D.J. MacHale is coming to the Central Library! Pick up his Pendragon series today!

Book One: The Merchant of Death
Bobby Pendragon had it all. He was a star basketball player, had great friends, and had just gotten kissed by THE Courtney Chetwynde (yes THE Courtney Chetwynde!!). But on the day of his big game his adventurous and mysterious Uncle Press shows up telling Bobby he needs his help. Knowing his Uncle is not one for dramatics, Bobby earnestly follows his Uncle and finds himself 'flumed' into another world called Denduron. In this medieval-esque world, Bobby witnesses the powerful Bedoowans inflicting all kinds of cruelties on the Milagos, whom they have come to view as their slaves.

When Uncle Press is discovered and taken away, Bobby is left with a mother-daughter warrior team to protect him. He comes to learn that, like his Uncle Press, he is a Traveler, someone who can travel between worlds. As a Traveler Bobby is supposed to promote peace and fight injustice, but all he wants to do is run. The only thing keeping him on Denduron is knowing he has to save his Uncle Press from the evil Bedoowans.

Book Two: The Lost City of Faar

Book Three: The Never War

Book Four: The Reality Bug

Book Five: Black Water





Book Six: The Rivers of Zadaa

Book Seven: The Quillan Games

Book Eight: The Pilgrims of Rayne

Book Nine: Raven Rise

Book Ten: The Soldiers of Halla

Don't forget the MyCard KickOff Celebration!!

I know this is a re-post, but this is a big deal and we don't want anyone to miss out. Bring your friends, your neighbors, your mom and dad, your cousin's girlfriend's sister's best friend! All ages are welcome, but only teens will receive MyCards and T-shirts. All ages can receive the glow-in-the-dark necklaces if you show us your library card and, of course, while supplies last.

Celebrate the new MyCards (library cards for teens only) at our big KickOff party at the Levitt Pavilion Tuesday, September 8 from 6 p.m. to 9p.m.!

-Guest speaker D.J. MacHale, author of the Pendragon series!
- Live performances from our Virtual Battle of the Bands winners!!
- Winners from our Video Commercial Contest for Teens!!!


Show us your MyCard at the kickoff, and you'll get a FREE T-shirt while supplies last. Haven't gotten your MyCard yet? You can get one at the Kickoff! Here are the designs:



For questions, email us or call your local branch of the Arlington Public Library and ask for your Teen Services representative.

A big THANK YOU to the MyCard sponsors - Atmos, Time-Warner Cable, Arlington Arts Alliance, and The Sanford House

Rosemary Clement-Moore book-signing - whoo!

If you're a fan of local author Rosemary Clement-Moore, I'll bet you're itching to get your hands on her upcoming book The Splendor Falls. And if you're not, then you should be!! I demand it! Don't worry. Jenny promises she has ordered copies for the library.

On Saturday, September 12th, Rosemary is also having a book-signing party at the Barnes and Noble in Hurst. Click on the link to find a map and driving directions on the right-hand side of the page.

As usual, I will be there stalking one of my favorite authors. Come say hi to me if you see me there (long brown hair, glasses, usually in cargo shorts and flip flops).

=)

KickOff Celebration at the Levitt Pavilion!!

Celebrate the new MyCards (library cards for teens only) at our big KickOff party at the Levitt Pavilion Tuesday, September 8 from 6 p.m. to 9p.m.!

-Guest speaker D.J. MacHale, author of the Pendragon series!
- Live performances from our Virtual Battle of the Bands winners!!
- Winners from our Video Commercial Contest for Teens!!!


Show us your MyCard at the kickoff, and you'll get a FREE T-shirt while supplies last. Haven't gotten your MyCard yet? You can get one at the Kickoff! Here are the designs:



For questions, email us or call your local branch of the Arlington Public Library and ask for your Teen Services representative.

A big THANK YOU to the MyCard sponsors - Atmos, Time-Warner Cable, Arlington Arts Alliance, and The Sanford House

The Ninja Reviews. . .The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter

The ivy covered walls of the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women looks like any other girl’s school. But looks can be deceiving as those walls house a school for spies. At Gallagher Academy, the students are taught chemical warfare, advanced martial arts, and code breaking.

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You
Cameron Morgan is a legacy—her parents were CIA operatives and her mother is the current headmistress of Gallagher Academy. Cammie, aka “Chameleon”, is a “pavement artist” and is an expert at hiding in plain sight. She speaks fourteen languages and can kill a man in seven different ways, but she has no idea how to talk to a boy. It takes all of Cammie’s friends and their exceptional skills as Gallagher Girls to navigate the relationship with her first boyfriend, Josh.


Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Cammie Morgan is back with all of her girl friends for another year at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. Along with their descent into the secret sub-level two, the girls are thrown together with their biggest rivals—the boys of the Blackthorne Academy.




Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover
Cammie, Bex, and Liz thought their summer was going to be fun and relaxing, but that was before they were assigned to guard Macey on the campaign trail. A kidnapping attempt and run in with the boys of Blackthorne Academy raises more questions as to who is really in danger and from whom.



This series is smart and funny and feeds the inner “Gallagher Girl” in all of us!

Review written by Angela!

Get ready for Tuesday, September 8th!

From Library Ninja!

The Ninja Reviews... Jump the Cracks by Stacy DeKeyser

What would you do? Would you just leave? Or would you do something crazy and stay?

Victoria is fighting to deal with her parent's divorce, especially now that her dad lives in New York City and flakes out on her all the time. If he really cared...if he really loved her...he would make the effort. Right?

But when Victoria's dad once again flakes and is late picking her up at the train station during the start of her summer visit, Victoria gets mad. While angry she witnesses a young mom throw her bruised toddler in a train bathroom and walk off the train and onto the platform. Not knowing what to do, and angry at the injustice of parents who don't keep promises, Victoria makes the life-changing decision to hop back on the train and leave town, taking the toddler with her. She won't let him fall through the cracks.

Vote for YOUR favorite local teen band starting tonight!

Click on the button below to vote for YOUR favorite local teen band! The top three winners will receive prizes AND will play live at the Levitt for you and your friends on September 8! So choose your fav starting tonight at 5 p.m. (Only one vote, per computer, per day).

New Library Cards! The MyCard@MyLibrary...ONLY for TEENS!

The Arlington Public Library has just revealed four new library card designs for TEENS ONLY! They look pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I wish I could get one, but you have to be going into 7-12th grade (sadly for me, those years passed long ago...) but I'll bet YOU could get one!

So come one in and sign up for a new MyCard@MyLibrary. If you already have a library card, you can trade your old card for a new one! And make sure to check out our Video Contest. You could win up to $500 for making a 30-60 second video about why teens should get a new library card!

Here are the four new designs:

Teen Summer Reading Club Final Party TODAY!!!

The final party is TODAY at 4 p.m.!! Whoo!!

If you haven't registered, get on the phone now and call any of the branches to register.

We'll have games, lots of food, music, and a costume contest. To participate in the costume contest, just come dressed in clothing from your favorite time period. Prizes will be award.

Call any of us for details, but do it ASAP!

Just a reminder - Virtual Battle of the Bands!

How It Works:

Enter the Contest: August 1 at 9 a.m. until August 13 at 8 p.m. Make sure to fill out the entry form and read all the fine print.

Vote for your Favorite: August 17 at 5 p.m. until midnight on August 28. Get your friends to vote! Spread the word!

The top three bands will win prize money and must be willing to play at the Levitt Pavilion for the Arlington Public Library's teen library card party: The MyCard Kick-Off and Studio Celebration on September 8. We'll have author D.J. MacHale speak followed by the winning three bands and a premiere of the top six MyCard video commercials! Please click here for the event rules.

First Prize: $500
Second Prize: $250
Third Prize: $125

Feel free to download these images to promote this contest!:

The Ninja Reviews. . .Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan

On Choosing Day, all 15 year olds choose an apprenticeship. Will, an orphan and ward of Castle Redmont, has always wanted to join battle school. Though he knows virtually nothing about his parents, he is positive that his father was a soldier who was killed defending his people. Will wants to follow in his father's footsteps.

But on Choosing Day, Will is rejected because he is so small for his age. Much to Will's surprise - and the surprise of his friends - he is apprenticed to the most mysterious, intriguing, and sometimes frightening trainer in Redmont, the Ranger called Halt.

The Rangers are a secretive group, which makes sense being that they are the spies for the kingdom of Araluen. No one knows how they seem to disappear and slip from place to place unseen. Their ability to track, hunt, and especially use a bow and arrow are some of the most admired and feared abilities of the Rangers.

Not long into Will's apprenticeship (which, at first, consists of carrying buckets of water back and forth, back and forth), Morgarath is rumored to be gathering an army to attack the Kingdom of Araluen. Will is suddenly thrust fully into the position of Ranger, not knowing if he really has what it takes to become as good as the Ranger Halt.

I LOVE this series. Each book is very quick to read and very hard to put down. I learned quite a bit about properly shooting a bow and arrow, tracking, and even sword-fighting! While guys might enjoy this one a bit more than girls, I encourage everyone to give it a try. There is a lot of cool battle stuff to learn and even a bit of romance (but don't worry, there's not too much).

John Keating reads the audio books, and he does an especially fantastic job with the voice of Halt (definitely my favorite character).

Be sure and read them in order or you'll have no idea what's going on!

Alien Invasion! Card Game TODAY! 2-4:30 p.m. @
Lake Arlington Branch Library.

The Ninja Reviews...Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

A small island has requested help from the mage temple Winding Circle. Plants have been dying all over the island, especially near its lone mountain. Dedicate Rosethorn, a plant mage, drags Evvy with her after convincing the temple council that the parents of those boys would calm down with Evvy out of the picture for a while. Even though Rosethorn admits, they really did deserve it. Stone mage Evvy, however, considers the long trip across the water more like a punishment. Yet, as Evvy, Rosethorn, and Dedicate Myrrhtide arrive on the island, having her along seems like foresight.

What is really interesting is how Ms. Pierce melds actual scientific phenomena with a realm of magic. She seamlessly explains actual scientific events with a world unseen by normal human eyes. Melting Stones is a feast for the senses.

For readers who have read other Tamora Pierce novels, Evvy is recognizable from the Circle Opens Quartet book two, Street Magic. Though having the background knowledge of other characters mentioned in Melting Stones is nice; it is not absolutely necessary. The novel can stand on its own.



Don't forget to enjoy Melting Stones' first incarnation as a full cast audiobook. Full cast audio is where every character and the narrator are all voiced by different actors.




If you like Melting Stones, read the rest of the books following the young mages taken in by Winding Circle.

Circle of Magic Quartet


The Circle Opens Quartet


This book is on YALSA's top 10 nominee 2009 books for teens. You can see the list of nominees here. During August 25 through September 18 you can vote on your favorite and help create YALSA's next top 10 list!

post written by SEB