Super Great. Extra Gatsby.

Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet came out when I was a senior in high school and let me tell you, it was an event. We had just finished reading Shakespeare's play in English class, and our whole class went to the movie together. (Our teacher refused to come along). We all bought the soundtrack. It was the first time a piece of literature we had to read for class had been made into a movie that didn't seem like the first movie ever made. Honestly, my heart beats fast thinking about it. All those bright colors and lavish sets and ungovernable passions. Dude's movies get mixed reviews, but that film, at that time, with that cast, in those colors left an impression on me. It left an impression on all of us.

Jordan Baker was always my favorite.

AND YOU GUYS, it could happen to you. Lots of people will probably go to see Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby this spring. Some will love it, some will hate it. But YOU folks, YOU are the ones who will get to experience a Baz Luhrmann treatment of a book you may be slogging through in English class. YOU will get to see the story (which, full disclosure, is one of my favorite stories of all time) (I'm sure you couldn't tell by the breathless nature of this post) you are reading, not by choice, on a giant screen, in a giant way. It's kind of special.

Anyway, the movie doesn't come out until May, and we've already posted the trailer, but take a look at these character posters they've released. I love the way they all have a quote from the book attached to them.

Sometimes you just need to get excited.

Controversy over prom attire: what's your opinion?

High schools across the country have started requiring appropriate formal wear for prom attendees.  What do you think?  Should students who have paid for their prom tickets be allowed to wear whatever they want, or is the school correct in upholding some kind of standard?

Um...camouflage for the rain forest?

Perhaps a bit chilly...

No comment.

S-A-T-U-R...actually, just S.A.T.

After you watch this, so you can understand this incredibly dated pop culture reference, it may interest you to know that not only does the library have an annual S.A.T. Quiz Bowl, but we also offer FREE test preparation classes!

Eight Wednesdays

Beginning March 14

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Main Library

449 Broadway

To reserve a space, contact Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.  You will actually have to dial and talk to her, not text her.  She's super nice, so don't be shy!

Holy Teen Read Week, Batman!

You guyyyyzz, I was kinda crazybusyalsoreallytired last week and I maybe kinda sorta forgot that it is TEEN READ WEEK this week.

But it's not too late!  Go forth and read, y'all!

 

Specifically, you may wish to read one of these books, lovingly selected by teens JUST LIKE YOU.

You know what I say? Every week is Teen Read Week here in the Teen Room!

The Oldest High Schoolers

Have you ever been watching a teen movie, especially one from back in the day (meaning before, like, 2002), and wondered why all the teenagers look so OLD? Have you found yourself wondering if high schoolers in the 80's and 90's just looked older than teens do now?

You're not alone! Or crazy! Movie-makers try to get away with some amazing business when they cast movies. Enjoy this slideshow of some of the oldest high schoolers to ever grace the screen.

And just in case you think this is just a way-back-then problem, let me point out that Channing Tatum is only one year younger than me, and Step Up only came out a few years ago. Mmmhmmm...

Great Moments in Graduation History Pt 2: Look at These Old People Graduating!

The year was 1993.

The place was West Beverly High School.

The show was Beverly Hills 90210 (THE ORIGINAL, FOLKS).

The drama: Donna Martin was NOT going to graduate high school.

It's a really long story. She accidentally got drunk at prom (I know, I know, how do you accidentally get drunk at prom? Like I said, it's a long story). They weren't going to let her graduate. Her friends were all devastated. Donna was mortified.

The whole thing culminated in one of the cheesiest scenes in graduation history: the Donna Martin Chant.

Feast your eyes:


DID DONNA MARTIN END UP GRADUATING?!?! *

*yes she did

-Beth

Epic FAIL

Oh my goodness you guys...I am SO SORRY.  I completely forgot that today was the Teen Book Discussion group day.

So for all of you who came into the Teen Room looking for an avid discussion of books, comics, film and the like and went away disappointed -- I owe you a cookie.  Gah!  Can we try again?

We are having a craft program on Wednesday -- Beth has got it all planned out (yay Beth!) -- so it is definitely happening.  For those of you who witnessed the S.A.T. Quiz Bowl Smackdown last month, you know that Beth does not fool around.  If she says there is craft then craft there shall be!

Shamrockin'

Before y'all have your day off for Evacuation Day (*snort!*) stop by the Teen Room for a most excellent craft time. St. Patrick's-themed; no duct tape this time. Here's a clue:


What? I'm a nerd, okay? You want easy-to-understand clues that aren't from 80s science fiction? Please. By the way, if you do know this one, you are automatically inducted into the brotherhood of epically nifty people.
What I'm trying to say is: come make lucky shamrocks!

I Am Number Four

Wow. So that was fast. Didn't the book just come out in August? Hmmm...which came first, the book or the screenplay?

Has anyone out there read this? Are you excited about the movie? Who is this Alex Pettyfer dude anyway? I dunno, call me skeptical, but he looks mostly sweaty and hairy and all chin -- I'm really supposed to believe that he's a teenage alien?

Makes me feel positively youthful and spritelike by comparison. Let's take a second look, shall we?








Oh. Yeah. Whoa. Big. Chin. The man's head is like a wedge of cheese for goodness sake.

I'll think I'll just watch that X-Men trailer one more time...

Embarrassed by my own fandom

So I was watching Less Than Zero last night, and totally enjoying all the bad 80s haircuts when I suddenly realized:



"Holy *&%$#@! That's Sunnydale High!"

Apparently this place is the quintessential Southern Cali high school. I wonder how much cashola they pull in for these gigs, or if it's all about the prestige.

Now I long for a Less Than Zero/Buffy mashup. Yep, that would be awesome... And in case you didn't get the true message of this fine feature film: drugs are bad.

HP & the Deathly Hallows...ehn?

Yay! this is where I sow the seeds of controversy, because this movie totally didn't live up to my heightened expectations based on the previews.

I dunno man, is this another one of those Generation X meets Generation Y things? Because I have been consistently disappointed with the HP movie franchise.

And why? the casting: so adorable! The special effects? so wizardly! I've even have that dang theme song stuck in my head all week.

But after it's all said and done, they do not touch the marrow of my soul. Marrow = untouched.

Okay, I amend that statement -- I did get weepy in one of the very first scenes when [SPOILER] Hermione obliviates her parents.

And I do love Snape. Maybe that's what's wrong with this movie: NOT ENOUGH SNAPE.

Yep, I root for the angry, bitter old guy. Definitely a Generation X thing.

What did you think of the movie? Are you even going, or are you a HP book purist?

Seriously?

Wow, okay guys, I know I have no right to mock your fashion choices because I am a child of the 80s, but hey, wait a minute, didn't the tragic mistakes of the 80s teach you anything?

But NO -- apparently jeggings won't be leaving us anytime soon.

Gah! this is like Spandex pants: not good for anybody. Not David Lee Roth, not anybody. Can anybody explain to me how this could have happened?