Teen Summer Reading Program - Video Storytelling

At the Teen Summer Reading Program lock-in, the teens created a video story by each contributing one sentence to the story after only hearing the person's sentence that was before them. The final story was crazy and random! Here it is!

Teen Summer Reading Program - Self Defense and Ninja Skill Challenge

During the July 18th Teen Summer Reading Program, Master Irvin from Master Irvin's House of Discipline showed the teens some self defense moves, and then the teens competed in a Ninja Skill Challenge.

Flash Burnout - Book Review by Lindsay

Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan Flash Burnout is about 15-year-old Blake, just a normal guy with a passion for photography, and comedy. In his photography class, his partner is his girl-who's-just-a-friend, Marrissa. Blake and Marrissa haven't been super close, until one day when Blake takes a picture of a homeless woman in the street. "That's my mom!" Marrissa exclaims, and demands answers about the whereabouts of this woman. As Blake and Marrissa become closer, Blake's girlfriend, Shannon, starts to get jealous. Blake promises that Marrissa is just a friend in a troubled home, and she needs him, that's all. But is that really the only reason he's spending so much time with her? Blake will have to decide if Shannon is really the one he loves. This was a good book, i picked it up because a friend told me it was good, so i thought i'd give it a shot. I wasn't really disappointed. It's not "amaziing" But it's better than just okay. It was funny, dramatic, somewhat unique, and the characters were very well developed. The ending was good, but i think it leaves room for a sequel, which i would definitely read, if it was ever written. Book Review by Lindsay

Teen Summer Reading Program - Monster Wreaths

On the first day of the Teen Summer Reading Program, we talked about how the program will work, discussed a few books, and then made monster wreaths!  Here's some of the evidence below!

Flipped - Book Review by Lindsay

Flipped  by Wendelin Van Draanen

The day Bryce Loski moved in across the street, just a few days before 2nd grade, Jullianna Baker flipped for him. Those eyes, that hair, that smile, he's a dream to Juli. To Bryce, Juli is just that weird, annoying, chicken-raising girl that won't leave him alone. Through their whole childhood, Juli has chased Bryce, "My Bryce, still walking around with my first kiss" she says. But Bryce wanted nothing to do with her. Now, it's 8th grade, And maybe Bryce is starting to see more than just that overly-spirited girl that used to sniff him in class, and try to make him climb up ugly old sycamore trees with her. He's flipped. But Juli's starting to realize that the person under those gorgeous looks is someone she doesn't, and may not even want to know...

This is a really good book, I got addicted to it fast. The chapters alternate the point of view between Juli and Bryce, and i love the way it was done. It'll tell a part of the story, then the next chapter tells what happened in the other character's perspective. The plot was great, and the characters were lively. I definitely recommend this book!

Book Review by Lindsay

Ghostgirl - Book review by Lindsay

Ghostgirl  by Tonya Hurley

Charlotte Usher is the invisible girl at school. Nobody pays attention to her. Over the holidays, she does nothing but prepare herself for the new school year, giving herself an extreme makeover. She's determined to be "somebody", instead of the girl nobody would miss, even if she died. Unfortunetly, she does die. She chokes on a gummy bear. Yep, death by gummy bear. Well, now that she's a ghost, she just has to find a more creative way to achieve her goals...

Okay, the plotline of this book is actually really interesting, I love the story, I think it had so much potential, but I think it all went to waste. The characters were highly underdeveloped, the writing was slightly erratic, sometimes cheesy, and I just think it could have been done a lot better. It's an okay book, but I think the author should've taken a little bit more time writing it.

Book Review by Lindsay

Bronxwood - Book review by Janae

Bronxwood by Coe Booth

Bronxwood is an African-American book about a boy named Tyrell who has more problems than many.  His dad is getting out of jail, his mom won't work, his little brother is in foster care, he's getting kicked out of his apartment, and he isn't having much luck with the ladies.  There is a lot of pressure on Tyrell and being stressed doesn't even begin to describe his attitude.  Bronxwood was very fast-paced and edgy.  It was one of the most down to earth books I have read in a long time.

Book Review by Janae