Teen Stuff at the Warren County Library

What DOES that place look like?

2009-09-25T11:40:00.005-04:00

We all form our own images from descriptions as we read. What does your favorite fantasy or science fiction world look like? Maybe you have a picture of the Shire in your mind. Or maybe you can picture the floor plan of Hogwarts Castle? Do you have any idea where the districts of Panem are located? How about the island in Nation?

Help us make an atlas of the fantasy / science fiction world! Draw a map of what you think the setting of your favorite world looks like and bring it to any branch of the Warren County Library the week of October 13 - 17. We will put them on display during Teen Read Week, October 18 - 24. See the Teen Read Week page of the library web site for more information.

All maps received will be compiled into an atlas. Everyone who submits a map will receive a copy of the atlas.

Katniss is back . . . and the games continue!

2009-09-10T14:13:00.005-04:00

Are you a fan of The Hunger Games? Have you been waiting on the edge of your seat for the next book? Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins is now here. Find out how Katniss and Peeta fared on their return home from the games, but be ready for more heart-pounding action when you learn what sinister plans the Capitol has for them now!

Request a copy today!

Vote for the Garden State Teen Book Awards

2009-09-03T15:30:00.004-04:00

It's your turn to be the judge! The Garden State Teen Book Award is given each year by the New Jersey Library Association and is selected by teens just like you from throughout New Jersey.

The award is given in three categories:

Fiction, grades 6 - 8
Fiction, grades 9 - 12
Nonfiction, grades 6 - 12

Pick up a paper ballot at any branch of the Warren County Library and return it to the library by January 4, or vote online for your favorite! You have until January 9. Winning titles will be announced in February.

2009 winning titles were:

Life as We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

Freedom Riders : John Lewis & Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement, by Ann Bausum

Twitter!

2009-08-13T10:06:00.002-04:00

Do you tweet? The Warren County Library does! Visit us at http://twitter.com/warrencountylib. Join Twitter and start following us to find out what's going right now at the library!

Anime, Crafts, Caricatures, and More!

2009-07-07T11:38:00.012-04:00

Don't miss these events coming up in July:

Make a mirror / message board for your locker. All materials provided. At the Franklin Branch, July 13, 1:00. Please sign up.

Snack 'n Yak Teen Book Club. Book discussion and pizza! This month's book is Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor. At the Library Headquarters, July 16, 7:00. Please sign up.

Audience caricatures. Join artist Paul Merklein as he draws large (6-foot!) caricatures of people in the audience - maybe you! At the Northeast Branch, July 20, 6:30

Anime Workshop. Learn how to draw your favorite anime characters with artist Doug Baron. At the Library Headquarters, July 22, 6:00. Please sign up.

Teen Book Club. Tell us what you've been reading! At the Franklin Branch, July 27, 1:00

Guitar Hero / Rock Band. At the Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch, July 27, 4:00

Acting Workshop. Have fun using basic acting and improvisation techniques to create a variety of characters. At the Northeast Branch, July 28, 2:00. Please sign up.

Summer Reading

2009-06-01T11:36:00.007-04:00

"Express Yourself @ the Library," Warren County Library's 2009 teen summer reading program, offers fun things to do all summer! From crafts, to book discussion, to acting workshops, video games, and more, there is always something happening. See your library branch for details.

New this year:

Teen Book Review Blog! Write a review of a book (either one that you liked or one that you didn't), email it to us to post on the blog, and be entered into a drawing for a $30.00 movie gift card. The drawing will be held at the end of the summer and there will be one drawing at each library branch. You get a raffle ticket for each review you submit, so the more reviews you write, the better your chance of winning. Be sure to visit the teen book review blog throughout the summer for reading recommendations from other teens.

Name that Book! Each week a secret book will be chosen and a clue to that book will be posted online and will be available at the library. Each week the previous week's book will be revealed and a clue for a new book will be posted. Guess the book correctly and you will be entered into a drawing for a pizza gift certificate. The drawing will be held at the end of the summer and there will be a drawing at each library branch.

Criteria for the Teen Book Review Blog and rules for the Name that Book contest can be found on the summer reading program page on the library web site.

And, you get prizes just for reading! The summer reading program starts on the following dates:

Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch: June 22

Northeast Branch: June 22

Library Headquarters: June 29

Franklin Branch: June 29

And the winner is . . .

2009-05-06T13:17:00.008-04:00

The Hunger Games! The battle of the books is over and in the final round The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins was victorious over Octavian Nothing: Kingdom on the Waves, by M.T. Anderson.

The Hunger Games is a dystopia set in a future North America, which is now made up of only one country, Panem, with a society strictly controlled by the government. Each year, the twelve districts that make up Panem are required to send two tributes, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18, to participate in the Hunger Games, a competition that pits the tributes against each other as gladiators fighting to the death until only one remains alive. The ultimate in reality television, the event is required viewing for the people of Panem, some of whom see participation as an honor, while many others recognize the games as barbaric. Katniss, 16, a resident of District 12 who hunts and poaches to provide food for her widowed mother and younger sister, volunteers to take her sister’s place when the younger girl’s name is drawn in the lottery that determines who will be the tributes from each district. Katniss’s hunting and tracking skills will serve her well in the games, but she will also need to be smart, cunning, and willing to both form alliances and set aside her feelings toward others if she is to survive. The Hunger Games, the first book of a trilogy, is one that cannot be put down. It also easily won the People's Choice Poll , determined by readers like you. The second book is due out later this year.

All of the books in the competition are winners, great books published in 2008. If you are looking for an absorbing read, this list is a good place to start.

The Ultimate Teen Reading List

2009-04-30T09:11:00.003-04:00

Looking for a recommendation for a good book? Teenreads.com has compiled what they consider to be the ultimate reading list for teens. The books on the list were chosen because they are inspiring and spark discussion. Newer, older, and classic books are included. Both teen and adult books of interest to teens made the list. I was happy to see many of my favorites on the list, including two from recent years, Dairy Queen, and its sequel, The Off Season, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, but was disappointed that one of last year's offerings, Graceling, by Kristen Cashore was missing from the list. What book(s) would you include on your own ultimate reading list?

Round Three

2009-04-28T13:17:00.007-04:00

The Battle of the Books continues! Last week, eight titles were whittled down to four:

Octavian Nothing vs Chains
Hunger Games vs The Lincolns

Next week, one of these four books will be crowned champion. Is your favorite still in the running? Have you weighed in with your vote for the People's Choice?

Battle of the Books, Round 2

2009-04-20T14:50:00.008-04:00

Round 2 of School Libray Journal's Battle of the Books begins today! In case you missed the action in last week's round one, here are the winners to date:

Octavian Nothing, vol. II, by M.T. Anderson
The Trouble Begins at 8, by Sid Fleischman

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

We are the Ship, by Kadir Nelson
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
The Lincolns, by Candace Fleming

The book pairs above will face off against each other this week with a whole new slate of judges. Check the Battle of the Books site daily for results and be sure to vote for your favorite in the People's Choice Poll!

Which book will come out on top?

2009-04-09T13:24:00.004-04:00

School Library Journal is hosting a Battle of the Books tournament! Sixteen of the top books published in 2008 will compete in a March-Madness style event. Each contest will be judged by a prominent author of juvenile or young adult books. As the winner of each contest is determined, the list of contenders will be whittled down from 16, to 8, to 4, to 2, and finally one will emerge as the champion.

Details about the event and bios of the judges can be found here. You can weigh in with your opinion, too! Fill out the People's Choice Poll to vote for your favorite and track the results.

The battle begins April 13. During Round One, two winners will be posted on the site each day from the 13th through the 16th. Round Two winners will be posted April 20th - 23rd and Round Three winners will be posted April 28th and 29th. Finally, the Round Four winner will be revealed on May 6.

Contenders for the first round are:

Octavian Nothing, vol. ll, by M.T. Anderson v. Ways to Live Forever, by Sally Nicholls
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman v. The Trouble Begins at 8, by Sid Fleischman
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderseon v. Washington at Valley Forge, by Russell Freedman
Here Lies Arthur, by Philip Reeve v. Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart v. We are the Ship, by Kadir Nelson
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins v. The Porcupine Year, by Louise Erdrich
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore v. The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt
The Lincolns, by Candace Fleming v. Nation, by Terry Pratchett

Let the fun begin!

Poetry anyone?

2009-04-01T14:49:00.002-04:00

April is poetry month! To commemorate this annual event, the Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch is sponsoring a poetry contest. Poets of all ages are invited to submit their finest work for consideration. Poems must be submitted to the library by April 20th. Prizes will be awarded April 30th.

They're Back!

2009-03-20T15:02:00.006-04:00

Yarn Bugs are coming back to the Franklin Branch! Join us on Monday, April 27 at 6:00 to make one of your own. Along with the cute dog and cat bugs, we'll also have patterns for an alien, a pirate, Pikachu, an adorable bunny, and a creepy bug.

This program is open to kids in 6th - 12th grades. Sign-up is required. Call the Franklin Branch at 908-689-7922 to reserve your spot.

Pet Photo Contest

2009-03-03T11:09:00.002-05:00

Do you have a favorite photo of your pet? Bring it to the Franklin Branch Library between March 15 and April 15 to enter the Pet Photo Contest. Then, beginning April 16 pick up a ballot at the circulation desk to vote for your favorite!

Let's talk about the book!

2009-02-13T13:16:00.004-05:00

Join us at the Franklin Branch Library on February 23 at 6:00 for a discussion of Life as We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It is open to kids in 6th - 12th grades. Sign up at the library and ask for a copy of the book at the circulation desk.

A meteor strikes the moon, knocking it much closer to the Earth, resulting in worldwide calamity. Devastating tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions take place around the world. Most forms of communication become nonexistent and travel is made nearly impossible. In a small town in Pennsylvania, sixteen-year-old Miranda and her family struggle to survive as they become more isolated from the outside world.

Garden State Teen Book Awards

2009-02-03T08:48:00.012-05:00

Did you vote for the 2009 Garden State Teen Book Awards? The votes have been tallied and New Jersey teens have selected these books to receive this year's award:

Fiction Grades 6 - 8: Life as We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Miranda is living in rural Pennsylvania when world-wide catastrophe strikes. The moon is hit by a meteor and knocked closer to the earth, setting off a series of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. In her journal, Miranda tells of her family's struggle for survival.

Fiction Grades 9 - 12: The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

In this powerful story narrated by Death, young Liesel, orphaned and struggling to survive a hardscrabble life in Germany during the Second World War, finds salvation in stolen books.

Nonfiction Grades 6 - 12: Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement, by Ann Bausum

A compare-and-contrast method of exploring the lives of Civil Rights activists John Lewis and James Zwerg that helps teens understand the segregated esperience of our country's past.

All of these books are available at the Warren County Library.

More Book Awards

2009-01-29T15:29:00.006-05:00

Other book awards announced this week are:

The Margaret A. Edwards Award is awarded to both an author and their body of works for lasting contribution to young adult literature. This year, the honored author is Laurie Halse Anderson, who was honored for her books Catalyst, Fever 1793, and Speak. Each of these books portrays a teen struggling to cope with overwhelming circumstances in their lives.

The William C. Morris YA Debut Award is given to a previously unpublished young adult author whose first book demonstrates excellence in literature. This is a new award given for the first time in 2009. The award this year goes to Elizabeth C. Bunce for A Curse Dark as Gold, a retelling of the fairy tale Rumpilstiltskin. During the Industrial Revolution, following her father's death, Charlotte struggles to keep her family's woolen mill in business, despite a large mortgage, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price.

Book Awards

2009-01-27T15:53:00.004-05:00

Yesterday the American Library Association announced the 2009 winners of several awards for young adult books. I will be posting the winners of these awards over the next few days. Here are the 2009 winners of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature:

Michael L. Printz Award Book

Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta

In a suspenseful tale, Taylor struggles to overcome a difficult past as she leads her fellow boarding school students in their secret war against the Townies and the Cadets.

Printz Honor Books:

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves, by M.T. Anderson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart
Nation, by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

College? Are you going?

2009-01-05T10:10:00.006-05:00

Are you planning to further your education after high school, but aren't sure how to begin? The U.S. Department of Education has a site just for college planning. College.gov can help with:

Finding the right school for you

Preparing to take college admissions tests

The application procedure

Information on financial aid and scholarships

Information is provided for two- and four-year colleges and universities and vocational and career training schools. Even if you're not sure what you want to do, college.gov can help you identify interests that could lead to a career.

What were your favorites in 2008?

2008-12-30T14:45:00.001-05:00

Books, movies, video games . . .

What were some of your favorite books, movies, or video games from 2008? Is there an older book or a movie that you found this year that you just love? Share your thoughts with us!

There were a lot of books, both new and old that I enjoyed this year but here are some of the ones I liked best in 2008:

New Books published in 2008

Peeled, by Joan Bauer.

Strange stories have been circulating about the old Ludlow house in the small farming community of Banesville, NY. People say the ghost of the last owner, mean-spirited in life and even more so in death, is haunting the place, causing harm and even death to people who dare to visit the house. It doesn’t help matters any that the local newspaper, the Bee, is helping to spread the rumors. Hildy Biddle, top reporter for the high school newspaper, the Core, and daughter of a journalist, is skeptical of the stories about the “haunted” house. Together with the staff of the Core, she determines to get to the bottom of the stories and find the truth.

Beanball, by Gene Fehler.

Luke “The Wizard” Wallace plays centerfield for the Oak Grove High School baseball team and is one of the stars of the team. He loves baseball and thinks he may one day play professional ball. Luke’s future changes, however, as does that of opposing pitcher Kyle Dawkins, on the day that Kyle throws a fast ball that hits Luke in the face, leaving him critically injured.

Princess Ben, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

Benevolence (Ben), daughter of a prince, is herself second in the line of succession to the throne of the small fictional country of Montagne, her uncle the king having no children. Ben, however, is not your typical princess. She has been raised away from the glamour and elegance of the castle, dresses plainly, and freely socializes with the common people, having often accompanied her mother, a healer, on her visits to the sick. When her parents and uncle fail to return from a day’s outing and are later found dead, Ben, not yet old enough to ascend to the throne in her own right, finds herself being “tutored” by her aunt, Sophia, the Queen Regent who rules in her stead until Ben comes of age. Ben, having never before considered that she would one day rule Montagne, balks at her aunt’s demands that she begin conducting herself more in the manner befitting a princess. Eventually, Ben’s unruly behavior leads to her being banished to a small tower room except for the hours of her schooling. In the tower Ben discovers a hidden and magical passageway leading to the invisible “Wizard Tower” where she finds a spell book and other magical instruments that she uses to secretly teach herself rudimentary magic skills. Through use of her magical abilities, Ben discovers a network of hidden passages throughout the castle and uses these to learn of the queen’s plans for Montagne to secure an alliance with another country by arranging a marriage between Ben and a suitable prince, a plan that does not meet with Ben’s approval, particularly if that marriage is to Prince Florian of Drachensbett, Montagne’s sworn enemy and the most likely suspect in the deaths of her parents and the king.

Sunrise over Fallujah, by Walter Dean Myers.

Robin Perry, raised in Harlem and deeply affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, goes against his father’s wishes and enlists in the Army after high school instead of going to college. In March 2003, his platoon, part of a Civil Affairs unit, enters Iraq as part of the first wave advancing toward Baghdad in the U.S. mission to depose Saddam Hussein. The work of Civil Affairs is to clean up after the infantry, make friends with the Iraqi people by doing whatever is necessary – providing medical treatment, locating missing loved ones, etc. But still, the work is dangerous. Robin, called Birdy by his fellow squad members, witnesses much carnage and violence and comes away from his experience a different person.

Older Books, published in 2007 that I didn't read until this year

Home of the Brave, by Katherine Applegate.

Kek, a young refugee from Sudan, travels to Minnesota to stay with his aunt and cousin, the only family members the resettlement workers have been able to locate. Minnesota is a foreign land to him in many ways. Arriving in the winter, Kek has his first experience with cold and snow and cannot believe that there is anything in this strange landscape that will live again, asking his aid worker who has killed all the trees. School, new friendships, a job, and other new experiences bring more cultural differences to which Kek must adjust.

Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale.

In this retelling of the fairy tale “Maid Maleen" set on the Asian steppes, Dashti, a young Mucker girl finds work as a lady's maid to the Lady Saren, daughter of the Lord of Titor's Garden. No sooner does Dashti complete her training and begin her service, however, than she learns the result of her taking an oath of loyalty to Saren is that she will be locked in a tower with the Lady Saren for seven years, Saren having been giving this sentence by her father for her refusal to marry the Lord Khaser, cruel overlord of a neighboring kingdom. Dashti is determined to survive the ordeal in the tower and keeps a journal in which she records their experience. The tower is visited by Khan Tegis, Lord of Song of Evela, to whom Saren had been betrothed, unbeknownst to her father. Saren refuses to speak to him herself and implores Dashti to speak for her and pretend to be her. When Tegis does not return to rescue them as promised and then their guards disappear along with all signs of life from the outside, Dashti and Saren can only surmise that Tegis is dead and that Khaser, who also visited the tower, has laid waste to Titor's Garden, leaving the two girls alone to die in the tower.

Oldies but Goodies: Here are a couple of old favorites I revisited this year by listening to the audio book.

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes, read by Grace Conlin

After burning his hand in a tragic accident, young Johnny Tremain, apprenticed to a Boston silversmith, must give up his beloved trade and find another. Eventually he finds work delivering newspapers for the Boston Observer. Although not a trade he can rely on for the future, his work for the paper, a Whig publication firmly in favor of independence from England, brings him in contact with many of the great and influential men of Boston, including a doctor who says he may be able to repair his injured hand. Through his work for the paper, Johnny becomes involved with the movement for independence, serving as a spy gathering information on the British soldiers. His activities and acquaintances also lead him into discovering his true family history, of which the orphaned Johnny was unaware. Johnny Tremain, published in 1943, was awared the Newbery Medal in 1944.

Rifles for Watie, by Harold Keith, read by Tom Stechschulte

In 1861, Jeff Bussey is a Kansas farm boy upset by the marauders who come over the border from Missouri to raid the farms of those Kansans who support the Union. Following the most recent raid on his family’s farm, Jeff decides to enlist in the Union army along with a couple of his neighbors. The three boys make their way to Fort Leavenworth where, lacking their own horses, they are assigned to the infantry. Over the next four years, Jeff trains for the army, takes part in battle, and is assigned to be a scout traveling behind the Confederate lines to gather information. Rifles for Watie, a book about the Civil War, was published in 1957 and was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1958.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

2008-12-29T09:19:00.006-05:00

Being a muggle, no doubt as a young child you heard the stories of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," etc. But when Ron told Harry and Hermione about "Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump" (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, p. 135) weren't you a bit curious? While Rowling relates "The Tale of the Three Brothers" in the final installment of Harry Potter, other stories collected by Beedle the Bard are mentioned by title only.

This companion book to the series contains four of Beedle's tales in addition to "The Tale of the Three Brothers" as translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger. Each tale is followed by commentary by Professor Dumbledore in which he analyzes each story as to its real meaning and its place in wizarding history. Further insight is provided in the form of footnotes to Dumbledore's commentary by Rowling as she seeks to explain Dumbledore's comments so as to be understood by us muggles who aren't as up on wizard history. The footnotes in themselves are interesting, providing answers to questions you may still have about the original series. For example, have you ever wondered why a nice guy like Nearly Headless Nick came to be beheaded (or, well, nearly so)? See page 12. Or, in another example, we know that among Dumbledore's many titles, he was Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, but did we ever know what a warlock is and how it differs from a wizard? See page 56.

So, enjoy a bit of light reading and you'll be just as informed as the Weasleys or any other wizard children.

Creative Holiday Gifts

2008-12-11T09:44:00.015-05:00

Looking to make cool holiday gifts instead of trekking to the mall? Want to have fun at the same time? Your friends will be impressed when you tell them you made it yourself! See these books for inspiration:

Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Projects or Knitgrrl 2: Learn to Knit with 16 All-New Patterns, both by Shannon Okey. Beyond scarves, hats, and mittens, you can also make soda-can or water bottle cozies, book covers, fuzzy flip-flops, and more!

Get Hooked: Simple Steps to Crochet Cool Stuff, by Kim Werker. Scarves, pillows, belts, bookmarks, and more.

Cool Beaded Jewelry, by Pam Scheunemann. Make necklaces, bracelets, and rings.

Polymer Clay: 30 Terrific Projects to Roll, Mold, & Squish, by Irene Semanchuk Dean. Picture frames, tic-tac-toe game, magnets, and more.

D.I.Y. Girl: The Real Girl's Guide to Making Everything from Lip Gloss to Lamps, by Jennifer Bonnell. Find out how to make your own gift wrap, lip gloss, bath salts, or simple jewelry. Decorate hair clips or recycle old jeans into a roomy tote bag.

They're cute! They're crazy! They're . . .

2008-12-04T13:06:00.013-05:00

Yarn Bugs!

Choose Santa, snowman, reindeer, Pikachu, cat, dog, polar bear, or penguin, or let your imagination go wild! Make one (or more!) for yourself or a friend.

Join us on Monday, December 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Franklin Branch Library.

Open to kids in 6th - 12th grades. Sign-up is required. Call 908-689-7922.

Teens' Top Ten Winners

2008-11-24T08:54:00.004-05:00

The results are in, and the winners of the Teens' Top Ten as nominated by and voted for by teens, are:

Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer (Book 3 in the Twilight Saga)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J. K. Rowling (Book 7 in the Harry Potter series)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, by James Patterson (Book 3 in the Maximum Ride series)
City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare
The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray (Sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels)
Extras, by Scott Westerfeld (Sequel to Uglies, Pretties, and Specials)
Before I Die, by Jenny Downham
Twisted, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Check out one of these great books the next time you come to the library!

Global Road Warrior

2008-11-21T13:36:00.006-05:00

Would you like to be a world traveler? A new database has been added to the library web site. Global Road Warrior offers information on 175 different countries, including history, geography, culture, politics, economics, climate, demographics, folklore, maps, and much more. This is a good place to look for points of interest and what you need to know before traveling to a country of your choosing. Look here also to learn about time zones around the world and how to make international telephone calls.

Global Road Warrior is availabe through the library web site and can be accessed either in the library or at home. Click here and scroll down to the section labeled "Databases Accessible In the Library and From Home."

It's Almost Here - the Twilight movie

2008-11-18T17:19:00.006-05:00

The day everyone has been waiting for is almost here! The Twilight movie opens this Friday. Until then, to get your fix on Bella, Edward, and all things Twilight go to the Twilight Guide for trivia, character quizzes, lots of photos from the movie, and other cool stuff. The Twilight Movie site features trailers, film, clips, and more photos. At Stephenie Meyer's site you can find info on all the books in the series, upcoming projects, and a long list of fan sites devoted to Twilight. So, have some fun!

After you've seen the movie, how about writing a review? Tell us if you think the movie is as good as the book. Email your review to me and I'll post it here. Also, stop by the Library Headquarters to enter a drawing for a Twilight movie poster.

24 / 7 Library Research

2008-11-10T13:23:00.005-05:00

Did you know that you can research that big school project even when the library is closed? Late nights, Sundays, holidays, whenever you can't get to the library, you can still search our online databases. The databases are accessible through the library web site. All you need is a computer with an internet connection and your library card to access the most up-to-date information available.

The online databases cover a wide variety of topics, including biographies, controversial issues, current events, health and medicine, history, literature, and science. Encyclopedia, magazine, journal, and newspaper articles are available, many in full-text.

Unlike many generic web site, databases contain authoritative information and even though you need an internet connection to use them, using a database is not the same as using information from a web site. Try it the next time you have a big assignment.

Red state. Blue state. What's it all mean anyway?

2008-11-03T10:40:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is Election Day. Are you confused about the candidates and where they stand on the issues that effect you? What is the electoral college and how does it work? Election Center, hosted by CNN, offers information on the election process from political parties and primary elections to important issues and the most recent polls. Read brief biographies of Senators McCain and Obama from the New York Times. Find out all about the electoral college and how many votes are needed to win the election at 270towin.com, including results of past elections.

Then, check out these election-themed books for teens:

Hope was Here, by Joan Bauer. Hope gets caught up in small-town politics when she agrees to work on her boss's campaign for mayor.
Wide Awake, by David Levithan. In a future election when a gay Jewish man is elected President of the United State, Duncan examines his own feelings and beliefs to determine his place in the world.
All's Fair in Love, War, and High School, by Janette Rallison. Hoping to increase her chances of being accepted into college, Samantha runs for student body president, but must first tame her inclination to insult people.
First Boy, by Gary Schmidt. Following his grandfather's death, Cooper suddenly finds himself dragged into the political turmoil of the presidential election.
Vote for Larry, by Janet Tashjian. Even though he is still a teenager, Josh, aka Larry, decides to run for President in order to advocate for issues that matter to teens.

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

2008-10-31T10:14:00.008-04:00

Looking for some spooky fun for Halloween? Check out these ghostly sites:

America's Most Haunted Places Houses, battlefields, and other places said to be haunted by real ghosts

Haunted Schools These schools give new meaning to the phrase "staying after school"

Haunted Libraries Every library needs a ghost in the stacks!

New Jersey Ghosts Tales of New Jersey ghosts brought to you by the guys at Weird New Jersey

And, finally, are ghosts real? Check out these sites to see what you believe:

National Ghost Hunters Society

The Nature of Ghosts

Happy Haunting!

Vote for the Garden State Teen Book Awards

2008-10-27T14:35:00.009-04:00

The Garden State Teen Book Award is given each year by the New Jersey Library Association and is selected by teens just like you from throughout New Jersey. The award is given in three categories:

Fiction, grades 6 - 8
Fiction, grades 9 - 12
Nonfiction, grades 6 - 12

Vote online for your favorite! You have until January 12. Winning titles will be announced in February.

2008 winning titles were:

Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld
Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Video Games at the Library!

2008-10-20T11:39:00.005-04:00

Call your friends and plan to join us for video games at the library on the following dates:

Wii on October 22 at the Northeast Branch, 6:30 - 8:00, for kids ages 11 - 16

Playstation 3 on October 27 at the Franklin Branch, 6:00 - 7:30, for kids in 6th - 12th grades

Teen Read Week

2008-10-14T13:26:00.004-04:00

October 12 - 18 is Teen Read Week! Celebrate by stopping by the library to check out an old favorite or try something new. Can't get enough vampire stories? Check out our "Get Bitten" list. School work cutting into your reading time? We have "Bite Sized Books" of short stories. Prefer to listen to a book? Try "Sound Bites." Do you like to cook? Don't miss "Take a Bite." We even have a list of "Books with Byte" for all you technology buffs. All this and more is available on our Books with Bite page.

New Teen Blog

2008-10-09T13:52:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the Warren County Library Teen Blog! Here you can find out what's happening at the library and rant and rave about books, movies, video games, etc. Have you read a book or seen a movie that you loved? Or maybe one that you didn't like at all? Write a review to share with others. Send it to me at the email link in the profile on the sidebar and I will post it for you. Use only your first name or a made up screen name to be posted. And please, no inappropriate language or content. Hope to hear from you soon!