Read to Achieve with the Milwaukee Bucks

It's time for the 2011 Bucks Reading Challenge!

If you are in 3rd-10th grade, stop in the library beginning Monday January 3rd 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 3rd. 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!*

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

Bucks Read to Achieve runs from January 3rd-February 26th 2011, and stop by the reference (or information) desk for more information!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie

*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.

Read books on your phone!

Do you have an iPhone or Droid? Did you know you can read library books from your phone using Overdrive and your library card?

Earlier this month, it was announced that Overdrive has an app to allow you to check out and read books using your iPhone or Droid. Overdrive is a free app from the app store or market, and once you have that downloaded, you should be ready to go. Be sure to check all the system requirements, though. You may need to sign up for a free Adobe account to get the app to work on your phone.

You will need your library card number and pin (the number you use to put items on hold and/or log on to the Internet computers) and voila you can check out books to your phone for free.

Overdrive has a great selection of YA titles you can check out such as If I Fall by Lauren Oliver, The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff and many other titles for you to browse, and check out.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading Love Drugged by James Klise, not on my phone though, I have the paperback copy!)

Book Review: Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Dumb just won the Seattle Teen Battle of the Bands competition. Now they are playing on the steps into school. Piper Vaughan isn't sure what to think. They've got the band look down, with a gorgeous lead singer, mysterious base player and the angry girl on lead guitar. They seem to have a lot of energy, that's apparent. But Piper is missing one thing, she can't hear them.

Meet Piper Vaughan, 18-years-old, and deaf since she was 6. Now she is stuck at a school that used to have a great deaf programs, but those got cut. Her best friend has moved away to a school that still has said programs, and now Piper's best hope is her future at Gallaudet University, a college for deaf and hearing impaired students.

Except that her parents just raided her college fund to pay for her baby sister Grace's cochlear implant, a procedure that won't help Piper hear, but will give Grace a chance to grow up hearing. Things at home are stressful to say the least. Her dad stays at home with her baby Grace while her mother works. Her brother Finn is a freshman, trouble and more popular than Piper will ever hope to be.

Managing Dumb (the band) seems to be Piper's best chance to earn some money and get out of the house. Of course, it isn't going to be easy. Lead singer Josh is a ego-maniac who thinks he runs the band, his brother Will is totally into the music, and doesn't say or do anything else. Tash is as abrasive, and Piper may be afraid of confronting her. Add in new members Ed Chen on percussion and pretty girl Kallie, and Piper may have a band, but it's going to take a lot of work to help them make it.

Piper is a strong willed teenager, who just happens to be deaf. She's just as concerned with fitting in at school as she is figuring out her place at home. Of course, there is a little bit of romance in there, and you will see it long before Piper does. Band drama, changing images and life is coming fast at Piper, and it's amazing to read her story.

Author Antony John tells a fascinating tale of music, high school and friendship that will appeal to fans of books like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Rock Star Superstar, and Heavy Metal and You. Fans of Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix shouldn't miss this book either, as Seattle rock 'n roll history plays a part in this book too!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading Incarceron by Catherine Fisher)

Book Review: Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

Pirates vs. ninjas? Meh. Zombies vs. unicorns? That's more like it!

Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie) and Holly Black (Team Unicorn) have rounded up 12 awesome YA authors to give you the gift that keeps on giving - 12 stories filled with gruesome zombie gore and sparkly rainbow unicorns. Oh yeah, and there's also super swoony zombie (um, sorry, reanimated) boys - it's only a minor problem that they want to eat your brains, right? - and killer unicorns too. What, you thought that horn was just for looks?

On Team Zombie, there's Cassandra Clare, author of The Mortal Instruments series, who gives Clary and Jace a run for their money with her story of love and revenge in a town where the dead are cursed to always return. Carrie Ryan returns to the world of the Mudo with her story of pirates in the Caribbean, zombie-style. And Maureen Johnson will make you laugh out loud with her tale of Sofie, who gets a summer job as a nanny for a famous actress's adopted brood of odd, shambling children.

On Team Unicorn, my favorite has got to be Meg Cabot's Princess Prettypants. Liz Freelander didn't believe in unicorns - until her crazy aunt gave her one for her 17th birthday, complete with blue muzzle, purple fetlocks, lavender horn, and the name Princess Prettypants - it looks like unicorns are making a comeback! There's also Diana Peterfreund's story of Wen's rescue of a baby unicorn from a carnival freak show - and her efforts to hide it in the garage and raise it in secret. Margo Lanagan spins possibly the creepiest tale of a princess and a unicorn's love that I've ever read, and Kathleen Duey's eerie tale of the healing powers of a unicorn will haunt your dreams.

But, possibly the best part about Zombies vs. Unicorns is the hilarious commentary from Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier at the beginning of each story. This one's for anyone who's ever wondered which it would be - zombies? Or unicorns? You decide!

Because nothing says winter break like zombies and unicorns - Happy Holidays, West Allis teens!

Megan
(now reading Pegasus by Robin McKinley - you thought you wanted a dragon after watching How To Train Your Dragon? I want my own pegasus!)

Book Review: Not that Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Senior year of high school is time for many things: making those last great strides on your college applications, getting good grades and being more involved in the right kind of activities, at least according to Natalie Sterling. Of course, more students are like her best friend Autumn, who want to remember all the great parts about high school, while having fun with friends at things like parties, football games and dances.

Natalie is all ready for a great senior year, when two people start to disrupt it: confident freshmen Spencer Biddle and cute senior football player Connor Hughes. Spencer is everything that Natalie thinks girls shouldn't be, but she owns it, confusing Natalie. Connor could have any girl in school, but he wants Natalie, and Natalie isn't sure he is worth the risk to her reputation.

It has always been clear to Natalie that girls get judged for acting a certain way, even if guys get high fives from their teammates for the same behavior. Natalie never wanted to be THAT kind of girl, but that raises the question, what kind of girl does she want to be?

Don't think this is your average girl meets boy and starts to change story. Author Siobhan Vivian captures Natalie's struggle of being true to herself, while still exploring things such as sexuality, feminism and growing up. The relationships between Natalie and Autumn as well as Sterling show the different way girls can support each other and tear each other down even within friendships.

Not that Kind of Girl is a smart look at high school, and a lot more than just your average teen chick-lit. This should be recommended reading for all high school students for the way it looks at the relationships between boys and girls, girls and girls, and even guys and guys and the way those relationships can shape reputations.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John)

Book Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Christmas, in Dash's opinion, is the most horrible time of the year. He's managed to secure a parentless Christmas (factual accuracy not necessary when your divorced parents haven't spoken in 8 years) and is enjoying the only good reason for the season, no school, by browsing the 18 miles of bookshelves in The Strand. Which is where he finds the red notebook, propped up next to his favorite author's books. On the front is written 'Do You Dare?' and inside are a series of puzzle clues leading through the labyrinthine shelves of the New York bookstore. How could a lover of the Oxford English Dictionary like Dash resist this dare?

Lily is an unabashed Christmas enthusiast, so she is absolutely disgusted with her parents, who are on a 2nd honeymoon in Fiji and have abandoned her to the care of older brother Langston. She is also disgusted with Langston, who is much more interested in canoodling with new boyfriend Benny then caroling with his sister. Even worse, her beloved Grandpa is in Florida, where he intends to propose to the horrible Mabel (who irritatingly insists on being called Glamma). It is Lily who left the red notebook on the shelves at The Strand. Okay, it was Langston's idea, but still - Lily executed the plan, with hope of spicing up a very disappointing Christmas. Also, she's never been very brave, and she'd like to be.

Dash and Lily pass the red notebook back and forth, leading each other on a hilarious, festive holiday scavenger hunt of dares across New York City. There's a horrifying incident with the Macy's Santa Claus, a build-a-muppet so ugly it's adorable, a giant Nutcracker, and a run-in with the over-vigilant mommy patrol of Washington Square Park. Dash enlists his friends to up the ante on his dares, while Lily calls on her enormous squadron of relatives and their eclectic jobs and hobbies. As they roam the city, Dash and Lily find themselves falling for the notebook versions of each other - but how will they feel about the real-life Lily and Dash if/when they finally meet?

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have done it again! This fun, fast, clever and laugh-out-loud funny romp through New York City at Christmas is just the thing to curl up with over a plate of Christmas cookies and a mug of hot cocoa. I've never met a David Levithan/Rachel Cohn character I haven't wanted to be BFFs with, and Dash and Lily are no exception!

Megan
(now reading the hilarious Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier, because nothing says holiday cheer like brains!)

P.S. For more from the made of awesome Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, check out Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List!

Book Review: Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

Shy, outdoorsy, reserved, and clumsy in more ways than one, KJ has lived her whole life in West End, Montana, a tiny town mostly populated by ranchers on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. Her mom died in a car accident when she was a baby, so it's just KJ and her irritable, surly and mostly silent dad. When she's not in school or doing homework, KJ helps her dad run his sporting goods store and guide hunters and fishermen during the tourist season. Nothing ever changes in West End - until Virgil and his mom, a wolf biologist from Minnesota, show up to study the Yellowstone wolf packs for the year.

Virgil is like a breath of sunshine for KJ - blonde surfer hair, all smiles, and he doesn't know all the embarrassing things KJ's ever done like the rest of the boys in school. When KJ and Virgil are assigned to work together on a wolf column for the school paper, she thinks the school year might just turn out okay.

But wolves aren't a topic to mess around with in West End. The ranchers harbor a deep hatred for the wolves, especially after the U.S. government re-introduced them to Yellowstone. Wolves eat livestock, which means money and livelihood lost. Pretty soon, KJ and Virgil are taking a lot of crap from the ranchers' kids and their parents for their Wolf Notes column.

When Virgil's pro-wolf float in the Christmas parade gets hit by a shotgun blast (some of the spray catching him in the face too), the smouldering tensions between the ranchers and the environmentalists in West End ignite. KJ finds herself caught in the middle. Her dad doesn't want her to get involved - the last thing they need is the hunters and ranchers boycotting their store. But Virgil and his mom have shown her that wolves deserve a chance too - and they do a lot more than just kill livestock.

Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me follows KJ through her junior year as she tries to figure out who she is, where she comes from, and who she wants to be. With tons of awesome detail about wolves in Yellowstone and life in small town Montana (negative 20 degrees at the Christmas parade, anyone?), new author Kristen Chandler deftly shows both sides of the wolf story, painting neither the wolves nor the ranchers as the bad guys. You'll struggle to choose sides just like KJ does - before you realize that there isn't a 'right' side, just many different ways of looking at things.

Megan
(who just finished Happyface by Stephen Emond, one of the 15 finalists for the 2011 Milwaukee County Teen Book Award - check out Katie's review of this awesome boy book!)

2011 MCTBA Announced

Back for another year, here are the top 15 titles for the Milwaukee County Teen Book Award:

You by Charles Benoit
Fat Cat by Robin Brande
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Maze Runner by James Dashner
Happyface by Stephen Emond
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Ash by Malinda Lo
Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Bruiser by Neal Shusterman
Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy

Check out the MCTBA blog for more information about the nominees and voting information!

City of Fallen Angels Cover Revealed!

Coming to a library near you on April 5th, the 4th book in The Mortal Instruments series by my favorite Cassandra Clare!



When you're done marveling over this gorgeous cover, go check out a teaser excerpt over on EW! More cover details, including close-ups!, over on Cassandra Clare's blog too.

Megan
(who can't wait to dig into the advanced reader's copy of Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr that just came for me in the mail today!)

Book Review: The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson

Imagine knowing that you are going to die tomorrow. Not so much how, or why, just a friendly rainbow embellished letter informing you that your last living day is today. Welcome to Oliver's world, which is very much like our world, with the addition of a Deathday Letter, a letter each person receives the day before they die. Oliver gets his letter on October 16th, before he turns 16, drives a car or does some other things that are very important to his 15-year-old self.

His parents are sad, and his family is creeping him out with the way they are acting. All he wants is for his last day to be normal. So he goes to school. Thank goodness for his friend Shane, who breaks him out of school with their friend Ronnie, for one last great adventure. Of course, things don't go easy or as planned. Partially due to Ronnie's role as Ollie's ex-girlfriend. But as a former best friend, she deserves to be part of the last day group. The three of them find themselves doing things they never thought they would do, or at least thought they would have a few years to live out.

I've got to hand it to author Shaun David Hutchinson, The Deathday Letter that takes a fresh look at death, and how teens may react if they knew it was their last day. It may be a sad subject, but the book is laugh out loud funny. The way that Oliver "Carpes Mortediem" (seizes death) is outrageous, yet completely plausible. The best thing about Oliver is he is a completely normal teen-aged boy who just happens to know that today is going to be his last. He has a great family, including evil twin sister, great friends in Shane and Ronnie, and even though he has a good head on his shoulders, he is completely clueless at times.

The Deathday Letter is best described as a mix of the books You and Carter Finally Gets It. Fans of humours "boy" books are going to love this one. Remember this is a book about a 15-year-old boy who is living his last day on earth. He does things things and thinks even more things that are typical 15-year-old boy thoughts.

I"ll see you @ the library!
Katie (Check out website for The Deathday Letter for character bios, fun stuff and contests!)

PS- I don't usually do this, but I have to share my favorite quote from the The Deathday Letter: "The whole emotional thing was making me uncomfortable. It's like watching the end of The Notebook while reading the end of To Kill a Mockingbird while someone punches you in the face. Again." (pg 189). Have you ever felt that way?

Book Review: Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Phoebe comes from an extraordinary family. She is a Rothschild, an old Jewish family whose extraordinary successes date back generations to Germany, her ancestor Mayer Rothschild, and his 5 extraordinary sons.

But Phoebe doesn't feel extraordinary. Shy, reserved, and quiet, Phoebe isn't sure how to be extraordinary, like her mother. Until she meets Mallory Toliver in 7th grade. New to Phoebe's exclusive, snobby private school, Mallory is very odd. When the awkward new girl shows up for class wearing what looks like a two-small Disney princess costume with wings, Phoebe makes up her mind to defy her friends (who she doesn't really like anyway) and befriend Mallory.

Phoebe and Mallory are now juniors in high school, best friends and inseparable. Other than her good Nantucket friend, Benjamin, who she only sees when her family is vacationing, Mallory is the only friend Phoebe needs - until Ryland. Mallory's older brother, Ryland is devastatingly handsome and charismatic, and Phoebe suddenly only wants to be with and please him. It isn't long before Ryland has Phoebe helpless under his spell.

But Mallory and Ryland are not who, or what, they seem. They've come to claim an ancient faerie debt owed by the Rothschilds, one that can only be paid by a Rothschild daughter. But can a girl who doesn't feel extraordinary be strong enough to resist the supernatural? Is Phoebe strong enough to save herself, and her family, from their past?

A tale of love, loyalty, and staying true to yourself, this modern tale of faerie will put you under its spell until the last page. You'll yell at the book as Ryland cold-heartedly manipulates Phoebe, cry for Mallory as she struggles with who she is and who she wants to be, and cheer for Phoebe as she discovers what it means to be truly extraordinary.

Megan
(who just started Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristin Chandler over breakfast - what an awesome title!)

Reminder Winter Craft Night Thursday December 9th

Want to get out of the house for a bit on a cold night? Then join us for our Winter Teen Craft Night!

We'll be making crafts for winter, whether it is a card, gift box, or bag to wrap there will be something for you to make. Also we will have our super secret craft of marble magnets. These cool little treasures make great gifts, even if they are going to be difficult to give away.

Milwaukee County teens are welcome to this event, that will run from 7-8 PM in the library Constitution room!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading the Deathday Letters. Hysterical, so far.)

Book Review: As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

"Wait" Ry says as the train moves away. The train was supposed to be stopped for 40 minutes, and he just stepped out to try and call his parents or grandfather. Ry was on his way to summer camp, and he just read the letter that told him there was no camp to go to. Now the train is moving away from Ry, with all of his stuff, short of his cell phone and his wallet. He doesn't know where he is, or how to get a hold of his parents, and his grandfather isn't answering the phone.

Ry starts to walk. He needs to get home, or find someone who can help him. He's not even sure where home is, thanks to a recent move. The first person he meets is Del, a man willing to help him out and the two of them take a car, and later a plane and a boat to find missing people, and meet up with old friends along the way.

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth is a meandering and well crafted story that takes the reader on a journey of unfortunate events. An Omnipresent narrator tells us the story, giving us updates on both Ry's parents and Grandfather as they have their adventures at the same time as Ry. Helping tell the story are illustrations of Ry's adventures and an Incredible Journey-esque story of two family dogs.

Anyone looking for adventure or those of us who like to ask "What if..." will enjoy this tale of chance and possibilities.

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading Heist Society by Ally Carter)

Teen Winter Craft Night: Thursday December 9th 7-8 PM

Join us this Thursday, December 9th at 7PM for Teen Winter Craft Night. This event will run until 8 PM in the Library Constitution Room, and is open to teens living in Milwaukee County.

This year we will have three amazing crafts for you to create! Our secret craft is going to be...Marble Magnets! That's right we are going to make magnets with your favorite images for you to give away, or keep for yourself. There will also be gift boxes and bags to decorate as well as cards to make.

All supplies will be provided, however if you have small images you want to turn into magnets, please bring them. Making the magnets will require the images to be cut and glued, so don't bring any images you don't want to cut!

Whether you are looking to make something for yourself, or to give away to a friend, join us for a night of winter crafts!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Who has a serious collection of book cover magnets, Harry Potter, Twilight, Golden Compass...)

SSB Brawl Tournament On Saturday!

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, December 4th at 2PM in the Constitution Room (in the atrium, across from the fountain) for the final SSB Brawl tournament of 2010!

Gamers, just show up a few minutes before 2PM to sign up - just FYI, there is a limit of 24 gamer entries into the tournament. We'll play a couple 4-player warm-up qualifying rounds beginning a few minutes after 2PM to order y'all for the tournament brackets. Tournament play will be 2-player, double elimination. All items will be set to high, with a time limit of 2 minutes or 3 lives. Gamers are required to use library Wiimotes.

Prizes of $25, $15, and $10 gift cards to Game Stop for the Champion, 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively!

See you on Saturday!

Megan
(who is charging batteries as I write!)

Harry Potter Triva Winners (Part 2)

November is over, and so is our Harry Potter Trivia Challenge. Thanks to all of you who entered the contest! 19 teens entered 47 quizzes for this challenge, and here are our grand prize winners.

There was only one teen who answered all the questions to all of the quizzes correctly, so a big round of applause should go to the winner of a $10 movie theater gift card and a Harry Potter day calender for 2011: Ashley

There were three quizzes, so from each quiz we took all the teens who got all the questions right and randomly picked three more winners for $10 movie theater gift cards, so congratulations goes to, Nicholas, Alyssa and Elizabeth

There were also three general prizes that everyone who turned in a quiz could win. The winners (and their prize) are as follows:
Wendy will be enjoying some Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans and a Chocolate Frog
Drea has a new Harry Potter key-chain to show her love of the books
Natalie won a Harry Potter wand kit to make sure she's ready for Hogwarts if she ever gets her letter!

Thanks to all of you who entered, and keep watch. We'll do another quiz this summer for Part II of the Deathly Hallows!
Katie (Want to know the answers to the triva, check out the link on the side of the page, or follow the links below)

Answers to: Harry Potter Triva: General H.P. Knowledge
Answers to: Harry Potter Trivia: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Quiz
Answers to: Harry Potter Trivia: Think Beyond the Books