Calling All Poets, Writers, and Artists

This is your opportunity to express yourself. If you want to share your craft with others send your poems, short stories, or pictures of your artwork (photos, paintings, pottery, woodwork, etc.) to ExpressiveTeens@gmail.com. Participants should be between 12 and 18 and be enrolled in grades six through twelve in August 2008. Prizes will be awarded monthly for the best entries.

I can't wait to see who will be one of BPL’s Expressive Teens.

Artista

GET A BUZZ @ THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY

Teens at Five Points West learned the business of bees and beekeeping.

TEEN TIME @ FIVE POINTS WEST

Bedazzled baseball caps were made by the teens of Five Points West.

Umdabu Dances Its Way into the Hearts of North Birmingham!

Monday, July 14, the North Birmingham Library enjoyed a late afternoon of South African history and dance. Always exciting, talented, and full of energy, Umdabu danced its way into our hearts and made us march to a different beat.

Brisinger / Inheritance Book III

Brisingr
Book III in the Inheritance Cycle
by Christopher Paolini

September 20th 2008 is the release date for Brisingr. In the third book the battle continues against the Empires warriors on the Burning Plains. Eragon has sworn to help his cousin Roran save Katrina from the clutches of King Galbatorix. At the same time the Varden is threatened and Eragon must decide where his loyalties lie. His decision will take him beyond the Empire and to make choices that may lead him to make unimagined sacrifices.

"Teens @ 2" Create Masterpieces at North Birmingham Library

"Tween/teens @ 2" enjoy metamorphosing old pairs of jeans into beautiful masterpieces.

Umdabu Dance Company Comes to North Birmingham

Please join us Monday, July 14 at 4:00 p.m. Come and enjoy an afternoon of traditional and contemporary South African history and dance. For more information contact the Youth Services Department at 205-226-4025.

Dance, Dance Revolution

"Teens @ 2" enjoy a game of Dance, Dance Revolution at the North Birmingham Library.

Metamorphosis Masterpiece @ North Birmingham Library

"Teens @ 2" will be amazed at what can be created out of an old pair of jeans... a metamorphosis masterpiece. Come join in on the fun and turn your trash into treasure on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

Hip Hop Comes to North Birmingham Library!!

95.7 JAMZ is coming to North Birmingham Library, Wednesday, July 9th at 2:00 p.m. Come watch one of your favorite personalties discuss how they got into the radio business.

Good Moves or Two Left Feet?

Do you think you can dance? Come join the fun with our "Teens @ 2" and show us your moves. The Dance, Dance Revolution showdown begins Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. For more information contact the Youth Services Department at (205) 226-4025.

Movie Madness!!

"Teen Screen @ 2" enjoy popcorn and a movie. Come join us on Movie Madness Fridays, June 20th and 27th at 2:00 p.m. For more information contact the Youth Services Department @ 205-226-4025.

Rock Star or Rock...Not!

June 4, 2008, the North Birmingham Library Teens @ 2 tested their music skills and partied like rock stars. This is one of the many programs being offered to teens at the North Birmingham Library. If you are interested in attending one of our tween/teen related programs, please contact us at (205) 226-4025.

Avondale Teen Time

Avondale Teens having fun as they transform

Trash to Treasure.

Check Us Out

44 fantastic teens have already signed up for Metamorphosis at Springville Road. This summer they will challenge each other in a Wii Tournament, make a gigantic recyclable structure, and so much more. Don't wait, run down to your local library and get registered for the summer activities, win prizes, and meet new people.

Twilight Series

Vampires. Werewolves. Star-crossed lovers. What else would you want in a novel? From the very beginning the reader is pulled into Bella's world and all the insecurities she is facing: a new school, new home, and new love. The author, Stephanie Meyer, not only manages to portray to the reader the angst of being a teen, but also how problematic it is having a vampire for a boyfriend. The duo struggles with Bella's responsibility to school and also to her family, while trying to remain true to their feelings toward one another.

Edward, on the other hand, has to deal with the conflicting emotions of being caught between the mortal world and his vampire family. Edward's family become such an essential part of the story that they also develop their own great story lines throughout the novels.

And let's not forget about Jacob Black. Jacob is another one of those secondary characters that you find yourself pulling for and hoping beyond hope that he will be the main character in his own book.

The series consists of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and coming in August Breaking Dawn. The new book comes on the heels of the movie Twilight, which is set to be released in December 2008.

From the very beginning, I found it hard to put down the first book and was anxiously waiting for the next one in the series to be published. I would suggest reading all the books in the series before the movie comes out. You know what they say: the book is always a lot better than the movie.

Avondale Library Teen Time

Join the Teen Scene at the Avondale Library

Thursday afternoons at 2:00 p.m.

Fun, Fun, FUN!

Click here for more details.

Teen Book Reviews

Have you read all the books in one series and started looking for their read-a-likes? Are you always searching for teen books that are interesting, only to be disappointed in the end? Wouldn't it be great to get some insight into a book before checking it out?

We are on the look out for teens who are willing to give us the scoop on books that they have read. So, if you've read a book lately and want to let other teens know about it, please e-mail us a review at bplsexpressiveteens@gmail.com. Just remember, your review may be the only thing that that keeps a teen from reading another boring book. No pressure. LOL! Thanks.

Metamorphosis @ Birmingham Public Library

Teens! Get READy to Transform Yourself with Metamorphosis @ Your Library!

Get ready for a life-changing summer at the library. There will be book clubs, video games, movies, dancing, and a whole lot more.

Teens can change a boring summer into one filled with learning, fun, and activities galore.

Participating in the Summer Reading Program can bring some great changes, so head on over to your local library!

Call your local library, or go to our Calendar of Events for information and join us for a metamorphing Summer Reading Program because the library can change your life!

A Bug Story to End All Bug Stories

Want to meet the granddaddy of all bugs? Then check out a copy of the creepy novella, The Metamorphosis.

The Metamorphosis was written by Franz Kafka, who was born in 1883 in Prague. Kafka's characters often find themselves alienated and trapped in unpleasant situations in a modern, bewildering world. This theme of alienation stemmed from his being Jewish at a time and place when Jews were expected to live in a ghetto, separated from non-Jews.

The Metamorphosis is about a traveling salesman named Gregor Samsa who wakes one morning to find that he has turned into a giant insect overnight. (There has been much debate about what kind of insect Gregor transforms into. Is he a cockroach? A beetle? Kafka himself never answered this question, and insisted that Gregor not be illustrated or even seen from a distance on the cover of the book's first edition. But over time this suggestion was ignored for clarity's sake.)

Gregor has trouble adjusting to his new body. His first attempt to flip himself off his back to the floor is the first of many physical trials he must endure as he gets used to his new body. He's not even sure what kind of food to eat. Eventually he discovers that he has a hankering for rotten fruit.

Gregor's family is horrified when the door to his room opens and they see Gregor's hideous bug form filling the doorway. Over the weeks Gregor must struggle with more than just his physical being: he must deal with a pushy boss; his frightened and disgusted family; a thoughless housekeeper; and a life full of people and things that he once loved becoming as alien to Gregor as Gregor has become to the world.

For the full effect of Gregor's struggles, check out The Metamorphosis graphic novel.

Kafka's other works:
Amerika: The Man Who Disappeared
The Castle
Complete Stories
I Am a Memory Come Alive
The Trial

About Kafka:
The Diaries of Franz Kafka
A Franz Kafka Miscellany: Pre-fascist Exile
Franz Kafka: A Critical Study of His Writings
K.
Kafka (video)