Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Attention Writers: Rock, Paper, Scissors WCDR Poetry Challenge

Rock, Paper, Scissor
(The WCDR Poetry Challenge for School Students - In Honour of Dan Sullivan)
2008-9 Contest Theme - Saving the Environment

Purpose:
To encourage the writing of poetry in children by challenging them to express themselves about subjects that are relevant. In harmony with this, to create a liaison between the WCDR and educators for the purpose of encouraging artistic expression in written form and developing a continuing relationship that will support the increase in new members to the WCDR from both young writers and educators over time.

Age Categories:
a) Youth in Grade school (grades 1 to 8)
b) You under 20 years of age attending high school (grades 9 to 12).

Timing:
  • Contest opens October 1, 2008. Closes January 31, 2009.
  • The top 10 poems on the theme will be selected by the judges in each group.
  • All 20 winners will be announced on March 31st, 2009.
  • Each winner will receive the ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS chapbook containing all 20 winning poems.
  • Should any winners be available to attend we will invite them to read at the April breakfast.
  • Additional copies may be purchased starting at the April breakfast for $7.50 each or ordered on-line for $7.50 + postage.

There are no fees to enter.

Conditions of entry:
  • Entries are limited to one poem per person.
  • Maximum length of each poem is one page (if mailed) or 40 lines (if emailed)
  • Poem must be original and written between October 1st 2008 and January 31st 2009.
  • The author's name should not appear on the poem, but name address, and contact information should be placed on the back of any mailed entry or at the end of an emailed entry to assist in the blind judging process.

Poems may be submitted in two ways:

  • Typed in the body of an email (not as an attachment) between October 1st 2o08 and midnight, January 31st 2009 to an email address to be provided by the WCDR.
  • Typed or hand-written (legibly, please) on 8.5 x 11" paper and mailed (postmarked no later than January 31st 2009)

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region
P.O. Box 1455875
Bayly Street West
Ajax, ON L1S 7K7

For more information, visit here: http://www.wcdr.org/wcdr25/?p=1000

Monday, September 22, 2008

New Books for You to Check Out!

Check out these books today!


Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life


Description of Book:


  • We all know about the Earth's environmental crisis, but there is someone who can truly make a difference: you. If you text your friends or chat with them online, download music to your iPod, or toss bottles and papers into recycling bins, you're already more eco-savvy than you think. It's just as easy to do even more to help save the earth, and Generation Green shows you how. This book:

  • Lays out the inside scoop on the biggest issues affecting our planet, such as global warming and overflowing landfills

  • Offers dozens of tips on how to shop, dress, eat, and travel the green way

  • Includes interviews with teens like you who are involved with fun, innovative green causes
    Shows that being environmentally conscious can be a natural part of your life -- and your generation's contribution to turning things around.

  • It doesn't matter if you can't vote or drive. Your efforts -- big or small -- will contribute to saving the planet. It's time for all of us to take action. It's time to go green!

Indie Girl: From Starting a Band to Launching a Fashion Company, Nine Ways to Turn Your Creative Talent Into Reality


Description of Book: Fun and inspirational, this do-it-yourself guide for artsy young women enables them to unleash their creative talents through independent and imaginative ventures, including designing clothing, organizing a poetry slam, starting a band, and publishing a 'zine. Start-to-finish explanations on how to organize, implement, and complete each activity are accompanied by creative and technical advice to ensure success. Filled with inspirational quotes by artists from a variety of backgrounds and professions, this book helps teen girls develop organizational and leadership skills and build self confidence while challenging them to do something interesting and original.


Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Upcoming Programmes

UPCOMING PROGRAMMES!

I Love the 80’s:
A Totally Tubular 80’s Party!
Saturday, September 20
from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
McLaughlin Branch Auditorium
Get out those leg warmers and neon clothing because the 80’s are back! You are invited to this, like, totally rad party. Dress in classic 80’s garb because we are having a costume contest at this party that everyone will be talking about. Of course, there will be awesome 80’s music, munchies, and more. For teens 12 - 19. Free registration at any branch.
The Amazing Race - Library Edition
Monday, September 22
from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
McLaughlin Branch Auditorium
Get your passport ready as we play the library version of the Amazing Race! Participate in Road Blocks and Detours by completing some puzzling and crazy challenges. For ages 10 -
14. Free registration at any branch.

Get Your Game On: Ultimate Guitar Hero Tournament
Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 pm
McLaughlin Branch Auditorium
Are you the ultimate Guitar Hero? Show off your mad guitar skills at this tournament. The Guitar Hero and runner-up will win a prize! For teens 12 - 19. Space is limited. Free
registration at any branch.

What Every Babysitter Should Know
Saturday, October 4
from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
McLaughlin Branch Auditorium
$50.00 fee
Join St. John Ambulance for this all day course that will prepare you for a great job. Register at any branch.

Zombie Attack! Learn Special Effects and Stage Make-Up
Thursday, October 9
from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
McLaughlin Branch Auditorium
Don’t be afraid of zombies – become one! Scars, wounds and other stage
makeup techniques are revealed in this hands-on workshop with special effects expert Dorota Buczel. Perfect make-up just in time for that Halloween costume. Snacks will be
provided. Ages 12 and older. Free registration at any branch.


Jess Hann branch

Craft-It! ~ Lotions and Potions
Wednesday, September 24
from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Have a blast at the Library while you make your own lotions and
body glitter! For teens 12 - 19. Free registration at any branch.

Urban Legends at the Library
Wednesday, October 22
from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Eating Pop Rocks and drinking soda at the same time causes your
stomach to explode. A company will give you $245 for every third person
to whom you forward a certain email. You’ve heard stories like these
before, either through word of mouth or forwarded email. Learn more
about these Urban Legends and win prizes at this fun event. Snacks
will be served. Free registration at any branch.

Northview branch

f2f Special Teen Events
Join us the last Tuesday of every
month at 7:00 pm. Free registration at
any branch.

September 30: Moon Slippers
craft
October 28: Halloween Party.
Please come in costume.
Prizes and Snacks.


The Dark Knight Halloween Extravaganza
Friday, October 31 at 6:30 pm
Why so serious? Gotham has come to Oshawa! You are invited to this
unique event that even The Batman himself cannot turn down. We will
be watching a very special screening of The Dark Knight (2008, 152
minutes. Rated 14A). This is the most talked about movie of 2008! Come
and see what evil schemes the Joker is up to in the dark and gritty world
that is Gotham City. There will even be a special guest or two. Dress
as your favourite character and enter our costume contest to win an
awesome prize! Date and time may be subject to change. Refreshments
will be available, along with lots of fun and prizes! For ages 14 and older. Free registration at
any branch.

Legends Centre

Learn to DJ
Saturday, September 20 at 2:00 pm
Let Scratchlab Institute teach you the
tricks of the trade. Ages 12 - 18.


Urban Legends at the Library
Friday, October 10
from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Eating Pop Rocks and drinking soda at the same time causes your
stomach to explode. A company will give you $245 for every third person to whom you forward a certain email. You’ve heard stories like these before, either through word of
mouth or forwarded email. Learn more about these Urban Legends and win prizes at this fun event. Snacks will be provided. Free registration at any branch.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Teens Top 10 2008

Teen Read Week is coming up: October 12 - 18, 2008.

We want to know your top ten favourites out of the following book list:


Before I Die by Jenny Downham.
Tessa, who has terminal cancer, creates a list of ten things she wants to do in the months she has left to live. This fierce and devastating novel explores end-of-life realities with honesty and grace.

Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has accepted her powers and role as Leader of the Dark Daughters. But too soon the people Zoey cares about from her old life are in danger, and it looks like the House of Night is killing human teenagers.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.
Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-yearold Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.

Daemon Hall by Andrew Nance and Colin Polhemus, illus.
Famous horror story writer R. U. Tremblin comes to the town of Maplewood to hold a short story writing contest, offering the five finalists the chance to spend what turns out to be a terrifying--and deadly--night with him in a haunted house.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer.
Bella must choose between her friendship with Jacob and her relationship with Edward, but when Seattle is ravaged by a string of killings, the three of them need to decide whether their personal lives are more important than the well-being of an entire city.

Extras by Scott Westerfeld.
Fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse, an Extra, just wants to lay low, so when she discovers the secret lives of the Sly Girls, she wants to report their story, but she knows that would propel her into a celebrity status she's not prepared for.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks.
Child prodigy Cadel Piggot, an antisocial computer hacker, discovers his true identity when he enrolls as a first-year student at an advanced crime academy.

Genesis Alpha by Rune Michaels
Brothers Josh and Max have an unusually strong relationship since it was Josh’s harvested stem cells that were used to save his dying older brother’s life. But when Max is accused of murder, Josh considers his own role in Max’s path of life.

Glass by Ellen Hopkins.
Kristina is determined to defeat her addiction to crack in order to keep her newborn child, but when she is unable to manage her use of the drug and the pull becomes too strong, her greatest fears are quickly realized.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.
Voldermort is ruthless in his pursuit of the trio, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione have honed their magical skills in the past six years and are ready for battle.

Ironside: A Modern Faery’s Tale by Holly Black.
As the possessor of Roiben's true name, sixteen-year-old Kaye returns to Faeryland to try and complete a nearly-impossible quest that will release him from the spell of the faery queen who holds him in thrall.

Jango by William Nicholson.
Seeker, the Wildman, and Morning Star discover that the mysterious warrior sect they had been so desperate to join is not quite what it appears from the outside.

Jinx by Meg Cabot.
Jean "Jinx" Honeychurch, the descendant of a witch, must leave Iowa to live with relatives in Manhattan after the first spell she casts goes awry, but she will have to improve her skills to stop her cousin from practicing black magic which endangers the boy they both like.

The Luxe by Anna Godberson.
In Manhattan in 1899, five teens of different social classes lead dangerously scandalous lives, despite the strict rules of society and the best-laid plans of parents and others.

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson.
The time has come for Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel to face their ultimate enemy and, despite many obstacles, try to save the world from a sinister plan to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race.

Penelope by Marilyn Kaye
Penelope Wilhern has everything a girl could want: A wealthy, socialite family, an enchanted bedroom and some of the coolest clothes around. There is only one problem: She was born into a cursed family and has the face of a pig.

Saving Zoë by Alyson Noël.
Instead of a fresh start, high school provides more grief and isolation to Echo, whose older sister died a year earlier, but insights gained from Zoe's diary about her sister's life and death change Echo in ways she could have never expected.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George.
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
At Spence Academy, Gemma Doyle continues preparing for her London debut while struggling to determine how best to use magic to resolve a power struggle in the enchanted world of the realms, and to protect her own world and loved ones.

Tamar by Mal Peet.
In England in 1995, Tamar, grief-stricken by the puzzling death of her beloved grandfather, begins to uncover the secrets of his life during the last year of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and the climactic events that forever cast a shadow on his life and that of his family.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson.
After finally getting noticed by someone other than school bullies and his ever-angry father, seventeen-year-old Tyler enjoys his tough new reputation and the attentions of a popular girl, but then life starts to go bad again . . .

Unwind by Neal Shusterman.
In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs and, perhaps, save their own lives.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.
Two years after a horrible incident made them run away, vampire princess Lissa and her guardian-in-training Rose are found and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, where both try to avoid the perils of gossip, cliques, pranks, and sinister plots.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.
Seventeen-year-old Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see faeries, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle between the Summer King and Winter Queen, and the survival of her life, her love, and summer all hang in the balance.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier.
Five sisters who live with their merchant father in Transylvania use a hidden portal in their home to cross over into a magical
world, the Wildwood.

You Vote Here during Teen Read Week!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Job Search Workshop For Newcomer youth

Northern Lights Canada is pleased to announce that we have received funding through Citizenship and Immigration Canada to facilitate the Job Search Workshop for Newcomer youth aged 13-24 years. The funding announcement from CIC regarding this and other Durham CIC funded programs is scheduled for September 8th.

The workshops will take place at our Ajax office and will be commencing within the next few weeks. We will be sending out our flyer and workshop calendar shortly. We look forward to working with all our community partners in providing services to this population.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Pinder DaSilva @ 905-433-9539 or 905-426-8337. Thank-you.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

White Pine 2009

White Pine 2009 The White Pine 2009 titles will be announced in October. Stay tuned to a library near you!!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

More reviews from teens/tweens!

The Isabel Factor
Gayle Friesen
4/5 Stars
REVIEW: When you read this book, it’s like you are Anna (the main character). The description pulls you into the book so you can feel what she is feeling. I say this book is awesome! I recommend it for people 11-18.
Angela B. (Grade 8)

Waiting for Sarah
Bruce McBay
REVIEW: It was kind of boring in the middle, but okay in the beginning/ end. I would recommend it for people between the ages of 12-15.
Allison P. (Grade 8)

Girl Nearly 16 Absolute Torture (BOOK)
Sue Limb
4/5 Stars
REVIEW: Jess’s parents are divorced. Her mom surprised her for taking a trip to her father’s house in the summer. She was leaving her boyfriend at home and they were planning things.
Melissa M. (Grade 9)

Move Along (CD)
The All-American Rejects
4/5 Stars
REVIEW: They had lots of good songs.
Jordan M. (Grade 7)

The Reality Bug (BOOK)
D. J. Macttale
5/5 Stars
REVIEW: I liked the book a lot. It was about Bobby Pendragon who is a traveller that is following Saint Dane to Veelox which is deserted except one building. Saint Dane tries to kill thousands of people.
Jordan M. (Grade 7)

Dead and Gone
Norah McClintock
4 ½ /5 Stars
REVIEW: It hooks you in from the first page. She is a wonderful author. The book is great all the way to the end.
Charlotte (Grade 8)

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Trailer

The trailer can be seen here. What do you think? Have you read the book? I don't know about you, but I'm tres excited!