What the Moon Saw

Clara's life didn't seem to fit anymore. She took to wandering the backyards of her suburban neighborhood, taking midnight dunks in the nearby stream, watched over by a strange white bird. Then her grandmother wrote, asking Clara to visit her Yucuyoo village in Mexico, next to the invisible waterfall. Will Clara and her new friend Pedro be able to discover its secret? To find out, read WHAT THE MOON SAW by Laura Resau.

All for One and One for All

Looking for action and adventure, mixed with a large dose of humor? On the first day he arrives in Paris, country boy, d’Artagnan manages to offend not one, but three of the Queen's musketeers. He arranges to duel with them, one after the other. Before the duels can begin, the four are attacked by the Cardinal's men and the adventure begins. To find out what happens, read THE THREE MUSKETEERS by Alexander Dumas.

New Harry Trailer

According to the magazine, Publisher's Weekly:
Harry Potter Movie Sighting
Harry Potter fans eagerly awaiting any and all news about the wizard will be happy to hear that a teaser trailer for the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie is available online at the official movie Web site. In the movie, Harry spends his fifth year at Hogwarts and has his first kiss with Cho Chang. The movie will be released on July 13, 2007.

NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER

I just finished a great book, NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER by Jordan Sonnenblick.
Upset by his parent's breakup, Alex downs some vodka, steals his mother's car and ends up "killing" a garden gnome and losing his cookies all over an exasperated cop. Alex is sentenced to 100 hours of community service with Sol, most cantankerous man in the nursing home. Read this book to find out about their zany adventures.

Rock Your Vote

The election last Tuesday was pretty amazing. But how can you have a say if you're not old enough to vote? Check out this website:
www.rockthevote.com

On the Road

I just finished an amazing book, DEFINING DULCIE by Paul Acampora. After Dulcie's father dies, her mother rips Dulcie from her home in Connecticut to start a new life in California. But Dulcie steals her father's pickup truck and drives back east to her grandfather, Frank. Read about the weird stuff she encounters on the way, and whether Frank allows her to stay in this great book.

The author, Acampora, says that listening to music helped him write the book. He posted the book's playlist on his website at http://www.paulacampora.com/soundtrack

Chew On This

In the mood for a burger and fries? You may change your mind after reading CHEW ON THIS: EVERYTHING YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT FAST FOOD by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson. As the book says, People should know what lies beneath the shiny happy surface of every fast food restaurant. They should know what really lurks between those sesame seed buns. As the old saying goes, "You are what you eat."

Mysterious Writings

Last year's mystery theater, MURDER IN MEXICO, was awesome, with Indiana Jones style treasure hunters, murderous sisters, and a bomb-sniffing flamingo. This year's should be even better. Join Coventry Public Library's Teen Writer's Group in creating a Mystery Theater. We will brainstorm our victim, the crime, the list of suspects, false clues, etc.
Wednesday November 8 and December 13, from 3:30-4:30 pm in the Staff Room.

And if you're looking for a great mystery, set right here in Rhode Island, check out BLACK DUCK by Janet Taylor Lisle. Ruben and his friend Jeddy stumble on a dead body on the beach. By the time the police arrive, the body's disappeared. Does this have anything to do with the legendary rum-running ship, the Black Duck? To find out more, check out the author's website at: http://www.janettaylorlisle.com/books/blackduck.html

Bird brains

Duane crashes head-on into puberty, with traumatic results. His encounters with "elbows" (code word for an unnamed body part) and zits will keep you laughing. Check out The Amazing Life Of Birds : (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal Of Duane Homer Leech) by Paulsen, Gary.

And speaking of birds, check out this website for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You too can get involved in Citizen Science.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/LabPrograms/CitSci/

Calling Teen Writers

Next Wednesday, October 25, is Teen Writer's Group, led by the award-winning author, Linda Crotta Brennan.
It will be from 3-4 p.m at the Coventry Public Library in Council Chambers.
Come join us and submit your poetry, short stories, nonfiction or artwork to TeenWorks! the Coventry Library publication by teens.

And while you're in the writing mood, check out the website for TEEN INK, the magazine by teens, for teens. at http://www.teenink.com/

Write Together with Fanlit

HarperTeen editors and authors invite you to join thousands of fans online to collectively create an original short story—one chapter at a time. It’s easy to get involved. Just register by clicking on the link below, and then follow the weekly schedule to participate. You can submit chapters, vote for your favorites, or just browse and get writing tips from bestselling authors. You decide on your level of involvement. But everyone has the chance to win cool prizes—all you have to do is register! To see a detailed schedule of the event, click here.

What's hot? What's not?

Teens, tell your librarian what you want to do. Help plan upcoming programs at the TAB Meeting of Coventry Public Library next Wednesday, October 11 from 3-4 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Ever wonder who decides...what's hot and what's not, I mean? Seventeen year old Hunter is a trend-setter. His job is to discover the next newest thing. So when he discovers the innovator, Jen James, with the coolest sneakers ever, he has to tell his boss. But then his boss goes missing. Is Innovator Jen involved? As he follow Jen on a wild rooftop chase, Hunter fears the end of cool as we know it. Follow his tracks in SO YESTERDAY by Scott Westerfield.

Enthusiastic?

Try ENTHUSIASM by Polly Shulman
Julie's best friend, Ashleigh is always enmeshed in some craze and dragging Julie with her. But when Ashleigh develops a passion for Jane Austin novels and decides that she and Julie must crash the dance at the all-boys prep school to find their "Mr. Darcie," Julie gets embroiled in one embarrassing situation after another. But who is writing those sonnets, and are they meant for Julie or Ashleigh?

If you're interested in writing sonnets or anything else, this afternoon, we'll have our first Teen Writers' Group of the school year. Join us at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers...and even if you can't make it, you're welcome to submit your poetry, short stories, articles, and art to TEENWORKS! (Open to all students in 6-12 grade) Just submit your material to the Reference Desk.

Feed her Heart

Cyril dreams of being a chef, but more than that, he dreams of the beautiful Rose, who just sees him as nothing more than her chubby, good natured buddy. Things get worse when Cyril's best friend Nick asks him to help him win Rose by preparing gourmet meals that Nick passes off as his own. Who gets the girl? Find out by reading Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw.

And to flaunt your own cooking skills try this recipe, which we made at our Teen Cooks Program last Wednesday.

Autumn Apple Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cupcakes:
1cup (1 large) apple, peeled, cored, and chopped (use “apple torture device”)
1 ¼ cup flour
1tablespoon cider or apple juice
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
2 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Position rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 medium muffin tins with paper cupcake liners.
2. Peel, core and chop apple
3. Put apple in a small bowl and stir in cider
4. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in the large bowl of an electric mixer at low speed.
5. Mix in eggs, oil, vanilla, and apple mixture.
6. Divide batter among 12 muffin tins, about 3 tablespoons of batter in each.
7. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 23-25 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1. Combine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in large bowl of electric mixer and beat on medium low speed for about 1 minute until smooth
2. Decrease speed and add powdered sugar, half at a time.
3. Beat until powdered sugar is completely mixed in and mixture is smooth.
4. Spread over top of each cupcake

Have your say!

What would you like to see for Teens at the Coventry Public Library? We want to know. Let your voice be heard by filling out this survey:
http://www.coventrylibrary.org/tsurvey.htm

Out of Africa

Imagine yourself fleeing famine and war, only to find your survival depends on someone who is supposed to be your enemy. That's what happens to Christian Sahay and Jewish Rahel as they try to escape the upheaval in their native Ethiopia. You can find out what happens to them in THE STORYTELLER'S BEADS by Jane Kurtz.
Author Jane Kurtz is a fascinating person, who was born in the United States but grew up in Ethiopia. Hear more about her life at http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2006/09/author-interview-jane-kurtz-on.html
Jane has started an organization to make books available to kids over there. Check out this website www.ethiopiareads.org

Culture Shock

I just read a great book, HABIBI, by Naomi Shihab Nye. The main character, Liyana, has spent all her life in St. Louis with her American mother and her Palestinian father. She's just received her first kiss when her father announces he's moving the family back to Jeruselem where he was born. Now Liyana is suddenly thrust into a Palestinian culture where only tourists wear shorts, and boy/girl interactions are strictly regulated. She's terribly homesick until she meets Omer, a Jewish boy. How will her Palestinian family react?

You might also be interested in a letter that the author wrote "To would-be terrorists"
at http://godlas/myweb/uga.edu/shahibnye.html

Tell a librarian what to do

Want to tell a librarian what to do? Come to our Teen Advisory Board Meeting, Wednesday, September 13, from 3-4 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Coventry Public Library.

Sold!

Sold is a new book due out next week. It's written by Patricia McCormick, author of Cut.

You can read an interview with her about the book at
<<http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6369325.html?nid=2788>>

The Experimental Experience

Our Fall Teen Programs have begun! Yesterday we made "Baskets of Me." See if you can spot one of our teen's creations in our Teen Nook.

What comes next? That's up to you.
Help plan our programs--come to our TEEN ADVISORY BOARD or TAB Meeting next Wednesday, September 13 from 3-4 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Coventry Public Library.

Yesterday, at our Baskets of Me meeting we got to talking about gruesome science experiments gone wrong. That reminded me of a great new book. GUINEA PIG SCIENTISTS: BOLD SELF-EXPERIMENTERS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE by Leslie Dendy and Mel Boring describes scientists driven to uncover the truth by performing wild and dangerous experiments on themselves. Some of them even survived!

The Neddiad

Kiwi is so excited. He found a book with a whole flock of parakeets. The book is called THE NEDDIAD and it's by Daniel Pinkwater. It hasn't been published yet (it will be in April), but you can get a sneak preview of the first chapters at
http://www.pinkwater.com/theneddiad/

Peace

Kiwi just finished a fabulous book, A TRUE AND FAITHFUL NARRATIVE by Katherine Sturtevant.
When Edward comes courting Meg, asking what he can bring her from his sea voyage, Meg replies that he should see if he can "manage to be captured by pirates and enslaved in North Africa," to provide a narrative that her father can sell at his book shop. When Edward is indeed captured and enslaved by Barbary Pirates, Meg feels resposible and decides to do all she can to set him free. But complicating matters is another suitor, her father's apprentice, Will.

I told you a few days ago that we have a new display of books in the Teen Nook, "Peace." I just found a neat website to check out--the Peace Jam at http://www.folkmusic.com/f_peace.htm

Chocolate Day

September 13 is Chocolate Day!
Kiwi doesn't like chocolate, but he hears that humans do.
To honor Roald Dahl, the author of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, his birthday, September 13, has been named "Chocolate Day." To celebrate, sit back with a chocolate bar and find out more about chocolate at this website:
fieldmuseum.org/Chocolate/index.html

Happy Kid

Heading back to school can be traumatic, especially if you have a reputation for carrying dangerous weapons like Kyle does. (It was a screwdriver for goodness sake! He made it as a class assignment in tech class and was just taking it home.)
To help ease his transition into Middle School, Kyle's mother bribes him to read the self-help book, HAPPY KID, but there's something really spooky about how this book works...
Kiwi says you should fly on down to your library and check out a copy of HAPPY KID by Gail Gauthier.

Funny book

Kiwi likes funny books, and he just finished reading one that made him really twitter. It was SAVING THE PLANET & STUFF by Gail Gauthier.
Sixteen year old Michael's overachieving friends are all away doing exotic things for the summer, while Michael sits at home, doing nothing. So when his grandparents' friends offer him a job in Vermont at their magazine, "The Earth's Wife," he jumps at the chance. Little does he know what living with a pair of aging hippy enviromental activists will involve.

To find out more about the book and its author visit the website:
www.gailgauthier.com

New Book Display

We have a new book display in the Teen Nook at the Coventry Public Library:
Pax
Peace
Shaanti
Shalom
Kiwi recommends HOMELESS BIRD (of course!) by Gloria Whelan.
Like many 13 year old girls in India, Koly is getting married. She's upset when she discovers that her husband is a sickly boy, but her fate is sealed...or is it?

Fall Programs

The new list of Coventry Library Teen Programs is now available. Come pick up your copy at the Reference Desk.
Our first program is "Basket of Me": create a basket that expresses the inner you!
Wednesday September 6 from 3-4 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Beach Reads

Summer's winding down, but there's still time to take a great book to the beach. Kiwi thinks these books just fly!
THE SCHWA WAS HERE by Neal Shusterman --The schwa is a boy who always seems to disappear into his surroundings. In fact, his friends decide to experiment with him...
UGLIES by Scotte Westerfeld
What would it be like to live in a future where everyone had an operation to turn pretty at 16?

Sad News

Skye passed away yesterday afternoon. He had broken his leg, and though he seemed to improve for a while, he eventually just got weaker and weaker. Kiwi is very sad and misses him terribly. He keeps flying around, calling for his friend.

We will all miss our bright and cheerful Skye!

Calling for Talented Teens!

Next week we have our Variety Show, so if you can dance, sing, play an instrument, do karate, do gymnastics, tell jokes, etc. please come and audition on Wednesday August 2 from 1-2 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Rehearsal will be at 1 p.m the next day, August 3, and the performance will follow, at 2 p.m. on August 3. Don't forget to invite all your family and friends to see our show!

And speaking of performing, have you ever read, ROMEO AND JULIET, TOGETHER (AND ALIVE) AT LAST by Avi? The main character, Pete Saltz has fallen for Anabell Stackpoole, but they are both too shy to look at each other. Now they've been given parts in the school play, as who else but Romeo and Juliet. Not only will they have to look at each other, they will have to talk and KISS!

Looking Ugly!

Today at the Coventry Library, we're getting all made up, as monsters that is! Our Monstrous Makeup Program is at 1 p.m. in the Staff Room.
Tomorrow we will be making up others in our "Creature Features" program. We're painting faces for cans to benefit the Coventry Food Bank. That program will be held in the hallway after the children's program, "Born to be Wild." Born to Be Wild is at 2 p.m. Teens should arrive to paint faces by 2:45 p.m.

Speaking of monsters, Kiwi and Skye thought you might enjoy A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula LeGuin. Sparrowhawk is a very talented wizard-in-training. His pride drives him to try out some very dangerous powers too soon, unleashing a shadow-beast upon Earthsea.

Case of the Captured Creatures

The teens at Coventry Library just did a fabulous job enacting the Mystery Theater, CASE OF THE CAPTURED CREATURES. The audience had to figure out who was guilty of capturing two endangered Golden Lion Tamarins. Golden Lion Tamarins are one of the most endangered species in the world. You can find out more about them at the National Zoo website at:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/EndangeredSpecies/GLTProgram/

If you'd like to read about book about saving endangered animals, Kiwi and Skye recommend
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. (It's about a bird, of course!)
Roy is the new kid in a hot, humid, Florida town. He is bemoaning his fate when he looks out the school bus window and spots a running boy. Roy jumps off the bus and follows the boy, who leads him to endangered burrowing owls and adventure.

Seattle Public Library

Here I am with Arthur at Seattle Public Library.
They have some impressive mountains out here, and beautiful temperate rain forests with huge trees.
THE BIG BURN by Jeannette Ingold is set here in the Pacific Northwest. It's about the fight against a massive forest fire.

Fly Away

Mrs. Brennan is flying to Washington state for a week. (Kiwi and Skye haven't figured out how she's going to do this, since she doesn't have wings.) She'll be back the second week in July.
You might pick up a traveling book, too, like SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS by Ann Brashares.

Meet Kiwi (green) and Skye (blue)!

Counting Coup and Injured Skye

Kiwi is afraid of crows, but he still enjoyed the book COUNTING COUP by Joseph Medicine Crow. The author is a Crow Indian and this is his true story about how he was trained to be a Crow warrior by men who had taken part in the Battle of Little Bighorn, and how he "counted coup" in World War II to become a Crow Chief.

Unfortunately, Skye hurt his leg. He isn't feeling very well, so he didn't have a book review for me today.

Featured Creatures Pet Display

Bring photos of your pets. (No humans please!)
Post them for display at the Coventry Public Library.
Thursday, June 29 from 1-2 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Creature Features

Kiwi and Skye are my parakeets. And of course they are avid readers.

Kiwi recommends:
Eva by Peter Dickenson
How would you feel to wake up one morning and discover that your mind had been implanted in a chimpanzee's body. Not be able to fly! The whole idea ruffles Kiwi's feathers.

Skye suggests:
The Exchange Student by Kate Gilmore
Daria has a menagerie in her room. (Skye particularly likes all the birds) She's helping her family in their work with endangered species. But things get a bit complicated when her family takes in an exchange student...from another planet.