Teen Services awesome
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is becoming very popular with teens and 20-somethings. Men especially like the show and are known as Bronies. Here is a video where teens get to comment on this emerging cultural phenomenon.
There is also a My Little Pony creator.
Thanks to Boing Boing for the heads up.
Are you excited yet?
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Sunny is a Nigerian American. She had lived in the United States until she was 9 when her parents quickly moved back to Nigeria. Now she is 13 and is growing up. She goes to school but is often picked on because of her skin color.
See, Sunny is an albino. She has pink eyes, and pale white skin even though she is from African descent. The kids in her class tease her and call her ‘akata witch’; a very offensive term that is used for African-Americans.
One day after a fight she befriends Orlu, a boy who stood up for her and tried to protect her. Orlu soon introduces Sunny to ChiChi, another girl in their neighborhood. Chichi doesn’t attend school and lives in a small unkempt house. Orlu and Chichi share a very special secret; they can practice juju, a kind of magic. They think Sunny can too.
Soon Sunny is initiated into the hidden world of magic. She begins to attend magic school and learns about her spirit face, juju knives, and masquerades that can summon dark spirits. The three of them are soon joined by another boy named Sasha who is also from America. What the four of them do not know is that the magic elders plan for them to defeat an evil sorcerer who is murdering children in order to summon an evil spirit.
Can Sunny learn enough magic in time to help her friends? And if she does will she be brave enough? Sunny will have to truly know herself to do her best, but how do you do that when you are just a thirteen year old girl in a new magical and menacing new world?
Akata Witch is a beautiful book about magic, mysticism and discovering your family roots. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about other cultures or who loves magic and fantasy. It is appropriate for ages 12 and up.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe is a young boy who lives amongst a traveling troupe of performers. His parents lead the band of actors, musicians, and entertainers. His parents even write their own songs. His father is working on a specific song about ancient times and dark enemies. Also amongst the group is Kvothe’s best friend, an arcanist named Ben who educates him about the world and even common magic. Kvothe is inspired to learn all he can and longs to study at the University to become an arcanist as well.
But one day Kvothe decides to explore a nearby woods. Upon his return he discovers the whole troupe including his parents murdered. Seven unnatural men sit amongst the ruins and the flames, the Chandrian. These are the boogeymen that parents tell their children about. They shouldn’t be real. But they are and have slaughtered Kvothe’s family and friends for a purpose: they want to keep knowledge about themselves secret, especially anyone who would write a song about them.
They leave Kvothe alive and disappear as quickly as they came. With no money, friends, or family Kvothe becomes a street urchin in a nearby city. He steals food to eat, and sleeps on roofs. His life is all but meaningless. But he still dreams of the University. There he knows he can learn magic, and even ancient power like the name of the wind. By knowing somethings true name you can control it. Kvothe figures if he can learn this special kind of magic then he track down the secret the Chandrian are trying to keep secret.
But what will it take to turn a homeless boy into a wizard? How can he afford school? How can he even compete with students who are older, wiser, and above all richer then him? Kvothe will have to rely on his determination, ingenuity and a bit of luck to see his dreams come true.
The Name of the Wind is one of my favorite books; one that I have read multiple times. I recommend it for anyone who loves fantasy and magic or giant epic adventures. It is a big book, but once I started reading i found it very hard to put down. It is appropriate for ages 14 and up.
Look for the owl with the keytar!