Wednesday, December 19, 2012
All I Want for Christmas Is You!
There's only six more days till Christmas. Here's an early present courtesy of Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey, and the Roots.
Monday, December 10, 2012
December Teen Book Club/The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings.
With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels slowly creeping. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring in this funny, touching novel.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Anniversary of Basketball/Dragon Road
Did you know that basketball was created this month back in 1891? James Naismith was a teacher of physical education at the International YMCA Training College at Springfield, MA. In order to create an indoor sport, that could be played during the winter months, he nailed up peach baskets at opposite ends of the gym and gave students soccer balls to toss into them. Thus, the game of basketball was born.
Looking for a good book about your favorite winter sport? Try Dragon Road: Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1939 by Lawrence Yep.
It's 1939 and Chinese-American best friends Cal and Barney are both trapped by the invisible barriers created by racial prejudice. With
no jobs and no real homes, it's only their wizardry with a basketball that's let
them survive this long. That same skill suddenly flings a door open to fame and fortune when a
professional basketball team, the Dragons, invites them to join. Soon
they're barnstorming across America and taking on all comers—from local amateurs
to other professional teams like the Harlem Globetrotters.
On that long, difficult road, they must battle rowdy teams and their even rougher fans on makeshift courts. Cal, aka Flash, and the team must also overcome terrible weather, crumbling highways, and their own disintegrating car. As the tour starts to fall apart, the tension between Cal and the team's jealous captain comes to a head. Suddenly Cal must choose between loyalty to his teammates and the pursuit of his own celebrity. Inspired by the pioneering professional Chinese-American basketball team the Hong Wah Kues, Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep re-creates a colorful era of barnstorming basketball and leads readers through the heartache and glory of the dragon road.
Looking for a good book about your favorite winter sport? Try Dragon Road: Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1939 by Lawrence Yep.
It's 1939 and Chinese-American best friends Cal and Barney are both trapped by the invisible barriers created by racial prejudice. With
no jobs and no real homes, it's only their wizardry with a basketball that's let
them survive this long. That same skill suddenly flings a door open to fame and fortune when a
professional basketball team, the Dragons, invites them to join. Soon
they're barnstorming across America and taking on all comers—from local amateurs
to other professional teams like the Harlem Globetrotters.On that long, difficult road, they must battle rowdy teams and their even rougher fans on makeshift courts. Cal, aka Flash, and the team must also overcome terrible weather, crumbling highways, and their own disintegrating car. As the tour starts to fall apart, the tension between Cal and the team's jealous captain comes to a head. Suddenly Cal must choose between loyalty to his teammates and the pursuit of his own celebrity. Inspired by the pioneering professional Chinese-American basketball team the Hong Wah Kues, Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep re-creates a colorful era of barnstorming basketball and leads readers through the heartache and glory of the dragon road.
Monday, December 3, 2012
New Books for December!
Look for these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!
Beta by Rachel Cohn: Elysia was created in a laboratory, born as a sixteen-year-old girl, an empty
vessel with no life experience to draw from. She is a Beta, an experimental
model of a teenage clone. Elysia’s purpose is to serve the
inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth.
Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. At first, Elysia’s life is idyllic and pampered.
But she soon sees that Demesne’s human residents, who should want for nothing,
yearn. But for what, exactly? She also comes to realize that beneath the
island’s flawless exterior, there is an undercurrent of discontent among
Demesne’s worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should
not care—so why are overpowering sensations clouding Elysia’s mind? If
anyone discovers that Elysia isn’t the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be,
she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When her one chance at
happiness is ripped away with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she’s always had
but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to
overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive.
The Diviners by Libba Bray: Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is positively thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies." When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.
Crossed and Reached by Ally Condie: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to
read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at
her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate...until she sees Ky
Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The
Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus
on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop
thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the
Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander
and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared
to follow. Crossed and Reached are the final books to the thrilling adventure started in Matched.
See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles: Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. Her dad is always busy planning how
to increase traffic to the family business. Her mom is constantly going off to
meditate. Her sister Sarah, who's taking a "gap year" after high school, is too
busy finding ways not to work; and her brother Holden is too focused on his new
"friend" to pay attention to her. And then there's Charlie: three years old, a
"surprise" baby, and the center of everyone's world. If it wasn't for
Ran, Fern's best and oldest friend, there would be nowhere to turn. Ran is
always calm, always positive. His mantra "All will be well" is soothing in a way
that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can almost
believe. But when their lives are unexpectedly turned upside down, Fern
feels more alone than ever, and responsible for the event that wrenches the
family apart. All will not be well. Or at least, all will never be the
same.
Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor: Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine
a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world. Student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has
always sought. She knows who she is--and what she is. But with this
knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: sheloved the
enemy and he betrayed her, and the world suffered for it. In this sequel to the Daughter of Smoke &
Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with
heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood &
Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs
back to life. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and
starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For
hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken
dream?
Look for these books or put them on hold here.
Beta by Rachel Cohn: Elysia was created in a laboratory, born as a sixteen-year-old girl, an empty
vessel with no life experience to draw from. She is a Beta, an experimental
model of a teenage clone. Elysia’s purpose is to serve the
inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth.
Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. At first, Elysia’s life is idyllic and pampered.
But she soon sees that Demesne’s human residents, who should want for nothing,
yearn. But for what, exactly? She also comes to realize that beneath the
island’s flawless exterior, there is an undercurrent of discontent among
Demesne’s worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should
not care—so why are overpowering sensations clouding Elysia’s mind? If
anyone discovers that Elysia isn’t the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be,
she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When her one chance at
happiness is ripped away with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she’s always had
but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to
overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive. The Diviners by Libba Bray: Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is positively thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies." When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.Crossed and Reached by Ally Condie: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to
read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at
her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate...until she sees Ky
Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The
Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus
on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop
thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the
Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander
and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared
to follow. Crossed and Reached are the final books to the thrilling adventure started in Matched. See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles: Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. Her dad is always busy planning how
to increase traffic to the family business. Her mom is constantly going off to
meditate. Her sister Sarah, who's taking a "gap year" after high school, is too
busy finding ways not to work; and her brother Holden is too focused on his new
"friend" to pay attention to her. And then there's Charlie: three years old, a
"surprise" baby, and the center of everyone's world. If it wasn't for
Ran, Fern's best and oldest friend, there would be nowhere to turn. Ran is
always calm, always positive. His mantra "All will be well" is soothing in a way
that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can almost
believe. But when their lives are unexpectedly turned upside down, Fern
feels more alone than ever, and responsible for the event that wrenches the
family apart. All will not be well. Or at least, all will never be the
same.Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor: Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine
a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world. Student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has
always sought. She knows who she is--and what she is. But with this
knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: sheloved the
enemy and he betrayed her, and the world suffered for it. In this sequel to the Daughter of Smoke &
Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with
heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood &
Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs
back to life. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and
starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For
hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken
dream?Look for these books or put them on hold here.
Best Teen Books of 2012
Fresh from the New York Times, the Notable Young Adult Books of 2012:
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore: The companion to Graceling and Fire, this beautiful, haunting, and thrilling high fantasy about a young queen and her troubled kindgom stands on it's own. Teen Fiction Cashore
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: This tale of a spy and a fighter pilot during World War II is at heart a story about female friendship. Teen Fiction Wein
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh: A dwarf at court in 16th-century Denmark is the surprising hero in this novel, which also features real-life astronomer Tycho Brahe, an eccentric Danish nobleman. Available through interlibrary loan
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick: This novelized memoir tells the tragic but inspiring life story of Arn Chorn-Pond, a boy who was nine years old when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. Available through interlibrary loan
Son by Lois Lowry: In the conclusion to the dystopian Giver quartet, Lowry returns to the story of a mother searching for her lost son. Quiet and sorrowful, it is a deeply moving exploration of the powers of empathy and the obligations of love. New Teen Fiction Lowry
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore: The companion to Graceling and Fire, this beautiful, haunting, and thrilling high fantasy about a young queen and her troubled kindgom stands on it's own. Teen Fiction Cashore
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: This tale of a spy and a fighter pilot during World War II is at heart a story about female friendship. Teen Fiction Wein
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh: A dwarf at court in 16th-century Denmark is the surprising hero in this novel, which also features real-life astronomer Tycho Brahe, an eccentric Danish nobleman. Available through interlibrary loan
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick: This novelized memoir tells the tragic but inspiring life story of Arn Chorn-Pond, a boy who was nine years old when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. Available through interlibrary loan
Son by Lois Lowry: In the conclusion to the dystopian Giver quartet, Lowry returns to the story of a mother searching for her lost son. Quiet and sorrowful, it is a deeply moving exploration of the powers of empathy and the obligations of love. New Teen Fiction Lowry
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
New Books for November!
Look for these new teen reads coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!
Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall: When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the
swimming hole, they embark on a hero’s journey to return the dead man to his
family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an incredible. With the supernatural aid of ghostly La
Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a tough road to their long-lost grandmother’s house. Along the way, they must
outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious
half-human barn owls, and bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras. Can
these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they
face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and
ghosts can no longer help them?
Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year in Stuff: by Jennifer L. Holm: Ginny has big plans for eighth grade. She's going to try out for cheerleading,
join Virtual Vampire Vixens, and maybe even fall in love. But middle school is
more of a roller-coaster ride than Ginny could have ever predicted. Her family
has just moved into a fancy new house when Ginny's stepdad loses his job. (Can
worrying about money make you sick?) Ginny's big brother keeps getting into
trouble. And there's a new baby on the way. (Living proof that Ginny's mom and
stepdad are having sex. Just what she needs.) Filled with Post-its, journal
entries, grocery lists, hand-drawn comic strips, report cards, IMs, notes, and
more, Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick is the sometimes poignant, often
hilarious, always relatable look at a year in the life of one girl, told
entirely through her stuff. Part graphic novel, part scrapbook and altogether
original.
Drama by Raina Telgemeier: Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle
school's production of "Moon Over Mississippi," she's a terrible singer. Instead
she's the set designer for the stage crew, and this year she's determined to
create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when
she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew
members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND
offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen and two cute
brothers enter the picture. Featuring a diverse set of characters, this graphic novel humorously explores friendship, crushes, and all-around
drama!
Look for these books or put them on hold here.
Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall: When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the
swimming hole, they embark on a hero’s journey to return the dead man to his
family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an incredible. With the supernatural aid of ghostly La
Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a tough road to their long-lost grandmother’s house. Along the way, they must
outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious
half-human barn owls, and bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras. Can
these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they
face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and
ghosts can no longer help them? Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year in Stuff: by Jennifer L. Holm: Ginny has big plans for eighth grade. She's going to try out for cheerleading,
join Virtual Vampire Vixens, and maybe even fall in love. But middle school is
more of a roller-coaster ride than Ginny could have ever predicted. Her family
has just moved into a fancy new house when Ginny's stepdad loses his job. (Can
worrying about money make you sick?) Ginny's big brother keeps getting into
trouble. And there's a new baby on the way. (Living proof that Ginny's mom and
stepdad are having sex. Just what she needs.) Filled with Post-its, journal
entries, grocery lists, hand-drawn comic strips, report cards, IMs, notes, and
more, Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick is the sometimes poignant, often
hilarious, always relatable look at a year in the life of one girl, told
entirely through her stuff. Part graphic novel, part scrapbook and altogether
original.
Drama by Raina Telgemeier: Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle
school's production of "Moon Over Mississippi," she's a terrible singer. Instead
she's the set designer for the stage crew, and this year she's determined to
create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when
she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew
members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND
offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen and two cute
brothers enter the picture. Featuring a diverse set of characters, this graphic novel humorously explores friendship, crushes, and all-around
drama!Look for these books or put them on hold here.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Hunger Games Party
Calling all Katniss lovers: It's not too late to sign up for the Hunger Games Party next Thursday, November 29 from 4-5 p.m. We'll play Hunger Games trivia for chances to win prizes, make a cool craft, and eat a (non) poisonous berry dessert (this isn't the Capitol, after all).
You can sign up in person, by phone at 973-835-2175, by email at RiverdaleLibraryKids@nac.net or by clicking on Teens at www.riverdalelibrary.org.
So whether you're Team Peeta or Team Gale, come on down to Panem and volunteer as Tribute!
You can sign up in person, by phone at 973-835-2175, by email at RiverdaleLibraryKids@nac.net or by clicking on Teens at www.riverdalelibrary.org.
So whether you're Team Peeta or Team Gale, come on down to Panem and volunteer as Tribute!
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