Book to Movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

ATTENTION: All Stephen Chbosky fans!  The Perks of Being a Wallflower (published in 1999) has been made into a movie, and the release date is September 21st.  Stars include Logan Lerman (of Percy Jackson fame) as Charlie, a likeable, introverted high school freshman who's trying to fit in; Emma Watson as Sam, Charlie's first love; and Ezra Miller as Patrick, a senior who becomes Charlie's best friend.

Here is a short summary:

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school in 1991-92. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

If you go to see this movie, I'd love to hear what you think.  Did the movie follow the book?  Was the cast believable?  Looking forward to this one!

Lisa U.
CC Library

 

NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels

Ah, lists.....you love them, you hate them....and EVERYONE seems to have at least one to share.  National Public Radio (NPR) asked for favorite young adult novels, and more than 75,000 people responded.  They compiled a Top 100 List, along with a list of the 235 finalists. 

Do you agree with this list?  Would you add or remove any titles?  I'd love to hear what you think!

Lisa U.
CC Library

2012 Teen Summer Reading Club

Summer 2012 has arrived!  This year's theme for Teen Summer Reading Club is Own the Night.  You can sign up for the Summer Reading Club at your local library from now until August.  You can win great prizes, attend cool events and check out good books all summer long!  For more information, call your local library.

The June Teen Library Crew event for Chester County Library is the Brainwash Game Show, hosted by Eric Dasher.  Use your brain power to answer questions about books, pop culture and other trivia.  You can win cool prizes!  This event will be held in the Struble Room at Chester County Library on June 29th from 6:30-8:00 pm.  Registration is required.  To register, you can call 610-280-2632 or email tlc@ccls.org.  Hope you can make it!

LOL Read - Swim the Fly

Are you looking for a laugh-out-loud funny read?  I highly recommend Swim the Fly by screenwriter Don Calame!  I listened to it on audio and fell down laughing many times -- not only does narrator Nick Podehl do the voices of each character perfectly, but he also has spot-on comic timing with the hilarious dialogue.

Here is a brief synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Matt Groton and his two best friends, Sean and Coop, always set a summertime goal -- this year's is to see a real-live naked girl.  But given the fact that none of them even has the nerve to ask a girl out on a date, this is going to be a challenge.  Plus, Matt gives himself a second, more daunting goal -- to swim the impossible 100-yard butterfly to impress his crush, hottie Kelly West.  The trouble is, Matt can't even do one lap of the fly, let alone four.  His friend Coop points out the flaw in Matt's plan: "I'm sure Kelly finds the sight of a scrawny, pasty white dude flopping around in the water like a spastic salmon very hot." 

Matt and his friends cook up many wacky schemes to catch a girl in the buff, but all they succeed in doing is getting into trouble.  Some plots (like dressing in drag to sneak into the girls' locker room) strain credibility, but the hilarious results more than make up for it.  

All in all, Don Calame's sometimes-raunchy debut novel is worth a look (or a listen)!  Next up: this book's sequel, Beat the Band. 

Lisa U.

CC Library

The Hunger Games Movie

The day is finally here! The Hunger Games movie was released today, and it doesn't disappoint. Click here to see School Library Journal's review, which says the movie stays true to the book but doesn't glamorize the gore of the games.

If you go to see the movie, let me know your opinion! I would love to hear from you.

And if you'd like to read other books like The Hunger Games, click here for Hornbook's list of dystopian readalikes.