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NOVEMBER 30, 2011
Writing Contest

 

Do you like to write?  Your Hub is running a contest where you could win $300 in the Student Journalism Contest.  The deadline is Dec. 2nd so sharpen your pencils or get your fingers tapping to get your entry in on time.

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Meet Chandra!

Meet Chandra, our newest teen librarian! You'll find her at the Belmar library. Stop by and say hello!

Favorite Teen Book: Right now, Wither is at the top of my list. I love dystopian and post-apocalyptic stuff, and my favorite tends to change from week to week.

Favorite Teen Book from the past: The Fear Street Saga really creeped me out, in a good way.

Favorite all time TV show: I became slightly obsessed with Alias when I discovered it. I think I watched all five seasons on DVD in like a month. Right now, I’m watching a lot of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Big Bang Theory.
 
Favorite all time movie: I really, really love dance movies. The Step Up movies are probably my very favorite.
 
Music I like: Pop (yes, I have Britney Spears on my iPod and I’m not ashamed to admit it) and country.
 
Favorite sport to watch: It’s a toss-up between hockey and lacrosse. Which, as far as I can tell, are sort of the same sport, except one’s on ice and the other involves throwing stuff.
 
Favorite sport to do: Hiking and swimming. And putt-putt golf.
 
Favorite food to make: Baking dessert is my favorite – I’m not much of a cook, but I make a mean cake!
 
Favorite food: Chocolate-covered gummy bears. Mmmm…
 
Do I have a pet? Yep! I have a cat named Scout. And then I have a lot of sort-of pets. My mom has a really big goofy dog named Mack that I claim as my own, and there are some mice and a bite-y hamster that I get to play with.

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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NOVEMBER 27, 2011
Beka Cooper Series

Cover.TerrierOne series all fantasy lovers should read is the Beka Cooper Series, by Tamora Pierce. It's about a girl in a land called Tortall who wants to become a Dog, one of the police force in the capital city. The book is written in a journal format, and the first one, Terrier, documents her beginning as a Puppy, a trainee, and dealing with the Lower City, one of the worst districts of the city. She has a lot of adventures and uncovers awful murders and other things using her own special brand of magic. She is a wonderful and funny heroine, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for adventure and a good laugh.

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posted by Sarah, Evergreen Library, Teen Advisory Board

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NOVEMBER 26, 2011
Science Saturday - Light up the Holidays

Holiday lights can use up a lot of energy.  LED lights are the new option for many holiday light displays.  LEDs use 90% less energy than incandescent lights.  How do they work? "LEDs are diodes, electronic devices that allow current to pass freely in one direction but not the other" (World of Invention, 2006).  Sir Richard Friend made the first LED light at Cambridge University in 1990.  LED lights are made from slices of crystals so thin that electricity can traverse their basic physical structure. 

Want to know more about how LED lights work?

Check out the Science in Context database through the library.

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 24, 2011
The Post Turkey Nap

Will eating turkey really make you sleepy?  Tryptophan is an amino acid that is the precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can make you sleepy. There is no conclusive research linking tryptophan to sleepiness but there are indications that the increased consumption of carbs, such as pumpkin pie, may allow the tryptophan to enter the brain at a higher rate.  Other good sources of tryptophan are milk, pork loin and swiss cheese.  So eat your turkey leftovers and prepare for a nice afternoon nap today!

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 23, 2011
Hunger Games


 

Hey Everyone!

Can't wait for the Hunger Games movie to come out? Try these simulation games from Scholastic called Trial by Fire and Tribute Trials.

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 22, 2011
Google vs. the Library

There are lots of people out there who think libraries are obsolete now that you can Google everything.  One person put it to the test and found that Google has everything! (but the library has more!).  Put it to the test yourself!  What can you find in Google versus the library database Masterfile Premier

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 21, 2011
Maggie Stiefvater at Colorado Teen Literature Conference


Maggie Stiefvater, author of Shiver, will be at the Colorado Teen Literature conference Saturday, March 31, 2012. Check out her new book The Scorpio Races.

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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NOVEMBER 20, 2011
The Future of Us

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler is being released tomorrow!  Have you read Thirteen Reasons Why by Asher?  This new book is set in 1996.  That's before the Internet as we know it now.  Emma and Josh install a CD-ROM into her new computer and suddenly find themselves 15 years into the future on Facebook.  What would you do if you could glimpse your future?

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 19, 2011
Science Saturday - Turkey Talk

Turkeys gobble to attract mates.  A male will build up a harem of female hens with his impressive gobbles.  Did you know that there are people out there who have done surveys to see when Turkeys gobble the most?  Males gobble the most in early to late March and then again in late April to early May.  There are also 11 different noises that turkeys will make.  Check out this interactive turkey picture to learn more about turkey anatomy. Gobble, Gobble!

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 18, 2011
Bloody Jack

Cover.BloodyJackA good book that I would recommend would be Bloody Jack and the other 8 books in the Jacky Faber series. The book series is about a girl who is 8 and loses her parents to influenza in the 1800's. She grows up on the streets of London with a gang of orphans named the Rooster Charlie Gang. At 12 she disguises herself as a boy and gets onto a royal navy ship and has adventures while trying to hide her gender from the other young boys on the ship. She fights pirates, lives through a storm and is almost killed in many battles and is soon the talk of the ship, until things turn bad for her, she is put off and left in Boston. I would really recommend this series to anyone who likes great adventures, history and female leaders.

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posted by Alyssa, Evergreen Library, Teen

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NOVEMBER 17, 2011
Manga - Black Butler

Cover.BlackButlerHi. There are many books out there in the world. A book, or rather called a manga, that I rather enjoy is called Black Butler. It is also an Anime. You read manga's from right to left starting in the front, or our back of the book and ending at the back, aka the front. It is confusing. Black Butler is the type of manga that drags you in, and keeps you in. It has a demon butler, demon dog, normal human master, and a bunch of misfits that keep you laughing. I highly recommend looking at it, and reading it, and giving it a chance. It is a great book... or rather manga.  

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posted by Laurel, Evergreen Library, Teen Advisory Board

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NOVEMBER 16, 2011
Glee Fan Fiction

Can't get enough Glee?  Well, there's good news for you.  Check out some of the web pages where people have written their own Glee stories. 

http://www.fanfiction.net/tv/Glee/
For this website you can use the ratings for age appropriate stories.

http://www.gleefanfiction.com/

http://www.gleeforum.com/Glee-Fanfiction-f32.html

What story would you write for Glee?

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 15, 2011
What's Your Fortune?

TeenTimeJoin teens at Standley Lake Library for Teen Time on Wednesday, November 16th from 7-8pm! What's Your Fortune?: Fun with Fortune Cookies - Crack open some fortuneFortuneCookie cookies, cut up the fortunes and create your own fortune! Or create a poem, or short story, or whatever you want. And, yes, you may eat the cookies while you create!

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posted by Reese, Standley Lake Library

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NOVEMBER 14, 2011
Making your own Interactive Comic!
Jason Shiga
Did you enjoy last week’s video on Paper Parkour? Try this easy version, taught by author/artist Jason Shiga. Check out his books for more neat comic adventures!

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 13, 2011
Hugo Cabret!

Hey Everyone!

Hugo book coverRemember the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick? It is coming out as a movie, Hugo, on November 23rd! I really enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to seeing how it translates to a movie. If you haven't read The Invention of Hugo Cabret yet be sure to check it out before you go to the movie!

You may also want to read Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck: a novel in words and pictures that is illustrated and written in the same style as Hugo Cabret, although it is an entirely different story with different characters. Wonderstruck is a story abouWonderstruckt Ben who lost his mother and his hearing in a short time. When he leaves Minnesota to find the father he never knew in New York City he meets Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words and Rose's story is told in pictures.
 

 

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 12, 2011
Science Saturday - Pumpkins!

Eat lots of pie this Thanksgiving and tell your parental units that it is healthy! Pumpkins are actually a fruit. There is debate over what constitutes a vegetable versus a fruit.  Generally, a fruit is considered to be the fleshy part of the plant that contains seeds and is edible.  Colonists sliced off pumpkin tops; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. They baked this in hot ashes and thus began the pumpkin pie. The world's heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,818.5.  Pumpkins are 90% water.  What is your favorite holiday pie?

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 11, 2011
The Girl Project

CoverWe recently got our hands on a new non-fiction title that we love. Please Read (if at all possible): The Girl Project is the book result of nearly 5 years of investigation by author Kate Engelbrecht. After sending cameras (for self portraits) and surveys to thousands of teen girls, she compiled the results into this honest, funny, and sometimes sad book. If you liked the Post Secret books or are looking for a deeper understanding of challenges and triumphs teen girls face today, look no further!

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posted by Katie, Arvada Library

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NOVEMBER 9, 2011
Bumped by Megan McCafferty

bumped coverVentura Vida, a minor character in the book,
says it all when she states,
"For the first time in history,
teenage girls are
the most important people on the planet."

Publisher's Weekly recommends this
book for ages 14 and up.

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 7, 2011
Paper Parkour
Paper Parkour

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 6, 2011
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Hades.coverHades is the sequel to Halo by Alexandra Adornetto, who is only 19! By the time I finally read Halo it seemed I did not have long to wait for Hades. That is a good thing because Halo left me hanging! In Hades we join the story after the angel Bethany Church and her brother and sister angels, Gabriel (yes, the archangel) and Ivy, successfully vanquished an evil entity. What could possibly go wrong? Things spin out of control for Beth when she is unable to talk her human school friends out of holding a seance on Halloween. Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, have a strong bond but will it endure after the fateful Halloween night? Toward the end of the book the reader may be feeling that things are resolved, but true to form, Hades also ends with a cliff hanger!

Put Hades on hold today and you will get it before too long! If you haven't read Halo, check it out first. In my opinion, it is worth reading them both in order. Word is that the third book, Heaven, is coming out in August of 2012.

 

 

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 5, 2011
Science Saturday - Black Holes

Image courtesy of NASA

The Hubble Telescope has observed a black hole.  Specifically, it has taken pictures of the glowing ring of matter that is being slowly sucked into the black hole.  The scientists used the new technique of Gravitational Lensing to see this new image.  What exactly is gravitational lensing? 

"Gravity bends the structure of spacetime, and hence deflects beams of light. When the alignment is right, with one object directly behind another, the foreground object's gravity 'bends' the light like a lens, a process called gravitational lensing. Gravitational lenses typically produce multiple, distorted images of the distant object." -From Science Daily

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 4, 2011
Coming Soon - National Gaming Day
NationalGamingDay2012Hey Teens!
Join us for a Games Night at various library locations to celebrate National Gaming Day!

 

All of the Teen library programs for National Gaming Day are taking place on Saturday, November 12th.
Locations participating are:
Arvada Library - 1-4pm - No sign up necessary. Teens can drop in for fun and games plus snacks anytime from 1-4pm.
Lakewood Library - 1-4pm - No sign up necessary. Teens can drop in for fun and games plus snacks anytime from 1-4pm.
Columbine Library - 4-7pm - Registration is not required but space is limited. The first 35 teens who arrive will be invited to stay after-hours at the library for games and snacks. Teens need to be picked up promptly at 7pm.
Edgewater Library - 4-6:30pm - Sign up starting on October 15th! Space is limited to the first 20 teens to sign up! Join us at Edgewater for games and snacks. Teens need to be picked up promptly at 6:30pm.
Evergreen Library - 4:45-6:30pm - Our Teen movie - Home Alone will run starting at 3pm. Games Night will begin at 4:45 at the conclusion of the movie. Games Night ends at 6:30 and teens need to be picked up promptly at 6:30. Space is limited to the first 30 teens who sign up at the Information Desk.

Come join us at one of these locations for fun, games, and snacks in celebration of National Gaming Day!

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 3, 2011
Hunger Games - District Seals

Hunger Games coverLionsgate Films has released five of the Hunger Games District Seals.

The newly released pictures include District 2-Masony, District 7-Lumber, District 8-Textiles, District 9-Grain and District 12-Mining. Of course, District 12 is the district that Katniss is from.

Check out the images! Which one do you like best?

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 2, 2011
What's Happening?

At Wheat Ridge Library Tomorrow
Energy at Play - Thursday, November 3rd - 4-5pm
Participants in Energy at Play presented by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, will work together as toy inventors to design toys that transfer and transform energy. Participation is limited to 30 so arrive early.

 

 

 

 

At Columbine Library Tomorrow
First Thursday for Teens - Thursday, November 3rd - 3:30-5:30pm

CoinPurseCome join us for this fun monthly program for Teens! This month we'll be making wallets and coin purses out of recycled materials. I guarantee you don't have anything like it!

 

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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NOVEMBER 1, 2011
Book Art

We did an altered books program at the Columbine Library this summer, but it was nothing like this! Check out this incredible artwork made out of old books.

 

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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