New Books on the Way for Flanagan & Meyer

I found out that John Flanagan’s 4th book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series is titled The Battle for Skandia and will becoming out March 18, 2008.

Stephanie Meyer who is famous for her books about the love between Bella the human and Edward the vampire is coming out with a new science fiction book called The Host: A Novel in May 2008. I also found out that Stephanie Meyers 4th book in the Twilight Series called Breaking Dawn will be coming out in Fall of 2008.

New members of my pet family!

Meet my new meeces:

Rowena:



Rowena is Broken Marked Dutch Agouti.

Svetlana:



Svetlana is black with white markings.

Violet:



Yeppers, Violet is BLUE!!! Otherwise she's broken marked.

And here's a picture of Mayte and Fiorella all grown up:



Mayte is Texel (long curly hair), dove (gray) and white banded. Fiorella is fawn broken marked, dutch, and pink-eyed.

In case you are curious, Georgie and Anya have gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

Fantasy Readers check out: Ranger’s Apprentice

If you love books like Lord of the Rings or Eragon check out John Flanagan’s The Ranger’s Apprentice series. The first book called is called The Ruins of Gorlan and the second book is called The Burning Bridge. I just finished the third book The Icebound Land which has left me hanging and waiting more. I hope Flanagan finishes writing the fourth book soon. I really enjoy the series because you get to witness the main character Will grow and mature into a brave and heroic Ranger. There is also lots of action to keep the stories interesting.

My picks for December

Fiction Book- Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Ella Brown used to be a commoner. But now she is Princess Cynthiana Eleanora- and engaged to marry the crown prince! Ella wants to learn new things- but she finds her lessons to be very boring. But one day, one of Ella's tutors almost dies and she gets to meet his son, Jed- and tells him all about how a commoner like she became the prince's intended bride. Ella wants to be able to go outside and watch the tournament- not just be a decoration. So she and Jed plan a way to make things change for Ella- but will it work?

Non-Fiction Book: Discovering careers for your future- Animals

Do you like animals? Do you like them so much that you know that you want to work with them someday? Then this book will show you all the many possible jobs you can do with and for animals. Not only that- but it also tells you what kind of training do you need, as well as how much they pay, and even who to contact for more information. So if you have considered becoming an animal trainer or a marine biologist (or anything else involving animals), this is the book for you.

Manga: Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP

Sakura Kinomoto has opened a mysterious book she found in her father's study- and has released the Clow Cards! But now Sakura has gained the power to become the Card Captor and retrieve all the missing cards. With her friend Tomoyo who sews her cute outfits and videotapes all her adventures, and with Kero-chan the Beast of the Seal, Sakura battles each card and seals it in the Clow Book. But there's someone else who wants the cards- Li Syaoran, another cardcaptor! And where could the other Guardian of the Cards be? And who was Clow and why did he have those cards in the book?

Anime- Martian Successor Nadesico

Akito Tenkawa used to live in a Martian colony- until it was destroyed by the Jovian lizards and he had to move to Earth. Now he is the cook in the battleship Nadesico- but he would much rather watch his favorite anime, Gekiganger III, than be pursued by the captain Yurika Misumaru. And then there's Ruri Hoshino, the child prodigy who runs the ship's computers and thinks everyone else is a "baka". Nadesico is a parody of various anime genres while being an awesome storyline in and of itself. Gekiganger!!!

Website- The Lion's Call

If you like The Chronicles of Narnia, you will love this fan site. The Lion's Call has informative article, humorous lists, professional art, and fun games such as "Hang Rabadash" and "Coin Sorting". You can even send your Narnian Fan Fiction and Fan Art, as well as add to the lists of "Addicted to Narnia" and "Good Idea, Bad Idea". So much fun in one site.

Teen Library Club Meeting November 27 & Dec 4

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Mary Noel Moody Community Meeting Room
Dates: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 &
Tuesday, December 4, 2007

• Middle School and High School Students Only!
• Tells us what books, DVDs, graphic novels, and PC games you think the library should purchase.
• Help plan and implement library activities for teens your age.

For more information visit the club on myspace: http://myspace.com/teenlibraryclub

My picks for November

Fiction Book- Nothing but the Truth by Avi

Philip Malloy is not the most motivated ninth grader- which shows in his English grade. But he was not a troublemaker. Until he hummed "The Star Spangled Banner" to get transfered from his teacher's homeroom. Philip would have never suspected this would turn into a national incident involving newspapers and lawyers. This book is written as a documentary novel- complete with memos and articles. So what did actually happen? Who is telling the truth?

Nonfiction Book- Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation by Helen McCarthy

Did you like Princess Mononoke? Want to find out more about the animation of Castle in the Sky? Want more Studio Ghibli titles? Then this book is for you. All about Hayao Miyazaki and the movies that he directed or did character designs for. Guess what- the very first movie I watched in the theatres was a Miyazaki film!

Manga- A Little Snow Fairy Sugar by Haruka Aoi

Saga is a very tidy girl living with her grandmother in Germany. She plays her mother's piano at the music store and works at a coffee shop. But her ordinary life becomes not so ordinary when she meets Sugar- a snow fairy in training! Sugar, and her friends Salt the Sun Fairy and Pepper the Wind Fairy, also decide to plant their seeds in Saga's place! Now Saga has to keep the Fairies a secret from her classmates- while Sugar and her friends have to find the true twinkle that will allow them to become full-fledged Weather Fairies!!!

Anime- Pretear

Himeno is a normal sixteen year old whose father has gotten remarried to a rich woman with two daughters. But that is not the most extraordinary thing happening to Himeno this year- she has also met the seven Leafe Knights who harness the powers of nature and who can merge with Himeno to become the Pretear! It is up to Pretear Himeno and the Leafe Knights to stop the Princess of Disaster- but why is the Princess of Disaster so evil that she needs to be stopped? And who is this mysterious maid that comes to work for Himeno's new family? And why does Sasame sound so melancholic, even though he is a Leafe Knight fighting for good?

Sugar and Pretear both have manga and anime versions. I like both the manga and anime for Sugar about the same- but the Pretear anime has a plot twist that makes it just plain awesome. Both have theme songs sung by Yoko Ishida- whom I saw in concert at AWA 2005!!!

Website- Jump the Shark

OK, so you've been watching a TV show you like for a few seasons. And it just does not seem as good as it used to be. Can you think of when things changed and it just stopped serving its purpose? The phrase for this is "jump the shark"- named for when Fonzie jumped over a shark with jet skis in the show "Happy Days" and viewers realized the show was no longer the same. This website talks about when a lot of TV shows stopped being good and changed for the worst- and it lets visitors pick the exact moments and reasons when a show has "jumped the shark".

Anime Costume Contest

This Halloween, the Anime-Manga Club at the Jan Platt Library held a costume contest!

Everyone dressed up and voted for their favorite costumes.

Andi and Linda helped us tally the votes:



And the winners were...

1st Prize: Gabby as Yuffie from Final Fantasy


2nd Prize: Jose as Rock Lee from Naruto



3rd Prize: Fat Man



The winners got Pocky, origami paper, and the excitement of being on the Teen Blog.

Tampa Comic Book and Toy Convention

Comic Book and Toy Convention

Yeppers, it's next Sunday the 11th of November from 10AM till 4PM. Right here in Tampa- at the Doubletree Hotel in Cypress Street between Lois and Westshore. Plenty of comic books, anime, toys, and more! Even a costume contest you can enter to win nifty prizes. See you there!

Teen Advisory Board at SouthShore

On November 19th at 7pm, SouthShore Regional Library will have their first Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting. The TAB will be for grades 7th - 12th and will give teens a voice in creating library programs. Teens will get community service hours which can go toward graduation and scholarships. Teens on the advisory board will give input on books, games, and music the library buys for teens. You can even contribute ideas for the Teen Blog. The SouthShore Friends of the Library will even provide Pizza and Soda.

Need more information? Give us a call at 273-3652.

Stephenie Meyer's vampire series

Now I am addicted to the story of Bella and Edward and the forbidden love between a human and a vampire. What I like best about the book series is the character Bella because she has some many insecurities. Bella thinks she looks boring, but she had four guys ask her out on a date in the first book Twilight! She doesn't realize her own physical beauty like many teenage girls and women. Her insecurities about her looks and her personality cause her to doubt Edwards love, which cause a lot of problems for both of them in the second book called New Moon. I am still waiting on the third book Eclipse. Lots of people have reserved it in the hcplc.org catalog.

YouTube Contest

Do you like to make videos for YouTube? If so, you could win some really awesome prizes.

Ask a Librarian is having a Youtube video contest. To enter, you just have to make a creative and fun 30 second video telling everyone about Ask a Librarian. Check out the rules by clicking this link.

What's really fun about this contest? Not only do you get to make a movie, but you also get to vote for the winner! Once all of the entries have been received, you can check out the site and vote for your favorite video.

My Picks for October

Fiction Book- Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde

Selwyn and Farold may not have gotten along. They may have competed for the love of the same girl. But that does not mean that Selwyn wanted to kill Farold- much less than he actually murdered him. The angry villagers accuse Selwyn of murder and bury him alive with Farold. What they do not know is that the witch Elswyth can clear his name in exchange for servitude- and also revive Farold as a bat in order to find out who the true murderer was! Hilarious supernatural mystery- great for Halloween.

Nonfiction Book- The Ultimate Kids' Money Book by Neale Godfrey

How does credit and debit cards work? What kinds of accounts can you have at a bank? Where did coins and paper money originate? Why is demand and supply so important?
Who is the Federal Reserve? When are the best times to invest money? Don't be deceived by the title- this book has a lot of great info for teens like you who want to learn more about earning, spending, and saving your hard earned money.

Manga- Record of Lodoss War by Ryo Mizuno

To the south of the continent of Alecrast lies the accursed island of Lodoss! The War of Heroes was only the beginning! Various cycles of stories take place in the Lodoss universe- The Grey Witch, Scepter of Domination, Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, Deedlit's Tale, The Lady of Pharis, and Welcome to Lodoss Island. If you like Dungeons and Dragons and fantasy stories, you will enjoy Lodoss.

Anime- Vision of Escaflowne

Hitomi Kanzaki was running track one day...and now she has been summoned to planet Gaea! Van Fanel, King of Fanelia has to pilot his Escaflowne in order to defend his country from the Zaibach enemies. Dilandau is hiding something- he has to be hiding something! What was Emperor Dornkirk searching for so zealously that took him all the way to Gaea? And why has Folken turned against his brother? Mecha, fantasy, romance, action, shounen, and shoujo- all in Escaflowne.

Website- Cosplay Lab

Want to see what people look like when they dress up as their favorite anime, manga, and video game characters? This site has a large gallery of cosplayers that you can search, as well as a list of anime conventions and what is everyone wearing to them. The Lab also features contests and links to costume and prop stores. Have fun gazing at costumes- you may even find inspiration to make one of your own!

Teen Movie Night

Come enjoy a movie with your friends at the Temple Terrace Public Library

Premiering

Girl with a Pearl earing

Thursday October 11

From 5-8 pm

free popcorn and drinks

For Those About to Rock...

We're less than a month away from the release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and the song list has been announced.

And if you can't wait to hear some of these tracks, click over here.

I read Banned Books! Do you?

It's Banned Books Week again! What are YOU reading?

September 29 through October 6, 2007

Each year the ALA (American Library Association) sponsors this weeklong celebration to remind us of the importance of our freedom to read. Want to see which books were most challenged in 2006?

Which series of Banned Books have you read & liked most?

Gossip Girl

Lord of the Rings

Harry Potter

Vote on this poll at

Teen Read Week and your 31 Flavorite Authors!

Teen Read Week (October 14-20) celebrates our favorite teen lit books and authors, and what better way is there to get in the spirit than by getting to know some of those authors first-hand?


This month, Readergirlz & YALSA present 31 Flavorite Authors, hosting an online chat each night with the likes of Stephenie Meyer (Eclipse), Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries), and Ann Brashares (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). Head over and check out the full line up...


ps... Thanks to the folks at Pop Goes the Library for the heads up on this!

My picks for September

I've been very busy lately, but I have not forgotten about you all!

Fiction Book: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Teenager Matilda Cook and her mother run a restaurant in Philadelphia. It is now summer, it is scorchingly hot, and mosquitoes are driving everyone crazy. And now the doctor has said that her grandfather is ill with the deadly yellow fever. Before this breakout, gossip involved the daughter of a rich family eloping with her tutor. Now everyone is running for their lives. What can everyone in this newborn nation do?

Non-Fiction Book: Anime Essentials by Gilles Poitras

Been watching some really good anime and want to learn some more? Find out all about the many anime genres and titles in this anime reference. From the first anime ever released to the major producers and studio to the most popular characters and more!

Manga: Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

Serena just wants to be a normal teenager and pine for Darien. But now she has run into a talking cat called Luna- that tells Serena that she is Sailor Moon! Now they have to find the other Sailor Soldiers and the Moon Princess! And who is this mysterious masked hero Tuxedo Mask? If you liked the Sailor Moon anime, you will love the original manga.

Anime: Voltron

Five young pilots from Earth are headed to Planet Arus in the Denubian Galaxy to defend it from the evil forces of Planet Doom. Now they will pilot the 5 lions that combine to form the mighty Voltron. Action, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, comedy- no wonder Voltron is such a classic even after more than 20 years. There is also a Vehicle Voltron- but Lion Voltron is the best known, as well as my favorite.

Website: Am I Right

Hilarious music parody and trivia website. Read misheard lyrics, music jokes, parodies, crazy lists like "Bad Onhold Music", and cool trivia that you did not know like the first job of your favorite singer.

Thunderbolts and Lightning

Did you know that Florida (and Central Florida in particular) is the Lightning capital of the US?

Really... we're near the top worldwide, with our average lightning count only topped by a few warmer equatorial places with longer summers and more chance for the violent summer storms that bring the pretty fireworks.

As scary as a lightning storm can be, I think they can also be pretty beautiful. Catch some spectacular shots online (including the one above) at the How Stuff Works image gallery.

And, as usual, we've got more information at the library for anybody who wants to know more...

Halo 3 finish the fight

It came out today

Yeah

go visit the website

http://halo3.com/

We now have Dragon Ball Z Graphic Novels at BML

They have just arrived at the Bruton Memorial Library! We have several titles new to the library such as Kekkaishi by Yellow Tanabe and The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg. We have also ordered more issues of Fullmetal Alchemist, Whistle!, Megatokyo, Runaways, Yu-Gi-Oh! by Kazuki Takahashi, Oh My Goddess! and From Far Away.

Arrrrrrrrrrr!

Avast ye, maties! Did ye know that today is

International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

And everybody knows how much we love pirates here in Tampa Bay!

So how are you going to celebrate?

• Learn the lingo?
• Catch a pirate-y flick?
• Get aquainted with a Buccaneer or two?

Whatever you do, just don't forget to be on the lookout for scurvy dogs today!

ps.. Thanks to Miss_Rogue for the use of the photo that I ganked off her Flickr. I love people who give permission for everybody to use their work!

Teen Henna Art Night

Teen Henna Art Night

At the Temple Terrace Public Library

Thursday

September 13, 2007

From 7-8pm

We will show you about henna art and giving henna tattoos

Please come and bring a friend

To get a henna tattoo you need to fill out the parent release form.
Which one can receive at the event or email khancock@templeterrace.com

For more information contact
Kristel Hancock, YA Librarian

PLAGUE

Anime Bento Festival

It's almost time for the Anime Bento Festival!

The festival will feature the following four movies in over 250 theaters
across the United States. Mark your calendars because each film will
only be shown one time:

Wednesday, September 19
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles

Thursday, September 20
Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie Conqueror of Shamballa

Wednesday, September 26
Lupin the III: Castle of Cagliostro

Thursday, September 27
Karas: the Prophecy

In Tampa, these films will be shown at Regal Citrus Park 20, which is located at Citrus Park Mall.

Get your tickets now, because this event is very popular!

I will have a limited number of free tickets (courtesy of Funimation and Operation Anime) to give out at the next Anime Club meeting, which will take place at the Jan Platt Library on September 19 at 4:30pm.

Be sure to check it out!

Back to School!

It's that time of the year. School has now started.

Many of you will be making plans about what to do after you finish high school. It's never too early to start looking up information about your future.

Here are some books that can help you in your search:

- How to Choose a College Major by Linda Landis Andrews
- Barron's Best Buys in College Education by Lucia Solorzano
- Peterson's Four Year Colleges
- But what if I don't want to go to college? By Harlow G. Unger

Here are some test preparation books:

- Kaplan SAT Comprehensive Program
- Cracking the ACT
- The Official Guide for All SAT Subject Tests

And some websites as well:

- FACTS.org: Florida's online academic advising system.
- Petersons.com: College and graduate school planning website.

Tampa Colleges and Universities:

- University of South Florida
- University of Tampa
- Hillsborough Community College

Best wishes!

South Tampa Anime-Manga Club

Exciting news! Jan Platt Library is getting its very own Anime-Manga Club! Join us on Wednesday, Sept 5, at 4:30pm. This will be the very first meeting, so it will be a fun one. We'll have Japanese candy, Manga trivia, and more! Also, you can help us pick what movies to watch in future club meetings. Check it out!

Manga:SAT as...

Enough already. Aren't we past the time where it should be acceptable for someone to blow off graphic novels and manga as silly comic books? What's the tipping point when ignorance on a subject becomes pathetic?

OK, so this isn't news if you're reading this, but here's some ammo for the next time this happens to you: manga makes you smart. Seriously, they're teaching this stuff in schools.

First, they tell us video games are good for us, now this. If this keeps up, there won't be anything left to warp our minds.

1st Teen Library Club Meeting at Bruton Memorial Library

YOU are invited to the 1st Teen Library Club Meeting @ Bruton Memorial Library
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Library Meeting Room

Middle School and High School Students Only!

Make new friends and have fun!

Learn new skills and information!

Get volunteer experience at the library!


For more information:
Ask to speak with Librarian Salena Coller
302 McLendon Street, Plant City, FL 33563
(813)757-9215

Christmas in August

Or Hanukkah. Or Kwanzaa. Or whichever commercialized co-opted religious celebration you prefer. The point is: Madden NFL 08 is out. As if any any self-respecting gamer worth his/her juke move didn't already know.

Sure, at this point there's really not much more they can do to change the game every year. There are some cool new features this year such as the ability to relocate your franchise anywhere and even rename different fan sections of your stadium, but that's really just fluff, right? The gameplay has been tweaked to make the D smart enough to stop you from just rolling out and throwing bombs all game (I can't stand playing people who do that. Is that really fun? Explain why the same people who fork over $50 every year for a realistic sports game continue to play it as unrealistically as possible? Okay, rant over.)



And, yes, Ron Mexico himself is still in the game. I can't wait to have the Falcons visit the Dawg Pound in Cleveland for a little karmic justice.

My Picks for August

School's about to start! But in the meantime, here are some good ones to keep you entertained.

Fiction Book- Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett

Anna Comnena does not want to be anybody's puppet. She loves her lessons- especially reading and writing. And she looks forward to being empress and marrying Golden Constantine someday. But her intelligence and determination are a threat to her grandmother, who would much rather have her younger brother rule the empire instead. Based on the Alexiad, written by the real Anna Comnena.


Non-fiction Book- The Top 10 of Everything by Russell Ash

What are the 10 tallest habitable buildings in the world? Is your first or last name in the current top 10 of the USA? Have you ever seen any of the 10 fastest mammals? Which of your favorite movies fell into the top 10 for budget? All of this and more is in this awesome book- which launches a new edition every year!

Manga- Swan by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Masumi Hijiri dreams of becoming a ballerina like her mother. She sneaks in backstage to see her idols- Sayoko and Kusakabe- perform in a recital. But her dancing impresses the dancers so much, that now Masumi has been invited to a competition in Tokyo. And imagine her surprised when she is also asked to join an exclusive ballet school! Published by CMX.

Anime- Gatchaman

You may remember "G-Force" or "Battle of the Planets". Gatchaman is the original version that they were derived from- and even better! The Science Ninja Team has to prevent the evil Galactor to take over the Earth's natural resources. Under Professor Nambu, Ken the Eagle and his superhero teammates have to protect our planet from destruction!

Website- Livejournal

Livejournal allows you to keep a blog online easily. You can even customize the way you look, as well as make "friends only" and private posts. And the best part is- you can easily view the Livejournals of all your friends on your Friends Page. Plus you can join many communities and even create some. Livejournal even has a mascot- Frank the Goat!!!

kittehs.

Since Heidi shared pix of her pets, I thought I would do the same...Here are my cats, Walter and Fish.

They look like they are hugging but they were actually fighting when I took this. They don't get along!

I also have a virtual pet turtle:

adopt your own virtual pet!

Splish Splash!

Want a pet but don't have much time, money, or space for it? Then perhaps goldfish are the right pet for you!

I have had pet goldfish since last year. Currently I have two Oranda goldfish named Selphie and Irvine in a 5 gallon aquarium. It's important that you keep them in an aquarium with a filter and not a bowl so that the water is purified and filtered- and thus your fishies can live longer. You can feed goldfish flakes, chips, and pellets from a pet shop- or you can also give them vegetables like peas and lettuce. Oranda are one of the many kinds of fantail (double-tailed) goldfish. Common and comet goldfish have a single tail. Some goldfish have a beautiful coloration called calico- and some even have bubble eyes.

Here are some books in our library about pet goldfish:

- Goldfish
- A Step-By-Step Book About Goldfish
- Taking Care Of Your Goldfish

And here are some great websites about goldfish:

- Glimmering Goldfish
- Koko's Goldfish World

Now comes what you all were waiting for- a picture of my aquarium. Don't worry- Selphie's just asleep!

Harry Potter ... Couldn't take the Peer Pressure

Well I finally have broken down and started reading the Harry Potter Series. I am on Day 3 of reading the first book. I am hoping to be done by the end of August. So out of all of the Harry Potter books, which one was your favorite?

The other thing I am trying to figure out is what age did you start reading the Harry Potter books? I am wondering if most people started reading Harry Potter when they were in Junior High?

By the way, you can still get on the hold list for the last one "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"

If you like Harry Potter...

You are NOT out of good books to read! Now that the final book in J.K. Rowling's famous series has been released, here are some other awesome fantasy and science fiction books that teens like you will enjoy reading quite a bit!

- A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Violet Baudelaire is a 14 year old inventor. Her brother Klaus is 12, but has already read more books than most grown-ups have. And her baby sister Sunny has four sharp teeth and can say a few words that only her siblings can understand. And these are all good things- because what will happen to them next is not so good. After their parents die in the fire that consumed their house, the Baudelaires have to go live with their closest relative- Count Olaf, who may be an actor, but who wants more than just to take care of the Baudelaires! My favorite book in this series is Book 5- The Austere Academy.

- The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew have always known that their uncle Merriman Lyon was a little eccentric. Will Stanton knew he was the seventh son of a seventh son. But they did not imagine that now they were facing a battle between the Light and the Dark. Now they have to search for all the Signs- each one made of a different element. Is Will really the last of the Old Ones? And what's Uncle Merry's connection to the Arthurian world? I first read The Dark is Rising when I was in the seventh grade. And now they will be releasing a movie for these books this October!

- The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Remember Disney's movie "The Black Cauldron"? The Chronicles of Prydain are the books this film was based on! And Prydain is based on Welsh mythology...but with a few changes in the characters and geography! Taran finds being assistant pig-keeper dull and would rather be a hero. Eilonwy does not think it's necessary to receive education in becoming a prim and proper lady if she is already the princess. Fflewddur Flam likes being a bard, but not as much as he likes exaggerating everything. From chasing after the oracular pig to destroying the black cauldron, join the heroes of Prydain in their adventures as they grow up. Sadly, Lloyd Alexander passed away earlier this year at age 83. The Chronicles of Prydain are his most famous books- The High King won the Newbery Medal in 1969 and The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor book in 1966.

- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

"It was a dark and stormy night". Meg Murry felt like she could not get anything right. Her mother was a gorgeous scientist- but Meg was plain and an underachiever in school. Why couldn't she be like her normal twin middle brothers, Sandy and Dennys? Or brilliant like her father- a scientist in a top secret mission who happens to be missing? Or a genius like her younger brother Charles Wallace, even though he is just as misunderstood as she is? Meg thought that Calvin O'Keefe was popular and had it all- but he confides in Meg that nobody seems to understand him. Now Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace have met a mysterious woman named Mrs. Whatsit- who not only tells them about a "tesseract", but takes them in a faster than light journey through outer space to find the reason why Meg's father has vanished! Another Newbery Medal winner. I first read A Wrinkle in Time back in the 8th grade, but I listened to its sequels on audiobook last year.

And my absolute favorite:

- The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

You probably watched and enjoyed "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" movie; and now are looking forward to the "Prince Caspian" movie coming up next year. So instead I will talk about my favorite, but not so well known, book in the Narnia series: The Horse and His Boy. Shasta lives in the desert land of Calormen. But he does not look like his father- or like anyone else in there, for that matter. One day Shasta overhears his father wanting to sell him off- so he decides to run away and talks to his horse while packing for the journey. But nothing prepared Shasta for hearing his horse talk! Why can Bree the horse talk? Because he is a Narnian horse. Together, Shasta and Bree decide to run away to Narnia. Along the way they meet Aravis Tarkheena and her talking horse Hwin, who are running away because Aravis' father and stepmother want her to marry the evil nasty Ahoshta Tarkhaan. Now they head together towards the Capital of Tashbaan- and somebody that Shasta has never seen comes to him and addresses him as "Prince Corin". Who is Prince Corin, and who are these new mysterious visitors from the North? And how will Shasta and his new friends make it to Narnia? And who is this mysterious cat keeping Shasta company- and the mysterious lion chasing him? I first read The Chronicles of Narnia in the 12th grade, and they have been my favorite books since then.


Hope you enjoy reading these books as much as I did!!!

So I just finished the third and final book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, and I think the following review from VOYA best sums up my feelings:

"The writing is flawless, the imaginative vision is breathtaking, and the conclusion is heartbreaking but fitting and proper. At the close of this masterpiece, the reader can only marvel at Pullman's genius, alternately weeping and rejoicing for one's humanity."

The end is actually heartbreaking (assuming you have a heart, of course, not that I would ever assume anything so personal about you.)

In another review, Smithsonian Magazine states that this work "confirms Pullman's inclusion in the company of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien." I'd go a step further and say Pullman has pulled out in front of both of them, but that's a post for another day.

My picks for July

Fiction Book: The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney

What would you do if everything you knew turned out to be untrue? Janie Johnson's parents did not have any pictures of her as a baby- but they had told her it was because they did not own a camera until she was older. So Janie has never seen a photograph of herself as a toddler...until one day, when she takes a look at the "Missing Person" picture on a milk carton and recognizes herself! But she cannot be "Jennie Spring"- at least she does not recognize that name. Nor does she remember being kidnapped from a mall at age 3. But now she's having flashbacks about living somewhere else before coming to live with the Johnsons.

Janie's parents tell her that their daughter, Hannah, had joined a cult. And that Janie was Hannah's daughter, but Hannah had returned to the cult and had left Janie to be raised by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Janie tries to convince herself that the memories are of the cult- but she cannot get the Jennie Spring kidnapping story out of her mind. She writes a letter to the Spring family- but cannot bring herself to mail it, nor to call this family in a place that she has no memory of at all.

Non-fiction book: The Sky's the Limit- Stories of Discovery by Women and Girls, by Catherine Thimmesh

Did you know that lichens are both algae and fungi? What came first- counting or writing? How do chimps use tools? What does the earliest cave painting depict? Can most of the matter in the universe be seen, or not? All these discoveries and more can be credited to women and girls whose curiosity led them to learn more and more.

Manga: RG Veda, by CLAMP

"Six stars shall strike the earth", the prophecy says. Yasha-ou has awakened the child Ashura and sets out to seek the other four Stars in order to overthrow the evil emperor Taishakuten and his even more wicked wife Shashi. Aided by the mysterious Kujaku, the six Stars head in a journey towards the palace. There are supposed to be four generals to Taishakuten, so why do they see only three? Who could be the fourth one? And how much power does Ashura wield with the sword? Based on the ancient Hindu scripture RigVeda- but with CLAMP's famous plot twists.

Anime: Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo

It is now the year 5053. Albert de Morcerf and his friend Franz have journeyed from Paris to the Luna festival. Here they meet a very mysterious gentleman- the Count of Monte Cristo, alias Gankutsuou, who promises to visit Albert in Paris. It may be Albert's first time meeting the Count, but it is not the first time the Count (or should he be called Edmond Dantes) has crossed paths with Albert's family. A magnificent adaptation of the original novel by Alexandre Dumas. Gankutsuou is especially famous for the colors and patterns used in the characters' clothes...but it has substance and not just style!

Website: Deviant Art

Upload and display all your artwork here- whether you drew it on paper and scanned it or created it using a picture editing program! Receive and give feedback about art. There's even a message board and a news page. Great place to store and show your art if you don't have a website- yeppers, it is free!

Cyber Teens at Riverview Library-Saturday, July 14th, 2007

Hey teens!

We are having a Cyber Teen session just for you at the Riverview Library. Come in and have some personal time in the lab, sharpen your skills or share your favorite website. We will have a presentation on blogging and have time to actually post your own blogs. That is awesome!!

To quote a recent KFC commercial "kids these days have it so good".

Seating is limited so come early. The session begins at 2:00pm at the Riverview Library.


For more information check out our page at:

http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/happenings/branch/RIV.pdf

Check out Bruton Memorial Library's New Teen Space

In the New Teen Space one can visit MySpace.com, play video games on the computers, search the Internet, read books and hang out with friends.

Kwik-E-Mart comes to Orlando!

No, you are not seeing things...Homer's favorite store has made its way to Florida!

Can't wait to see The Simpsons Movie? Then check out the Kwik-E-Mart!

Orlando is one of 10 lucky cities chosen to get its own Kwik-E-Mart. For a limited time this 7-11 will be transformed into the Springfield convenience store.

I went this weekend and it was worth the drive. The Kwik-E-Mart is crammed full of characters and funny quotes from the show. Not to mention all of the cool products they sell, like Buzz Cola, Krusty O's cereal and Squishees. But if you can't make it to Orlando, there are lots of fun activities on the Simpsons Movie site, including one where you can make your own Simpsons Avatar. Woohoo!

More than meets the eye

Finally, the long awaited Transformers movie is out. It even has a cool release date: 7.2.7, just like the airplane.

Some of you may remember the toys and cartoons in all their incarnations. For others this may be the first time you see the Transformers. But it's fun. Action. Cool graphics and special effects. Good vs. evil. Robots in disguise.

You don't need to travel to Planet Cybertron to see more Transformers, because they are right here at our library.

The Return of the Girl Detective!

Nancy Drew, that is. Now she's on the Big Screen!

Our favorite teen sleuth is making her movie debut. Nancy and her father have moved to Hollywood for a short time, leaving River Heights (and her friends Ned, Bess, and George) behind. But Nancy just cannot stop sleuthing!

-Official movie website

- Nancy Drew Unofficial Website

- Nancy Drew books in our library

Harry Potter goes Universal

I know that everybody is awaiting the seventh book (over 500 requests) and the 5th film, but now we have something else to wait for. E! Online is reporting that the Harry Potter Amusement Park in late 2009. Universal will build the 20 acre amusement park in Orlando and will include some spots made famous in the books and movies. Some examples are Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogsmeade Village and the Forbidden Forest.

So now we have the book (July 21st), the movie (July 11th), and the amusement park (2009). How much Harry Potter can we take?

My picks for June

Fiction Book: Eva by Peter Dickinson

Eva woke up suddenly. Her last memory involved a car accident. She was 13 years old. Ice skating was her favorite thing. Her favorite TV show was "Adam and Eve", where Adam was in charge of the animals and Eve in charge of the plants. Eva was talking through a keyboard. But she could not see her nose! Even when she closed one eye, she could still not see her nose. So she asked for a mirror.

"Hi Kellie!" she waved when she saw her chimpanzee friend.

Except that it was not Kellie in front of her. Eva was looking at her face in the mirror! Her memories had been saved from the accident and transplanted into Kellie's body. Now Eva will be living as a chimpanzee. And talking through a voice synthesizer. Except that Eva is still a young woman inside.


Non-fiction book: Inventions by James Robinson

Who invented the first computer? How did the first television set work? What was the first video game created? Do you remember LPs or 8-track players? Have you ever ridden a hot air balloon or dirigible? Ever heard of nanotechnology? All these marvelous inventions- and more- are in this awesome book.


Manga: Basara by Yumi Tamura

It is now post-apocalyptic Japan. King Ukon rules the land and has divided it among his four sons- including the Red King. A pair of twins, a boy named Tatara and a girl named Sarasa, are born in the Byakko village. One of them is prophesized to be the child of fate who will lead the revolution.

So the Red King assumes it is the boy and gets rid of him...but it turns out that Sarasa is the true child of destiny! Sarasa now assumes the identity of her brother and sets out to get revenge against the Red King. But one day at the hot springs when she is not disguised, Sarasa meets a boy named Shuri and they fall in love with each other. However, Sarasa and Shuri have no idea about each other's secret identities- Tatara and the Red King!

Anime: Kaleido Star

Sora Naegino wants to be an acrobat in the Kaleido Stage more than anything else! So much that she moves from Japan to the United States in order to join the Kaleido Stage. Sora almost did not make it due to being late to her audition- but Kalos, the head of the Kaleido Stage, lets her perform after another acrobat is injured and decides she's right for his show!

Sora's not alone in her new adventure. Ken, an American boy, is always supportive towards her. Anna and Mia become her new best friends. And there's also Jonathan the Seal- yes, Kaleido Stage's mascot is a seal! But Layla Hamilton (my favorite character) is cold towards her- why would she be jealous of Sora? And what is Yuri Killian up to? Most mysterious is The Fool- the spirit of the stage- whom only Sora can see so far. Will Sora be able to become a Kaleido Star and perform the Amazing Flying Maneuver someday?


Website: NinjaTurtles.com

Cowabunga! Yeppers, this is the official website of Mirage Studios- creators and owners of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Learn more about the many TMNT universes here- the original Mirage Comics, the old and new cartoons, all 4 movies, and all other incarnations. Discover how the Ninja Turtles were first created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird- and how they became the sensation they were nearly 20 years ago and still are. Find out what the characters' favorite foods and books are! Read summaries of episodes and comics- and even order back issues you may have missed. See some nifty fan art and toys available. Total heaven for a Ninja Turtles fan!

Cool FREE movies for a HOT summer!

Stuck sitting the siblings this summer? Need some CHEAP stuff to do to keep them from making you crazy?


Or maybe (like me!) you just secretly dig the fun cartoon flicks that other people seem to think are "just for kids".


Well, stay cool and catch some fun flicks this summer... at one of the many theaters nationwide offering FREE movies on weekday mornings.


Check these sites for some of the participating theaters around the country and in Hillsborough County...

• Regal Entertainment Group (Citrus Park)


• AMC Theatres (Brandon, Veterans, Oldsmar)

And don't forget! When you finish your flick, there's still a ton of fun stuff to do, watch and read waiting for you @ the library!

I'll always be an American Girl!

You're never too old for American Girl, either!

Guess where I was this past Saturday? I was at American Girl Place in New York City. And last November I went to American Girl Place in Chicago. We even had some American Girl fun events at 3 of our Libraries this past March.

We may not have an American Girl Store in Florida (although there is one coming to Atlanta this fall)- but you can get many wonderful American Girl books here at your local library!

Just for Teens- Girls of Many Lands

- Spring Pearl: the last flower
- Minuk: ashes in the pathway
- Isabel: taking wing
- Cecile: gates of gold

Historical American Girls- meet 8 (soon to be 9) girls from America's past.

- Meet Felicity
- Asi es Josefina
- Welcome to Addy's World
- Samantha's Craft Book
- Kirsten's Cook Book

American Girl of Today- Books just for YOU!

- What would YOU do?
- Skin and Nails care tips for girls
- Oops! The manners guide for girls.


- American Girl Magazine - also at our library.

- American Girl Website: featuring shopping, games, news, and information about American Girl stores and events. One of the very first websites I visited when I first began using the internet 11 years ago.



And now here's the best part- my American Girl doll collection:

Historical and modern girls:

Just like you (in this case, just like ME):

Love your library? Vote now!

What happens when a love of libraries meets the fun of YouTube?

Librareo!

What's Librareo? A video short contest sponsored by the folks at Thompson-Gale, the guys who supply a bunch of those handy research databases we recommend to help you with your homework.

They've narrowed it down to 5 finalists and the rest is up to you! Vote now to decide which video deserves to win the $10,000 cash prize.

Voting closes on 6/11 and the winning video will be announced on 6/24.

Return of the Anime-Manga Club!

Now that school is out, you have time to catch up on some fun stuff, like manga and anime! After a month off, the Anime-Manga Club is coming back to Seminole Heights Library. The club will meet every Thursday at 3pm, starting this Thursday, June 7th.

What is your favorite manga series? We discussed this at a recent club meeting and everyone wrote down their top 10 favorites. What do you think were the most popular?

Well...

Full Metal Alchemist was our club's favorite, followed closely by Inuyasha, Yami No Matsuei, Bleach, Loveless, One Piece, Fruits Basket, Naruto, Trinity Blood, and Ouran High School Host Club.

If you see a link on any of those above titles, it means our library system has it. Just click on the link to see more from the series, or to put these titles on hold!

And don't forget to check out Metrocon - Florida's Largest Anime Convention. It will be right here in Tampa, at the convention center from July 6-8. It is their 5 year anniversary, so it should be pretty cool.

Happy 3 Month Anniversary!

When we started this blog in late February, we just weren't sure what kind of audience it would draw. We've never had anything like a blog for our library system, and we kind of just figured that we'd try it and see if anybody noticed.


Well, it looks like you did!


As of yesterday, we've had 1567 visits to our little corner of the library world!


Thanks everybody for reading, and thanks to rest of the Teen Blog Team for all the interesting and fun posts! And don't forget... we're always open to suggestions! If you know something we should post about or have any ideas about how to make this blog or the teen website better, let us know in the comments!

33 Days and Counting

Not to hate on Harry (the last thing I need is to have another wizard mad at me--long story, don't ask) or J.K., the richest, most powerful woman in the world, but we have another new release from a Brit master about to drop.

Now that Kurt Vonnegut has joined Douglas Adams on the other side, I'm going to have to declare Neil Gaiman is my favorite living writer (Best thing about living writers? They're alive to write new books. Of course, that hasn't stopped 2Pac).

Anyway, M is for Magic is a collection of short stories (I know, not a new book exactly but we're not going to have to wait long for that either) that really is a good intro to Gaiman's writing. This is flying under the radar, so there's not a long wait yet.

Once you're hooked, you'll want to go back to some of his early books, starting with Stardust (hitting the screen in August) and Neverwhere and working your way up to the amazing American Gods. Or you can do the right thing and drown in the genius that is The Sandman. Your call.

55 Days and Counting

Yep, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be available in 55 Days. You can keep up with the countdown by checking out MuggleNet.com which is a good Harry Potter fan websites or you can view it below:

We also have the third question bookmark available at your local library. The question is "Will Hogwarts Reopen?". Let us know what you think?