CMRLS TeeN SCeNe

Printz Watch (winner edition)

2012-01-26T09:05:00.003-06:00

Well, the Printz Watch at Pearl wasn't exactly successful...at least in terms of correctly identifying the winner. There were a lot of surprises this year at the Youth Media Awards. The Printz Award was given Monday and here are the results:

Winner: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Summary: In the remarkable, bizarre, and heart-wrenching summer before Cullen Witter’s senior year of high school, everything he thinks he understands about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town vanishes. His cousin overdoses; his town becomes absurdly obsessed with the alleged reappearance of an extinct woodpecker; and most troubling of all, his sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother, Gabriel, suddenly and inexplicably disappears.

Honor: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

Summary: Charlie, 13, is woken up on a hot summer night by teenage outcast Jasper, who wants to show him something secret. That secret turns out to be the dead body of Laura Wishart, Jasper's occasional paramour and the older sister of Charlie's own crush, Eliza. The boys, assuming that Jasper will be blamed, hide the body, and Laura's disappearance combines with the boys' guilt and lies to create an ongoing spiral of stress.

Honor: The Returning by Christine Hinwood

Summary: Cam Attling, having lost an arm, is the only one from his town of Kayforl to return after twelve years of war. All his fellow soldiers were slain, and suspicion surrounds him. When his betrothal to Graceful Fenister is called off and his role in the community questioned, Cam leaves to find the lord who maimed him but spared his life, seeking answers and a new place in the world.

Honor: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Summary: Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

Honor: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary: It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.Some riders live.Others die.At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

If you'll remember, The Scorpio Races is the only Printz book that we read and reviewed for this blog series. Our recap is here but what we may not have mentioned in that review is that we LOVED it. The language is gorgeous, the story moves along quickly, and the race itself is amazing. This book is totally deserving of its honor!

Find all of these books at your nearest CMRLS library!

Even if we didn't correctly identify the winners/honors, we're counting Printz Watch 2012 a complete and total success. I read a lot of books that I normally would not have, and even found a book to count among by list of all-time favorites (Chime by Franny Billingsley--loved it!!). We're going to be reading reviews and books like crazy...it's not too soon to start Printz Watch 2013!!!

Printz Watch (part 4)

2012-01-21T13:40:00.003-06:00

This is the last Printz Watch blog because the Printz Award winner and honor books are announced MONDAY! We're super excited about that announcement over here at Pearl, but until then, here are the two final Printz contenders that we read:

White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick

This book is told in three voices, in two different times. Rebecca is forced to move from Greenwich to a tiny coastal village. She is angry and isolated until she meets local girl Ferelith, who begins to tell her about the dark secrets and legends of her new town. Ferelith is the strangest girl she's ever met, but Rebecca is fascinated anyway, until things start to get stranger and stranger. The second storyline comes in the form of increasingly frenzy and upsetting journal entries of a local priest in 1798 who enters into a dangerous partnership with a mysterious man. As the story of what they're up to unfolds, you'll be shocked. Y'all, this book is actually, truly terrifying. If you're a fan of horror or gothic mystery, you'll love it.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Elisa is the younger of two princesses, but she is the chosen one: she has the godstone embedded in her belly button. Though, she reasons, it hardly seems to matter when she is the shy one, the overweight one, the one everyone forgets about. When she is quickly married off at sixteen and sent to a kingdom she knows little of, she has no idea what's happening. As her story unfolds, she finds herself the victim of a politically and religiously fueled kidnapping and must avoid bandits, war, and those who would kill her to cut the stone from her body. This fantasy novel is unique and engaging and Elisa is not your typical hero. She is shoved, quite unwillingly and without any kind of preparation, into a new life. The world that she inhabits is thrilling, with deserts and rainforests, devout religion and dark magic. Though the first book in a trilogy, this one is a delight on its own.

CD Clocks Completed!

2012-01-13T10:28:00.000-06:00

The teens at Brandon Public Library came out and did a great job making their one of a kind CD Clocks! I can't wait to see what they come up with at our next class when we make laptop sleeves (other media such as iPads and Kindles are also welcome) from recycled sweaters! That will be Thursday, January 26th @ 6:00. Please call ahead so we can save your spot, 601-825-2672!

The Book That Kept Me Up All Night

2012-01-07T11:09:00.000-06:00

My most recent literary obsession was finishing this book, The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. I could not close my eyes until I found out the fate of Rory Deveaux, a Louisiana teen spending the school year in a London boarding school. Rory comes from a small town full of eccentric characters, most of whom she's related to. But nothing could have prepared her for her arrival in London to find that there was a copycat "Jack the Ripper" killer roaming the streets surrounding her school. Perfect. One mangled body after another is found and news crews are a constant presence. After a too close for comfort encounter, Rory soon learns that field hockey is the least of her worries. If you're into mystery, suspense, and the random everyday embarrassment of an American overseas, you'll love this book! Click on the title above to request your copy!

Printz Watch 2012 (Part 3)

2012-01-05T14:13:00.005-06:00

The announcement of the 2012 Printz Award is less than three weeks away! In preparation, we have read four more possible Printz titles and they are awesome! Check these out at your library:

Everybody Sees the Ants by. A.S. King

Lucky Linderman never smiles. He is bullied relentlessly. He is tired of his parents' constant bickering. And he thinks he might be going crazy because his dreams about his grandfather (who went missing in Vietnam) are just a little too realistic. Will a trip to Arizona to visit with his aunt and his uncle bring relief and perspective, or will it makes things worse?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness inspired by an idea by Siobhan Dowd

Conor's mother is very ill and dealing with it is becoming more and more difficult. One night he awakens to find a giant monster outside his window. Over time, the monster tells him three ambiguous, confusing, and thought-provoking stories before demanding from Conor a story of his own that will "tell his truth." The artwork is haunting, and the story is gut-twistingly relatable. It's a beautiful book.

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan (photographs by Jonathan Farmer)

Evan's best friend Ariel is gone and his feelings about that are overwhelming. That's when the photographs start to appear. Someone is stalking with him and messing with his head. Is Ariel behind this? Is her absense his fault? Exactly what happened to Ariel, anyway? The creepy photographs make the story come alive and seeing them makes the reader really understand why Evan is so terrified.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Seventeen-year-old Karou is a normal enough high school student living in Prague. Or is she? Her family--the only one she has ever known--is comprised of chimaera. She runs errands for Brimstone, through shadowy portals to the other side of the world, to retrieve mysterious packages. For this, she is rewarded with wishes. She doesn't know anything about her past or origin until all of the portals are slammed shut, cutting off her access to her family. This leads to a collision with the alarmingly beautiful Akiva and her introduction to an ancient war, the true purpose of her errands, and a story that will change her life.

Come in to your library to request one of these titles and be sure to listen for news of the Printz Winner on January 23rd!

Make a CD Clock @ Brandon Public Library!

2011-12-28T15:00:00.000-06:00

I love buttons! What
will you put on yours?

Are you always running late? Come to the Brandon Public Library on January 12th @ 6:00 and make your personalized CD Clock for FREE! We'll have all the supplies needed to make your clock one of a kind. Please call ahead so we can save you a spot, 601-825-2672. We can't wait to see you!

Totally Teen Tuesday !!!

2011-12-21T14:03:00.002-06:00

Catch this Taylorsville Teens ... Totally Teens Tuesday! Come to the Taylorsville Public Library on the second Tuesday of each month for an interesting discussion of currents events and what we can do in our community to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Upcoming Activities @ the Pearl Library

2011-12-13T14:27:00.002-06:00

Just a quick note to remind you about some teen happenings at Pearl:

On December 17th (that's this Saturday), at 1pm, we will be showing the movie A Christmas Story in your Teen Center. Popcorn will be provided. This activity, like all of our programs, is totally free. Come take a break from studying and hang out with us while we watch a movie!

On December 19th (this coming Monday) at 6pm, we will be having another meeting of our Anime and Manga Club. This event has gotten off to a great start, with our participants deciding at the last meeting that they would like to compile their own comic book and possibly have a cosplay at some point in the future. Come and enjoy discussing and creating your favorite anime and manga!

On Monday, January the 9th at 6pm, Break the Binding book club will meet. January's selection is Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. Mrs. Deer has one copy available in the PHS library, there are three copies still available at our circulation desk, and it should be available at any bookstore. Ask your English teacher about receiving extra credit for participating in this program.

Thursdays January 12th and 26th will be our Game On! Gaming Nights. From 4-6PM, we will have our xbox360 and our large television up in the teen center for you to play games with your friends. No mature games.

Remember that our new books and graphic novels are always located in the "new books" display in the teen center and that there is a suggestion box on one of the coffee tables where you can request that books be added to our collection. We don't know what you want to read unless you tell us!

We hope to see you soon and have a great Christmas!

Christmas Ornament Party @ Brandon Public Library!

2011-12-09T08:42:00.000-06:00

Beaded Star Ornament

Join us Thursday, December 15th @ 6:00 to make Christmas Tree Ornaments. We will make a Beaded Star Ornament and a Hand Painted Glass Ornament. These look so great on the tree and they are definitely something you'll want to keep for your own tree one day! The class is free and we will have hot chocolate and cookies. For more information call the Brandon Public Library, 601-825-2672!

Hand Painted Glass Ornament

Girls With Amnesia

2011-12-08T11:03:00.005-06:00

Y'all, books about girls with memory problems are HUGE right now. I don't know why this trend is big, but it is, and some of these books are super-fun reads. Here's four that are available from your library. Click on the link to request the title!

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Every night while London is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Logan Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting--before it destroys her future....

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara wakes up from a coma with no memory of the accident that caused the deaths of three of her friends. The doctors tell her parents that starting over in a new state, a new school will be good for her and to let the memories come back on their own. But Mara's new start is anything but when she sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere. And then she begins to see people's deaths before they happen - at least she thinks that is what is happening. On top of that, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen can't seem to leave her alone, but is his agenda more than he leads on? What is happening to Mara Dyer?

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

Ava wakes up in a house she doesn't know, into a life she doesn't recognize. She is welcomed home by a devoted mother and loyal friends...but everyone is a stranger. Ava can't remember any of them, and can't shake the strange feeling that she's not who they say she is. Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze and remember the past she's been told is her own. But the memories that begin to surface are of a different life entirely. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions in which she and familiar-faced friends play very different, and very deadly, roles. But when Morgan appears--the one boy able to step from her memories into her reality--the high stakes and ultimate sacrifices of eternal love become the fiercest truth of all.

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey Shore, Jane is in the hospital trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit-and-run. Everyone believes it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surface, not just from the party, but from deeper in her past . . . including the night her best friend Bonnie died. With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way, she's forced to examine the consequences of her life choices...

If any of these books sound interesting, click the links to request them or come in to the Pearl Librarian and ask for one of the librarians to help you find something similar!

MICHAEL VEY: The Prisoner of Cell 25

2011-12-07T10:32:00.004-06:00

When I heard about this book, a YA novel by Richard Paul Evans, I thought, How in the world can this author write a science fiction novel for teens. I mean, he's a wonderful adult author; but his books for adults are nowhere near science fiction.

Imagine my surprise when I quickly got caught up in his story about Michael Vey and the other 'special' teenagers that were born on the same day in the same hospital. Michael is just your normal, average 14-year old that happens to have electrical powers. In the start of a new series, Evans tells the story of Michael and other teenagers that were born at a hospital that was testing a new machine (MEI) that is supposed to make MRIs obsolete. As a result of the test, many of the babies that were born in the hospital died; those that survived all have some type of supernatural power or skill.

This first book in the series introduces Michael (who is already well aware of his power); and through a series of events (including the kidnapping of his mother), Michael learns how he obtained his electrical power. He will be called upon to either join or fight the evil company that is trying to use his power and the others' powers to control the world.

I would highly recommend this book.

2011-12-06T12:33:00.005-06:00

Merry Christmas to the teens of Raleigh!

Count the stars in the Raleigh Public Library and enter to win a prize.

Winner will be drawn December 15, 2011.

Printz Watch 2012 (part 2)

2011-12-01T10:09:00.006-06:00

In our last post, we talked about how eager we are at the Pearl Library to hear the winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature (it will be awarded in January). We're furiously reading books that have received excellent reviews, Printz "contenders," if you will. Here's four more great books that you have access to in your library that may just take home the gold:

Between Shades of Gray by Reta Sepetys

In 1941, 15-year-old Lina, her mother, and her brother are cruelly taken from their home in Lithuania by Soviet guards and shipped to a labor camp in Siberia. She finds out that her father has been sentenced to death. Their only crime is being Lithanian. Read about Lina's fight to stay alive, her desperation to stay connected to her love of art, and her determination to get her family out alive. This book is based on the true story of the author's family and thousands of other Lithuations who were forced to work in labor camps for over a decade and then warned never to speak of it.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Meet Anya Borzakovskaya. The daughter of Russian immigrants, all she wants to do is fit in at her very American private school, which is difficult with her name and her looks. Her only friend is not really a friend. Until the day she falls down a well and meets Emily. The downsides to this beautiful new friendship are that Emily is dead...and she may not be exactly what she seems. This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel is a great look at a cultural family...with a twist.

The Piper's Son by 2009 Printz Winner Melina Marchetta

Tom has been self-destructing since his beloved uncle Joe died in an overseas terrorist attack. He's dropped out of college, ignored his music, watched his family come apart at the seams, and fallen in with a shady crowd. When he hits rock bottom, he finds himself living with his aunt Georgie (who is pregnant and dealing with her own grief), and is joined by his estranged father. Tom's journey as he begins to deal with his grief and reconnect with his friends and family is difficult to read, but beautiful to watch.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Mikey's sister Karyn has accused Tom Parker of raping her. She won't leave the apartment. Their family is imploding and social services is getting involved. Tom's sister Ellie doesn't want to believe that her brother is capable of such a horrible thing. When Mikey and Ellie meet, the attaction is almost instantaneous and what follows is trouble: complicated, agonizing trouble. Do you have to choose sides between family and love?

Decorate your Teen Center!

2011-11-17T10:16:00.004-06:00

Come visit us at the Pearl Public Library this Saturday at 1PM as we decorate your Teen Center for the holidays! We'll be crafting a little, listening to Christmas music, and snacking. Drop by and hang out and get into the spirit of the holidays (especially since you're on vacation next week!). We hope to see you Saturday!

Make a Dreamcatcher at Brandon Public Library!

2011-11-10T17:36:00.000-06:00

November isn't just about turkey and football! It is also National American Indian Heritage Month, and we're celebrating by making dreamcatchers. Legend has it that dreamcatchers will trap bad dreams and only allow the positive dreams to come through to you while you sleep. This classic craft looks complicated but it is so easy to make! Join us Thursday, November 17th @ 6:00 to make your own. Please call ahead so we can make sure we have enough supplies for you; 601-825-2672.

Printz Watch 2012

2011-11-10T11:07:00.009-06:00

Over here at the Pearl Library, we are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 2012 Michael L. Printz Award, which will happen in January.

Exactly what, you might be asking, is the Printz Award? The Printz Award is given each year to the book that exemplifies excellence in young adult literature. It's like the Newbery or Caldecott Award, which you probably heard about in elementary school, except this award is given to books written for teens. Since its inception in 2000, the award has been given to books you already love, such as Going Bovine by Libba Bray, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, and Looking for Alaska by John Green. This award celebrates the amazing books that are being written for young adults and we are so excited about it!

With the help of a fantastic blog called, hilariously, Someday My Printz Will Come, we've been reading up a storm over here at Pearl, trying to keep up with books that are predicted to be "contenders" because of the reviews and stars that they've been getting. Here's a few of the books that we've read that are available from your library:

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma is a haunting and weird story of the love between two sisters. Late one night, Chloe discovers the body of one of her classmates in the reservoir and is promptly sent away to escape from the trauma. When she returns two years later, she realizes that her older sister Ruby has done something, has changed something, because of her desperation to have Chloe back. What is happening with London? What, exactly, is going on? And how far will it go?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a take on the ancient Celtic myth of the ancient celtic myth of the capall uisce, terrifying war horses, that are wildly, mostly untamable, and have a taste for human flesh. In this story, the Island that Puck lives on hosts races on these horrible beasts every year. This year, she is determined to win for her own reasons. The only problem is, no woman has ever raced before. And four-time winner Sean, who has his own secrets, doesn't like the idea of a woman on the beach...

Recovery Road by Blake Nelson is a gritty and realistic look of the effects of drug and alcohol addiction and how one girl struggles to live her life post-rehab. Maddie meets Stewart at rehab, which, she realizes, is a pretty terrible place to meet your boyfriend. But as she readjusts to life back at home, in school, and post-addiction, her relationships and life become much more complex than she expected.

Chime by Franny Billingsley might just be our favorite Printz read so far. Briony lives near the swamps that she loves and grew up playing in, but she is no longer allowed to go in them, because when she goes there, she can see The Old Ones. But only witches can see The Old Ones. And in Briony's village, they hang witches. So Briony's secret eats at her as she cares for her twin sister, Rose, and as she interacts with the dashing Eldric, who appears in her village...and who makes her want to tell her secrets. But she must never forget: it's all her fault. And the only way this will end is with her swinging from a noose.

Click on any of the above links to request the books that sound interesting to you and click here to find out more about the Printz Award. Have you read any of the winners? Which are your favorites?

Calling All Teens!

2011-11-03T15:00:00.010-05:00

Saturday, November 12, from 9:00 to 12:00 come and play New, Exciting Board Games! Where? At the Raleigh Library. We just received: Loaded Questions, The Greatest Day Ever, and Awkward Family Photos games.

We also have Monopoly, Pictureka! and Rock 'n' Roll Over Dead, and Wits and Wagers.

Bring your friends, sisters, brothers, moms, dads. Family Fun for all!

November Events

2011-11-03T14:13:00.002-05:00

Just because it's getting near the holidays, that doesn't mean that the Pearl Library is stopping our programs! Here's what we have coming up in November:

November 10: Game On! (4-6pm) Come to the Teen Center and play our Xbox360! This program is getting really popular. Tell your friends and find your favorite game (no mature games).

November 14 - Break the Binding Book Club. This month's title is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. There's still time to read the book--ask for a copy at the circulation desk!

November 19th - Teen Scene. Come and decorate the Teen Center for the holidays. There will be snacks and crafts and music and just general hanging out while we deck the halls. Hope to see you here soon!

Need Community Service Hours?

2011-11-02T15:02:00.001-05:00

Do you need more community service hours for school?
Florence Public Library has opportunities for you! Come by and see Ms Tina for an application. We love to help you earn those hours!
You may wonder what type of things you can do at the library, well, you'd be surprised! You can shelve books...... and preview them as you do.

You may be asked to "read" the shelves (put them in order).
You might be asked to help to decorate for that month, and boy can you get into some fun doing that!
You may have the opportunity to become part of our teen advisory board, Teens In Action (TIA for short).

During the summer you may help sign in children in that day's Summer Reading Program. You could take pictures or hand out items. Assistance may be needed to get the children seated.

You may need to do some work on the computer, review a new game, help set up a room for an up coming program! Sometimes you may be asked to attend a YA (Young Adult) program and share your input on it.

We have even had some volunteers that enjoyed putting new plants in the flower beds, moving the rock boarder, picking up trash, or pulling weeds!

Whatever job or jobs you do. No matter if you only need a few more hours or a couple of hundred, we can always find a spot for you. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Teen Read Week!!!

2011-10-17T12:00:00.002-05:00

October 16-22 is TEEN READ WEEK! This is an annual event put on by the American Library Association to spotlight the amazing books that are being published in the teen literature world and to encourage teens to read. This week, stop by the Pearl Library Teen Center. We can help match you up with a book, audiobook, or graphic novel that you'll be sure to love. While you're there, be sure to enter our Teen Read Week book review contest--write a short review of a book that you have loved, and next Monday, we'll draw one entry to win a $25 gift card to Wal-mart! Hope to see you this week, and don't forget to READ!

The Library Comes to You!

2011-10-13T14:16:00.003-05:00

Do you go to Pearl High School? (Go Pirates!) If you do, be sure you're at school next Wednesday, October 19th. Your librarians will be visiting you at lunch! We'll be bringing new books for you to look through, a contest to enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Walmart, and information about all of the programs and services we have for YOU at the Pearl Public Library. Be thinking of questions or suggestions that you have for us and look for our table in your commons!

Banned Books Week

2011-09-29T14:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Banned Books Week! The American Library Association describes this week this way: "Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States."

Did you know that some of your favorite young adult books have been banned or challenged in schools and libraries all over the country? Titles like Twilight, Gossip Girl, The Hunger Games, Speak, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, ttyl, and To Kill a Mockingbird. This is just a small sampling of the books that have been challenged in the past couple of years (incidentally, all of these books are available at your local CMRLS library).

Be subversive this week. Read a banned book and make a statement about reader freedom. Think for yourself, and let others do the same.

In case you missed it....

2011-09-22T14:20:00.002-05:00

Teen programming has started back up at the Pearl Library! Join us for these upcoming programs:

Game On! October 13 and 27th, 4-6pm.
Join us to play games on our XBox360!

Teen Scene: October 15th 1:00PM
Photography workshop, part two: Using pictures that teens took last month, arrange them in frames for yourself and for your Teen Center!

TEEN READ WEEK! October 16-22
Stop by the library any time this week and write a short review of your favorite book to be entered in a drawing for a $25 Wal-mart gift card!

Break the Binding Book Club, October 17th, 6pm
Read and come prepared to discuss any book that has been banned, challenged, or censored in schools or libraries. Click here to see a list of frequently challenged books or come see your local librarian for some titles!

Anime and Manga Night, October 24th 6pm
Do you like anime or manga? Do you like to read, discuss, and draw characters from your favorite shows and books? This night is for you!

We hope to see you at some of our upcoming programs!!

Anime and Manga Night at the Pearl Library

2011-09-15T14:14:00.003-05:00

Monday September 19th will be the first meeting of Anime and Manga night at at the Pearl Library. This program will be at 6pm. If you like anime and manga, this meeting is for you! This is the first meeting, so we will be discussing ideas for the direction of the program and how to structure future meetings. Come have a say in how this program continues. We will also be swapping recommendations for manga and anime. Bring your favorite manga to discuss! We hope to see you there!

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-09-08T11:34:00.004-05:00

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs has been getting a lot of press. Like...tons. So those of us at the Pearl Library purchased a copy for our collection to see if it lives up to the hype. Check out this synopsis:

"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children , an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive..."

See why we were curious? We dove right into it. The book is interspersed with creepy photographs that the author actually found (he didn't take them for the book). Check out the cover image above. Now look at it closely...what's a little weird about that little girl? Yeah...she's definitely levitating! All of the photos in this book are just as creepy and off-kilter and add to the unease and spookiness of the story. We loved it. Check out our copy and find out if Jacob will discover what's truly going on in the ruins of this orphanaged. Or...is it ruined at all?? Click here to be put on the waiting list to read this book...you don't want to miss this one.

Game On!

2011-09-07T15:36:00.002-05:00

Join us at the Pearl Library tomorrow, Thursday, September 8 from 4-6pm for Game On! Open to teens ages 13-18, come enjoy a time to hang out in the Teen Center and play our XBox360. Hope to see you there!

Break the Binding Book Club

2011-09-01T11:46:00.005-05:00

Break the Binding, the teen book club at the Pearl Library, will be starting back up on September the 12th. This month's selection is Stolen by Lucy Christopher. Here's the description:

"Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty--rugged, tan, older, oddly familiar man pays for Gemma's drink, and drugs it. Before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. Stolen is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with what happened to her and her confusing feelings."

You still have over a week to read the book in preparation for our discussion (and once you start, you won't be able to put it down!), so click here to request it. Hope to see you at the Pearl Library on September 12 at 6:00!

When Does Love Become Obsession?

2011-08-31T13:30:00.005-05:00

'Some secrets are strong enough to pull you under...'

From the cover of Deb Caletti's newest book Stay, and there are numerous times in this story that you believe the secrets are going to pull someone under.

Clara (a recent high school graduate) and her father are spending the summer at the beach in hiding. Clara has spent the previous year in a relationship that turned obsessive and her father wants her out of harm's way. Now, no one -- family nor friends -- knows where she and her father are spending the summer. Their story goes back and forth from the present to past events. As the story unfolds, you see the start, middle and disintegration of Clara's relationship with Christian. But unexpected is that her father has a secret of his own. As their summer passes, Clara meets Finn and her father meets Sylvie. Both Finn and Sylvie have stories of their own.

Clara struggles constantly with her fear...the fear that no matter where she goes, it may not be far enough away from Christian.

Rarely do I give in to the urge to 'look forward' in a story, but in this book I could not resist. I almost ruined it for myself, but I caught myself just in time. :P

I will definitely be checking out some of Deb Caletti's previous books.

Weird Reference Books

2011-08-25T12:02:00.005-05:00

This week at Pearl, we've been compiling a list of all of the resources that we offer to share with patrons like you. If you're not familiar with the CREDOreference collection, you should be. It's a collection of more than 500 reference books that are housed online for your use. All you need is your library card number! And the best part is--CREDO will show you how to do the citation for each source in its collection! (Click here to get started using this awesome collection.)

Being such a large collection, CREDO offers books on a LOT of topics (remember this when it's time for a research paper and you have to have a reference book source!!). While looking through the list, I came across some oddly specific and otherwise hilarious books that you have access to. Take a look:

The Biographical Dictionary of Dissenting Economists
(because economists that aren't dissenting just aren't interesting enough)

The Dictionary of Existentialism
(because nothing recognizes the importance of the individual like a book that purports to define this movement)

Encyclopedia of Cremation
(honestly, I don't even know what to say about this one...)

Eurojargon
(this book is a handy reference guide to help people unfamiliar with the European Union understand its acronyms and abbreviations...but come on. "Eurojargon" is hilarious.)

Handbook of Vegetable Pests
(important for everyone's personal library!)

Rawson's Dictionary of Wicked Words
(maybe it's best not to share what you read in this one with your teachers or parents...)

The Wisden Archive of Cricketer's Lives
(I know how many avid cricket fans we have around here!)

There are many more hilarious books in this collection, and there are also any number of reference books that will be helpful to you as you continue your studies this year. Click on the link above to get started and, as always, contact your librarian if you need help!

Books about Schools You Don't Attend

2011-08-18T11:30:00.011-05:00

School is in full swing over here in Pearl and we remember from our teen days that the routine of the schoolweek can occasionally be a drag. For a bit of an escape, check out these books about teens in boarding schools that might be a bit different from your school experience:

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.

It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma is shipped off from the life she knows in India, to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?

Click here to request this book from your library.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Miles "Pudge" Halter is abandoning his safe, boring life. Fascinated by the last words of famous people, Pudge leaves for boarding school to seek what a dying Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Pudge becomes encircled by friends whose lives are everything but safe and boring. Their nucleus is razor-sharp, sexy, and self-destructive Alaska, who has perfected the arts of pranking and evading school rules. Pudge falls in love with her. When tragedy strikes the close-knit group, though, it is only in coming face-to-face with his problems that Pudge discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.

Click here to request this book from your library.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Lissa Dragomir is Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a girt for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi: the fierce vampires who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them. After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by. Rose and Lisssa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard dawn, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever.

Click here to request this book from your library.

None of these books interest you? Stop by the Pearl Library and we'll be glad to help you pick out a book you're sure to love!

Books to Look Forward to

2011-08-11T12:16:00.013-05:00

By now, most of you are back in school. We understand that it's not everyone's favorite time of year, so the staff of the Pearl Library has compiled this list of just a few of the books we're the most excited about that will be published during this school year. Check it out:

Pandemondium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium Trilogy, Book 2, March 6, 2012)

Fever by Lauren DeStefano (Chemical Garden Trilogy, Book 2, February 21, 2012)

Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta (Lumatere Chronicles, Book 2, March 13, 2012)

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (Inheritance Cycle, Book 4, November 8, 2011)

Nightshade by Maryrose Wood (The Poison Diaries, Book 2, October 11, 2011)

Crossed by Ally Condie (Matched Trilogy, Book 2, November 1, 2011)

The Death Cure (Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 3, October 11, 2011)

We hope you're as excited as we are about these upcoming books! Come in to the Pearl Library and we'll help you make a reading list that will make the start of school a little more fun.

5-day FINE CREDIT Trivia Contest on Facebook

2011-07-08T13:27:00.001-05:00

A new trivia question has been posted on the TeeN SCeNe Facebook page! Have you seen it? If you are the first to answer correctly you will win a *5-day FINE CREDIT* that will be posted to your Library account. That means if you already have a fine, your credit will go toward it; if you don't have a fine when it's posted--you will have 5 free days that you won't be charged late fines!

There's going to be a trivia question each Friday on the TeeN SceNe Facebook page and there's already been one winner! You could be the next winner!

A Special to Thanks for Our Teen Volunteers

2011-07-02T12:06:00.003-05:00

The Pearl Public Library would like to give a special thanks to our 8 teen volunteers this summer! They helped decorate, set up for programs, and worked the registration table all summer long. Thank you so much!!

Friday's 5-DAY FINE CREDITs

2011-06-17T10:14:00.000-05:00

Once a week for the rest of the summer the Facebook page for CMRLS TeeN SCeNe will be asking trivia questions or asking for a book or summer program review. The first one to answer correctly will receive a 5-day FINE CREDIT on their Library account! Five days on US; for playing along and taking advantage of the Libraries' social outreach!

You could be late with 1 book for 5 days or 5 books for 1 day or 2 books for 1 day with 3 days left over or 2 books for 2 days with 1 day left over...you get the picture! A 5-day FINE CREDIT on your Library account!

Be sure to check out CMRLS TeeN SCeNe on Facebook any day, especially on Fridays!

Journal Workshop a Success

2011-06-16T11:22:00.005-05:00

The journaling workshop at Pelahatchie Public Library included making a journal to take home. Much fun was had. Join us next week for an afternoon of games on Wednesday, June 22, @ 2:00 p.m.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011-05-13T14:54:00.002-05:00

Rhine Ellery is sixteen years old. She has been kidnapped, separated from her twin brother, and forced into a polygamous marriage. She is obviously upset by this event--but not at all surprised. In Rhine's world, modern science has led to a terrible turn of events: the life expectancy of a male is twenty-five and females only live to age 20. Desperate to populate the world, wealthy families kidnap young brides in order to keep the world's population from dying out.

Rhine adjusts to her life as a virtual prisoner in her new husband's home, as well as the company of her sister wives. But as her relationship with her husband, Linden, begins to become complicated, will she lose her desire to escape? Secrets are brewing in the compound, and knowing too much has Rhine fearing for her life.

This book is recommended for fans of the dystopian genre, examples of which include The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Bumped.

This book is the first installment in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. Click here to request it.

Cover Image Released!

2011-03-31T14:11:00.002-05:00

Here it is, the cover image for the second book in Ally Condie's Matched Trilogy, Crossed. Those of you who have read the first book in the series, Matched (our review can be found here), will understand why this cover is so beautifully representative of the growth of the main character, Cassia. If you haven't read the first book, you have until November before the second book comes out, so hurry up and click here to request it!

TeeN Anime

2011-03-30T13:02:00.000-05:00

TEENS meet for Anime FUN at the Library!

Join us for Teen Anime @ Flowood Library on April 5 & 19, at 6:00-7:30 p.m. This program is for teens, ages 13 and up to meet with others interested in viewing, drawing, reading and discussing Manga & Anime.

Incorrect dates for these programs were published earlier. Teen Anime does not meet Apr. 12. We want everyone interested to know the correct dates - April 5 and 19 @ Flowood Library; mark your calendar!

Like GRAPHIC NOVELS? Try a GRAPHIC BIO!

2011-03-23T14:10:00.003-05:00

Yummy, the Last Days of a Southside Shorty is a biography of 11-year old Robert 'Yummy' Sandifer through the eyes of his classmate, Roger. This book is a dramatization of true events that occurred in Chicago during 1994. Eleven-year old Yummy, a member of the Black Disciples gang, guns down a 14-year old girl. The book tells of the events following the shooting that garnered national headlines, including a cover story in Time magazine.

Winning a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, the book is fast-paced and will appeal to readers of graphic novels and readers of true crime stories.

Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Pearl Public Library

2011-02-28T17:15:00.002-06:00

Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Pearl Public Library on Saturday, March 5 at 1:00 pm. We will be decorating Mardi Gras masks for this month's Teen Scene!

Book Review

2011-02-22T13:58:00.002-06:00

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development. But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or ... Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all--so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So ... happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.--http://www.sarahdessen.com/the-truth-about-forever

This is a wonderful book for summer because it is light and happy. Dessen explores the idea of being perfect. What does perfect really mean after all? Is being perfect actually attainable? Macy, the main character, learns that letting go can sometimes give you the most happiness. It's ok to think and act out of the box every now and then. She learns that the death of a loved one is hard, but that you can move on and be happy even after they are gone. The character of Wes is unforgettable in this book. He is a genuine person and a likeable character. Don't miss this book by Sarah Dessen!

Book Review

2011-02-14T16:44:00.003-06:00

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia’s mother is busy saving other people’s lives. Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia’s head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way – thin, thinner, thinnest – maybe she’ll disappear altogether.--http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-wintergirls/

This is a must read for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson. Much like her book, Speak, this book is a powerful page turner. Subjects like anorexia and bulimia are tough to write and about and to read, but Anderson does a marvelous job of writing this book. The reader is really able to tap into the life of a girl with an eating disorder. The obsessive calorie counting and weighing show how traumatic eating disorders can be. The void left by Cassie's death brings Lia to the forefront of her own emotions. Will she choose to live or to die despite what she has witnessed with Cassie?

Break the Binding: Teen Book Club

2011-01-31T12:11:00.002-06:00

You have seen the review for The Maze Runner on our blog! Now, you have a chance to read the book and participate in our book club at the Pearl Public Library. We will meet on Thursday, February 10, at 5:00 pm to discuss The Maze Runner by James Dashner. If you are a student at Pearl High School, ask your English teacher how you could get extra credit or a homework pass for attending this program!

The Knife That Killed Me - A Dark Read

2011-01-21T10:57:00.004-06:00

In the Author's Note at the end of this book, Anthony McGowan says, "The Knife That Killed Me is dark all the way through. Instead of making the reader laugh, I want to grip him or her by the throat, gradually increasing the tension until it hurts. It's a harrowing story but, I trust, a compassionate one too." I can definitively say, I believe Mr. McGowan achieved his goal.

The last page of this book was turned last night and still the events are stirring in my head. Is high school really this bad for some students?

The book opens with a description of the knife that killed him and then proceeds into the story of Paul Varderman, a young man who is a loner looking to be a part of the life we call 'high school.' Will he join in with the freaks or perhaps, Roth's group, a bully feared and hated by everyone? This book evoked so many emotions: fear, outrage, disbelief, compassion...

At the end of almost every chapter, I meant to stop and put the book away never to finish the end; but I couldn't do it. I HAD to follow through to the very end...bet you will, too!

Libraries Closed Today

2011-01-10T10:24:00.000-06:00

CMRLS Libraries will not open today, Monday, Jan. 10. The Libraries will be open regular business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 11. We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Please be careful if you must be on the roads this afternoon.

The Scorch Trials

2010-12-30T14:37:00.004-06:00

This summer, Mara reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The thrilling dystopian tale ended on a cliffhanger, so the librarians here at Pearl were very excited when the next book, The Scorch Trials, came out in October.

Thomas and his friends have escaped the Maze, but it seems like their tests are only beginning. The action starts right away in this book, throwing the Gladers into what is myteriously being called "Phase Two": The Scorch Trials. The boys are given very vague instructions: head north and survive the Flare (a mysterious disease). If not, death is imminent.

The boys head towards their destination, even picking up some new friends. But as they progress further and further, more questions come up than are answered: Where is Tom's friend Teresa? Where did this boy, Aris, come from? Is the shadowy organization WICKED who seems to be behind all of this for good or for evil?

The book is extremely fast-paced and exciting, and the interactions between the characters alternates between hilarious and extremely strained. This book also ends on a cliffhanger, which will be resolved in the final installment, The Death Cure, due out next fall. I can't wait! Click here to request The Scorch Trials from your library. But be sure to read The Maze Runner first--available here.

Check out more about James Dashner at his blog.

Matched by Ally Condie

2010-12-16T17:08:00.004-06:00

Matched by Ally Condie is the story of Cassia, a girl who lives in a world that is governed by the Society. The Society decides where you will live, what and when you will eat, where you will work, who you will marry, and when you will die. The Society's decisions are perceived as perfect, and are for the good of all the people. All teenage girls look forward to their Matching ceremony, where they discover the identity of their future mate. Cassia is elated when she is matched with her best friend, Xander. But she's shocked when a computer screen shows her the face of someone else as her match: the quiet and elusive Ky. She is told by the Officials that it was just a computer error, but Cassia is not so sure, and this event sets her off onto a journey of questions and discovery: are the Society's decisions really perfect? And should she continue to follow them blindly? If you enjoyed other dystopian books such as The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, Matched might be perfect for your next read! Matched is the first book in a planned trilogy; be sure to look for the next book, Crossed, when it comes out late next year.

Read more about Matched at author Ally Condie's website. Request this book by clicking here.

Book Review

2010-12-02T15:37:00.003-06:00

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman is the story of high school student Elizabeth who takes what she thinks is a normal after-school job as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository. When she arrives, she realizes that many of the things housed in this particular library are definitely not normal or ordinary--especially the items in the Grimm Collection, which houses items from fairy tales. As she begins to understand the significance and power of these items, she and her fellow pages are drawn into a series of adventures involving magic, myth, and fantasy. Check out Shulman's website and read the first chapter here:
http://pollyshulman.com/grimm.html

If you like a little magic and suspense in your reading or if you've ever been a fan of fairy tales, this book is for you! Click here to request this book.

Teen Scene at Pearl

2010-11-19T09:32:00.002-06:00

Ever wondered what you could do with those old floppy disks or scratched cds? Come to the Pearl Public Library on Monday, November 29th, at 5:00 to find out! We will be making diskette notebooks and cd magnets. We will even be serving refreshments and giving away a door prize! Also, Teen Scene is moving. Starting in December, Teen Scene will take place on the first Saturday of the month at 1:00. Join us Saturday, December 4th, for "Year in Rewind Trivia". Do you think you know everything that happened in 2011? Well, come show us and win a prize!

Book Series Spotlight

2010-11-09T15:14:00.004-06:00

If you are a fan of The Gossip Girl series, you have to try this new series by Anna Godbersen...

Set in a world of luxury and deception, the Luxe series will take you on a thrilling trip to the age of innocence that's anything but innocent. Don't miss your chance to dance in the gilded ballrooms of nineteenth century Manhattan, and slip away with the city's most charming bachelors. Your carriage ride to 1899 awaits within the pages of Anna Godbersen's Luxe series. The New York Times bestselling series includes The Luxe, Rumors, Envy, and the thrilling conclusion, Splendor. --http://www.bytseries.com/the-luxe/

National Gaming Day!

2010-11-03T12:36:00.000-05:00

Whether it's board, card, or video games, there is a CMRLS Library near you with a gaming program this month! Check it out, here.

You can always check out books about games, stories about games, or even check out video games to take home!

Enjoy playing games @ your library!
Let us know how you celebrate with games!

Mystery Dinner Night @ the Pearl Public Library

2010-10-14T10:16:00.004-05:00

Love the game Clue? Have you ever wanted to play live Clue? Well, now you have your chance at the Pearl Public Library. Join us on Monday, October 25, at 5:00 pm for our Mystery Dinner Night. You will help solve the crime in the library! Wear a costume and you may get a treat. Refreshments will be served.

Familiy Reading Challenge

2010-09-27T08:53:00.002-05:00

Our Race to the Last Chapter: Family Reading Challenge is underway! We are so excited to have 18 families registered. We are also excited to announce that Mac and Bones Golf and Grill donated 2 family passes for prizes! Keep reading!

Teen Scene at Pearl Public Library

2010-09-20T11:02:00.002-05:00

Teen Scene is next Monday, September 27, at 5:00 pm at the Pearl Public Library. We are doing Scrappin' Fashion. We will have materials such as trash bags, duct tape, sequins, and material scraps. Your mission will be to create a fashion masterpiece out of these items. Show us your creativity and come to Teen Scene at the Pearl Public Library!

Book Review

2010-09-10T10:18:00.006-05:00

Check out Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater at your library! Look for the sequel Linger also!

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. --http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/shiver.php

Teen Scene at the Pearl Public Library

2010-08-30T09:28:00.003-05:00

Need a break from homework? Come to the Pearl Public Library this Monday (August 30th) at 5:00 pm for Teen Scene. This month we are featuring games from the hit TV show Minute to Win It! We will have snacks and prizes. This program runs monthly on the last Monday of the month. Check us out next month for our Scrappin' Fashion program. Put together a cool outfit with only scraps, duck tape, and other odd materials!

Book Review

2010-08-26T13:17:00.004-05:00

All Unquiet Things centers around the murder of teen heiress Carly Ribelli, who was found shot to death a mile from her house in a wealthy Northern California suburb. Carly’s uncle, a dissolute alcoholic, was convicted of the crime, but a year later his daughter still doesn’t believe her father is guilty. Determined to prove his innocence, Audrey Ribelli contacts Carly’s ex-boyfriend, Neily Monroe, the boy who found Carly’s body. She is convinced that he knows more than he thinks about the events that led up to Carly’s death. Despite Neily’s initial reluctance, he and Audrey begin their investigation at the posh private school they attend, identifying prime suspects from among their spoiled classmates and digging up secrets about Carly’s past to get to the truth behind her murder--http://www.annajarzab.com/aut/

This book is awesome! If you like mystery and crime then this is the book for you. It reads like a basic "whodunit" novel but the characters are well-developed. Readers will relate to the feelings Neily has for losing his one true love. Each page reveals new information about the crime, and readers get to see the relationship between Neily and Audrey develop. This is the first novel by this author, and it is spectacular!

Readalikes for "Mockingjay"

2010-08-17T16:46:00.000-05:00

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) on August 12, released a list of titles that may interest those waiting for the last of the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Mockingjay is due to be released on August 24 and many are patiently waiting! These readalikes were chosen for their similarity to the popular trilogy and may help teens find new authors for their leisure reading.

These can be found in CMRLS libraries. If they aren't on your libraries' shelves, log onto Rosie's Web, the online catalog, with your barcoded library card and make your request. Need help? Just ask library staff to make the request. Look for:

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 - by Hiromu Arakawa
Jennifer Government - by Max Barry
The Compound - by S. A. Bodeen
Fortunes of Indigo Skye - by Deb Caletti
The White Mountains (The Tripods #1) - by John Christopher
The Maze Runner - by James Dashner
The Diamond of Darkhold - by Jeanne Duprau
Gone - by Michael Grant
Epic - by Conor Kostick
Tomorrow, When the War Began - by John Marsden
Airborn - by Kenneth Oppel
How I Live Now - by Meg Rosoff
Bones of Faerie - by Janni Simner
Leviathan - by Scott Westerfield

Join P-YAC!

2010-08-16T13:57:00.004-05:00

Pearl Youth Advisory Committee

Want to be a part of group that serves the community of Pearl? Join the Pearl Youth Advisory Committee (P-YAC). The Pearl Public Library is looking for teens between the ages of 13 and 18 who are responsible, goal-oriented, and full of ideas. P-YAC members will meet monthly to discuss teen programming ideas, volunteering activities, and will help in selecting materials for the Young Adult area of the library. Being a part of a committee such as P-YAC looks great on a college application or even a resume! By joing P-YAC, you will make new friends and help the Pearl Public Library serve its teens. The next meeting is Tuesday, September 9th @ 4:30 pm. Bring yourself and bring a friend!

Read It Before You See It!

2010-08-09T09:10:00.005-05:00

Check out these YA books that have recently been made into movies!

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

When second-graders Bryce and Juli first meet, Juli knows it’s love. But Bryce isn’t so sure. Girl-phobic and easily embarrassed, young Bryce does everything he can to keep his outspoken wannabe girlfriend at arm’s length… for the next six years, which isn’t easy since they go to the same school and live across the street from each other. But if Juli finally looks away, will it be Bryce’s turn to be dazzled? Flipped takes Bryce and Juli from grade school to junior high, through triumph and disaster, family drama and first love, as they make the discoveries that will define who they are --- and who they are to each other.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Based on the comic by Bryan Lee O'Malley)

Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim. A bass guitarist for the garage band Sex Bob-omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams…literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker’s quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

The Hunger Games: A Mockingjay Release Party

2010-08-02T08:30:00.003-05:00

The librarians here at the Pearl Public Library are anxiously awaiting the release of the third book in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, and we know many of you are too. So, we have decided to celebrate the release of Mockingjay with a party! Join us for a release party for Mockingjay on Tuesday, August 24th at 5:00 pm. We will have games, refreshments, and prizes. You could be the winner of a brand new copy of Mockingjay!

Break the Binding Teen Book Club

2010-07-26T08:15:00.004-05:00

NEW @ THE PEARL PUBLIC LIBRARY

We are starting a teen book club at the Pearl Public Library called Break the Binding Teen Book Club. We will meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Our first meeting will be on August 12. For our first meeting, we will brainstorm books that you want to read. Each month after August, there will be a designated book to read. This is a great opportunity for teens to socialize outside of school and enjoy a book that is not assigned as homework. There will be no tests or quizzes associated with this club only fun discussions and time to hang out with friends!

Along for the Ride

2010-07-20T12:22:00.005-05:00

Do you believe in second chances (or third)? Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride might turn you into a believer. Auden West, recent graduate, ivy leave college bound insomiac, decides to spend the last summer with her dad, new wife and baby. Because of her strict regime of studying, she realizes that she's missed out on friends and high school life experiences. Does she decide to take control and try new things like making new friends, having a boyfriend, or even riding a bike? Click on this link to request this delightful read.

Volunteering @ the Pearl Public Library

2010-07-20T11:26:00.004-05:00

We had some wonderful help this summer for our Summer Reading Program! We had 10 volunteers who helped us do just about everything. They helped with programs and manned our regsitration table among many other tasks. They even helped us decorate our new Teen Area. Our teen volunteers logged over 387 hours this summer! We had so much fun this summer, and it would not have been the same without them.

Are YOU Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

2010-07-13T10:15:00.002-05:00

...then prove it this Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Morton Public Library. Teen teams will get a chance to show they are 'smarter than a fifth grader.'

Make a Splash Library Birthday Bash

2010-07-12T11:33:00.003-05:00

Can you believe the 2010 Summer Reading Program is ending? Could you be the winner of our grand prize, a Sony Mp3 Player? Turn in your last minute book reviews for a chance to win our fabulous prizes. We are giving away a Sony Mp3 player and two $25 Walmart gift cards! Come to the Pearl Public Library this Thursday, July 15, @ 6:00 PM. We will be announcing the winners of our prizes as well as celebrating our library's 5th birthday. The Mississippi Swing Band will be here and we will have delicious birthday cake!

An A"MAZE"-ing Book!!!

2010-07-08T10:14:00.004-05:00

So I have recently become a fan of dystopian science fiction. If you've read the Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you will not be disappointed with James Dashner's Maze Runner! The beginning of the book just screams at you to keep reading. Picture waking up and the only thing you can remember is your name which is exactly what happens to 16 year-old Thomas. He finds himself trapped in a community of teenage boys. The community is surrounded by an impossible maze and there is no way to get out (at least that's what they think). Each teen has a designated area to work in to make their community survive, but Thomas knows instinctively that he needs to be a maze runner. Does Thomas become a maze runner? Do they solve the maze and make it out alive? Check it out or request it from your library! Click on this link. The sequel, The Scorch Trials will be released October 12,2010!

Teen Craft Night

2010-07-06T17:35:00.003-05:00

Join the Pearl Public Library Monday night, July 12, at 6:00 for Teen Craft Night. Teens who are 12 and up are invited to make a variety of crafts including "Message in a bottle" and "Sand Mosaics". Refreshments will also be provided, and we will be giving out great door prizes. This will be our last teen program for Summer Reading Program 2010 so do not miss it!

What is Less-Dead?

2010-06-28T17:01:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a relatively quick read that is thought-provoking, try the less-dead by April Lurie.

Noah Nordstrom is the son of the Bible Answer Guy who hosts a popular Christian radio show. And that is Noah's biggest problem, so he thinks. Noah does not think like his father and when a serial killer begins targeting gay teens, Noah's anti-religious feelings intensify. The killer chooses his victims among foster children--victims whose deaths will not be too important to society. Thus they are called the less-dead. After a new acquaintance becomes the third victim, Noah decides to investigate and prove that someone does care.

Be warned -- the author's purpose in this novel is 'to persuade.' To persuade you to rethink what you believe about homosexuality and whether it's sinful or not.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

2010-06-24T14:23:00.003-05:00

This fast-paced read is worth your time if you are crazy about the Twilight Saga series! From the eyes of newly-made vampire Bree Tanner, you'll almost see a humanistic side of her kind. Click on this link to request it from your library today!

WaTeRpAlOoZa

2010-06-21T16:17:00.003-05:00

We're having a water extravaganza at the Pearl Public Library next Monday, June 28 @ 6:00 pm. Join us for an old-fashioned water balloon fight and many more cool water games! This program is free and open to teens 12 and older. We will also be handing out cool door prizes!

Beachside Dance-off

2010-06-14T12:09:00.002-05:00

It's hot outside! So, come cool off at our Beach side Dance-off this Monday @ 6:00 at the Pearl Public Library. Teens ages 12 and up are welcome to this program. The program is free and pizza will be served. Show us your dance moves and work up an appetite. The teen or teens who can dance non-stop for the whole hour will win a prize!

Dear Reader and Author Buzz

2010-06-11T09:53:00.001-05:00

Have you checked out the CMRLS online book clubs? There's one for TeeNS! Sign up by clicking on the Online Book Club link near the bottom right on the CMRLS homepage or CLiCK HeRe! You will receive a chapter a day in your email of that week's book and then you can decide whether you want to continue reading it. If you do want to read it, just go to your library. It's that simple! You may find new authors or genres that you like and you can join the Online Book Club Forum to discuss the books you read with others!

You may also visit Author Buzz or KiDS BuZZ to read about the authors featured on the Online Book Club and find out if they are having a contest on their website or through their publisher. Often the authors are giving away autographed copies of their books or mugs, hats, etc., in a drawing. To enter, just click on their link or send them an email!

See your library staff if you need help signing up for the Online Book Club!

Have a great summer ReaDiNG!

Wii Play Wednesdays

2010-06-07T11:57:00.004-05:00

Need a mid-week break this summer? Come join the Pearl Public Library for Wii Play Wednesdays every Wednesday @ 3:00 until July 14. We will be featuring water-themed games as well as Wii classics. Children and teens are welcome to attend!

The Water Experiment

2010-06-02T10:04:00.004-05:00

Join us for the first teen program of the summer at the Pearl Public Library. We are doing water experiments inlcluding alka seltzer rockets, a mentos geyser, a vinegar volcano, and many more cool experiments! The program starts at 6:00 on Monday, June 7. Teens 12 and older are invited to attend. We will also be handing out door prizes!

Guessing Jars at the Summer Reading Program

2010-05-24T09:23:00.005-05:00

Find a sweet treat at the Pearl Public Library this summer! We will have a guessing jar contest each week of the Summer Reading Program beginning the week of June 7 and ending the week of July 15. You will have a total of 6 times to win a prize. Kids, teens, and adults can enter this contest. All you have to do is guess how much candy is in the jar. The closest guess wins a prize. Participants are only eligible to win one guessing jar contest. So, come down to the Pearl Public Library this summer and register for the Summer Reading Program starting May 24 and enter out guessing jar contest while you are here!

Summer Reading Program Registration

2010-05-17T15:27:00.003-05:00

Summer Reading Program 2010

Come Make Waves this summer with your public library. The Summer Reading Program provides teens with an incentive to read during the summer. Read books for prizes including a Sony MP3 Player! Also, come join us every Monday night at 6:00 for free programs (programs start June 7th and end July 12th). We will end the Summer Reading Program with a Make a Splash Library Birthday Bash on July 15th. Contact the library for more details. We hope to see you this summer!

Volunteer Opportunity

2010-05-10T11:33:00.004-05:00

Make Waves This Summer by Volunteering @ the Pearl Public Library!

How? Come to the Pearl Public Library and fill out an application.

When? Deadline for application is Friday, May 14th.

Who? Any student entering the 7th grade or higher next fall.

What do I have to do? Help library staff decorate, prepare/put on programs for children and teens, register participants, and be available to answer questions from patrons about the Summer Reading Program.

Why? This is an excellent opportunity to help out your community and it's fun! Volunteer experience also looks great on a college application!

For more information come to the Pearl Public Library!

The Touch Series

2010-04-27T08:55:00.011-05:00

Deadly Little Secrets is Book One in The Touch Series by Laurie Stolarz.

Synopsis: Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary. Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help – but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret. (http://www.lauriestolarz.com/novels/deadly_little_secret.html)

My Review: I found this series while searching through the YA Fiction collection at my library. I ended up reading it and could not put it down. Camelia's character endures everyday pressures of being a teen including love, school, and peer pressure. However, she also is caught up in a scary situation with a possible stalker and her feelings for Ben. This book has romance, suspense, and humor; there a little for every type of reader. This is a great series! Book Two in the series, Deadly Little Lies, explores the powers of psychometry further as Camelia is wrapped up in a love triangle with many secrets. Book Three, Deadly Little Games, comes out this fall. So, check out the first two books

Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

2010-04-19T21:07:00.007-05:00

Even though the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was published just a few years ago, I just found this series not too long ago. This book is an intense and way awesome read. Panem, the fictitious setting, is divided into 12 districts. The book centers around Katniss and Peeta, the representatives from District 12, who participate in the televised and popular Hunger Games. Each district sends 2 representatives to these games. The winner is the last person standing! Can you believe it!?!? Teens are fighting to the death on national television!!!

The book teems with themes such as love, survival, loyalty, perseverance, suffering, freedom, fear, and betrayal. I couldn't put it down!!! Even better there is a sequel...Catching Fire. A third installment, Mockingjay, is due August 2010. There's even talks of Lionsgate (movie producers of Twilight Saga Series) producing a movie about it! This series does not disappoint; it's filled with action that will keep your fingers turning! This series is definitely not for the light-hearted or weak stomach.

Teen Scene

2010-04-19T11:56:00.006-05:00

Teen Scene @ the Pearl Public Library

Need something fun to do on a Saturday? Come join us this Saturday, April 24th from 1:00 to 3:00. We are demonstrating the art of origami paper folding. Learn to make simple works of origami art. Make a crane or a dragon or just use your imagination to make your own creation. Stick around for refreshments!

NLW 2010 Teen Bookmark Winner-Pearl

2010-04-14T18:01:00.002-05:00

Way to go Ashley! Ashley participated in Pearl Public Library's National Library Week 2010 Teen Bookmark contest! She won a $25 gift card donated by Wal-Mart and a framed copy of her design!

Celebrate National Library Week!

2010-04-07T10:54:00.001-05:00

Check out the CMRLS Online Calendar for programs during National Library Week or any time @ your library! You'll find what you expect at your library today; such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and computers. And homework help! You'll also find Wii tournaments, computer classes, craft nights, game nights, pizza parties, book clubs, anime, graphic novels, video games and the newest DVDs to check out...and that's just the beginning! Staff have so many ways to help you find JUST what you want to read, also. Celebrate @ your Library!

Stop by your Library to see what's NEW and FUN!

When You Reach Me is newest Newbery Medal winner

2010-03-25T15:51:00.008-05:00

Judging anything is most often very subjective. Everyone has their own personal tastes when it comes to animals, cars, music...and yes, books. I personally do not always 'get' why a book wins an award. That's because the book did not appeal to me on a deep level. The newest Newbery Medal winner did, however, 'reach me.'

Twelve-year old Miranda lives in New York City with her mom. She loves to read...the same book over and over again. Much is going on in her life. Her mother's boyfriend is getting serious; her best friend, Sal, suddenly wants nothing to do with her; her mother is about to be a contestant on a game show; and someone is sending her mysterious notes.

The first note she receives begins-

'M,

This is hard. Harder than I expected, even with your help. But I have been practicing, and my preparations go well. I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own...'

As cryptic clues in the notes begin to come true, Miranda tries to discover the identity of the writer and what they want her to do.

I finished the book at 6:00 this morning and it was wonderful. My prediction is that if you read this book, you will immediately look for the book Miranda read over and over again, which coincidentally was also a Newbery Medal winner. I know I did.

I will look forward to the next book by Rebecca Stead.

Wii!!!

2010-03-04T12:39:00.006-06:00

Wii have fun @ our library!

Come celebrate Teen Tech Week at the Brandon Library!

March 8th - March 12th

Stop by the Children's Department and challenge a friend to a game on our Nintendo Wii!

Available anytime a Youth Services Librarian is available!

Stop by and show the Library your skill!

Teen Health & Wellness

2010-02-25T14:29:00.000-06:00

Rosen Publishing, a proud three-time sponsor of Teen Tech Week (March 7-13), is pleased to offer access to its award-winning, critically acclaimed Teen Health & Wellness database until April 15 (National Library Week).

Go to http://www.teenhealthandwellness.com/ and use the USERNAME: teentech and the PASSWORD: teentech

Take advantage of this great FREE resource!

March Teen Programs

2010-02-24T10:42:00.000-06:00

Teen Anime Club meets Mar. 9 and 23, 6:00 p.m. at Flowood Library.

Mar. 1, 5:00 p.m., Florence Library is Glitz and Glamour - a Prom extravaganza, featuring makeup artist, models, formal wear professionals, and more to make this the best Prom season.

More FUN with "DUCK TAPE" - at Richland Library on Mar. 4, 6:00 p.m.

Mar. 23, 3:30 p.m., Raleigh Library - YA FUN and Games!

Celebrate Youth Art Month, Pearl Library, Mar. 9, 5:30 p.m., Join us for a reception celebrating Youth Art Month for Pearl Public Schools. Art is provided by the students in K-12 grades, and will be on display for the entire month of March.

National Library Week Bookmark Contest, Mar. 1-12, Pearl Library. Pick up your entry form from the Pearl Library and submit it by Mar. 12. Winning bookmark will be featured during National Library Week, Apr. 11-17 and winner will receive $25 Wal-Mart gift card!

Mar. 11, 4:00 p.m., Morton Library, Techno Buddies @ your Library! Celebrate Teen Tech Week by sharing your technological expertise with an adult who needs your help! Activities will include helping set up email and Facebook accounts, demonstrating how to download photographs, explaining MP3 players and how to load music, demonstrating cell phone capabilities, etc. Call to volunteer your time for this worthy activity!

Check out the Online Calendar for other programming!
Leave us a comment if you have an idea for a program at on of the libraries.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

2010-02-10T10:52:00.005-06:00

Have you ever lost someone you loved? Has this person ever committed something so terrible that you've just felt torn? Was he or she the hero or the bad guy? Jennifer Brown's Hate List hits the mark on young adult fiction. Sixteen year old Valerie didn't fit in or at least she felt that she didn't fit in...until she met her boyfriend, Nick. They just clicked especially when it came to how they felt about the classmates who bullied them. So, Valerie and Nick compile a "hate list". They placed the names of people who wronged them. Little did she know that this would be the list that Nick used to kill their classmates.

After not seeing Nick for awhile, Valerie is worried that they were breaking up. So one day in May, Nick shows up with a purpose Valerie has no knowledge. They enter the cafeteria together and Nick begins his terror. Valerie is in shock and sees that Nick is targeting one of the most popular girls in school. She throws herself in front of her classmate--Valerie is wounded in the leg. At the end of his terror, Nick takes his life.

This book is a series of flashbacks and present events through Valerie's eyes. For anyone who has experienced a school shooting or bullying--Jennifer Brown has carefully woven a fiction work that will end in life lessons that are refreshing and hopeful. Try it out. Let me know what you think.

Young Scholars Program for 7th graders

2010-01-19T12:41:00.001-06:00

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program is a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship for the Nation's best students. The Young Scholars Program supports hundreds of exceptionally promising, high-achieving students with financial need across the U.S. Applicants are sought who stand out in their schools and communities for their academic excelence, determination, leadership, and public service. Each year, the Foundation selects from among more than 1,000 seventh grade applicants approximately 75 Young Scholars for an educational experience that students have called "one of the best things that ever happened to me."

The foundation's mission is to help exceptionally promising students reach their full potential through education. Young Scholars come from all racial and ethnic backgrounds and from rural, suburban, and urban communities throughout the U.S. Applicants are chosen based on:

High academic ability and achievement.
Financial need.
Motivation and the will to succeed.
Leadership and public service.
Accomplishments in music, the arts, literature, or other extracurricular activites.

Young Scholars receive:

Advice and financial assistance for summer and out-of-school academic enrichment programs
Access to computers, software, or other learning technology
Music, art, or other talent lessons
Mentoring or leadership programs
College admission advising and more

How do I apply? Visit www.jkcf.org/scholarships/young-scholars-program. Applications are due the last Monday in April (April 26, 2010). If you have questions or wish to receive an application by mail, contact: Duke University Talent Identification Program by phone, 919-668-9100; or email jkcf@tip.duke.edu.

Christmas Holidays?

2009-12-18T15:06:00.007-06:00

Are you home for the Christmas break?

Do you need something to do in the next few days?

Visit your Library!

Let the Library staff help you

find a good book to read, or

a video game to master

before going back to school, or

a DVD you've been wanting to see, or

try one of the new MP3 self contained audio books,

they're called Play-Aways and

can fit in your pocket and

you will have fun listening to a book

as you enjoy your days off!

Visit your Library!

Have you read the Twilight series?

Don't you want to catch up on the story

before the next movie comes out?

Visit your Library!

Do you miss seeing the Library staff, or

reading a magazine while sitting with your friends, or

catching up with your FaceBook Friends?

Visit your Library!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

from your friends at the Libraries!

Holiday Make and Take Cards

2009-12-15T14:20:00.004-06:00

There's still time to make holiday cards.

Visit the Pearl Public Library's young adult area and help yourself to glitter, markers, stickers, glue and pens to make a card for someone special. OR you could get a jumpstart on Valentine's Day like some of the other teens I saw the other night. :) December 18 is the last day to make them.

Have you ever....

2009-12-09T13:37:00.005-06:00

run for class president or any student body office? What type of campaign did you use? Was it a clean or underhandedly evil campaign? In Josh Lieb's I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President , Oliver Watson decides to run for 7th grade class president. Most people in his class perceive Oliver as a lazy and dumb person, which is not the case. Actually, Oliver actually is a wealthy, driven, and intelligent person; he owns an empire!!! Of course, no one, especially his parents, know how Oliver operates. This books takes us on Oliver's campaign journey---from eliminating his popular opponents to tricking "the most pathetic boy in school" to running against him. If you're ever considering politics, this book just might be for you. Does Oliver win or does he lose? You'll need to check this book out for its somewhat surprise ending.

Do You Know Who's Watching YOU?

2009-12-09T10:19:00.007-06:00

If you are a computer geek, an avid role-playing game freak or wonder how your life might change if a terrorist attack occurred in your city, then Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is just the book for you.

Meet Marcus, aka 'w1n5t0n.' He is 'in the know' when it comes to technology, and he uses it to his advantage in school. Marcus and his friends bypass the school's security systems to 'skip out' and run down a clue in Harajuku Fun Madness, an ARG (Alternate Reality Game). While they are moving about in downtown San Francisco, terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge. In the ensuing chaos, Marcus and his friends are detained by Homeland Security, taken to a secret location and interrogated for several days.

When Marcus is released, he discovers his life and the lives of everyone in San Francisco have changed dramatically. They are living in a police state where everyone is treated as a potential terrorist. Marcus, teenage hacker extraordinaire, decides to fight back. And fight back he does, with interesting results.

The book contains some language, and there is a bit of sexual content. Overall, it is a riveting story of how something intended to help and protect us can evolve into the enemy if left unchecked. The technology is mind-blowing and it was tempting to believe the technology described was fictional; however, a bibliography at the end of the book made me realize that yesterday's science fiction is today's reality.

A TURKEY for Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T10:00:00.005-06:00

I absolutely LOVE to read...anything and everything. I like mystery, adventure, science fiction, romance, fantasy...

Very, very seldom do I read a book that I can find nothing good to say about it. Usually I'm happy I spent the time to read it. On occasion, however, I run across a book that screams WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO READ THIS???

Such is the case with Busted by Phil Bildner. It was not entertaining; it was not exciting; I learned no valuable moral lesson. So I present to you for Thanksgiving a TURKEY of a book. Everyone is capable of being 'busted' in high school. From the honor student to the star athlete. Busted contains four stories that occur during one year at Coldwater Creek High School. All four stories relate a tale of being caught doing wrong.

CHALLENGE: I challenge you to read the book and then post what I missed. I must have missed something...there are so many books submitted for publication, I'm sure there must be some reason this one was chosen from the many for publication.

So, are you up to the challenge?

Th1rteen R3asons Why

2009-11-12T10:04:00.005-06:00

Imagine losing a friend to suicide...wouldn't you wonder why? Now imagine that friend records the events that led to their decision to take their own life and sends it to out to everyone who played a part...would you REALLY want to know why? Th1rteen R3asons Why is about exactly that.

'Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker-his classmate and crush-who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.'

An engrossing read...it'll really make you think about how sometimes small and seemingly meaningless things can add up. Maybe you'll see someone you know in Hannah. A teenage friend recommended the book -- Thanks! It was time well spent.

Just for TeeNs in the coming weeks!

2009-10-30T16:05:00.003-05:00

Nov. 3 & 17, 6:00 p.m., Flowood Library - The Teen Anime Club meets! For ages 13 & up; meet to socialize, draw, read Manga and watch Anime films!

Nov. 5, 6:00 p.m., Richland Library - Fun and games @ your library...SCRABBLE NIGHT!

Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m., Morton Library - Guitar Hero Game Night! Enjoy performing your favorite song on Wii Guitar Hero.

Nov. 16, 5:30 pm., Florence Library - Twilight Party! Dress as your favorite Twilight Saga character and join us @ your library for food, fun, and games!

Nov. 24, 4:00 p.m., Magee Library - FUN & Games @ your library!

Teens Top 10 Titles for 2009!

2009-10-27T10:48:00.003-05:00

Voted on by teens around the web and posted by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association www.ala.org/yalsa) , these titles were named the TOP TEN for 2009...and you can find them @ your library!

Paper Towns, by John Green
Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
City of Ashes, by Cassandra Clare
Identical, by Ellen Hopkins
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
Wake, by Lisa McMann
Untamed, by P. C. & Kristin Cast
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, by E. Lockhart
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore

Ask at any CMRLS Library for these titles soon, you may have to be put on a request list!

After you read one or any, write a review (sign it or not) and we will publish it here! You may use a form to send the review, here; or email it to teen@cmrls.lib.ms.us.

TEEN READ WEEK

2009-10-09T13:13:00.002-05:00

High School Musical III Wii, Come play with us @ the Richland Library, Thursday October 22, 6:00-7:00 pm.

Teen READ Week 2009!

2009-10-05T13:28:00.002-05:00

Teen READ Week 2009 is just around the corner...October 18-24!

Did you participate in the Top Ten Nominations for 2009? The vote ended in September, but the winners will be named during Teen READ Week at www.ala.org/teenstopten . Check back here or the Teens' Top Teen web site to see if one of your favorites are in the Top Ten!

Have you had a favorite book this year? Leave a comment here, tell us what it was and why you enjoyed it!

Teen Movie Premier & Costume Party

2009-10-02T10:28:00.003-05:00

G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library is featuring the local teen film producer Curtis Everett as he presents an original production, "The Almosts." Come in costume and enjoy a fun evening for ages 13 & up...Oct. 27, 6:00 p.m. @ the Library, 103 Winner Circle, Flowood. For more information call, 601-919-1911 or visit the Library on the web @ http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/fw.htm

CMRLS TeeN SCeNe

Printz Watch (winner edition)

Printz Watch (part 4)

CD Clocks Completed!

The Book That Kept Me Up All Night

Printz Watch 2012 (Part 3)

Make a CD Clock @ Brandon Public Library!

Totally Teen Tuesday !!!

Upcoming Activities @ the Pearl Library

Christmas Ornament Party @ Brandon Public Library!

Girls With Amnesia

MICHAEL VEY: The Prisoner of Cell 25

Printz Watch 2012 (part 2)

Decorate your Teen Center!

Make a Dreamcatcher at Brandon Public Library!

Printz Watch 2012

Calling All Teens!

November Events

Need Community Service Hours?

Teen Read Week!!!

The Library Comes to You!

Banned Books Week

In case you missed it....

Anime and Manga Night at the Pearl Library

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Game On!

Break the Binding Book Club

When Does Love Become Obsession?

Weird Reference Books

Books about Schools You Don't Attend

Books to Look Forward to

*5-day FINE CREDIT* Trivia Contest on Facebook

A Special to Thanks for Our Teen Volunteers

Friday's 5-DAY FINE CREDITs

Journal Workshop a Success

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Cover Image Released!

TeeN Anime

Like GRAPHIC NOVELS? Try a GRAPHIC BIO!

Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Pearl Public Library

Book Review

Book Review

Break the Binding: Teen Book Club

The Knife That Killed Me - A Dark Read

Libraries Closed Today

The Scorch Trials

Matched by Ally Condie

Book Review

Teen Scene at Pearl

Book Series Spotlight

National Gaming Day!

Mystery Dinner Night @ the Pearl Public Library

Familiy Reading Challenge

Teen Scene at Pearl Public Library

Book Review

Teen Scene at the Pearl Public Library

Book Review

Readalikes for "Mockingjay"

Join P-YAC!

Read It Before You See It!

The Hunger Games: A Mockingjay Release Party

Break the Binding Teen Book Club

Along for the Ride

Volunteering @ the Pearl Public Library

Are YOU Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Make a Splash Library Birthday Bash

An A"MAZE"-ing Book!!!

Teen Craft Night

What is Less-Dead?

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

WaTeRpAlOoZa

Beachside Dance-off

Dear Reader and Author Buzz

Wii Play Wednesdays

The Water Experiment

Guessing Jars at the Summer Reading Program

Summer Reading Program Registration

Volunteer Opportunity

The Touch Series

Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

5-day FINE CREDIT Trivia Contest on Facebook