Happy November 30th! For all those wondering, I have completed my novel for National Novel Writing Month and with 50, 165 words and I'm feeling a newfound sense of freedom!
The writing flowed more naturally for me this year than in previous years, and I think this was also the most fun I had with my story. I am proud to announce that I am now a five time (pretty bad) novelist! Did anybody else participate? How did you do?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Another NaNoWriMo over!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Teen Read Week Review Results
This past October, during our celebration of Teen Read Week, we asked you to recommend a book to the library staff. The idea behind this was that adults are always telling you what you should read, whether it's a school assignment, or for a library program, or just a book we think you'd love. We recognize that there are books that you read that may not be on our adult radar. So, we asked you: What do you think we should read? We got 19 responses of very good titles! So we put the list out to the whole library staff and asked people to choose a title. In the next few months, as we finish reading our selections, we will be posting our thoughts on what we read.
Here are the first two book reactions:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Recommended by Christine Phelan
Reaction by: Kristen Brewi, Librarian Hunger Games, Hunger Games, Hunger Games... what can I say about a book that pits 24 teenagers against each other in a challenge to the death? I found that I both liked and disliked this book. I rooted for the 16-year-old main character, Katniss, and was never disappointed with her quick thinking that seemed to save her time and time again, but secretly I was rooting for Peeta to win it all! I couldn't help but fall in love with Peeta! His intentions weren't always clear but that just made him more mysterious... and more dangerous! The twists and turns, and sometimes brutal violence of the book kept me turning the pages... always wondering what could possibly happen next! And although I didn't love the book, I am intrigued enough to continue reading the series. In fact, as soon as I finished the book, I already had the second book, "Catching Fire," on hold!
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
Recommended by: Jaclyn Kolsen
Reaction by: Andrew Salomon, Librarian Milkweed was an excellent book. Although the Holocaust is a very sad topic, Jerry Spinelli tells a tale of a young boy who lived through this very tough time and was able to help many people along the way. Through his adventures sneaking out of the ghetto at night, Misha feeds many people who were otherwise starving for food. Unfortunately, however, many of his loved ones pass away during the ordeal, along with many other Jewish people. Misha learns an important lesson, however, that loved ones are always with us in our memories. Ripe with many true details about the Holocaust, this historical fiction tale makes the reader feel as though they have a sneak peek into a very difficult but historically important time period. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical fiction, the Holocaust, or anyone looking to read a good book about a boy who grew up without many of the advantages most of us take for granted today.
Advanced Battle of the Books- 2011
What do the following three books have in common?
They are all great books? They have teen appeal? They are official Advanced Division Battle of the Books titles? Yes, yes, and yes!
If you are in grades 9-12, you are eligible to participate in a county-wide trivia contest for High School students. Everyone will read these three books, trying to remember as many details from each as possible. Then, on April 29th from 6-9pm at Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, teens from across the county will meet to battle it out for the championship title. Sound like fun? You can start reading the books now if you'd like- we have plenty of copies. We will have practice meetings at the Hauppauge Library on Tuesday, January 11th; Tuesday, February 1st; and Thursday, March 10th from 6:30- 7:30pm. Call us to get your name on the list!
Wii Game Time
Friday, November 19, 2010
New Book Arrivals!
Here are some interesting new arrivals... maybe one sounds good to you. Come to the library and check it out!
When Shadow, whose job all her life has been to stay close to the young queen and prevent her prophecied death at the age of sixteen, fails in her task and the castle is thrown into chaos, she escapes along with a young knight, embarking upon a journey that eventually reveals her true identity.
My name is Sortm and I am twelve. To be twelve is like an eight-vehicle car wreck. It's like being stuck upside down on a roller coaster. I am starting a new school this fall call the School of Possibillities. It's my last chance. If I fail, I will be sent to the School of the Lost, which is a lot like prison. After that, there is nothing. I don't intend to fail.
In 1943, in a seaside town where their family has gone to be safe from war, thirteen-year-old Max Carver and his sister, fifteen-year-old Alicia, with their new friend Roland, face off against an evil magician who is striving to complete a bargain made before he died.
When her father returns from the Iraq War as an amputee with post-traumatic stress disorder, Hannah escapes by volunteering to work with rescued horses, never thinking that the abused horses could also help her father recover.
When thirteen-year-old Gerald finds himself the heir to twenty billion pounds from an aunt he never met, he inherits with it a mystery surrounding his aunt's death and various artifacts in the British Museum.
Inflatable Street Art
How cool is this clip you're about to watch? Meet artist, Joshua Allen Harris, who uses ordinary garbage bags and the breeze from subway gratings to create amazing works of art!
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