Teen Central @ BPL: March 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Shack - Book Review by Daniel

The Shack by William P. Young

In The Shack, William P. Young explains how a father, handles his daughter being kidnapped and murdered. Mack, the main character and father, becomes very distraught with this accident and labels it as The Great Sadness. He gets a letter in the mail from a mysterious “Papa” (God) telling him to go to the shack. While at the shack, Mack meets God portrayed as a middle-aged African American woman, Jesus portrayed as a carpenter, and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman named Sarayu. The different depictions of God and the Holy Spirit cause one to consider the different aspects God. These three figures spend quality time with Mack and help him to realize the importance of relationships. This taught me a lot about the correct way my relationship should be with others and God. I was also impacted in another way while reading The Shack. A few weeks before I started reading this book, a friend of mine was killed in a car accident. The Shack taught me many ways to overcome the sadness and grief that comes with tragic accidents. Overall, this book is a good read, although some parts may seem to drag on at times. I would give The Shack four out of five stars because of the impressive structure and message.

Review by Daniel

Monday, March 30, 2009

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Book Review by Garret

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

“It’s a shame that life is so precious.” This quote alone effectively sums up Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The second effort by the young man made famous by the 2002 bestseller, Everything is Illuminated, has “written the first great novel about September 11,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Foer’s much anticipated sophomore novel was a huge success, taking chances most would cower at while still sticking to the off-the-wall style that defines him.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is the story of Oskar Schell, a young boy who lost his father in the September 11 attacks. Oskar is no ordinary boy. A self-proclaimed inventor, jeweler, pacifist, vegan, and collector, Oskar is somewhat of a child prodigy. Practical, yet curious, Oskar has a knack for inventing, rattles off more facts than a search engine, and even questions his own existence, a heavy topic for a nine year old. The boy’s greatest struggle however lies in coping with the death of his father. When Oskar finds an envelope containing a mysterious key in his father’s closet, he embarks on a journey to find the corresponding lock. A touching, heartbreaking, coming-of-age adventure ensues, filled with colorful characters and unforgettable moments.

As in Everything is Illuminated, Foer tells a story within a story in his second novel. While the heart of the novel revolves around Oskar and his tireless search for the elusive lock, an alternate story tells of Oskar’s grandparents, their unconventionally tragic romance, and a mysterious connection to the 1945 bombing of Dresden, Germany. Although the two stories seem completely unrelated in the beginning, the two are brought together in an unforgettable climax.

As mentioned before, Foer takes risks in his newest novel. His style is a modern one in which pictures are inserted alongside the text. These are not the illustrations one would regularly find in a picture book, but pictures of places Oskar visits, people he meets, even pictures he takes himself. This new, refreshing medium allows the reader to truly see through Oskar’s eyes.

Though the death of Oskar Schell’s father in the 9/11 attack is an important part of the novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is more of a story about death itself and remembrance than one about the attacks. Oskar Schell is the perfect portal for Foer, providing the straight-forward outlook on life and the world shared by most young children. “Humans are the only animal that blushes, laughs, has religion, wages war, and kisses with lips. So in a way, the more you kiss with lips, the more human you are,” says Oskar to an older woman. She replies, “And the more you wage war?” Through the boy Foer examines themes much beyond a nine-year-old’s maturity level, matters of life, death and love.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has received critical acclaim since its 2005 release. Foer, who is only 31 years old, has already claimed his spot as a great American writer of the 21st century. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is an amazing book, a heartwarming work of a boy coping with the loss of his father, a couple trying to overcome their haunted past together, and a family that learns how precious life truly is.

Review by Garret

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Bleak House - Book Review by Mary

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Bleak House By Charles Dickinson is not a book for light readers. This book has on average 20 endnotes a chapter, it also uses long words that aren't well known. When I was reading it on the first page I counted 4 words I did not know; so if you are comfortable caring a dictionary around then read on, my friend, this book might just be for you.

Review by Mary

Podcast - Changes to the Upcoming Events

If you've listened to our first podcast, then you heard about the upcoming events that the library is having for our young adult population. There have been a couple of recent changes to these events:

--The April 15th book store trip for the Teen Advisory Board has been postponed. The original date is during Spring Break and many of our teen board members will not be available during that time. We hope to plan this trip for May.

--There will not be an Anti-Prom lock-in in May, due to scheduling conflicts. However, the library may still have a lock-in event on May 29th in celebration of the end of the school year. If you're interested in this lock-in, please comment and let us know!

Thanks!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Stardust - Book Review by Chelsea

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

In Neil Gaiman’s book, Stardust, readers are taken on an incredible journey. The main character, Tristran Thorne, is willing to go to desperate lengths and do whatever it takes for love. The passion he has for love bounces off of every page. His determination drives him on, and his commitment keeps him on task. He travels great distances through treacherous places and faces intense obstacles to prove his love for Victoria Forester.
From the first line of the story, to the last punctuation mark, readers are captivated and hungry to learn about the strange town of Wall and all of the mysteries that are held on the opposite side of the historical wall of Wall. Tristran’s journey begins from a promise made to him by Victoria. “If you receive that fallen star, I will be yours.” Upon hearing this promise, Tristran begins his grueling journey. He leaves his safe town of Wall knowing that he will encounter incredible difficulties and creatures completely unknown to him. But, none of these thoughts stop him; he escapes the town of Wall and leaves everything he is familiar with on the other side of the large gap in the wall.
Tristran’s journey brings him many hardships. He has to make tough decisions and do everything for himself. The trip to the fallen star is much easier than the trip back home. When Tristran discovers that a fallen star is not just a rock, but a person, he realizes that convincing a person to follow him home will not be easy. Unfortunately, Tristran does not realize that he is not the only one after the fallen star. Though he reaches the fallen star first, different creatures manage to steal the star away from him. The journey home turns into a daunting and grueling process of retrieving the star, protecting the star, and losing the star again.
On his journey, Tristran begins to realize that the star is someone he enjoys being around. He finds her beautiful and loves her company, even if she does frequently argue with him. Through their journey home, they spend a lot of time together, and by the time they return to Wall, Tristran has forgotten his original mission and Victoria Forester. The star reminds him of her purpose, and he sets off to find Victoria. When he finds her he discovers that she is already engaged to be married, and that his journey was nothing but a distraction. Tristran realizes exactly what he wants at this moment, and her name is not Victoria. He returns to his star on the outskirts of Wall and makes a decision to spend the rest of his life with a certain star that goes by the name Yvaine.
This story gives a twist to a typical love story. It takes the readers through the rough details and shows them the happiness that can be found at the end of a long journey. Neil Gaiman’s book, Stardust, is captivating from cover to cover.

Review by Chelsea

Monday, March 23, 2009

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Book Review by Sarah P.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Paul Brand and Philip Yancy

In Paul Brand and Philip Yancy's "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made", the concepts of science and religion are intertwined. Each chapter is devoted to one aspect of the literal body, such as the bones or cells, and then related to the figurative body, which in this case is the "Body of Christ". This novel is an extended metaphor in which our actual organs and cells symbolize Christians worldwide and the connection they share. The book emphasizes unity and loyalty among Christians, and implies that, much as our body consists of different components, the "Body of Christ" must consist of diverse people. For those who have a strong religious background, or simply interested in the connection drawn between Christianity and science, I would definitely recommend this book. Overall, I give this book three out of five stars.

Review by Sarah P.

To the Lighthouse - Book Review by Mallory

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse is an insight into the drama of a family. It shows husband and wife relations, and parent to child relations as well. Also two other points of view, those of Lily and Mr. Bankes show the reader an outside perception of this family drama. The first thing the reader notices is the dissention of the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey. They seem to be at odds with each other either because of their conflicting personalities or because there is an additional person in the marriage. Also the relationship between Mr. Ramsey and his youngest son James is shown to be rather strained and uncooperative on both sides. Over all I enjoyed this novel very much, because it broke down the different relationships within a family rather than just the relationship between a mother and a father.

Review by Mallory

Friday, March 20, 2009

Get Connected with Teen Central

Click here to hear the first episode of Get Connected with Teen Central!

This podcast was created by the teens who attended the "Press Play - Get Connected" workshop on March 10, 2009, along with Tonya Oswalt of Bossier Parish Libraries' YA Services, and Jaketha Farmer, the library's IT Specialist.

We hope to make this a quarterly podcast with the help of our Teen Advisory Board and other local teenagers.

Please comment and let us know what you thought of the podcast!