Wellington City Libraries

Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui

Search options

Teen Blog

Reading, Wellington, and whatever else – teenblog@wcl.govt.nz

Month: October 2009

Jack’s Badge Making Business

Jack’s been making 100 badges for the Twilight Trivia Night tomorrow night. Because he’s going to be busy setting up sound gear and stuff tomorrow he’s not going to be able to make any last minute badges, so you’ll need to send in your badge request before 6pm tonight if you haven’t already! If you haven’t been able to before now never fear, he’s got some non-customised Twilight-y badges too.

If you’re registered and ready to go you’ll be united with your badges at the info desk at the central library shortly after 6pm. See you then.

p.s. If you weren’t able to make it to the quiz you might be interested to hear that we’ll be posting quiz questions on this blog in some form very soon.

New Anime

More new anime has arrived (I mentioned it earlier but now it’s in the catalogue). We have the final disc of the Mushi-Shi series, which is a slow series but well worth watching in its entirety; volumes 1 to 7 of Fullmetal Alchemist; volumes 1 to 3 of Ranma 1/2; and the final three discs in the infinitely awesome Samurai Champloo series, which is now all in the YA area.

Here’s a complete list of anime based on a manga series held by the library. Here’s a list of anime movies, and here is a list of anime television series.

Robert Pattinson’s face

You can make Robert Pattinson’s face through the gentle art of cross-stitch, thanks to the Guardian online. Here are some books in the library on cross-stitch so that you can learn how to make your own fabric Edward. A good Christmas gift in these lean times. I’m hoping for a cross-stitched Taylor Lautner, as he’d make a great cushion.

New Musical Express

cobrastarshipApparently Cobra Starship frontman Gabe Saporta went on a spirit quest into the Arizona desert. There he found his true purpose in life was to “…[teach] hipsters to not take themselves so seriously and by telling emo kids to stop being pussies.” Apparently you do this by contributing to the Snakes On A Plane soundtrack, achieving dance-punk fame [via. MTV] and releasing an album called Hot Mess. Apparently.

sum41Sum 41 seem to have amassed enough hits to put out a best of compilation, All the good sh** : 14 solid gold hits (2000-2008) is that very album. And indeed it does include all their biggest hits including billboard number 1, Fat Lip. Bratty mall-punk abounds.

Missy Elliott’s pal Jazmine Sullivan released the long awaited (she started performing aged 11) Fearless last year. It was a fine debut by all accounts, pick it up from here if you haven’t yet listened to the rising R&B star.

janellemonaeJanelle Monae’s first album has been delux-ified and Metropolis : the chase suite : special edition is the result. It’s a concept e.p. detailing the life of a rebellious soul-equipped android who risks disassembly by falling in love with a human. If you enjoy Andre 3000’s soul wackiness you are advised to issue this. Do it.

Snikt

X-Men Origins : Wolverine is now in the library and ready to be reserved. If you want to watch it! You probably have seen it. It doesn’t have Taylor Lautner in it, so I might give it a miss.

Here’s X-Men Origins : Wolverine in only 30 seconds, to save time.

They’re New and They’re Books

Just for something to do, this week I’ve subcategorised these. Some subcategories only have one – actually the maximum is two anyway – but there you go.

Vampires

The Eternal Kiss: Vampire Tales (416 pages) – Mwah. Embrassez moi, je suis un vampire. Short stories on the vampire theme by such supernatural stalwarts as Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Rachel Caine, Nancy Holder and many more.

First sentence (courtesy of Karen Mahoney): Theo was late.
fishhookfishhookfishhook

Blood Promise (a Vampire Academy novel), by Richelle Mead (503 pages) – Will Rose protect Lissa or hunt down the irresistible Dimitri and keep her promise to him (i.e. kill him, like, dead)?

First sentence: Once when I was in ninth grade, I had to write a paper on a poem.
fishhookfishhook

As featured in an earlier blog post

Once was lost, by Sara Zarr (217 pages) – go here for a quick summary.

First sentence: The whole world is wilting.
fishhookfishhookfishhookfishhook

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray (480 pages) – again, here‘s a blurb.

First sentence: The best day of my life happened when I was five and almost died at Disney World.
fishhookfishhookfishhookfishhook

Series

Forest Born (The Books of Bayern), by Shannon Hale (389 pages) – the fourth in the series. Rin is uncomfortable in the Forest, so she accompanies her brother Raz to the city and things progressively get more threatening and dangerous: someone wants the Fire Sisters dead.

First sentence: Ma had six sons.
fishhookfishhookfishhook

The Pale Assassin (Pimpernelles), by Patricia Elliot (424 pages) – cleverly, the title of the series suggests something to do with the French revolution, unlikely heroes (or heroines, to be precise) and spies and the blurb backs this up (who’d have thought you could express so much in one word?). Eugénie de Boncoeur is caught up in the revolution and must rescue her brother Armand from death (at the hands of the “murderous spymaster” I think, but I could be wrong) and save her own life. A tall order.

First sentence: One summer evening outside Paris, a coach drawn by four black horses was creaking and swaying through the soft country twilight.
fishhookfishhook

Comedy and Romance and Music and-

Blue Noise, by Debra Oswald (271 pages) – Charlie forms a band (Blue Noise), but bands never work, the back cover says (but, you know, don’t judge a book by its cover). “Blue” is a reference to the blues, which is a nice change from rock and roll and all.

First sentence: Ash Corrigan was in Guitar Heaven.
fishhookfishhookfishhook

Confessions of a Liar, Thief and Failed Sex God, by Bill Condon (218 pages) – I thought this would be funny if it were a rebuttal of one of those Georgia Nicholson books but no. In 1967 the world is tumultuous, and Neil Bridges is at a Catholic boys’ school toughing it (life) out, but his life is about to get quite complicated and possibly quite dangerous (murder is mentioned). YA writers seem to be doing the Vietnam War at the moment (here and here as well for example).

First sentence: One huge shiver trudging on to the oval, that’s us.
fishhookfishhookfishhook

Uh oh, something bad’s happening here

Candor, by Pam Bachorz (249 pages) – Candor is one of those “perfect” towns you just know is not in any way perfect. People are controlled by subliminal messages. Oscar, the son of the town’s founder, is doing a roaring trade smuggling kids out of Candor, and then Nia arrives.

First sentence: Ca-chunk, ca-chunk, ca-chunk.
fishhookfishhook

The Ghosts of 2012, by Graham Hurley (95 pages) – a quick read. Joe’s preparing for the 2012 Olympics in a military-run UK, but he’s okay with that (he’s preparing for the Olympics after all) until his ex-girlfriend goes missing.

First sentence: Sometimes in your life you get moments that stick out… you remember them forever.
fishhookfishhook

What’s on the new book horizon?

Here’s a mixed bag of books we’ve ordered recently – take your pick and reserve what grabs your fancy.

Geektastic: stories from the nerd herd. Don’t let the title put you off! There’s nothing wrong with being a geek, especially if being a geek comes in the form of an anthology of stories written by people like John Green, Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld, and M. T. Anderson. You can’t really lose. The blurb says subjects are many and varied (in the context of geekdom) from the faintly ridiculous (what happens when Klingons and Jedi collide at a sci-fi convention?) to the more serious (a 15 year old pretends to be her 32 year old sister online). Should stop typing now.

Intertwined, by Gena Showalter. More supernatural romance! Ah. Aden has a tough time because he has four beings inside his head, each providing him with a specific supernatural power. Mary Ann has the one power that Aden needs, the ability to negate supernatural powers, and it is with her that Aden finds peace (and romance perhaps?). But then their world is complicated by more supernatural creatures than you can poke a stick at, all after a new source of power.

In the path of falling objects, by Andrew Smith. Another road trip story (adding to the list), this one sounds a bit rugged: Jonah and Simon are on their own, trying to track down their family. They hitch a ride with a man and a “beautiful young woman” who are both disturbing and potentially dangerous. Set during the Vietnam War.

Once a witch, by Carolyn MacCullough. Tamsin lives in a talented (in the magic sense) family, but she isn’t. When a strange and sinister man arrives and mistakes her for her twin (talented) sister and requests her help in searching for a “family heirloom”, Tamsin jumps at the opportunity to appear magical. This is exciting, reviewers say.

And some other serious stuff:

Almost perfect, by Brian Katcher. A transgender story from a writer who likes to challenge people’s assumptions about the norm.

Positively, by Courtney Sheinmel. Emmy is left to struggle with the HIV virus that her now-dead mother unwittingly passed on to her.

Breathing underwater, by Julia Green. Freya comes to terms with the sudden death of her brother.

Taken, by Norah McClintock. Stephanie is taken hostage in the woods, but escapes and must use all her survivalist knowledge to make it back home. Tense.

We’ll keep you posted on more interesting things. Thanks to Stephanie for the tip offs.

Twilight – The Musical

That’s right, Twilight the musical can be watched online. It’s not official! It’s a parody, in fact! Which means you mightn’t like it (apparently it becomes funnier after the first episode). Oh and you will need broadband probably.

Oh and don’t forget to register for the Twilight Trivia Night. It’s in, like, three weeks, and you will need time to work on a costume (it’s on the night before Hallowe’en, so why not come in costume?).

Beauty on a Budget this Thursday

Reminder: Beauty on a Budget is on this Thursday (15th) at Wadestown Library! Visit this post for more details (cost $5.00, but this includes a mini facial, so you’ll be beautiful without as well as within).

Official Twilight Trivia Night Video

In keeping with my tradition (can one other time even be considered a tradition?) of making video ads for our upcoming teen events, here is the official Wellington City Libraries Twilight Trivia Night trailer:

 

Thank you to Kristina and Matthew for starring.

Remember everyone to register, it promises to be a fun night!

Register now for the Twilight Trivia Night!

Registrations are now open for the Twilight Trivia Night (Friday 30 October, 6.30pm, Central Library). Enter your team (or yourself) here for your chance at glory and prizes.

What’s the Twilight Trivia Night? It’s like a pub quiz but without the pub, and focusing on facts and trivia to do with the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer (the books, the movies, the music, the hysteria, the sparkles). According to the posters it’s the quiz “you can really get your teeth into.” Ha ha ha. We know there are some Twilight experts out there and we want to find out who you are! Of course non-experts will have the opportunity to duke it out for a special tactical non-expert award, so don’t be put off! Register now!

badgesizeBut wait, there’s more! If you send in a team image we’ll turn it into a team badge for you. Email your image to teenblog@wcl.govt.nz. The badges are round and 5.5cm across. Here’s a poor diagram to help you visualise it. Anything is fine, pretty much.

See you there.

Quick update: for ages 13 to 18 (inclusive).

These are some new CDs we have

maximo parkMaximo Park are a guitar driven angular pop quintet from the UK. They’ve gained quite a following in the wake of the post-punk revival of the mid decade and look to continue this form with Quicken The Heart, their third effort.

Head Like A Hole, or HLAH, were one of the most popular and hard-rockin’ NZ bands of the 90s. They might not fit into those leather pants as easily as they did back then, but they’ve been touring of late and reports have been overwhelmingly positive. The Devil Makes Work For Idle Hands documents these shows.

dirty projectorsAlong with Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors are the crossover indie-darling success story of 2009. Bitte Orca marries sweet harmonies and bursts of atonal noise in the most beautiful way imaginable, highly recommended. 

mgmtMGMT were last years crossove indie-darling success story and to tide everyone over until a new full-length arrives their 2005 ep, Time To Pretend has been re-released. It includes the original versions of Kids and Time To Pretend, along with 4 songs that didn’t make Oracular Spectacular. Managementbros rejoice.

Hip Hop Anthology is a four disc, well, anthology of hip hop. It’s a pretty in depth collection that turns the focus on quality – not necessarily sales – and is to be praised for this, unlike so many other compilations out there. Features tracks from the 80’s to today.

PNC is a local rapper who loves his home town of Palmerston North City so much he named himself after it. His last album Rookie Card won best Urban/Hip Hop album at the 2007 Vodafone Music Awards and his newest, Bazooka Kid, just might repeat the effort.

Lastly, Eskimo Joe return with Inshalla. Fans of commercial rock groups like Nickelback might find something to enjoy on this one.

6102009

Beauty on a Budget – Workshop for Teenage Girls

Want some tips on hairstyling, make-up and accessories?  Then come along to a special Spring workshop to be held at Wadestown Library.

Learn special tips and tricks from our Wellington beauty experts.
Date: Thursday 15th October 2009
Time: 6pm-7.30pm
Place: Wadestown Community Space (inside Wadestown Library).
Cost:  $5.00 each (includes a mini facial, hair styling tips and accessories demonstrations).

Beauty products also available to purchase. Healthy snacks will be served. Limited places available so register now!

Enquiries to Community Coordinator, Louise Davies – ph 499-1825 or email Louise.davies@ wcc.govt.nz

Online DC comics

What is Zuda Comics? That’s a great question. The short answer is that it’s an all-new line of Web Comics. The longer answer is that Zuda Comics are whatever you make of them.

Zuda Comics is the webcomics division of DC. You can design your own comic for entry into their monthly competition, vote for your favourite entry, or simply enjoy the ones already online.

While we’re on the subject, you can find the DC comics website here, and don’t forget to check out our collection of them in your library branch.

Flash 5

One more week of holidays, so why not spend it indoors in front of the computer, playing Flash games? Why not indeed. Here’s a list of some new games [we have older lists – Flash, Flash 2, Flash 3, Pew Pew Pew (which should be Flash 4, I guess)]

Clockwords – type words to shoot down clockwork spiders. The longer the word, the more damage the spiders take. ADDICTIVE. And educational!
Tetris Friends – Play Tetris competitively – you can send completed lines into someone else’s game. I’m not sure who I played but I won on my first attempt, which was nice.
Canabalt – a parkour-style game. Run until you, er, fall to your death (I made 1794m on the first attempt. Not too shabby.).
Max Damage – Max is a kid who likes to break things with his ‘toy’ cannon. Uses real physics, so could be considered educational maybe.
CycloManiacs
Tane – Tane is … Tane. It’s also an actual game, believe it or not.
Pixel – Very cool. Can’t begin to describe it.
Steamshovel Harry – Didn’t play this (I’m at work, you know) so who knows.
How To Raise A Dragon – Didn’t play it either but comes recommended.

Enjoy.

Zombie Killing Heroine

strangeangelsStrange Angels, by Lili St Crow, aka Lili Crow or Lilith Saintcrow, is a kind of kickass type supernatural novel about Dru Anderson, a “strange” girl who travels around with her father, dealing to nasties (zombies, werwulfs and the like). Then her father is killed zombified, and she’s trapped, and there are two boys who are really keen to help her out, but can she trust them? There’s more information here (she’s already written a sequel called Betrayals). I’ll go out on a small limb here and say that these might be a bit like the Casssandra Clare books maybe (not that I judge books by their cover or anything? Or if you’re into Twilight you could check them out to see if the romance passes muster.

Twihards rejoice!

Are you familiar with the Scene-it? series of DVD games? They’re a series of movie quiz games you can play on your DVD player – sort of like Buzz, but don’t require a console. Anyway, the exciting news is that a Twilight one is coming very soon and is even coming to the Nintendo Wii in some sort of super deluxe package. Team Edward can face off against Team Jacob in trivia showdowns very soon then.

Gamers Rejoice II

Judging from a website titled Ultramarines The Movie there is to be an Ultramarines movie. It seems a fair conclusion to reach. What are Ultramarines? Why, they’re genetically-modified super-soldiers in space, and part of the Warhammer 40k gaming universe. The movie probably won’t be out for a while, but once a trailer appears we will post it!

While the library doesn’t have gaming, we do have a rulebook (for the Warhammer fantasy RPG); we also carry White Dwarf magazine, and we have some of the related novels (and here’s 5 good reasons why you should read them if you haven’t already).