Summer time is travelling time!

Summer time is almost here!  It has been a long, long, long winter, but we finally have some nice weather and (hopefully) some time off to enjoy it!  Whether it is summer vacation for teens or a few days off for librarians, I think everyone is looking forward to this summer.

One of the best things about summer is the chance to get away for a few days or even longer if you are lucky.  I always like to travel to Moraine State Park and enjoy the beach and a picnic.  It’s one of my favorite places to go.  Another place I love to visit is Cook Forest, where you can go hiking, rent a cabin, and go canoeing or fishing.

If you can’t get away or can’t get away anyplace far, you can always escape somewhere through a good book.  Some of my favorite books explore travelling and visiting new places.  These are a great way to travel to new places without leaving your house or spending a cent!

 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson is one of my favorite books despite the super girly looking cover!  It is about a 17 year old girl named Ginny whose free spirited artist aunt Peg passes away and leaves her an unusual gift of a plane ticket to London and 13 blue envelopes with different clues in them.  Each envelope can only be opened when Ginny reaches a new destination in Europe.  Ginny gets to visit lots of cool places all over Europe and she meets lots of interesting people.  This is a great book for anyone who has ever wanted to visit some of the fascinating locations of Europe!

 The Name of the Star is another book by Maureen Johnson (who you might be able to tell is one of my favorite writers).  This one is also about travel, but it is a lot different than 13 Little Blue Envelopes.  In this book, Rory Devereaux moves to London with her parents and has to attend an English boarding school that is totally different than her regular American high school.  The first part of the book is all about the difficulties Rory has while trying to fit in and adapting to living in England.  She has to learn how to play field hockey, eat new foods, and deal with the cold and damp weather.  But then just as she’s getting used to everything, she becomes the target of a serial killer who is re-enacting the Jack the Ripper murders!  This is both an exciting mystery and a great travel tale about the city of London.

 Not primarily a travel story at all, but John Green‘s The Fault in our Stars does involve travel!  It is the story of Hazel Lancaster, a 16 year old who meets Augustus Waters at a therapy session for cancer survivors.  The two get close and fall in love as they deal with the strong emotional issues they are both dealing with.  But Augustus does arrange for Hazel to travel to Amsterdam to meet her favorite author.  It’s a great book that happens to have a bit of travel in it.

Teen Blogger: Outsmarting the College Salesmen

Hello, my name is Wei. (Before we go further, it’s important for you to know that it’s pronounced like “WAY.” I mean, how awkward would it be if you came up to me & called me “WEE”?) I’m a senior, a vegetarian, I read ALL THE TIME, I can lick my elbow, and I believe I am searching for a “Great Perhaps.”

A car salesman and a college tour guide are basically the same thing. They’re both trying to sell you something that’s ridiculously expensive. They’re going to show you the finer points of their wares while conveniently leaving what’s not so attractive by the wayside. Sometimes they’re bubbling with excitement to show you around. Sometimes they’re evasive. But they’re always trained in the art of selling. And there are always an overwhelming amount of them, each trying to sell you their car/college over the next guy’s.

Touring college campuses, like browsing car dealerships, should be done carefully. While everything should be taken in, it should also be done with a grain of salt. They’re a make-it-or-break-it type experience for a lot of people. You’re seeing where you could potentially be living the next few years of your young adult life. It’s scary, but it’s the most exciting feeling.

So, how do you cut through the half-truths and the pretty façade of these well-rehearsed salesmen to get to the heart of the matter to know what’s the best fit for you?

#1.) Visit as many campuses as you can. I have a lot of friends who have at current count, only visited one school. And then all they talk about is how much they love it and how it’s the school for them. But if you only visit one campus, how can you possibly know? It’s important to note that even if you don’t plan on going to College X, if you get a chance, visit anyway. Even if you hate it, you’ll realize what you don’t want which is at least a step better than not knowing what you want at all.

#2.) Visit with your parents. So, I know that the number one most appealing thing about getting a higher education is the fact that you can do it outside the vicinity of Mom and Dad, but seriously, think about it. It’s not just what you want, it’s what your family can afford. They should see the school that they’re sending their son/daughter to. They should see if it’s a good fit and if it’s worth the money. Plus, it’s good to get a second opinion. I mean, for the most part, they’re relatively wise. They got you this far, didn’t they?

#3.) Don’t fall for the little things. Tour guides are going to highlight the best parts such as the new renovations to the science lab, some famous band that just played on campus, the hundreds of sports and activities that they offer. That’s all great & good, but remember that every school has some award or unique feature, and all of them have clubs. Don’t fall for the little things like a Quidditch team (it’s tempting, I know); instead, look at the whole picture. What good is free Wi-fi if you’re too deep in the middle of nowhere that your phone doesn’t work? What’s the use of a new physics building if the professor still teaches like Prohibition is still a thing?

#4.) What you learn after the tour is just as useful as what you learn during it. Guides are only going to show you the best, biggest parts of campus. It might be a good idea after the tour to go walk around without a guide & try to find all the nooks and crannies and see if they have as much glimmer to them as what you saw on the tour. Also, eat in the main dining hall. Should this be the college you choose, you’ll be eating from there more often than not, so it’s good to get a sense of what kind of food you’ll be anticipating. Also, since the majority of the people there will be college kids, it’s a good idea to scope them out and try to get a feel if they’re the kind of people you want to spend the next few years with.

#5.) Make sure they know you’re coming. This should really go without saying, but schedule an appointment first. They need to know that you’re coming so that they can have a guide ready. Sometimes people will just take a look around by themselves, without the knowledge of the school. While that’s fine, it’s not really the most efficient way. Colleges keep records of all the students who visit them. When applying, if they see that you visited or met with an admissions counselor or in some way showed your interest in their school, they’ll know that you’re serious about wanting to attend. Basically, it will look better on your application.

If the last one went without saying, then this next one should go so much without saying that I’m not even going to list it as a tip: ASK QUESTIONS. Believe me, whatever it is, do not feel stupid. They have had sillier questions. Trust me.

I know it’s frightening, to do all these thing for your future when you’re not even sure what the future looks like. But it’s worth it.

End of Summer- BOO! End of Summer Party- YAY!

When I was a teenager, I couldn’t stand those back-to-school advertising campaigns that seem to kick in while summer is still in full swing.  And how about the stores that start selling fall jackets when it is still 90 degrees outside?  For me personally, the count down to the new school year was such a drag that even a full scale-gratuitous-shopping-binge didn’t prove therapeutic.  So now that the Teen Department at CLP Main is hosting an End of the Summer Celebration on Friday 8/24 from 2 pm to 5 pm, I feel like such a traitor.

But really- we’re on YOUR side.  We’re not trying to pour salt in the wound, we simply want to reward you all for your participation in this year’s Teen Summer Reading program (which, by the way, it’s not too late to sign up for….).  And the truth is, we’ll use any excuse to throw a party here in the Main Teen Department.  So, come- despite yourself- and just try to enjoy the last sliver of summer….

Friday, August 24

2pm to 5pm

CLP Main- Teens

4400 Forbes Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA

• Video gaming!
• TWO bad movies- one about a crazy summer and one about going back to school!
• Button making!
• iPad photo booth!
• Light snacks!

All teens in middle or high school welcome.  For more information, contact teensmain @ carnegielibrary.org or 412.622.3121.

Hot Summer Reads

The heat wave that’s been gripping most of our country has technically broken, or at least The Weather Channel isn’t currently predicting any highs in the 90s in Pittsburgh’s near future.  That’s fantastic news to me because I really don’t function well at those temperatures.  I get irritable and restless, but I can’t do anything but lay on the couch, and my attention span is completely shot.  I basically just try to keep myself as distracted as I can and hope the worst of the weather passes quickly.

But of course, this heat wave was in no hurry to move on, and I’m afraid my brain has literally melted and run out of my ears.  Since there’s no way I can focus on an entire full-length book right now, I’ve been reading a lot of graphic novels.  (In fact, I’ve mentioned how perfect they are for just such an occasion before.)  Here are a few of my recent favorites -

Luz Sees the Light by Claudia Davila

Luz lives in a world where power outages are occurring more and more often, and gas prices are soaring.  As she begins to understand why these things are happening, she decides she wants to do something about it – start a community garden in an abandoned lot.  But can she convince the neighborhood to help her?

The Littlest Pirate King by Jason B.

A ghost ship full of long-dead pirates has been roaming the seas for years, looking for a way to end their miserable existence and move on to the next.  But in the meantime, they maintain the traditional pirate lifestyle of killing and plundering other ships.  When they discover a living baby has survived one of their raids, they decide to keep him.  Of course, it’s only a matter of time until the boy grows up…

Nursery Rhyme Comics, edited by Chris Duffy

Each of the 50 nursery rhymes in this collection is illustrated by a famous cartoonist.  I was really impressed by several of the stories, but my favorite was probably Lucy Knisley’s take on “The Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe.”

Freshman: Tales of 9th Grade Obsessions, Revelations, and Other Nonsense by Corinne Mucha

Annie’s just started high school, and it’s already not going well.  Her old best friend has gotten weird and isn’t speaking to her, and she’s not completely comfortable with her new friends yet either.  Her brother convinces her that freshman year sets the course for the rest of your future, but she can’t even figure out what she’s good at.  She’s terrible at sports, and she’s not sure about acting either.  Even her love life seems hopelessly doomed.  Can Annie get it together before it’s too late?

Have you read any good graphic novels (or anything else) lately?  Make sure you sign up for Teen Summer Reading and log them, so you can be eligible for fabulous prizes!

-Denise

Teen Blogger: Carpe Aestate

Hello, my name is Wei. (Before we go further, it’s important for you to know that it’s pronounced like “WAY.” I mean, how awkward would it be if you came up to me & called me “WEE”?) I’m a senior, a vegetarian, I read ALL THE TIME, I can lick my elbow, and I believe I am searching for a “Great Perhaps.”

Carpe Aestate.

Carpe Diem, as you may know, means “seize the day.” “Carpe” means something along the lines of “seize”. “Diem” means day. “Seize the day.” Do not take today for granted because you’ll never know if you’ll be here tomorrow. Don’t procrastinate, take advantage of your youth, don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today yada yada yada. Yawn, right? Heard it a million times before, right?

Hate to tell ya, but it’s true. Especially now that it’s summer. Don’t just spend time by the pool, snackin’ on Cheetos (or whatever people happen to do during the summer). Actually make something of your summer, don’t let it go passing you by. This goes for everyone, though I’m specifically targeting those of you who are rising juniors or seniors in high school thinking/worrying/freaking out about college, those of you who are in the same boat as me. So, Carpe Aestate. “Seize the summer.”

Here are some tips to make the most of your summer (and, to a lesser degree, help you prepare for college).

1) Save up some money. You’ll need it later. Everyone is more likely to hate than like their summer jobs. Don’t hate it! Learn to make the most of it. Connect with people, make new friends. Put some money in the good old piggy bank (or better yet, savings account).

2) Learn something new. Take some classes either online or in an actual classroom. It’s not too late to enroll. A lot of online classes are even free. In fact, I’m taking a Sociology course through Princeton & a Pharmacology course through the University of Pennsylvania, both made possible by Coursera. If a structured class isn’t your cup of tea, try learning a new language. Memrise offers basic vocabulary for any language you could ever think of (I personally vouch for their Mandarin course). Or learn to knit or yodel or tie your shoes or something. Basic point: sometimes you learn a lot more if you’re not in school.

3) Read. Reading opens doors, expands vocabulary, and if you pick up the right book, changes your mindset or even your life. Also, you will do A LOT of reading in college. So it’s useful to start analytically read books and learning how to read faster. I know I’m not the only one here who has unread books piling up. Summer is the perfect time to catch up on them. You can even sit by the pool & eat Cheetos while reading! If you don’t know what to read, stop by the library for half an hour. I guarantee that you won’t leave empty handed.

4) Volunteer. I started volunteering because I hated being with people who never cared about anything. Through volunteering, I met people that were passionate about what they were doing–and I loved it. Not to mention volunteering looks really good on college applications and a lot of scholarships have volunteer work as criteria. It’s like killing three birds with one stone.

5) Think ahead. What do you plan to do with your life? What college do you want to go to? Research possible career choices & colleges. Do it now because you won’t have time later. Have you signed up for the SATs or ACTs? Think about whether or not you need to take the SAT Subject tests, and if you do, what subjects? Some colleges prefer certain subject tests for certain majors.

6) Have fun! Summer is still summer & that means no school, no teachers, no waking up at six in the morning. Sleep in, rest up, & enjoy your summer. After all, that is what Carpe Aestate is about.

OMG: The Amazing Spider-Man!

© 1941-2012 Marvel Characters, Inc.

I’m not gonna lie – I’ve stockpiled the bulk of my summer movie anticipation/excitement for a certain nocturnal hero who, they say, is going to rise.  That said, The Amazing Spider-Man, which opens today, has been something of a wild card for me ever since the first trailer was released way back when.  As a comic fan of the webhead, I’d had a hard time swallowing the prior theatrical entries.  Thus, I was relieved upon hearing the news of a reboot… for about five seconds… when I saw that said reboot was going to be sandwiched in between the behemoths: The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises!  ‘Seriously?  Poor Spidey’s gonna get eaten alive,’ I thought.  BUT(!), having seen some hard footage, I’m pretty confident that everyone’s favorite teen science geek turned wisecracking crime-fighter will hold his own this summer (the bridge and car thief scenes in the super preview…  A-MAZ-ING!)

© 1941-2012 Marvel Characters, Inc.

With a new cast, some fresh characters and what looks to be a legit CGI Lizard, The Amazing Spider-Man aims to present a more modern and realistic interpretation of this iconic mythos.  The inclusion of Gwen Stacy, Peter’s quest for info on his parents, and the hints that Peter’s dad is somehow mysteriously tied to Spidey’s abilities all point towards the Ultimate Spider-Man comics being a key influence on the new film.  So… gonna check it out?  I personally guarantee that it’ll be better than this.

Some Spidey Awesomeness:

                    

Jon : CLP Carrick

Rural reads

I grew up in a tiny town in the corn belt where the first kid to ride his tractor to school was not the last. We swam in ponds as often as in pools. The super-spacious Midwestern sprawl and lack of public transport meant that, once I learned to drive, I usually got where I was going with the windows down at…um…a totally legal and safe speed.

That car now is scrap metal, and as summer activities go, Pittsburgh beats the flatlands with no contest!  But gorgeous summer afternoons, grilling with friends, cinema in the park and some of the most ridiculous jams from the 90′s have the power to send me back to my neighborhood with force. These books do the same, and it’s kinda nice!

The Oxford Project by Peter Feldstein and Stephen G. Bloom

In 1984, the author set out to photograph everyone in his hometown of Oxford, Iowa, instructing them to “come as you are.” Twenty years later, Feldstein hunted down the same people who had stood in front of his lens the first go-around and published the photographs side-by-side. Each set of photos comes with a brief interview of the participant, and they range from downright wacky to mundane. I’ve never thought of small town life as stunning, but this series of portraits absolutely changed my mind.

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Rotters by Daniel Kraus

Joey was 16 when his mother tragically died and he was shipped from Chicago to rural Iowa to live with a father he barely knew. Living with a near-stranger is hard, but finding out the stink in your shack comes from the graves your dad is robbing? Arguably worse. This takes the small (and big) town mantra “nothing ever HAPPENS around here!” and runs it through the wringer. This book is not for the weak of stomach, but if you enjoy a thoughtfully dark read, you will get what you came for with Rotters.

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Need to get out of the city – if only for a little while? Check out some of these other awesome reads with rural settings.

   

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Whitney, CLP – Main

Perfect Picks by the Poolside… or in the Pool?

One of the most relaxing places I would love to find myself, would be the beach. But since this will be one of the few summers I won’t be able to make it to the beach, the local pools will have to suffice. Whether I managed to get a tan remains to be seen.  Most of the time, I burn, lather up with Aloe and just go right back to the color I started out with. However, neither of those things will stop me from enjoying the summertime entertainments and of course, a few great books.  So check it out: you’ve got your choice of a few hot reads and a chance to get some poolside action!

Pirates by Celia Rees

Nancy Kinton, an heiress fleeing an arranged marriage, and Minerva Sharpe, a runaway plantation slave, both fine unlikely salvation on the pirate ship Deliverance.  Life as a pirate is difficult enough, but can the two young women escape the cruel Captain Bartholome, who has pledged to follow them over the seven seas?  And will Nancy’s long-lost friend, a sailor in the Royal Navy, love the pirate she has become?

Swim the Fly by Don Calame

Matt Gratton and his two best friends, Sean and Coop, always set themselves a summertime goal.  This year’s?  To see a real-live naked girl for the first time.  As far as Matt is concerned, they’d have better luck finding the lost city of Atlantis.  But seeing a girl in the buff starts to seem like child’s play compared to the other summertime goal Matt sets for himself: to swim the 100-yard butterfly (the hardest stroke known to God or man) in order to impress Kelly West, the hot new girl.  So what if he can’t manage a single lap, let alone four?  He’s got the whole summer to perfect his technique.  What could possibly go wrong?

The Lost Summerby Kathryn Williams

Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys’ camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.

Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Sheryl Berk

They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing—not even the loss of her arm—could come between her and the waves? That fateful morning in Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany responded to the shark’s stealth attack with the calm of a girl with God on her side. Pushing pain and panic aside, she began to paddle with one arm, focusing on a single thought: “Get to the beach….” And the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was “When can I surf again?”

Palm trees, ocean breeze, salty air, sun kissed hair. That endless summer, take me there.” – Unknown

-Colleen M, CLP-Woods Run

The Last Day of School…the Movie!

The end of the school year….  Ahhhhh….  It’s so close, you can taste it, right?  Soon the public pools will open, Extravaganza and Teen Summer Reading will be in full effect, the Pirates will be crushing the competition (well…. hopefully….), and you’ll be homework free for a solid two or three months.  When I think back to my school days, I remember those last ones the fondest.  The summer held so much anticipation and so much promise!  I almost didn’t even mind attending school, because I knew my days there were numbered.  The school days were short, the tired teachers showed films instead of- well- teaching, and the only writing we students did was in yearbooks.  Turns out many others have found inspiration in those last days of school, so much so that there are entire movies dedicated to those last days of school.  Teens of Pittsburgh- you are almost there!  Join us at CLP Main- Teen on your last day of school- Wednesday, June 13 at 3 pm- for a screening of a classic of the genre.  Until then, you’ll just have to experience the excitement the last days through film.  Below are some of the best and they are all available to check out from the library.

Can’t Hardly Wait

Dazed and Confused

I Love You Beth Cooper

Rock ‘N’ Roll High School

Say Anything

Summer School

The Wackness

Feel inspired to make your own last day of school film?  Check out CLP’s QuickFlix 2012 contest and free digital filmmaking workshops!

What are YOU Doing This Summer?

Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.” Bob Marley

Only a few days left of school.  The clock is ticking down the minutes until you can rush out those doors; jump on the bus, and say, “Its SUMMER!”  No more school, no more homework, no more nagging voices telling you to stop fooling around and pay attention!

I don’t know about you, but this summer looks like it is jammed packed with so many cool things to do.  Don’t have any money? No special vacations out of the beautiful city of Pittsburgh?  If I were you I wouldn’t worry too much about either one.  Your local Carnegie libraries have been planning round the clock to set up an awesome summer vacation just for you.  Check out this list of things to do for the month of June!

June Events

• Summer Reading Extravaganza |  June 10th, 2012 | 12:00 – 5:00pm
  Did someone say iPad?  Sign up for Teen Summer Reading and find out how you could win an iPad!
• Hip-Hop on L.O.C.K. Music | Starting June 16th, 2012 | 1:00 – 4:00pm
  Sign up fast!  Space is limited!
• QuickFlix Media Arts | Starting June 25th, 2012 | 1:00 – 4:00pm
  Want a chance to make a winning video?  Grand prize $100 iTunes gift card!
• Riddikulus Wizard Rock Concert | June 20th, 2012 | 5:00 – 7:30pm
  Featuring The Whomping Willows, Lauren Fairweather, Tonks and the Aurors, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Snidget, and I Speak Tree

Also check out the Teen events at your local library this month as they will include:  Gaming, Anime clubs, Teen Advisory, Musical workshops, Art clubs, Creative writing, and so much more!  Check out what is happening at your library so you don’t miss out!

Yeah, this is just for the month of June… Come back to check out the month of July and August too!

Tell me, what do you’ve got planned for your awesome summer break????