ONE LAST POST
Greetings and salutations. I've been writing for about a month now about my last day at Framingham Public Library as their YA librarian. That day has come and gone, and though I'm still ordering some books for the YA department, writing blog posts, and keeping up Facebook and Twitter, and I have indeed left the library. I no longer sit in that cool little office in the back of the YA area; I no longer get to put out book displays or consult on my favourite book; I no longer visit the schools for readers groups.
With that said, I'd like to make mention that after 5 years of writing this blog, this will be my last post. I have started a new blog for Framingham teens that is keeping up the tradition of book reviews, interesting news, library announcements, and other such things that the next YA librarian will take over eventually.
A big thanks to all my readers (over 600 of you per month!) and to those who found this blog and were interested in it enough to share it or use it as a template and example. I've appreciated "meeting" many of you virtually.
In the meantime, I've now relocated to Western Mass (and am looking for a job), so if you're nearby, be sure to say hello.
For more, be sure to check out the Framingham Library Teens Blog at http://framinghamlibraryteens.blogspot.com/.
Thanks again! I've enjoyed writing!
~emily - 6:04 AM~
0 comments

CLOSURE WARNING
Wanted to let you know that the library will be closed all weekend -- Sat, Sun, & Mon -- so if you want anything for the weekend (last minute summer reading?), get it before Friday at 5pm (which is when we close).
~emily - 4:36 PM~
0 comments

BOOKENDS
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I'm sure, if you're a Twilight fan, you've already gobbled your way through Stephenie Meyer's newest in the series, Breaking Dawn. And if you haven't read it, you're probably on the waiting list for it at the library. But have you read the sci-fi piece Meyer wrote for adults? I read it this weekend, and truth be told, I think teens are a perfect audience for it. However, don't expect another Twilight.
The Host recounts the story of an alien that has been implanted into a teenage girl's body -- part of a movement to take over the human population by these parasitic beings that have conquered many worlds before. And usually they have very little trouble when they conquer new worlds -- but Wanderer has trouble overcoming her host body and mind, Melanie. Her Comforter and Healer cannot help her and Melanie will not disappear -- she continues to bother Wanderer until Wanderer is persuaded to help Melanie seek out her brother and her boyfriend in the depths of the desert. They almost die in pursuit of Melanie's dream, but are found and rescued by her uncle who takes her to an underground mansion of caverns where he is hiding with dozens of other humans who have escaped implanting -- dozens of others, including Melanie's brother and boyfriend. However, trust is difficult, and Melanie and Wanderer are considered dangerous and almost killed a number of times before they begin to be accepted by the group. But greater dangers erupt, putting the whole group at risk, and Melanie and Wanderer face a question of huge importance to themselves and to the others in the caverns -- if they stay, will they bring more danger to the ones they love, or should they go and let everyone forget their existence? Melanie has one answer, Wanderer has another.
This was a surprising read for me. I wasn't sure I would like this new Meyer book, having received mixed reviews about it from other readers. It moves Meyer away from vampire teen fantasy fiction into science fiction, but it continues her themes of impossible love made possible and also reminds us that the individuality of humanity is important and powerful. My verdict? I liked it and I dare you to read it.
FICTION Meyer

Labels: book review, good books, science fiction

~emily - 4:26 PM~
0 comments

LAST REAL DAY
As many of you know, today (Friday) is my last day on the job as the Young Adult Librarian for the Framingham Public Library. I am moving to Western Massachusetts, where I hope to find a job soon (hint hint, nudge nudge to any librarians out that direction who could help me out a little).

In the meantime and for a little while, I will still be blogging for Framingham and purchasing books for the collection and updating the Facebook page and running some IM hours -- in other words I'll still be available, so don't disappear on me! However, your best place to find new blogging bits is at http://framinghamlibraryteens.blogspot.com/. (Yes, I do realize I've blogged that link before.) It's a new blog for the Framingham teens, and it will get the most updates in the future for the Framingham folks.
(I do expect to start up a new blog one of these days, so keep an eye out here to find out what exciting thing it will be.)

I have absolutely enjoyed my time at Framingham -- I've learned a lot and made many friends. Best wishes to you all -- I'll miss seeing you around at the library and the high school and the middle school and at meetings and conferences and all that fun stuff. Perhaps I'll see you around.

Labels: library news, links

~emily - 9:27 AM~
0 comments

ONLY THE VERY BEST

I've just put out a new display on the fiction end -- a display which should highlight the best books YA fiction has to offer -- and it will be a display that will keep changing to offer new great titles as the next couple of months float along. Be sure to take a look at the display if you're stuck for finding something great to read.

Labels: booklists, books for boys, books for girls, displays, fantasy books, good books

~emily - 3:21 PM~
0 comments

TWILIGHT READ-ALIKES
I've been rushing around like a madwoman for the last week trying to get some tasks accomplished before the end of this week, which is fast approaching. So, I've been delegating some things off to my marvelous intern -- including this list:
Can't Get Enough Twilight? Try these read-alikes!
Now, I'm only including a few of the books on this blog post, but the others are posted at the library in the fiction shelves and also in the booklist binder. See what we've got to tide you over until the movie comes out and another book is born!

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
Thirsty by M. T. Anderson
Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell
High School Bites by Liza Conrad
The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Sweetblood by Pete Hautman
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Vampire High by Douglas Rees

This is some good stuff - -she did a great job!

Labels: booklists, books for girls, chick lit, fantasy books, good books

~emily - 2:14 PM~
0 comments

MAXIMUM RIDE: THE MOVIE
I just Facebook-ed this article from Superhero Hype about Patterson's Maximum Ride series being acquired for film. Check it out.
~emily - 4:11 PM~
0 comments

READING NOTES
Just a couple of notes on a few things I've read recently.

I took a summer vacation last week, and what better to read than a mystery! I read Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn G Hart -- a Death on Demand mystery. I started reading Death on Demand mysteries way back when Hart started writing them, and I've been enjoying them ever since. I'm a little behind on the series, but that's OK. The series centers around a mystery bookstore on an island, and the owner-turned-sometime-sleuth, Annie Darling (though she doesn't start out as darling). There's mystery, death, books, and a bit of romance in these enjoyable mysteries; I definitely recommend them!

Next on my vacation reading list was Moonheart by Charles de Lint -- a fine modern fantasy combining the world of Ottawa, Canada with the Otherworld and time travel, and including wonderful interpretations of myth and legend. The perfect reading-in-the-woods-while-camping book, this is truly a magical title superbly written. An excellent advanced fantasy.

And last night I finished off by reading the newest Minx book, Water Baby. Up until now I have liked the Minx books for the most part, but this one didn't thrill me. It's a realistic fiction piece about a girl who gets her leg bitten off by a shark and is learning to cope with the adjustment. It's also about friendship and relationships. I was hoping to like it, but it left me feeling dull and empty.

Labels: book review, booklists, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels, mysteries

~emily - 1:18 PM~
0 comments

ONE OF THE LAST
This is my 1047th post to this blog, give or take a post or two that are actually just uploads for images. I created this blog years ago, before some of the newer technologies that allow bloggers more ease, but now I am leaving my job as the Young Adult Librarian at the Framingham Public Library and am transferring this blog to http://framinghamlibraryteens.blogspot.com/. But don't be so quick to leave this blog quite yet -- there are still a few updates I will be making. Stay tuned!
~emily - 10:36 AM~
2 comments

AWAY
Just a notice that I'll be not blogging for the coming week -- I'll be off relaxing on coastal mountains reading lots of books and cooking hot dogs over a fire.
~emily - 2:18 PM~
0 comments

I don't know if you've seen this yet, but it looks like Joss Whedon (and crew), creator of Buffy and Serenity and more, is back again with another great piece of work. I haven't been able to download the full piece yet (available on iTunes) to give a true review, but it looks like loads of fun and exactly the kind of thing I would have wanted to create with my brother when we used to collaborate on pieces together. Plus, it's made-for-internet, which is definitely a cool move.
And, by golly, it's a super-villain musical!
Enjoy!

Labels: links, movies

~emily - 11:53 AM~
0 comments