Teens. Books. Hangout.

New books to check out

2012-02-06T19:50:00.001-06:00

Shadowspell by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker series #2)	Glimmerglass by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker series #1)	Bronxwood by Coe Booth (sequel to Tyrell)
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol	The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson	The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Arisa manga series by Natsumi Ando	So, So Hood by L. Divine (Drama High #14)	The Meltdown by L. Divine (Drama High #13)
Bunheads by Sophie Flack	Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, v. 2 by Floyd Gottfredson	Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter (Shadow Falls series #1)
Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter (Shadow Falls series #2)	Legend by Marie Lu	Nightworld #3 by L.J. Smith

New books out this week!

2012-01-12T15:58:00.002-06:00

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

A Million Suns by Beth Revis (the sequel to Across the Universe)

New manga!

2012-01-05T15:44:00.000-06:00

Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato:

Bakuman by Tsugami Ōba:

Kobato by CLAMP:

Mistress Fortune by Arina Tanemura:

And these additions to manga series we already have:

Black Butler #7

Black Bird #11

Fullmetal Alchemist #27 (the final installment!)

Naruto #52

Vampire Knight #13

Anime Club celebrates the New Year on January 7

2012-01-03T15:45:00.002-06:00

The next meeting of the Anime Club is Saturday, January 7. We will create pochibukuro (small decorated envelopes) and nengajō (New Year's postcards) to celebrate the arrival of 2012.

Cut the templates, fold, and glue -- your own pochibukuro!

Please register if you will be attending.

Hope to see you there!

New books on the shelf in the Teen Area

2012-01-02T14:22:00.000-06:00

Playground by 50 Cent	Ashes by Ilsa Bick
First Kill by Heather Brewer	Vengeance by Kate Brian
The Price of Loyalty by Mike Castan	Shelter by Harlan Coben
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross	The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon	The Poisoned House by Michael Ford
Stay with Me by Paul Griffin	Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck	Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi	My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K. Martin Kelly
Soul Thief: A Demon Trapper Novel by Jana Oliver	Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab	Hunted by Adam Slater
The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf	Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T16:05:00.001-06:00

A Book Bite to enjoy as we look toward 2012:

That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

-- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (one of my favorite books!)

Book Bite: Delirium

2011-12-26T19:06:00.001-06:00

It has been sixty-four years since the president and the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected a cure. Everyone else in my family has had the procedure already. My older sister, Rachel, has been disease free for nine years now. She’s been safe from love for so long, she says she can’t even remember its symptoms. I’m scheduled to have my procedure in exactly ninety-five days, on September 3. My birthday.

-- Delirium by Lauren Oliver (2011)

Best of 2011: Young adult literature

2011-12-19T19:30:00.002-06:00

Best Books of 2011: Young Adult from Amazon
includes:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2011: Children's Fiction
includes:

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Variant by Robison Wells

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominations from YALSA

Notable Children's Books of 2011 from The New York Times
includes:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Level Up by Gene Yang

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Best Teen Books of 2011 from Kirkus Reviews
includes:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Stay with Me by Paul Griffin

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Tighter by Adele Griffin

White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick

Barnes and Noble Best of 2011 YA
includes:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Crossed by Ally Condie

Divergent by Veronica Roth

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

The Dead by Charlie Higson

Recycled Winter Crafts program this Monday, December 19

2011-12-13T12:50:00.004-06:00

Come to our Recycled Winter Crafts program Monday, December 19, from 2-3:30 PM in the Meeting Room. We'll make several fun crafts that utilize materials you already have around the house. I have three possible crafts to make (hopefully we will have time for all of them!). I'm including photos and links where you can find how to make them, in case you are interested in making these crafts but cannot attend the program.

Snowmen made out of prescription bottles

Prescription bottle + unrolled cotton balls = Future snowman!

I used empty medicine bottles, unwrapped cotton balls, scraps of fabric and felt, googly eyes, and sparkly pipe cleaners. You could also use buttons or beads, paper, yarn, or whatever material you have on hand. I slightly modified the instructions from AllFreeCrafts.com because I didn't have a large cotton ball to use as the snowman's head.

Bottle Cap Frame Ornaments
Reuse these bottlecaps and drink bottle tops....

... and transform them into colorful ornaments!

Just use a quarter to trace a circle around images in old Christmas cards, magazines, catalogs, or even scraps of fabric. Find instructions at AllFreeCrafts.com.

Ice Cream Cone Ornaments

All you need is tissue paper, a brown grocery bag, and string. I always save tissue paper from gifts and packaging, and this a great way to reuse it! Find complete instructions at How About Orange.

Don't forget to register! Or at least tell/email me (Danielle) you might attend.

Book Bite: Trapped

2011-12-09T09:28:00.001-06:00

"But we weren't going anywhere. The headlights didn't show. Mr. Gossell, Jason's dad, Krista's mom, whoever it was we were waiting for, they had nothing to do with us anymore. No one did. It was just the seven of us, the seven of us and the endless snow."

-- Trapped by Michael Northrop (2011)

New books out this week

2011-12-07T15:20:00.000-06:00

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
#2 in the Infernal Devices series.

Read the first book, Clockwork Angel. By the author of the Mortal Instruments series.

Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz
#4 in the Touch series.

Read the previous books: Deadly Little Secret (#1), Deadly Little Lies (#2), Deadly Little Games (#3).

Ruthless by Sara Shepard
#10 in the Pretty Little Liars series.

Read the previous books: Pretty Little Liars, Flawless, Perfect, Unbelievable, Wicked, Killer, Heartless, Wanted, Twisted

Witch & Wizard: The Fire by James Patterson, the third book in the Witch and Wizard series.

Catch up with book #1, Witch and Wizard, and book #2, The Gift.

Teen Gaming Club meets on Friday

2011-12-05T19:15:00.003-06:00

Enjoy snacks and beverages while you play Wii games after school. Super Smash Bros. Brawl has been a popular choice for the game to play at the last few meetings. We also have the games Mario Party 8, Mario Kart, Just Dance 2, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Rock Band, & Guitar Hero. Several teens have also brought in Wii and GameCube games from home to play in the past. I'll be bringing in my copy of Just Dance 3, too! Please register if it is your first time attending.

TAG meets this Saturday

2011-11-30T14:12:00.003-06:00

TAG meets at 1:30 PM this Saturday, December 3 in the Teen area. We will pull some Charles Dickens-related books to make a display and then head downstairs to the Meeting Room to set up for the Dickens in Dundee movie, The Muppet Christmas Carol. The movie has a 3 PM start time. TAG members will help distribute popcorn and drinks and then enjoy watching the movie!

It's snowing in the teen area!

2011-11-29T13:58:00.002-06:00

Check out a new book over Thanksgiving Break

2011-11-21T16:01:00.000-06:00

Variant by Robison Wells	Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
Crossed by Ally Condie	The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake	Sign Language by Amy Ackley
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King	Destined by P.C. Cast
Mastiff by Tamora Pierce	Phantom by L.J. Smith
The Death Cure by James Dashner	Gate 7 by CLAMP
Level Up by Gene Yang	Spirits of the Noh by Thomas Randall
Stick by Andrew Smith	Last Breath by Rachel Caine
The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg	The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Share your thoughts on The Hunger Games trailer

2011-11-17T14:22:00.001-06:00

On Monday Good Morning America premiered the movie trailer for The Hunger Games. Watch it below:

I think the movie looks amazing; I get chills (and tears in my eyes) each time I watch the trailer. I'm glad to see that the movie will be just as gritty and terrifying as the book. I also love the way the trailer was edited so that it ends with the countdown to the start of the Games. That definitely got my heart pounding. What do you think?

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

November events at the library for teens

2011-11-07T18:10:00.001-06:00

Teen Gaming Club
Friday, November 11 at 3 PM
Note the change in location: Because of the book sale we will be meeting in the Craft Room this month. The Craft Room is on the lower level, next to the children's DVDs.

Teen Trivia and Game Night
Monday, November 21 at 2 PM
Answer questions about pop culture, books, and more and win prizes! Don't forget to reserve your spot.

Free movie: Fast Five (PG-13)
Tuesday, November 22 at 6 PM
Enjoy a movie on the big screen along with popcorn and refreshments!

Anime Club
Saturday, November 26 at 2 PM
At this month's meeting we will be designing our own buttons. Bring your ideas and creativity!

Character posters from The Hunger Games movie

2011-10-27T13:40:00.000-05:00

The Hunger Games movie doesn't hit theaters until March 23, 2012, but today character posters featuring the actors were revealed on the web:

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss via Yahoo! Movies
Liam Hemsworth as Gale via Moviefone
Josh Hutcherson as Peeta via MTV
Amandla Stenberg as Rue via Teen.com
Lenny Kravitz as Cinna via Fandango
Elizabeth Banks as Effie via Entertainment Weekly
Woody Harrelson as Haymitch via IGN
Alexander Ludwig as Cato via MSN

Which one is your favorite?

New teen releases out 10/25/11

2011-10-25T14:35:00.001-05:00

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

#3 in the Beka Cooper series

Read the previous books: Terrier (#1) and Bloodhound (#2)

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

#4 in the Iron Fey series

Read the previous books: The Iron King (#1), The Iron Daughter (#2), The Iron Queen (#3)

Destined by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
#9 in the House of Night series
Read the previous books: Marked (#1), Betrayed (#2), Chosen (#3), Untamed (#4), Hunted (#5), Tempted (#6), Burned (#7), Awakened (#8)

New books from Darren Shan, Cecily von Ziegesar, Melissa De La Cruz, & Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-10-11T12:10:00.001-05:00

Gossip Girl: Psycho Killer by Cecily von Ziegesar

Palace of the Damned (The Saga of Larten Crepsley #3)

Lost in Time by Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Bloods #6)

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush #3)

New books from Laini Taylor, Maureen Johnson, & Stephanie Perkins!

2011-09-30T10:34:00.008-05:00

These three long-awaited books hit the library's shelves this week!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Seventeen-year-old Karou, a lovely, enigmatic art student in a Prague boarding school, carries a sketchbook of hideous, frightening monsters--the chimaerae who form the only family she has ever known.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Rory, of Boueuxlieu, Louisiana, is spending a year at a London boarding school when she witnesses a murder by a Jack the Ripper copycat and becomes involved with the very unusual investigation. This is the first book in the Shades of London series.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Budding costume designer Lola lives an extraordinary life in San Francisco with her two dads and beloved dog, dating a punk rocker, but when the Bell twins return to the house next door Lola recalls both the friendship-ending fight with Calliope, a figure skater, and the childhood crush she had on Cricket. A must-read for fans of Perkins' previous novel, Anna and the French Kiss!

Coming soon: "Daughter of Smoke and Bone"

2011-09-19T16:55:00.000-05:00

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first book in an exciting new trilogy by Laini Taylor. Buzz has been building for months, and Entertainment Weekly lists Daughter of Smoke and Bone as #3 on this week's Must List! Check out the book trailers below, and get ready for September 27!

New this week: "Perfect" and "Fateful"

2011-09-16T10:39:00.000-05:00

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
Another novel written in free verse from the popular author of Crank, Burned, Glass, and Tricks, Perfect is a companion novel to Hopkins' 2007 book Impulse. Northern Nevada teenagers Cara, Kendra, Sean, and Andre, tell in their own voices of their very different paths toward perfection and how their goals change when tragedy strikes.The library has three copies, so come in and check one out!

Fateful by Claudia Gray
When seventeen-year-old Tess Davies, a ladies' maid, meets handsome Alec Marlow aboard the RMS Titanic, she quickly becomes entangled in the dark secrets of his past, but her growing love puts her in mortal peril even before fate steps in. A novel that combines historical fiction, romance, and the supernatural, by the author of the Evernight series.

Keeping track of teen series

2011-09-10T15:46:00.001-05:00

Here are some new teen books that we just added to the collection. Certain books continue series the library already owns, while others mark the first installment of a brand new series.

The Dark City by Catherine Fisher
First in the new Relic Master series, by the author of Incarceron

Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman
#2 in Eon series
Read the first installment, Eon

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
Forgive My Fins series #2
Read the first book, Forgive My Fins

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
#2 in the Tiger Saga
Read the first book, Tiger's Curse

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks
Companion to The Reformed Vampire Support Group

Vanish by Sophie Jordan
#2 in the Firelight series
Read #1 in the series: Firelight

Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer
#2 in the Meridian series
Read the first book: Meridian

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
First in a new series, Demon Trappers

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson
#2 in the Jenna Fox series
Read the first book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Death Sentence by Alexander Gordon Smith
#3 in the Escape from Furnace series
Read the previous books: Lockdown (#1) and Solitary (#2)

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
#1 in a new series

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
#1 in a new series

Afterlife by Claudia Gray
#4 in Evernight series

Share your ideas for the new Anime Club

2011-09-08T15:48:00.001-05:00

Our next TAG meeting is this Saturday, September 10 at 11AM. Come join us as we talk about our upcoming fall events, including the first meeting of the Anime Club (Saturday, September 24). Share your ideas and plan activities you'd like to participate in! If you can't make it, you can always post a comment on our TAG Facebook page.

Check out the new New Teen Books section!

2011-09-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

New teen books have green stickers on the spine and check out for 2 weeks.

Here are the newest arrivals to the collection. Check back on the blog for more new books that are part of series!

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore	So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti
The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg	Tighter by Adele Griffin
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach	Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal	White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma	Between by Jessica Warman

The Hunger Games: First trailer!

2011-08-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

We had our first look at the film adaptation of The Hunger Games during Sunday's Video Music Awards on MTV. In the short clip we see Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) running from fireballs in the arena and hear a pep talk from Gale (Liam Hemsworth) in voiceover: "You're stronger than they are. You are. They just want a good show, that's all they want. You know how to hunt. Show 'em how good you are."

Are you ready? I know I am. I can't wait for March 23!

Just released: "Bloodlines" and "The Power of Six"

2011-08-23T10:01:00.002-05:00

Today marks two big teen book releases: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead and The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore. Bloodlines is the first title in the spin-off series of the same name from the author of the Vampire Academy books. Some of the same characters from Vampire Academy, including Sydney, Jill Dragomir, and Adrian, also show up in Bloodlines. Via Entertainment Weekly's site you can watch the book trailer and read the book's first four chapters!

The Power of Six is the second installment in the Lorien Legacies series. The first book, I Am Number Four, was made into a movie and is now on DVD. We also added two paperback copies of I Am Number Four in addition to our two hardcover copies, so jump into the Lorien Legacies series and see if you like it!

Teens' Top Ten 2011

2011-08-22T19:54:00.001-05:00

Teens, be sure to vote for books on the Teens' Top Ten 2011 list through September 15. The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week (October 16-22). Here is the list of nominees:
Drought by Pam Pachorz
I am J by Cris Beam
You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin
Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins
Matched by Ally Condie
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Lies by Michael Grant
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal
Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Thanks for participating in summer reading!

2011-08-16T16:05:00.006-05:00

Our summer reading program, A Midsummer Knight's Read, ended on July 30. We had 19 teen summer reading finishers, and several teens read substantially more than the required 4 books. Summer reading finishers celebrated at our End of Summer Reading Lock-In Party on Friday, August 5. Francesca's Campagna of West Dundee donated food to the party (yum!). Teens explored the library while participating in a scavenger hunt and then had fun playing the Wii games Just Dance and Just Dance 2.

In total, teens and adults read 797 during the summer reading program!

The winner of the $100 Target gift card was Stacy E. We also had 10 weekly winners who each won $15 gift cards to Barnes & Noble. Thank you to Francesca's Campagna in West Dundee for donating 20% off coupons and the food for our party. And thanks to all the teens who signed up for summer reading, turned in their reading slips, and wrote their own reviews of the books! Stay tuned to next summer's theme, "Reading is So Delicious."

"I couldn't put it down!": Teen reviews from Summer Reading

2011-07-25T10:54:00.002-05:00

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
"Awesome book! Definite page turner. It keeps you hooked on. Read the first book to understand this one. Both books are great. :) " -- Dania S.

Party by Tom Leveen
"Great book. It keeps you interested. One of those books that you can't put down, and just keeps you wanting to read more to see what happens next. Very interesting! :)" -- Dania S.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
"I couldn't put this one down. Mystery, dystopia, space, science fiction told by alternating male and female narrators who have lived very different lives up until they meet one day on the megaship Godspeed." -- Lindsey S.

Story of A Girl by Sara Zarr
"I loved it! Great story. It is also inspiring. Even gets you thinking about some stuff. And definitely has you hooked on. You won't want to stop reading it!" -- Dania S.

Teens share their favorite Harry Potter book and movie moments

2011-07-23T09:06:00.002-05:00

"I like a few parts but my favorite is when Professor Quirrel screams, "Troll!!... In the dungeons. I thought you want to know," then faints. I love all moments though and have read all 7 books. J.K. Rowling is the best author ever!" -- Haley

"My favorite moment was when in the movie we got to see Fred and George's joke shop. It was really cool seeing all of their inventions and how amusing they all were. Not to mention I also loved the score that was playing during the scene. It was so giddy, which made the atmosphere complete." -- Stacy

"When Harry kisses Ginny because it is romantic." -- Oliva

"At the end of the chapter 'Horacruxes' in Half-Blood Prince, Harry thinks that even though he is marked for death, he can face it bravely, I really liked that, because Rowling wrote it very well, and I thought the choice was very wise." -- Lexi

The Hunger Games series: Reviews from Summer Reading

2011-07-22T10:35:00.001-05:00

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is popular reading material this summer, for both teens and adults alike! Check out a few reviews from participants in our summer reading program:

The Hunger Games

"Even though the theme was hard to think about, it was an exciting book. I couldn't put it down." Rating: 5 out of 5
-- Martha Z.

Catching Fire

"Excellent! Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read Mockingjay. I'll be impatiently waiting to read it!" Rating: 5 out of 5
-- Shannon M.

"I thought it was an okay book compared to the first. What I really liked was the twist towards the end. It sets up a really good way to get readers interested in the following book." Rating: 4 out of 5
-- Martha Z.

Mockingjay

"Not my favorite of the trilogy, but nonetheless a great book." Rating: 4 out of 5
-- Linda S.

"Good end to the series. Lots of surprises. A book you will not be able to put down." Rating: 4 out of 5
-- Shannon M.

Teens share their favorite Harry Potter movie in the series

2011-07-21T09:45:00.001-05:00

"My favorite movie would have to be the Half-Blood Prince, because it was really memorable to me. It was the first Harry Potter movie I've seen in theaters, so it seemed a little more magical in a weird way. Also, I watched it while I was on vacation, so now that movie reminds me of the destination." -- Stacy

"My favorite Harry Potter movies is Order of the Phoenix because of all the action in it especially at the end in the Ministry Battle." -- Ernesto

"The third [Prisoner of Azkaban] because it has hippogriffs in it and there is no Voldemort. Also they travel in time." -- Olivia

"My favorite is the third [Prisoner of Azkaban] because even though they took out a lot, it moves quickly, and really, no one cares if Harry didn't go to Florean Fortescue's." -- Lexi

Favorite characters in the Harry Potter series

2011-07-18T16:45:00.001-05:00

At last Wednesday's Harry Potter party and viewing of Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows, teens shared their favorite characters in the series. Luna Lovegood (played by Evanna Lynch in the movies) was the most popular character; she was voted the favorite by 4 people.

If you have not read all 7 books or watched all the movies please note this SPOILER ALERT! if you do not want to know about major plot developments!

"My favorite character is Sirius Black, because I always love a good mischief maker. I loved every scene he was in, so I was pretty upset when they cut his character so much out of the fourth movie. And when he was killed off, I was practically speechless. It seems like every character I like in a book has a nasty habit of dying. Still, I've enjoyed his character until the bitter end." -- Stacy

"Luna because she is funny but she doesn't know it. Also she thinks gnargles are in mistletoe. Also when she wears shoes to bed because she sleepwalks." -- Olivia

"Luna Lovegood is my favorite character in the series because she's very intelligent. Not in the way that Hermione is, but very wise. She isn't in Ravenclaw House for nothing, you know she's very wise and confident, unaffected by what others say, but still very happy to have friends." -- Lexi

"Dobby, he is hilarious, I like how he talks in a third person point of view, and he is as cute as a button!" -- Chris

"Luna because she is funny and smart and not afraid to let people hear what she thinks and doesn't care what others say about her." -- Haley

"My favorite character is Hermione because she is smart and cool." -- Elitania

Teens recommend Graceling

2011-07-11T16:17:00.000-05:00

Graceling by Kristin Cashore has received positive reviews from two teens participating in the summer reading program! Check out what they have to say about this book:

"I loved the world this book was set in. Katsa was such a believeable character. I hope there are many more books in this series, though, this one can stand alone." -- Lindsey S.

"Brilliant! I couldn't put it down and bought a copy after I returned it. Cashore is no slouch on imagination and it's a book that everyone will want to know how it ends the moment they read the first chapter!" -- Tiffany V.

New books in June!

2011-06-22T13:14:00.001-05:00

Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror edited by R.L. Stine	XVI by Julia Karr
The Gardner by S.A. Bodeen	Thief Girl by Ingrid Lee
Rival by Sara Bennett Wheeler	The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
Amelia O'Donohue is So Not a Virgin by Helen FitzGerald	Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman	Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
Divergent by Veronica Roth	BADD by Tim Tharp
The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger

Graphic novels just added to the collection

2011-06-20T18:14:00.001-05:00

Dragon Ball Z by Akira Toriyama

Volumes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9

Vampire Kisses

Volumes 2 & 3

Bart Simpson Prince of Pranks

Superman: Earth One

The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis

Teen Gaming Club meets this Friday

2011-06-08T09:33:00.001-05:00

Enjoy snacks and refreshments and meet up with friends at this week's meeting of the Teen Gaming Club. During the summer we'll meet from 2-4. Come join the fun!

Sign up for summer reading and win prizes!

2011-06-06T20:12:00.000-05:00

Summer reading for teens begins today and runs through Saturday, July 30. Have you signed up yet? All you have to do is read 4 books in order to finish. If you want to read more, go ahead! The more books you read, the more chances you will have in the weekly prize drawings and grand prize drawing. And for each reading entry you return you get to pick out a bookmark. The grand prize is a $100 Target gift card! The weekly drawings will be for $15 gift cards to GameStop or Barnes and Noble.

Each summer reading participant that finishes will:

receive a certificate for 15% off your family's meal at Francesca's Campagna
be invited to our End of Summer Reading Lock-In Party (where we will have food from Francesca's as well!)
be entered into the grand prize drawing

Stop by the Information Desk and sign up, then walk over to the teen area and pick up some books!

Join TAG this Saturday

2011-05-31T16:46:00.001-05:00

Our next TAG meeting is this Saturday the 4th at 11 AM in the library's downstairs Craft Room. We will be creating fun decorations and crafts for our Summer Reading Kick-Off Party. We will also talk about other teen events planned at the library for the summer. Plus there will be food and music! Come join us and get in the spirit of our summer reading theme, A Midsummer Knight's Read, which begins on Monday, June 6.

More new books!

2011-05-25T15:54:00.003-05:00

Several of these new additions are the beginnings of new teen series. Start stocking up for your summer reading list now!

Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin	What Can(t) Wait by Ashley Hope Pérez
Wither by Lauren DeStefano The first installment in the new Chemical Garden Trilogy	Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck The first book in the new Tiger Saga series
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins The sequel to Hex Hall	Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith The sequel to Tantalize
Enclave by Ann Aguirre	City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare #4 in the Mortal Instruments series
Delirium by Lauren Oliver New series	Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Check out these new teen books!

2011-05-21T10:44:00.004-05:00

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin	What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Cloaked by Alex Finn By the author of Beastly	Plague: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant #4 in the Gone series
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson The follow-up to 2005's 13 Little Blue Envelopes	Trapped by Michael Northrop
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins	Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Midnight by L.J. Smith The Vampire Diaries: The Return #3	Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
Ocean of Blood by Darren Shan Saga of Larten Crepsley, #2 (Prequel to Cirque du Freak series)	Library Wars: Love & War by Kiro Yumi Graphic novels

Just Dance tomorrow!

2011-04-28T15:25:00.001-05:00

April 29 is International Dance Day! Come to our Just Dance program for teens tomorrow at 3 PM in the Meeting Room. We'll be dancing to songs on the Wii games Just Dance and Just Dance 2. Come and join the fun!

Join TAG on Facebook

2011-04-20T15:09:00.001-05:00

TAG is the library's Teen Action Group. TAG members share ideas on what they want to do at the library, play games, discuss books, music, and movies, and get creative making crafts. TAG is a great way to meet new friends and hang out with old ones. It's never too late to join! We meet the first Saturday of the month. Our next meeting is May 7. If you cannot attend our monthly meeting, you can share your opinions on our Facebook page, where you can also check out our upcoming events at the library or view photos from past programs, like our Eclipse Movie Release Party.

Join TAG on Facebook -- all you have to do is click "Like!"

The Hunger Games movie: Peeta and Gale cast!

2011-04-06T14:25:00.005-05:00

Finally! On Monday it was announced that Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) will play the role of Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) will play Gale Hawthorne in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone) has already been cast as Katniss Everdeen.

I am very happy that Hutcherson is playing Peeta; a couple weeks ago I posted about my hope that he would get the role. I did not have any strong feelings on who should play Gale, apart from someone a bit rugged and believable as a hunter at home in the woods. I do not remember seeing Hemsworth's name among fan choices for Gale, so I was surprised at that part of the announcement. I have not watched any of Hemsworth's prior work, so I will to trust director Gary Ross's decision (and I'm going to ignore the fact that Hemsworth dated Miley Cyrus). I am totally avoiding reading any online article comments because I do not want to read people's negativity about the actors cast. How can we say so-and-so is a bad choice if the movie hasn't even started filming yet? I doubt author Suzanne Collins would go along with a decision to ruin her vision of the characters she created. If you are not sure about whether Hutcherson and Hemsworth are the right choices for the roles, maybe you'll change your mind after reading Collins' support of the casting of Peeta and Gale.

As of now, no other actors have been cast. EW.com suggests Robert Downey Jr. for the role of hard-drinking Haymitch and Elizabeth Banks for the bubbly Effie. And one writer, Karen Valby, has the same actress suggestion for Prim as me -- Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men!

What do you think of the casting? Do you agree that Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth will fit into their roles alongside Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss? And, most importantly, how are you going to stand the wait until the movie hits theaters on March 23, 2012? I think we need to get a countdown going on the blog!

Showtimes for Spring Break Movie Marathon

2011-03-25T13:20:00.000-05:00

All the paper and online votes have been tallied, and the top three films are The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Iron Man 2, and Step Up 3. Here's our schedule for the Spring Break Movie Marathon this upcoming Monday:

1:30 - 3:20 PM
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (PG)

Break

3:45 - 5:45 PM
Iron Man 2 (PG-13)

Break

6 - 7:50 PM
Step Up 3 (PG-13)

You are welcome to stay for all three movies or just drop in to watch the movie/s you want. Hope to see you there!

Voting for Spring Break Movie Marathon nearing an end

2011-03-22T15:47:00.000-05:00

Taking into account both paper and online votes here are the current standings:

Tie for 1st (6 votes):
Iron Man 2
The Sorcerer's Apprentice

2nd (5 votes):
Step Up 3

Tie for 3rd (4 votes):
Charlie St. Cloud
Easy A
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Tie for 4th (3 votes):
The Last Airbender
Salt
Secretariat

If voting ended right now, our lineup would include Iron Man 2, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and Step Up 3. Is your film of choice making the cut? There's still time to vote-- voting ends on Thursday at 9 PM. After the films are selected I will post the marathon schedule!

Jennifer Lawrence is "the girl on fire"

2011-03-21T17:04:00.002-05:00

It was announced last week that twenty-year-old actress Jennifer Lawrence will play the role of Katniss Everdeen in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games trilogy. Fans like me have been waiting to hear which buzzworthy actress would win this coveted role. I previously posted about how True Grit's Hailee Steinfield was my pick to play Katniss, and I was initially disappointed to hear about Jennifer Lawrence's casting. But after reading this article at EW.com in which director Gary Ross explains how he and author Suzanne Collins needed a mature actress to play Katniss, I found myself more supportive of the choice. And then any lingering doubts I had were erased when I read this exclusive statement from Suzanne Collins in which she praises Jennifer Lawrence's audition. Lawrence's previous work includes Winter's Bone, for which she received a Best Actress nomination, and the upcoming X-Men: First Class.

Now that director Ross has found Katniss, I hope we'll soon hear about who will play Peeta, Gale, Prim, Rue, and the other characters. As I write this, no other casting announcements have been made. Josh Hutchersen, previously seen as Laser in The Kids Are All Right, has talked about why he loves the character of Peeta, and I am crossing my fingers that he'll get the role. He definitely understands the character from having read the books himself, and he is a talented actor. Do you have any casting ideas about who should play Peeta or Gale?

Read The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay

Update on Spring Break Movie Marathon voting

2011-03-15T14:01:00.001-05:00

Our Spring Break Movie Marathon is Monday, March 28 at 1:30 PM. Have you voted for the movies you want to watch yet? I extended the voting period through next week. Taking into account paper votes and online votes, here are the current standings:

1st
Iron Man 2: 5 votes

2nd (tie)
Charlie St. Cloud: 3 votes
Easy A: 3 votes
The Sorcerer's Apprentice: 3 votes
Step Up 3: 3 votes

3rd (tie)
Salt: 2 votes

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: 2 votes

4th (tie)
The Last Airbender: 1 vote

Lottery Ticket: 1 vote

Secretariat: 1 vote

We will screen the top three vote-getters for the marathon. Be sure to vote for your top three! We need to break these ties. Feel free to vote in the comments section below.

Winter Reading wrap-up!

2011-03-15T12:54:00.005-05:00

Thank you to everyone who signed up for Winter Reading. Teens and adults read 266 books in all from January 10 through March 5. Teens read 49 books throughout the program.

Congratulations to the Teen Grand Prize winner, Stacy! She is the winner of a $75 Target gift card!

Thank you to everyone for participating. Summer reading (A Midsummer Knight's Read) begins June 6!

Creations from our Cupcake Decorating Party

2011-03-03T14:55:00.002-06:00

Last Saturday, February 26, we had a Cupcake Decorating Party at the library. We started out with chocolate and vanilla cupcakes and frostings, and then participants mixed up their own fun and vibrant colors. They also creatively used sprinkles, M&M's, chocolate chips, and Reese's Pieces in their designs. Everyone enjoyed being able to create their own cupcake masterpiece! Take a look at what I'm calling "cupcake art" --

by Amanda

by Jocelyn

by Hayle

by Milagros

by Emma

by Rachel

by Denise

by Victoria

Tic Tac Toe by Mauricio

by Maria

by Isabella

by Isabella
The cupcake design is her dog, Gracey!

by Isabella
The cupcake design is her dog, Ginger!

by Haley

Thank you to everyone who attended our Cupcake Decorating Party!

Pick the films for our Spring Break Movie Marathon!

2011-03-02T15:40:00.001-06:00

Monday, March 28 we are having a Spring Break Movie Marathon just for teens. We'll start the first film shortly after1:30 PM and then show three movies (with breaks in-between). Enjoy beverages, popcorn, and other snacks during the marathon. Between movies we'll also see who knows the most movie trivia! Sign up to attend the Spring Break Movie Marathon by registering online or calling the Information Desk at 847-428-3661 x 308.

Here are some movies that have been released on DVD in the last few months. Vote 1) in the poll on the right side of the page or 2) by posting in the Comments section: Put 1 next to your first choice, 2 next to your second, and 3 next to your third choice:

Charlie St. Cloud (PG-13)
Easy A (PG-13)
Iron Man 2 (PG-13)
The Last Airbender (PG)
Lottery Ticket (PG-13)
Salt (PG-13)
Secretariat (PG)
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (PG-13)
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG)
Step Up 3 (PG-13)
You Again (PG)

You're invited... to our Cupcake Decorating Party

2011-02-21T18:04:00.001-06:00

Join us this Saturday, February 26 at 2 PM in the downstairs Meeting Room for our Cupcake Decorating Party!
We'll provide the cupcakes, frosting, and supplies. All you have to do is show up and get creative with your cupcake designs. We still have openings for this program. Be sure to register online, or call the Information Desk at 847-428-3661 x 308. Stay tuned to the blog for photos of everyone's cupcake artwork!

Who should be cast in The Hunger Games movie?

2011-02-17T15:36:00.007-06:00

Movie studio Lionsgate has the rights to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy, and production is estimated to begin late this spring or in early summer, with an expected release date of March 23, 2012. This means that even though fans have finished all the books in the series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay), we still have the movies to look forward to. I hope that actual teenage actors, and not twentysomethings, are hired for the roles of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. If you've read the books, which actors and actresses do you see playing the characters in the adaptation of the first book? Would you prefer that unknown actors and actresses are cast as these characters? Here are the characters to cast, along with a couple of my suggestions:

Katniss Everdeen
Sixteen-year-old Katniss hunts and trades for food to provide for her mother and younger sister. She wears her long dark hair in a braid. Entertainment Weekly recommends Chloe Moretz for this role. My choice: Hailee Steinfeld, who was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in True Grit. She is talented, the right age (fifteen), and has the toughness needed to play Katniss.

Peeta Mellark
Although Katniss knew of Peeta before The Hunger Games, they have never spoken to each other, despite an important event from when they were younger that Katniss never forgot. One night Peeta threw a couple loaves of bread out to Katniss, who was starving and foraging behind his father's bakery for food. Peeta is described as being "medium height, stocky build, [with] ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead." Throughout the Games it is difficult for Katniss to know whether Peeta is being genuine or is simply "playing the game."

Gale
Gale is eighteen years old and best friends with Katniss. He takes care of his family and goes out hunting with Katniss, who he has nicknamed Catnip. Katniss notes of Gale: "He could be my brother. Straight black hair, olive skin, we even have the same gray eyes." While Katniss denies having any romantic feelings for Gale, he may care for her more than just a friend. Do any actors come to mind when you read the following description of Gale?

...if he wants kids, Gale won't have any trouble finding a wife. He's good-looking, he's strong enough to handle the work in the mines, and he can hunt. You can tell by the way the girls whisper about him when he walks by in school that they want him. It makes me jealous but not for the reason people might think. Good hunting partners are hard to find. (p. 10)

Rue
In the book, Katniss says that Rue "can move through the woods like a shadow..." The other tributes underestimate Rue due to her small size. She loves music and is friends with some mockingjays back at home. Only twelve-years-old, she reminds Katniss of her sister.

She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with her arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. It's impossible not to think of a bird. (p. 98-9)

Prim Everdeen
Prim is the younger sister of Katniss, and has light hair and blue eyes like their mother. My choice to play this character: Eleven-year-old Kiernan Sherpka, best known for her role as Sally Draper on Mad Men.

Haymitch Abernathy
Described as "a paunchy, middle-aged man," Haymitch is drunk when he is first introduced, and is one of only two tributes from District 12 who have won The Hunger Games. I think Robbie Coltrane, who plays Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, would be a good choice for this character.

I had trouble thinking of teenage actors for the roles of Peeta and Gale. Who have I been missing? Plus, don't forget these other roles: Effie Trinket, the mayor, Cinna, the rest of the tributes in The Hunger Games....

Happy birthday, Charles Dickens!

2011-02-07T20:30:00.002-06:00

English novelist Charles Dickens was born February 7, 1812, in what is now Portsmouth, England.

Facts about Dickens...

He was one of eight children in a family that struggled with financial issues, and his father eventually ended up in debtor's prison.
By the time Dickens was a teenager he was already working in the law courts as a freelance reporter and stenographer.
At the age of 20 he worked as a news reporter and then began submitting sketches to various publications; this work was later published as Sketches by Boz.
Dickens was also quite popular in the United States and went on a lecture tour in 1842.
He had ten children with his wife Catherine (he separated from his wife in 1858).
His public readings of his novels were very popular.
Dickens died of a stroke on June 9, 1870.
Thinking about visiting London? Visit the Charles Dickens Museum!

Books by Dickens:

Nicholas Nickleby
The Old Curiosity Shop
Oliver Twist
A Christmas Carol
David Copperfield
Bleak House
Little Dorrit
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations

One of my favorite books, and one that I continue to go back to re-read, is Great Expectations. I love Dickens' manner of telling a story and how he writes his characters. Have you read anything by Charles Dickens? What do you think of his writing?

Check out these books just added to the collection!

2011-01-21T09:55:00.001-06:00

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher Find it in the catalog! TEEN FISHER	Fallout by Ellen Hopkins Find it in the catalog! TEEN HOPKINS	Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story by Adam Rex Find it in the catalog! TEEN REX
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan Find it in the catalog! TEEN TIERNAN	Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan Find it in the catalog! TEEN CORRIGAN	Three Black Swans by Caroline Cooney Find it in the catalog! TEEN COONEY
Deadly Little Lies: A Touch Novel by Laurie Faria Stolarz Find it in the catalog! TEEN STOLARZ	Bloody Valentine: A Blue Bloods Book by Melissa De la Cruz Find it in the catalog! TEEN DE LA CRUZ	Bruiser by Neal Shusterman Find it in the catalog! TEEN SHUSTERMAN
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Find it in the catalog! TEEN BARNES	Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin Find it in the catalog! TEEN WERLIN	Misguided Angel: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa De la Cruz Find it in the catalog! TEEN DE LA CRUZ
Scrawl by Mark Shulman Find it in the catalog! TEEN SHULMAN	Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber Find it in the catalog! TEEN SCHREIBER	Heart to Heart by Lurlene McDaniel Find it in the catalog! TEEN MCDANIEL
You by Charles Benoit Find it in the catalog! TEEN BENOIT	Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley Find it in the catalog! TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL BATMAN	Crazy by Han Nolan Find it in the catalog! TEEN NOLAN
Firelight by Sophie Jordan Find it in the catalog! TEEN JORDAN	Entice by Carrie Jones Find it in the catalog! TEEN JONES	Dark Song by Gail Giles Find it in the catalog! TEEN GILES
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney Find it in the catalog! TEEN WHITNEY	Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer Find it in the catalog! TEEN BREWER	Hothouse by Chris Lynch Find it in the catalog! TEEN LYNCH
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry Find it in the catalog! TEEN MABERRY

Teen Gaming Club

2011-01-11T16:25:00.000-06:00

Join us in the Meeting Room this Friday, January 14 from 3-5 PM for the Teen Gaming Club. Choose to play the Wii games Rock Band 3, Guitar Hero, Mario Kart, Just Dance, or Just Dance 2. You can also bring in your own Wii games. While you wait to play on the Wii you can choose from our selection of board games to play, or just eat snacks and socialize with your friends.

Sign up for Winter Reading

2011-01-08T16:30:00.000-06:00

Don’t let the winter blues get to you. You can get still get away from the Midwest winter even if you don’t go by plane, train, or automobile. Allow yourself to be transported to different places by opening up a good book. Reading is Your Ticket to Travel is the theme for Teen and Adult Winter Reading this year. Sign up begins Monday, January 10 at the Information Desk. You will receive a reading log where you can write down the books you listen to or read.

You do not have a requirement for a certain number of books to read. Read 1 book. Read 5. Read 15! Grab more entries from the Information Desk if you need them. Each book you read enters you into the weekly gift card prize drawings that will start at the end of week 2 (January 16-January 22), in addition to the grand prize drawing. One teen will win $75 in Target gift cards for the grand prize! The weekly drawings are for $20 gift cards to Classic Cinemas, Dunkin' Donuts, or Target.

New Year's resolutions

2010-12-30T09:05:00.001-06:00

Do you make New Year's resolutions? What are your resolutions for 2011? Many people kick into "healthy mode" after the holidays with resolutions to eat better or to exercise five times a week. Since everyone makes these types of resolutions, I thought about other ideas. Funny resolutions. Out-of-the-ordinary resolutions. Just plain weird resolutions. Here is a list I brainstormed for myself:

Make a daily attempt to insert the phrase "make haste" into normal conversation.
Try a new recipe (not dessert!!) at least once a month.
Walk backwards more often.
Break out Cha Cha moves instead of walking.
Write with my left hand 30 minutes a day so that by 2012 I will be ambidexterous.
Come to think of it, I should probably practice my cursive handwriting 30 minutes a day, too, since my handwriting has evolved into a printing/cursive hybrid that is quite awful.
Only read books told from the point of view of animals (The Art of Racing in the Rain, Animal Farm...)
Learn sign language.
Earn at least 9,000 points on all the songs featured in Wii game Just Dance.

Be a little crazy in formulating your resolutions for 2011 and share them in the Comments section!

Happy birthday, C.S. Lewis and Louisa May Alcott

2010-11-29T18:29:00.001-06:00

The author of the popular Chronicles of Narnia series, C.S. Lewis, was born November 29, 1898, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, was born November 29, 1832, in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Celebrate these authors' birthdays by checking out a book (or a movie based on a book) written by them!

C.S. Lewis

Chronicles of Narnia series
#1 The Magician's Nephew
#2 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
#3 The Horse and His Boy
#4 Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
#5 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
#6 The Silver Chair
#7 The Last Battle

We own various editions and formats and many are located under JUV FICTION LEWIS or PB CLASSIC LEWIS. All 7 books included in The Chronicles of Narnia (PB CLASSIC LEWIS).To find any of the books or movies do a keyword search for "chronicles of narnia."

The latest Narnia film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is out in theaters December 10.

Louisa May Alcott

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving
JUV FICTION ALCOTT
Find it in the catalog!

The movie An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, based on the short story

Little Women (1868-1869)
FICTION ALCOTT // JUV FICTION ALCOTT
Find it in the catalog!

Little Women film adaptations : 1933 version starring Katharine Hepburn; 1949 version starring June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Janet Leigh; and the 1994 version starring Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, and Kirsten Dunst.

more books about the March family:
Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys (1871)
JUV FICTION ALCOTT
Find it in the catalog!

Jo's Boys (1886)
FICTION ALCOTT
Find it in the catalog!

To find more writings, just do an author search for "Louisa May Alcott" in the catalog.

Recipes from the Harry Potter Movie Release Party

2010-11-18T14:59:00.002-06:00

We had an excited group of 45 Harry Potter fans attend our Harry Potter Movie Release Party last Saturday. For the party I prepared some food and drinks that have been mentioned in the books as being served on the Hogwarts Express or in The Three Broomsticks.

Pumpkin Cookies (with brown butter icing)
◊ Cookie recipe from Rosmerta's Recipes on MuggleNet
Icing recipe from the book Martha Stewart's Cupcakes ("Brown Butter Icing")

Rock Cakes
◊ Recipe from Rosmerta's Recipes on MuggleNet
This was the first time I've made this recipe, and I definitely didn't cut the butter into the flour enough, leaving the butter to run out of the cakes, which I'm guessing is the reason why they came out pretty flat. Oh well, at least they tasted good.

Cauldron Cakes
All I did was prepare one of my favorite cupcake recipes (Devil's food), turned the cupcakes upside down, and dipped them in a huge bowl of chocolate ganache glaze. Then I sprinkled some purple sugar on top of each to make a bubbling-potion effect. I also got the bubbling-potion effect in another way-- I have a set of three stackable cookie racks that I was using to place the cakes after I dipped them in the ganache. The glaze from the cakes on the top tier dripped down on top of the cakes in the lower tiers, which gave the appearance of a bubbling cauldron!

To bake the cupcakes I used silicone baking cups. I like using the baking cups because then you do not waste paper lining holders and they are easy to clean. Plus, they are perfect for making the cupcakes look like cauldrons -- if you use paper liners you'll have to remove each one by hand before you glaze them.

◊ Cupcake and chocolate ganache frosting recipes from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes.

Pumpkin Juice
◊ Recipe from BellaOnline.
I added some water to each batch because I thought it was a little too sweet. Very delicious, and a big hit with all the Harry Potter fans! We went through 3 pitchers at the party!

Butterbeer
(not able to take a picture due to the HP Madness at the party)
Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass and then top with a teaspoon of butterscotch syrup. Pour cold vanilla cream soda or club soda over the ice cream and stir.

I found several promising looking Butterbeer recipes from MuggleNet and other sources on the Internet, but decided to go for a simpler version of the recipes I'd run across. I'd originally hoped to make a warm version of Butterbeer, but it would have been too difficult to serve such a large group without having cooking capability at the library.

Accio Harry Potter fans!

2010-11-05T11:16:00.001-05:00

If you're a fan of J.K. Rowling's books and the movies adapted from them, then be sure to join us on Saturday, November 13 as we celebrate the release of the upcoming movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Answer trivia questions, play games, win prizes, and eat fun foods that are mentioned in the books! You can register online or call the Information Desk at 847-428-3661 x 308. Muggles of all ages are welcome!

Have you read all the books? If you need to catch up, the library owns multiple copies of each of the seven books in the Harry Potter series. What about the movies? We have you covered on that, too. Click below for any of the books or movies.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Year 1)
Book Movie

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Year 2)
Book Movie

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Year 3)
Book Movie

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Year 4)
Book Movie

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Year 5)
Book Movie

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Year 6)
Book Movie

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Year 7)
Book

Photos from the Teen Horror Fest

2010-10-28T16:14:00.004-05:00

Our zombies Antoine and Oliver got all spiffed up to attend the Teen Horror Fest last Saturday the 20th. Thirteen people attended and we had fun making masks, decorating chocolate chip cupcakes, and playing a word game. How many words can you make using the letters in "All Saints Eve" in one minute? For the word game we used old DVD cases and put letters inside the plastic... they look like giant Scrabble tiles! Oh, and I almost forgot several people decided to "zombie up." I'm not sure if this slang phrase has been used in other parts of the US, but at the Horror Fest it referred to dressing like a zombie and then taking pictures alongside that zombie. I love to zombie up! Anyway, check out how creative the teens were in how they decorated their masks and cupcakes. Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

Antoine, an unnamed spirit, and Oliver

Oliver, always cool and collected--even when covered
in buckets of blood.

Antoine's so stylish everyone would like to hold
his hand and skip around! Ahem. Or maybe
that's just me...

"Yuck, Oliver! Your heart popped out of your chest!"

Creating words using the letters from "All Saints Eve."

Waiting for the Horror Fest...

2010-10-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

Zombie1: It's only Thursday? I feel like I've been waiting forever for the Teen Horror Fest!

Zombie2: I know! But at least we can hang out in the Teen area while we ponder how we will decorate our masks!

"Oooo, these Private novels have quite the boarding school drama! They will provide a welcome distraction!"

"Ah, reading about history shall pacify me until the great Teen Horror Fest on Saturday."

"Hmm... does reading a book make me look less creepy? I wonder..."

"Okay. Just because I'm wearing a creepy mask that doesn't mean people will find me, as a zombie, creepy. Maybe people don't realize that zombies have feelings, too. Well, most don't. Practically all of them don't, I guess. Maybe I'm the only exception. Does that make me a zombie outcast? Oh man, I'm a zombie outcast!"

"Well, I may as well get some work done before the epic Teen Horror Fest. Time to blog about how much I love the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World soundtrack."

The zombies are coming!

2010-10-19T14:47:00.001-05:00

Zombies and people in creepy white masks have been sighted hanging around the library...

Antoine, from France, was an intellectual hanging out in Paris when a zombie bit him.

Oliver, an English gentleman, is quite nonchalant about the blood all over his face and hands.

Don't miss our Teen Horror Fest this Saturday, October 23 at 2:30 PM. You can decorate your own very creepy white mask and arrange zombies Antoine and Oliver into funny poses. We promise they will be dressed in time for the party. Plus we'll have food, games, and classic horror movies to watch.

Attend our Open Mic Night during Teen Read Week

2010-10-11T15:08:00.001-05:00

The theme for this year's Teen Read Week is Books with Beat @ Your Library. Come in to the library to check out books with beat. Maybe you're interested in...

◊◊ non-fiction books about musicians and bands (Check out call number 782.42166 !)
◊◊ poetry
◊◊ audiobooks
◊◊ fiction that features main characters who are musicians (stay tuned for a reading list)

Our Open Mic Night is Wednesday, October 20 at 7 PM. If you are interested in reading/performing something, show up a little earlier so you can sign in. You can also stop by just to listen. Snacks and refreshments will be available for attendees and participants.

Teen Horror Fest at the Dundee Library: Food, fun, and frights!

2010-10-06T12:39:00.002-05:00

If you are excited for Halloween and want to celebrate early, come to our Teen Horror Fest program on Saturday, October 23 at 2:30 PM. We are going to use our creativity to decorate masks and also have some fun games planned. And nothing says "horror fest" like the inclusion of zombies, so of course they'll be there, too! If that hasn't gotten you interested, then how about this: Food! Beverages! Cookies! Have I gotten your attention now? You can register on the library website, or call us at 847-428-3661 x 308. Hope to see you there! I don't want to show up and be the only human hanging out with the creepy zombies.

Upcoming library program: College Advantage Workshop

2010-09-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 28. We are having a College Advantage Workshop for interested students and parents at 7 PM downstairs in the Meeting Room. Presenter Betsy McDaniel will talk about the details involved in the process of applying to college. After attending this workshop you will learn how to make your college search easier and more affordable. You may register online or by calling the Information Desk at 847-428-3661 x 308.

Interested in writing a novel in a month?

2010-09-08T10:42:00.001-05:00

November is National Novel Writing Month, where the goal is to write an entire novel (50,000 words for adults) from November 1-November 30. For the Young Writers Program, each person can choose his or her word count goal. Depending on your grade and the time you can spend on writing, look at this chart to see a suggested range for your word count goal.Writing can be done on a computer or by hand. After making it to your word count goals you will be able to print out a certificate from the website.

You can start signing up now at the Information Desk, but you can’t start writing yet (it is okay to write down ideas and notes). You can also set up an account on the site NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program. The YWP site has lots of helpful ideas and writing tools. Note: if you've already registered on the site we still want you to let us know you signed up, because we are ordering a kit of free incentives/progress charts for the teens who participate.

This is a program that anyone can sign up for on their own, but I thought it would be fun to get a group together at the library to help motivate each other if we were all writing toward our goals together. I will be participating as well, my word count goal is 50,000. You can also call the Information Desk at 847-428-3661 x 308 to sign up, or email Danielle.

TAG meeting this Saturday

2010-09-02T12:55:00.000-05:00

Don't forget that we have a TAG (Teen Advisory Group) meeting this Saturday, September 2, at 9:30 AM in the Craft Room. If you have never made it to a meeting before, no big deal! Newcomers are always welcome. We have some fun teen programs coming up in the fall!

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2010-08-18T15:52:00.000-05:00

There's a new shapeshifter in town-- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-07-31T09:45:00.000-05:00

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher will appeal to fans of Hunger Games and the Gone Series

2010-07-29T10:59:00.001-05:00

Incerceron is a prison unlike any other. Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can't remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incercaron. He's going to escape, even though most inmates don't believe that the Outside even exists. and then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside-her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she's doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return

But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eyes.Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know:

BECAUSE INCARCERON IS ALIVE.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

2010-07-21T16:01:00.000-05:00

In the novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Stephenie Meyer writes from the point of view of Bree, a newborn vampire. This book is a companion to the novel Eclipse, in which the vampire Victoria has Riley recruit vampires for an army to fight the Edward and the Cullens to avenge death of her mate, James. Because Eclipse is told from the point of view of Bella, we do not see much of the newborn vampires except during the fight with the Cullens and the werewolves. Bree is the only vampire in the fight who surrenders.

Riley attempts to keep the group of twenty or so young vampires in line and decides when each vampire is able to leave the house to hunt. He acts on the orders of Victoria, who the newborn vampires never see (they don't even know her name). Most of the vampires also have no idea why they have been made vampires and brought together. I found it interesting to discover how little the newborns know about being a vampire. For one, the vampires think that sunlight will kill them; during the day they remain in cramped quarters in a basement. Also, the newborns have no clue about the wider vampire world --they do not know about the Volturri, and can hardly fathom the idea of living or befriending humans instead of feeding from and killing them. Furthermore, they do not even know that they are considered "newborns;" they know how strong they are and figure that will help them prevail in any fight. Riley keeps information from the vampires in order to keep them under his control, but at the same time this lack of knowledge hurts them later on when they do go to fight.

Bree follows Riley's rules, such as only feeding on the "dregs" of society, and also keeps her distance from the other newborn vampires, several of whom often pursue confrontations, going so far as to kill within the group. Most of the newborn vampires are very immature. They go out to hunt and make a huge scene with destroyed property and dead bodies but don't clean up their mess. But Bree does find makes friends with Diego, who is someone she can actually talk to. She also finds a friend in Fred, who repels everyone; Bree hides behind him to allow her to remain unnoticed.

This is a short read, and I thought the change in point-of-view was a refreshing addition to the Twilight series, in that this part of the story has nothing to do with Edward-Bella-Jacob love triangle. You are also able to see how out-of-control newborn vampires actually are. The Cullens seem tame and domesticated compared to the red-eyed vampires under Riley's control. Even Bree, who avoids fighting at the end of the book, doesn't think twice when she goes out to hunt and kills people. Definitely pick up this book if you have already read the Twilight series. Bree, Diego, and Fred are welcome and intriguing additions to the Twilight series. Even though I knew what was going happen to Bree, I still rooted for her as I read the book. I would like to see Stephenie Meyer write other novellas that explicate the Twilight mythology even further-- Edward's first years as a vampire, Carlisle's time with the Volturri, etc.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
TEEN MEYER
Find it in the catalog!

Wendelin Van Draanen' s Flipped becomes a movie

2010-07-05T20:14:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

A different look at history

2010-07-01T14:10:00.001-05:00

History + graphic novel + humor = Larry Gonick's cartoon history books. I think these books are helpful to read to refresh your memory about historical events. Gonick condenses the information down so that the narrative fits into word balloons and description in the comic panels. If you're looking for something different to check out, try one of these books!

Cartoon History of the United States
YA GRAPHIC NOVEL GONICK
Covers U.S. history up to 1991. Includes an index and an illustrated bibliography, which is something I've never seen before. Find it in the catalog!

The Cartoon History of the Modern World. Part 1, from Columbus to the U.S. Constitution
Young Adult 909.0802 GON
Find it in the catalog!

The Cartoon History of the Universe
part 1: YA GRAPHIC NOVEL GONICK 1
part 2: YA GRAPHIC NOVEL GONICK 2
part 3: YA GRAPHIC NOVEL GONICK 3
Find it in the catalog!

Who do you cheer for?: Team Edward or Team Jacob

2010-06-28T14:32:00.000-05:00

One of the things I did to prepare for last Friday's Eclipse Movie Release Party, in addition to baking cupcakes, was create two short videos supporting Teams Edward and Jacob. Many Twilight fans consider themselves to be on Team Edward or Team Jacob when it comes to who they think should be with Bella. So, I brainstormed cheer ideas for both teams and got my cousin Mike to assist me with filming. We came up with our own cheers and choreography to demonstrate the obsessive support fans have for characters in the Twilight series. Neither of us had any experience with cheerleading (which will be obvious once you view either clip), but we had a lot of fun making the videos. The inspiration behind the videos was SNL's Spartan Cheerleaders (played by Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri). We had hoped to debut the videos at the Eclipse Party, but the computer would not play the files. I was very disappointed after all the work spent on planning, filming, and editing. Well, now thanks to YouTube, our embarrassing antics and choreography can be viewed on any computer. Enjoy!

Cheers for Team Edward:

Cheers for Team Jacob:

Photos from our Eclipse Movie Release Party

2010-06-28T13:26:00.003-05:00

On Friday we had an Eclipse Movie Release Party for fans of the Twilight books and movies. We even celebrated the vampire Edward Cullen's birthday (he turned 109 last Monday). In addition to answering trivia questions for prizes and listening to music, we also enjoyed eating Red Velvet Vampire Cupcakes and Jacob Black Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (made by yours truly)! I added a few pictures below. There are more on the library's Facebook page. Thanks to everyone who came to the party! We had 25 attend.

Only six more days until Eclipse

2010-06-24T16:36:00.004-05:00

World Cup Action

2010-06-21T07:51:00.000-05:00

Novels in Verse

2010-06-19T10:27:00.000-05:00

Have a Beastly summer

2010-06-19T09:34:00.001-05:00

HUNGER GAMES-- READ IT NOW --VIEW IT LATER

2010-06-19T09:18:00.000-05:00

Teen Summer Reader Gets Creative

2010-06-17T15:00:00.002-05:00

WHAM-O SUPER BOOK: THE MOST FANTASTIC BOOK EVER CREATED BY SCIENCE

2010-06-15T11:13:00.000-05:00

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS INSIDE THE FUN FACTORY

They made toy that made summer's more fun.

Slip'n Slide
Frisbee
Hula Hoop
Hacky Sack
Wheelie Bar

Short Classics -- You'll have to read them sometime--why not now?

2010-06-14T19:09:00.007-05:00

Abraham Lincoln High School Award Nominees

2010-06-14T16:41:00.003-05:00

Fairy Tales Retold

2010-06-14T13:06:00.001-05:00

Fairy Tales Retold

1. Ash by Malinda Lo

Comments

In this variation on the Cinderella story, Ash grows up believing in the fairy realm that the king and his philosophers have sought to suppress, until one day she must choose between a handsome fairy cursed to love her and the King's Huntress whom she loves.

2. Beastly by Alex Flinn

Comments

A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form. beauty and thtease b

3. The Blue Girl (Firebird) by Charles de Lint

4. Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

Comments

Summary: In a novel based on Chinese Cinderella tales, fourteen-year-old stepchild Xing-Xing endures a life of neglect and servitude, as her stepmother cruelly mutilates her own child's feet so that she alone might marry well.

5. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

Comments

Grandmother reveals a terrible secret through her version of Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty and the Holocaust

6. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Comments

In a land where beauty and singing are valued above all else, Aza eventually comes to reconcile her unconventional appearance and her magical voice, and learns to accept herself for who she truly is.

7. Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Comments

When seventeen-year-old Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil Elfin Knight, she realizes to break the curse she must perform three impossible tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both.

8. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman

9. Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block

10. The Rose and The Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block

Comments

Nine fairy tales are turned "inside out".

11. Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

Comments

Persephone runs off to the Underworld with Hades, with whom she has fallen in love, but when her mother Demeter threatens to destroy the earth to save her, Persephone finds a way to come back once a year, bringing spring.

12. Snakehead by Ann Halam

Comments

compelled by his father Zeus to accept the evil king Polydectes's challenge to bring the head of the monstrous Medusa to the Aegean island of Serifos, Perseus, although questioning the gods' interference in human lives, sets out, accompanied by his beloved Andromeda, a princess with her own harsh destiny to fulfill.

13. Spindle's End by Robin McKinley

Comments

The infant princess Briar Rose is cursed on her name day by Pernicia, an evil fairy, and then whisked away by a young fairy to be raised in a remote part of a magical country, unaware of her real identity and hidden from Pernicia's vengeful powers.

14. Tender Morsels (Hardcover) by Margo Lanagan (Author)

Comments

A young woman who has endured unspeakable cruelties is magically granted a safe haven apart from the real world and allowed to raise her two daughters in this alternate reality, until the barrier between her world and the real one begins to break down.

15. The Writings of Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

16. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Comments

Five sisters who live with their merchant father in Transylvania use a hidden portal in their home to cross over into a magical world, the Wildwood.

17. Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

Bullies and bullying-- read about it, think about it, don't do it.

2010-06-12T11:12:00.010-05:00

Teens. Books. Hangout.

New books to check out

New books out this week!

New manga!

Anime Club celebrates the New Year on January 7

New books on the shelf in the Teen Area

Happy New Year

Book Bite: Delirium

Best of 2011: Young adult literature

Recycled Winter Crafts program this Monday, December 19

Book Bite: Trapped

New books out this week

Teen Gaming Club meets on Friday

TAG meets this Saturday

It's snowing in the teen area!

Check out a new book over Thanksgiving Break

Share your thoughts on The Hunger Games trailer

November events at the library for teens

Character posters from The Hunger Games movie

New teen releases out 10/25/11

New books from Darren Shan, Cecily von Ziegesar, Melissa De La Cruz, & Becca Fitzpatrick

New books from Laini Taylor, Maureen Johnson, & Stephanie Perkins!

Coming soon: "Daughter of Smoke and Bone"

New this week: "Perfect" and "Fateful"

Keeping track of teen series

Share your ideas for the new Anime Club

Check out the new New Teen Books section!

The Hunger Games: First trailer!

Just released: "Bloodlines" and "The Power of Six"

Teens' Top Ten 2011

Thanks for participating in summer reading!

Recommended books from summer reading

"I couldn't put it down!": Teen reviews from Summer Reading

Teens share their favorite Harry Potter book and movie moments

The Hunger Games series: Reviews from Summer Reading

Teens share their favorite Harry Potter movie in the series

Favorite characters in the Harry Potter series

Teens recommend Graceling

New books in June!

Graphic novels just added to the collection

Teen Gaming Club meets this Friday

Sign up for summer reading and win prizes!

Join TAG this Saturday

More new books!

Check out these new teen books!

Just Dance tomorrow!

Join TAG on Facebook

The Hunger Games movie: Peeta and Gale cast!

Showtimes for Spring Break Movie Marathon

Voting for Spring Break Movie Marathon nearing an end

Jennifer Lawrence is "the girl on fire"

Update on Spring Break Movie Marathon voting

Winter Reading wrap-up!

Creations from our Cupcake Decorating Party

Pick the films for our Spring Break Movie Marathon!

You're invited... to our Cupcake Decorating Party

Who should be cast in The Hunger Games movie?

Happy birthday, Charles Dickens!

Check out these books just added to the collection!

Teen Gaming Club

Sign up for Winter Reading

New Year's resolutions

Happy birthday, C.S. Lewis and Louisa May Alcott

Recipes from the Harry Potter Movie Release Party

Accio Harry Potter fans!

Photos from the Teen Horror Fest

Waiting for the Horror Fest...

The zombies are coming!

Attend our Open Mic Night during Teen Read Week

Teen Horror Fest at the Dundee Library: Food, fun, and frights!

Upcoming library program: College Advantage Workshop

Interested in writing a novel in a month?

TAG meeting this Saturday

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

There's a new shapeshifter in town-- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher will appeal to fans of Hunger Games and the Gone Series

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Wendelin Van Draanen' s Flipped becomes a movie

Happy 4th of July

A different look at history