Human strays?

Mon, 08/20/2007 - 12:01pm by K.C.

Ted prefers animals to humans; animals "never lie," and unlike the kids at school, he understands them. When Ted loses his parents in a car accident, he particularly identifies with strays--after all, as a foster kid, that's what he is. Ted lands in a new home, where his basic needs are met by fair but semi-dysfunctional foster parents and where he coexists with Astin, his older roommate, and C. W., who has had 19 placements in six years.

He’s having pretty much the worst year of his miserable life. Or so he thinks. Is it possible that becoming an orphan is not the worst thing that could have happened to him? Try Strays by Ron Koertge. (taken from the Booklist review by Krista Hutley)

An A+ Audiobook

Sat, 08/18/2007 - 4:20pm by Bertha

Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic regardless of the year or the season. Sissy Spacek is the narrator of the 2006 audiobook version, and her Southern lilt and range of emotion brings the characters to life. This classic court case will keep you driving around the block or running extra miles tuned into the story.

I was a teenage ninja...

Sat, 08/18/2007 - 2:43pm by RiponGood

Have you ever wondered what life for an undercover teenage ninja in high school would be like? Join Amazing Agent Luna as she battle Count Von Brucken to find out. The stories are American originals, but are drawn and published in manga style, (right to left instead of left to right). We currently have vol 1, vol 2, and vol 3. Volume 4 comes out next month.

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #80

Fri, 08/17/2007 - 8:51pm by muffy

Well, I wasn’t going to read it. Another Chicklit. I thought, and a bit too cute, judging from the cover. But I was stuck in an airport and it was there. Soon I was turning pages, surprised to be hooked by this engaging debut about a wounded healer and her African elephants.

In Still Life with Elephant by Judy Reene Singer, horse-trainer Neelie Sterling is not a good listener. She knows that and she tries hard. But when her cheating husband, veterinarian Matt tells her his partner is having his baby, Neelie can’t deny that she is dense and blind as well.

As a last-ditch effort to save her marriage, she volunteers to join Matt's rescue mission to save injured elephants in Zimbabwe. The trip is dangerous, exhilarating and the nursing of the elephants back home is grueling and frustrating. However, Neelie soon learns that healing could be mutual and there is “still” life (pretty marvelous at that) worth living, especially when the charming millionaire who sponsored the rescue comes knocking.

Nicely paced and sparkled with humor, a debut novel to wrap up the summer. The elephants will steal your heart and the romantic in you will cheer. For fans of Jennifer Weiner and Jenny Colgan.

Two Watase

Wed, 08/15/2007 - 7:20pm by Brad B.

Ahh, Joy beat me to posting about Yu Watase! She's quick! Still, I can not resist chiming in to talk about Fushigi yûgi: The Mysterious Play anyway. This is one of my favorite fantasy anime/manga series. The reason I think I like it so much is because of how well rounded it feels to me. It has a little bit of everything all balanced to happen at just the right moments: Heart wrenching romantic plots, seriously cool fighting scenes, plenty of interspersed humor, and, well, intense drama. Yu Watase is one of those authors who is not afraid to kill off a character or two you really end up caring about if the storyline calls for it, which, as horrible as that might sound, really ends up making this series very intense. Throw in the fact that the artwork is beautiful and you have what makes a very good series in my opinion. Check out the manga or the anime...Or, check out the 2nd Fushigi Yugi series set in the same universe for those craving more: Fushigi yûgi: Genbu Kaiden.

Ceres Celestial Legend

Wed, 08/15/2007 - 7:02pm by joy k

On their sixteenth birthday, twins Aki and Aya receive a most unusual gift from their grandfather: a mummified hand! The hand causes painful wounds to appear on Aki’s body—and awakens a mysterious power that’s been sleeping in Aya. Can Aya control her new power, even while her grandfather is plotting to eliminate her? Read the original manga or watch the anime tv adaptation to get the answer.

Looking for something to read next? Try other series by the same author, Watase Yu, like Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden, or Imadoki.

Naruto @ Animanga Club, Monday, August 13

Fri, 08/10/2007 - 6:01pm by joy k

Join us this Monday @ the Downtown Library’s Multi-Purpose Room from 2:00 to 4:00 for the last meeting of the Animanga Club. Gear up for this fall’s Naruto Nation by watching episodes of the anime and making your own ninja headband. Can you name all the members of Team 8, or match the signature move to the character? You won’t want to miss our trivia quiz—there are cool prizes from Wizzywig for those with high scores. We’ll also have updates on our fall anime/manga events. Snacks and drinks will be provided. See you there!

2nd Annual LEGO Contest Winners!

Thu, 08/09/2007 - 7:09pm by erin

The 2nd Annual LEGO contest was yet again a blast! We had 110 entries in five categories: Preschool, Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12. Entries ranged from a "Lego Cafe" where you can get ice cream sandwiches, to two fire breathing dragons, to sunken treasure ships and Star Wars episodes with a fan-fiction story to go along... Families and friends packed the room and waited with baited breath for the winners to be announced! And the winners are:

Duct Tape Re-Mix on Tuesday, August 7

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 1:13pm by K.C.

We'll provide the tape-in a bunch of colors from camouflage to pink-and you do the rest. Make what you want and meet other tapeheads. There will be duct tape books like Got Tape?: Roll out the fun with duct tape on hand for inspiration. You'll also view some great duct tape websites.

Drop in 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Pittsfield.

Teen Yellow Pages

Fri, 08/03/2007 - 2:14pm by Mazie

Calling all teens! For a list of resources just for teens in the local area, check out the Teen Yellow Pages online.

The Youth Empowerment Project just released the 2007-08 edition. This year for the first time it lists resources for the Lincoln, Saline, Willow Run and Ypsilanti School Districts, as well as those for the Ann Arbor.