Join the Anime/Manga Club

Do you like Japanese anime and manga? The library is starting an anime and manga club for ages 14 and older! We'll talk about our favorite manga, watch some anime and have a great time! The club will meet the second and fourth Monday every month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Belt Branch.

Black History Month Teen Essay Contest

As part of its celebration of February as Black History Month, Rolling Hills Library is sponsoring an essay contest for students in sixth grade through high school. (1) Students can choose one of the following topics for their essays:

1. What black person in history inspires you today?
2. What lesson from black history can be used to take this nation into the future?
3. Why should we remember today the actions of black people of the past?
4. What black person from history and what black person alive today inspire you?
5. If you could have lunch with today with one black person from history, who would that be and why?

Rules: Students will compete in two age categories: sixth through eighth grades and high school. Essays must be 400 to 500 words, typed and double spaced. Include your name, grade, school and school telephone number. Essays become the property of the library and must be e-mailed or postmarked before the deadline date: Feb. 8, 2013. (2)

E-mail: mcanchola@rhcl.org (attach and send text documents saved as .pdf, .doc, or .rtf files)

Mail: Essay Contest, 1912 N. Belt Hwy., St. Joseph, MO 64506.

Citations: When facts are included in your essay, place numbers in parenthesis at the end of the paragraph. (Examples are shown in paragraphs above.) Citations are to be placed at the end of the essay and will not be included in the word count. Simple citations must include the author, book title, and page number for printed material. For Internet citations provide the Web page address or a printed copy of the Web page (attach copy with essay). Citation examples follow:

(1) Negro League Baseball Players Association. http://www.nlbpa.com/fowler__john_w___bud.html

(2) Read, Barb. Book of Rules: When Writing an Essay. Page 24

Prizes: Gift certificates to Hastings Books, Music and Videos awarded for the first, second and third places. Prizes will be awarded Feb. 28, 2013. Prize winning essays will be displayed at the library during February.

For more information, call 816.232.5479, Ext. 2404.

Book Review: "Life As We Knew It" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Miranda Evans is a typical girl with typical concerns in author Susan Beth Pfeffer's young adult novel Life As We Knew It. Her friends are changing and growing apart, her father is starting a new family with his second wife, and Miranda has no news on Brandon Urlick, the hometown Olympic hopeful and her secret crush. And if that isn't enough, an asteroid is supposed to hit the moon, and every teacher wants an essay on why this is such a Big Event.

It's only after the moon is knocked closer to Earth and tides destroy the coasts, the Midwest is decimated by earthquakes and volcanic ash blots out the sun, that Miranda realizes that life as she knew it has become a struggle just to survive.

This is a book that surpasses its writing. It takes a normal family of unextraordinary people and throws them into the ultimate test of human instinct. It leaves readers thinking about what they would do in a natural disaster. Could they last through a winter with no modern conveniences, no sunlight and only the food they could stockpile on the worst day ever? Stripped to our barest emotions, can love and compassion endure?

I found myself thinking about "Life as We Knew It" days after finishing it. The characters draw you in and allow the reader to put themselves into the situation. The writing is a little basic, but the ideas are entertaining and compelling. I would recommend this book for all teen and adult readers interested in survival fiction-- or anyone looking for a touching story of family love and devotion in hard times.

-- Review by Gena Fisher, Belt Branch reference assistant

WrestleMania Reading Challenge

Win a trip to WrestleMania 29 in East Rutherford, NJ!!!!!!!!

SPONSORED BY YALSA & WWE

Complete the Reading Challenge and submit a letter that states why your favorite WWE Star needs to read your favorite book! If you are selected as a regional finalist, you will travel to New Jersey to compete for ringside seats!  THE FOLLOWING GRADES ARE ELIGIBLE: 5TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE

The challenge will begin September 15th and commence on October 15th!!!

TEEN BOOK CLUB 

The club will be meeting September 10th discuss the selected reading chosen at the previous meeting.  The book for the month of September is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  This is a serious book, that focuses on teen suicide and how peoples actions affected one teen to commit the unthinkable.  It will create a meaningful discussion and help each one of us consider how our own choices  do not pertain to just ourselves.

If interested in joining, please stop by the reference desk.

September 10th meeting in the Story House

5:30 to 6:30pm. (2nd Monday in September due

to holiday conflict)

All of the upcoming months will meet on the first 
Monday, but in case scheduling conflicts with a 
holiday, it will meet on the 2nd Monday.

 

Young Adult Book Club August 1, 2012 @ 1:00 pm

The first meeting for the book club will be held in the Story House Room and the book selected for this month's reading is: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  If any teens are interested in joining, please stop by the Reference Desk and pick up your copy today to be prepared for the discussion on August 1st.



This club is going to be meeting monthly on the first Monday at the beginning of each month. The meeting time is to be determined when school is resumed.  The second book that is going to be read for September is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. 

"Own the Night" this summer!

Summer Reading is here! Have you picked up your reading log yet? Whether you frequent the Belt Branch or Savannah, you can earn prizes for reading and doing other activities.

At the Belt Branch, there will be different prize drawings for all sorts of cool prizes-- movie tickets, a $20 Hastings gift card, and a $50 East Hills gift card are all up for grabs. For a chance to win, you can read four books of your choice, attend a program, volunteer at the library, or write a book review. You either register at the reference desk or online here.

The Savannah Branch is doing a bingo-themed reading log. Read books of a certain genre to get a "bingo" and a chance to win more great prizes! Forms to participate in the Savannah program must be picked up at the Savannah Branch circulation desk. Both programs run through August 2nd, so get reading!