Hello to all the teens who are visiting this blog to earn an orange badge.  As you can see, our Teen Blog is very bland and has had no activity since 2013!  I hope to change that.  I would really like this blog to be a space for you all to come and see what other teens are reading and listening to and watching.  I want this blog to be a wall of all the good (and bad) books, music and movies, magazines, etc. that are currently popular.  PLEASE BE ADVISED!!!!!:  Do not make a comment on this blog because your information will come back anonymous and I will not be able to tell who has posted what and you will not be able to earn your orange badge for Blog, Blog, Blog!  I have had a few comments already to post to the blog and I appreciate your response.  However,  to earn the orange badge, you need to go to the Teen Website for the Blog, Blog, Blog page and submit your response there.  I can't wait to see all the great ideas you all have.

Online Read and ReviewHold Fast
by Blue Balliett
Reviewed by Brianna
Rating: ****

  Hold Fast follows an 11-year-old girl named Early Pearl, her 4 year-old-brother, Jubie, their father Dash and their mother Sum in their loving, little, one room apartment in Woodlawn, Chicago.  They call themselves Dashsumearlyjubie, and though they are poor in money, love is abundant among them.

They love books.  Every day when Dash gets home from his job as a library page, he sorts his books for the bookseller and then reads to Early and her brother, sharing with them the magic of words.  When Dash doesn’t come home one night, and several nights after that, they all know that something is wrong, especially Early, but what she didn’t know was how wrong it was.  Many days after her father disappears, Early tells her mother of a stack of money her father had hidden, a very large sum for a library page.  Soon thereafter, three masked men come and destroy what little they have left, threatening Early, taking their money and, curiously, all their books.  After they are gone, Early finds a book they left behind.  The First Book of Rhythms.  In all the chaos, Early and her mother fail to notice the books importance both in the mystery of the break-in and in Dash’s disappearance.

Now that all they have is destroyed, they are forced out of their apartment and onto the streets, hiding from the men that had attacked them.  They get bounced around the homeless shelter system during this time.  Sum tries hard to get a job to take care of Early and Jubie, while fighting her oncoming depression.  All hope of finding Dash slowly fading in her mind.  Finally, when she has exhausted all avenues, she can think of, she slips into a depression, leaving Early and Jubie to almost fend for themselves.  At this point, Early realizes that she is the only one left that is looking or her father.  Will she be able to find him?  Will she be able to hold fast to her dreams?

Hold Fast is really quite an amazing piece of literature in almost every aspect I can think of.  The writing style is unique and different from anything I’ve ever seen, but done fantastically, as Balliett always does.  The book was also quite deep and inspirational, with many messages portrayed throughout.  One of these was the interesting and detailed glimpse into the lives of homeless people, who are often disregarded and treated as if they’re beneath the average person with less rights.  Hold Fast helps to show us that they are people like us, who have fallen on hard times, and are suppressed from getting help.  It’s wonderful that Balliet has chosen to write about this subject, as it’s so often ignored, brushed off or thought of as an economic symptom rather than being actual people in actual situations of need.  The main point conveyed, though, would be to hold on to your dreams.  How working hard for some of or smaller dreams can make larger dreams come true.  Hold Fast is a wonderful, beautifully written and well thought out book that I would recommend to anyone, young or old.

 

 

Online Read and Review
Money Run

by Jack Heath

Reviewed by Brianna
Rating ****

 

Money Run is centered on Ashley Arthur and Benjamin, best friends and partners in crime.  When Ash's  mother left her and her dad, Ash and Ben had started stealing money to make up for the lack of money.  They soon found that they greatly enjoyed it and started doing larger and larger heists more for the kicks than for the money.  Then they start receiving emails from The Source, an anonymous figure who emails them times, dates, locations and amounts of money for them to rob.  Soon they get an email offering a job to steal from one of the richest men in the country, Mr. Buckland.  It's an irresistible offer and they snatch it up with enthusiasm.

 

They soon find out that this is nowhere near as simple as other heists they've done in the past.  Ash gets in through an interview with Mr. Buckland, who mentions things quite odd to tell a a15-year-old girl, including the governments control on him and the disadvantages of being rich.  Ash is slightly shaken by this, but nevertheless continues on her quest for the money.  Things are much harder than they seem, though, and Ash is confronted with problems far beyond what she had come expecting, including a tenacious assassin, anthrax, and a far-too-intelligent detective.

 

Money Run  is a great action-packed book, with all the qualities of a high-tech spy movie in a teen-oriented chapter novel.  With unique characters and intriguing plot twists, it makes for a captivating read.


Online Read and Review

 

Forevermore
by Cindy Miles

Reviewed by Miranda

Rating:  *****

 

 

This book is about Ivy Calhoun and her new home in Scotland.  When her mother gets married to Niall MacAlister (the laird of Glenmorag Castle) they move to Scotland to live with him.  But things are not in the clear yet.  There's her mean old grandmother who hates her guts.  She still has to start her new school, get used to their new uniforms, not to mention there's a ghost in the castle.  Logan Munro (a gorgeous ghost) is warning Ivy about a mysterious danger coming.  Is Logan telling the truth?  You'll have to find out.

 

I love this book!  I like books that have romance, mystery and suspense.  This book is basically all three of those things put together!  What are you waiting for, READ THIS BOOK!!

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful and the Cursed

by Page Morgan

Reviewed by Miranda

Rating:  ***

 

 

This book is about a girl named Ingrid Waverly.  She is forced to leave her home in London with her mother and her little sister, to Paris.  When they get there, it isn't a house they are living in, it is an abandoned abbey.  And what's worse, Grayson (Ingrid's twin brother) has gone missing.

 

I basically understood the summary of the story but the rest of the book was a bunch of misunderstandings to me.  This book wasn't GREAT or LAME, it's kind of in the middle. The book may not have made sense to me but that doesn't mean you won't like it.

Teen Online Read and Review

 

 

A new way for teens to find out what books are coming out and whether or not they are worth reading . . .before the book is even published.  This program is designed for teens to read books that have not yet been published and give their opinion on whether or not the book is worth reading.  Stop by the library and check out our selection of unpublished books, then take them home and read them.  When you are finished, give us your opinion.  These opinions will be posted on our blog so other teens can read your reviews and decide if they want to read the book or not.

Teen Iron Chef 2013

 

I would like to take a moment and thank all of the teens who participated in the first annual Bangor Public Library Teen Iron Chef 2013 Competition.  Because of you, this program was an incredible success.  The way the teams worked together to create their own dishes from the ingredients provided was exceptional and commendable.  I was quite amazed at how well you all were able to create dishes from, what I thought to be, very difficult ingredients.  you all proved yourselves to be thoughtful and impressive in your culinary abilities.  Speaking on behalf of all the judges, we were thrilled with the food that you created and how well all of the dishes tasted.  Some of you had culinary training, some of you just cooked at home, and some of you didn't cook at all.  To come to the library having no idea what the secret ingredient might be and to make the exceptional dishes that were made, you should all be very proud of yourselves and I look forward to trying this again next year.  Let me know if  Teen Iron Chef 2014 might be something of interest to you.  In the meantime, Allez Cuisine!

Labor Day Weekend and 13 to Life

Labor Day weekend, three days to clean, do last minute summer chores and enjoy the beautiful weather, I was psyched.  However.........
This summer I had a wonderful visit from YA author Shannon Delany.  To my horror we did not have her series 13 to Life.  I promptly ordered them.  Last Friday, I took the first one home to read.  Needless to say none of my ambitious plans were accomplished.  No, it did not take me three days to read, but I spent a great deal of time fretting that I couldn't tear into the second installment until we reopened on Tuesday.  Why can't libraries be opened 24/7? 
The catalog summary:
Jessica Gillmansen, a high school junior, is hiding information about her mother's death when she meets Pietr Rusakova, a new student with a family secret of his own, and the two bond as she investigates local news stories about werewolves and the Russian mafia. 
This summary gives you a clue about the story, but there is soooo much more, fascinating, well written characters, lots of nail biting action, romance and humor. 

Christine

Teen Summer Reading

Yes, we are already planning our Teen Summer Reading Program.  Once again we are joining forces with the Collaborative Summer Library Program.  The Theme this year is You Are Here.  CSLP is hosting a video contest for Teens to promote the program, you could win $250!   So click on Contest for details and get your fellow Teens reading this summer.

Teen Presidential Debate

Last night the Library hosted a debate on Obama's and McCain's health care policies. For those of you, adults and teens, that did not attend you missed a really wonderful event. Four members of Bangor High School's debate team, Andrew Beaupain, Katie Coffin, Randy Hughes and Rebecca Ye, along with debate coach Debbie Averill offered a lively and informative evening. Ms. Averill started the program with an explanation of debate procedure. She also said that at competitions the debaters must be prepared to argue both sides, a coin toss decides which side they defend. I can't help marvel at what a wonderful learning experience this is for young people. Not only must they learn both sides of an issue, they also have the chance to empathize with those that hold a different viewpoint. Having been a theatre major and doing role reversal exercises I know that this is a valuable life-skill. The Bangor High debate team ranks high in competitions and seeing them in action I can see why. (October 17th at a competition at Cheverus High School, the Public Forum debaters swept the first five places!)

Book to Film

The teen summer reading program Book to Film is going great, thanks to YA Board member, Kassidy, for the idea! Our Summer's End Film Festival is also creating a lot of interest, http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/kidsweb/Teen2008/FilmFestival.htm. You still have time to film your masterpiece and enter to win a digital camcorder.

Gaming & Summer Reading

Patrick's Teen Gaming Tournament was a smashing success (read Patrick's blog on BPL's homepage), so we are setting aside a time each week until school ends to let teens hone their DDR skills. This will be on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 PM, starting May 1st and continue through June 5th. We will take a break for our Teen Summer Reading Program and resume in the fall.

This years Teen Summer Reading program (starting June23rd) will be Books to Film. Review books, audios, magazines or a teen program and be eligible for our weekly $25 gift certificate. If you read a book that has been made into a movie and compare the two it will triple your chances of winning. Movies for teens will be shown every Tuesday at 4:30 PM, these, of course, will be movies based on books. There will also be a Short Film contest. Films should be no longer than 10 min. and must be appropriate for general audiences. At the end of the program we will have a film festival and show the entries, a panel of judges will decide the winner. The winner will receive a digital camcorder. More information & details will be available in June.

Welcome to the New Teen Blog!

The Teen Adivisory Board is very excited about the Bangor Public Libray's new website. The new Teen Blog is a way for area Teens to express their opinions and let the Library know what they think of our collection, programs and website.

Christine
cerickson1@bpl.lib.me.us