Book Review: "The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci

"The Body Of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci

Review by Sophie
Torey is a typical middleclass high school student in Steepleton, a typical middleclass smalltown in Egg Harbor Township. He's an athlete, the guitarist in a highschool-band, the boyfriend of the prettiest girl in town, a popular kid. He's perfectly normal.

Christopher Creed is the school's weirdo. He has no friends and plenty of classmates who have been picking on him throughout his entire schoolcareer. One day he disappears, leaving behind an mysterious letter to his principal and a chaos of rumours and suspicions. Did he run away? Commit suicide? Or get murdered? As the town searches for somebody to blame, Torey, who hasn't had more to do with Christopher than anybody else in his school, starts to question the world he grew up in. Together with two unlikely allies, punk-girl Ali and the "boon", juvenile delinquent Bo Richardson, he goes on a quest to find Christopher, dead or alive. On the way, his life starts to unravel in front of his eyes, as he discovers the lies, intolerance and hypocrisy of his friends and neighbors. "The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci is a stunning novel about finding yourself and breaking your egg's shell. It portrays scarily accurate the microcosms "high school" and "smalltown". The Author manages to make the plot complicated and numerous turns just as believable as her characters, only the last chapter has a very surprising ending that is unbelievable and maybe a bit over the top. Plum-Ucci manages to amazingly get a grasp on many very delicate topics such as intolerance, criminal injustice, smalltown lies, prejudices, overprotective parents, high school cliques, religion and truth in relatively short novel.

Be warned: This is one of those books that make you get bad grades because you just can't bring yourself to put it down in order to homework. And it's also the kind of book that will stay on your mind, long after you finished it.

Most teenagers will probably be able to relate to this book and recognize a lot of people from school, their neighborhood and maybe even themselves. The fact that it takes place just one county away from Cape May makes it even more interesting, since somebody in say California has no way of ever understanding the magic of hanging out at WAWA on a Saturday night (which happens frequently in this novel). So support a local author and read this book!

Check out "The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci at the library...

"The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci Copy #1

"The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci Copy #2

"The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci Book On Tape

New Book Wednesday

Video Game Strategy Guides
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
FarCry: Instincts
Burnout Revenge
Jak X Combat Racing
Quake 4
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
Jade Empire
Ace Combat 5
Tekken 5
Black & White 2
Full Metal Alchemist and the Broken Angel
Full Metal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir
Front Mission 4
Arc The Lad
Drakengard
Metal Gear AC!D
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Battlefield 2
Coded Arms

Graphic Novels
Magician Apprentice Volume 1 and 2 by Raymond E. Feist
Jonah Hex: Guns of Vengeance by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Jonah Hex: Face Full of Violence by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Luke Ross
Batman: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean
Star Wars: Dark Times Volume 1 by Welles Hartley
Star Wars: Jedi Vs. Sith by Various Authors and Artists
Star Wars Tales Volume 6 by Various Authors and Artists
Elric by Michael Moorcock
Demon Wars: The Demon Awakens by R.A. Salvatore
The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by Various Authors and Artists
Orbiter by Warren Ellis, Colleen Doran, and Dave Stewar

The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson by Louise Rennison

Have you ever read the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison?

If not, I highly recommend them! They're funny and just all around great books...

Anywho, they've made the first two into a movie called Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging. The bad side? The movie isn't coming out in the United States anytime soon.

But hey....in the meantime, why not check out the series. We've got them all at the library....

1. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging
2. On The Bright Side I'm Now The Girlfriend of a Sex God
3. Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas
4. Dancing In My Nuddy Pants
5. Away Laughing On A Fast Camel
6. Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers
7. Startled By His Furry Shorts!
8. Love Is A Many Trousered Thing
9. Stop In The Name of Pants!

(Funny titles? Yes. Good books? Yes! Check them out and let me know what you think)

Cool website for the Week of July 27-August 2

A little bit of self promotion this week...


Click here for "Next Good Book"

So what is Next Good Book you ask? It's a new service offered by the library where you can check out any books and see what to read next plus make comments on the book for everyone to see.

The coolest thing about this that once you register as a user, you can create your own bookshelves and lists. I've created one that you can view if you like...

Click here to view Justin The Librarian's Graphic Novel Shelf

Teen Movie Nights are here!

The Question:
What teen programs do you want to see at the library?

Your answer:
Teen Movie Night!


When:
September 18: Juno (PG-13)
October 7: The Prestige (PG-13)
November 18: Dodgeball (PG-13)

Where:
Main Library, Cape May Court House

Who:
Teens ages 13-18 are invited

New Book Wednesday

Fiction

Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires Book One by Rachel Caine
The Dead Girls Dance: The Morganville Vampires Book Two by Rachel Caine
Midnight Alley: The Morganville Vampires Book Three by Rachel Caine
Feast of Fools: The Morganville Vampires Book Four by Rachel Caine
White is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rumors: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen
Spite Fences by Trudy Krisher

Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub

Lily Dale: Believing by Wendy Corsi Staub

Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Free Throws by Janette Rallison

Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone

Up All Night by Various Authors (Patricia McCormick, Gene Luen Yang, and more)

Silver Is For Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos

Pendragon Book Nine: Raven Rise by D.J. Machale

Vote For Larry by Janet Tashjian

Watcher In The Woods by Robert Liparulo

When You Wish by Kristin Harmel

Masquerade: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa De La Cruz

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott

The Wizard Heir by Cinda Wililams Chima

Stop In The Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison

Something To Blog About by Shana Norris

Once Upon A Time In The North by Phillip Pullman (includes a board game...how cool!)

Non-Fiction
Gang of Kings by Michael Weinreb
The Naked Roomate by Harlen Cohen
How To Build A Robot Army by Daniel H. Wilson Ph.D
30 Days To Getting Over The Dork You Used to Call Your Boyfriend by Clea Hantman
For Young Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa Rice
Take Me To Your Leader: Weird Facts, Bizarre Stories, and Life's Oddities by Ian Harrison
Chill: Stress Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You by Deborah Reber
Tolkien's Complete Guide To Middle Earth by Robert Foster
The Ultimate History of Video Games by Steven L. Kent
The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri Smith

Graphic Novels

Green Lantern: No Fear by Various Authors and Illustrators

Green Lantern: Rebirth by Geoff Johns, Ethan Von Sciver, and Prentis Rollins

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross

Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns by Various Authors and Illustrators

Street Fighter II Manga by Masaomi Kanzaki

I Am Legend: The Graphic Novel by Richard Matheson

In The Small by Michael Hague

Music Reviews: Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, and Vampire Weekend

Silversun Pickups

My musical taste tends to run into many genres. I have to say that I listen to a little bit of everything. So when I find a band that I just can’t stop listening to, there is something to be said. Silversun Pickups is one of those bands. Carnavas is the latest album from this west coast band. It is a blend highly melodic sounds, distorted backgrounds and fuzzed-out bass. They’re most notable song to date is “Lazy Eye” which frequented MTV several months ago, but the song is only the tip of the iceberg. Other audio-delights include, “Well thought out Twinkles” and “Melatonin,” as well as my personal favorite, “Dream at Tempo 119.” This indie-L.A. band is a throw-back to the alternative rock of the 90’s, and is definitely worth listening too.

Check out Silversun Pickups new albums Carnavas at the library

Band of Horses
Another band that has caught my short-attention span is Band of Horses with their latest album, Cease to Begin. They are most recognized for “A Ghost in my House” which frequents the airwaves of Sirus’ Alt-Nation. They are a rock band that exudes Southern sound. As well as the Silversun Pickups, this band has become part of the beloved, and highly selective, rotation in my iPod. The music is stunning and layered and the vocals are melancholic and haunting. They remind me of the scene in Forrest Gump, when Tom Hanks is running across the country with Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty” blaring in the background. This is the type of music you can get lost in.
Check of Band of Horses new album Cease To Begin at the library

Vampire Weekend
Finally, I have to recommend the impressive self-titled debut album from Vampire Weekend. This is not your everyday punk band. First of all, they style evokes nostalgia about preppy 80’s movies. Think Pretty in Pink. All the songs are upbeat, and include a variety of instruments, including the use of African drums and the forgotten musical art-form of the keyboard. (A huge invention that plagued the entire decade of the 80’s.) This album is album is fun and entirely refreshing to hear against a lot of the manufactured music plaguing airwaves today. It is the perfect summer album.

Check out Vampire Weekend at the library

Many thanks to Melissa The Librarian for all of today's music reviews.

Cool website for the week of July 20-26

Animoto

What is Animoto? You upload your photos, pick some music and....it makes a video for you. Simple and easy...

Here's a sample video I made with some photos and music selected by Animoto.



Want to help me out? Use Animoto to make a commercial for the library!

Breaking Dawn Contest

(Click on the picture above to see a larger picture)

Here's your hint
Every word in this picture is from one page of the book "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.

What you have to do to win
Be the first person to reply to this post with the correct page number.

What do you win?
A free copy of Stephenie Meyer's new book "Breaking Dawn"


WE HAVE A WINNER! THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED, BUT PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR MORE!


This is the first of an ongoing series of Teen Trivia contests. Keep checking this site for more!

New Teen Zone Group

What is it? Simply enter your email address below and gain access to the Cape May County Library Teen Zone Group. You'll be notified of any events at the library as well as the new books and dvd's we get...

Plus, feel free to talk about your favorite books, music, etc on our message board.

Subscribe to Cape May County Teen Zone

Email:

Visit this group

New Book Wednesday

Fiction

ttfn by Lauren Myracle

Parrot In The Oven by Victor Martinez

Street Love by Walter Dean Myers

Kristen: A Clique Novel by Lisi Harrison

Dylan: A Clique Novel by Lisi Harrison

Alicia: A Clique Novel by Lisi Harrison

Massie: A Clique Novel by Lisi Harrison

The Humming of Numbers by Joni Sensel

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones

Letters In The Attic by Bonnie Shimko

Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast

Chosen by P.C. and Kristen Cast

Betrayed by P.C. and Kristen Cast

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Graphic Novels

Inuyasha Volumes 29 and 30

Beowulf adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds

Wonder Woman: Love and Murder by Jodi Picoult

Teen Yoga

Starting on July 30, 2008, Teen Yoga at the library gives teens the opportunity to attend a Beginners Yoga Class where they will be taught the basics of yoga and they have the opportunity to learn the significance of the various postures as well as have fun and stay fit.

Sign up is required and space is limited to 15 participants. Please sign up in advance at the Main Branch Library in Cape May Court House. Yoga mats will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring their own.

Teen Yoga is presented by certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor Christina Newdeck of Just Breathe Yoga, a year round resident of this county and one time student of Middle Township's School District. This is Christina's second program she is offering through the library and is excited to share what she knows of yoga with our local teens.

WHEN:
Wednesdays @ 3:45pm
July 30, August 6, 13, 20, September 3, 10, 17, 24

WHERE:
Main Library, Story Time Room

(Please spread the word about this event to everyone! Many thanks...)

Cool website for the week of July 13-19

At BookCrossing, you can register any book you have on the site, and then set the book free to travel the world and find new readers.

Leave it on a park bench, at a coffee shop, at a hotel on vacation. Share it with a friend or tuck it onto a bookshelf at the gym -- anywhere it might find a new reader! What happens next is up to fate, and we never know where our books might travel next. Track the book's journey around the world as it is passed on from person to person.

Join hundreds of thousands of active BookCrossers daily in our many forums to discuss your favorite authors, characters and books in every genre throughout history right up through current releases. Help make the whole world a library and share the joy of literacy. Reading becomes an adventure when you BookCross!

Check out Book Crossing here

(many thanks to Danielle The Librarian for recommending this site)

Teen Zone @ Flickr

I've added a Teen Zone section to our libraries Flickr page. I'm going to try to add as many pictures as I can as often as possible, so check back for more! Have a great weekend....

-Justin The Librarian

Click here to see the Cape May County Library Teen Zone on Flickr

Music Review: The Black Keys "Attack and Release"

Smooth and rhythmic are two words to describe the two man band the “Black Keys” featuring Dan Auerbach on guitar and Patrick Carney on drums. Hailing from Akron, Ohio the Black Keys are known for recording in unconventional places, like a half-finished basement, or on an empty rubber factory floor. Recording in this way adds a very unique sound to their albums all on its own, but when you add the guitar sound that is eerily close to a Hendrix riff, drumming that could almost match Rush’s Neil Peart, and lyrics that are soulful and rousing, you have the making of a great alternative blues band. To date the Black Keys have put out six albums; The Big Come Up, Thickfreakness, Chulahoma –the Songs of Junior Kimbrough, Rubber Factory, Magic Potion, and most recently Attack and Release. All their albums so far have been under the radar hits filled with music that just wants to make you get up and jam out on some wicked air guitar. So what about their latest album? How will it stand up to their five previous albums? Is it one step forward for their music or two steps back, and what is the sound of one hand clapping? All but one of these questions will be answered in my review of Attack and Release.

The Black Key’s latest album Attack and Release came out on April, 1st 2008. Wholly unique from their recent albums, Attack and Release was recorded in an actual studio, in collaboration with producer Danger Mouse, also known as Brian Burton. Danger Mouse adds an additional element never heard before in any Black Key’s album so far, the use of additional musical instruments such as jazz flute (which makes me think of Jethro Tull’s Cross Eyed Mary), the piano, and the organ.

Attack and Release as a whole album goes up and down with its beats and lyrics, like bipolar disorder never staying too upbeat or downtrodden for long, with precious little time to stay anywhere in between. The album starts off beautifully with All You Ever Wanted. A very melancholic beginning, with soulful undertones, starts this track, with lyrics that flow extremely well to the beat of the music (though I have yet to make any sense of them). Three quarters of the way through the song the organs start blasting, changing it to a southern church revival feel. The band then starts a rock session with their more upbeat songs I Got Mine and Strange Times. Overall, Attack and Release is a remarkable album, but it does drone on a bit after Remember When (Side B).

Though different from their other albums Attack and Release just does not have as many memorable tracks as some of their other albums do, but change is hard and they have put some excellent effort in trying to evolve their music.

Check out "Attack and Release" by The Black Keys at the library...

-Reviewed by Jesse The Librarian

New Book Wednesday

Fiction
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Bluford High: Brothers In Arms by Paul Langan and Ben Alirez
Bluford High: Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan and D.M. Blackwell
Bluford High: Until We Meet Again by Anne Schraff
Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale by Holly Black
Chill Wind by Janet McDonald
The Hoopster by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Hip Hop High School by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper

Graphic Novels
Nemi by Lise Myhre
Coraline: The Graphic Adaptation by Neil Gaiman
Indiana Jones Omnibus Volume 1
Trigun Maximum Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 (Volumes 6 and 10 are on their way)
Trigun Volume 2 (Volume 1 is on its way)
Fruits Basket Volumes 10, 11, 12, 13
Re-Gifters by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, and Marc Hempel
Star Wars: A New Hope Manga Volumes 1, 3, and 4 (Volume 2 is on its way)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Manga Volumes 1, 2, and 4 (Volume 3 is on its way)
Vampire Knight Volumes 1, 2, 3

Game Night at the Library

As most of your already know, we've been having Game Night at our library over the past couple months, providing you with the chance to play Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Rock Band, and other games...

What's new is the Game Night Central blog that the guys in charge of game night have created.

Want to know how the latest Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament went down? Want to hear about any upcoming video game events? Head over to the Game Night Central blog for more information.

In other video game news, check out our new selection of video game strategy guides in our Teen Zone room. They're located at the end of the teen fiction and yes, you can check them out!

Cool website for the week of July 6-12

Like video games? You'll LOVE this site....




Click here for Virtual Nintendo

"VirtualNES.com is the largest vNES website on the Internet. vNES is a Nintendo Entertainment System emulator programmed in Java."


And...if you like video games, make sure you come to the library tonight for Game Night from 4:30-6:30