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JULY 31, 2012
Read This! I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Imagine you were raised by a father who brought home the bodies of people he killed. Imagine he's now in jail for life. Now imagine what people must think when murders start happening in your town, murders just like the ones your dad committed.

That's what's going on in Jazz's life right now. He realizes he's going to have to find the murderer if he wants to clear his own name. Because when you grow up being trained to be a serial killer, people look at you funny.  

This promises to be the first in a great series. While the ending suggests there will be more, it does have a real ending. If you loved the CSI: Forensics event, this might be right up your alley. 

Warning: I Hunt Killers is pretty gruesome; it is not for the faint of heart. 

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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JULY 30, 2012
Movie Monday-- Hunger Games

Is it too early to start counting down for the Catching Fire movie? Um, I think yes, even for me. (November 22, 2013, in case you're wondering.) However, it is not to early to count down to the Hunger Games DVD release! It's supposed to be filled with special features, including this clip that was presented at the San Diego Comic Con that shows the behind-the-scenes of Katniss running from the fire.

As expected, the library DVD has lots of holds already and it doesn't even come out until August 18. Get yourself on the list before it gets any longer!

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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JULY 29, 2012
Great London-based reads

Unable to make it to London for the Games of the XXX Olympiad? Don’t worry – you can visit London (virtually) with one of these teen reads:

 The Death CollectorThe Death Collector by Justin Richards
Set in Victorian London, this mystery begins with a murder at the British Museum. George Archer, a young assistant at the museum, teams up with a homeless pickpocket and a minister’s daughter to track down the villain, a wealthy factory owner intent on reanimating the dead.

The Enemy by Charlie Higson
When London is ravaged by a disease that turns everyone sixteen and older into a zombie, teens are forced to barricade themselves in various buildings, emerging only to scavenge for food. When one group learns they can find safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they set out on a dangerous journey across the city.

Num8ersNum8ers by Rachel Ward
Fifteen-year-old Jem has an odd talent – when she looks at someone, she sees a set of numbers, the date that person will die. During a day trip to London with her boyfriend, Spider, Jem realizes the tourists waiting to board the London Eye all have the same death date – that day. Spider and Jem are on the run in this fast-paced thriller, the first of a trilogy.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Louisiana native Rory, a new student at a London boarding school, arrives in the U.K. just as a series of murders mimicking the crimes of Jack the Ripper are gripping the city. Rory is the only witness who has seen the killer, and she quickly becomes his next target.

The Amulet of SamarkandThe Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
In this fantasy set in modern-day London, Nathaniel, a magician’s apprentice, is publicly humiliated by a ruthless older magician and decides to speed up his education. Vowing revenge, Nathaniel summons a 5,000-year-old creature, Bartimaeus, to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand and soon ends up in over his head. This is the first book in a trilogy.

This is just a sampling of great London-based books. What others can you recommend?

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posted by Briana, Evergreen Library

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JULY 28, 2012
Science Saturday Pi or Pie

 

Pi, it’s not just a tasty dessert; it is also the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. 

 

Pi is also an irrational number.  This is a number that will go on forever.  To this date it has passed all known tests as being a random number.  The record for memorizing Pi was achieved by Chao Lu in China who recited Pi from memory to 67,890 places.  This took him 24 hours and 4 minutes to recite.

 

Pi occurs in hundreds of equations in many sciences including those describing the DNA double helix, a rainbow, ripples on water, superstrings, general relativity and much more.

 

The Feynman Point is at position 763 and has six nines in a row.  This is named for Richard Feynman who is known for his work on the Manhattan Project (atomic bomb).

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 27, 2012
Book Award Days!

The Summer Reading Program is coming to a close, but the time to get your free book for reading 8 hours or beyond is upon us!  Check below for dates and times of our Book Award Days:

  • Arvada Library, Aug. 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Belmar Library, Aug. 1, 12 - 8 p.m.
  • Columbine Library, July 31, 12 - 7 p.m.
  • Conifer Library, July 31, 2:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Edgewater Library, July 31, 12 - 5 p.m.
  • Evergreen Library, Aug. 1, 12 - 8 p.m.
  • Golden Library, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Lakewood Library, Aug. 1, 12 - 8 p.m.
  • Standley Lake Library, July 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Wheat Ridge Library, July 31, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

If you can 't make it in any of these dates, you can pick up your free book anytime in August at any location.  And remember if you read 16 hours or over you are automatically entered into a drawing to attend our after hours Games Night on August 10th from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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JULY 26, 2012
Looking for something free and fun to do this weekend?

Both the Buffalo Bill Days in Golden and the Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan's Lake are happening this weekend.

Buffalo Bill Days date back to the 1940s.  It started as trail rides up to Buffalo Bill's grave and now includes a parade, street vendors and live entertainment.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival started in 2001.  Cheer on teams of dragon boat racers as they snag the flag on Sloan's Lake.  Watch Asian dance and listen to Asian music.  Shop in the Asian marketplace.  Actor John Cho (Harold of Harold and Kumar) will be registering people to vote from 2-3 on Saturday. 

 

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 25, 2012
Dog Days of Summer

It’s too hot to be outside. But where can you go that’s free and air conditioned? The following culture spots have either free days, free tours or you can score free tickets through the Library’s Culture Pass program.

Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour is one of my favorite tours! I always enjoy the mint room.

Denver Art Museum – Aug. 4th – free day!

Denver Museum of Nature and Science – Aug 12th and Aug 20th – free days!

Every day is a free day at the Colorado History Center, MCA Denver and the Foothills Art Center when you use one of the library’s culture passes. You must reserve the pass through the library’s web site.

Another great website to find free things to do about town is Colorado for Free.

Of course the libraries are air conditioned and always a great way to Beat the Heat!

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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JULY 24, 2012
Read This - The Roar by Emma Clayton

If you liked the Hunger Games or Ender's Game you may enjoy The Roar by Emma Clayton.  In this futuristic novel an animal plague has forced humanity to move to the cities and live behind tall walls.  It has been 43 years since the plague and conditions are crowded and glum behind the wall.  Mika refuses to believe his twin sister has drowned despite what everyone is telling him.  He knows she's still alive and he is determined to find her.  Now the office of Youth Development is making the kids drink fit mix and pod fighting is the new hot game at the arcade.  Is the government really interested in making kids healthier or is something more sinister going on?  This suspenseful novel starts off with a daring escape in a stolen pod fighter and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 23, 2012
The Kill Order by James Dashner

The prequel to the Maze Runner trilogy is out Aug. 14th, place your hold and get in line now!

In the meantime enjoy the book trailer.

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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JULY 21, 2012
Science Saturday - When Science Kills

Thanks to some of the brilliant people of the past we have an amazing understanding of how our world works.  Some of these noble scientists not only contributed their genius but also gave their lives:

Madame Curie - Discovered radiation and invented the x-ray.  She and her eldest daughter died of cancer caused by radiation exposure.  Her notebooks, on display in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, are still radioactive.

Alfred Wegner - Credited with the idea of continental drift (All the continents were once a single land mass and drifted apart over time).  He was a meteorologist who did experiments in the arctic using weather balloons.  He delivered supplies to a remote camp, celebrated his 50th birthday and then died on the return trip.

Pilatre De Rozier - French physicist and balloonist.  He is known as the first person to go up in a hot air balloon.  While attempting to cross the English Channel his balloon ran out of gas and he plummeted to his death.

Alexander Bogdanov - Created "techtology" which is regarded as a precursor to systems theory.  He died from malaria and tuberculosis from a blood transfusion.  He underwent 11 blood transfusions in the quest for eternal youth.

Sir Humphrey Davy - Discovered Nitris Oxide and inventor of arc lamps. He had a very haphazard style of experimentation and would often inhale the gasses created by his experiments and suffered from frequent poisonings due to this practice.

 

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 20, 2012
Do Something

Want to do something to make your world a better place, but not sure where to get started? Check out www.dosomething.org

The best part about the site is that you can search by what cause you care about, like animals or human rights, and then choose who you want to be active with, like by yourself or with your school, and then you can choose how much time you have to spend on it, from one minute to one year!

They focus on action you can take without an adult, a car, or money. 

Are you involved in something to help fix a problem? Tell us about it!

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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JULY 19, 2012
Anna Dressed in Blood Read Alikes

Did you like Anna Dressed in Blood as much as I did?  If so try some of these other great ghostly reads:

Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

For the first time in 150 years someone is looking at Helen.  She has been haunting a high school English teacher when James, a student, looks right at her.  As they try to find a way to be together, they begin to uncover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

 

 

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Rory, of Boueuxlieu, Louisiana, is spending a year at a London boarding school.  When she witnesses a murder by a Jack the Ripper copycat she becomes involved with the very unusual investigation.

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Lexi's younger sister Kasey is acting weird and their old Victorian house seems to take on a life of its own. Lexi investigates and discovers some frightening facts about previous occupants of the house, leading her to believe that many lives are in danger.

 

 

Ruined by Paula Morris

Rebecca Brown is living with a family friend in New Orleans while her father travels overseas. The house she is staying in is creepy and her prep school classmates treat her like she's invisible. Only Anton Grey takes the time to be friendly. But does he have a hidden agenda? One night she meets Lisette, a ghost who has haunted a city cemetery since her death 155 years earlier. The encounter uncovers startling truths about Rebecca's own family history.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Jazz learned all about being a serial killer from his notorious dad, who is now in prison.  When a body is found in a field outside of town Jazz  believes it is the work of a new serial killer.  Jazz begins his own investigation in hopes of clearing the stigma of his family history.

 

 

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 18, 2012
Like JCPL Teens on Facebook!

Did you know that JCPL (Jefferson County Public Library) Teens have their own Facebook page? You didn't? Really? Well we do! So like us!  Really like us!

Get up to date information on library events and cool stuff going on around town for teens.  Also check us out for book, music and movie recommendations and other fun stuff.

We like you so why don't you like us?  

 

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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JULY 17, 2012
Read This! Clean by Amy Reed

If you like Ellen Hopkins’s novels or A child called "It", try reading Clean by Amy Reed.

Clean follows five teens from their first day to their last day of drug rehab through journal entries, personal essays, internal dialog about themselves and each other as well as group therapy conversations. The book moves quickly from person to person sharing quick snippets of information – sometimes a brief paragraph; other times just a sentence or word!

Olivia is a diet pill addict who gives herself a heart attack in her attempt to be perfect. Eva turns to alcohol and pot after her mother dies. Jason has a problem with alcohol; his father gave him his first beer to chug at age nine. Christopher, home-schooled and lonely, tries meth with a neighborhood boy. And Kelly turns to alcohol and coke as a way to deal with rape. Each teen will win you over until you can’t help but understand why they are the way they are. It’s a quick read with humor, action and information.

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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JULY 16, 2012
Free Movies

Looking for something to do?  How about going to a free movie.  Here are a few places where you can go to see free movies.  Bring your own popcorn and lawn chair!

Golden Movies & Music in the Park

Aug. 3rd - Puss in Boots

Aug. 10th - Muppet Movie

Aug. 17th - Dolphin Tale
 

Arvada Flicks in the Square

Aug. 3rd - Cars 2

August 10th - Muppet Movie

August 17th - Karate Kid

August 24th - Dolphin Tale

August 31st  - Ghost Busters
 

And, of course, the library has movies you can check out as well. Check our catalog if you're looking for something specific.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 15, 2012
This week at your library...

Are you tracking your reading hours for our Teen Summer Reading Club? If you read 8 hours or more during June and July you can come in at the end of the summer and pick up a free book and you'll also automatically be entered in a drawing to win a Kindle Fire. If you read 16 hours your name will go into a drawing for an after hours teen games night. Make sure you get your hours in before the end of July to get your name in for all the drawings. 

If you're looking to take a break from all your reading, stop by the library for one of the awesome events happening for teens this week:

Arvada Library: 
Become a Comedian: Tuesday, July 17, 4pm

Conifer Library:
Become a Comedian: Thursday, July 19, 3pm

Columbine Library:
Monster Make-up: Wednesday, July 18, 3pm

Evergreen Library:
Become a Comedian: Monday, July 16, 4pm

Lakewood Library:
Monster Make-up: Friday, July 20, 11am

Standley Lake:
CSI Forensics: Wednesday, July 18, 2pm
Nerf Guns and Water Balloons: Saturday, July 21, 2pm

Don't see your library listed? Check our full schedule for upcoming events.

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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JULY 13, 2012
JCPL is Giving Away an iPad 3!

Some lucky reader is going to get a brand spankin’ new iPad 3 come August… and… it won’t be you, Dear Teen Reader.

Now wait! Before you shake your fist in rage at the computer screen and call me a “cruel tease” keep in mind that the iPad 3 is going to be given away to an adult reader participating in the Adult Summer Reading Club…

 

 

An adult reader that could be YOUR adult reader! And if you get YOUR ADULT to sign up for the club, log and read 8 hours before July 31st – they might win it and in their sincere and lasting gratitude, they might just be willing to let you use it… Strategy, my Dear Teens… strategy!

Of course you also might win a Kindle Fire when you read 8 hours or more so that wouldn't be half bad either.

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posted by Tana, Arvada Library

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JULY 12, 2012
Teen eBooks

Did you know the library as teen books in EPub and Kindle formats?  Do you have an ereader / tablet / ipad / computer? 

Search for titles and learn more in the Library Download Center. 

Here are a few of my favorite titles: 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

In a single moment, everything changes. Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck.

 

 

The Book Thief by MarKus Zusak

Told from the perspective of Death, this novel is set during World War II in Germany.  Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist--books.

 

 

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty — especially if they learn of her Sight — and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.  Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

 

The Line by Teri Hall

When Rachel and her mother move to a house right next to the Line-Rachel starts questioning things. There are so many rumors of horrible things that lie beyond the Line-in a place called Away-but no one dares to talk about it. Then Rachel comes across a recorded message-one that could only have come from Away, and the voice on the recorder is asking for help.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 11, 2012
We Need Your Suggestions!

Have you attended any of our events (CSI: Forensics, GPS Monster Hunt, Night Animals, etc.) for teens this summer? Did you enjoy them? We are hoping to get some suggestions from teens about events they would like to see at our libraries.  What type of event would make you come to the library to see? Please post your answers in our comments below and we will add them to our list. 

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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JULY 10, 2012
Read This! The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks

The Girl in the ParkWhen notorious party girl Wendy Geller is found dead in Central Park, few of her classmates at an elite Manhattan private school are surprised. After all, Wendy made a habit of going after the wrong guys, and there's no shortage of suspects in her murder. While almost everyone is willing to dismiss Wendy as a wild child, her old friend, Rain, is one of the few people who remembers her kindness, and Rain soon becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to Wendy. The Girl in the Park is a suspenseful page-turner with great characters and a keen eye for the social pressures of high school.

 

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posted by Briana, Evergreen Library

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JULY 9, 2012
Movie Monday: Oz: The Great and Powerful

This movie takes place before The Wizard of Oz and tells the story of how the Wizard got to Oz in the first place. James Franco will play Oz and Michelle Williams will play Glinda, the good witch. Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled to hit theaters on March 8, 2013. Did you know that author L. Frank Baum actually wrote 14 Oz books? Check out these original stories and all the other adaptations while you wait for the movie!

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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JULY 8, 2012
NDK Denver Coming In September!

NDK Denver is coming Sept 14-16th. NDK or Nan Desu Kan is the Premier Anime Convention in the Rockies! Are you going? Are you an AMV editor? Coveting an Asuka Award? Check out the best anime films from last year and get your submission in now! The submission deadline is August 5th!

 

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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JULY 7, 2012
Science Saturday - Higgs Boson Particle

There is something smaller than an electron!  Scientists at CERN, the European Organization of Nuclear Research, have confirmed the existence of the Higgs-Boson or "God" particle.  This particle was discovered by smashing protons into each other using the Large Hadron Collider.

Check out this video from CERN explaining what the Higgs-Boson particle is:

 

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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JULY 6, 2012
Mermaid Tales

Bad news, folks. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently debunked the myth of the mermaid once and for all in an announcement on its website, declaring, “No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.”

 

Fortunately for those of us who can recite every bit of dialogue from The Little Mermaid, there are a handful of teen fiction titles sure to satisfy our curiosity about these mythical creatures.

Tempest RisingTempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
On her upcoming seventeenth birthday, half-mermaid Tempest Maguire has to make a choice: stay on land or succumb to the sea. Her romance with a cute surfer and an underwater battle with a sea witch complicate Tempest’s decision. This book is especially appealing to fans of paranormal romance.

 

Hannah by Kathryn Lasky Hannnah
In 1899, 15-year-old orphan Hannah is working as a maid in the home of a wealthy Boston family, where she starts to discover her roots and is inexplicably drawn to the ocean. This is the first book in the Daughters of the Sea series.

 

Lost VoicesLost Voices by Sarah Porter
Fourteen-year-old Luce expects to die when she falls into the icy waters near her Alaskan fishing village – instead she is transformed into a mermaid. Luce meets several other lost mermaid girls and is thrilled with her new underwater community, until she discovers they are using their lovely voices to lure humans to their deaths.

 

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova The Vicious Deep
Tristan Hart is sucked out to sea by a giant wave, and when he returns to land three days later, he is haunted by dreams of a silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth. The mermaids in this book are not the Disney variety – they’re dark, sinister, care little for humanity – and Tristan is trapped between them and the human girl he loves.

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posted by Briana, Evergreen Library

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JULY 5, 2012
PRR's are Back!

 

 What’s a PRR? It’s a personalized reading recommendation. You tell us a few authors and titles that you have enjoyed in the past and we suggest other books you might enjoy! It’s also all online; fill out the form and we’ll email you some suggestions. Try it out and let us know how we’re doing.

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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JULY 4, 2012
Happy Fourth of July!

 

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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JULY 3, 2012
Read This! Stupid Fast by Goeff Herbach

Just before his sixteenth birthday, Felton Reinstein has a sudden growth spurt that turns him from a small, jumpy, picked-on boy with the nickname of "Squirrel Nut" to a powerful athlete, leading to new friends, his first love, and the courage to confront his family's past and current problems.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I stupid loved this book!  Felton is an engaging and unique character with a hilarious voice. You really want to root for the kid and hope that he can figure his life out. Don't get me wrong, he can be a real jerk too but there is always reason behind it and you can relate to his frustration. The book is a quick read and great one for guys.

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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JULY 2, 2012
Maze Runner Film out in 2013!

Any Maze Runner fans out there?  If so, you may be happy to hear that they are making the book into a movie scheduled to come out in 2013. 

The film is slated to be directed by Catherine Hardwicke who directed the first Twilight movie. According to James Dashner's official website, the script for the movie has already been written. No word on casting choices yet but who would you choose for Thomas? 

And if you haven't heard yet, James Dashner is writing a prequel to The Maze Runner called The Kill Order that comes out in August. Put your name on the list for it if you haven't already.

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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JULY 1, 2012
New Books for July

Are you signed up for the Teen Summer Reading Club yet? Looking for some books to help you bump up your reading hours? Here are some hot new releases for July.

 Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas:  When a virus deadly to adults infects their high school, brothers David and Will and the other students soon break into gangs that fight each other for survival and the hope of escaping their quarantine. (7/10/12)


Perfect Escape
by Jennifer Brown:  Seventeen-year-old Kendra, living in the shadow of her brother's obsessive-compulsive disorder, takes a life-changing road trip with him. This is the latest book by the author of Hate List and Bitter End. (7/10/12)
 

Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian (#8) by Eoin Colfer: This is the last book in the Artemis Fowl series. Artemis Fowl battles his arch nemesis, Opal Koboi. Yes, there are lots of holds on this one. Add your name to the list before it gets any longer! (7/10/12)


The Thing About the Truth
by Lauren Barnholdt: Kelsey and Isaac couldn't be more different, but that doesn't stop them from falling for each other. Unfortunately, they are both keeping secrets that might shatter everything. (7/10/12)


Insignia by S.J. Kincaid:  Tom, a fourteen-year-old genius at virtual reality games, is recruited by the United States Military to begin training at the Pentagon Spire as a Combatant in World War III, controlling the mechanized drones that do the actual fighting off-planet. (7/10/12)

Before you Go by James Preller: Seven years ago, Jude's sister drowned when he was supposed to be watching her. Now his life is finally starting to get back on track: a new job, a new romance, and some independence from his parents. But can he keep it up? (7/17/12)
 
Destiny by  Gillian Shields. The last book in the Immortal series. How is it going to wrap up? (7/31/12)

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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