Guitar Heroes

Yesterday, 23 teens came out for our Guitar Hero III Jam Session. Everyone hung in there with a few technological issues, and we ended up having a great time. We set up one game on the Wii and one game on the Xbox 360 to maximize everyone's playing time. Special thanks to Augusto, who ran home and got his Xbox 360 hard drive when mine didn't have all the songs!

Exactly 16 people entered the tournament, which made for perfect brackets. We upped the difficulty through each level. Martha, Chris N., Greg, and Alex made it to the top four, and each of them got an awesome yellow inflatable guitar. The final round between Alex and Chris was amazing to behold, as they battled it out on the expert level. And I mean battled. Alex had a thin edge through most of the song, but Chris hung in there and really gave him a run for his money. It was fun to watch! In the end, Alex emerged victorious by a small margin and won a $10 gift card to Game Stop. We are doing a lot of gaming programs through the summer, so be sure to check the schedule! We'll definitely do another Guitar Hero event in the fall.

Favorite School Year Blog Poll

In the past two weeks, exactly 30 people responded to my blog poll about favorite year of school. Poor third and fourth grades got no love, but all the other grades had a few fans. Second, sixth, and eighth grades tied for first place with four votes each! Check out the complete results below:

Kindergarten--1 (3%)
First Grade--2 (6%)
Second Grade--4 (13%)
Third Grade--0 (0%)
Fourth Grade--0 (0%)
Fifth Grade--3 (10%)
Sixth Grade--4 (13%)
Seventh Grade--1 (3%)
Eighth Grade--4 (13%)
Ninth Grade--3 (10%)
Tenth Grade--2 (6%)
Eleventh Grade--3 (10%)
Twelfth Grade--3 (10%)

New to Our Shelves

As usual, the new additions to the teen section have got to get checked out because there's no place to shelve them! Come and get these new books this week:

FICTION

• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (finally!)
• Trouble in Timbuktu by Christina Kessler
• Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
• Crowned by Julie Linker
• Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez
• In Mike We Trust by P. E. Ryan

GRAPHIC NOVEL

• Pitch Black by Youme Landowne and Anthony Horton

Book Grub Grad Party

Yesterday, almost all of the members of Book Grub showed up to celebrate the end of the school year. Former group members Sara and Marissa showed up to hang out with us, too! Seven members of the group are graduating this year, which is our biggest number ever. Our grads are David J., Arwa E., Meg G., Koumudi N., Jeff B., Nitha S., and Katie B. We will really miss them! At the meeting, we had a build-your-own-cupcake table, as well as a table of favorite Book Grub foods like Cheetos, Fanta, and Pirouettes. We talked about memorable Book Grub moments, favorite/not favorite books of the year, and what we've been reading. Of course, we got off topic a lot, but it was fun!

I didn't write down who said what, but here are some books suggested by members of the group:

• Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez
• Little Brother by Corey Doctorow
• What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
• Hero-Type by Barry Lyga
• All We Know of Heaven by Jacqueline Michard
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
• Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
• Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
• Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
• Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
• Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (coming out on June 16)

Browsing in the teen section

Upstairs at Book Grub

Squish!

Cupcake!

Book Review: What I Saw and How I Lied

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

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

SUMMARY: In this sophisticated thriller, 15-year-old Evie grows up quickly when she discovers her adored parents are not the people she thought they were. While on vacation in Palm Beach in 1947, Evie’s parents, Joe and Bev, get involved in a shady business deal with the Graysons, another couple on holiday. Meanwhile, Evie begins a flirtation with Peter, a handsome ex-GI who served with Joe and just happens to be staying at their hotel. Evie soon learns that Peter’s presence is no coincidence and that he threatens to uncover a terrible secret that Joe has kept since the war. When Bev, Joe, and Peter go boating, only two of them return, and Evie must sort through secrets, lies, and her own grief to find the truth. (from the Booklist review)

OPINION: What I first loved about this book was that I could see a glamorous black-and-white movie playing in my head while I read it. The atmospheric language and descriptions perfectly capture the time period, and the mystery has the feel of film noir. This book defies categorization as simply historical fiction or mystery. The plot drew me in, as it became apparent that all was not as it seemed. This book has surprising depths, and an even more surprising ending. Evie's testimony in the inquest after the boating incident was shocking, but her attitute toward her life afterwards is even more revealing. This is a completely worthwhile read for anyone who has ever loved and lost.

INTERESTING FACT: Judy Blundell has written over 100 series books and movie tie-ins under pseudonyms, but this is the first book she ever published under her own name. None of her previous work could be considered great literature, yet this book won the National Book Award! Read more about her story in this interview.

Summer 2009 Program Schedule

The summer program schedule is available now, and you can already register for several programs! The theme this year is Express Yourself, so a lot of our programs relate to creativity and the arts. We hope to see you often through the summer!!

TEEN SUMMER READING

Teen Summer Reading Club
June 8 through August 14
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 home. Get a book and a free food coupon every time you turn in a slip. Every slip will also be automatically entered to win bigger prizes in our weekly and end-of-summer drawings. You can even keep track of your reading online! Go to http://www.delcolibraries.org/ and join the teen online summer reading club. Just make sure to visit the library to get prizes throughout the summer.

Express Yourself 2009 Teen Summer Kick-Off
The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Brother Jamar
Wednesday, June 17, 7:00 to 8:00 pm
By popular demand, The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Brother Jamar are coming back to Sellers Library! Join us to find out what it takes to be a hip-hop performer or DJ at this positive, interactive performance. Whether your thing is music, rap, slam poetry, beat-boxing, or dancing, learn how to present yourself and your skills to an audience. The summer theme is Express Yourself, so Ra might even invite you to try your skills on the mic! Registration begins May 26.
Funded by the Delaware County Library System through a Fit for Life grant sponsored by Libraries for the Future, the program division of Americans for Libraries Council, and MetLife Foundation.

Teen Summer Reading Prize Party
Friday, August 14, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Everyone who participates in Sellers Library’s teen summer reading club is invited to enjoy free food, fun activities, and prizes! Every five books you report on a slip or online earns you one chance at a prize, and we have a lot of great stuff to give away. 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.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Anime Club
Fourth Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
June 26, July 24, & August 28
Our anime club meets once a 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. Club size is limited. Registration is ongoing.

Book Swap and Disney Sing-Along
Saturday, June 27, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Trade in your old books for new reads, sing along with Mary Poppins (G), play Disney Scene It?, and eat food! Stop in just to swap, or come and hang out for the whole event. Swap books should be intermediate or young adult fiction in good condition. Registration begins May 26.

Dance in Egypt as a Celebration of Daily Life
Wednesday, July 29, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
The traditional dances of Egypt reflect experiences of groups like the Fellamin, Bedouin, and Nubian peoples. Through discussion, demonstration, and by encouraging the audience to participate, dancer Barbara Siegel will explain the dances and movement styles of three Egyptian groups and reveal something of the character and the essence of these peoples. Registration begins July 6. This special Outreach Lecture Program is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Winter in July
Friday, July 31, 3:00 to 8:00 pm
Just when summer is heating up, you can chill out at the library! We will crank up the air conditioning, drink hot chocolate, and watch a double feature of ice-cold movies. Enjoy hot soup and other wintry foods for dinner, make cool crafts, and win winter-themed prizes. Registration begins July 6.

PASSION FOR FASHION

Accessory Swap & Fashion Movies
Wednesday, July 15, 3:00 to 6:00 pm
Trade in your old accessories and leave with a whole new look! Get one ticket for every item you bring, then choose that number of new items. You can stop by to swap, or stay to watch fashionable movies! No hair items, hats, or shoes. Swap accessories must be in good condition. Registration begins June 15.

Project Runway
Friday, July 24, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Learn about fashion design and drawing from a fashion student, then enter our design challenge competition with your friends. No sewing skills required. Registration begins June 15.

Special Book Discussion: So Yesterday
Wednesday, July 22, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
So Yesterday is Scott Westerfeld's intriguing thriller featuring 17-year-old Hunter, who paid by corporations to comb his native Manhattan in search of street style that could become the next new trend. The first 15 registrants for this event will get a copy of the book to read and keep. Registration begins June 15.

GAMING

Gaming Club
Mondays, June 29 to August 31, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
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. Players provide their own gaming materials. Permission slip required. Club size is limited. Registration is ongoing.

Guitar Hero Jam Session
Wednesday, June 17, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Get in touch with your inner God of Rock! Just play for fun, or get serious and enter our tournament. Registration begins May 26.

Nintendo Night
Friday, June 26, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Bring your DS and Pokémon game (Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum) for a tournament, enter a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament on the big screen, play games on an original NES, and more! Players provide their own gaming materials. Permission slip required. Event size limited to 36 participants. Registration begins May 26.

Dance Dance Revolution
Wednesday, July 1, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Dance for fun or enter a tournament at our Xbox DDR event. Permission slip required. Registration begins May 26.

Board Game Blast
Wednesday, July 8, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Bring your own or use ours, hang out in the air conditioning, eat snacks, and win prizes! Registration begins June 15.

Rock Band Jam Session
Wednesday, August 5, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Try out our new Rock Band 2 game for Wii! Come by yourself or with your band members. Registration begins July 6.

CRAFTS

Outdoor Art
Wednesdays, July 1 to August 5, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Genni is earning her Girl Scout Silver Award by running outdoor art projects for teens at the library! Every week, a new project will be set up on the lawn just for people entering grades 6 to 12. Stop by to make tie-dye shoe laces, a message in a bottle, bubble-painted wrapping paper, a splatter-painted picture frame, and more! Each week’s project will take about 1/2 hour. Dress for a mess, or borrow a t-shirt smock from us. Projects will be available until
materials run out. In the event of rain, the week’s project will be cancelled and made available on August 12 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. No registration, just drop in each week.

Craft Closet Cleanout
Wednesday, August 12, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm
After all the craft projects we’ve done, there are tons of leftovers. Stop by to make something you missed, or do something totally new. No registration, just drop in!

BOOK GROUPS
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. These groups meet throughout the year.

Read and Rant Book Group
Third Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
June 19, July 17, August 21
Open to students entering grades 7 to 9, this group is accepting a limited number of new members.

Book Grub Book Group
First Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm
June 5, July 2 (Thursday), August 7
Open to students entering grades 10 to 12, this group is accepting a limited number of new members.

Primos Branch Young Adult Book Group
Third Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm
June 15, July 20, August 17
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.

New Moon!!!

For any of you who have not heard: The New Moon trailer is out, and it looks good! There are also some pretty cute werewolf pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwnidftwZ_M

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/

Hope you enjoy!

TAB Grads

Yesterday, the Teen Advisory Board met for our last regular meeting of the school year and celebrated our graduates! This year, five seniors are leaving the TAB and heading to college: Meg, Maria, Koumudi, Katie, and Arwa. We will really miss them!!! They have all been on the TAB for many years. Meg was actually at the very first meeting back in November 2004! At our celebration, we ate KFC and ice cream cake, signed cards, and gave the grads pictures and book store gift cards. So, congratulations grads, and best of luck!

The graduates and their ice cream cake.

Waiting for the seniors to get their picture taken.

Almost all of the TAB

Of course, we had to do a silly picture!

Blog Poll Results: Vampire Books

The most recent blog poll asked readers to choose their favorite vampire series books, besides Twilight. What I learned is that our blog readers aren't huge vampire fans! The winning category was "I don't read vampire books" with 10 out of 25 votes! Here are the complete results:

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber--2 (8%)
Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan--2 (8%)
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead--2 (8%)
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer--2 (8%)
Night World by L. J. Smith--4 (16%)
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz--2 (8%)
House of Night by P. C. Cast--1 (4%)
Den of Shadows by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes--0 (0%)
Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine--0 (0%)
Evernight Novels by Claudia Gray--0 (0%)
I like another vampire series.--6 (24%)
I don't read vampire books.--10 (40%)

Craft Closet Cleanout

Last Wednesday, 14 teens dropped in for our spring Craft Closet Cleanout. Everyone wanted to make button jewelry, whether they missed the original event or not! I had enough supplies for everyone to do a bracelet, and most people got to make earrings as well. People also made crafts from older events, like Toolbox Jewelry, Princess Diaries Party, and Crafts for Your Hair. I have so many random leftover crafts that we need to do this more often! However, the next CCC isn't scheduled until the end of the summer.

Most people were concentrating on their projects...at least while I took the picture...

Newest of the New Books

I just used part of my bookstore budget to spruce up the teen collection with replacement copies and series books. Here are the newest additions:

FICTION

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
• Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series)
• Smack by Melvin Burgess
• Ninth Key by Meg Cabot (Mediator series)
• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
• Reunion by Meg Cabot (Mediator series)
• Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
• Black Water by D. J. MacHale (Pendragon series)
• The Pilgrims of Rayne by D. J. MacHale (Pendragon series)
• The Quillan Games by D. J. MacHale (Pendragon series)
• Raven Rise by D. J. MacHale (Pendragon series)
• The Rivers of Zadaa by D. J. MacHale (Pendragon series)
• Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
• Deal With It by Monica McKayhan (Kimani Tru)
• Trouble Follows by Monica McKayhan (Kimani Tru)
• l8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle
• ttyl by Lauren Myracle
• The Sorceress by Michael Scott (Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series)
• Keysha's Drama by Earl Sewell (Kimani Tru)
• Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare, The Vampire's Assistant, Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan
• Vampire Mountain by Darren Shan (Cirque du Freak series)
• A Girl Like Me by Ni-Ni Simone
• Night World #3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight by L. J. Smith
• Red Is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Street Pharm by Allison van Diepen

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Vampire Knight, volumes 1-4, by Matsuri Hino
• Naruto, volumes 39-44, by Masashi Kishimoto

Awards Assembly

Last night, I went to Senior Awards Night at Upper Darby High School. With so many members of our groups like Teen Advisory Board (TAB), Book Grub, and Gaming Club graduating from UD this year, it was a great excuse to attend!

I practically jumped out of my chair when Arwa E. (TAB) won the prestigious Mendenhall Tyson award, along with Nitha S. (Book Grub). In the past, three library employees' children have won that award, and I am as proud of the library teens as those moms were of their own kids. Koumudi N. (TAB) won an NHS National Scholarship and the Upper Darby Union Sunday School Scholarship. Her family sat by me, so it was extra exciting to clap for her! Meg G. (TAB) won a memorial scholarship and was recognized for being a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. I was so happy to see our library teens have such a high level of success. The people around me were very curious as to what my connection was to the girls!

Other teens I know from the library who received awards were David J., Alan S., Tariq F., Jatinder K., Noor A., Jurgen K., Kristy G., and Maher Z. It was amazing to see everyone all grown up and ready to go off to college and real life! I enjoyed talking to all the library teens and their parents, too.

42!

I learned today that if you type the phrase the answer to life, the universe, and everything in to the Google search engine (no quotes), then the first thing that pops up in the results list is the Google calculator saying "42." Ha! Also, while reading more about the Google thing, I discovered that May 25 is Towel Day, so bring yours out and about with you!!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Last Two Spring Programs

You can still register for the last two spring programs, so call today and get your name on the list!

Soul Dance Teens
Wednesday, May 20, 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!

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.

Summer Fruit Blog Poll

For the past two weeks, the blog poll has asked readers to select their favorite summer fruit. I love the variety of fresh fruit in the summer, so it was hard to choose! (You could actually vote for more than one, which made it easier.) Out of 38 people, the winner was strawberries with 15 votes.

strawberries--15 (39%)
nectarines--3 (7%)
watermelon--10 (26%)
blackberries--7 (18%)
plums--2 (5%)
cantaloupe--6 (15%)
raspberries--4 (10%)
cherries--8 (21%)
peaches--5 (13%)
honeydew--4 (10%)
blueberries--4 (10%)
I don't like any of these fruits.--1 (2%)

Bookshelf Explosion

I have been reviewing some books from the county office, which means we get to keep them! There are also some more new purchases on the shelves. Here's what we have gotten:

FICTION

• No Such Thing as the Real World: Stories about Growing Up and Getting a Life (short stories)
• The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson
• Top 8 by Katie Finn
• A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
• Need by Carrie Jones
• The Soldiers of Halla by D. J. Machale (Pendragon series)
• My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
• Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses series)
• Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman
• Dragon Road by Laurence Yep

NONFICTION

• Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration by Ann Bausum
• The Student Athlete's Guide to Getting Recruited: How to Win Scholarships, Attract Colleges, and Excel as an Athlete by Stewart Brown
• Girls Rock: How to Get Your Group Together and Make Some Noise by Robyn Goodmark
• 1968 by Michael T. Kaufman

YouTube Strikes Again

Yesterday, 16 teens showed up for our second YouTube party! (Here's the post about our first one.) This time is was a little better organized and a lot more streamlined. Everyone signed in with their name, video, and category as they came in, so we didn't waste time calling on people, debating which video to show, etc.

Everyone assigned their video one of three categories: Humor, Music/Animation, and Other. We had just enough time for everyone to show one video and to vote on the winners at the end. Christine won in the Humor category for the Twilight Trailer Spoof (made even more hilarious by the fact that someone had shown the real trailer earlier in the program), Nikki won in the Music/Animation category for Draw with Me, and Karthika won in the Other category for a video of her and her friends doing a Bollywood-inspired dance on New Year's Eve. They all got candy, and Nikki also received a $10 gift card to McDonald's for being voted the overall winner. I also gave candy to DeSean, who showed an animation that he put together, and to Nitha, who appeared in the video shown by Karthika! (I figured bravery should earn some candy.)

And for all of you who complain that you haven't seen Kara all year...she showed up yesterday afternoon and stayed for the program! It was supercool. Her classes are done, so hopefully we'll be seeing more of her.

New African-American Fiction

We just got a bunch of new and replacement copies of African-American teen fiction, so come in and check them out!

• Chasing Romeo by A. J. Byrd (Kimani Tru)
• November Blues by Sharon Draper
• Dirty Jersey by Phillip Thomas Duck (Kimani Tru)
• Money Hungry by Sharon G. Flake
• Belle by Beverly Jenkins (Kimani Tru)
• Josephine by Beverly Jenkins (Kimani Tru)
• Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan (Kimani Tru)
• Jaded by Monica McKayhan (Kimani Tru)
• Fast Forward by Celeste O. Norfleet (Kimani Tru)
• How to Salsa in a Sari by Dona Sarkar (Kimani Tru)
• A Matter of Trust by Anne E. Schraff (Bluford series)
• Lesson Learned by Earl Sewell (Kimani Tru)
• The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Taylor (Kimani Tru)

Cute as a Button!

Last Wednesday, 16 girls came to our button jewelry program. We made button ribbon choker necklaces, stretchy button bracelets, and stacked button earrings. We didn't even get to try some of the ring ideas I found, so there's definitely going to be another program. Meanwhile, come to Craft Closet Cleanout on Wednesday, May 27, from 3:30 to 5:00, to make more button jewelry and lots of other things!

Bookshelf Bonanza

Yes, that means more new books in the teen area. Here's what we've gotten most recently:

FICTION

• Shield of Stars by Hilari Bell (The Shield, Sword, and Crown series)
• Sword of Waters by Hilari Bell (The Shield, Sword, and Crown series)
• Selkie Girl by Laurie Brooks
• A La Carte by Tanita S. Davis
• Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill
• Voss: How I Came to America and Am Hero, Mostly by David Ives
• Things Change by Patrick Jones
• The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman
• Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce (Circle Reforged series)
• Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve
• Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud
• Probably Still Nick Swansen by Virginia Euwer Wolff
• Dragon's Heart by Jane Yolen (Pit Dragon Chronicles series)

NONFICTION

• War Is: Soldiers, Survivors, and Storytellers Talk about War edited by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• The Good Neighbors by Holly Black

Outdoor Activities Blog Poll

For the past two weeks, the blog poll has asked readers to select their favorite outdoor activities. People were allowed to select more than one answer, and 26 people voted on the poll. Walking/running and playing a team sport tied for first place with 12 votes each, while swimming was a close second with 10 votes. Here are the complete results:

playing a team sport--12 (46%)
hiking--9 (34%)
grilling--5 (19%)
skateboarding/rollerblading--2 (7%)
camping--4 (15%)
walking/running--12 (46%)
fishing--3 (11%)
suntanning--5 (19%)
biking--6 (23%)
boating--4 (15%)
gardening--4 (15%)
swimming--10 (38%)

DDR

Last Wednesday, 16 teens came out to enjoy friendly DDR competition. We did free play for a while, then had a mini-tournament. Jamie beat David in the final round to win the usual $10 gift card to GameStop. Thanks to Jamie for bringing the game and to David for bringing an additional mat. DDR is always fun, and we will definitely do it a few times over the summer!

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.

Book Review: Lifting the Sky

Lifting the Sky by Mackie D'Arge

Review by Stephanie S.

Lifting the Sky tells the story of Blue and her dreams of finally finding a place to belong. Blue's mom is always on the move and Blue is tired of it. All she wants is a place that she and her mother can live in for more than six months, and maybe a chance to meet the father she can hardly remember. This story was always sweet, with a dash of heartbreat. All through the pages, you get a hint that Blue is more than she seems but it's not until she meets Shawn that we discover what her true power is. This is a good book to read if you've got a few hours to spare and if you like history.

Book Review: My Fair Godmother

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
Review by Stephanie S.

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

My Fair Godmother takes you into fairytales in a very unusual way. It takes the word literally and gives it a whole new, terrifying look. This book is about what happens when fairies have to go to school to get their wings and have trouble staying away from the mall. It also tells the story of Savannah and Tristan, two people more suited for each other than they think. The beginning starts off really well, but halfway through you get the feeling that the author is just going through the motions. I really wouldn't recommend this book, except maybe to people who like fairytale fantasy.

YouTube Viewing Party

Today, 19 teens came out to our YouTube Viewing Party, and that's even after I forgot to make reminder calls! We broke out the pillows and the snacks, then watched one video submitted by each person in the room. The rules were simple: it had to be "appropriate" and it had to fit into one of our categories. The categories were: humorous, sad, scary, political, musical, and animated. We saw a lot of humor, covering everything from Klay World: Pancake Mines to Monty Python's Dead Parrot Sketch to Jeff Dunham's crazy puppet comedy. After everything, six people went home with boxes of movie candy for winning in their categories.

To set up the event, I dragged my desktop computer, mouse, and keyboard upstairs and hooked it up to the projector and the speakers. Then, I connected it to the wireless internet. It was crazy looking, but it totally worked! Even though it was a lot of work to set this up, I totally want to do it again. Everyone was mad when they had to leave and they were all begging me to show more videos. So, look for another, longer YouTube Viewing Party again in the future!

Nintendo Night Suggestions

Some people at our Teen Tech Week Nintendo Night filled out a survey, offering their opinions on the event and ideas for future gaming events.

What they liked...

• Friendly gaming environment
• Evening program
• Having fun
• Doing well in a tournament
• Meeting new people

What they didn't like...

• Loudness
• Crowdedness
• Not doing well in a tournament
• Rudeness

Suggestions for another gaming event...

• Classics from the Wii virtual console
• Guitar Hero
• F-Zero GX
• Mario Galaxy
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
• Pokemon Battle Revolution

It's Teen Tech Week!

Teen Tech Week (TTW) is a celebration of teens and technology (duh!) that runs from today until March 14. We kicked off TTW at little early with our Nintendo Night last Friday, but there are still several ways to celebrate this week.

1. Come to our YouTube Viewing Party on Wednesday, March 11, from 3:30 to 5:00. Show us your favorite *appropriate* video and win prizes!

2. Enter our Favorite Websites contest. You can enter every day this week by filling out a slip and putting it in the green box by the audiobooks. Daily winners will get candy, and everyone has a chance to win a gift card at the end of the week! Some sites will also get featured on the blog.

3. Visit the TTW book display in the teen area, where you can also get bookmarks and a list of suggested audiobooks.

Huge thanks goes to YALSA and the Verizon Foundation for their support of our TTW activities!!

Our TTW book display is on top of the graphic novel area. Check it out!

Teen Advisory Board

The 15 members of the Sellers Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB) just got this year's t-shirts! Anas did the artwork, and we all signed the back. Look for us in our shirts at TAB-sponsored events, fundraisers, or any library program.

Some TAB members model their new shirts.

Nintendo Night

Last Friday evening we hosted Nintendo Night, our Teen Tech Week kick-off event! An amazing 32 people showed up to enter our Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament on the Wii, and enjoy free play on another Wii and my original NES. We also organized a Pokemon tournament for DS users during the event! This is the first time we have ever set up two Wiis in one room, so I really appreciated everyone's patience and helpfulness when we had some crossover interference.

After many rounds, Mike emerged as the winner of the Brawl tournament and won a $25 gift card to GameStop. Maher came in second and won a $10 card. Everyone in the final four (Mike, Connor, Maher, and David) got candy. In the Pokemon tournament, David was victorious and won a $10 GameStop card. The final two in this tournament, Katie and David, also got candy.

Thanks to a Teen Tech Week Mini-Grant sponsored by YALSA and the Verizon Foundation, we were able to purchase new games and accessories for our Wii system to make Nintendo Night amazing!

Guitar Hero was a big hit with everyone.

Anyone can rock!

Some guys playing in the Brawl tournament, playing DS, or just watching.

A group tries out Mario Party 8.

Tournament and DS play happening in the same space!

Katie brought her crocheted Pokemon to display at Nintendo Night. Aren't they cool?

TTW Sunday Contest Winner

Connor S. is today's winner of the Favorite Website Contest candy drawing. Connor recommends Halopedia because it has "Halo stuff aplenty." This is a comprehensive encyclopedic site with over 5000 articles on various aspects of Halo gameplay, so check it out.

Our Hip Hop Program!

Last Wednesday, we hosted The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Brother Jamar for an after-school hip-hop program. It was amazing! Although we got off to a slow start, once people downstairs heard the music they started wandering up to the program room. We ended up with 28 teens and 3 moms! Ra talked about how to present yourself as a performer in a positive manner and did several interactive performances. Jamar brought a full DJ set-up, complete with turntables and laptop. My favorite part was when Ra challenged Jamar to lay down a beat he couldn't flow to...and Jamar eventually came up with a song from the Charlie Brown Christmas album that caused Ra some pause. Thanks to the Delaware County Library System and a Fit for Life grant from Libraries for the Future for supporting this event! I hope to have Ra and Jamar come back this summer for another program.

Ra points at someone to add a word to his song.

The One Sun Lion Ra and D.J. Brother Jamar doing a performance.

Another shot of Ra interacting with the group.

Yet More New Books

We just can't stop getting new stuff! Here are the latest additions to the shelves:

FICTION

• A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
• The Singing: The Fourth Book of Pellinor by Alison Croggon
• Babylonne by Catherine Jinks
• Suite Scarlett by Marueen Johnson
• Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
• Amiri and Odette: A Love Story by Walter Dean Myers
• The Boxer and the Spy by Robert B. Parker
• Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi

NONFICTION

• The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
• Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

We Won a Mini-Grant!

I applied for a Teen Tech Week Mini-Grant to help buy supplies for Sellers Library's upcoming Nintendo Night...and I just found out that we won!!!! We will be receiving $450 to buy Wii games and accessories to help us have better programming. Amazing! More info to follow.

Celebrate Teen Tech Week at Sellers Library with these three events:

Favorite Websites Contest
March 6 to March 14
Fill out a slip telling us the name of your favorite website (besides YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace), and enter it to win prizes!

Nintendo Night
Friday, March 6, 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. Register now.

YouTube Viewing Party
Wednesday, March 11, 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. Register now.

Book Crush!

Last Friday, 17 people came out to celebrate their love for fictional characters at the Teen Advisory Board's Book Crush party! It was so much fun to hear everyone's crushes, opinions, and reactions. We played book crush bingo (really an excuse to eat chocolate), made beaded bookmarks with a crush's name on them, wrote personal ads for our crushes, and decorated heart balloons. Of course there was lots of food, and lots of discussion of book boys! We even had one brave guy at the event, who knew a lot about Bella Swan and the whole Twilight series, and was absolutly hilarious about it. Also, Kaitlyn came dressed as a character from the Uglies series, complete with crash bracelets and face tattoo. It was completely pretty-making. At the end, people were reluctant to leave, and I finally had to shoo everyone out at about 8:45. I'd say it was a success! Except that I forgot my camera, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

Shiny and New

Today, we are processing the rest of the African-American and urban fiction I ordered, as well as some award winners and other new titles. Come in and see what we've got!

FICTION

• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M. T. Anderson
• A Little Piece of Sky by Nicole Bailey-Williams
• What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
• 16 Isn't Always Sweet by Cassandra Carter
• The Fight (Drama High series) by L. Divine (replacement copy)
• Frenemies (Drama High series) by L. Divine (replcement copy)
• Jayd's Legacy (Drama High series) by L. Divine (replacement copy)
• Who Am I without Him? by Sharon G. Flake (replacement copy)
• Imani in Never Say Goodbye by Jackie Hardrick
• Imani in Young Love and Deception by Jackie Hardrick
• The Absolute Truth (Platinum Teen series) by Juwell and Precious
• The Taqwacores by Michael Muhammad Knight
• Dymond in the Rough (Platinum Teen series) by Precious
• Hallway Diaries by Felicia Pride, Debbie Rigaud, and Karen Valentin
• The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
• Hollywood and Maine by Allison Whittenberg

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

New Books

We just got a bunch of new urban and African-American teen fiction, plus a few other odds and ends, so here they are:

FICTION

• Kendra by Coe Booth
• Read My Lips by Teri Brown
• Hustlin' (Drama High series) by L. Divine
• Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper (replacement copy)
• Blood is Thicker (Bluford series) by Paul Langan
• Brothers in Arms (Bluford series) by Paul Langan
• The Bully (Bluford series) by Paul Langan
• The Pact (Indigo series) by Monica McKayhan
• If Only You Knew (Hotlanta series) by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
• If I Were Your Boyfriend by Earl Sewell
• Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi
• It Chicks by Tia Williams

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Vampire Game by Judal
• Peach Girl: Change of Heart #2 by Miwa Ueda
• Peach Girl: Change of Heart #6 by Miwa Ueda