Slide by Jill Hathaway

I am so excited that Slide by Jill Hathaway was released into the wild this week.  Slide is an awesome debut mystery from an Iowa author, who we will be coming to visit the Cedar Rapids Public Library in July!

Slide is narrated by Vee Bell, a high school student with the unique ability to slide into others and see through their eyes.  When she witnesses a murder, she goes full on Veronica Mars and starts to investigate with the help of her power to slide.  I stayed up all night finishing this book – couldn’t put it down from the moment I started.  Part mystery, it also combines elements of fantasy with realistic dialogue/characters and genuinely surprised me at the end.  I loved Vee as she brought to mind my favorite kind of detective – teen girls ala Nancy Drew.  I’ve been looking for something to fill my Veronica Mars void since I finished the DVDs and Slide was perfect – but left me wanting more!  Luckily for all of us, Jill Hathaway is writing a sequel – so be on the lookout for that in the future.

Get in line for your copy through our catalog now – read it before the author comes in July, and stop in the YA area of the library to get a Slide bookmark signed by Jill Hathaway – get one before they are gone!

Jill is also hosting an awesome iPod + book giveaway on her blog – so check that out and send her a picture of where you read at to be entered to win.

NaNoWriMo Starts Today!

What is NaNoWriMo, you ask? It stands for National Novel Writing Month and it means that you could be an author by the end of November.  The goal is to write a 50,000 word or 175 page novel by November 30th at midnight.  If you love to write, this is an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself to finish a book!  Think 50,000 is waaay too much on top of all your homework, job, practices, and time spent at the library?  The Young Writer’s Program allows you to set your own word count here and decide how much you’d like to write.

If you’d like company while you write, you can stop by the Cedar Rapids Public Library at Westdale Mall on Wednesday nights from 5:30-8:30 to Come Write In and write with fellow area writers.  Westdale not your cup of tea?  The Cedar Rapids area has plenty of other places, dates, and times to Come Write In, so check them out here and get writing!

Bike Repair Workshop with CR Tool Library

Looking for something fun AND useful to do next week? The Matthew Tool Library is hosting an upcoming Bicycle Repair Workshop on Tuesday, June 21st from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  It is open to all middle and high school students, and the cost is $12.  Call 491-4466 to register, or email tools@hub25.org to register.  The class will be held at McKinnon’s Squire Barber Shop at 1601 Ellis Blvd NW.  Give the Tool Library a call at 491-4466 with any questions you may have.

TAG Meeting Minutes

Via Brainless Tales

TAG Meeting Minutes
6/14/11
5:00-6:00 p.m.
CRPL Sendak Room

Members present: Ryan, Chloe, Kayla, Sarah, Savannah, Ameena, Alea, Bailey, Grant, Paige, Grace, Bianca, Tanner, Mary Beth, and Maddie.

Click more to read the rest of the meeting minutes

Teen Summer Reading Starts Today!

Cedar Rapids schools still have a day and a half left, but you can sign up for the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s 2011 Teen Summer Reading Program starting TODAY!  At the Westdale Mall, there is a table behind the new Young Adult books with sign up information and reading logs.  I highly suggest you join the Summer Reading Program, because:

Maddie during Summer Reading

1)  It is free!  And if you are reading this, you are probably already reading anyways!  Sometimes I feel like the crazy free money guy when I say this but…IT’S FREE!  What else can you say that about?!

All the books awaiting you this summer

2)  You get prizes, just for reading three books.   This includes a brand new paperback book from my magical cart full of paperbacks, some of which I keep taking home and reading because they are so good.  Plus, you are entered to win many, many more exciting prizes.

My Summer Reading Sweater

3)  The library is so well air conditioned, I am wearing a cardigan sweater.  It is only going to get hotter this summer, so stop by to relax and beat the Iowa heat.

There are many more reasons to join the Summer Reading Program, which lasts from June 1st-July 31st, but you will have to make your way to our Downtown branch (221 3rd St. SE) or the Westdale Mall location for the full Summer Reading experience.  You can also find more information and a list of all of our programs for teens HERE.

Join the Teen Advisory Group @ CRPL!

The Cedar Rapids Public Library wants YOU to be a part of the library’s programs and collections for teens! 7th-12th graders who are interested in adding their voice to teen programs at the library are invited to be a part of this new group. The Teen Advisory Group (TAG) will meet once a month to create programs, lend a voice, discuss books, movies, games, and music, and help make a difference at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. TAG members will also help plan what the NEW library downtown will be – so if you want to make it a place for teens in the community, join TAG and let your voice be heard!

You can fill out an application online here, or stop by the YA section of the Westdale Mall library in upcoming weeks to pick up an application, and return to any of the desks.

Questions?  Feel free to comment on this post or email me at armstrongm(at) crlibrary(dot)org .