Daniel Boone Regional Library

Help us get ready for Summer Reading by designing an original bookmark based on the teen theme, “Beneath the Surface.” Winners’ artwork from each library branch will appear on bookmarks to be distributed late spring through summer. Please design two-dimensional artwork, using crayons, markers or any other illustration tool or medium. Photography is also acceptable, as long as it is your own! Download an entry form or pick one up at your nearest library branch. Ages 12-18.  Entry deadline is Saturday, March 30. 

February 28-March 3: True False Film Fest in downtown Columbia. (via)
March 7: “Project Nim” 5:30 p.m. at Ragtag, free. (via)

We recently added “Undefeated” to the DBRL collection. This academy award winning film played at the True/False Film Festival in 2012, and currently has a rating of 96% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

No hope. No future. Until a football season united a team and revealed the character that turned them into heroes. Undefeated is the inspiring and moving tale of three underprivileged student-athletes from inner-city Memphis and the volunteer coach, Bill Courtney, trying to help them beat the odds on and off the field.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

Got the heat cranked up for the winter? Considering the whirlwind of inconsistent weather we’ve had this month, you may soon be turning on the air conditioning. Whether you are running the heat or AC, your electric bill might be more than you’d like. To save money, my roommate and I have bundled up inside and kept the heat off altogether. Just as we were considering cooking all of our food by way of bonfire on the balcony, we thought of something a little less primal. Our computers and television, as well as our portable video game systems, were taking up most of our electrical outlets. All of the energy that went into charging them alone must have been driving our bill through the roof. The alternative? Reading, of course!

Imagine the cost of keeping the lights on, plus the heat, plus the TV and the DVD player. Instead, how about just one or two lamps by the couch for some light reading? Or maybe a hot cup of tea from the kettle and a warm fuzzy blanket? My friend and I have been reading “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen out loud to each other. It’s a great social activity for the family or just when you have a night in. And it’s probably a little healthier than a big, buttery bag of popcorn and a rerun of Law & Order.

Also, did you know that being on devices before bed can make it harder to sleep? Staring at a screen, of any kind, causes neurons in your brain to go off, and they keep firing long after you’ve shut down. Reading a book 30 minutes before bed instead of texting can lead to healthier and easier sleep.

Here are some books the library carries on saving energy in your home and your body:

• “Consumer Guide To Home Energy Savings” by Jennifer Thorne Amann
• “The Fresh Energy Cook Book” by Natalia Rose
• “Raw Energy” by Stephanie L. Tourles
• “Sleep, It Does A Family Good” by Archibald D. Hart

photo credit: Martin Gommel via photopin cc

Reviewer: Audrey B.

Why you liked this book: I liked this book because it was kind of a break from a lot of YA fiction as in it wasn’t COMPLETELY centered around romance. Throughout the book Roger kind of holds back on his feelings. He acts very mysterious for about the first half of the book, but that added to the story. So did the tension between Amy, her mom, and her brother. I liked Amy a lot because she was very vulnerable which made her really awkward around Roger. At the end of the book, Roger and Amy… Ha, you thought I would actually tell you! That’s funny. I’m going to make you read the book. No question.

Three words that describe this book: amazing, romantic, and tense.

You might pick this book up if… you like a book that’s not completely centered around romance, or if you like road trips. Also, “Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour” is a Gateway Award Nominee. Be sure to check out the other titles on this list of must-reads.

We recently added “5 Broken Cameras” to the DBRL collection. The film won the Special Jury Award and the Audience Award at the 2011 IDFA, and currently has a rating of 94% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

5 Broken Cameras is a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements. Shot almost entirely by Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son, the footage was later turned into a galvanizing cinematic experience by co-directors Burnat and Davidi.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) publishes a list of the year’s best books, audiobooks, films and graphic novels for teens. The “Best of the Best” is a great place to start when looking for your next great book to read or movie to watch.

• Best Fiction for Young Adults
• Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• Amazing Audiobooks
• Great Graphic Novels
• Fab Films

YALSA has also created the “Teen Book Finder” app available for iPhone or iPad so you can get book recommendations on-the-go!

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) publishes a list of the year’s best books, audiobooks, films and graphic novels for teens. The “Best of the Best” is a great place to start when looking for your next great book to read or movie to watch.

• Best Fiction for Young Adults
• Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• Amazing Audiobooks
• Great Graphic Novels
• Fab Films

YALSA has also created the “Teen Book Finder” app available for iPhone or iPad so you can get book recommendations on-the-go!