6th Annual Draw It Teen Art Contest

It's that time of year again - help us draw the artwork for our 2010 Teen Summer Reading Club: Making Waves @ Your Library. Just print out (or pick up) the contest entry form, create your artwork and turn it in. You may be our $50.00 prize winner and have your artwork displayed throughout the Marion area on all of our publicity posters. How cool is that? Deadline for contest entries is closing time on March 31st.

Complete Rules and Entry Form Follow . . . . .

Rules:
Contest is open to all teens grades 6-12.
Teens may enter as many original 8 1/2 x 11 drawings as they would like, but each entry must be submitted with an official entry form (photocopies of entry forms are acceptable). All entries must represent and display the phrase, “Making Waves @ Your Library”.
Please use no more than four colors, one of which must be black.
Please do not put your name or any identifiable information on your drawing.
The Marion Public Library reserves the right to disqualify any entries that display or promote objectionable material or language.
Original, digital artwork that meets the above requirements will be accepted.
Deadline for entries to be turned in to the Reference desk is closing time on
March 31st.

Go Green, Get Funky - Bottle Cap Crafts

Looking for a way to be green and have fun? We've got it. Join us on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 to make Bottle Cap Crafts. Don't throw out those bottle caps, get creative with them! You can make beaded curtains, pins, ear rings, necklaces, belts and more. We'll have everything you need (for free even!) - just show up. Provided by Marion Public Library, Heart of Ohio Mentoring and Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention.

Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, 2009

Every year VOYA comes out with a list of the top titles for middle school
readers. This year's list includes some great reads . . .

King of the Screwups by K. L. Going (This book was considered one of the top of the shelf books) (Teen Fic)
Kicked out of his house by his father, Laim goes to live with his uncle, "Aunt Pete," and tried very hard not to be popular.

Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka (Teen Fic)
This is the story of Celeste, who lives in a community that practices polygamy - as her 15th birthday approaches, she will be forced to marry an older man against her wishes.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (Teen Fic)
17-year-old Tasmin lives in a family of witches but does not have any of their magic. When a stranger asks her for help, she begins a quest to discover her true identity.

Stolen by Vivan Vande Velde (Teen Fic)
A girl with no memory must try to discover who she is . . .

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald (J Fic)
Lucy's family drugstore is on the brink of financial disaster, can makeover tips and eco-friendly business plans save it?

The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen (J Fic)
Princess Meglynne jons Calen, the magician's apprentice and Jakl, the dragon, to rid the kingdom of traitors wishing to take over the kingdom.

Hannah's Winter by Kierin Meehan (J Fic)
Hannah and Miki find an ancient message and try to solve the riddle of the "ocean boy."

For a complete list of Top Shelf Fiction, visit VOYA http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA2010TopShelfFiction2009.pdf

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Opens on Friday

This weekend I am heading out to the movies to see Percy Jackson - the series that just may be good enough to be the next Harry Potter. It can't replace HP in my heart. But everyone needs a good fantasy and adventure series to fall in love with. Plus, mythology - so that's a bonus.

I'll be sure and post my movie review on Monday. Until then, I am snowed in and reading Beautiful Creatures . . . Speaking of being snowed in. This is a great time to read, read, read. And if you are a middle school student looking for something to read, be sure to check out this year's annual list of Top Shelf fiction for middle school students http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA2010TopShelfFiction2009.pdf

More Teen Fiction Coming to the CW

Are you loving the Vampire Diaries on the CW? Or maybe you are a Gossip Girls fan. Both of these series are based on teen book series. The CW has now optioned the rights to another teen book series to be developed into a TV show: Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith.

The lives of Morgan, Ondine and Nix have always been touched on the edges by a mystery. One night, Morgan wakes to find blood under her fingernails. When Ondine looks at a painting, it comes alive. And Nix sees halos of light around people that are about to die. At a secret summer rave in the woods, the three teenagers learn of their true, changeling nature and their uncertain, intertwined destinies.

Read the book before the series premieres on the CW . . .

Steampunk Rocks! Leviathan Book Trailer

What is steampunk you ask? Steampunk is a type of science fiction and fantasy that are set in an era where steam power is still used and rebellion is a central theme. They are focused on an alternate history. It is by nature retro. If you have read The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, then you are familiar with steampunk. H G Wells wrote a lot of steampunk. So did Jules Verne. I have heard steampunk described as goth goes sepia. And yes, there is a fashion element to steampunk - lots of gears, corsets and goggles (oh my!).

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a great re-imagining of World War I. In this war, 2 societies have emerged: the Clankers and the Darwinists. The Clankers use technology to fight their war while the Darwinists use animals. Since Westerfeld does everything awesome (You have read the Uglies, right?) - this was an awesome read.

Other steampunk reads include Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Grand Tour by Patricia C Wrede, and Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.