American Born Chinese is 2007 Printz Award winner

Mon, 01/22/2007 - 3:17pm by K.C.

The first graphic novel to win the Printz Award is American Born Chinese by Gene Yang. Announced today in Seattle, the 2007 Printz Award winner “focuses on three characters in tales that touch on facets of Chinese American life. Jin is a boy faced with the casual racism of fellow students and the pressure of his crush on a Caucasian girl; the Monkey King, a character from Chinese folklore, has attained great power but feels he is being held back because of what the gods perceive as his lowly status; and Danny, a popular high-school student, suffers through an annual visit from his cousin Chin-Kee, a walking, talking compendium of exaggerated Chinese stereotypes.” (Booklist review)

Printz Honor books are:

Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Taken From Accounts by his Own Hand and Other Sundry Sources by M.T. Anderson
Abundance of Katherines by John Greene
Surrender by Sonya Hartnett
The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak

Sundance Festival 2007

Fri, 01/19/2007 - 11:45am by Maxine

The 2007 Sundance Film Festival is being held in Park City, Utah from January 18-28.This is the top US festival for independent filmakers. More than 120 feature-length films and more than 80 shorts are shown. Although most believe that Robert Redford, founder of the Sundance Institute, was also the founder of the festival, it was originally established by some film people from Utah as a retrospective. But the focus changed with Redford who opened up the festival to new, independent filmmakers. And it's been this way ever since. If you can't get to Utah, The Library has many of the films originally shown at the festival.

Who will win the next Printz Award?

Thu, 01/18/2007 - 4:24pm by K.C.

Speculation is running high now that the announcement is just days away. Check this Monday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. to find out what teen book has won the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award for literary excellence in young adult literature.

Here are a few possible candidates:

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
King Dork by Frank Portman
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Recently I talked with Cindy Dobrez, chair of this year's Printz committee. She said the committee works in total secrecy. They cannot talk about any books with colleagues, teens, friends, or family. Their lips are sealed until Monday when Cindy makes the big announcement. So stay tuned!

Project Design:Submit your Designs this Saturday!

Thu, 01/18/2007 - 4:16pm by erin

Do you design and create your own clothes? Are you a fashion fanatic? Our first ever A2 wide design event is a juried design exhibition and a fabulous opportunity to showcase youth talent. To enter you must attend the Submission Panel Session on Saturday, January 20-2:00-4:00 PM @ the Downtown Library in the Multipurpose Room. The Fashion Show will be on Friday, April 6-6:00-8:30 PM. Complete guidelines can be found by clicking HERE.

Sports Manga @ Animanga Club on January 24

Tue, 01/16/2007 - 12:23pm by joy k

Get in the game as the Animanga Club discusses our favorite sports manga and does a cool craft. We’ll be focusing on Prince of Tennis, Eyeshield 21, and Crimson Hero, but come with recommendations of others sports manga that you’ve loved. Pocky and other snacks will be provided. The event will be held from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Malletts Creek Branch on Wednesday, January 24th.

Ann Arbor is getting krump!

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 3:20pm by jillean

Tommy the Clown and the Hip-Hop Clowns are coming to Ann Arbor as part of the 2007 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium, an annual series of events honoring the life and vision of Dr. King at the University of Michigan. Tommy the Clown invented clown dancing and has since offered membership in his dance team to youth as an alternative to gangs. They will perform a tribute to Dr. King, Wednesday, February 7th at the Michigan League Ballroom at 7:30pm.

If you want to learn more about an incredible new style of dance, check out Rize. This exhilarating movie documents the origins of krumping and clown dancing in South Central Los Angeles.

Tempting fate (or not?)

Thu, 01/11/2007 - 3:12pm by Maxine

Is fate a tease, an illusion or a controller of one's life? These are questions David Case who re-names himself Justin Case, ponders. As evidenced by this name change, Justin thinks he needs all the help he can get after the close call when his year old brother Charlie almost flies out the window. Justin doesn't fit in and soon finds some kindred souls in Angela, a photographer who likes to take pictures of disasters, an imaginary greyhound named Dog and Peter, the most normal of the lot, who encourages Justin to take up long distance running.

When Justin and Angela find themselves among the survivors of a catastrophe at the airport, Justin's fears multiply and he can't see his way free from the forces of doom.

Alternately funny, horrifying and always thought provoking, Meg Rosoff's new book, Just in Case has some of the same dark elements as her Printz Award winner, How I Live Now.

ACT / SAT Test Practice 10:30-Noon Saturday, January 13

Wed, 01/10/2007 - 2:42pm by K.C.

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Test time draws near again! LearningExpress Library can help you get ready. Join us in the Pittsfield Computer Training Center and take an e-practice test.

Amazon.com’s Teen Top Sellers

Tue, 01/09/2007 - 5:57pm by jillean

It is quite a diverse list this week. SAT test preparation…check! Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance books…check! By the way, what did you think of Eragon the movie? Also, we’ve got more tales from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and wonderful classics like Things Fall Apart and 1984. Oh, and I would say more about Fast Food Nation but my pizza just arrived. Good luck with classes!

Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) by Christopher Paolini
The Elements of Style by William Strunk
The Official SAT Study Guide
Things Fall Apart: A Novel by Chinua Achebe
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
How to Go to College Almost for Free by Ben Kaplan
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
1984 by George Orwell

Anime books and magazines

Tue, 01/09/2007 - 11:53am by joy k

The library doesn’t just have great anime tv series and films in its dvd collection; it also has books about anime in our nonfiction collection. I especially like Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation by Susan J. Napier and The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation since 1917 by Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy.

And if you want the very latest news on anime, take a look at Newtype USA magazine, which is available at all library branches.