Don't Miss "The PEEPS Show"

The PEEPS Show

Wednesday July 8, 2015

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Looking for something fun to do after the Fourth of July holiday? Sign up and come to The PEEPS Show (yes, we're talking about those colorful marshmallow bunnies and chicks you see all over the place around Easter time) on Wednesday July 8, 2:00-4:00 p.m. 

We'll be decorating PEEPS, but that's not all. We're also going to be creating scenery, writing scripts, and putting on skits with those PEEPS. So if you've got a flair for the dramatic (or if you're just curious), be sure to check it out for yourself. But you must register to attend. There are still openings, but they're filling up fast...so sign up today!

Parents: This program is for Teens ONLY (that is, young people going into 6th-12th grade). Please make other plans for younger siblings so the teens can enjoy this program with their peers. 

Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by T. S. Easton

Boys Don’t Knit: In Public is about a young man that gets caught when his friends are doing something stupid. As a result he is sentenced to community service and continuing education. He decides to take the knitting class because his cute teacher is the instructor. When he shows up for class he discovers the teacher is the mother of a girl he has a crush on. Oops! 

He also learns that he is pretty good at knitting and he enjoys it. How will he hide his passion from his friends and his sports obsessed father? When will his parents quit embarrassing him? His community service is for an old lady that is grumpy and has a has a crazy dog that tries to bite him. Surprise Ending!

This book deals with friendship conflicts, awkward situations, etc.; living with and growing from the consequences of one’s actions, and learning to appreciate people for who they are. This book might not be for everyone. It has some mature situations.

SAL 

Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, by Gennifer Choldenko

Antonia (Ant) MacPherson's dog is the only one who cares about her. As for the rest of her family...Well, she just doesn't feel she belongs. At all. When you're the awkward middle child sandwiched between two perfect blonde sisters, it's easy to get overlooked. So Ant decides she must be adopted (it's the only logical answer) and fantasizes about how her "real" family will return for her someday. Only then will Ant truly belong. The problem is Ant has a bad habit of voicing these fantasies as if they're real. So when a concerned teacher investigates these claims, the real troble starts. But sometimes it takes a lot of trouble to make things OK for everyone.

Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, by Gennifer Choldenko is a quick and fun read. Ant is quirky and stubborn and totally her own person. Although I got frustrated with her constant lies, I was also proud of her for not conforming to what she believed her parents wanted her to be. And I was happy when she and her mom finally worked things out (the best they could).  

This book is for anyone who has ever felt left out, misunderstood, or just frustrated with their lot in life. Notes from a Liar and Her Dog can currently be found on our New Book shelf. 

Highly recommended --AJB

The Night We Said Yes, by Lauren Gibaldi

One year ago, Matt and Ella met at a party and had an unforgettable night. And just when Ella was thinking she found The One, Matt broke her heart by leaving town without explanation and without leaving any forwarding address (or any contact info, for that matter). A year later, Matt reappears...and he wants to relive that infamously fun night. The night he and Ella said "yes" to everything. Ella is hesitant. She's not sure she wants to trust her heart to Matt again. Then again, how can she resist?

The Night We Said Yes, a debut novel by Lauren Gibaldi, reminded me a lot of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Rachel Cohn/David Levithan)...if the two title characters were to reunite after a year apart to recreate their magical night exploring New York City. Despite moments where the plot drags, characters are well-drawn. And there's plenty of romance and drama to keep fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti happy.

--AJB

Princess Bride Interactive Movie Experience

Princess Bride Interactive
Movie Experience
Thursday June 25 @ 2 p.m.

Did you have fun at last week's Goonies Interactive Movie Experience?

Would you like there to be another interactive movie soon?

Our answer: "As You Wish!" (hint...that quote is a clue about the next one)

Stop by the teen department on Thursday June 25 @ 2 p.m. for the Princess Bride Interactive Movie Experience! Learn about True Love along with Wesley and Buttercup. Cheer Inigo as he avenges his father's untimely demise, going head-to-head (and sword to sword) against the evil Six Fingered Man. Discover the secrets of the Fire Swamp, whether the ROUS's are real or myth, and if a man really can be brought back from the (mostly) dead. Come experience this classic film as you never have before. Props, instructions included. Snacks will be served. You'll have so much fun we promise you won't even mind that this is a "kissing movie."

Space is limited, so sign up today!

Parents: This program is for teens ONLY (going into 6th-12th grade). Please make other plans for younger siblings so the teens can enjoy this program with their peers.

Magic 8 Ball Craft: Tuesday June 23 @ 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Even the most awesome Superhero needs some guidence once in a while. For those moments, they rely on their trusty Magic 8 Ball (because the Magic 8 Ball is never wrong, right?).

Stop by the Teen Area on Tuesday June 23 @ 6:30 p.m. and learn how to make your own Magic 8 Ball. We'll have all the supplies you'll need. And, of course, by making a Magic 8 Ball you'll earn a ticket toward the End of Summer Bookstore.

You must register for this program, as supplies are limited. 

Parents: This craft is for teens ONLY (going into 6th-12th grade). Please make plans for younger siblings so the teens can enjoy the craft with their peers.

The Goonies Interactive Movie Experience

The Goonies Interactive Movie Experience
Wednesday June 17 @ 2 p.m.

You've probably seen the 80s classic film, The Goonies. But you've never experienced it like this! 

Stop by the Teen Department @ 2 p.m. Wednesday June 17 for The Goonies Interactive Movie Experience! 

Use props, act along, and experience the fun with Mikey, Chunk, Data, Mouth, and the rest of the crew as they go on a grand underground adventure to find the legendary treasure of Pirate One-Eyed Willie so they can save their home. You'll feel like you're part of the adventure.

Space for this program is limited, so sign up today!

The Goonies Interactive Movie experience is open to teens ONLY (young people in 6th-12th grades). Parents, please make other plans for younger siblings so the teens can have the space to enjoy the film with their peers. Thank you, The Teen Department.

Duct Tape Pouch--All Next Week

Drop in at the Teen Department all next week and make a handy Duct Tape pouch to keep your Summer Reading earnings (tickets) safe and all in one place. We'll have plenty of colors and prints to pick from.

Craft times are:

Monday June 15 @ 2-7 p.m.

Tuesday June 16 @ 2-7 p.m.

Wednesday June 17 @ 2-7 p.m.

Thursday June 18 @ 2-7 p.m.

Friday June 19 @ Noon-3 p.m.

Saturday June 20 @ Noon-3 p.m.

Or until supplies run out.

*One pouch per person, please.*

Parents, please keep in mind this craft is for teens ONLY (that is, young people in 6th-12th grade). We want to have enough supplies for every teen who wants to make a pouch, so please make other plans for younger siblings. If a younger sibling is in need of something fun to do, please visit our Youth Department for some awesome, age-appropriate activities! Thank you :)

Summer of Chasing Mermaids, by Sarah Ockler

I'm going to go ahead and say it: I heart anything to do with mermaids. I've been a mermaid girl ever since I was a kid and first watched The Little Mermaid (not the Disney version), so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I learned one of my favorite YA authors was coming out with a mermaid book!

Elyse and her twin sister, singing sensations in their homeland of Tobago, were poised to become world famous musicians. Then a boating accident robs Elyse of her beautiful singing voice (she can't even speak), dashing the girls' hopes and dreams in a matter of moments. Hurt and ashamed, Elyse leaves Tobago to go stay with her aunt in Atargis Cove Oregon, a small coastal town that's cold even in the middle of summer. Before she realizes it, Elyse has become deeply involved with a campaign to prevent commercial developers from taking over the Cove and ruining everything that makes it a special place--including her aunt's beloved shop. This means she also becomes involved with the notorious Christian Kane, the Cove's "bad boy"/"player". As her feelings for Christian grow along with her interest in the local politics, Elyse re-discovers her lost "voice" and finds new meaning and purpose in a life she was beginning to believe was empty.

Sarah Ockler's Summer of Chasing Mermaids was a treat to read and everything I hoped it would be. Mermaid mythology and subtle hints of The Little Mermaid add atmosphere to this otherwise breezy romance. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them grow throughout the story, particularly witnessing the romance that develops between Elyse and Christian. Everything about this one was well done!

The Verdict:

A gorgeous story! Read this one! --AJB

Proof of Forever, by Lexa Hillyer

Joy, Tali, Luce, and Zoe were best friends. At Camp Okahatchee, they were so close they were practically a single person because one was rarely (if ever) seen without the others. 

But that was two years ago. And a lot has changed in two years. Awkward Tali became pretty and popular, Luce and Zoe got boyfriends, and Joy... Well, Joy flat-out disappeared, cutting herself off from her friends and the world without any explanation (she even took down her Facebook!). Turns out Joy has been keeping a secret about something that happened that year the girls were all 15, the summer before she made her big exit. Actually, ALL the girls had secrets about things that happened that summer. And it is these secrets that, eventually, drove them apart.

Then the girls, now 17, attend a camp reunion. Prompted by the camp director, they reluctantly agree to take a group photo like the one that was taken that last summer they were still the best of friends. They step into the photo booth...the camera flashes...and the girls are magically transported back in time to when they were 15. The girls have been somehow granted a second chance to fix whatever they each did to break up their friendship. But will they be able to fix the past? Even more, will they want to?

I was really looking forward to Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer, as it was described as read-alike for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a series I'd read some years back and remember really liking. But unfortulatlly the story fell flat for me. The characters seemed a bit cliche (even the main four), the plot required far too much belief suspension (time travel stories are tricky & have to be done just right), and the Big Reveal at the end felt like nothing more than a last-ditch effort to make the story interesting (No Spoilers, but it was very Lifetime Movie of the Week). For a book I was so excited about, I was very disappointed.

The Verdict: Proof of Forever will definitely have its audience. In fact. there are those of you who will love it. It just wasn't for me.

Let us know what you think! --AJB  

Beta, by Rachel Cohn

Beta is written by Rachel Cohn and so far I thought this book was quite fascinating! Rachel Cohn presents readers a Utopian society existing on an island engineered to be paradise on earth. Humans aren't bothered with trivial things like work, only luxury and leisure. Instead, the work is done by clones - servants cloned from the recently deceased. Void of souls and feelings, they are perfect for a life of servitude. Elysia is a beta clone - one of the first few teenage clones in existence with a rampant threat of defects. On the island of perfection, defects mean death. But Elysia isn't like other clones. She can taste food. She can remember memories from her first's life. She learns that there are others out there, others who are planning a revolution. Elysia must choose her side, and risk everything in order to claim what clones were never meant to have - a life of her own.

I do not know much about science but I felt that the explanation and the process of clone-making was thought out but slightly confusing in the beginning. Cohn does a remarkable job in describing the Utopian world and her world actually makes sense. The entire novel takes place on Demesne, the human-engineered paradise, with a brief mentions of other cities. *JK*

Because You'll Never Meet Me, by Leah Thomas

How can two people be best friends when they've never met, never spoken on the phone, never skyped or texted or even Facebooked each other? 

Ollie has life-threatening seizures when near electricity. He lives with his mother in a backwoods cabin, far from the modern-day conveniences that could kill him (no TV, computer, phone, lights, or even electrical heat). Despite trying to remain upbeat about his condition, he is lonely. Moritz, born with no eyes and a severe heart defect, needs a pacemaker in order to stay alive.  Bullied at school and friendless, Moritz, too, is lonely. Bottom line: If these boys ever met each other in person (or communicated in the typical ways teens of today communicate), they would both surely die. Yet each craves the sort of companionship they (probably) can't ever have.

Then a doctor who knows both boys suggests they become pen pals, writing to each other the old-fashioned way (pen and paper) and utilizing the postal service (a.k.a. "snail mail") to deliver their letters. Each boy finds in the other what was so sorely missing from his life: A friend. But when things get truly dark and desperate, will these letters be enough to sustain this unusual friendship?  

The concept of Leah Thomas' Because You'll Never Meet Me is intriguing, to say the least. And this is what prompted me to pick it up. Written in alternating viewpoints, each characters' unique voice quickly emerges, and the reader truly gets to know each boy through his letters to the other. Because You'll Never Meet Me is one of those books you just have to keep reading once you pick it up.

The Verdict: Definitely recommended! --AJB

Summer Reading Signup!

Attention Teens! Signup for Teen Summer Reading officially opens tomorrow (June 5, 2015) at 10 a.m. Register by 5 p.m. on Saturday June 6 to receive five extra tickets to spend in the end of summer prize bookstore (July 27-August 1) and five bonus entries in the Grand Prize Drawing, which will be held the beginning of August. 

This year's  Superhero-themed program will feature monthly lock-in events, movies (regular & interactive), crafts, contests, in-house activities, surprises, and many, many ways to win! Visit our website for a complete listing of summer reading events and activities. Remember: You can't do any of the activities unless you register for TSRP.

Teens entering 6th grade thru 12th grade are eligable to register for Teen Summer Reading. If you have any questions, stop by the Teen Desk and talk with one of our helpful and friendly Teen Librarians :)

Our Teen Volunteers Are Awesome!

Did you know....?

Our fantastic teen volunteers have together given over 275 hours of their time to the library during this past school year. They have all been an absolute pleasure to be around and have really helped the library staff in all departments in preparing for programs like the Smithsonian Museum visit, the Library Friends' Book Sale and Battle of the Books, as well as helping at programs like the Gingerbread Houses, Minecraft lab and MUT Labs. In addition, they have also been helping keep the DVDs and CDs in order, which is a never-ending task in itself!

We as library staff couldn't do what we do for the Oxford community without all our Teen volunteers. Thank You! 

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(If you are going into grades 6-12 in the fall and you would like to volunteer at the library during the summer or anytime during the year, please contact the Teen department for an application form.)