Holly Black coming to the Teen Room on September 5!

Holly Black will be appearing in the Teen Room on Thursday, September 5 at 7:00PM to talk about her chilling new novel (hee!) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.

 

 

You think vampires are played out?  Ms. Black once again shows us how it's done with her fresh and freaksome take on these bloodsuckers.  Nary a sparkle in sight, thank you very much.  Black returns to the world she created in the short story of the same name, where the detente between humans and vampires has led to the creation of "coldtowns" and an explosion of gruesome reality television.

 

 

If you're one of those shy types who can't think of a question for an author*, check this out!



Coldtown will be on our shelves on September 3!  With no school on Thursday, that leaves you plenty of time to read the book, take a nap, eat some bacon-n-cheese fries and come to the library for a super evening!



*It's okay, she won't bite you ;)  You could also ask her about the vampire Barbies.

Holly Black coming to the Teen Room on September 5!

Holly Black will be appearing in the Teen Room on Thursday, September 5 at 7:00PM to talk about her chilling new novel (hee!) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.

 

 

You think vampires are played out?  Ms. Black once again shows us how it's done with her fresh and freaksome take on these bloodsuckers.  Nary a sparkle in sight, thank you very much.  Black returns to the world she created in the short story of the same name, where the detente between humans and vampires has led to the creation of "coldtowns" and an explosion of gruesome reality television.

 

 

If you're one of those shy types who can't think of a question for an author*, check this out!



Coldtown will be on our shelves on September 3!  With no school on Thursday, that leaves you plenty of time to read the book, take a nap, eat some bacon-n-cheese fries and come to the library for a super evening!



*It's okay, she won't bite you ;)  You could also ask her about the vampire Barbies.

Fierce Reads, Fantastic Authors, Fabulous Event!

This Saturday's Fierce Reads event with Gennifer Albin, Anna Banks, Leigh Bardugo, Jessica Brody, and Emmy Laybourne brought a big crowd to the Teen Room.  The authors, who have been tirelessly touring for the past few weeks, were a funny and smart crowd and had great advice for writers.

If you missed this event, you can still check out the books here in the Teen Room!  You can also read this exclusive interview over at Ticket to Anywhere.

I never get tired of hearing about how an author writes his or her books.  There is no one way to tell a story or to put it on paper, and that alone is inspiring.

Fierce Reads author event June 15

This Saturday is our big event as we welcome the Fierce Reads tour to the Teen Room!  Gennifer Albin (Crewel), Anna Banks (Of Triton), Leigh Bardugo (Siege and Storm), Jessica Brody (Unremembered) and Emmy Laybourne (Monument 14: Sky on Fire) are psyched to talk about their newest books, answer your questions, and sign books. 

We have all kinds of cool Fierce Reads giveaways that you won't want to miss!  And of course we've got extra copies of the books here at the library, but they are going fast -- stop by soon if you want to check these out before the event.
 
Saturday, June 15
2:00PM
Teen Room, Main Library
449 Broadway

Guest Post: Teen Advisory Board

Here's what Marshall thinks about that:

*****

Congratulations to the Graduating class of 2013. As everyone rides the euphoria of never having to go to High School ever again, there are all sorts of cool things going on in the Library.

First, some cool authors who are on tour to support their books are stopping by the teen lounge for a bit. Their books are already making waves around the US and they have hardcore bookworms jumping up and down waiting for the books to launch.

Also of interest in the library community is Stephen King's highly anticipated book, Joyland, which is about a teenager who works at a Carnival and is confronted by a psychopath murderer. Sounds interesting. Then of course, having been on shelves for a while now are the latest books in the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead and the Embrace series by Jessica Shirvington. Indigo Spell for Bloodlines and Emblaze for the Embrace series. Both series are fantastic and fans of the series are going to be excited.









As if that's not enough, Vampire Academy also has a movie coming out with a release date of Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2014. I'm excited for it. There's a full cast list and everything.

Things to look out for in the future include the 4th Bloodlines novel in November of 2013, the 4th Embrace novel in October 2013, and a sequel to what was arguably Stephen King's Best book of all time The Shining. A lot of talk goes on in the book world if you just listen.

But remember that the most important part of this is to get you reading. Now that school's out for the seniors and everyone else isn't too far behind, now's the chance to read the books you want to read, and not the ones the school makes you read. So go on and find something out there to enjoy.

Until next time.

Guest Post: Teen Advisory Board

It's back!  The TAB guest post, and oh, how we missed it.

*****

Hello World! This is Khalil speaking, today I have the pleasure of reviewing a book for you. Said book is called Monument 14. Monument 14 is a book, set in the future, about the end of the world. Here’s the setup: 14 kids, 6 highschoolers; 2 middleschoolers; 6 little kids, are trapped in a mall, after hiding in the mall to escape giant hail. While they are in the mall they find out the storm was much bigger than they originally thought. In fact it included a megatsunami and a REALLY big earthquake. Unfortunately for them, a chemical weapons facility near them has been damaged to, and is now starting to leak. You can imagine the trouble they are in now. I won’t spoil the rest for you. I hope you pick it up, have a nice read.

 *****

Thanks Khalil!  And guess what?  Emmy Laybourne, the author of Monument 14 and its sequel, Monument 14: Sky on Fire, will be HERE in the Teen Room on Saturday, June 15 at 2:00PM.  Don't miss it!

Sara Zarr coming to the Teen Room!

National Book Award Finalist Sara Zarr visits the Teen Room with her new release, The Lucy Variations. Be sure to check out all of Sara’s gripping novels in the Teen Room!

When, when when?!?
Monday, May 13
7:00PM
 Co-sponsored by Porter Square Books.



You can read an interview with Sara Zarr from Publisher's Weekly here.





More about The Lucy Variations:

"It could be a depressing thing to believe, at sixteen, that your best years were behind you. Especially when the people closest to you seemed to agree.

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it’s over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a newpiano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano—on her own terms. But when you’re used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside the exclusive world of privileged San Francisco families, top juniormusic competitions, and intense mentorships. The Lucy Variations is a story of one girl’s struggle to reclaim her love of music, and herself. It’s about finding joy again, even when things don’t go according to plan. Because life isn’t a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way."

Ruta Sepetys returning to the Cambridge Public Library!

With her new book,
Out of the Easy.

When?
Thursday, March 7 at 1:30PM

Where?

Lecture Hall, Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway




But wait, there's more!  Josie, the protagonist of Out of the Easy, is a young girl with dreams of getting into college and changing her life.  To honor this dream, Penguin is holding an essay contest with a $5000 scholarship prize!

Don't miss either of these awesome opportunities!  We can't keep the book on our shelves, so if you'd like to read a copy, hurry over and let us know.

May Isn't Over Yet

May has been the month of awesome authors visiting the Teen Room, and it's not over yet! A week from today (Tuesday, May 29 at 4pm) debut author JESSE ANDREWS is coming to talk about his hilarious first book Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

The book is super funny (and sad, but FUNNY), and it should be a total blast. Drop by the Teen Room and grab a copy to check out yoursef, and we'll see you there!

"this is teen" event TODAY in the Teen Room!

FOUR YA authors
here to talk to YOU about
their books -- at 3:00
today.

Elizabeth Eulberg (Take a Bow)
Kim Harrington (Perception)
Francisco X. Stork (Irises)
Kathryn Lasky  (Daughters of the Sea series)

 

 

May 1: Kristin Cashore

Photo credit: Leslie Feagley, 2011.

I repeat: KRISTIN CASHOOOOOOOOOORE!

Yes, you heard right -- the renowned author of Graceling and Fire is debuting the long-desired Bitterblue here at your very own Cambridge Public Library on  
Tuesday, May 1 at 6:00PM.  We are holding the event in the lecture hall because we expect it to be tremenjous, so show up early to get your seat!

Read on for more info...

BITTERBLUE
Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the legacy of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. At 18 years old, Bitterblue is only just beginning to realize the scope of her responsibility—having relied heavily on her advisers to run the kingdom. But after she begins sneaking out at night to visit storyhouses and meeting sweet Teddy and dangerously sexy Sapphire, two thieves who only steal what has already been stolen, she starts realizing that she is surrounded by lies and there’s no way to know how far they extend. With no one to trust, how can Bitterblue find out what’s really going on in her own kingdom, and how can she help everyone to heal from the 35-year spell cast by a madman? Read an excerpt here: http://gracelingrealm.com/excerpt_bitterblue.html

Kristin Cashore received her master's degree in children's literature in 2003 from Simmons College, where she was named a Virginia Haviland Scholar. She lives in Cambridge, MA. Bitterblue features ciphers and codes and even an entirely new language and alphabet which Kristin created with a professional linguist. Visit the Graceling realm: http://gracelingrealm.com/

If You Like...

If you like the show SMASH*, you will LOVE the book Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg. Come pick up a copy AND come meet her in the Teen Room (along with some other terrific authors!) on May 4th @ 3pm! HOORAY!



* DO you love the show SMASH? Because a certain Teen Librarian who shall remain nameless really loves it, and would be very happy to have a gushing conversation about how much we all want Tom to be our best friend forever. Hit me up. I mean hit her up. Whoever she is.

Ruta Sepetys appearing Tuesday, April 3

The Teen Room is proud to be hosting Ruta Sepetys, author of the acclaimed debut novel, Between Shades of Gray! 

This event will be in the CPL lecture hall at 1:30PM -- if your class is going to be visiting, way to go -- I think it is going to be a moving and provocative presentation about a lesser known but devastating part of history.

The daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, Ms. Sepetys's debut novel is an account of Stalin's cleansing of the Baltic region as seen through the eyes of 15-year-old Lina. 

It is a difficult book to read.  Lina and her family endure horrific conditions; it is incredible that people survived these ordeals.  As the following video shows, it was also a difficult story to tell.

Ruta Sepetys discusses her upcoming novel, Between Shades of Gray from Penguin Young Readers Group on Vimeo.




Porter Square Books will have books available for purchase and autographing at the event.  See you there!

Shaq at the Harvard Book Store -- FREE event!

Pictured here out of uniform, because let's
not have to choose sides...HUGS!*

He will be signing copies of his new book, Shaq Uncut: My Story, this Saturday, November 19, beginning at 1:00!



















*while it is my duty as a Bostonian to hate on New York and Los Angeles, I'm not gonna do that here.

ONE week to THREE authors!

Mark your calendars, because on Wednesday, November 16 at 5:00 pm we are hosting three debut young adult authors right here in your very own Teen Room!

Leigh Fallon, Carrier of the Mark

Instantly drawn to a mysterious, alluring boy in her class, teenaged Megan, an American living in Ireland, discovers that they are linked by a supernatural destiny that gives them powers Megan never knew she possessed.

  

  

 
Amalie Howard, Bloodspell

Meet Victoria Warrick: a high school outcast who learns on her 17th birthday that she’s actually a witch with an unimaginable power – and that her blood is literally her enemy. Victoria must fight for her life as friends turn their backs on her and new people in her life aren’t so easy to trust, including the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, who has a sinister secret of his own.

Joe Lunievicz, Open Wounds
Follow the adventures of Cedric "Cid" Wymann through the first 15 years of his life in New York city during the 1930s and 1940s . Orphaned as a child, Cid is taken from the orphanage at 13 by a distant relative from England, a shell-shocked survivor of the First World War with a ruined face and crippled body, who offers Cid the only family love he's ever known.

Screening of Restrepo tomorrow night; Sebastian Junger next week!

Sebastian Junger, author of WAR, will be speaking at Sanders Theatre on Tuesday October 25th at 7:30 PM.  The library has FREE tickets for this event.  We are also holding a free screening of the documentary Restrepo, this Thursday, October 20 at 6:30 PM

For over a year, Junger and photojournalist
Tim Hetherington were embedded with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in the remote and heavily contested Korengal Valley of eastern Afghanistan.

The professional result was twofold: the book, WAR and the documentary, Restrepo - winner of the 2010 Grand Jury Prize at the
Sundance Film Festival and Academy Award
Nominee for Best Documentary.

Meet author/illustrator Kadir Nelson

From We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

This Friday, October 14 from 3:30 to 4:30 PM.

Discover how this award-winning author and illustrator creates his books! Kadir Nelson has made nearly thirty books for children. His paintings invite us into stories of famous and not-so-famous people. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and Henry's Freedom Box received coveted Caldecott honors. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball won a Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor. His newest book is Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans.

Books will be available for purchase and autographing. Sign up is required. For ages 9 and older.

Francesca Lia Block coming to CPL!!!

Saturday, June 11

2:00

Main Library Lecture Hall

This is super-astonishing and exciting!  I am so thrilled that we are hosting this acclaimed author whose books were so important to me as a teen reader.  And still are.  (Remember my Halloween costume?  Weetzie Bat, my chickadees.)

If you are not already familiar with Block's work, run do not walk to your nearest library and check out her books.  She's written short fiction, poetry, memoir, novels for teen and adult audiences, and even a mythological dating guide.

Seriously, this is EPIC --  do you understand how big a deal this is yet?  I know, you're saying to yourself: Maya gets all worked up about every author visit.  That's her job.  Trust me: this visit is a rare opportunity to meet an author who helped shape young adult fiction (and this young adult librarian) into what they are today -- don't miss it!

Real World: Francisco

The last Diversity in YA author is also a departure from the fantasy genre -- unless you consider any work of fiction to be a fantasy, or perhaps all works of fantasy to be possible realities...?

In either case, I present to you Francisco X. Stork.

Marcelo in the Real World

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors

Marcelo: The summer he is seventeen, Marcelo's father insists that he enter the "real world" by taking a job at his law firm.  Marcelo has high-functioning autism, so the real world presents challenges in everyday behaviors most people take for granted.  A discovery about one of his father's clients puts Marcelo face to face with an even harder decision.

Death Warriors: Pancho only has one goal when he is sent to St. Anthony's Home: to find the man who caused his sister's death and kill him.  D.Q., a fellow resident of the orphanage, has terminal brain cancer and asks Pancho to go with him to Albuquerque where he will be undergoing experimental treatment.  D.Q. is working on the Death Warriors Manifesto, which he insists on sharing with Pancho.  When faced with death, can Pancho choose life?

Even if you don't get a chance to read these books, take a visit over to Mr. Stork's blog.  He only posts every month or two, but his entries have great thoughtfulness and candor.

The DIYA event is only 10 days away!