Brisingr Party Photos

Here are some of the photos we took of the great party we had on Sept 20:




Our Art Contest Entries, Prizes for all the contests (the tiny dragons and the stuffed dragons).


Our costume contest winner having her hand kissed by Sir Mark.


Mark Mormino and his associates giving a discussion on medieval fighting. They had real weapons and armor!

Audiobooks

Audiobooks are a wonderful thing to help pass the time when reading is otherwise difficult; plug in while you're mowing the lawn or washing dishes; listen with the whole family or with friends!

These are some audios that were checked out and recently returned:
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander - the first tale of Taran, Assistant Pig Keeper, in which he meets many of the friends and companions who will adventure with him in future volumes of this fantastic series. Discover the Land of Prydain and revel in one of the best Celtic fantasies ever written. (22 check-outs)
Seek by Paul Fleischman - for a school assignment, Robert begins to build an audio recording of his life as he remembers it; it leads him on a quest to discover his father. Told in many voices, this audio collage is a marvelous listen, and a great story. (Just one lonely check-0ut :( )
Jinx by Meg Cabot - Meg is always fun, and Jinx is no disappointment. Jinx travels to New York City, only to discover that trouble has followed her...and to discover why, she must confront the very things she's trying to leave behind. (11 check-outs)
The Wish House by Celia Rees - Richard becomes fascinated with Clio, the beautiful daughter of an artist and a bohemian. But some fascinations are dangerous, and Richard is soon swept into a way of life that both confuses and enriches him. (6 check-outs)
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede - the comic tale of a princess who runs away to find some excitement. Does she find too much? Listen and find out! (11 check-0uts, and the tape recording has worn out!)
Firegirl by Tony Abbot - Tom and his seventh-grade classmates are shocked when Jessica first arrives in their classroom - but soon Tom begins reaching out - and discovers something wonderful... (11 check-0uts)

Random Books - Graphic Novels on the Floor

The following list is a just a fun idea of mine - books that I found on the floor or tables over by the Teen Area at Central. I thought it showed a really good cross-section of what's popular...

Aztek: the Ultimate Man by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar
JLA - Trial by Fire by Joe Kelley
Heaven's Ladder by Mark Waid and Brian Hitch, among others
Sex Education: A Novel by Jenny Davis
The Giver by Lois Lowry (I really need to write a review of this book - it's one of my all-time favorites)
Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely Bodybuilder

Teen Read Week - VOTE!

Teen Read Week is Oct 12 - 18, 2008

During Teen Read Week you can VOTE for your favorite books on this list:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/booklist.pdf

You will be able to go to this site and vote: www.ala.org/teenstopten

You still have time to read, pick your favorite, and vote.

New Books coming up!

Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson -- More trouble is brewing in the Magic Kingdom as the teen hosts discover that the Evil Overseers have the ability to plunge them into a Coma - forever - if they fall asleep. Worse, Jez has disappeared, and something is wrong in the Animal Kingdom.
Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan -- first in the 39 clues series (and game) - Dan and Amy set out to discover the 39 clues that will win them power and wealth - but will other family members defeat them in their quest?
The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding -- orphan Catherine "Cat" Royal lives at the Drury Lane Theater in 1790's London. A quest for hidden riches leads her from the street gangs of Covent Garden to the world of the Nobility.

New Books

Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau -- The final book of the "Ember" series find Lina and Doon searching for a machine that a book says might get their community through the winter.
Identical by Ellen Hopkins -- Twins Kaeleigh and Raenne's struggle with secrets that have already torn them and their family apart.
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi -- Latest in the "Old Man's War" series finds Zoe Boutin-Perry the center of a critical but endangered treaty between the Obin and the Colonial Union.
Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera (EWL) -- In a prison boot camp Dio Rodriguez learns to be a better person after a drive-by shooting lands him in prison and his girlfriend in the hospital.
All We Know of Love by Nora Raleigh Baskin (RBH) -- 16-year-old Natalie sneaks out of her Connecticut home and takes a bus to Florida, looking for the mother that abandoned her and her father when she was 10.
Homeboyz by Alan Lawrence Sitomer (EWL) -- Teddy "T-bear" Anderson seeks revenge for the death of his little sister, who was killed by a stray bullet from a semiautomatic handgun.

Breaking Dawn - did you like it?

So, what did you think of Breaking Dawn? Was it all you were expecting? Was Bella's marriage satisfying to you? Did she manage to get what she wanted? Did she grow up? Will her child be happy in the future? What about Edward? and Jacob?

Here are a couple exerpts of teen reviewer comments on the web:

"Bella's happily ever after is heart-warming and tidy, just like any other fairy-tale... Stephanie admitted that pleasing all her fans would be impossible, but insisted that this was the story she wanted to write all along..." Read the whole review here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3HKVX4M0G86GC/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R3HKVX4M0G86GC

"Brain candy - something I couldn't put down...but now that I've finished I don't feel like I've gained anything" (read Jessica's whole review here: http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/review-breaking-dawn-by-stephenie-meyer/)

Classic Book Review

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
I remember reading this book as a teen and LOVING it. It follows the true story of Karana, stranded alone for 18 years after her people were removed from their remote Aleutian island. Karana must defend herself from wild dogs, who killed her younger brother, guard against the Aleutian sea-0tter hunters who would have taken her prisoner, and find ways to feed herself.

Her story is dramatic, romantic, adventurous, and almost miraculous. I must have read it twenty times, marveling over her ability to see beauty in the island's desolation, her willpower and strength of character, and her capacity to forgive. Anyone who loves adventure and survival stories will enjoy it, but so will those who admire strong young women, or want to see life from a different viewpoint.

In fact, I think it's time for me to reread Karana's tale once again...