YA furniture arrives in time for Teen Read Week

Banned Books Week Treasure Your Freedom to Read

2nd Annual Eva Perry Library Teen BBW celebration/demonstration

Vegetables Rock! By Stephanie Pierson

This book is perfect for answering questions on nutrition and diet and will make the decision of becoming a vegetarian easy on both the teen and the parent. The facts are disguised behind a fun, casual voice that makes the information digest a little easier. After reading this book you will know what you need to be eating and how to gain those nutritional elements.
It also explains the emotional side of being a vegetarian. It tells you all the different reason people decide to become a vegetarian and asks you to know why you are a vegitarian. It expresses that if you know why you are a vegetarian, you can defend yourself when meat eaters critize you. It also helps explain the different types of vegetarians (from vegan to sortavegetarian) and uncovers some of the spiritual reasons vegetarianism is practiced. Did you know that word 'vegetarian' has nothing to do with vegetables? It comes from the Latin word vegetare which means "to enliven". Another interesting fact.... The first American experimental vegan community was in part founded by the father of Louisa May Alcott.
The downfall to this book was it's recipies. I don't think they would really appeal to teens. Some of them seemed a bit to complex for my taste and I like to cook.
I will still definetly recommend this book to teens who think they would like to become a vegetarian AND to parents of vegetarian teens.

Harry Potter Party

Teen Advisory Board Meeting

Today I stood in for my partner in crime and facilitated the Teen Advisory Board. It was so refreshing to be around such a great group of teens, the gave me energy and smiles in a pretty dismal view of life. We started by talking about upcoming programs and they were fueled by my passion for BBW and I am so glad to have such a neat group of teens inspired by something that inspires me so much.
Another topic we talked about was Teen Read Week. My co-worker and I are going to do a display together and we want to recreate a teens bookbag. I had them bring their bookbags and share their contents with me. I thought they might think it was cheesy, but it seemed they really enjoyed letting me and the other teens at the meeting into such a frivilous and personal aspect of themselves. Here are some neat still-life photos they help me compose...









We then painted some of the bookends for the shelves in the YA area. It gave them a chance to put a bit of themselves and their creativity into the YA area. They had a lot of fun and I think they will look great on our shelves.

Banned Books Display

Every year I look forward to Banned Books Week and plan a big event for my teens at the library. BBW really stirs a passion in me that reminds me of the flame I had as a teenager... believing that some how I can make a difference in the world and caring enough to speak my mind and go against the grain. I also love how talking about BBW to teens gets them surging with that passion. Readers or not, teens feel something about this issue.
This year will be no different and I have kicked off the crusade with a display in the foyer of the library. Here are some pictures...

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

I just finished this amazing graphic novel and can't wait to get it in the hands of others.

First of all, I feel it's important to say that I am not a huge fan of graphic novels. It takes a certain something for me to truly enjoy one and this one had it!

This is the story of Jane. Jane was in the vicinity of the trade towers on 9-11. The book shares this moment of her life in such a beautiful way. While the madness is going on Jane notices a dandelion that has pushed it's way through the sidewalk. No one, with all the madness going on, has managed to step on this flower and Jane decides that if this flower can survive, so can she.

Her parents did not feel the same as her and they move to a suburb where it is "safer". Jane also knows that nowhere is safe and instead of letting her fear motivate her she becomes inspired by the unknown man in a coma she helped at the devastating scene she survived. She knows nothing about him except that he possessed a sketchbook with a cover that read "art saves". She decides that art can save her and tries to look for all of the beauty in everything. As we all know, this is not an easy job. She quickly comes up with a plan that can save her and the world and teams up with her unique and genuine group of misfits, which happen to all share the name Jane.

I won't give anymore away, but what transpires is the formation of a girl gang called P.L.A.I.N. (people loving art in neighborhoods). They perform guerrilla acts of art inspiring people to think, laugh and live. But of course, as with all thought that is unique and different, it is seen as threatening. The school and the cops and Jane's parents are determined to catch these art terrorists, but the Plain Janes have other ideas....