The Cold Spring Harbor Library has copies of the 2011 summer assignments for the Cold Spring Harbor Junior/Senior High School. You can also find your assignment by visiting the school’s webpage.
To make your life easier, here is a list of the books you may be required to read this summer (check your assignment). Each title is a link to the catalog, where you can a) see what’s on the shelf and b) request a copy.
Ah, Paranormal Romance. If you wander into the Teen Section at the bookstore, you probably see a big display, mostly with a lot of Stephenie Meyer books on display.
So what is a Paranormal Romance novel? Paranormal Romance has a few things going on.
1. There is ROMANCE (cue birdsong and cupids). There is at least one person in love with someone else. Think of Bella and Edward. And then Bella and Edward and Jacob. Love triangle!
2. There is something Other Worldly going on. Are there: vampires, ghosts, mermaids, werewolves, angels, witches? Are any of these characters in love with the main character?
3. Paranormal Romance can include elements of fantasy or science fiction. But really, there needs to be a love story of SOME sort going on.
Twilight– Bella (teenage protagonist) moves to rainy Forks, Washington and soon falls in love with sparkly Edward (vampire).
Paranormalcy– Evie is sixteen years old (teenage protagonist), works for the IPCA, has a faerie for an ex-boyfriend (paranormal element), and soon meets a mysterious young man who has been captured by the IPCA (love interest).
Beastly – Kyle (teenage protagonist) is turned into a hideous beast by a witch (paranormal element). He must fall in love with a girl who truly loves him in order to break the curse (romantic element).
Shiver– Grace (teenage protagonist) has always loved watching the wolves behind her house. Turns out, one of the wolves, Sam, has been watching her and loving her from afar (paranormal element – he’s a werewolf – and romantic element).
Ash– Ash (teenage protagonist) grows up believing in the fairy realm (paranormal element). In this retelling of Cinderella, she must choose between a handsome fairy cursed to love her, or the King’s Huntress, whom she loves (romantic element, and a love triangle at that!).
Huntress– Kaede and Taisin (teenage protagonists) go on an epic journey to the city of the Fairy Queen (paranormal element) in order to restore the balance of nature. Trust me, there is romance in this book.
The Demon Trapper’s Daughter – Riley (teenage protagonist) is an apprentice demon trapper (paranormal element) whose father is killed by a demon. Working together with Beck and her crush Simon (romantic element!!!), she finds out what’s really going on in the demon-trapping world.
A Great and Terrible Beauty – Sixteen year old Gemma (teenage protagonist) moves back to England in 1895, where she discovers her awakening magical powers (paranormal element) along with three of her new friends.
There have been lots of questions of what makes a young adult novel a young adult novel, and what the different genres all mean. Over the next few months, we’ll be exploring tons of genres and subgenres that you can find in the Young Adult/Teen section of the library.
Anyway, what makes a Young Adult novel a Young Adult novel?
1. the protagonist (main character) is a teenager
2. the book is written for and marketed to teenagers (roughly between ages 12 and 20)
3. a theme of the book may be the challenges of adolescence (aka – teenagerhood)
So, here are some classics that are considered Young Adult.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – Holden Caulfield (protagonist) is a teenage boy who has been expelled from numerous boarding schools. He goes off to New York City for three days to find himself.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier – high school freshman Jerry (protagonist, teenager) refuses to participate in his school’s fund raising drive (challenge) and faces devastating consequences.
Forever by Judy Blume – Katherine and Michael (main characters, teenagers) are each others first love. However, what will happen if they go all the way? Is their love meant to last forever, or just for high school? (challenge)
So when you come in this summer to claim Book Bucks, make sure your book is a) pleasure reading and b) actually a Young Adult/teen book!
It’s almost the end of the school year, and to celebrate the balmy days, late nights, and almost-on-vacation-dreams, Teen Services presents the newest additions to the Young Adult section.
Our Teen Advisory Board suggested that we have a movie suggestion box. Until that goes up, we have a survey up that will be open until the end of July. Click here to take survey
Whether you’re going to the prom, or kicking back at home, here are some prom-themed reads from our Young Adult Collection.
Art Geeks and Prom Queens – Alyson Noël. Before Noël wrote the Immortals series, she wrote about ordinary teens in realistic situations! Sixteen-year-old Rio moves to California from New York, and despite being an art geek somehow lands a space in the hip-girl clique, only to discover that popularity doesn’t always lead to happiness.
The Debs – Susan McBride. Alright, technically this is NOT a prom novel, but … debutante balls are a little prom-like. Best friends Laura, Ginger and Mac hope for invitations to be introduced to Houston society as Glass Slipper Debutantes, while Jo-Lynn plots Laura’s downfall.
Derby Girl – Shauna Cross. And since we’re on the page about debutantes … Bliss Cavendar DEFINITELY does not want to be a pageant contestant (or horror of horrors, Miss Blue Bonnet), so she joins the roller derby scene.
My Boyfriend is a Monster: Made for Each Other – Paul D. Storrie. High school students Maria and Tom are immediately attracted to each other, but an envious monster named Hedy will stop at nothing to destroy their romance.
Princess in Pink – Meg Cabot. High school freshman (and Genovian Princess) Mia tries to get her reluctant boyfriend to take her to the prom.
Probably Still Nick Swansen – Virginia Euwer Wolff. Sixteen-year-old learning-disabled Nick struggles to endure a life in which the other kids make fun of him and his date for the prom makes an excuse not to go with him.
Prom Dates from Hell – Rosemary Clement-Moore. And you thought YOUR date was weird. High school senior Maggie would rather die than attend prom, but when a classmate summons a revenge-seeking demon, she has no choice but to get a dress and prepare to face jocks, cheerleaders, and Evil Incarnate itself.
Prom Nights from Hell. Five paranormal prom stories from five young adult authors. All available as an EPUB. Includes stories from Lauren Myracle, Stephenie Meyer, Meg Cabot, Michele Jaffe, and Kim Harrison.
Zombies vs. Unicorns. Check out Libba Bray’s short story, Prom Night. What happens when zombies are intent on ruining your prom night?
Yay! Lots of new books in Teen Services! Also, if you have any (gently used) Young Adult books that you no longer want cluttering your bookcase at home, you can always donate it to the Cold Spring Harbor Library. Email Miss Kate at cshrya@suffolk.lib.ny.us with any questions.
So in case you’ve been living under a rock, our Read a Book, Write a Review program is still going on. If you’re looking to read and review a book none of your peers have perused, check out the following titles (in reverse alphabetical order! Ha!):
In this compilation of dueling stories, which creature wins more? Zombies? Or Unicorns? My favorite short story was Meg Cabot’s contribution, Princess Prettypants, about a unicorn that literally farts rainbows.
Two words: VAMPIRE LUAU. Cue the awesomesauce. My father essentially read the book with me, because I read every other line aloud to him, it was so funny.
Charlie and Fielding star on the Family Network’s hit show, Jenna & Jonah’s How To Be a Rockstar, onscreen and off as two teens in love. Only problem? They hate each others guts. When certain ruin is spelled out for them, will the two team up or tear up?
An exquisite retelling of the Cinderella story,where Ash must choose between the fairy cursed to love her, and the King’s Huntress whom she loves. Absolutely breathtaking. Lo is a gifted writer.
So imagine my utter delight this morning, when going through email, that I found the Ministry of Magic’s website?
Check out Magic is Might – and if you’ve never been, also head over to the Leaky Cauldron. This fan-based site has been up and running for years, and used to be my only source of information, back when J.K. Rowling’s website was just a list of her publishers. (I kid you not).
Also, speaking of Harry Potter, we’ll be showing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 on May 26th. Be there.
