Some Sad and Scary New Books

I was browsing the new Young Adult new fiction display alcove, and was drawn to some titles that are either sad or scary or both. Maybe the cool autumn air is putting me in a Halloween mood! Here are some of the books I discovered.

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
This subtitle of this book is An Elegy.  Do you know what an “elegy” is? It’s a song or a poem that expresses sorrow, especially sorrow for someone who has died. Fifteen-year-old Laurel, grieving over the death of her mother and her grandmother and the loss of their family home, moves to Galilee. She makes a new friend, becomes a cheerleader, and everything is going pretty well, ….and then she meets T-Boom, a star basketball player. T-Boom introduces her to meth (which they call “moon”) and her life goes downhill so fast my heart nearly stopped. 

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
Gabie delivers pizza part-time after school in her Mini Cooper.  One night, another pizza delivery girl, Kayla, does not return from a delivery. Is she kidnapped?  Murdered? When Gabie learns that the man who ordered the pizza asked that it be delivered by the girl in the Mini Cooper, she worries that she was the actual target. Along with co-worker Drew, Gabie tries to find Kayla and discover who kidnapped her. The chapters shift to different kids’ viewpoints and even to that of the perpetrator. Interspersed are police reports, interviews, and 911 call transcripts, which make the action in the book seem really real.

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
When the Panthers basketball coach is murdered, eighteen-year-old Jeremy Long, a boy with autism who has not spoken one word for nine years, is accused of the murder. Jeremy’s sister, Hope, lives up to her name: she believes her brother and tries to prove his innocence. Can she?

Stop in for more suggestions...Connie

GOODREADS!

Do you like Facebook and social networking sites?  Do you love to read as much as I do?  Do you love talking about books with your friends, sharing book titles with them, and getting great book recommendations?  

Then Goodreads is for you!

Goodreads is a website and also an app that can be downloaded free on your mobile device. Make a simple account. You can invite your Facebook friends and other friends who make accounts to be your friends on Goodreads.  You read and rate books and can see what others are reading and what they have rated books.  Goodreads will send you suggestions of books you might like to read, based on the kinds of books you have already read.  You can create shelves: currently reading, want to read, already read, etc.  You can message your friends within Goodreads, too.

It’s safe, really easy to set up, and just as addictive as Facebook for those of us who are readers!

I have many teens who are my friends on Goodreads.  Set up an account and invite me to be your friend so we can start sharing really good books that we love!

Connie

Meet Connie Burns!

Hi! My name is Connie Burns. I’m the new Youth Services Assistant. Most recently I was the librarian at Mahoney Middle School in South Portland. I am thrilled to be working in a public library, because they are really cool places. I love to read (no surprise there!), but also love kayaking, going to the movies, spending time with friends, snow shoeing, and doing zumba.

Traveling is another fun thing for me, - and I am going to Istanbul, Turkey in a couple of weeks!!  Search Google images to see some great pictures of Istanbul.  Here’s on of the famous Blue Mosque:

  

I just started reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. You can find it (when it isn’t checked out) in the YA section of the library.  So far, it is not my favorite book, but I want to read it before I go to see the movie by the same title that is opening on September 21^st.  The previews look pretty interesting.

       What are you reading?  I love to get suggestions of good books!

        Stop by the library and introduce yourself to me.  I’ll be working Wednesday after school and evening, and Sunday afternoons.  

       See you at the library!

Lock Down 2 update

Due to low registration numbers, we made the decision to cancel Teen Lock Down 2 scheduled for Monday, August 20, 2012. We were disappointed, but understand how busy everyone is these last days of summer. Another Lock Down is being planned for Friday, October 26, so mark your calendars!

Stay tuned to this blog, because next week we will be posting the entries in our Book Trailers contest. They all were great. Congratulations to those who made and submitted them. Though the contest is over, we encourage you to keep submitting your Book Trailer and we will continue to post them to this blog.

Happy Summer.
Mrs. C

Lock Down II

We are having another Library Lock Down on Monday, August 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This is an event for students in Middle School (going into grades 6, 7, and 8) We do require pre-registration. We must have a minimum of 25 in order for the program to happen.

At our first Lock Down, we had a great time. Don't miss out on the fun.

To register, call the Youth Services Room. 883-4723 ext. 6277

Have questions about your Book Trailer?

Have you made your book trailer? Are you having some problems with it or do you have questions? To help answer any questions or further motivate those who are nervous about putting one together, Cathy Potter will return to host another Book Trailer workshop on Tuesday, August 14 at 5:30 to 7 PM. Registration is required.

This is a hands-on workshop, so we do ask that participants bring a computer or mobile devise that allows them put a trailer together.

Please, call the Youth Services Department if you have any questions. 883-4723 ext. 6277
Email Mrs. C. at mrsc(at)scarborough(dot)lib(dot)me(dot)us

WHAT’S A BOOK TRAILER?

Last night, Wednesday, July 18, 2012, the Library hosted a workshop for teens on How to Make a Book Trailer, led by Cathy Potter, school librarian at the Falmouth (Maine) Elementary School. Cathy had plenty of great examples and offered some very useful handouts to help those interested in learning how to make their own book trailer. Fast becoming a cool way to promote a book, it opens a lot of creative possibilities that combines the use of technology with a love of reading.

 Things to consider when putting it all together:

1. Cover of the book
2. Title of the book
3.  Will you use photos, images, videos or live actors to represent the story
4.  What is the problem in the story
5.  List the main character(s)
6.  In one or two sentences, describe what is happening in the story.
7.  What would you use as transitions or special effects?
8.  Find music that fits the mood of the book
9.  Pacing of the slides and music.
10. Can you put all these parts together in under 2 mins?

If at any time you have questions and you have a portable device, bring it in and I can answer your questions. Remember our contest. Make your book trailers and turn them in (bring them in on a flash drive) to Mrs. C. by August 18. The person who wins will receive a Flip Camera!

Here is a link to Cathy Potter’s site.

A follow up session is planned for August. More details to follow.
To view Mrs. C's book trailer (I made it after the workshop) click here.