Ages 11-18
Blog Post
Don't make this mistake on your exams..
by Edith Wharton
SAT prepping kid #1: What's hydrolysis?
SAT prepping kid #2: Dude, don't you play Grand Theft Auto? Hydrolysis is what makes the cars bump up and down.
SAT prepping kid #3: Um...Hydrolysis is the splitting of things in water.
SAT prepping kid #2: Whatever. Same thing.
--overheard on 2 train near Borough Hall (New York City)
Blog Post
An extraordinary story
by Maxine
Death becomes a pivotal character in the mezmerizing novel, The Book Thief by Australian author, Marcus Zusak. Death, often hard hearted, is drawn to Liesel Meminger, a nine year old girl growing up near Munich during World War II. Abandoned by her mother and still suffering nightmares about the death of her younger brother, Liesel is taken in by foster parents in the rough working class neighborhood of Molching where she steals her first book. Over the ensuing years, Liesel steals more books which become for her an escape and a silent protest to the totalitarian regime in which she lives. She befriends Max, a Jew, whom her parents hide in their basement and who whitewashes the pages of Mein Kampf to make his own book as a gift to Liesel. To hear an interview done by NPR's John Ydstie with Zusak, log on to the NPR site.
Liesel's recognition of the power of words echoes Death's who, according to reviewer Elizabeth Chang, "..recognizes them not only for the good they can do, but for the evil as well. What would Hitler have been, after all, without words?"
Blog Post
No dancing
by sstonez
Elvis Costello is returning to Ann Arbor! The Summer Festival, which technically starts on June 16th, is bringing him to Hill Auditorium on June 13th. Costello will be accompanied by his band The Imposters and the New Orleans stylings of Allen Toussaint. "No dancing," by the way, is a track from his first album, My Aim is True.
Blog Post
X-Men Extravaganza
by carbonear
Loved the new movie and want more? Didn't care for it and want something different? Somewhere in the middle? Wherever you fall, the AADL is here to help.
Ultimate X-Men, a guide to the universe, covers the original Dark Phoenix saga. Astonishing X-Men Volume 1: Gifted contains the story of the "cure" for mutancy, as written by Joss Whedon of Buffy and Firefly fame.
One thing is certain: for better or for worse, none of the books feature Kelsey Grammer in a Cookie Monster suit.
Blog Post
A Few Good Volunteers Needed!
by K.C.
Summer is fast approaching - AADL’s busiest time of the year. Volunteers are needed June 19-July 9 at AADL’s four branches (Northeast, West, Mallett’s Creek, and Pittsfield) to help sign up Summer Reading participants. Interested? If you are between the ages of 12 and 18, stop by the information desk at a branch and pick up some forms. Fill out and return the forms by June 14.
Jump in and lend a hand to make this our biggest summer yet!
Blog Post
It's All Write 2006 Short Story Judges
by Bertha
Thanks to the following judges of the teen's short story writing contest for area Teens! We appreciate their expertise and careful considerations of each story.
Middle School:
CHRIS HEBERT- Fiction Editor at the University of Michigan Press (previous Hopwood Winner)
AMY SUMERTON - Serves as executive editor of 'Orchid Literary Review' for three years. Her fiction can most recently be found in Red Cedar Review. She plays cello in a local band called Canada. Amy currently makes a living as assistant director for 826 Michigan, a nonprofit writing center designed to help students aged 6-18 develop their writing skills.
LARA M. ZIELIN - Author of Make Things Happen Networking for Teens and she edits the alumni publication at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Language and the Arts.
High School:
MARGARET LAZARUS DEAN - Teaches at U of M's MFA program and has a novel coming out this fall. (previous Hopwood Winner)
LAURA KASISCHKE - Teaches at U of M's MFA program and is the author of several books of poetry and the novel Life Before Her Eyes (previous Hopwood Winner)
PATRICK O'KEEFFE - Currently a lecturer at University of Michigan, and is the 2005 Winner of the prestigious 'story prize' Award for Hill Road four long stories set in Ireland. (previous Hopwood Winner)
Blog Post
Vote by this Friday, May 26!
by K.C.
Yes, time is running out to vote. Check out the list of 2006 Thumbs Up! nominees and vote for your favorite.
To vote:
1. Drop your ballot (green brochure) into the box located in the teen section, OR
2. Email your choice to davise@aadl.org, OR
3. Mail your vote using the brochure mailer. Include a $.39 stamp.
Blog Post
What, Me Worry?
by tkj
If upon reading above caption, you immediately grin, smirk, chuckle, snort, or downright guffaw, then you're one of the millions who've enjoyed MAD since its inception in 1952.
So go ahead, check out what AADL has in its collection - from the magazine (yes, there's even a kids' version) to several books put out by the "Usual Gang of Idiots."
And for those of you who have never read the magazine, but watch MADTV, just where did you think Spy vs. Spy came from?
Enjoy, kids!
Blog Post
Pearl's Picks for Youth and Teens
by sstonez
Librarian extraordinaire Nancy Pearl joined us at the Downtown library on Sunday for a talk about books, reading, and writing. She suggested several great books for young people, from picture books like Knuffle Bunny and Skippyjon Jones to chapter books like Three Terrible Trins, Whales on Stilts, and Ragweed. For teens, she especially liked Feed, by the same author as Whales on Stilts, Lisa Yee's Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Richard Peck's Teacher's Funeral, and the difficult but moving story in Looking for Normal by Betty Monthei. Already read these? Ask any librarian for more suggestions.
P.S. Many of these are available as audiobooks, too!
Blog Post
It's All Write! AADL Short Story Contest Winners Announced!
by kcrj49
Congratulations to all those who entered the 2006 Short Story Contest.
Here are the winners of the AADL Short Story Writing Contest: 'It's All Write'
Middle School Category 6th/7th/8th Grades:
1st Place: Alien Girl by Lindsey Fischer Mill Creek Middle School, Dexter
2nd Place: Escape to Denmark by Timothy G. Rhein Home School, Ypsilanti
3rd Place: A Slanted Roof by Isabel McKay Tappan Middle School
High School Category 9th/10th Grades:
1st Place: Morning Again by Eva Colas Huron High School
2nd Place: Saved by Maya Lamm Community High School
3rd Place: Daisies in the Garden by Sabrina Na Huron High School
High School Category 11th/12th Grades:
1st Place: How to Make Empenadas by Emmaleigh Mia Paul Rudolf Steiner High School
2nd Place: The Gift by Jenneva Scholz Rudolf Steiner High School
3rd Place: A Romance by Eva Miller Community High School