Did you know...

that you can check out Video Games @ your Library?
Check out some of these NEW Video Games!!

for Nintendo DS:
Kirby Mass Attack
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-land Mayhem
Mario Kart

for Play Station 3:
Little Big Planet
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time
Uncharted 1
Uncharted 2

for Wii:
Kirby's Return to Dreamland

for XBOX 360:
Batman: Arkham City
Forza 4
Need for Speed: The Run
Split Second

Looking for a different video game?
Check out our catalog online:
www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/catalog

For faster results...
Look up a specific title using the "FORMAT" search
(under advanced search options) and type your game title in the last search box on the page: Software Title begins with:

Upcoming Programs

Video Game Day: Mario Day!
Sunday, January 8 at 2 pm

Join us for a video game day of all games Mario - Mario Kart, Mario Party and Super Smash Brothers! We will have several systems set up around the room. No registration necessary. For grades 6 -12. Refreshments provided by the Friends of Fredricksen.

This Land is Your Land: Teen Writing Workshop
4 Part workshop- 4 Saturdays January 28th, February 4th, February 11th and February 18th 2 pm to 4 pm

In a world where analysis and left-brain thinking dominates, this creative writing workshop gently guides in the creation of a deeper, more imaginative universe. Where else can you create your own landscape and those who live in it? This workshop supports self-expression and enhances a new way of thinking in today’s hectic pace. As Tramp once said in “Lady and the Tramp:” There’s a big hunk of world down there with no fences around it…..And it’s all ours for the taking…..All ours.” This is exactly the spirit you will find in this fun-filled creative writing workshop presented by Real Simple Soul and Sherrie LeuVay.

Teen Movie: Call for title - PG-13 Sunday, January 29 at 2 pm

Escape the cold weather by joining us to watch a Steven Spielberg Production. After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon. Refreshments provided by the Friends of Fredricksen. No registration necessary. For grades 6 -12. MPAA- Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and some drug use.

Safe Sitter Workshop 2-part workshop, Saturdays, January 14 and 21 from 10 am – 4:30 pm

Holy Spirit Health System will be presenting this babysitter training program for ages 11-13. To register call Cheryl Sola at Holy Spirit Health Systems at 763-2427 and leave a message including your name, address, and phone number. A registration packet will be mailed to you. You must attend both sessions to receive a certificate of completion. There is a $25 fee which will include a manual, a backpack, and additional supplies. T-shirts and sweatshirts will also be available for purchase. Bring a bag lunch. (Snowdate - January 28)

Teen Craft: Valentine's Day Roses Sunday, February 12 at 2 pm

We will be combining the best parts of Valentine’s Day, roses and chocolate, to make Hershey Kiss roses. We will also be making roses from everyone's favorite material, duct tape! Great gifts for that special someone. For grades 6 – 12 with no registration necessary. Sponsored by Friends of Fredricksen.

Game Day- Unplugged! Sunday, February 26 at 2 pm

Join us for an afternoon of board games! Feel free to bring your favorite from home. For grades 6 – 12 with no registration necessary. Refreshments provided by the Friends of Fredricksen.

Program for All Ages
Birdie for Books! –Mini Golf @ Fredricksen Library Saturday, February 25 from 10 am to 6 pm

Save the Date! Our 3rd Annual Birdie for Books fundraiser is back again by popular demand! Don’t miss the chance to play 18 holes of miniature golf INSIDE the library and raise money for Fredricksen at the same time. Last year over 400 golfers came to Fredricksen to play our challenging course that meandered throughout both floors of the library, helping us to raise almost $10,000! The course includes sand traps, hazards, menacing greens, and other decorations designed by local high schools students. Our 19th Hole Café will once again be filled with wonderful treats, raffle prizes and food. Last year’s prizes included pool memberships, golf outings, toys, and gift baskets. Don’t miss this fun filled day for the whole family! Hole, Tee and Fairway Sponsorships are available for businesses, organizations and families to support Fredricksen. The library will be open for this unique Mini-Golf fundraiser, but closed for regular library business on Saturday, February 25th. For more information call the Development Office at (717) 761-3900 ext. 244.

Playground / Fifty Cent

TITLE: Playground
AUTHOR: Fifty Cent
OWNED BY CCLS? Yes.

Playground is the story of thirteen year old Butterball; a modern day bully. Butterball is a teen growing up in suburban Long Island who finds himself meeting with a therapist twice a week after viciously attacking a fellow classmate with a sock filled with batteries. Maurice (the boy who he attacked) is so traumatized that he transfers out of Watkins (the school that both boys attend) and out of Butterball's life. Will Butterball take his therapy seriously and open up about why he did what he did? Or will Butterball resists therapy and continue down the same destructive path?

M's Verdict: Want to know what made me pick up this book? Similar to Hilary Duff's Elixir, I wanted to see if 50 Cent (a.k.a. Curtis James Jackson III) could actually write a book that would appeal to teens and be worth reading. In my opinion, it's good. I don't know how much 50 Cent wrote and how much co-writer Laura Moser wrote, but the tale is believably harsh, realistic, and honest.

Author (and rapper) 50 Cent created an authentic story of a teenager growing up in a dysfunctional family in a less than stellar neighborhood. Supposedly semi-autobiographical, Playground tells the story of a teen bully (similar to the author) who made some terrible choices and had to live with his consequences and decide whether or not he wanted to change. Although there may be a connection between the author and main character in regards to being a bully in school, which opens itself up to both a great novel and a great lesson for teenagers, there are many differences between the author and main character of Playround.

Here's what the real 50 Cent story includes but Playground did not:

• In the story...


• Butterball lived with his mother who spent all of her time working and going back to nursing school
  


• In real-life...


• 50 Cent's mother was a crack dealer who was murdered when he was only eight years old


• 50 Cent was raised by his grandmother
  


• In the story...


• Butterball's father lived the bachelor life in NYC
  


• In real-life...


• 50 Cent's father abandoned him shortly after his mother died

For Additional Information:
http://allmusic.com/artist/50-cent-p372609/biography
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/50-cent/biography

NEW Graphic Novels

Alright, so I just recently acquired a Kindle Fire and although you'd think this would provide me with additional opportunities to read, it (along with the upcoming holiday season) has kind of put the brakes on my reading. Instead, I find myself getting sucked into various games/apps that I was able to download from free from Amazon (and I'm not talking about Angry Birds, I'm talking about old-school Bejewled/Tetris kinds of games).

Anyhow, I'm saying this because I fortunately have some saved up graphic novel info. that I am able to post now. I promise that I will try to get some reading done over the holiday season and I'll post some reviews of whatever I read. For now, here's some new graphic novel news...

TITLE: Mangaman
AUTHOR: Barry Lyga ; illustrated by Colleen Doran

SUMMARY: Interested in manga, but not quite ready to dive in? Try Mangaman. It's a kind-of-crossover between manga and the traditional comic. Ryoko is a manga character who has fallen through a rip in the "real" world and finds himself trying to function in a modern American high school setting. It's a great tale of teen angst and of fitting into a new environment while still trying to stay true to yourself.


TITLE: George R. R. Martin's Doorways
AUTHOR: George R. R. Martin

SUMMARY: Dr. Mason treats a rather unusual woman named Cat in his ER one night who speaks in broken English, wears skimpy torn clothing, and has a weapon of futuristic types attached to her arm. Of course, after this initial encounter, things only keep getting more bizarre. Dr. Mason tries to protect Cat from the sci-fi monsters that are in pursuit of her and in an attempt to flee from these ne'er do wells, both of them are transported into an alternative Earth. How will it end?


TITLE: Shadoweyes in Love
AUTHOR: Ross Campbell

NOTES: Sequel to Shadoweyes (which was awesome!), and even though I'm still in the process of reading it--it's good:) If you haven't read Shadoweyes, I recommend it. If you loved Shadoweyes, then definitely read Shadoweyes in Love.

Upcoming TEEN Program

WHAT: Teen Fundraiser
WHERE: Five Below @ Camp Hill Mall
WHEN: December 16, 17 & 18th

Five Below Holiday Teen Fundraiser Friday, December 16 through Sunday, December 18 The Fredricksen Library’s Teen Advisory Group is raising money to purchase teen materials, as well as furnishings for the teen area in the library. You can help by shopping at Five Below in the Camp Hill Mall on December 16 - 18. Vouchers will be available at the library, on the library’s website, and here: VOUCHER. Bring a voucher with you to the store and 10% of your purchase will go to a fund for the teens. This is a great way to get some fun holiday gifts and help the library.

Upcoming TEEN Program

WHAT: Gingerbread House Extravaganza

WHERE: Fredricksen Library
WHEN: Sunday, December 18th from 2-4:30PM

Join us for our 2nd Gingerbread House Extravaganza for teens! Teens are challenged to create a spectacular holiday gingerbread house using graham crackers, candy, and frosting! Join us as we welcome the holidays with this yummy event! For teens in grades 6 – 12 with a $2.00 fee. Register starting Dec.1. Sponsored by the Friends of Fredricksen.

Holiday Music

Looking for something new to listen to this holiday season? Check out some of these NEW and CLASSIC tunes...

CLASSICS

Album Title: Christmas Favorites
Artist: Nat King Cole

Tracks:
1. The Christmas Song
2. Adeste Fideles
3. Hark the Herald Angel Sing
4. The First Noel
5. O Tannenbaum
6. Silent Night
7. O Little Town of Bethlehem
8. O Holy Night
9. Away in a Manger
10. A Cradle in Bethlehem

Album Title: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Artist: Vince Guaraldi Trio

Tracks:
1. O Tannenbaum
2. What Child is This?
3. My Little Drum
4. Linus & Lucy
5. Christmastime is Here (Instrumental)
6. Christmastime is Here (Vocal)
7. Skating
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Christmas is Coming
10. Fur Elise
11. The Christmas Song
12. Greensleeves
13. Christmas is Coming (Alternate


Album Title: White Christmas
Artist: Bing Crosby

Tracks:
1. Good King Wenceslas
2. Silent Night, Holy Night
3. Adeste Fideles
4. The First Noel
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6. Happy Holiday
7. Deck the Halls
8. I'll Be Home for Christmas
9. White Christmas
10. Jungle Bells
11. The Christmas Song
12. Joy to the World
13. Silver Bells
14. Let it Snow!, Let it Snow!, Let it Snow!
15. Away in a Manger
16. O Little Town of Bethlehem

Album Title: Santa's Greatest Hits
Artist: Various

Tracks:
1. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree / Brenda Lee
2. Jingle Bell Rock / Bobby Helms
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Gene Autry
4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Judy Garland
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / Jimmy Boyd
6. A Holly Jolly Christmas / Burl Ives
7. Feliz Navidad / Jose Feliciano
8. The Chipmunk Song / Chipmunks
9. I'll Be Home for Christmas / Bing Crosby
10. Sleigh Ride / Ella Fitzgerald
11. The Little Drummer Boy / Harry Simeone Chorale
12. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) / Mel Torme
13. Santa Baby / Eartha Kitt
14. White Christmas / Bing Crosby

A "New" Twist on the Classics...

Album Title: A Very Special Christmas 7
Artist: Various

Tracks:
1. Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas / Colbie Caillat
2. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! / Carter Twins
3. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree / Miley Cyrus
4. Winter Wonderland / Vanessa Hudgens
5. The Little Drummer Boy / Sean Kingston
6. The Christmas Song / Charice
7. Do You Hear What I Hear? / Kristinia DeBarge
8. Jingle Bell Rock / Mitchel Musso
9. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) / Leighton Meester
10. Santa Baby / Kellie Pickler
11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Carrie Underwood
12. Last Christmas / Ashley Tisdale
13. Silent Night / Gloriana

Album Title: NOW That's What I Call Christmas! 4
Artist: Various

Tracks:
1. A Child is Born / Rihanna
2. Merry Christmas Baby / Sheryl Crow
3. Mistletoe / Colbie Caillat
4. All I Want for Christmas is You / Mariah Carey
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Christina Aguilera
6. What Child is This / Carrie Underwood
7. Where Are You Christmas / Faith Hill
8. Silver Bells / Martina McBride
9. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree / Toby Keith
10. Candy Cane Christmas / Darius Rucker
11. Christmas You and Me / Brian McKnight feat. Vince Gill
12. Wonderful Christmastime / Kelly Rowland
13. Drummer Boy / Sean Kingston
14. Christmas Tree / Lady Gaga feat. Space Cowboy
15. My Only Wish (This Year) / Britney Spears
16. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! / Michael Buble
17. Christmas Time is Here / Diana Krall
18. Happy Christmas (War is Over) / Maroon 5

Album Title: This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 2
Artist: Various

Tracks:

1. Party Hard / Zach Gill
2. Jingle Bell Rock / Rogue Wave
3. Christmas Blues / G. Love
4. In the Morning / Jack Johnson
5. Christmas Must be Tonight / Bahamas
6. Home for the Season / Neil Halstead
7. Frosty the Snowman / Zee Avi
8. Let it Ride / ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
9. Make Time / Money Mark
10. Winter Swell Blues / Paula Fuga
11. Christmas Cookies / G. Love
13. Angel (Holiday) / Jack Johnson

ALBUM TITLE: Under the Mistletoe
ARTIST: Justin Bieber

Tracks:
1. Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas
2. Mistletoe
3. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
4. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
5. Fa La La
6. All I Want for Christmas is You / feat. Mariah Carey
7. Drummer Boy
8. Christmas Eve
9. All I Want is You
10. Home This Christmas
11. Silent Night

Album Title: A Very She & Him Christmas
Artist: She & Him

Tracks:
1. The Christmas Waltz
2. Christmas Day
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. I'll Be Home for Christmas
5. Christmas Wish
6. Sleigh Ride
7. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
8. Silver Bells
9. Baby, It's Cold Outside
10. Blue Christmas
11. Little Saint Nick
12. The Christmas Song

Upcoming TAG Meetings

2012 TAG Meeting Dates

(all meetings @ 7PM @ Fredricksen Library)

Thursday, January 12th
Tuesday, January 24th
Thursday, February 9th
Thursday, February 23rd
Tuesday, March 6th
Thursday, March 22nd
Tuesday, April 3rd
Tuesday, May 1st
Thursday, May 17th

Shatter Me / Tahereh Mafi

TITLE: Shatter Me
AUTHOR: Tahereh Mafi
OWNED BY CCLS? On order.

Juliette is untouchable. (Scratch that.) Juliette's touch is lethal. Her special powers are actually to blame for the death of a young boy at a supermarket. Due to this particular incident, Juliette finds herself locked away by The Reestablishment (a futuristic type of government) with no hope of ever seeing the outside world. She has been deemed a monster and a criminal and even her parents were glad to see her go.

While Juliette is "living" in her cell, The Reestablishment offers her the chance to live a life free of cells in exchange for using her special power to torture other prisoners and parterning up with Warner, a Reestablishment leader.

Will Juliette's desire for human connection force her to choose to use her powers for evil or will a surprising encounter with a guard cause her to believe in a better life, and in love?

M's Verdict: I'm on the fence. The premise was interesting and the ending left me wanting more, but I wish the beginning had been more to the point and less wandering. It seems like Mafi took a long time working up toward the roller coaster romance between Juliette and Adam and the thrilling escape from The Reestablishment.

In regards to the actual writing, something that drove me absolutely NUTS in the beginning of the book was Mafi's lack of commas. I'm the first to admit that I am queen of run-on sentences, but come on! Plus the strike through text and repetitive phrases was kind of annoying too (I do understand that it was a way of understanding Juliette's thinking process, but I still found it bothersome). Here's what I'm talking about:

Just like all of the other new YA books I've read recently, I smell a sequel if not a series... So if you enjoy Shatter Me, find comfort in knowing there must be another one coming along shortly!

Click on the title header (above) to check out Tahereh Mafi's site (book trailer & more available online).

Racing in the Rain / Garth Stein

TITLE: Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog
AUTHOR: Garth Stein

OWNED BY CCLS? Yes.

(Adapted from Stein's adult novel The Art of Racing in the Rain).

Racing cars is similar to life in that it is not just about the speed; there are many other factors that come into play and can change the outcome. Enzo, a wise and wonderful canine, is one such "person" that has come to understand this in his many years as a dog.

On his deathbed, Enzo (named after Enzo Ferrari) explains to the reader how he has come to become a knowledgeable soul (by watching television and listening and observing his owner--race car driver Denny Swift) and how all of his acts as a dog will hopefully allow him to become a human in his next life (he believes in karma).

Enzo tells of the many events that have impacted his life and the life of his owner. From the time Denny picked Enzo out of his litter, to when Denny first brought home Eve (his future wife), to when Denny and Eve's daughter Zoe was born, to the nasty custody battle between Denny and his in-laws.

Reminiscent of John Grogan's Marley and Me, Racing in the Rain offers dog lovers a new inspirational story. Enzo's perspective is refreshing and the storyline is both unpredictable and an emotional roller coaster (so have the tissues nearby).

M's Verdict... If you are a dog lover, like to read fictional dog tales or enjoyed John Grogan's Marley and Me, you'll love Racing in the Rain! I couldn't put it down and am looking into some of Stein's other books. After reading Racing in the Rain, you will likely look at your dog(s) a little differently than you did before. Because if, like Enzo, they really do understand everything that is going on and are simply unable to verbalize their happiness, disgust or frustration with us, perhaps we'd better listen a little more carefully!

a MUST read! check it out @ your library!