The reluctant readers guide to an enjoyable, readable holiday!

Okay, so you know that someone in your family is going to give you either a book or a gift card to your local book store for Christmas and you couldn't careless about books for the most part. Twilight might have sparked your interest, but who has the time to read such a huge book, let alone four?

Well, here are the 2009 top ten books picked by more than 11,000 teens that might perk your interest and you can add to your wish list to make your relatives happy!

Up and coming Movies in November

New Moon

The love story begun in Twilight continues. Bella and Edward must face new challenges, new enemies and trust new friends. But is their love strong enough to overcome all?

Release date Nov 20

Planet 51

When astronaut Captain Chuck Baker lands on Planet 51 he is surprised, to find it inhabited by little green people living in a white picket fence world who fear an alien invasion of humans!
Release date Nov 20

Fantastic Mr Fox

Crafty Mr Fox must use all his wits to steal food from the horrible farmers Boris, Bunce and Bean to save his family and the other animals in the wood.

Release date Nov 25

The Pinhoe Egg

by Diane Wynne Jones

Marianne and Joe Pinhoe, youths in a clan of rogue magic users, are looking forward to their summer holiday, only to have it ruined by Gammer Pinhoe, the scheming, elderly matriarch of the family. Joe is sent to work at Chrestomanci castle to spy on the wizard folk there, while Marianne must look after Gammer.

But when a visiting clan leader comes to speak to Gammer, the ensuing argument so enrages Gammer that her mental capacities become impaired and a magical war breaks out between the two clans. Sure that a spell is responsible for Gammer’s insanity, Marianne tries to convince her family but nobody believes her, and when she finds an enormous egg hidden in the attic, things go from bad to worse. Marianne goes to Joe, but finds Cat, the young nine-lived enchanter who lives at the castle, instead. With his, Chrsetimanci’s and Joe’s help, Marianne must find a way to stop the war before anyone gets seriously hurt.

Player Pack: Crush the Castle game

To play this game you have to throw balls at the castle with a catapault to kill the soldiers, king and queen, and win medals. This game is fun.

Play this game @ http://www.agame.com/

Writen by TREYVON SANDERS

Vampire Diaries

Look for the bestselling Vampire Diaries books by J L Smith in our teen section!

Sites for streaming music

Looking for great music but don't want to slow your computer down by downloading so much? Why not check out some of these fab sites!

AH.fm – Techno and dance music

AOL Radio – by CBS Radio it streams music and some radio stations.

Deezer.com – free streaming music, and you can build your own playlists, for yourself or to share with friends.

iLike.com – full songs and samples

Mixwit.com – create your own "mix tapes" and listen and then share them with friends.

Pandora.com and Soundpedia.com– Both let you build your own channel by putting in songs you like and they will find more in that genre.

Jiwa.fm – Search for your music and Jiwa will search other online streams for it.

Real Player – Download Real Player and then play free music via Rhapsody service.

iTunes has a radio link to internet radio all around the globe.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

It was a good movie. The characters were funny,it had a lot of action. my favorite part was when the transformers fought against the bad guys.

Written by Love Williams

Vampirates : Demons of the Oceans

by Justin Somper

14 year old twins, Connor and Grace Tempest are devastating when their father, the lighthouse keeper of Half Moon Bay dies. Alone in the world, except for each other, and now penniless, they rejected the town people's attempts to force them into a life of drudgery. Taking their father's yacht, they sail off into the unknown and right into a destructive storm.

Their small vessel sunk, the twins are picked up by two very different ships. Connor ends up on the pirate ship, The Diablo, captained by Molucco Wrathe. Due to his athletic and cheery nature Connor soon fits in and finds friends among the pirates, but his sister is never far from his thoughts. Sure that Grace is still alive, despite evidence to the contrary, spurred on by the strange ship he saw and an old sea shanty his father used to sing, Connor convinces the pirates to begin a search for his sister.

Grace wakes to finds herself aboard the strange Vampirate ship. Looked after by Lorcan, a young looking vampirate, she soon adapts to life on the ship. In an attempt to keep busy Grace begins to collect the stories of each of the vampirate’s crossing over, including the dangerous vampire Sedorio. Strange visions of Connor, give Grace the surety her brother is still alive. But what will it take to reunite the twins?

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Do you love Steampunk?

Look out for these great series!

Max

by James Patterson

A mastermind criminal by the name of Mr. Chu has kidnapped Max’ Mom, Dr Martinas in an attempt to blackmail the flock, knowing that Max will do anything to save her newly found mother.

Enlisting the dubious help of the navy, Max and her friends set out on a rescue mission, and they know just where to look. Fish are dying in millions of the coast of Hawaii, and Dr Martinas is being held on board a ship. There is no way the two events are not connected! But to rescue her Mom, Max is going to have to rely on the flock, as her own judgement in this case is biased and also trust the youngest member of the flock, Angel, a 7 year old girl, (okay maybe that’s not so bad, as not only can Angel fly, she can read minds and breathe underwater!)

So don’t miss this fast paced, action packed next episode in the Maximum Ride series!

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

We're updating our graphic novels and Manga!

Do you love reading about Superheroes, fantasy or manga?

For those of you who use our library you know our graphic novel and manga section sucks! So, over the next couple of months we'll be looking at and buying some new books.

Here's where we need your help! We want to know what you are interested in reading. Click on comments below this post and add your suggestions and titles. We'll look at the books and see if we can add them to our collection.

I am looking forward to seeing all your great suggestions on our shelves!

Fairest

by Gail Carson Levine

 

Aza is a foundling.  Brought up in an inn in Ayothra she knows she is different.  Her adopted parents have always treated her as one of the family, but Aza knows she is hulking and ugly.  Her only redeeming feature is her marvelous voice, but even that is not so wonderful among a people of reknowned singers.  That is until she learns to immitate and throw her singing voice, a talent she calls illusing.

When fate gives Aza the opportunity to go to court for the King's wedding, despite her looks, she jumps at the chance and when good fortune calls her to the attention of the new queen, Ivy, and they become friends Aza is on cloud nine.  But when Queen Ivy discovers Aza's illusing, she forces Aza to sing for her, a ruse that is soon discovered and the blame laid at Aza door.  Aza flees for her life into an adventure of self discovery and self worth.

Read by Full Cast audio, this entertaining and inventive twist on the beloved Snow White story is packed with adventure, song and a little romance. Aimed at an older audience than Ella Enchanted, yet set in the same world, Levine's fans will find a few familiar faces woven into a tale of the magic mirrors, dwaven people and  complex palace intrigue. Interlaced with wonderful Ayortian songs making this audio book a delight to listen to.

Part of my 100 + reading challenge

Warriors

Video taken from HarperKids youtube channel

Free chocolate!

Mars is giving away free chocolate coupons every friday to 250,000 people until the end of September! To register to win your favourite Mars products (M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, 3 MUSKETEERS®, MILKY WAY® and DOVE®)go to https://secure.realchocolate.com/

And to continue the sugar high, check out these great chocolate books!

Bloodhound

By Tamora Pierce

The latest book in Pierce's Tortall stories continues the tale of Beka Cooper, ancestor of the Rogue in Alanna's time.  Young Beka has passed her training with the Dogs of the Provost’s Guard (Tortall's medieval police force), but she can't seem to get a good partner.  It has become a joke, with her friends and colleagues taking bets on how long each new partner will last.  Finally, after being humiliated by the latest partner, Beka sees a Dog mishandling a scent hound named Achoo.  Losing her temper, she takes on the poor animal.
Temporarily partnered back with Goodwin and Tonstall, the faithful pair who got her safely through her training, the three stumble across counterfeit silver streaming into the city causing food prices to soar.  A bread riot in Corus ensues, knocking Tonstall out of action with broken legs. The Lord Provost sends Clary Goodwin, Beka and Achoo, undercover, to Port Caynn to try to discover the source of the counterfeit money.
 
The mission is a dangerous one, as the Rogue of Port Caynn, a nasty mot by the name of Pearl, might be in on the counterfeit; the Lord in charge of the Dogs in Port Caynn will do nothing to stop the Rogue; and a budding romance for Beka threatens to distract her from her duty.  Helped by the pigeons, dust spinners, and Achoo, Beka and Clary must sniff out the counterfeit ring before the whole monetary system of Tortall implodes.
 
Beka’s wit and spirited temperament shine through in this enchanting, fast paced fantasy world that is well structured and peopled with balanced, full characters.


Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Summer Reading Highlights

Tie dye!

Tiger Moon

by Antonia Michaelis

Beautiful Safia is sure she is going to die at the hand of her bethrothed. Having tried to escape over the wall, she finally seems to resign herself to her fate. Befriending one of the eunuchs, she begins a tale, Shaharazad fashion, of daring adventure and rescue:

A young thief, Farhad, steals a locket from the Buddha, and finds himself on a quest to rescue Buddha’s daughter from marriage to a demon king. With the help of a sarcastic white tiger, he must first find the fabled bloodstone to use as a bribe and cross many hundreds of miles, all before midsummer’s day.

Translated from the original German, this beautiful story skillfully weaves together the tales of Safia and Farhad with Hindu themes of reincarnation, immortality, free will and karma. A powerful and beguiling tale filled with wonderful characters including a rascally thief and a desperate, determined princess.

Part of my 100 + reading challenge

Pics from duct tape teen time!

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

This deliciously creepy tale begins with Coraline and her family moving into an old house made into apartments. Upstairs lives an old man who claims to have a mouse circus and downstairs are two old ladies who once “trod the boards” on the stage and their old Highland terrier. Exploring the apartment on a rainy day, Coraline finds a mysterious locked door. When her mother unlocks it all they find is a brick wall to the empty apartment next door, but Coraline is woken up in the night by a scuttling noise that leads her back to the door. This time when she opens the door she finds a dark passageway that leads to another world that is creepily familiar. Here she finds people just like those living in the house, including her “other mother” and “other father”, the only difference is the big black buttons they have instead of eyes.

Determined to keep Coraline on their side of the door, the “other mother” kidnaps Coraline’s real parents. Now, Coraline, with the help of a seemingly disinterested talking black cat, must use all her wits and courage in a terrifying game to win back her parents and her freedom.

This dark tale infested with eerie and memorable imagery, is also full of wit and charm which takes the edge off of the terror and yet provides just the right amount of scare for reading under the covers at night!

Read by the author, whose wonderful voice and expression gives life and chilling character to the story.

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Find us on the web and get your Summer reads here!

Not only do we have this super cool blog, but we're on facebook, myspace, flickr, twitter and youtube! So, subscribe, add us as a friend, become a fan and get regular updates of all the fun activities going on in the library and new stuff for you to check out!

We have regular movie nights where we show a new release dvd on a big screen and provide you with free popcorn!

Awesome programs - especially this Summer as the theme is "Be Creative". Join us to paint, tie dye, make duct tape creations, play on the new wii and so much more!

Don't forget about your Summer reading list! We have multiple copies of all your reading needs, and can get them from other libraries if we're all out. We have a great selection of teen books and new release dvds for you check out and take home.

So, what are you waiting for?  Sign up to your library this Summer!

Rose by Jeff Smith

 I admit I am a sucker for Charles Vess' drawings, and this volume lived up to my expectations.  Gorgeous artwork with depth and detail, if you don't mind a little blood.  Emotions are so easily read on the characters faces that you almost don't need words.  Of course, the story is good too. Well thought out and not overly wordy.

Rose is a feisty heroine with a good heart.  When she and her sister, Briar, are sent to Old Man's cave for their final testing, Rose has no idea of the adventure she is in for.  Tricked into setting free a dangerous river dragon, Rose sets out to undo her mistake, but a terrible price must be paid to make amends.

Find out more about Jeff Smith @ www.boneville.com
and Charles Vess @ greenmanpress.com

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

A great resource for you!

So, you've heard the latest urban legends, from free laptops to dodgy Walmart flip flops. You've received emails galore on viruses, missing children and other random stuff. Find out the fact from the fiction with www.snopes.com

Snopes.com is an awesome urban legend reference resource. You can find the latest chain emails, and top urban legends layed out to easily distingish what is a hoax, what's old news and the truth. Not only that, but you'll find legends about food, the military and even old wives' tales. (Coca -cola has a section all to itself!)

And if you can't find what you're looking for just send it in and the team at snopes will get back to you with the details!

Image taken from www.snopes.com

Dealing with Dragons

by Patricia C. Wrede

It isn't much fun being a princess for intelligent, practical Cimorene who finds all the fun things like learning fencing, Latin and magic are just not done by princesses. Neither is it done to voluntarily become a dragons princess, but Cimerene is tired of being told what not to do and she would rather keep house for a dragon than stay in her parent’s castle waiting to be married off.

This quirky and comical story of a princess who would rather rescue herself is wonderfully read by a full cast. Follow Cimerene as she fends off her would be rescuers, fights to outwit dastardly wizards, deals with stuck up princesses and shows the dragons what she is made of. A wonderful mix of adventure, danger and fun with a few fairy tale elements thrown in for good measure.

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Fun with the wii @ Monday's teen time!

Immortal Instuments series

From Missphoenix05's Channel

Daughter of the Flames

By Zoe Marriott

The Sedornes invasion that destroyed the Ruan kingdom left Zira without memories, identity or family and a jagged scar marring her face. Raised in the mountain temple by warrior priestess, Zira hates the Sedornes, but when she saves the life of a Sedorne noble her whole life is turned upside down. The tyrannical Sedornes king, whose assassins were thwarted, sends an army that destroys the temple. If she is to save the people she loves Zira must uncover her true identity and put her trust in a man who should be her enemy.

Overflowing with fast paced battle scenes, intricate cultures and martial arts, Daughter of the Flames starts out well but becomes a little predictable. I would have liked to see more of Zira’s character struggle as some decisions concerning her enemies seemed to come a little too easily. The rest of the cast need some more character development and so are a little flat. But overall a well thought out and enjoyable story.

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Join us to make the best Summer Reading Program ever!

Come in and sign up to receive reading prizes every week.

We’ll have Teen Time every Monday @ 2pm, were we’ll be doing lots of different things including duct tape creations, tie dyeing, fun with the Nintendo Wii and so much more.

And don’t forget family night movie every Thursday @ 6pm.

Anyone wishing to volunteer help.
please contact Lou Ellen Nichols @ 631 6639

Hush: An Irish Princess’ tale

by Donna Jo Napoli 

From the Icelandic sagas comes a compelling rewriting of the bittersweet tale of Melkorka an Irish princess, kidnapped by slave traders.  Sent away from home for safety, Melkorka and her sister, Bridget, are taken by the slave traders on the road.  Her homeland and family lost to her, and unable to understand her captures Melkorka takes a vow of silence.  When Bridget escapes overboard and with the encouragement of her fellow slaves, Melkorka uses her silence to bewilder and awe her captors as they sail halfway across the known world. And so she learns that even slaves can have influence and silence can breed power.

Part of my 100 + reading challenge.

So what are you doing this Summer?

There is a lot to do in Birmingham this Summer! Not only are there all the exciting programs at the library but also IMAX movies, music, theater, festivals and more.Make sure you get a copy of Black & White and don’t miss out!

Don’t miss Night at the Museum at the IMAX Theatre McWane Science Center- coming in June, Vulcan's 105th Birthday Bash on June 7 and McWane's 11th Birthday Splash.

There are lots of theatrical performances including Screwups at Birmingham Festival Theater and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by the Red Mountain Theatre Company.

As for festivals we got White's Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Jazz Jam Fest, (and don't forget to check our website for a discount!) 5th Annual Sloss Furnaces Stokin' the Fire BBQ Festival, and of course 21st Annual City Stages!

Alabama Adventures are doing their concert series so watch for The Veronicas, Kate Voegele, Jimmy Wayne, Jonas Brothers in Concert , Three Dog Night, and Raven!

Not quite up your alley? Then why not Spend a Night at the Museum, go to the Alabama State Fairgrounds Flea Market, or the Alabama Adventure Cirque Magnifico. Check out Father's Day Limited at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, and the Harry Potter Camp-In.

With all this on offer, who needs to leave Birmingham?!

Image taken from http://www.birminghamal.org

Ark Angel

by Anthony Horowitz

This fast paced next installment of the hit teenage spy series finds Alex Rider in hospital recovering from being shot.  Paul, a quiet boy about Alex’s age and son of multi-billionaire Nikolei Drevin is in the room next door.  So, when three men from an eco -terrorist group try to kidnap Paul, Alex is taken instead.

Managing to escape from the terrorists Alex is ask to stay with Paul at their mansion to finish recovering and then fly to Flamingo Bay in the Bahamas to see the launch for Ark Angel, the first hotel in space.  Alex agrees, but soon wishes he hadn’t as he beings to realize things about Drevin and the kidnapping don’t quite add up.


Part of my 100+ reading challenge

New Playaways in the Library!

We have been busy buying new audio books and playaways for the teen dept. Playaways have the whole book in mp3 format, so just add your AAA battery and headphones to be able to listen whenever and whereever!

With books like: 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson, The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney, Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, The Land of Elyon by Patrick Carman and Fairest by Gail Carson Levine! Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Don't see something you want? Let us know and we'll order it for you!