tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88638985251276586342024-03-05T08:42:28.449-08:00THE SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY TEEN BOOK CLUBliving in infamy in Wylie, TexasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-79692511518455254162014-12-03T09:09:00.001-08:002014-12-11T12:09:16.648-08:00December: The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You guys. Can we talk about <i>The Raven Boys</i>?? I mean we're going to anyway, but oh man I LOVED IT. I am just going to go ahead and admit that I got pretty fangirl-y about it and immediately checked out the second book and I still can't decide if Ronan, Adam, Persephone or Calla is my favorite. IT WAS SO GOOD.<br />
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So I've been looking forward to writing the blog about it this month but it has been super busy lately, what with the holidays and such, so it has been put off until today. But now I have time! And we can talk about the characters and ley lines and MAGIC.<br />
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Part of why I love <i>The Raven Boys </i> so much is because the supernatural aspects of the story draw a lot from real history. The corpse roads and ley lines, for example.<br />
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First of all, they technically aren't interchangeable, as it's stated in the book. Ley lines and corpse roads are two separate things.<br />
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But let's start with corpse roads, since that's where the story also begins.<br />
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Corpse roads were actually used for the transportation of dead people. Corpses. Back in Ye Olden Tymes (England's late medieval period), population expansion and an increase of church building took place. A lot of these churches were connected to the older, more established "mother churches" (so to speak) that were more often located in larger towns or cities. Whereas the smaller, newer churches were often out in small villages in the countryside. And the mother churches were the only ones that had burying rights. So in those small villages, when you died, you had to be transported to the mother church to be buried. And unless you were a very wealthy person, your coffin had to be carried to this location. And obviously, you don't want to be traipsing over hills and streams and everything else while carrying a dead body, so corpse roads were established. And they were the easiest, straightest, most efficient routes to the mother church. In some places there are still "coffin stones" (large flat stones to rest the coffin on while you take a break) along the route. Though a lot of the original corpse roads have been forgotten and taken over by nature, you can sometimes use church locations and field/feature names to trace the route they would have taken.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Coffin_Stone_at_Town_End_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1767270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Coffin_Stone_at_Town_End_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1767270.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A coffin stone on the funeral road from Rydal to Ambleside in the UK</td></tr>
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So anyway, there were obviously a lot of superstitions about corpse roads. As there are with anything having to do with dead people and spirits and such. Most of them involve "corpse candles" (small blue balls of light or flames that are believed to be spirits of the dead) leading travelers astray or seen traveling the route from their home to the cemetery at the church where they were buried. Also, though they strived to take the easiest routes, they also made sure to cross over bridges or stepping stones because running water was thought to keep the spirits of the dead from trying to return home. <br />
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And, the part about<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mark%27s_Eve"> St. Mark's Eve</a> is an actual thing. From Wikipedia:<br />
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"An old woman at Fryup in Yorkshire was well known locally for keeping the "Mark's e’en watch" (24 April), as she lived alongside a corpse road known as the "Old Hell Road". In this 'watch', typically a village seer would hold a vigil between 11 pm and 1 am on St. Mark's Day, in order to look for the wraiths of those who would die in the following year."</blockquote>
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HOW ABOUT THAT, HUH? COOL STUFF.<br />
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Anywho, there is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpse_road">soooooo much more on corpse roads on Wikipedia</a> and probably a million other sites on the internet, and you should definitely go look them up. The info is super neato and rooted deep in ancient history and very worth reading.<br />
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But, we are moving on! To ley lines!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of North America's supposed ley lines</td></tr>
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So ley lines were first theorized in 1921 by a man named Alfred Watkins, who was an amateur archaeologist. From Wikipedia, again:<br />
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"On 30 June 1921, Alfred Watkins visited Blackwardine in Herefordshire, and had been driving along a road near the village (which has now virtually disappeared). Attracted by the nearby archaeological investigation of a Roman camp, he stopped his car to compare the landscape on either side of the road with the marked features on his much used map. While gazing at the scene around him and consulting the map, he saw, in the words of his son, "like a chain of fairy lights" a series of straight alignments of various ancient features, such as standing stones, wayside crosses, causeways, hill forts, and ancient churches on mounds. He realized immediately that the potential discovery had to be checked from higher ground when during a revelation he noticed that many of the footpaths there seemed to connect one hilltop to another in a straight line."</blockquote>
So, as you can probably tell, it is certainly probable that ley lines are connected to corpse roads. Both tend to be straight paths that connect spiritually significant places. And Watkins' theory fits with the idea as well. He believed that in ancient times, when the world was more heavily forested and wild, that the country was criss-crossed by these straight-line travel paths that used prominent features of the landscape and significant sites as way points. Which makes loads of sense, right? People all the way back through time have used landmarks to help navigate through the countryside.<br />
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Well anyway, as with corpse roads, there is a lot of spiritual stuff surrounding them. In 1969 a man named John Mitchell combined Watkins work with his own thoughts about Chinese feng shui and the spiritual concept of land forms and ancient monuments and published <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/View-Over-Atlantis-John-Mitchell/dp/0345028813/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417557980&sr=1-3&keywords=the+view+over+atlantis">The View Over Atlantis</a></i>. The book essentially put forward the idea that ley lines have a special energy and resonate with a psychic or mystic power. *Especially* since they often connect spiritual places. SOUND FAMILIAR?? It's basically where all of the ideas in <i>The Raven Boys </i>come from.<br />
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However, let me go ahead and tell you that if you plan on researching ley lines for yourself, you are going to run into some of the craziest people on the internet. There are loads of conspiracy theorists who believe that the ley lines have to do with major world events and crazy weather and everything else under the sun. A lot of people seem to think that in areas where the ley lines cross, there is more UFO activity. The internet is a crazy place, my friends. Wikipedia gives you <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_line">a pretty straightforward explanation of them</a>, but it is pretty fun to read some of the other theories out there.<br />
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Now that you have all had your history lesson for the day, I can't wait to talk about it with you all on Thursday! I know we had quite a few people sign up and some didn't get a copy of the book, but just bring yourselves and sit and chat with us anyway. I actually couldn't get a copy either, and ended up buying it on my Kindle. But regardless, I will see you all on Thursday at 6pm sharp for some creepy supernatural book chat! Adios!<br />
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<br />Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-77020682277978790562014-11-10T15:58:00.004-08:002014-11-10T17:14:22.738-08:00Stargirl Wrap-Up!So it was awesome to see you all again on Thursday! I'm also super excited that it seems like we're all kind of getting to know one another and we're building a nice, steady following. We have a great group of people!<br />
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Anyway, you all had lots of thoughts about <i>Stargirl</i>. Some of you liked it, some of you didn't. Some of you thought Stargirl was a crazy stalker person. Which is understandable. We also had some good conversation about being different and whether or not it's a good thing or a bad thing, as well as bullying. It was a thoughtful night.<br />
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And I kept thinking about it. Because Veronica had pointed out that Leo never even once stood up for Stargirl, the person he supposedly loved. And that really, really irritated me. Because Leo is the person you never want to be. The person who stands on the sidelines and is too afraid to do anything when someone is being hurt. ESPECIALLY someone you love. And that really annoyed me about Leo. He's a strange character like that, because he does some pretty crappy things and is too afraid to say something, but he always wants to best for Stargirl.<br />
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Also, I am SUPER EXCITED about December's read, <i>Raven Boys</i>. It had never really looked like something I was interesting in reading but everyone in the library has told me it's amazing and now I have a reason to read it! Jenn has assured me that the entire series is spectacular, so I look forward to getting sucked into it.<br />
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Finally, we got a bunch of new stuff in in the teen room! The final installment of <i>The Darkest Minds </i>series is here. <i>Unraveled</i>, the third book in the <i>Crewel</i> series is in. As well as <i>Clariel</i>, the long-awaited fourth Abhorsen book from Garth Nix. PLUS, we should soon be getting <i>Waistcoats and Weaponry</i>, the third book of the <i>Finishing School </i>series. SO MANY NEW BOOKS. And there are even more than those that I am probably forgetting to mention. We had a full cart! I am drowning in new YA novels to read! So definitely stop in or check online and grab something new.<br />
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Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-53032297649072715522014-11-06T10:52:00.001-08:002014-11-06T10:53:47.654-08:00November: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HELLO TEEN BOOK CLUB!</div>
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It's November! Can you believe it? Next month it will be December and we will all have Christmas-Brain and will be wandering around singing carols. Or maybe you already have Christmas-Brain. I have seen several stores with decorations out already and I even saw a lit up tree in someone's window! On November 1st! Clearly, crazy people live there. </div>
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Speaking of crazy people,<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22232.Stargirl?ac=1"> let's talk about Stargirl</a>. Just kidding! Although parts of her do seem a <i>little </i>bit out there. For example, the part where she just attends random people's funerals. I'm pretty sure that is a huge no-no. Please don't just walk into random funerals and start crying, my friends. That's extremely disrespectful.</div>
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Anyway, there are loads of great things about Stargirl though. Most importantly, she doesn't care what people think about her. So let's talk about that. </div>
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Society in general is pretty crap sometimes, and there is a lot of pressure to be *normal* and fit in with everyone and do and say and wear the same stuff as everyone else. Especially when you're younger. But deep down most of us would rather be doing and saying and wearing something different. But sometimes we don't, because we're scared of what people will think. Because we'd be *different*. And that's a terrifying concept sometimes. If you stand out, you will be noticed. And sometimes when you get noticed, you get criticized and ridiculed. And that is not fun. Sometimes it's just easier to pretend you like the same things as everyone else. </div>
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But that can also make you miserable, because you are participating in something you don't like. So it's tough! Sometimes being yourself is super hard! Honestly, I have found that as you get older, you start to just not care anymore. Sometimes I still get self-conscious, but I definitely feel more secure in myself than I did when I was in middle school. Or even high school! Although I got a little more rebellious and outgoing in high school. </div>
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So, Stargirl is a little nutty but she is also very endearing and heartfelt. All she wants is for other people to be happy. And when they are happy, she is happy. I think one of the most important parts of the book was when Leo notices the small wagon she has that is filled with stones, with a few scattered around the outside. He asks what it is, and Stargirl explains that when she is happy, she puts a stone in the wagon. But when she is unhappy because of something, she takes one out. Leo remarks that there aren't many stones outside the wagon and Stargirl says it's the happiest she's ever been. </div>
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HOWEVER, not too much later, when Leo is trying to get her to be "normal," he notices that her wagon is almost entirely empty. So she may not show it, but she is pretty unhappy with how things are going. </div>
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Anyway, I have lectured enough about happiness and being true to yourself and etc. I think you have all probably heard it before anyway. But it never hurts to repeat it. Be yourself, and try not to worry about what others think. </div>
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I also wanted to add this awesome video from Scholastic's "Reading Opens a World of Possible" campaign, in which Taylor Swift sits down and chats about some of her favorite books. And <i>Stargirl </i>is one of them! I'm also including Swift's music video for <i>Mean</i>, just because it's fun and totally fits our theme. </div>
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Scholastic video <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/taylorswift/">HERE!</a> <span style="text-align: center;">And I will see you all tonight at Teen Book Club at 6pm! </span></div>
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Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-82886402258625990952014-10-04T10:11:00.000-07:002014-10-04T10:12:03.189-07:00Miss Peregrine's Wrap-Up!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eva Green in <i>Penny Dreadful</i></td></tr>
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HELLO AGAIN TEEN BOOK CLUB!<br />
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So our meeting on Thursday was fantastic, and you guys had lots of great thoughts about the book. And a huge amount of you said you wanted to continue the series and read <i>The Hollow City</i>. Which is awesome! I, myself, We also mentioned that it had been optioned by 20th Century Fox to be brought to film! HUZZAH! So, here are the facts.<br />
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<li>Tim Burton, director of awesome movies such as <i>The Nightmare Before Christmas</i>, <i>Edward Scissorhands</i>, <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>, and <i>Sweeney Todd</i>, <a href="http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/tim-burton-to-adapt-miss-peregrines-home-for-peculiar-children/">is set to direct the adaptation</a>. Which, if he gets back to what he's good at, should be an awesome choice. </li>
<li><a href="http://m.imdb.com/name/nm1200692/filmotype/actress?ref_=m_nmfm_1">Eva Green</a>, who is best known for her role in the James Bond film <i>Casino Royale</i>, and more recently <i>Penny Dreadful</i>, is in negotiations to play Miss Peregrine herself. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=42268">Asa Butterfield</a>, star of <i>Ender's Game</i>, is possibly set to play Jacob. </li>
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And there you have it! The movie won't be out for quite awhile yet (probably 2016), but at least there are lots of good rumors about casting to read.</div>
Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-38648992018389620632014-10-02T14:42:00.000-07:002014-10-02T14:42:43.991-07:00TEEN BOOK CLUB TONIGHT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The weather outside may be frightful, but we're still having Teen Book Club tonight! See you at 6pm, and remember your copy of <i>Miss Peregrine's</i>!Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-86797481837390396742014-09-27T09:42:00.000-07:002014-09-27T09:55:41.551-07:00Banned Books Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The blog is busy this week! And by busy I mean there will be two posts within a matter of days. CRAZY! Anyway, my reason for writing again is that I wanted to remind everyone of our author event today. At 1pm we're holding <a href="http://www.wylietexas.gov/departments/library/teen_stuff.php">an author talk and book signing event</a> here at the library for Banned Books Week. But before we get into details, I wanted to talk a little bit about Banned Books Week and why a lot of us here at the library feel so strongly about it.<br />
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Firstly, since we've had several teens ask what exactly banning books is about, let me explain: Oftentimes books will be banned (taken out of schools and public libraries) because someone feels that the content of the book is inappropriate. They might disagree with the author's viewpoint on a certain subject, they might feel the book has sexual content in it that is inappropriate for the readers, or they might think it has too many bad words in it. There are lots of reasons. Oftentimes it is parents who disapprove of what their kids are reading in school or in the library. And that's totally fine! It becomes a problem, however, when the one parent who disapproves of the book tries to remove the book from the library and thus taking it away from <i>everyone else</i> who might want to read it. Just because <i>you</i> don't like something and feel like it's wrong, doesn't mean other people feel that way too. I don't like mushrooms and don't want them on my pizza, but I am not banning mushrooms from Domino's because of this. </div>
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And when this happens, when books are taken away from the library and the public, this is a form of censorship. And there are a lot of issues with censorship. </div>
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From the <a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill">Library Bill of Rights</a>:</div>
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The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.<br />
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.<br />
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.<br />
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.<br />
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.</blockquote>
Long story short, everyone deserves access to all of our materials, whether the ideas inside them challenge us or not.<br />
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And this isn't an unfamiliar situation. Just this past week <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/park-cities/headlines/20140921-highland-park-isd-suspends-seven-books-after-parents-protest-their-content.ece">Highland Park ISD "suspended" seven books</a> from a recommended reading list for their questionable content. One of them was Jeanette Walls' memoir <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7445.The_Glass_Castle?from_search=true">The Glass Castle</a></i>, despite the fact Walls is one of their keynote speakers at a literary festival next year. The other books that were called out for sexual content, drug use, and language include:<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3153910-the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain?from_search=true">The Art of Racing in the Rain</a></i> by Garth Stein<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11095.The_Working_Poor?from_search=true">The Working Poor: Invisible in America</a></i> by David K. Shipler<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52036.Siddhartha?from_search=true">Siddhartha</a></i> by Hermann Hesse<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49750.An_Abundance_of_Katherines?from_search=true">An Abundance of Katherines</a></i> by John Green<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11334.Song_of_Solomon?from_search=true">Song of Solomon</a></i> by Toni Morrison<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian?from_search=true">The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian</a></i> by Sherman Alexie<br />
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While the parents who fought to ban the books argue that they don't want to expose their children to this kind of mature content, many others have been pointing out that it is important to expose ourselves to new situations and push our boundaries as lifelong learners. Particularly in well-to-do areas such as Highland Park. Oftentimes we who are in positions of privilege may never encounter the hardships that people such as Jeanette Walls and Sherman Alexie have faced, but it is still crucial to our development as compassionate human beings that we read and learn as much about the world around us as we can. It broadens out horizons. We cannot allow ourselves to live in the safety of our bubbles.<br />
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And this is why we fight so hard against book banning. As a librarians, we run a free, public service. We owe it to our community to give them everything we have, whether one person likes it or not. Dav Pilkey put up an excellent video in response to his <i>Captain Underpants </i>books consistently being banned that you can watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA6_yp2CvlU">here</a>. As he explains, all you have to do is change <b>one</b> word.<br />
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I would also strongly recommend reading Sherman Alexie's powerful essay <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why-the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/">"Why The Best Kid's Books Are Written in Blood."</a> It speaks volumes about the authors of these books and why it is important to spread the message of so many of these children's and young adult novels.<br />
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Finally, we would love it if you would come to our Banned Books Week author event this afternoon and listen to a panel of YA writers talk about their own work and why banned books are important to them. We're featuring Rosemary Clement Moore (<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9535352-texas-gothic">Texas Gothic</a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15714677-spirit-and-dust">Spirit and Dust</a></i>), Kay Honeyman (<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14746310-the-fire-horse-girl?from_search=true">The Fire Horse Girl</a></i>), Polly Holyoke (<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10739664-the-neptune-project?from_search=true">The Neptune Project</a></i>) and Lindsay Cummings (<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13576132-the-murder-complex?from_search=true">The Murder Complex</a></i>). Barnes and Noble will be in the lobby selling copies of their books, and afterwards all four will be available to sign books and take photos. It runs from 1pm-3pm and will be in the multipurpose room here at Smith Public Library. Plus, it's <b>completely free</b> <b>AND there will be cookies</b>. So you had better be there.<br />
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See y'all this afternoon!<br />
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Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-8920166250231292092014-09-22T12:36:00.001-07:002014-09-22T12:46:00.517-07:00October: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.metrokids.com/MomSpeak/February-2014/Moms-Book-Review-Miss-Peregrines-Home-for-Peculiar-Children/MissPeregrines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.metrokids.com/MomSpeak/February-2014/Moms-Book-Review-Miss-Peregrines-Home-for-Peculiar-Children/MissPeregrines.jpg" height="640" width="409" /></a></div>
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Happy Almost October Smithies! As you probably already know (especially if you were at the last meeting), this month's book club pick is <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9460487-miss-peregrine-s-home-for-peculiar-children">Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</a></i> by Ransom Riggs. We warned you that it was weird. We warned you that it was creepy. And you didn't believe us until you flipped through the book itself and saw all those strange photos that the author included. Photos like these:<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSXyoTk528g9a_C0B8xtnP_rDSQ7WJ5cFLSjMEsZ_3VWpBpQr8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSXyoTk528g9a_C0B8xtnP_rDSQ7WJ5cFLSjMEsZ_3VWpBpQr8" /></a><a href="http://scottstuart.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/tumblr_m3rxb53fhf1qe5r69o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scottstuart.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/tumblr_m3rxb53fhf1qe5r69o1_500.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKxto55by9YvOV2NZxFD9eI8xzb5ELPv2QsFDz6pbDpRCBPBzbEHXpDb_uYMM28Z3i9-iFLIfF1Fm7Tdd7YJUv_eO9rvFJw3UdoyshKU7SuXcuA3LKY8-hqIPMSy8QzLBSvh64O7iJBM3/s1600/miss+peregrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKxto55by9YvOV2NZxFD9eI8xzb5ELPv2QsFDz6pbDpRCBPBzbEHXpDb_uYMM28Z3i9-iFLIfF1Fm7Tdd7YJUv_eO9rvFJw3UdoyshKU7SuXcuA3LKY8-hqIPMSy8QzLBSvh64O7iJBM3/s1600/miss+peregrine.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><a href="http://images.wikia.com/thepeculiarchildren/images/1/15/Emma_Bloom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.wikia.com/thepeculiarchildren/images/1/15/Emma_Bloom.png" /></a></div>
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Basically, photos that are super mega creepy and will haunt your dreams for years to come. So where did Ransom Riggs even get these pictures? Where did he come up with this idea?? WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING??? Let's talk it out. </div>
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Part of what Ransom Riggs does is called <b>found photography</b>. Found photography, by definition (according to Wikipedia) is <b>"a genre of photography and/or visual art based on the recovery (and possible exhibition) of lost, unclaimed, or discarded photographs." </b>But where do you even get old photographs like this? Well, they are kind of everywhere when you look hard enough. There is an abundance of them in antique stores and thrift shops. And you can usually find them at flea markets, and yard and estate sales as well. Oftentimes you can buy who big packets of them in antique stores for $5 or less. They don't have a lot of value (unless they are old tin-type photographs), but there are people out there who collect this kind of stuff. People like Ransom Riggs. So all of these photos above, and the ones in the book, are real photographs taken way back when. Riggs was actually encouraged by his agent to use his collection of photos for a book, from there he compiled a narrative that forms the backbone of <i>Miss Peregrine's Home of Peculiar Children. </i>So, the entire thing came from a bunch of creepy photos that Riggs had been collecting!</div>
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Since Miss Peregrine's Home is stuck in a time loop in 1940, we could safely assume that if they were using cameras in the story, they would have probably been <b>Kodak Brownies</b>. Invented by George Eastman in 1901, the Brownie basically revolutionized the way people took photos. It was easy enough for the common person to use to take family photographs, but well made enough that <b>Ansel Adams</b> used it to create some of his now famous black and white photos of nature at it's finest. The Brownie was actually his first camera, given to him by his father on their first trip to Yosemite. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ansel Adams, <i>Monolith, The Face of Half-Dome</i></td></tr>
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However, some of the photos in Ransom Riggs' collection could be <i>quite</i> a bit older than the Kodak Brownie. <b>The very first photo EVER TAKEN was a daguerreotype</b>, and after that came calotypes and tablotypes and tintypes and etc. etc. I could go on and on. The history of photography is insane and crazy and definitely worth checking out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/View_from_the_Window_at_Le_Gras,_Joseph_Nic%C3%A9phore_Ni%C3%A9pce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/View_from_the_Window_at_Le_Gras,_Joseph_Nic%C3%A9phore_Ni%C3%A9pce.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oldest known photograph in existence, by Joseph Nicephore Niepce</td></tr>
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Also worth mentioning on this weird trip through photographic history are <b>Victorian post-mortem portraits</b>. Back in ye olden tymes of the 1800's, it was popular to take memorial photos of your loved ones after they died. Which, I don't know about you, but to me sounds suuuuuper creepy. Sometimes the dead person would be photographed alone, or sometimes they would be family members. They would go as far as to use stands and set ups to pose the dead person as if they were alive. And on tintypes, they could paint in a faint blush on their cheeks to make them seem...not dead. Oftentimes this was done for babies or children who had died young, but post-mortem photos were available to anyone who wanted them and had the money to pay for them.<br />
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Anyway, I should probably wrap this up. I have been rambling about photography for long enough. But! If you want to know more about the book, about the history of photography, or about the creepy history of post-mortem photographs, just check out some of the links below. And I will see you all next Thursday on the 2nd!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ransomriggs.com/">Ransom Riggs' Website</a></div>
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<a href="http://io9.com/the-strangest-tradition-of-the-victorian-era-post-mort-472772709">Some more post-mortem photographs</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/foundphotos/">A really great Flickr group for found photographs</a></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_photography">Wikipedia's entry on the history of photography</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVegDhDxLeU">The director's cut version of the <i>Miss Peregrine's </i>book trailer!</a></div>
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Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-59865836101456272112014-09-04T11:36:00.001-07:002014-09-04T11:36:39.164-07:00September: Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-Tm9KuCPTFfxYKD67u8DPcnucwtvqz9fbRTWtsm-6WjFERfF63sceaLx8-9g7D3X2n_b86fmJG67JHKtjAM8buGFGH4_2OzAl7dTLKMTSxDBajzmNyNmRJh3GFuOt3l2reOwJPuwoUT9/s1600/Dreamsleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-Tm9KuCPTFfxYKD67u8DPcnucwtvqz9fbRTWtsm-6WjFERfF63sceaLx8-9g7D3X2n_b86fmJG67JHKtjAM8buGFGH4_2OzAl7dTLKMTSxDBajzmNyNmRJh3GFuOt3l2reOwJPuwoUT9/s1600/Dreamsleaves.jpg" height="640" width="440" /></a></div>
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Welcome back to book club, Smithies! After a long hiatus, a lot of summer craziness, and a bit of rearranging, we have returned! As you know, our dear Alyssa is no longer at the Smith Public Library. She went to Plano, land of....opportunity and gray office buildings? I'm not sure what Plano is the land of. But anyway. I, Kelsey Sidwell, shall be leading you forth into book club with a less-than-stern hand and a forgetful mind. It will be great. I promise.<br />
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So, a bit about me maybe? I like coffee. And scarves. And cats. And lots and lots of books. Some of my favorites include Louise Rennison's <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/402013.Angus_Thongs_and_Full_Frontal_Snogging">Confessions of Georgia Nicolson</a> </i>series, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3236307-graceling?ac=1">Graceling</a> </i>and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6137154-fire">Fire</a>, </i>the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7896527-throne-of-glass?ac=1" style="font-style: italic;">Throne of Glass </a>books, the awkwardly titled <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9565548-grave-mercy?ac=1">His Fair Assassin</a> </i>series (the books are *much* better than the lame series title) and on and on and on. A couple of my favorite "adult" reads are Lev Grossman's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6101718-the-magicians?ac=1">"Magicians" series</a> and Erin Morganstern's <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9361589-the-night-circus?ac=1">The Night Circus</a></i>. If you have not read <i>The Night Circus</i>, RUN! Read it now!<br />
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But I digress.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12425188-dreamsleeves?ac=1">Dreamsleeves</a>. </i><br />
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Aislinn is a girl with a lot of dreams, but due to family issues (caused mostly by her hard-drinking father), there's a lot standing in her way. While she should be enjoying the summer with friends, Aislinn is kept under lock and key and put in charge of her younger siblings. The average girl might give up, but not Aislinn. A person, she says, should write their dreams on their sleeve, putting them out there for the world to see, because there's a good chance that someone might come along and help you make your dream come true. What begins as a plea for help for her father to stop drinking, turns into a spark that has the whole community making their own dreamsleeves. At times heartbreaking, <i>Dreamsleeves</i> is also surprising, powerful, and luminously hopeful. Everyone will see a little of themselves in Aislinn, a girl with talent, ambition, and big dreams.</blockquote>
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Now, I know you may be thinking "This sounds super cheesy." But you are wrong. I thought the same thing and was pleasantly surprised! And the idea is preeeeeetty cool. Write down what you want and wear it on your arm and someone might help you out with it, because<br />
why not? It worked for Aislinn.<br />
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So in honor of book club tonight, I am going to write down my "dreamsleeves."<br />
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<li>A cheeseburger.</li>
<li>The recipe for the peanut butter cookies at Alamo Drafthouse.</li>
<li>For my bathroom to get painted tomorrow FINALLY without any issues.</li>
<li>A safe trip to see my family in Ohio this weekend. </li>
<li>Maybe another cheeseburger. Or some fries. </li>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BOOK CLUB IS AT 6PM TONIGHT</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">IN THE STORYTIME ROOM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Be there or be rectangular.</span></div>
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<br />Kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332288354073766207noreply@blogger.com0Wylie, TX 75098, USA33.0215727 -96.51430870000001532.8085402 -96.83703220000001 33.2346052 -96.19158520000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-78021211655527203782014-05-24T10:52:00.000-07:002014-05-24T10:53:39.765-07:00Read an Excerpt from HEIR OF FIRE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Is this cover awesome or IS IT AWESOME?! Correct answer: all of the above.</i></td></tr>
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I've got good news and bad news, Smithies. Bad news first: <b>I'm leaving the spectacular Smith Public Library.</b> That means I won't be at book club meetings anymore, I won't be writing this blog anymore, and you won't see my smiling face around the library. I'll be working at my new job at another library nearby(ish), so if you want to come visit me there (please do!), then talk to Veronica - she can tell you which library to visit. But Jenn will be taking over the blog (yay!), so credit for all future witty remarks belongs to her.<br />
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I know, I know - but contain your hysterical sobs for my departure, because there's good news, too!<br />
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In case you haven't already found and <i>devoured </i>this on your own, a <a href="http://issuu.com/bloomsbury/docs/heir_of_fire_excerpt"><b>sneak preview of <i>Heir of Fire </i>has been released online</b></a>! <i>Heir of Fire</i> is the latest installment in Sarah J. Maas' <i>Throne of Glass </i>series, and it's due to be published September 2, 2014. Make sure you're sitting down when you read this excerpt - as I like to say, it's like a fire at a circus: INTENSE. (Get it? "In tents" = "intense", har har har puns.)<br />
<br />
<h4>
<a href="http://issuu.com/bloomsbury/docs/heir_of_fire_excerpt"><b>CLICK HERE TO READ THE EXCERPT</b></a></h4>
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I know a few of you (by which I mean a <i>lot </i>of you) are as big fans of <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/11/december-throne-of-glass-by-sarah-j-maas.html">Throne of Glass</a> </i>and the sequel, <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/december-crown-of-midnight.html">Crown of Midnight</a></i>, as I am - we've read both books in book club (read all our <i>Throne of Glass</i>-related posts <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/search/label/Throne%20of%20Glass">here</a>) and <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/12/december-highlights-skype-tacular.html">skyped with Sarah Maas</a> a few times - so if you want more extras <i>as soon </i>as they're available, check out <a href="http://sjmaas.livejournal.com/">Sarah's blog</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/THRONEOFGLASS">official <i>Throne of Glass </i>facebook page</a>! <br />
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There's also info on the <i>Throne of Glass </i>facebook page about how <b>you could be a part of the<i> Heir of Fire </i>book trailer</b>! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/throne-of-glass/be-part-of-the-heir-of-fire-trailer/536847003091173">Click here for the official rules and etc.</a><br />
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Bloomsbury (the publisher) has also released this <b>synopsis </b>for <i>Heir of Fire:</i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak—but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life—and her future—forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?</i></blockquote>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/siwpn14IE7E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i>The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.</i></blockquote>
That's it for me, Smithies! It's been real, it's been fun, so I guess that means it's been real fun; I'll miss you! Play the video to hear my official exit music - as you listen, imagine me walking away, putting on sunglasses as something explodes behind me. Or driving fast cars. Or whatever. <br />
<br />
Alyssa out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-44579755889166479782014-02-25T14:49:00.000-08:002014-02-25T14:49:47.638-08:00March: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8XPc1liXAHAxBHZgZIb_OG1YznFP-XFq6RZX0zvdBSLN6jgbmNolQJIboQ3l9ssmckTX-OidgY0mf0zMSA3H691HuaglQHln9158v00TUmnjM-KSvlsKc2H6njbCXAXuhi6YG4gZP3fb/s1600/The+Name+of+the+star+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8XPc1liXAHAxBHZgZIb_OG1YznFP-XFq6RZX0zvdBSLN6jgbmNolQJIboQ3l9ssmckTX-OidgY0mf0zMSA3H691HuaglQHln9158v00TUmnjM-KSvlsKc2H6njbCXAXuhi6YG4gZP3fb/s1600/The+Name+of+the+star+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>This is a redesigned American cover, which is the edition we're handing out. Which to you prefer?</i></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
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Crazy February weather we've had, am I right?! Sorry the last meeting was cancelled. But don't worry - if you're DYING to discuss February's romantic read, <i>My Life Next Door </i>by Huntley Fitzpatrick, you're still in luck, because we'll discuss February's book, as well March's book (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13595639-the-name-of-the-star?from_search=true"><i>The Name of the Star </i>by Maureen Johnson</a>) at our next meeting on March 6th!<br />
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However, if all that gooey Valentine's stuff has left you feeling MURDEROUS, you're still in luck! (Unless you've gone an murdered someone. This won't help with that.)<br />
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Our next book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13595639-the-name-of-the-star?from_search=true"><i>The Name of the Star </i>by Maureen Johnson</a>, is a mystery/thriller set in London. Read the synopsis below:<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13595639-the-name-of-the-star?from_search=true"><i>The Name of the Star </i>by Maureen Johnson</a></span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Jack the Ripper is back, </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">and he's coming for Rory next....</em><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding: 0px;">
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding: 0px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nancykelleywrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Name-of-the-Star-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://nancykelleywrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Name-of-the-Star-1.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Earlier American editions</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /><i>had this pic for cover art. <br />Which do you like better?</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"></span>Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school just as a series of brutal murders mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper killing spree of more than a century ago has broken out across the city. The police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man believed to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him - the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target...unless she can tap her previously unknown abilities to turn the tables.</i></blockquote>
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I've already finished reading it because I could <i>not </i>put it down. If the synopsis didn't convince you, trust me; IT. IS. SO. CREEPY.<br />
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Check back here on the blog - I've got some special posts with history about Jack the Ripper and other cool extras! And don't forget to <b>come to the meeting on March 6th at 7pm.</b><br />
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Book trailer goodness below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dMXtrGNN9rw" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-21034344289403431112014-01-24T12:16:00.000-08:002014-01-24T12:16:38.440-08:00Romantic February Read! My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CawMo7XlOcQV7ViRnkiHgS6QpIQ-X59RmRaDIbD_rbAq8pvXKjhteQ0CfuDhREDQ2HNUVrbV7qhvT6juAy6-8PGnb0Ny4n6Cfh_CUyA9QCm2yVueJpMYKs5hu2OC7iiFqVgHwo4fVqfO/s1600/mylifenextdoor__span.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CawMo7XlOcQV7ViRnkiHgS6QpIQ-X59RmRaDIbD_rbAq8pvXKjhteQ0CfuDhREDQ2HNUVrbV7qhvT6juAy6-8PGnb0Ny4n6Cfh_CUyA9QCm2yVueJpMYKs5hu2OC7iiFqVgHwo4fVqfO/s1600/mylifenextdoor__span.jpg" /></a></div>
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That's right, our next book is <i>romantic</i>. Teen book club will get you in the mood for <i>lurrrrve</i> just in time for Valentine's Day with our next book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12294652-my-life-next-door?from_search=true"><i>My Life Next Door </i>by Huntley Fitzpatrick</a>. Here's a synopsis:<div>
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<h4>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><u><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12294652-my-life-next-door?from_search=true"><i>My Life Next Door </i>by Huntley Fitzpatrick</a></u></span></span></h4>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.</span></span></i></blockquote>
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Well dern, they're practically a modern-day Romeo and Juliet. Let's hope their story ends better...<br />
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We'll discuss the book - however it ends - on <b>Thursday, February 6th at 6pm</b> for our next meeting. See you then! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-69763681145146708972014-01-09T10:56:00.000-08:002014-01-09T11:03:31.379-08:00Meeting Tonight!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6924270848/h3F200B8E/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6924270848/h3F200B8E/" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<div>
AAAAaaannnndd we're back! Happy new year, Smithies, and welcome back to book club! Kick off the new year in the best way possible - book club meeting! Tonight we'll be meeting to discuss <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/12/january-tigers-curse-by-colleen-houck.html"><i>Tiger's Curse </i>by Colleen Houck</a>, and (IMPORTANT) we'll be<b> meeting in the teen room</b>, instead of the usual spot of the lobby, at 6pm. Be there like shareware!</div>
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<div>
In case all the fruitcake and Christmas cookies went to your head, here's a reminder of what <i>Tiger's Curse</i> is about:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Passion. Fate. Loyalty.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Would you risk it all to change your destiny?</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.</i></blockquote>
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</div>
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Blam-o. See you <b>tonight at 6pm in the teen room</b>!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P5a0PuGpQaw" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-56994896009914835552013-12-19T10:01:00.001-08:002013-12-19T10:04:35.945-08:00January: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bA-MXHPjXQY/Uqd2gTaJjcI/AAAAAAAADDI/GFYNo8YYcRE/s1600/Tiger's-curse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bA-MXHPjXQY/Uqd2gTaJjcI/AAAAAAAADDI/GFYNo8YYcRE/s1600/Tiger's-curse2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Looking for something to read over Christmas Break? Grab the tiger by the tail and get to reading our book for January:<br />
<h2>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9284655-tiger-s-curse"><i>Tiger's Curse </i>by Colleen Houck</a></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Passion. Fate. Loyalty.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Would you risk it all to change your destiny?</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.</i></blockquote>
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<i><br />
</i></div>
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And if all of that's not enough, the guy in this book is totes dreamy. <br />
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We didn't have copies of this book to hand out at the last meeting, but we do now! Come to the teen room reference desk to sign up and claim your copy. We have a few <a href="http://spl-websvr:8000/#section=resource&resourceid=1261679&currentIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab">library copies</a> and an <a href="http://spl-websvr:8000/#section=resource&resourceid=2126276&currentIndex=1&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab">audiobook </a>available to check out! I'll see you at the meeting on <b>January 9th, 6pm @SPL</b>! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>
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Now check out this sweet book trailer for <i>Tiger's Curse</i>:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P5a0PuGpQaw" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-48515415427140828612013-12-13T11:50:00.000-08:002013-12-13T12:00:31.513-08:00December Highlights: SKYPE-tacular!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1947M7RPcws/Uqtb-tV_i5I/AAAAAAAADDc/eOrpX0Lq4ds/s1600/sarah_maas_5406.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sarah Maas with the German cover for </i>Throne of Glass<i>! Celaena's wearing some sweet threads, no? Photo credit: magazin.dtv.de</i></td></tr>
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<br />
So last weekend's weather was a little bit incredibly intense (Winter-pocalypse 2013!)...<br />
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<br /></div>
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Fortunately, Skype still works in bad weather, so we still got to talk with <i>Throne of Glass </i>and <i>Crown of Midnight </i>author <b>Sarah Maas</b> during our meeting last Thursday (the weather was fine in California, apparently)! <br />
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In case the ice kept you away from the library, <b>here are some highlights</b> from our conversation with Sarah:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<ul>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wlyMkmKA--E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">She started out writing fanfiction:</span> </b>Sarah didn't start out writing bestselling books. Back in the day, she wrote <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_fiction">fanfiction</a> for fun - even mash-up fanfiction about, for example, Harry Potter with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114327/">Sailor Moon</a>! "It was <i>terrible!</i>" she says. Read some fanfiction on the site Sarah used to post hers: <a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/">Fanfiction.net</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">She started writing <i>Throne of Glass </i>at 16!</span>: </b>She had the idea while watching <i>Cinderella</i> - the music was so dramatic when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlyMkmKA--E&list=PLF5D8C9F3347E661F&index=4">Cinderella runs away from the ball</a>, it sounded almost as if she had done something <i>criminal</i>. "So I started thinking, 'What could she have actually done that would deserve being chased from the ball like that?'" Like... try to assassinate someone? Hm... </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Throne of Glass</i> had tons of fans before it was even published</span>: </b>Before it was called <i>Throne of Glass</i>, Celaena's story was titled <i><b>Queen of Glass</b> </i>and was posted on a website called <a href="http://fictionpress.com/">Fictionpress.com</a>, where people can publish original works of fiction online. At one point, <i>Queen of Glass </i>was the most read story on the website! "It was my refuge," says Sarah.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/sjmaas/709898/66534/66534_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/sjmaas/709898/66534/66534_original.jpg" height="200" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Unofficial cover art.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cool background info on the <i>Crown of Midnight </i>cover art:</span> </b>Sarah says that Celaena was originally illustrated as being craaaaazy thin on the cover art for <i>Crown of Midnight, </i>and Sarah took a stand to have her illustrated at a healthier weight (is Sarah awesome or what?!). Besides being an unhealthy image for teens, she says, it's also untrue to Celaena's character*! </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">She's working on a new series:</span></b> Aside from working the <i>Throne of Glass </i>series, Sarah's working on a new series called <b>A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES</b>. It's a retelling of <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> in which the character Beauty is a huntress. It's for an age group a little older than teens called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New-adult_fiction">New Adult</a>", and it'll be out in Winter 2015! For more <b>info on the story, click <a href="http://sarahjmaas.com/books/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses/">here</a></b>; for more <b>info on this series, click <a href="http://sjmaas.livejournal.com/407561.html">here</a>; </b>to<b> read a snippet, click <a href="http://sjmaas.livejournal.com/380190.html">here</a></b>.<span id="goog_1187431299"></span><span id="goog_1187431300"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://bookyurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/The-Starkillers-Cycle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://bookyurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/The-Starkillers-Cycle.png" height="200" width="200" /></a>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Check out her new online project, The Starkillers Cycle!: </span> </b>After some vacation-fueled brainstorming, Sarah and her BFF, Susan Dennard (author of the <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9859436-something-strange-and-deadly">Something Strange and Deadly</a> </i>YA series - visit Susan's website <a href="http://susandennard.com/">here</a>), have started a collaborative work of fiction that will live online and can be read on the <a href="http://thestarkillerscycle.tumblr.com/">series' tumblr</a>. Titled <i>The Starkillers Cycle, </i>it's a type of sci-fi called a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=space%20opera">space opera</a> (think <i>Star Wars</i>, kinda); read the <a href="http://thestarkillerscycle.tumblr.com/post/57562710884/an-introduction-to-the-starkillers-cycle">authors' intro</a> and <a href="http://thestarkillerscycle.tumblr.com/disclaimer">disclaimer about content</a>, then <a href="http://thestarkillerscycle.tumblr.com/post/57561898859/chapter-1-mel" style="font-weight: bold;">read the first chapter</a> (also <a href="http://thestarkillerscycle.tumblr.com/about-us">this hilarious interview</a> with the two of them).</li>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">WE GOT SOME INFO ON <i>Throne of Glass </i>BOOK #3!!: </span> </b>... very little info, though. No, she didn't tell us the title of Book #3, but we now know that it will have three narratives following three different storylines: one for Celaena, one for Chaol and Dorian, and one for a new character - someone who is connected with the Iron Witch Clan of the Western Wastes. Remember Yellowlegs, the witch with iron teeth in <i>Crown of Midnight</i>? Oh yeah. THOSE Iron Witches.</li>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yIUdnWv0MP0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">She's got some book recommendations:</span> </b>Looking for something to read until Sarah's next book is out? She's got some suggestions: <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/518848.Sabriel">Sabriel </a></i>by Garth Nix, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4932435-finnikin-of-the-rock?from_search=true">Finnikin of the Rock</a> </i>by Melina Marchetta (Sarah told us the hilarious story of when she met the author... and got a little <i>too </i>excited: "I was crying hysterically"), <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone?from_search=true">Shadow and Bone</a> </i>by Leigh Bardugo, and, of course, the<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34.The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring?from_search=true"> Lord of the Rings Trilogy</a> by J.R.R. Tolkien (she went to all see all the movies at midnight when they came out - and dressed up. As who? "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIUdnWv0MP0">Eowyn</a>!").</li>
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A ginormous <b>THANK YOU</b> to Sarah for skyping with us!! We got so much good info and insight into her inspirations, being a writer and her new projects (I'm definitely checking out both of them)! ... although I'm such a fan of this series that she could have just read aloud from the phone book and I'd still call the meeting a win.</div>
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Did you enjoy <i>Crown of Midnight</i>, and are you looking forward to Sarah's next projects? Are you a fan of fanfiction, or a writer yourself? Let us know in the comments!</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">* So why wouldn't Celaena be super-skinny, as she was first illustrated for the Crown of Midnight cover art? Celaena was malnourished as a slave in Endovier in Throne of Glass, and if there's something Celaena DOES NOT LIKE, it's slavery. Being skinny was a reminder of her time as a slave, so she's unlikely to have stayed that way on purpose once she was freed!</span></i></blockquote>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-1947M7RPcws%2FUqtb-tV_i5I%2FAAAAAAAADDc%2FeOrpX0Lq4ds%2Fs1600%2Fsarah_maas_5406.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1947M7RPcws/Uqtb-tV_i5I/AAAAAAAADDc/eOrpX0Lq4ds/s1600/sarah_maas_5406.jpg" -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-213370996169994422013-12-04T15:28:00.001-08:002014-05-24T09:39:45.415-07:00A Real-Life Crown of Midnight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Midnight Tiara.</em></td></tr>
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While you're finishing up reading <i>Crown of Midnight </i>for tomorrow's <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/skype-with-sarah-j-maas-sequel.html">skype sesh with Sarah Maas</a>, chew on this: there's a <i>real, </i>non-fictional "crown of midnight"!<br />
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More specifically, it's a <i>tiara </i>of midnight - the Midnight Tiara, worn by Crown Princess Mary of the <a href="http://kongehuset.dk/english/">royal Danish court</a>*. Don't be fooled by the twigs, leaves and berries: <span style="font-family: inherit;">this <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.79px;">tiara's 31 flower buds are made of over 1,300 small diamond brilliants and polished moonstones, and its leaves and branches are hand graved in 18 carat rose gold, white gold, and black oxidized silver (nope, none of that creepy black substance from the <i>Crown of Midnight </i>novel). The colors are meant to look like a starry moonlit sky at midnight, hence the name "the Midnight Tiara."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Crown Princess Mary </em><em>wearing </em><em>the</em><em> </em><em>Mid</em><em>night Tiara </em><em>with </em><em>match</em><em>ing</em><em> earrings and broach.</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYI6QIoGT7nFZw3zy42vZUa-yxIFQ1sYSEKLwtxGxNmiZZbyX9ismezn1Bltsz60ZZQECuYPAm6CT0ZmQNvb1ha2Uqm7htDLBL_kwrZ6W8aR486vyUqAGWiE7kTWTvWZRaRSj2xNfp57A/s1600/royal+danish+court+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYI6QIoGT7nFZw3zy42vZUa-yxIFQ1sYSEKLwtxGxNmiZZbyX9ismezn1Bltsz60ZZQECuYPAm6CT0ZmQNvb1ha2Uqm7htDLBL_kwrZ6W8aR486vyUqAGWiE7kTWTvWZRaRSj2xNfp57A/s200/royal+danish+court+2.png" height="146" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<em>*Call me immature, but this is what I </em><em>think</em><em> of</em></div>
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<em> </em><em>every time I read </em><em>"Royal Dan</em><em>ish Court". Mm,</em></div>
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<em> danishes.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.79px;">It was designed by </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.79px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Charlotte Lynggaard of the jewel firm <a href="http://www.olelynggaard.com/en/company/handmade_in_denmark/handmade-in-denmark.htm#page/116720000149790/1">Ole Lynggaard</a>, a jeweler to the Danish royal court. It's a more modern-looking tiara, and it has an unusual, modern ownership deal; instead of the Danish royal court owning the tiara, the jewel firm, Ole Lynggaard, retains ownership of the tiara, but Princess Mary is the only person allowed to borrow it from them. It's a pretty sweet deal - Princess Mary gets another cool tiara to wear, and Ole Lynggaard gets publicity. The tiara even has a matching broach and earrings - fashion win!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.79px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.79px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's it for now! Don't forget to come to tomorrow's meeting (6pm @ SPL) to skype with Sarah Maas herself (tiaras are optional). Have your questions for Sarah ready - see you then!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-23485084618010656562013-12-03T14:26:00.001-08:002013-12-03T14:27:46.432-08:00Weird Wyrds? CROWN OF MIDNIGHT Pronunciation GuideFeeling tongue-tied? If you've been reading our book for this Thursday's meeting, <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/december-crown-of-midnight.html">Crown of Midnight</a></i> (or its predecessor, <i><a href="http://spl-websvr:8000/#section=resource&resourceid=341685&currentIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab">Throne of Glass</a></i>), then you've probably noticed that spellings of names and places are a bit... different. And hard to pronounce. Seriously - "Eyllwe"? "Anielle"? No idea how to say those.<br />
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Lucky for us, author Sarah Maas has provided a super-helpful <b>pronunciation guide</b> for the tricky bits! Check it out here on the blog to learn all the lingo just in time for Thursday's meeting. <b>You'll sound like a native of Adarlan in no time!</b><br />
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Are any of the pronunciations different from what you'd expected? Which words, and what was your pronunciation? Let us know in the comments! Don't worry - since these are all made-up words, there isn't really a wrong way to pronounce them.</div>
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And don't forget to come tell the author what you think of these pronunciations when we <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/skype-with-sarah-j-maas-sequel.html">skype with her</a> at the next meeting - this <strong>Thursday, December 5th, 6-7pm</strong> at the library!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-91590645367126850452013-11-23T11:08:00.001-08:002013-11-26T12:24:18.647-08:00Prequel Stories for CROWN OF MIDNIGHT - read them NOW!<a href="http://novelsounds.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/the-assassin-and-the-princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://novelsounds.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/the-assassin-and-the-princess.jpg" width="265" /></a><br />
Have you started our book for <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/skype-with-sarah-j-maas-sequel.html">December's meeting</a>, <i>Crown of Midnight</i>? Already finished and want some more?<br />
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Sarah Maas has written <b>two prequel short stories </b>for <i>Crown of Midnight</i>, which you can read online for FREE! These are "bridge" stories, meaning they take place after <i>Throne of Glass </i> and before <i>Crown of Midnight.</i><i> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>Both short stories have been posted in little pieces on different book blogs, a.k.a. a blog tour. You can <b>read each part by clicking on the links</b> below.<br />
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Here's the first story -<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Assassin and the Princess</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.pixelski.com/2013/08/throne-of-glass-ambassador-post.html">Part 1</a> <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2013/08/exclusive-assassin-and-princess-part-7.html">Part 7</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.serendipityreviews.co.uk/2013/08/exclusive-assassin-and-princess-throne.html">Part 2</a> <a href="http://narrativelyspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/08/throne-of-glass-ambassador-post.html">Part 8</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://novelsounds.net/event/the-assassin-and-the-princess-exclusive-scene-by-sarah-j-maas/">Part 3</a> <a href="http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/throne-of-glass-ambassador-post.html">Part 9</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://shiirleyysbookshelf.blogspot.com/2013/08/throne-of-glass-ambassador-exclusive.html">Part 4</a> <a href="http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/exclusive-bridge-scene-from-throne-of.html">Part 10</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.dark-readers.com/2013/08/the-assassin-and-princess-exclusive.html">Part 5</a> <a href="http://theninjalibrarian.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-assassin-and-princess-exclusive.html">Part 11</a></blockquote>
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</blockquote>
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<a href="http://vivalabooks.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/crown-of-midnight-exclusive-scene/">Part 6</a> <a href="http://falln2books.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/crown-of-midnight-exclusive-scene.html">Part 12</a></blockquote>
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But that's not all! The second short story one isn't exactly a "bridge" story; instead, it takes place <i>right </i>at the beginning of <i>Crown of Midnight</i>, though it's not included in the book, making it more of a <b>deleted scene</b>! Use the links below:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Assassin and the Captain</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.fantasybookaddict.com/2013/08/09/maas-excerpt/">Part 1</a> <a href="http://www.paranormalindulgence.net/2013/08/its-my-birthday-and-ill-put-up.html">Part 3</a> </blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.toofondofbooks.com/2013/08/the-time-it-was-extra-scene.html">Part 2</a> <a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/2013/08/throne-of-glass-excerpt-from-crown-of.html">Part 4</a></blockquote>
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Be sure to snoop around these blogs once you finish reading the short stories <strike> </strike> you might find a review for a new book to read!<br />
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And don't forget to come to our next meeting on December 5th at 6pm to <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/skype-with-sarah-j-maas-sequel.html">skype with Sarah Maas</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-83377163897789628922013-11-21T15:37:00.001-08:002013-11-23T13:13:02.096-08:00SKYPE with SARAH J. MAAS: the Sequel<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvKDFktUcJUyJQca1B3P4-KPwxmK3WEK9PHgY29EtMb6yI5iFf0k9k9GewqpKIk079QsUeB6UugIms7zYsLQyyeYrTyWAvwRRhdPaqtpX-FzkLm7vZgS6_8x0w5Z_MPYToBaQWCkhirR_/s1600/skype+sequel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvKDFktUcJUyJQca1B3P4-KPwxmK3WEK9PHgY29EtMb6yI5iFf0k9k9GewqpKIk079QsUeB6UugIms7zYsLQyyeYrTyWAvwRRhdPaqtpX-FzkLm7vZgS6_8x0w5Z_MPYToBaQWCkhirR_/s640/skype+sequel.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hey look, it's Luke Skype-walker!</i></td></tr>
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Sometimes, sequels <i>really</i> aren't as good as the original. But here's your lesson for the day:<br />
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<b>SOMETIMES THEY'RE EVEN MORE AWESOME.</b><br />
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If you haven't heard, we're reading an even-more-awesome-than-usual book for our next meeting: <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/december-crown-of-midnight.html">Crown of Midnight</a></i> by Sarah J. Maas, the sequel to <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/11/december-throne-of-glass-by-sarah-j-maas.html">Throne of Glass</a>, </i>our book pick for LAST December (read all about it <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/search/label/Throne%20of%20Glass">here</a>; read a synopsis for <i>Throne of Glass </i>and put it on hold <a href="http://spl-websvr:8000/#section=resource&resourceid=341685&currentIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab">here</a>). <br />
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But wait! There's more sequel-ness: <br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SARAH MAAS IS GOING TO SKYPE WITH US AT THE MEETING!! AGAIN!! </span></b><br />
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That's right - AGAIN: she skyped with us once already (last April), and Sarah's agreed to skype with us again at our <b>next meeting on December 5th, 6pm, at SPL</b>. That makes this meeting ...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">SKYPE WITH SARAH J. MAAS,</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><i>THE SEQUEL:</i></span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
SKYPE-IER THAN EVER</h4>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"></i></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"></i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">- OR -</i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE EMPIRE SKYPES BACK</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE DARK SKYPE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">LIVE FREE & </span><span style="font-size: large;">SKYPE HARD</span><br />
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I'm pretty excited. Here are some more details about Sarah:<br />
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<i>"</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.18px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah J. Maas was born and raised in New York City, but after graduating from Hamilton College in 2008, she moved to Southern California. She's always been just a tad obsessed with fairy-tales and folklore, though she'd MUCH rather be the one slaying the dragon (instead of the damsel in distress). When she's not busy writing, she can be found geeking out over things like Han Solo, gaudy nail polish, and ballet."</span></i></span></blockquote>
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Not gonna lie - she sounds pretty adorable. Check out her <a href="http://sarahjmaas.com/">website </a>for more about her and to get <i>Throne of Glass</i> extras! She also has a <a href="http://sjmaas.livejournal.com/">blog</a> and is on <span style="color: #743399;"><span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/sjmaas">Twitter</a>,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-J-Maas/116910261657643?ref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">, and </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/sarahjmaas/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><span style="line-height: 18px;">. There's also </span>a<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><em style="border: 0px currentColor; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Throne of Glass</em><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/THRONEOFGLASS" target="_blank">Facebook page</a><span style="line-height: 18px;">!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">We still have <b>FREE COPIES</b> of the book to give out for those attending the meeting, so if you haven't signed up for the meeting yet, get to the teen room! And don't forget to come to meeting - <b>December 5th, 6pm</b>. See you there!</span></span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-26036055307559647612013-11-09T12:28:00.001-08:002013-11-23T13:28:42.260-08:00December: Crown of Midnight<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ2bLNSLjgLrqlyH5sVVgCzRCbKObZzsWQ8ufK-1PcvljnPU9QPOHdY-NeRf2zNXkvwArb4KQDchFDbWicnqites8CCTt9jj_J9rkN2PTlEfIVR2QfoFK6f8DaJjZvRtbUpcQ3dj9bfJl/s1600/Crown+of+Midnight+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ2bLNSLjgLrqlyH5sVVgCzRCbKObZzsWQ8ufK-1PcvljnPU9QPOHdY-NeRf2zNXkvwArb4KQDchFDbWicnqites8CCTt9jj_J9rkN2PTlEfIVR2QfoFK6f8DaJjZvRtbUpcQ3dj9bfJl/s1600/Crown+of+Midnight+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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Thanks to everyone who came to our meeting last week! We talked about Kelli London's <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/search/label/Uptown%20Dreams">Uptown Dreams</a> </i>and ate Halloween candy. Oh yeah, I'm talking about gummy Crabby Patties. Mmmmm.<br />
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On to the next book! Get excited - it's time to read <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17167166-crown-of-midnight">Crown of Midnight</a></i>, the sequel to last December's read, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7896527-throne-of-glass">Throne of Glass</a> </i>by Sarah J. Maas!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17167166-crown-of-midnight"><b><i>Crown of Midnight </i>by Sarah J. Maas</b></a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. </span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?</span></i></span></blockquote>
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Um, YESPLEASE. If you haven't signed up yet, get to the library stat - we still have several FREE COPIES of <i>Crown of Midnight </i>to give away when you sign up for the next meeting!</div>
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The fun begins with <i>Throne of Glass</i>;<i> </i><a href="http://spl-websvr:8000/#section=resource&resourceid=341685&currentIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab">check out a library copy</a> from the teen room, then get caught up with all our<i> </i>so be sure to read it first - <a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/search/label/Throne%20of%20Glass">check out all our previous posts about <i>Throne of Glass</i></a>! Keep watching the blog - I'll be bringing you some special content for <i>Crown of Midnight</i> soon, as well as a SUPER AWESOME ANNOUNCEMENT about the next meeting! <b><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/11/skype-with-sarah-j-maas-sequel.html">[EDIT: click here for the announcement!]</a></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5eGw4aZYzuc" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-10828046114589341392013-10-17T14:56:00.002-07:002013-10-17T14:58:02.096-07:00November: Uptown Dreams by Kelli London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sorry about the radio silence - or rather <em>blog </em>silence; there've been some technical issues with blog posts on our library computers. Technology FAIL.<br />
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Time for a new book! Get ready for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11018883-uptown-dreams"><i>Uptown Dreams </i>by Kelli London</a>:<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11018883-uptown-dreams">Uptown Dreams</a> </i>by Kelli London</h2>
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<i>At the prestigious Harlem Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, students are destined to realize their uptown dreams—as long as friends, haters, and crushes don't trip them up. . .</i> </blockquote>
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<i>La-La Nolan's killer voice could make her a superstar, but she's more focused on scoring the attention of Ziggy Phillip—the cute Jamaican boy in her class. But a singing competition against her arch rival could cost her both Ziggy and her spot at the Academy. . .</i></blockquote>
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<i>The daughter of the school's director and voice coach, Reese Allen has to work harder than everyone else to prove herself. But all Reese wants is to be a hip hop producer—a path her mother will never approve of. . .</i></blockquote>
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<i>Even though it's clear that Ziggy loves the ladies, he has to keep his passion for dance a secret from his father. But then his brother discovers Ziggy's ballet shoes and threatens to tell all—unless Ziggy gets him into the Academy too. . .</i></blockquote>
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<i>No one's a better actress than Jamaica Kincaid Ellison. She's even acted her way out of the boarding school her parents think she's still attending and into the Academy. She'll do anything to achieve her dream—unless her lies destroy everything. . .</i></blockquote>
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<i>If that weren't enough drama, rumor has it that the Academy may close at the end of the year. Can these gifted students put their talents to the test to save it?</i></blockquote>
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We're out of free copies to hand out at the library, but you can still stop by the teen room to get on the wait list (we'll call/email you if we get any more copies of the book to give away). If you have<i> Uptown Dreams </i>already, get to reading! Our next meeting is November 7th, 6-7pm at the library. Catch you then!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-28666620735548147982013-09-25T15:56:00.000-07:002013-09-26T15:56:00.958-07:00Poll: UNWIND Cover Art Smackdown!<div style="text-align: center;">
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So<i style="text-align: left;"> </i><span style="text-align: left;">our next book,</span><i style="text-align: left;"> Unwind</i><span style="text-align: left;">, has a lot of different cover designs - a LOT. When this happened before with other past book club picks, everyone in book club had some very DEFINITE OPINIONS about which cover they thought was best (<i>Throne of Glass, </i>anyone?) - so why not get a head start on the debate? </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Here are several of the cover designs for <i>Unwind</i> - <b>c</b></span><b>lick on any picture to make it bigger</b>, and vote on your favorite below! Don't forget to <b>click the "Vote!" button at the bottom</b> after selecting your favorite cover!<br />
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<input id="vote_choice_id_6979023" name="data[new_vote][choice_id]" type="radio" value="6979023" /><span style="color: #3a555c; font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: large;">English #2</span></span><span style="color: #3a555c;"> </span><span style="color: #3a555c;"> </span><span style="color: #3a555c; font-family: inherit;"><input id="vote_choice_id_6979024" name="data[new_vote][choice_id]" type="radio" value="6979024" /> <span style="font-size: large;">Indonesian</span></span><span style="color: #3a555c;"> </span><input id="vote_choice_id_6979025" name="data[new_vote][choice_id]" type="radio" value="6979025" /><span style="color: #3a555c; font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: large;">French</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-28261188718064943382013-09-21T12:42:00.003-07:002013-09-21T12:57:49.816-07:00Calling All Writers!<div class="tr_bq">
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Holla holla to my creative writers! Smithies, your time has come: in celebration of Teen Read Week in October, SPL is having its own WRITING CONTEST! Here're the deets:<br />
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<b>Smith Public Library's Teen Read Week Writing Contest:</b></div>
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SEEK THE UNKNOWN</h4>
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The Teen Read Week Writing Contest has begun, and this year's theme is "Seek the Unknown". Teen Read Week runs from October 13th-19th, but we're holding our <b>contest begins now and runs until October 19th</b>! </blockquote>
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Entries will be judged in two age groups, 6th-8th graders and 9th-12th graders, which equals more people having a chance to win! Sweet! </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WRITING GUIDELINES: </b> </span></h3>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Short stories<b> </b>only, please - <b>1500 words or less</b>.</li>
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<li><b>Go with our theme:</b> make sure to incorporate the theme "Seek the Unknown" into your writing! Anything from paranormal, to sci-fi and fantasy, to mystery goes! </li>
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<li><b>Include your info:</b> make sure your name, contact info, and age group (6-8th graders or 9-12th graders) are attached to your story when you turn it in to the teen reference desk.</li>
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Stories will be judged by various staff members, and the two winners will each receive a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble as well as the opportunity to have their story <b>published in the Wylie News</b> and on our library website.</blockquote>
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Get writing! Make sure to get yours turned in for your chance to win!</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-79320460944670633502013-09-20T14:26:00.001-07:002013-09-21T12:02:48.171-07:00October: Unwind by Neal Shusterman<div class="tr_bq">
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Ugh, <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/search/label/Long%20Lankin">Long Lankin</a> </i>was SO three weeks ago. Or whatever. </div>
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Time for something new! Get ready for dystopian craziness - check out our next book, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/764347.Unwind"><i>Unwind </i>by Neal Shusterman</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/764347.Unwind"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Unwind </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">by Neal Shusterman</span></a> </h2>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/764347.Unwind"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><i>Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives. </i> </blockquote>
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<i>The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.</i></blockquote>
<i><br /><br /></i>SHAPOW! I've been wanting to read this book for a while - it sounds so so good. If you haven't already signed up in the teen room and picked up your free copy of the book, GIT HERE NEOOOWWW - as of this moment, we only have one copy left to give away!<br />
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(No book trailer for this one. 'M srry.)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-51847983229814561572013-09-13T12:59:00.000-07:002013-09-17T16:50:46.326-07:00The Last Word: Ghost Story!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Creepy tree in the creepy forest surrounding Long Lankin's (alleged) creepy lair. Photo credit: The Faery Folklorist</span></i></td></tr>
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Welcome to a new regular blog post called "The Last Word"! Posted a few days after each meeting, "The Last Word" is going to be just that - one last blog post about the book we read at the previous meeting before we move on to the next book. In these posts you'll find info on a topic related to the subject the previous meeting's book so you learn more about the book you just read. <br />
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So before we quit <i>Long Lankin</i> for good… want to hear a ghost story?</div>
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As you might have figured out by now, the legend at the heart of <i>Long Lankin</i> is based on an actual old English/Scottish legend about a creepy guy who goes by, duh, “Long Lankin”. But did you know that there are some non-mythical, absolutely <i>real </i>places associated with this legend? Get ready – here’s the <i>real </i>story of Long Lankin. Read on for the gory details, or just watch the video at the end.</div>
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It’s tricky finding info on Long Lankin, because just like <i>everything </i>old in Britain, Long Lankin goes by about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamkin">TEN DIFFERENT NAMES</a>! Long Lankin, Long <i>Lonkin</i>, <i>Lang</i> Lonkin, Long <i>Linkin</i>, Long <i>Lynkyn</i>, Balankin, Rankin, <i>Lambert</i> Linkin, Lamkin, Lammiken… it’s worse than Snoop Lion/Snoop Dog/Snoopwhatever. Whichever name, though, the story starts in the same place: northern England, near a little town named Prudhoe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/88/images/nafferton2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/88/images/nafferton2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Today, this is all that's left of </i><br />
<i>Naffer</i><i>ton </i><i>Castle. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: CastleUK.net</span></i></td></tr>
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So back in 1218(!), the lord of the<b> </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prudhoe_Castle">Prudhoe Castle</a> petitioned the king to stop the construction on a new castle called <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/750642">Nafferton Castle</a>, which was going up less than two miles away (<b>check out all of the places mentioned in this post in the interactive map at the bottom, or click <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/uJWxQ">here</a> for the full version</b>). The lord of Prudhoe Castle <i>reeaaally </i>didn’t like the lord of Nafferton due to some nasty political stuff that happened a few years earlier. The complaint was approved, and Nafferton Castle was never finished and gradually became an abandoned ruin. Maybe because of the dastardly dealings of these two guys, or maybe because of the <a href="http://faeryfolklorist.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/whittle-dene-fairies.html">creepy forest</a> it was in, the ruins of Nafferton Castle eventually became more commonly known as Lonkin’s Lair – the lair of Long Lankin himself.</div>
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The legend tells of a stonemason – aka Long Lankin – who built a castle for a rich lord, which is thought to be a nearby castle named <a href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-239462-welton-hall-horsley-">Welton Hall</a>. When the castle was done, the lord refused to pay the mason for his work, and the mason leaves, vowing revenge. A little while later, the lord leaves to go see the king, warning his wife before he leaves to “Beware of Long Lankin”. He even tells her to nail all the windows shut, just to be sure!</div>
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<i>“See the doors are all bolted, see the windows all pinned, </i><i>And leave not a crack for a mouse to creep in.” </i></blockquote>
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<i>Oh, the doors were all bolted, oh, the windows were pinned, </i><i>But at a small peep in the window Long Lankin crept in.</i></blockquote>
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Apparently the nurse of the house, who was taking care of the lord’s baby, was in cahoots with Long Lankin and let him in the house. These two creepers (the nurse and Long Lankin) the pricked the baby with a pin so he would cry and scream, causing the lady of the house (the baby’s mother) to come downstairs. Once she does, Long Lankin jumps out of the shadows and kills her AND the baby! As they are bleeding on the floor, he catches their blood in a silver bowl - probably because at that time, bathing in the blood of a noble was thought to be a cure for leprosy… so Long Lankin probably had <i>leprosy</i>, as well as the incurable disease of being a TOTAL PSYCHOPATH.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The forest around Nafferton Castle is SERIOUSLY CREEPY</i><i>. </i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: The Faery Folklorist</span></i></td></tr>
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It’s around this time that lord of the castle, on the road to see the king, has a sudden feeling that something bad has happened back home. He returns to his castle to find the still-warm bodies of his murdered wife and child, and seeing Long Lankin fleeing the scene, pursues him back into the forest, all the way to a creek called <a href="http://www.explorebritain.info/water-northumberland-bogle-burn-nz0666">Bogle Burn</a> (creepy fact – at that time, “bogle”, or “boggle”, were names for the devil; this is where the term "bogey man" comes from). Long Lankin climbed a tree next to a pool along the creek, and the lord of the castle prepared to shoot him down with his arrows. Rather than be captured and executed, Long Lankin jumped into the pool, sank, and was never seen again…</div>
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Still, this pool is said to be bottomless, and the water in it is said to be black, cold (even in summer), and <i>never goes still</i>, but is always moving and bubbling. And on cold, misty nights, Long Lankin – whose body was never found – is said to haunt the forest and the ruins of Lonkin’s Lair, snatching children wandering out after dark.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: The Faery Folklorist</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX-G8u7S-0NkuLwwHbm2lgxMB8PkDiNX5QtioGSqmWhqV6_5_V_3B3BY6hIAGKHurofKnzMSneX2HRcY9uuf86llXtyMxHc2zl0dgy_1AIhIo_2w0F52dZJpx453pu8VEFAY7-MfBVKo/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX-G8u7S-0NkuLwwHbm2lgxMB8PkDiNX5QtioGSqmWhqV6_5_V_3B3BY6hIAGKHurofKnzMSneX2HRcY9uuf86llXtyMxHc2zl0dgy_1AIhIo_2w0F52dZJpx453pu8VEFAY7-MfBVKo/s200/3.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: The Faery Folklorist</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The creek of Bogle Burn near where<br />
Long Lankin supposedly drowned. <br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.geolocation.ws/v/E/3409261/whittle-burn-near-whirl-dub/en">geolocation.ws</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=208047717956061097407.0004e4b35609c898fb237&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=54.984509,-1.879864&spn=0.047279,0.109863&z=13&output=embed" width="640"></iframe></h4>
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=208047717956061097407.0004e4b35609c898fb237&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=54.984509,-1.879864&spn=0.047279,0.109863&z=13&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Long Lankin</a> in a larger map</small><small><br />
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<li>More info and details of different versions of Long Lankin's legend: <a href="http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart679a.htm">http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart679a.htm</a> </li>
<li>More info and full text of the ballad from which the legend came: <a href="http://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/longlankin.html">http://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/longlankin.html</a></li>
<li>Several versions of the ballad in very old-timey English: <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch093.htm">http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch093.htm</a></li>
<li>Bloggers' account of their visits to Lonkin's Lair: <a href="http://faeryfolklorist.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/whittle-dene-fairies.html">here </a>and <a href="http://tynevalleywalking.blogspot.com/2006/11/beware-of-long-lonkin-that-lies-in-moss.html">here</a></li>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>REFERENCES:</b></span><br />
<small><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/longlankin.html">Long Lankin</a>, </span></small><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music,</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> Reinhard Zierke</span><br />
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=qEANAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA190#v=onepage&q=nafferton&f=false" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Publications of the Folk-lore Society, Volume 35</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">, pp. 190-193</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/88/lonkins.html">Nafferton Castle/Lonkins Hall</a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, CastleUK.net</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=197">Structure Details for Nafferton Castle, SINE Project</a>, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch093.htm">93A: Lamkin</a>, </i>Sarcred-texts.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://faeryfolklorist.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/whittle-dene-fairies.html">Whittle Dene Fairies</a>, </i>The Fairy Folklorist</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamkin">Lamkin</a>, </i>Wikipedia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart679a.htm">Lamkin</a></i>, The Living Tradition Magazine, folkmusic.net</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://tynevalleywalking.blogspot.com/2006/11/beware-of-long-lonkin-that-lies-in-moss.html">'Beware of Long Lonkin that lies in the moss': The Legend of Long Lonkin</a></i>, tynevalleywalking</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.geolocation.ws/v/E/3409261/whittle-burn-near-whirl-dub/en">"Whittle Burn Near Whirl Dub"</a>, geolocation.ws</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863898525127658634.post-42470902576250348112013-09-10T16:49:00.000-07:002013-09-17T17:06:42.984-07:00September Sum-Up: Bustin' Rhymes + Scary Stories!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxApbPCY0JCsTR6VXFc0tsADecjk3y9hJPJbHFubiC0u8ZZZVXmN3DUISqScqHc6XnGU7wgQh6YpzQJqyyOAzb7DQZDoSsv1HIDbjVXA6eDN5k0Z2BxPPPi2HGucuEHYx9vroPHRD3TIwW/s1600/Long-Lankin-Cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxApbPCY0JCsTR6VXFc0tsADecjk3y9hJPJbHFubiC0u8ZZZVXmN3DUISqScqHc6XnGU7wgQh6YpzQJqyyOAzb7DQZDoSsv1HIDbjVXA6eDN5k0Z2BxPPPi2HGucuEHYx9vroPHRD3TIwW/s320/Long-Lankin-Cover2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cora and Mimi be crazy rappin' fools, yo</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">So last Thursday was our first meeting of the year in which we talked about <i><a href="http://smithteenbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/08/happy-new-year.html">Long Lankin</a> </i>by Lindsey Barroclough. If you weren't there, you missed out - the discussion was awesome! Convo went WIDE, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender_Man">Slender Man</a> to ancient Roman methods of execution, scary movies to the meanings of English slang words (non-profane ones, anyway), poverty in post-WWII England, and the real meaning of honor - and shame. Also <i>Doctor Who</i>. I know. Whut.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
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<span style="background: white;"><b>Did we like <i>Long Lankin</i>?</b> Consensus sez: it was a bit too long with the scenes in between the spooky bits, but YES, we liked it and would recommend it to our friends! So if you haven't finished reading <i>Long Lankin</i> yet, get on it! It might be hot outside, but it's cold and creepy inside that book. Then...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYvm-o1RsinLLjKyNjIQVpzJeu7Lby4wuUVxu3u6FSvKxGWOQPtRw0VYVpScYE2uD2H__vsoKk3QANmwexxFCUV7Hgd3wFLeQtiAsg3i2A35TBgHw6Pl9tN12Jkw5_15GSeQWtE15pWgF/s1600/Long-Lankin-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYvm-o1RsinLLjKyNjIQVpzJeu7Lby4wuUVxu3u6FSvKxGWOQPtRw0VYVpScYE2uD2H__vsoKk3QANmwexxFCUV7Hgd3wFLeQtiAsg3i2A35TBgHw6Pl9tN12Jkw5_15GSeQWtE15pWgF/s320/Long-Lankin-Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white;">We also played a Long Lankin-y game at the meeting!!</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d;"> </span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">And if you missed the meeting, you can still play here on the blog! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, some back story: so the premise of <i>Long Lankin</i> (the book) is based on this old English/Scottish legend, which you can read in the form of a ballad (look <a href="http://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/longlankin.html">here </a>for the whole thing). In part of the ballad, the lord of the manor is warning his wife about the dangerous Long Lankin (this is the bit of the ballad that's printed on the<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9206583-long-lankin"> front cover</a> of your copy of <i>Long Lankin</i>):</span></span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>Said my lord to my lady as he mounted his horse,<br /> 'Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss.'<br /> <br />Said my lord to my lady as he rode away,<br /> 'Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the hay.'</i></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> So here's the game</span></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;">:</span> create new stanzas for the poem by re-writing the ends of the first and second lines of the stanzas above! Here's how to do it:</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">"Said my lord to my lady as he _____________, </span><i><span style="color: red;">{an action he might do - in 4-5 syllables, if you can!} </span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
'Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the _____.'" </span><i><span style="color: red;">{a place that Long Lankin could live - it needs to</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333;"><br /> </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">RHYME with line 2(!) in 1-2 syllables}</span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Confused? <b> Here's an easy example</b>:</span></span> </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Said my lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">s he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">put on his shirt</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">,</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Beware of Long Lankin t</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">hat lives in the </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">dirt</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also break the formula for the fourth line of the stanza if you want; instead of filling in a play that Long Lankin could live, just re-write the entire fourth line and replace it with some dangerous fact about Long Lankin - making sure it rhymes and that the line has about five (5) syllables, of course:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Said my lord to my lady as he <b>combed his moustache</b>,<br />
'Beware of Long Lankin - <b>he'll steal all your cash!</b>'"</blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went back and forth in the meeting: one person would come up with something to fill in the first blank (the action in line 2), and then everyone else tried to come up with something that rhymed for line 4! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">CHECK OUT OUR SWEET RHYMEZ FROM THE MEETING! </span></b></span><br />
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Said my lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">s
he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">put on his socks</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Beware
of Long Lankin w</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">ho
lives in...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> ... a box<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> ... a mosque</span></b><i><span style="color: #333333;">(?)</span></i><b><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Said my
lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">s
he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">combed his hair</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Beware
of Long Lankin… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> He lives at the fair!</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> <i>(like, inside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Tex">Big Tex</a> or something?)</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> ... hey, do you see my socks anywhere?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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Said my lord to my lady as he <b>ran down the street</b>,<br />
'Beware of Long Lankin -<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> He's got stinky feet!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> He ain't got no beat!</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> <i>(he's a terrible rapper, really)</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> He ain't got no… </span></b></span><b style="text-indent: -24px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beets">beets</a></span></b><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Said my lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">s
he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">put on his pants</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Beware
of Long Lankin - <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"> I
think I'll do a dance!'</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Srrsly, you guys are hilarious. Now it’s your turn! Try it out yourself – <b>leave us a rhyme in the comments!</b> If you can’t think of how to start, try completing the rhymes below and leave a comment with your answer (that means you too, library staff! I know you've been reading this - just comment anonymously!). If you were at the meeting and want to take credit for one of the SWEET RHYMEZ above, email me or comment. Thoughts on the book are welcome, too! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">And now, some </span><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>RHYMES TO GET YOU STARTED</b></span><span style="color: #333333;">:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Said my lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">s he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">sipped up his tea</b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Beware of Long Lankin, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">… ____________</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Said my lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">s he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">buttered some toast</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Beware of Long Lankin, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">… ____________</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strike> ></strike> <b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BONUS POINT!:</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Said my lord to my lady a</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">s he </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">put on his dublet</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Beware of Long Lankin, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">… ____________</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0