NYPL Blogs: Stuff for the Teen Age

Steampunk: An Introduction for Teens

Anne Rouyer, Seward Park Library — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:01:05 -0400

What is Steampunk? For a way to explain a fantasy subgenre, Steampunk is not very descriptive. According to The Steampunk Bible (2011), it can be explained most easily by this equation:

Steampunk = Mad Scientist Inventor [invention (steam x airship or metal man/ baroque stylings) x (pseudo) Victorian (or Edwardian) settings] + progressive or reactionary politics x adventure plot. (p. 9)

Got that? So it's basically fantasy stories set in a Victorian-era England (although not always) with crazy scientists inventing fanciful and/or dangerous objects and contraptions, throw in some female characters that are doing it for themselves and you have got yourself one heck of an adventure story! Is that it? Not by a long shot. But it will do for now. The only way to truly understand this fantasy subgenre that is at once both "simultaneously retro and forward looking" (Steampunk Bible, p. 9) is to explore it for yourself. Luckily for you, Steampunk is in the middle of a renaissance especially when it comes to teen literature.

If you wanted to start at the very beginning you could try classic adventure stories by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Time Machine. Perhaps the Edgar Allan Poe short stories "The Balloon Hoax" and "The Spectacles" are more your speed? Or maybe you've already read Steampunk novels and not even realized it, such as: Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass series, Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series or the graphic novel series by Alan Moore The League of Extraordinary Gentleman. Or maybe you've watched the Japanese anime films Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle and Steamboy. All are considered types of Steampunk.

But what is out there right now and being specifically written for teens? A lot actually:

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress (2013): Set in Edwardian, England, three girls, Cora, Nellie and Michiko are all assistants to three powerful men who meet by chance at a society ball that ends in murder. Using their unique skills and abilities, the three of them team up to solve the crime(s).

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (2011): Finley Jayne, a commoner who lives with a beastly alter-ego inside of her, falls in with the young Duke of Greythorne's set, a group of misfits that includes a female engineer, an American gunfighter and a charming criminal. Together they work to take down a villain known as The Machinist, who wants to replace Queen Victoria with a sentient automaton. Sequels: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, The Girl with the Iron Touch.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (2009): Set in an alternate World War 1, Deryn, a Scottish girl, has disguised herself as a boy and joined the British Air Service. The transport she is flying runs into Prince Alek, who is on the run from the Clankers Powers, a group trying to take over the world using mechanical machines. Sequels: Behemoth, Goliath and the companion The Manual of Aeronautics.

Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey (2013): The only thing orphaned Meg has left of her clock making family is a beautiful watch. Now a maid, Meg discovers that her watch is actually a master key and the only way to destroy a dangerous invention. With the help of the stable boy, Will, Meg goes on a journey of unlocking clues and fighting mechanical creatures that will eventually lead her to the most dangerous machine of all.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (2013): In 1851 England, Sophronia would much rather dismantle clocks and climb trees than learn the proper ways of being a lady. Fed up, her mother sends her to a finishing school to learn dance, dress and etiquette but when she arrives Sophronia is surprised to learn she will also be learning about death, diversion and deceit. See also, the author's popular Steampunk novels for adults, The Parasol Protectorate series.

Riese: Kingdom Falling by Greg Cox (2012): Riese is a princess who'd much rather be fighting than sitting through lessons on court etiquette. Having escaped a lesson, Riese meets the mysterious Micah and she pretends to be a palace servant. When the sinister clockwork Sect infiltrates her mother's court and war from a neighboring country looms, Riese must choose between her duty and her heart. See also the SyFy Channel web series Riese.

The Peculiars by Maureen McQuarry (2012): Set in an alternate 1800s American West, Lena sets out to search for her missing father in Scree, a mysterious northern territory inhabited by exiled Peculiars. Along the way she meets a young librarian Jim and a handsome marshall, Thomas, who complicate her journey.

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent (2012): In New London, science reigns supreme and witchcraft has been outlawed. Young Vespa, who has just discovered her magical powers, wants nothing more than to catalog items in her father's museum but he plans instead for her marriage. When an evil sorcerer/ inventor threatens the city, Vespa teams up with a young Tinker and a handsome warlock to save the day.

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve (2009): In a Future London, foundling Fever Crumb has been raised as an engineer although women are not seen as reasonable creatures. When she leaves to become an archaeologist's assistant she begins to learn the truth of her past and faces new dangers in the present. Sequels: A Web of Air and Scrivener's Moon. Fever Crumb is also a prequel trilogy to the author's Mortal Engines quartet.

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron (2012): After the family fortune begins to dwindle, Katherine is sent to the family estate to have her extravagant and reclusive uncle committed to an asylum. What she finds is a kind, childlike man who is also a genius inventor and the employer of hundreds of people. She must find a way to save the estate and her uncle before those around her would destroy them.

Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith (2010): Traumatized after a near abduction, Jack travels to London where he is handed a pair of goggles by a stranger. The goggles transport him to the apocalyptic world of Marbury where he struggles to protect two young boys and fight off a villain who looks a lot like his best friend Connor. Meanwhile, his visions begin to impede his grip on reality and the chance at a new romance. Sequel: Passenger.

Still want more? You can check out this longer list of available titles in Bibliocommons here. If you are interested in learning more about the origins and subculture of Steampunk (including history, cosplay, gears and rock bands) check out The Steampunk Bible and The Steampunk Gazette.

Dark, Creepy, Scary, Spooky Crossover Books

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:44:22 -0400

One of the most common questions we get from our young readers is "Where are your scary books?" Unfortunately, books for children and teens that will keep readers on the edge of their seats are usually mixed in with the rest of the fiction section, so they can be a little tricky to find… until now.

Here is a list of twenty-five great crossover books (that is, for older children and younger teens) about lots of scary subjects. Sure, there will be plenty of vampires, ghosts, and even zombies. But there will also be nightmares, mysterious phone calls, dark whispers, and other things that will give you goosebumps and make your hair stand on end!

You'll be able to find some of these books in our children's collections (CR), some in our young adult collections (YA), and some in both collections (CR & YA).

Wolf Rider by Avi is the story of a boy named Andy who gets a phone call that changes his life. The person on the other end of the line confesses that he's just killed someone, and Andy has no idea what to do. But he never imagines that when he asks his friends and family for help, that no one will believe him. (CR & YA)

iDrakula by Bekka Black takes the classic Dracula novel by Bram Stoker and brings it into our century by reimagining the story and retelling it through text messages, emails, websites, and photos. (YA)

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer begins a series of books about a boy who is trying his best to act like a normal middle school student, even though he's half vampire and half human. His major challenges include learning how to use his powers, keeping his appetite under control, and getting Meredith to notice him. (YA)

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol is a graphic novel about a girl who has trouble fitting in and making friends. But then one day she falls down a well, finds a skeleton, and meets the ghost of a girl who changes her life. (YA)

Notes From a Totally Lame Vampire: Because the Undead Have Feelings Too! by Tim Collins is a great book to share with fans of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, because it has a very similar cartoony look and feel. This book is written as a diary by a boy named Nigel who is almost 100 years old but who will always look and sound fifteen. Nigel's diary is mostly humorous, but there are some gruesome elements, too. (CR)

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney is the story of Thomas Ward, the seventh son of a seventh son. This means that he is eligible to be chosen as the Spook's apprentice, where he will learn to protect farms and villages from ghouls, witches, ghosts, and other wicked things. (CR & YA)

Scream Street: Fang of the Vampire by Tommy Donbavand is about a boy named Luke who happens to be a werewolf. When he and his family move to Scream Street, their neighbors include vampires, poltergeists, zombies, mummies, and other creepy creatures. (CR)

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz is a great read for fans of scary books as well as fans of fairy tales. The hilarious narrator escorts you through different fairy tales, each more gruesome and surprising than the last. And by the end of this book, you'll see Hansel and Gretel in a whole new light. (CR)

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles tells the story of a girl who wakes up to discover that she's been buried alive. She doesn't know where she is, what time it is, or what day it is. But most importantly, she doesn't know WHY someone would do this to her. (YA)

Lovecraft Middle School: Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman is an excellent choice for fans of scary books, especially if you enjoy being scared by things like hideous monsters, ancient evil, and rats. Lots and LOTS of rats. (CR)

Coraline by Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite scary stories of all time. It is dark, and deliberate, and poetic, and chilling. A girl named Coraline discovers a doorway to a world where everything seems just like it is at home … but not quite. She also learns that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you enjoy this story, you should know that this excellent book was also made into a really good movie! (CR & YA)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman blurs the line between reality and fantasy. A little boy's parents are murdered, but before the murderer can find him the boy crawls out of his crib and finds his way into a nearby graveyard. There he finds the ghosts who will take care of him, become his new family, and name him "Nobody." (CR & YA)

Closed For the Season: A Mystery Story by Mary Downing Hahn tells the story of a boy named Logan and his new friend Arthur who try to solve a cold case -- the mystery of someone who was murdered in Logan's house three years earlier. (CR)

Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel is the story of a girl named Tee who goes with her father and brother to the end of the earth (also known as Nome, Alaska). When Tee goes exploring in the woods she feels herself being observed by something that she can't quite see, and soon she learns that there's a local legend about a ghostly creature named Shadow. (CR)

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry is on the one hand a zombie novel, but on the other hand an emotional rollercoaster of a story. It's the story of a boy named Benny Imura who survived a zombie apocalypse when he was just a baby. Now that he's fifteen it's time for him to get a job, which means leaving the safety of his town and learning from his older brother how to kill zombies for a living. (YA)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead kicks off a VERY popular series that tells a vampire story with all the drama of a soap opera. Our protagonist/hero is Rose, who is a Dhampir (vampire/human hybrid). She attends a secret boarding school called St. Vladimir's Academy where she trains to become a bodyguard to protect the Moroi (living, magic-using vampires) from the Strigoi (evil, undead vampires). (YA)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a hauntingly illustrated book that tells the story of a boy named Conor who keeps having the same nightmare over and over again. But then one night, he wakes up from that nightmare to hear a strange voice calling his name, and discovers that there's a monster waiting for him outside. (CR & YA)

Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck is the story of a girl named Kerry who has no idea why she's suddenly befriended by three of the coolest and most popular girls in school. Little by little, she discovers that these girls are not exactly what they seem, and that they have an agenda of their own. (YA)

Dead City by James Ponti is about a girl named Molly who is following in her mother's footsteps. But since her mother was one of the most famous zombie hunters in history, those footsteps are pretty dangerous to follow. This adventure takes place all over New York City, from the sewers to the skyscrapers, and readers will get a kick out of all the New York locations and landmarks in this book. (CR)

Case File 13: Zombie Kid by J. Scott Savage begins the story of Nick, Carter, and Angelo, three boys who are obsessed with monsters. This book tells the first of their weird, hilarious, gruesome, and amazing stories. (CR)

Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka is a collection of suspenseful short stories featuring guys as protagonists. Some stories have supernatural themes while others feature real-life dramatic situations, but all of them are page-turners! (CR)

Zom-B by Darren Shan opens with a zombie outbreak that begins in an Irish village. Soon it begins to spread, putting more and more people at risk. When the zombies attack a high school, a group of teens try to fight back and escape with their brains intact. This novel is the start of what is expected to be a 12-book series. (YA)

The Boy Who Couldn't Die by William Sleator is about a boy who is obsessed with death after his best friend dies in a plane crash, so he pays money to have his soul taken away so that he can never die. But unfortunately, he never imagined that there was a downside to being immortal. (YA)

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow features one of my favorite heroines EVER. Dru's father was always the one to fight ghosts, zombies, and other monsters and Dru took care of him when he came home. But when he is killed by one of those monsters, Dru has to use her own powers to take his place and seek revenge. (YA)

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow by Katy Towell is about three peculiar girls who try to untangle a curse and discover why people in their town have been mysteriously disappearing. (CR)

Hack the Library with Hackasaurus!

Lindsy Serrano, Mulberry Street Branch Library — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:04:22 -0400

Are we teaching New York's teens tools for a life of crime?! Not exactly. Hackasaurus is a website that makes it easy for people to manipulate our favorite webpages while we learn about the ins and outs of HTML. A group of six teens met on a Tuesday afternoon to try out this new program and add their personal touch to the internet.

Using Hackasaurus couldn't be easier. You just download their xray goggles to your bookmark bar and activate them whenever you want to change up a webpage. Then you can save a copy of what you made and share it with your friends. A great example is a hack of Mulberry Street Library's webpage, the creator really likes apples! Interested in more tech programs for teens? Find more tech programs at a branch near you!

For more resources, see Cracking the Code: Learning Computer Programming Languages.

OMG! I Love That Song! A Catchy Song Playlist

Anne Rouyer, Seward Park Library — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:33:58 -0400

Last year I wrote a popular blog post entitled "OMG! I Love That Song!: A Guilty Pleasure Playlist" where I confessed my song shame only to find out that many of you shared the exact same musical taste. Than this past February, several of my choices also ended up winning Grammys. I should have named that blog "A Not-so-Guilty Pleasure Playlist" instead. This year this post is once again a "no judgment zone" and I am declaring my love for the songs that I have on constant replay and can't get out of my head. Chances are they're on your player too and if they're not they should be. Okay, now I'm judging you.

Feel This Moment – Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera

Off Pitbull's juggernaut of a party album, Global Warming, "Feel This Moment" is definitely catchy. I think I was singing along to it before I even knew what the song was or who was singing on it. Shout out to Lindsy for finally telling it was Xtina, who I have missed. So I yes, I love this song. A LOT! Bonus points to Pitbull for referencing Fifty Shades of Grey in the lyrics "She like books/ Especially about red rooms and tie-ups." Classy.

Mirrors and Pusher Love Girl – Justin Timberlake

JT is a Prince of Pop. When he announced his new album The 20/20 Experience I think I squee'd. I know I wasn't the only one. (Just admit it. You did.) But would it be any good? It's been years since he released his last album and now he's old and married! Would he have the same mojo? Luckily, he's still got major chops and there is not a bad song on the entire album. "Mirrors" is by far my favorite track and the catchiest and "Pusher Love Girl" is pure slow-jam groove.

C'mon, C'mon, Loved You First and I Would – One Direction

To say I love One Direction is an understatement. In truth, MY LOVE for Harry, Louis, Liam, Niall and Zayn can only be expressed in ALL CAPS and EXCLAMATION POINTS!! But I digress... I adore their second album Take Me Home and deciding which songs to highlight is very stressful for me. "C'mon, C'mon" is probably my favorite track on TMH. It's definitely one of the catchiest and the danciest. I've also recently become obsessed with "Loved You First" which is so lovely and boy-bandey and I add "I Would" because it has some of the wittiest lyrics on the entire album. Personally, I think their very best song is "Irresistible" but that can only be found on the special Target edition of the album. Natch.

Troublemaker and Army of Two - Olly Murs

This 2009 X Factor UK runner-up has plenty of white boy cool. His R&B tinged pop just makes me want to get up and dance. "Troublemaker" the first single off his third album Right Place, Right Time is bouncy fun with a cool vibe. I recently became enamored of the harder-edged track "Army of Two" which has the chorus lyric of: "soliders follow my lead / repeat after me / faith is the bullet / hope is the gun / love is all we need." Which I just think is money but that's just me. It's time he broke America folks. Lets help him.

I Knew You Were Trouble and 22 – Taylor Swift

I have a love/hate relationship with Miss Swift. There is no doubt that she is talented and can write catchy tunes but she drives me BANANAS with all her relationship drama—which she clearly encourages. Take "I Knew You Were Trouble"—she recently said that it was about her ex Harry Styles (of One Direction) when—according to their relationship timeline (which I have researched)—that is clearly impossible! (FYI It's about ex John Mayer) But gosh darn't if isn't super catchy and kinda awesome. The same can be said for the entire Red album, including, the girls-night-out anthem of "22"—in the video she wears Harry's usual outfit of a white tee and a beanie and it seriously bugs me. I seriously don't like that I like her music! Ugh, stupid Taylor! Stop writing such good songs!

Radioactive and How We Do - Rita Ora

Rita Ora deserves to be more famous in the States then she is. A protégé of Jay Z this Kosovo born UK singer has talent and a definite "It" factor. She's worked with Drake, Kanye West, Tinie Tempah, The-Dream among others. "Radioactive" is probably my favorite dance track of the spring. It begs to be danced to under strobe lights and a mirror ball. Her debut album Ora has a cool, dance vibe and you will probably recognize the track "Hot Right Now" which was big club song last year. Last summer, one of my favorite songs was the party anthem of "How We Do" which features the familiar Notorious B.I.G. refrain of "Party and B*llSh**". This particular song just begs to be sung from the rooftops or out the windows of a car.

It's Time and Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

Indie-rock band Imagine Dragons burst onto the Billboard charts last fall with their album Night Visions and first single "It's Time" and they haven't left. Their music is a mix of edgy rock with a pop sensibility or is it edgy pop with a rock sensibility? No matter, the entire album is full of catchy hooks and lyrics you want to sing along to at full volume. They are the 2013 equivalent of fun. and we all know how big they got.

Lego House and Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran

To be honest many people may know Ed Sheeran, an award winning British, singer/songwriter, more for his song writing collaborations with Taylor Swift and One Direction, than his own stuff, which just means they aren't trying hard enough. Ed has been around for years playing gigs with just his guitar and loop pedal but creating a HUGE sound. With his debut album +[Plus Sign] and hit single "The A Team" he is finally going mainstream. I love every song on +[Plus Sign]. Somehow he combines funk, hip-hop and rock with extremely personal and heartbreaking lyrics to create his own special sound and vibe. Every song has you singing along but I have a special place in my heart for both "Lego House" and "Kiss Me"—which P.S. will probably be played at a million weddings this summer.

Next To Me – Emeli Sande

Tell me if this sounds familiar: a big voiced UK singer with a retro sound singing about love and loss. Adele? Amy Winehouse? Nope. It's the Scottish born Emeli Sande. Who strikes it out of the park with her album Our Version of Events, which just won the Brit award for album of the year. In "Next to Me" Emeli stands by her man and has you dancing and singing along. There is no reason that Emeli has not made it big in the States except that maybe there isn't room on American radio for more than one UK singer with a retro sound. Are there really people out there who have yet to buy Adele's 21 and want to? It's time to move on people! It's time to put Adele in the box labeled 2011 and try something new.

Scream & Shout – Will.I.Am ft. Britney Spears

Confession: I hated this song when I first heard it song last fall. I was like, "What's the point Will?" and "What's with the monotone Britney?" Was Will.I.Am just crazy or a crazy genius? I think we all know the answer to that now. Off his upcoming album #Willpower, "Scream & Shout" is full of irresistible beats, hooks and bass lines that just have you dancing and moving. And that Britney monotone? It pretty much makes the song. I've learned my lesson: I'll never pre-judge Will.I.Am again.

Entertainment – Phoenix

The French alt-rock group is BACK! With their lush pop sound, the band just brings on sun, blue skies, and endless summer days. Their last album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009) spawned the hits "1901" and "Liztomania." With their newest single "Entertainment," off the brand new Bankrupt! (2013). they prove that their absence has only sharpened their pop skillz.

This is the New Year - Glee Cast

While my devotion to Glee cast member Darren Criss is well documented, I honestly hadn't planned on including this song. But yesterday I listened to it a gazillion times as I skipped down the street. True story. Decision made. A cover of the Great Big World tune, "This Is the New Year" is about acceptance, friendship, tolerance and is everything a a Glee song should be—namely, uplifting and catchy. The bad news? It has yet to be released on a Glee soundtrack but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying it!

Check it out: YA Novels in Verse!

Lindsy Serrano, Mulberry Street Branch Library — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:34:35 -0400

I can't say that I've always been the biggest poetry fan. But lately I've been getting into novels in verse, which have been popping up all over the YA Fiction scene for awhile now. Ellen Hopkins is the queen of this and if you've never read her work before, do yourself a favor and check out Crank as soon as possible. You will be hooked... freaked out... and hooked.

I made a book list of my top ten favorite books in verse. They range from angsty love stories to harrowing stories of teens in abusive situations. One of the newest books on this list is The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle. It is the true story of Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, a Cuban revoluntionary and feminist writer who spent her life fighting injustices in turn of the century Cuba. Take a look and check out a poetry book today!

2013 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winners

Anne Rouyer, Seward Park Library — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:40:47 -0400

Every year the Young Adult Librarian Association (YALSA) awards the William C. Morris YA Debut Award for the best novel by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. It is named for William Morris, a legend in children's and teen publishing who worked tirelessly promoting children's and teen literature and the importance of libraries.

The award honors books that have compelling or high quality writing, that have proven or potential appeal to teen readers and the integrity of the book as a whole. This past year I was honored to serve on the 2013 committee. It was a tough decision choosing a winner and four honor books but eventually we made our choices.

2013 Winner

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

When the death of a royal prince threatens the fragile peace between humans and dragons in Goredd, court musician Seraphina is drawn into the murder investigation. But even as she aids Prince Lucian in his mission to uncover the murderer, Seraphina conceals a dangerous secret of her own—her half-human, half-dragon heritage.

"Hartman's vivid descriptions and clever wordplay immerse readers in Seraphina's world," said Morris Award Chair Joy Kim.

2013 Finalists

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby

Stories come easily to motherless Portia, and a good thing, too. They sustain her when her father leaves her and when her aunt abandons her to the ghastly McGreavey Home for Wayward Girls. When she escapes, they win her a place with Mosco's Traveling Wonder Show, where she hopes to find her father again somehow, where "freak," "normal" and "family" mean something altogether different—and where Portia begins to take charge of her own story.

Gorgeously written with sumptuous language and heartbreaking storytelling make this novel unforgettable.

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo

Amelia meets Chris when he trains her for her brand-new job at the local supermarket. Smart and witty, they are perfect for each other. She is smitten, but he, on the rebound from his first, lost love, is preoccupied with the pursuit of booze and sex—and his college degree on the side. More importantly, she is 15, and he is 22. It just can't happen, can it?

An uncommon non-romance, romance with two characters that jump off the page and make you ponder all of life's possibilities.

After the Snow by S. D. Crockett

In a future where winter lasts nearly all year, Willo returns from hunting to discover his family has been kidnapped. Skilled at surviving in the wild, he sets off from their remote farm, determined to locate them. But when his journey brings him to a corrupt city, full of strange and unfamiliar perils, Willo is swept up by events he doesn't fully understand.

Willo's strongly accented dialogue and unique world view make this dystopian novel stand out from the crowd.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth

On the same day that 12-year-old Cameron kisses her best friend, Irene, her parents are killed in a car accident. Nearly crushed with guilt, Cameron spends the next several years in self-imposed gay-movie therapy with her VCR or drinking and smoking pot with her track- and swim-team friends, gradually coming to terms with her sexuality. It's not easy being gay in rural 1990s Montana, and it's harder still when your aunt drags you to an evangelical church every weekend—where you meet the girl of your dreams.

A beautifully written story with a strong sense of time and place and filled with realistic characters that bring Cameron's 1990 world into full focus and perfectly capture the teenage experience.

Think Japan is all Manga, Sushi, and Pocky Sticks?

Rabecca Hoffman, Kingsbridge Library — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:28:25 -0400

Harajuku? Geisha? Robots? Awesome! Japanese culture has been an obsession of mine for a while now, as well as for the teenagers at my branch, so when we recently had the opportunity to invite Lucia Brea, Fukui Friendship Ambassador, to stop by and talk to the Kingsbridge Library's Teen Advisory Group, I jumped at the opportunity. Lucia spent four years in Japan through the JET Program teaching English to students of all ages in the Fukui Prefecture, and I was able to sit down with her after her visit to ask her a few questions about her experience:

What is the JET program, and would you recommend it for other people? Are there other ways to go about living in Japan as a foreigner?

The JET Programme stands for Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, now in its 26th year, which aims to promote grass-roots international exchange between Japan and other countries. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a passion for developing strong relationships with communities and the drive to live in Japan for an extended period of time. It is an opportunity to experience Japan and continue to enhance relationships between Japan and their home country like I did at the New York Public Library. There are many other ways to live in Japan as a foreigner, the JET Programme is one of the best, but there are many other teaching opportunities through private companies, studying opportunities for students and there are also many international companies that call Japan home to which they offer opportunities to foreigners.

How is living in Japan different from living in the U.S.?

Japan and the U.S. are very different in various forms, particularly coming from New York to Fukui. Fukui is a slow moving, nature based kind of environment, very different from what I was used to after graduating from college in New York City.

What is it like adjusting to the different culture?

Adjusting to a different culture was much more shocking than I had previously thought. However, I had a very positive outlook on things and the people were so helpful that is made it easier to adjust. I had previously thought it was going to be much more like the time I had moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States, but it was not anything like it. As an adult, it is a bigger adjustment than as a child and Japanese culture is very different, but amazing at the same time.

What was the most surprising thing to you about Japan and about living there? Is Japan just like it is depicted in anime and manga?

Anime and manga was for me my first taste of what I thought was Japan, which is the case for many people. However, Japan is so much more than what one imagines. Sure, it is heavily influenced by it but there is so much more of the traditional and technology that is not necessarily mentioned. Japan is not only Tokyo, but Japan is nature, a serene tranquility and an amazing lifestyle that I was able to experience in Fukui. Most of Japan is not robots and technology, it is a whole different kind of life.

You recently talked to a group of teens about Japan at the library. Do you have any thoughts on their reactions or previous knowledge or misconceptions about Japan?

I was very surprised on how much the teens at the library knew about Japan, and it was a pleasure for me to share my experience with them and hopefully enhance their knowledge about Japan. I also hope that I encouraged them to go visit sometime in the future and continue to experience Japan through resources available at the New York Public Library.

What is the area of Fukui like? How is it different than Tokyo or other cities? What kinds of things can you do there?

Fukui is totally different from Tokyo, it lies along the Sea of Japan, not far from Osaka or Kyoto. Beautiful place year-round, from snow capped mountains that are amazing for skiing during the wintertime to beautiful sandy beaches during the summer time. It is a beautiful natural environment with deep Japanese traditions that can be enjoyed by everyone. There is so much to explore, so much to experience, so many great people to meet. Fukui to me was the real Japan, and there was a reason why it is considered the happiest place in Japan. There are endless opportunities in Fukui, from making Japanese paper by hand, making soba (buckwheat noodles), piecing together a bamboo doll, staying at the Eiheji monastery while experiencing the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism and just overall taking in the beauty of rural Japan.

Can you talk a little about the tsunami, how the country was affected, what it meant for people living close by, or even as far away as Fukui and what the after effects on the country were?

The tsunami had a deep effect on the people of Japan, from close to far away. The earthquake was felt throughout the main island, however it was very different to what is usually experienced particularly due to the aftermath that was the Tsunami. Being in Japan through such a disaster was almost like reliving 9/11 in New York. It was something that is engraved in your memory for the rest of your life. Six months after the incident, some friends and I volunteered in the Tohoku area, where the Tsunami took place, and my experience was something that I will never forget. Japanese people are resilient and it was so surreal to even imagine that to this day there are earthquakes in that region, and that people that survived the Tsunami are still living there trying to make their lives as normal as possible and rebuild.

If people want to help the Tsunami victims, what is the best way?

There are many ways, for example the Red Cross, as well as this a Global Giving Project which particularly focuses on helping orphans rebuild their lives post Tsunami.

Any favorite Japanese authors you can recommend? Music? Movies?

I am a great fan of Haruki Murakami, his work is infused with Japanese traditions as well as the western influences. He has to be one of my favorite Japanese authors of all time, Kafka on the Shore is a must read. Movies by Studio Ghibli is the Murakami for the entire family. Ponyo, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away among others.

You can find these and more by visiting your local library branch:

Check out books about Japan, read books by Japanese authors like Murakami, Oe, Kanehara, Kawakami, Kirino, Miyabe, Ryu Murakami, and Yoshimoto, and check out Japanese manga, anime, and movies.

You can also get a taste of Japanese food and culture right here in New York City:

Japan Week is an annual celebration of Japanese culture and cuisine in Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall which ends March 21st this year, and Japan Day is an annual celebration of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture held in Central Park which is coming up on May 12th, 2013.

Also visit some of these Japanese Cultural Centers for lectures, events, art exhibits and more:

Japan Society, Tenri Cultural Institute, Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture, Asia Society, Japan Foundation New York.

Want to learn to speak Japanese? Check out some of these resources:

Mango Languages is a free database of language lessons, or check out books and audiobooks from the library, or take a language classes through a local institution such as Japan Society and Tenri Cultural Institute.

Looking for more? Check out these sites for more information on where to find Japanese events and food in New York City:

Chopsticks NY, Japan Culture NYC.

Supernatural Romance: Cassie's Picks!

Anne Rouyer, Seward Park Library — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:12:30 -0400

Cassie, a 6th grader, is an avid reader and has pretty much read everything worth reading in the Seward Park teen collection. In fact, to find her something she hasn't read usually takes a lot of effort — on both our parts. Her favorite genre? Supernatural romance. "You're not getting bored by it?" I ask. "Never! It's so interesting to see the connections between the human characters and the supernatural ones. Even if it's the same type of supernatural being there is always a different plot." That's not to say that she likes everything she reads. She definitely knows what she likes and what she doesn't like and she is always bringing books back and letting me know EXACTLY what she thinks about them.

For Cassie, the key to a good supernatural romance is the plot. It has to be suspenseful, full of adventure and the characters must face some sort of trial or danger. The characters themselves should be, "…interesting and capture your heart. That way if the plot isn't too good then the characters at least keep the story going. And, oh, well, it doesn't hurt if the boys are hot." She doesn't necessarily have a favorite supernatural being but if she had to choose it would be, "Angels and demons. Because they can be good and bad and unlike vampires — they don't bite you." Some of her favorite supernatural series include: Hush, Hush by Becca FitzPatrick, Fallen by Laurent Kate, Angel Fire by Lee Weatherly, Halo by Alexandra Adornetto, Sweep by Cate Tiernan and the Darkness Rising trilogy by Kelley Armstrong.

The other day, I cornered her for her recent favorites and she offered up these recommendations:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (2011) / Days of Blood and Starlight (2012) by Laini Taylor

A Prague art student and monster's apprentice Karou has questions about who she is, where she came from and just what are these mysterious errands she keeps getting sent on all about? Things get complicated when a warrior angel named Akiva comes into her life and she finds herself in the middle of a war that seems to have been going on for centuries. According to Cassie, "…it keeps you guessing till the very end. You don't know who the good guys or bad guys are which made it really interesting." Days of Blood and Starlight is a, "...great sequel and is as good as the first book, it not better!"

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Ten years ago, 17 year old Vane Weston lost his parents to a tornado which he survived — not that he remembers any of it. Now living in California with his adoptive family, Vane is haunted by the idea that something about their deaths doesn't make sense. Then he meets Audra, a beautiful girl who resembles the girl who has been dancing around his dreams. Audra is a "sylph," a mystical creature that can control the wind and she holds the key to his past and his future. The book is, "…really romantic!" says Cassie.

Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter

Miranda, the daughter of the sorcerer Prospero and heroine of Shakespeare's The Tempest, now enjoys eternal youth in the modern world, along with her siblings and father. When Prospero vanishes, Miranda discovers that ancient demons are after their magic powers and enlists her siblings to rescue their father and keep the family safe. Cassie loved it because it had, "…lots of danger and suspense!"

Immortal City by Scott Speer

After Angels revealed themselves to the world they began offering their services to the highest bidders. Now Los Angeles is known as Angel City and humans are obsessed with the lives of the celebrity Angels they see on television. The hottest-of-the-hot is Jackson Goodspeed and he is inexplicably drawn to Maddy Montgomery, a regular girl waitress who could care less about Jackson's fame. Cassie has raved about this book since she finished it and she can't wait for the second book Natural Born Angel to come out. She loves all the "…arguing. It creates great romantic tension between Jackson and Maddy and leaves you wanting more!"

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

In a small Florida town, 18-year-old Emma has grown up thinking she is nothing special. After surviving a strange and deadly encounter with a shark, one that kills her best friend, Emma meets the handsome Galen on the beach. Galen is a prince of Syrena and he has been sent to land to the find the girl he's heard that can communicate with fish. After meeting Emma, Galen becomes convinced that she is the one that will save his kingdom from destruction — if only she wasn't afraid to go back in the water. Cassie liked the romance and the story, "…of a girl figuring out who she is."

Obsidian (2012) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When Katy moves to West Virginia for her senior year she expects to be monumentally bored but then she spies her new, hot neighbor with his tall muscular build and eerie green eyes. Unfortunately, when she meets him, Daemon Black is smug, arrogant and infuriating. It's hate at first sight. But when a stranger attacks her, Daemon saves her with a wave of his hand. Turns out he and his sister are aliens and they are the run from their enemies and Katy just got caught in the crossfire. If Katy wants to survive she'll have to stick close to him — if she doesn't kill him first. The story of an alien and a human is not necssarily a supernatural romance but it is, "sooooo Good!" affirms Cassie and she liked that it was, "…a little different," from what she usually reads.

Live at the Mulberry Branch! NYC Teen Author Fest

Lindsy Serrano, Mulberry Street Branch Library — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:41:39 -0400

The NYC Teen Author Fest is BACK, and the Mulberry Street Library is happy to host a panel with some of your favorite authors on Monday, March 18th at 6 p.m.! The panel's title is "I'll Take You There: A Change of Scenery, A Change of Self" and will focus on characters getting pushed into new places and forced to revel their true selves. Sounds pretty great! Take a look at the authors that are stopping by!

Gayle Forman broke our hearts with the novel If I Stay, the story of a girl who loses her family in a car accident and has to decide while she is in a coma if she will let go and be with her family or stay and face the world on her own. Her latest book, Just One Day is the story of an American girl who takes a leap of faith and decides to spend a year in Europe.

Kristen-Paige Madonia's novel Fingerprints of You is about a pregnant seventeen year old who travels to San Francisco to meet the father she never knew.

Bennett Madison is known for his great mystery series featuring a fabulous teen detective named Lulu Dark. His latest book, September Girls is a summer romance between a regular guy, Sam, and an unusual girl named DeeDee that pushes him out of his comfort zone.

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of one of my personal favorite teen romances, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Her latest book, You Are Here, is about a girl who takes a road trip in an effort to find out who she really is after she finds out that she had a twin brother that died shortly after they were born.

Melissa Walker made her mark thanks to the super popular series about teen modeling starting with Violet on the Runway. Her latest book, Unbreak my Heart is about a girl who is not excited to go on a sailing trip with her family, she is more focused on the mistakes she made that lead to a rift between her and her best friend.

The program will be moderated by the incomparable David Levithan.

You can order all of these books on our library's website, just click on the link and pick a branch to send them to and get some great books, just in time for Spring Break!

Kingsbridge TAG Update: We’re Starting an iPod Drive!

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:35:07 -0400

Do you have a gently-used iPod that you'd like to donate to a good cause? Because the Kingsbridge Library's Teen Advisory Group is going to be collecting used iPods on behalf of the Music & Memory program.

Music & Memory is an organization that uses iPods to create personalized playlists for the elderly and infirm, helping to improve their quality of life. You can learn more about how this program works at the Music & Memory website, where you can see videos that show how people's spirits can be lifted by the music from their past.

If you'd like to donate an iPod to the cause, from March 22nd through May 31st you can bring your donations to the Kingsbridge Library [291 W. 231st Street, Bronx NY 10463]. Our donation drive will begin with a kickoff event on Friday March 22nd at 4pm. Any iPods that are collected through our drive will be used by the residents at the Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center.

If you'd like to learn more about the Music & Memory program, including how the program works, how to volunteer, and how to donate iPods if you can't make it to our drive, please visit musicandmemory.org.

Alex Awards 2013 = Adult Books for Teen Readers

Anne Rouyer, Seward Park Library — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:45:53 -0500

Browsing the shelves for a good book to read can be intimidating. There’s thousands of new books published every year and how do you know if a book is good anyway? It’s cover? Haha! Every year the Young Adult Library Association (YALSA) publishes lists of books that have been certified by librarians and readers as excellent reads. One of those annual lists is the Alex Awards. The Alex Awards are given to books that have been written for adults but have special appeal for teen readers. So if you are looking for great books that tackle complex subjects you’ve come to the right book list.

Caring is Creepy by David Zimmerman

Bored and lonely, 15 year old Lynn finds companionship by flirting online with strange men. It is there that she meets Logan a young, troubled AWOL soldier. After they meet in person she takes him home and keeps him prisoner in her closet.

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

When her Uncle Finn, a famous artist dies of AIDs, 14 year old June’s world turns upside down. Shy and introverted, June never felt like she fit in but with Finn she could be completely herself. With his death, new people and new experiences come into her life that make her question everything she knew about her uncle and herself.

Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman

Rory has been told that she is a “third-generation bastard surely on the road to whoredom.” But she is determined to prove them all wrong. Following the edicts from an old copy of the Girl Scout Handbook, Rory plots her escape from the Reno trailer park where she lives with her bartender mother. Told through diary entries, social workers’ reports, half-recalled memories, arrest records, family lore, Supreme Court opinions, and her grandmother’s letters.

Where’d You Go Bernadette? By Maria Semple

Bee’s mother, Bernadette Fox, a genius architect is a force of nature to her family but to the outside world she seems crazy and erratic. On the eve of a family vacation to Antarctica, a reward for star-student Bee, Bernadette disappears without a trace. Bee gathers her mother’s emails, invoices and hospital bills to try and discover who her mother really was and where she went.

The Round House by Louise Erdich

In 1988, an Ojibwe woman is brutally raped and beaten on her North Dakota reservation. Thirteen year old Joe, tries to help his mother but she refuses to talk about the event to her family or the police. As his mother becomes increasingly depressed and isolated, Joe and his three friends decide to conduct their own investigation into the incident.

Pure by Julianna Baggot

In a post- apocalyptic world, 16 year old Pressia lives with a doll head fused to her hand but she is better off than most. Some survivors were grafted with each other or animals or worse. On the run from being drafted into a paramilitary group, she rescues Partridge, a “Pure”, someone who has survived whole by living in a Dome. He has left his home to search for his missing mother, who may be living on the outside.

One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard

It’s an old story, a small town team, a misfit coach and one magic season but this isn’t a film or a novel but a true story. In 1971, the Macon, Illinois high school baseball team beat the odds and went to the state finals. The ragtag team was coached by a hippie, dreamer intellectual who allowed his team to have long hair and wear peace signs on their hats. He wasn’t just teaching them about baseball he was teaching them about life.

My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel by Derf

We know him as Jeffrey Dahmer, the notorious cannibalistic serial killer who murdered 17 people but back in high school he was just “Jeff”. Derf, who attended high school with Jeff, knew him as a shy, bullied, lonely misfit who craved attention and used alcohol as a crutch. Meanwhile, Jeff was also slicing up animals to see what they looked like from the inside out.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

When young web designer Clay loses his tech job he takes the night shift in a San Francisco bookstore. Not just any bookstore but one of surprises, mysteries and a secret society. A place where ancient code and books on alchemy meet the processing power of the 21st century, all in a quest for eternal life.

It's Henna Time at Mulberry Street!

Lindsy Serrano, Mulberry Street Branch Library — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:58:05 -0500

The teens at the Mulberry Street Library had a special treat at their weekly Crafternoon, a workshop with Mehndi artist Mengala Bühler-Rose of MehndiNYC!

First, we learned about the history of henna and how it's made. Then we had some time to practice on sheets of paper, people were pretty nervous about putting the henna paste on their actual arms except for one particiant who used her initials:

Those of us who wanted our own special design were lucky enough to get some one on one time with the artist herself!

We all left with cool tattoos and some henna to take home so we can try on ourselves... or our little brothers!

Check and see about other great art programs at your local branch!

"Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Ryan P. Donovan, Mid-Manhattan Library — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:17:21 -0500

Imagine a world gone mad, where everyone seems to be after you behind a backdrop of pointless, unending war. All you want to do is protect your newborn child from danger, but it looms whatever just beyond every path you take.

This is the story of Alana and Marko, a Romeo & Juliet inspired couple from the warring planets of Landfall and Wreath respectively. Alana meets Marko while guarding him on the prison planet Cleave, one of the many suffering worlds that the war has been "outsourced" to. Since a prolonged battle between neighboring worlds could adversely affect the orbit of the other, Landfall and Wreath's war has become the problem of other worlds in neighboring systems, forced to pick sides in a struggle they'd rather not be involved with.

This is not, however, a story of politics. It's a story of family. The story begins with Alana pregnant. She eventually gives birth to her child, a daughter she and Marko decide to name Hazel. Although an infant, Saga is aided by Hazel's reflective first person omniscient narration, giving us a vague foreboding tone of what is to come in the family's lives. While attempting to find a way off Cleave with Hazel in tow, Alana and Marko met a non-corporeal half-formed ghost named Izabel, who ends up permanently bonding with their daughter.

A bounty is placed on their heads. This is how we meet The Will, a potentially psychopathic anti-hero with a heart of gold. Competing with his former lover The Stalk, another freelance bounty hunter resembling a humanoid spider, he vows to avenge her when she is viciously murdered on Cleave. Her killer, and yet another individual in pursuit of Alana and Wreath, is Prince Robot IV. The Prince is Landfall royalty who, like all members of his race apparently, has a television for a head.

Readers will likely be drawn to Marko and Alana's refreshingly realistic relationship, which is fraught with understandable conflict as their pair literally run for their lives. Their bond serves to anchor the book and the birth of Hazel only cements their already formidable union. The Will never meets the fugitives, but his concurrent storyline, including his acquisition of the Lying Cat and visit to a brothel planet, serve as diversionary fare away from the intensive family drama.

Illustrated by Canadian artist Fiona Staples, the series is authored by American comics veteran and former Lost writer Brian K. Vaughan. This is Brian K. Vaughan's first creator owned work with Image Comics, having previously published Runaways with Marvel Comics, Y: The Last Man with Vertigo, and Ex Machina with Wildstorm/DC Comics. He also contributed a memorable arc about Faith in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 by Dark Horse Comics. Saga's second trade paperback has an expected release date of July 2013. The series is currently ongoing.

The American Teenager Project Exhibit: Now Showing at the Kingsbridge Library

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:28:31 -0500

This fall, several teenagers from the Kingsbridge and Grand Central branches of the New York Public Library participated in a very unique program. When Robin Bowman created The American Teenager Project, she was photographing and interviewing teenagers all over the country.

This was her first time conducting this program in a library setting, and it was an intensive program that ran for two months (a little longer than we expected, thanks to Hurricane Sandy). Multiple sessions were spent taking photographs both inside and outside the library. We walked around our neighborhood, and Robin brought cameras for the teens to take pictures of each other in different locations. She observed and coached them as they took pictures in nearby Ewing Park:and on the streets in our neighborhood:In between and after the photography sessions, Robin interviewed the teens and had them interview each other. They talked about a variety of topics, like religion, money, family, their biggest fears, and life-changing experiences. You can hear audio clips from some of those interviews and see some of the portraits in the "Current Exhibitions" section of The American Teenager Project website.

If you would like to see the exhibit which contains the photographic portraits the teens created and read excerpts from their interviews, please stop by the Kingsbridge Library and look at the wall just past the service desk on the main floor.And if you can't make it up to the Kingsbridge neighborhood, an identical exhibit will be going up at the Grand Central Library very soon!

Hot Historical Fiction: Girl Spies, Resistance and Nazis

Anne Rouyer, Seward Park Library — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:22:39 -0500

Readers who think historical fiction is blah or boring STOP RIGHT THERE! This list of books, set in Nazi Occupied France, is filled with fast paced adventure, high stakes thrills, nail biting tension, whirlwind romance and daredevil girls who are cool under pressure.

A 2013 Michael L. Printz Honor Book, Code Name Verity (2012) is hands down one the most thrilling historical fiction novels I've read in years. Set in France and England in 1943, it is the story of two young British women, a spy and a pilot, who are working with the French Resistance against the Nazis.

The book opens with the spy, Verity having been captured and tortured for weeks by the local Gestapo (Nazi police). She's a broken woman and in exchange for no more torture she has agreed to give the Germans information about British spy operations and their wireless codes. As she writes her story though you get the feeling that she's not telling them everything. In fact, she's not even telling them her own story but the story of her friend Maddie, the pilot. As you read you begin to realize that Verity or Julie, as we come to know her, is a very unreliable narrator and that she is playing a very dangerous game with her jailers.

Halfway through the book, Maddie begins to tell her own story of life in France. After their plane crash landed, Verity and Maddie parted ways. Verity makes a fatal mistake and is captured but Maddie is taken in by the local Resistance fighters and ends up being trained to fight with them as she waits for a flight home and waits for information about her captured friend. This is a harrowing tale of uncommon bravery, unforgettable friendship and ordinary girls doing extraordinary things in a time of war. The writing will have you on the edge of your seat, grabbing the book with both hands. It is that un-put-down-able!

If you are like me, it may also have you compulsively searching the shelves for read-alikes and more information about British spies and the French Resistance in German-occupied France, 1939-1945.

For younger teens there is For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy (2003). Based on a true story, when Suzanne's hometown is bombed by the Germans she becomes a courier of secret messages for the Resistance.

In Under a War Torn Sky (2001), young American pilot Henry Forrester is shot down over German occupied France. Injured and scared, he must rely on the kindness and cunning of local Resistance fighters to evade the Nazis as he makes his way to freedom.

For graphic novel readers there is the Resistance trilogy (Resistance #1, Defiance #2, Victory #3) (2010-2012). Set in Vichy France (the southern part of France aka "Free France"), it is the tale of three siblings who fight with the Resistance and help their neighbors all under the watchful eye of the local Gestapo and French collaborators.

For those wanting more romance with their thrills there's Violins of Autumn (2012). Sixteen-year-old Betty is an American girl living in England when war breaks out. She lies about her age and ends up training to be a spy for Britain. Now known as Adele, she's dropped into France with another girl, Denise, to work with the Resistance. Through her adventures she finds true friendship with Denise and falls in love with a downed American pilot. All the while, she is in constant danger of being captured by the Gestapo.

For older teens, the libraries' adult section has a lot of great fiction and non-fiction books on the subject too. Foremost is the exceptional novel Charlotte Gray (1998). When the pilot she loves is shot down over Occupied France, a young Scottish woman joins British Intelligence and is sent to France to work for the Resistance. While there she searches for her lost love and helps the local villagers (it's also, a great film).

Partly set in the present day, in The Girl in the Blue Beret (2012), an American ex-WWII pilot returns to France to trace what happened to him when he was forced to crash land in Belgium. Forced to rely on the kindness of ordinary citizens, the young pilot was helped through enemy territory to safety. In particular, he remembers the girl in the blue beret who guided him through occupied Paris.

Suite Française (2007) by Irene Nemirovsky was written in 1942 but remained unpublished until 2004. The author, a Jew, was arrested and sent to the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz where she died before she could finish it. Set in 1940 it is a series of interconnected stories depicting life in France just after the German invasion. From the flight of citizens from Paris to life in a small, provincial French village. It is poignant and powerful.

For those who want more truth than fiction, there are many fascinating non-fiction choices. Told through original sources and interviews, A Train in Winter (2011) is the heartbreaking true story of 230 ordinary French women: teachers, students, housewives, opera singers... et al, all of whom risked their lives to fight in the French Resistance. Eventually they were captured by the Gestapo and sent to Auschwitz. Only 49 would return home. Sisters of the Resistance (1995) is another book of impeccable research and personal narratives detailing the lives and risks taken by women who worked united against the Nazis. In Women Who Lived for Danger (2002), we travel back to England and meet the real life women who worked for Britain's Special Office Executive or intelligence service. Like the fictional Verity and Adele, these real life young women were highly trained operatives who fought for their country using cunning and determination and survived through their wits and ability to remain cool in the face of danger.

2012 Platinum Pia Award Winners at Teen Central

Rodger Taylor, Grand Central Library — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:36:47 -0500

Teen Central at Grand Central Library partnered with Yianni Stamas and Lights, Camera, Read to create Digital Communication Arts projects aimed at bettering and bringing awareness to the New York City community and beyond. Teens and NYC youth participated in this year long program. We'd like to acknowledge the three Platinum Pia winners who also injected themselves into the life and culture at Teen Central.

Digital Communication Arts Platinum PIA

The Digital Communication Arts PIA, also known as the DigiComArts PIA, is given to the individual who excels at creating a digital project in the DigiComArts workshop series at the New York Public Library and other venues.

The topic for 2012 was anti-bullying. A highlight in the build to the PIAs was an address by bullying survivor and "American Idol" contestant Shacara Maclaurin to one of the workshop groups.

The Digital Communication Arts PIA winner for 2012 is Luke Grant for his animatic short "Who's the Real Bully."

Luke Grant was a senior at Art & Design High School when he completed the “Who’s the Real Bully” project. In addition to being an excellent artist, Mr. Grant is developing his skills as a writer. He is also a curious, concerned and caring member of his and the Teen Central community.

Born in Jamaica, he now resides in Brooklyn, New York with his family. Mr. Grant plans to attend BMCC in the fall.

Lights Camera Read Platinum PIA

The Lights Camera Read PIA is granted for the best story submitted by kids and teens to the Magic Neighbors Troupe, a children’s literacy theater company.

The 2011 Platinum PIA award winning story was performed for children at the Morrisania branch of the New York Public Library in the Bronx.

The winner of the 2012 Lights Camera Read Platinum PIA is Jasmine Grant for her story "Lawrence, Lawrence You're Ugly."

Jasmine Grant is a sensitive, careful and prolific writer. She graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and is now majoring in Liberal Arts at the New York City College of Technology. She also participates in the Year Up program which is designed to give young people exposure and experience in the business world. Jasmine lives and grew up in the Bronx.

Media Space NYC Platinum PIA

Media Space NYC is a network of over 80 blogs and publications committed to spreading positive and exciting stories about the human experience. The nominees are the young journalists who write these articles. The Media Space NYC PIA winner for 2012 is Sean Mac Queen for his interview of Justin Tuck, of the New York Giants.

Sean describes himself as a graphic designer, animator, sketch artist, video editor, comedian, and actor. A graduate of TCI (College of Technology) in New York, he lives in Queens and worked on the Lights Camera Read project.

Yianni and I really thank these young people for the contributions they made, for the wonderful experience we had getting to know them and hope they will keep in touch. We believe each of them will continue to do great things and wish them the best.

Can Fans of "Survivor Stories" Appreciate a Book About Someone Who DOESN'T Survive an Ordeal?

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:21:51 -0500

When I first saw a copy of Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words by Regine Stokke, my first thought was that this would be a great book to recommend to teenagers who are always looking for more books like Dave Pelzer's A Child Called "It" and other books that are both tragic and real.

But then I thought... there's a big difference between someone who goes through an ordeal but survives at the end and someone who goes through an ordeal but ultimately loses that battle.

A Child Called "It" has been at the front of a major literary trend in recent years. Something about the true story of a boy who survived a horrific childhood and went on to write books about his experiences has struck a chord in young readers. Over the years that I've been a young adult librarian, teens have been asking me for books that are real, for books that are sad, and for books that will make them cry. I usually end up recommending books like The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon, which tells the horrible and amazing story of a boy who tried to kill himself by setting himself on fire, but survived and wrote this book about how the experience changed him. And yes, the story is even more amazing because it's true.

But what about a story that's told as it happens? What about a diary, journal, or blog that's left behind when the person is gone, and we read those words because that person can't tell us anything else? One of the most famous examples of this kind of book is Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. One of the most modern examples is Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words. Both books were written by girls who lost their lives because of something beyond their control.

Regine Stokke was seventeen years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008, and that's when she started writing her blog about what it was like living with a serious illness. Her blog was first published as a book in Norway in 2010, and the English translation was published in 2012. The book combines Regine's blog, in which she writes about the physical and emotional pain she endures, with the writings of other people who were touched by her condition. These include letters, diary entries, and comments on Regine's blog.

This is an emotionally painful book, and to be honest, it took me over a month to read it in bits and pieces. I had to keep putting it down because it was so sad, and picking up more cheerful books instead to lift my spirits back up. In fact, it was while reading the first few chapters of this book that I started thinking about how there's a vast difference between reading a story and thinking "it's bad now, but at least I know that it gets better by the end" and thinking "even if things are okay now, I know that the ending will be tragic."

I talked to the kids in my Teen Advisory Group about the trouble I was having reading this book, and their reactions ranged from loving sad books that made them cry to NEVER EVER being moved to tears by a book. Which briefly led into a discussion about if never crying over books means that you have no soul, or if crying over books too much means that you're an emotional trainwreck. In any case, I asked them if they thought that teens who liked A Child Called "It" would be interested in reading Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words, and most of them agreed that fans of the first book would probably like the second. Because even though it doesn't fulfill the "survivor lives to tell the story" aspect, it DOES fulfill the other two: it's definitely tragic and it's definitely real.

And now, in conclusion, here are a few questions that might spark a discussion or two:

Do you enjoy reading tragic books? Why or why not?
Does the fate of the protagonist make a difference in your enjoyment of the book?
Is a tragic book more effective if it's a true story?
Is it possible to read Regine's Book in less than a month?
Do you lean more towards having no soul or being an emotional trainwreck?

and, last but not least...

What do you do when you need to take a break from a tragic book?

Kingsbridge Teens Recommend: Favorite Books and DVDs of 2012

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 04:28:09 -0500

The members of our Teen Advisory Group have spent many hours reading, watching, and reviewing so that they can recommend the best of the best to you. Here are some of their favorite things they enjoyed in 2012…

Rosalie is a fan of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.
Mara's best friends are dead and she is alive. She moves to another school and she thinks she can't fall in love, but she's wrong. Noah knows a lot about her, and it seems like he already knows her before they even met. This is a story about a girl who is trying to get her life back together, or trying to live as everything falls apart. This is a cute story that has romance and adventure, but it also has a bit of horror.

Caitlin likes And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
This book is about a group of people who are invited to an isolated island by the same person for different reasons. Then one by one, they all start disappearing. This is a classic suspense novel, and even though some teens might not be able to relate to it, it's a thrilling story that will surely keep readers turning the pages.

Genevieve enjoys the DMC (Detroit Metal City) series by Kiminori Wakasugi.
This series is about a death metal band that has a great following in the indie scene. The protagonist is a pushover who struggles with trying to make a living in the music world. Through a series of accidental occurrences, the band rises in the dangerous world of death metal. This series is very entertaining, however it is rated "M" for mature themes. The change in the protagonist from a pushover to the frontman of DMC is extremely enjoyable.

Jose suggests First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky.
The story describes the relationship between two people who are opposite from each other. They both learn that when two different lives meet, something good can come out of it. What makes this book great is that it teaches teens that not being perfect can help form a relationship with someone else who also isn't perfect, and that people can try to learn from their own unique characteristics.

Genevieve recommends To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
This book is a true look at society's opinion on racism, the power it holds over other people, and how it goes too far. This would be a good read for youth who don't quite understand segregation and racism, and it would be good to start an open dialogue.

Shania is a fan of Cat's Cradle by Jo Rioux.
Cat's Cradle is a graphic novel about a girl who wants to be a monster hunter. She finds a creature that can almost transform into a human — everything but its tail! While the boy is running, he drops some golden twine and the girl picks it up. Then the family kidnaps the girl to get the golden twine back. I'm recommending this book because people who like graphic novels or books about magical powers will enjoy it.

Caitlin recommends Soul Eater Vol 1 by Atsushi Ohkubo.
This is the first book in a manga series about a girl and her friends who attend Death Weapon Meister Academy. If you attend this school, you get partnered up with someone else who is either the person transforming into a weapon or the meister, the one who controls or wields the weapon. Each pair must collect a total of 99 demon-kishin souls and one witch soul in order for the weapon to become a weapon for Lord Death. The main character is Maka, who is the meister, while her partner is Soul "eater" Evans, her demon-scythe partner and friend. Together they go on life-threatening, emotionally exhausting, and trust-testing missions in order to transform Soul into a weapon that Lord Death would use. This manga does not follow the traditional boy-lead as most shonen manga do. Instead of focusing on a love triangle or general romance as a subplot, Ohkubo puts attention on the bond between the partners; he develops them into soul mates which doesn't have to be a "lovey dovey" type of situation. Also, the series has a lot of action and serious but funny moments which are a perfect mix for any gender.

Stephanie suggests The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter.
This book is about a white boy who was kidnapped by Lenape Indians at a young age and renamed True Son. True Son was raised by his tribe, but then one day he is rescued and returned to his white family. Does True Son stay or go? Where does he belong?

Genevieve likes the Hell Girl: Three Vessels anime.
The hands of time are still progressing as the third collection of Hell Girl is introduced. Everything comes full circle and Ai continues to help people looking for vengeance. It's an interesting story to watch as it explores the complex nature of human beings. Nothing is certain, even the people who are sent to hell.

Caitlin enjoys the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
It's the final part of the final movie, and things are really starting to heat up as the trio go looking for horcurxes so they can finally kill Voldemort. Throughout the movie relationships are created, lives are ended, and armies are truly put to the test — Team Voldemort vs. Team Harry. This is the final movie in the whole series, so it's best to complete it. Plus, you get to see Daniel Radcliffe in a bra :)

Are you Ready to See The Hobbit, My Precioussssss?

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:39:43 -0500

Okay, you're probably busy putting the finishing touches on your wizard's robe and/or brushing the hair on your furry hobbit's feet so that you will be as stylish as possible when you arrive at the movie theater to catch a midnight showing of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey later this month.

But while you're passing the time getting ready for the new movie, don't forget that you can use the library to read J.R.R. Tolkien's books, books about Tolkien, and other books connected to the LOtR universe. Plus you can also find videos, ebooks, audiobooks, and more! Let's start with an overview of the hobbit-related items in our catalog, and then I'd like to highlight a few cool and unusual items connected to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Books

If you search in our BiblioCommons catalog for books using the keywords "Tolkien" and "hobbit," you will find a lot of stuff, including books by Tolkien, books about Tolkien, The Art of the Hobbit, and much more.

If you search the catalog for books using "Tolkien" and "lord of the rings," then the list grows even bigger. You probably knew that Tolkien's original Lord of the Rings books were in the library, as well as overviews of the series
and books of criticism about the trilogy. But did you also know that you can feed your super fandom with The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth?

eBooks and Audiobooks

If you'd like to immerse yourself in the worlds that Tolkien created on your electronic device, or if you'd like to experience those worlds with your ears instead of your eyes, you can limit your search in our catalog to these different formats.

An ebook version of The Hobbit? Check! An ebook version of the Tolkien Trivia Quiz Book? DOUBLE Check!

Videos

If you think of Tolkien on video, your mind will most likely jump to Peter Jackson's recent films covering the Lord of the Rings trilogy. And watching his film versions of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King will certainly be worthwhile, especially if you want to compare and contrast his adaptations of those novels to his adaptation of The Hobbit.

But if you're willing to expand your search horizons a little further, you might also want to check out the 1977 Rankin & Bass animated version of The Hobbit, or (my personal favorite) the 1978 Ralph Bakshi animated version of The Lord of the Rings. [Wow — check out that crazy rotoscoping technique!]

So... which of Tolkien's books are your favorites, and what are YOUR favorite things connected to the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings?

Stop, Rewind, Play: Every Day by David Levithan

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 05:40:47 -0500

A is sixteen years old, and has never been the same person twice. Every morning, A wakes up in the body of a different sixteen-year-old: a boy, a girl, an athlete, an addict, a star student, a burnout. Then A falls in love, and things get REALLY complicated.

Every Day by David Levithan takes a weird but simple premise — imagine what it would be like to wake up each day in a different person's body — and expands on this idea with some thought-provoking questions. What kind of an impact would this have on people's lives? Would you or the person whose body you were inhabiting think you were crazy? Do you have the right to derail someone else's life? How much could you hurt or help someone by living in that person's body for just one day?

A can't control which body he will find himself (or herself) in each day, and wakes up each morning with no idea what the day will bring. A has learned from past mistakes to be careful — to make sure the body doesn't eat anything that will cause an allergic reaction, for example. But A must also be careful about fitting in, because A's behavior could change that person's life for the better or for the worse.

When A wakes up as a boy named Justin, it seems like it's going to be an ordinary school day. But when A looks through Justin's eyes and sees Justin's girlfriend Rhiannon, he sees a sweet and beautiful girl that Justin doesn't appreciate. After A and Rhiannon spend a few hours together, A starts falling in love with her, which creates a whole new set of questions.

How can A convince Rhiannon that her boyfriend Justin is a jerk and she should break up with him?

Will Rhiannon accept any part of this unbelievable story and understand who A really is?

Can two people have a future together if one person's future is constantly changing?