Teen Blog

Check out this recent PBS NewsHour interview with Sherman Alexie, author of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and War Dances.

Visit the PBS NewsHour web site to watch more videos of Sherman and to listen to him read several of his poems.

Ghost stories abound in our area. From a lovelorn lass at a colonial mansion to a Virginia patriot fallen on hard times to soldiers for whom the battle goes on, our region is rife with spirits of all sorts. This fall, take time for a tour of the Ghosts of Fredericksburg.

Rather than being based on an ancient legend, religious concept, or historical figure, the Creature's origin is solely literary in nature, being confined to one book. Despite this, public perception of him has changed greatly since the publication of the original novel, leading to wildly divergent styles and plotlines in various film adaptations.

The Young Adult Library Services Association has just announced this year's Teens' Top Ten. Over 11,000 teens voted online for their favorites from August 24 through September 18. And the winners are ...

1. Paper Towns by John Green
2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
5. Identical by Ellen Hopkins
6. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
7. Wake by Lisa McMann
8. Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Teen Read Week is all about reading for fun, so take a break from homework by checking out one of these great books.

The image of a cursed soul doomed to become a werewolf at the rising of a full moon is one of the most iconic concepts in horror. Unlike Dracula or the Mummy, the notion of a “wolf man” or “werewolf” was not cemented by one single actor, author, book, or horror series. It is instead a truly ancient concept dating back to the pre-literate sagas and legends told by Europeans centuries ago.

Do you love Japanese anime? Join the club! Anime enthusiasts meet at the Salem Church Library every month on the 1st Monday, 6:30-8:00PM at the Salem Church Library. Watch anime episodes, show off your anime-inspired artwork, cosplay your favorite characters, win door prizes and hang out with lots of like-minded fans. See you there!

"It comes to life!"
Wrapped in the mysteries of the ages, mummies have inspired stories of romance and suspense both in the pages of books and on the big screen. In this installment of a continuing series on famous movie monsters, John Gaines traces their evolution from honored kings to shambling horrors.

Come vote for your favorite of the 3 pumpkins that library staff members decorated. There's "Some Pig," a tie in with Charlotte's Web, a Day of the Dead jack-o-lantern, and a howdy partner cowboy pumpkin. This is just one of the many fun things you can do @ your local library.

This month, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring October 20th to be the National Day on Writing. The National Writing Day Project is sponsored by NCTE--National Council of Teachers of English. Check out their site for the National Gallery of Writing where you can submit stories, poems, recipes, emails, blogs, audio, video, and artwork. The gallery will open to the world on October 20 so now is the time to get going. The site features an online tutorial to aid you when making your submissions.

October 5-30

The Library of Virginia, with support from Capital One, is pleased to honor eight distinguished Virginians as African American Trailblazers for their contributions to the state and nation. Through education, advocacy, entertainment, or armed rebellion, these individuals demonstrate how African Americans have actively campaigned for better lives for themselves and their people.

The honorees are Dangerfield Newby, Evelyn Butts, Amaza Meredith, Claudia Whitworth, Oliver White Hill, John Cephas, Edna Lewis, and Leland Melvin. Find out more about each trailblazer by visiting the Library of Virginia web site.