Hunger Games Party!

Not only did we survive, we prevailed! It was a huge success judging by the
turnout and the feedback!

Enjoy some pictures....


Let the Games Begin



Our Weapons and Chokers


The Cake!


A District Tribute and her people....




Anyone who wants details about what we did can email me but basically
after sifting through lots of good ideas for our fellow librarians and
teens the highlights were:


Party began with lights off, creepy music, spotlight on me and the announcing of the rules. We were off to a good start!

The homemade bows and arrows were the biggest hit and we had a ball making them (ahead of time). Very quick and easy with wire cutters, pliers, coat hangers, rubber bands, q-tips and coffee straws - nothing bought.

Chokers a close second: Magnets ordered from Zazzle.com
on a pantyhose and a washer "choker" The Catching Fire magnets were more popular than Hungry? Better color. The kids made these at the end of the event.

Wish I had thought to put Rue in the centerpiece of the cake which was decorated with flowers. That was a last minute purchase - it was going to be brownies but I took what Costco had. Delicious and inexpensive.

Kids worked in district teams to decorate a banner and select a tribute to represent them. They dressed their tribute in cotumes that they made for them. Correctly answered trivia questions earned them a trip to the Cornucopia for "supplies" for battle or their costume. They all really did a good job and were quite creative. They all had basic supplies to work with. Face painting was obviously part of it as you can see from this young girl....she loved it!
Then each district was interviewed and judged. Winners got to go first in archery.

They could have done archery all day! Fortunately, we all came back to civilization with cake and the choker activity.

Very, very fun.

We are thinking of doing a Lightning Thief party for the Summer Reading theme - Poseidon etc...that might be a good workshop idea??

Our biggest problem - be prepared to have a lot of kids!!

Thanks to all who helped us with ideas!!
Big thanks to Lauren our part-time librarian who was invaluable when it came to ideas - especially decorating - she had the idea of putting cameras around on tripods so it looked like they were being filmed. And she had our banner idea, and found and made up the trivia questions. Not to mention that her and Fran were top-notch Peacemakers all afternoon!



Michelle and Fran

Banned Books Week

This week is Banned Books Week. What does that mean?

It means celebrate your freedom to read by picking up a book that has been challenged or banned from a public or school library. I think you will be surprised at what's on the list of books that someone wanted to forbid you to read. Copy and paste this link to see a list of banned or challenged classics:

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned/index.cfm

I am not suggesting that you should read books that offend you. I am suggesting that you should not be prohibited from reading books that offend others. (Unless it's your mom or dad - I will assume they have good reason for suggesting a book is inappropriate for you)

Censor for yourself. I often skip passages that make me uncomfortable for one reason or another. If someone told me I couldn't read something it might make it even more desirable. Imagine that and consider this quote from The Tragedy of Puddin'head Wilson by Mark Twain:

"Adam was but human--this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent."

Think on that one for a bit...and discuss it at the dinner table or in the lunchroom tomorrow.

Or:
Check out this puppet video put out by The Office of Intellectual Freedom for another explanation of Banned Books Week.

http://bannedbooksweek.org/bbw%20videos.htm

Enjoy your freedom to read any book you like this week (and always!)

Peace,

Michelle

The Ask and the Answer!

It's in! The sequel to The Knife of Never Letting Go


The Ask and the Answer

Check out the author's online diary to find out more about him and his books.
I think he's cool.

http://www.patrickness.com/

I am going to do what he says and head out into the sunshine to read...told you he was cool.

Enjoy! mr

Welcome Back!

I hope you all enjoyed your summer vacation. I did!
Check out my previous blog entry for the books I loved this summer.
Be sure and stop in and tell me what you loved.

We have some fun events planned for fall and, of course, are here to help you with your school needs.
Make sure you can find your library card or come in and get a new one.

Join our Film or Green Teens Clubs and attend some informative workshops on film making and composting. Guess which workshop for which club...

Attend the College Essay Writing Workshop on Oct. 5 with Dr. Knoll, beloved HP teacher!
Everyone will leave with an outline and rough draft. Don't miss this opportunity to get some help and alleviate some of the stress associated with the process of applying to colleges.

Hunger Games party - October 28th! Join us for some fun competition and snacks. If you have suggestions for the party see me. No real bows and arrows...sorry, but I do see how that could be fun. Maybe darts. Magnetic darts.

Origami in November.

Check our calendar for date and times and please register so we know to expect you.

I look forward to seeing you soon...stop in and say hi. Admire the garden on your way in. We had fun with it this summer. The tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs made a delicious gazpacho! Pumpkin patch coming in the fall. We can have a Great Pumpkin party...there is no end to the good ideas.

See ya,

Michelle

What I Read and How I Loved It...

I read some GREAT books this summer....

I do some of my best reading at the beach, the pool, my yard, my porch and spent a lot of time on each this summer. I am molto fortunato!

Here's what I loved. I'm keeping each review to about 3 key words. If I spend too much time thinking about the review I won't get this done. Look on our teen page for a link to these books in our catalog and a longer descrition. You're going to want to read them yourself. Find one you like and come talk to me about it! Keep in mind some will be appropriate for middle school, some HS and some for adults, like Mister Pip. All are appropriate for adults who remember what it was like to be a teen.
In the order that I remembered them...


"What I Saw and How I Lied" by Judy Blundell
Glamour, mystery, and the little lies we tell ourselves....and that cover!

"Life as We Knew It" and the "Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Disaster, destruction, survival. LAWKI is a girls perspective of the event, D&G, a boys.

"Every Soul a Star" by Wendy Mass
Just to show you I don't only love death and destruction -
3 kids, one solar eclipse. My favorite book this summer and I WILL be going to a campsite to enjoy the next total solar eclipse in 2017. Click the link below to see the path - I will be on that path. She is a wonderful author. Thoughtful, funny and does her research.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html



"Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott
Dark, like its title...and sad.

"Baby" by Joseph Monninger
Foster care, friendship, dog sled racing (which was fascinating). I love when I learn about something new.

"Mister Pip" by Lloyd Jones
A special teacher. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird you will love this one.

"If the Witnes Lied" by Caroline Cooney
What happens when people believe the adult just because...

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
He is a great story teller. Don't be put off by the beginning. You will love some of the folks who "live" in this graveyard. Promise.

"Jellicoe Road" by Melina Marchetta
Unfolds beautifully...stick with it. Will re-read one day because it's worth it.

"Hunger Games" - re-read to get ready for its sequel due out Sept 1 - put a copy on hold for yourself! Sequel - "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins. Keep an eye out for our HG party!



"Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
Noise, chaos, boy, dog, girl. Set in the future it is dark, intense and still manages to be sweet....Loved it!
Book 1 of a trilogy, Chaos Walking. Good title for the series. Hated the cliff hanger ending but the good news is Book 2 will be out in the next week. I'm first in line for it!






"Mice Templar - The Prophecy"
Rats, swords, justice....still working on this one but I loved the forewords by the author and illustrator. Just big boys who still love swords and believe in goodness...and why can't rats be the good guys? A graphic novel.
Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
For fans of Sherman Alexie. He is one of my favorites, but I preferred Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

"Cry, the Beloved Country" by Alan Patton.
Was prepared to dislike it just because, but I am enjoying it. I understand the feeling of loss...and appreciate the dignity. I'm not very far into it, but I predict I might cry...

"How to Read Literature Like a Professor" by Thomas C. Foster
Entertaining, informative. Rain is never just rain...or maybe it is.

On my nightstand -
Swallow Me Whole - graphic novel - love the cover.
Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt
Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle (of ttfn and ttyl fame)
Geektastic:Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black
Gone by Michael Grant

Stop by and pick up one of these titles or tell me about one I should not miss!
What should I pick next for my nightstand?

Enjoy...michelle

Summer Reading Winds Down!

Last of our summer events....

Harvest Celebration Tonight, Monday the 17th at 7 pm. Food from our gardens!

Origami Box Making, Thursday the 20th at 1 pm.

Then, I'll take a deep breath and start posting some photos of our summer fun and gearing up for school. We'll be ready when it comes around. Speaking of...

Stop in for your summer reading books. We have a few copies of each title but they are going fast. You won't know until you come in and ask or visit our catalog. Put a hold on a summer reading book and we'll try our best to get you a copy.

http://hpplnj.kohalibrary.com/

Don't forget your one choice book as well. If you want your first choice hurry in.

Look for us on facebook. Highland Park Public Library - Teens. No one reads this blog but my brother and our friend Leora so fb is one more way for me to reach you ;)

If you do check this for info about our programs let me know...I'm feeling unread ;)

Peace,

Michelle

Coming Up....

Chess, Wed July 29 at 3 pm - all levels welcome!

Paper-Making, Monday Aug 3 at 7 pm. Wear something you can get messy in.
Bring your summer reading logs to earn raffle tickets!

Film editing, Monday, Tues, Wed Aug 3 - 5, 1 - 3 pm
Bring a laptop if you have one and all of your work to date!

Please register online or via email to mreasso@hpplnj.org

Hope to see you!

Michelle