Twilight & Twitter

Sure--you've read or seen Twilight, but did you tweet your review of it?

Not sure what a tweet is? It's a post on the microblogging site Twitter. On Twitter, you tell your friends what you are doing or thinking in 140 characters or less. You can say stuff like "Going to the movies with Faythe" or "fighting with my mom". Just short, quick sentences that update your friends on your life. Those updates are sent to wherever your friends want to receive them: the Twitter website, their cell phones, their IM, etc. It's a very handy way to communicate to lots of people quickly.

If you haven't guessed it already, I'm a huge Twitter fan. After I went to see Twilight, I tweeted my impression of the movie (remember, I only had 140 characters!). Here it is:

Jasper was creepy. Landscapes made me homesick. Liked film Edward better.

Here's what some of my Twitter friends (called Tweeps) had to say about the books/movies:

Lisa: Twilight=I hated Edward. New Moon=I joined Camp Jacob. Eclipse=skipped the drama. Breaking Dawn=um yuck, but fun.

Faythe: Didn't care for books 2-4. Loved EC throughout, didn't like Bella. Think I'll be a bigger fan of the movies than I was of the books.

Brian: pale & creepy hasn't been this sexy since Edward Scissorhands, but new-age sensitive vampires make me mildly ill.

Then I did a quick search on Twitter and found even more people talking about it. Here are a few examples:
I have Twilight withdrawal.
Twilight is not good. Stop trying to convince us otherwise.
Went to bed at 3 last night cuz I could not stop reading Twilight.
Surprising number of dudes at this screening of Twilight.

Good stuff, but Twitter is not just about Twilight; it's just a fun & easy way to communicate with friends. Sign up, and be sure to follow Read.Watch.Listen. on Twitter --we're there too!

What Would Emma Do?

What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook (2008)

While juggling friendship issues, a love triangle-turned-square, and escalating mayhem in her small religious town, Emma realizes she has to stop trying to please everyone around her and figure out what she wants for herself.

Join the Queue

Every Tuesday new books, CDs, and DVDs are released into the world. Instead of buying them, check them out at your library!

Here are some of the December 30, 2008 releases that the library has on order. Place your hold now to get it sooner!

Books:
January 1, 2009

The A List: Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean

DVDs:

An American Carol

Nip/Tuck - Season 5

Towelhead

Graphic Novels:
Released January 2, 2009

Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol. 32 by Akimine Kamijyo

Shugo Chara Vol. 5 by Peach-Pit

What's on tap at the library?

All libraries will close at 5 o'clock on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 and no libraries will be open Thursday January 1, 2009. All of the following programs take place on Saturday, January 3, 2009.

• Winter Reading Prize Program - ALL DAY at Sanger -Stop by the Sanger library to get details on this fun program taking place through out Christmas break. The prize drawing takes place on January 7 at 2:00.
• Trading Card Games - 10 am-2 pm at Clovis - The Clovis TCC (Trading Card Club) meets every other Sat to battle it out in Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Naruto, & Chaotic. Bring your cards & join the fun!
• Get your Game On! - 2-6 pm at Caruthers - Weekly Magic the Gathering card games. Decks available for checkout from the Caruthers Branch. Also, for added fun board games such as Risk are available for play. There will also be online games such as Runescape for play. All are welcome, but mostly teens attend. Please don't be late as the branch officially closes at 2:00 pm, but we run our games in the meeting room and computer lab after hours.
• HORTON HEARS A WHO - 2 pm at Fig Garden - This movie is fun for the whole family.
• Manga Book Discussion Group 3:30-4:30 pm at Clovis - Once a month, we discuss the newest & the best in the world of Japanese comics. Space is limited, so call or stop by the branch to sign-up & find out what we’re reading this month.
• Afterhours Anime 5-8 pm at Clovis. New releases & fan favorites.

The Secret Life of Sonia Rodriguez

The Secret Life of Sonia Rodriguez

Sonia is everything to everyone except herself.

Elf Yourself!

No money? Can't face the crowded stores? Lazy? NO PROBLEM! Send your loved ones a little dancing you for the holidays. It's quick, easy, and fun. Check out my dogs doing the disco, then head over to www.elfyourself.com to make your own.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Join the Queue

Every Tuesday new books, CDs, and DVDs are released into the world. Instead of buying them, check them out at your library!

Here are some of the December 23, 2008 releases that the library has on order. Place your hold now to get it sooner!

Books:

Parties & Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

Deadly Little Secret (Touch 1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

DVDs:
December 23, 2008

Burn After Reading

Hamlet 2

The Women

December 27, 2008

The Duchess

Eagle Eye

Ghost Town

What's on tap at the libray?

Not a whole lot going on this week at the library...

• Candy Cane Dance -- 12/22/08 from 7-9 pm. Grab a friend & get ready to dance! Get in the holiday mood at this winter dance. Dress casual.
• Get your Game On! -- 12/27/08 from 2-6 pm. Weekly Magic the Gathering card games. Decks available for checkout from the Caruthers Branch. Also, for added fun board games such as Risk are available for play. There will also be online games such as Runescape for play. All are welcome, but mostly teens attend. Please don't be late as the branch officially closes at 2:00 pm, but we run our games in the meeting room and computer lab after hours.

Happy Holidays!

Reviews

Wow. It's been a crazy couple of weeks. I got 49 reviews! Of those, 33 were from the prolific teens from the Clovis Branch! The Woodward Park teens added 7 and we got our first review from the United Kingdom! Not to be outdone, the teens at Sunnyside added 8 of their own reviews this week.

We are all so thrilled to get your reviews! In order to highlight each person who sent in a review, I am going to list them:

Clovis Teens:
Missy had 12
ha110w33nm4n had 11
Jenn had 5
GothicLolitaMaiden had 5

Woodward Park Teens:
Tina R. had 4
Paige G. had 2
Sandor S. had 1

Sunnyside Teens:
Mai had 2
Andrew had 2
Josh had 1
Mao had 1

And our reviewer from the United Kingdom, Niamh, had 1.

As always, do you agree with them? Think they are off base? Let them know! Or send in your own review.

If you review a book that is not in our catalog, send us a suggestion and we'll do our best.

Remember, some librarians will give you some volunteer hours in exchange for a review, you just gotta ask 'em!

Join the Queue

Every Tuesday new books, CDs, and DVDs are released into the world. Instead of buying them, check them out at your library!

Here are some of the December 16, 2008 releases that the library has on order. Place your hold now to get it sooner!

CDs:

Before I Self-Destruct - 50 Cent

Folie a Deux - Fall Out Boy

Intuition - Jamie Foxx

The Point of It All by Anthony Hamilton

The Last Kiss - Jadakiss

DVDs:

Aqua Teen Hunger Force 6







Mamma Mia!

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Stomp Live

December 19, 2008 DVD Releases:

House Bunny

Traitor

Graphic Novels:
Released December 17, 2008

Naruto Vol 33 by Masashi Kishimoto

What's on tap at the library?

• Gingerbread Houses for Grades 7-12 - 12/16/08 from 5-6 at Sunnyside. Make you own Christmas treat to eat immediately or display for all.
• Woodward Shakespeare Festival Staged Readings - 12/16/08 from 6:30-8:30 at Woodward. Bring a copy of the play All's Well That Ends Well to read along with the actors. This program is held in the story room.
• Wi Gaming: Rock Band! - 12/17/08 from 3:30-5 at Fowler. Wii would like to rock out with you!
• Teen Book Club - 12/17/08 from 4:30 - 6 at Sunnyside. Ever read a book you couldn’t wait to share? Ever hated a book so much you threw it across the room? Join other readers to share the books you’ve absolutely loved, absolutely hated or anywhere in between. Readers May discuss any type of book. New members are always welcome.
• Teen Video Game Hour - 12/18/08 from 5:30-6:30 at Woodward. Come play Guitar Hero.
• Connect with Classics - 12/18/08 from 7-8 at Woodward. Love to read? Want to catch up on old & new classics? Join us for a discussion about a new book every month. December is Joy Luck Club.
• Mother/Daughter Book Club - 12/18/06 from 7-8 at Clovis. You KNOW that if your mom would just read the first few pages of Twilight, she would TOTALLY understand why it is so awesome & would secretly be in love with Edward. Or Jacob. Or Edward. Or Jacob. She’s probably got a few books up her sleeve too. Let’s find out. Books will be selected from both the Teen & Adult collections.
• Justin Kredible - Like a Magician, But Cooler - 12/19/08 from 3:30-4:15 at Woodward. Magician, Justin Kredible, regular guest of "The Rachael Ray Show," and the reigning "Campus Entertainer of the Year" will be doing part of his famous family magic show and teaching a few tricks. Come enjoy the magic!
• Video Game Night - 12/19/08 from 5-7 at Clovis. Rock Band, Guitar Hero, DDR, Wii & more.
• Trading Card Games - 12/20/08 from 10-2 at Clovis. The Clovis TCC (Trading Card Club) meets every other Sat to battle it out in Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Naruto, & Chaotic. Bring your cards & join the fun!
• Get your Game On! - 12/20/08 from 2-6 at Caruthers. Weekly Magic the Gathering card games. Decks available for checkout from the Caruthers Branch. Also, for added fun board games such as Risk are available for play. There will also be online games such as Runescape for play. All are welcome, but mostly teens attend. Please don't be late as the branch officially closes at 2:00 pm, but we run our games in the meeting room and computer lab after hours.

Money

Money. Everyone wants their fair share, but it's becoming increasingly more difficult to get. But don't despair! There are a few things you can do, and they all boil down to this: inform yourself. Know how to make it and how to keep it once you have it. Just follow these 3 steps:

1. Check out books & websites like these.


Smart Money: How to Manage Your Cash

The Teen Girl's Gotta-Have-It Guide to Money

Millionaire by Thirty: The Quickest Path to Early Financial Independence

Success Street Sweep
(a game that covers everything from jobs in the real world to saving for a car)

2. Attend one of our many free workshops about finding a job. Here is a list of workshops for the month of January. Plan to attend one!


3. Remember who put you on the right path (i.e. ME) when you hit your first million.


p.s. If these 3 steps seem daunting, start with this super-easy one at Spendster.org: confess your wasting-money sins!

Join the Queue

Every Tuesday new books, CDs, and DVDs are released into the world. Instead of buying them, check them out at your library!

Here are some of the December 9, 2008 releases that the library has on order. Place your hold now to get it sooner!

CDs:

Human - Brandy

Universal Mind Control - Common






Call and Response: The Remix Album - Maroon 5

On My Radio - Musiq

DVDs:

The Dark Knight

Horton Hears a Who

Lost - The Complete Fourth Season

Swingtown - Season 1

Graphic Novels:
Released December 10, 2008

Gakuen Alice Vol. 5 by Tachibana Higuchi

Venus In Love Vol. 5 by Yuki Nakaji

What's on tap at the library?

Winter Holiday Stockings 12/8/08 at 3:30 PM at Cedar Clinton and 12/9/08 at 3:30 pm at Mosqueda. Come and make your own stockings, perfect for the holidays. Registration required.

BRAWL 12/9/08 at 5:00 PM at Sunnyside. Smash Brothers Brawl tournament. Bring game cube controllers if you have them! Grades 7 - 12 only.

Christmas Cards 12/10/08 at 3:00 PM at Politi. Don’t just buy a card. Create something special for family or friends.

Grossology 12/11/08 at 4:00 PM at Gillis. Make slime & fake wounds.

The Writers Bloc 12/11/08 at 4:00 PM at Clovis. A “bloc” is a group of people with a shared interest, goal, or purpose. Our purpose? To write for fun & enjoyment, to stimulate our creativity, to write for each other & to write for ourselves. Space is limited. Call or stop by the branch to sign up.

Woodward Teen Council Meeting 12/11/08 at 6:00 PM at Woodward. Earn volunteer hours, meet new people, & help develop events for teens while having loads of fun. Munchies provided at each meeting. Pick up an application today & check out http://evanced.califa.org/fresno/lib/www.myspace.com/wdwdteencouncil or call the library for more info.

Fig Garden Teen Action Group (TAG) Meeting 12/13/08 at 10:00 AM at Fig Garden. Join the Fig Garden Library Teen Action Group to make new friends, eat munchies, plan & run teen programs, create displays for the Young Adult area, & much more! Ask a staff member or call the library for more information.

Saturday Movie Matinee 12/13/08 at 1:00 PM at Fig Garden. Watch the movie Get Smart (rated PG-13).

Get your Game On! 12/13/08 at 2:00 PM at Caruthers. Weekly Magic the Gathering card games. Decks available for checkout from the Caruthers Branch. Also, for added fun board games such as Risk are available for play. There will also be online games such as Runescape for play. All are welcome, but mostly teens attend. Please don't be late as the branch officially closes at 2:00 pm, but we run our games in the meeting room and computer lab after hours.

Yu-Gi-Oh! & Pokemon Tournaments 12/13/08 at 2:00 PM at Sunnyside. No need to pre-register, just show up with your cards. 7-12 grade only (firm).

Drop-In After-School Board Games- an ongoing program at Clovis on Wednesdays from 2:30 - 5. Sorry, Othello, Dominoes, Chess, Battleship & more.

Peer Tutoring - 12/8/08, 12/9/08, 12/10/08, 12/11/08 at 3:30 pm at Woodward. Need help with homework? Want to ask someone your own age? Bring your homework & drop on by. First come, first served. In the conference room in the Teen Zone.

Do you write?

Submit your best work for a chance to win $500 and be published in Polyphony H.S. Here are the deets:

The Claudia Ann Seaman Awards For Young Writers

Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction submissions sent directly to Polyphony H.S. will automatically be entered in the Claudia Ann Seaman Awards for Young Writers.

Open to:
All students in grades 9–12

Submission:
Each participant may submit a total of three poems, essays, or stories (2500 word limit for fiction and creative nonfiction)

Deadline:
Entries must be received by June 1, 2009 (Entries received by February 15, 2009 will be considered for publication in Polyphony H.S.)

Cash Award:
$500 award for each genre
Publication in Polyphony H.S.

Award Announcement:
September 20, 2009

For complete details on how to submit online, click here.

Do-over magic! Make a mistake? Just start again and choose a different path.

So. You're asked out on a date by the person you've been crushing on for weeks, but you already have plans with friends. Do you ditch your friends and go on the date? If so, turn to page 39. If you hang with your friends and ask your crush to reschedule, turn to page 15.

Sound familiar? If so, you've read a choose-your-own-adventure novel. They are also called choose your destiny, plot your own story, etc., but the basic idea is the same: YOU, the reader, decide the fate of the book's characters. If you were to turn to page 39 (going on the date) and the date ended in disaster...no problem! Just head back to your starting point and turn to page 15 (hanging with friends). Who knows what could happen from there.

If you've never read one of these books, now's the time to give them a try. There are all kinds of stories, from high school drama to zombies and comics. They're fun! Besides, isn't it about time you had a say in what happens to these characters?!


The What If... books by Liz Ruckdeschel





Twisted Journeys series in graphic novel format





Boy Shopping books by Nia Stephens



All of the library's plot-your-own-stories, including the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series.

Reviews

We have some new reviews from Cindy, Dillon, GolthicLolitaMaiden, and Tina R.. Do you agree with them (especially Cindy's New Moon review!)? Think they are off base? Let them know! Or send in your own review.

If you review a book that is not in our catalog, send us a suggestion and we'll do our best.

Remember, some librarians will give you some volunteer hours in exchange for a review, you just gotta ask 'em!

Join the Queue

Every Tuesday new books, CDs, and DVDs are released into the world. Instead of buying them, check them out at your library!

Here are some of the December 2, 2008 releases that the library has on order. Place your hold now to get it sooner!

CDs:

Cadillac Records - Movie Soundtrack

Live in Chicago - Panic at the Disco

Circus - Britney Spears

DVDs:

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Law & Order - Year 6

Step Brothers

Wanted

X-Files: I Want to Believe

Graphic Novels:
Released December 3, 2008

Bleach Vol. 25 by Tite Kubo

Rave Master Vol. 31 by Hiro Mashima

Chocolat Vol. 7 by JiSang Shin

Gentlemens Alliance Vol. 8 by Arina Tanemura

Missing Abby

Missing Abby by Lee Weatherly 

After her former best friend goes missing, Emma immerses herself in the world of RPGs in order to discover what has become of Abby.

Head Games

Head Games by Mariah Fredericks 

An online RPG leads to a live role-playing game with no rules.

The Coldest Winter Ever

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

A street lit classic. Midnight tells the back story on one of this novel's most famous characters.

Bang!

Bang! by Sharon Flake

Mann struggles to survive till manhood.

Blushing: Expressions of Love in Poems and Letters

Blushing: Expressions of Love in Poems and Letters by Paul B. Janeczko (2004)

City of One: young writers speak to the world

City of One: young writers speak to the world edited by Collete DeDonato

Airborn

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Matt and Kate must know if the mysterious winged creatures are fact or fiction.







Catch the series from the beginning:

1. Airborn 
2. Skybreaker 
3. Starclimber

Little Ghetto Girl: A Harlem Story

Little Ghetto Girl: A Harlem Story by Danielle Santiago (2005)

At 21, Kisa has it all: money, a man, and attitude. But at what cost? What will she have to give up in order to go legit? If you liked Coldest Winter Ever, you'll like this.

The Blue Girl

The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint 

Ghosts and faeries just may save Imogene's life.

The Lamb Among the Stars

Tha Lamb Among the Stars (series) by Chris Walley

People of the planet, Farholme, discover the return of evil to their society and must fight it.

Catch the series from the beginning:

1. The Shadow of the Evening
   
2. The Power of the Night
3. The Dark Foundations
4. The Infinite Day
   

Uprising

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

It's 1909, where extreme working conditions for young people lead to a strike, and eventually a fire.

Voices in First Person: Reflections on Latino Identity

Voices in First Person: Reflections of Latino Identity by Lori Marie Carlson

Short stories by some of the best authors in teen lit.

Audrey, Wait

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

When her ex-boyfriend writes a hit song about how she broke his heart, Audrey becomes an overnight celebrity.

Falling Hard

Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers edited by Betsy Franco (2008)

Love poems--some touching, some comical--are shared by teens from every walk of life.

Revenge and Forgiveness

Revenge and Forgiveness edited by Patrice Vecchione

Multicultural poems about two of the most desired and human elements.

Crackback

Crackback by John Coy

Miles is good at one thing: football. But is he willing to do what it takes to be the best?

Day of Tears

Day of Tears by Julius Lester 

Emma has taken care of the Butler children since Sarah and Frances's mother, Fanny, left. Emma wants to raise the girls to have good hearts, as a rift over slavery has ripped the Butler household apart. Now, to pay off debts, Pierce Butler wants to cash in his slave "assets", possibly including Emma.

Who am I without him? : short stories about girls and the boys in their lives

Who am I without him? : short stories about girls and the boys in their lives by Sharon Flake 

A collection of short stories about teenage girls and the issues they must deal with in their relationships with boys.

Fortune's Bones: the Manumission requiem

Fortune's Bones: the Manumission requiem by Marilyn Nelson 

A collection of poems written to honor the life of Fortune, a slave in eighteenth-century Connecticut whose body was donated to science upon his death.

Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket (series) by Natsuki Takaya

In the Sohma family, when you are hugged by a member of the opposite sex you change into a Zodiac animal.