January Book of the Month

Tiger Moon, by Antonia Michaelis

Tiger Moon tells the story of young Farhad, who mounts a sacred white tiger intending to rescue the god Krishna's daughter from a demon king. Interwoven within the plot are other stories, one involving a young girl who has been married off to an older man and who fears that when he discovers she is not a virgin, he will kill her. Rich in Indian history and culture and adept at including the complicated and diverse religious environment of India (Hindu gods, Islamic mosques and the Bodhi tree are all called upon), Tiger Moon is a historical and cultural epic that will not soon be forgotten.

Teen Radio Show Episode 2

Teen Radio Show Episode 1

December Book of the Month

Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Pena

16-year-old biracial Danny feels like an outsider wherever he goes; at his wealthy private school he's ignored because he's Mexican and at his Mexican's father's home where he's staying for the summer, he feels out of place because he's half-white. Even his only love, baseball, is struggling. But as Danny slowly finds that the void in his life is being filled, he also discovers secrets about his family and insight into his ball game. The baseball scenes are vividly depicted and this story will please with most readers, even those who don't consider themselves sports fans. Most importantly, Mexican Whiteboy will be especially resonate with biracial readers.

Drop-In Teen Gaming

Spend part of your lazy Winter Break here at the library with some friends, snacks and video games. Take advantage of the library's Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero II, board games, and more!
Sunday, December 28, 2 pm - 4 pm

Parent/Teen Cooking Demo

Grades 6 - 12: Bring your parents in out of the cold and learn to make some easy wintertime soups that will impress your friends and warm you up! Presenter and cooking enthusiast Maggie Shea will demo 2-3 hearty soups.
Wednesay, December 10, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm



Maggie's Food Blog

Parent/Teen Cooking Demo

Sports Discussion Group

Grades 5 - 8:

Are you interested in discussing current topics in sports, such as stories in the news or playoff prospects for your favorite teams? Come to the library twice a month on Monday evenings and join our Sports Discussion Group.

Teen Scene Table Design

Come help make the library's new Teen Scene truly representative of teens by creating a collage to be displayed for a whole year underneath the glass covering of the table in the middle of the room.
Monday, December 1, 4 pm - 5 pm

Teen Scene Opens!

Finally, the long-awaited day has come and gone, much more quickly than the many months dedicated to carpeting, painting, furnishing, designing and imagining GEPL's new Teen Scene. The room is open and available to teens with high school identification. Laptops may be checked out the Reference Desk.

Book of the Month: November

Bog Child by Siobahn Dowd

The notorious conflict in Ireland, a mysterious body found preserved in a bog, blackmail, what more could one ask for in a book? Set in the backdrop of the 1980s in Northern Ireland, this is the story of Fergus, a boy who finds the body of a young girl in a bog. As it turns out, her body is from a much earlier time and was the result of a mysterious murder. The girl (named Mel by Fergus) unfolds alongside Fergus' as he navigates the tumultous times, dealing with a brother in jail and being blackmailed into delivering packages containing bomb-making materials.

Book of the Month: October

The Good Neighbors,Book One: Kin
Holly Black, Ted Naifeh

In Holly Black's first graphic novel, sixteen-year-old Rue Silver, whose mother disappeared weeks ago, believes she is going crazy until she learns that the strange things she has been seeing are real, and that she is one of the faerie creatures, or Good Neighbors, that mortals cannot see. The harrowing, but beautiful illustrations compliment the spare, but concise writing. Readers will anxiously await the next book in the series.

The Good Neighbors: Kin

Teen Advisory Board

If you're in grades 7 through 12 and you have ideas that boost the library's coolness factor, join the GEPL TAB and help teen events. Use the library as your platform for turning your interests into real programs. The goal is to create at least one teen-planned and supervised event every 3 months. Bring your friends. Pizza. Will. Be. Served.

First meeting: Monday, October 6, 7 - 8 pm

Sign up at the Youth or Adult reference desk.

Teen Radio Show

If you're in middle school or high and are interested in the world of radio, love to discuss a partidular topic, or are just looking for something fun to do, come to the library and create podcasts to be posted on the library's webpage. You can discuss books, current events, sports, movies and more. Your simulated 'broadcast' will remain in the library's radio project archive!

First meeting: Monday, October 20, 7 - 8 pm

Sign up online or at the Adult Services or Youth Services desk.

Drop In Book Buddies

Middle school and high school students! Sign up to be a Book Buddy and read to a younger child (no younger than 4 years old) for an hour each week at the library. Registration ends on September 30.

Last Call for Book Reviews!

Hey Everyone, if you haven't yet submitted your book review for the Teen Read Week Book Review Contest, bring your reviews to the library ASAP!

You can submit up to three of your reviews of books you loved... or just hated (keep it clean please!) Bring submissions to the Youth Services or Adult Services desks.

The winner will receive a gift certificate to Borders.

All reviews will be stuck on a wall somewhere in the library in honor of Teen Read Week October 13th - 18th.

September Book of the Month: Postcards From No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

Alternating between two stories--contemporarily, seventeen-year-old Jacob visits a daunting Amsterdam at the request of his English grandmother--and historically, nineteen-year-old Geertrui relates her experience of British soldiers's attempts to liberate Holland from its German occupation. This is a tightly woven presentation of two fascinating stories, one historical and one contemporary, but both will resonate with today's readers with their appeal to the senses and interesting portrayal real life family and social situations.

Postcards From No Man's Land

High School Book Discussion Group

Spud
by John Van de Ruit

Summary
In 1990, thirteen-year-old John "Spud" Milton, a prepubescent choirboy, keeps a diary of his first year at an elite, boys-only boarding school in South Africa, as he deals with bizarre housemates, wild crushes, embarrassingly dysfunctional parents, and much more.

Spud is the next book for the High School Book Discussion Group on August 25th at 7:30 pm. Pick up your copy and one for a friend at the front check-out desk today!

August Book of the Month

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, taken from accounts by his own hand and other sundry sources. Vol. 1, The Pox Party
by M.T. Anderson


Various diaries, letters, and other manuscripts chronicle the experiences of Octavian, a young African-American, from birth to age 16, as he’s brought up as part of a science experiment in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War. This wonderful work of historical fiction tells a compelling story while effortlessly weaving in such themes as racism, war and free will.

The Pox Party

Book Drive for Students in Uganda

The GEPL Teen Advisory Board has organized a book drive in an effort to provide students in Uganda school materials. Currently, there is a green bin in the lobby of the library where you can deposit gently used textbooks, dictionaries, or copies of classic works of literature. Every little bit counts!

Book of the Month: In the Time of the Butterflies

by: Julia Alvarez

In the Time of the Butterflies embodies the wonder, horror and mystique of the era of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. It tells the heroicially heart-breaking, perhaps mythic story of the Mirabal sisters, enemies to the Failed Cattle Thief, folk heroes to the pueblo. The story is told in flashback, beginning in the present day with an interview with the one surviving sister. The story then launches into a chronological build-up to the sisters' acts of resistence toward the ruthless dictator. This is an absolutely engrossing tale that will appeal to fans of history, magical realism, strong women, and heart-breaking defiance in the face of heavy oppression.

****Glenbard South Seniors Summer Reading Selection****

Check to see if it's in...

In the Time of the Butterflies

Poster Contest - win $1,000!

The Illinois Library Association and Illinois Reading Enrichment and Development (iREAD) are sponsoring a Poster Contest to promote Teen Reading.

Theme: Scare Up a Good Book
Contestants: Open to all middle school and high school students
Rules: Each poster should:

• illustrate the theme, Scare Up a Good Book
• include images of books, a library, or something related to reading.
• have all original art (no existing cartoons or comic characters please).
• should be appropriate to hang in libraries
• be UP TO 19 inches by 26 inches
• have art that is computer-generated, or a painting, drawing or collage using traditional media

Winner: Will be the basis for the Young Adult iREAD Summer Reading Program in 2010. The statewide winner will be announced in October 2008 and will receive $1,000 in prize money.

Entry forms may be picked up at either the Youth Services reference desk or at the Adult Services reference desk.

All forms are due in the library on July 31, 2008 - and will then become property of the Illinois Library Association.

Teen Storytimes

Come practice and perform a storytime for younger children! Read old favorites or look for new picturebooks! Sing and dance! Sign-up at the Youth Services reference desk.

Wednesday, June 11
Wendesday, August 9

Practice: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Perform: 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Get in the Game: Teen Gaming Afternoons

Middle school and high school students welcome. Come to the library's Meeting Room and play Guitar Hero II, Wii Sports, MarioCart and others! Snacks will be served! No sign-up necessary.

Wednesday, June 18, 2-4 pm
Wednesday, July 16, 2-4 pm
Wednesday, August 20, 2-4 pm

Summer Reading

Get in the Game: Read! 2008 Summer Reading, May 28 - August 9

Middle School Summer Reading: Read all summer and get rewarded! Various prizes will be handed out just for reading for a certain amount of time. Sign up at the Youth Services reference desk.

High School Summer Reading: Read all summer and get rewarded! You could even enter a chance to win IPod speakers or a digital camera! Sign up at the Adult Services reference desk.

High School Book Discussions

Attend book discussions just for high school students at the library this summer. Snacks will be served! (In the library's Board Room) Copies of the book are available at the front Circulation desk.

A Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Monday, June 30, 7:30-8:30 pm

Spud, by John van de Ruit
Monday, August 25, 7:30-8:30 pm

Middle School Book Discussion and Movie Viewing: The Golden Compass

Read Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass and then come to the library to watch the movie and discuss the differences between the two. Snacks will be served. Copies of the book are available at the front Circulation desk.
Wednesday, July 23, 2-4:30 pm, in the library's Meeting Room.

Teen Movie Afternoons

This summer, Teen Movie Afternoons will feature the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Escape the heat and come follow the epic story on a bean bag chair while munching on popcorn! (In the library's Meeting Room)

Monday, June 9, 2-4:30 pm: The Fellowship of the Ring
Monday, July 7, 2-4:30 pm: The Two Towers
Monday, August 11, 2-4:30 pm: The Return of the King

Summer Craft Programs for Teens

IPod Covers

Come make a cool new cover for your IPod!

June 23, 3-4 pm, Youth Services Program Room

Purses

Come make your own purse!

August 4, 3-4 pm, Youth Services Program Room

Book Buddies

Come to the library once a week to help a younger child out with reading! Availaible to middle school and high school students, the Book Buddies program pairs an older student with a younger child for the purposes of supporting reading efforts.

Book Buddies is currently in session, but we are always looking for more Buddies. In fact, the next round of orientation sessions is right around the corner. Get your forms in by June 13 and be sure to sign up for an orientation session on either Saturday, June 21 at 10 am, or Monday, June 23 at 7 pm.

You can read to your buddy each week, but also encourage them to read to you!

4.14.08 Teen Advisory Board Minutes

• Created signs for book drive for students in Uganda. Bins will be placed in the library and at Glenbard West somewhere.
• Book discussion of The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, by Julian Rubenstein is scheduled for April 28th at 7:30 p.m. Copies can be picked up at the front Circulation Desk.
• Book discussion books were also chosen for the June and August discussions, the title for June is Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World and the title for August is John Van der Ruit's Spud
• The TAB is considering volunteering to scoop ice cream at the library's Ice Cream Social
• Summer program ideas were discussed, ideas included jewlery crafts, pizza-making, a 30-minute meal demonstration, baking programs, and storytimes for younger children

High School Teen Advisory Board meeting minutes 3.24.08

• April 28 book discussion book chosen: Ballad of the whiskey robber : a true story of bank heists, ice hockey, Transylvanian pelt smuggling, moonlighting detectives, and broken hearts by Julian Rubinstein.
• New teen room: The board likes the name "Teen Scene." The board plans to begin construction of magazine collage for one of the walls in the teen room in May. The board suggested a Guitar Hero Tournament for the Grand Opening of the Teen Scene.
• Book drive for students in Uganda: The board will create signs and plan for bin locations at the next meeting, April 14.

Middle School Poetry Contest

Help the library celebrate April as National Poetry Month! If you're a middle school student and a budding poet, submit up to 3 original poems. There will be three winners for each grade level. Peoms must be submitted by the end of April. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 5. Entry forms are available at the Youth Reference Desk.

Earth Day Photography Display

If you’re a middle school or high school student and a budding photographer, come enter some work into the Earth Day Photography Contest at the library. All photographs must pertain obviously to nature or environmental issues. Enter as many photographs as you’d like. Pick up an entry form at the Youth or Adult Reference Desks. Display runs from April 21 to May 2.

Book Buddies

If you’re a middle school or high school student, come to the library to sign up to be a Book Buddy. You can read to a younger child (no younger than 4) for an hour each week. Applications at the Youth and Adult Reference Desks. Get your application in by April 7!

Ideas for next book discussion book

Let's think of some titles for our next high school book discussion on April 28th and discuss them!

2.11.08 Teen Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Attendance
- Ruth Mulvihill +
- Ellen Mulvihill +
- Rachel Kahn +
- Conor Loftus +
- Maisie Sackett +
- Welcome new member George Rogers! +
- Elizabeth Buckton absent -

Update on spring high school programs
- Book Buddies now open to high school students as well as middle school students
- Earth Day photography display April 21-25
- Next high school book discussion will be April 28

Possible next book discussion book ideas
- Dairy Queen
- Running With Scissors
- How to Practice the Way to a Meaningful Life
- On the Road
- Spud

4th of July Parade
- Ellen and Ruth interested
- George can't because he works for the park district
- Maisie, Rachel and Conor not interested

Book drive for students in Uganda
- Need to collect useful textbooks, classic literature, dictionaries, books that would benefit
- By next meeting:
- Rachel and Maisie to make signs for advertising
- Get bins ready

Preliminary discussion of high school summer reading program
- More prizes!!
- Possible prizes:
- Gift cards
- Books
- Tickets to event?
- Ipod speakers

Next meeting:
- Choose book discussion book
- Finish organizing book drive
- Further discuss summer reading

Upcoming Teen Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m.

We will discuss:

• Developing and planning new programs more actively
• What book to discuss on April 28
• How to recruit new members
• If we would be interested in volunteering for the ice cream social
• If we would be interested in representing the library in the 4th of July parade
• Possible organization of a book drive for students in need in Uganda