PML YA Yakkers!

Patchogue Medford Library Young Adult Department

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Congratulations!

I'd like to congratulate the Patchogue-Medford Battle of the Books Team "We're Mostly In It For the Food," for winning 2nd place in Suffolk County in the Battle of the Books!

We also win a Spirit Award and Most Creative Uniform!

Great job guys!

Brian

Friday, August 18, 2006

We're Mostly In it For the Food

The Patchogue-Medford Library's Battle of the Books team, "We're Mostly In it For the Food" will be competing tomorrow in the County Battle!

Best of luck to:

Amber
Cana
Ali
Brianna
Christina
Deanna

And special thanks to: Ellen, Elizabeth and Samantha, our Junior Battle Consultants!

Brian and Melissa!

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Chapter 12: The End or a New Beginning?

Book Survivor Adventure Mountain

Voted off: Treasure Island
Winner: Bloody Jack


I fell to my knees. Lucy was gone. What was there left to do? The Heeperbopper smiled at me and began advancing toward me. It cackled. I picked up knife that Lucy had lying beside her on the ground and began to lunge forward to attack the hideous beast. The Heeperbopper screamed and jumped toward me, flailing its red arms toward me. I slashed the arm, causing black goo to flow out of the wound. The Heeperbopper screamed again and fell backwards. I kicked it, trying to get rid of all the rage I felt from Lucy's death. The Heeperbopper began to get back on its feet. I thought of Lucy..of Max..of what would have been at the top of this peak. Then I used all of the strength I had remaining in my very soul and ran toward the Heeperbopper with my knife shining. The creature sunk into my knife and let out a piercing yell and fell backwards into the lava. I howled and cried as I realized just what I had lost. Max..Lucy...my sanity....I stumbled toward the ring...

The ring stood on the pedistal and shined in my eyes. I picked up the ring and put it on my finger and began to think about my life before I left on this trip. I rubbed the ring and closed my eyes...

"Simon?" a voice said. I turned around. Max was standing next to me with a puzzled look on his face. "What's up?" I smiled. Behind him, Lucy shared an equally puzzled expression.

"Your boat shall be arriving shortly," a voice came over a loudspeaker. It appeared we were on a boat, bound to Adventure Mountain. I had to make it to the peak! I could hardly contain my excitment. I was given a second chance! The ring which was on my finger had turned a dull brown, as if it had been sapped of all its power.

As we disembarked off the boat and made our way onto the sand, I spotted the Holes that had once plagued our journey. Lucy consulted the map. "This way!" she yelled. I began to follow her, with Max close behind. I glanced into the water and saw a shark that seemed a bit too familiar.

"Wait!" I shouted. Max turned around.

"What is it?" he said. Max's familar features washed over my worry and filled me with comfort. Was it possible to change the future? "Isn't this where we want to go...to the top of the peak of Adventure Mountain?"

I shook my head. I looked in the opposite direction of the path that would lead to the demise of my two closest friends and saw a sign planted in the ground that read "To Treasure Island." Treasure Island? This sounded even better than whatever Tom Foolery would be awaiting me at the peak of Adventure Mountain.

A little man stepped out from behind the sign. He was covered in somehing red from head to toe. "Hello me friends," he said. "Me name is Jack."

"Why are you so Bloody, Jack?" asked Max. Jack laughed and took off his helmet, revealing a bloody red brain. "I am not Jack, I am a Heeperbopper who is here to stop you from altering time!" Max and Lucy appeared shunned.

"How is this possible?" I screamed. The Heeperbopper just laughed.

"Time is my domain. You are not authorized nor experienced enough to alter reality." The Heeperbopper grabbed onto Max and Lucy's arms. Max began to struggle, but Lucy's eyes had a hauntingly familar look to them. "She remembers..." said the Heeperbopper.

"I won't let you take my friends!" I shouted. The Heeperbopper appeared confused for a moment, then it began laughing. "Take me instead!" The Heeperbopper drops the arms of Lucy and Max.

"That I would be happy to do!" he said. He grabbed onto my arm and began to spin quickly, producing a vortex in the air. Max and Lucy stared at me.

"What are you doing?" shouted Max.

"Who is this creature?" screamed Lucy.

I bowed my head and accepted the hold of the Heeperbopper. As I felt my body disappear and my mind begin to weaken, I thought of the confusing, yet amazing adventure I had experienced. If I had only one more chance...if I could say one more thing..If I..




Max stood over Lucy, who was lying in a hospital bed. Max appeared very nervous. A woman came in with a calming expression on her face, carrying a small bundle. The bundle contained a baby, which was presumably Lucy's. Lucy smiled at Max.

"What do you wanna name him?" he said.

"Simon," said Lucy.

"Simon?" asked Max. "What kind of name is that?"

Lucy laughed. "I don't know, but somehow it seems right..it seems....familiar..."

The baby look up at its new parents, ready to start its journey into the world.


The End

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

What should I read next?

Okay, people.

I have been telling you about the books I've been reading, but you are not giving me a lot of feedback.

What do YOU think I should read next? Tell me about what you've been reading and make some recommendations!

Jeri

Monday, August 07, 2006

Last Week of the Summer Reading Club

Okay - so the Summer Reading Club is coming to an end. This is your last chance to report on a book, so you can be invited to our exclusive end of summer DJ party. We want to see you there!

This week's programs are:
Turf Head: Make-a-Pet, Tuesday, August 8, 2-3 pm
Plant grass seeds in a "head" that you decorate, water and watch it grow hair!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: The Suffolk Tour, Wednesday, August 9, 2006, 11:30 - 1:30
For this last session, we will watch the movie and have some lunch. Pizza, anyone?

Movie Matinee: High School Musical, Wednesday, August 9, 2006, 1:30 - 3:30 (NOTE TIME CHANGE)Come see the newest musical that everyone is talking about.

Screamin' Ice Cream - Friday, August 11 from 4-5 pm
It's hot outside -- why not get cool inside with some awesome ice cream that you make yourself?

Friday, August 04, 2006

Chapter 10: Into the Woods

Book Survivor Adventure Log

Voted off: Artemis Fowl


Tootie pushed away some branches as Lucy and myself navigated the forest. The smell of trees and animals wafted into my nostrils. In the background, I heard low moans and screaming coming from the distance. Who was this Bone King?

Lucy brushed a bug off her shoulder. "How much further is this?" she asked Tootie. Tootie smiled.

"It is only a few more paces." Tootie pointed to a skeletal lodge, that had bone white bricks. "Inside this building is the Bone King." I smiled and hurried toward the building. "Wait!" said Tootie. I stopped. "This area is boobie trapped," he said. Lucy nodded. "You have to go this way." Tootie pointed to the left side of the structure. Lucy and I hurried in the direction he was pointing when suddenly, the ground disappeared beneath myself and I felt myself tumbling. Lucy tumbled on top of me.

"Yoo hoo!" I yelled. "We fell!" Tootie peered down at us from over 20 feet above our heads.

"I know," said Tootie. "The Bone King is expecting you." Tootie began to laugh and scream as his Mongoblin face disappeared and was replaced by a menancing skull. We have been betrayed! Lucy looked at me with a sad expression on our face. The amount of trechary we have encountered on this trip was amazing.

A few hours later, we were escorted up a hidden rope ladder into the structure, with Tootie grabbing us with superhuman strength. We were pushed in front of a front in which a bone white man sat with no visible flesh on his body. Was this the Bone King?

"Aw har har!" cackled the Bone King. "I am Agamemmie, the Bone King!" he whistled. "You are going to become Bone Daddys." Bone Daddys? Eyi! I didn't want to know what the heck that was! Lucy began to cry. Agamemmie reached a bony hand to her face and caused a cut to appear. "Don't cry my pettie," he said.

Lucy kicked the Bone King in the face. The Bone King let out a howl. I grabbed his finger and pulled really hard. It came out of its socket, revealing a key shape at the end. This was extremely good luck on our parts! Lucy and I ran out of the structure as we heard the Bone King's howls of pain. We started back toward the woods but Tootie and two others blocked our path. "Where do you think you're going?" said Tootie. "My friends and I will stop you!"

"I'm Artemis, but you can call me Arty," said a skeleton with glasses.
"I'm Meeka but you can call me Mimi," said a second skeleton.
"I'm Lucy," said Lucy.
Arty smiled at Lucy. "What a pretty girl," he said. "Of course you can go through." Lucy began to run away.
"Lucy!" I called out. I tossed the key over their heads. Lucy turned back and caught it and continued running. She knew I would catch up to her.
"How stupid you are!" said Tootie. "Artemis, Fowl...Stupid...Idiot..." said Tootie. I pushed into Tootie, knocking him over and ran through the forest, chasing after Lucy. The three held pursuit.

I ducked under trees and pushed past branches as I made my way back to the edge of the forest. I came upon the door and saw that it had been opened. I ran into the door, the path that led to the volcano and saw that there were red footsteps on the ground. Was this blood? Lucys? Mimi, Arty and Tootie stopped at the top of the steps and stared at me. They screamed and ran away. What was in this passage?

I arrived in a giant area that was filled with lava that was flowing. On top of a pedistal was a box, which I presumed contained a key that would supposedly alter reality. Standing in front of the pedistal was a red creature that had blood dripping from its mouth. It screamed and lashed out at its unknown opponant. Who was he fighting? Was it Lucy? I ran around trying to catch a glimpse. I heard a loud scream that caused my ears to ring. I covred my ears and fell to the ground. The sound was so intense!

I stood up and was greeted with total silence. I crawled toward the ring box, and saw that the two people were still fighting. It was Lucy and the unknown creature.

"Simon!" yelled Lucy.
"What are you doing?" I shouted.
"I'm saving Max..." she yelled. "This creature, the Heeperbopper..it has the ability to open the ring box...you need to get a claw and...."
The creature lashed out and Lucy, causing her to be impaled on one of its claws. It shook its hand as if she were the one who put herself on the end of the claw. I screamed in horror and watched as Lucy was thrown against the wall.

Her body thudded to the ground and lie there motionless. I ran over. "Lucy?" There was no answer. She was gone. I looked up at the creature with fury in my eyes. I WILL get that ring!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Magical England


A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Young English ladies in the Victorian era were held to a strict code of conduct. They were expected to behave well, and marry well. Young Gemma Doyle, however, grew up with her family in colonial India. It was only after her mother's mysterious death on Gemma's 16th birthday, that she was sent to England for schooling. But turning 16 had other effects on Gemma as well - she started to have visions, and developed the ability to visit an alternate realm. There seemed to be a young man from India following her. And what was the amulet her mother had pressed into her hand before dying?


Sorcery and Cecelia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

A blend of magic and romance, set in 19th century England, this book is written as the correspondence between two cousins. In this England, magic is commonplace. Kate is in London for the season, but Cecelia was not allowed to go. This does not prevent her from having her own adventures at home. An evil wizard is trying to steal magical power, and the girls become involved in preventing the plot.