A Disreputable Podcast!

One of my favorite books this summer was The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (don’t be fooled by their names, Frankie and “E” are both female).

Listen to my podcast to hear a sneak peak at what awaits you in this Disreputable History (bassett hounds not included).

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Manga Maniacs!

Our first ever Anime/Manga Club meeting was yesterday!!!! We had candy sushi, talked about our favorite anime/manga, what new stuff the library should order, and then we watched a couple episodes of the Get Backers.

This is the candy sushi I made out of rice crispy treats, gummy worms and fruit roll ups!! The yellow stuff is candied ginger (instead of pickled ginger which usually accompanies fish sushi) and the "soy sauce" is actually chocolate. :) Snazzy, right? I thought it came out great and everyone thought it was delicious (well, the sushi was delicious, I don't think anyone really liked the ginger that much).

This another style of sushi (sashimi) that I made with rice crispy treats, swedish fish and fruit roll ups. These were my favorite!

This is the crew from left to right: Jackie, Amber, Emily and Cameron. Obviously I'm behind the camera. Imani came in a little late and we didn't get her in the picture. Sorry Imani! We'll take another picture next time.

If you like anime or manga you can come hang out with us every Thursday afternoon from 4-5pm at the Wilson branch library (303 Washington Ave. New Haven).

See you soon!
*Sunnie

Best books of the summer

In New Haven, most public school students have to read TWO books over the summer, either from the recommended reading list, books of their own choice, or occasionally a book or two specified by their teacher.

I, on the other hand, read approximately...hmmmmm...31 days in July, plus 31 days in August = 62 days, minus weekends (although I do take "work" home with me once in a while)...I'd say I read at least 40 books this summer. Honestly, that's a low ball guess too, because there are days when I'm on desk (sitting in the Young Adult area waiting for anyone who needs help to wander by) and it's really quiet (no wanderers) so I'll read 3 books in one afternoon. I got to choose whatever books I wanted and halfway through July we got a truckload of new books all at once, so I had some choice picks. Being the Young Adult/Teen Librarian really is an awesome job if you like to read.

Of course, some books look awesome and end up disappointing you, like Tucker Shaw's "The Girls" (his last book "Flavor of the Week" was really good, but this book is not worth your time). Others don't seem that great and end up surprising you... My two favorite books of the summer fall into this category.

I'm not going to summarize them for you, because then you won't be surprised by their awesomeness. I will just suffice to say, Frankie Landau-Banks kicks some you-know-what and JERK is about a guy that anyone who ever felt like an outcast can relate to (who, me? yeah).

Oh, and you're probably wondering what the random pictures are all about, right?! Well, if I told you that, I'd have to kill you... Just kidding. Actually, the one thing these books have in common is that they both involve a lot of secrecy and lies.

Happy reading!

Dairy Queen; realistic chick lit by Catherine Murdock

Dairy Queen is a believable novel about a 15 year old farm girl who must deal with not only the normal challenges every teenage girl faces, but also the challenges of keeping her family's dairy farm running while her father rehabilitates from a hip injury. Complicating the plot are a family that hardly talks to each other, a football rivalry, and a hottie quarterback who helps the heroine keep her farm running. DJ is unique and likable as a narrator, sometimes self-depricating and usually funny. This novel has gained much praise:

"D.J.'s unique voice makes the story engaging and fresh. . . . The Schwenk family life is at times heartbreaking, but so realistic that I can’t believe the author isn’t really a football-playing farm girl from Wisconsin."
- Teenreads.com

“While the story builds to a fast-paced ending, the characters linger, working Murdock's magic in the reader's mind long after the final page has been turned.”
- Down the Writers’ Path

Interested?
http://www.amazon.com/Dairy-Queen-Catherine-Murdock/dp/B002ECEJ22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250863976&sr=8-1#

YA Display

This is the display that we made for the Young Adult area on the main floor of the library. Some of the books are placed into dioramas that have summaries and pictures alluding to some of the themes within the books. Others have cool slips on them with quick and fun blurbs to give an idea of what the book is about. Some of these recommended books are Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, 1984 by George Orwell, and some in Spanish such as La Casa en Mango Street (The House on Mango Street) by Sandra Cisneros and Lo que los Jovenes Preguntan, Respuestas Practicas (Questions Young People Ask, Answers that Work) which is also featured in English in the display. This display is up for the month of August and the books are available for checking out.

Our Library Book Display

These are pictures of our display which features movies that are based on books. These movies include, Persepolis, Clueless, Speak, The Perfect Storm, A River Runs Through It, and She's the Man. This display will be up for the entire month of August and the books and movies are available for checking out.

What we've been up to...

We are in the middle of August and almost finished with the YA programs. Last week the new displays went up: featuring some fabulous YA books and a table for books that have been made into movies.

Featured novels include:
George Orwell's novel about a futuristic totalitarian government: 1984
A heartwarming novel about two unlikely, and strikingly different, heroes: Freak the Mighty
Street Fiction told in poetry by the gifted Nikki Giovanni: Bronx Masquerade
and a not-so-happily-ever-after retelling of Cinderella

...and in the books-to-movies display...
Marjane Satrapi's phenomenal graphic novel memoir Persepolis
"She's the Man," a modern, refreshing look at Shakespeare's classic play "Twelfth Night"
Laurie Halse Anderson's groundbreaking novel Speak.

The author, who lived in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, recounts how tasting the nectar of a mango gave her the will to live after surviving a brutal attack by heavily armed rebel soldiers and living in a refugee camp.

(This book is available at the New Haven Free Public Library)

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome changes her life and that of her family forever.

(This book is available at the New Haven Free Public Library)

Arts & Crafts

Chelsea and Isha! The Creators.
Working away to create an example of one of the arts and crafts projects we are hosting at the New Haven Library Branches.

Home-Made Bookmarks!

Here's a great way to recycle your useless and corny get-well, birthday, and christmas cards. Use them to make cool bookmarks! Here's how.




Step 1: Cards with handwriting on them are no good for this project. And they may have your personal business on them, so discard them for this activity. Also, you don't want to use cards with images that are too wide or just unappealing. After sifting through your cards, and finding ones appropriate for this project, set them aside, and prepare to transform them.


Step 2: Using a paper-cutter, or a pair of scissors, cut off the back of the cards.

Step 3: Do not be silly about how you cut the design of the card into a bookmark. Don't cut a christmas card so that half of Santa Claus's body is on one bookmark, and the other half on another. Visualize how you can cut around one graphic to make one bookmark, or how you can cut one design into two or three strips.


Step 4: You can use a ruler and pencil/pen, to mark the lines of the design you are going to cut along. Commercial bookmarks are usually 1&1/2 by 6 inches, or 1&1/2 by 9 inches. The size of the bookmark depends on the size of the card, so adjust the length to the width.


Step 5: If you want your bookmark to look all nice and professional, and to last longer, you can seal it with plastic using a lamenating machine. If you do not have a lamenating machine at home, you can use a lamenating machine at Staples, or any other copy-making store.

Programs and Activities @ Our Library

We are conducting many arts & crafts programs, and other activities for teens at the branches of our library in New Haven. Here are some cool events that you can Catch this summer.

Recycled Sculpture

Create a brand new piece of artwork using the contents of our recycling bin.

Here is an example of a recycled sculpture I made using and old cookie can that was shaped like a teddy bear, scrap fabric, crayons, buttons, useless silly-glasses, aluminum foil, and a much more stuff I found around.

Times and Locations where you can make your own recycled sculpture.

Fair Haven Branch Library, 182 Grand Avenue: July 22nd 3:30p.m.-4:30pm

Mitchell Branch Library, 37 Harrison Street: July 22nd 6:30p.m.-7:30p.m.

Stetson Branch Library, 200 Dixwell Avenue: July 29th 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

Courtland Wilson Branch Library, 303 Washinton Avenue: July 30th 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

It's All About ME! Collage

Create a collage that has as much attitude as you!

Here are examples of collages made by myself and Chelsea. You can make your own collage at one of our library branches.

Times and Locations

Fair Haven Branch Library, 182 Grand Avenue: August 5th 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

Courtland Wilson Branch Library, 303 Washington Avenue: August 6th 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

Stetson Branch Library, 200 Dixwell Avenue: August 12th 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is a graphic memoir about a girl, Marjane, growing up in a Iran during a cultural revolution. At first, she doesn't understand exactly what is going on around her. She laughs with her friends at school about rules that seem silly to her, and mimics soldiers. Gradually though, she sees some of the significance of the events in her country. She watches the news with her father, and begs to follow her parents to demonstrate in front of government buildings. She meditates about laws she finds unfair, and what can be done about them. Throughout it all however, she maintains a clever and humurous attitutde that gives the book a light overtone. This book is cute, funny, engaging, and suspensful. Marjane, grows in body and mind as her country continues to decline.

(This book is available at the New Haven Free Public Library)

Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks

In this suspensful, and thrillingly dark novel, Martyn Pig, a teenage boy and his suspiciously secretive friend Alex, rush around the darkest corners of their town to hide the accidental murder of Martyn's abusive, alcholic father. The two characters scheme, and lie to keep themselves out of trouble. As they hide from their neighbors, passersby, and the authorities, the novel takes the reader through twists and turns, leading into a surprising and almost heartbreaking ending. Brooks writes this novel in a mysterious and poise style that will keep your nose buried in the pages until you've read it cover to cover.