After three years and hundreds of books reviews, it is time for me to bring to a close Cool Books For Teens. It's been fun, and I've enjoyed sharing new teen books and library events with you. But there are new and more popular ways now for teens to share information, news & chat, and it's time for our library to explore them! Thank you for being a faithful reader. And keep an eye out for new teen resources the Greensboro Public Library will be unveiling in the months to come. Have a great summer!

Robbie:-)

Teen Events in July at the Greensboro Public Library

Teen Events in July at the Greensboro Public Library

Teen Art Studio: Summer Volunteers - Help prepare art projects for younger children every Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8 pm. Training and registration required: 373-2925. Hemphill Branch Library
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - Rated PG 13, 119 minutes. Tue., July 5 from 3 - 5:30 pm. Benjamin Branch Library
Gathering of Old Men - Rated PG, 94 minutes. Wed., July 6 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch Library
Raiders of the Lost Ark - Join Indiana Jones on his daring adventures around the world. Rated PG, 115 minutes. Thu., July 7 from 7 - 8:55 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
Movie: Sounder - Fri., July 8 from 3 - 5:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
Movie: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mon., July 11 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
Movie: Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull - PG 13, 122 minutes. Tue., July 12 from 3 - 5:05 pm. Benjamin Branch
Movie: Jane Eyre - Rated PG, 116 minutes. Wed., July 13 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch
Junior Herpetologist - See a variety of amphibians and reptiles and learn how to protect their habitats. Register: 373-2923. Thu., July 14 from 10 am - noon. Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch
Flower Power - Join us for brunch and planting flowers and vegetables in the Community Garden. Plus, take a planting home. Register: 373-2925. Sat., July 16 from 10 - 11:30 am. Hemphill Branch
Movie: Glory - Mon., July 18 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
Movie: George Orwell’s 1984 - Unrated, 113 minutes. Thu., July 21 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch
Movie: Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Rated PG-13, 124 minutes. Thu., July 21 from 6:30 - 8:35 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
Movie: Their Eyes Were Watching God - Rated TV-14, 113 minutes. Thu., July 28 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch.

Teen programs in June at the Greensboro Public Library!

You Are Here Game Days! - Video game free play on XBOX 360. Wed., June 15 from 3:30 - 6 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
Teen Poetry Exchange - Create poetry and exchange creations with local senior citizens. Call 373-5838 to register. Wed., June 8 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
Teen Game Night - Play board and card games. Thu., June 2 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
Flower Power - Plant flowers and vegetables in our garden and take a planting home. Register: 373-2925. Sat., June 4 from 10 - 11:30 am. Hemphill Branch
Teen Art Studio: Summer Volunteers - Help prepare art projects for younger children every Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8 pm. Training and registration required: 373-2925. Hemphill Branch
Teen Poetry Exchange - Intergenerational project in which teens and seniors exchange poetic creations. Wed., June 8 at 7 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
Teen Movie Night: I am Number Four - Rated PG-13. Thu., June 9 at 7 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
XBOX Fever! - 10 am - noon, Madden; noon - 2 pm, NBA 2K10; 2 - 4 pm, Fight Night Round 4; 4 - 5:30 pm, Def Jam Rapstar. Sat., June 11 from 10 am - 5:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
You Are Here, Can You Make It Through Life’s Maze? - Three week chat session will focus on helping teens identify and deal with obstacles that could keep them from being a success. Mon., June 13, June 20 and June 27 from 6:30 - 8 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
Summer Reading Films: The Lord of the Flies – From 1963, unrated. Thu., June 16 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch
You Are Here Game Days! - Dominos, Pictureka, Checkers, and UNO Tournaments! Fri., June 17 from 10 am - 1:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
You Are Here Game Days! - Fight Night Round 4 on XBOX 360. Wed., June 22 from 10 am - 1:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
Walking Across Egypt - PG-13. Thu., June 23 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch
Junior Ornithologist - Learn bird identification and more. For rising 5th - 9th grade. Thu., June 23 from 10 am - noon. Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch
Teen Game Night - Enjoy PlayStation, board games, and refreshments! Thu., June 23 at 7 pm. Vance Chavis Branch
You Are Here Games Day! - Operation and Monopoly! Fri., June 24 from 10 am - 1:30 pm. McGirt Horton Branch
The Money Race Competition - Leadership skills, team building, community service and much more. Winning team will be eligible to win a Netbook! Mon., June 27 from 9 am - 5 pm. Central Library
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Rated PG. Tue., June 28 from 3 - 5:30 pm. Benjamin Branch Library
Animal Farm - Rated PG. Thu., June 30 from 3 - 5 pm. Hemphill Branch
Junior Lepidopterist - Rising 5th - 9th graders learn to identify and attract butterflies. Thu., June 30 from 10 am - noon. Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, by Lish McBride.

Samhain LaCroix, better known as Sam by his friends, is an easy going college dropout trying to make a living working as a fry cook at Plumpys, a local restaurant. That is until the day a stranger dress in expensive suit and an ice cold stare confronts him because Sam hadn't asked permission of the "Council" to move. Sam doesn't know what the heck he's talking about! Shortly after that Sam is confronted by a big muscular guy in Plumpy's parking lot who starts tosses Sam around and beating the hell out of him. Only quick action by his friends manages to save him. Bruised, with his back torn up, Sam makes his way home and collapses. When he wakes in the morning he discovers a big brown bag on his front doorstep containing his friend Brooke's severed head! For a moment there was silence in the room, then she says "Ow, cut it out, you guys!"

And thus begins the magical adventure of Sam as he races to figure out why the mysterious man is out to get him, why one of his best friends was killed (yet somehow is still alive!), and why his mother (who turns out to be a sort of modern-day witch!) has been hiding a secret about his true powers! You see Sam, as it turns out, is a bit of a necromancer, powerful magical people who can raise the dead. Problem is, he can't seem to get his powers to work!

I liked Hold Me Closer, Necromancer from the very first page. Sam's a likable guy, his friends are true & real, and the female werewolf he gets caged with is both appealing AND scary. This is a good quirky romp that collides the modern world with one of magic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ~ Robbie

FYI: Cool library programs coming up in May:

• Young Leaders Forum - Six young leaders from Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Romania and the Slovak Republic are coming to Greensboro for a candid, informal discussion about life and politics in the European Union and U.S. They are participants in the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Mon., May 9 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Central Library



• Teen Game Night - Enjoy your favorite games! Thu., May 5 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Vance Chavis Branch



• Etiquette 101 - Celebrate National Etiquette Week and learn some easy tips to become more courteous, civil, and respectful to others. Tue., May 10 from 6 - 7 pm. McGirt Horton Branch



• Teen Poetry Exchange - Create poetry and exchange creations with local senior citizens. Call 373-5838 to register. Wed., May 11 and May 25 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Vance Chavis Branch



• Teen Movie Night: Howl’s Moving Castle - Rated PG. Thu., May 12 from 6:45 - 8:45 pm. Vance Chavis Branch



• Teen Workshop on Summer Jobs & Volunteering - Sat., May 14 from 1 - 3 pm. Central Library



• Teen Gaming - Join the fun and beat the heat playing cool video, card and board games plus light refreshments. Sat., May 14 from 2 –5 pm. McGirt Horton Branch



• Teen Game Night - Join us for your favorite games! Thu., May 19 from 7 - 8:30 pm. Vance Chavis Branch



• Mellow Monday - Open mic program for teens interested in sharing their poetry, rhymes, songs and stories. Mon., May 23 from 5:30 - 7 pm. McGirt Horton Branch

Infinite Days, by Rebecca Maizel

Tired of endless, cold nights searching for human prey, 592 year old queen vampire Lenah Beaudonte desires only to become human once again. Her lover, Rhode, after many years of search, finally uncovers ancient rituals that will bring her back into the world of the living. But these rituals have a price to be paid - Rhode's life.

Lenah awakes from a 100 year hibernation lying naked on old oak wood floor, bathed in sunlight, her lover Rhodes standing by to welcome her back into the world of the living. He informs her that to live in modern times she needs to prepare herself - and that means a good education. He has enrolled Lenah, who is now once again 16, into Wickham Boarding School in New England. In the short time before the sun casts the first light of morning they spend their last precious moments together. Then Rhode turns to dust, payment for delivering Lenah back into the world of the living.

As if going back to school, getting a new boyfriend, socializing and learning to how to drive a car isn’t hard enough, Lenah has a bigger worry - she has to keep her eyes out her old coven of vampires, who she knows will eventually figure out her deception and come hunting for her!

This story is rich with good characters, a decent plot, and vividly described scenes. It is the first novel by Rebecca Maizel, a teacher at a community college in Rhode Island.

A Boy Called Twister, by Anne Schraff

Kevin's new to Tubman High School, having just moved to California from Texas after his mother died. But he quickly starts to make friends, especially when he joins the track team and everyone realizing he can really runs fast! Plus it certainly doesn't hurt that Kevin's a genuinely nice, friendly, good-looking.

But along with the new friends he's making, Kevin also makes a new enemy - Marco, the school bully. Now Kevin has to be on guard to watch out for him and his gang. Kevin's not shy - he can stand up for himself just fine - but he has to watch his temper. Back in Texas he had gotten into a bad fight with the school bully, and ended up almost choking the boy to death!

This cautionary tale of friendship, family, school and bullying will speak to everyone. And it's a quick read too! The plot's fairly predicatable, but it doesn't hurt the strength of the story ~ Robbie:-)