Essay Writing Contest for Teens in Grades 6-12
Essay Writing Contest for Teens in Grades 6-12
Take a look at Todd Aaron Jensen’s book On Gratitude, for ideas and guidelines.
Write a 500-word essay "On Gratitude." 
Burbank Public Library Young Adult Services presents a Burbank TEEN Reads Contest!
Burbank Public Library Young Adult Services presents a Burbank TEEN Reads Contest!
Burbank Public Library Young Adult Services presents a
The Burbank Public Library Young Adult Services Present
Come meet Cy Tymony, the author of "Sneaky Green Uses for Everyday Things" on Thursday, April 2 @7:00 PM at the Buena Vista Branch Library.The book contains sneaky things we can do to go green and includes a helpful energy reduction section that is full of tips and resources, making energy conservation easy. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author!
The Burbank Public Library High School Book Club selection for March tied into our “green” theme in a big way: We read The Family Tree, by Sheri S. Tepper. It’s a science fiction saga of present and future, incorporating many themes germane to a discussion about the impact of our actions on the earth and our legacy. (See previous post, “Teen Book Clubs Read Green,” from 3 March 2009 for a synopsis.) Although it was a difficult book for some to get through, due to the multiplicity of characters, times and places, we were all enthralled by the idea of trees and plants taking their survival into their own “hands” by deciding to limit how and where people are allowed to live, travel, and even add to the population! Likewise the transformation of thought about the potential of animals to occupy a niche in the world that goes beyond man’s companion, servant or dinner provoked some lively discussion.
The Middle School Book Club’s ecologically minded choice, The Secret Under My Skin, by Janet McNaughton, was a hit with three-quarters of the club and a miss with the rest, but received an overall rating higher than Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, which is praise indeed coming from the Edward-and-Bella-obsessed! The book’s fans particularly liked its narrative style: The story is told without omniscience by its protagonist, so that the reader learns everything along with Blay Raytee instead of having foreknowledge about any of the people or events of her story. They enjoyed a picture of the future that wasn’t either technology-obsessed or technology-deprived, and several of them absorbed from this book that the future is up to them and it is their obligation to study how to be of use.
Stayed tuned for photographs!
From Melissa E.
In honor of the “green” theme for Burbank Reads in March, the Teen Book Clubs have each chosen a novel with an ecological bent.
The High School Book Club, which will meet on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m., is reading The Family Tree, by acclaimed science fiction writer Sheri S. Tepper. Police officer Dora 
Henry must investigate the bizarre, seemingly unrelated murders of three geneticists. But she has some big distractions from her work that she must address, among them the fact that Nature seems to be taking over the neighborhood! Trees are springing up everywhere, blocking off the streets, kidnapping unwanted babies, and generally acting like they have both a brain and a plan. Meanwhile, from far in the future, an odd band of comrades follows an ancient prophecy into their past (which happens to be Dora’s present) to stop the extinction of their species. The story is hilarious at moments, but also earnest in its warnings about the need to take our ecological future seriously by acting on it today.
will read The Secret Under My Skin, by Janet McNaughton. In the year 2368, Blay Raytee is an orphan living in a state-run work camp, spending her days excavating usable items from a garbage dump. The government teaches the orphans that technology users are evil and the world is a dangerous place, and the children are afraid to go outside without protective clothing. Everything changes when Blay is chosen by a “bio-indicator” (a sort of canary in the mine who monitors environmental toxin levels for her community) to help with her studies. Blay discovers that much of what she has learned about science, technology and the world is a lie…including her own identity. The book celebrates the impact that one person can make, while postulating a believable future we would be wise to avoid.
The High School Book Club met on 4/10 at Buena Vista to discuss Rocket Boys by Homer J. Hickam as part of our Burbank Reads celebration. The teens enjoyed eating Moonpies and posing for this picture. Many of them also enjoyed watching October Sky (the film) on their own. We also read Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz and The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Our next meeting (last one for the school year) is on 5/15 at Buena Vista 6:30 pm. We will be reading Sabriel by Garth Nix and Alanna by Tamora Pierce.
Burbank Public Library Young Adult Services Presents...
Tales of Paranormal Investigation with James Underdown, Executive Director of Center for Inquiry West
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 7:00 PM
Buena Vista Branch Library
300 N. Buena Vista St.
818-238-5620
UFOs, Aliens, Crop Circles...are they for real? YES OR NO?
James Underdown will share real-life cases and tales of the paranormal. Help Mr. Underdown debunk myths, debate, and share your stories!
Everyone is welcome!
Mr. Underdown is an international spokesperson for the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), and has appeared on many television shows including History's Mysteries, Oprah, Hannity and Colmes, Penn and Teller's Proof Positive, as well as scores of radio shows.
The Teen Book Club will be meeting to discuss "Rocket Boys" by Homer Hickam, Jr.
The meeting will be held -
Thursday, April 10
6:30 PM
Storytime room
Buena Vista Branch Library
300 N. Buena Vista St.
Psst...I hear that a special Rocket Boys related refreshment will be offered!
High School students at both Burbank High School and John Burroughs High School have some upcoming school events tied into Burbank READS and Rocket Boys.
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