Google saves me again

I spent all of Tuesday night agonizing on how I could make yesterdays Anime club different from the rest (where we watched two episodes and drew pictures) and dove through the web looking for ideas to steal. Somehow I stumbled across Anime Bingo. The idea is to create a bingo card with squares that say things like "The Fall", "Wind blows through hair", "cry me a river", "wide eyes" and a ton of others. A group of kids watch an episode or two of an anime, and as the things in the boxes happen you mark the square, when someone wins bingo, or anime, you give them a prize, everyone clears their board, and you keep playing. I think part of the success of this program was that we were using starburst to mark our cards (and chips, I don't know why though), and I gave a mini chocolate bar to who ever won. The kids seemed to have the most fun trying to figure out if something in the show counted as an action on the bingo card, so there was a lot of, "Does that count as a blush" followed by "no that's not a blush that's a temperature", and "Yes! she cried, it counts as cry me a river" followed by "no that doesn't count, it wasn't a big cry, it was the trickle of a tear". I think the kids had a lot of fun, and to hook them, I said that the anime meeting we had at the end of the summer could be cosplay.

Because our flyers are seasonal, the one that all the kids got back in January only go up to May. I had to routinely say "yes there will be anime club this summer, the summer flyer should be out soon with all the dates" I figure since they ask, it must mean they're having fun. Now on to start brainstorming for next month, someone said Anime Jeopardy, but that might be a smidgen too advance for me.

Keeping it up

So I'm learning that the hardest part organizing a club at the library isn't the actual organization and creation of said club, it's the up keep. I began an Anime Club at my library in December and it's taking off. I don't even have to beg kids to show up anymore because they just do it on their own *woot* however, I don't know a ton about Anime, I just know enough to make you think I know a ton.

The original plan was to show movies an let the kids draw pictures with a few drawing prompts thrown in to stretch the imagination. I got some kids who like to draw but then I drew in the die hard Anime fans and now I may be in a spot of trouble. They want to do more, but I have no idea what to do. The answer seems obvious, as them what they want and give it to them, yeah but see the problem is they want to do things like LARP (Live Action Role Play), and anime charades, and games and stuff, but I still have those kids who come every month and don't know enough about anime to properly participate in things like they (not to mention they may be too young) so I'm kind of stuck.

I'm thinking of google some games to play and ideas, maybe pinterest can help me out. I think a big part of the problem is that I have a very large age range with this club, how do I find something to keep everyone happy. Ugh!!

Period 8- Review

In this full-length novel from Chris Crutcher, his first since the best-selling Deadline, the ultimate bully and the ultimate good guy tangle during Period 8.

Paul "the Bomb" Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday School. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his ex-girlfriend, unfortunately) and his other classmates don't know is that the ultimate bully, the ultimate liar, is in their midst.

Terrifying, thought-provoking, and original, this novel combines all the qualities of a great thriller with the controversy, ethics, and raw emotion of a classic Crutcher story. (goodreads.com)

~*~*~*~

I was a big fan of this book just as I was with Sarah Byrnes. There were clear similarities between Logs in Period 8 and Lemry from Sarah Byrnes and the way they ran the classes in their perspective books.What I most appreciated about Period 8 was that we were able to gain multiple perspectives on the events that were unfolding around these kids. the relationship between Paulie and Hannah has ended, because the book is told in their person, we hear the thoughts, ideas, and regrets of both of the kids. Much of the story and P8 conversation centers around the actions and various disappearances of Mary, and her strange actions toward Paulie. The POV of the book is made even more interesting as we hear the thoughts and reactions of not only Paulie and Hannah, but also Logs (the teacher), Hannah, and another character named Arney. 

Again I say, I loved this book, but there were a few aspects of it that bothered me a bit. Logs is a teacher, granted he's a teacher that these students feel comfortable telling secrets that they might not bring up to anyone else, but he is still and teacher. The students think nothing about showing up at his house in the middle of the night to talk about their problems. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief on that one. I do like that a police officer made a comment about it (like he thought it was strange and unusual as well), but I still had a hard time with wrapping my head around it.

Period 8 is a mystery, no one will deny that. However I found myself annoyed with just how mysterious Mary and Arney were acting. In one sentence Mary could switch from the innocent "Virgin Mary", as she's called, to this intense seductress. She claims she needs Paulie's help and that she wants to talk, but she leaves out a lot of information in an almost malicious manner that had not only Paulie, but me, going crazy. I just though it was a bit overkill. 

With the exception of those minor irritations I'd say that I thought the book was great.

Teen Space

    

Right now I work as a youth librarian which services everything from birth (or 0... weird) to seventeen, but the goal is to one day work just with teens. Not only have I studied this in grad school, but I've also noticed as I've library hopped from various roundtable, teen decor is incredibly important.

I was just at the Avon library this past Monday and was salivating over their teen room. There were computers everywhere, and fancy, cushy seating. Every flyer, poster, painting, and knick knack was something for teens, about teens. I'm in my 20's and all I wanted to do was hang out there. I feel like in an environment that strictly for one age group, they might be more likely to pay attention to signage that displays programs they know that regardless of what the flyer is advertising, it has something to do with them.

The libraries that don't have designated areas for specific age groups may lose interested teens or children because when surrounded by information for ages 12 and under, it's easy to ignore most of what's around you under the assumption that it's babyish and has nothing to do with you. *Sigh*

I know that I'm new to this world, but I am under no assumptions that every teen area of a library can look as fantastic as Avon or Groton or anywhere else that's luck enough to have a cool area. Sometimes there isn't enough money, or space, or time. I understand. I guess I'm getting all of this out because I wish there was enough time, money, and space. I feel like children, teens in particular, are in such a hard age group sometimes. There not old enough for adult, and they're too old for children. It's almost like the entire age group falls into the cracks if there's not someone around to pay attention.

On the up side, seeing all of these libraries gives me something to work toward!

Drama- Book Review

PLACES, EVERYONE!

Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier! (goodreads.com)


It's embarrassing to say but I relate a lot to this book, not because it reflected my middle school life, but because it reflected my high school and college life. (Sigh). Callie is crazy about all theatre, her goal in life is to design beautiful stages for Broadway plays and musicals. Her life is made, that much more complicated when she's turned down by the a guy she likes. Trying to distract herself with the upcoming musical, he life is rocked once again by twin brother Justin and Jesse.

Although, at first appearance, the book seems to revolve around pre-teen romance, there is a greater foundation. Yes, Callie does have feels for first one of the brothers, then the other, but it's very innocent and appropriate, and that's what middle school is about, first crushes and taking baby steps toward figuring out what kind of person you're going to be.

I really appreciated Callie's focus on her dram and free spirit. One of my favorite scenes in the book was where Callie took Jesse and Justin to a book store in the mall to look at her favorite book, it was filled with images of famous play, and consequently their stages. When Callie spoke about her dream to design large stages, like the one that appeared in her book, it was in the tone of a child who would shout from the rooftops to anyone who would listen that she was going to accomplish her dreams no matter what. I also love the fiasco with the working cannon. I actually began to seriously step into theatre when I was in high school and by the time I was in college I was the head of the wardrobe department and in charge of costume pieces and quick changes and basically anything that involved clothing. If I had a dollar for every time I ran into an issue with my costumes that Callie ran into with that cannon, I'd have been rich years ago :) it was nice to be able to compare Callie's life with my own past. 


There are some who don't like this book because of the fact that the book takes place in a middle school instead of a high school, or they feel that the sexual orientation of some of the characters makes it inappropriate, but the fact of the matter is that these things are happening in middle school now and needs to be address in a controlled and appropriate manner that sparks conversation amongst out tweens, and I think Regina Telgmeier did a great job with that.

Identical- Book Review

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own dark secret, and that's where their differences begin.

For Kaeleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All that Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.

Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who? (review from goodreads.com)

***************Spoiler***************








I don't want to say that  a lot of books are predictable, because they're not, but I do think it's safe to say that in many books these days (maybe with the exception of mystery novels) but by the middle of a lot of books that I've read I have a good idea of what's going to happen at the end, who may die, who the killer is, who dates whom, and so on and so forth. 

There was no way I could see the end of this book coming. The entire book bounces back and forth the opinion of Kaeleigh and Raeanne, Kaeleigh is the more timid of the two sisters. She feels trapped in the life that her family has created around her having, taking control in only in her stress binging, and finding her escape in school and the boy her loves her, Ian.

Raeanne is the bad girl who sneaks out in the middle of the night hook up with guys for drugs and other "recreational" activities. She finds way to rebel in any and every situation and looks down on her sister for her "weak" behavior and giving in the want to their dad. Raeanne can't understand why
Kaeleigh wont tell someone what their dad does, or fight against him, and she tries to set up situations where Kaeleigh could tell someone her secrete.

In the end it turns out that Raeanne had died in the car accident caused her family to spiral out of control. To deal with the insanity that was her life, it appeared that Kaeleigh had developed a personality disorder becoming her dead sister Raeanne whenever she needed to draw out a misguided form of strength. 

This is the first book that I've read by Ellen Hopkins and I can't wait until I can find time to read more of them, the twist at the end of the book was crazy because Raeanne and Kaeleigh were two distinctly different characters and the fact that one person could portray both personalities is a fantastic idea.

Five stars to Hopkins.

Busy Bee

So I haven't posted in quite some time but that's because this is my last week of school for the semester, I have this big grant writing project due on Saturday and I've been crazy busy, so I'll get back to writing as soon as that's over because I do have some things to update such as TAG's very first program! I'm so proud of those guys!