Vacation

Hey Guys...so I MAY get a little behind on posting. Because I'm going to CALIFORNIA!

I will be here...

and here...

so be jealous! 

TLT: Teen Librarian's Toolbox: Middle Grade Monday - Have I told you lately that ...

TLT: Teen Librarian's Toolbox: Middle Grade Monday - Have I told you lately that ...: Middle grade students are a special breed. The people I know who work with them are a dedicated bunch, full of a deep affection for this age...

Twister

Teens, I don't know if you know this, but I can't have a Twister Tournament with THREE people! What's the deal? I thought you guys would be all over this!

Today, I've pulled all my Twister boards, gathered all the prizes, and tonight or tomorrow, I will be baking some goodies for prizes as well!

Remember, you can sign up online at our website, you can email me, you can call me, you can leave a comment on this blog letting me know you're coming, you can Facebook message me.  There should be no excuses!

I hope to see you there!

Also, thank you to my volunteens that helped at 3rd Friday! FINALLY, we had people show up! We ended at 39 patrons.

Banned Books Week 2014

Monday kicks off Banned Books Week, 2014.  Banned Books are any titles that have been challenged in a school or public library as inappropriate for children and teens.  Just because a book has been banned in one school or town, it does not mean it is banned across the country.  However, citizens at any time can challenge any book they deem inappropriate.  It is your job to make sure you know exactly what you're reading and determine if it is appropriate for you.  I would suggest sitting down and talking with your parents to understand their perspective.  Why are they worried about you reading The Hunger Games and Harry Potter?  Discuss topics your parents may be hesitant to read and come up with ways to analyze the literature without being sucked into it.  Communication is key!

I have learned this about teens...you are NOT what you read.  You read books for enjoyment, intelligent thinking, and to analyze and evaluate literature.  In my opinion, you will NOT become a vampire or stab people in the heart with wooden stakes because you read Vampire Academy.  However, it is up to us to respect those who disagree with those views.  Ultimately, remain aware of literature out there. There COULD be literature you shouldn't be reading.

In the meantime, here's a look at what I just did in the teen section!

Marie Lu...wha!?

So, I just entered a sweepstakes to potentially get Marie Lu, author of Legend, Prodigy, and Champion to come teach a writing workshop!!! However, I have to wait until December to find out if I even won...among thousands and thousands of other entrants.  THEREFORE, I need you all to cross your fingers and hope that I win so you can meet this amazing author and learn some great writing secrets!

And an FYI, Marie Lu is releasing a NEW series October 7, called Young Elites.  No worries, it's already on my list of books to buy, so I should have it immediately on October 7. Check it out!

FROM THIS WEBSITE:

http://www.penguin.com/book/the-young-elites-by-marie-lu/9780399167836

OVERVIEW

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series 

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
 
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

PRAISE

Praise for Marie Lu’s The Young Elites:

“Lu pivots from the ‘coming of age via romance’ formula to pry apart the many emotions that pass under the rubric of love… There’s nothing easy here, for Adelina or readers—there are no safe places where the pressures of betrayal, death threats, and rejection aren’t felt.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Readers should prepare to be captivated—and to look forward to a continuation of the Young Elites series.”—Booklist, starred review

“A must for fans of…totally immersive fantasies.” – Kirkus, starred review

“Lu seamlessly melds an unforgettable and intoxicating historical fantasy narrative with a strong female protagonist that grapples with an issue experienced by all young adults—acceptance of one’s self… Lu’s new series will be a surefire hit with old and new fans alike.”—School Library Journal

BANNED BOOKS

I'm guessing at least one of your favorite books has been challenged somewhere in the United States, either in school or at your public library.  Books such as Harry Potter, 1984, Lord of the Rings, and Bridge to Terabithia have been subject to such challenges.  It is YOUR right and privilege to read material you want to read.  Stand up for your literature, and make sure you know what you're reading, you can handle what you're reading, and you understand the challenges of your most treasured books.

You can check out some of the banned books lists at:
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/
http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/
http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/censorship/bannedbooksthatshapedamerica

There are tons more websites out there with more information. If you wonder why a particular book has been challenged, you can simply search in Google the book title followed by "challenged book" and you should get something.

Here is a preview of our display next week. Thank you to the teens who have participated thus far!

Twister

TWISTER TOURNAMENT!! 

Wednesday, September 24, 204

5pm-6pm

It's only a week and a half away!

I DID put a sign up sheet at the high school, the middle school, and downtown for those of you too afraid to call me to sign up.  You can also sign up ONLINE with NO human interaction at all (YAY!) at http://mdypl.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx

I'm going to have lots of snacks and sodas as usual.  There WILL be some prizes, mostly free books, because, hey, I'm a librarian. BUT the biggest prize is bragging rights.  'Cuz hey, how many people can say they won Mega Twister?

Carpool with friends, add a stop to your bus assignment at the Admin. building, but get your tushies down here!

Banned Books Week CHALLENGE

TEENS! I have a challenge for you: In a couple of weeks, it is Banned Books Week.  this is the time we recognize amazing books that have been challenged and taken out of libraries for a time.

This is what I want you to do: 

1. go to this website, http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10
2. find a book title on there that you have read and liked
3. Take a picture of yourself BUT, you have to write the book title on a piece of duct tape and tape it over your mouth.

Here's an example:

4. Send the picture to me on FB or email kkauffman@mdy.lib.in.us

If you do this by September 20, I will give you $1 off any fines you have on your library account.

These will be used for a display I'm doing in the YA section of MCPL.  Stand up for YOUR right to read!

NEW BOOKS!!!!

I have finished cataloging my newest order of about 50 books!  I got a LOT of Manga (ones requested by YOU guys!) as well as new girlie books, nonfiction, and dystopias/post-apocalyptic books. 

Have you met The Lady of New Literature?

 

She will greet you when you check out new books!

Below are the books on the new shelf. READ!!! Check them out, place holds. Do what you gotta do, but get these books in your hands!

  

 

Young Hoosier Book Club

Hooray! Young Hoosier Book Club season has begun! I just finished up the book club for Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Remember, there will be FIVE books in the series! The 4th one comes out in November of this year. 

Meyer modernizes and combines multiple fairy tales to weave a story about a futuristic Beijing, during which, the moon is colonized, and the queen wants to rule both the moon and Beijing.  Cinder, a lowly cyborg/mechanic is thought to secretly be the rightful queen of the moon...the princess who Queen Levana supposedly had murdered 10 years ago so she could be queen...only the princess escaped! Join these wonderful, strong, courageous, and sassy ladies through this incredible series!

8th grade:  

   :6th grade (they all ran away before I could get a group photo)

7th grade:           

Craaaaaafts

I had another craft night yesterday...and wouldn't ya know, I forgot to take pictures! I never do that! The teens aren't going to remind me, either, because they don't want their pictures taken. Come on, guys, you look great!

However, here is my horrid example of the baskets we made...The pretty basket is my page, Hannah's, from a couple years ago when they did Japanese basket weaving. I couldn't figure out how it was done, so we did baskets with magazine pages.  I had 11 people and we were talking about stuff from school to Leo DiCaprio to bacon! I love this time with my teens to just chill out!

BOOK REVIEW TIME!

I just finished Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi and MAN, was it a wild ride! Drowned Cities it the companion novel to Ship Breaker, written a few years prior.  Drowned Cities is a Dystopian novel where Mouse and Mahlia, living in swampland under a cruel rule must survive raping and pillaging of soldiers, lack of food and medicine, and the fact that the two teens are outcasts.  No one in the village likes them; they are lost children of the war.  When Mahlia and Mouse find a half man/half animal injured and sick in the swamp, they take medicine to him.  When the soldiers find out the medicine is gone, they destroy the village and kill nearly everyone in it.  Mouse is taken as a soldier to the Drowned Cities while Mahlia must work together with Tool to get him back.  They travel to flooded cities, through death and destruction to save Mouse, but when they find him, will he want to give up his new soldier status?

This book has crazy twist and turns and shows the realistic underbelly of a futuristic world where nature takes its toll on the country.  The addition of a scientific monster created for the purpose of war creates an incredible dynamic when paired next to a one-handed human girl.  The story is fast-paced, full of action, and rife with description. There is quite a bit of violence, due to the less than desirable future, but well worth the read!

MCPL DOES have this book under YA BAC Ship #2 (We also have Ship Breaker YA BAC Ship #1)