Music Video Mondays - OK GO

OK GO is an American alternative rock band who are quite famous for their music videos which generally tend to go viral due to their quirky content. Formed in Chicago the foursome is now L.A. based. We will start off with their most recent video for "I Won't Let You Down".

 

Next is the video for their song "white knuckles" which features a lot of dogs.

 

And the final video for the band is their grammy award winning video for "Here it goes"

 

Your Bookmark Goes Here: All Fall Down: An Embassy Row novel

Ally Carter's new Embassy Row Series is out and book #1 is AMAZING!  Ally Carter, for those of you who are not familiar with her, also wrote the "Heist Society" series and "Gallagher Girls" series.  All her books feature strong female heros with lots of action set in differenct coutries.

Read alike: I would compare Embasy Row to e. lockhart's, "We Were Liars" - it's that good - I don't want to say more. 

I was on Ally's webiste and she has some pretty great FAQs. Check that out and find out all about her and the characters she creates. 

 Get your hands on this book fast, you won't need long to read it because you won't be able to put it down.

Here is the description from Carter's site: 

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her–so there’s no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door who is keeping an eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can’t control Grace–no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do.

Her past has come back to hunt her . . .  and if she doesn’t stop it, Grace isn’t the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world all stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

Click here to read the first two chapter. 

Secrets Can Make Friends? -- COLD CALLS reviewed

Cold Calls by Charles Benoit

Reviewed by Joseelyn S., Eatonville Youth Advisory Group member

 Cold Calls by Charles Benoit was a thrill-filled ride that was in fact a lot better than I initially expected. This book, like the back says, is very Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club. It’s about three targetted schoolmates named Eric, Shelly and Fatima having to smooth out the consequences of having their secrets hovered over their heads by a mysterious caller. The three first meet at an anti-bullying club, which is where, after sharing their stories, they all realize that they have quite possibly fallen victim to the same bully. This mystery caller is blackmailing each one of the students into bullying specific people from their schools for their own enjoyment. And, although you want to know what big secrets they all are hiding so closely under guard, it’s not until you continue reading that all the clues seem to come together, which is nice because it keeps you guessing in all its twisted glory.

One of the things I found especially pleasing about this book was the diversity in the characters in terms of their interests and ethnicities. Not to mention, Benoit also, to a small degree, included their cultures very slightly in the book, which I found most notable in the character Fatima. This book was very suspense filled and although I tend to have a habit of being able to predict where a storyline is headed, I was still very impressed with how he executed his writing skills to keep me interested. Speaking of his writing, I was very surprised to see that it was written in third person, but I was more surprised with the fact that it was not entirely bad at all. I was half expecting this book to be set in first person because of the amount of emotion I expected the characters to feel and how much it could have played out in the story if we were in their heads, but Benoit definitely did not skimp on his writing and expressed every little thing with his great writing style. In contrast I feel this book would have suited a much younger audience better than it did me (I'm 15). Nonetheless, it was a very quick read that shouldn’t take more than a few days to finish and was quite enjoyable. The ending I’m sure was supposed to make me feel stuck but instead it was exactly as I was expecting from this book; and that is not necessarily a bad thing, although it is not an exactly a good thing either.

In conclusion, this book was enjoyable while it lasted, but it did not exactly leave me breathless. Despite my thoughts, I still have no doubts that Charles Benoit is good at storytelling and this book definitely makes me want to check out some of his other works. Out of 5 stars I would give it a solid 3.7!

Five Frames From . . . January 24th edition

What movie are these images from?

Hiring for Summer Starts Now!

Summer seems a long way off, especially when it's really still the chilly depths of winter, but don't let that fool you, employers are preparing for summer already, and some are starting their hiring now! If you don't want to miss out on a chance at a job this summer, you are going to need to get started, too, and we are here to help. 

Kicking it off, a an important source of upcoming hiring going on: 

Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation

Toronto's recreation programmes are a major source of youth employment in the city, particular in the summer, when camp counsellors are hired, as well as lifeguards and other programme leaders. 

Toronto now has online job listings and an online application process, making it easier to apply for positions you'd be interested in. 

The deadline for this comes early - February 3rd! If you're looking for summer work, especially if you don't mind working with children and want some leadership experience for future resumes, it's definitely worth going to get started now, so you have a couple of weeks to find positions you want to apply for and get your application shaped up and ready. 

As you're preparing, it's also worth taking a look at the city's suggestions on what to expect in their hiring process, preparing for an interview, and their accessibility commitments and information. 

"A heartwarming story" -- THE ART OF GETTING STARED AT reviewed

The Art of Getting Stared At by Laura Langston

Reviewed by Maryam, Eatonville Youth Advisory Group member

 The Art of Getting Stared At by Laura Langston is a heartwarming story about finding yourself and your own form of beauty. This book follows the story of 16-year-old Sloane, who struggles to accept herself after she is diagnosed with alopecia -- a hair loss disease. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story along with its profound message about true inner beauty. This story remarkably teaches its readers that everybody has their vulnerable point, no matter how tough they may seem and that it is possible to get through anything. To top it off, Sloane's journey is awestrickingly real, complete with her constant denial of her disease until she is finally able to welcome it as a part of her life.The only thing left to say is, this is a book that I will definitely recommend to others.

"The perfect amount of romance and adventure" -- WATERFALL reviewed

Waterfall by Lauren Kate

Reviewed by Sasha K., Eatonville Youth Advisory Group member

 Waterfall tells the story of a young girl named Eureka who has lived life in ignorance; that was until two of her tears hit the earth and the Waking World was flooded. Eureka, followed by her friends and family, have survived her first two tears, but cannot let the third hit earth for it will awake Atlantis and its evil King Atlas. Through perilous encounters, Eureka tries to fix her mistake, but only through great cost does she succeed.

This novel illustrates a very creative, entertaining fictional world, which is imaginative and outlined with truth and perspective that can relate to teenagers. The story is engaging and detailed, combining the perfect amount of romance and adventure without ruining the entire story by being melodramatic.

"Somewhat of a let-down" -- THE PREY reviewed

The Prey by Tom Isbell

Reviewed by Sasha K., Eatonville Youth Advisory Group member

 The Prey is told from two perspectives, the first follows the journey of a Less-Than, who is nicknamed Book, the other by Hope who has been on the run for the majority of her life with her twin sister and father. Book starts his story in an LT camp where he eventually escapes and meets Hope who has been imprisoned and tested on by the crudest of doctors. Hope and Book, as well as their friends, fight for survival by travelling through the deadliest of obstacles in order to reach the New Territory, all while being hunted like animals.

The Prey is trailing today’s most popular lineup of teen reads, most specifically it is a mixture of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, but not as engaging. At a glance The Prey’s expectation was promising, but the novel was somewhat of a let-down, leaving many questions unanswered and failing to tie loose ends.

What's On Wednesday: January 21 to 28

What's On Wednesday is our guide to some of the Toronto Public Library programs for teens happening in the next seven days. Here are this week's highlights:

Wednesday January 21st

• Eddie Zawadzki speaks about boxing, career, and books @ Brentwood branch, 6:30-8pm. Join Eddie Zawadzki who is going to talk about boxing, his career, and his books. Born and raised in Toronto, Zawadzki is a well known Canadian broadcaster and author. He wrote several bestselling Canadian trivia books that highlighted Canadian achievements in the world of sports. Promoted several high profile live and closed circuit boxing events.

Thursday January 22nd

• Family Gaming Night @ Barbara Frum branch, 5:30-6:30pm. Join us for a night of gaming, challenges, and fun on our Xbox and Wii. Bring your favourite game to play with family and friends or share one of ours. All ages are welcome.
• Sales Skills for Entrepreneurs @ Agincourt branch, 6:30-8:00pm. Without sales, you have no business being in business, so knowing how to sell is essential for any entrepreneur. Join Small Business Coach, Patti Pokorchak, as she deconstructs her successful sales techniques so that anyone can sell more - faster and easier than ever.
• Monthly Movie Night @ Palmerston branch, 6-8:15pm. TRACKS (2014, 112 min, PG-13)
  A young woman goes on a 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with her four camels and faithful dog.
• Game Curious - Game Showcase @ Toronto Reference Library, 6-8pm. Curious about video games? Come play the results of the Game Curious MAKE initiative, a six-week program that ran in Fall 2014, in which participants made their very first game in six weeks.
• Calligraphy @ Downsview branch, 4-5pm. This course is an introduction to the basic techniques and theory of broad-edge calligraphy. Skilled calligrapher, Kevin King will help participants to study and become familiar with how the pen works through learning the basic Italic alphabet and how to compose these letterforms into words and sentences. 

Friday January 23rd

•  Youth Summer Employment Workshop @ Cedarbrae branch, 4:30-6:30pm. Want to work for the City of Toronto this summer? Jobs available for youth include camp counsellors, lifeguards, program assistants and more! Applications will be accepted online ONLY, so be sure to drop by to get help creating your online profile, improving your resume and learning more about the hiring process. 

Saturday January 24th

• Prepare your book for publication on Asquith Press @ Toronto Reference Library, 10am-12pm. Create and publish your book with Asquith Press, the library's new book printing service. This tutorial-style workshop will cover the basic steps needed to create a text block fit for publication (cover preparation is not covered in this workshop).
• St. John's Ambulance Babysitting Course @ Forest Hill branch, 9:30am-4:30pm. (Ages 11-15) Get your babysitting certificate from St. John Ambulance. A $50 fee is required for materials and textbook. To register for this program, call St. John Ambulance at 416-967-4244 and quote the course registration number: 1-365047467.

Monday January 26th

• A Toronto Woman's Story - Holocaust Survivor Documentary @ Toronto Reference Library, 1-3pm. A moving documentary about the artistry and struggle of Canadian figure skating coach and choreographer Ellen Burka. She recounts her life from pre-war Amsterdam, to Westerbork and Theresienstadt concentration camps, to Dutch national champion, to bohemian Toronto in the 1950's and finally world skating celebrity.

Tuesday January 27th

• 10 Essential Habits for Joyous Health with Joy McCarthy @ Agincourt branch, 6-7pm. Many people live their life feeling "okay" and assume that to live in health is simply to live in the absence of disease. Joy McCarthy (RNCP CNP) Holistic Nutritionist and author will share her personal wellness journey and inspire you to expect more...to expect joyous health! In this one-hour session, Joy will share her top 10 tips for leading your most joyous life ever! Learn the benefits of a healthy diet including the importance of key nutrients, smart food choices and key lifestyle habits to help you live joyously and feel fabulous.
• Mental Health and Youth @ Richview branch, 4-6pm. Join in on the Richview Library initiative to end the stigma around mental health. We will chat about youth and mental health, resources available at the library and in the local communtiy for youth and how together, we can make a postitive change and bring awareness. Discussion and movie.

Wednesday January 28th

• Tech Day at the Library @ Barbara Frum branch, 12-2pm. Did you know that you can download eBooks and eMagazines for free at the library? Learn about eReaders, eBooks, eMagazines, online resources and much more! All are welcome.

 

Ongoing programs

• Pan Am Poetry Slams - various times and branches. The Pan Am Poetry Slam Initiative a.k.a. Poetry Saved Our Lives (PSOL) is a major poetry slam competition for youth 13-19. The workshop series and open mics provide mentorship and artistic development opportunities and will run from October 2014 to August 2015. Youth can collect community hours while showcasing their artistic poetic talent, while developing their leadership skills. Come out and work with some of the finest young poets the city has to offer, and showcase your talent. This is definitely an opportunity not to be missed!

• Chess in the Library - various times and branches. Experienced chess player or beginner? Come and have fun learning the game or playing with like-minded players. 

"Drop whatever you are doing and read THE SPACE BETWEEN -- a review

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Reviewed by Alissa, Runnymede Youth Advisory Group member

 The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff is a breathtaking tale following a demon named Daphne on a search to find love. This book is absolutely incredible. Brenna Yovanoff writes many amazing books but this one is just perfect. It is incredibly well written and has very well developed characters. This book has just the right amount of suspense to keep the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the entire thing. It is nonstop. I brought this book with me everywhere due to its extraordinary plot and characters. It is perfect for anyone who loves romance or even if you don't because there is not too much of it. I as a reader do like romance and found this novel to be marvellous. I will always look up to Brenna Yovanoff due to her writing style and stunning plots. In conclusion this is the absolute best book I have ever read, drop what ever you are doing and go pick up this novel, I promise you will not be disappointed.