This year's Michael L. Printz Award goes to...

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Cameron, a sixteen-year-old slacker, sets off on a madcap road trip along with a punk angel, a dwarf sidekick, a yard gnome and a mad scientist to save the world and perhaps his own life.

Four Printz Honor Books were also named:

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
Once Charles Darwin sets his rational mind to marry the religious Emma Wedgeworth, they both must take a leap of faith in order to build a life together.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Will Henry, orphan and assistant to a monstrumologist, races against time to save his town (and himself) from the anthropophagi, a pod of monstrous creatures who prey on humans.

Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
Fourteen-year-old runaway Jamie, homeless and strung out, embarks on a harrowing journey to reach his dying brother.

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes
Karl Shoemaker wants to begin his senior year with a new identity separate from his counseling group, his alcoholic mother and the legacy of his dead father.

Alice in Wonderland
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Matt Lucas, Johnny Depp, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Anne Hathaway, Christopher Lee, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Alan Rickman
Director: Tim Burton
Distributors: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: March 5th (wide)
Based on: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll
Seventeen-year-old Alice returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.
See the Trailer on YouTube

Graceling by Kristen Cashore

If you like action, adventure and romance try the Graceling by Kristen Cashore.  In this fantasy world Katsa (the King's niece) is born with extreme and a skill, called a Grace. She has been able to kill with her bare hands since she was 8.  Her Uncle has asked her to be his enforcer and she has obeyed.  But when young Po enters her life things begin to change and she questions who she has become.

If you like this one, try the companion book, Fire, the Second book of the Seven Kingdoms Trilogy. It has a new cast of characters, save one.  It is the story of seventeen-year-old Fire, the last of the human-shaped monsters who is mistrusted and hated by everyone.

Teen Tech Week

Check out the Teen Tech Week programs at the Central Library:  Drop in Monday, March 8 any time between 3:00 and 5:00 pm to explore the library databases. See how easy it is to find the information you need to do your homework.  Spend just a few minutes of your time and receive candy as your reward.

On Thursday, March 11th at 4:00 to 4:45 pm you can talk to teen author, Mitali Perkins live via Skype.  You can "Ask Mitali Anything!".  Ask her about her life, her books, writing, anything!

American Idol Season 9

Will this season's contestants live up to the standards created last year? Last season's American Idol boasted a lot of original talent, such as Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey.  So far this season I have not been too impressed by the contestants or blown away by their talent as I was with Adam Lambert. However, there are a few favorites with unique voices that I predict will make it to the top 12. Some of these contestants are Alex Lambert, Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, Didi Benami, Katelyn Epperley, Katie Stevens, and Lee DeWyze.

The judges are pretty harsh this season and really want the contestants to break from their comfort zones and really take chances.  Will my predictions come true? In the mean time, check out some books from the library about past Idol contestants. We have books about Chris Daughtry, David Archuletta, Carrie Underwood, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.

American Idol

Who is your favorite contestant so far this season?

Check out the Cranston Public Library eZone!

Did you know you can download audio books from home and transfer them to your iPod or Sony Reader? For free! Just go to the eZone and search all of the titles. Easily download the Windows Media Console and you're good to go. It's available 24-hours a day. Great for when you were supposed to read that book for school!

Homework Club

Drop by the William Hall branch on Tuesdays from 3:30-5. Do your homework, meet some new friends, have a snack, and play some games!

RI Teen Book Award nominees

The voting has ended! What were some of your favorites?

Our favorites were:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury. When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman. In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs--and, perhaps, save their own lives.

Stay tuned to see the winner of the 2010 RI Teen Book Awards!