The Tween Book Club will be reading 'Hoot' by Carl Hiaasen this January. Meetings will be held on Thursday January 7th at 5:00 p.m. to discuss chapters 1-12 and Thursday January 21st at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the remainder of the book.

Also: remember that Teen Book Club will be meeting this MONDAY at 5:00 p.m. to talk about Sara Zarr's 'Story of a Girl'. Questions? Give me a call at (207) 764-2571.

Rose and Lissa ran away from the Academy to get away from the Queen. Now, after being found, Rose and Lissa are made to go back. Rose goes back to her training to protect Lissa. Lissa is the last of the living Dragomir (a high level Moroi). The Dragomirs are Morois (a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to Earth's magic). Rose needs to propect Lissa from the Strigoi ( the fiercest adn most dangerous vampires-the ones who never die). As trying to learn how to save the Moroi princess, she starts to have feelings for her teacher. Learn more about Rose and Lissa's story in Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

What can Rose do when she has guy problems? She can go to the slopes which is what she does in Richelle Mead's Frostbite. When the Queen of the Morois wants to have Lissa over, Rose is made to come. Now, Academy has more Guardians when a massive Strigoi causes a high alert. One of these Guardians is the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's mom. Will Rose be able to get the guy she wants?

Richelle Mead's Shadow Kiss: A Vampire Academy novel adds a change to every story. Rose has a strong love for her teacher Dimitri Delikov. Since killing a Strigoi, and the death of her friend Mason, Rose hasn't felt right. Now, Victor Dashkov is on trial. Rose and Lissa feel unsafe. And at random times, Rose can go into Lissa's head, including the moments she doesn't want to see.

Blood Promise: A Vampire Academy novel is the 4th book for this series by Richelle Mead. The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy has left many people sad. Mostly, it left Rose sad. On the back of her neck she has marks. As a Guardian it is good; it means she has killed a Strigoi (bad guys). Yet, she has the feeling she has killed way to many. Now Rose needs to pick: Love of her life or the one she needs to protect. Will Rose be able to have both or is one enough?

According to Hannah Baker, there were 13 sides to every story. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher is Hannah's story. Clay had nothing to do with the poor girl's death. She killed herself. A few days later, he received a package with the story of what happened. 13 tapes, 13 people, 13 stories. They each played a role in why she killed herself. They each had a part. Clay didn't get why he was one...All he did was smile at her...love her. Clay didn't want to listen to each person's past or their stories. Will Clay find out how to help others? Or why he made the "list" for liking her?

Again sorry. I couldn't pick one :s

Impossible by Nancy Werlin talks about a girl who lives with her foster family. There is a curse with her family. At the age of 17, the females all get pregnant with a baby girl. If the 17-year old can not complete 3 impossible tasks, the mother will go crazy and the baby will have to wait till it's their turn 17 years later.

Sarah Dessen came out with another book called Along for the Ride. Auden had to grow up fast after her parents got a divorce. Since they started fighting she wasn't able to sleep. She used to spend nights around town by herself while her mom had friends over. Until the summer before college. Things changed when her dad's new wife had their baby. She decided she wanted a carefree summer away from her mom. So, she went to help with her new half-sister. First night there, she slept with a guy whose ex-girlfriend happened to work at her step-mom's store. The guy she slept with had a brother who was like here. Together, Eli and Auden work on "task": for Auden to have a summer where she learns everything new and Eli to put a death behind him.

Sorry I couldn't pick out of these two...

Story of a Girl is written by Sara Zarr. This book is about a girl who at the age of 13 was caught having sex in her brother's best friend's car. Deanna didn't even like the guy, she just did it. Her father caught her. Even two years later, he can't look at her or talk to her. Deanna was made into the school slut thanks to Tommy. After a while, Deanna needs to find a way to escape the pain of dealing with a father who will not talk to her, a mother who does what dad wants, an older brother who lives in the house basement with his girlfriend and baby, and her best friends who started to date. To escape she goes and gets a job at a pizza place in town. Tommy happens to work there to. Will her family watch her even closer, wondering what will happen next? Can she put what happened two years ago behind her with Tommy so close?

This book is Dec. 2009 book club book. This book is recommended for both teens and adults who know what it is like to have struggle and who are stuggling.

Paper Towns is written by John Green and is also the November 2009 Teen Book Club book. Quentin and Margo were great friends when younger. After a while they faded. Margo made new friends and so did Q. Margo's past started to become shaky. Finally, one night before leaving high school, Margo spends a great night with Q. The next morning, she is missing. Q ends up using the three last weeks of his high school life looking for the girl that he loved.

Sorry that it goes fast...This was the best one that I could find.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins is about five teens in five different parts of the US. They are all different. Some are poor while others are rich. Four are straight and one is gay. They all want one thing...which is love. Towards the end of the book they all start to meet each other and this causes their stories to connect.

They want to be needed and loved and for someone else to want them. But all this longing and wanting could be bad. While I was reading the book, I felt connected with the five teens in here. In a way, I think we all are connected. It might not be the same way as these five were, but we can understand how they feel.

Watch this book trailer and find out more by reading the book or checking out her website ellenhopkins.com

Lounder Than Words is three stories of different girls. Marni pulls her hair. Chelsey has dealt with alot in her life. Emily is always sick. This is a book trailer about it. I was able to read Marni's story. The book was good. I was just thinking it was going to be a little different then it was. It went back and talked about what in her life caused this problem.

Hi, I'm Judah. Welcome to the website. The book I'm reading is called The Andalite Chronicles by K. A. Applegate in a series called Animorphs. It's about an alien War-Prince named Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul who gave 5 young humans the ability to morph into any animal they touch. Here's part of the book:

"I was alone on an alien planet, scared sick at heart, and overwhelmed. I floated high above the scene, floating on my six pairs of wings. I was in morph."

To me, this book was awesome. Maybe it will be for you too.

Submitted by Judah, Age 10.

Click here for more information on The Andalite Chronicles.

If you'd like to submit a tween/teen book review, please contact me at (207) 764-2571.

To make participation in our Teen Book Club a little easier, we've created a Facebook book club.

1. Just install this Facebook application: http://apps.facebook.com/bookclubz/
2. Search "Presque Isle Library Teen Book Club" and join.
3. Online discussions will be ongoing, but we'll also hold in-person discussion here at the library on the last Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m.

It's still one book per month, but we may decide to hold more general discussions in the future. The online club will start with the November selection, 'Paper Towns' by John Green. In-person discussion will be on Tuesday November 24th at 5:00 p.m.

Also, 'Paper Towns' was voted as the #1 teen book of 2009 by over 11,000 teens in the American Library Association's Teens Top Ten Poll.

The full list:

1. Paper Towns by John Green (Penguin/Dutton)
2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
5. Identical by Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
6. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins)
7. Wake by Lisa McMann (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse)
8. Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Griffin)
9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Disney-Hyperion)
10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

This week is officially Teen Read Week here at Turner Memorial Library and nationwide. This is a great time to check out new YA books and get excited about reading! This year's theme is 'Read Beyond Reality!', so you could start with...

1. The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld Call #: YA FIC WES
From scottwesterfeld.com: Uglies is the first book of the trilogy. The second book is Pretties and the third is Specials, [the fourth is Extras]. It's about a world in which everyone has an operation when they turn sixteen, making them supermodel beautiful. Big eyes, full lips, no one fat or skinny. This seems like a good thing, but it's not. Especially if you're one of the uglies, a bunch of radical teens who've decided they want to keep their own faces. (How anti-social of them.)

2. Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin Call #: YA LE G
From School Library Journal: In this well-realized fantasy, the people of the Uplands have unusual and potentially dangerous abilities that can involve the killing or maiming of others. Gry can communicate with animals, but she refuses to use her gift to call creatures to the hunt, a stance her mother doesn't understand. The males in Orrec's line have the power of unmaking–or destroying–other living things. However, because his mother is a Lowlander, there is concern that this ability will not run true to him. When his gift finally manifests itself, it seems to be uncontrollable. His father blindfolds him so that he will not mistakenly hurt someone, and everyone fears him. Meanwhile, Ogge Drum, a greedy and cruel landowner, causes heartache for Orrec and his family.

3. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr Call #: YA FIC MAR
From the Washington Post: Melissa Marr adds elegantly to the sub-genre of Urban Faery with this enticing, well-researched fantasy for teens. Wicked Lovely takes place in modern-day Huntsdale, a small city south of Pittsburgh whose name evokes the Wild Hunt of mythology. High school junior Aislinn and her grandmother have followed strict rules all their lives to hide their ability to see faeries because faeries don't like it when mortals can see them, and faeries can be very cruel. Only the strongest faeries can withstand iron, however, so Aislinn prefers the city with its steel girders and bridges. She takes refuge with Seth, her would-be lover, who lives in a set of old train carriages.

But now Aislinn is being stalked by two of the faeries who are able to take on human form and are not deterred by steel. What do they want from her?

4. Seeker by William Nicholson (Book 1 of the Noble Warriors) Call #: YA FIC NIC

From School Library Journal: The Noble Warriors (Nomana) are dedicated to protecting the All and Only god who, according to prophecy, will be killed by the Assassin. Once a year, pilgrims are allowed on the island of Anacrea and accepted into the Nomana. Seeker after Truth, 16, has wanted to join the Noble Warriors all of his life even though his father is intent on him being a scholar. When he enters an open door into the monastery, he sees his brother being publicly humiliated and cast out of the Nomana. Soon two pilgrims arrive who will change Seeker's life forever: Morning Star, who can sense a person's colors and interpret what they mean, and The Wildman, a spiker (outlaw) who is looking for power and peace. After all three teenagers are rejected by the Nomana, Seeker formulates a plan to ensure their acceptance.

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore Call #: YA FIC CAS

From Harcourt Books: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.

6. Feed by M.T. Anderson Call #: YA FIC AND

From Publishers Weekly: In this chilling novel, Anderson (Burger Wuss; Thirsty) imagines a society dominated by the feed a next-generation Internet/television hybrid that is directly hardwired into the brain. Teen narrator Titus never questions his world, in which parents select their babies' attributes in the conceptionarium, corporations dominate the information stream, and kids learn to employ the feed more efficiently in School. But everything changes when he and his pals travel to the moon for spring break.

7. The Goodness Gene by Sonia Levitin Call #: YA FIC LEV

From School Library Journal: Sixteen-year-old twins Will and Berk believe that they are the sons of Hayli, the Compassionate Director of the Dominion of the Americas. As the founder of The Goodness, a movement to save humanity following nuclear disaster, plague, and environmental collapse, Hayli rules a world in which babies are born in sterile labs, food is manufactured to optimal nutritional standards, and the fortunate live under atmosphere-controlling domes and exchange their ration of pleasure stamps to experience everything from travel to sex in carefully controlled situations.

8. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow Call #: YA FIC DOC

From School Library Journal: When he ditches school one Friday morning, 17-year-old Marcus is hoping to get a head start on the Harajuku Fun Madness clue. But after a terrorist attack in San Francisco, he and his friends are swept up in the extralegal world of the Department of Homeland Security. After questioning that includes physical torture and psychological stress, Marcus is released, a marked man in a much darker San Francisco: a city of constant surveillance and civil-liberty forfeiture. Encouraging hackers from around the city, Marcus fights against the system while falling for one hacker in particular.

9. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel Call#: YA FIC OPP

From School Library Journal: An original and imaginative Victorian-era fantasy. Matt, 15, only feels alive when he's aloft working as a cabin boy aboard the Aurora,a luxury airship that is part dirigible, part passenger cruise ship. When wealthy Kate and her chaperone come aboard, Matt soon discovers that she is determined to prove her grandfather's claims that he saw strange creatures flying in the sky in that area the year before.

10. House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer Call #YA FIC FAR

From Amazon.com: Fields of white opium poppies stretch away over the hills, and uniformed workers bend over the rows, harvesting the juice. This is the empire of Matteo Alacran, a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, which lies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. Field work, or any menial tasks, are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed to insure docility. Alacran, or El Patron, has lived 140 years with the help of transplants from a series of clones, a common practice among rich men in this world. The intelligence of clones is usually destroyed at birth, but Matt, the latest of Alacran's doubles, has been spared because he belongs to El Patron.

And there's plenty more! Stop by the library this week to check out what we have to offer!

This month, the Tween Book Club will be reading 'Kingdom Keepers' by Ridley Pearson. Copies of this title are available at the main circulation. Remember, this group is open to all ages 9-12 and welcomes new members.

The first meeting will be on Thursday October 29th at 5:00 p.m. to discuss chapters 1-19. The second meeting will be on Thursday November 12th at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the rest of the book.

For more information, you can reach me through the contacts listed in the sidebar or at (207) 764-2571. Hope to see you there!

We're in the midst of Banned Books Week. Need more info?

Visit here and here to learn about how libraries support your freedom to read.

Check out our banned/challenged classics display here at the library.

Stop by on Thursday October 1st at 6:00 p.m. for The Big Read event. There will be discussions on Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451', self-censorship, and reading banned books. This event is free and refreshments from Cafe Sorpreso will also be on hand.

And, most importantly, get out there and READ!

Still have questions, send them my way or give me a call here at the library.

Hey everyone! The Teen Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday October 27th to discuss 'Impossible' by Nancy Werlin. This group is open to all ages 13-18 and welcomes new members. So stop by, bring a friend, and be prepared for a great time. For more information, give me a call at (207) 764-2571.

Due to the popularity of the Summer Teen & Tween Wii Game Day, I've added a few game days to the calendar.

You can join us on Tuesday October 6th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a Board Game afternoon. We're keeping it analog with favorites like Chess and Scrabble. This is an all ages event.

Or stop by on Tuesday October 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a Wii Game afternoon. Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and I'll even bring Wii Sports RESORT! This event is open to all ages 9-18.

For more information, please contact me at (207) 764-2571. See you there!

Hey, everyone. This month's Teen Book Club selection will be Susan Beth Pfeffer's 'Life As We Knew It'. Discussion to be held on Tuesday September 29th at 4:00 p.m. If you're between the ages of 13-18, pick up a copy of the book at the main circulation desk and join us! For more information, please contact me at (207) 764-2571. Thanks!

Hey there. The Tween Book Club will be reading Rick Riordan's 'The Lightning Thief' for September. Meetings will be held on Thursday September 3rd at 5:00 p.m. (to discuss chapters 1-11) and Thursday September 17th at 5:00 p.m. (to discuss the rest of the book). This group is for all ages 9-12 and welcomes new members. Give me a call at (207) 764-2571 for more information. Also, be sure to check out the trailer for 'The Lightning Thief' movie adaptation in the previous post.

There's plenty of books turning into movies this fall and winter. Some notable options:

Where The Wild Things Are - October 16, 2009

Alright, so what's the deal here? The book is, like, 50 pages long...mostly illustrations...and they made a feature-length movie out of it?

Well, YEAH!

Upping the ante is a director credit for Spike Jonze, director of music videos for every band of the 90s worth knowing, skateboard lover, and co-creator of MTV's 'Jackass'. Combining this spirit with Dave Eggers' writing skillz and some Hensonesque creature-works is destined to lead to a magical time. Oh yeah...failed to mention: we're all monsters. Deal.

Read it first: EJ SEN



The Lovely Bones - December 11, 2009

Peter Jackson tackled the entire Lord of the Rings. Taking on Alice Sebold's 'The Lovely Bones' should be easy-peasy, right? Well, we'll have to wait and see. What we can tell from here is that Jackson (who is also producing this month's absolutely TERRIFYING-LOOKING !!!! 'District 9') has a way with the whole emotion+CG effects genre. An insane ensemble cast telling a surreal and tragic tale should earn points come Oscar time.

Listen to it first: FIC SEB



Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant - October 23, 2009

Love vampires, but could do without all that lovey-dovey jazz? Need some action...a few morbid laughs...and, if possible, Salma Hayek in a beard would be kind of cool? You'll probably want to check this one out.

Read it first: YA FIC SHA



The Lightning Thief - February 12, 2010

Yeah, yeah, I've heard it, too: "Isn't this just some lame attempt to ride off the momentum of the Harry Potter movies?" Possibly. But stop saying it like it's a bad thing. The Lightning Thief [based on the first book of the quietly...though insanely...popular Percy Jackson & the Olympians series] has enough strength to hold its own, Potter-heads. But, hey, I [sort of] share a name with a goddess, so I'm a little biased.

Read it first: J FIC RIO

We'll be holding a poster contest in celebration of Banned Book Week, which runs September 26-October 3. If you're between the ages of 9-18, create a poster inspired by free speech versus censorship in challenged and banned books for a chance to win great prizes!. Deadline for submissions is Saturday, September 12th at 2:00 p.m. For more information, contact me at (207) 764-2571 and click the 'Read Banned Books' icon in the sidebar.

The library now offers
text reference service!

1. Call 309-222-7740 and enter the code “MTL”
2. Txt your question
3. A librarian will text an expert
answer within 10 minutes during the hours of service

This service is free, but standard text rates may apply

Hours of operation:

Monday - Friday 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 P.M.
Saturday 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

For more information, please visit:
http://myinfoquest.info

The next meeting of the Teen Book Club will be on Tuesday, August 25th at 5:00 p.m. To mix things up a bit, we'll be doing a "free pick" this month. Simply pick a new [or new-to-you] YA title and prepare a review in time for the meeting. You can also create artwork inspired by the book, redesign the book cover, film a book trailer, or do a video review. The choice is yours! Want more info? Just give the library a call at (207) 764-2571.

The Tween Book Club will be reading Trenton Lee Stewart's 'The Mysterious Benedict Society' Discussions will be held on Thursday August 6th (to cover pages 1-245) and Thursday August 20th (to finish things up) at 5:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information on the Tween Book Club, feel free to give me a call at (207) 764-2571.

More information on the selection here.

The theme around Turner this summer has been Get Creative @ Your Library! If you're stuck somewhere else, but still looking to get creative, consider the following:

1. Make a tote bag from an old/odd-sized/bizarre t-shirt! Holy recycling, Batman! We've all got those t-shirts...from biker rallies, speed boat races, mashed potato wrestling, world's strongest wo/man competitions, circus family reunions (alright, maybe that's just me talkin')...why not make some good out of the deal?



Instructions here courtesy of Instructables.

2. Origami water bombs! Look, it gets hot around here. And we have more space than we know what to do with. Sounds like it's time for WAAATER BOMMMB FIIIIIIEEEGHT! Bonus: If you choose not to use them as water bombs, you can stick each one onto the bulbs of holiday lights...little paper laterns!

Video here courtesy of VideoJug.

3. Popsicles! It's strawberry season, and the MSAD #1 school farm is bustin' them out like it's nobody's business. Jam is fine and shortcake is great, but why not make some popsicles? Don't have any molds? Fret not: do it old school and use a paper cup as your mold...just add popsicle sticks!



Recipe here courtesy of Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn.

4. Make a hammock! I'm honestly not trying to promote laziness or anything, but, look, summer naps are a precious commodity. If you're going to do it, do it right.

Instructions here courtesy of Instructables.

5. Barf bag puffer fish puppet! Some of you might be lucky enough to fly somewhere exotic this summer. Of course, exotic places take awhile to get to, so make the best of it. A travel-worthy craft that would make the TSA proud.



Instructions here courtesy of Craftzine.

Have fun!

Author Beckie Weinheimer visited the library on Tuesday to talk about her book, 'Converting Kate' and conduct a writer's workshop. It was a ton of fun for everyone involved, including Tiffany and Rachel from Teen Book Club seen above*. If you haven't read the book yet, I DEMAND you to stop by and check out a copy. You'll love it. If not, I owe you 247 videos of cats.

* Editor's note: We were all sort of the No-pictures-please Club. Don't judge.

Rain. Heat. Humidity. Summer in Presque Isle is sometimes a hot mess. To cool off, bring your friends and join us for a fun afternoon of Wii gaming on Tuesday July 30th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All of your favorites will be well represented, including Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and Wii Sports. Refreshments and goodies will be on hand! For more information, contact me at (207) 764-2571.

Well, you've heard what I've had to say about it...now it's your turn! The July selection for the Teen Book Club is E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Book discussion will be held on Tuesday July 28th at 5:00 p.m., so pick up or reserve a copy at the main circulation desk. Invite your friends! For more information, contact me at (207) 764-2571.

The July Tween Book Club selection is The Report Card by Andrew Clements. Copies of this title will be reserved at the main circulation desk as they become available.



Meetings:

1. Thursday, July 9th from 5-6 p.m. to discuss chapters 1-13.

2. Thursday, July 23rd from 5-6 p.m. to discuss the rest of the book.

This group is open to all ages 9-12 and it's never too late to join! Contact me at diannaleighton@presqueisle.lib.me.us or (207) 764-2571 for more information. Hope to see you there!

It's been a silly long time since I presented a kitty video. I present you with Keyboard Cat....assuming that you haven't already been presented with Keyboard Cat 5000x already.

You're welcome.

Kevin Brooks is one of my favorite authors. He writes books like Lucas which is about a girl that meets a boy on the beach that the whole town seems to hate. He is blamed for basically the entire town’s problems and she is in the middle, so she is torn. Should she go with the town or follow her heart? I thought this was a great book with many twists and turns. He also wrote Martyn Pig. What do you do when you might have accidentally killed your father? Do you tell the police and risk being put with your horrible aunt or do you hide the body and go on with your life? An absolutely funny book mainly because Martyn is a bit crazy and is always talking to himself and making little comments. Another book by him that I have read is Road of the Dead. In this book, two brothers set out to find the truth about their sister’s murder. This book is very gripping and will have you reading it for hours.

Submitted by Tiffany, 13, Presque Isle

Well, the book club idea is really taking off. So, if you have a little brother or sister who thinks that it's violently unfair that YOU get a book club and they don't...no worries. The first official meeting of the Tween Book Club will be Thursday, June 25th at 5:00 p.m. here at the library. It's open to anyone between the ages of 9-12 and should be a great way to stay cool and get your read on. Snacks and such to be provided, since reading always makes me hungry. :(

Sign-up sheets are available at both circulation desks, or just contact me here at the library! See ya there!

It should come as no surprise that this month's Teen Book Club selection is Beckie Weinheimer's 'Converting Kate.' Pick up or reserve a copy at the library's main desk, then join us for a group discussion on Tuesday, June 30th at 5:00 p.m. As an added bonus, you can also stop by on Tuesday, July 7th at 1:00 p.m. to meet the author and let her know what you think! Questions? E-mail me at diannaleighton@presqueisle.lib.me.us or give me a call at (207) 764-2571. Hope to see you there!

Teen author Beckie Weinheimer will be visiting Turner Memorial Library on Tuesday July 7th at 1:00 p.m. to discuss her book Converting Kate.

From Beckie's website:

"Kate was raised in the Church of the Holy Divine - it's influenced everything in her life from her homeschooling to her ugly handmade clothes. But ever since the death of her nonreligious father, Kate has suspected there's more to life than memorizing Bible passages.

Taking advantage of their move to a new town, Kate - to her devout mother's horror - quits the Holy Divine. She replaces it with the cross-country team at her public school, her father's beloved book collection, and services at a more mainstream Christian church. But these new diversions don't bring all the answers she's looking for. And as Kate struggles to come to terms with her father's death and her mother's blind allegiance to the Holy Divine, she discovers there's a big difference between religion and spirituality - and the two don't always go hand in hand."

Come prepared and check out this fascinating title: YA FIC WEI Material #72090

Need a sneak peek? Get an excerpt here.

This summer, make new friends and find great reads in our NEW Summer Teen Book Club! The first meeting will be Tuesday, June 2 at 5:00 p.m.

YOU pick the book, YOU make the rules, and YOU bring the discussion.



Open to everyone ages 13-18. Interested? Sign-up today at the circulation desk or send me an e-mail. Can't wait to see you there!

Three out of ten teenage girls in the United States get pregnant at least once before the age of 20, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. This amounts to 745,000 unplanned pregnancies each year!

Although Maine has a relatively low teen pregnancy rate compared to the rest of the United States, it's still important to get the facts and know your options when it comes to teen pregnancy. This is why Turner Memorial has teamed up with ACAP Health Services to give you the information you need to stay healthy and safe.

All month, you can visit Stay Teen and take part in the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Quiz to see where you stand when it comes to making important decisions regarding sex and pregnancy prevention.

Once you get your result, be sure to check out teen-created videos looking at what it means to "stay teen" and get the facts about abstinence and contraceptives.

You can also take their Relationship Reality Quiz right here:



The library will be hosting a Q&A Session with ACAP to handle all of your questions regarding sexual health, relationships, and pregnancy prevention on Tuesday May 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Parents, caregivers, and educators can also attend a second session following the event from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. to get the facts about teen pregnancy in the community. We'll be sure to have plenty of refreshments and other goodies on hand, so we look forward to seeing you there! Questions? E-mail me at diannaleighton@presqueisle.lib.me.us, call at (207) 764-2571, or IM me through the Digsby application to the right.

In 2005, I attended the Living with Technology Symposium at the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art. It was there that I discovered E.L.I. Nomad, or "roaming Electro-Linguisitic Imaginator." Basically, participants feed E.L.I. words and, in return, he gives them poetry. Sort of like Madlibs meets 'OK Computer'.

E.L.I.'s purpose is to help us examine the relationship between the artist and technology. Can a robot effectively produce poetry, considering that poetry hinges upon human experience? If a robot simulates human creativity, does it undermine the role of the artist? Etc.

My poem from E.L.I.:

The google stretches by gradual cursors
singing optical
Chicago my kind of town
hurriedly tracing meticulous

Some video...

I've been staying up past my usual Sunday night bedtime to watch 'Brave New Voices' on HBO. The series follows teens from across the country as they compete in the annual Youth Speaks' Brave New Voices Festival, a celebration of teen slam poets.

Now, look, I approached the show with a sizable pre-set image of slam poets. Radical East-coast urbanites from gritty backgrounds with better post-secondary school prospects than me. And Demetri Martin on that show that one time.

And I thought this was okay. I thought I was in a good place with this.

But what I found was that slam poetry is coming from every corner of our society. The stories told are wildly varied, frequently challenging, and startlingly honest. In fact, it's that honesty that catches me off guard every time, leaving me in a puddle of my own tears while rubbing away the goosebumps. While these teens ARE exceptional in the way that they engineer their poems, it's the performances that highlight the commonalities [even the ugly bits] of the human experience.

You can watch the entire first episode here.

Full performances of poems, along with other extras here.

More on Youth Speaks and the Brave New Voices Festival here.

Editor's note: Video content does contain the occasional expletive. But...in context, it's pretty validated. Just a heads up.

I've been a big fan of kinetic typography projects for quite some time now. Here's a few poetry-related ones that I like:

Alright, so I'm one day early, but I just wanted to point out that tomorrow is the start of National Poetry Month. To kick start the celebration, I've made a display in the library's teen section. While you'll find some traditional offerings from Hughes and Dickinson, you'll also notice some titles written in verse, like...

1. 'One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies' by Sonya Sones (YA FIC SON)

2. 'Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy' by Sonya Sones (YA FIC SON)

3. 'God Went to Beauty School' by Cynthia Rylant (YA FIC RYL)

4. 'A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl' by Tanya Lee Stone (YA FIC STO)

I'll continue posting more poetry throughout the month, so be on the look-out.

Maine InfoNet has recently started a new service which allows anyone with a Maine library card to download audio books onto their computer and mobile devices (MP3 players and even some cell phones).

You can start by going here and clicking "Juvenile Fiction" in the left-hand sidebar. This will bring up a number of teen titles, including books by Stephenie Meyer, John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Neil Gaiman. You'll be required to download the OverDrive Media Console, choose your library, and enter your library card number. Once all of that is done, you'll be free to download 2 titles at a time and be on your merry way. Audio books are a good choice for catching up on your favorite books when you're on the go...or even when you're not on the go.

For more info, click here or feel free to contact me at diannaleighton@presqueisle.lib.me.us or (207) 764-2571.

Today is Ada Lovelace Day, an event to mark the importance of women in areas of technology. Bloggers around the world are creating blog posts, podcasts, and other online media to showcase women that have influenced and inspired them.

For me, it was a difficult choice, but I ultimately chose Helen Greiner. Greiner is the co-founder of iRobot, most notably known as the creators of the Roomba cleaning device. iRobot has also developed innovating military robots such as the PackBot, which limit exposure to explosives and chemical agents for service men and women.

Greiner was inspired by the world of robotics after being introduced to R2D2 at the age of 10. She would go on to learn how to program her family's TRS-80 PC to control some of her older brother's coveted toys, study artificial intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), develop repair-performing robots during her internship at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and work with California Cybernetics in the development of automobile manufacturing. In 1990, she would use her MIT connections to form iRobot with Rodney Brooks and and Colin Angle.

Through Helen Greiner's work, we're able to realize the potential of robotics and artificial intelligence in our personal and professional lives.

Wall-Street Journal profile here.

Dataquest information here.

U.S. News & World Report article here.

2008 Women of Vision award speech here:

Upon taking in the first 20 pages of E. Lockhart's 'The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks', I began to wonder...

...is this Fight Club meets Gossip Girl?!

Part I: The title character leads a semi-charmed life. Upper class lifestyle? Check. Attendance at an esteemed New England boarding school? Yep. Making it to the other side of puberty with likable looks and a whip-smart wit? You betcha.

*sigh* So why is the girl-that-we're-all-supposed-to-hate so gosh darned amazingly super-awesome?


Part II: Well, her fondness for Foucault is a good place to start.

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As she begins discovering that her boyfriend is part of an all-male secret society known as The Loyal Order of the Bassett Hounds, she decides to mix up. Rather than flee or fight, she commits identity theft, leading the pack through her Gmail account and conducting society-stirring pranks involving brassieres and a vegan art project.

Unlike most stories that take on this theme, Frankie is never really in any sort of imminent danger nor will one find a teary group hug of acceptance at the end [spoiler alert!]. Thus, Frankie's gender is never directly threatened nor accepted. Rather, she challenges the subtle social cues that should maintain her acceptance of the world around her. [NOTE: Frankie learns about and often refers to Bentham's panopticon throughout the course of the book to stress this point]

Yet, Lockhart keeps it real. Frankie isn't exactly rampaging campus in full military regalia. She has insecurities along the way, just as any young person would in her situation. She's quirky, becoming happily obsessed with using neglected positives or words created by removing their negative prefix (disgrunted minus "dis" equals "gruntled" meaning happy). She worries about the motivation for her boyfriend's interest in her. She has a mini-lunchroom panic attack. She has loyal friends who still, as loyal friends are apt to do, manage to completely get on her nerves.

And thus, I'd love to be her friend. Talk about the Cacophony Society. Help her get into The New School. Do sketches of Wodehouse.

Awesome.

25 Random Things about Frankie Landau-Banks here.

SITBB Review here.

Read an excerpt here.

Yes, it's on it's way. Come join us as the library for fun, geekery, gaming, cinematic romance, and possible spontaneous dancing.

The run-down:

Teen Tech Week@Turner Library

Sunday March 8th – Saturday March 14th

All week…
Internet Scavenger Hunt: Complete the challenge and enter a drawing to win a geek-tastic prize pack!!

Video Reviews: Have a favorite book, song, movie, or game? We’ll help you get the word out!

Game Nights
Tuesday March 10th and Thursday March 12th, 5:00p-7:00p

Test your skills as you go head-to-head in games like Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Wii Sports, Wii Play, and MORE!

Afternoon Movie
Saturday March 14th , Noon-2:00p

Bring your friends and come join us for a movie! Hint: Adorable Girl+Cute Guy share love of music in the big city.

It's entirely possible/nearly expected that you WILL throw your copy of M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1: The Pox Party at a wall. Or into incoming traffic. Or a preheating oven.

The bizarre language. The full-on creepiness factor. Characters assigned numbers instead of names. What in Teh Wurldz is GOING on?! Arrrghsoirsuoeijfdv!

But, look, stick with it. You've already gotten over the fact that there's the term 'Pox Party' in the title.

Click 'Read More' to continue reading this post...

Sure, Octavian has issues. He lives with a bunch of weird guys who keep hitting on his mom. He gets dolled up in silks and wigs, but is living under some serious restrictions. He's taught to observe. Shut up. Stay passive.

He's not alone. It's the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, as a growing group of colonists are itching to overthrow British Rule. Hushed whispers of rebellion collide against the silence of Loyalists. But more on that in a bit.

It doesn't take long to see that something's amiss. Hidden behind Latin lessons and philosophic discussion lies cruel motivation. Octavian stumbles upon haunting documents in forbidden rooms. He comes to slowly realize his true self: a slave.

But this isn't just a cautionary tale about one's capacity for evil. It's not simply a tale of a slave seeking freedom. Or a young man finding himself. Or some historical epic praising heroes that rise from nothing.

Octavian has to work. He has to go through a massive amount of trauma before breaking free (no, that's not a spoiler). He comes across defiance in shackles. Insecurity in uniform. He loses everything. Yet, we have to seriously wonder what was authentic to begin with? His cherished ability to be objective wears thin around page 235. He begins to deconstruct himself in order to piece together a stronger version.

But this is only volume one, right? Well, he's certainly not able to cast away all demons.

It can be difficult to find footing in this story. Difficult to wrap our head/heart around the idea that a segment of America could so eagerly fight for freedom while simultaneously denying it of others. Thus, Anderson cites historical influences in the afterword, including the life of Francis Williams and the structure of the Royal Society of London, that help form a better sense of things.

Got quite a bit of time and love lectures? Try this.

Less time? Go here.

If you don't make it through on the first go, that's fine, but try to come back to it. At times, we forget about the historical ghosts in our midst. The complex legacies. Other times, we throw all these little pieces of history into the pot. Let it become more digestible. Yet, in the process, it loses its raw texture. Its biting simplicity. We need to face these stories, even if they seem too harsh or absurd. We have to rally with Octavian to remind him of his, well, somethingness.

Excerpt here.

Teen Reads review here.

Also known as DVD FIC KAP Material #35870 when you go looking for it. Which you will. Bear with me.

See, 'Josie and the Pussycats' is more amazing than you might think. Consider this argument:

Click 'Read More' to continue reading this post...

1. Spitting in the eye of 1999-era pop madness. Schoolgirl Lolita Britney Spears. That weird BSB video with the monsters. TRL when it was actually called 'Total Request Live' and showed complete videos. J&TP did its best to question the notion of these consumer-driven confections through 'Behind the Music'-type breakdowns and dead-behind-the-eyes trend-seeking giggle-zombies. Of course, we've been able to witness the fall of pop princes and princesses in their own time. Welcome back to Earth, y'all.

2.Rosario Dawson. She's amazing for taking on characters that are raw, real, and do things that, well, rarely can be mentioned here (well, I can show you this, sort of). She cares about a million different things. Including comics. Comics. COMICS! Alright, so this isn't her best role, but she manages to give us someone to connect with. Someone to distract us from Tara Reid.

3. Rachael Leigh Cook. Alright, not a ton to say here. I most just wanted to put in this anti-drug plug.

4. Kay Hanley. Who? Kay. Hanley. When I was a wee Di in rural Louisiana, Kay Hanley saved my life through her grrl-centric pop-punk angst. She swears alot. So much so that I don't feel comfortable linking to her blog here. Ask your parents, then Google it. My point is: she could probably knock your teeth out. Yet, she wrote all the songs in this flick. And that's her giving Rachel Leigh Cook her voice. Bonus Points: Kay Hanley apparently helps the Patriots win. Also, now a back-up singer for Miley Cyrus. Um. What?!

In conclusion, there's alot of rawk in this movie. But it's rated PG. So you can live hard while earning some easy baby-sitting cash if you so choose.

Alright, so this is my second dog-related post in a week. Instead of werewolves, we have a different breed of mean machine as the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races kick off this morning.

So, stay bundled up and keep an eye out for some of these young mushers...

Eli Golton - Age 14 from L'Amable, ON

Jacob Golton - Age 17 from L'Amable, ON

Jillian Perron - Age 16 from New Vineyard, ME

Alright, alright, I'm a little late on this. Looking to watch the Maine High School Basketball Tournament online? Click here for MPBN coverage.

Hip, innovative reads can sort of get lost in a sea of mediocre chick-lit, strange militaristic alternate history ("wait, Robert E. Lee has been living under Antarctica this whole time?!"), and the legal thriller that's like, well, that OTHER legal thriller.

Not. That there's. Anything. Wrong with. Those Books. They have their purpose.

In either case, it might be easy to miss Toby Barlow's Sharp Teeth. Spined-out, it's subtle. Tug it away from its home and you soon find that menacing canine muscle-mass from your childhood anxieties. Teeth bared. Claws to the ready. You're 3 seconds away from a hospital run for a rabies shot.

Inside comes a bit of a risk. An L.A. gang story. Well, pack story. With werewolves, see? Written in free verse. With an underlying love story. Because we all know that werewolves have a rough time getting some play when vampires have all the fun.

But don't expect some campy, retro gigglefest. That red cover is NOT indicative of gushing dyed corn syrup. Rather, Barlow takes the noir route, fully equipped with a trip to Chinatown, cigarette smoke drifting into the shadows, and visions of honeyed blonds.

And for someone who calls New York and Detroit home, he seems comfortable with L.A.'s complexities. Cultural layering. Jabs of dialect. An already surreal landscape highlighted by a thrilling supernatural storyline.

And it doesn't take long to see that Barlow likes his music. He even offered up a playlist of sorts for the reader that includes My Chemical Romance, Tom Waits, and Cat Power. Late-night/early-morning tunes for free refills of black coffee. And you'll need them.

So seek this one out. It's over on the new fiction display. Far left. Top shelf. Barlow. Little dog. Seems harmless right now.

Official page here.

Read an excerpt here.

Because I promise you these things.

It's Valentine's Day and I hope that everyone finds love. Before you chuck a copy of 'He's Just Not Tha....eh, screw it. Look, there's lots of types of love. Find yours and cherish it. Love sonnets optional [but appreciated!].

And, on a serious note, let me also point out that today marks the annual V-Day event to end violence against women. Of course, this issue has been brought to the forefront this week by recent domestic assault accusations against singer Chris Brown toward his longtime girlfriend, singer Rihanna. Information is coming in daily regarding the charges and although the glossy world of celebrity buzz leans more toward spectacle, the news still serves as a reminder that domestic violence can affect anyone. Public or private. Regardless of image.

I pulled some stats from the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence:

Every year over 7,000 Maine women are physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner and over half of them (57%) are injured as a result of the violence. (Maine Center for Disease Control, 2008)

1 in 3 teen relationships are abusive. (http://www.teenrelationships.org/statistics/stats.htm)

Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rate of intimate partner violence. (Rennison, Callie Marie and Sarah Welchans. 2003. Intimate Partner Violence 1993-2001. U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. Washington, DC. Retrieved January 9, 2004. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ipv01.htm.

Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend. (Children Now/Kaiser Permanente poll, December 1995. http://www.endabuse.org/resources/facts/)

Click 'Read More' to continue reading this post...


Here are some additional resources to learn about domestic violence:

Maine Programs:

Battered Women's Project

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women

Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Note: many of these programs offer volunteer opportunities. Please consider getting a group of friends together to provide help.

National programs:

Love is Respect

Break the Cycle

Books in our collection:

'The Verbally Abusive Relationship' by Patricia Evans: 362.822 EVA

'The Macho Paradox' by Jackson Katz: 362.88 KAT

'When Men Batter Women' by Neil Jacobson and John Gottman: 362.82 J

'Helping Her Get Free' by Susan Brewster: 362.82 BRE

'Opposing Viewpoints: Sexual Violence: Young Adult 364.153 SEX

'When Something Feels Wrong' by Deanna S. Pledge, Ph.D.: Young Adult 616.858223 PLE

'Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes' by Chris Crutcher: Young Adult FIC CR

'The Tenth Circle' by Jodi Picoult: FIC PIC

'Black and Blue' by Anna Quindlen: FIC QU

'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson: Young Adult FIC AND

And we also have the DVD 'V-Day: Until the Violence Stops" on our spinner rack (070.1 VDA)

Of course, feel free to visit me at my desk or online for any additional resources.

Wowza. I just got finished reading about the 2009 Global Game Jam on BoingBoing. The deal: over 1600 contestants in 23 countries have 48 hours to conceptualize and create a winning video game. Although, it looks like you and I are the real winners, since there's now 360 new games to try out for free VIA the site's game browser.

Oh, and did I mention that Teen Tech Week is coming up? March 8-14. We can talk about game design. Absolutely.

Katniss Everdeen is in a bit of a bind. See...

1. She's stuck in the top of a tree.
2. With severe burns from a little bombing incident earlier.
3. She's got a group of vicious enemies down below.
4. Waiting to kill her.
5. And the dreamy baker's son from her hometown.
6. Not that she's sure how she feels about him, but...
7. Did we mention the the mildly creepy 12 year-old in the tree next door?
8. Friend or foe?
9. Doesn't really matter, because she's pointing at a nest of genetically mutated wasps called "tracker jackers."
10. That leave possibly fatal stings the size of softballs.

Because she's sort of in the midst of a to-the-death arena survival match. No biggie.

Click 'Read More' to continue reading this post...

Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games occur in a dystopian future where The Capital rules over 12 surrounding districts in a nation now known as Panem. Well, it used to be North America. And there used to be 13 districts...

See, the citizens of Panem once rebelled against their Draconian leaders, only to be quickly silenced. District 13 and its inhabitants are wiped out. As a cruel little reminder regarding the futility of such rebellion, The Capital begins an annual competition/reality show known as "The Hunger Games." One boy and one girl, ranging in age from 12 to 18, are chosen at random from each district. Unfortunately, it's Katniss' younger sister, Prim, that's initially chosen as "tribute" for her district. Thus, Katniss volunteers herself instead.

It's a little complicated, and that's the beauty of Collins' book. Although this story has been told before through the earliest legends of civilization and the glossy world of Japanese cinema, it remains fresh. The immediacy of Katniss' first-person perspective brings about continual palm-sweating for the reader. Traditional gender roles are tossed out the window, as Katniss exhibits fierce hunting skillz and survival tactics that would make
Bear Grylls blush. And she still has time for a decent make-out session here and there to boot. And seriously fierce outfits (on fire!).

So, I'm pretty happy this is the beginning of a trilogy. If you like fast-paced adventure, enjoy a little heartbreak, and geek out on Orwell, then the odds are forever in your favor on this one.

Publisher info (including the first chapter) here.

Stephen King's review of the book here. <-- A wee bit better than mine.

Get bonus points from your peers at parties: Casually mention that the fictional nation of Panem likely refers to the Latin phrase "panem et circenses" or "bread and circuses." If you win any bets from this, I expect a share of the winnings. Or: don't kill me if we end up in a to-the-death arena match.

Ah, it's that time of year again. Love is in the air!

Well, specifically love for people like...

...this nice lady...

...this fellow...

...this guy right here...

...and this dude...


Hipster Glasses Appreciation Week already?! No, no! It's the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards!

Now, sure, this is a great time for authors to be recognized for the amazing, challenging, and entertaining works they produce. But, likely for you, it also means that there's a teacher somewhere who has assigned you this task: Read an award winner. Any award winner. Report back by deadline.

Don't fret. Turner Memorial is well-stocked with a variety of award winners for all ages. Tales of cross-country journeys, murder charges, unexpected parenthood, survival, and, yes, pottery await you. Find me or visit the main desk for a list of suggestions.

Need a head start?

Printz Award Winners

Newbery Award Winners

Look, working in a library is tough. It takes hours of focus, a lifetime of glasses wearing, and endless paper cuts in places too precious to mention.

Of course, there's also the neglected technology.

Who knows when Monsieur Wii started showing up, but if he starts humming the Metroid theme song to the tune of Edith Piaf's "La Vie En Rose" one more time...

And he has no hands, so he wanted me to pass this along...

"Bonjour, global heads of state Turner Memorial patrons,

I am so lonely. Despite my greatest efforts, it seems I must wander the children's section endlessly. Hopelessly. Sadly. And for why? I am not sure. I am but a humble gaming console, minimalist in my design, bountiful in my offerings, such as...

Wii Sports [EDITOR'S NOTE: I rawk hard at bowling, so bring it!]
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast
Mario Party 8
et le Wii Play

...and I have always been fond of social gatherings. Nights at the opera. Fencing duels. Polo matches with elephants. So please, bring your friends. So that you might, as my charming secretary [EDITOR'S NOTE: Um...about that...] says: "dish out the pwnage."

Sincerely,
Monsieur Wii"

Seriously, the Wii is located in the Reading Room of the Children's Floor and available for use during our normal hours. Bring a friend. Bring 10. Bring your Grammy, your Grampy, and your goldfish too. Otherwise, I'm not going to get any work done.