Chess Club dates for January

The Chess Club will meet on Monday, January 10 and Monday, January 24, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the youth program room. Ben Corcoran of the Waukesha Chess Club will be here to give you pointers on your game. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome!

Ben is also going to play a "Simul" with all interested players on Saturday, January 15, 2011. A Simul means that Ben will take on multiple players at the same time. We did this back in November and it was a lot of fun! If you are interested, come to the Library Meeting Room by 12:30 PM that day to register. Play will start around 1:00. Prizes will be awarded to those who can beat Ben or play him to a draw. Ben will post information on the prizes on his chess blog: http://benzochess.blogspot.com/

--Kifflie

Teen Writers Group This Saturday

The final Teen Writers Group meeting for 2010 will be this Saturday, December 11th, from 2:00 to 3:30 in the Library Board Room. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. If you have any questions, please contact Kifflie at 532-8910 or kscott@mf.lib.wi.us.

Teen Advisory Board Returns for 2011

Do you have a great idea for our library? The Teen Advisory Board is back for 2011!

Our first meeting for the new year will be Monday, January 10, at 3:45 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks will be served. Future meetings will be held on the second Monday of every month through the rest of the school year (February 14, March 14, April 11, and May 9).

Meetings will run no longer than one hour. If you would like to be part of this group and have not already been contacted, please call Kifflie Scott, Teen Librarian, at 532-8910 or send an email to kscott@mf.lib.wi.us to sign up.

Teens' Top Ten

More than 8000 teens nationwide voted for their favorite books of 2010. Here are the Teens' Top Ten:

1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
2. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
3. Heist Society by Ally Carter
4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
5. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
9. Fire by Kristin Cashore
10. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

All of these books are located in the Young Adult section of the library. Come and check them out!

-- Kifflie

Book Review: Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Amber Appleton is a hope spreader. She befriends stray dogs, Korean immigrants, nursing home residents, kids with disabilities, and a lonely Vietnam veteran. Amber is bound and determined to make the world a better place.

And Amber is homeless. She sleeps in the back of a school bus that her single mother drives during the day, warmed only by a few blankets and her dog Bobby Big Boy. Amber and her mother have been living this way since Mom's last boyfriend threw them out into the street.

Through determination and faith, Amber has managed to succeed in school and become an advocate for society's misfits.

Until the night her mother goes missing and is eventually found dead.

Even though her friends rally around her, Amber sinks into a depression, stops going to school, and barely leaves her room in her newly adoptive home. Then one day, a crisis occurs that she cannot ignore, and slowly she begins to come back to her radically changed life.

Part Maniac Magee, part It's a Wonderful Life, this book runs the gamut of emotions. You will root for Amber all the way, even in her meanest moods.

-- Kifflie

November 13 is National Gaming Day

On Saturday, November 13, the Menomonee Falls Public Library will observe National Gaming Day. Games for all ages will be available for play in the library.

In the Meeting Room, we will have table games such as Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Uno, and Pictureka set out for play from 9:00 AM to noon.

At noon, our Chess Club instructor, Ben Corcoran, is planning to play several simultaneous chess matches with any opponents willing to take him on. Prizes will be awarded for anyone who can beat Ben or play him to a draw!

Our Nintendo Wii will be set up for gaming in the Youth Program Room from noon until 4:00 PM. Games will include Wii Sports Resort, Mario Kart, Super Smash Brothers, and Super Mario Galaxy.

All are welcome to attend this event and to try out as many games as you like. No registration is required. Call Kifflie at 532-8910 if you have any questions.

Ghosts and Haunted Houses

(Cross-posted from the main library page. If you like learning about haunted places, this program is for you! -- Kifflie)

On Monday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m., haunted house enthusiast Curt Strutz will lead you on a virtual tour of the nation's most haunted locations. Ghost hunters, history buffs and anyone with an appetite for the creepy should not miss this.

Ghosts and Haunted Houses is free of charge and open to the public. Due to the nature of the material, this presentation is intended for teen and adult audiences.

If you have any questions, please contact Karen at 262-532-8912.

Teen Writers Group This Saturday

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, September 11, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend. Snacks and beverages will be served. Bring your ideas! Any questions, call Kifflie at 532-8910 or email her at kscott@mf.lib.wi.us

Guest Book Review

Hi everyone! I have been on vacation for much of the last part of August, so that's why you haven't seen any posts from me. But I am gearing up for the fall, so watch for more announcements and book reviews.

In the meantime, here's a quick book review from Katie, a member of our Teen Advisory Board:

Love, tragedy, horror - these elements take readers for an incredible ride in Sarah’s Key, a New York Times bestseller by Tatiana de Rosnay. The novel alternates between the lives of two characters, both extraordinary in their own right - ten year old Sarah Starzynski, betrayed by her own country and a victim of horrific Holocaust events in the 1940s, and Julia Jarmond, a modern-day woman who struggles with her love life while uncovering the secrets of a past no one wants to remember. Readers will devour this heart-wrenching, page-turning novel as they discover the connections between Sarah and Julia; it will remain a favorite for many years to come.

Thanks, Katie!

- Kifflie

Book Review: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

Blake Hewson is a pretty lucky guy. He has two cool parents, an older brother who doesn't aggravate him too much, a wicked sense of humor, and a sweet girlfriend named Shannon. Things are going along well for Blake until the day he brings his camera down to a rough part of town for a photography assignment and takes a picture of one particular homeless woman -- a woman who turns out to be the missing mother of Blake's classmate Marissa.

Blake finds himself drawn into Marissa's tumultuous family situation while at the same time trying to juggle his schoolwork, his friends, and his relationship with Shannon. He tries very hard to do the right thing by both girls, but inevitably he does make mistakes and has to learn to face the consequences.

Blake is a very likable, honest young man, and his family (even the dog!) are well developed characters in their own right. The novel's dialogue is snappy and funny, and the emotional scenes have genuine depth to them. I really found myself pulling for Blake and hoping things would turn out well for him. The ending of the novel, while not completely resolving everything that happens to Blake, is a good indication that he will come through just fine.

I can't wait to see what L.K. Madigan comes up with next.

Kifflie (eagerly awaiting the release of Mockingjay on August 24th!)

Teen Writers Group

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, August 14, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks and beverages will be available. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend.

Teen Summer Reading Program Ends August 14

The Teen Summer Reading Program ends this Saturday, August 14th, at 2:00 PM. I will draw for two final weekly prizes and then the grand prize. The grand prize winner will receive a $25 Target gift certificate AND a $15 Best Buy card. Sweet deal! And all for just reading. Get those entries in!

Kifflie

Book Review: Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick

If you're looking for a quick, suspenseful read, Revolver might be a good choice.

In the winter of 1910, fourteen-year-old Sig has just discovered that Einar, his father has frozen to death in the barren Arctic wilderness. He brings his father's body back to his isolated family cabin while his sister and stepmother go for help. Before too long, a strange and frightening man (appropriately named Wolff) appears at Sig's door. Wolff claims that Einar and he had made a deal years ago, and now he intends to collect on it, no matter if Einar is dead or not. A terrifying standoff ensues, and Sig begins to believe that his only hope is to get to his late father's hidden Colt revolver before Wolff realizes what's happening.

The story flashes back and forth between Sig's current situation and Einar's initial encounters with Wolff from ten years ago, when he worked in an Alaskan mining town. Sedgwick does a nice job of merging the two stories together, building up the excitement and presenting Sig with a pivotal moral choice at the story's climax. All this in about 200 pages, for a very solid read.

Kifflie (Next up: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan)

Teen Summer Reading Program Update

We now have 89 people signed up for the Teen Summer Reading Program. We have surpassed last year's sign-ups, and we also have many more weekly entry forms being submitted. Thank you to all who have participated!

There are still three weekly drawings remaining in the program, along with our Grand Prize to be awarded on Saturday, August 14. Get your entries in!

Book Review: As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

Ry is taking a long train ride to summer camp. The train stops in Montana due to some sort of mechanical problem, and Ry takes the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs. Before he knows it, the train takes off without him, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere. He is left with nothing except the clothes on his back, a few dollars in his wallet, and a cell phone with a dying battery.

So begins Ry's strange but somehow exhilarating journey back home to Wisconsin, and beyond. Assisting him is Del, a man who can't help fixing things, and an assortment of Del's friends spread around the country and even into the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Ry's parents, his grandfather, and even his dogs have their own series of misfortunes and strange journeys. Lynne Rae Perkins adds a nice touch by telling the dogs' adventures through a series of comic panels.

This story is packed with more than a few chuckles. And, as Ry comes to understand, "maybe, the more people you put in your family, the better."

Kifflie (Next up: Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick)

Wii Gaming for Teens This Saturday!

The Library will host Wii Gaming for teens in the Youth Program Room from 1:00 to 4:00 PM this Saturday, July 24th. No registration is required. Cold beverages will be available. Come and play Mario Kart, Wii Sports Resort, and Guitar Hero World Tour!

Teen Writers Group This Saturday

The Teen Writers Group meets this Saturday, July 10, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Library Board Room. Snacks and beverages will be available. Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend.

Book Review: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Caitlin is paralyzed by the suicide of her best friend, Ingrid. The two girls shared a passion for taking pictures, and Caitlin is sharply reminded of this when she goes back to high school for her junior year and sees Ingrid's work displayed in her advanced photography class. Furthermore, Ms. Delani, the photography teacher, seems unhappy to have Caitlin back in her class again.

One weekend, while searching for her stereo remote, Caitlin discovers Ingrid's last journal shoved under her bed. Over the course of the school year, she reads it, entry by entry, and gains some understanding of the pain Ingrid was experiencing before she killed herself. In the meantime, Caitlin finds herself spending time with Dylan, the "new girl" in school, and popular boy Taylor takes an interest in her as well.

Slowly, Caitlin emerges from her shell and rediscovers her artistic drive and talent for building things. While the pain of losing Ingrid still hurts, she's learned to transform it into actions that also help those around her recover as well.

This is a quick, honest story from a first-time author. Let's hope we see more from her soon.

Kifflie (Now starting As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins)

Wii Gaming Event July 24

We're having Teen Open Gaming with the Nintendo Wii on Saturday, July 24, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in the Youth Program Room. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 19 is welcome to attend. Snacks and cold drinks will be served.

We will have Mario Kart, Wii Sports Resort, and Guitar Hero: World Tour available for play. Bring your friends! No registration is required. Call Kifflie at 532-8910 if you have any questions.

Teen Summer Reading Program Update

So far we have 61 people signed up for our Teen Summer Reading Program. It's easy! All you have to do is go to the second floor of the library, fill out a registration card, and read! You get one entry per week for the Friday drawings. Last week we awarded a flash drive and a Wendy's gift card. Want to be in this week's drawing? Get your books read and your entries in by 2:00 on Friday, June 25!

Book Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Sydelle Mirabil, a talented weaver, lives in Cliffton, a desert town in the far west of the kingdom of Palmarta. The townspeople are living with rumors of war with the surrounding kingdoms of Saldorra and Auster. On one unforgettable evening, a sudden rainstorm hits, and a wizard named Wayland North arrives in town. Coincidence?

As "payment" for giving Cliffton's residents the much-needed rain, North takes Sydelle with him on a mission to the capital city of Provincia. Along the way they encounter friends such as the good-hearted soldier Owain, and enemies such as the deadly dark wizard Dorwan. Although a talented mage, North is haunted by an old family curse, and his mood changes are a challenge for Sydelle to handle. Sydelle also begins to realize that there is something unusual about herself; she has powers of her own that both attract and repel the wizarding community as it prepares for what could be a devastating conflict with its neighbors.

This is a fast-paced story. Scenery goes by swiftly, and secondary characters come and go with not much development. While I thought that the concept of this book was interesting, I wish there had been more depth to the characters and better descriptions of the countryside. Still, if you're looking for a quick fantasy read, this is a pretty good effort from a first-time author.

Kifflie (Now starting Hold Still by Nina LaCour)

Teen Summer Reading Program Starts This Friday!

Just a reminder that the Teen Summer Reading Program starts this Friday. You can register on the second floor of the library. Read a book per week and enter to win flash drives, iTunes cards, and restaurant gift cards.

A grand prize will be drawn on Saturday, August 14th. The grand prize is a $25 Target gift certificate and a $15 Best Buy card. All entry forms for the summer will be put into the grand prize drawing, so if you read at least one book per week, you improve your chances to win!

See you @ the library!

Kifflie

Teen Writers Group

The Teen Writers Group meets the second Saturday of every month in the Library Board Room from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Any teen with an interest in writing is welcome to attend. Snacks and beverages will be served.

Contact Kifflie Scott at 532-8910 with any questions.

Book Review: The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

New Mexico is the setting for this latest novel by the author of Marcelo in the Real World. Seventeen-year-old Pancho Sanchez has lost both of his parents, and now his developmentally disabled sister Rosa has died under mysterious circumstances. Having been kicked out of his foster home due to violent behavior, Pancho finds himself in St. Anthony’s Orphanage, where he meets Daniel Quentin (better known as D.Q.).

D.Q. has brain cancer, and even though his mother is still alive, he is looking to become an emancipated minor. He wants to deal with his illness in his own way rather than submit to his mother’s wish for him to participate in experimental chemotherapy. He expresses his personal philosophy in a work he calls the “Death Warrior Manifesto.” In D.Q.’s words, “a Death Warrior is grateful for every second of time given and is aware of how precious each second is. Every second not spent loving is wasted. The Death Warrior’s enemy is time that is wasted by not loving.”

(At this point, those with literary tendencies might see some similarities between this D.Q. and a famous Spanish don with a sidekick whose name just happens to rhyme with “Pancho.”)

Pancho, meanwhile, is struggling with his own rage over Rosa’s death and his desire to get revenge on the man he holds responsible. At the same time he seems to adjust remarkably well to life in the orphanage and makes himself useful giving “rickshaw” rides to young cancer patients at a nearby health care facility. He meets and falls for Marisol, a health aide, who also happens to be the girl of D.Q.’s dreams.

The author treats us to memorable supporting characters such as Josie (a young cancer patient) and Johnny Corazon (a holistic healer). There is genuine suspense as Pancho finally confronts the man who was there when his sister died. But most of all, the book is about the deep honesty in the relationship between Pancho and D.Q. as each of them discovers for himself what it really means to be a Death Warrior.

All in all, this is another fine effort from Francisco X. Stork.

Kifflie (Now starting Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken)

Chess Club at the Library

Are you a chess newbie, or would you like to increase your chess skills?

Ben Corcoran of the Waukesha Chess Club will be here this summer to show you how to improve your game. You are invited to attend any or all of the sessions listed below. Meetings will take place in our Youth Program Room.

Dates and times are as follows:

* Saturday, June 12 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
* Saturday, June 26 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
* Saturday, July 17 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Each session will start with a lecture, and then will continue with actual playing time. Chess boards and pieces will be provided. For further information or to register, please call Kifflie at (262) 532-8910.

Book Review: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

It’s been almost a year since the events of Life as We Knew It, the first book in this series by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Back then, a meteor struck the Moon and caused a cataclysm on Earth. Miranda Evans and her family continue to eke out an existence in rural Pennsylvania. Between scrounging for food, getting used to a new sister-in-law, and working to stay warm, Miranda writes in her journal and tries to keep up her spirits.

Change suddenly comes when Miranda’s father, stepmother, and their extended “road family” show up at the door. Among the newcomers are Alex and Julie Morales, last seen in book two, The Dead and the Gone. The adjustment is difficult for everyone, as already meager resources have to be shared, sleeping quarters are a challenge, and frayed emotions easily come to the surface. Death continues to haunt these survivors; Pfeffer pulls few punches in describing the horror and despair that threatens to overwhelm every one of them. Alex, haunted by his experiences in New York City, turns to Miranda for comfort. She responds, but it’s a rough process for each of them.

This World We Live In moves at a quick pace, yet Pfeffer takes the time to explore what life might really be like in America if volcanic ash blocked out most sunlight, if electricity only worked part of the time, and if weather behaved differently than it ever has before. What also is clear in this book is the importance of staying together and maintaining hope even in the most devastating of circumstances.

Although Miranda claims to be wrapping up her story in the last pages, I suppose there is some chance that there might be a fourth book from Alex’s point of view. We’ll have to wait and see.

Kifflie (Now starting The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork)

Teen Summer Reading Program

“Make Waves @ Your Library” this summer! The Teen Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 11th and will run through Saturday, August 14th.

You can register for the program on the second floor of the library. Read one book per week and enter your name to win prizes such as flash drives, iTunes cards, and restaurant gift cards. Bonus: for the first book you finish, you’ll receive one coupon for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. A grand prize will be drawn on Saturday, August 14th. Questions? Call Kifflie at 532-8910.

Welcome to the MFPL Teen Zone!

Welcome to the Menomonee Falls Public Library Teen Zone! At the suggestion of our Teen Advisory Board, we have started this blog to communicate with the teens who use our library as well as anyone else who has an interest in books and programs for teens. You can expect to find book reviews, program announcements, information on when new books are scheduled to be released, and whatever else we can find that might be of interest to teens.

My name is Kifflie Scott, and I have worked at the Menomonee Falls Public Library since 2000. I became the Teen Librarian in 2004. I am the parent of two teens and an avid reader. Lately I have become a fan of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness (Both of those authors will be concluding their trilogies later this year, and you can look forward to my reviews when that happens). I also enjoy reading adult fiction by authors such as Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King, and Michael Connelly.

I am always looking for suggestions from teens about new items to get for our collection, program ideas, or anything else you can think of to improve our teen area. Please feel free to drop me an email at kscott@mf.lib.wi.us, or come to one of our Teen Advisory Board meetings (these will be announced on the blog and on the library’s main webpage).

Comments to this blog are also welcome. These will be moderated, so please keep them appropriate for a public forum.

We’re looking forward to a great summer! Our Teen Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 11. More details to follow in a few days.

See you @ the library!

-- Kifflie (Currently reading This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer)