MOVIE MADNESS 2013

We LOVE going to the movies. Really. This last weekend we watched “Jurassic Park in 3D” at the IMAX. It was awesome sauce. But looking ahead, we are realizing that this movie season is just unreal. So many movies to see, almost one a week for the entire summer.
Here’s our quick list of upcoming movies that we would like to see. What do you think? What romantic films are coming out? Comedies? Which ones do you want to see? Which ones did we miss? Comment below!

Oblivion — Friday, April 19, 2013
Iron Man 3 — Friday, May 03, 2013
Epic — Sunday, May 12, 2013
Star Trek Into Darkness — Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Fast and the Furious 6 — Friday, May 24, 2013
After Earth — Friday, June 07, 2013
Now You See Me — Friday, June 07, 2013
Much Ado About Nothing — Friday, June 07, 2013
Man Of Steel — Friday, June 14, 2013
Monsters University — Friday, June 21, 2013
World War Z — Friday, June 21, 2013
Despicable Me 2 — Wednesday, July 03, 2013
The Lone Ranger — Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Pacific Rim — Friday, July 12, 2013
The Wolverine — Friday, July 26, 2013
Planes — Friday, August 09, 2013
Kick-Ass 2 — Friday, August 16, 2013
Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters — Friday, August 16, 2013

–sent by Michael

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Altered, by Jennifer Rush

AlteredWhat happens when everything you think you know is only scratching the surface of the truth? Anna’s life has fallen into a routine. When she is not being home-schooled, she is taking martial arts classes and trying out recipes from her deceased mother’s journal. She also helps her scientist father in the lab, who is working for an organization called the Branch on a top-secret mission that involves monitoring the condition of four genetically altered boys confined in lab cells – Nick, Cas, Trev, and Sam. With the exception of Nick, who takes his fury over his imprisonment out on her, she befriends the other three with a special preference towards Sam, whom she finds herself mysteriously drawn to. However, those friendships are called into question when the Branch decides to take the boys and Sam stages an escape. During the ensuing aftermath, each boy changes before her eyes in ways that she never dreamed possible. To keep her safe, the boys take her with them on Sam’s quest to discover his past using clues he had planted before the Branch wiped his memory. What they discover will change Anna’s life forever and put into question everything she held true.

All in all, this was a stunning and captivating debut by Rush. Although only told in first-person from Anna’s perspective, Rush very deftly creates smart and descriptive dialogue that breathes life into every one of the characters and turns them into dynamic, three-dimensional individuals. The story is action-packed and suspenseful with a touch of humor, including several unexpected twists and turns that will keep the reader breathlessly wanting to turn page after page to discover what happens next. The ending was satisfying, yet open-ended enough to merit another installment. Altered is a must-read!

–Emily Chandler, Lawrence Library

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Prom Season is upon us.

It’s that time of year. THE PROM. (Insert appropriate theme music here.) So many things to worry about. So many things to do! Browsing through catalogs, dreaming of the perfect dress, picking just the right color. Tuxedo rentals. (Why don’t they rent dresses?) Trying to get the nerve to ask that special person to go to the prom with you. Waiting for that special person to ask you. Then there’s the Prom Committee. The posters everywhere. The theme of the prom. The high-priced tickets. And the details of the event: Who’s driving? Limo or carpool or drive yourselves? Negotiating curfews with the parents. Where to eat afterwards? Budgeting your money. Hair appointments. Nail appointments. The corsage. And of course, DANCING!!!!

Seems overwhelming, doesn’t it? Well, here’s a list of books to help you with the whole experience. Pick one up today! And we hope that your prom experience is memorable and safe!

How-to books:

The Prom Book: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need

 

The Prom Book: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need by Lauren Metz

 

The Book of Styling

 

The Book of Styling by Somer Flaherty

 

Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style

 

Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style by Ann Shoket

 

Fashion Design Workshop

 

Fashion Design Workshop by Stephanie Corfee

 

Lauren Conrad Style

 

Lauren Conrad Style

 

Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty

 

Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty

 

Interested more in prom-related stories? Here are a few titles to check out and curl up with. Enjoy!

Princess in Pink

 

Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot

 

 

Cindy Ella

 

Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer

 

 

Zombie Queen of Newbury High

 

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

 

 

Prom

 

Prom by Ellie O’Ryan

 

 

Prom

 

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

 

 

A Really Nice Prom Mess

 

A Really Nice Prom Mess by Brian Sloan

 

 

Prom Anonymous

 

Prom Anonymous by Blake Nelson

 

 

Prom Nights from Hell

 

Prom Nights from Hell by Meg Cabot et al

 

 

–sent by Michael, and by Janet Spaulding

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It’s Teen Tech Week!

techdatesWe’re celebrating TTW 2013 with free ear buds! Stop by any branch and pick up a TTW questionnaire (or print one here). We’re highlighting different online services of the library this year. Like what? Well, did you know that you can download music legally and for free from our Freegal site? If you have a smartphone or a tablet, we offer over 50,000 book titles from our e-collection for you to download and read or listen. Our ilibrary.org gateway site gives you access to thousands of biographies, articles, encyclopedias and databases. What’s that? You could use some help with your homework? We have that covered with our Homework Help service. And there is much, much more.

Take a few minutes, explore the online services that the Library offers, write down your answers and turn the completed form in to a librarian. We’ll give you a free set of ear buds. Maybe you can listen to that music you just downloaded from us.

And don’t forget to check out all of the different events that are happening at different library branches. (Check out our earlier Teen Tech post for a schedule.) We’re offering MuVChat (text messages that appear on screen while you are watching a movie), Your Gourmet Girlfriends (make some nommish snackage for movie night) and Gamer Jewelry workshops (take a d20 and create something wearable).

Explore the Library today!

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Top 10 Best Fiction

Head’s up, Readers! We’ve got more top ten lists for you to check out. This week, we bring you YALSA’s (Young Adult Library Services Assoication’s) 2013 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults.

 

Andrews, Jesse Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Socially invisible Greg becomes friends with Rachel, who has leukemia. When she stops her treatments, everything changes.

 

 

Bray, Libba The Diviners
The Diviners

It’s in the 1920’s and Evie is from Ohio, but New York is a whole different experience. Throw in some occult murders for a mystery and Evie and her uncle are on an interesting adventure. If they can survive.

 

Hartman, Rachel Seraphina
Seraphina

A decades long peace has existed between humans and mathematical dragons that fold themselves into human form. A plot is unraveling that end the peace, but can Seraphina discover who is behind it in time?

 

Kontis, Alethea Enchanted
Enchanted

Sunday the Princess kisses the magical frog. But who really is this prince? And why does her family despise him so?

 

 

Levithan, David Every Day
Every Day

What would your life be like if you woke up in a different body every day? Boy? Girl? And every day, you are still in love with the same girl. A love story like no other.

 

McCormick, Patricia Never Fall Down
Never Fall Down

Based on the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, this is the story off how Arn is changed in one day from a regular kid, living day to day, selling ice cream with his brother to just another body working in a labor camp in Cambodia.

 

Quick, Matthew Boy 21
Boy 21

Finley plays basketball, it’s the only solid thing in his life. Wearing the number 21 keeps him sane. Among all of the other craziness, in walks Russ. Who doesn’t answer to his name, only “Boy 21”, the number of his former basketball jersey.

 

Saenz, Benjamin Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Two problem teens. At least that’s what the adults say. One has a brother in prison, the other is a oddball smart-aleck. Swimming is the thing that brings them together and helps them grow.

 

Stiefvater, Maggie The Raven Boys
The Raven Boys

First in a series, Blue is a girl with no psychic ability. Since she’s born in a family where that’s the norm, this is a problem. But when she finds out that people who are near her “See” more clearly, several interesting developments begin. Including a prophecy that her first love’s kiss will kill.

 

Wein, Elizabeth Code Name Verity
Code Name Verity

In 1943, a British spy plane crashes in France. Captured by Nazis, the passenger “Verity” is forced to weave a written and intricate confession of how her and her pilot friend met and became friends in an effort to survive.

 

Have you read any of these? What did you think? Would you recommend these to your friends? Let us know in the comments below.

–sent by Michael Perry

 

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