Thursday, December 30, 2010

Libraries & Flash Mobs

Flash mobs fascinate me. I've never participated in one (although I had a chance a few weekends ago; I was too cold and tired to make the effort), but it seems like a surprising amount of them happen in libraries.

For instance:





and, closer to home:





While this one isn't in a library, it is the first I ever saw, and still my favorite:



What do you guys think about flash mobs? Have you participated in one? Would you? If you were to put together a flash mob, what would you have people do? Where would you do it?

Give me insight and one of you'll win an ADVANCE copy of PINK by Lili Wilkinson, which hasn't even come out yet! Regular readers won't be able to get it until FEBRUARY!

You've got until midnight on January 6th to enter!

Only students in grades 6-12 who can pick their winnings up at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

(and I'm still looking for Sarah R to contact me from this post!)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Favorite Teen Holiday and Winter Books

I just started reading Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan. This is their third book they have written together, after the wonderful Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (which was made into an also great movie) and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. All of their collaborative books are delightful romps through New York City, that alternate between his and her viewpoint. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares just happens to also take place over the Christmas break.

This makes me think of some of my favorite holiday and winter books.

I adore Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, so naturally Wintersmith, where Winter falls in love with a teenage girl is a must read. (Though it is the third in the series, so you will probably want to order Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky and the upcoming I Shall Wear Midnight, too!)

Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott is one of my favorite Christmas teen fiction books, in which a holiday lover finds his cheer sorely tested.

If you want a good laugh, I highly recommend David Sedaris's Holidays on Ice, the hilarious story of the author getting a temporary job as an elf in a department store. Even better, download the audio to here him tell the story in his own voice!

But if you are sick of all this holiday stuff and want a book that captures the harsh reality of winter, the cold, the dark, the DANGER...they you should totally read The Trap by John Smelcer. It is a totally awesome survival story taking place during the short days and long nights of deepest Alaska! Great stuff.

What are your favorites? Do you know of any good holiday books for teens who don't care about or do Christmas? I couldn't find any Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Years Eve books for teens. Should there be? Or does no one care?

Hope you have a lovely winter break, with plenty of time for reading!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Video Contests for Teens

March may seem pretty far away, and summer seems like it will never get here. But librarians like to plan ahead, so we are already thinking about Teen Tech Month and Summer Reading! If you like making videos, here are two contest to be looking forward to:

1) 2011 Teen Video Challenge

"Go viral" and reach teens all across America! Create
a video promoting Summer Reading at the Library and you could win $250!
A little bit of imagination in a short public service announcement could make you the Teen Video Challenge Winner! The video produced by a Washington student or group of students that best encourages use of their local public libraries and promotes reading all summer long will take away the contest prize. The top video will be featured throughout 2011 as the official commercial for Washington’s Summer Reading Program. The deadline is March 7, 2011.

2) And of course, Sno-Isle Libraries will be having its own Teen Video Contest in March, as part of our Teen Tech Month celebration.

For ours, you will create a video promoting the library or your favorite book. Video should be 30 seconds to 3 minutes long (including credits). Libraries featured should be a Sno-Isle library. Books featured should be written for teens and owned by Sno-Isle. You must be between the ages of 12-18, and reside and/or attend school in Island or Snohomish Counties, to enter. Videos may not contain content that is inappropriate. Prizes provided by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation. Deadline will be March 31, 2011.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Book Winners!

On the scary snake video, the Random winner of THE SAGA OF LARTEN CREPSLEY: Birth of a Killer is:

Sarah R said...
my worst fear is deffinetly cows. one attacked me when i was little and i have been scared ever since.


For the awesomely awesome Hunger Games video post the random winner of HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler is:

zackery said...
I think they both would be great at the parts. I can't wait to see more.


I'm still waiting to hear from the Immortal Beloved winner, Macey who said this:

Macey said...
I want to go to one of the teen gamings or advisory meetings...they sound entertaining and fun!


If the three of you would email me at jparker [at] sno-isle [dot] org with your full name, phone number, and the Sno-Isle Library branch you'd like to pick up your prize, that'd be peachy!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Neat Looking Website for Teen Reader/Writers


Do you love books and creative writing? Have you heard about Figment?

According to the New York Times, this new website is "an experiment in online literature, a free platform for young people to read and write fiction, both on their computers and on their cellphones. Users are invited to write novels, short stories and poems, collaborate with other writers and give and receive feedback on the work posted on the site".

Looks cool to me. What do you think?

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Hunger Games Audition Video

According to the description on YouTube, this is an audition video for the girls playing Katniss & Rue. It's pretty awesome.

Note, this is the Hunger Games, so it's violent. There's even some spurting blood, so if you're averse to such things, skip the video.



via The View From Above

Let me know what you think in comments! Should Danielle Churchran play Katniss? If not, who do you think should?

You have until midnight on December 12th to enter!

Random comment will win a copy of HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler.

Tagline: "Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine...one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."


Only students in grades 6-12 who can pick their winnings up at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

**Don't forget to enter the Darren Shan giveaway, too!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Mea Culpa and Immortal Beloved Winner

So... yeah. I forgot to post the winner of Immortal Beloved. I can only think that I was caught up in planning the Halloween Party here at the Lynnwood Library and all of the skulls and cobwebs hid it from my consious mind.

Or SOMETHING.

Anyway...

Random drawing says that Macey is the winner with this comment:

Macey said...
I want to go to one of the teen gamings or advisory meetings...they sound entertaining and fun!
OCTOBER 12, 2010 4:45 PM

Macey, please email me jparker [at] sno-isle [dot] org and let me know which library you'd like me to send your prize to!

If you are jealous of Macey, remember, you can still comment to win Darren Shan's new book here. Or you can just place Immortal Beloved on hold here.