Snow!

      In Maine in January we think a lot about SNOW!  Here are some books you can find in the Youth Services Room at the Scarborough Public Library that touch on snow.

After the Snow  by  S. D.Crockett

 
     Fifteen-year-old Willo Blake, born after the 2059 snows that ushered in a new ice age, encounters outlaws, halfmen, and an abandoned girl as he journeys in search of his family, who mysteriously disappeared from the freezing mountain that was their home.

Phantoms in the Snow by Kathleen Benner Duble

     In 1944, fifteen-year-old Noah Garrett, recently orphaned, is sent to live at Camp Hale, Colorado, with an uncle he has never met, and there he finds his pacifist views put to the test.

Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin

      After her stepfather is arrested for child abuse, thirteen-year-old Karina's home life improves but while the severity of her older sister's injuries and the urging of her younger sister, their uncle, and a friend tempt her to testify against him, her mother and other well-meaning adults persuade her to claim responsibility.


Snow : a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  by Tracy Lynn.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

       In 1940, when the Nazi invasion of Norway reaches their village in the far north, twelve-year-old Peter and his friends use their sleds to transport nine million dollars worth of gold bullion past the German soldiers to the secret harbor where Peter's uncle keeps his ship ready to take the gold for safekeeping in the United States.


The Snow Pony by Alison Lester

       Prolonged drought has strained Dusty's ranching family to the breaking point, but she finds consolation with her wild and beautiful horse.

The Winter of Red Snow:  The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart by Kristiana Gregory

       Eleven-year-old Abigail presents a diary account of life in Valley Forge from December 1777 to July 1778 as General Washington prepares his troops to fight the British.


Enjoy the snow!


Happy reading, 
Connie

Every December...

          Every December I re-read out loud Dylan Thomas’s famous story, A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Using beautiful language, the author describes a young Welsh boy’s memories of Christmas, with mounds of snow, aunts and uncles, red-nosed postmen, and of course presents.  The holiday season wouldn’t feel as special to me if I didn’t read this book each December.

         There are so many wonderful Christmas books, from How the Grinch Stole Christmas to The Polar Express.  What are your favorites?

  
         A new favorite of mine is Jim Murphy’s Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting.  This is a non-fiction book about a miracle on Christmas Eve, 1914, in the midst of World War I. In World War I trenches were used to help shelter soldiers from bullets and bombs. Trenches ran from the North Sea Coast all the way to the Swiss border, with the trenches being from 50 to 1000 yards apart. The Germans were on one side of the trench and the French, English and Belgians were on the other. Originally both sides thought the war would be over by Christmas, each side shelling, bombing and launching raids on the other. Massive losses on both sides contributed to doubt among those on the front lines. Then on Christmas Eve of 1914, a miracle happened. Almost all the way along the lines a spontaneous peace erupted; for more than 24 hours no fighting took place  The soldiers met in the middle of no-man's land between the trenches and exchanged gifts and songs and Christmas greetings and wishes.

         With lots of historical photographs, this book tells of politicians and military leaders who wanted to continue fighting and soldiers who did not obey orders and had a Christmas miracle.

Whatever holidays you celebrate, I wish you. ..and the world…peace in this special season.

Happy reading,
Connie

Battle of the Books!

The Youth Services staff and TAB, the Teen Advisory Board, have put together a Battle of the Books!  Between November  25th and March 22, 2014, read either six dystopian novels or six anime books (or read all 12, if you want!). 

The six dystopian novels selected to do battle are:

Hunger Games

Among the Hidden

Divergent

City of Ember

Matched

The Giver

 
The six anime books selected to do battle are:

Full Metal Art

Black Butler

Blood Relatives

Fruits Basket

Naruto

Bleach

As you read, think about these things:

                                       Did you like the main character?

                                             Did you like the plot?

                                           Did you like the cover?

                            Would you recommend this book to a friend?

                          Was it one of the best books you’ve ever read?


There will be a ballot box in the Youth Services Room for you to vote for your favorite dystopian novel and your favorite anime book.    

Let the games begin!!

Happy reading,
Connie

Maze Runner: another post-apocalyptic book series becomes a movie

       Maze Runner, the dystopian novel by James Dasher, is headed for the big screen with a movie opening on February 14th.  Maze Runner is the first book in a series (of course; every book seems to be part of a series now!) and is followed by The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and  a prequel, The Kill Order.
   

       When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by 60 boys who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. Some have been there two years. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a comatose girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the stange message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind. They're all trapped in a maze that will require Thomas to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape. There are lots of fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys.

Read the book (or even the series) before the movie comes out!  

Even though I love to go to movies, I think books are always better than their movies.  With books I can use my own imagination! Do you agree or disagree?

Maze Runner is the book that the library's middle school book club, Bookworms, is currently reading.  We read great books and have lots of fun.  Join us!  Just fill out a short form found at the Youth Services desk.  I hope to see you soon.

Happy reading,
Connie

Chance to win a free book!

Have you wondered about this display in the Youth Services Room?

  

It’s Writer’s Corner!  Every month, a different collage of pictures is posted on the wall.  Think about what is happening in the pictures.  Can you see a story in them?  There is no right answer!  Let your imagination take off.  Describe the story you create from the pictures. Write down your story on the paper provided.


The author of the most imaginative story wins a free book !  Each month there is a new group of pictures and a new chance to win.

Good luck!  And congratulation's to the first winner: Jenny! Enjoy your free book.
Connie

The Teen Lockdown was a blast!

We had such a great time last Friday night!  Over 40 teens took over the library.  Many wore fabulous costumes.  

There was karaoke, Wii, board games, and Twister.  

Kids enjoyed a scavenger hunt, with a scary spider surprise at the end.  

Crafts were popular, with many kids making rubber band bracelets, origami bats, and bookmarks. 

We had a big book domino through the adult book stacks.

And, of course, we had snacks.

The Youth Services staff wants to thank everyone who attended for their great behavior and enthusiasm.  YOU all made the night so special.

The members of the Teen Advisory Board planned the event and helped with set up and running the activities. A BIG thank you to them! 



Is Dracula missing his fangs??

I will post pictures of the winners of the costume contest in a blog post soon, so stay tuned!

Happy Reading,
Connie

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

The message this year is: The End of Bullying Begins with Me.

Reading about bullying is a great way not only to learn about bullying but also to empathize with victims through their sad stories.  Here are four suggestions of books on bullying that you can find in the Youth Services Room of the Scarborough Public Library.

Bystander by James Preller.

Eric is the new kid in seventh grade, and  Griffin wants to be his friend. When you’re new in town, it’s hard to know who to hang out with—and who to avoid. Griffin seems cool but something isn’t right about Griffin. He's always in the middle of trouble. And if Griffin doesn't like you, he can be really mean. Eric begins to see the truth about Griffin: He’s a liar, a bully, a thief. Eric wants to break away. But in one shocking moment, he goes from being a bystander to being the bully’s next victim.

Cornered: 14 Stories of Bulllying and Defiance by Rhoda Belleza

Written by some great young adult authors, these fourteen stories delve into the experience of being bullied: socially, emotionally, physically, and psychologically. With today’s rapid-fire social media, bullying has lost all limits and moved far beyond the school halls and walking home. I liked Elizabeth Miles' "Defense Mechanisms" and Jennifer Brown's "But Not Forgotten."  All fourteen short stories are really good!

How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill by James Patterson

The fourth book in the very popular Middle School series is about the series' hero, Rafe Khatchadorian, who is ready for a fun summer at camp--until he finds out it's a summer school camp!  Rafe easily makes friends with his troublemaking cabin mates and bunkmate, a boy nicknamed Booger-Eater, who puts up with endless teasing from the other kids. Rafe soon realizes there's more to a person than a nickname, though.

We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying by Deborah Ellis

This non-fiction book contains touching interviews with students who have been bullied.  They describe their experiences with peers, parents, teachers, and school administrators, along with advice on the best methods that can be used to stop bullying behavior.





Remember the message: The End of Bullying Begins with Me!



Happy reading,
Connie

Book Trailers!

         I love to look at book trailers on YouTube.  I look for trailers of books that I have read and loved  or trailers for books that I am thinking about whether or not to read.

          Here’s a book trailer for John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, a book I read and loved.  This trailer was made by the publishing company, so is much more professional than some of the kid-made trailers you will find on YouTube. 

           And here’s a trailer of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys, the first in a series.  Does it make you want to read the book?

         Try searching YouTube for book trailers.  They can help you choose a book or just enjoy a book more!

Happy Reading,
Connie

It's time for another Teen "Lock Down"

The next Teen “Lock Down” will take place at the library on Friday, October 18th from 6:00-8:30 p.m.!!  Lock Downs have been really popular with middle school kids.  After the library closes for regular hours, we re-open just for middle school students in grades 6-8.  


We’ll have snacks, a scavenger hunt, book dominoes,

 duct tape crafts, 

karaoke, 

wii games,  

and, since it s getting close to Halloween, a costume contest for those who want to come in costume.  (You don’t have to wear a costume.)

Do you think we can beat this world record book domino?

 

You do have to pre-register to attend. So call the Youth Services Room (883-4723 option 3). We have to have a minimum of 25 kids to have the Lock Down, so grab your friends and pre-register soon!

See you there,
Connie

Here is a way to hang onto summer just a bit longer: read a summer romance!

One typo is all it takes.

When teenage heart-throb movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, Wilbur, she decides to reply, never expecting that their online conversation will blossom into a romance. The two discuss everything under the sun, except for their names and backgrounds. Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown, Henley, is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?  What secret is she and her mother hiding?

Taking place over the course of just one summer, This is What Happy Looks Like is a mix of celebrity glitz and small town Maine coziness…and a feel-good way to hang onto summer just a bit longer.

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

Happy reading,
Connie

Want to get involved, meet new kids, and have lots of fun?

There are some very cool and fun opportunities for you to get involved in the Youth Services Room at the Scarborough Public Library.

Bookworms Book Club meets every Wednesday after school from 3:00-4:00. It’s for kids who are in middle school. Together we choose a book we all want to read.  Then we talk about the book.  We have lots of opinions.  We laugh a lot and sometimes get silly.  We might decide which actors and actresses we’d like to see play the characters in a book if it was made into a movie.  Or we might try to decide what the main character would post on his or her Facebook status.  Once we used Legos to re-create a scene we liked.  Bookworms is lots of fun and no pressure!  We start up again on September 4th and we want YOU! 

Another fun activity is TAB, which stands for Teen Advisory Board.  This group meets twice a month on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:00, and also is open to middle school students.  TAB helps plan and promote library programs, like our Lockdowns.  Wouldn’t you like to get involved in planning the fun programs we offer?
















Finally, for grades 4-7, there is the Reader’s Theater Troupe. Have you seen this group? Do you like to act a little (but without memorizing lots of lines)? They have lots of fun performing stories for all ages using props and puppets.

This is a great time to get involved in one or even all three of these groups.  Stop by the Youth Services Room to sign up.

Happy Reading,
Connie

Books Scarborough Teens Recommend!

Just in case you missed the awesome book reviews posted this summer on the Teen Wall of Fame in the Youth Services Room, here are a few of them.  


Zoe says about Delirium by Lauren Oliver:

"I liked how Lena changes throughout the book and also that the book is based in Portland, Maine."
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Katie comments on Wideness and Wonder: Susan Goldman Rubin:

"I like how the author includes lots of details about Georgia O'Keeffe's life that made the book interesting and included artists and other people who inspired her."

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Max liked The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke:

"In The Thief Lord the detective Victor Getz is an extremely funny character.  It takes place in Venice, and it talks about the canals.  The story is very suspenseful, too."

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Meredith commented on Inkheart by Cornelia Funke:

"I liked that this book was filled with detail and surprises.  Just as you think they will all live happily ever after something exciting happens!"

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Lyndie loved Copper Sun by Sharon Draper:

"Copper Sun is an amazing and eye-opening book about slavery in the 18th century from the point of view of 15-year-old Amari.  This book really shows the hardships and pain and humiliation of the slaves as well as their hope."
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Sam says this about True Legend by Mike Lupica:

"I like how the author shows you what it is like for really good players and how it is not as easy as it looks."
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Ashley liked Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure by Georgia Byng:

"I like how a girl my age could time travel and hypnotize people."
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Isabella thinks this about So B. It by Sarah Weeks:

"I like that it was heartwarming, and that it could be a true story."
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What books have you read this summer that you loved?  

Happy Reading,
Connie

We had a great time last night at the Teen Summer Reading Final Party!

 Kids who passed in their reading logs enjoyed playing games (from “Pin the Eye on the Cyclops” to Twister and chess), eating ice cream sundaes, choosing a free book, answering mythology trivia questions, and receiving a certificate of completion.  Fifteen lucky kids (who completed the Lucky 13 Challenge in the reading log) won gift passes to Cinemagic! The meeting room was decorated with Greek columns and pictures of Greek gods and goddesses, since the day was the opening of the second Percy Jackson movie, “Sea of Monsters.”

Here are some pictures of the event.

Even though the summer reading program is over, KEEP ON READING!!  Do you like mysteries? Vampires stories? Dystopian novels?  Sports stories? Romances? Historical novels?  We have them all and more!  Just ask in the Youth Services Room.

Plan to participate in the Teen Summer Reading Program next summer!

Happy Reading,
Connie