Erin’s Pick of the Week: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour

Posted on March 7, 2011 by admin

A few months ago Amy lost her Dad in a car accident.  Now she is losing her home because she is moving with her Mom from California to Connecticut.  Her mom needs Amy to get their car across the country, but since the accident, Amy hasn’t been driving.  Enter Roger, the son of a family friend, who agrees to drive the car, and Amy to her mother’s new house.

Amy expects a boring trip, with an unknown boy, sticking to her mother’s detailed travel itinerary.  But Roger turns out to be cute, and good at playing twenty questions.  Soon enough, the detailed travel itinerary is replaced by a road trip connecting the dots across the country: where Amy remembers going with her Dad, where Roger remembers being in love with a girl, where Amy always meant to go with her Dad, and where Roger seeks closure from his failed romance.  Along the way are playlists, fast food receipts, lonely roads and a bit of romance.  It turns out this road trip was just thing thing both Amy and Roger needed.  Makes me want to load up my iPod with music, get in the car and drive.

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Mortal Instruments Trivia Quiz

Posted on March 1, 2011 by admin

Do you love the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare?   The fourth book in this action-packed, romantic, and often hilarious paranormal fantasy series, City of Fallen Angels, is coming out on April 5.  Try your hand at our trivia quiz to win a copy of the new book.

Instructions:

1. Contest is open to teens and adults.

2. Grab a copy of the paper quiz at the display in the teen section at the library, or fill it out online here:
http://tiny.cc/cplmortalinstrumentsquiz

3. Return paper quizzes to the Help Desk.

4. A winner will be selected from the quizzes.  Correct answers and creative responses to why you love this series will improve your chances!

5. The winner will be notified by phone or email on April 5, the book’s release date.  If you win, come to the library to claim your prize.

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Erin’s Pick of the Week (or so): Finnikin of the Rock

Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin

When Finnikin was nine years old he swore to protect the kingdom of Lumatere.  Soon after, the royal family was murdered, and a curse has cast the kingdom into darkness.  No one can pass through this boundary.  Ten years later, Finnikin is a wanderer, looking for a new homeland for his people.  His travels bring him to a temple where he meets a strange girl called Evanjalin.  She believes the heir to Lumatere, Balthazar, still lives.  But Evanjalin is clever, devious, and more than she seems.  Can Finnikin trust her? If he does, will his people be able to return to Lumatere?

This lovely tale of high fantasy uses all of the common themes of its genre, but adds depth, maturity, and an intriguingly complex plot.  I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. Finnikin has a way with people and a true desire to do what is right.  His relationship with Evanjalin is intense from the start and becomes more complex over the course of the story.  No need for a sequel, this book tells a full story and comes to a satisfying conclusion, both romantically and politically.

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Erin’s Pick of the Week (or so): Anna and the French Kiss

Posted on February 17, 2011 by admin

This incredibly sweet and realistic love story is set in romantic Paris. Anna is sent abroad for her senior year of high school to an elite American boarding school. She was reluctant to leave her life in Atlanta behind her, but quickly falls in with a close-knit group of friends, including the smart, handsome and intriguing Etienne St. Clair. He is from Paris, San Francisco, and London, and has an adorable English accent. He has a girlfriend, she has a boy with potential back home, so while their attraction is apparent to the audience, they decide to be friends. What grows from their friendship is a deep understanding of each other complete with witty banter that blooms, over the course of the book, into love. In addition to swooning over the love story, I really enjoyed the setting of this book. The dorm life aspect is very realistic and all of the Parisian landmarks, cinemas, and patisseries made me want to go to France!

My favorite romance of 2010.

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Erin’s Pick of the Week: Hold Me Closer Necromancer

Posted on February 8, 2011 by admin

I’m trying out a new feature on the website:  reviews.  Each week I will post about a young adult book that I particularly enjoyed.  If you read something you want to share or want to write about a movie, a game, a cd, or anything else send me an email (edaly@cwmars.org), and next week it can be your review in this spot!

Sam LaCroix is nineteen, a college drop-out, a fast food worker, and a necromancer. He’s only just found out this last thing. His mother hid it from him as an attempt to protect him from the likes of Douglas Montgomery, a powerful necromancer who either wants to make Sam his apprentice, or kill him and take his power.  Sam has one week to decide.

Over the course of this week he discovers the existence of all kinds of paranormal beings, gets captured by Douglas (and thrown in a cell with a fascinating were-hound girl), and must learn to use his powers to save himself, his friends and his family.

This book is at turns scary, funny, and sweet.  Sam is a likable protagonist, obviously under a lot of stress due to the recent discovery of his powers.  He has close family and friends who support him and make for an amusing cast of side characters. Sam’s romance in captivity with half-fey half-werewolf Brid, is sweet.  A lot of magical elements in the book are introduced quickly, which has me hoping for a sequel.

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February

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin

Here are some of the most especially exciting things that are happening in February:

Montly Teen Movie: Inception - Wednesday, February 16 @ 3:00

Anime Club – Thursday February 17 @ 3:00
Screening episodes of His and Her Circumstances, a realistic high school romance with plenty of comedy.  Watch a trailer here

Cupcake Decorating – School Vacation Week - Wednesday February 23 @ 1:00cc photo via flickr by dichohecho

For regularly scheduled programing (like gaming and free computer lab time) check the
Teen Events Page!

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After School Movies!

Posted on January 15, 2011 by admin

On January 27 we’ll be showing Scott Pilgrim vs. The World at 3:00.  Click here to watch a trailer. It’s PG-13, so don’t bring your little brother.

What movie do you want to watch in February? Click here to vote.

Movies for teens will be shown after school once a month.  Visit this website or the Chicopee Library Teen Facebook page for more information about exact dates and to vote for movies.

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Digital Dare

Posted on December 8, 2010 by edaly

The Chicopee Public Library is partnering with Chicopee Comprehensive High School to present a new way to learn about some of the more interesting things the Internet has to offer.  We call it Digital Dare.  Each month there will be a challenge, something to do with exploring ways to create and learn online.  If you complete the challenge you will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.

For more information and to participate in this month’s dare: click here.

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December Programs for Teens

Posted on November 22, 2010 by edaly

It’s getting cold out, but it’s plenty warm here in the library.  Here’s what’s happening for teens in December:

Anime Club  December 2 @ 3:00 – Screening of the first two episodes of Bleach and the first two episodes of Naruto.
Video Games December 3 @ 2:30 – play Wii games on the big screen. We have Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Rock Band 2, Beatles Rock Band and Wii Sports.  We also have Dance Dance Revolution on PS2.
Teen Advisory Board Meeting December 9 @ 3:30 - We’ll be finishing the planning for our bake sale and talking about teen programs for the winter months.  Join us if you have and idea for something you’d like to do at the library!
Holiday Crafts December 10 @ 2:30 – Make cards, wrapping paper, or something to give as a gift.
Bake Sale & Food Drive December 11 9:30-12:30 – Teen Advisory Board members will be selling treats and collecting non-perishable food to benefit Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen.  Make a food donation and get a free cookie! (while supplies last)
Low Tech Gaming December 17 @ 2:30 – Play board games & card games in the conference room.  We have Jenga, Apples to Apples, My Word, Chicopoly, and Chess.
Winter Break Movie: How to Train Your Dragon December 29 @ 2:00  Join us for popcorn and a movie in our Community Room.

Hope to see you soon!

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Harry Potter Movie Marathon

Posted on October 8, 2010 by edaly

Excited about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1?  It comes out next month, you know.  You can watch trailers and learn more at the official Harry Potter movie website.

Here at the library, we’re so excited about the new Harry Potter movie that we want to get caught up on everything that’s happened so far.  We’ll be showing all six of the previous Harry Potter movies, one each Wednesday night up until the week of the Deathly Hallows premiere, starrting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, on October 13.  Movies will start at 6pm. Come early, 5:45,  for trivia, snacks and prizes.  Wear a costume, or your Hogwarts house colors.  Bring your friends, bring your parents, bring your siblings, all are welcome to celebrate the wizarding world!

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