teen books (and beyond!)

Smiling about Smile by Raina Telgemeier

2011-01-12T17:04:00.004-06:00

When Raina was in 6th grade, she tripped and fell while racing her friends and ended up knocking out two front teeth.

Raina's mom rushes her off to the dentist and she has to wear something like a cast on her teeth for weeks. Except her teeth don't heal properly and friends start calling her "vampire girl."

This graphic novel is the true account of Raina's ensuing dental drama throughout her junior and high school years--surgeries, braces, head gear and all! Even if you've never had braces (which I haven't), this story has universal appeal. It's about growing up, handling difficult friendships, going to high school, making new friends, and learning to accept and understand yourself. Who can't relate to that?

This is a quick, fun read. The artwork is colorful and full of action. All the panels and action sequences have a good flow and you feel like you've read a complete novel by the time you finish.

As a budding artist, Raina decides she wants to become an animator after seeing Disney's The Little Mermaid on the big screen during high school. She's now the artist of the Babysitter's Club graphic novel series for Scholastic and X-Men: Misfits. Smile began as a web comic and grew into this book, which she drew and wrote herself. She has plenty to smile about now! Visit her website at http://www.goraina.com/.

Review of Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland

2011-01-08T10:47:00.022-06:00

Either you're a James Patterson fan or you're not; that seems to be the case with most people. Side A thinks his books are gripping and creative while Side B finds them predictable and unbearable.

Personally, I'm on Side B! Now, before you Patterson fans attack, let me say that I've given him a fair try. I read When the wind blows in high school (required summer reading) and I've made an honest attempt to read some of the Maximum Ride series. While I've found some of his work to be interesting, the writing itself has never captured my attention. Plus, with 85 gazillion books coming out every month, we know he really isn't writing them all...

I got mildly excited yesterday when I came across this graphic novel because I thought it would give me a chance to experience the, excuse my pun, magic that everyone seems to be enjoying. Sadly, my hopes were dropped the moment I opened to the first page and came across Victor Santos' illustrations. As one person put it in an Amazon.com review, "if you like cartoons, then this is your book." The artwork is cloyingly cartoonish, given the more realistic cover art. For a book aimed at a slightly older generation, childish cartoons just don't fit.

Then there's the names of the main characters: Whit and Wisty Allgood. Is it just me or can you not take someone seriously with silly kiddie names? Maybe Patterson (or whomever is writing for him this week) wanted to distract the reader from the horrible dialogue and dragging panels? Perhaps I am just being too judgemental for not having read the actual novel, Witch & Wizard, so this graphic novel that bridges into the second installment, The Gift, just doesn't make sense to me. Either way, I couldn't even push myself to finish it.

I won't lie when I say I have high standards when it comes to graphic novels. For instance, the simply believable characters and brilliant illustrations in Batwoman: Elegy left me in awe. I urge you to compare the panel layouts between these two! No matter if you're on Side A or Side B, I suggest you pick up Witch & Wizard, graphic novel or book, and find out for yourself.

~~Sean

Reading into the New Year!

2011-01-05T11:33:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's time to establish your reading goals for 2011! There's tons of different ways to approach this: for ideas, check out Crete Teens awesome blog post about their reading challenge. Even better, you, along with some of your friends, could create your own annual reading challenge!

Just to get your ideas flowing, here are a few examples of some 2011 online reading challenges:

Fans of a certain author can participate in this Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge
A YA Books reading challenge with levels of participation from "mini" to "mega!"
Ughhhhrrrrh... a Zombies book challenge
This Science Book Challenge is as easy as pi...

Read a cartload of books!

So, to make your own reading challenge:

-Think of a theme

-Name your challenge
-Create your rules (start and end date, etc.)
-Come up with a prize (doesn't have to be big)
-Round up some friends!

*Helpful hint: make sure you keep track of your reading, either electronically or the old-fashioned way--by hand... on paper. (A novel idea!)

Ready, set... GO!

Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

2010-12-28T14:33:00.011-06:00

Entertaining read? Check. Great cover art? Check. (Admit it, it's important!) Lots of zombies and unicorns? CHECK!

If you'd like to read something not so serious over winter break--something you can easily set aside and resume between distractions and read in any order... this book's for you!

Zombies vs. Unicorns is an anthology of irreverent short stories written by some of the most popular young adult authors around. Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie) began a debate on their respective blogs about which supernatural being is better. The debate went viral and soon the entire YA writing community seemed to be divided! Long story short--this turned into a book. Half the stories argue for zombies, half the stories argue for unicorns--leaving you, the reader, to decide this question "as old as time itself."

Before you decide, WATCH this video, VISIT the website, and READ the book! Then, let us know your ANSWER!

P.S. BRRRRR! It's not too late to curl up with a good book. Join our Winter Reading Program by using our easy online sign-up. All you need is your active Palatine Public Library card to participate. Read 800 pages by January 31 to earn coupons to local businesses; read 1,000 pages to be entered into a drawing for an AMC movie gift card. Everything is online, including your reading log. Happy reading!

Incarcerated in...Incarceron

2010-12-20T19:52:00.007-06:00

Welcome to the world of Incarceron, a vast living prison from which only one person has ever escaped. It is the only place 17-year-old Finn can remember as home, other than brief flashes of memory from the Outside. Are those memories real or fake?

Claudia lives Outside and is the daughter of the fearsome Warden of Incarceron. Outside, everyone is forbidden to use modern technology and is forced to follow protocols of 18th century England. Even though she lives a life of luxury and privilege, nothing can make up for the fact that Claudia is about to be forced into a marriage of her father's choosing. Both Finn and Claudia are trapped in their own prisons with no hope of escape... until they each find a crystal key that links them together. Vowing to help the other escape, Finn and Claudia put everything at risk to find the door to freedom. What both don't realize is there is far more at risk than their own lives, as well as sinister plots they couldn't have imagined.

Sign up for Vampires in the MOVIES!

2010-12-11T14:38:00.006-06:00

Do you like movies, pop culture, random trivia, bats AND vampires? Well, we have the perfect program for you!

On Tuesday, December 14, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., enjoy a fun program all about famous vampires in film. Watch short movie clips and learn about the legends and folklore behind these mysterious characters. Such as... why don't vampires have a reflection? Why can't vampires go out into the daylight? Why do they turn into bats? Why aren't they vegetarian? You'll be an expert when you leave and you might even take home a DVD!

For an added challenge, participate in an online contest on our facebook page for your chance to win a gift bag of vampire-themed books. This event is for both teens and adults. To register online, click here.

Hope to see you there!

Teen Review of Keeper

2010-12-07T16:57:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile... hasn't it? Fortunately, we have something special to share!

Here's the latest book review written by Lawson K., an 8th grade student at Winston Campus and one of our Teen Advisory Board members.

"I recently completed a phenomenal realistic fiction book, Keeper written by Mal Peet. It's about a reporter who interviews a world-famous soccer player, El Gato. Throughout the book, El Gato—which means "The Cat" in English—describes how he grew up in an impoverished village and became a great player. Keeper revolves around an important theme that is found in many realistic fiction books: coming-of-age. This is not about his physical age; it's about how mature El Gato becomes over a few short years.

The following quote portrays this very concept: “It is about respect,’ the old man said. ‘Respect. You know what this word means?’” I would rate this book a four and a half out of five for its seismic enjoyment quality. This simple read is something I would recommend to anyone who needs something to satisfy his or her reading crave."

Score!

Librarian's note: If you're in the mood for sports fiction with a mysterious spin, you'll love finding out the secret behind the great player, El Gato. Thanks for sending us your review, Lawson!

Have you read anything good lately? We'd like to know!

Exclusive Author Interview with Susan Kaye Quinn!

2010-11-22T10:45:00.002-06:00

Susan Kaye Quinn is a local author of a new young adult novel published over the summer, called Life, Liberty and Pursuit. It's a captivating love story about Eliza, a college-bound teen, and David, a navy recruit.

You can download the book's first chapter for free on this official website. (If you'd like to read the entire book, Palatine Public Library has two copies on order, coming soon!)

We were fortunate to be able to catch up with Susan recently and here's what she has to say:

Q: So, what are you currently working on?

I’m currently immersed in the third draft of my YA novel Open Minds. It’s a paranormal story about a future world where everyone reads minds, except for one sixteen-year-old girl. My first YA novel Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (a contemporary love story) came out over the summer. I also have a science fiction novel for younger kids (ages 8-12) that I’m sending out to agents and editors, trying to get published.

Q: What are you reading now or planning to read?

I just finished Behemoth (awesome), Paranormalcy (sweet and awesome), and White Cat (I adore Holly Black), and I have a crazy long TBR list. Next up in the queue: Hush, Hush (that cover? serious awesome), 13 Treasures (a middle grade book) and Found (Margaret Haddix’s new series – she rocks).

Q: What are your favorite genres? Your favorite authors?

I’m a Scott Westerfeld fangirl, as well as loving Holly Black and Rick Riordan’s work. My favorite genre has always been science fiction, but steampunk (which is more like retro SF) and paranormal have grabbed my interest lately.

Q: What do you do when you are not reading or writing?

I blog, a lot. Wait, that’s writing. I also go visit my sons' (ages 7-12) classrooms and talk about publishing a book and writing. Wait, that’s writing too.

Besides the usual mom-type-things, like driving to fencing practice and nagging my boys to practice piano, I love to watch Big Bang Theory and scheme to get my husband to watch Scott Pilgram vs. The World. I also like to talk about books with my friends, and help them find books for their kids. Wait, that’s reading!

Q: One book that you will never be too old to love is...

Harry Potter. It’s just a fantastic read, and now that I’m an author, I appreciate J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece on a completely different level.

Q: What were you like as a teenager? If you could redo your teen years, what would you do differently?

I was a geek. Math and science were my strengths (which is why I became an engineer), but I read voraciously. I used to write stories for my friends, serialized so that each day was a new mini-chapter, and I spent a crazy amount of time in our local bookstore, searching for a new release from my favorite authors (Larry Niven, Orson Scott Card, Jerry Pournelle).

If I could go back in time, I would tell my teen self, “Self, don’t be so shy. People will like you if you just let them know who you are. And that guy that wanted to kiss you at that party? Just don’t. He’s a loser.”

Q: What was your first job?

Newspaper delivery girl. Seriously – I tricked out my bike to carry the papers. I was maybe 11. I’ve also worked as a bookeeper, a lab technician, and the sales lady in the women’s delicates section (not the best gig). My “real” jobs include turns at NASA, General Electric Aircraft Engines, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). NCAR had, by far, the best view (it hugs the Rocky Mountains)

Q: The last movie you saw was...

Scott Pilgrim (awesome) and Splice (really not so awesome).

Q: The last thing you ate was...

Peanut butter english muffin (yum).

Q: Do you have any pets?

Two kittens, Ninja and Techy. Because writers need cats.

Q: You desperately wish you knew how to...

Follow a map. I’m directionally handicapped.

Q: Does your life have a soundtrack?

No, but Lady Gaga and Green Day take up way too much space on my iPod.

Q: How do you make a bad day better?

Laugh.

Q: Go to the nearest window and look outside. What do you see?

Beautiful fall weather in Palatine. Fall is my favorite season. It almost makes up for winter, but nothing can really compensate for having to live through August.

Q: Participating in this interview has conveniently enabled you to avoid...

Laundry. But if it wasn’t this, I would have found another excuse.

Thank you, Susan!

It has been wonderful getting to learn more about a local author. Check out Susan's blog, Ink Spells, here.

National Gaming Day 11/13/10

2010-11-11T20:28:00.000-06:00

Drop in THIS Saturday, November 13 between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. to celebrate National Gaming Day! Every participant will get a special game card with a map of the library. If you visit all 6 of our gaming stations, you'll get a super cool gaming button.

Games include wii, scrabble, trivial pursuit, bingo, pictionary, sorry, chess, and a Rock Paper Scissors Tournament at 3:30 pm in the Youth Zone!

See you there... All ages and skill levels welcome.

The Walking Dead: a review

2010-10-31T15:01:00.009-05:00

Meet Rick Grimes, a dedicated family man and police officer, who gets shot during a car chase and gun-fight with a criminal suspect. After waking from a coma in the hospital, he quickly comes face-to-face with a horrifying new reality: the world he knew is gone forever. The eery empty halls of the hospital are filled with signs of destruction, panic, and violence. Dead bodies fill the streets.

Frantic, Rick heads straight for home in search of his wife and child. Instead, he finds an empty house and streets filled with the walking dead...or flesh-eating zombies. A few lone survivors catch him up to speed: within a few months, an epidemic caused an unstoppable outbreak of "those things." One bite and you're a goner... The last communication heard was an order for citizens to gather in large cities for protection. Rick assumes his missing family must have traveled to Atlanta, the nearest city, so he sets off to find them there.

Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead graphic novel series says, "For me the worst part of every zombie movie is the end. I always want to know what happens next. Even when all the characters die at the end... I just want it to keep going." And that is this story.

The artist Tony Moore does a fantastic job creating gruesome decomposing zombies and scenes of destruction. My only criticism of volume 1 is that some scenes seem rushed and conclude too quickly--I would have enjoyed more sequences, action, and plot and character detail. (But, all of that could be coming in the following volumes). Overall, this is a compelling story and a fast read. Don't make the same mistake I made; make sure you have the next volume nearby!

The Walking Dead also debuts as a new TV series today on AMC. The first episode is entitled "Days Gone By," after volume 1 in the graphic novel series. The official website has sneak peek photos, trailers, and behind-the-scenes videos (the make-up is quite impressive). You could also win a chance to have a walk-on zombie role!

Happy Halloween!

--Megan

Celebrate Teen Read Week, Oct. 18-23

2010-10-18T16:04:00.011-05:00

Happy TEEN READ WEEK!

Teen Read Week, launched by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) in 1998, encourages teens nation-wide to read for pleasure, partake in programs aimed at their age group, and take advantage of free library materials.

This Year's theme: Books with Beat! Visit our special display next to the staircase, which is stocked with cool books sporting this "CHECK ME OUT" bookmark. Check out any of these titles, like the bookmark says, and you’ll receive a FREE PRIZE at the circulation desk. This goes for our Freeman and Rand branches too!

Remember, reading is free, fun, and can be done anywhere! It's also a great way to show both your school and the Library that you support and enjoy teen services. The Library is stocked with poetry, audiobooks, graphic novels, fiction, music, nonfiction, magazines and movies that have been carefully chosen by our librarians and suggested by teens like you. So, make sure you stop in and take advantage of this nation-wide week in YOUR honor.

Books we are looking foward to!

2010-10-01T17:12:00.001-05:00

The much-anticipated sequel to The Maze Runner. Place your hold for The Scorch Trials early and often!

Matched by Ally Condie

Pegasus by Robin McKinley. GREAT.COVER!

What fall books are you looking forward to reading? (Or winter. Spring? Summer...)

Sequel to Leviathan--Coming Soon!

2010-09-28T16:07:00.004-05:00

Ever been hooked on a Scott Westerfeld book? If so, we probably don't need to mention that he's the author of Uglies, Midnighters, Peeps, and his latest, a steampunk adventure called Leviathan.

Set in the backdrop of the first World War, you know Leviathan must be an alternate history when you start reading about genetically-modified animals. A few historical facts are the same--but the rest is completely changed. In this world, Clankers want to take over the world with machinery. The Darwinists specialize in biotech. Both sides are fighting for a different vision of the world. Who will win?

Fans of Leviathan are gearing up for the release of Book 2, Behemoth, on October 5.

Detailed, stylistic artwork helps establish the scene in Book 1:

Westerfeld says, "We decided to make the books look like they were published back in 1914, when almost all books (even adult) were illustrated. So Keith created a sort of “Victorian manga” style, part steampunk and part old-fashioned biotech."

Enjoy this Leviathan book trailer:

It's Banned Books Week!

2010-09-25T15:50:00.013-05:00

"Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September (9/25/10-10/02/10), Banned Books Week champions the benefit of free and open access to information, while drawing attention to the harms of censorship. During this week, many libraries and schools across the country feature books that have been banned or challenged, for varying reasons, in many communities.

What kinds of books get banned? Good question. Really, any type of book can get challenged or banned for any reason. Click here to view a list of the 20th century's top 100 banned books. You'll recognize a lot of titles! To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lord of the Rings, and Animal Farm are among those listed.

In 2009, Twilight made the top 10 most frequently challenged books of the year, for being "sexually explicit, having a religious viewpoint, and/or unsuited to age group." My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult also made the list.

So, what is a challenge? It's a formal attempt by someone to restrict access to a book by having the material removed from the library's collection (or the school's curriculum). When a challenge succeeds, the book is considered banned.

Who challenges books? Sometimes it's just an individual in the community, or sometimes it's an organized group. Different religious and/or political groups have been known to challenge materials that don't align with their beliefs or values.

What's wrong with challenging or banning books? When books are challenged or banned, it prevents others from having the freedom to read that book. Even if the ideas in a book are personally offensive to you, others might disagree. Some of our most cherished and critically acclaimed literary works, treasures that belong to everyone, make the list every year. Even the most offensive books can serve as an important source for discussion, material for research, or a reminder of past mistakes in human history. Unfortunately, sometimes the tension and deep emotions surrounding censorship gets in the way of clear thinking.

So, celebrate your freedom to read by visiting our Banned Books Display in the lobby, featuring many challenged and banned books. Take a bookmark and check out a book!

YOU should read YOU by Charles Benoit

2010-09-22T10:16:00.002-05:00

You are Kyle Chase, a smart, underachieving fifteen-year-old high school student. Every day, you are afraid. You're afraid of not being liked, of not fitting in, that Ashley might not like you back... Of course, you'll never tell anyone that. You act like you don't care about anything, but you do.

You're also angry. You have this rage building towards the world around you as you're let down over and over again. People don't believe you when you said you didn't steal Jake's wallet, since he's a senior and an athlete. Your parents want you to get a job, which means you'll have to waste your time working at a minimum wage job doing menial work. Your teachers assign you easy mind-numbing busy work and expect you to do it, even though it's a joke. The conforming Aberzombies at school annoy you, even though you and your friends all wear the same black hoodie uniform every day to school. There has to be more to life than this. But what's the point?

YOU by Charles Benoit is a new young adult book written in a unique and unforgettable style. Benoit says, "Kyle Chase is not a bad kid. He's not a good kid, either. He's a typical kid. And, at one point in your life, he was you." Funny, powerful, and raw, you'll be pulled into this story and shocked by the ending. Are you ready?

Calling all Hunger Games Fans!

2010-08-31T14:47:00.000-05:00

For more event info, click here.

Katie Rose Reviews...

2010-08-27T11:54:00.003-05:00

Let's kick off the new school year with a teen review! Katie Rose is a 10th grader at Fremd High School and a member of our Teen Advisory Board. Here are a couple reviews she recently sent us about books she read over the summer. If you would like to submit a short review about books, movies, or music, email us at teens@palatinelibrary.org.

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Tired of your typical scary stories? Then try a different kind of on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller! These two books are bound to keep you turning pages 'til the end.

The Maze Runner

by James Dashner

Ever have one of those moments where you feel completely disoriented? This story begins when Thomas finds himself in a black box with no recollection. Then he feels the box moving (to who knows where) and he's seriously creeped. The scariest part: he doesn't remember who he is. Scattered memories of simple things are all he has left, but he doesn't know if the memories are real or fake.

When the ride in the black box finally ends, he finds himself released into the Glade, where a group of boys have ruled for two years. Things have to be done precisely in order to survive or you will be punished. It's a hard thing to do, especially when no one is over age 18.

All the boys live in fear of one thing: Greavers, horrible half-animal/half-machines with deadly poison. Greavers are the predators in a gigantic structure surrounding the Glade called the Maze. Some of the boys are chosen to be Maze Runners and they must risk their lives every day by trying to find the way to freedom. Except every night, the walls of the maze shift into a new configuration. Thomas decides he wants to be a Maze Runner and find a way out, despite the risk to his life.Will he succeed?

The sequel, The Scorch Trials, is due out this October. Place your hold today!

Thirteen Days To Midnight

By Patrick Carman

If you had a superpower what would it be? Flying, invisibility, and reading minds are common answers, but Jacob Fieldeng has a different answer, and lucky for him he got his wish.

He's invincible.

Nothing can hurt or kill him--he's untouchable. He knows; he's tried everything. He can also give invincibility to anyone, but only one person at a time. He struggles to find people who need invincibility, and who are worthy enough. He starts to see that having a power might not be a blessing but a curse.

As things start to spiral recklessly out of control, he begins to question his choices, his beliefs, and his sanity. Because if he's right...his payment to death might be the one choice he loves the most.

--Katie Rose

Coming Soon to a Library near you!

2010-08-16T16:32:00.014-05:00

So you've just finished the Summer Reading, maybe you're doing the Read On, and school is about to start back up. What to do now? READ. Great new titles are coming out every month and the Palatine Public Library District is proud to introduce two of our newest family members.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, to be released on August 31 by HarperTeen.

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.
So much for normal.

Even though Summer is nearly over, HarperTeen is still featuring titles from their Supernatural Summer site. Check it out HERE to see upcoming upcoming titles, participate in polls and quizzes, and enter to win prizes.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto, to be released on August 31 by Feiwel & Friends.

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.
Is love a great enough power against evil?

~~Sean

*Bibliographies provided by Amazon.com

Hunger. Games. Book. Three.

2010-08-09T13:37:00.004-05:00

MOCKINGJAY, the final book of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy is coming out in FIFTEEN DAYS!! (Not that I’m counting or anything)

What’s happened to District 12? What will happen to Katniss, her family, Gale and Peeta? Who will Katniss end up with? Will she go to District 13??

I have been asking these questions for the past year. (Not that I’m obsessed or anything)

If you haven't reserved your copy yet, follow this link.

and if you haven't read Hunger Games or Catching Fire, check them out here!

P.S. There are some great sites featuring the trilogy. The UK site even has games.

>>Michelle

Scavenger Hunt Winners... For Real This Time!

2010-07-22T19:15:00.002-05:00

At last, the results are in and they've been captured on video (after some technical difficulties and a couple takes!) As you all know, the Library held a town-wide digital camera scavenger hunt from June 1 - July 15th, as part of our "Scare up a Good Book!" Summer Reading Program.

10 out of 16 teams of all ages successfully completed our paranormal challenge. The photos from each team can be seen on our flickr account here.

To find out the winners, watch our video!

Congratulations!

Cemetery Stompers won a gift basket from Whole Foods in Palatine
Team R.L. Stine won a free baked pie from Bakers Square in Palatine
Clan Lycanthropos also won a free baked pie from Bakers Square

The "Best-Themed Team" Award goes to The Flip Flop Ghosts. Both of these pro flip-floppers will receive a copy of the latest version of "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark." Perfect for sleepovers!

The Radioactive Witches and Wizards received an honorable mention and each member will take home a new book.

Members of all finishing teams can visit the Reader Assistance Desk on the first floor of the Main Library to pick up a "Scare up a Good Book!" pin.

Again, we would like to thank all the local businesses that supported our efforts: Caribou Coffee, PetCo, Top Shelf Books, Photos, Whole Foods, and Bakers Square.

We would also like to thank all our participants for making this such a fun (yet fright-filled) event!

Paranormal Activity Temporarily Postpones Digital Scavenger Hunt Prize Drawing!

2010-07-21T17:31:00.000-05:00

Due to unforeseen technical difficulties (or perhaps gremlins...?!), the drawing for the Digital Scavenger Hunt winner(s) will be held tomorrow, Thursday the 22 of July. Winners will be announced via a FlipCam video posted right here on the blog! Stay tuned...

Scavenger Hunt Winners...

2010-07-20T17:20:00.000-05:00

TEN out of SIXTEEN teams finished our Paranormal Palatine Scavenger Hunt and will be entered into a drawing that will take place tomorrow afternoon. We will post a video of the drawing and the results, along with flickr photo updates.

Thanks for your patience while we tally the results! Everyone did an OUTSTANDING job and we have enjoyed following your discoveries of lots of creepy creatures around Palatine. (Who knew?!)

The Super Soul Sleuths scout out Bakers Square on a beautiful twilight night (oops... we mean SCARY, not beautiful!)

To Be Continued...

Scavenger Hunt correction!

2010-07-12T16:59:00.001-05:00

In our last update about the scavenger "haunt," there was a terrible omission--we accidentally left out a team from the list of participating teams! Everyone, please give three cheers for The Radioactive Twilight Witches and Wizards, a three-member team nearing completion. As a penalty, we will all run around the perimeter of the library building 10 times during the hottest part of the day. Fair enough? We hope so!
(Are there any other teams out there that we've failed to mention? Please let us know! Email teens@palatinelibrary.org).

Happy Haunting!

Scavenger Hunt Update!

2010-07-09T14:02:00.001-05:00

So far, FOUR out of NINE teams have successfully completed our around-the-town digital camera scavenger hunt as part of our "Scare up a Good Book!" summer reading program.

Congratulations to the following teams:

These teams will be entered into a drawing for prizes that will be held after July 15, along with any other finishing teams. There's also a prize for the "Best-Themed Team!" It's still not too late to sign up--form a team of 2-6 people and pick up an application at the Reader Assistance desk. Use the clues to find hidden creatures at various places throughout Palatine... BEWARE! Some might have... um, fangs. Take a snapshot of your team with each creature and then email your photos to us. Watch the fun unfold on the Librarys' flickr page.

We are still waiting to hear from several teams out there! (Should we send out a rescue squad???)

Clan Lycanthropos
Beastly Girls
Paranormal Activity Explorers
Killer Be(e)'s Scared
Paranormal Investigators

Safe hunting to you all! Until July 15... Is that a howl I hear?

June was LGBTQ Pride Month

2010-06-29T15:26:00.002-05:00

LGBTQ isn't just a bunch of random consonants. It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning. In a Presidential Proclamation released in May, President Obama declared June 2010 "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month," calling upon "all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists."

Even though June is almost over (how did that happen?!), it's still not too late! Here are some titles you might find of interest:

David Inside Out by Lee Bantle

The Mariposa Club by Rigoberto Gonzalez

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg

Boy Meets Boy by David Levitha

Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

Luna: a novel by Julie Anne Peters

Ash by Malinda Lo

Keeping you a Secret by Julie Anne Peters

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

Empress of the world by Sara Ryan

Helpful web resources:

PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. They also have TNET, a Transgender support network.

TEENLINE was founded in 1980 to help adolescents address their problems through a confidential peer hotline and community outreach program. http://teenlineonline.org/teens

Remember, if you're going through a difficult time, no matter what the issue, help is always available if you reach out.

Pssst! Teen Writing Contest

2010-06-15T11:45:00.003-05:00

Check out our new page on this blog with guidelines about our summer writing contest for teens.

We dare you to enter.

BOO! "Scare up a Good Book!"

2010-06-09T15:17:00.007-05:00

If you haven't visited the Library recently, you might be surprised when you see bats, giant spiders, and a Frankenstein on the loose. You might also get the impression that we haven't dusted in awhile, but those cobwebs make great decorations! Yes, it's time once again to sign up for our popular summer reading program. Over 2,300 people have already registered! Finish your reading by July 31, and you'll be the proud owner of a scary-awesome new t-shirt with original artwork designed by our talented graphic artists. Plus, there are half-way prizes, a read-on drawing (through August), and fun programs throughout the summer to keep you entertained while school's out. For the exact details, call or visit the library--guidelines vary by age and grade level.

Like last year, we have an around-the-town digital cameral scavenger hunt through July 15. Be sure to pick up a form when you register for the summer reading program. This year, it's been expanded to include all ages for teams of up to 6 members. So far, we have 3 teams registered! Let's welcome team Killer Be(e)'s Scared with Cheryl, David, Eli, and Hannah; team Paranormal Activity Explorers with Anusha and Arnau; and team Beastly Girls with Gracie and Ashley. Good luck, teams! Stay tuned for further updates about Paranormal Palatine: a Digital Scavenger "Haunt." Mwah-ha-ha-ha!

To view information about upcoming teen events, click here to read our summer newsletter.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

2010-06-02T14:05:00.005-05:00

The author of this book is a practicing physician and lawyer. Oh, and by the way, her first novel (this novel) is a Newbery Honor book. Really? Really?? I think Jacqueline Kelly might be Superwoman.

In The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Kelly transports readers to a rural town in the year 1899. The United States is on the brink of change, 11 year old Calpurnia, Callie Vee, is still expected to learn to darn socks, cook biscuits and learn the Science of Housewifery.

Well, Callie is terrible at all things domestic, much to her headache-prone mother’s chagrin, and would much rather spend her days learning about the “Science of Mr. Charles Darwin” with her grandfather on their 600 acre cotton plantation.

I really enjoyed this book. While Callie is clearly the star, each character in her life--from her animal loving little brother Travis to the postmaster who "pretends" to like children--is well-developed. And Callie has a refreshing and genuine perspective on every detail.

I especially enjoyed her take on her older brother's girlfriend, Miss Minerva Goodacre. “And there She was. A young woman…with big, protuberant eyes; a fashionably small, squinchy mouth; a long, slender stalk of a neck; and such great quantity of hair massed above it that she looked like a dandelion puff before the wind decapitated it…I hated her instantly.”

I have to admit, I normally don’t read a lot of historical fiction, or stories about family relationships or science for that matter, but this book was warm, well-written and enjoyable. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a great summer read.

>>Michelle

Teen Review of Very LeFreak

2010-05-24T16:33:00.006-05:00

Here's a great review written by 7th grader Amy R. for Rachel Cohn's latest novel, Very LeFreak.

"Veronica, commonly known as Very LeFreak, is a college freshman with an addiction to her iPhone. And her computer, iPod, and any other electronic gadget within reach. She also loves to party and just have fun, always landing everyone she knows into trouble right alongside her. When her online mystery man disappears on her, she unintentionally begins hurting her friends' feelings, so they take her problems into their own hands."

"Jennifer, who to Very is Lavania, along with Bryan, her ex-boyfriend, attempt to confiscate all of her electronic toys. Well, Very loses it. So they send her to a rebab camp, aptly called ESCAPE, for technology-addicted people. For 28 days, Very must wash dishes (!), sew elves (?!!), and hand wash her own clothes (?!!!) 28 days. UNPLUGGED."

" Just as she's getting used to ESCAPE, who but her very own online mystery man shows up, with an escape plan ready. Now Very must make a huge decision. Stay at Escape for herself and her friends, or escape ESCAPE. Is true escape possible? Who is this mystery man? Read the book, and find out!" --Amy R.

Librarian's note: Great review, Amy. Here's an entertaining booktrailer for Very LeFreak. My favorite quote: "You have the power to turn off the power." I could see this being made into a movie, couldn't you?

P.S. Ahem... Back again. Librarian's Post-Script Footnote: Here is Rachel Cohn herself, explaining her own technology addiction and dependency (her iPod is practically one of her limbs, she claims). Also, find out how you can win a piece of technology! (Oh no...)

Has anyone done a technology "detox" before? How did it go? Was it hard? For the past year, once I get home from work, 95 % of the time I don't watch TV or go on the Internet. What do I do instead? Paint, draw, read, garden, bike, meet up with friends, and in the winter, hibernate...like a bear. (Yes, I said BEAR!) We'd love to hear your thoughts!

--Megan

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things

2010-05-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

Virginia Reeves, a NYC sophomore, has never been comfortable in her own skin. As the only blonde, round, and non-fluent-in-French member of the Reeves, she feels like an outcast in her own family. She isn't as thin, as smart, as popular, or as perfect as her older brother (who is a star rugby player at Colombia) or her older sister (who just joined the Peace Corps). Mom and Dad are rarely around, and Virginia's best friend has been relocated to Walla Walla, Washington. Left on her lonesome, Virginia strives to live by the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct." But after tragedy descends on the Shreve family--in the form of Virginia's big brother being accused of date rape--Virginia finds the courage to stand up to her parents and reexamine her own rules.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler was selected as a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book in 2004. It is a witty and boldly honest breakthrough novel. Virginia's first-person narrative, journal entries, and emails reflect upon hard-hitting issues (eating disorders, self-injury, rape, sexuality) with moving insight.

The audio is narrated by Johanna Parker, who does a stellar job.

In a nutshell: I loved this.

~Tracie

Swim the Fly Teen Book Review

2010-05-17T14:43:00.014-05:00

Thanks to Iulia G. for writing this truly excellent review of Swim the Fly!

I have a lot of friends involved in park district and high school swimming. And they’re good. I’m not too bad at swimming, either- I can do a mean survival float. But I picked up Don Calame’s book Swim the Fly for a good laugh, because I know a little something about how competitive swimming works. Well, the main character, Matt, is no Michael Phelps. His swimming skills are almost parallel to mine, and that’s nothing to be proud of…

So Matt finds himself signed up for the 100-yard butterfly, which to him is a considerable feat. Like I said, he’s not too good. But he has to be, by Rockville’s sectionals meet at the end of summer. To impress Kelly West. It’s all part of the plan.

Calame’s novel is playful, hilarious, and perfect to read for the last quarter of school- where you can see summer is just around the bend. Matt goes in great detail on his adventures with his two best friends, Coop and Sean, his Grandpa Arlo, and Ulf, a borderline-sadistic pool attendant that’s willing to help Matt out- or kill him. It’s kind of hard to tell which.

Honestly, when I picked up the book, I laughed, but felt like I was the wrong type of audience. Later (I’ve asked around) it turns out this is a fairly realistic portrayal of all that happens to go through the average teenage boy’s mind. Girls, girls, video games, looking cool, girls, having fun, and then back to girls. Who knew? But seriously, it was a really fun read, just because Matt gets in all of these crazy predicaments- it reminds me a bit of comedies like Meet the Parents, where you think nothing could get any worse, until Ben Stiller backs up the septic tank to flood his girlfriend’s backyard. Except Matt’s summer is not the typical blockbuster train-wreck. It’s an adventure that's genuine and realistic. It's light, and you will laugh.

Hanging out in the typical teenage manner, at the mall, by the beach or on top of the roof, they continue on their quest and it draws you in. Matt’s narrative and maturity also adds dimension to the novel- but not the kind you have to analyze in English class. He deals with real things in a real way- from crushes to his parents’ divorce, to the absurdity of his grandfather’s courtship of a newly widowed neighbor. This is the perfect book to set you up for your perfect summer.

(There's Michael Phelps ^). Post yo comments!

Teen Review: Into The Wild

2010-05-14T11:57:00.012-05:00

Book Review for Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
Review by Lawson Kosulic

Into the Wild is a nonfiction book that has also been transformed into a movie. It starts with the discovery of Chris McCandless, the story’s main character dead and inside an abandoned van in Alaska. The book then retraces his steps through the views of various people who he met and influenced.

I found Into the Wild to be a very repetitive book. Instead of writing a paragraph to explain how Chris traveled back to Carthage, South Dakota for a month, Krakauer writes ten pages on this event. I found that this intense detail was not needed for an event that did not significantly affect Chris’ future decisions. Into the Wild also has higher vocabulary; you might have to look some of the words up while you are reading to get the full meaning of the passage.

Even though some parts of the book were repetitive, the book still hooked me enough to make me keep reading and I did not want to stop until I knew what happened in the end. I really wanted to know how he was thought to have died and what were his reasons behind some of his important actions. Overall, I do not think I would recommend this book to many of my friends, as its not their type of book. I also did not overly enjoy this book at any particular time. If I were to rate it on a scale from 1-5, I would give it a 3 1/2 to 4. Though I did not like this book too much, I know people who have read it and many have come to me saying it was amazing. You could become one of those people too if you just take some time to read it.

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Interested in seeing the movie starring Emile Hirsch? Click here for our catalog and check out the dvd today!

If you're intrigued by Chris' story check out some great footage on YouTube that captures actual spots Chris visited.

~~Sean

Meet a real, live AUTHOR!

2010-05-07T13:35:00.001-05:00

This Sunday, you can meet the author Frank Portman and find out firsthand what it's like to be a writer and get published in today's industry. Portman, aka Dr. Frank, is also the lead guitarist in the celebrated punk band, The Mr. T Experience. Will he bring his guitar? You bet! Will he sign books? Of course! So, bring your Mom and celebrate Mother's Day in an unorthodox way. Books will be on sale at the event.

Frank Portman recently said that he is working on a sequel to King Dork, a funny, satirical coming-of-age story that includes references to the cult classic, The Catcher in the Rye, and high school bands. Even if you're unfamiliar with his works, this will be an event that the literary-minded and musically-inclined won't want to miss! BE THERE!

Groovin' with Dr. Frank!

Palatine Public Library

Sunday, May 9

1-2:30 p.m.

Meeting Room 1

What I Saw and How I Lied

2010-05-04T11:44:00.008-05:00

I've been meaning to read this book for months. I can't quite explain why, but whenever I passed it at the bookstore or the library, the title and photo of the girl with her furtive eyes and lips stained strawberry-red just pulled me in. Yes, I judged Judy Blundell's book by its cover, but I didn't regret it.

The story begins in New York, the year 1947. The end of the war has brought home fathers brothers and cousins, and the United States is enjoying relative prosperity. Rations on sugar and nylon hav eceased, and Victory gardens have been replaced with grassy green lawns.

Fifteen-year-old Evie Spooner feels these changes too, but the war ended two years ago. While at first she and her mother were delighted to have Joe (Evie's stepfather) home, tensions have begun to develop in their small apartment. In a seeming effort to bring excitement or at least harmony, Joe proposes an impromptu vacation to Florida.

It is during this "vacation" (that extends into the fall) that Evie comes of age, not just in dress and demeanor but by learning dark secrets about her parents and confronting blatant discrimination. The world Evie thought she knew collapses as lies build around her. She must decide who she can trust and where she can place her loyalties.

I really enjoyed this book. Blundell beautifully captures the poswar era and creates strong, believeable characters. The tone is suspenseful and as the book progresses, seemingly unimportant events obtain significance in the grand puzzle of deception Blundell constructs. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of mystery, romance and suspense.

P.S. You can check out the website for What I Saw and How I Lied here, or put it on hold at the Palatine Public Library here.

Also, Judy Blundell has written a lot of books under the pseudonym Jude Watson. Check those out here.

>>Michelle

Catcher in the Rye vs. King Dork

2010-04-30T15:08:00.002-05:00

What are you doing this weekend? Join us on Sunday, May 2 at 1:00 p.m. for a "battle of the books" featuring a classic (The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger), and a contemporary parallel (King Dork by Frank Portman...who will be visiting the Palatine Public Library on Sunday, May 9!). Copies of both books are available at the Reader Assistance Desk. Recommended for Grades 9+. Adults welcome! To register, call 847-358-5881 ext. 132 or click here.

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 1

2010-04-27T14:50:00.010-05:00

It's finally here everybody! The 8th Annual "comics industry-sponsored promotional event that supplies specially compiled comics from a wide range of publishers to comic book stores across the country." (thanks to freecomicbookday.com)

If you're looking to start reading comics/graphic novels or see what all the fuss is about (as more graphic novels are being made into movies, like Kick-Ass, The Losers & Iron Man 2) this is the perfect opportunity to stop into a local comic book shop. To find the nearest location check out http://www.freecomicbookday.com/ and use their store locator.

Beyond Tomorrow Comics & Cards is right here on Northwest Highway. FYI-Beyond Tomorrow's website is currently under construction, but still accessible.

Don't forget that our catalog has TONS of titles for you to check out...FOR FREE! Click here to browse or stop in and check out the shelves in the Teen Lounge. Happy reading...

~~Sean

Smile!

2010-04-27T11:10:00.001-05:00

Got braces? Get Smile by Raina Telgemeier. In this autobiographical graphic novel, Telgemeier recounts her transition from an awkward 6th grade Girl Scout to a budding high school artist. Young Raina navigates all the hallmark frustrations of middle school (unfriendly friends, crushes, pimples, etcetera) while also facing the added misery of dental drama (braces, oral surgery, a retainer...AND headgear!). You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll curse your orthodontist, and thank heaven that SOMEBODY finally wised up and put this story--which so many of us can relate to!--down on paper.

---Tracie

This World We Live In

2010-04-22T19:36:00.000-05:00

Consider the moon: its wise and steady stare. How often do you stop to study it? 16-year-old Miranda Evans doesn't pay much attention to the moon until a meteor collides with it, knocking the moon closer to the earth and inducing a catastrophic change in climate. In Life As We Knew It, Miranda records a turbulent year in her life as she and her family struggle for survival in an isolated Pennsylvania suburb where disease is rampant, weather is unpredictable, electricity is a luxury, and food is increasingly scarce.

Last spring, author Susan Beth Pfeffer published a companion novel entitled The Dead and the Gone that examines the natural disaster from a different perspective. The Dead and the Gone introduces 17-year-old Alex Morales, who is left to care for his younger sisters after tsunamis wreck havoc on New York City.

This month marked the release of the third novel in this gripping science fiction series. In This World We Live In, Pfeffer brings Miranda and Alex's stories together. A year has passed since the meteor knocked the moon off course; and while much has improved, daily life is still marked by hunger and uncertainty. Miranda, her family, and a band of newcomers - including Alex and his sister, Julie - search for a sense of normalcy amid circumstances that are anything but normal. When life as you know it is destroyed, what remains? For Alex, all that is left is the dead and the gone, but Miranda believes in family...and love. As their feelings for one another deepen, Miranda and Alex are forced to face a new challenge: is it possible to foster romance and build an enduring love amid in a landscape of despair?

Intrigued by the science behind this fiction? Check out this book for a physics-grounded look at how various astronomical and environmental changes would alter life on our planet. And when you turn the last page, run to your window and check on the moon.

--Tracie

New Beastly Movie Trailer

2010-04-21T13:30:00.002-05:00

Beastly, a book written by Alex Flinn, is a clever retelling of the classic fairy-tale Beauty and the Beast. The story has been adapted into a film that will play in movie theaters over the summer beginning July 31. Here's a new trailer of the film:

While it's a little early to share the news about this, in July, we're having a teen book discussion of Beastly on Friday, July 16 from 2-3:30 pm. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the Readers Assistance Desk beginning June 18. Mark your calendars--you won't want to miss out on this beastly event! (Of course, you can always check out a copy now.)

For more information, visit:

Official Site: http://www.beastlythemovie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beastlymovie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BeastlyMovie

Teen Nonfiction Review of Bear Portraits

2010-04-20T14:39:00.009-05:00

Mmm... Nonfiction!

Thanks to Becky H., a 9th grader at Palatine High School and TAB member,
for this beautiful review of Bear Portraits by Jill Greenberg!

Feed your brain...

******************

Whoever thought huge grizzlies, black bears and polar bears could be so cute? I had no idea until I looked at the photos in Bear Portraits.

On every page, there is a professional photograph of a bear that could make anyone laugh or smile. An interesting quote also coincides with each photo featured. Cute cubs look at you in funny ways, bears scrunch up their faces as if they are laughing: this portrait book has it all.

I definitely suggest this book to anyone who wants to laugh or have a good time browsing. There aren't many words, so Bear Portraits is good for people of all ages--young or old. You will be amazed with everything a professional photographer can capture on film.

Librarian's note: Want to see how photographer Jill Greenberg captures her shots? Check out this YouTube video from Hachette Book Group of her photo shoot with Brett the Baby Bear. Many of the bears that she photographed are bears that have been trained to appear in movies. Some of the bears weigh up to 1,600 pounds! Fortunately, they didn't mind posing for the camera.

Also, if you liked this book or just love primates, try Greenberg's book, Monkey Portraits. Check out her online studio here (which includes photos of crying toddlers!)

P.S. Join us on Monday, April 26 for a Nonfiction + Pizza Book Chat for 7th-12th graders. Register online or call 847-358-5881 x 133 for the Reader Assistance Desk.

Don't feed the bears.

TODAY: Catching Fire Blog Discussion!

2010-04-15T06:30:00.003-05:00

Across the nation today, libraries and schools are celebrating Teen Literature Day, an initiative of National Library Week. We decided to show our support by hosting an online book discussion of Catching Fire, the sequel to the smokin' hot young adult series, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This best-selling series has enjoyed widespread cross-over appeal among adults, kids, teens, pets, zombies... you name it! The highly anticipated third and final book, The Mockingjay, will be published August 24, 2010, and fans can't wait to find out what happens next! (Just see all your comments on this post). (In fact, we challenge you to beat the total number of comments in that post and CATCH THIS BLOG ON FIRE!)

Discussion Guidelines:

To add your own comment, click on the tiny blue "comment" link below this post. Select "Name/URL" and type in your first name (or nickname). Please use the same name or nickname each time you comment. Don't use "Anonymous," otherwise, the discussion gets confusing.
To comment about another person's comment, type "@ so-and-so," so we know who you are "speaking" to.
Keep it clean and polite. Please express yourself without profanity; otherwise, we will have to remove your comment/s.
Fair warning: SPOILERS are ALLOWED. So, if you haven't read Catching Fire yet, DO NOT READ the following discussion!
Be specific in your examples. Mention character names and places, if you can. To peek inside the book, click here. For a more in-depth summary and discussion guide, click here.

Summary of Catching Fire:

The story starts as Katniss and Peeta begin their Victory Tour celebration and then head home to District 12. Unbelievably, they share the title as the official victors of the 74th Hunger Games! Happily ever after, right? Not so fast... The Capitol will not easily forget how Katniss outsmarted the Gamemakers to ensure Peeta's survival, along with her own. After all, there's only supposed to be one victor in the games. Was her action an act of desperation or an open act of defiance against the Capitol? Rebellion is on the rise in the poorer districts. Plus, Katniss has to sort out her feelings about Peeta, her new friend (and fiance?), and Gale, her old hunting partner... Has Katniss changed much? Will Gale even recognize her? With the 75th Annual Hunger Games (or the Quarter Quell) approaching, there are sure to be a few surprises in store!

Questions...

So, what did you think of Catching Fire? Did it live up to your expectations? Favorite parts? Were you surprised by anything? Gale or Peeta... Peeta or Gale? District 13?!! What are your predictions for the third book, The Mockingjay?

And finally, here's the Catching Fire book trailer:

Let the games begin!

Exclusive Author Q & A with Anne Mazer!

2010-04-12T17:05:00.002-05:00

A couple months ago, the amazing author Anne Mazer took time to participate in our Quick (and Painless!) Author Q & A. As you all know, she is the co-author of the new book, Spilling Ink: a Young Writer's Handbook, which we recently reviewed on this blog. Anne is the author of over 40 books, including one of my personal favorite picture books, The Salamander Room. She is probably best known for her series The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes. And now... without further ado!

Quick and Painless Author Q & A

Megan: What are you currently working on?

Anne: I’ve just finished SPILLING INK: A HANDBOOK FOR YOUNG WRITERS, which I co-wrote with my friend and fellow author, Ellen Potter. It will be published in March 2010. And now I’m working on a young adult novel.

Megan: What are you currently reading and/or planning to read?

Anne: I have fifteen books downstairs… I recently read Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor, Res Judicata by Vicki Grant, and four of the Enola Holmes mysteries by Nancy Springer.

Megan: What are your favorite genres? Your favorite authors?

Anne: I love all genres except horror. Favorite writers (so many I can’t list) include: Nancy Farmer, Katherine Paterson, Ellen Potter, Daniel Pinkwater, E. Nesbit….and on and on and on….

Megan: What do you do when you are not reading/writing?

Anne: Hike, take photographs, travel, bake bread, hang out with family and friends, laugh.

Megan: One book that you will never be too old to love is...

Anne: Pippi Longstocking

Megan: What were you like as a teenager? If you could redo your teen years, what would you do differently?

Anne: This is not a quick, painless question! I was a rebel as a teen and skipped school a lot, lied to my parents, and hung out in libraries and cemeteries. I don’t really regret any of it.

Megan: What was your first job?

Anne: Cashier in a supermarket. I lived on Twinkies and orange soda.

Megan: The last movie you saw was...

Anne: Avatar.

Megan: The last thing you ate was...

Anne: grapefruit.

Megan: Do you have any pets?

Anne: Allergic.

Megan: You desperately wish you knew how to...

Anne: stand on my head.

Megan: Does your life have a soundtrack?

Anne: Not that I noticed.

Megan: How do you make a bad day better?

Anne: Eat a lot of popcorn.

Megan: Go to the nearest window and look outside. What do you see?

Anne: A very cold, snowy street. (note: like we said, this was a couple months ago... oops!)

Megan: Participating in this interview has conveniently enabled you to avoid...

Anne: my email inbox.

It's been a lovely visit. Thanks for stopping by our blog, Anne! She's also on twitter as @AnneMazer. Also, visit and read Anne's Official Blog and Website to find out more fascinating info, such as:

Fun Facts About Anne Mazer:

Her favorite foods are popcorn, rice pudding and blueberries.
When she was a kid, she would sometimes read up to ten books a day.
If she had magic powers, she'd choose invisibility.
She painted the rooms in her house yellow, orange, and violet.
One of her favorite childhood books was The Twilight of Magic by Hugh Lofting.
When Anne was a teenager, her room was so messy that she needed a map to get from the door to the bed. (sort of)
In school Anne often flunked her favorite creative subjects, like writing and art

The Red Pyramid coming in May

2010-04-09T14:29:00.013-05:00

Most likely, you're all familiar with Rick Riordan, thanks to the Percy Jackson series (and a previous post by me *cough cough*). Well folks, get ready for another great series by Riordan, The Red Pyramid: The Kane Chronicles, Book 1.

The story follows two siblings, Carter and Sadie, after the death of their mother. Traveling with their father, an Egyptologist, they accidentally unleash the Egyptian god Set. Suddenly, everything falls apart and the rest of the Egyptian gods wake up. With their father missing and Set on their heals, the children head across the globe in search for answers. What they uncover is far more dangerous than they could ever have imagined; something that links their family to a secret order that has existed since the time of the Pharaohs.

For any fan of Riordan (or mythology), The Red Pyramid will not disappoint, so hurry and place your hold now! Personally, I'm a huge fan of Egyptology, so I can't wait for this series to start.

Hey, bloggers and readers...What do you think of Riordan's new book--are you excited? Any thoughts about the author Riordan venturing down a different Mythology road? Do you think this could be the next Percy craze? Comment away...

~~Sean

Is this the future? iPad Review

2010-04-08T15:10:00.003-05:00

Here's a helpful five minute YouTube video review created by PC Magazine about the new apple iPad. What features do you like the best? There's a comic book app, games (of course), iBook (my personal fave), photos, maps, etc. Just no flash yet, so you can't watch Hulu... bummer! But the touch screen is really nice and reminds me of the screens in Avatar or Minority Report (remember?). How do you think computers will look in the future? More like the iPad, or something else?

Teen Review of How Not to Be Popular

2010-04-07T13:07:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Nimra B. for writing this excellent review of How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler!

Sugar Magnolia (Maggie) is about to start her senior year at yet another new school. Maggie moves a lot because her parents are hippies and they go wherever the wind takes them. She loved living in Oregon, she had good friends, she was settled, and she had a boyfriend.

When her parents decide to move to Austin, Texas, she thinks of a creative plan. Since Maggie is really upset and misses everyone in Oregon, she decides not to be popular anymore. She brings weird things to school so people won’t be attracted to her, like carrying around a Star Wars lunch box. Or wearing a jumpsuit--you get the picture. After awhile her "not being popular" campaign starts having the opposite effect. Everyone starts copying her!

It’s really hard to leave your friends behind. Sometimes all we want to do is go back to the good times we had with our best friends, and just to go back to the place where we were most comfortable.

I think the author Ms. Ziegler did a pretty good job with this novel. She could’ve done a better job with the plot line, because the story is too slow and predictable at times. Other than that, the book is hilarious. I would recommend this book because it gives you a great laugh.

Librarian's note: For another quirky heroine who doesn't care if she fits in with the in crowd, pick up Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Also try How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot.

Want to be unpopular? Here are a few of Maggie's guidelines:

Unpopularity is a state of mind. Feel nerdy. Think uncool thoughts.
To be unpopular, you must look the part. Remember four words: “plastic flowered swim cap.”
You must worship all that is totally and tragically unhip. Disco is not dead.

For more helpful tips + an interview with the author, check out the book's super popular webpage here.

Teen Review of Spilling Ink

2010-04-06T10:10:00.011-05:00

My, oh my, it's a blustery day today in the Hundred-Acre Wood. Need a piece of sunshine? Put on your sunglasses and take a look at this cover!
Here's a debut review by Logan S., an 11th grader and Teen Advisory Board member at the Library. Thanks, Logan!
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Spilling Ink: a young writer's handbook isn’t your regular, run-of-the-mill book on how to be a writer. In fact, you’ll likely find it takes much of what you’ve already been taught about writing and hurls it out the window. One of the main reasons the book is sure to spark your interest is simple: authors Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter have successfully made writing seem fun. That’s right—writing can now officially be considered fun.

Another reason the book is so captivating is Mazer and Potter’s ability to strike a satisfying balance between entertainment and education. At one point in the book, the authors advise aspiring writers to take one of the first steps in writing a book: do nothing. Now, at first glance, this advice may seem funny, or maybe even a bit odd. But, rest assured, it’s really a morsel of wisdom in disguise. The authors go on to explain that you already have all you need in order to write. Although we often think otherwise, it’s really not based on external circumstances.

The third reason that you will surely find the book enjoyable is infinitely more profound than the first two. Unlike many other authors in their field, Mazer and Potter focus on the can’s instead of the can'ts. Indeed, Mazer and Potter inspire their readers by showing them how they can write and can succeed.

And for those who are still a bit leery, the authors have even included an “Official Writer’s Permission Slip." Excuses are no longer an option! Also, funny artwork by Matt Phelan accompanies the authors' light and humorous approach throughout the book.

Basically all that’s left to do after reading the book is to snatch up the nearest pad of paper and a handful of pencils and immediately dive into writing America’s next best-selling novel. Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter have done their jobs. Now it’s your turn. It’s time to spill some ink!

"Crisis on the Desktop" by Alan_Cleaver2000

Up next: we'll post an exclusive author interview with Anne Mazer... stay tuned! Also, check out the book's website where you can download an official License to Write, read a creativity blog, ask questions, or find out how to start your own Spilling Ink Writer's Club! (Librarian's note: while this book has been written with a younger audience in mind, adults will also certainly enjoy the wisdom and humor within its pages. Great for aspiring writers and creative writing groups--of all ages!)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear...

2010-04-05T11:11:00.001-05:00

What do you see? I see everyone wearing brown! This blog is documenting wacky sartorial alignment at the Library. It occurs when everyone spontaneously wears the same color on the same day, completely unplanned. Cue The Twilight Zone theme music, please. We must be part of a vast national Roy G. Biv conspiracy, or just have impeccable style. What do you think?

While contemplating this mind-bending puzzler, you might want to consider checking out some of our brown-themed books:

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. A werewolf falls for a human meat-boy... Her pack thinks she's nutty.
Chocolate for a Teen's Spirit by Kay Allenbaugh. "Heartwarming, haunting, and often hilarious." While you don't usually find those adjectives in the same sentence, this collection of stories pulls it off.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. It's never too late to read this childhood classic.
The Story Behind Chocolate. Let's throw some nonfiction into the mix! The scientific name for the cacao tree is Theobroma cacao, which means "food of the gods." Quite fitting!

Did we miss any good titles? Leave a comment and let us know.

Happy Roy G. Brown Day!

Two for the price of...FREE!

2010-04-02T11:41:00.024-05:00

Vampire Knight and Nightschool: The Weirn Books, vol. 1 are similar graphic novels about two paranormal schools that consist of a day class full of boring normal students and a night class full of not-so-normal students.

In Nightschool: The Weirn Books, vol. 1, by Svetlana Chmakova, you will meet Alex Treveney, a young weirn (or witch) whose sister Sarah is the gatekeeper at a regular school, and whose job is to ensure the day class (full of normal students) doesn't discover that at night werewolves, vampires, and other magical beings are taught there in secret.

While Sarah is working the night shift, Alex and her Astral, her "pet" spirit, head out into the night for some "Vampires in their natural habitat" observation, hey...she has a Night Speciology Report due. What she discovers is a young human/vampire couple attacked by Rippers, beings beyond a regular vampire, described as "nothing but darkness. Can't breathe, can't eat, can't even die properly. It's not even blood they want...it's life. A taste, any taste." Enter Hunters, skilled fighters entitled with the job of protecting the innocent from these horrible creatures. Let battle ensue.

With an interesting turn of events you will find there's something dark and powerful about Alex, something she isn't even aware of, and why is there suddenly no trace of Sarah ever working at the school? Alex calls via magical mirror and is told nobody by her name has ever worked for the school...huh? Follow Alex as she ventures into the Nightschool to get to the bottom of this. Nightschool: The Weirn Books, vol. 1 is something you can't miss.

Check out Chmakova's other series Dramacon: volume 1.

In Vampire Knight, by Matsuri Hino, you will enter the Cross Academy, a private school which consists of a Day Class and a Night Class. Yuki Cross, the adopted daughter of the Headmaster, has no memory of her life before the event of a vampire attack as a child, when she was saved by the vampire Kaname.

Similarly, Zero Kiryu was orphaned when his family was viciously killed by vampires four years ago. Taken in by the Headmaster, he and Yuki stand as the school's disciplinary committee, charged with guarding the school's secret...the Night Class is full of vampires.

Yuki believes that vampires and humans can co-exist, while Zero only wants to learn their weaknesses so he knows the best way to take them down. With Xocolatl's Day approaching, this odd pair must work together while the Day Class girls give chocolates to Night Class boys they are sweet on. Only, can they keep the giddy girls from becoming the sweet treat of the hungry boys? Plus, what's the deal between Night Class President Kaname and Yuki, and was that a chocolate Yuki gave him? Also, why is Zero suddenly acting strange and locked up in the bathroom; too many chocolates? Check out your copy of Vampire Knight today and find out!
Oh hey, Vampire Knight is also an anime...check out the first episode here.

~~Sean

April Fool's Day!

2010-04-01T14:04:00.001-05:00

Did you know April is National Humor Month? Join our popular Laughter Club @ the Library or pick up some good joke books.

For starters, here's a great book: Funny Business: Clowning Around, Practical Jokes, Cool Comedy, Cartooning, and More...

Laugh it up @ your Library!

Teen Trivia Contest Winner

2010-03-31T16:01:00.005-05:00

In March, teens could participate in an "Alice in Wonderland" trivia contest for a chance to win a movie theatre gift certificate.

For those who are curious, here are the answers to our trivia questions. Curiouser and curiouser!

1. What does Alice fall down at the beginning of her adventure?

c. a rabbit hole (no, not a worm hole or elevator shaft)

2. What does the White Rabbit always have with him?

b. a pocket watch (although he could use a sweat band with all the running around he does)

3. What is the author Lewis Carroll's real name?

a. Charles Dodgson (Samuel Clemens is Mark Twain, Mr. Anderson is from The Matrix)

4. What is a looking glass?

a. a mirror (NOT a Plasma TV screen)

5. What is the Queen's signature catch phrase?

c. Off with her head! (ouch)

Riddle 1: the Cheshire cat
Riddle 2: croquet or flamingo/hedgehog
Riddle 3: a deck of cards

Well, it's time to announce THE WINNER!

Congrats, Teagan!

Winter's End Teen Book Review

2010-03-31T11:40:00.002-05:00

Move over, winter...
Hello SPRING!

Thanks to Becky H., a 9th grader and Teen Advisory Board member, for writing this great book review of Winter's End by Jean-Claude Mourlevat (Translated by Anthea Bell). Sounds like a great Hunger Games read-alike, if you like dystopian fiction.
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When Helen and her friend Milena leave their boarding school to go into town for a night, they meet Milos and Bartolomeo, two boys from the other boarding school.

Later that night, Milena and Bartolomeo run away together in order to escape the oppressive government. They flee to the mountains, but a group of hunters sent to chase them down soon follow the couple’s trail.

In order to rescue their friends, Helen and Milos follow the hunters and try to stop them. While fighting one of the hunters, Milo is wounded. Subsequently, the government captures Milo and takes him away.

The other three friends escape to the resistance network in the capital city. Milena, Helen and Bartolomeo must hurry to save Milos from the government’s cruel game in which competitors fight to the death.

As Milos trains for his fight, Helen and Bartolomeo learn of Milena’s amazing voice and her ability to use her talent to help the resistance. As Milos’ fight approaches, the three friends come up with a plan to save him, but their scheme may risk all of their lives.

I thought this book was very well written. It keeps you at the edge of your seat as you wait to see how the story will turn out. Many of the characters are lovable and make the story both interesting and humorous. Although the ending was depressing I still highly recommend reading the book.

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Pssssst!

On April 15, visit this blog to participate in our online Catching Fire book discussion. We challenge you to generate more comments than our most popular post. Click here to read it.

Spring Rolls @ your Library!

2010-03-29T12:55:00.006-05:00

On Sunday, teens met executive chef Thomas Bowman from Otom Restaurant and learned how to make three different types of spring rolls. After learning about the history and origin of spring rolls, Chef Thomas demonstrated how to make a savory Chinese spring roll using a clear rice shell soaked in water. After soaking, the rice shell is laid flat and then carefully folded around a sliced vegetable and shrimp filling. We also made Lumpia rolls, a savory Filipino roll with glass noodles, wheat shells, and a mixed meat filling. The Lumpia rolls had to be fried, but they were so good, some teens didn't wait! To fry the rolls, Thomas used a flameless induction burner, which uses vibrating magnets to heat up metal plates. They're faster and more energy-efficient than traditional stove-tops.

We also fried dessert rolls with a banana and chocolate filling, and then fried the savory Lumpia rolls. While waiting, we enjoyed some ice-cold Thai tea, which is sweet and creamy, and has a bright orange color. Click here to view more photos of the event.

Then, it was YOUR turn to make spring rolls! Let's see how you did:

Great job!

Also, Chef Thomas will make several guest appearances on a new Discovery Channel TV show called Future Food, along with chefs from Moto restaurant, the sister restaurant to Otom. They specialize in "molecular gastronomy," using lasers and chemistry to alter the texture and taste of food. It's eating like you've never experienced before!

Last, we'll leave you with Part 2 & 3 from the event:

Bon Appetit!

Up next: Teen Cooking Demo

2010-03-26T12:13:00.008-05:00

This Sunday, from 2:00-3:30 p.m., a professional chef from Chicago will teach teens how to make spring rolls. What are spring rolls? First of all, delicious! Second, did you know that there are many different varieties? You'll learn (and taste) a lot during this program.

Chef Thomas Bowman is currently the executive chef at Otom Restaurant, but has always liked cooking. He first began cooking professionally at age 16 in Oklahoma City. Since then, he has worked at many top restaurants around the country and even trained at California's award-winning Terra Restaurant under Chef Hiro Sone, preparing "European country food with a Japanese touch."

It only takes a couple seconds to register online--no library card needed. (Or, call the Library at ext. 132). The program is for 7th-12th graders. Hope to see you there!

Also, check out some of our books on cooking:

Eat Fresh Food by Rozanne Gold

Essentials of Asian Cuisine by Corinne Trang

Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo

The Indonesian Kitchen: recipes and stories by Sri Owen

Down the Rabbit Hole...

2010-03-24T10:53:00.014-05:00

It's not too late!

You can still take a trip down the rabbit hole by visiting our special Teen Lounge "Alice" display! What will you find there? Fantastic, original artwork by Logan Schirmbeck, winner of the state-wide Illinois Library Association iRead Young Adult Art Contest for 2011. His winning entry will be displayed in libraries across Illinois during the summer of 2011 for the summer reading theme, "A Midsummer Knight's Dream." Lucky for us, Logan created Alice-themed artwork just for this display.

Nestled between giant flowers and spotted toadstools, you'll find books based on or inspired by Lewis Carroll's original book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Titles include The Looking Glass Wars trilogy, the graphic novel series Hatter M, the mystery Down the Rabbit Hole, and others. Plus, if you'd just like to escape into an alternate reality, you can try books by Neal Shusterman or Nancy Farmer. Might we recommend The Phantom Tollbooth? There are plenty to choose from! Just don't be TOO late... Only one week remains for teens to participate in our Teen Trivia "Alice in Wonderland" contest! Turn in your entry by March 31 for a chance to win a movie gift certificate!

To see more of Logan's artwork, visit his blog, Innocent Nonsense... In a Sense. He sometimes takes drawing requests from visitors--so, don't be shy!

Still falling?

You might have seen THE MOVIE, but have you seen the website? It's worth the trip!
New York's Museum of Modern Art currently has a display of Tim Burton's artwork. Instead of getting on plane, click here to visit their multimedia website that includes photos, sketches, and videos.
Check out the almost wordless movie Alice, for a completely different take on the story. Surreal and creepy, but very creative!

We'd like to thank our talented photographer, Jon Willoughby, for the excellent photos of our display.

Don't be late, now.

wii will, wii will ROCK YOU!

2010-03-16T19:35:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday, over 20 teens gathered to compete in a wii RockBand Tournament. Patrick, an 8th grade student at Plum Grove Junior High, announced the event as our official MC. Individuals or bands could sign up to play a song. Bands that competed included The Hobos, Oh Yeah!, The Epic Fails, The Nightingales, The ? Marks, and Exuberant Llamas. Pictured at left is Lawson, who was a crowd favorite on guitar.

After the first round, the two top scoring bands, The Hobos and The Nightingales, had to compete again in a final round. In order to determine order, each band nominated a captain to face-off in a nail-biting rock-paper-scissors match. The Nightingales won and decided to play second. The Hobos played first and later won for best showmanship. But The Nightingales beat everyone with the highest score. They're now the undefeated "Grand Champions of the World!"...Until next time!

To see photos from the event, click here.

ROCK ON!

You have just entered THE TWILIGHT ZONE

2010-03-13T12:27:00.019-06:00

Do you like frightening stories? Strange happenings? How about unexpected, unexplainable turns of events? If so, then I welcome you to THE TWILIGHT ZONE!

(Be advised: this is not a space dedicated to vampire fans or Stephenie Meyer admirers; I’m talking about the SCARY, FRIGHTENING, and UNSETTLING Twilight Zone, where scary, frightening, and unsettling things happen!!!)

The Odyssey of Flight 33 is a graphic novel remake of the 18th episode of the second season, which aired in February of 1961. The tale follows the crew and passengers of a 1973 trans-ocean flight bound for New York from London. Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Flight 33 experiences an anomaly which throws them off course and causes them to accelerate faster than is plausible. In addition to hurtling at speeds no plane should be able to, the plane somehow hurtles through time itself!

Desperate to understand what's going on and how to get home, the passengers and crew begin to lose their cool. One passenger, specifically (a skeptical and unstable man), is also aware that a parachute is on board. DUN DUN DUUUUUN! Rod Serling’s graphic novel of the show is sure to please anyone who appreciates a little suspense. Fun Fact: Rod Serling wrote more than half of the episodes for the television series, which originally aired from 1959-1964. He has won two Emmys for his work and starred as the show’s creator, host, and narrator. Though now deceased, he is even featured in the graphic novel.
I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel and it opened me up to reading other Twilight Zone GNs as well. I have watched some of the TV episodes and this graphic novel companion series has successfully captured the original "feel" of the show. I like that the books are narrated like an episode and that Rod makes an appearance, as he also did in the show (nice touch). The artwork is catchy and bright and the panels are simple to follow, and I even liked that the pages were thick and crisp.

Something I didn’t care for was the constant dialogue with the flight crew, using words that I (the reader, who knows nothing about airplanes) really didn’t understand or care to read. Quotes like “My needle just reversed on Gander Omni! How’d we get past Gander?” really just took too much of my brain power than was necessary. I thought a simple, “Holy cats lathered in BBQ sauce, the plane is moving way too fast!” would have been just fine. In any case, I don’t have too much to complain about. It's a good read and I believe readers that are not too familiar with graphic novels will find that it’s an easy transition into them. I have another spooky review coming up for another Twilight Zone graphic novel, so stay tuned.

Interested in a clip of the actual episode? Click Here

--Sean

Teen Music Review of Contra

2010-03-10T11:47:00.009-06:00

Guess what? In honor of national Teen Tech Week, if you check out a CD or DVD at Palatine Public Library, you'll get a cool *something* prize at check out. You get to pick, so come on over! Also, we're running a wii Rock Band Tournament this Saturday, March 13 from 1-4 p.m. Register online as a single player or as a band here (or call the library, ext. 132.) The winning band will receive iTunes gift cards; plus, those with the best rock 'n roll attire will win something, too. Attend as a groupie fan or competitor.

And now... Here is this blog's FIRST music review, written by Jack, a local high school student, band member, and Teen Advisory Board member.
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This is the tough one. After all the initial demos have been listened to, the hype has died away, and the first album is online, a band like Vampire Weekend is in trouble. How do they create a new album? DO they rehash their first in an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality? Or do they try to do something new, at the risk of alienating fans?

I can safely say Contra, the newest album from Vampire Weekend, is something new. They spread their ideas out beyond their already unconventional style. The opener has no audible guitar, and the main melody is played on chimes. One of the highlights, "Diplomat's Son," is a 6 minute song driven by a catchy chorus that transitions back and forth to an 8-bit style instrumentation. "Cousins" is a spastic, ska-tinged wonder, with possibly the grooviest bass ever. But while some artists take multiple albums to become this diverse, this album manages to sound consistent through its 11 tracks.

Not only has the music expanded, but Ezra Koenig's lyrics have matured as well. While the last album was about one-night campus stands and grammar snobs, many of the new songs are based around abandoned aspirations, vain college girls, and everyday jobs. When he sings "You stand so close to me/Like the future was supposed to be" there's a sense of empathy that surprises compared to the peppy poppiness of the music. The subjects may sound bleak, but paired with the music sound fantastic.

The album isn't perfect. Some of the instrumentation and tempo changes can be jarring, like they don't fit in the song. The production sometimes makes the vocals hard to hear. But those are minor complaints. Contra is a great album. If Vampire Weekend was the soundtrack to a good college party, Contra is the mix for the mellow day after, spent looking forward to the next night. I look forward to what the next night brings.

Teen Review of Dear John

2010-03-04T19:35:00.005-06:00

Here's a new review written by one of our Teen Advisory Board members. Nimra is a 9th grader at Palatine High School.
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Title: Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Reviewer name: Nimra
Genre: Romance and Drama

I think Nicholas Sparks did an astounding job with Dear John. This story is filled with emotion and drama. I couldn’t put this book down, because the love between Savannah and John was just so adorable.

John Tyree is a really stubborn kid when he is little. His mother dies when he's a young child, so he grows up with his father. His father and John have an awkward relationship. They never really have anything to say to each other. After high school, John decides to go into the military. A couple of months later, he returns home for two weeks. One day, he's at the beach surfing, and he sees this girl drop her purse into the water. That day, he meets Savannah Lynn Curtis. Who knew that he would meet the girl of his dreams on that day? The desire between the two grows into a kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John while he finishes his tour of duty. But then 9/11 happens and changes the world. Dear John is now a big motion picture. In my opinion, the book is way better than the movie. I would recommend this book to anyone, but definitely read the book first and then watch the movie. This is a heartbreaking tale of a man that has to choose between his love, Savannah, and his country.
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So, have you read the book or seen the movie? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for a great review, Nimra.

Shiver Book Review

2010-02-24T20:38:00.023-06:00

Here we go. Another installment in the supernatural-werewolf-romance phenomena that has hit young adult literature by storm since Stephenie Meyer first published Twilight in 2005. Since that book, it seems you can’t go into a bookstore (or to the library, for that matter) without seeing at least twenty werewolf or vampire novels in the YA section.

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater, falls into this newly popularized subgenre, but thanks to Stiefvater’s ability to craft prose and develop characters, I enjoyed this novel thoroughly.

Grace, an independent high school student from a small town in the Midwest, suffered a wolf bite as a child. Since her attack, Grace has been fascinated by the wolves that reside in the woods behind her house.

One wolf, with piercing golden eyes, who saved her from being killed in her attack, particularly captivates her attention. Readers quickly learn that Grace’s wolf is actually a werewolf, Sam.

The attack and killing of a student at Grace’s school causes the rest of the town to take notice of the wolves as well, and Grace, while facing opposition from her classmates and other members of the town, attempts to stop authorities from shooting the wolf she has come to admire.

In the series of events that follow, Grace meets Sam as a human for the first time and the two quickly fall into an impossible love. Alternately told from Grace and Sam’s perspectives, readers also quickly form a deep connection to these characters and their suddenly tumultuous lives.

If you enjoyed Twilight, you might enjoy this book. In fact, if you didn’t like it but have a penchant for the paranormal, give Shiver a try.

This title is the first in what will eventually become a trilogy. The next book, Linger, will be released on July 20th, 2010.

Meet Claudette Colvin: a Teen Hero

2010-02-19T17:10:00.006-06:00

In 1955, a young teen named Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated Montgomery bus. Forcibly removed from her seat and arrested nine months before Rosa Parks, Claudette's actions didn't spark an entire bus boycott or movement. Instead, her classmates avoided her at school and some teachers and community members reprimanded her for "acting up." Up until recently, Claudette was one of the many lesser known heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Things changed this year when author Phillip Hoose won the prestigious National Book Award in the category of Young People's Literature for his nonfiction book, Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice. Known as the "Oscars" of American literature, the National Book Awards have been awarded annually since 1950.

Here's how it works: independent panels made up of writers select the "best of the best" in the following four categories each year: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature. The winning author in each category is awarded $10,000 and a trophy, but the prestige of the award is what's priceless. Now Claudette's story is finally getting justice! Several months after her arrest, she agreed to serve as a key witness in a civil action lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of segregated public transportation. Well, guess what! The case went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court and her testimony helped win the landmark case, Browder v. Gayle, that outlawed segregated buses in our country. Go, Claudette! This book is HIGHLY recommended for all ages. Check out a copy today!

Pink Outbreak Contained!

2010-02-11T16:10:00.004-06:00

The source of the pink contagion plaguing the Chicago suburbs has finally been discovered. Scientists at Palatine Public Library District took samples of the strain from books and put them under a powerful electron microscope. This is what they found:

(Note: images below have been magnified 1,000,000x.)

But wait... something else seems to be there! Look closer...

Ah ha!

A pink germy duo reading steamy romances, Small Wonders and Be My Valentine.

This furry germ looks particularly studious reading Best Friends for Frances.

A virulent rose germ was found in this poetry book: Questions about Angels.

A red and pink group of book savvy germs discovered at North Chicago Public Library!

Don't be fooled by their smiles--they're highly resistant!

And the ultimate culprit:

This is the first germ observed in recorded history to be seen wearing a pink snuggie. Fortunately, the pink contagion has been contained just in time for Valentine's Day. Click here to read about the origins of the outbreak.

Thanks to everyone who sent in photos to this blog for Go Pink. Happy Valentine's!

Mystery with a Vampire! Part II

2010-02-10T17:04:00.006-06:00

This past Sunday, teens gathered at the Library to solve a peculiar mystery. The crime? Someone in the group had transformed the local homecoming queen into a bat. To solve the puzzle, some teens served as detectives while others acted in various roles as vampire suspects.

In the end, we found out that most of the suspects weren't all quite human. They included something that was part plant (of the Dionaea muscipula variety), a werewolf, and a zombie... Another suspect was really a vampire "buster." But don't worry, the guilty party was eventually caught after 4 rounds. (Sorry, we can't tell. It's a secret!)

More pictures will be posted soon on the Library's flickr account.

...stay tuned!

Mystery with a Vampire... Register now!

2010-02-04T19:57:00.003-06:00

Get ready for an afternoon of thrills and chills this Sunday. At 1:30 pm, there's a party at rockstar Killian Killigan's castle. Join her and her friends to help expose the real vampire in the group. You'll question our teen suspects and look over clues while enjoying refreshments and music. Register online here.

To be continued...

Thirteenth Child Review

2010-02-02T13:44:00.005-06:00

Patricia Wrede takes us to a magical frontier in her newest fantasy novel, Thirteenth Child.

Eff and Lan are twins, the thirteenth and fourteenth children in their family. Their father is a professor of magic.

Eff, as a thirteenth child, is supposedly unlucky. Her brother Lan, the seventh son of a seventh son, will be an especially powerful magician.

A sympathetic teacher helps Eff learn a new form of magic that's particularly suited to her skills. With that, she is able to help her father and brother on a desperate mission to save a nearby settlement that is plagued by magical pests.

In struggling to overcome your weaknesses, you can develop strengths beyond your biggest dreams.

And that's even better than magic.

--Gwenyth

Pink Contagion Spreads!

2010-02-01T15:41:00.006-06:00

What happened to the teen blog?! A mysterious pink virus has infected parts of our website and it's also spread to our fiction blog! The only way to save our Library from further paranormal pigmentation is to send us a pink photo of yourself reading a pink-titled book. We need photos from everyone!

Email them to teens@palatinelibrary.org, as soon as possible!

Check out our earlier post about pink phenomena. Photo credit.

Did you know your classmate is an Evil Genius?

2010-01-29T11:58:00.012-06:00

Exhibit A: I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President. Meet Oliver Watson, a below average 7th grader who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. He doesn't do his homework, teachers have all but given up on him, and he has no friends. But not so fast! Oliver is really an evil genius bent on taking over the world. When he was 2 years old, he read Fahrenheit 451... yawn! Not even his parents suspect that he's really a multimillionaire with a secret underground lair below his bedroom. He could take over the world (piece of cake!) if he wanted to, but instead, decides to run for class president in order to one-up his father, who constantly underestimates him.

Written by Josh Lieb, the executive producer of The Daily Show, this book's unpredictable twists and turns will keep you guessing and laughing out loud. What Oliver has to say about Fahrenheit 451 (and other topics) is worth the read alone. (Personally, I love Ray Bradbury's book, but Oliver's commentary is hilarious.)

Here's a book trailer below with the typical antics you'd expect from Jon Stewart.

Would you elect Oliver? Read and decide!
--Megan

Teen Review of Fallen

2010-01-27T15:33:00.006-06:00

Here's a review by Iulia, an 11th grader at Fremd High School and a member of our Teen Advisory Board.
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Honestly, I like the notion of “fate,” that one deserves what happens. But, personally, I think your choices ultimately play the greatest role in your life. You should be responsible for where you end up. That doesn’t really explain the arrival of Lucinda Price at the Sword & Cross Reformatory School, who happens to be academically gifted, fluent in French and Latin (having formerly attended one of the toughest, most competitive prep schools in the country), and the winner of the science fair three years in row? As a student who works exceptionally hard, she was driven by the family motto, “Prices never crash.” But she finds herself being closely monitored by cameras on a campus for... misfits. Where’s the fairness in that?

But there is something dark about Luce. Something that makes her feel she’s guilty, maybe even crazy. There are shadows. They creep up on her… and she doesn’t know why, but something bad always happens, which is how she ended up at Sword & Cross in the first place. Once there, she is taken under the wing of the school’s wild child, Arrianne Alter. She also makes new friends, catches the attention of Cameron Briel, while "mystery boy" Daniel Grigori happens to catch hers. And as if Luce’s arms aren’t full enough with love problems, make-up assignments, and adjusting to Sword & Cross, the shadows are getting worse.

Lauren Kate’s book, Fallen, is a captivating read, leaving the reader guessing from page to page. I’m sure it will appeal to every Twilight fan out there and to everyone else who is willing to believe that fate just happens--let’s face it: things can play out in mysterious ways. Why else does Luce find herself estranged from her parents, in life and death situations, and having visions about a complete stranger? Accepting the truth may be no easy feat, but read this if you feel up to the challenge.

Oh, and did I mention it’ll be part of a series? Torment, by Lauren Kate will come out September 2010. Keep up with the shadows, and you’ll get to the bottom of the real truth.

Unwind Book Review

2010-01-22T10:00:00.000-06:00

Neal Shusterman’s latest novel, Unwind¸ is a teen book not recommended for the faint of heart. Though his writing style is not particularly graphic, the subject matter made me squirm more than once.

The futuristic dystopia Shusterman presents is a world where all life is sacred—except for children between the ages of 13 – 18. After an infamous war between pro-life and pro-choice activists, the two parties reach a King Solomon-like compromise and decide that after a child turns 13, parents can sign a legal contract to have their son or daughter “unwound,” another term for harvesting their young, healthy bodies for organ donations. But don’t worry; law requires that 99.4% of the body be used, to ensure the child lives, just in a “divided state.”

It’s a lot to swallow at the beginning of the book, but Shusterman’s story picks up rapidly, following Connor, Risa and Lev—3 teens bound for unwinding. Each one has a story of their own. As the book progresses, the trio encounter more teen runaways destined for a similar fate, and readers confirm their initial feelings of disgust for this somehow acceptable practice.

Shusterman definitely has a lot of creativity and a talent for writing. Unwind is a page-turner nearly impossible to put down (don’t start it if you have a long paper due the next day or finals coming up), but at the same time, I’m hesitant to recommend this book. The concept is too much, too unbelievable. Granted, his novel is Fiction with a capital F, but there has to exist a certain suspension of disbelief, and I didn’t feel that until at least two-thirds of the way in. Sure, parents may, at times, wish they could send their difficult children away, but how many would many actually do it?

Though Shusterman attempts to justify the possibility of this society with references to actual historical events (Roman gladiators, human sacrifices, etc.), I still found the idea implausible. Even so, Shusterman’s writing is compelling, and some sci-fi lovers or angst-ridden readers may be able to jump right in. But as a personal review, the best score I can muster is a 3 out of 5.

--Michelle

Review of The Bride's Farewell

2010-01-21T19:30:00.000-06:00

In Meg Rosoff's latest book, The Bride's Farewell, readers are transported to rural England in the 1850s. The book begins with a gallop, literally, and the pace never slows from page one. Pell Ridley is a runaway bride, and on the morning of her wedding, she takes her trusty horse, Jack, and rides away from a future of toil and child-rearing and into a future of uncertainty and adventure. Except that Bean, her mute younger brother, stubbornly insists on joining her. And so the unlikely trio of heroes face the open road together.

Pell is a fiercely independent heroine, and sometimes a bit too hard-headed, which gets her into trouble. But, she does have one talent: she knows horses, meaning she can discern their nature and temperament with just a glance. Trained from a young age by the local blacksmith to raise horses, Pell thinks her experience will help her find work at the Salisbury horse fair. With that vague destination in mind, they set off, having never been far beyond the limits of their small, impoverished village.

While reading the story, I couldn't help but be reminded of the limited freedom women had back then (and continue to have, in some cases). For instance, townsfolk make all kinds of presumptions about the moral character of an unaccompanied young woman traveler with a small child. Pell is also paid much less whenever she finds work because she is female. She also has little or no education, since her father only provided formal schooling for his sons. Growing up, Pell saw her mother waste away under the burden of raising nine children without support from her drunken husband, and says to herself, "Not now, not ever." Even though she knows she could love Birdie (her fiance and childhood sweetheart), she knows the lack of freedom would kill her spirit in the end.

Although the book is short, it has an epic, sweeping feel, like one of Robin McKinley's novels. (It's almost The Hero and the Crown--fiesty, unconventional heroine with a white horse, minus the dragon-slaying, of course). The sights and sounds of the bustling Salisbury fair give you glimpses into a bygone era, and the author describes the milieu of gypsies, traders, and horses with such description that you wonder if she had been there herself. When Bean becomes separated from Pell and she faces all kinds of hardships, you can't help but feel lost with despair along with Pell. But, you also keep hoping, right along with her. This is a great read for young adult and adult escapists, dreamers, and adventurists.

I'll end with one of my favorite passages from the book that best defines Pell's character:

For those poor souls who can only think of the terrible fear and danger of a runaway horse, think of this: a speed like water flowing over stone, a skimming sensation that hovers and dips while the world spins around and the wind drags your skin taut across your bones. You can close your eyes and lose yourself in the rhythm, because nothing you do or shout or wish for will happen until the running makes up its mind to stop. So you hold steady, balancing yourself in the wake, and unhook your mind from the everyday while you wait at the silent center of it all and hope that the feeling won't stop till you're good and ready for life to be ordinary once more.

The problem being that she never was.

--Megan

Click here for photo attribution.

Teen Review of The Outsiders

2010-01-18T14:14:00.007-06:00

Here's a book review written by 7th grader Lawson about The Outsiders, a book you may be familiar with. If you haven't read it, it's worth checking out!

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If you are looking for an exhilarating, realistic fiction novel, The Outsiders written by S. E. Hinton, is the book for you. Ponyboy is in a real mix with the conflict between his gang, the greasers, and their rivals, the Socs. After you read this book, you feel as if you've truly gone to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1960. Ponyboy is trapped and conflicted when his friend Johnny’s life is in gut-wrenching danger. I think this is a book anyone older than ten would certainly enjoy, but don’t go to the library now. See what I thought of the book.
This book is a classic that everyone should read. The themes taught in this book are truly something that you can take and learn from even today. Also, the book has enough action to satisfy someone without ruining the point of the themes in it. The length of this book is perfect for what it is. If I could change anything in the book, it would be to make the book more modern, so the reader might then be able to make a more clear connection to what was happening in the book. The reader may then understand the meaning of the book sooner. Overall, I would rate this book a four out of five.

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Thanks for the review, Lawson! Did you know that this book was also made into a movie in 1983? Check it out here! The list of actors is quite impressive: Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, & Patrick Swayze! Here's the original trailer:

Scarf Knitting Workshop

2010-01-13T14:00:00.006-06:00

Add some fashion flair to your winter wardrobe with a colorful hand-knit scarf! Teachers from the Mosaic Yarn Studio in Des Plaines will be on hand to guide you through this simple project from start to finish.

No need to bring yarn, but please bring your own knitting needles. (A larger size is preferable... specifically 19 mm, or US 35).

The workshop is Monday, January 18 from 6:30-8:30 pm here at the Library, for 7-12th graders. To register, call 847-358-5881 x 133.

Welcome to knitters of all skills levels!

Teen Review of Liar

2010-01-10T12:50:00.009-06:00

What is truth? Is it as simple as black and white? Here's an intriguing book review written by Iulia, an 11th grader at Fremd High School. She's also a member of the Library's Teen Advisory Board. Enjoy!
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Micah Wilkins is a senior in high school, with graduation and the rest of her life in view--so already, I’m pretty jealous of her. Also, she’s brilliant at physics, dating one of the most popular--and cutest--boys in school, has the sympathy of her peers, her parents are in love with each other and love her dearly, her dad is an arms dealer, of course, but she is the fastest runner around New York City, and won a few bravery medals herself. Oh, yeah! And Micah Wilkins is a liar.

From that aspect, the whole story can get a little bit frustrating. Come on. Who likes being lied to? But one of the most earnest things that you can count on is that Micah loved Zach Rubin and was in a relationship that few people knew existed. Then why is she a prime suspect for his brutal murder?

Don’t worry. The plot thickens. This is, oddly enough, the perfect literary cocktail. Except this time, the cocktail is being openly offered to teenagers. And the bartender? It’s Justine Larbalestier, author of the Magic of Madness trilogy. Her concoction involves some thriller-action, genuine romance, intrigue, a strong element of surprise, mysticism--borderline fantasy, and a realistic approach on teenage life, conformity, and values. It’s not garnished with mint, or the fruity little umbrella in drinks, but it’s through the colorful narrative of Micah, who is a puzzle herself. Her confessions and attempts to let us past all her defenses makes for a refreshingly different novel.

She’s not a textbook liar--not even a storybook one. There are no immediate consequences, and you learn to find some of her lies even… justified. Some of the turns she takes and things she expects you to believe can be a little frustrating. Honestly, it’s shocking that her nose isn’t the size of Long Island, by now. This isn’t Pinocchio. Of course, this story just doesn’t disappoint, because there is a transformation in question. She doesn’t turn into a donkey for all her lies and misdeeds, which is just as well, because I found that concept deeply disturbing in the Disney movie. Instead, her lies seem to stem from a transformation of her own.

Everyone lies. Now and then. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.” And Larbalestier is breaking down this idea through her characters, as lies are spun around Micah, her parents, her relatives, and everyone she knows. It’s complex and applicable through many themes for everyone. I think that if you give it a chance, it grows on you quickly, and pulls you in. Sure, Micah is a compulsive liar, but it makes for a good winter read and has a lot of surprises in store. Dare to trust her.

Pink Conspiracy Exposed!

2010-01-07T14:48:00.033-06:00

There seems to be something strange going on at the Library today. The weather? Books? Reading? No, this is something that can't be chalked up to mere coincidence: an odd majority showed up wearing pink today! This is a full-blown, but rare case of unplanned pink contagion. It must be noted that another pink-clad librarian is missing from the photo because she had to officiate a Scrabble program (like that's an excuse!). Strange forces are definitely at work, and the investigative team behind teen books (and beyond!) will get to the bottom of this sartorial mystery. We are on high alert until further notice!

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these criminally bright pink books. Click on the book cover to find out more information about each title.

To read a local teen's review of How to Say Goodbye in Robot, click here. For a review of Rage: a Love Story, click here.

Are you secretly a part of the pink mob? Send us a pink mugshot of yourself reading your favorite pink book, and you might appear on this blog. Simply email your photo to teens@palatinelibrary.org before February 1.

Just when she thought the coast was clear, another pink librarian was spotted, reading this very blog. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya!

Beware of ANYONE wearing pink!

Author Libba Bray Goes Bovine!

2010-01-06T09:52:00.003-06:00

The video speaks for itself. Check out Going Bovine today! Also available in audio CD.

moooOOOOO! Moo? MOO!

Catch the Twitter Bug! (er--Bird)

2010-01-05T14:54:00.005-06:00

You've heard the hype, so now it's time to see what Twitter is all about! Join us tonight for a fun, interactive presentation about Twitter basics in our new computer lab from 7:00-8:00 pm. Find out how to tweet & retweet, direct message, hashmark tag, shrink URLs, and participate in what The New York Times has called "one of the fastest growing phenomena on the Internet." With millions of participants, including authors, journalists, businesses, teachers, classrooms, bloggers, libraries, celebrities, musicians, and everyday people, it's time to add a few more teens to the mix!

Click here to view our Twitterature guidelines. Twitterature is an innovative online reading program designed for teens and offered at the Library throughout the month of January--it's guaranteed to make a bleak winter month much more entertaining!

Follow palateenbrary throughout the month to participate.

Review of The Book Thief

2010-01-04T15:23:00.016-06:00

Thank you, Michelle, for writing this blog's first post of 2010.
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I cannot recommend The Book Thief, by Australian author Markus Zusak, enough. Death narrates this powerful story about a girl named Liesl Meminger growing up poor in Germany in the years before and during WWII. Death’s account begins the first time he sees Liesl, trundling along on a train with her dying brother and soon-to-be estranged mother. At her brother’s funeral, Liesl steals her first book, The Gravedigger’s Handbook, and is shortly thereafter whisked away to reside with foster parents on Himmel Street. She forms a quick, deep bond with her accordion-playing foster father who uses the stolen gravedigger guide to teach Liesl to read every night when she wakes up screaming from a recurring nightmare.

The story builds around book thievery and the complex characters that circle Liesl’s life, including a blonde best friend who idolizes Jesse Owens, her strict but well-meaning foster mother, a fugitive Jewish boxer, and the eternally grieving mayor’s wife who lets Liesl read (and steal) all the books she wants. Liesl continues to grow up and read even as the war escalates and the relative stability of her life in Germany begins to crumble. And through this tumultuous climate, she realizes not only the beauty but also the intense power of words.

Zusak himself also clearly has great control over words, as evidenced by his strong prose and creative descriptions. The Book Thief is a powerful, touching read. Though marketed in the U.S. as a book for young adults, Markus Zusak’s story and its subject will appeal to teens and adults alike.

Last blog post of 2009!

2009-12-30T09:30:00.014-06:00

"Snow Magic" by katmere

Dear 'beyond readers,

It's official--the 00's are out and the 10's are in! I'm not sure how we'll refer to the decade of the 00's (The naughts? The zero's? The Oh Oh's?), but a whole lot happened. To take a trip down memory lane, click here to view an interactive photo timeline from The New York Times newspaper. From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina to Obama's election, you'll see it all captured from the perspective of regular readers who submitted their photos to the newspaper.

Up next, the author of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (great title!), Barry Lyga, offers writing advice to aspiring young writers on his blog. Click here to read his latest post about how to write the perfect ending to your book. Feeling ambitious? (Or maybe suffering from writer's block?) Check out the archive of all his writing advice to date, from building characters to the process of publication. You can also follow him, and many of your favorite authors, on twitter! Click here to see a comprehensive list of YA authors on twitter. They include Meg Cabot, John Green, Barry Lyga, Neil Gaiman, Melissa Marr, Robin Wasserman, Sarah Dessen... and so many others.

New to twitter? The Library is holding a Twitter 101 Lab just for teens on January 5 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join us and learn about setting up an account, online safety, tweeting and retweeting, shrinking URLs, hashmarking, and other fun, crazy sounding stuff. Then you'll be ready to participate in our month-long Twitterature Fest for teens in January. What is Twitterature? You'll follow the Teen Librarian (palateenbrary) on Twitter and respond to daily questions, interact with other participants, plus follow your favorite authors. It's the equivalent of a winter reading program, but just online. That way, bad weather won't get in the way of your participation, since it's easy, convenient and fast! Want to participate? Email teens@palatinelibrary.org beginning January 4 to receive your Twitterature guidelines. You can join any time during the month of January.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

--Megan

Teen Review of New Moon

2009-12-15T12:15:00.004-06:00

Remember our Twilight poster contest, wayyy back in November? Well, the results are in! Congratulations to Nimra, Katie Rose, Lawson, and Lizzy for participating and submitting reviews to the blog.

Below is Lizzy's review of the movie New Moon:

"I, for one, loved the New Moon movie. It was hands down better than the first. They improved so many things that the first director messed up on. Like their eyes. In the first movie, you couldn't tell about the eye color. In this movie, you totally could tell. And the whole sparkle thing? That was better too. They didn't look like they were just some sweating undead people. It was soo much better. I really loved it."

Click here to read staff member Michelle's review of the movie, too.

So, if you saw the movie, what did you think? Was it better than the first one?

Teen Review of The Shifter

2009-12-12T14:15:00.007-06:00

With stories like Harry Potter, Twilight, and the Percy Jackson series, fantasy fiction has become extremely popular over the past decade. If you're looking to fulfill your fantasy fix, read this review by 9th grader Katie Rose H., one of our Teen Advisory Board members.
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Have you ever been hurt so badly that all you wish is that the pain will go away, no matter what? In the world of The Shifter by Janice Hardy, some people can do just that. Called Healers, they take away pain, and transfer it into a special metal called pynvium. Except one Healer can do more than just that. Her name is Nya. She is unable to put the pain that she draws into pynvium, but she can put it into people. This talent comes in handy when her sister, Tali, disappears and Nya panics. Her sister is the only family that she has left, and she needs her. So she decides to use her talent in... less than moral ways. Inside her is a raging battle between how far she will go for her sister, and how much of herself she wants to hold onto. However, for her and, well, the whole city, a much more terrifying threat looms. The Duke, the power-hungry, amoral, heartless, tyrant of a man, returns his attentions to the city of Geveg. You just know that it's not good when one girl and her friends decide that he is their next target.
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Many fantasy books have the potential to turn into series. Katie Rose says, "No names yet, but by the ending of the book, I have a big hunch that there will be a sequel." And her hunch is correct--check out Janice Hardy's blog, The Other Side of the Story, for the latest news and updates about the process of writing her Healing Wars trilogy. She's currently hard at work editing Book 2, which has yet to be titled.

If you like the sound of this book, you might also like Graceling by Kristin Cashore. In Graceling, some people are gifted with an innate special skill or power called a Grace, and Katsa struggles to come to terms with hers, which is the power to kill.

Best new series: Percy Jackson & The Olympians

2009-12-11T10:36:00.008-06:00

OK, so I have to admit I was a little hesitant to read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I had a couple of friends telling me how great it was and then I saw the movie trailer and I thought to myself, "Just another Hollywood craze." When I actually started reading I thought for a moment my initial predictions were true; a young boy discovers he isn't some nobody, but actually an important "magical" being. He befriends two other magical beings and they retreat to a safe haven, "Camp Half-Blood", where Percy feels for the first time like he's home. "Where have I heard this before?", I asked myself. "Oh yes, Harry Potter." Fortunately, I had to bite my tongue because with the turn of a single page I was suddenly sucked into the world of Percy Jackson.

The story follows hero Perseus Jackson, a dyslexic and ADHD twelve year old in Manhatten, right as mythological monsters start popping up in his life. Percy is at another boarding school, trying his best not to get kicked out like all the others and of course, stay alive. Upon further adventure into his new Olympian lifestyle, Percy discovers that everything he's been taught about Ancient Greece is actually true! Mount Olympus hovers over Manhatten, Gods and monsters are alive and thriving, and he's also been singled out as the thief of Zeus' ultimate weapon: his Lightning Bolt! With the help of his friends, Percy sets off on a quest to prove his innocence and return Zeus' bolt before an all out battle between the Gods unleashes WWIII.

I have to give credit where credit is due, and Rick Riordan did an absolute amazing job of weaving the magical world of Greek mythology with our own. He truly did his homework because he created mythological, yet modern and original characters. Riordan led me to believe I had the plot all figured out and by the time I finished the book, I realized I had been wrong from the very start. It's easy now to see why Percy Jackson & The Olmpians books are such a hit. I urge anyone who has not read them yet to pick up book one because you will be drawn in just as I was. I'm nearly finished with book two, The Sea of Monsters, and I have book three tucked away at home, just in case anybody has any wise ideas of snatching it from me.

Happy reading (as long as it's not my copy),

--Sean

Teen Review of The Secret Project Notebook

2009-12-10T17:23:00.006-06:00

Excuse the recent inactivity of this blog--teen books (and beyond!) got snowed in and went into hibernation mode! After shoveling and scraping off the cyber-ice, we're ready to offer our readers a new teen book review. One of our Teen Advisory Board members, 7th grader Lawson K., is making his debut book review with a write-up about The Secret Project Notebook by Carolyn Reeder. Shhh! It's a secret! Pass it on...
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This book is written especially for people who like historical fiction, such as books related to World War II, or for those who are looking for a good book to read straight through to the end.

If you have ever been so curious about something that you broke rules to find out about what you were looking for, then you are just like Fritz (also known as Franklin until he comes to a military lab where his Dad is working). Fritz tells his story of adventure and curiosity as he experiences it.

After spending his elementary school years without friends, Fritz comes to a military lab in 1944 where his Dad is going to be a scientist. At first Fritz finds that he is just being bullied around by two guys named Lonny and Red. Then things begin to shape up as he starts to make some friends. Fritz spends time with his friends every day, and he tutors, hikes, or plays ping-pong with them. Things are looking up until he gets in trouble with a few of his friends and has to figure things out. The whole time he is trying to document the facts in his notebook and dispel rumors floating around about the secret project that his Dad is working on. Read the book to see what happens in this journey and to find out what’s happening in the lab.

I really like how this book is written. It’s fast-paced and never slows down from the beginning. It’s not a tricky book, and it’s written with the grammar and vocabulary appropriate for the mood of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if they don’t seem like the type of person who would typically read this genre. I would rate this book 5 out of 5.

If this is a book that you are interested in you might also like The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages. If you read this book and like it, you should also check out Shades of Gray that is also by Carolyn Reeder.
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Right now, the Library is ordering a copy of The Secret Project Notebook to add to the collection. It should be here within a few weeks! Until then, try one of Lawson’s other recommondations above or check out another title by Carolyn Reeder. Also, we have a fresh batch of new books in the Teen Lounge waiting to be picked up by eager readers. You can browse the new collection by clicking on our Goodreads palateenbrary account on the right-hand menu bar. ------>

Third book in The Hunger Games Trilogy

2009-12-03T17:29:00.007-06:00

Guess what happened today?! Big news! Scholastic announced the publication date for the third book in the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The third book is still untitled, but start your countdown now to August 24, 2010. That's right--we knew it would be a long wait, but hopefully it will be worth it. Click here for more information.
Also, on December 18, the library will host a book discussion for teens about The Hunger Games. There are limited spaces, so register here as soon as possible!

We support mockingjays.

Teen Review of Evermore

2009-12-02T12:21:00.003-06:00

Read TAB member Nimra B.’s review of Evermore!
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Evermore by Alyson Noel is the book for you if you love to read books that are romantic or books that deal with supernatural things. When you read the summary to this book, it seems like it would be just like Twilight, but don’t let that stop you from picking it up. As soon as you start reading the book, it is nothing like Twilight. This book is full of romance. The love that Damen gives Ever is adoring and everlasting. After the disastrous accident that took away the lives of Ever’s family, Ever has been going through some pretty strange changes. She can see people’s auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s whole life story just by a touch. Ever is a 16-year -old girl who just moved to a new high school, is really anti-social, always has a hooded sweater on and cranks her iPod up in every class! She is technically known as a freak at her new school. Everything changes when Damen Auguste enters her world. He is gorgeous, wealthy, and really nice. Something Ever doesn’t know is that he has a lot of secrets that he hasn’t told anybody. In my opinion, this book is an easy read, but really awesome. Evermore is a book that people can enjoy. Evermore is full of bad and good sides, characters that people actually like, excellent plot line, and vivid descriptions. This novel is really magical. I think it’s also Alyson Noel’s first book, and she had it hands on. She did a really good job. If you have nothing to read, definitely check this book out!

Stay tuned for Nimra’s review of the sequel, Blue Moon. Also, click here to read a previous review of Evermore by Iulia.

Cool Manga: Fairy Tail

2009-11-27T16:52:00.004-06:00

As a self-proclaimed superhero fanatic on a quest to read every graphic novel I can get my hands on, I am happy to present one of my all-time favorite Manga (which I found out the hard way is pronounced ‘ma-n-ga’) series. For anyone interested in wizards, magic, and a little butt-kicking, then I definitely recommend Fairy Tail Vol. 1, by Hiro Mashima. You’ll fall in love with the celestial wizard Lucy, a gorgeous girl with a past, as she attempts to join Fairy Tail, the coolest wizard guild EVER, just as she finds herself in the thick of an evil yacht plot; I know, interesting, right? Enter Natsu, the instantly likable, pink-haired fire-eating wizard, as he bursts in, flames roaring, in an attempt to save the day. The only problem is that Natsu seems to constantly forget that his only weakness is motion sickness and well, boats are meant for motion. Fairy Tail is filled to the brim with awesome powers, exciting and original characters, and sweet action scenes drawn by Mashima himself. A really cool thing Mashima also does is add extras at the end of the novel, like explanations of some of his drawings, the origin of character names, and relates certain Japanese-based references to us American readers. I was easily captivated by this story and couldn’t read the second volume fast enough. To anyone interested--I warn you now, be prepared to laugh, fall in love, and laugh some more.

-Sean

EVERWILD is here!

2009-11-25T14:54:00.008-06:00

Everwild is Book 2 in the planned Skinjacker Trilogy by Neal Shusterman. Fans of The Hunger Games trilogy will enjoy Shusterman's talent for writing suspenseful thrillers that defy genre or categorization.
In the first book, Everlost, the opening pages describe a scene that you hope never happens: a fatal car accident. Nick and Allie, two teens in the crash, don't survive and end up stuck in an alternate reality caught between life and death: a place called everlost. As new greensouls, they must quickly adapt and learn to survive in this ghostly world. For a blend of science-fiction and fantasy, check out this promising series.

Happy reading!

New Moon Movie Review

2009-11-23T16:36:00.010-06:00

Reviews and previews for the film version of New Moon, the second book in the famed Twilight series promised that this movie, compared to the first Twilight film, would have a bigger budget; better acting; a more experienced director; and a much, much more muscular Taylor Lautner (Jacob). New Moon definitely delivers on all counts. This movie is a well done, entertaining movie. It stays true to the events of the book (for the most part) and adeptly builds the relationship between Jacob and Bella (played by Kristen Stewart). The scenes in Italy are particularly breathtaking and perfectly match Meyer's descriptions. Also, the special effects are noticeably improved from the first film. Even Edward's sunshine sparkle is almost believable.

With all of these positive qualities and technical improvements, it is only logical to think that New Moon is better than the original, low-budget Twilight film. In many ways, it probably is, but as a movie adaptation of the book, the movie Twilight is better. When it comes down to it, New Moon is too good. It is too professional, well-executed, and convincing. I know, it seems like a ridiculous complaint, like a teacher giving a bad grade on a paper because it is too well-written. Although New Moon succeeds in many ways, it fails to capture the essence of the Twilight books. For me, one reason the books are so great is that they are as fun to laugh at as they are supremely addicting. Stephenie Meyer makes up for her lack of actual writing talent in her ability to craft a fast-paced, exciting story. The first Twilight movie, with its inexperienced director and low quality special effects, captures this feature exceptionally well. While Twilight captivates audiences and absorbs viewers into the story, it is also funny—from Edward’s blinding sparkles to his ridiculous apple-catch. New Moon lacks most of this quirkiness (though it does have its moments, such as the scene where Jacob whips off his shirt to use as a bandage for Bella’s head wound and shows off his eight pack…classic) and in a way, this absence detracted from my enjoyment of the movie.

However, some omission of comedic element is understandable. New Moon has to deal with a few more serious issues than Twilight did, such as Bella’s debilitating depression after Edward leaves her and the death of a supporting character. The film handles these serious subjects convincingly and Kristen Stewart delivers an impressive performance.

All in all, I did like New Moon, considering my main complaint with the movie is that it's too good. And I definitely will be buying a ticket to go see Eclipse in 2010.

--Michelle

Register today for fUNky Marbles!

2009-11-23T14:39:00.006-06:00

Funky Marbles are here! On December 7, we'll create special holiday gifts using magazine cut-outs and clear marbles to create unique tokens, magnets, and paper weights. It's fun and easy! You'll leave with some cool, pocket-sized art! Register by calling the Library at 847-358-5881 x 133 or click here to register online. For 7th-12th graders.

Teen Review of New Moon

2009-11-23T10:17:00.011-06:00

Our Teen Advisory Board member Nimra B. reviews the book New Moon, Book 2 in the Twilight Saga series by Stephenie Meyer.
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New Moon is full of drama, heartbreak, and romance between all of the characters. Everybody thinks this book is boring, but in my opinion this book is really good. Even though this book doesn’t have a lot of vampire parts, don’t let this stop you from reading it. The setting takes place in a small town called Forks, Washington (Check out their website! There's a Twilight "Points of Interest" section). Back to the story: Bella’s pain starts when her boyfriend Edward abandons her. The loss of her boyfriend is unbearable for Bella. She goes through a lot of scary dreams and is pretty miserable, and it creeps out her dad, Charlie. Bella’s friendship with Jacob starts building. The thing here is that Jacob loves Bella more than a friend, but Bella’s heart is still saved for Edward. Another thing Bella doesn’t know about Jacob is that he has a secret, too. Author Stephenie Meyer does a really good job portraying the drama of teenage life and love in this novel. Meyer perfectly captures the tension of friendship and love between Bella and Jacob. People can actually relate to some parts in the novel, but the book is more entertaining and captivating because of the mythical creature (vampires, werewolves). Although the book is pretty slow during some parts, it still manages to keep the reader’s attention. New Moon (official movie website) is now a big motion picture, which was released November 20th, 2009. I would definitely recommend reading the book first, and then watching the movie!

Have you seen the movie? What did you think? Leave your comments here!

Also, send in your review by December 14 to teens@palatinelibrary.org for your chance to win a Twilight poster!

Video Trailer for The Maze Runner!

2009-11-18T14:35:00.008-06:00

This video book trailer for The Maze Runner was a finalist in the Kirkus 2009 Book Video Awards, sponsored by Random House Children's Books. This annual competition, now in its fourth year, challenges student filmmakers to create videos for new teen books. Click here to see the videos created by other finalists and the winning film, by filmmaker Benjamin Bliss, for the book Fallen by Lauren Kate.

Pretty awesome, right? Click here to read an excellent review of The Maze Runner, written by our Teen Advisory Board member Iulia.

Don't forget to participate in our Twilight contest this month by submitting a review to this blog. Click here for more information!

Wii Teen Wednesday!

2009-11-17T16:01:00.004-06:00

Got skills? Join us for open play wii gaming this Wednesday, November 17 from 6:30-8:30 pm. We have Supersmash, Mario Kart, Sports, Play, and other games. All skill levels welcome! No registration necessary. See you there!

Teen Review of The Last Lecture

2009-11-17T15:36:00.006-06:00

Our Teen Advisory Board member CheeYoung reviews The Last Lecture by Randy Paunsch

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This book is about Randy Pausch’s life, who was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He was a famous person in the computer science field. But he found out that he had cancer and that he only had a few months left to live. He had three children and they were not that old. He thought that they might not remember about their father. So he decided that he would teach his last lecture for his children and wife. Also, before he died, he achieved dreams that he had when he was young. So he became a worker at Walt Disney and an NHL hockey player. After he died, the last lecture become popular. The book was published and the lecture was uploaded to Youtube. Many people watched the lecture and learned something from that.

From this book, I learned love between families. Randy Pausch knew that he could not be a good father, even a bad father. When the children grow up, they will be very proud of their father. They will know who he was and what a great person he was. This book also makes me aspire to achieve my childhood dreams. Everyone may have childhood dreams that they never achieved--for one reason or another. Randy reminds us that it's never too late.

Watch Randy's last lecture below or click here for the direct link.

Blog Contest: Win a Twilight Poster!

2009-11-16T12:31:00.017-06:00

November 20 is approaching... Are you ready to see the new moon movie?! Write a brief movie or book review and email it to teens@palatinelibrary.org for a chance to WIN 1 of 5 twilight posters! This contest is open to Palatine Public Library patrons in grades 7 through 12. We will announce and contact winners on December 16.

Contest Guidelines

contest deadline is Monday, December 14
your review must be original
include your name, grade, school, and contact information in your email
the review can be about any book or movie
limit to one review per person
your review could be featured on this blog!

Join us for National Gaming Day!

2009-11-12T18:53:00.005-06:00

Time to play! Celebrate National Gaming Day at Palatine Public Library this Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 am - 4 pm. We have wii! Play Supersmash, Mario Kart, Harry Potter, and more! Also, we'll have a variety of board games to play, too! All ages welcome. Click here for more information.

Want to be a writer?

2009-11-12T14:43:00.018-06:00

Here's a great book to browse: Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy, edited by Leonard S. Marcus.

Ever wonder what Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) was like as a kid? Or how about Judy Blume, author of the beloved Superfudge series? Learn how authors like Jon Scieszka (who became America's first National Ambassador of Young People's Literature), Beverly Cleary, and Carl Hiaasen approach writing and revise their work. (There's a lot of editing and cutting involved--more like weed wacking! Lemony Snicket said he has scrapped thousands of pages in his writing career.) These authors talk about humor in their work, what they like best about being a writer, and give advice to future authors. What's the most common advice? Read, LOTS! And write, LOTS! Don't be afraid to make mistakes. And have a good laugh while doing so. A sense of humor is essential.

For more outstanding books on the craft of writing, try Stephen King's fascinating book, On Writing: a memoir of the craft, or Anne Lamott's encouraging Bird by Bird: some instructions on writing and life. Interested in illustrating? Pick up Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration, to find out such things as how David Shannon came up with the story for No David!, his artistic paean to mischievous children everywhere. (Hint: it's semi-autobiographical.) ;)