July Fun!
There are several awesome teen events happening at the library this month! The best part: they’re all free!
On Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 PM, young adults, ages 12-18, are invited to attend the How to Draw Manga for Beginners workshop in the library’s meeting room. Heather Krumm will teach the basics that make drawing Japanese-style figures fun and easy! Registration is required, so visit or call the reference desk to sign up.
On Wednesday, July 15 at 6 PM, the library will show Pleasantville on the big screen in the meeting room to teens, ages 13-18. In this film starring Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, two modern-day teens are transported to the 1950s television world of Pleasantville where everyone is perfect and the world is black and white – but not for long. Find out what happens when the teens introduce some color to this once-innocent town. Attendees must be at least 13 years old to be admitted to this PG-13 rated movie. Proof of age must be presented, so if you don’t have a young adult library card or license, pick up a permission slip from the teen section so that your guardian can sign it. No registration is required. Show up ten minutes early to get free snacks!
It’s not too late to register for the Read to Win! summer reading program for high school students. Participants will receive prizes in exchange for reading. Prizes include a ticket to a Bridgeport Bluefish baseball game, a free treat at McDonald’s, two tickets to a Bridgeport Sound Tiger’s ice hockey game, and a chance to be entered into a raffle for two tickets to Lake Compounce or a gift certificate to SportsCenter of Connecticut. Make your summer reading for school work to your advantage by earning prizes! Visit the reference desk to sign up.
Preview for August: Borrow a copy of I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, a book about an ordinary guy who becomes an extraordinary hero, so that you can come to the book discussion on August 4 at 6 PM!
~Marissa
Add comment July 6, 2009
Free Viewing of The Dark Knight
The Joker, a dangerous criminal, has brought chaos to Gotham. Can Batman save the city? Find out in The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. The library will show this movie to teens, ages 13-18, on the big screen in the meeting room on Tuesday, June 30 at 5 PM.
No registration is required. Attendees must be at least 13 years old to view this film.
~Marissa
Add comment June 27, 2009
Make a fashion statement with duct tape sandals!
On Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 PM, learn to make sandals out of duct tape and cardboard in the Whittemore Library’s meeting room. This free program is open to young adults, ages 12-18. Registration will occur at the reference desk right up to the start of the program. Both guys and girls are invited to bring a friend and make sure that you have the flashiest feet on the beach!
~Marissa
Add comment June 8, 2009
Watch Twilight for Free!
On Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 PM, the library will host a free viewing of Twilight for teens, ages 13-18, in the meeting room. Bella (Kristen Stewart) is in love with Edward (Robert Pattinson), and he loves her back. The only problem is that Edward is a vampire – so he thirsts for Bella’s blood. What is a girl to do? Find out in this film based on the book by the same name.
Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Twilight characters. Wear a vampire baseball uniform, a prom dress, or another Twilight-inspired outfit! Only teens who are at least 13 years old will be admitted to this PG-13 rated movie. No registration is required.
~Marissa
P.S. Thank you to everyone who attended the Teen Job Hunters’ Workshop. I hope it helped you. I know that there’s a lot of competition out there, but don’t give up. Keep applying! I’ve added a new “Links” page to the blog so that you can check out the job search sites that I mentioned during the program.
Add comment May 18, 2009
Need to earn some cash?
Let the library teach you how to get a job! Come to the free Teen Job Hunters’ Workshop in the library’s meeting room on Wednesday, May 13 at 6:30 PM. Learn the basics of resumes, cover letters, and job interviews during this FREE program that is sure to get you hired. This is the perfect time to start hunting for summer employment!
Registration for the Teen Job Hunters Workshop is required. Visit or call the reference desk to sign up.
~ Marissa
P.S. Thanks to the teens who showed off their poetic and musical talents at the Teen Poetry Slam. Each of you were uber-impressive!
Add comment May 6, 2009
Poetry Slam & More
Can’t get enough poetry? Come to the library’s Teen Poetry Slam on Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 PM. Show off your talent by performing an original work – read a poem, sing or rap a song, or bring and play an instrument. Then, listen to pieces written by your peers.
Unlike a traditional slam, this is not a competition. Poets of all skill levels, from amateur to professional, are welcome! This free slam is open to young adults, ages 12-18, and no audition or registration is required.
Not sure how to write a poem for the slam? Try this link for poetry writing tips: http://www.poetrymagic.co.uk/approaches.html
Think poems are boring? The links below may change your mind. In honor of National Poetry Month, I’ve picked out two websites that make poetry addictive!
Poetry 180: A Poem a Day for American High School Students
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html
Looking for a distraction from your homework? On this website, there’s a whole school year’s worth of distractions! When essays, math problems, and studying get to be too much, take a poem break. There’s one poem for every school day minus the first and last day of school. And these aren’t stereotypical poems about flowers and rocks – works like “The Death of Santa Claus” and “Hate Poem” are pieces that even the most reluctant poetry readers will actually want to read.
Favorite Poem Project
http://www.favoritepoem.org/videos.html
It’s like the poetry version of reality TV! Watch videos of Americans of all ages reciting their favorite poems and explaining how those poems connect to their own lives.
~Marissa
Add comment April 22, 2009
Looking for spring vacation fun?
Look no further! Watch a free movie at the library! On Tuesday, April 14 at 6 PM, teens, ages 13-18, can watch Hancock on the big screen in the meeting room for FREE. In this film, Will Smith stars as John Hancock, a superhero who is more like an antihero – people hate him because he causes destruction whenever he saves lives.
Only teens who are at least 13 years old will be admitted to this PG-13 movie. Free snacks will be served. No registration is required.
~ Marissa
Add comment April 7, 2009
Free Viewing of Juno for Teens!
Why spend $9 on a ticket at a movie theater when you could see a movie on the big screen for FREE?
On Tuesday, March 10 at 6 PM, the library will show Juno to young adults ages 13-18 onthe big screen in the meeting room. What will happen when Juno, a quirky high school student, discovers that she is pregnant with her best friend’s baby? Find out in this movie starring Ellen Page and Michael Cera.
Because this comedy/drama is rated PG-13, no one under the age of 13 will be admitted. No registration is required for this free program. Snacks will be served.
~Marissa
Add comment March 3, 2009
Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black
A brave girl with special talents. A handsome supernatural hero. A risky plan to stop brutal murderers with magical powers. Does this sound familiar?
In many ways, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black is reminiscent of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. In both, there’s magic, danger, and romance, and the basic components of the stories are similar. However, in Tithe, the heroine has more serious problems than Bella’s clumsiness, and the hero, with his mysterious allegiances, is far more complex than Edward.
In this novel, sixteen-year-old Kaye’s life is not easy. She has never lived in the same place for long, and since her family is often short on cash, she had to drop out of high school in order to work at a Chinese restaurant. Her mom is a struggling rocker whose latest boyfriend tries to murder her. And now, to top it all off, Kaye’s just discovered that she is a fairy.
When a group of fairies convince Kaye to help them gain their freedom from the rule of the evil Unseelie court, life becomes even more confusing, dangerous, and frightening. Then there are complications: Kaye starts to fall for the mysterious Roiben, a dark knight, about whom it is rumored “He as likely to be kind as to kill you.”
Despite its similarities to Twilight, the combination of the haunting and the beautiful make Tithe a standout novel that will likely leave readers wanting more. (And if that’s the case for you, you’re in luck: there are two sequels, called Valiant and Ironside.)
~Marissa
Add comment March 2, 2009
A duct tape rose by any other name would smell as sweet…
Stumped about what to give that special someone for Valentine’s Day?
Or are you determined to un-celebrate Valentine’s Day and instead give your awesome single self a treat?
Either way, come to the Duct Tape Rose Workshop on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 PM. Making a rose out of duct tape is easy and fun – and the result lasts a lot longer, and is a lot cooler, than a real rose. Anyone who is 12-18 years old is welcome to attend this free program, but registration is required so visit or call the reference desk to sign up.
~ Marissa
Add comment February 2, 2009
