2009 Bucks' Read to Achieve Library Reading Challenge

It's time for the Bucks Reading Challenge!

If you are in 3rd-10th grade, stop in the library beginning Friday January 2nd to register and pick up your reading log. Students in 3rd-6th grade need to register at the Children's Reference Desk, and those of you in 7th-10th grade should register at the Adult Information Desk. (This program is limited to those of you in 3rd-10th grade. We didn't make the rules for this one.)

Here's what you need to do: Read! Once you sign up, we will give you a reading log where you will keep track of the pages you've read starting on January 2nd. Once you've reached 500 pages, come back to the library (with your reading log) and we will give you a voucher for a free ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks' Basketball game!*

If you reach 500 pages, keep reading. Students who read 750 pages are entered to win "Overtime" prizes, including an autographed Milwaukee Bucks basketball!

The contest runs from January 2nd-February 23rd 2009, and stop by the reference (or information) desk for more information!

Happy Reading!
Katie (Reading the National Book Award Winning What I saw and How I Lied, and loving it!)

*There are two games to choose the ticket from, and you are responsible for sending in the voucher for your ticket. We'll give you all the information when you come in and register!

Book Review: What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

If you like old film noir movies (think Casablanca, the Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, and Chinatown) you'll love What I Saw and How I Lied, the 2008 National Book Award winner! If you've never seen a Humphrey Bogart movie, think reluctant anti-heroes, mystery and intrigue, criminal intent, dark and sultry romance, moral ambiguity, lots of lipstick and lies, fabulous clothes, and all set in the 1940s.

It's 1947, and even though her mom can't seem to let her grow up (seriously, what will happen if a girl puts on a little lipstick?!?) and they live with her Grandma Glad (who does NOT live up to her name), life is great for Evie, especially since her fun stepdad, Joe, came home from the war. Everything changes, though, the night Joe receives a strange phone call and suddenly decides to take Evie and her mom, Bev, on a surprise trip to Palm Beach, Florida.

At first, their impromptu vacation seems fantastic- Evie gets to miss out on the first few weeks of school, it's off-season for tourists so they have the hotel to themselves, and Evie meets a gorgeous GI, Peter, who seems to be interested in the Evie her mom can't see- the grown-up Evie who wears lipstick. But why are Joe and Peter so weird around each other, almost like they're afraid, even though they were in the war together? Where does her mom go all day, when she says she's golfing? And why can't she ever seem to get Peter to herself... without Mom?

As the web of lies surrounding Evie, her parents, and Peter grows more tangled, the tension and suspense in this atmospheric mystery build like a hurricane to almost uncomfortable levels as Evie finds herself hurtling toward the discovery of who the people she loves really are... and what they're capable of.

On this last day of '08, check out the best book of the year (according to the National Book Award committee) @ the library!

Megan
(Who will be starting Madapple by Christina Meldrum after the New Year, which promises to be bizarrely awesome!)

Book Review: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Amazing. Just... amazing. If this book doesn't win bajillions of awards, I will be absolutely flummoxed.

In a world where the fight for freedom is everywhere, how does one slave grab a piece of it for herself and her small sister?

It's 1776, and Isabel and Ruth have just been set free by the death of their mistress. Except they haven't, because the lawyer who drew up the will setting them free has run off in the face of the Revolution, and their mistress's nephew isn't interested in papers or freed slaves, so Isabel and Ruth are sold to the Locktons, British nationals on their way home to New York. When they arrive in the middle of a smoldering hotbed of sedition between the British and the American Patriots, Isabel doesn't care- all she can think about is finding the lawyer and his papers, escaping, and keeping her sister safe from their new mistress, the cruel and terrifying Madam Lockton. When the boy in the red hat, Curzon, asks her to spy on her new Master for George Washington and his rebel army in return for the possibility of freedom, all Isabel can see is a way home. Instead, she finds herself chained between two nations, helpless to fight for her own freedom in the face of the events surrounding her- or is she?

Anderson doesn't pull any punches here- you will cry, scream, and rage with Isabel against the violent injustice and hippocracy committed both by and against the British and American officers and soldiers. If you always thought the Americans were the good guys fighting for freedom and the British the bad guys oppressing us, look at the Revolutionary War through Isabel's eyes and be both horrified and astounded.

This books ends on kind of a huge cliffhanger, but not to worry- it's the first of the Seeds of America trilogy, so there'll be more- the next is titled Forge, although it doesn't yet have a release date.

Megan
(just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman over the holiday, fabulous!)

Top Ten (plus one) #1

And the #1 is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!

Megan posted a review of The Hunger Games back when she read it back in September, and I don't disagree with anything she said. This is one of those "wow" books that I was not able to put down.

Katniss lives in a futuristic United States of America called Panam, in district 12 where the main industry is mining. Every year children from ages 12-18 are required to put their names in for the Hunger Games, as a tribute for the capital. Prim, Katniss's sister, gets picked, and with out hesitation Katniss steps in for her sister and is set to compete in the Games with for district 12.

The Hunger Games were set up by the Capital to keep the 12 districts in line. Each year 24 kids from 12-18 enter, one boy and one girl from each district, and only 1 leaves the game. It's a battle to the death, all publicized on television for all to see.

Katniss knows that winning the game would bring fame, glory and a life of comfort and ease to her family, but she has a very slim shot of winning. Some districts have trained kids to fight in these games, and they have sponsors who can send them gifts to help them play the game. For Katniss, training and gifts are things she can not depend on.

This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and the next book comes out in September 2009 (this may change). Megan and I both agree that this is a great book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and waiting for more!

Well, it's been a great year of reading for us, and we'll be back with more book reviews and events after the 25th of December!
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Who has had enough snow for a while)

Top Ten (plus one) #2

Our first pick of the week, and our #2 book of the year is...
Graceling by Kristin Cashore!

Um, how many times can I tell you guys how made of awesome this book is?! It's been nominated for the Morris award for newbie YA authors, is on School Library Journal's list of 2008 Best Books, and I cannot rave about Kristin Cashore's debut novel enough. Even better, a prequel, Fire, is scheduled to release next fall, and she's got a sequel, Bitterblue, in the works.

In the Seven Kingdoms, only a feared and exploited few are Graced, their distinctive different-colored eyes marking them. In Katsa's kingdom, the Graced and their Graces belong to the king, Katsa's uncle Randa. For girl whose Grace is more terrible than most, it is a fate almost worse than death, for Katsa is Graced with killing, and King Randa is little better than a thug who uses her and the terror she inspires to abuse his people.

When Katsa meets Po, a Lienid prince Graced with combat skills, in the middle of a top secret (from king Randa) James Bond-style midnight resuce mission, her life is forever changed. When Po shows up at her uncle's palace the next day and Katsa discovers the man she rescued is Po's kidnapped grandfather, her life is forever changed. Together, she and Po hone their fighting and friendship skills as Po stays on to discover the real meaning behind his grandfather's kidnapping. When they discover who may be behind the kidnapping, they uncover a dark evil shrouded in lies that challenges everything they have ever known. When Po asks her to come with him, everything that Katsa believes about herself is called into question, including the true nature of her Grace...

If you're looking for fantasy, action, adventure, the epic battle between good and evil, a plot that packs a lot of punch, and one awesome heroine, look no further and check out Graceling @ the library!

Megan
(now reading Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve, also one SLJ's 2008 Best Books!)

P.S. Kristin Cashore has a fun blog where she talks about her books and her life @ http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/.

Top Ten (plus one) #3

On this Friday of the Great White Snowstorm of 2008, I waded my way here through knee-high snow (uphill both ways, of course!) to bring you our #3 pick...
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow!

This may possibly be the most intelligent, hip, fun and seriously freaky book that I've read this year. In near-future San Francisco, 17-year-old supersmart techno-geek Marcus and his friends decide to skip school to play some virtual scavenger hunt, which is why they're on the streets when terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge. Picked up, beaten, interrogated, terrorized, and held by the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) as suspected terrorists, Marcus and most of his friends are eventually released to go home to their totally freaked out parents. The catch is, the DHS threatens them with their lives if they ever tell anyone where they were or what happened to them while they were 'detained.'

When Marcus gets home, he quickly realizes that in post-Bay Bridge San Francisco, the DHS is everywhere, and they're always watching. Instead of just taking it in the name of patriotism, like everyone else (including his parents), Marcus decides to do something, and after venting his rage online he inadvertantly becomes the leader of a techno-revolution against the DHS.

Questioning the meaning of patriotism, Doctorow takes a powerful, freak-you-out-'cause-they're-always-watching look at what happens when the government decides to favor national freedom over personal freedom. The technology in this book is amazing, and the most awesome thing about it is that it's all the real thing (Doctorow is the original whiz kid - check out his blog at http://boingboing.net/ - the gadgets are awesome!).

So what happens when the teens of San Francisco, led by Marcus, mount an insurrection against the government? You'll have to read Little Brother to find out, but I'd bet on the kid.

Megan
(who is optimistically going to finish The Smile at lunch today and will be starting Nation by Terry Pratchett!)

P.S. Neil Gaiman and Scott Westerfeld (two made of awesome authors) both loved Little Brother, and what better endorsement can I give than theirs?

Top Ten (plus one) #4

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

"Hello boys and girls. Hannah Baker here live and in stereo."

This is the first thing Clay Jensen hears, after receiving a mysterious package full of numbered cassette tapes. Other than the outdated technology, the surprising part is that Hannah has been dead for about two weeks now.

Hannah Baker, Clay's former crush, created tapes telling the events that lead to her decision to take her own life. She sent these tapes to the first person on her list, with the instructions to listen and pass on to the next person on the list. Each person on the list played a part in her decision, and one side of each tape tells the roll one person played. Through these tapes Hannah tells her story, and Clay follows the map she included to see where all the events took place. Hannah's death becomes a mystery Clay must solve, and Clay must also figure out the role he played.

The idea behind the story is interesting, you have Hannah telling her story from beyond, and Clay waking though the places she went, as well as living his life. I found this to be a very powerful story about how our lives affect all the people around us, even if we don't think they know who we are.

Thirteen Reasons Why is one book that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Currently reading Mathematicians in Love by Rudy Rucker)

Top Ten (plus one) #5

And #5 is...
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

When Junior asks his parents who has the most hope, they immediately answer, "White people."

Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is 14 years old and has been to 42 funerals. Living on the Spokane rez with his folks in Wellpinit, WA isn't easy, especially when you were born with water on the brain, look kinda goofy, your parents aren't really around, and your best friend has some serious issues with anger management. Still, Junior's got basketball, his comics, and Rowdy (the above mentioned best friend).

When Junior transfers out of the reservation school to the rich white school in town (he walks to school from the rez- more than 20 miles one way, every day!), his only chance for getting a decent shot at life, the only other Indian there is the school mascot. Although he's already had to face down his (former) best friend's Rowdy's out-of-control rage at Junior's betrayal of the rez, Junior faces the anger of his entire community when he joins the basketball team (the Enemy) at his new school. Still, he manages to keep his quirky sense of humor, maybe fall a little bit in love, and claim a place in a world that at times really seems to be against him.

By turns laugh-out-loud, rib-cracking hilarious and heartbreakingly sad, you'll take turns crying with and cheering for Junior as he tries to grab a little hope for himself.

While you're waiting for #4 tomorrow, check out School Library Journal's Top Fiction of 2008! Start at the top for picture books to read to your little sibs, and scroll down to the fiction to find books for you.

Megan
(now reading The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli, about the girl Leonardo da Vinci painted to create the Mona Lisa)

William C. Morris Award Nominees

You've heard of the Newbery and the Printz, so what's this Morris award thing all about? It's a newbie for newbies! In other words, it's a new award for new authors, given to the never-been-published author of a young adult book. Check out the 2009 finalists:


A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
A dark retelling of the Rumpelstilskin tale, complete with spun gold and goblins. Check out what Reading Rants has to say about this one!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The absolute most awesome book on this list IMHO (which you totally already know if you're a regular reader!), this is the story of Katsa, a seriously kick butt girl who is part of world where a feared and explotited few are Graced with a special talent, and Katsa is Graced with killing.

Madapple by Christina Meldrum
I haven't read this one yet, but it's on my list! Aslaug, raised in isolation, must cope with the sudden influx of society on her world following the death of her mother... including the charges of murder she must face. Who is she accused of murdering? And did she do it? Read it to find out! Reading Rants has a great review of this one too.

Absolute Brightness by James Lescesne
When Phoebe's uber-flamboyant cousin Leonard (platform flipflops, anyone?) vanishes without a trace, she sets out on a quest to discover what really became of him.

Me, the Missing and the Dead by Jenny Valentine
Also on my list of to-be-reads, this one follows Lucas Swain as he tries to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance with the help of Violet, who just so happens to be dead.

The winner will be announced January 26!

Megan
(who did nothing but read Generation Dead by Daniel Waters on Sunday and as a result has a ginormous pile of unfinished Christmas cards and a scary heap of laundry that really, really needs to get done!)

Top Ten (plus one) #6

Number #6 is The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.

Jenna has been in a coma for the past year, and when she awakes she remembers nothing from before. Her parents have moved her from the city she grew up in, and she has only video recordings from the past to help figure out who she is. She lives with her mother and grandmother, but she feels no affection towards them, and they don't tell her anything. Jenna has a lot of questions, and no one is giving her answers.

Jenna narrates her own story and you learn with Jenna about her past. Somethings are revealed to her through the videos, and some memories come back in time. Some are things she shouldn't remember at all. Jenna just wants to be a normal17-year-old girl, with friends and a future, but without a past this feels impossible

This was the first book I blogged about way back when, and I have not yet forgotten about Jenna. The story is told slowly, and you will be dying to know what really happened to Jenna. I actually listened to the audio version of this book, and loved the way narrators voice made Jenna sound both hopeful and uncertain. Whether you read or listen to this book, it will keep you riveted and thinking long past the story's end.

That's all for now, I'll be back on Thursday with the #4 book!
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Currently reading The Dragon's Lair by Elizabeth Haydon, the 3rd book in a series about a young Nain named Ven and his adventures)

Top Ten (plus one) #7

Our first post of the week is Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande!

Who knew doing the right thing could be so wrong? It's Mena's first day of high school, which she's only been looking forward to since forever, and it's Day 1 in Her Miserable Life. Her parents hate her, and she's grounded for life. Her (former) best friend not only hates her, but is spearheading Operation Hate Mena at school and church. Her (former) crush/almost-boyfriend just hip-checked her in 2nd period, and everyone she knows from church is giving her the Hairy Eyeball. Things start to look up though in 3rd period Biology, when Mena meets her new teacher, the kind of weird, totally AWESOME Ms. Shepard (she of the venti Starbucks). Plus, Mena's lab partner, Casey, is supersmart, supercute, really into Lord of the Rings (which Mena isn't sure how she feels about, seeing as how she's not allowed to watch it), and best of all, not from church, so doesn't hate her.

Until the day Ms. Shepard puts up her blog about the hobbits (the prehistoric people, not the Tolkien ones) and starts a unit on evolution. And the Holy Warriors (or whatever they're calling themselves now) turn their chairs around and declare war on Ms. Shepard. And Mena's stuck between what she believes to be right and what everyone else is telling her is right, especially when she's not even sure what she believes.

If you want to know how science, the Lord of the Rings, organized religion, lots of Starbucks and jackolopes add up to one awesome book, check out Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature @ the library!

Megan
(who just finished Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson on Friday - AMAZING!! You all must read this book! It would totally be on this list if I had read it sooner.)

Top Ten (plus one) #8

#8 is Spud by John van de Ruit!

It's 1990 and the South African apartheid is falling. Nelson Mandela is being released from prison, and John Milton is starting boarding school. It is history in the making.

John is quickly nicknamed "Spud" (hence the title, and no I will not tell you why, you'll have to read to find out), and this is the journal he keeps during his first year away at school. Spud has some crazy dorm mates and friends, and they have some crazy adventures. (They are all called "the crazy eight". Crazy.)

Spud tells an (honest) account of his school adventures. You will laugh at the crazy dorm life he lives, you will sigh when he falls in love (perhaps more than once) and you may even cry (I will not give the plot away!).

Spud was originally published in South Africa in 2005, and there was so much good buzz around this book, that they published it in the states in 2007! Spud's adventures, thoughts and dreams will keep you reading page after page. Oh, and if you finish Spud, you can check out The Madness Continuities, which chronicles the second year of Spud's education!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Who just finished The Madness Continues and liked it just as much as the first book!)

P.S. There are rumors of a Spud movie, which I would wait in line to see!

Top Ten (plus one) #9

And #9 is... Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan!

I can't believe I didn't read Nick & Norah before this year! Katie told me it was awesome, and she couldn't have been more right- I put it on hold right away, read it in one night, and really enjoyed the movie (Michael Cera rocks), although of course the book was better, which is as it should be!

Nick's a geeky punk band (straight) boy who drives a Yugo and really can't get over Tris, and Norah's a hip New York (straight) girl who's really into the music scene with an Evil Ex she hasn't quite dumped yet who just happens to go to school with Tris. So when Nick spots Tris on the club floor with her new boy toy after his band gets done playing and turns to the girl in flannel next to him that he doesn't even know and asks her to be his girlfriend for 5 minutes, Norah (the girl in flannel) answers by making out with him. And being surprised that he is a really good kisser. Until she realizes that he's Tris's ex, the one who made her (Tris) all those awesome mix tapes that she might have stolen (but is it really stealing if Tris didn't want them anyway?).

Follow one of my favorite fictional couples through one fabulous, music-saturated night in New York as they fall in and out and in and out (and maybe in, again) of love in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.

Look for Katie's #8 pick tomorrow!
Megan

P.S. When you're done with this one, check out Rachel Cohn & David Levithan's second novel together, Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List, which I also loved! Both authors also have lots of books they've written on their own.

Top Ten (plus one) #10

And number 10 is...
Good Enough by Paula Yoo.

Patti is your way above average high school student, but her parents still expect more. She's been concertmaster in the all-state orchestra for three years, and is going for four. She's a straight A student in her A.P. and honors classes at school, and is a member of any club that will have her. Weekend nights are for church youth group and studying for the SAT. Nothing short of HarvardYalePrinceton and becoming a doctor or a lawyer is acceptable for her parents.

Then enters Cute Trumpet Boy, right before her all state orchestra audition. It's not his fault she's only assistant concertmaster in the orchestra (for those of you who don't know this is the second best violin player, and in Patti's case this is the whole state), but he does get Patti thinking about what she wants as opposed to what her parents want!

Patti's senior year in high school is a series of misadventures, and you will find her hysterically honest about her life. She's not the prom queen, and she's not a trouble maker. Patti just wants to make her parents happy, and still be happy herself.

One of my favorite parts of her story was her lists (How to Make your Korean Parents Happy) and Spam recipes (Spam Sushi anyone?). If you are looking for a fun light read this might be your book.

That's number 10! Look for #9 tomorrow, when Megan will be posting!
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie
P.S. I was able to hear Paula Yoo speak (the author) this fall, and she is hysterical- she even played her violin for us!

Top Ten (plus one) #11

Our plus one title is (drum roll please!) the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Okay, it's the first TWO books in a series, but these are awesome books. They have adventure, romance, vampires, werewolves and magic, and are quite possibly the best urban fantasy we've read this year! Oh, and did we mention that Holly Black loves these books?!

The first book, City of Bones, is where we meet Clary, a normal 15-year-old girl who's living with her mom in New York city and hanging out with her best friend Simon. Before she knows it, her mother is taken away by an otherworldly being, those tattooed kids she saw at the club last night are Shadowhunters (who totally took down a freaky demon), and by the way, she just might be one- an otherworldly Shadowhunter, not a demon. Suddenly immersed in a fabulous, uber-secret underground world where everything she ever thought was fantasy is real (hello, vampires, warlocks and werewolves), Clary and her new tattooed friends, Jace (who might be more than just a friend), Alec and Isabelle set out to find her mother and maybe save the world.

We loved this book so much that we could not wait for book two, City of Ashes, and even now are waiting impatiently for book three, City of Glass, which comes out this March. This story is off to a great start, and we can't wait to see how Clary and her friends will end up!

Stay tuned to the blog for tomorrow's #10 pick, which we promise is just 1 book!

Katie and Megan

P.S. Game Day Thursday @ 7 PM in the Constitution Room- wii can't wait!

What If? Competition

Are you a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader (or ages 10-14)?

Do you want to win some seriously cool prizes?

Is science your favorite class, or do you think space, NASA, and astronauts like Anousheh Ansari are made of awesome?

Then enter the What If? Student Essay Competition! Just you or you and a friend who's also in 6th-8th grade (oh, and you'll need an adult sponsor too) can write an essay for a chance to win a trip to California to the Conrad Innovation Summit. This year's essay topic is for you to use your innovative imagination to describe how living on an orbiting space station could benefit humanity as a step toward building colonies on the Moon or Mars. So, if your mind is already working faster than the speed of light (or even better, faster than Stephen Hawking working a high school physics problem), what are you waiting for?! Essays are due Friday, Feburary 13, 2009.

For more info, including rules and more essay topic details, check it out online @ http://whatifprize.org/competition/, and as always, let us know if you or your team wins!

See you @ the library!
Megan
(now reading the National Book Award winner What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell; next up is The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes)

P.S. When you need a break from working on your prize-winning essay, come to the library on Thursday at 7:00 PM for our Game Day (and Wii debut)!

Upcoming @ the West Allis Public Library

Seasons Readings WAPL Teen Blog Readers!

Megan and I are getting some holiday reading treats ready for you with our (First Ever) Star Studded Super Top 10 (Plus One) Books We've Read This Year list! Starting next Tuesday every weekday we will be posting one of our favorite books from the past year. Only rule is one of us read (and loved) the book in 2008.

Also GAME NIGHT is next Thursday from 7-8:30 PM. We've got games, and bring yours from home. Bring a friend and be ready to play! What else do you have going on (seeing Twilight for the 7th time is not an excuse*)? Oh and we will debut our brand new (drum roll please) Wii! So far we have one game and one Wiimote, but we hope to have more soon! If you want to bring a Wiimote, feel free to do so.

Stay warm, and I'll see you @ the library!

Katie (Currently reading The Madness Continues: a Spud Novel by John van de Ruit, and laughing hysterically!)

*This is a not so subtle hit at Megan who is going to see the movie for the 6th time tonight!

Book Review: Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Naomi + Ely 2gether + 4ever = 6ess

Naomi and Ely:
Residents of apartments 15J and 15K in The Building, inseparable best friends since forever- even after Naomi's dad cheated on her mom with one of Ely's moms and now Naomi's mom won't get out of bed. Naomi loves Ely, and Ely loves Naomi. The thing is, Naomi is in love with Ely, and Ely likes to be in love with boys. Like maybe Bruce the Second.

Bruce the Second:
Naomi's boyfriend, who Ely kind of kissed, who chews Orbit (Ely is owned by Dentyne) and who is totally not on the No Kiss List.

The No Kiss List:
Created and trademarked by Naomi and Ely to protect the sanctity of the institition of Naomi & Ely, because the only thing that could possibly destroy them is a boy.

Gabriel:
#2 on the No Kiss List, the night doorman for The Building, a total hottie who might (or might not) be gay, and who just gave Naomi an awesome, but confusing, mix tape.

Orbit:
The piece of gum that was totally in the wrong place at the wrong time and has the potential to break up the institution of Naomi & Ely.

Rachel Cohn & David Levithan:
The co-authors of this totally awesome book about the confusing ways love and friendship can mix up everything that's supposed to just be, or make everything right, and what it takes to overcome a misplaced piece of Orbit gum. And if that's not enough, these two also brought us Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, so get moving, head to the library and check out Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List!

Megan
(who can't decide between Nation by Terry Pratchett and Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz!)

P.S. Game Day, Game Day, Game Day at the library! Next Thursday, December 11 @ 7PM... and did we mention anything about a Wii... !?!

Harry Potter Trivia: General H.P. Knowledge

Here are the answers to the November 2010 Harry Potter Trivia: General H.P. Knowledge.

1. Which is not a house at Hogwarts:
A. Hufflepuff
B. Slytherin
C. Ravenmore
D. Gryffindor
Answer: C. Ravenmore

2. When is Harry Potter's Birthday?
A. July 31st
B. June 17th
C. October 31st
D. November 19th
Answer: A. July 31st

3. Who is the head of Slytherin House for most of the series?
A. Lucius Malfoy
B. Draco Malfoy
C. Severus Snape
D. Albus Dumbledore
Answer: C. Severus Snape

4. Which character was not on the Gryffindor Quidditch team?
A. Katie Bell
B. Oliver Wood
C. Percy Weasley
D. Alicia Spinnet
Answer: C. Percy Weasley

5. Name the actor who plays Harry Potter in the movies
Answer: Dan or Daniel Radcliffe

6. Who are the identical twins who eventually open a joke shop?
A. Fred and George Weasley
B. Parvati and Padma Patil
C. Colin and Dennis Creevey
D. Harry and Hermione
Answer: A. Fred and George Weasley

7. What number platform takes students to the Hogwarts Express?
A. 9 3/4
B. 9 1/3
C. 10 3/4
D. 7/31
Answer: A. 9 3/4

8. Name the village near Hogwarts where older students can go on the weekend?
A. Hogsbreath
B. Hogshead
C. Hogsmeade
D. Hogheaven
Answer: C. Hogsmeade

9. Who is the first future classmate that Harry meets in the first book?
A. Ron Weasley
B. Hermione Granger
C. Draco Malfoy
D. Rubius Hagrid
Answer: C. Draco Malfoy. In the robe shop before school starts, Harry meets Draco, of course he later decides Draco isn't the kind of student he wants to be friends with.

10. He who must not be named is named:
A. Lord Voldemort
B. Severus Snape
C. Greg Goyle
D. Remus Lupin
Answer: A. Lord Voldemort

11. What is Hagrid's official position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
A. Groundskeeper
B. Headmaster
C. Teacher
D. Gamekeeper
Answer: D. Gamekeeper. This one was tricky, but his official position is Gamekeeper, according to book one. Yes, he steps up to teach Care of Magical Creatures, but that didn't last long, did it?

12. This tree was planted outside the Forbidden Forest right before Harry's parents attended Hogwarts:
Answer: The Whomping Willow

13. Name All the Weasley Children (bonus points for getting them in age order!)
Answer (From oldest to youngest)
1. Bill
2. Charlie
3. Percy
4 & 5 Fred & George (we never find out which twin is older!)
6. Ron
7. Ginny

14. Give this to a house elf and they are free from their master:
A. An education
B. Books
C. Clothes
D. Food
Answer: C. Clothes

15. Who is the nurse at Hogwarts?
A. Hermione Granger
B. Poppy Pomfrey
C. Pomana Sprout
D. Pomana Pomfrey
Answer: B. Poppy Pomfrey

16. Which is not the pet of a Hogwarts student?
A. Hedwig the owl
B. Scabbers the rat
C. Fang the dog
D. Trevor the toad
Answer: C. Fang the dog belongs to Hagrid, who is not a current Hogwart's student.

17. Which of these potions would you take if you were a werewolf?
A. Wolsbrain
B. Veritaserum
C. Polyjuice
D. Wolfsbane
Answer: D. Wolfsbane

18. Saying "Alohomora" would do what?
A. Fix your glasses
B. Let you say hello id different languages
C. Open a lock
D. Bring an item closer to you.
Answer: C. Open a lock

19. Don't cause too much trouble when you at Hogwarts or your parents might send you one of these screaming messages:
A. Remmebrall
B. Owl
C. Howler
D. Dementor
Answer: C. Howler

Harry Potter Trivia: Think Beyond the Books Answers

Here are the answers to the November 2010 Harry Potter Quiz: Think Beyond the Books.

1. Fluffy, the three headed dog, guarded a secret entrance in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone but it you know your mythology there is a three headed dog guarding the river Styx named:
A. Hydra
B. Tisiphone
C. Cerberus
D. Charon
Answer: C. Cerberus

2. Percy Weasley's pet owl is named after the Greek messenger God:
A. Hermes
B. Hedwig
C. Mercury
D. Pigwidgeon
Answer: A. Hermes

3. Professor Lupin was an excellent teacher at Hogwarts, but what city did a creature with his name help found, according to legend?
A. Ithaca
B. Rome
C. New York
D. Paris
Answer: B. Rome. Remus Lupin shares a name with Remus, with his brother Romulus one of the mythical founders of Rome.

4. Hermione Granger is one smart witch, and she shares a name with a queen from which Shakespearean Play?
A. Romeo and Juliet
B. Hamlet
C. A Winter's Tale
D. Macbeth
Answer: C. A Winter's Tale.

5. Luna Lovegood may be called Looney because she is a bit different, however in Roman Mythology Luna was the goddess of:
A. Crazy People
B. The Moon
C. The Sun
D. Love
Answer: B. The Moon

6. Draco Malfoy may be arrogant and a bit selfish, but he has nothing on this Mythological character his mother is named for:
Answer: Narcissus is the character from Mythology whose pride and beauty cause him to fall in love with his own reflection. His mother's name Narcissa is based off of this mythological character.

7. Sirius Black is an Animagus who turns into a large dog, but where would you look to find the real Sirius?
A. In a history book
B. Under the bed
C. In the garden
D. In the Sky
Answer: D. In the sky. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, and often called the Dog Star due to it's role in the constellation Canis Major, or "Big Dog".

8. Book one, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, deals with a man named Nicholas Flamel. True or false there was a real Nicholas Flamel who was said to have crated a Sorcerer's Stone.
Answer: True, Nicholas Flamel was a real scientist who lived in the 1300's-1400's. He was a scientist who worked on a Philosopher's stone, which was the original Sorcerer's Stone.

9. Professor Spout made all the students wear earmuffs when dealing with this plant whose fatal cry has been recoded throughout European folklore?
A. Gillyweed
B. Mandrake
C. Goldenrod
D. Hepatica
Answer: B. Mandrake, a real plant that has been recoded in history and mythology going back to Old Testament Bible times.

10. Other than being characters in the Harry Potter books, Flitwick, Snape, Bagshot and Dursley are also:
A. Members of Parliament
B. Towns in England
C. J.K. Rowling's Friends
D. Librarians
Answer B: Towns in England

11. Argus Filch keeps watch over Hogwarts students. wishes he shared this with his Greek Mythology namesake:
A. 100 eyes
B. A Remeberall
C. Magic Mirror
D. Superhuman Strength
Answer: A. 100 eyes. Argus Panoptes was a watchman in Greek Mythology due to his many eyes.

12. Daedalus Diggle shows up in a few of the Harry Potter books, in Greek Mythology, Daedalus had a son named:
A. Neville
B. Ron
C. Percy
D. Icarus
Answer: D. Icarus. Daedalus was an inventor and designer of things such as wings and the labyrinth.

13. Andromeda Tonks may not be fond of her first name, however her out of this world name is really a:
A. Baseball team
B. Planet
C. Galaxy
D. Comet
Answer: C. Galaxy. At 2.5 million light years away, Andromeda is not the closest Galaxy to the Milky Way, but it is visible in the night sky.

14. Greek and Roman mythology abounds in Harry Potter's world, but this character is named after an Indian Goddess:
A. Parvati Patil
B. Lavender Brown
C. Ginny Weasley
D. Susan Bones
Answer: A. Parvati Patil. A Hindu Goddess who is considered to be a mother goddess due to her gentle nature.

15. Harry picks the name Hedwig from on of his new schoolbooks. What kind of book would you find the name Hedwig in at the library?
A. A book on Greek Mythology
B. A book on Plants
C. A Chemistry Book
D. A book on Saints
Answer: D. A book on Saints. Check the 282 nonfiction section for books on Hedwig and other Saints.

16. Expecto Patronum is the spell that conjures a patronus. In Latin this phrase means:
A. Guard my life
B. Go away bad guys
C. I await a protector
D. Expect a poltergeist
Answer: C. I await a protector.

17. Morsmorder is the spell used to conjure the dark mark, or according to its translation:
A. Take a bite out of crime
B. Take a bite out of death
C. Take a bite of evil
D. Take shelter, evil is near
Answer: B. Take a bite out of death.

Harry Potter Triva Answers: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Quiz

Answers to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Quiz from November 2010:

1. How does Harry escape the Dursley's?
A. On a flying motorcycle
B. On broomstick
C. Portkey
D. By Bus
Answer: A. Harry and Hagrid ride the flying motorcycle.

2. After altering their memories, who do Hermione's parents think they are?
A. Joe and Jane Doe
B. George and Martha Washington
C. Martin and Vera Hicks
D. Wendell and Monica Wilkin
Answer: D. Wendell and Monica Wilkin

3. In the book, which character lets Harry, Ron and Hermione know what Dumbledore left them in his will?
A. Kingsley Shacklebolt
B. Rufus Scrimgeor
C. Lucius Malfoy
D. Professor McGonagall
Answer: B. Rugus Scrimgeor, the minister of magic comes to the trio to see what and why Dumbeldore left them these things.

4. Whose wedding is first?
A. Bill and Fleur
B. Harry and Ginny
C. Ron and Hermione
D. Lupin and Tonks
Answer D. Lupin and Tonks. They get married after book six, but before book seven starts. Bill and Fleur have the first :"big" wedding, but Lupin and Tonks were married first.

5. Who has the locket that Harry, Ron and Hermione are looking for?
A. Dobby
B. Kreacher
C. Dolores Umbridge
D. Lord Voldemort
Answer: C. While Lord Voldemort had it and I'm sure Kreacher came in contact with it, the locket was in the possession of Delores Umbridge when the three were looking for it.

6. Who was RAB?
Answer: Regulas Black or Sirius' little brother

7. Where was the Hufflepuff Cup hidden?
A. In the room of Requirement
B. 12 Grimwald Place
C. On the Night Bus
D. In the Lestrange Vault
Answer: D. In the Lestrange Vault

8. What does Griphook want in exchange for his assistance in breaking into Gringotts?
A. The Sword of Gryffendor
B. Aunt Muriel's tiara
C. Clothes
D. Membership in the Order of the Phoenix
Answer: A. The Sword of Gryffindor. Goblins believe that the owner of an object is the maker, which is different from the human belief that the owner is the person who possesses or pays for the object.

9. Who was pretending to be Ron, sick in bed with Spattergrouit?
A. Fred
B. Ginny
C. Peeves
D. The Ghoul in the Attic
Answer: D. The Ghoul in the Attic

10. How did Harry, Ron and Hermione get captured?
A. Bellatrix found them hiding in the Forbidden Forest
B. Draco Malfoy turns them in
C. Harry says Voldemort leading the captures to them
D. Xenophilius Lovegood turns them in
Answer: C. Harry says Voldemort leading the captures to them. There were a few other times the trio nearly gets caught, however it isn't until Harry says "Voldemort" when they are captured and taken to Malfoy Manor.

11. Who was the Grey Lady before she was a ghost at Hogwarts?
A. Rowena Ravenclaw
B. Helena Ravenclaw
C. Sally Ravenclaw
D. Sally Slytherin
Answer: B. Helena Ravenclaw, the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw

12. Who destroys Nagini?
A. Neville
B. Ron
C. Harry
D. Hagrid
Answer: A. Neville. The other boy who could have been "the boy who lived" Neville is a leader of the students at Hogwarts, and is the one to take down Nagini.

13. What words said first by Ollivander in Book One to Harry, become important in the final battle between Harry and Voldemort?
Answer" "The wand chooses the wizard"

14. Where did Ron and Hermione kiss for the first time?
A. At the Burrow
B. In a vault at Gringotts
C. Room of Requirement
D. The Great Hall
Answer: C. Room of Requirement. Ron shows concern for the house elves in the kitchen before the battle at Hogwarts, causing Hermione to kiss him.

15. Why did Voldemort kill Snape?
A. He was a spy
B. He didn't tell him where Harry was hiding
C. He is evil
D. The Elder Wand wasn't working for him
Answer: D. The Elder Wand wasn't working for him. The Elder Wand would only work for the wizard who last won it in battle, neither Snape nor Voldemort knew this, and while the other three answers may be true, none were the reason for Snape's passing.

16. What form does Severus Snape's Patronus take?
A. Large dog
B. Lynx
C. Bat
D. Doe
Answer: D. Doe. After all these years, Snape still loves Lily, as shown in his Patronus.

17. Harry sees blue eyes in the mirror that Sirius gave him, who do they belong to?
A. Aberforth Dumbledore
B. Ron Weasly
C. Lord Voldemort
D. Albus Dumbledore
Answer: A. Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus' brother and owner of the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade

18. What three objects, when combined conquer death?
A. Elder wand, resurrection stone, invisibility cloak
B. Elder wand, Gryffinedor's sword, invisibility cloak
C. Resurrection stone, invisibility cloak, Gryffindor's Sword
D. Gryffindor's Sword, Hufflepuff's Cup, Ravenclaw's Diadem
Answer: A. Elder wand, resurrection stone, invisibility cloak

19. Name all seven Horcruxes:
Answer: Tom Riddle's Diary, Ravenclaw's Diadem, Hufflepuff's Cup, Slytherin's Locket, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, Nagini and Harry Potter

20. Who is the youngest living Peverell?
A. Harry Potter
B. Ron Weasley
C. Draco Malfoy
D. Neville Longbottom
Answer: A. Harry Potter. As evidenced from his ownership of the invisibility cloak, passed down from father to son and the grave of Ignotus Peverell in the graveyard at Godric's Hallow, Harry is assumed to be a direct relative of the brothers in "The Story of The Three Brothers"

Game day in 10 Days!

Would you rather A) stay at home and watch TV or B) go to the library and play games?

If you picked B, join us from 7-8:30PM on December 11th for Game Day!

We will have all different kinds of games for you in the Constitution room. Bring a friend, your favorite game and be ready to play! Light refreshments will be served and oh did I mention we'll have a Wii?

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Who just finished Blue Bloods: Revelations and is still thinking about starting that third Eragon book)

PS This event is just for teens!