Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Book Trailer for Melissa de la Cruz's New Series

Check out the book trailer for Witches of East End, book 1 in Melissa de la Cruz's new series. It looks good and the book takes place on Long Island!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sakura (Cherry) Blossoms at Brooklyn Botanical Garden





Hanami celebrates the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying the blossoming of the Cherry Blossom trees, known as Sakura in Japanese. At the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens between April 1 and May 2, you can see beautiful Cherry Blossom trees and visit the Japanese gardens. On Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1, they will have their annual Sakura Matsuri, a festival with Taiko drumming, origami, traditional Japanese instrument concerts, and tons of anime/manga related events!


Friday, April 22, 2011

Cart and Cwidder book review

Osfameron Tanamoril, or Moril for short, is the son of the famous singer Clennen. As traveling musicians, his family is allowed to travel between the warring Northern and Southern parts of Dalemark. Equipped with two cwidders, their lyrical songs, and their horse Barangarolob to pull them along, Moril’s family has made quite a name for themselves in all areas of Dalemark. As legitimate travelers, his family often takes on passengers seeking to visit other areas of the country; they are also allowed to pass messages between the two halves of Dalemark. Yet, this common act is not what it appears to be, and a new traveler to be taken to the North is suspiciously different from the rest. The family’s seemingly simple life changes dramatically when Clennen is mysteriously murdered, Moril’s older brother is arrested for treason by Southern official, and Moril is bequeathed his father’s ancient—and magical—cwidder. What does this new traveler have to do with these occurrences? How is the past, once thought to be exaggerated songs sung by Clennen, repeating itself with Moril as the new hero?


This first book in Diana Whynne Jones’ The Dalemark Quartet series will take you on a fantastical adventure. Her writing is, as always, engaging and descriptive.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Trapped Book Review



I have to admit, I probably took the easy way out by reading Trapped by Michael Northrop in April when the threat of snow is unlikely. Regardless, Trapped is a gripping page turner. Scotty, a sophomore basketball player, narrates the events as they unfold of the seven students and one teacher who are stranded at school when a winter storm turns into the biggest nor'easter the U.S. has ever had. The small group, ranging from a jock and a bully, to the prettiest girl in school and the most average boy, must weather the storm by rationing left over cafeteria food, navigating the dark hallways, and ultimately deciding how to get help when the school building becomes too dangerous for them to remain. Scotty's admission that not everyone will survive builds the suspense immediately and the ever falling snow piles on the drama. Best read on a snow day, but pretty chilling on a warm spring day too.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Saturn Apartments Vol. 1




In Earth’s future, all humans have evacuated into space to preserve the dying planet. Instead of living on Earth, all humans now live around Earth in a man-made ring structure, occupying apartment buildings in three levels organized by social status. Considering the fact that right outside their homes is space, how can one ever have clean windows? Enter the window washers, those who risk their lives to leave the comforts of their controlled atmosphere to enter space and clean the windows of people rich enough to afford them.


Mitsu, a hard-working orphan, has just graduated school. Mitsu is training to be a window washer like his missing father, who, years ago, mysteriously disappeared during a lower-level window washing job. Was his rope torn by the raging wind or did the beautiful site of his old home planet have something to do with it?


Saturn Apartments by Hisae Iwaoka is a fascinating science fiction story, filled with interesting and well-developed characters. The art is just as unique as the plot. If you love science fiction or are just looking for something out of the ordinary to read, then make sure to pick up this book!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Cast of The Hunger Games

Gale will be played by Liam Hensworth Peeta will be played by Josh Hutcherson
Katniss will be played by Jennifer Lawrence


None of them are exactly what I pictured, especially Katniss and Gale. But I'll reserve judgement until I see the movie.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

NYPL launches mobile app scavenger hunt

If you love scavenger hunts and have a smartphone then head over to the New York Public Library after May 20 until the end of this year to participate in this landmark event! All you have to do is download the virtual scavanger hunt app to your phone and it'll take you on adventures throughout the library's special collection (ie: to see a copy of Declaration of Idependence)! Check out this article from CNN for more info! http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/04/01/new.york.library.game/index.html?hpt=Sbin#