Teen Case

Spotlight on New Fiction

2012-02-15T16:00:00.003-05:00

Looking for some new reads? Check out some of the new titles that have just arrived to the teen collection!

If you liked The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, check out Legend by debut author Marie Lu. Legend is set in a dystopian world where the America is split into two nations at war, the Republic vs. the Colonies. June, a fifteen year-old soldier in the Republic is the only student to ever get a perfect score on her Trial exam, a test given to every child upon their tenth birthday. Day, on the other hand failed his trial exam. He escaped the grips of the Republic, who sends all children with low trial exam scores to labor camps, or worse death, and now is the most wanted criminal in the Republic. When June’s older brother Metias is killed, Day becomes the number one suspect. June sets off to find Day and avenge her brother’s death, but upon meeting him and learning about life in the Colonies she discovers things are not quite what they seem and that the Republic is hiding many secrets.

Check out the book trailer for Legend:

If you couldn’t put down the The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater, then you may like her newest novel The Scorpio Races. Set on the island of Thisby, it’s November, time for the Scorpio Races when riders will attempt to tame and race wild and dangerous water horses. Sean is a horse trainer by trade and four time returning champion of the races. Puck (aka Kate) lost her parents to water horses and is the first girl ever to compete in the races. She never intended to race, but when her older brother Gabe threatens to leave the island, she believes winning the race jackpot is her only chance to stop him. Readers are sure to be kept interested as the novel progresses to its riveting conclusion and they discover who the race champion will be.

Check out the book trailer for The Scorpio Races here:

Connect with the Library Online!

2012-02-08T16:00:00.001-05:00

Did you get an e-reader over the holidays? Perhaps you have access to your parent’s or sibling’s iPad or own an iPod touch of your own? Even if you don’t have access to any of the above, but have access to a PC, you can download e-books for free with your Orange library card from our downloadable e-book supplier OverDrive.

If the idea of downloading an e-book seems daunting to you, consider this: many of the newest fiction books for teens are available through OverDrive, such as Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, Crossed by Allie Condie, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, and Legend by Mary Lu.

Once a book is downloaded on your device it’s yours for two weeks. After that it will automatically expire, so you’ll never have to worry about a late fee!

To get started, click here. Then click on Quick Start Guide under the Getting Started tab on the left hand side. This will take you through step by step instructions on how to download and activate the software you need to use OverDrive with your device. If you have trouble you can always call us at (203)-891-2170 or email us at caseref@lioninc.org to make an appointment with a librarian who will take you through the process step-by-step.

Happy Reading!

Something Wicked This Way

2012-01-05T16:00:00.002-05:00

If you visited the library over the past few months, it’s likely you saw our bulletin board display featuring frightening quotes, dripping blood, and flying bats. You might have recognized (if you were brave enough to take a closer look) many or all of the quotes from some of your favorite books, like Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry.

Our bulletin board has transformed for winter, but if you were intrigued by our spooky quotes and wanted to look them over to find a new read then browse the quotes we featured below with their respective answers.

“I’d never given much thought to how I would die -though I’d had reason enough in the last few months- but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.” Twilight, Stephanie Meyer

“For an instant, I felt a thrill of genuine fear, raising the hair on my arms. The look only lasted a second, but it chilled me more than the freezing wind.”Twilight, Stephanie Meyer

“Black eyes, wild with their fierce craving for my death, watched for the moment when my protector’s attention would be diverted. The moment when I would surely die.” Eclipse, Stephanie Meyer

“She carried a knife inside of herself now, one that was always cutting her. She could feel it every time she swallowed, every time her thoughts strayed from the splendor of the wild.” Specials (Uglies series), Scott Westerfeld

“So pretty I had to eat him” Peeps, Scott Westerfeld

"She could almost hold the blood back now, not a good thing, no, because it meant he was almost finished, his brave heart almost done beating. Michael Grant, Hunger (Gone series). She knew her nature. She would recognize it if she came face-to-face with it. It would be a blue-eyed green-eyed monster, wolf like and snarling. A vicious beast that struck out at friends in uncontrollable anger, a killer that offered itself as a vessel of the king's fury." Graceling, Kristin Cashore

“Let me see the colors of your eyes boy. I’ll cut them out. Don’t think I won’t.” Graceling, Kristin Cashore

Eventually I realize that I am holding on to him just as tightly as he holds on to me. And here we are: two small dying things, as the world ends around us like falling autumn leaves.” Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy), Lauren DeStefano

“As I go, I hear her screaming my name, in a brutal, bloody way, like she's being murdered, which maybe she is. But slowly.” Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy), Lauren DeStefano,

“Flickering lights, anonymous doors, my heart escaping in drips, I'm still waking up,

but she's still sleeping, this ICU is a hotel for the dead.” Linger, Maggie Stiefvater

“Maybe the Devil I knew was better than the devil that I didn’t know. Spellbound, Laura Schultz

“There was no mistaking what he was and even if I hadn’t felt the power and darkness that radiated from him, there was no way I could miss his Mark, the sapphire blue crescent moon on his forehead.” Marked (House of Night series), P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

“He was a vampire, and worse. He was a Tracker.” Marked, P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

“It was the scent of something strange, something otherworldly, that led her to the first splashes of crimson.” Tempted (House of Night Series), P.C Cast and Kristin Cast,

“After four nights on the run, I was finally safe, tucked into bed, and enjoying the deep, dreamless sleep of the dead...until the dead decided that they’d rather have me awake.” The Reckoning, Kelley Armstrong

“I startle when I catch someone staring at me from only a few inches away and then realize it's my own face reflecting back in the glass. Wild eyes, hollow cheeks, my hair in a tangled mat. Rabid. Feral. Mad. No wonder everyone is keeping a safe distance from me.” The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

“There was a sliver of moon and a splash of stars, and the light outlined her face and glistened on the tears that ran like mercury down her cheeks." Rot and Ruin, Jonathan Maberry

“The closest zom grabbed his arm and before Benny could pull away it bit down with savage force on his wrist.” Dust and Decay, Jonathan Maberry

“Teeth closed around his forearm. The pain was instant and terrible.” Dust and Decay, Jonathan Maberry

Get Ahead on Your Holiday Gifts!

2011-12-05T19:00:00.003-05:00

The holiday season is here! For many of us this is a time when we get to see and celebrate with loved ones that we may not see regularly throughout the year. While it can be a very exciting time of year, it can also be a very hectic time filled with worries about what gifts to give friends and family.

While store bought gifts are nice, handmade gifts can be special too. They can be personalized and contain more meaning because the effort you spent making them will show. Handmade gifts are also budget friendly and can look just as nice or, in some cases, nicer than something you would buy in the stores.

To make your own handmade gifts check out some of the great craft books and cookbooks in our collection to see some ideas of gifts that you can make for family and friends. You do not have to be super artistic or a craft wizard to make many of these gifts, you just need some time and patience to follow the step-by-step directions.

For the knitting enthusiasts: check out Knitting Without Tears or Yummy Yarns, both books contain easy to make projects that your friends and family will enjoy. For those of you who would like to make something a little bolder, how about giving tie-dye a try? Anyone who came to our summer tie-dye event will tell you that tie-dyeing is as easy as can be and if you use a pattern from Contemporary Dyecraft your project may end up looking professionally done. You can also learn how to make a dreidel pin or Kiddush Cup Necklace in Crafts for Hanukkah or create decorations and games in Chanukah Fun.

You can never go wrong with a baked good to bring to a holiday party or give as a gift either. Check out Baking for Gift-Giving for the basics. If you are heading to a cookie swap be sure to take a look at Step by Step Christmas Treats and Christmas Cookies. Also, if you are heading to a Hanukkah celebration try The Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen for recipes on Potato-Vegetable Latkes and Chocolate-Covered Matzahs. Yum!

Lastly, don’t forget to finish off your gifts with homemade wrapping and greeting cards! Making Great Bags, Tags, and Boxes will get you started on how to create your own unique and personalized wrapping. For inspiration on how to make your own cards try looking at Making Greeting Cards with Creative Materials to help you create one of a kind cards that your friends and family will love.

Good luck with your holiday gifts and remember to stop by and ask the library staff if you need help finding any of the books mentioned above.

Season’s Greetings!

From A Book to the Big Screen

2011-11-28T19:00:00.019-05:00

Did you see Breaking Dawn, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part II), or The Three Musketeers in theaters this year? Did you read the book before seeing the movie or did you have to read it right after?

Many of this year’s blockbuster hits started out on the bookshelf before making their way to the big screen. Also, there are many books currently in the process of being made into movies - like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, or The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks – that will be coming out in theaters in 2012.

If you are looking for a book that you can read and then watch check out the Mid-Continent Public Library’s “Based on the Book” Database. You’ll be amazed at how many movies are based off published books.

Send us in your thoughts on what book to movie combination is your favorite or what book you think should be made into a movie.

Celebrate Banned Books Week! Sept. 25-Oct. 1

2011-09-27T15:00:00.011-04:00

Have you read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer? How about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? Or Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein?

These are just a few of the thousands of books that have been banned or challenged in this country. Every year - yes it still happens! - people try to remove books from libraries, schools, and book stores all over the country because they have content that some people think is inappropriate for teens like you to read.

If it wasn't for librarians, teachers, parents, and teens speaking out against censorship you may have never been allowed to read some of your favorite books! So celebrate your freedom to read what you like and read a banned book!

Here are a few great challenged and banned teen books in our collection:
[Click the title to find out if it's available.]

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Tell me some of your favorite books in the comments and I'll tell you if they've been BANNED!

Orange Teens Win National Video Contest!

2011-08-04T12:00:00.007-04:00

Orange teens Patricia Thomson, Melissa Cross, Rebecca Crystal, Samantha Crystal, Lizzy Giovanniello, and Lindsay Weiner were recently selected as the Connecticut winners of the You Are Here Teen Video Challenge 2011, a national competition for teens to get involved with reading and their public library's summer reading program.

The group’s creative video “U. Runique” depicts the girls using the Case Memorial Library and escaping through books into different fictitious worlds.

Check it out here:

Isn't it awesome?!

For their hard work and ingenuity, the girls received a monetary award of $250 and the Case Memorial Library received $100. The library is going to use its money to buy some cool new stuff for the teen collection.

We're so proud of all of you! Congratulations!!

You Are Here: Mexico: Fiesta!

2011-07-13T15:20:00.000-04:00

Even the chili peppers are excited about our midsummer fiesta this Saturday, July 16 at 1 p.m!

Come (hungry!) to the library for our fiesta and Rebecca and Kathy will show you how to make yummy Mexican food.

On the menu: pico de gallo, restaurant-style salsa, guacamole, quesadillas, and pina coladas!

Everyone will get to eat all of the food we make so bring your appetite. After the demonstration is over and we're all sufficiently stuffed, it's pinata time!!

Just let us know if you're planning to come so we have enough food and pina coladas for everyone.

Remember that you'll receive one passport stamp for attending this program. For every stamp you earn you will receive one raffle ticket to enter in our prize drawing!

You Got the WRITE Stuff!

2011-06-23T15:26:00.001-04:00

Part of this year's summer reading program includes writing reviews to share on this very blog! For each review you write you will receive a stamp for your passport that will earn you a ticket for our end of summer reading raffle. You've picked up your passport, right? The best part is that you can review anything you want - books, graphic novels, music, movies, even websites!

So what IS a review anyway? It's not a book report or even a summary. A review is just a couple of sentences about what you're read, listened to, or watched that gives other teens an idea of whether or not they'd be interested in it. Above all, it's your personal opinion, so have some fun with it!

Say you've read a book and you want to write about it. Think about what you've read and jot down some of your thoughts. Would you give this book a thumbs up or a thumbs down? Would you recommend it to a friend? Did you enjoy it? Did you laugh out loud when you were reading it? Or cry? Was is just terrible? Was it scary? Did the ending surprise you (Shhhh! Don't spill the beans!) Was it exciting? What type of story was it? Adventure? Mystery? Steampunk? Did you like the main character? Do you think girls would like it or would boys like it too? Would you recommend it to a certain age group?

Still stumped?

Check out Teen Reads for some book reviews written by teens just like you!

Remember - you're not writing for a Pulitzer Prize or even a grade! So don't stress and have some fun. When you've finished your review email it to me (Rebecca) at rharlow@lioninc.org or you can write it out and drop it off to me at the library.

Happy writing!

You Are Here: U.S.A. Teen Summer Reading Kick-Off Party

2011-05-31T19:00:00.001-04:00

You Are Here! The Teen Summer Reading Challenge will begin with a kick-off party on Saturday, June 18 at 1 p.m.

We're having a red, white, and blue tie-dye party on the back lawn and making yummy ice cream sundaes. Bring something of your own to tie-dye (t-shirts, pillowcases, scarves, totes, etc.) and we'll show you how to make cool patterns! Let us know if you plan to come so we have enough supplies and ice cream for everyone.

You will receive one passport stamp for attending this program. For every stamp you earn you will receive one raffle ticket to enter in our prize drawing!

You Are Here: Teen Summer Reading Challenge 2011

2011-05-31T15:40:00.000-04:00

You may be here this summer, but you can travel the world and beyond when you participate in the "You Are Here" Teen Summer Reading Challenge! We'll be visiting a different country each month.

You'll have the chance to earn great prizes by reading books, attending our teen summer programs, and submitting reviews to this blog. As a bonus, every teen who reads at least 5 books between June 20 and August 6 will receive a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card.

Guidelines for Teens

• The Teen Summer Reading Challenge “You Are Here” runs for 7 weeks from Monday, June 20 to Saturday, August 6. The Challenge is open to all students entering grades 7 through 12.

• You can register and pick up your Summer Reading Passport at the teen summer reading kick-off party on Saturday, June 18 at 1 p.m. or at the teen desk beginning Monday, June 20. Please record each book you read in the Reading Record in the back of your passport.

• You must read 5 books between June 20 and August 6 and turn in your Reading Record at the library to receive your summer reading prize. Any books you read for the Amity Summer Reading Program and the Governor’s Reading Challenge can be counted toward your reading goal!

• Bring your completed Summer Reading Passport to the end of summer reading party “You Are Here: Greece – Oddball Olympics” on Saturday, August 20 to receive your participation prize and a final passport stamp.

• If you can't make it to the party, you can show your completed Summer Reading Passport at the adult circulation desk beginning Monday, August 22 to receive your participation prize.

Still have questions? Send me an email!

Rebecca

rharlow@lioninc.org

Welcome to the Case Memorial Library Teen Blog!

2011-05-31T11:35:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Case Memorial Library's new teen blog: Teen Case! I will be periodically posting information about books and other new materials, teen programs, interesting web sites, and more. You can also check here for information and updates about teen summer reading.

I am so excited to share fun and interesting information with all of you and I hope you will share your thoughts with me too!

Have you read a great book recently that you would like to share? Have you seen a movie that you would like to review? Do you want to share some of your favorite music with us? Do you have an idea for a program that you would like the library to do or want to suggest something for us to purchase?

This is the place to share with the library and other teens. I look forward to hearing from all of you!