Movie and Sundaes - January 29 5pm

Make your own ice cream sundae and enjoy the hit movie Whip It, featuring Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore. The film is rated PG-13, you MUST be 13 or over to attend this program. Sign-up is required, the program is free.

CR@SH - January 8th

Our first CR@SH of the New Year will feature DJ HERO ON THE BIG SCREEN! Plus some very special surprises to keep you entertained. If DJ Hero isn't your thing, we'll have plenty of other video games to play, or bring your own games. Just make sure they are not rated M. The library is not responsible for your stuff, so make sure you keep tabs on it. We'll have lots of snacks too. For teens in grades 7-12. Free, no sign-up required!!!

January 8th
5:30-7:30

Program - Marvelous Manicures

Marvelous Manicures
Thursday, November 12
4:30-6:00
Miss Kathy will show you the proper technique for doing your own manicure. Get your free nail kit to take home with you too. Class limited to 15, please sign up at the front desk.

Program - Bead It!

Friday, Dec. 18th 4:30pm
Create your own amazing jewelry using beads & wire. Keep them for yourself or give as gifts this holiday season. Free, but space is limited. Sign-up at the front desk. For teens in grades 7-12

Program - CR@SH

Cr@sh
November 13th 5:30-7:30
This month we will feature the game Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games for Wii on the big screen. Feel free to bring your system and your extra controllers, or just use ours. Please make sure games are not rated M, please, and be willing to share with the group. Teens in grades 7-12 are welcome to join in the fun!

There will be no CR@SH in December so make sure to come on down on Friday, November 13th. See you again in January!!

Book Review - Messed Up by Janet Nichols Lynch

R.D. is a a teacher's worst nightmare. He is repeating the eighth grade. On the very first day of school, he winds up in the principal's office, after trying to break up a fight between two girls in rival gangs. Of course, no one believes that R.D. was doing the RIGHT thing for once, and he is suspended. R.D. has had it rough, so it's easy to understand why he is having such a hard time in school. His mother had him when she was just a kid, and now she is serving out a sentence in a California prison. He lives with his grandmother and her boyfriend Earl. That is, until his grandma decides to dump old Earl and hops in the cab of her new boyfriend's truck, leaving R.D. behind. R.D. is happy to stay with Earl, but can't help feeling abandoned. And one afternoon, R.D. comes home to find Earl dead, and he must decided what to do. He knows that he will be sent to live in a foster home if anyone finds out he is home alone. He is terrified, and must make some very difficult decisions about his future.

R.D. is a wonderful character, full of humor and heart. He stumbles and struggles, and makes some poor choices, but through it all he remains true to himself. I hope this author continues to write more stories like this!

Book Review - Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick

If you have read any of Patricia McCormick's other books, like Cut or Sold, you know that she is a fantastic writer that tackles difficult topics. Purple Heart is no different. The story is about a young man named Matt who is stationed in Iraq when he is seriously injured during a mission. He is in a military hospital, trying to figure out what happened to him, and freaking out that he will be forever damaged by his traumatic brain injury. He is haunted by dreams of a young Iraqi boy named Ali, who often played soccer near where Matt's unit patrolled, and Matt can't shake the feeling that he was in some way responsible for his death. Above all else, Matt wants to be back fighting for his country with his boys, and it is loyalty to his friends that is most striking in this story. Matt's story gives us a brief glimpse into the messy and painful consequences of war.

Celebrate Teen Read Week

Read beyond reality @ your library!
Teen Read Week is celebrated every year, and it's time to read for the fun of it! This year's theme is Read Beyond Reality, and you are encouraged to read all sorts of great books that are out of this world. Fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and more.

Get ready to start the celebration at our Open House, Sunday October 4th from 1-5. We will be raffling off a prize package that includes three great books and one DVD, all with the "out of this world" theme. All you have to do to win is come on down to the library, vote for your favorite book of 2008 and you will be entered to win. Westbury and Carle Place teens in grades 7-12 are eligible. There will be also be fun events and entertainment for the whole family all day long.

Hope to see you there!

Program - CR@SH

Our next CR@SH will be October 23rd at 5:30. We will have TWO featured games on the big screen- Boom Blox Bash Party and Singstar, each for one hour. Plus all the treats you love and more video game action. Be sure to bring your extra controllers, games or systems if you want to hook them up. No M rated games, and you are responsible for your own equipment.

October 23rd 5:30-7:30
For teens in grades 7-12
no sign up required.

Day of the Dead - Decorate a Sugar Skull

Thu, October 29, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Decorate skulls made from sugar in celebration of the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead. No, you cannot eat the sugar skull. It wouldn't taste very good, trust me. That is why we will have lots of other tasty treats for you to enjoy! Free, please sign up at the front desk.

Program - CR@SH

Our next CR@SH will be Friday, September 11th at 5:30pm. Video games, snacks and fun! The feature game is Wii Sports Resort. Gamecubes will be in the back, feel free to bring your own games and controllers, nothing M rated please.

Book Review - The Treasure Map of Boys : Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart

This is the third book in the Ruby Oliver series, and if you enjoyed the other two books, you will love this as well. In the latest installment, Ruby is still dealing with being ostracized by her old group of friends for her rumored promiscuous behavior with a number of boys in her private school, Tate Prep. Luckily, she has Megan and Nora by her side. That is until Nora starts making it clear that she has a crush on Noel, and Ruby can't keep from flirting with him. In addition to the number of boys that seem to constantly cause her blood pressure to rise, Ruby is also facing the challenge of running a school bake sale, trying to keep a job, and handling a very large and very messy Great Dane.

The thing that I love about the Ruby Oliver books is that they really capture what it is like to be a boy crazy teenager. One day Ruby likes Noel, one day she likes Jackson, she can't figure out if Finn likes her...it may seem trivial to adults, but to Ruby (and the reader) it is all very serious stuff. I especially liked how E. Lockhart handles Ruby's relationship with her girl friends, and how things change when boys come into the picture.

Bonus points for an awesome cover, and lots of descriptions of delicious deserts throughout the book that had me craving something sweet the whole time I was reading!

The Return of the Teen Zone!

I know you have been missing us all summer long, but don't worry, the Teen Zone will be back this September. Make sure to stop by the library after school on September 8th and say hello! We will resume our normal hours, 2:15-4:30, every day school is in session. Laptops, games and a relaxing atmosphere for you to unwind after a long day in class. The Teen Zone is open to all teens in grades 7-12. Bring your library card!

Book Review - Need by Carrie Jones

Zara White is devastated after the death of her stepfather. She can’t seem to function. His death was unexpected and she was there. It happened right after he saw a man outside of their kitchen window. Her mother sends her to Maine to stay with her grandmother. She is hoping that the change will help Zara get back to normal.

Zara is not going to be able to be normal. She saw the same man from Charleston in Maine. He is following her. She doesn’t know what to do. To make matters worse, boys are disappearing from the sleepy Maine town. It has something to do with Zara and the man that she sees all over the place.

This book was a good read. If you liked Twilight, you will like this. There is romance, action, and suspense.

Program - Totally Tie-Dye

Turn your T-Shirt from drab to fab! Bring in a white t-shirt or tank top and learn how to tie-dye it.

Thursday, August 13th at 3pm.

Summer Celebration!

Our end of the summer wrap up party will be held on Monday, August 17th at 3pm. If you completed the summer reading club requirements and read and reviewed three books, you can come to the party! Invitations are in the mail. If you don't get your invite, please contact me at the library. We will be raffling off our grand prize, a digital camera. Plus we will have lots of other prizes, and PIZZZZZZZZZZZZZA!

Program - Yoga for Teens

August 5th and August 12th 4pm - 5pm
Discover the many joys of yoga. Build strength, flexibility, and self-confidence through yoga postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. Yoga is fun, challenging, and helps you learn about the most important subject...You!
Wear comfortable clothes, and bring a bottle of water and a yoga mat (if you have one)

CR@SH - August 7th

Our August session will feature DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION! Get ready to move your feet to the beat. As always there will be lots of snacks and video game action. Feel free to bring along your games (nothing rated M) and extra controllers. You are responsible for your own stuff, and please be sure to share! Can't wait to see you there.

CRASH
Friday, August 7th
5p-7p
FREE! For all teens ENTERING GRADES 7-12

Program - Zentangle Drawing

July 30th
3pm-4:30pm
One Stroke at a Time! That is how you can express yourself with Zentangle, a type of drawing that allows you to create beautiful images, even if you think you can’t draw. It is fun and relaxing – you’ll be surprised at what you can do!

Book Review - The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

Dade Hamilton is stuck in suburbia. His social life is mediocre. His dad keeps dragging him to dinner at the country club, where they order the same food week in and week out. His parents marriage is falling apart, he has a crappy job at the Food World supermarket and his hook-up buddy Pablo has a girlfriend. He is too scared to tell anyone that he is gay, but he practices saying the words out loud to his ceiling fan. It's Dade's last summer before heading out to college, and the prospects for a good time look grim. That is until Dade meets Alex, a captivating and mysterious guy who happens to deal drugs to the local in-crowd. He also meets Lucy, a generous soul who becomes his one true friend.

This is a good story about life in the 'burbs, about growing up and figuring out your relationships. I really liked how Dade changed throughout the book, getting stronger and more confident in himself. A great pick for a summer read.

Book Review - Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

This book is a slow starter, but it really picks up. Don’t give up on it right away!

Taylor is a student at the Jellicoe Road School. She is one of the few students there that does not have a family. Her mother abandoned her at the 7-11 and never looked back. She was brought to the school by Hannah when she was a young girl. Hannah is like a mentor for Taylor, but they do not always get along. When Hannah suddenly disappears, Taylor is devastated. People start saying things to her, like they know more about her life than she does. Finally, Taylor realizes that Hannah’s disappearance has something to do with her mother, the same person that left her in the 7-11 bathroom. Find out if she is able to find Hannah before it is too late.

In the midst of figuring out her family, Taylor is also responsible for the other students in her building. She must help protect them from the war between the kids from the town, the military cadets, and the Jellicoe School.

This book has a lot going on. I was a little confused in the beginning because it seems to jump back and forth between two stories. It is a really great read – Just stick with it!

Keep those book reviews coming!!!!

This is week 3 in our summer reading club! This week alone we have received over 40 book reviews!! Nice job everyone. Make sure to submit at least THREE reviews by August 14th to qualify for the grand prize, a digital camera.

Program - Pizza and a Movie

July 23rd 3pm-5:30pm
Come and make your own personal pizza. Cover it with all the toppings you want, we’ll bake it up in the oven, and then you can kick back and watch the movie PUSH, starring Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans

Congratulations to our Guitar Hero winners

Big Congrats to our winning Guitar Hero team! Chris, Shawn, Jordan, and Mark are the reigning Westbury Library GH World Tour champions! The guys each won $10 gift cards to Game Stop. We had a great Friday night, with 44 teens gaming. By your votes, our next CR@SH will feature Dance Dance Revolution. Start warming up now!

Program - Green Beads

Green Beads
Go Green! Learn how to make your own beads using recycled magazines. We’ll create dazzling jewelry with them too!
July 16th 3pm-4pm

Express Yourself @ Your Library

Sign-ups for our summer reading club, Express Yourself @ Your Library has begun! Sign up today and you'll have the ticket to amazing programs and great prizes all summer long! You can even register and submit your reading reviews for the SRC on-line (see the link under programs, to the left). We will be raffling off gift cards to Target and Dunkin' Donuts, tote bags, water bottles, and the grand prize........(wait for it)........A DIGITAL CAMERA!!! The more you read, the better your chances, so sign-up today and get all the info you need.

Summer Reading Club Kick-off/CR@SH featuring GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR

Seriously, how much fun can you cram into one night?!!?? July 10th marks the kick-off of our summer long series of amazing programs, so we are celebrating in style with a little Guitar Hero action. If you are entering grades 7-12 in the fall, you MUST come down to the library from 5-7 and join in on the fun. If this is your first chance to come to CR@SH, get ready for tons of video game fun, lots of food, and more! You can sign up for our summer reading club too -- and I know you won't want to miss out on that. Our grand prize is a DIGITAL CAMERA.

No sign-up required, but if you have a group of four people that you want to compete with, register your band in advance, it will make things easier to get everyone started in the competition.

As always, we will have other gaming systems set up in the back. You are welcome to bring your own games, controllers or systems, but you are responsible for you own stuff, and nothing rated M please!

Friday, July 10th
5p-7p

Book Review - If the Witness Lied by Caronline B. Cooney

It seems like a new reality show pops up every time you turn on the television. And every day, someone sells their terrible tragedy to the news media for their fifteen minutes of fame. This is the story of the Fountain family, who has been torn apart by the untimely death of their mother and father. The two girls, Madison and Smithy, unable to handle their awful situation, have escaped it. Madison has moved in with her godparents and Smithy attends a boarding school far away from her remaining two brothers. They have little to no contact with Jack and Tris. It seems that Tris is responsible not only for the death of his mother, but his father's as well. The boys legal guardian is their Aunt Cheryl, who is eager to sell the family story to tabloid television, never mind the fact that it will surely ruin baby Tris' life. Jack can't even fathom the idea of Tris being forever known as a killer and will do anything he can to save his family. Madison, Smithy, and Jack find a common enemy in their Aunt Cheryl, the only witness to their father's "accidental" death and they band together to save their family from her and the prying eyes of the television cameras.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced read. Aunt Cheryl is pure evil, and I was definitely rooting for Jack, the best big brother in the world.

CR@SH - June 19th

It's almost time for CR@SH! We are trying out a new game for our June session - Boom Blox Bash Party. Some come on down and try it out! As always, we will have our Gamecubes set up, plus lots of delicious eats. It's the most fun you can have in the library (without getting yourself kicked out)

CR@SH
June 19 5:30-7:30
For teens in grades 7-12
No sign-up required!

Program - Candy Sushi

Candy Sushi
June 10, 4:30
Learn how to make candy sushi, a super cool treat. We'll also have a manga swap, so bring along your old books to trade. Sign-up in advance.

Book Review: If I have a wicked stepmother, Where’s my prince? By Melissa Kantor

Lucy has had her life changed completely when her father remarries and moves her to Long Island from the west coast. She is not happy at all, not only does she have a stepmother, but twin stepsisters, and her father is never around. Her “room” is now the basement, but she still does not have furniture, after months of living there. She compares herself to Cinderella – she gets in trouble for anything, she is treated differently by her stepmother, and she has no friends. Everything starts to change when the most popular guy at school notices her – she may have finally found her prince, or has she?

I really enjoyed this book. I found I was angry FOR Lucy. You also learn that everything is not what it seems. Read this book and see if you think that Lucy is right or wrong with her choices.

Pizza and Pages - Teen Book Club

May 7, 4:30
Read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and come talk about the book while munching on some delicious pizza. Extra copies of the book will be available in the YA section of the library. Please sign up at the front desk.

About the book: in a future North America, rulers of Panem televise a survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another. Sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

Book Review - If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia finds herself the only survivor of a tragic car accident that kills her parents and younger brother. She is in a coma when she realizes she is somehow in between life and death, and has a choice to make. Should she stay or go?

This is a very emotional story, agonizing at times, when the reader imagines what it must be like for Mia and how strong the pull must be for her to join her now deceased family, wherever they may be. The author does not spend a lot of time trying to figure out what exists on "the other side", which is nice. Instead, the book focuses on what Mia's life was like before the accident. She is a gifted cello player, the black sheep in her family of punk rockers. Her boyfriend Adam is about to make it big with his band, and she is struggling to figure out her place in his world. What really drives this book is the relationship between Mia and her parents and her brother Teddy. It is a tender and loving bond, unlike any I have read in a novel for teens.

If you want to keep up the cryfest after reading If I Stay, check out Before I Die by Jenny Downham and let the tears flow where they may.

CR@SH - May 15th

The anxiously awaited return of CR@SH! C'mon, you know you missed it. We are back in the game on May 15th, featuring two hours worth of mind-blowing video game action. We will feature Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the big screen. Gamescubes in the back, bring your own games and/or controllers, nothing M rated please. Snacks and good times await you.

CR@SH
Friday, May 15th
5:30-7:30
FREE! For teens in grades 7-12, no sign-up required.

Program - Tag Team Poetry

April 23 @ 4:30
Tag Team Poetry
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Tag Team Poetry. Using magnetic poetry we will write unique and creative poems. Refreshments too! Free, but space is limited, sign up at the front desk

Book Review - Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff

This is the story of two girls, LaVaughn and Jolly. LaVaughn is fourteen, and ever since the fifth grade, she has known one thing: she is going to college. Which is a pretty amazing goal, since not a single person in her entire apartment building has ever gone to college. She needs to earn some money, because even though her mom has been saving up, they don't exactly have a whole lot of money in the college fund. LaVaughn decides to earn money by babysitting for seventeen year old Jolly's two kids, Jeremy and Jilly. Jolly's apartment is disgusting, the kids are covered in snot and drool, and Jolly's life is a complete mess. But LaVaughn realizes that Jolly doesn't have anyone to lean on, no one to help her out, and she is really close to losing everything. So LaVaughn sticks it out, and becomes inextricably entwined in Jolly's life, and in her children's lives as well.

This is a great story, beautifully written, and heart breaking. It is written in open verse and the lyrical style makes for a quick read. But even though you might finish the book in one sitting, the characters will stay with you for a long time.

Book Review - Response by Paul Volponi

Noah and his two friends went to Hillsboro to steal a car. They do not do it, but while they are leaving Hillsboro they are attacked by three guys. Noah is beat with an aluminum bat and has to have surgery. Noah is black and the three guys from Hillsboro are white. What is the community’s response to this hate crime? How does Noah move on? How does the justice system respond? Find out by reading Response by Paul Volponi.

This was a fast paced story that explored how a victim responds and survives an attack. Noah knows that he shouldn’t have been in Hillsboro to steal a car – but that doesn’t warrant what happened to him. Does he start to hate people on sight? This was an great thought-provoking book.

Program - Twilight the Movie

March 27 @ 5:00
MOVIE: Twilight
The biggest teen movie of the year! Watch it on our big screen and enjoy Twilight themed snacks. Win copies of the Twilight books too!

Program - In The Studio!

March 20 @ 4:30
In The Studio!
Learn how to write and perform music in this innovative workshop. As a group you will use different instruments and samples to create an original recording. Free, but space is limited, sign up at the front desk.

Program - CR@SH

March 6th 5:30 - 7:30pm
This month we will feature Dance Dance Revolution on the big screen! Non-stop video game action on the Gambecubes. You can bring your own games, and/or game systems, but you'll have to make like a second grader and share your stuff! I'll be cooking up tasty treats and snacks. Bring a friend, come on down. It's free and no registration is required.

Book Review - Envy: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

This is the third title in the popular Luxe series, and like the first two books, it absolutely ROCKS. Envy follows the lives of the two Holland sisters -- Elizabeth, still reeling from the death of her true love, Will Keller, and Diana, whose secret affair with high society bad boy has lead to his marriage to the beautiful and cunning Penelope Hayes. Former Holland housemaid disguised as a wealthy heiress, Carolina Broad, is still soaking up the attention of her doting and extremely rich benefactor. All the girls find themselves in luxurious Palm Beach, Florida, taking a much needed break from the harsh New York winter. The trip results in a number of life changing events for the girls and their lives, loves, and families may never be the same. Set in 1900, this book has tons of glitz, glamor and romance to keep you reading reading reading! Don't worry, a fourth book is in the works, and I for one, can't wait!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa is a Graceling: a person who has a unique ability and who is identifiable by one green eye and one blue eye. These people exist throughout the Seven Kingdoms and every skill is different. Katsa's Grace enables her to fight (or kill) anyone of any size or strength. Her uncle, King Randa, has been employing Katsa to do his bidding since her Grace revealed itself at a very young age when she accidentally killed someone.

In a rebellious response to her uncle's unjust and unwanted control, Katsa and some other conscientous citizens have formed a Council, through which they seek justice for those less fortunate people. It is on a mission for the Council when Katsa meets Po, a boy with a Grace as intriguing as hers. Together, Katsa and Po embark on an adventurous journey to unravel the mystery of unrest throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Kidnappings, lies, and fights abound as Katsa and Po make their way towards the Monsea kingdom where they will find the beloved, yet insidious, King Leck.

Action adventure and fantasy fans will love this book! There are several plot twists that I did not see coming. If you liked The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I definitely recommend this book.

Book Review - Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Lucy was adopted when she was a baby. Everyone just assumes that her parents are dead. They are not. Lucy has a secret - her mother is alive and crazy. She is the homeless woman in town and sometimes she comes to see Lucy. Everytime that she visits Lucy she sings the same song. Lucy is always very disturbed after these visits. Her mother had her at the age of 18 and went insane right after her birth.

Lucy knows that she is going to be different, until she is raped at a school dance and ends up pregnant. She doesn't want to be like her mother, but all signs seem to indicate that she is following her down the same path. There are more forces at work on Lucy and her family. Lucy discovers that every woman in her family has had a baby at the age of 18 and has went insane right after. Every one of them gave birth to a girl and every girl followed the same path as her mother. What is going on, is her family cursed and who did it?

This was a great suspense novel about family and tragedy. I really enjoyed this book.

CR@SH - February 6th

Get those sweet voices ready, because this month's CR@SH will feature Singstar! Sing your heart out to hits by Pink, Fall Out Boy, Rihanna, Fergie and more! Feeling a little tone deaf? Don't worry, we'll have the Gamecubes set up too! I'll be cooking up your favorite treats. Bring a friend, relax, and crash.

CR@SH Friday, February 6th 5:30p-7:30p
FREE!
No sign up required

Program - Cute Cupcakes

Friday February 13th - 5pm
Learn how to decorate cupcakes for Valentine's Day. Keep them for yourself or share them with someone you love. FREE! Space is limited, please sign up at the front desk.

Program - Marvelous Manicures

January 15th - 5pm
Learn how to do your own manicure. Receive your very own nail kit to take home. Space is limited, sign up at the front desk.