Ages 11-18
Blog Post
Find appropriate books and movies with DiscoveryJourney
by pkooger
Want to know if there is sex, drugs, or offensive language in a book without having to read the whole thing? Check out the DiscoveryJourney website. DiscoveryJourney has reviews of many popular children's books and movies with listings of each incidence of violence, profanity, nudity, sexual content, scary elements, and the use of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. It also suggests an appropriate age range for the intended audience.
DiscoveryJourney rates books and movies on each of ten character traits, including honesty, compassion, courage, and faith. The reviewers give positive and negative examples of each character trait. For example, in the review of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," Harry and his friends' bravery is listed as a positive example of courage, while Gilderoy Lockhart's behavior is listed as a negative example of courage. When rating morals or values, there are bound to be some personal differences of opinion, so use your own judgment when reading the reviews.
Blog Post
The Princess Diaries: Audiobooks
by Cherie Lee
When Mia Thermopolis learns she's a princess her world changes--for the worse! This story turns most little girls' dream into a nightmare for one New York teen. In The Princess Diaries Meg Cabot imagines the hijinks, antics, and neurotic wonderings of a modern unwilling royal.
Two different voice actors read these books but they have similar styles, so if I hadn't checked the back, I might not have noticed. Anne Hathaway, who plays Mia in the movie, reads some while the rest are read by Clea Lewis who has acted in several TV shows as well as done voices for cartoons. Some of the boys sound different with the different readers, but Mia sounds pretty much the same throughout. They also start with beautiful classical music over the Little Princess quotes at the beginning of each book which are probably the most moving things in the entire series.
I listened to seven of these which might lead one to believe that I like them, and I suppose I would have to confess I didn't hate them as much as I initially wanted to, but I still think the movie version is better. The reason being is that in the movie you can imagine that Mia is smart which makes her easier to sympathize with. In the book you can't hold onto any such delusions since you can see her every inane thought. Admittedly her father and grandmother are far more comical in the books, but the movie (while not the most profound) is definitely more profound than these books.
Blog Post
NZ Block Party!
by K.C.
3-9 PM | Saturday, May 31 | Washington St. in front of NZ
The Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor’s Teen Center, is 10 years old! There will be live performances from My Dear Disco, followed by 3 on 3 basketball, a DJ challenge, art and music sales, games, food and more live music featuring Charlie Slick. At 7 p.m. outstanding teen accomplishments will be highlighted.
Don’t miss the fun!
Blog Post
Sam Spade will never die.
by Maxine
Today, May 27 is the birthday of two great mystery novelists, Tony Hillerman who was born in 1925 and Dashiell Hammett who was born in 1894. Hillerman, a former journalist and past president of Mystery Writers of America is best known for his mysteries about the Navajo in which Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn chase down culprits in the often brutal sun of the Southwest.
Hammett was best known for his hard-boiled detective novels that featured cynical, fast talking characters who got things done. Hammett based some of his stories on work he had done with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The movie, The Maltese Falcon was based on his book and starred Hunphrey Bogart as Sam Spade.
Blog Post
Who are the Judges? 2008 Short Story Contest for Teens
by Bertha
Aaron Burch - Editor of the literary journal, "Hobart." His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in "Quick Fiction", "elimae", "Smokelong Quarterly" and other publications.
Nan Willard Cappo - Author of "Cheating Lessons" a YA suspense novel set in Michigan. "Cheating Lessons" received a starred review in "Horn Book," a Junior Library Guild selection, and was nominated for an Edgar award as Best Young Adult Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. Nan grew up in Pennsylvania but has lived in Farmington, Michigan, for the past 20 years. She and her husband have three grown children. At various points she's worked as a waitress, speechwriter, computer sales rep, and college English teacher, and often draws on those experiences for her fiction. Currently she is a sales rep for National Geographic School Publishing and Heinemann. When she's not selling school books, she is working on her third novel, a murder mystery set in a southeast Michigan auto assembly plant.
Cassandra Carter - A 19-year-old honors graduate of Huron High School in Ann Arbor. Her debut novel, "Fast Life" was written was she was fifteen. Two years later, she signed a contract with Harlequin and was published in July 2007, just one month after receiving her diploma. Also a part of the brand new YA imprint, Kimani Tru, her newest work, "16 Isn't Always Sweet" was released on March 1, 2008. Cassandra resides in Ypsilanti, MI where she's been busy promoting both titles. She is also currently hard at work on her third novel, a sequel to "Fast Life."
Elizabeth Ellen - The author of "Before You She Was a Pit Bull" (Future Tense) and "Sixteen Miles Outside of Phoenix" (Rose Metal Press). She lives in Ann Arbor and is deputy editor of the literary journal "Hobart."
Kathe Koja - Kathe Koja has written award-winning novels and short fiction for adults and for young people. Some of her most recent books include "Buddha Boy", "Talk", and "Kissing the Bee". "Headlong" is forthcoming in fall 2008. She lives in Berkley with her husband, artist Rick Lieder, and their cats.
Alex Mindt - The author of the short story collection "Male of the Species." He has published stories in numerous magazines, including the "Missouri Review", and "Confrontation, the Literary Review". His plays have been produced in Seattle and Los Angeles, and he co-wrote, directed, and produced the feature film "Nowheresville". He has taught at Bennington College, University of California at San Diego, and Columbia University. He holds a BA from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.
Nami Mun - Nami Mun's stories have been published in journals such as the 2007 Pushcart Prize Anthology, The Iowa Review, Evergreen Review, Witness, and Tin House, and was named by Tin House as an Emerging Voice of 2005. She received her MFA in 2007 from the University of Michigan and currently lectures in their English Department. Her novel, "Miles from Nowhere," is forthcoming in January 2009 from Penguin/Riverhead.
Amy Sumerton - Serves as assistant editor of "Orchid Literary Review." She plays cello in a local band called Canada. Amy currently makes a living as program director for 826michigan, a nonprofit writing center designed to help students ages 6-18 develop their writing skills.
Blog Post
2008 . . .and the Winners are. . .Short Story Contest
by Bertha
We salute all those 200 teen writers who turned in a story for the "It's All Write!" short story writing contest. It's takes courage and creativity; clearly you all have that. Congratulations!
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS:
1st Mari Cohen "Purple"
2nd Lydia L. Brown "Bittersweet"
3rd Caroline Elliott "Notes of Amadeus"
HIGH SCHOOL 9TH/10TH WINNERS:
1st Regina Rose Kazanjian "Loways and Highways"
2nd Lindsay Fischer "Everything is Connected"
3rd Sussy Pan "Breaking the Birthday Curse"
HIGH SCHOOL 11TH/12TH WINNERS:
1st Eva Colas "Searching"
2nd Lindsey Maxon "Networking"
3rd Josh Ballard "Premonitions of a Janitor"
Blog Post
Deb Caletti
by Bertha
Deb Caletti is in Ann Arbor for the upcoming Book Festival and is the guest speaker for the library sponsored Teen Short Story Writing Contest for area teens! Of her newest release, Fortunes of Indigo Skye, Caletti says, "It's about a waitress with a great family and a hunky refrigerator-delivery-guy boyfriend. Her life changes one day when she gets a big tip. A BIG tip." This newest title is already listed on 2009 Best Book Nominations for teens.
Later on Saturday the Celebrity Spelling Bee is also on tap, with Deb Caletti, Cassandra Carter, and others matching wits.
Blog Post
Teen volunteers needed at West, Malletts Creek, and Pittsfield branches
by K.C.
AADL needs teen volunteers to help sign up summer reading participants June 13-27. Interested? You need to:
-be in grades 6-12,
-attend training Friday, June 13, 2:00-3:00 p.m., and
-work both weeks (June 13-June 27).
Stop by the branch (West, Malletts Creek, or Pittsfield) at which you are interested in helping. Go to the reference desk, sign up, and take forms to complete. Return completed forms by Monday, June 9.
Jump in and lend a hand to make this our biggest summer yet!
Blog Post
Looking for a good used car?
by K.C.
Whether you're shopping used cars dealers or Craigslist, auto technology instructor Paul Kruthaup will tell you the things you need to know to buy a car that not only looks good but runs well too. This program, titled "Buy a Ride: No Clunkers, Lemons, or Junkers," will be held from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, in the Malletts Creek branch program room.
Blog Post
The 826 Gazette rocks!
by annevm
Great news! The premiere edition of The 826 Gazette published by students of 826michigan is attractive and impressive. I just picked up a copy at the downtown library youth desk, and I particularly liked the articles ”Restaurant patrons to help fight cystic fibrosis,” by Maureen McCord, and “Michigan’s Green Schools initiative aims to make schools more environmentally friendly,” by Andrew Yoo. The newspaper was written and reported by local tweens age 10-14. Erik Gable of The Daily Telegram in Adrian helped with the journalism, many volunteers assisted, and printing was donated by The Ann Arbor News. Yay! Already I’m looking forward to the next issue this summer!