Teens Blog

Claymation this Summer

smackdaisley@evpl — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:48:00 GMT

As summer begins to roll around, you may be looking for some fun things to do. If the Evansville heat index is too much, try stopping by the library for a series of animation programs made possible through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. I’m especially looking forward to the multiple claymation programs for teens (ages 12-18). They will be held on Wednesdays in June and registration is currently available on-line.

http://www.evpl.org/events/search/event.aspx?id=30037

Other possible animation programs to choose from include stop motion (5^th-8^th grades) on Thursdays in June, as well as light animation on June 19^th and 26^th. In July students can participate in our open studios on Saturdays. Animate sand, cut paper, action figures, and other fun stuff.

http://www.evpl.org/events/search/event.aspx?id=29403

http://www.evpl.org/events/search/event.aspx?id=30089

All the animation programs this summer will include a little bit of everything. Discover how zoetropes and thaumatropes were used as early animation devices. Create and experiment with these devices too. Most importantly, hang out with friends and make video shorts to share on your favorite sites. Let’s be honest, a status update that includes a bizarre animation video is much more interesting than “tweeting” the latest gossip.

Maybe you're interested in anime, special effects, or movies by Tim Burton. Or maybe you’ve read this blog post and it sparked some interest. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, then tell some friends and come out and join us. We’re looking forward to a fun summer that lets us be free, happy, and create!

He Says, She Says -- Getting Both Sides of the Story

kiya@evpl — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:46:00 GMT

It's intriguing to hear both sides of a story - especially if you aren't personally involved, or stuck in the middle.

I like books which cover the same events from two or more perspectives. There are a lot of books coming out now which show multiple viewpoints, and the ones I've found have been enjoyable:

Notes from the blender / Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
Will Grayson, Will Grayson / John Green & David Levithan

Girl meets boy : because there are two sides to every story / edited by Kelly Milner Halls

Jenna & Jonah's fauxmance / Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

Boy Girl Boy / Ron Koertge

Sometimes the author will use two (or more) books to show the different sides of a story.

James Howe: The Misfits / Totally Joe / Addie on the Inside

Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game / Ender's Shadow

Stephanie Meyer had intended a fifth book in the Twilight series: Midnight Sun, which told the story of the first book again, but from Edward's point of view, rather than Bella's. When someone leaked the first part of the manuscript as she was writing it, Meyer stopped work on the project, and posted the work-in-progress on her website. As far as I know, she has no plans to go back and finish it.

If you have other titles to suggest that show two or more viewpoints, I'd like to hear them. Movies, too - I can only think of one right now.

Finding a Good Book

kiya@evpl — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:14:00 GMT

How do you hear about new books to read? Friends' suggestions? YouTube book trailers? Recommendations from Amazon? Best seller lists? Just browsing at the bookstore? Authors' blogs? [Here's a link to one of my favorite author blogs.] Asking your librarian? NoveList Plus from the EVPL databases and catalog?

I found a new place the other day to look for a new book: http://flamingnet.com/index.cfm.

Flamingnet is a website started by a teen reviewing Young Adult books for other teens. It now has thousands of reviews by reviewers across the US. You can browse the latest reviews, or search for specific authors or titles.

Several of my friends use Good Reads as a place to share and discuss books. Similar sites are Library Thing and Shelfari.

One of the blogs I found is Teen Fiction Café, which is written by 12 authors of Teen Fiction, all talking about the books they love to read. Below are some of the books the library has with suggestions for reading.

Let me know what you like to read, and how you find those books, or if you have one to recommend.

Teen Read Week Winners!

smackdaisley@evpl — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:27:00 GMT

Teen Read Week Results

Special thanks go to all of the teens who voted in our Teen Read Week challenge. We have counted the votes and declared the top five favorite books system wide. These book selections reflect the young adult readers at our libraries. They feature the EVPL top book choices for 2011.

And the winning results…(drum roll)

1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2. The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

3. Zombies vs. Unicorns by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black

4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

5. (Tie) Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson.

Winning ballots have been drawn and voters will be contacted about their prizes! Do not forget next year to participate in National Teen Read Week!

Teen Read Week Challenge

smackdaisley@evpl — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:41:00 GMT

TEEN READ WEEK

Teen Read Week is an initiative started in 1998 by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Libraries annually celebrate Teen Read Week in an effort to reach young adult audiences. Events, contests, and programs are aimed at teens and encourage them to read and support their local libraries.

This year’s Teen Read Week is October 16^th-22^nd. In an effort to annually participate and support our local teens, the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library is hosting a Teen Read Week Challenge. Teens are being asked to vote for their top book choices through October 31^st. Voting started October 13^th and you could pick up a ballot at any EVPL location. Mark up to five titles you have read and feel are the best on the list. Submit your vote in the Teen Read Week box for a chance to win a prize!

This year’s ballot list is taken from Young Adult Library Association’s “teen choice” list, where teens nominate their favorite books of the previous year. Nominators are members of teen book groups in 16 school and public libraries around the country. They represent the varied voices and choices of teens. Picks include Pittacus Lore’s I Am Number Four, Scott Westerfield’s Behemoth, Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy, James Patterson’s Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel, and many other favorites.

Pick up your ballot today and vote for your Teen Read Week favorite books. Stay tuned to find out which books Evansville teens chose as the best!

Fall Gaming: A Place to Kinect

smackdaisley@evpl — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:45:00 GMT

Our fall edition of weekend gaming kicks off this Saturday! If you’ve ever wondered what you’d look like in a video game, now is the time to join us. New this fall we’ll have Xbox 360 Kinect, the motion sensing game system. No controller is required. Just use your hands and feet to play soccer, table tennis, boxing, and other sports in Kinect Sports. Dance along to Michael Jackson’s music as a video game hologram in Michael Jackson: The Experience.

If you prefer the controller, that’s O.K. too. We have multiple video game systems including Nintendo Game Cubes, Nintendo Wii, and Playstation 2. All games are played on large projection screens and television monitors with a good dose of volume. Multiple guitars, drums, and dance pads make for a fun experience. Enjoy Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, DDR, Rock Band, and plenty of other games.

And yet, there’s still more. If you’re the type of gamer who prefers to stay unplugged then come join us for board games like Chess, Scrabble, Cranium, Buzzword, Wits & Wagers, Jenga, and more.

This is the best gaming experience in Evansville by far. We’ve got the tech savvy equipment, the games, and the variety. What we need now are some teens with a thirst for adventure and some gaming attitude.

We hope to see you there!

Extreme Gaming: Saturdays at 1:00 PM on 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19, and 12/3. Browning Event Rooms A and B.

http://www.evpl.org/events/search/default.aspx?lib=1&curdate=10/1/11&nd=92&kw=Extreme+Gaming&sstr=0

The Hunger Games Series!

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:09:00 GMT

Last fall when I was preparing my presentations for Teen Read Week, I came across the book Catching Fire. I did not think much of it as I added it to the list of books to talk about in the schools I was visiting. Then Teen Read Week came and my visits started. In each classroom I showed the Catching Fire book trailer, and I began to notice that the teens sat up a little taller and I had their attention a little bit more. I didn't understand. What was the big deal about this book?

Then I finally started reading The Hunger Games. And I was hooked. For those of you new to the series, The Hunger Games is the first book in the trilogy. Katniss Everdeen lives in the 12th district of the country of Panem, and this district is located in what was once called the Appalachian Mountains. In this new nation of Panem, each district is separated by industry and importance, and the 12th district is the poorest of them all. Every year the districts draw two names- one boy and one girl- to participate in The Hunger Games, a fight to the death in which the victor is the last person standing.

I don't want to give too much away because this series is one that I think everyone should read. Similar to the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games trilogy will catch the interest of young and old readers. To all those teens out at Thompkins and Plaza that loved this series long before I did: thank you from this librarian.

Laser Light Photography for Teens

smackdaisley@evpl — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:22:00 GMT

Laser Light Photography for Teens

In 1949, LIFE photographer Gjon Mili visited the artist Pablo Picasso in the south of France. He showed Picasso some images of ice skaters with lights fixed to their skates. The skaters were photographed in a darkened room and the lights trailed to the back of their skates like little comets. Inspired by these images, Picasso soon began work on his own series of photographs known as his “light drawings.” The drawings were made with a small flashlight in a dark room and ranged from faces to bulls, people, flowers, and abstract shapes.

Light photography, also known as light painting or light graffiti, is a photographic technique in which exposures are made at unusually long intervals. This is done by slowing down the shutter speed on the camera. Basically, a camera is a lightproof box with a lens at one end and light sensitive medium at the other (film, digital card). Today we typically use digital cards, and then upload the images from the card to our computers. The light enters the lens and after a certain amount of time the image is recorded on the card, resulting in an exposure. The time it takes for the image to be recorded on the card is determined by the shutter speed.

The cool thing about digital cameras is that you can manually control the time it takes to record the image. It’s as easy as pressing a button or setting a dial. A short shutter speed is like pointing and shooting your cell phone. Click. Your picture is done. A longer shutter speed could take up to several seconds or minutes depending on how long you set it. If you’re crafty like Picasso, you could set the speed to 30 seconds, grab your flashlight, and start drawing in a darkened room. The camera will follow the movement of the light as it records the image. The result is whatever you want it to be. Draw hearts, stars, Pac-Man symbols, peace signs, or trace your friends’ silhouettes. Better yet, try “writing” your name or launching a fireball from your palm.

If this sounds like something that interests you, then come join us on August 13^th in the Browning Room at Central. Experiment with light photography in an altered light room. It’s free and open to the public. Use black lights, glow sticks, flashlights, laser pointers, and other light sources to create interesting exposures. Be creative, bring some friends, and have fun. We hope to see you there!

Date and time: http://www.evpl.org/events/search/event.aspx?id=25724

Teen Facebook Page

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:29:00 GMT

Hey Teens! Stay connected with the latest teen news and events on the EVPL Teen Scene! Hang out with friends, surf the Net, check out some of the hottest new books or DVDs, or come to one of our many free events. Check out the EVPL Teen Scene- our teen Facebook page! "Like" us at: www.evpl.org/teenscene

Interested in poetry?

SeeJaneRead@evpl — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:36:00 GMT

Then the Poetry Writer’s Workshop is for you!

Instructor Shawna Rodenberg, local poet and Creative Writing MFA candidate, will lead this two part workshop on poetry. Participants will explore traditional poetry styles and forms and learn techniques to develop their own work.

For teens and adults. All abilities welcome!

Wednesday, February 16 and 23, 6:30-8pm

Preregistration for both sessions is required! You can register online at

http://www.evpl.org/events/search/event.aspx?id=24908

Or by calling (812) 428-8246.

Hope to see you there!

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:27:00 GMT

Junior year is drawing to a close when Valerie's boyfriend, Nick, comes to school one morning and begins to shoot people in the Commons. At the end of the shooting spree, six people are dead and many are wounded, including Valerie. Within hours the police have searched Nick and Valerie's homes and discovered a "Hate List" the two created. Many of the students targeted that morning were on this list. Valerie becomes a suspect in the investigation. Was she part of Nick's plan? Was it a double suicide that went wrong? Was Valerie really shot trying to stop Nick? All of these are questions the students, teachers, parents, community, and the nation are asking.

For Valerie, the list was a way to vent her frustrations with the bullying she endured day after day at school. She never meant anything by it, but she will be haunted by the list and by what Nick did that morning for the rest of her life. After being cleared by the police, Valerie spent summer vacation isolated from the outside world. Now that a new school year has begun, Valerie is going back to school to face her demons. HIGHLY recommended.

Similar reads: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and Undone by Brooke Taylor

Teen Gaming Night

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:19:00 GMT

DDR? Rock Band? Had a long day at school and looking for something fun to do? Check out Teen Gaming Night @ Central! Tuesday, January 11 from 6:00-7:30pm. Join us for a fun night of gaming, food, and fun!

Learn to Speak German!

SeeJaneRead@evpl — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:39:00 GMT

Join instructor Hollan Staker in this dynamic German course! This class will cover pronunciation, basic vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and cultural points. The ample activities and exercises and use of multimedia supplements will provide participants with a solid foundation to communicate in German!

This class series is geared for teens to adults. Registration is required! Check out http://evpl.org/events/search/event.aspx?id=24901 to register or email Andreaw@evpl.org

This class is held on six consecutive Tuesdays, January 18th to February 22nd. 4:00-5:30pm

Attention Tweens and Teens! Reader's Theatre @ EVPL!

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:49:00 GMT

Calling all Tweens and Teens! EVPL Reader's Theatre!

Ever dreamed about writing your own script? Do you have a flair for the stage? If you are looking for something to do over Winter Break, this program is just for you! Join librarians in the first ever EVPL Reader's Theatre!

Monday-Thursday, December 20-23

3:30-4:30 pm

Browning Room A

Performance will be held on Thursday, December 23 at 6pm in Browning Rooms A and B.

There are things worse than death...

bookchick@evpl — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:50:00 GMT

"Beneath heaven is hell. Beneath hell is Furnace."

So begins Alex Sawyer's new life inside Furnace, a high security prison built to house the worst of the worst juvenile offenders. A life of harsh rules rules. A life of hard labor and brutality. A life without the sun or freash air. A life where a single mistep could bring the blood watch in a place where there are things worse than death.

Problem is, Alex is innocent.