Summer Reading Program

Are you sad that school is over because you'll miss the library?  Well, don't forget that the public library is open ALL summer, and you don't even need to do homework!

Loussac Library will have their summer reading kickoff this Saturday at noon.  Come sign up for the summer reading program, and see what other fun things are going on there.  If you love to read and you keep track of what you read, you will earn prizes at the end of the summer!  Find out more about the Reading Rendezvous here.

Time's Up!

The end is here book lovers!  TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO CHECK OUT LIBRARY BOOKS!  All library books are due on Friday!  So start scrounging around for those books you haven't seen in a while, and bring them back home!  Our library books need to come home to roost for the summer so they'll be able to entertain new audiences in the fall!

Vote for Our Artist!

By now you've probably heard about our Google Artist, Emma, who is one of ten finalists from around the country in their middle school division.  Now that they've chosen the finalists, it is our chance to vote for OUR favorite.  I know who I'm voting for!  If you want to vote for Emma, go here.  Or click on the photo above. Voting ends at midnight on Friday, May 10th.  So vote now!

May 4th Is Free Comic Book Day!

Where: Bosco's Spenard and Bosco's Dimond Center  
When: Saturday May 4th. The Dimond Center opens at 10am and Spenard opens at noon. 

Bosco's will be giving out free comics from a special selection of outstanding comics. Everyone gets up to five free comics. If you  wear a costume you get up to ten free comics!  The special selection of comics includes over forty titles from all the major publishers. Marvel and DC often kickoff major story lines in their Free Comic Book Day comics. It will be plenty of great reading for everyone!  Bosco's is taking part in this national event because they think that comics are great and that everyone should be reading them!

Teen Top Ten 2013 Nominees

Every year teens from around the country nominate their favorite books of the previous year, and then everyone gets to vote on them.  The list of the nominees has just been released by YALSA.  Voting will be online next August and September, and then the top ten will be announced during Teen Read Week (October 14-18).  So check out the titles below, and read up over the summer.  We will be voting next fall!

Here is the video if you want to see the titles.

• Crewel by Gennifer Albin
  In a futuristic world, Spinsters are women with the power to weave everything into form, whether it be food, buildings, or peoples’ very lives. Adelice Lewys has this talent, and she is whisked away into a world of luxury and elegance because of it. Although it is often advertised at the perfect life, it is far from it as things are never how they seem.
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
  Emma has never really questioned her ability to communicate with fish, her strange violet eyes, or her awkwardness on land, but when her best friend, Chloe, dies in a shark attack and the attractive, mysterious Galen keeps showing up in her life, Emma soon learns that she belongs in a different world –- one that is underwater. In the meantime, Galen, the prince of the Syrena, must learn why Emma seems to not quite fit in with either the humans or the Syrena while battling the strong attraction he feels towards her. As the relationship between the two develops, they are faced with difficult decisions between duty and desire that could lead to a huge change of Syrena history.
• Underworld by Meg Cabot
  In the second book of the Abandon series, Pierce Oliviera has been — yet again — kidnapped by John Hayden, the ruler of the Underworld. However, this time she can’t escape, and when she gets a video on her phone predicting her cousin Alex’s death, Pierce panics and begs John for help. She will do anything if only he will help her cousin out, including staying with him forever in the Underworld.
• Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
  When her evil father, King Leck, dies, Bitterblue is made queen of a kingdom she knows nothing about. As she struggles to come to terms with both who she is and the legacy her father left on the city, Bitterblue tries to discover the secrets of her father’s crimes by walking the streets of her own city in disguise. Filled with struggle, suspense and surprises, will she be able to turn her kingdom into a better place?
• Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
  What really happens at the end of the world? Cannibals, Baggers, people try to sell you — and in this world, sixteen-year-old Evie is one of the few healthy teen girls. Evie sets out on a quest to find herself, all while things heat up between her and Jackson, the troubled bad boy from across the tracks. She knows life will get even worse as she comes to realize that she isn’t like other people. Luckily, or maybe unluckily for her, Jackson is the only one that can help her survive.
• Skinny by Donna Cooner
  Ever has always wanted to live in a fairy tale, but with 302 pounds weighing her down, it’s difficult to achieve. It’s even harder with Skinny, her own private critic, constantly belittling her. In this inspirational tale, Ever discovers the truth of learning how to overcome and accept the issues that plague her.
• Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
  After being raised her whole life by her fairy godmothers, Mirabelle runs away to the town where they said her parents died. But when she gets there, she starts to notice that it isn’t any ordinary town and that the teens who live there are fated to play out the Grimms’ fairy tales. So when Mira finds out that she, too, has a role to play, it’s only a matter of time before her story could lose its happy ending.
• Croak by Gina Damico
  Lexington “Lex” Bartleby is a juvenile delinquent who is sent to her uncle Mort’s after her latest stunt. Once there she discovers that she is a Grim Reaper. She was born to have the ability to take the souls from dead bodies and send them to the Afterlife. On the job, she feels the need for justice for the poor people who have died, but they aren’t allowed to do anything but transport the souls. As she deals with this struggle, her limits are tested as she discovers how far she will go to help the souls and herself.
• The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
  For as long as he can remember, Gene’s father has always taught him how to keep a low profile so no one can notice that he’s different. He can’t run as fast, he can go outside in the daytime, and he doesn’t have a lust for blood. Gene is human, and each day is a battle to keep his secret locked away or be devoured by everyone around him. When he is chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hunt the last few remaining humans, he is thrust into the fight of his life and into the orbit of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible. Little does he know, however, she has a few secrets of her own.
• 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
  When NASA holds a world-wide contest for returning to the moon, no one — not even the three teenage participants — can fathom what is really in store for them up on the airless, empty gray mass. Or is it truly empty … ? Unbeknownst to them, what they find up there will change not only their lives, but the lives of everyone on Earth.
• Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
  Dragons and humans have finally achieved peace, and the anniversary celebration is fast approaching. For Seraphina Dombegh, who is half dragon and half human, life is about blending in. However, a series of events will place her in the path of the Prince Lucian, Captain of the Queen’s Guard, and a hunt for a killer determined to start a war.
• Wake by Amanda Hocking
  Three mysterious girls have just blown into town, and everyone has their eyes on them. Little does everyone know, they also have their eyes on the towns’ residences. Gemma in particular has caught their eyes, and they want her. Little does Gemma know, she’s about to be thrown into a situation she might not be able to get out of.
• Tilt by Ellen Hopkins
  Tilt tells the story of three teenagers, all wondering about who they are and how they fit into the world. One struggles with a teen pregnancy, another deals with AIDS, while the last must overcome an abusive relationship. As things begin to change drastically, with them not in control, all they can do is hang on for the ride.
• Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
  Sunday loves to write stories; the only problem is that when she reads them aloud, they tend to come true. So when a frog claiming to be a cursed human comes along, he asks her to do two things: to read a few stories that won’t harm anyone and to kiss him. When you kiss an enchanted animal — or in this case, a frog — the enchanted will return to his true self. What Sunday doesn’t know is that if she kisses him, her life will change forever.
• Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
  Ismae is the daughter of the God of Death. After a near escape to a convent from her arranged marriage, Ismae is trained in the arts of a handmaiden of Death: assassination. Sent to the household of a possible traitor, Gavriel, Ismae begins to see glimpses of faults within her convent and honor in the man she is sent to spy on. Despite any feelings or doubts, she knows her first duty is to Death, but she has to wonder: what will her duty cost her and the man she is coming to love?
• Butter by Erin Jade Lange
  Butter is a morbidly obese teenager who is sick of being invisible but who doesn’t really want to make a splash either. One day, he’s finally pushed over the edge, and he posts a blog about his last meal, the one that he plans will kill him. This blog post brings him instant popularity, making Butter happy for once in his life. But Butter knows that his life is still far from perfect, and he must struggle with himself to determine who he will be and what course his life will take.
• Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
  Monument 14 is a book filled with terror, fear, and love, all inside a supermarket where fourteen kids are trapped . They are unable to leave as a monster hailstorm has hit, leading to variety of other disasters like a chemical weapon spill. Now they must find a way to escape their town, Monument, and get to safety in Alaska.
• Every Day by David Levithan
  A wakes up in a different body every day. It has always been that way for A, and A has rules to live by, like not getting too involved in the person’s life. Then A meets Rhiannon, the girlfriend of Justin, the boy whose body A is inhabiting. Suddenly, none of the rules apply because A is falling for Rhiannon and she won’t leave A’s mind even after A has left Justin’s body…
• Son by Lois Lowry
  In this new branch of the dystopian story started by The Giver, we follow the life of Claire, a birthmother in Jonas’s community. When Claire gives birth and her baby is taken from her, we see the first signs of emotion from someone besides Jonas in the community. In this riveting tale about the strength of a mother’s love, you’ll be whisked through an epic adventure of good vs. evil that explores the concepts of freedom, love, and sacrifice.
• I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
  Jazz is the son of an infamous serial killer and has witnessed crime scenes from the killer’s point of view. So when a body is discovered, Jazz wants to use the skills he knows to help find the killer. However, he’s not just trying to prove to other people that he’s not like his father; he’s also trying to prove it to himself despite what he already knows.
• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
  Echo is a high school girl with “freaky” scars on her arms and no memory of how it happened. Noah is the high school stoner who uses girls and has no future. Over the course of their senior year, their lives will intersect in a way they never could have imagined, going through a journey that will prove to thems and each other that they are more than what their reputations demand.
• The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
  In a faraway land, civil war is brewing. To unify his kingdom’s divided people, a nobleman named Conner devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him on the throne. Four orphans are forced to compete for the role, including a defiant and clever boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point — he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. His rivals have their own agendas as well, so Sage must trust no one and keep his thoughts hidden. As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of lies unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that may very well prove more dangerous than all the lies taken together.
• Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult
  Delilah is a lonely, straight-A, freshman student who is shunned by nearly everyone at her school except for her punk best friend, Jules. Her mother pushes her to get out more by making her join the swim team even though she always gets last place. Her father left her for another family and never visits. So it’s no wonder she would rather spend her days reading. She finds a fairy tale that she can’t stop reading and falls in the love with the prince of the story. Too bad he’s not real … or is he?
• Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
  War is brewing and unrest is widespread. The breaking point is a single incident in the dying nation of Paelsia. While three kingdoms battle for power, four young people find themselves greatly affected by it as they experience things like betrayal and war.
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth
  In the sequel to Divergent, Tris Prior is safe at the Amity compounds with her fellow survivors. With the whole city at war with itself and Jeannine looking for all the Divergent, Tris must learn to embrace her own divergence and understand it, though it might prove a dangerous task.
• Immortal City by Scott Speer
  The Immortal City: where guardian angels only protect the richest people and it’s the hottest, trendiest thing to be an angel. Maddy doesn’t quite understand what all the hype on angels is about, but when the most desired angel, Jacks, asks her for help, she finds out more about angels than she ever expected possible. Soon after, they immediately fall in love. But when someone threatens this love, what will they do about it?
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
  The Raven Boys is a thrilling adventure that captures you and takes you down the supernatural path with a daring girl named Blue, four complicated guys, and one life-altering quest and mystery of finding the Glendower King.
• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
  Verity is held captive by the Gestapo in 1943. She is told to reveal the secrets of the pilot who brought her to France or face the brutal consequences. As she does this, she weaves a story of an unlikely friendship and the bonds formed by it. Their tales intertwined form a suspenseful, breathtaking narrative of espionage — hope — horror — and friendship that spans untold secrets!

Best of... Spine Poetry 2013!

April is National Poetry Month, and for the fourth year in a row we've opened up the library to be a spine poetry creation lab!  We had way over a hundred poems (we're still shelving the books now), but there was some amazing creativity.  Below are the best of the best for 2013.  Enjoy!

It's Spine Poetry Time Again!

It's National Poetry Month, and that means spine poetry!  For the rest of the month the library will be a workshop for anyone who wants to create a spine poem.  Directions for creating a spine poem:

1. Start looking at book titles in the library to see what strikes you. Arrange and rearrange them in your head. The best part of this type of poetry is that you don’t know where you’ll end up.
2. Have a pencil and paper with you to write down titles that stand out – you can refer back to them later if you want.
3. When you find an intriguing title pull it and try to make a poem with it.  If you don't use the book put it on the spine poetry cart near the bulletin board.  Maybe it will inspire someone else!
4. Feel free to use pre-selected intriguing titles from the spine poetry cart.
5. Don’t be afraid to use the library catalog to look up titles with specific words or phrases that fit.
6. Please don't cannibalize other people's poems.
7. When you get the poem the way you want it, let us know and we will take a picture for our book poetry album that will be posted right here at the end of April! 

And the Winner Is...

The Hunger Games!!

By one vote!

See, your vote DOES count!

So tell your parents to vote on April 2nd for something that really DOES matter--the school board!

Final Round!!

The final round is here at last!  The top two contenders are The Lost Hero and The Hunger Games.  This is almost an exact match up to last year's March Madness (except it was held in May) of The Hunger Games and The Lightning Thief.  To see who won that match-up go here. 


Will it be an upset defeat for The Hunger Games two years in a row?  Do Percy Jackson and his friends have what it takes to pull off a repeat?  Vote through Friday and show your love for Katniss or Percy!

To Vote, either scan the QR code, or cast your ballot here.

And here is the vote breakdown from the semi-final round:

Quarter Final Results

The results from the quarter finals of March Madness are in!  A few voting irregularities were discovered and discarded (come on people, if you're going to stuff the ballot box, you can't make it so obvious!), and so there are no upsets.  Below are the results.

Now it's time to vote in the semi finals.  The two competitions are Maze Runner versus Lost Hero and Lightning Thief against Hunger Games.  Who will win!  Help decide here or scan the QR code!

Exclusive: 2013/2014 Battle Books Announced!

The session for deciding next year's Battle of the Books books has just ended, and I have a still unofficial, but most likely accurate list of next year's middle school Battle Books.  So get out your library card, and start hunting for these titles!

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Colony Kids by Heather Lehe
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg
January by Gabrielle Lord
Legend by Marie Lu
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Evans
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
Petey by Ben Mikaelsen
Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

Vote Now in the Quarter Finals!

Here are the results of voting from the preliminary round.  The big news is that The Spiderwick Chronicles upset The Rangers Apprentice series 188 to 99.  303 people voted in the first round of the poll.  Now you can vote in the quarter final round!  Just scan this QR code, or go to this website.  Of if you want to join everyone else, come by the library and borrow an iTouch to vote!  There will also be opportunities to vote in the commons before and after school with your own smart device. 

Preliminary Round Results--Quarter Final Voting Tomorrow!

March Madness @ Your Library

Why let college basketball have all the fun?  Here in the library we're conducting our own March Madness!  This week and next week we're matching up the top 16 most circulated books at our library this year to see which one comes out on top!  However, since each of the top 16 also happens to be a part of a series, we're just matching the series against each other.

Below are the brackets for the first matchup.  Voting on this first round will take place on Tuesday, March 19th.  The results will be posted on Wednesday, March 20th, and voting for round two will take place on that day also.

Voting for the final two rounds will take place next week.  Tune in often to keep up with what's going on!

To vote, simply scan this QR code with your smart phone or iTouch.  You can borrow an iTouch from the library to vote.  If you don't have a QR code reader app, download one, they're free!  Another way to vote is on this website.  You can find the QR code in the library, in the commons before and after school, and of course right here!

If you would like to follow the national March Madness competition for young adult literature, check out this website!

Possible Battle Books for Next Year

Battle of the Books has only been over for a month, but if you're suffering from withdrawal, fear not!  The consideration list for 2013-2014 is out.  You can find it here.  Twelve middle school books will be selected from the list below.  What do you think of the books?  List your favorite and least favorite in the comments section.  I will take your wishes to the selection committee on March 23rd!

• Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
• The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
• Anything but Typical by Nora Baskin
• Burn Mark by Laura Powell
• Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
• Colony Kids by Heather Lehe
• Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
• Dragon's Keep by Janet Carey
• Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
• Everlost by Neal Shusterman
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
• Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
• Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
• How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg
• January by Gabrielle Lord
• The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
• Legend by Marie Lu
• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Park
• Matched by Ally Condy
• Michael Vey by Richard Evans
• Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
• Outcasts by John Flanagan
• Petey by Ben Mikaelsen
• Radiance by Alyson Noel
• Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
• Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
• The Underneath by Kathy Appelt
• Wild Girls by Pat Murphy