Two Nanas

Thu, 04/03/2008 - 5:44pm by joy k

When two women with the same name meet on the train to Tokyo, neither of them guesses that it’s the beginning of an incredible friendship. Sweet and naive Nana Komatsu is headed to Tokyo to be with her boyfriend, Shoji, while glamorous Nana Osaki is pursuing her dream of being a punk rock star. The two Nanas decide to become roommates solely to save on rent, but it’s not long before they’re caught up in the drama of each other’s lives. The manga series Nana is so popular in Japan that it was adapted into a 47-episode anime series as well as two live-action movies. The library owns the first 8 manga volumes in the this ongoing story; catch up on the latest surprising events today!

The Golden Compass Series: Audiobooks

Wed, 04/02/2008 - 8:15pm by Cherie Lee

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) follows the story of Lyra Belacqua, the secrets surrounding her birth and future, and travel between the worlds.

With the recent film and a revival of the controversy that has always surrounded the Golden Compass series, these books are once more in the public eye. I've been told that even people who like them find the books difficult, but I throughly enjoyed listening to them on audio. This is possibly because they're performed by a full cast complete with sound effects and narration from Philip Pullman himself, making the whole experience more like an old fashioned radio drama than your average audio book. I highly recommend the entire series.

Is chess a game or a science?

Wed, 04/02/2008 - 10:28am by K.C.

That very question is posed in Searching for Bobby Fischer when a chess teacher talks with the father of a 7-year-old boy, Josh, who shows an amazing gift for playing chess. The teacher goes on to say that, "Bobby Fischer got underneath it like no one before and found at its center, art." And what's Josh's answer? When talking on the phone with a buddy, Josh explains, "Chess. It's a game, like Monopoly."

If you've never seen this flick, check it out. And, if you enjoy playing chess, come this Sunday, April 6 (1-4 p.m.), to Pittsfield Branch for Chesstastic. It's a chance to play a whole variety of opponents from the youngest age to senior citizens.

AXIS Coffeehouse @ Malletts Creek, Friday, April 4, 6:30-8:00 pm

Tue, 04/01/2008 - 1:04pm by joy k

Don’t miss the last AXIS Coffeehouse for the spring this Friday at the Malletts Creek Branch. If you’ve never been to the coffeehouse, it’s an open mic night for teens in grade 6-12. Perform your own work, or your favorite by somebody else. Recruit one of your friends, and perform something together. Don’t feel like going up to the mic? No problem! Just hang out, enjoy the free snacks, and enjoy the company. All teen performers will receive a $5 fine forgiveness coupon.

Tally-wa is baaack!

Mon, 03/31/2008 - 9:16am by K.C.

The Uglies trilogy lives on in the companion book, Extras. Thanks to Tally Youngblood the world of uglies, pretties, and specials is over. Now people are free to be whatever they want to be. Fifteen-year-old Aya is a kicker, who uses her hovercam, Moggle, to record interesting happenings in her city and feed it to the city network in hope of becoming famous.

The more others watch your feed the higher your face rank and thus social status rise. When Aya, sends a feed about a discovery she's made that could have world wide implications, she not only gains instant fame but also the attention of those who might want to silence her. The legendary Tally Youngblood also notices her feed and pings Aya with a warning. Then it's time for Aya to buckle up for the most vision warping, dizzy making experience of her life!

Get Your Game On! Strategy Style....

Sun, 03/30/2008 - 12:53pm by erin

Join us for an afternoon of strategy and fun gameplay - this Sunday, March 30 from 1:00-4:00 PM @ the Downtown Library (in the MP room)! The library owns copies of the award-winning Settlers of Catan, Carcassone, Condotierre and Chrononauts, but attendees are welcome and encouraged to bring along their favorite Euro-style board game (no Monopoly or Sorry here!). Bring friends, learn to play a new game, or teach someone to play your fave - Teens in grades 6 & up and adults are welcome! These may be no-tech games, but there are definitely not no-fun. Alex Horvath, owner of the store Get Your Game On (on Packard @ State) will be there to play games and offer a coupon to his store for attendees. Snack and drinks will be served - see you there!

Back to the past

Sat, 03/29/2008 - 1:20pm by joy k

Think you know everything there is to know about Fullmetal Alchemist after watching the anime? Think again. The manga’s and anime’s plots diverge after a certain point, and the most recent events in the manga will be a big surprise to anime-only fans. Fans of the state military characters will especially like volume 15, which takes readers back to the Ishbal Conflict that Colonel Mustang, Lieutenant Hawkeye, and others fought in seven years earlier. Catch up with the story today!

“In my ‘hood, battles is fought every day. . . .”

Thu, 03/27/2008 - 8:10pm by K.C.

Branded a troublemaker at school, Marcus is quick to use his fists when he feels hassled. Then his principal sends him to the library, where he meets CM, a local chess master who teaches students to fight their battles on the board instead of the streets. Learn how Marcus transforms himself into a warrior who stays three steps ahead of the enemy in Chess Rumble.

Chillin @ the NZ

Thu, 03/27/2008 - 3:15pm by Beth Manuel

Neutral Zone High School Drop-In Hours are Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 5-8 pm, Wednesday 2:30-8, and Friday 2:30-6. That’s for foosball, air hockey, tv, pool or chillaxin’. Homework help happens 2:30 to 4:45 Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. I know, right?

A Cool Girl and her Stuff

Wed, 03/26/2008 - 7:01pm by annevm

Ginny Davis is having a tough seventh-grade year, but at least she is getting good grades on her English essays. This helps us as readers, as we enjoy the essays, notes, instant messages, lists, and meatloaf haikus of Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff by Jennifer Holm. Pictures by Elicia Castaldi add delight to this clever book written by a two-time Newbery Honor winner.