toward the dark side as the plot unfolds. Obvious comparisons can be drawn to racism and the Civil Rights Movement, but the novel never gets preachy. Of course, the book isn't perfect. There are several threads that never really get followed to their conclusions and detracted somewhat from the main plot (Did the augmentation work? What was the deal with the white vans?), but on the whole Generation Dead is one of the best books I have read in a while.


Review by Caitlin C.

The word “zombie” is a very powerful one. One cannot mention it in casual conversation without invoking images of reanimated, rotting corpses shambling through town, feasting on the brains of the living. This is why Oakvale High asks its students to use the terms “living impaired” and “differently biotic” when referring to their less-than-living classmates.

Some readers may be feeling pretty confused now, but that’s nothing compared to the inexplicable mystery of how teenagers cheat death in Daniel Walter’s first young adult novel Generation Dead. As expected, the living impaired aren’t welcomed with open arms into the High School, and vigilantes have already killed some of these teenagers a second time. There are some particularly active undead students, such as Karen, Evan and Tommy, who don’t let their biological differences hold them back, but most of the others walk and act in a similar fashion to their B-movie counterparts, minus the appetite for grey matter. When Alish and Angela Hunter set up a program at Oakvale High to increase awareness and acceptance of the differently biotic, only a few students attend the program, including the two protagonists, Phoebe Kendall and Adam Layman.

Phoebe is a student with an all black wardrobe and an iPod filled with songs by such artists as the Creeps and the Misfits. Adam is a football player who began studying karate after severely injuring a running-back from an opposing team with an illegal move. At first glance, one would hardly believe the two were childhood chums, or that Adam is hoping to take the friendship further. However, everything changes when Tommy Williams, a zombie classmate, tries out for the football team. The three meet up after school once a week along with other classmates interested in the cause; Karen, a skirt-loving girly-girl who’s unusually perky for a zombie, Thorny, the naïve freshman, Evan, the redheaded jokester whose only regret is that death won’t let him whistle, and Margi, who still suffers guilt for shunning her reanimated friend, Colette, in her time of need. Whether the students laugh at the misspelled hate-mail sent to the Hunter Foundation, sport the latest t-shirts advocating “Zombie Power”, or dance at the nightclub/halfway home aptly named “the Haunted House”, it seems like nothing can break up this group. Still, there are plenty of people gumming up the civil rights movement for zombies such as those in the suspicious white vans that appear during the murders of the living impaired, and Pete Martinsburg, whose hatred for the differently biotic stems from a frustrated home life and grief over his dead girlfriend, Julie, who didn’t come back.

It’s very easy to become interested in Generation Dead, and the reading is fluid and enjoyable. The teenage characters are three dimensional and well developed, and each one has something different to contribute to the story. One of my favorite characters was Karen, who disproved many of the stereotypes about the differently biotic, with her fluent speech and her ability to drink coffee. The adult characters seemed too much like cardboard figures or plot devices to be believable, and several of them, like Alish Hunter, Coach Konrathy and Skip Slydell, were never seen again once their purpose for the story was fulfilled. The teenagers are central to the story in young adult novels, but if adults are going to be introduced in a story, they should be just as deep and three-dimensional as the rest of the characters.

Book Review: How to Be Bad

How to Be Bad: A Novel by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle

Click on the book to see which libraries own it.

Review by Alexa

Although How to Be Bad started off slow, and I considered not reading past the first few chapters, I pursued the book on the sheer facts of who the authors are and my preference for them. I'm glad I did. The story begins in the Niceville, Florida, the hometown of Vicks and Jesse, where the two best friends work at the local Waffle House. Enter Mel, a cute rich girl whose only wish is to become part of the Vicks-Jesse duo. As Jesse is facing family problems, she comes up with the idea of "borrowing" her mom's car and driving Vicks down to the University of Miami to reunite with her boyfriend. Mel isn't invited...until she invites herself by promisng to pay for the hotel and the food. Jesse and Vicks agree only because they don't have much money between the two of them. The girls hit the road and the trip turns into something no one expected--a girl-talking, emotion-sharing, friendship-creating, boyfriend-picking-up adventure in which Vicks, Mel, and Jesse become as close as none of them ever thought they would. And there are boys too! I love this book because it is written in alternating chapters among the three authors as the voices of the three friends. Anyone who knows the value of a good friendship or two will definitely enjoy this story.

20s Night!

Tonight, 17 people came to the Teen Advisory Board's 20s Night event. Everyone seemed to have a good time. We started out with a crossword puzzle of famous people from the 1920s because crosswords were actually a big fad of that decade. Later, I showed everyone some basic moves of the Charleston, which was funny. We had a goldfish eating contest with crackers, not the real thing as they actually did in the 20s! We watched media clips about the stock market crash and the St. Valentine's Day massacre, both of which happened in 1929. Kara also brought in a silent movie to share as well, which was amazing. Some people didn't even know there had been movies without sound! Our snacks for the evening were Good Humor ice cream bars, fruit-flavored Lifesavers, Butterfingers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Baby Ruths, all of which were introduced in the 20s. We made Shirley Temples with 7up, which was also first available in that decade. Since Kara and I were the only people who dressed up, she automatically won the costume contest! Other contest winners included Anas, Arig, and Jasmine. They all got Mike and Ikes and a chocolate bar. I don't know what decade the TAB will do next, but this was a good one!

It's hard to aim the goldfish when you're laughing!

Costumes (My stretch velvet dress actually stretched over my baby bump!)

Our flapper pose

Learning the Charleston

Adding a kick!

All that Jazz

Here are some great websites to help you find out more about the 1920s, whether you attend our event or not! Thanks to Kara and Shelby for their assistance in locating the sites.

Flapper Fashion
Find out how to get the complete flapper look.

Mind Your Manners
This is a cool interactive game to test your knowledge of how to behave in 1920s society.

Slang
Discover if you're the bee's knees or just all wet! And if this page doesn't have enough slang for you, here's another one.

Food
Many popular national brands started in the 20s, including Kool-Aid, Gerber's baby food, and Velveeta cheese!

Dancing the Charleston
The video quality is not great, but the teen in this YouTube video teaches the solo Charleston very nicely. And the guy who posted a response video has some cool moves too, and does it in amazing pants!

Music
Stream music of the era over your computer thanks to the 1920's Radio Network.

The Roaring 20s
This comprehensive website covers all aspects of the 20s, including science, entertainment, and world news.

1920s: Roar or Yawn?
What was it really like to live during this era?

Newest of the New

Here are some books that were just processed today!

• Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot
• Miki Falls: Winter by Mark Crilley (graphic novel)
• Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
• The Lost Queen (The Faerie Path #2) by Frewin Jones
• Dance with a Vampire (Vampire Kisses #4) by Ellen Schreiber
• The Interns: Fashionistas by Chloe Walsh
• Frenemies by Alexa Young

Bake Sale Report

This afternoon, the Teen Advisory Board held a bake sale to try to capitalize on the high voter turnout expected for the PA Primary. And...it worked! We made about $90, and we probably could have made more if we had more stuff to sell. Thanks to Kaitlyn B., Caitlin C., Meg, Amy, me, and Becky (a reference librarian) for baking lots of yummy stuff. And thanks to Alexa, Arwa, Amy, Katie B., Meg, Steph O., Kaitlyn B, and Caitlin C. for helping to sell things this afternoon. It was a great success!

Book Review: Up All Night

Up All Night by by Peter Abrahams, Libba Bray, David Levithan, Patricia Mccormick, Sarah Weeks, Gene Yang (short stories)
Review by Meg

This collection of six short stories shows just how much can happen in the space between sunset and sunrise. You can come to terms with your father's homosexuality, or with his death. You can learn how to drive, and how to drive off a threatening stepfather. You can write a story or care for a sick mouse or learn to deal with disappointment. You can discover who you really are and how you really feel. There really is a lot you can do in one night, and these stories explore it all, from the ordinariness of English homework to the exratordinary tale of a beloved father's ghost. My favorite by far was Libba Bray's Not Just for Breakfast Anymore, a story of a teenager learning to cope with the fact that her father is gay. David Levithan's contribution was also very good. Others I didn't like so much, particularly one written in the form of a comic, but on the whole, this was an excellent collection of stories by some of the best young adult authors around.

Middle School Book Group

Last Friday, 10 members of the middle school book group met to discuss Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Unfortunately, most of the members were not big fans of the book. This was partially because of the length, but also because they felt the plot didn't hold their attention. Even I felt like the book dragged in places. This is one case where the movie (coming in 2009) might be better than the book! We did have a good time talking about which characters we would and would not want to read out of books, though!

Next month, we will be reading The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn. I will call you when the books come in.

Book Review: Audrey, Wait!

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

Review by Kaitlin B.

Click on the book cover to see which libraries own it.

Audrey, Wait! is an amazing book! I absolutely loved it. The characters are funny and sarcastic. Some are kind of nerdy, while others are wilder. When you throw them together like Robin Benway did, add some paparazi, and mega-hit song, and (of course) an attention-seeking, boyfriend-stealing popular girl, you're in for a hilarious ride. Audrey, Wait! has everything. There are awesome characters, ironic musical quotes, and even a little romance thrown in for those mushy romantics out there. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down! I assure you that you will love it.

Book Review: Lock and Key

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Reviews by Amy, Alexa, and Gretchen

Click on the cover to see which libraries own it.

AMY SAYS: Lock and Key begins with Ruby Cooper as she is moving into her sister's house after her mother abandons her. The story is an easy read and does not disappoint if you are expecting the sort of books Sarah Dessen writes. I am a huge fan of Sarah Dessen and I have thoroughly enjoyed every book she has written. The theme of this story is family. You can't choose them, and sometimes you can't stand them, but they are your family. You don't need to be connected by blood; they can be friends or neighbors. I think Sarah has done it again. She somehow always mangages to write books that you need to read with a box of tissues next to you, and somehow that's not a bad thing. This book will make you cry, it will make you laugh, and, most of all, it will make you think.

ALEXA SAYS: Lock and Key is a twisted story of many unforgettable backgrounds. There's Ruby, who's been abandoned by her mother just months before her 18th birthday. The last thing Ruby wants it to be taken under the care of her sister, Cora, and Cora's husband, Jamie. For all Ruby knows, Cora forgot about her early in her college career and only made contact with her every once in a while. But their mother has been keeping something from Ruby, something that will hurt Ruby beyond all measures. Then there is Nate, the golden-boy-next-door, who is keeping something from Ruby, too. Nate's father has a very serious anger issue whose results tend to show up on Nate's body. Through their problems, Nate and Ruby connect and support each other in a unique way that will bring you to your knees. Lock and Key is a story of responsibility, opening up, and finding yourself. I've never read anything so emotionally touching. Dessen has yet to disappoint. To say that this is a sufficient review is a bit of a stretch, but that is simply because I am speechless. Lock and Key is indescribable, to say the least!

GRETCHEN SAYS: Sarah Dessen's newest book is a story of possiblities. After 17-year-old Ruby's mother leaves her, Ruby tries to make it on her own. Discovered just a few months before her 18th birthday, Ruby is sent to live with her older sister who has been out of contact for almost 10 years. This new family, a house in a wealthy neighborhood, and an exclusive private school give Ruby stability, but leave her feeling off-kilter. Does she have anything in common with these people? Although the school assignment on the meaning of family drives the point home a little obviously, sometimes the best families are the ones we make ourselves. This is a quick and enjoyable read, and you will be drawn into Ruby's story as she struggles to find a new place for herself. And, yes, like most Sarah Dessen books, it made me cry.

Awards Assembly

Even grown-ups get awards sometimes, and today it was my turn! I am now officially the Delaware County Outstanding Library Employee for 2008. Many of the Sellers librarians and board members went down to the Crozer Library in Chester this morning for the yearly Legislative Breakfast. It is basically a meeting highlighting the excellence of libraries, as well as a time for various presentations.

I won the award because of my work here at the library, as well as general professional contributions like conference presentations and magazine articles. So, I have you all to thank for helping me be so successful...I couldn't do my job without actual library teens!! Also winning an award this morning was Vicky Town. As a live-long lover of libraries, she was recognized for her public library programs and her other work in the community. It was great to be at the same cermony. My husband Jason was able to be there as well, and he took pictures.

Getting the award from David (the county library director)

The four award winners

Staff, board members, and friends of UD Libraries

Book Review: My Most Excellent Year

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger
Review by Koumudi

Click on the book cover to see which libraries own it.

The most impressive thing about this book was they way that it was put together. It's a series of emails, instant messages, old style narration, and various other things. The book is a good example of a contemporary novel. It's very sweet and you learn to care for the characters, even though sometimes you want to scream at them. The book's less than perfect grammar annoyed me, but sadly that is the reality of most instant messages and emails. Overall the book was amusing and a good read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary novels.

Mean Girls Movie Night

Last Friday, 20 people showed up to watch Mean Girls. Even though most of us had seen it before, it was fun to watch it with everyone. We ate chips and candy, lounged on pillows, and laughed a lot! We will definitely do a bunch of movie events this summer.

How to Be Bad

E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle have written a book together! It is called How to Be Bad, and it will be released on May 6. Meanwhile, go read an interview of the three of them about the process of writing the book!

Book Review: Cheated

Cheated by Patrick Jones
Review by Kaitlyn B.

I was enthralled and captivated by Cheated. I liked it more than Things Change, which was, up until now, my favorite book written by Jones. I loved the plot and the way that Jones was able to tie together all the little details of the book into an amazing ending. The thing that captivated me the most about Cheated, however, was Patrick Jones' ability to portray the emotions of a confused and troubled teenage boy. I was constantly amazed by the way that Jones made it seem as though the book was actually written by a teen. It made it so much easier to understand the characters. I really loved Cheated; it was an extremely well-written book that always had me eager to pick it up and continue reading.

Book Review: Steel Trapp: The Challenge

Steel Trapp: The Challenge by Ridley Pearson
Review by Alexa

Reading the summary of Steel Trapp: The Challenge, I didn't know what to expcet since the first four words were, "In this riveting thriller..." This usually describes an action movie. In truth, though, that's exactly what I felt like I had gotten myself into! This novel, by Ridley Pearson, is a wild ride full of heart-pounding suspense that kept me going until the very end. The novel begins with fourteen-year-old Steven "Steel" Trapp's train ride to the National Science Competition in Washington, D.C. I should have known this novel would be filled with trouble...I mean, Washington, D.C., just screams fraud, hostage situations, and multiple federal law enforcement teams! But, back to the train ride. Steel tries to return a woman's briefcase to her when she leaves the train without it, but she denies it and Steel turns it over to a conductor. Curiosity gets the better of him and he steals the briefcase back from the Lost and Found. In it, he discovers a photo of a woman, tied up and scared, that begins his involvement in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a little suspense because Steel Trapp: The Challenge is all it's cracked up to be and more!

Book Review: Exodus

Exodus by Julie Bertagna

Click on the cover to see which libraries own it.

SUMMARY: By 2099, global warming has taken its toll on the earth. Most of the world is underwater--mountaintops are now islands, and people are struggling to survive as the water rises. There is no mass communication, and no map of the known world. Fifteen-year-old Mara, using old technology to surf the remains of the Weave, finds out about sky cities that were built to rise above the water. She convinces the remaining population of her island, Wing, to venture into the unknown. But when the boats from her village arrive, they are kept out by a giant wall and gun-happy police. With nowhere else to go and nothing to lose, Mara sneaks inside the wall, and later the city, in a desperate attempt to save her friends.

OPINION: I started this book in the morning and finished it by lunchtime. The premise is completely plausible, the characters are excellently imagined, and their desperation is palpable. The story is told in the third-person present tense, which is an unusual style that adds to the sense of urgency. I haven't felt so compelled to finish a book in a while! The author created a believable future world in which environmental destruction is an issue, rather than an issue book about the environment that just happens to take place in the future. The message is subtle, but the story makes it clear. This is a great choice for fans of dystopian future survival fantasy such as The Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve or Life As We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I loved it so much that I ordered the sequel, Zenith, which is already available in England!

DDR

On Wednesday afternoon, 9 people showed up to play DDR after school. That isn't as many as usual, but I forgot to make reminder calls, so that probably had something to do with it! Anyway, 6 people entered our tournament, and Sarah was the winner of a $10 gift card to GameStop. Jamie would have won, but we handicapped him heavily by making him play on Heavy. Maybe next time, we'll just go for Standard and see what happens! Look for another DDR event this summer.

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging...the Movie!

So, one of my favorite funny girly books is Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison. And I just found out that the movie is being released in the UK this summer! It's by the same director as Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice, both of which I loved. But, sadly, there's no word on when it will come here. Nevertheless, there is a great website for the movie, so check it out! It is set up to look like Georgia's bulletin board. You can even visit the Stiff Dylans on MySpace and hear their music!!!

Book Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Reviews by Alexa, Arwa, and Amy

Click on the cover to see which libraries own it.

ALEXA SAYS: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is by far my favorite of E. Lockhart's novels. She takes the typical "invisible girl" and turns her into an ever-opinonated It-Girl, but there's a catch and a secret. the only reason people are noticing Frankie is because her new killer figure has gotten her the status of Matthew Livingston's girlfriend. And the secret...well there's a reason it's a secret. The Disreputable History is full of twists and turns where a too-curious girl becomes too informed for her own good. How does Frankie fare on her own at the infamous Alabaster Prep School? You'll have to find out! I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a little mischief now and then or anyone who has ever read a novel by E. Lockhart and liked it.

ARWA SAYS: This was a great piece of fiction, very "thick" in its plot. I liked it a lot. The end was rather abrupt for me (since I'm a romantic and love happy endings. I would have liked it she had gone with Alpha. I wanted her to go with him the whole time...), but it gave some closure saying that she was waiting for that special someone. I also think it would give hope to those girls out there and tell them not to pick guys who objectify them or think they are stupid.

AMY SAYS: There were some things I liked and some things I didn't like about The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. The first half of the story was a little slow, but occasionaly I found some enjoyable things. I liked how Frankie used neglected positives, such as saying "gruntled" as an antonym for "disgruntled." At about the middle of the novel was when the story picked up, and boy did it take off! Frankie really took matters into her own hands. Despite the slow parts, I really enjoyed this story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about a girl who takes charge in a male society.

Nintendo Night

Last Friday, 25 people came out for our winter Nintendo Night! There were a lot of familiar faces, as well as some new ones. And huge thanks to Rachel for bringing in her Wii. Eight people entered the Pokemon tournament for Diamond and Pearl on DS, and Maher got a $10 gift card to GameStop for winning. Twenty-four people entered the Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament. The top two from every round moved on until we had the final four. Mike won a $20 GameStop gift card for his win in the final. The top six finishers (Sean, Val, Maher, Rachel, David, and Mike) also got cups of candy. Other people had fun playing their own DS games or playing Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. on my old NES. It was a really great event, and we will do it again in June!

More Lubar Pix!

Nancy Trimbur, a member of our library board, came to the David Lubar author visit on March 5 and took pictures! Here are some of her shots from the evening:

A lot of people purchased books.

The book sales area was always packed.


David working the crowd!

There was a long line for book signing.

David took time with everyone, which was really nice.

Some older fans, and a new one!

Pimp My Phone!

On Wednesday afternoon, only four people showed up to make crafts for their phones, but it was a lot of fun! The three girls made felt cases for their phones that looked like Pop-Tarts. They all turned out really cute. The lone boy made a case for his out of red duct tape. It was very challenging! We were going to make robot charms for them too, but we totally ran out of time. Anyway, the program leftovers will be at our Craft Closet Cleanout program in May, so you can still make the items if you missed this event!

Check These Out!

We just got more new books, and you've got to get in here and check them out. We are running out of space, so my solution is to get the books in your hands as soon as possible!!

FICTION

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (replacement copy)
• One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
• Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly

NONFICTION

• Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger
• How to Survive a Horror Movie: All the Skills to Dodge the Kills by Seth Grahame-Smith
• The Pocket DJ: Ultragrrrl's Guide to Building the Best Music Library by Sarah Lewitinn
• Save this Shirt by Hannah Rogge
• It's My Life! A Guide to Alternatives after High School edited by Janine Schwab
• Hey Day! Super-Amazing, Funk-da-Crazing, Ultra-Glazing Things to Do, Make, and Ponder Every Day of the Year by Super Clea & Keva Marie
• Gothic and Lolita by Masayuki Yoshinaga

Lubar Was Here!

Tonight, a record-breaking 54 people came to our library to meet author David Lubar! It was really cool. We kept having to get out more chairs, and everyone was crowding around the table to buy books! There were a lot of different people there, including book group members, parents, teachers from several UD schools, students who wanted extra credit, and others who were just curious. There were people who use our library regularly and people I've never seen before!

David (who teased me for calling him Mr. Lubar) talked for about 1/2 hour about all kinds of things. We all knew he was an author, but we learned that math actually helped him be a writer. And that his philosophy degree helped him design video games. And that weird "what if" questions are central to his writing. His presentation was offbeat and a lot of fun. He hardly talked about his books at all until the Q&A part of the evening. Of course, then we talked about why his short story books all have "weenies" in the title. We learned that his future books include another "weenies" book, three books in a creepy new series, and another young adult title.

Thanks to the staff at Children's Book World for doing book sales, and to library page Nate who moved so much furniture. Thanks to Delaware County and Margie Stern who brought David to our library. And, of course, huge thanks to David Lubar for being awesome!

An action shot

What a great audience!

My brush with fame.

A smiling, but unwilling, victim of my photo frenzy.

Talking with David Lubar.

Everyone wanted to get books signed...

...even these teachers from BH!

Book Review: Unwind

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

SUMMARY: In this terrifying vision of the future, the pro-life and pro-choice armies have come to a truce. Abortion is illegal, but teens between the ages of 13 and 18 can be "unwound." This is technically not killing because every part of their bodies can be reused to heal other people's wounds. In this world, Connor, Risa, and Lev are expendible teens. Their lives intersect in a highway accident, and they find themselves fighting for survival outside the system that has destined them for unwinding. As they enter an underground rescue network, they have no idea whether they will end up whole or as parts. And they don't know who they can trust.

OPINION: This is one of the greatest dystopian fantasies that I have read in a long time. It is full of action and adventure, but also makes you consider ideas of life and what it means to be alive. This book does not take sides in the current abortion debate, but rather envisions a future in which it has had a profound effect. The most frightening part of this book is when the author actually describes what unwinding is like. You can almost see how it would be possible, and yet it is incredibly horrifying and dehumanizing. I have been a fan of Neal Shusterman for a long time, and this is definitely his best book yet. I read this around the same time as William Sleator's Test (reviewed below) and there's no comparison. Books like Unwind are why I love dystopian fantasy.

Book Review: Test

Test by William Sleator

SUMMARY: Just in time for test season, Sleator delivers an alarming view of a future in which one test determines your fate. All high school seniors must take the XCAS to graduate. Do poorly, and you are doomed to a life of never-ending gridlock, polluted air, and menial jobs. Ann's English XCAS scores are miserable, and her hatred of the test gets her wondering about its history, its creators, and its connection with the government. Soon she is being followed by a creepy man on a motorcycle. And it's only a matter of time before things get really dangerous...

OPINION: This book takes the current testing mandated by No Child Left Behind to a whole new level. The English class in this story is especially depressing, with students never actually reading an entire book. The best part of the story was when the students fought back with a nonviolent demonstration against the test. As a devout reader of dystopian fantasy, though, I thought the book itself lacked a really coherent vision of the future as a whole. It seemed more like the author just exaggerated current problems to use them as a platform for his anti-testing message. The sinister subplot failed to grab my imagination, and the connection between it and the testing was flimsy. I would have liked this book more if it more thoroughly explored the relationship between education and government in the context of student rights.