Bubble Gum Drop-In

Today, 21 people stopped by for the bubble gum drop-in program. Some people stayed for ten minutes, others lasted for the entire three hours, and everyone had fun! Lots of library regulars showed up, but there were also some new faces. Thanks to everyone who brought a friend! At the event, we made chewed gum sculptures, had a bubble-blowing contest, did gum trivia, ate snacks, and played Wii games. Winners of the trivia and bubble blowing contests got packs of gum, of course.

I finally found a used copy of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for the library's Wii, so we took turns playing that for a long time. I mean, you have to do something while chewing all that gum, right!? The game is so random that even watching someone else play is entertaining, but it is so easy that even someone who has never played Wii can do it. We also played some Rock Band games, ending the event with our always-amazing rendition of Yellow Submarine.

To make our gum sculptures as artistic as possible, we used gumballs in a variety of colors in addition to bubble gum. Here are some creations:

A crazy 3-D monster by Justin. This used the most gum of any sculpture. The dripping saliva gave it an extra gross flair...

Jasmine's poor armless girl couldn't actually pick those flowers!

Yes, Laurel made a macabre skull.

Anas enshrined his love for soccer.

This is Jace from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, immortalized in gum by Kaitlyn!

"Birds fly over the rainbow, why, then, oh why can't I..." by Emily

Book Review: Nightrise

Nightrise by Anthony Horowitz
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

SUMMARY: Scott and Jamie have always been different. Not only are they twins--they can read each other's minds. Their whole lives, people have taken advantage of this. Now it's going to get much, much worse. An evil group called Nightrise has taken an interest in Scott and Jamie...and want to imprison them and neutralize their abilities. When Nightrise attacks, one of the twins is taken and the other breaks free. The stakes are even higher than Scott or Jamie could imagine...because both of them are Gatekeepers, and the fate of the world hinges on their survival. (from the inside flap)

OPINION: In this third book in the series, the plot shifts to introduce two more of the Gatekeepers. Interestingly, the timeline for this book begins during the action of Evil Star. Just as action-packed as the previous two volumes, this story also shows the great reach of the Nightrise Corporation and further describes how they are utilizing the evil unleashed through the Nazca Gate. The reader really starts to get a sense of what the Gatekeepers are up against, as Nightrise is revealed to be an insidious evil with its tentacles in every area of society, including juvenile prisons and the American presidential race. However, instead of further developing this intersection of reality and fantasy, the story devolves into a collection of cliched characters and truly outlandish plot devices. The part of the book that made the least sense for the story or for the series was when Jamie was gravely injured, only to find himself transported 10,000 years into the past to help the first group of Gatekeepers. Nonetheless, once Jamie returns to the present, the ending is a heart-pounding race that pits brother against brother in a race to save a presidential candidate from assassination. This part of the story was definitely classic Horowitz, and I felt a little rewarded for slogging through the whole middle section of the book. Overall, I would recommend Nightrise only for devoted fans of the series. New readers will definitely want to start with the first book, Raven's Gate.

The books in The Gatekeepers series:

1. Raven's Gate
2. Evil Star
3. Nightrise
4. Necropolis
5. ??

Free Stuff from Simon & Schuster!

Here are some opportunities from the publisher Simon & Schuster that you may be interested in:

Pulse It
Join the Pulse It community to read teen books online, submit reviews, and be a trend-spotter.

Deb Caletti Book Giveaway
Enter by March 31 to win a bookshelf of her older books to celebrate the release of her newest one!

Call Me Book Club Sweepstakes
If you are a member of one of our bookgroups, enter us to win a set of books and a phone call from a teen author like Kate Brian, Deb Caletti, Angela Johnson, or Elizabeth Scott!!

Free Stuff Page
This is where Simon & Schuster announces all of their contests, so enter whatever suits you. They also offer special downloads on this page.

Mad Libs!

I love Mad Libs, and this little widget lets you play them on our blog! I added it to our sidebar, but I couldn't resist posting it here, as well. Visit the Mad Libs website to get your own.

St. Patrick's Day Party

Today, a surprising 22 people showed up for our first-ever St. Patrick's Day Party! It was crowded and crazy, but fun. We started with some green trivia, then worked in groups to do a St. Patrick's Day improv. After that, we made duct tape shamrocks and decorated shamrock cookies. We finished off the day by eating the cookies, along with green candy salad and Shamrock Shakes.

For the improv activity, each group got the same St. Patrick's Day props with a different Irish legend. The idea was to have one member narrate with the legend, while the other members used the props in as many ways as they could to act it out. The trick was, they couldn't use the props as what they really were. One group did so much improv that they created an entirely new script from what I had given them! Unfortunately, none of the pictures I took came out, so you'll just have to take my word about how hilarious some of the presentations were. We met a guy kneeling on his sneakers as a leprechaun, a feather-bearded assassin, a Druid priest in a striped headdress, a human shamrock, and some crying snakes. It was a lot of fun, and the winners got to pick a prop as a prize.

For more Irish fun online:

• Luck O' the Irish Funny Fill-In (it's like a Mad-Lib, but that word is copyrighted)
• St. Patrick's Day Trivia (mouse over the shamrock to see the correct answer)

Green candy salad!

Nintendo Night

On Friday, 26 teens showed up for our Teen Tech Week edition of Nintendo Night. In addition to two tournaments, people enjoyed free play of Rock Band games on the Wii and Super Mario 3 on the vintage NES. We had 24 in our Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament and 7 in the DS Pokemon tournament. The Brawl tournament brackets worked down to a top six, so we did two rounds of three players taking the top one from each round. The final ended up being Alex vs. Jared, and Jared emerged victorious again. In the Pokemon tournament, the final was Ross vs. Le, with Le as the winner. Alex and Le both earned $10 gift cards to Game Stop, while Jared got a $25 one. All of the quarter-final finishers in both tournaments earned candy.

This is the first time in a long time where we actually managed to finish both tournaments during the program and actually have time left over for free play on Brawl! Also, the only technical difficulties we had were that I forgot the speakers for the second Wii. My husband came to the rescue, though, and ran home and back here with our kids in tow. He arrived just in time! Thanks, Jason!!! Everyone who enjoyed Rock Band appreciates you.

March 2010 Teen Scene Book Suggestions

I just got this month's Teen Scene email newsletter, full of new reading ideas. It starts with a list of new fiction. How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation by Simone Elkeles, Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johnson, and After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick are new offerings by three young adult authors who I really like. Then, there's a booklist called "Inside People's Heads," which features titles dealing with mental and emotional issues. This email is a great service provided free for DCLS cardholders, so sign up now!

Announcing the Spring 2010 Program Schedule!

Enjoy all kinds of activities at the library from now until the end of the school year! Please note the registration dates. You can also join our Sellers Library Teens page on Facebook and register for events there.

DROP-IN DAYS
No registration, just come by after school and bring your friends! The hours are long because everyone’s schedules are different.

Bubble Gum
Wednesday, March 24, 2:00 to 5:00 pm
Drop by to make a chewed gum sculpture, enter a bubble blowing contest, try some trivia, eat snacks, and play Wii games! This is an early-out day for UDHS.

Candy Sushi
Wednesday, May 26, 2:00 to 5:00 pm
Back by popular demand! Candy sushi looks like the real thing, but tastes a lot yummier. Stop by with your friends to make several styles of sushi out of junk food. This is an early-out day for UDHS.


SPECIAL EVENTS

St. Patrick’s Day Party
Wednesday, March 17, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Join us after school for St. Patrick’s Day games, food, crafts, and prizes. Be sure to wear your green! Register now.

Book Swap & Miyazaki Movies
Wednesday, March 31, 1:00 to 4:30 pm
Put your spring break to good use! Trade in your old books for new reads, enjoy Hayao Miyazaki’s anime movies on the big screen, and eat food! Stop in to swap anytime, or stay and watch movies as long as you want. Swap books should be intermediate or young adult
paperback fiction in good condition. Register now.

Rock Band Jam Session
Wednesday, April 7, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Enjoy Rock Band 2, Rock Band: The Beatles, and Lego Rock Band. Come by yourself or with your band members. Register now.

Zine Workshop
Wednesdays April 28, May 5, May 12
3:30 to 5:00 pm
Are you a writer or artist? Join the underground magazine movement! Get creative with your work and get published in our library zine. In celebration of summer reading, the theme for this edition of the zine will be Make Waves. Participants must attend all three sessions. Registration begins March 22.

Nerd Appreciation Night
Friday, April 23, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Whether you are a drama nerd, book nerd, computer nerd, manga nerd, video game nerd, or any other kind, we appreciate you! Defend your favorites in our Battle of the Nerd Media and enjoy snacks, games, and activities in the company of other nerds. Sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board. Registration begins March 22.

Dance Dance Revolution
Wednesday, June 9, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Show your moves at our Xbox DDR program! We will project the game onto the wall so four people can dance at once. Dance for fun, or enter our contest. Permission slip required. Registration begins May 3.

Cheese Night
Friday, May 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Yes, it’s completely random. Yes, it’s a little bit weird. But if you love cheese, this night is for you! Enjoy cheesy movie clips, games, and crafts. Of course, there will also be plenty of cheesy snacks! Registration begins April 19.


CRAFTS

80s Crafts
Wednesday, April 21, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Rock out to 80s music while Beadazzling a retro-print tote bag and making a punk necklace. There will even be 80s prizes and candy! Registration begins March 22.

Jean Leg Autograph Pillow
Wednesday, May 19, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Get ready for the end of school ! Recycle a pair of old jeans into a pillow and collect good wishes from your friends for the summer. Registration begins April 19.

Craft Closet Cleanout
Wednesday, June 2, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Make something you missed or create something totally new as we get rid of leftover craft supplies from this year. Registration begins May 3.


BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS
Get free books and free food! Every month, the group votes on a book, and the library buys them each a copy to read and discuss at the next meeting.

Read and Rant Book Group
Third Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
March 19, April 23, May 21, June 18
This group is accepting a limited number of new members in grades 7 to 9. Registration is ongoing until spaces are full.

Book Grub Book Group
First Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
March 5, April 9, May 7, June 4
This group is accepting a limited number of new members in grades 10 to 12. Registration is ongoing until spaces are full.

Primos Branch Book Group
Third Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm
March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21
Open to students in grades 6 to 12, this group meets at the Primos Library at 409 Ashland Ave., Primos, PA, 19018. Call them to register: 610-622-8091.


CLUBS

Gaming Club
Mondays, March 1 to June 21
3:30 to 5:00 pm (no meeting 5/31)
Bring your Yu-Gi-Oh! deck, DS, 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! Permission slip required. Club size is limited. Registration is ongoing.

Anime Club
Fridays March 26, April 30, May 28
3:30 to 5:00 pm
The anime club meets once per month to watch and discuss great shows, participate in a drawing challenge, and learn about Japanese culture. Permission slip required. Club size is limited. Registration is ongoing.

YouTube Party

We held our second annual Teen Tech Week YouTube party yesterday. Fourteen teens attended, and we watched everything from homemade videos to professional productions. I only had to stop two videos for being inappropriate, so thanks to everyone who tried to keep it clean! We had three categories: Humor, Music/TV/Movies, and Other. Laurel won in the Humor category for showing Irving the Socially Awkward Bee and Dominic won in the Music/TV/Movies category with an animated verision of Adam Sandler's Happy Birthday song. Atrielle won both the Other category and the overall prize for showing episode 6 of his homemade sketch comedy show Everyday Grindin. This video had some really funny moments, especially at the end when they did a sketch talking like Lil Jon. For their efforts, Laurel and Dominic won candy, and Atrielle got candy and a $5 giftcard to Blockbuster. We will probably do this again in the fall because it's always a good time!

Coming to a Shelf Near You

Here are the newest books in the teen section:

FICTION

• Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian
• Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
• Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga
• The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (second copy)
• Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel
• Sea of Love by Jamie Ponti
• Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Touch series)
• Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Touch series)
• The Diamond Secret by Suzanne Weyn (Once Upon a Time series)

SHORT STORIES

• Immortal: Love Stories with Bite edited by P. C. Cast

NONFICTION

• Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail by Danica McKellar

Which Movie Nerd Are You?

I was thinking about the Nerd Night program idea dreamed up by some TAB members, and I came across this internet quiz!

Here's my result:

You're Hermione, the slightly bossy nerd with a hard-to-pronounce name. You're so nerdy that if someone gave you a time-travel device, you'd use it to take two classes at once. A double workload would drive some nerds crazy, but you obsess over packing your brain with knowledge. The only thing more important to you than studying? Using your excellent memory and analytical skills to keep your friends out of trouble.

Book Review: Ironman

Ironman by Chris Crutcher
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

Synopsis (taken from Chris Crutcher's website)

Bo Brewster has been at war with his father for as long as he can remember. Following angry outburst at his football coach and English teacher that have cost his spot on the football team and moved him dangerously close to expulsion from school, he turns to the only adult he believes will listen: Larry King.

In his letters to Larry, Bo describes his quest for excellence on his own terms. No more coaches for me, he tells the talk show icon, no more dads. I'm going to be a triathlete, an Ironman.

Relugated to Mr. Nak's before-school anger management group(which he initially believes to populated with future serial killers and freeway snipers), Bo meets a hard-edged, down-on-their-luck pack of survivors with stainless steel shields against the world that Bo comes to see are not so different from their own. It's here he meets and falls in love with Shelly, a future American Gladiator, whose passion for physical challenge more than matches his own.

My Review

Ironman was a heartfelt story about learning to accept that you can't change who your parents are, but you can stop yourself from becoming them. That was Bo's worst fear, to end up exactly like his dad. To him there was nothing worse in the world. As he struggles along, trying to make sense of the world, Bo works hard to compete in Yukon Jake's triathlon, pushing against anyone who wants him to fail, even his own father. This was about the third time I've read this book cover to cover and it still gets me every time. The raw emotion and the stories that leave to breathless. There are no sunshine and daises in a Chris Crutcher book, you feel the life these kids live and you wonder, that could have been me. Wonderful read.

I Have an Excellent Idea!

Let's change the subject! Lol reference to Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

Seriously though, I noticed that at the Get Your Game On! club, people tend to be waiting for turns (sometimes for a long time) on Brawl, or gravitate towards Melee on the GameCube when Brawl isn't playing. I wonder if this idea would be overdoing it, or just adding to the fun: since the Wii plays GameCube games as well, perhaps I could (occasionally) bring in my Wii to a) Make the current Wii dedicated to non-Brawl, b) Offer multiple stations for Brawl simultaneously, or c) Expand the choices for people not playing on the current Wii (whether it be Brawl, Rock Band, or Guitar Hero).

In case this idea is accepted... well, I have all data on Brawl unlocked, and I obviously have the game disk. For other games that my Wii does not have data for, anyone with an SD card can transfer it over (I have over 8GB of free memory across my SD and MicroSD cards). Additionally I can offer 2 Wii Remotes and Nunchucks for use, as well as 3 wireless and 2 wired GameCube controllers.

Well, what does everyone think? Post your feedback!

Oscar Party Winner

Sarah just scored our Oscar voting sheets from Friday night, and we had five people who guessed seven Oscar winners correctly. I did a drawing from among those five, and Shannon wins the prize! She wins a $5 gift card to Blockbuster, along with candy, soda, and popcorn. Congratulations, Shannon!

Random-A-Thon!!!

Even though the date was rescheduled, our first-ever library teen Random-A-Thon fundraiser was a huge success! Over the course of the day, 24 teens attended, and many stayed for the whole thing. We have raised over $700 already, and several people still have to turn in their money. I am amazed by that amount, having expected something in the $400-$500 range. Huge thanks to everyone who participated, no matter how much you raised. The top fundraising award will be announced after the March 19 donation deadline.

The Teen Advisory Board came up with the idea for the Random-A-Thon by combining a lot of our regular library programs into one long marathon event. The idea was that people would raise pledges and donations, then come stay as long as they could at the library on a Saturday. We've done lots of bake sales and yard sales, but we've never tried anything this big. We had no idea it would be so successful!

In the morning, we had DDR and Rock Band on the projector, and Monopoly and other board games at the tables. We took a lunch break to pig out on grilled cheese, PB&J (or fluff), carrots and celery, chips, cupcakes, and soda. Then it was on to an afternoon of chess and checkers, origami, crafts, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

In addition, we had many random things going on. I had prepared The Prize Box of Randomness, and brought it out at odd intervals and distributed prizes based on arbitrary questions and activities. A group hooked up the GameCube, Laurel practiced her katakana strokes from an iPod app, a group tried out my German Monopoly game, some guys played Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering, Nitha ran around harassing people with MadLibs, and several people did their homework.

Special thanks to Laurel for bringing homemade bread, to Nitha for running home to get a knife to cut it, and to Maria for staying late while I cleaned up at the end of the event. And happy birthday to Genni and Owen, who both attended the rescheduled Random-A-Thon even though it fell on the actual date of their birth.

Making Sharpie tie-dyed shoelaces!

Some completed crafts: origami, scratch-painted CD magnets, and a necktie belt as headwear!

"We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine..."

Chess

Monopoly

You never know what The Prize Box of Randomness will bestow upon you.

Oscar Party

Tonight, 17 teens showed up for our first-ever Oscar Party. I said people who signed up could bring their friends, and they did! It made me happy because I wasn't expecting that many people and we ended up with a nice group. Thanks to the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) for sponsoring this event with a $50 donation, and thanks to TAB members Genni and Nitha for attending!

Since we were celebrating the Oscars, everyone started the evening with a swag bag that had microwave popcorn and a water bottle in it. Through the evening, everyone had the opportunity to earn more swag by participating in activities. We wrote scripts using only the phrases on candy hearts, did a digital scavenger hunt around the library, and decorated star magnets. My favorite part was when people gave Oscar acceptance speeches for fake movies from The Official Movie Plot Generator. I gave away gum, boxes of movie candy, magnets, Ghirardelli chocolate squares, bubbles, candy jewelry, glow bracelets, and erasers as swag.

We also watched some clips from Oscar-winning movies and ate cheese, crackers, and grapes as our snack. At the end, everyone filled out their guesses for the Oscar winners, and whoever gets the most right after the broadcast will win a $5 gift card to Blockbuster, along with candy, soda, and popcorn. We used a really nice voting sheet that I downloaded from the Acadamy's Oscar Party Kit.

Watch the show this Sunday night!

Pop Top Bracelet Craft

Yesterday, 7 teens showed up to make pop top bracelets. I thought we would make at least two, but everyone got so involved with the Sharpies that we almost ran out of time to complete one bracelet! We colored the pop tops, then threaded them together into a two-layer bracelet that closes with a button. We did a really basic pattern, but it has a lot of potential for variation. Some people's bracelets looked preppy while others were more punk. We used colored cord, but I think doing it with ribbon would look really cute. There are leftovers, so look for this craft at the Random-A-Thon on Saturday!

Books R Us

Here are the newest additions to our teen shelves:

FICTION

• Beauty by Nancy Butcher
• Heist Society by Ally Carter (author of the Gallagher Girls series; two copies)
• The Queen of Cool by Cecil Castellucci
• The A-List by Zoey Dean (A-List series)
• Heart of Glass by Zoey Dean (A-List series)
• Some Like It Hot by Zoey Dean (A-List series)
• Tall Cool One by Zoey Dean (A-List series)
• The Clique by Lisi Harrison (Clique series; replacement copy)
• It's Not Easy Being Mean by Lisi Harrison (Clique series; second copy)
• Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (sequel to Suite Scarlett)
• The Clone Codes by the McKissacks
• Hero by Perry Moore
• ttfn by Lauren Myracle (second copy)
• Breaking Up Is Really, Really Hard to Do by Natalie Standiford (Dating Game series)
• Can True Love Survive High School? by Natalie Standiford (Dating Game series)
• The Dating Game by Natalie Standiford (Dating Game series; second copy)
• I Like It Like That by Cecily von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl series; second copy)
• Nobody Does It Better by Cecily von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl series; replacement copy)
• Unforgettable by Cecily von Ziegesar (It Girl series)
• Would I Lie to You by Cecily von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl series; replacement copy)
• You're the One that I Want by Cecily von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl series; second copy)

SHORT STORIES

• The Eternal Kiss: Thirteen Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire

Book Review: Libyrinth

Libyrinth by Pearl North

(Click on the cover to find a library copy)

SUMMARY: Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her. When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life.The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same. (adapted from the product descripton on Amazon.com)

OPINION: What could have easily been an anti-censorship message thinly veiled in fantasy becomes a robustly-imagined world in the hands of author Pearl North. I understood the Libyrarians pretty well, since I know about reading and researching, but I found the Eradicants fascinating. Their oral and singing traditions were an amazing way to pass down information, and the Libyrarians eventually started to give them a little of the respect I thought they deserved. This is the first in a proposed trilogy, and I hope that the stories uncover more of the mysteries of the ancient civilization that first built the Libyrinth. I became most curious about Nod and the other clockwork creations after startling revelations near the end of this story! Also, this book gave me new appreciation for Anne Frank's diary, a book which my seventh grade reading teacher pretty much ruined. The creative inclusion of timely phrases from The Diary of a Young Girl were pivotal in changing the direction of the story. As many snippets of books shout out to Haly through the story, a biblography is included at the end. I think this is a good choice for people who have enjoyed fantasy series like The Books of Pellinor by Allison Croggon or The Chanters of Tremaris by Kate Constable, as well as people who enjoy thinking about questions of information and censorship.

Book Review: The Musician's Daughter

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

SUMMARY: Amid the glitter and glamour of musical and court life in 18th century Vienna, fifteen-year-old Theresa Maria Shurman is trying to solve a brutal mystery. Who killed her father, an acclaimed violinist, and stole his valuable Amati violin? When Haydn himself offers her a position as his assistant, it gives Theresa access to life in the palace–and to a world of deceit. Theresa uncovers blackmail and extortion even as she discovers courage and honor in unexpected places: from a Gypsy camp on the banks of the Danube, to the rarefied life of the imperial family. And she feels the stirrings of a first, tentative love for someone who is as deeply involved in the mystery as she is. (from the Amazon.com Product Description)

OPINION: Theresa lives in comfort, if not style, until the day her musician father is murdered. Left with just her very pregnant mother and a younger brother, Theresa realizes that they have no money and little future without him. Theresa is duty-bound to hold her family together by making an advantageous marriage, but puts everything at risk to pursue the mystery of her father's death. The complicated political situation that emerges does threaten to overwhelm the story at times. I think it would have helped to know more about the geography and politics of the time to really understand the plot that Theresa uncovers. Nonetheless, you don't have to be a student of history to enjoy this story. With descriptions of clothes and court life, plenty of heart-pounding narrow escapes, and just a hint of romance, this book is a quick read. I recommend it for middle and high school girls who like their historical fiction on the light side.

Find Us on Facebook!

It's taken forever, but I finally created a Sellers Library Teens group on Facebook! It is for everyone in grades 6 to 12 who wants to know what is going on at our library. There is already a Sellers Library group, which you are welcome to join, but the new group will focus on teen announcements and events. The teen group is closed, so you have to request to join. I will approve everyone who is a middle or high school student, even if I don't personally know you. Look us up and join today!

DDR

Yesterday, 12 teens showed up to play DDR after school. It was nice to see some new faces, talk with some old friends, and hang out with the library regulars! Everyone participated in the tournament, and Jamie actually had some competition. The final match ended up being among Ross, Jamie, and Laurel. Jamie won, but the other two were close behind him! Jamie received a $10 gift card to GameStop, while Laurel and Ross got candy for their efforts. We'll be playing DDR again soon, so look for it on the spring schedule.

Book Review: Evil Star

Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz

(Click on the cover to find a library copy.)

SUMMARY: Matt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate...but, in fact, they were just beginning. Evil forces will stop at nothing to track him down and destroy him. When a suspicious accident destroys part of his school, Matt is forced to fight back. Matt's fate--and the fate of the world--is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the threat of the Old Ones grows, a strange and insidious villain beckons, and another Gate suddenly comes into play. (adapted from the back cover)

OPINION: This is the second book in The Gatekeepers series, after Raven's Gate. It has a similar fast-paced plot, with lots of dramatic action scenes. What I especially liked about this book was the exploration of mythical aspects of Peruvian culture. The mysteries of the Incas and other people groups are lost to history, but sites like Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines remain as a testament to their abilities. The setting made the book much more interesting than the first one, even though the writing was about the same. I guessed some of the major plot revelations before they happened and I was annoyed by the fact that Matt and Pedro could communicate in English their dreams when they didn't speak the same language in real life. However, I still kept reading because the story was fun. I liked how the ending was not similar to that of Raven's Gate. It definitely allows more interesting possibilities for the remaining three books in the series. Overall, I say this is a good series for middle school readers looking for quick and action-packed reads.

SERIES TITLE: This series is published as The Gatekeepers in the U.S., but in England it is know as The Power of Five. They are the same books.

AUTHOR WEBSITE: Visit Anthony Horowitz online at http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/

Good Books to Read

If you are always looking for another good book to read, sign up for the Teen Scene email newsletter from NextReads! Every month, I get great suggestions delivered to my inbox from this free service provided by the Delaware County Library System. This month's list features new books ranging from a teen cookbook to historical fiction to short stories, and also a cute thematic list called "Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." All of the books on the thematic list are related to NASCAR racing! That's one theme I never thought to make a booklist on, but some of the titles actually look good. I definitely recommend subscribing to Teen Scene.

Book Review: The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

SUMMARY: The Myth: Alice was an ordinary girl who stepped through the looking glass and entered a fairy-tale world invented by Lewis Carroll in his famous storybook. The Truth: Wonderland is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss’ parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, must flee to our world through the Pool of Tears. But in the pool Alyss and Hatter are separated. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Yet he gets the story all wrong. Hatter Madigan knows the truth only too well, and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. (from the back cover)

OPINION: As I librarian, I am ashamed to admit it, but I have never read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carrol. I am familiar with the characters and some plot elements, of course, mostly from the Disney movie. Now I have to go back and read the real books. Why? Because I thoroughly enjoyed Frank Beddor's reimagining of Wonderland and want to find out more about the original. The card solders were definitely my favorite part of Beddor's Wonderland, especially because he included drawings of how they worked. The engaging action/adventure plot kept me turning the pages, and the hint of romance kept me hopeful throughout the story. If you are the type of reader who likes to get lost in a fantasy world, this one's for you.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: Frank Beddor maintains a great site devoted to The Looking Glass Wars, including sections devoted to fan art, fan fiction, and even fan videos! There are screensavers and wallpapers to download, e-cards to send, flash-animated games to play, and forums where you can talk to other fans.

FUTHER READING: This is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Seeing Redd and ArchEnemy. There is also a graphic novel series following the adventures of Hatter Madigan as he searches for Alyss in our world. This series includes Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars and Hatter M: Mad with Wonder so far. The third volume, Hatter M: The Nature of Wonder, is scheduled for release later this year.

FURTHER WATCHING: A new Alice in Wonderland movie comes to the big screen this March, and I have heard that it has some parallels to The Looking Glass Wars (even though a movie of this book has been optioned as well). IMDB's plot summary says, "19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror." Hmmm. The rumors may be true! Plus, it is directed by Tim Burton and has Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, so it can't be all bad.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament

Since the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game has become popular again, several members of our weekly Gaming Club have been asking me to have a tournament. We used to do a lot of tournaments, but it has been a few years since our last one, so I decided to give it a try. Last Friday, 11 players and 2 judges showed up for our tournament. Most of them were from our Gaming Club, but there were a few new faces. It was a small group, but some of the early gameplay took forever! Thanks to Alex F. and David J. who put up with a lot as our judges. We got through two rounds of three games each, but we actually had to suspend the tournament in the middle of the finals and resume it at Gaming Club on Monday! After all of that, Alex C. emerged as the winner and got a $15 gift card to Toys R Us to buy some new cards. Our top three finishers also included Jamie M. and John E., who each won candy for their efforts. It was fun to try this again, so thanks to everyone who showed up to duel and judge!

Teen Random-A-Thon Fundraiser!

On Saturday, Feburary 27, the Teen Advisory Board is hosting a Random-A-Thon Fundraiser to support teen events at the library. Just collect pledges and donations ahead of time, then hang out and have fun on the day of the event! Activities will include video games, crafts, board games, and more. It will be from 9:00 to 5:00, and everyone in grades 6 to 12 is invitied to come when you can and stay for as long as possible.

Register now and pick up your fundraising packet! A complete schedule of activities and a lot more information about the Random-A-Thon is included with the registration materials. If you have questions, please contact Gretchen Ipock at 610-789-4440 or yaservices@udlibraries.org.

More Books for Us

Here are the latest items to come through processing for our teen section:

• Serendipity Market by Penny Blubaugh
• Secret Society by Tom Dolby
• The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman
• Shock Point by April Henry
• The Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power by L. J. Smith
• Otherspace by David Stahler, Jr. (Truesight trilogy)
• Blind Faith by Ellen Wittlinger

Final Gift Card Donation Update

After a month of collecting used gift cards, the Teen Advisory Board has raised $109.47 to support our summer reading programs! About $80 of this was in gift cards, so we will be combining them all into $5 cards for to use as weekly prizes for summer reading. We are also grateful for an unexpected cash contribution that we will apply toward a special event. Huge thanks to all of the patrons and staff who generously donated to us!

Hack-Proof Your Passwords

Since the beginning of the internet, people have been using east-to-remember passwords. Last month, a hacker stole a giant list of passwords from a software company and it revealed some very interesting data to the public. The most common passwords in this list were 123456, 12345, and 123456789. Not very creative, hmmm? Check out this article for the full story:

If Your Password Is 123456, Just Make it HackMe

It is hard to remember all the different passwords you create for various sites, so it is tempting to only use a few simple ones over and over again. However, it is a good idea to use longer and more challenging passwords to help stop hacking on everything from Facebook to email to online banking.

Some tips:

• Use longer passwords. Every extra character adds security.
• Do not use the password suggestions generated by a site.
• Don't just use words, like "iloveyou" or "password."
• Don't use your name or initials.
• Do not use easy-to-guess combinations of numbers like years or birthdates.
• Use a mixture of capital and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.

For example, if your password is "princess," you could change it to something like "Pr!nc3ZZ." You could even add some extra symbols or numbers to the beginning or end to make it longer. It's still easy to remember, but it's a lot harder to hack!

Brain Break, Part 2

Last Wednesday was our second Brain Break program, and 19 people stopped by. Actually, almost everyone stayed for the entire time! It was pretty much a repeat of last week, with Rock Band, fingerpainting, sand art, crazy Mr. Potato Heads, and board games out to pass the time and provide stress relief. This week, I baked brownies and iced some sugar cookies as our special comfort food. We also had chips and dip, M&Ms, cheese curls, hot chocolate, hot tea, and iced tea.
Although this event was aimed at Prendie and Bonner students who had exams this week, we ended up with a mixture of students from both public and private middle and high schools. Everyone seemed to have fun, even though one of our Rock Band guitars died. Fingerpainting was especially popular, with creations that ranged from ironic to masterful to just plain overenthusiastic. Thanks to TAB members Elena, Busra, Genni, Kaitlyn, and Christine for showing up and helping everyone feel welcome.

PHOTOS FROM THE CRAZY MR. POTATO HEAD CONTEST:

After her "Fail Potato" entry from last week, Laurel won this week with "Armed and Dangerous"!

A wacky potato with a pierced, pizza-carrying arm where the nose should be.

King of the Pirate Hippies

This potato is so weird-looking, and yet somehow very appealing. I love the arm and moustache on the head.

A four-armed, pierced pizza princess!

This one looks like some kind of British lord with a penchant for women's jewelry.

Book Review: I So Don't Do Mysteries

I So Don't Do Mysteries by Barrie Summy
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

SUMMARY: About to be shipped off to San Diego while her widower dad goes on his honeymoon, seventh-grader Sherry(short for Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin prepares to put up a fight when she is contacted by her mother's ghost. Killed in the line of duty, her cop mom is flunking out of an afterlife law-enforcement academy, and she needs Sherry's help to crack a case at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. So what if Sherry, a self-proclaimed screw-up, is nothing like Nancy Drew? (This is the summary from Publisher's Weekly taken from Amazon. com.)

OPINION: This was a good read, I really liked the fact that even if Sherry was always doubting herself, she wanted to help her mom and that allowed her to get over her inability to take on situations. Things are helped by the fact that there's a super cute guy in the picture. You'll find yourself very happy you took the time to read this story and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.

Brain Break!

On Wednesday, January 27, the Teen Advisory Board will host their second Brain Break program from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. If you are worn out from end-of-the-semester projects and tests, drop in to de-stress and regress with us! Play Rock Band, finger paint a masterpiece, make a sand art keychain, and enter our crazy Mr. Potato Head contest. Of course, there will be plenty of comfort food. Bring your friends! Everyone in grades 6 to 12 is welcome, and there is no registration.

Book Review: The Stolen One

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
Click on the cover to find a library copy of the book.

SUMMARY: Kat's true identity is a secret, even from her. All she has ever known are Grace and Anna and their small village. Kat wants more - more than hours spent embroidering finery for wealthy ladies and more than Christian, the gentle young farmer courting her. But there are wolves outside Grace warns. Waiting, with their eyes glowing in the dark . . . and Grace has given Kat safety and a home when no one else would. Then a stranger appears in their cottage, bringing the mystery of Kat's birth with her. In one night, Kat's destiny finds her. She will leave. She will journey to London, and her skill with the needle will attract the notice of the magnificant Queen Elizabeth - and of the wolves at court. She will discover what Grace would never tell her. Everthing will unravel. (from the inside flap)

OPINION: Do not write this off as another boring historical fiction novel! Yes, it is set in Elizabethan England, but the intrigue and romance could be straight out of any contemporary story. Richly imagined from a real footnote of history, the characters are compelling and mysterious. It seems that everyone has secrets to keep, including Kat. When two rapid deaths catapult the plot from country poverty to courtly wealth, Kat soon learns that it will take all her cunning to find the information she seeks without giving too much of herself in return. The only thing that could have made this book better was if it could have included pictures of Kat's embroidery and the clothing she created. I would have loved to see everything from her sketch book to her dress for the queen! If you are a fan of series like The Luxe or The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, you will love the lush historical setting for this engaging story.

Gift Card Donation Update #3

As of today, the Teen Advisory Board's gift card donation fundraiser has gathered $97.66 to support the 2010 summer reading program! We hung up signs asking for donations of partially used gift cards, and have received some new and used from both patrons and staff. Last week, I opened a donation envelope and found a check from a library patron, which was really unexpected and very generous!

Want to know how this program works? Check out my original post. We are taking donations through January 31.

More New Books

Another pile of items has just come through processing, so look for these books in the teen section:

FICTION

• Waves by Sharon Dogar
• Pop by Gordon Korman
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking series; second copy)
• The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking series)

NONFICTION

• Privacy, Please! Gaining Independence from Your Parents by Odile Amblard
• Preparing for College: Practical Advice for Students and Their Families by John J. Rooney and John F. Reardon
• Which Way to the Wild West: Everything your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You about America's Westward Expansion by Steve Sheinkin
• Drawing in Color by Kathryn Temple

Brain Break, Part 1

Yesterday, 24 teens stopped by to participate in the Teen Advisory Board's Brain Break program. The TAB planned this program as a drop-in day to help provide stress relief during exams, and I think it worked! Some people stayed the entire time and some came for a short time, but it was fun for everyone. We played Rock Band II and Rock Band: The Beatles, made sand art keychains, fingerpainted some amazing artwork, played board games, and had a crazy Mr. Potato Head contest. There was also a lot of comfort food, including cupcakes and cookies made by me, hot chocolate and hot tea, chips and dip, and M&Ms. Everyone left with a little container of Play Dough and several people checked out books from our display of new items.

Special thanks to Emily and Jasmine, who showed up early to help me set up and stayed for the whole program. Also, thanks to TAB members Nitha, Alexa, Anas, Amy, Busra, and Katie for hanging out at the event and making people feel welcome.

Don't worry if you missed it because we will be doing it again next Wednesday, January 27, from 2:00 to 5:00. Repeat visitors are also welcome, so come by anytime and bring your friends.

PHOTOS FROM THE CRAZY MR. POTATO HEAD CONTEST

Anas won our contest with this cross-dressing detective. He won a mug of study supplies, including a $5 gift card to Wawa.

Nitha's potato has problems...

I liked the hot dog hat on this one.

Hmmm. I'd like to say that Laurel was imitating Picasso, but I think she just might be crazy.

Only the coolest princesses wear sneakers!

This spud has a big brain, but no common sense when it comes to fashion.

Everything men can do, women can do backwards and in high heels. (That is according to Alexa who made this one.)

This understated entry was my second favorite. I love the combination of the peg leg, ear muffs, crown, and arms.

New Series from Rick Riordan

Now that the Percy Jackson books are complete, Rick Riordan is at work on a new series. Called The Kane Chronicles, the series will follow the adventures of a brother and sister and will incorporate Egyptian mythology. The Red Pyramid, the first book in the series, will be released on May 4. While you're waiting, check out the animated book cover and read an excerpt!

And the Winners Are...

Today, the American Library Association announced the winners of its Youth Media Awards. They give out many awards for everything from nonfiction to audiobooks, but the most famous are definitely the Caldecott and the Newbery. Here are some of the award winners of teen interest:

Michael L. Printz Award (given for excellence in literature written for young adults)

• Winner: Going Bovine by Libba Bray
• Honor: Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
• Honor: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
• Honor: Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
• Honor: Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

The Schneider Family Book Award is given for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience. The winner in the young adult category was Marcelo in the Real World written by Francisco X. Stork.

Walter Dean Myers won the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. He has written many exceptional books for teens including Fallen Angels, Monster, and Sunrise Over Fallujah.

The William C. Morris Award honors a book written by a first-time author for young adults. This year's winner was Flash Burnout written by L.K. Madigan.

The Odyssey Award is given for excellence in audiobook production and is not age-specific. One of the honor audiobooks was In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber by L. A. Meyer.

Look for these books at the library!

Board Game Blast

On Friday, 9 teens showed up for our winter board game event. However, we made enough noise for about 20 people, so it all worked out. One group played an epic game of Lord of the Rings Risk, and the rest of us played Scattergories and Apples to Apples. Both of the word games caused random outbreaks of singing, and even dancing. I learned that Billy has some pretty convincing Michael Jackson dance moves! We will definitely have more board game events later in the year, so check the schedule.

This random picture from that event has nothing to do with games. It has everything to do with ninjas.

Books to Movies in 2010

A new year means lots of books are coming to a theater near you! I included all books with teen interest, not just those that were published for young adults, so there is something for everyone. I can't vouch for their quality, but look for these movies through the year and make your own judgments:

• January 15: The Lovely Bones (book by Alice Sebold)
• February 5: Dear John (book by Nicholas Sparks)
• February 12: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (book by Rick Riordan)
• March 5: Alice in Wonderland (book by Lewis Carroll)
• April 2: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (book by Jeff Kinney)
• April 2: The Last Song (book by Nicholas Sparks)
• June 30: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (book by Stephenie Meyer)
• July 30: Beastly (book by Alex Flinn)
• September 17: Flipped (book by Wendelin Van Draanen)
• November 19: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (book by J. K. Rowling)
• December 10: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (book by C. S. Lewis)
• December 22: Gulliver's Travels (book by Jonathan Swift)

(There will be several hightly-anticipated comic book movies out this year as well. I didn't include them because they will all be R-rated as far as I could tell.)

Words of the Day

I was just looking at a list of synonyms for the noun mischief, and so many of them are fun to say that I had to share them here:

• frolicsomeness
• mischievousness
• monkeyshines
• prankishness
• rascality
• roguishness
• shenanigans
• tomfoolery
• waggishness

There now, don't you feel smarter and more happy after saying those?

Winter 2010 Program Schedule

The complete winter program schedule is now available! Here's what we're doing from now until the end of March:

DROP-IN DAYS
No registration, just come by anytime and bring your friends! The hours are long because everyone’s schedules are different.

Brain Break
Wednesdays, January 20 AND 27
2:00 to 5:00 pm
Get your nose out of your books for our exam stress
relief program! Play Rock Band, finger paint a masterpiece, make a sand art keychain, and enter our crazy Mr. Potato Head contest. Of course, there will be plenty of comfort food. Sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board.

Winter Olympics
Wednesday, February 24, 2:00 to 5:00 pm
Play Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, enter our medal count contest, test your trivia knowledge, enjoy wintry snacks, and more! This is an early-out day for UDHS.


RANDOM-A-THON
Teen Advisory Board Fundraiser
Saturday, February 27
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Ask for hourly pledges from family and friends, then come to our event for as long as you can! The longer you stay, the more money you’ll help raise for teen programs and activities. Pass the time with all kinds of library activities, including video games, reading, crafts, and board/card games. Register and pick up a participation packet with more information starting February 1.


SPECIAL EVENTS

Board Game Blast
Friday, January 15, 6:30 to 8:30
Do you want to try out a new game? Do you have an old favorite to share? Bring your own or use ours, hang out with your friends, eat snacks, and win prizes! Register now.

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament
Friday, January 29, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Prepare your deck! Duel in our single-elimination Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament to test your mastery. We will be playing the advanced version, so make sure you know the rules and which cards are allowed. Permission slip required. Program size limited to 32 participants. Players supply their own decks. Register now.

Movie: Remember the Titans (PG)
Wednesday, February 3, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
What better way to prepare for the Superbowl than with a football movie!? Remember the Titans is an uplifting story of a football team struggling to work together during their first year after school desegregation. Even if you are not a football fan, there is a lot to love about this movie. Register now.

Victorian Valentines
Wednesday, February 10, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Take the time to make your own fancy Valentines for friends and family. We will provide the paper, ribbons, lace, flower petals, and other supplies; you supply the inspiration! Register now.

Un-Valentine’s Day Party
Friday, February 12, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Hate Valentine’s Day? Wish there was an alternative to flowers, candy, and true love? Come to our party! Sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board. Register now.

Dance Dance Revolution
Wednesday, February 17, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Show your moves at our Xbox DDR program! We will project the game onto the wall so four people can dance at once. Dance for fun, or enter our contest. Permission slip required. Register now.

Recycled Pop-Top Bracelet Craft
Wednesday, March 3, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
We’ve been saving metal soda can tabs for ages, and we finally have enough to do this craft! We will color the tabs, then overlap them into a fashionable bracelet. Registration begins February 1.

St. Patrick’s Day Party
Wednesday, March 17, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Join us after school for St. Patrick’s Day games, food, crafts, and prizes. Be sure to wear your green! Registration begins February 15.


TEEN TECH WEEK
Learn Create Share @ Your Library
March 7 to 13, 2010

Oscar Party
Friday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Celebrate Hollywood at our first-ever Oscar party! Enjoy games, a digital scavenger hunt, crafts, movie clips, and snacks. Lots of prizes and swag will be given away. Be sure to dress to impress the paparazzi on the red carpet! Sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board. Registration begins February 1.

YouTube Viewing Party
Wednesday, March 10, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Come share your favorite YouTube videos and win prizes! We will hook a laptop up to a projector so that everyone has a great view. Come prepared with ideas *appropriate* for the whole group. Registration begins February 1.

Nintendo Night
Friday, March 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Bring your DS and favorite games, enter a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament on the big screen, play games on an original NES, and more! Permission slip required. Registration begins February 1.


CLUBS

Gaming Club
Mondays, Janaury 4 to May 24
3:30 to 5:00 pm (no meetings 1/18 & 2/15)
Bring your Yu-Gi-Oh! deck, DS, 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! Permission slip required. Club size is limited. Registration is ongoing.

Anime Club
Fridays January 29, February 26, March 26
3:30 to 5:00 pm
The anime club meets once per month to watch and discuss great shows, participate in a drawing challenge, and learn about Japanese culture. Permission slip required. Club size is limited. Registration is ongoing.


BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS
Get free books and free food! Every month, the group votes on a book, and the library buys them each a copy to read and discuss at the next meeting. *Due to various holidays, some book group meetings will not fall during their regular weeks.

Read and Rant Book Group
Third* Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
January 22, February 19, March 19, April 23
This group is accepting a limited number of new members in grades 7 to 9. Registration is ongoing until spaces are full.

Book Grub Book Group
First* Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
January 8, February 5, March 5, April 9
This group is accepting a limited number of new members in grades 10 to 12. Registration is ongoing until spaces are full.

Primos Branch Book Group
Third* Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm
January 25, February 22, March 15, April 19
Open to students in grades 6 to 12, this group meets at the Primos Library at 409 Ashland Ave., Primos, PA, 19018. Call them to register: 610-622-8091.

The Definitive Newest of the New Books

More books from our end-of-year purchasing are coming through, so look for these new additions to our teen collection:

FICTION

• The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander
• Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin
• Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
• Step to This by Nikki Carter (So for Real series)
• Tempted by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast (House of Night series)
• The Weirn Books by Svetlana Chmakova (Nightschool series)
• L. A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
• Girl Stays in the Picture by Melissa de la Cruz (Girl series)
• After by Amy Efaw
• See No Evil by Jamila Gavin
• Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider series)
• Demon Chick by Marilyn Kaye
• Sanctuary by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely series)
• Hamlet by John Marsden
• Shooting Star by Fredrick McKissack
• The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
• Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Dairy Queen trilogy)
• Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical edited by Deborah Noyes
• Bait by Alex Sanchez
• Silksinger by Laini Taylor (Faeries of Dreamdark series)

NONFICTION

• The Duel: The Parallel Lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr by Judith St. George

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Samurai 7, volume 1 by Akira Kurosawa
• World of Warcraft: Ashbringer by Micky Neilson

ESL (These teen books are kept with the ESL collection in the children's library)

• Amanecer by Stephenie Meyer (Breaking Dawn in Spanish)
• Crepúsculo by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight in Spanish)
• Eclipse en Español by Stephenie Meyer (Eclipse in Spanish)
• Luna Nueva by Stephenie Meyer (New Moon in Spanish)

Gift Card Donation Update #2

As of today, the Teen Advisory Board's gift card donation fundraiser has gathered $72.42 to support the 2010 summer reading program! We hung up signs asking for donations of partially used gift cards, and have received some from both patrons and staff. We did have a few generous donations of new gift cards, so that's why the total is higher than you might have expected.

Want to know how this program works? Check out my original post. We are taking donations through January 31.

January Teen Reads

The January Teen Scene email newsletter has a bunch of great titles to keep you reading the winter away! Several new books on the list caught my attention, including Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga and Everwild by Neal Schusterman (two of my favorite authors). I hadn't heard of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick before getting the email, but it's a paranormal romance that looks like a good read.

The newsletter also had a list of books with memorable first lines, including everything from the humorous Absolutely, Positively Not by David LaRochelle to the science fiction adventure of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. My all-time favorite first line was not on this list, but it's from Feed by M. T. Anderson: "'We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck."

Get the Teen Scene book newsletter delivered to your inbox every month from the Delaware County Libray System. Just click on the Next Reads icon to sign up!

Newest of the New Books

A lot of things that we purchased at the end of the year are finally coming through processing, so look for these new items in the teen section:

• Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes
• The Glass Maker's Daughter by V. Briceland
• Stealing Death by Janet Lee Carey
• It Is What It Is by Nikki Carter (So for Real series)
• It's All Good by Nikki Carter (So for Real series)
• The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
• Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
• Forest Born by Shannon Hale (Books of Bayern series)
• Return to Goosham Grange: The Unholy Grail by Anthony Horowitz
• Blood Promise by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy series)
• Riot by Walter Dean Myers
• Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
• Max by James Patterson (Maximum Ride series)
• The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson
• This Full House by Virginia Euwer Wolff (Make Lemonade trilogy)
• Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

Gift Card Donation Update

So far, the Teen Advisory Board's gift card donation fundraiser has gathered $54.85 to support the 2010 summer reading program! We asked for donations of partially used gift cards, and received some from both patrons and staff already. We did have a few generous donations of new gift cards, so that's why the total is higher than you might have expected.

Want to know how this program works? Check out my original post. We are taking donations through January 31.

Newest Books

Here are the newest of the new books for our teen section! Some are new purchases and others are review books that we got from DCLS. (We also just put out all of the items bought at the Barnes & Noble fundraiser day.) Check out a few things to keep you busy since it's so cold outside!

• The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
• Belle by Cameron Dokey
• The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner (sequel to The Red Necklace)
• The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardings
• Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
• Love Is the Higher Law by David Levithan
• Purge by Sarah Littman
• Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
• Sea of Love by Jamie Ponti
• Patterson Heights by Felicia Pride (Kimani Tru)
• Decision Time by Earl Sewell (Kimani Tru)
• Blackbringer by Laini Taylor (Faeries of Dreamdark series)
• Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff
• The Diamond Secret by Suzanne Weyn