Teen Tech Month Book Give-Away: My Adventures As a Young Filmmaker

Hey everybody. Guess what? It is now officially Teen Tech Month here at Sno-Isle Libraries.  So for our weekend book give away, I want to give you a book that will hopefully inspire you to enter our Teen Tech Month Video Contest!  Andrew Jenks is best known for his MTV documentary series World of Jenks.  And now he has written a book all about it called My Adventures As a Young Filmmaker.

Meet the filmmaker who is the voice of his generation! Behind the camera, Andrew Jenks has captured the attention of young adults everywhere with his innovative MTV documentary series, World of Jenks. When asked about his inspiration for the show, Jenks said, "I want to tell the stories of my generation. I want to be a filmmaker that is able to capture what my generation thinks, how they act, and what they ultimately stand for." Now fans of all ages will be able to discover everything they've ever wanted to know about Jenks, from growing up to becoming a renowned documentary filmmaker in this comprehensive photo-biography. How did he do it? By following his own rules for success-always be flexible, fake it till you make it, and never accept no.

Does that sound like a book you might want to read?  For your chance to win, tell me about the most fun video you've made, or an idea you have for making a video.

Winner will be selected with Random Number Generator on Saturday March 16, 2013. Be sure to leave a name with your entry, and check back to see if you won. To win you must be a teen (6th-12th grade, or 12-18) who uses a Sno-Isle Library. 

Trailer Tuesday: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Alice in Zombieland was one of the more popular speed book dating titles when I visited Alderwood Middle School before the holidays. I read it shortly thereafter, and was surprised at how much I liked it. It's WAY out there, but fun.

"Alice Bell must learn to fight the undead to avenge her family and learn to trust Cole Holland who has secrets of his own." - Publisher Description

Trailer Tuesday: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

I think the description for Breathe is better than the trailer on this one. But the trailer definitely gets the point across. What do you think?

"In a barren land, a shimmering glass dome houses the survivors of the Switch, the period when oxygen levels plunged and the green world withered. A state lottery meant a lucky few won safety, while the rest suffocated in the thin air. And now Alina, Quinn, and Bea--an unlikely trio, each with their own agendas, their own longings and fears--walk straight into the heart of danger. With two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, they leave the dome. What will happen on the third day?" - Publisher Description

2013 Teen Tech Month Video Contest

Yes, it is that time of year!  March is Teen Tech Month at the Sno-Isle Libraries and we are having our annual Teen Tech Month Video Contest once again.  This is one of my favorite Sno-Isle activities.  I absolutely love seeing the creativity you guys put into this. 

But maybe you've never made a video and aren't sure where to get started?  Here are some resources to get you going:

• First check out our rules and guidelines.  If you break them, you are disqualified, so make sure you understand them up front.
• Here is an awesome Video 101 class from Vimeo Video School.
• Check out our previous winners to get an idea of what has done well before.
• And don't forget the library has all kinds of helpful books:

Here is my personal challenge to you.  I'd like to see something as lovely and inventive as this Frog and Toad Together video done for Tacoma Public Library and the 90 Second Newbery Film Competition:

Isn't that sweet? Can't wait to see what creative and fresh things you come up with!

Trailer Tuesday: Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed should appeal to those of you who read The Luxe series or watch Downton Abbey (btw, have you seen Upside Downton Abbey? *snickers*).

Publisher description: "The intertwined lives of the prominent Averley family and the servants of Somerton Court are forever changed when an old secret comes to light."

Weekend Book Give-Away: The Archived

Now here is a job you've probably never considered before - in The Archived by Victoria Schwab, Mackenzie is a librarian of the dead: 

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive. Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

For a chance to win an Advanced Readers Copy of this intriguing new book, tell me what your job would be if you could do anything imaginable.

Winner will be selected with Random Number Generator on Tuesday February 26, 2013. Be sure to leave a name with your entry, and check back to see if you won. To win you must be a teen (6th-12th grade, or 12-18) who uses a Sno-Isle Library.

Teen Book Brunch with Karen Finneyfrock and Marissa Meyer

The Teen Book Brunch series is continuing at the University Bookstore in Mill Creek Towncenter in February and March. Sno-Isle Libraries and University Bookstore are partnering up to bring two more local authors in to talk about their new books and how they write.

Karen Finneyfrock, author of the newly released The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door, will be at the Teen Book Brunch this Saturday, February 23rd from 11-12. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door is one of the best debut novels I've read all year. Celia Door enters her freshman year of high school with giant boots, dark eyeliner, and a thirst for revenge against Sandy Firestone, the girl who did something unspeakable to Celia last year. But then Celia meets Drake, the cool new kid from New York City who entrusts her with his deepest, darkest secret. When Celia's quest for justice threatens her relationship with Drake, she's forced to decide which is sweeter: revenge or friendship.

Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder and the follow-up Scarlet, will be at the Teen Book Brunch on Saturday, March 2nd from 11-12. Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second installment of the Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner. 

The Teen Book Brunches are held at the University Bookstore in the Mill Creek Towncenter and are open to everyone, not just teens. Top Pot donuts are provided and occasionally there are giveaways. These brunches are a great place to get to know authors and hear about new books. At the the last Teen Book Brunch, where Kristin  Halbrook had her release party for Nobody But Us, there were practically more teen authors in attendance than teens- including Daniel Marks, J. Anderson Coats, A R Kahler, and Marissa Meyer. You never know who will turn up at a Teen Book Brunch! Hope to see you at the next one!