Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Living Dead Girl is the story of Alice, a young girl who was kidnapped at a young age. Now 15, Alice still lives with her abductor, secluded from the world, and forced to appease his carnal desires. Over the years she has grown up while dying inside herself, yet with growing older her appeal to her captor fades.  He tells her stories of the last girl he had, and how he killed her when she was 15, and then killed her parents as a belated punishment for growing up. Now her torturer wants Alice to help him find her replacement. Her withered emotions resurface as she finds herself elated that her nightmare is coming to an end, worried that the parents she can hardly remember might be killed, and malice towards her replacement. Does Alice, (which isn’t even her real name), have enough humanity left to save the little girl her abductor has his eye on? Or has she been hurt too much and too often so that now she just wants to cause a little pain of her own before she is killed?

As you can probably tell by now this isn’t a book for everyone. At times I felt like I was being bludgeoned while reading it.  I do think it is a good book though. It makes you think about what makes us really human, and how people can survive horrific experiences. It is appropriate for an older audience, ages 16 and up. It does have explicit scenes of abuse. I’d recommend it for anyone who has a strong stomach and is committed to thinking the story over after you’re finished, because the story will stick with you no matter what.

Posted under a librarian reads, review

It’s time to feature the cosplay portion of last Saturday’s Teen Anime Fest which was hosted by the Quad City Public Libraries and the Figge Art Museum.  First up we have cosplay designer and workshop instructor, Jenna.  She was kind enough to offer up her experience and fascinating expertise when it comes to all things cosplay.  Jenna provided her audience with great instructions on mask making, sewing skills, costume design, and practical tips for cosplaying in general.  A huge thank you goes out to Jenna for her enthusiastic presentation, as well as bringing in some of her spectacular creations to pass around.  Jenna attends high school in Bettendorf and got started making masks thanks to a knowledgeable and inspiring art teacher.

After the cosplay workshop, supplies such as furry material, foam sheets, felt, socks, gloves, buttons and glue guns were provided for teens to go wild with.  A few made furry gloves with claws and this next picture shows a teen participant who was able to finish his creation in time to parade it through the cosplay fashion show.  Nice work.

After the cosplay fashion show it was time to choose the winners.  Yet, it wasn’t as easy as you might think.  With over 30 teens participating in the cosplay event we ended up seeing more than a few stellar ensembles.  In order to determine the winner of the Teens’ Choice Award we decided that it would be best to let the audience clap for their favorites and whoever received the loudest applause would win.  Well, we narrowed it down to two finalists and had to have a clap-off to try and determine the real winner.  Turns out that even the tie breaker was too close to call.  So, instead of giving out a Teens’ Choice Award and a Librarians’ Choice Award, we spontaneously went with two Teens’ Choice Awards.  Too fun!  Enjoy these pics of the winners who each received $25 gift cards to Hobby Lobby.  Thanks to everyone for participating.

In the top picture, one award winner is the teen on the left with the freshly dyed green hair.  Mello Peterson did a spot on cosplay of Saria from Legend of Zelda.  In the bottom picture, the other award winner is the girl crouching in front.  She left before we could get her name Congratulations to the winners!!

Posted under Libraries Together

The Teen Anime Fest at the Figge was such a great time!  Thanks to those of you who were able to make it to the event on Saturday.  Over 100 people showed up and nearly all of them were teens.  The partnership between the Quad City Public Libraries and the Figge Art Museum was a perfect match for the many teen anime and manga lovers in the area.  They sure seemed to enjoy themselves.  We had 67 art submissions on display for the Manga Art Show.  Way to go teens!!  You all did a really fantastic job!

We decided to break the art contest up into two age brackets, 12-14 yr. olds & 15-18 yr. olds.  Local professional artist, Heidi Hernandez, judged the contest and selected one grand prize winner in each age group.  They were then awarded $25 gift cards to Hobby Lobby.  Five honorable mentions were also chosen in each age group and recipients of those received a tasty Pocky prize.  Also, all of the artists were awarded an official certificate of artistic excellence for participating in the contest.  Following are pictures of the winning artwork:

Age Division: 12-14

Best In Show:  Portrait of A Boy - Clayton Summers

Honorable Mention: Goddess - Emily Stogdill

Honorable Mention: Yin & Yang - Casey Albee

Honorable Mention: Flawed Design - Deme Echelbarger

Honorable Mention: Kawii Kitty Twins - Bailey Hager

Honorable Mention: Dream Wielder - Jacob Joslyn

Age Division 15-18

Best In Show: Guardian - Christopher Mbakwe

Honorable Mention: Yuki - Mimzy Storm

Honorable Mention: The Gang’s All Here - Ruth Sanders

Honorable Mention: Mamimi - Jacob Burns

Honorable Mention: Dangerous Beauty - Sari Moore

Honorable Mention: Believe - Basilia Koster

Stay tuned to tomorrow’s post when we revisit the cosplay portions of the Anime Fest.  Again, great job everyone!  Don’t forget to pick up your artwork at the library that you submitted it to.  Special thanks to local artist, Heidi Hernandez, and, of course, the Figge Art Museum for hosting the event…thank you!

Posted under Libraries Together

The Summoning by Elizabeth Armstrong

Chloe Saunders suffers horrible nightmares where ghosts talk to her. On her 15th birthday the ghosts no longer stay in her dreams. A visit to the school bathroom turns violent as a burned skeleton chases her out into the hall. No one else can see the ghosts so she is diagnosed as schizophrenic and sent to live in a group home. There she meets Simon, Derek, Liz, and Rae. They each have their own psychological problems, yet Chloe can’t help feeling something is amiss. Despite her medications the ghosts won’t leave her alone. Derek has a theory as to why: she isn’t crazy at all, she is actually a necromancer, someone who can speak and raise the dead. Derek also implies that she might not be the only one at the home with other worldly powers. If his theories are correct then what are the nurses and doctors actually doing to them with the medications and therapy sessions at the group home? Something sinister is afoot at the group home and Chloe and her new friends are determined to figure the mystery out.

I was surprised about how much I enjoyed this book. It turned out to be really engaging and an interesting take on dark fantasy, and I am looking forward to the sequel. The Summoning would appeal to both boys and girls who are into urban fantasy, or who need a comfortably creepy read. Appropriate for anyone 12 and up.

Posted under a librarian reads, review

Nerdposium
This Thursday (the 9th)
3:30 - 5

We are moving Nerdposium up a week and we are going to break in our new Monopoly board. We will split in to teams and play by some house rules (free parking pot and dealing out property). So join us when you can!

As you can see we have the cool Onyx Edition Monoploy board so defintely stop by to check it out!

Posted under announcement, nerdposium

CALL FOR ENTRIES

POEMS ON THE THEME OF LOVE & FORGIVENESS

TWO LEVELS:

Youth (middle school through high school)
Adult (past high school)

PRIZES: $25 apiece for four runners-up; $100 apiece for two first-place winners plus these two poems will be illustrated in one piece of art by local artist Katie Kiley to be on display in the Bettendorf Public Library. All six winners will read their poems on-stage with internationally known poet Li-Young Lee on Wednesday 28 January 2009

FINAL JUDGE: Li-Young Lee

ELIGIBILITY: Must live within a 50-mile radius of the Quad-Cities; Must not have already won first-place in a previous Bettendorf Public Library poetry contest.

RULES:
►Up to two poems may be submitted but only one prize per person will be awarded;
►Poem may be no longer than one page;
►Record name, address, phone number, email (if available) on the back of the poem;
►Record level (youth or adult);
►Poem will not be returned.

DEADLINE: Poem(s) must be received at the Bettendorf Public Library or be postmarked by Wednesday 15 October 2008. Drop off or mail to:

Bettendorf Public Library
Level John Gillette—Youth Level
2950 Learning Campus Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722

The Love and Forgiveness Project is in partnership with Augustana College, St. Ambrose University, and the German American Heritage Center. See www.bettendorflibrary.com or call 563-344-4175 and ask for Hedy for updates.

Posted under announcement

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
5 Stars

Breaking Dawn is about Bella and Edward after they get married. I liked this book best out of all of the Twilight books because Bella finally changes into a vampire and also has a child.

Also the Vulturi come to destroy her child because they think it is a threat to the humans and cant keep the secret of the vampires. I think you should read this book after you read the rest of the Twilight books because it will end Edward and Bella’s story the way it should be. You definately need to read it if you enjoyed the other Twilight books as much as I do.

Posted under review