Appomattox Regional Library System » Teen

Valentine’s Day Crafting Fun @ Your Library®

Dee Dee — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:39 +0000

Calling all kids! Check out three ARLS locations to make a fun Valentine for someone you love! We’ll be making hand made cards AND a cute heart ornament or love bug craft! Stop by the the Prince George Library Thursday, February 9th at 4:00pm, the McKenney Library Friday, February 10th at 4:30pm for the monthly “Cool Kids Club” meeting, or join us at the Hopewell Library Monday, February 13th at 4:30pm.

There’s plenty to share, so come to any event to make a one-of-a-kind gift. Don’t forget about our regular story times which will feature stories, songs and rhymes about Valentine’s Day the week of February 13th! There’s still plenty of time to join the Winter Reading Program for children ages birth to 5. The program started January 9th and ends March 2nd!

ARLS Teen Book Review: Envy

Dee Dee — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:28 +0000

Envy: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godberson

Book Review by E. Modrall

It is cold in the streets of Manhattan for Diana and Elizabeth Holland. Diana is now giving Henry Schoonmaker the cold shoulder when she findshe is now married to Penelope Hayes. But when Henry and his friend, Teddy, plan a trip to Palms Beach, Penelope invites herself along with Carolina Broud and the Holland sisters. While there, Elizabeth reconnects with Teddy,Carolina experiences love and loss, and Diana and Henry find ways to be together,despite Penelope’s cruel threats and plots. Read how devious minds, and adoring hearts twist together in Envy: a Luxe Novel.

ARLS has a great new opportunity for teens interested in volunteering for the library. Read a book on your reading level, write a book review, and earn 2 hours of volunteer time! Start the process by completing a volunteer application that can be printed from our Volunteer page, then drop it off at your nearest ARLS location. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

Best on the Web – Schoolwork Made Simple

marnold — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:15 +0000

This is the year you’re going to turn in assignments on time. This year you’re going to know what’s due, when it’s due, and what you need to do to get the A. This year you have Soshiku, a simple but powerful tool that helps you manage your high school or college assignments online. Soshiku keeps track of when your assignments are due and can even notify you of upcoming due dates via email or on your smartphone. The best part is it’s totally free. Soshiku is very user-friendly, enabling users to categorize classes and assignments, track progress, upload files, and save notes. As a student you will often be asked to work with other students. Soshiku makes this easy as it simplifies the task of working with other people by giving you a variety of ways to connect. It’s possible to use Soshiku to chat, share files and collaborate on group projects.

Prince George Christmas Craft for Kids

Dee Dee — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:20 +0000

Calling all kids! Get in the spirit of the season, and join us at the Prince George Library to make a fun, easy, and quick Christmas craft! While you’re here, don’t forget to check out some of our great holiday books and movies!

ARLS Teen Book Review: Rumors

Dee Dee — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:00:41 +0000

Rumors: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godberson

Book review by E. Modrall

While the city of New York is mourning over the unexpected loss of high socialite, Elizabeth Holland, Diana Holland is her family’s only hope of bringing their family back a good spot in the paper. Diana has bigger issues when she has to keep the secret of her being in love with Henry Schoonmaker: the only man devious Penelope Hayes desires. While Penelope plots, Carolina Broud is becoming the protege of a rich Mr. Longhorn during the day and gossiping secrets at night.

Read about how a secret can turn old friends into worst enemies in Rumors: a Luxe Novel!

ARLS has a great new opportunity for teens interested in volunteering for the library. Read a book on your reading level, write a book review, and earn 2 hours of volunteer time! Start the process by completing a volunteer application that can be printed from our Volunteer page, then drop it off at your nearest ARLS location. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

ARLS Teen Book Review: The Luxe

Dee Dee — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:00:38 +0000

The Luxe by Anna Godberson

Book Review by E. Modrall

In 1899′s Manhattan.
Elizabeth Holland is forced to be engaged to the last man she would ever want to marry.
Diana Holland, is disgracing her family’s name and experiencing the hardships of forbidden love.
Penelope Hayes is plotting her way to Henry’s heart and Elizabeth’s spotlight.
Carolina Broud, former maid, discovers that with some help, wealth could look good on her.
Henry Schoonmaker, a careless cad, finds he wants the only thing he can’t have.
Read about how young love intertwines in the lives of Manhattan’s socialites in The Luxe!

ARLS Teen Book Review: How the García Girls Lost Their Accents

Dee Dee — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:00:20 +0000

How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

Book Review by Addie Eliades

How the García Girls Lost Their Accents illustrates the impact that immigration to the United States from the Dominican Republic around 1960 had on four sisters. These girls’ stories are told from varying points of view and in reverse-chronological order for a unique connect-the-dots account of their Dominican immigrant family. The girls face the challenges of adjusting to the customary lifestyles of different civilizations, along with such trials as puberty, mental breakdown, questioning authority and hierarchy, and dealing with the universal double standard of men and women. The themes in Alvarez’s work are comparable to those in the works of Ricardo Rodriguez Gary Soto: In the midst of adapting to new environments, the García girls (like Rodriguez and Soto in their autobiographical works) also look within to discover their own identities.

Though they comprise a clever stylistic approach, the reverse-chronological order and inconsistencies of the tense, setting and perspective are rather frustrating because trying to keep up with these shifts is distracting from the beautiful essence of Alvarez’s poetic language. It is also a tedious task to plow through the obsessively detail-oriented writing. Metaphoric events throughout the novel obscure full understanding of their main points to an extent that makes some of them unbelievable. However, this novel has an asset of reflection that makes interesting the unfurling of character development in reverse chronological order. Significant real-world themes are explored as well as thought and emotion, providing backbone to Alvarez’s idiosyncratic language. García Girls is not a recommendable joy read, but Alvarez’s said reflection is contagious to the reader and may be worth the trouble; it hollows out in the reader a certain post-reading appreciation for her words not previously appreciated, and it incites in the reader consideration of his or her own beliefs.

We’re Thankful for Our Teen Book Review Volunteers!

Dee Dee — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:00:47 +0000

ARLS has a great new opportunity for teens interested in volunteering for the library. Read a book on your reading level, write a book review, and earn 2 hours of volunteer time! Start the process by completing a volunteer application that can be printed from our Volunteer page. Our first review was submitted by Savannah Helmer of the Hopewell Library. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

A Review by Savannah Helmer

The ‘Thief Lord’ is a spectacular book, full of twists and turns. It holds adventure, comedy, sadness, and mysterious characters. You never know what to expect next as the plot unfolds. This book, I believe, is perfect for people who enjoy fantasy and non-stop adventure. This story takes place in modern day Venice, Italy. Cornelia Funke uses vivid descriptions to paint beautiful pictures in your mind of the landscape where the story happens. It is almost like you’re standing there and seeing it in person. The cast of characters is a group of pre-teen orphans who are living together in an old abandoned movie theater, trying to avoid being discovered by the authorities. Scipio is the self appointed leader of this gang and calls himself the Thief Lord. Their adventures take them to long lost islands, and through the dark alleys and creepy hide-outs of the town of Venice. I really enjoyed this wonderful fantasy and can’t wait for more of Cornelia Funke’s work.

Harry Potter’s World Comes to the Hopewell Library

marnold — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:00:51 +0000

Historic engravings illustrate the 7 panels of “Harry Potter’s World” which will be at the Hopewell Library from November 14-December 31. (Photo courtesy of the National Library of Medicine, www.nlm.nih.gov)

The traveling exhibit “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance, Science, Magic, and Medicine” will be on display at the Hopewell Library from November 14 to December 31. The 500 square foot exhibition, using materials from the National Library of Medicine, explores Harry Potter’s world and its roots in Renaissance science.

The Hopewell Library is hosting a series of free Potter-themed events for children, teens and families throughout the holiday season. Stop by to see the exhibit and enjoy these fun programs!

Harry Potter Movie Mondays
November 14 – December 19, Mondays at 5:00 p.m.
Hopewell Library
A different film will be featured each Monday in the Café.

A Hogwarts Holiday
December 6, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Hopewell Library
Dress up as your favorite character from Harry Potter and join us for crafts and refreshments. Enjoy holiday and other music favorites by the Ralph Jones Group at 7:00pm.

Potions Class
December 20, 4:30 p.m.
Hopewell Library
Learn the Harry Potter way to make ice cream, silly dough, and fizzy drink. Registration is required.

This exhibition is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. For more information or to register, please call (804) 458-6329 extension 1005.

Be Thankful and Crafty at the Hopewell Library

Dee Dee — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

We're thankful for all the great books, movies, and more at the library! What are you thankful for?

Come to the Hopewell Library Thursday, November 17th at 4:30 pm to make your very own Thanksgiving place card holder!

Create this colorful place card holder to make sure no one snags your spot next to the turkey this Thanksgiving! Cards will be provided for you to write your name or tell us what you are thankful for this year. Stop by and join in the fun Thursday at 4:30pm!

Remember: all branches of the Appomattox Regional Library System will be closed Thursday 11/24 and Friday 11/25 and we wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!