Teen Review: Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Samantha – Hi! I’m a 6th grader and really excited to be blogging. I LOVE to read and write so I’m most likely going to have a lot of posts. I’ll give you the most honest reviews possible. I hope you read them!

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

In your life, have you ever had someone who just understands you? Someone who you can just tell everything and they will listen? In this story, a girl named Katie Takeshima has a person like that; it’s her sister. Her sister Lynn taught her to look at everything and find how it is kira-kira (Japanese for glittering), she taught her how to look at everything and find its magnificence. Lynn was practically Katie’s role model, (as older siblings mostly are); Katie did what Lynn did, agreed to what Lynn agreed etc., etc. As the girls got older, they moved to Georgia. They didn’t fit in; they were one of the only Japanese families in the town. Lynn made friends while Katie didn’t. Lynn got too busy for Katie; Katie was never busy enough for Lynn. The two drifted apart. One day Lynn got sick, and there was no going back to their lives before.

I loved this book because it explained the bond of two sisters, a bond that could not be broken. Throughout the course of the book, I felt myself relating to some of the characters. I felt like I could relate because this book is about other things too, like fitting in, financial troubles and new siblings. Overall, those problems are the problems that the majority of us have to deal with every day.  

East Liberty’s Teen Book Club: What will we read next??

Once a month, since the fall, a small group of teens has been meeting at East Liberty to discuss books.  As the book discussion facilitator, I think you should think about joining us.

You never know what will come up in a book discussion.  So far we’ve read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, Panther Baby by Jamal Joseph, and a smattering of  poetry, including some of Anne Sexton’s takes on Grimm’s Fairy Tales in her Transformations.  

   

We’ve talked about whether the American Dream is essentially depressing, how the world might look in 10-20 years time, the politics of the late 60s in America and why there’s not a Black Panther Party today, community service, and the difference between “bird sitting on a branch” poetry and poetry you might want to read.

Books are a great place to start from if you want to end up talking about anything and everything.

Next month we will be reading Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.  This is a story of a puzzle quest in an immersive online world, called OASIS, coded and put together by a reclusive computer genius obsessed with the culture of the 1980s.  Whoever solves his puzzle – by successfully collecting 3 keys– will inherit a giant fortune.  Five years after the announcement of the puzzle, and the genius’s death, the first key is found by a teenager in Oklahoma City.  And the race is on.

So put your copy on hold today and discuss with us on Saturday, March 16th at 2 pm.  80s music and snacks provided.

-Tessa, CLP – East Liberty.

Teen Review: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Hi!  I’m Anastasia.  I’m a senior at Carrick High School and I volunteer at the Carrick Library, though most of my time is spent reading or writing.

As I am currently in an AP Literature class in school, we often end up reading a lot of books.  Many of which are rather good, but recently I had to read Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness which proved to be a disappointment to me.  The book revolves around the ivory trade in Africa when Europe began to colonize and split up the region.  Many would describe the book as prejudiced, but I found myself too confused by the narrator to notice this.  I’m not sure if it was because I was tired or if I was unable to read the book as I would like, but I was often struggling to find what exactly the narrator was talking about.  One moment he was on the boat and in the next it appeared he wasn’t, or was he?  I found myself confused a lot of the time.  The story also brought about a lot of rumors concerning the antagonist, Mr. Kurtz, but in the end it appeared he was nothing more than a sickly old man.  I was at a loss to interpret this phenomenon – was he sick due to greed’s effect on him and the things he had done?  The book built his personality on rumors and other character’s accounts, so perhaps the irony of a sickly man was too much for me.  For all its faults, however, Heart of Darkness wasn’t necessarily bad.  It used a lot of intense imagery that added to the feel of the book, and it described the savage nature of man when it comes to greed and dominance very well, but something about the book just didn’t fit with me.  Maybe, at another time, I will have to reread it and give it another shot.

Sew What? – Sweater/T-shirt Hats @ CLP Brookline

So in case you haven’t noticed (?!), it’s been pretty freaking cold outside lately – like for the past three or four months – and what better way to create a little friction than with creativity!  Solve all your shivering winter woes with a new sweater hat this Tuesday, February 26^th at CLP Brookline’s Teen Lounge!

Come make something new and awesome out of something old and blah!  Everything you’ll need (sweaters, material, pins, etc.) to get your DIY on will be provided – and I heard a rumor that Brookline’s sewing machine comes equipped with a Game Boy!  That’s right, a GAME BOY sewing machine!  Keeping it vintage and classy – how awesome is that???

AND!  If you happen to be allergic to late 80s 8-bit entertainment, or think you might end up sewing your hands together, don’t fret!  You can try your unstitched hand at Xbox and Kaijudo, or sharpen your Magic the Gathering skills for the Brookline Teen Gaming Advisory Council’s upcoming Magic the Gathering tournament showdown!

All this madness blasts off at 3:30 PM this Tuesday and runs until 5:00 PM at CLP Brookline!

do it! Do It! DO IT! :

               

Jon : Carrick

Black History Month: Celebrate Science

The month of February has been designated as Black History Month since 1970.  This year, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is highlighting the history of African-American Innovators and Inventors. 

Halle Tanner Johnson

According to Wade Hudson, author of Scientists, Healers and Inventors, Halle Tanner Johnson was the first woman to be licensed to practise medicine in the state of Alabama.  Not the first African-American woman, but the first woman.  She was also the first resident physician at the Tuskegee Institute, and she was born in Pittsburgh.

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born on a plantation in Diamond Grove, Missouri.  According to Wade Hudson, George Washington Carver was the first black student accepted at Simpson College in Iowa.  He transferred to Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts a few years later and became the first black student to attend that school as well.  He became the head of the agriculture department at the Tuskegee Institute, a post that he held for 47 years.

He discovered hundreds of products that could be made from the peanut, the sweet potato, and the pecan, and became an authority on plant diseases.

Madam C. J. Walker

Sarah Breedlove was born in 1867 in Delta, Louisiana.  Her parents were former slaves.  In 1905, she married Charles Joseph Walker and began calling herself Madam C. J. Walker.  Madam C. J. Walker created, manufactured and sold hair care products designed for African-American women.  She is known as the first black female millionaire.  Some sources name her as the first female millionaire in the United States.  Madam C. J. Walker’s hair care products are still sold today.

Lewis Latimer

Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Masschusetts in 1848.  He was the son of fugitive slaves.  He worked with Alexander Graham Bell, Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison.  Levenia George notes in the Smithsonian article, Lewis Latimer:  Renaissance Man, that Latimer Lewis became one of the 28 charter members of the Edison Pioneers.  He was the only African-American to receive this honor. 

Lonnie Johnson

Lonnie Johnson was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1949.  He was inspired by the work of George Washington Carver.  He attended Tuskegee University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering.  This former NASA scientist is best known for inventing the Super Soaker. 

Read More about Scientists and Inventors

~Marian

CLP–Mt. Washington

Close Encounters with Giant Rocks from Outer Space

The February 15 meteor streaks through the Russian sky.

Did you hear? The sky is falling…sort of.

On Friday, the citizens of Planet Earth were witness to two extraordinary cosmic events. First, a giant meteor exploded in the skies over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The spectacular space rock streaked across the sky (inspiring many Russians to capture the surreal scene with their phones and cameras) before burning or blasting apart, creating a huge sonic boom and injuring more than 1,500 people as glass windows shattered across the city. Weighing in at around 10,000 tons, this was the largest meteor to hit Earth in more than a century. As scientists analyze bits and pieces of the massive meteor, others are hoping to cash in by selling fragments on eBay.  One thing is for sure—this was a major (& very rare!) impact event.

Then there was the Friday flyby of Asteroid 2012 DA14, which passed through the moon’s orbit, very, very close to Earth. The asteroid, about half the size of a football field, came within nearly 17,000 miles of our planet at its closest approach (that’s about 220,000 miles closer than the moon!) before cruising away from us again.  Asteroid 2012 DA14 came nearer than many of our satellites as breathless Earthlings watched from astro-observatories around the world.

Either of these events would have thrilled astrophysicists & other space-savvy folk (while terrifying everyone else), but two amazing close encounters with near-earth objects in one day? Pretty exciting stuff. Be sure to beef up on your knowledge of killer rocks from outer space and other cosmic phenomena by doing a little light reading at your friendly neighborhood library.

-Maggie, CLP-Carrick

      

Call Carson Daly! It’s Time to Kick Off the Library’s Own “TRL”

Tired of the same old book discussion? Join the crowd–the crowd at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Teen Reading Lounge events, that is!

Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Teen Reading Lounge is a way to talk about books while learning fun new skills, engaging all parts of your brain while getting you active in the PA Core Curriculum standards your parents & teachers are probably be talking about.

The following Teen Reading Lounge events are currently scheduled. Make sure you call one of the numbers above and place a VOTE for your #1 way to rock literacy. And keep checking our events page for TRL at our Allegheny, Beechview, Brookline, Carrick, and Hazelwood locations:

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TRL (Teen Reading Lounge) Kickoff Party!
Monday, February 18, 2013
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has been chosen to sponsor PA Humanities Council Teen Reading Lounge, an interactive book club designed exclusively for teens! CLP-Brookline will be holding a kickoff party on Monday, Feb.18 at 3:30 PM to introduce you to this amped up book club, which includes: free books, food, parties, creative activities and plenty of teen opinion on what makes these books good or bad. For 3 months we’ll focus on COMIC BOOKS and GRAPHIC NOVELS.

Space is limited, so be sure to register by calling 412-561-1003 or complete online registration form. When registering, please commit to be an active participant, with intent to attend the majority of the sessions. Participation is reserved for teens age 12-18.

TRL Sessions will be held Mondays bi-monthly:

February 18th Kickoff Party
March 4th
March 18th
April 8th
April 22nd
May 6th
May 20th Final Party!

Event web site: http://www.facebook.com/events/584593388221702/
Location:
Brookline
708-710 Brookline Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15226

Contact:
Georgiana Deming
412-561-1003
demingg@carnegielibary.org

Registration is required for this event.

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Teen Reading Lounge – Kick Off Party
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Help us kick off this exciting, new, non-traditional book club featuring three graphic novels. Teens who sign up will receive copies of the books to take home.
Meet back at the Library two evenings a month with other North Side teens for a discussion session and a hands-on exploration of the book’s themes. This
special series is supported by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and will run from February through May. Contact the Library for more details.
Event fee: Free
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Location:
Allegheny
1230 Federal Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Contact:
Tim Yates
412-237-1890
yatest@carnegielibrary.org

Registration is required for this event.

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Teen Reading Lounge Kick-Off Party
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

It’s the official TRL Kick-Off Party to celebrate the start of our new, non-traditional teen book club! Get your FREE copy of the program’s first graphic novel: Coraline, adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name. Eat food, meet the other TRL readers and learn about the awesome workshops and activites that are happening with TRL in the weeks to come!

NOTE: This is an exclusive AFTER HOURS library event, which means you must register with J.J., the Teen Specialist at CLP-Beechview, to get on the TRL guest list!
Event fee: Free
Location:
Beechview
1910 Broadway Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Contact:
J.J. Lendl
412-563-2900
lendlj@carnegielibrary.org

Registration is required for this event.

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~Joseph
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main

Wallflowers Wanted… Again

Do any of you remember that SUPER AMAZINGLY POPULAR event the Library hosted with the Museum last November?  Well, my friends, prepare yourself for yet another SUPER AMAZINGLY POPULAR event coming your way.  On Saturday, February 23rd at 2 pm fans of the book and film that served as the theme for our Alternative Homecoming are invited to another epic event at CLP Main- Teen.  We’ll be crafting, snacking, sharing our favorite quotes, competing in trivia, and enjoying the music that is featured so prominently in the book and film.  And then at 3 pm, we’ll screen the movie that was filmed and takes place here in Pittsburgh!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location:

Teens – Main

4400 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Contact:

412.622.5526

teensmain@carnegielibrary.org

Looking for more wallflower worthy reads?  Check out these books:

                                                          

Teen Review: Feed by M T Anderson

Hi, my name is Jenna and I am a senior at West Mifflin Area High School. I volunteer at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main. No matter where I am, you will probably see a book in my hand. I hope you enjoy my book reviews!

Feed by: M T Anderson 

Titus and his friends are just ordinary teenagers in their world. Their life surrounds the feed that was implanted in their brains since before they could remember. The feed is basically like a computer. Titus and his friends can chat (message) each other’s feeds just by using their brains. The feed is constantly projecting an endless stream of advertisements, music, television shows, and world news. The people buy products using their feeds. They can even download other people’s memories and literally feel what the other person was feeling; emotions and sensations. Barely anyone talks out loud anymore… Why should they when they can do it within their heads?

But there are some people still in America that are trying to fight the feed. Like Violet, a girl Titus meets at the moon. Yes, these kids travel to the moon for fun. At first Titus just thinks Violet is interesting because she’s someone new and she’s physically beautiful. But, as Titus gets to know Violet, he realizes that she’s different than him and his friends. She hates the feed. She doesn’t go to School like the rest of the kids, where they learn about how to use the feed. She’s homeschooled by her father, who teaches Mayan language, which makes her even more weird to the other kids.

Not knowing who to believe or what to think, he is torn between what is better; life with the feed, or without?

If you are a person who hates how much today’s society is based off of media and technology, you would want to read this book. The book is a satire of society today and how big a part media plays in everyone’s lives.

This book is heavy on futuristic slang. And a lot of “like”‘s. Once you get used to the slang and figure out the meaning behind the words, it can become bearable.

Violet is a great character. I loved that she is so headstrong and independent. She didn’t need acceptance from the rich and popular kids. She was content with just being herself. She is willing to rebel against anything that tried to conform her. She is alive; unlike the boring, robotic-like teenagers Titus is friends with.

Titus is a great main character. He is willing to be different than his friends and at least try to see Violet’s point of view. It was sweet how he always stood up for her in the early stages of their relationship. But sadly, Titus is always going back and forth with what he believed, which is very similar to real-life teenagers.

This book is a good read. It is unique to say the least… I’ve never read a book quite like this one. This novel is eye-opening and warns that society could very much become like this horrible world depicted in ‘Feed’.

Love or Not.

Falling in love, falling out of love, being admired, being rejected. What a bunch of fun.

It’s the time of year to celebrate love or feel bad about it!  Sometimes it feels like Valentine’s Day is just a plot to separate people from their money.

So let’s not talk about Valentine’s Day with all the guilt and conspicuous consumption! Instead check out one of the many books they library has on all things love and heartbreak.

No love. Friend Love. Paranormal love. Gay love. Zombie Love. Naive Love. Poet Love. All below. Click to order or visit your library!