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, March 23, 2008

Green Mountain Book Award ballots now available!


The 2007-2008 Green Mountain Book Award ballots are now available.

This is the third year for the Green Mountain Book Award, a reader's choice award for students in grades 9-12.

These books, to be read during the 2007-2008 school year, comprise the master list for the award to be made in 2008.

The voting rules are:

1. Participants do NOT have to read every book to be eligible to vote,

2. You MUST have read at least three.
3. Vote only on books included on this list.
4. Young adults in grades 9 through 12 may vote.

Ballots will also be available on the YA shelving on the Library's main floor. To get a list of Green Mountain Book Awards in the online catalog, do search CONTAINS green mountain book award.

VOTE BY MAY 2, 2008.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008


I draw all the time.

I draw cartoons of my mother and father; my sister and grandmother; my best friend Rowdy; and everybody else on the rez.

I draw because words are too unpredictable.

I draw because words are too limited.

If you speak and write in English, or Spanish, or Chinese, or any other language, then only a certain percentage of human beings will get your meaning.

But when you draw a picture, everybody can understand it.


Between Two Worlds:

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
By
Sherman Alexie

Long time adult writer, Sherman Alexie, ventured into the Young Adult fiction realm with his newest book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. This novel won the prestigious National Book Award in 2007.

The book is a modern day ‘wrong-side of the tracks’ story of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, who lives on a Spokane Indian reservation in Washington State. The first person voice explores the poverty, racism, and violence that a young Indian must struggle with in order to find a larger hope.

A bright kid, filled with artistic ability, Arnold Spirit, the son of an alcoholic and a suffering mom, decides to take a chance, get off the "rez" and attend a white private school in Rearden, Washington (just like Alexie himself did).

The book is a fast read, hard to put down, and full of the drawings made by Junior.

To hear an audio excerpt from the book:
http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/teenreads/index.html