Shredded Book Guessing Contest

Stop by the Young Adult area before December 16, and see if you can guess which Young Adult fiction book I shredded.  No worries, no tears - it was a well used paperback copy that was already in tatters, and ripe for a second life as a contest.  What's the prize?  It's a surprize!  However, if you win, you might, just maybe, be invited to choose from the secret stash of like-new books stored in the YA section of the mysterious Closed Stacks.

17 Third Quarter-ish Favorites

Here are my top 17 book picks from the 50 I read between July and October.  Out of these, the top two must not miss titles (imo) are Neal Shusterman's lastest book in his Unwind series, which stitches up more adventure with a dark thread of biological engineering horror, and Counting By 7s, by Holly Sloan, a sparkling gem of a story. In August I got hooked on the Forgotten Realms series fantasy books by R.A. Salvatore, thanks to a recommendation from a teen advisory board member.  Give Homeland, the first book in this series a try; it has adventure, battles galore, and intriguing character development. Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas, the sequel to Throne of Glass, arrived at the end of August, which was a squeee moment for me, only now, I again (sigh) must wait for the next book to be published to find out what happens with Celaena.  I am a huge fan of all the Tamora Pierce series so was very excited when her latest book Battle Magic, arrived to continue the story about Winding Circle's ambient magic mages.  Living with Jackie Chan, Pieces, and Rats Saw God, are all realistic fiction on serious topics told with humor from a teenage boy's perspective.  I had not read Jo Knowles, Jumping Off Swings, but after reading Living with Jackie Chan, I had to read that too.  Spirit and Dust is a romping paranormal/mystery road trip featuring ghosts, witches, psychics, and Egyptology.  I was amazed by Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, a well-told biographical narrative by Phillip Hoose, about a girl who ought to be as well known as Rosa Parks.  Relish was delicious graphic format nonfiction, and includes recipes.  If you pick up one of the following to read, let me know what you think.  (Book summaries are from the online catalog, just click on the title to place a hold or to see if the book is on the shelf, i.e. checked in.)

Fantasy

Battle Magic, by Tamora Pierce, 2013.  When messengers arrive in Gyongxe "inviting" Dedicate Initiate Rosethorn and her two young companion mages, Evumeimei and Briar, to court to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor of Yanjing, Rosethorn is eager to go, but Briar suspects that there is an ulterior motive behind the invitation.  (Third book in Circle Reforged series.)

The Bitter Kingdom, by Rae Carson, 2013.  Elisa, a fugitive in her own kingdom, faces great challenges to rescue the man she loves from her enemies, prevent a civil war, and take back her throne but as her magic grows, Elisa discovers the shocking truth about her enemy's ultimate goal.  (Third book in Fire and Thorns trilogy.)

Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas, 2013.  As the royal assassin to an evil king, 18-year-old Celaena Sardothien must decide what she will fight for--survival, love, or the future of a kingdom.  (Sequel to Throne of Glass)



Homeland, by R.A. Salvatore, 1990.  Drizzt the Dark Elf finds adventure, peril, and awesome magical power as he confronts the underground civilization of the evil race of Drow elves. (First book in Forgotten Realms Dark Elf series.)

Shadowfell, by Juliet Marillier, 2013.  Fifteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured, but when she sets out for Shadowfell, a training ground for a rebel group, she meets a mysterious soldier and the Good Folk, who tell her that she, alone, can save Alban. (First book in Shadowfell series.)

Historical Fiction

All The Truth That's In Me, by Julie Berry, 2013. Judith can't speak. But when her close-knit community of Roswell Station is attacked by enemies, Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice.

The Caged Graves, by Dianne K. Salerni, 2013.  Returning to her hometown of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in 1867 to marry a man she has never met, 17-year-old Verity Boone gets caught up in the mystery surrounding the graves of her mother and aunt and a dangerous hunt for Revolutionary-era gold.

Mystery

Spirit and Dust, by Rosemary Clement-Moore, 2013.   Raised in a family of psychics and witches, teen Daisy Goodnight is happy to help local police solve cold cases but when the FBI seeks her talents, she becomes involved in a mess that even has the spirits terrified.

Realistic Fiction

Counting By 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan, 2013.   Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.

Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell, 2013.  Feeling cast off when her best friend outgrows their shared love for a favorite celebrity, Cath, a dedicated fan-fiction writer, struggles to survive on her own in her first year of college while avoiding a surly roommate, bonding with a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words and worrying about her fragile father.

Living with Jackie Chan, by Jo Knowles, 2013.  After moving in with his karate-loving uncle in a different town, Josh struggles with regrets while practicing karate with upstairs neighbor Stella, whom Josh fears will reject him because of her jealous boyfriend and his own checkered past.  (Sequel to Jumping Off Swings.)

Pieces, by Chris Lynch, 2013.  18-year-old Eric deals with the loss of his older brother Duane by meeting three of the seven recipients of Duane's organs a year after his death, and pondering who they are to him, and he to them.

Rats Saw God, by Rob Thomas, 1996.   In hopes of graduating, Steve York agrees to complete a 100-page writing assignment which helps him to sort out his relationship with his famous astronaut father and the events that changed him from promising student to troubled teen.

NonFiction/Biographies

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip M. Hoose, 2009.   Presents the life of the Alabama teenager who played an integral but little-known role in the Montgomery bus strike of 1955-1956, once by refusing to give up a bus seat, and again, by becoming a plaintiff in the landmark civil rights case against the bus company.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen, by Lucy Knisley, 2013.  Presents an illustrated memoir of the author's early life, as she describes key episodes and the foods associated with them, and the life lessons she learned from cooking and eating gourmet meals with her parents and friends.  (Graphic novel format.)

Science Fiction

Rot & Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry, 2010. In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.  (First book in Benny Imura series.)

Unsouled, by Neal Shusterman, 2013.  After the destruction of the Graveyard, Connor and Lev are on the run, seeking a woman who may be the key to bringing down unwinding forever while Cam, the rewound boy, tries to prove his love for Risa by bringing Proactive Citizenry to its knees.  (Third book in Unwind series.)

Humans vs. Zombies Game

HvZ Game

Last night the Teen Think Tank worked on the rules for a Humans versus Zombies game.  We reached a consensus for the rules. Unfortunately, the game date is now unknown.  Our partner from the Town of Hamilton Recreation Department is moving on to another job in another town as of October 18.   Soooo, the Teen Think Tank must postpone  HvZ until there is a staff person in the Recreation Department who is willing and available to partner with the Library for a HvZ game event in Pingree Park.  

Fall Programs for Teens

Minecraft Club Meetings
Every Wednesday 2:30PM to 4:30PM

The Minecraft Club is run by teens, for all ages who play well with others.  Bring your own laptop and have an active Minecraft membership.  Beginners and advance players welcome.  Minecraft Resources in the Catalog.

Teen Think Tank Meetings
First Thursday of the month
6:30PM to 7:50PM
The Library's teen advisory board, for ages 11-18, meets 11 times a year, on the first Thursday of the month (except July), for 90 minutes.  The Teen Think Tank works with the Young Adult Librarian to improve collections (books, audiobooks, music, and films), and to create programs and services designed specifically for teens.  Come share your bright ideas!  To participate drop by the Library and talk with the Young Adult Librarian, Kim Claire, about your interest in the TTT, or contact Kim at kclaire@mvlc.org.

PSAT Practice Test
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10AM to 1PM

Take a practice PSAT test, complete with results, provided free of charge by Kaplan.
A full-length proctored PSAT practice test shows students what to expect in a test-like environment. Students will receive a comprehensive analysis of their performance from Kaplan, detailing individual strengths and weaknesses.  Pre-register at the Reference desk, or call 978-468-5577, or email Kim at kclaire@mvlc.org. Bring a pencil and a calculator to use during the test.  The College Board sets the policy for calculators here is the link to the policy:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/calculator-policy

Movie: Bless Me Ultima

Friday, Oct. 1, 3PM to 4:50PM

"A drama set in New Mexico during WWII, centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman who helps him contend with the battle between good and evil that rages in his village".-from IMDb   Rated PG-13.  Based on the book by Rudolfo A. Anaya. Read the book before seeing the movie: Bless Me, Ultima.

College Financial Aid Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 17, 7PM to 8:30PM
College Financial Aid Workshop, for parents & students. Presented by Certified College Planning Specialist Jim Femia. There are billions of dollars available in need-based and merit-based aid available every year to assist students in paying for college. In order to receive financial aid however, the proper paperwork must be submitted accurately and on time. Many of these forms, FAFSA, CSS Profile, Institutional Forms, etc. can be longer and more complicated than the federal tax forms. This workshop is designed to introduce the financial aid process and provide helpful hints to potentially increase your financial aid eligibility.


Lives of Civil War Soldiers
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 3PM to 4:30PM
South Coast Historical Associates takes us into the lives of the everyday soldiers and citizens of the Civil War. Using replica firearms and original artifacts such as medical devices, battle flags and everyday items, experience an interactive and engaging program for ages 10+ and adults.

Keynote Speaker for the Library's 2013 Community Read

Dwight Jon Zimmerman

at the Ken Olsen Science Center

Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Thursday November 7, 2013
Reception @ 6:30 PM
Dwight Jon Zimmerman's Author Talk @ 7:30 PM

No living person has experienced the tragic loss of life, heart-rending decisions and dark days of the American Civil War. Dwight Jon Zimmerman, acclaimed military expert, award-winning author and radio show host, uses his extensive research on Douglass and Lincoln to shed light on our complex past, and invites dialogue about what divides and unites our nation 150 years later.

Click here for a pdf of the many related community read events.

In The Hammer and the Anvil, author Dwight Jon Zimmerman and artist Wayne Vansant recreate the turbulent era of American history that culminated in the Civil War through the lives of two pivotal figures: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Douglass, an escaped slave and brilliant orator, railed against the inequities of human bondage, while Lincoln used his time as a state legislator to try to curb the westward expansion of slavery.
Although the two men had their differences, they had experiences in common as well, and were ultimately united by the same cause. Their dynamic personalities, motives and efforts are skillfully portrayed in this engrossing historical graphic novel.
Reserve your copy of The Hammer and the Anvil today.

NaNoWriMo
Every Saturday in November, 10AM to 3:45PM
NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. This November, people all over the world will attempt to write a 50,000-word novel by midnight, November 30. Local writers will meet at the library every Saturday in November for write-ins. Come when you can! Leave when you like! Brainstorm, socialize, and boost your word count in the company of others who are doing the same. Last year, some authors produced upwards of 3,000 words in a single session. (That's 12 pages in the average printed book!) Call 978-468-5577 or email Sarah at slauderdale@mvlc.org to find out more. Or visit our Library's NaNoWriMo page. 
Click this link for: NaNoWriMo's Young Writers Program webpage

Graphic Novel As Art
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7PM to 8:30PM
Word Bubbles and Thought Balloons: The Graphic Novel as an Art Form 

Montserrat College of Art professors Adam Miller and Blyth Hazen present a brief history of comics and graphic novels, followed by a survey of the artistic styles and subgenres - from fantasy to autobiography and historical fiction - that make up this growing and evolving art / literary form. The presentation ends with examples of their work and process from their own studios, leaving time for Q&A about how to develop a graphic novel from idea to finished product.

Minecraft Club at the Library

The Library's Minecraft Club will start 

Wednesday, September 4, 2:30PM to 4:30PM. 

Bring your own laptop and have an active Minecraft membership.  

Registration will take place on club days.  Club is run by teens, for all ages who play well with others.
The club will meet every Wednesday at 2:30pm to 4:30pm.  

RULES: No griefing, raiding, or killing other players unless it is announced that a specific day will be a raiding and/or a player versus player day.  You will be banned until the next club meeting if you raid other players or engage in PVP on a no raiding/no PVP day. Three strikes and you will not be allowed to play with the club. You may ask the Op/Administrator (Daniel) to encase your house in bedrock if you do not want to play on a raiding or PVP day.

If you have a question or a comment use the comment section below.

Click this link to see: Minecraft Books in the Library's Catalog

it's a small world

One of the programs for teens this summer was the two part Macro Photography Workshop & Exhibit program led by Toni Carolina.  Results of student work is now on display in the Young Adult area until the end of September.  Stop by soon to view these close-up perspectives of the world.

Water Element - It's a Splash

If you have been dreaming about or spending as much time as I have this summer swimming and sailing then this book list featuring stories of voyages and sea creatures might be just the thing to tide you over for the rest of the summer.  Click the title to go the Library's online catalog, where you can place a hold or see if the book is current-ly available.  (The tale may be watery, but we appreciate our books returned dry.)

SAILING, VOYAGES

The Great Wide Sea, by Madaline Herlong, 2008.  Still mourning the death of their mother, three brothers go with their father on an extended sailing trip off the Florida Keys and have a harrowing adventure at sea. Adventure, Survival.

The Odyssey, by Gareth Hinds, 2010.  Retells Homer's epic tale of Odysseus, the ancient Greek hero who encounters witches and other obstacles on his journey home after fighting in the Trojan War.  Greek Mythology. Graphic Novel.

Seaborn, by Craig Moodie, 2008.  Craving "the Big Freedom," 16-year-old Luke resents being cooped up with his father on a small sailboat, but a sudden storm sweeps his father overboard, leaving Luke to figure out how to survive on a damaged boat in the Gulf Stream while dealing with his feelings of guilt.  Adventure, Realistic Fiction.

Ship Out of Luck, by Neal Shusterman, 2013. Brooklyn-native Antsy Bonano embarks on the largest cruise ship in the world, where mischief, adventure, and deportation await.  Third book in the Antsy Bonano series.  Realistic Fiction.

Stowaway, by Karen Hesse, 2000.  A fictionalized journal relates the experiences of a young stowaway from 1768 to 1771 aboard the Endeavor which sailed around the world under Captain James Cook. Adventure, Historical Fiction.

Voyage of the Arctic Tern, by Hugh Montgomery, 2002.  A simple fisherman betrays his village for a handful of jewels, a group of courageous Englishmen foils a traitorous Spanish pirate, and a lost soul seeks to redress an ancient wrong by finding a treasure chest.  Verse Novel, Historical Fiction.

The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech, 2000.  Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a forty-five foot sailboat, which, along with uncles and another cousin, is en route to visit their grandfather in England.  Adventure, Realistic Fiction.

SHIPWRECKED

Bad Island, by Doug TenNapel, 2011.  After Reese and his family are stranded on an island during a boating trip, they discover the island is not what it seems when the island's lethal inhabitants come after them. Adventure, Graphic Novel.

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, 2001.  After a cargo ship sinks in the Pacific Ocean, one lifeboat remains with the following survivors: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker and Pi -- a 16-year-old Indian boy. As the "crew" begin to assert their natural places in the food chain, Pi's fear mounts, and he must use all his wit and daring to develop an understanding with Richard the tiger.  Adventure, Suspense.

Nation, by Terry Pratchett, 2008.  After a tsunami destroys all that they have ever known, Mau, an island boy, and Daphne, an aristocratic English girl, together with a small band of refugees, set about rebuilding their community and all the things that are important in their lives. Adventure, Fantasy.

Overboard, by Elizabeth Fama, 2002. Escaping from a sinking ferry in the waters off Sumatra, fourteen-year-old Emily fights for survival for herself and a young Indonesian boy, who draws courage from his quiet but firm Islamic faith.  Realistic Fiction.

The Raft, by S.A. Bodeen, 2012.  Robbie's last-minute flight to the Midway Atoll proves to be a nightmare when the plane goes down in shark-infested waters, but the real terror begins when the co-pilot Max pulls her onto the raft.  Suspense, Realistic Fiction.

The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices From the Titanic, by Allan Wolf, 2011.  Recreates the 1912 sinking of the Titanic as observed by millionaire John Jacob Astor, a beautiful young Lebanese refugee finding first love, "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, Captain Smith, and others including the iceberg itself.  Historical Fiction, Verse Novel.

The Wreckers, by Iain Lawrence, 1998.  Shipwrecked after a vicious storm, 14-year-old John Spencer attempts to save his father and himself while also dealing with an evil secret about the English coastal town where they are stranded.  First book in trilogy.  Adventure, Historical Fiction.

MERFOLK

Ingo, by Helen Dunmore, 2006.  As they search for their missing father near their Cornwall home, Sapphy and her brother Conor learn about their family's connection to the domains of air and of water.  First book in Ingo Chronicles series.  Fantasy.

The Islands of the Blessed, by Nancy Farmer, 2009.  Two years after their adventures in The Land of the Silver Apples, the apprentice bard Jack and his Viking companion Thorgil confront the malevolent spirit of a vengeful mermaid and begin a quest that casts them among the fin folk of Notland.  Third book in Sea of Trolls trilogy.  Fantasy, Norse Mythology.

The Mermaid's Mirror, by L.K. Madigan, 2010.  Lena, almost 16, has always felt drawn to the waters of San Francisco Bay despite the fears of her father, a former surfer, but after she glimpses a beautiful woman with a tail, nothing can keep Lena from seeking the mermaid in the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.  Fantasy.

Monstrous Beauty, by Elizabeth Fama, 2012.  In alternating chapters, tells of the mermaid Syrenka's love for Ezra in 1872 that leads to a series of horrific murders, and present-day Hester's encounter with a ghost that reveals her connection to the murders and to Syrenka. Historical Fantasy.

September Girls, by Bennett Madison, 2013. Vacationing in a sleepy beach town for the summer, Sam is pursued by hordes of blonde girls before falling in love with the unusual DeeDee, who compels him to uncover secrets about the community's ocean-dwelling inhabitants.  Magic Realism Fiction.

PIRATES

Bloody Jack, by L.A. Meyer, 2002.  Reduced to begging and thievery in the streets of London, a thirteen-year-old orphan disguises herself as a boy and connives her way onto a British warship set for high sea adventure in search of pirates. First book in 10 book series.  Adventure, Historical Fiction.

Outcast, by John Flanagan, 2011. Hal, who does not fit into Skandian society, ends up in a brotherband, a group of boys learning the skills that they need to become warriors, with other outcasts, and they compete with other brotherbands in a series of challenges. First book in the Brotherband Chronicles series. Fantasy.

Pirates!: the True and Remarkable Adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, Female Pirates, by Celia Rees, 2003. In 1722, after arriving with her brother at the family's Jamaican plantation where she is to be married off, 16-year-old Nancy Kington escapes with her slave friend, Minerva Sharpe, and together they become pirates traveling the world in search of treasure.  Adventure, Historical Fiction.

Piratica: A Daring Tale of a Singular Girl's Adventure Upon the High Seas, Tanith Lee, 2004.  A bump on the head restores Art's memories of her mother and the exciting life they led, so the sixteen-year-old leaves Angels Academy for Young Maidens, seeks out the pirates who were her family before her mother's death, and leads them back to adventure on the high seas.  Adventure, Alternate World.

SEA CREATURES

The Brides of Rollrock Island, by Margo Lanagan, 2012.  On Rollrock the witch Misskaella knows how to draw a girl from the heart of a seal, and for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may keep her, and he will tell himself that he is her master, but from his first look into those liquid eyes, he will be as transformed as she, and the witch will have her true payment.  Fantasy.

The She, by Carol Plum-Ucci, 2003.  After his parents are lost at sea, Evan Barrett and his older brother leave their seaside home in West Hook to escape bad memories, but years later even worse questions emerge when Evan is asked to help a fellow student deal with another sea-related tragedy. Adventure, Mystery.


Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits, by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson, 2002.  Presents six short stories about the mythical creatures associated with the element of water.  Adventure, Fantasy.

TRUE SEA TALES

Click here for: Sailing Nonfiction Resources in the Library's Online Catalog.

The Conquest of the Ocean: The Illustrated History of Seafaring, by Brian Lavery, 2013.   Spans five thousand years of the ocean's history to tell the stories of the courageous individuals who sailed the seas for trade, to conquer new lands, and to explore the unknown, from the early Polynesians to the first circumnavigations by the Portuguese and the British.

Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916, by Michael Capuzzo, 2003. Details the first documented cases in American history of sharks attacking swimmers, which occurred along the Atlantic coast of New Jersey in 1916.  Adventure, Nonfiction.

Grayson, by Lynne Cox, 2006.  The author describes how, while training for a long-distance swim off the coast of California, she encountered a baby gray whale that had become separated from its mother and had been following her instead.  Also see:  Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer, by Lynne Cox, 2004.

Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, by Nathaniel Philbrick, 2005.  Recounts the 1820 sinking of the whaleship "Essex" by an enraged sperm whale & how the crew of young men survived against impossible odds. Based on the author's book "In the Heart of the Sea."  Adventure, Nonfiction.


Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, by Bethany Hamilton with Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh, 2006. The teenage surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack in 2003 describes how she has coped with this life-altering event with the help of her faith, the changes in her life, and her return to the sport she loves. Autobiography.

Titanic: Voices From the Disaster, by Deborah Hopkinson, 2012.  Tells the tale of the sinking of the Titanic using the narratives of the witnesses and survivors to the disaster. Nonfiction.