New Mental Health Books

We just cataloged a new set of books dealing with various mental health issues for the teen nonfiction section. These are not your typical reference books for school reports, though. They are memoirs combined with information, and are presented in such a way that you can actually read them cover-to-cover. Read these books if someone you know is experiencing a mental health issue or if you are just curious about how someone else dealt with their problems.

• Next to Nothing: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with an Eating Disorder by Carrie Arnold
• What You Must Think of Me: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Social Anxiety Disorder by Emily Ford
• Monochrome Days: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Depression by Cait Irwin
• Mind Race: A First-Hand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Bipolar Disorder by Patrick E. Jamieson
• The Thought that Counts: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Jared Douglas Kant
• Chasing the High: A Firsthand Account of One Young Person's Experience with Substance Abuse by Kyle Keegan
• Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope Over Suicide by DeQuincy A. Lezine
• Me, Myself, and Them: A Firsthand Account of One Young Person's Experience with Schizophrenia by Kurt Snyder

These books were published by the Adolescent Mental Health Intiative of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. Visit their teen mental health website at http://copecaredeal.org/

Book Review: Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

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

SUMMARY: At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alex Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations--that Brittany's flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex's bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they're together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface. (from the back cover)

OPINION: This urban novel has echoes of Romeo and Juliette, but it is not just another tale of star-crossed lovers. Yes, it has romance, but it also deals with the social issues and prejudices that lurk just beneath the surface in any school or community. By alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Brittany and Alex, the author manages to portray both characters in an authentic way. After all, most people are never just made of what we see on the outside. This is a realistic look at what happens when you break the unwritten rules.

Prom Season

If you haven't found the perfect dress yet, you're running out of time! But if you already have your formal fashions, check out one of these prom-themed books from the teen section:

At Sellers:

• Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Forever Princess by Meg Cabot
• Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot
• Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
• Much Ado About Prom Night by William D. McCants
• Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
• A Really Nice Prom Mess by Brian Sloan

At Other Libraries:

• 24 Girls in 7 Days by Alex Bradley
• Top 10 Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro
• 21 Proms edited by David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft
• Prom Anonymous by Blake Nelson

And if books aren't your thing, check out this list of best prom movies!

Book Review: A Really Nice Prom Mess

A Really Nice Prom Mess by Brian Sloan

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

SUMMARY: Cameron would rather be at the prom with his boyfriend. But instead, they camoflage themselves as a double date with some gorgeous girls. But then...(1) his date figures out that he's gay, (2) she threatens to tell his parents, (3) he fights with his date and his boyfriend, (4) he leaves the dance in disguise with a drug dealer, (5) he ends up in a car chase...and this is only the beginning!

OPINION: Cameron is the James Bond of humorous and unlikely situations. Many parts of this book were so random that I cracked up while reading it. I laughed out loud at all the plot twists, coincidence, and other hilarity. But, parts of the writing seemed stilted and the voice of the main character didn't always seem realistic. There were a few too many references to the WB and giving "snaps" to people, for example. So my overall opinion is that this is not the best-written book about being a gay teen, but it might be the funniest! Definitely written for older teen readers, this is one to pick up for an absurdist view of that quaint school tradition we call the prom.

TAB Book Donations

The Teen Advisory Board recently spent some of its money to purchase some new popular paperbacks for the teen section. One of our pet peeves is incomplete series, so we filled in some gaps in the collection. We also bought some books just for fun. Look for our sticker inside the front cover of these new books:

• Family Affairs by Jen Calonita (Secrets of My Hollywood Life series)
• On Location by Jen Calonita (Secrets of My Hollywood Life series)
• Bratfest at Tiffany's by Lisi Harrison (Clique series)
• It's Not Easy Being Mean by Lisi Harrison (Clique series)
• P.S. I Loathe You by Lisi Harrison (Clique series)
• Sealed with a Diss by Lisi Harrison (Clique series)
• Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe
• Faking 19 by Alyson Noel
• Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce (Circle of Magic series)
• Kissing Coffins by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses series)
• Vampireville by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses series)
• Night World #1: Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, and Spellbinder by L. J. Smith
• Night World #2: Dark Angel, The Chosen, and Soulmate by L. J. Smith
• Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Nutrition for Peak Performance

Today, 17 people showed up to hear a nutritionist from Mercy Fitzgerald talk about proper nutrition for athletics and fitness. We had all kinds of different sports and activities represented: dance, football, baseball, martial arts, gymnastics, lacrosse, softball, cheerleading, soccer, and more that I forgot. I liked how the presenter addressed some common myths about things like energy drinks, carbohydrate loading, and portion size. She also talked about the importance of drinking plenty of water. Did you know that by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated? Everyone seemed to learn something new from the presentation, and we had healthy snacks at the end.

This program was part of the Fit for Life programming that Delaware County is holding in its libraries this spring. Our next Fit for Life program will be Soul Dance Teens on Wednesday, May 20, from 3:30 to 4:30. Sign up now!

Newest Teen Books

It's a good thing that you all check out our books, or we'd have no room for anything new! As it is, we're bursting out of our space, so stop by and look for these newest additions:

FICTION

• The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers series)
• Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series)
• M+O 4EVR by Tonya Cherie Hegamin
• The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson
• The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
• The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones
• The Seventh Daughter by Frewin Jones
• Getting the Girl by Susan Juby
• Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
• The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussi
• The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking series)
• Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
• Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce (Beka Cooper series)
• The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses series)
• Doppelganger by David Stahler
• Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Homecoming by Meg Cabot (Avalon High Coronation #2)
• Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci

NONFICTION

• The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara

Gotta Catch 'em All!

On Friday, 22 teens came out for our first-ever Pokémon Night. I wish I had a picture of John E., who attended in complete Pokémon regalia! It was really cool. Thanks to Rachel for bringing her copy of Battle Revolution and being our all-around Pokémon expert.

During the event, everyone enjoyed free play on the Wii, and 14 people entered the DS tournament. Tariq, Rachel, Katie E., and David made it to the top four, with David and Rachel in the final round. David admits that a lucky move enabled him to beat out Rachel in that battle. He won the game guide for the new Pokémon Platinum DS game. All four of the top finishers got Pocky, as well.

Another thing we did was take a Pokémon trivia quiz. Nine people got 0 or 1 wrong, so they got to enter drawing for prizes. Some of the prizes were good, like boxes of Pocky or free food coupons, but some were cheesy, like Pokémon children's books. If you want more trivia, go enter the Cartoon Network's Pokemon trivia quiz to unlock character wallpaper for your computer.

Everyone seemed to have fun and, overall, I think it was a good first effort. We will definitely try another Pokémon event over the summer!

Rock Band Jam Session

Last Wednesday, 13 teens showed up for our Rock Band Jam Session. It was our chance to try out our new Rock Band 2 game equipment and unlock some new songs! No one brought their own band along, but almost everyone was willing to jump in and give the different instruments a try. Avis and I did most of the singing, which was amusing. My rendition of "We Got the Beat" was more enthusiastic than excellent, but it was a lot of fun! We will definitely do this again over the summer.

New Books!

Here are the newest items in the teen area:

FICTION

• Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark
• King of the Screwups by K. L. Going
• Stargazer by Claudia Gray
• Pretty Face by Mary Hogan
• Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
• Warrior Princess by Frewin Jones
• Playing with Fire by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Pleasant series)
• Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
• How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle
• Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers
• The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson series)
• Play Me by Laura Ruby
• Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine
• Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

NONFICTION

• Sieze the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write by Victoria Hanley

<3 Mr. Darcy <3

Last Wednesday, 13 teens came to the Book Swap and Jane Austen event. Since only 11 books were swapped during the whole four-hour event, I can only conclude that the real draw was Mr. Darcy! We had a great time comparing the historical Pride and Prejudice to the updated Bride and Prejudice. It was fun to see how the original events and dialogue were interpreted into a multicultural, multi-continental, modern movie. We will have to do another Jane Austen-themed movie event again soon!

Fresh Books

If you want to be the first to read something new, look for these:

FICTION

• City of Glass (Mortal Instruments series) by Cassandra Clare
• Afrika by Colleen Craig
• Beastly by Alex Flinn
• Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
• What Goes Around (Hotlanta series) by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
• Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Andromeda Stories by Keiko Takemiya (volumes 1, 2 & 3)
• To Terra by Keiko Takemiya (volumes 1, 2, & 3)

Brawl Wifi Review

Good day Brawlers.

If any of you follow my posts, I haven't been posting in a while because I had a ton of things I had to do with family. Now I have some free time and posting today about Brawl's wifi. I was going to do this concept near the end of my career in gaming club but decided to post it now because of my lack of post and I owe my followers something special. Here is my review.

Nintendo wifi, if people were only allowed to reply in one word about you, you would hear: Fun, Friends, Lag, Competitive, Taunts, Lag, Lag, Lag, and did I say Lag yet? That's right, one of the most dreaded experiences to an online game...the concept of (you know what) Lag!

Other than lag (the game slowing down unexpectedly) there are some great things you can do with brawl wifi:
1. When you taunt you can make it that custom messeges come out of your mouth.
2. Friends all over the world can play as if they were right next to each other.
3. New competition and different players can show you who's boss
4. You will never be bored with Brawl when you have wifi.

This system is hard to put in words, but it is pretty cool. If I had to rate it 1-10 it would be a 9. Other than lag, you will have a wonderfull time.

To avoid lag you can choose simple small stages like Battlefield or Final Destination. Stages to avoid are Mele Stages, Rumblefalls, and Flat Zone

Let Them Eat Sushi

Today, 27 teens dropped in for our April Fool's Day candy sushi program! Everyone made (and ate) three kinds of fake sushi, and we had a great time. We will definitely do it again in the future. There are a lot of ways to make candy sushi, so it could be a totally different program!

Today, our first candy project was a nigirizushi, which we created juju fish attached with Fruit Roll-Up strips to halves of mini powdered donuts. Next, we did a futomaki made from sliced Twinkie wrapped in Fruit Roll-Up, with gummy worm pieces in the center. Finally, we did another nigirizushi by using icing to attach large pieces of dried mango to quarters of Rice Krispy Treat. People who didn't like mango used gummy worms and juju fish for this one.

Everyone arranged the resulting 10 pieces of sushi on their square plates for a very nice presentation. Some people ate theirs at the program, while others took it home to try to trick family members! Here are some pictures of the event:

A table working on their sushi creations.

Another table making sushi.

Sarah B.'s sushi was the most realistic looking.

Chopsticks!

Enjoying the finished product.

Cousins and colorful sushi

Manga Donation

Over the weekend, a nice person donated two bags of manga for our teen section! I have no idea who it was, but thanks to him/her, we will have 19 new books available for checkout and several in the bookswap. Tim also donated 3 volumes of manga to us last week, so our little graphic novel section is getting a big expansion. Thanks!

Here are the new items:

• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days by Fumino Hayashi (volumes 1-6)
• .Hack//Legend of the Twilight by Rei Izumi (volumes 1-3)
• Aishiteruze Baby by Yoko Maki (volumes 1-6)
• Cromartie High School by Eiji Nonaka (volumes 6-8)
• Buso Renkin by Nobuhiro Watsuki (volume 4)
• Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki (volume 8)
• Fall in Love Like a Comic by Chitose Yagami (volumes 1 and 2)

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Last Friday, 13 teens showed up to watch the original Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was supposed to be the beginning of a weekend movie marathon, but very few people were available to watch the other movies so I cancelled them. We still had a great time, though, with comfy pillows, a pile of snacks, and an abundance of glow bracelets as trivia question prizes. I will try to reschedule the movie marathon for June, so look for it on the summer schedule!

Book Review: The Singing

The Singing: The Fourth Book of Pellinor by Alison Croggon

Click on the book to see which libraries own it.

SUMMARY: In an increasingly battle-ravaged land, Maerad and Cadvan, Hem and Saliman desperately search for one another as they make their separate journeys. The Black Army is advancing north, and even as Maerad faces a mighty confrontation with the Landrost to save Innail, all of the Seven Kingdoms are threatened with bitter and devastating defeat. Yet in Maerad and Hem lives the secret to the mysterious Singing, and legend holds that if they release the music of Elidhu together, they have the power to defeat the Nameless One. Can brother and sister find each other in time to fight this all-powerful enemy, and are they strong enough—even reunited—to defeat him before all is lost?

OPINION: First, I have to thank Marissa for getting a lot of us hooked on this series when the first book came out. This long-awaited conclusion to the Pellinor series does not disappoint, remaining both engaging and satisfying. You will want to curl up with this book and see the characters through to the end without stopping! The story picks back up with Maerad and Cadvan, even though the previous book followed Hem. However, a significant portion of the plot is also devoted to Hem and Saliman, as they desperately make their way toward Maerad in a last-ditch attempt to stop the advancing forces (literally) of the Dark. This story has all the trappings of questing fantasy, but Maerad is surprisingly introspective as well. She wrestles extensively with the ramifications of her powers, knowing that she has the capability to be just as evil as the Nameless One. Fighting, even for a good cause, can corrode the will and the spirit, and Maerad has to find the Balance even as she is coming into her full power for the first time. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I think you will be happy with the ending, though probably wishing for more details that are not included. I hope Alison Croggon writes more books set in the Seven Kingdoms in the future!

THE SERIES: If you have not read the other books in this series, they are The Naming, The Riddle, and The Crow. We own them all, so come check them out. If you are a reader of epic fantasy, they are definitely worth your time.

Book Review: Beastly

Beastly by Alex Flinn

(Click on the cover to see which libraries own it.)

SUMMARY: A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell. Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly. (from the inside flap)

OPINION: The teen section is full of fairytale retellings, whether the versions are just moved to another setting or completely reimagined. Beastly is definitely of the genre, but I really liked the retelling from Beast's point of view. Rich-kid Kyle certainly deserves to have his good looks and freedom taken away, but he also has his own demons to confront in his new-found spare time as a beast. What makes this book work is the way Flinn updates the story to modern NYC, while still working in the key elements of the traditional Beauty and the Beast story. The way he meets "Beauty" is particularly appropriate, although sad. Guys and girls alike, check out this quick read for a contemporary take on a classic.

TTW Contest Winner!

Today at Gaming Club, I had one teen draw out the name of the Teen Tech Week Favorite Websites Contest winner...and it's Nitha V.! Nitha recommends http://www.dictionary.com, asking "Isn't it great to have an online dictionary? Plus, it wows the teacher when you put in 'smart people' vocabulary." Nitha wins a $10 gift card to Best Buy to get something techie, even if it's just a CD. Congrats!

Spring 2009 Program Schedule!

I just completed the spring program schedule, and there are several events that you can sign up for right now. Print copies of this schedule are available at the children's circulation desk. Here's all the info:

INDIANA JONES MOVIE MARATHON
Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28
Enjoy all three of the original movies on the big screen! We will provide the drinks, snacks, and prizes during all three movies. If you plan to attend both movies on Saturday, please bring a lunch.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Friday, March 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Saturday, March 28, from 10:00 to 12:30

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Saturday, March 28, from 12:30 to 3:00

FIT FOR LIFE

Nutrition for Peak Performance
Wednesday, April 22, from 3:30 to 4:30
Attention athletes! Join a professional instructor to learn about nutrient intake goals for peak performance and growth. Get tips for pre and post competition meals and snacks, as well as meal suggestions to get the most out of training. The program will also address topics such as supplement use and disordered eating behaviors. Group size is limited. Register now.

Soul Dance Teens
Wednesday, May 20, from 3:30 to 4:30
Enjoy R & B music and learn basic dance steps and patterns for the latest craze: soul line dancing. A professional instructor will present this class, so you know you will learn some great dance moves! Registration begins April 13.

SPECIAL EVENTS

April Foolishness: Candy Sushi
Wednesday, April 1, from 3:00 to 5:00
Drop in to make candy sushi that looks like the real thing. Use it to trick your friends and family, or just enjoy eating it! No registration.

Book Swap & Jane Austen Movies
Wednesday, April 8, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm
It’s spring break! Trade in your old books for new reads, enjoy movies on the big screen, and eat food. We will do a double feature of Pride and Prejudice (PG) and Bride and Prejudice (PG-13)! Stop in to swap anytime, or stay and watch movies as long as you want. Register now. (Swap books should be intermediate or young adult paperback fiction in good condition.)

Rock Band II Jam Session
Wednesday, April 15, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Try out our new Rock Band II game for Wii! Come by yourself or with your band members. Register now.

Pokémon Night
Friday, April 17, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Bring your DS and a Pokémon game (Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum) for a tournament, play Pokémon Battle Revolution on the Wii, and win prizes! Permission slip required. Register now.

Dance Dance Revolution
Wednesday, April 29, from 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 a time. Dance for fun, or enter our contest. Permission slip required. Registration begins March 30.

Percy Jackson Night
Friday, May 1, from 6:30 to 8:30
The final Percy Jackson book will be released on May 5, so celebrate the series at our Greek mythology party. Enjoy crafts, activities, food, and more, and don’t forget your toga for our costume contest! Registration begins March 30.

Cute as a Button Jewelry Crafts
Wednesday, May 6, 3:30 to 5:00
Make rings, bracelets, earrings, and more to match your spring and summer outfits. Registration begins April 13.

YouTube Strikes Again
Wednesday, May 13, 3:30 to 5:00
We had so much fun at our last YouTube viewing party that we’re doing it again! 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 April 13.

Craft Closet Cleanout
Wednesday, May 27, 3:30 to 5:00
After all the craft projects we’ve done, there are tons of leftovers. Come make something you missed, or create something totally new. Registration begins May 4.

Finals Week Stress Relief
Times and Dates TBA
Take time out from studying to relax! Stop by to enjoy free play on the Wii, as well as crafts of your childhood like fingerpaint and Play-Doh. Throw some velcro darts, make a squeezable stress ball, or just snack on some comfort food. Sponsored by the Teen Advisory Board. No registration, just drop in.

CLUBS & BOOK GROUPS

Gaming Club
Mondays, 3:30 to 5:00 pm (no meeting 5/25)
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! Players provide their own gaming materials. Permission slip required. Registration is ongoing, but club size is limited.

Anime Club
Final Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
March 27, April 24, & May 29
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.

Read and Rant Book Group
Third Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
March 20, April 17, May 15, & June 19
Get free books and free food! Every month, the group votes on a book, and the library buys them each a copy to discuss at the next meeting. This group is for students in grades 7 to 9. Registration is ongoing, but group size is limited.

Book Grub Book Group
First Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
March 6, April 3, May 1, & June 5
Get free books and free food! Every month, the group votes on a book, and the library buys them each a copy to discuss at the next meeting. This group is for students in grades 10 to 12. Registration is ongoing, but group size is limited.

Primos Branch Book Group
Third Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm
March 16, April 20, May 18, & June 15
Get free books and free food! Every month, the group votes on a book, and the library buys them each a copy to discuss at the next meeting. 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.