A blog to keep up on what's happening for teens at Brooks Memorial Library including: • new books • events • resources available • fun website suggestions • ... and more.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Two Must Go and Three Will Stay


This week we have a tie and two books will be leaving the Island. Inexcusable, by Chris Lynch has been EXCUSED from the Island. Readers had some mixed feelings about this book and commented that there was not enough of a plot and that it was confusing. This book would great for a discussion group, though. Anybody?

The second book to go is Sea of Trolls, by Nancy Farmer. INTO THE SEA WITH YOU TROLLS, I say!! For those of you who liked this book, be sure to check out other books by Nancy Farmer. You will find a couple of them in the Children’s Room.

There are now THREE BOOKS LEFT ON THE ISLAND. The ever-popular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the newly exciting A Great and Terrible Beauty, and the quietly-gaining-in-popularity The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things. Which one is your favorite????

Anime Showing 8/1


The Anime Club at Brooks Memorial Library will meet on Tuesday, August 1 at 7:00 P.M. in the Meeting Room. This month we will screen two anime. The first is a show about how beautiful and ugly the universe can be when a pretty girl named Hikari falls from the stars. Anime News Network called this new show "sexy, thought-provoking and beautifully animated." The second show is a comedy about a junior high school girl and her fashionable mechanical pet which came to her in mysterious way. She must fight to keep her pet from being stolen by the Dark Prince. This colorful show features both laughs and action.
Both anime are appropriate for ages 12-20 and have ratings of TVPG and TVMA edited.

Refreshments will be served and there will be a display of new manga that the library has acquired this month that are now available to be checked out.

For more information contact Sara Aoyama at or call Brooks Memorial Library at 254-5290.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

No Return for Return to Gill Park


The gorilla is gone. From the Island, that is. You’ll still find copies of Return to Gill Park, by Amy Gordon in the library of course.

This book was a special addition to the Island. What’s so special about it??? Take a look at the home page of author Amy Gordon to find out. What an interesting person, and so close by (hint, hint.) This author has written books for all levels of readers. If you read the biography and look at the books she has written you’ll see the adage “write what you know” coming to life.

So… what do you know? What could you write? Or what don’t you know that you could still write about? Summer is a great time for keeping a journal or doing some creative writing. Or... you could write a book review and send it to me to put on the blog!

Meanwhile keep reading and keep voting. Five books are now left on the Island!!!

Learning ASL (L is for Library)


Here's another thing you can do this summer. Here in Brattleboro we have a large deaf population. ASL (American Sign Language) is a way to communicate with a deaf person. It's like learning another language. If you have some time this summer, why not try learning ASL using an online resource. Check out this site for some learning tools. The ASL Level One class is free and is a good basic course to get you started.

Of course the library also has books to help you. Look upstairs on the mezzanine. The call number is 419.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Fun site for girls


If you've got the mid-summer blues and are feeling a little bit bored check out this website. Just click on the link because it's hard to explain. You'll get a chance to do all sorts of media related creative projects.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Flush (ed)


The verdict is in! Flush, by Carl Hiaasen has been voted off the Island. Possibly a book about raw sewage didn't appeal to our readers? But it's more than that. Flush is a quirky story about two kids who try to save the harbor from a casino boat that is dumping... you know what into the water. They also have to save their father who is in jail for sinking a river boat.
You can read more about this book and the author (who keeps snakes as pets and also pens newspaper columns in Southern Florida) at his website.

For those of you who DID like this book, you'll be happy to know that you can find other books by this author at the library. He writes for everyone so you'll find his books in the Children's Room and in Adult Fiction as well. Just do an author search in the catalog to find out what the library has. And if you'd rather listen than read you can find a copy of Flush on CD in the Children's Room.

Friday, July 14, 2006

First Meeting of the Anime Club


We had a good turn out for this event. We all agreed that Sister Princess was the better of the two anime that we previewed.

We will meet again on Tuesday, August 1 at 7:00 P.M. in the Meeting Room. We'll have snacks and make time to talk about our favorite manga. Shall we plan a Manga Exchange for September? Any ideas for other activities we can do? E-mail me if you have ideas!

--Sara

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Hey.... there are no more books on the display table...oh no.....


The good news is that the Survivor Book Club books are disappearing from the display table. The bad news is that the Survivor Book Club books are disappearing from the display table.

Huh?!?!?!?

Well, it's great that these books are being checked out, but it is not so great if you aren't the one who checked them out! But do not despair. There are multiple copies of these books, so ask one of the staff to show you how to put a reserve on a book. Or if you'd rather they did it for you they will be happy to oblige.

Another book will disappear from the island on Sunday evening.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Huck Falls Off the Raft and Drowns

That's right... our first book has been voted off the island. Huckleberry Finn is gone from the island. Gulp.... but though he is off the island, don't worry--you can still find copies in the library. Some of you are going to need to read this book for school this summer! To find out more about this book, check out the Wikipedia entry here.

The survivors are:
1. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares
2. The Sea of Trolls, by Nancy Farmer
3. Flush, by Carl Hiaasen
4. Inexcusable, by Chris Lynch
5. Return to Gill Park by Amy Gordon
6. A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray
7. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler


Keep reading and keep voting for your favorites!!

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Anime Showing 7/11



Don't forget that we will have our first anime showing next Tuesday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the library.
We'll be previewing brand new anime episodes from Viz Media.
Snacks will be provided.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Does it bite?




What's up with these strange caution signs at the library? Is the carpet going to reach out and grab you? Have small children been known to disappear in the depths of its folds? Will it suck you into an alternative universe? Is it REALLY SAFE to come into the library? Are you man or woman enough to take the challenge?????????????

Well, nothing quite that interesting. We just have a buckling carpet problem with the humidity. Take a look around at the carpet next time you're in the library. If it is a humid day you will see the problem right off. But if it's not, you'll join the legion of puzzled patrons asking "What's up with the carpet?"

Just another sign of the dog days of summer ....

*** At the end of this week a book will DISAPPEAR off the island. Make sure you cast your vote this week. You can vote HERE.

Monday, July 03, 2006

New Library Quest


A new Library Quest is in the Teen Room. You'll have to get on the internet to find the answers for these quests. Even if you're not a fantasy fan you'll find the quests interesting and who doesn't want to win an iPod?!

The library is nice and cool. Come on down and pick up a Library Quest and check out the Survivor Book Club display.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things


I read this book over the weekend. This has been a popular book at the library and I can see why! It is a good read and a powerful read. I felt it was realistic, believable and I was cheering Virginia on from the very beginning. Highly recommended for all of our teens. If you liked Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, you'll like this one as well. I had always thought the title was a little strange, but don't let the title put you off--there's more to this book than round things! Also, I think moms will like this book, too and you can tell your mom I said so! The author is Carolyn Mackler, and you'll find copies on the Survivor Book Club table in front of the Teen Space.

--Sara