Teen Summer Reading - YOU ARE HERE!

Go for Some Undercover Adventure!

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cammie Morgan's life at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is like lots of other teenaged girls' lives--full of tests, boys, friends . . . But wait, what if one of your best friends, Macey, is the daughter of a man running to be the vice-president of the U.S., your tests are about encryption and disguises, and the boys you know are all (perhaps) spies too? That's Cammie's real life, behind the disguise of her "normal" school, and it's an exciting one--sometimes a bit too exciting.

Cammie is both a believable teen girl, and a spy-in-training. This third in the Gallagher Girl series shows that spying can involve some pretty serious stuff, like seeing someone you love (her aunt, who's also a spy) get shot, going through an attempted kidnapping on the roof of a Boston hotel, or wondering where--and how--your father (also a spy) died. As Cammie and her other friends provide security for Macey, they begin to think that Macey wasn't the real target of the kidnapping attempt of the past summer. So who was?

This is a fast-paced, sometimes light, sometimes serious, portrayal of both modern life's public realm and its dangers and a teen's life, with all its ups and downs. Ally Carter is masterful at teen thinking and doing--even when the teen's a spy!



View all my reviews

Stop the Grind

Fall is approaching and with it come school dances. If you ever been "ground upon" and disliked it, here is an interesting article with good advice for avoiding it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/fashion/with-grinding-an-unwanted-advance-at-the-dance.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Heist Society by Ally Carter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is heisting at its best, and most elegant! Kat Bishop gets booted out of Colgan Academy, an exclusive private school, just in time to save her father from the hands of the evil mobster Arturo Taccone, who believes Kat's father has stolen five priceless paintings from him. Enter W.W. Hale the Fifth, Uncle Eddie, the beautiful Gabrielle, Simon, Angus, Hamish, and the new guy Nick. This den--more like a family gathering--of thieves finds a way to break into the most prestigious museum in London to set things right. This is just a blast of a book from beginning to end. Light but just right.
-KF

So much for escaping the wonderful world of theft. Can a crew of teenagers pull of the heist of the century? Only one other thief has ever gotten into The Henley and he didn't take anything out. Can they get four paintings out in time to save Kat's father from an evil worse than anything they've ever encountered? Even Uncle Eddie won't take on Taccone and he isn't afraid of anyone. But Kat must. Taccone believes her father has stolen something from him and will kill her father if they aren't returned.

Join Kat and her crew on this wonderful adventure story. I was amazed at the tricks up their sleeves.
-BF

Movies at Newport Library

As part of our Monday Teen Time! events we will be showing movies.  WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

We have a generous license to show movies so, if you tell us what interests you there is a good chance we can and will show it.

Teen Summer Reading - YOU ARE HERE! - Raffle Winner

Our final raffle winner for Summer Reading 2011 - YOU ARE HERE! - is Sean Bradley.  Congratulations Sean.  You can pick up your $5 ice cream gift certificate from the YA desk (or reference if we're not here).  Great job Sean! 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone who read at least 5 books at our Grand Finale Party this Thursday, August 18.  We are also hosting our final movie tomorrow, August 16 at 5:30.  Hope to see many of you there.

Teen Movies

We are in the process of planning movie events for the up coming year.  What would YOU like to see?  If you tell us, we'll show it if we can.

Teen Summer Reading Program Final Party Coming Up!

"You Are Here" is about to wrap up! If you've joined the Teen Summer Reading Program, this is your last chance to be a winner! Just fill out the Teen SRP book forms for all those great books you've been reading (or listening to) this summer, and bring them in to the YA Department. Or email us at: nptya@newportlibraryri.org.  Or phone us at 401-847-8720 ext. 206. 

Once you've completed 5 books and filled out the forms for them, you're eligible to be a part of the Grand Prize Drawing for a Sony E-Reader. The drawing, along with a pizza party, door prizes, games, and loads of fun, takes place this Thursday, August 18, 4-5 p.m. That's right--we've got pizza and prizes waiting for everyone in the Teen Summer Reading Program! So fill out those forms and finish. "You Are (Almost) Here"!!!!!

Teen Summer Reading - YOU ARE HERE! - Raffle Winner

We have yet another raffle winner to announce.  Congratulations to  Emily Stanwood-Ford.  She can pick up her $5 ice cream gift certificate from the YA desk (or reference if we're not here).  Great job Emily! 

For all of you not-yet-winners, keep reading, every books is a raffle ticket and we have two more gift certificates to give away!

Teen Summer Reading - YOU ARE HERE!

All summer reading teens are invited to join us Tuesday, August 16, in the Library Program Room from 5:30-7:30 for our final movie of the summer reading series.  Throughout the program we have traveled from continent to continent enjoying movies, snacks and activities from each one.  In honor of our traveling theme, we will wrap up the program with Around the World in 80 Days.  Admission, popcorn and soda are free.

Not registered for our summer reading program?  Do it on-line now or in person Tuesday.  You must read 5 books between now and August 17 to join us.  If you do, you'll have access to tons of great programs and movies AND be eligible to win a Sony E-Reader.

Next Teen Summer Reading Event--Practice Your Haiku!

 

Teens, this week we'll be (imaginatively) visiting Japan, practicing haiku, an ancient poetic form, drinking tea, and eating ice cream! We'll be learning about the amazing possibilities that exist within the self-imposed boundaries of the haiku form. Contemporary English-language haiku are usually defined as short poems that consist of three lines, 17 or fewer syllables, a seasonal word or reference, and a cut, meaning an implicit juxtaposing of contrasting images or situations. Here's an example of haiku (in translation) by the Japanese haiku poet Kito (1741-89): In the open shop / Paperweights on picture books / New springtime breeze.

These short, evocative verses seem easy to write. But their simplicity is deceptive. It takes a lot of thought, practice, and inspiration to be a haiku master!

Do you think you'd like to try writing haiku? Or perhaps you'd like to draw or paint your poetic vision instead? There'll be plenty of opportunity to express yourself this week. Come to the Teen Summer Reading program this Thursday, August 11, 4-5 p.m. and visit Japan with us!

Teen Summer Reading - YOU ARE HERE! - Raffle Winner

 

Our luck raffle winner for week 3 of YOU ARE HERE! is Mashell Hinton.  Congratulations Mashell, you can pick up your $5 ice cream certificate at the YA or reference desks - yum, yum!!

Teen Summer Reading - YOU ARE HERE!

All summer reading teens are invited to join us Tuesday, August 9, in the Library Program Room from 5:30-7:30 for dueling movies....?  Okay, not really.  We'll have two movies for you to choose from; whichever gets the most votes will be shown.  Admission, popcorn and soda are free.

Not registered for our summer reading program?  Do it on-line now or in person Tuesday.  You must read 5 books in 7 weeks to join us.  If you do, you'll have access to tons of great programs and movies AND be eligible to win a Sony E-Reader.

Artist Pam Santos to Teach Watercolor to Teens!

                                      Ghana: Watercolor by Pam Santos                                         

Teens,

What a great opportunity to learn the art of watercolor! South County artist Pam Santos is coming on Thursday afternoon, August 4, 4-5 p.m. to teach a watercolor class to teens. You don't need any special skills--you don't even need to be good at art! Pam will teach you techniques to make your pictures stand out from the crowd!

This program, including art supplies, is free to all teens registered for Teen Summer Reading. And it's not too late to sign up! Register for Teen Summer Reading here!