Teen Book Buzz

Banned Books Club

Middle-schoolers: come join our award-winning Banned Books Club on Monday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. Copies of the book are available for check-out, thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. Space is limited, so registration is required. To register, go to www.takomapark.info/library/registration.html or call us at 301-891-7259.

Comics Jam rescheduled

We've had to reschedule the Comics Jam program at the Takoma Park Maryland Library (101 Philadelphia Ave.) for Friday, May 15 from 4-5 p.m. (It was originally scheduled for tomorrow, May 8). Our monthly Comics Jam program, led by Library Assistant Dave Burbank, is like a comics book book club for kids except that you don't have to read the books ahead of time. Instead we read them together, using our new ELMO projector. We usually read bits and pieces of various comics, graphic novels and manga -- Dave is particularly great at coming up with different voices for each character! Kids are invited to bring in their favorite comics for us to read; Dave also will share some of his own favorites and introduce some of our newest comics. No registration required; just plan to come next Friday, May 15, from 4-5 to join us at this unique book club!

Any questions, just give us a call at 301-891-7259.

Banned Books Club

If you're a student of middle school age, you're invited to become a member of our award-winning Banned Books Club. Our club meets monthly to discuss books that have been challenged -- or even banned -- for all kinds of reasons. Our next meeting is Monday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m., where we'll discuss two books by Katherine Paterson: "Bridge To Terabithia" and "The Great Gilly Hopkins." Copies of the books are available for check-out, courtesy of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. Registration is required for the club: go to www.takomapark.info/library/registration.html or call us at 301-891-7259.

Banned Books Club

Our Banned Books Club will meet on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Our club, aimed at middle-schoolers, will discuss Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck at our April meeting -- Monday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. Copies of the book will be available at the library for check-out, courtesy of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.

Medieval Magic

You're invited to a special performance of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! on Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. Middle school students will bring medieval characters to life as they perform poems from the Newbery Medal-winning book, and music will be provided by local musician Wendy Lanxner and her students. The performance will open the annual meeting of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library, but you don't have to be a member of the Friends to come and enjoy the show, as well as some goodies to eat and drink. No registration required; the show is best for school-aged children and older.

]]> The middle school students first performed Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! in December, as the culmination of a four-week workshop with local poets Elizabeth Rees and Rosanne Singer. During the workshop, the students first read the book, written by Laura Amy Schlitz, then decided which character they would like to be. In addition, the students wrote "persona" poems, in which they created a character inspired by one of the characters in the book. Like the poems in the book, the students' poems were alternately moving and humorous. Come and enjoy this unique performance of an award-winning book!

Tween Writing Club

Do you want to write poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction? Then join our new Tween Writing Club, led by Susan Katz-Miller, former Newsweek reporter and high school English teacher. Each month, the group will do some writing games together to warm up. Then, tween writers will read from their own work, and Sue will lead supportive group discussions. No assignments, no grading, no rubrics, just writing for the sheer joy of it. Bring some of your writing to the first class. Class limited to ten writers. Third Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm. March 18, April 15, May 20. Note: this program is aimed at kids ages 10-12. Thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library for sponsoring this club!

Comics Jam tonight!

Just a reminder that we've having our first Comics Jam this evening at the Takoma Park Maryland Library at 7:30 p.m. It's a perfect activity for a cold winter evening-- sitting in our cozy Children's Room, reading comics together via our new projector (purchased by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library). Feel free to bring some favorite comics with you -- we can easily project them onto a screen so we can read them together. We'll also be sharing some of our favorites. Registration is encouraged, but not required, for this event. To register online, go to www.takomapark.info/library/registration.html, or just call us at 301-891-7259.

Cranberry Box Discussion

On Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m., we�re offering a unique way for middle school and high students to earn community service hours. Local author Joy Jones has written a short story titled The Cranberry Box and is looking for feedback from pre-teen and teen readers. Participants will earn two community service hours for taking part in this event. Copies of the story are available at the Library�s main desk; you must read the story before the discussion. Registration required.

Banned Books Club

We're meeting on Monday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. Copies are available for checkout, thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. This club is for kids in grades 6 and up; newcomers are always welcome. Please register by going to www.takomapark.info/library/registration.html.

Best Kids Books

If you're looking for the perfect holiday gift, try a book! We've got lots of suggestions in our Best Books for Kids lists, posted on the library's Books blog: http://takomapark.info/library/books/.

Teen fiction suggestions can be found in the second list, while the third list features recommended non-fiction, folktales, poetry, graphic novels and re-issued classics.

Happy Reading!
Karen MacPherson, children's and teen librarin

Best Kids/Teen Books

Looking for a great holiday gift? Try a book!

I've culled through more than 1,000 children's and teen books published this year to highlight the best for kids. You'll find great books for pre-teens and teens on this list, which has been posted on the library's Books blog. Look for the entry labeled Best Kids Books 2. We'll soon post a final list listing some of the best non-fiction and graphic novels for kids.

Happy Reading!
Karen MacPherson, children's/teen librarian, Takoma Park Maryland Library

Winter Solstice

Come one, come all to our 18th annual Winter Solstice celebration on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Bill Jenkins, a local world music educator, will start us off, giving us a chance to drum and bring back the energy of the earth. Then the Foggy Bottom Morris Men will perform some of their amazing dances. This is a great program for all ages. No need to register -- just come!

Holiday Special!

Please join us on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. for a unique program based on this year's Newbery Medal-winning book, Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! . Middle school students will perform monologues or duologues they have written based on the book, which looks at life in a medieval village. The poems were developed over the course of a three-session workshop led by local poets Elizabeth Rees and Rosanne Singer. At the Dec. 17 performance, medieval music will be provided by the students of local musician/music teacher Wendy Lanxner, and refreshments will be provided. This program is a great -- and different -- way to celebrate the holidays and is perfect for children ages 5 up. Please register so we can have enough refreshments for all. Thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library for sponsoring the workshop and the performance.

Banned Books Club

This month, our Banned Books Club will meet on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m and look at picture books that have been challenged for various reasons. Among the titles are And Tango Makes Three and In the Night Kitchen . We'll read some of the titles aloud, and discuss why some people might want to have them banned. All kids of middle-school and high-school age are welcome to join us at this thought-provoking -- and fun! -- discussion.

College Bound Programs

The Takoma Park Maryland Library will offer three great -- and free -- programs for college-bound students and their parents on three evenings in October -- Oct. 7, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21. Come to one, two or all three programs!

The programs feature nationally-recognized experts, who will offer guidance to students applying to college. Please register! Go to takomapark.info/library/registration.html or call 301-891-7259. All programs are presented by the Takoma Park Maryland Library with the support of the Friends of the Library.

]]> On Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., Dr. Ilhan Cagri and a trained colleague will share their experiences and insights on both the verbal and math components of the current SAT format, introduced in spring of 2005.

Dr. Cagri received her PhD in Linguistics at the University of Maryland. As a Faculty Research Associate at the University of Maryland School of Languages, she is currently conducting a research project on second language acquisition. She has taught and designed SAT preparation classes for Montgomery County Public Schools, in private schools and as a private tutor. Parents and students have found her insights practical and helpful.

On Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Herm Davis will discuss college financing options, including the financial aid timetable, scholarships, loans, work study, college savings plans, the FAFSA application and more.

One of the nation's foremost college aid authorities, Dr. Davis heads the National College Scholarship Foundation and directs College Financial Aid Counseling and Education Services, Inc. During his 35 years of working in the field of financial aid he has authored several financial aid publications including College Financial Aid for Dummies. He has also developed a computer scholarship database, consulted for several scholarship foundations and for the Petersons' Financial publications. Dr. Davis has undergraduate degrees in business and education, a Masters Degree in guidance and counseling, and a PhD from George Washington University in Higher Education.

On Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Dr. Lori Pott-Dupre will present an overview of the college selection process. What schools might provide the right fit � academically, financially and personally � for you? Topics include sorting out your personal criteria and goals and the admissions process.

Dr. Lori Potts-Dupre grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. She earned the B.S. and M.Ed. degrees at the University of California, Davis in Applied Behavioral Sciences, and her PhD in education at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1994 she was appointed as Faculty Research Associate at the National Center for Postsecondary Governance and Finance, where she investigated governance issues in higher education. She also coordinated admissions for the Francis Scott Key and Banneker programs at College Park, and taught in the Honors program.

Lori opened her college consulting practice in Takoma Park, Maryland in 1997. She has evaluated over 350 campuses nationwide, and continues to visit and evaluate dozens of colleges every year. She attained the CEP (Certified Educational Planner) designation, the highest standard in the profession, in 1999. In the fall of 2003 she was appointed as a commissioner to the American Institute of Certified Education Planners. She enjoys visiting campuses, volunteering with local youth organizations, and spending time with her family.