Sixteen year old American Abby Sunderland is abandoning her attempt to sail nonstop around the world. The high school junior from Thousand Oaks, California, is heading towards Cape Town, South Africa, where she will have her 40-foot boat's faulty autopilot replaced. The guidance system is essential in order to keep her 40-foot sail boat on track while she's cat napping. This means the title for youngest person to circumnavigate nonstop around the world solo will go to Jessica Watson, the 16 year old Australian who should complete her trip in May. Once Abby's replaced her faulty navigation system, she will head back to sea, and try to become the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate our planet in a sailboat. You can check out Abby's amazing adventure by reading her blog!

If your interested in learning how to sail, visit our library and check out Richard Creagh-Osborne's classic book This Is Sailing. Another good book to read is Sailing for Dummies, by J.J. and Peter Isler. Both do a great job showing you all the basic moves and tricks of sailing, and have nice illustrations. And if you'd like to take classes in how to sail, the Lake Townsend Yacht Club is teaching lessons as well!

Once Was Lost, by Sara Zarr

In the sleepy little town of Pineview, California, there's a crisis brewing. Fifteen year old Samara Taylor's mother is in court-ordered rehab for her drinking problems, and her father, a local pastor, is having problems dealing with it. "Sam," as everyone calls her, is also having a crisis of faith. As she puts it: "I don't know when God stopped being someone I saw as my true friend, and turned into something I'm mostly confused about." With the summer heat beating down on the town, and with both her home's air conditioning AND her bedroom fan broken, it promises to be a miserable time for Sam.

And then one day, watching the news, she catches part of a local newscast. Something horrible, unimaginable has just happened. Young Jodi Shaw, a young member of her church, has just been abducted!

Zarr does an excellent job creating believable characters and she provides a tense plot line. I thought it was a bit strange to try and weave a romance into the story, but then again it adds a nice spice to her story! ~ Robbie

Are you curious about how investors pick their stocks and mutural funds? Don't miss the Morningstar Investment Research Center training session at the Central Library on Tuesday, May 18th from 4-5:30 pm. It's free, but you do have to register. Contact Martha Larson at T: 373-4559 or martha.larson@greensboro-nc.gov. The workshop is part of the Future Cents financial literacy project for young adults and their parents.

Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical. Edited by Deborah Noyes.

Have you ever been to a circus "sideshow"? It's an odd collection of oddities (both human and otherwise) that will amuse, intrigue, and yes - even shock you. Just the thought of a sideshow immediately brings to my mind images of the bearded lady, the super-strong weight lifter, the contortionist, two-headed snakes, and the always popular sword swallower. They used to be quite an attraction, and a fun part of going to the circus. But the times have changed and these freak shows aren’t so popular. Yet their memories still live on . . . .

Sideshow: Teen Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical, edited by Deborah Noyes, is a wonderful collection of ten original short tales of intrigue and suspense by a fun collection of writers. All the stories share a common bond: the freaks, magic, oddities, and everything else you might encounter in a “show.” For example "The Bread Box", by Cecil Castellucci, is a delightful story about a girl visiting her great-aunt Eden for the first time while her parents are out of town. Pressed into making bread with her aunt, the girl discovers the family secret: the starter for the bread (the part with the yeast) is really alive, and has been with the family since 1846 in Oregon! In "Those Psychics on TV", by Vivian Vande Velde, a boy talks his mother into visiting a psychic to prove that their all phonies. But are they really fakes????

I liked this eclectic collection of stories; I hope you do to!

Check out our fun new teen programs in May at the Greensboro Public Library!

Teen Art Studio - Painting with Jean Muson. Teens age 11 to
19 can learn about painting with acrylics. Supplies provided,
registration required. If you want to share a technique or
volunteer as a guest artist, contact Kelly Prewett at 373-2925.
Tue., May 4 and Tue., May 18 from 6:30 - 8 pm at the Hemphill Branch.

Brave New Voices - Watch as 45 teams of teenage ‘slam
poets’ from Honolulu to Philadelphia journey to compete in
the National Slam Poetry Championship. Narrated by Queen
Latifah. Sat., May 1 from noon - 1 pm. McGirt-Horton Branch.

Teen Game Night - Join us for board games, card games,
and fun. Thursdays in May from 7 - 8:30 pm. Vance Chavis Branch.

Haitian Heritage Month - This month-long celebration honors
Haitian General Toussaint L’ Overture, who helped Haiti
gain its independence in 1803. Check out books and learn
more about this important historical event. McGirt-Horton Branch

Teen Movie Night: Iron Man - Rated PG-13. Thu., May 6
from 6:45 - 8:50 pm. Vance Chavis

Third Thursdays - This series of workshops and activities
provides city youth with the tools necessary for positive
decision-making, personal growth, and community involvement.
Guest speakers, teen discussion sessions, and refreshments.
Intended for teens ages 11-18. This event is FREE,
however we encourage pre-registration: 373-5810. Thu., May
Visit www.greensborolibrary.org for tutors who can help with 20 from 6:30 - 8 pm. McGirt-Horton Branch.

There IS light at the end of the tunnel for you. High school won't last forever, and then there will be new adventures to challenge you. But really, is that all there is to it? Take those last few exams, grab your diploma and make a sprint for the school door? Authors Steven Jenkins and Erika Stalder start their new book 97 Things to do Before You Finish High School with this bold statement: "As a teenager, you have the capacity to learn anything you want to at a speed much faster than people who are only five years older, and your curiosity and insightfulness are at an all-time high." Without preaching they simply lay out things you should try BEFORE graduating. Each idea comes with a simple explanation about why it's important to try doing it, and what you'll gain from the experience.


So what do Jenkins and Stalder suggest for things for you to do before graduating from high school? Here's just a sampling:

• Research your family tree! Get connected to your family's roots by discovering how your family got to be where it is today.


• Watch the sunrise! Get up early and sneak out to enjoy the sun as it first peeks around the horizon.


• Detox you body! Clean your body and mind of unwanted chemicals that might be slowing you down.


• Feed the needy! Help those in your community who are down on their luck


• Learn a martial art! It will sharpen your mind and body.

So are you up for a personal challenge? Check "97 Things to do Before You Finish High School" out and try and few suggestions out!