Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Three teens embark upon a cross-country journey in order to escape from a society that salvages body parts from children ages thirteen to eighteen.

It's Still Poetry Month

Two friends with the same first name present the true story of their lives told in a way never before seen. Born from their extraordinary friendship, this fresh, zine-like book tells of their passage into adulthood through poems and bold full-color images interwoven throughout.

A Poetry App for your iPhone

Only a few days left to celebrate 'Poetry Month!' Why not enjoy poetry all the time--from your iPhone?

“I took the library survey and look what they gave me.”

“I took the library survey and look what they gave me.” ~ Mr. Rutledge

Don’t forget to take the library survey to claim your candy*.

*Regrettably, your candy will be a little smaller.

Log-in to Blackboard. Under 'My Organizations' choose 'CBHS All.' The library survey is on the left.

2010 Teens' Top Ten Nomination Spotlight

Watersmeet by Ellen Jensen Abbott
Abisina is born into a colony of religious fanatics where she is persecuted for her appearance and kept alive only because her mother is a healer. When a new leader arrives, he rids the colony of outcasts. Abisina escapes and is rescued by some dwarves who help her journey to Watersmeet to find her father.

TAYSHAS List 2010

Earth Day 2010!

Here are some recommendations from The Houston Chronicle about going green. It's Earth Day, afterall.

• Ditch the car: Ride your bike, walk or take public transit whenever possible. When you have to drive,carpool with friends.
• Buy less stuff: Use the 24-hour rule to distinguish between things you really need and things that you just want because they look cool in the store.
• Eat less meat: Go veggie one or more times a week; vegetarian diets use fewer resources than meat-based diets.
• Make a waste-free lunch: Steer clear of disposables. Pack your lunch with reusable drink bottles, napkins and utensils.
• Nix the vampires: Don't let your gadgets (computers, game consoles, cell phones, MP3 players, etc.) suck more energy than they need. Use power-saving features to cut recharge times and unplug cords when not in use.
• Greenwashing: Labels can be misleading. Don't buy something (especially if you don't need it) just because it's labeled as green. Look for certified green labels (organic, fair-trade, recycled content, etc.) before buying.
• Vending machines: Vending machines are usually the antithesis of going green. Filled with pre-packaged snacks and drinks made from dubious ingredients, these machines are bad for your wallet, your health and the planet.
• Keeping up with Queen Bees: Resist the temptation to keep up with the other kids. Overconsumption wreaks havoc on the planet and your wallet. Don't rush out and buy the latest jeans or video game just because all the other kids have it. And take comfort in the knowledge that you're living green.
• Smoking: Hard to believe, but kids are still smoking. (The American Lung Association Web site reports that 20 percent of high school students said they have had a cigarette in the last 30 days.) Smoking wastes your money, trashes the environment and ends your life. Period.
• Multitasking: You don't have to look too hard to spot a kid texting friends on a cell, chatting on a cordless phone, sending Facebook messages, watching TV and playing a video game ... all at the same time! It's fine to multitask, as long as you're not plugged in or using batteries to do it.

And try out these other websites.
• Teens Turning Green: teensturninggreen.org
• Humane Teen: humaneteen.org
• Do Something: dosomething.org
• Green Teens: greenteensusa.org
• Mother Nature Network: mnn.com

2009 Most Frequently Challenged Books List

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom has released its list of the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009. Lauren Myracle’s Internet girl series – ttyl, ttfn, and l8r g8r - tops the list, replacing the children’s book, And Tango Makes Three in the top spot.
The Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded a total of 460 challenges in 2009. For every challenge reported they estimate that there are 4 or 5 challenges that go unreported. They monitor challenge situations across the country, providing information and assistance to librarians and teachers facing attempts to remove or restrict materials in schools and libraries.

Get Reading! Make sure you're ready to vote for the YALSA 2010 Teens' Top Ten.

The Sky is Everywhere (FIC NEL)

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life and despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they are the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.