Maggie at Livingston's blog

This time they're of Hilltop Branch's VolunTeens.  Check them out!

More pics of our wonderful VolunTeens for your viewing pleasure:

Northside Branch

New Albany Branch

New Albany Branch

I'd like to give a great big SHOUT OUT to all of the VolunTeens who worked hard to make this year's Summer Reading Club a success!

See below for photos of VolunTeens who worked a total of 15 or more hours enjoying end of Summer Reading Club parties at their library locations:

Mockingjay, the third book in Suzanne Collin's wildly popular Hunger Games series, will be released on Tuesday, August 24.  Although it's release is still 17 days away, fans everywhere have been on waiting lists at book stores and libraries (including this one!) for months. 

If you like the series then you should check out the ultimate Hunger Games fan site, mockingjay.net.  Here you'll find everything and anything a true Hunger Games fanatic could ask for, including podcasts, character bios, a discussion forum, etc.  The site also posts updates on The Hunger Games movie (that's right, I said movie!) which is still in preproduction.

You can also find info on the series on author Suzanne Collin's web site, suzannecollinsbooks.com.

Do you plan on reading Mockingjay?  Better, yet does anyone have any predictions about what will happen in the book?

This August two movies that are based on teen books will be coming to theaters:

On August 6 Flipped (2010), based on the book Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen, will open in theaters.  The story is about a boy and a girl who fall for each other, but at different times.  Back in 2nd grade Juli had a massive crush on Bryce, her neighbor across the street.  But Bryce thought Juli was weird and tried to stay away from her.  Now that they're in 8th grade, Bryce notices how amazing Juli is.  But by this time Juli has gotten over Bryce and thinks that he's shallow.  Will the two ever see eye-to-eye?

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) will be released in theaters on August 13.  The film is based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's hilarious comic Scott Pilgrim.  In the film version Michael Cera stars as Scott, a 22 year-old bass player and general slacker who meets the girl of his dreams.  The only problem is that this new girlfriend, Ramona, has 7 evil ex-boyfriends who are out for Scott's blood.

Has anyone read Flipped or the Scott Pilgrim comics?  Do  you plan on seeing the movies?

Most people consider "summer" that time during the hot months when they're out of school, sleeping in, laying by a pool, going to cookouts, vegging out in front of the TV, etc.

The summer season technically started on June 21, and ends Sept 21. 

That being said, today, July 21, we are 1/3 of the way through summer.

What have YOU been up to this summer?  Does anyone have any favorite summer 2010 memories so far?

Move over Edward Cullen, zombies are joining the vampires at the "cool kids" table.  Just look around, zombies are everywhere: books, movies, video games, etc.

But the question is, who would win in a battle: a vampire army or a pack of hungry zombies?

While you think this over, check out these new zombie-themed titles available for check-out at the library:

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

In this post-apocalyptic thriller, a sickness has afflicted everyone over the age of 16, and anyone who is a “grown-up” has become a decomposing, brainless creature that survives by feeding on children. The children and teens have barricaded themselves in fortified buildings, fighting off attacks from the grown-ups who travel in packs, like hungry dogs. Before long, the young survivors are promised a safe haven in Buckingham Palace, but their fight to stay alive is far from over—the threat from within is as real as the one on the outside.

I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

Living in the post-human era when the undead are part of everyday life, high schooler Alley breaks her no-dating rule when Doug catches her eye.  But classmate Will demands to turn her into a vampire and her zombie boyfriend may be unable to stop him.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

In this sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Gabry lives in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends' dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back.

My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay

One second, sophomore Karen Vera's on top of the most fabulous cheer pyramid ever. The next, she's lying on the pavement. Freakishly alive without a pulse, Karen learns that she's a genetically undead zombie. Soon, Karen is sent off to DEAD High, a boarding school for the "death-challenged."

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel by Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith

All over England, the dead are rising again, and now even the daughters of Britain’s best families must devote their lives to mastering the deadly arts. Elizabeth Bennet is a fearsome warrior whose ability with a sword is matched only by her quick wit and even sharper tongue. But she faces her most formidable foe yet in the haughty, conceited, and somehow strangely attractive Mr. Darcy. As the two lovers meet in the ballroom and on the battlefield, they’ll soon learn that nothing—not even bands of ninjas, hordes of flesh-eating zombies, or disapproving aunts—can stop true love.

How to Draw Zombies by Mike Butkus & Merrie Destefano

From the pages of great literature to Hollywood movies, zombies are appearing everywhere. Now aspiring artists can bring them to life, so to speak, by learning to render them with pencil, paint, and digital image-editing software.

Just last week the first official movie trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Parts 1 & 2) and teaser poster were released.  The poster shows a burning Hogwarts and the words "It all ends here." 

The first part of the film is set to be released on November 19, 2010. 

Has anyone watched the trailer?  What did you think?

There was recently a post published in the New York Times health blog Well about the increase of YouTube videos of teens performing dangerous stunts (a.k.a. fighting, lighting themselves on fire, jumping off of buildings, etc.)

In the blog post columnist Tara Parker-Pope questions whether internet sites like YouTube and Facebook inspire teens to do stupid stunts, or if the internet just makes these risky acts more visible. 

What do you think?  Is YouTube to blame?  Or would teens be doing these dangerous things, anyway?

Today marks the 10th day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  A total of 32 countries are competing, including Italy, France, Brazil, and, of course, the U.S.A.  So far the U.S. has played England and Slovenia, with both matches ending in ties.  Hopefully the U.S.'s faceoff with Algeria on Wednesday will result in a win for our home team.

Has anyone watched any of the matches?  Any predictions of who will win?