Books to Borrow from Your Teen

“If you’re not reading young-adult novels, you should be – they’re smart sharp, fast-paced novels.”

Sara Vilkomerson -Senior Writer, Entertainment Weekly

The Librarians at the Syosset Public Library enjoy reading Young Adult novels. Here are some of the most recently published books that we recommend:

The Future Of Us  by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

It’s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on–and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

 

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Hazel, a stage IV thyroid cancer patient, has accepted her terminal diagnosis until a chance meeting with a boy at cancer support group forces her to reexamine her perspective on love, loss, and life.

 

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Sixteen-year-old Min Green writes a letter to Ed Slaterton in which she breaks up with him, documenting their relationship and how items in the accompanying box, from bottle caps to a cookbook, foretell the end.

 

 

Legend by Marie Lu

In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, fifteen-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy.

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomoly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

- posted by Evelyn, Readers’ Services

50/50 

(R)  Drama

Two best friends’ lives change when one of them is diagnosed with cancer. Inspired by personal experiences, an original story about friendship, love, survival, and finding humor in unlikely places.

 

 

 

REAL STEEL

(PG-13) Action

Charlie Kenton is a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max to build and train a championship contender.

 

 

FINAL DESTINATION 5  

(R) Horror

During the bus ride to a corporate retreat, Sam has a premonition in which he and most of his friends, as well as numerous others, die in a horrific bridge collapse. When his vision ends, events begin to mirror what he saw, and he frantically ushers as many of his colleagues, including his friend, Peter, and girlfriend, Molly, away from the disaster before Death can claim them.

 

 

THE WHISTLEBLOWER

(R) Drama

When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in postwar Bosnia, she discovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. Risking her own life to save the lives of others, she uncovers an international conspiracy that is determined to stop her, no matter the cost. With masterful acting and a heart-racing plot, an acclaimed film inspired by actual events.

- posted by Ralph, Media Services

Nat’l Book Critics Circle Announces Nominees for 2011

The finalists for the National Book Critics Circle book awards for the publishing year 2011 were announced on Saturday, January 23, 2012.  The categories are Fiction, Non-Fiction, Autobiography, Biography, Criticism and Poetry.  The Fiction nominees are

Teju Cole – Open City

Feeling adrift after ending a relationship, Julius, a young Nigerian doctor living in New York, takes long walks through the city while listening to the stories of fellow immigrants until a shattering truth is revealed.

Jeffrey Eugenides – The Marriage Plot

Madeleine Hanna breaks out of her straight-and-narrow mold when she falls in love with charismatic loner Leonard Bankhead, while at the same time an old friend of hers resurfaces, obsessed with the idea that Madeleine is his destiny.

Alan Hollinghurst – The Stranger’s Child

Embraced by the family of his Cambridge schoolmate, Cecil Valance writes an inspiring poem in an autograph album that becomes a staple of every English classroom after he is killed during World War I.

Edith Pearlman – Binocular Vision

Presents a collection of short stories that focus on the trials and tribulations of a group of Northeasterners.

Dana Spiotta – Stone Arabia

Sharing a close bond that supersedes other relationships, Nic, a fiercely reclusive musician; and Denise, his dedicated sister and solitary audience member, become increasingly isolated in the wake of Nic’s obsessive work, a situation that grows vulnerable as the siblings age.

The awards finalists in the other categories can be seen at the National Book Critics Circle’s blog.  The winners will be announced on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

(All book descriptions are from the respective publishers.)

- posted by Sonia, Readers’ Services

20-Something Title Swap!

Please join us as we discuss our favorite books! You tell us your favorites, we’ll tell you ours. Together we’ll compile a list and you’ll have great titles to read throughout the cold Winter months!

Monday, January 30th  at 7PM  

Meeting Room A on the Lower Level

With 20-Something Librarians

Jackie Ranaldo and Jessikah Chautin

This program is open to any 20-something looking for a great book discussion group. No registration is required and the program is free. Non-Syosset residents are welcome. Please call 516-921-7161 x 239 for details.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Check out our Facebook page for upcoming events and great suggestions for your next read:

Syosset Public Library 20-Something Book Club

- Posted by Jackie, Readers’ Services

New in DVD

Abduction

(PG-13) Action

After uncovering a deadly lie, Nathan is propelled on a lethal, no-holds-barred mission to learn the truth. Aided by a  family friend, Nathan’s hunt for the facts pits him against ruthless assassins and questionable allies.

The Ides of March

(R) Drama

During the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, an up-and-coming campaign press secretary finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the presidency.

- posted by Ralph, Media Services

Monthly Book Club & Author Visit

The Lost Wife

by

Alyson Richman

with  Jackie Ranaldo, Head of Readers Services

Tuesday, January 24 at 1 PM and 7:30 PM

“During the last moments of calm in prewar Prague, Lenka, a young art student, and Josef, who is studying medicine, fall in love. With the promise of a better future, they marry–only to have their dreams shattered by the imminent Nazi invasion. Like so many others, they are torn apart by the currents of war.”

Alyson Richman the author of “The Lost Wife” will be joining us to discuss her book on

Friday, February 3, at 2 PM

in the Theater.

Copies of the book will be sold by the Friends of the Library at the event.

- posted by Sonia, Readers’ Services

New in DVD

MONEYBALL

(PG-13) Drama

The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

KILLER ELITE

(R) Action

When two of the world’s most elite operatives, Danny, a retired contract killer, and Hunter, his longtime mentor, go up against the cunning leader of a secret military society, their hunt takes them around the globe, from Australia to Paris, London, and the Middle East. As the stakes rise along with the body count, Danny and Hunter are soon plunged into an action-packed game of cat and mouse where no one is what they seem.

THERE BE DRAGONS

(PG-13)  Drama

When journalist Robert Torres is assigned to write a book about Josemaria Escriva, the controversial founder of Opus Dei, he hopes it will bring him closer to his father, Escriva’s childhood friend. As Torres uncovers more about his father’s past, he learns dark secrets that will change his world forever.

WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?

(R)  Comedy

The outrageously funny comedy that asks: can nineteen wrongs make Mr. Right? When Ally Darling reads an article that leads her to believe she’s going to be alone forever, she begins a wild search to find the best ‘ex’ of her life. But Ally’s quest to reconnect with her former lovers goes hilariously awry, from a puppeteer who’s more wooden than his puppet to a gynecologist with a ‘spotty’ memory. Through it all, Ally might just find the man of her dreams in the last place she ever expected.

-posted by Ralph, Readers’ Services

National Film Registry

Each year the Library of Congress chooses 25 films to the National Film Registry. These films are preserved for posterity because of their “cultural, aesthetic or historic value.”

The most recent choices include classic films, documentaries, animation and experimental motion pictures. Syosset library owns a number of these honored films: Bambi (1942), Forrest Gump (1994), Hester Street (1995), The Kid (Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 classic), Norma Rae (1979), War of the Worlds (1953) and Stand and Deliver (1991).

This year the public nominated more than 2200 films!  These nominated films were reviewed by the film curators of the Library and the members of the NFPB and the final 25 were chosen.

You can check the list of all the films that have been named to the National Film registry since 1989. The list is searchable by title, release year and year added to the registry. You can also check the names of personnel involved with the films. Intrigued? You can get involved in the selection of films for the 2012 registry by nominating up to 50 titles by email or regular mail.

The films must be at least 10 years old. Can’t think of a title?  Here’s a list of well known but not yet selected films  to help you get started.

How could they have skipped Return of the Jedi?

- posted by Brenda, Reference Services