May Teen Programs

We’ve got two programs for you in May: a manga drawing workshop on May 1, and a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament on May 13. If you’re interested, read on for the details.

Saturday, May 1, come celebrate Free Comic Book Day at the library. We’ll be giving away at least one free comic to every teen that stops by (while supplies last, of course). We’ll have a bunch of different titles to give away – everything from superheroes to mecha to humor – and some posters as well. We’ll be set up in the Storytime Room from 11-12 and from 3-4 only. Our supplier for all these fabulous free comics is Bartertown Comics.

Also that Saturday, we’re having a manga drawing workshop with David Sullivan. If you’re into reading manga or want to learn how to draw your own, this will be a great program for you. This will run from 1-2:30 and you do have to sign up in advance to attend. Call 303-762-2555 or stop by the reference desk to do so. I only have one spot left as of this post!

Then on Thursday, May 13, we’ll be holding our first Wii contest in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Unlike our normal drop-in gaming events, this one requires sign-up, so that I can be sure to set up a fair contest for everyone (and fit everyone in the room!). Sign-up is limited to 16 people, so if you want to play, call 303-762-2555 or stop by the reference desk to put your name in. The tournament will start at 4 p.m. sharp and run until 5:30/6 p.m., depending on how many people are competing. Rules for the tournament will come soon.

Vibes, by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan
Genre: YA Fiction
Call number: Y Ryan
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (really liked it)

I finally read Vibes, after meeting the author at the Author Open House last April and having a wonderful talk about writing for teens and her new book. I picked it up because I wanted something short and funny to read to offset another novel I was reading (a 600-page tome).

Vibes is quite funny. And short. So it worked perfectly.

Summary poached from Goodreads:
Nothing is beyond Kristi Carmichael’s disdain—her hippie high school, her friend Jacob, her workaholic mom. Yet for all her attitude and her mind-reading abilities, Kristi has a vulnerable side. She can hear the thoughts of her fellow students, calling her fat and gross. She’s hot for Gusty Peterson, one of the most popular guys in school, but of course, she’s sure he thinks she is disgusting. And she’s still mad at her father, who walked out on them two years ago. Soon, a school project brings her together with Gusty, her father comes home and drops a bombshell, and a friend comes out of the closet, and suddenly she is left doubting that she can read people at all.

I wasn’t sure if my review contained spoilers, so I’m placing it behind a cut just in case, but I think the spoilers are minor.

New Books – Feb/March 2010

I’m a little late posting our list of new books, but here they are for February and March!

Freefall. Ariela Anhalt. Y Anhalt.
Briar Academy senior Luke prefers avoiding conflict and letting others make his decisions, but he is compelled to choose whether or not to stand by the best friend whose reckless behavior has endangered Luke and may have caused another student’s death.

Player’s Ruse (Knight and Rogue Book Three). Hilari Bell. Y Bell.
In alternate chapters, eighteen-year-old Sir Michael Sevenson, an anachronistic knight errant, and seventeen-year-old Fisk, his street-wise squire, relate their journey to Huckerston, a port town where dangerous bandits are raiding merchant ships.

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin. John Berk. Y Berk.
Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can’t hear what’s going on, but he’s a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will’s interested in more than just murder . . .)

Wish. Alexandra Bullen. Y Bullen.
After her vivacious twin sister dies, a shy teenaged girl moves with her parents to San Francisco, where she meets a magical seamstress who grants her one wish.

The Life of Glass. Jillian Cantor. Y Cantor.
Throughout her freshman year of high school, fourteen-year-old Melissa struggles to hold onto memories of her deceased father, cope with her mother’s return to dating, get along with her sister, and sort out her feelings about her best friend, Ryan.

Heist Society. Ally Carter. Y Carter.
A group of teenagers uses their combined talents to re-steal several priceless paintings and save fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop’s father, himself an international art thief, from a vengeful collector.