Do you like vampire stories? Check out some of our vampire novels available throughout the Alameda County Library system:

Teens/Adult Novels:

Vampire Diaries series – L.J. Smith

Interview with the Vampire – Anne Rice (and other novels)

Vampire Academy series - Richelle Mead

Vampire Kisses series – Ellen Schreiber

House of Nights series – P.C. Cast

Sunshine – Robin McKinley

Secret Life of a Vampire – Kerrelyn Sparks (and other novels)

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter – Laurell Hamilton

Twilight Series – Stephenie Meyer

Dead Until Dark: A Sookie Stackhouse novel – Charlaine Harris (entire series)

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side – Beth Fantaskey

Dracula – Bram Stoker

Blue Bloods books – Melissa De La Cruz

Books for children:

My Sister the Vampire series – Sienna Mercer

Bunnicula – Deborah Howe

Goosebumps: Vampire Breath – R.L. Stine

Teens Recommend Some Recent Reads:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, introduces a sixteen-year-old Katness Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world with a dictatorship called the Capitol. In the book, there is an annual televised survival event where the Capital randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival, and forced to kill until only one remains.
Recommended by Puneet Hundal, Newark Memorial High School

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

From a toddler to a teen, Bod, short for Nobody Owens, has been taken in by ghosts in a graveyard. It all started when a man named Jack kills Bod’s family but Bod, only a toddler at the time, escapes up a hill, leading into a graveyard full of ghosts, ghouls, and witches. As he grows older, Bod has adventures, makes friends, and begins to learn about his past and considers his future. Things change when Bod turns 12, and the novel’s tension picks up as he learns why he’s been in the graveyard all this time and what he needs to do to leave.

The Graveyard book, written by Neil Gaiman, will entertain people of all ages, especially teens. Although some parts of the book may seem childish, this book will surely stretch your imagination. Neil Gaiman, also the author of Coraline, will surely expand the horizons for not only children, but teens. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to thrill readers of all ages.
Recommended by Nabeel Ali, Newark Memorial High School

The following book reviews are included in the current and past issues of “TAG: You’re It”, the Newark Teen Advisory Group’s newsletter.

Hope you didn’t miss out on the July fun here at Newark Library! On July 11th we had a swimmin’ good time decorating fish shapes with Christie I., as you can see! And on July 25th we sang original songs with the famous Gary Lapow. But the fun doesn’t stop here, August will prove to be the best yet! We will have an old time carnival on the grounds on August 6th from 9:30-12:30 where kids can win tickets playing the “frog toss” or “ring around the bottle”. Then on August 8th we will be hosting some really loud Taiko drummers at 2 p.m., too cool!

Marilyn Monroe, actor, New York, May 6, 1957

I was able to attend the member preview reception on July 10th at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946-2004. This retrospective is travelling around the world, and this is the only stop in the U.nited States. Avedon (1923-2004) worked as a fashion and cultural photographer, capturing images of world leaders, actors, and blue collar workers. His image Marilyn Monroe, actor, May 6, 1957 captures the true expression of a starlet. The potrait of Andy Warhol does not show the artist’s face, only the scars from the gunshot he sustained from Valerie Solanos.  Overall a very well orchestrated and powerful show. Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946-2004 runs from July 11th-November 29th. The museum has a free day on the first Tuesday of each month. More information can be found at www.sfmoma.org

Richmond artist and recent Cal State East Bay graduate Darren Chappell will be displaying three of his paintings in the Newark Library. Darren works with photographs of people’s personal drawers; each an individual collection of objects that represent that person. Each image is named after the person that it represents.

Yahoo just realeased five image stills from the upcoming ‘Alice in Wonderland’ movie by Tim Burton. The movie is scheduled to open on March 5, 2010 and stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and Mia Wasikowska . Johnny Depp has worked with Tim Burton in a number of memorable films, so I have high hopes for this. Apparently this movie is not a recreation of the original Alice in Wonderland, but rather a film about Alice going back to Wonderland several years later.

Such a good book, do you like mysteries with a little bit of fantasy? After a seventh-grader discovers that the grooves in his Thigpen-brand jeans are encoded with a cry for help, he sets out to save the factory workers from greedy entrepreneur Howard Thigpen who’s stealing the light from their eyes. Diabolical! Grades 3-7.

We recently recieved the newest book by Neil Gaiman, Blueberry Girl. It is one of Gaiman’s picture book stories, but that doesn’t mean it is only for young children. The book is beautifully written and the illustrations are superb.  A book with wonderful wishes for any young girl, this book can be enjoyed by all ages. Be sure to check out a copy next time you’re in your local library.

We are starting a new Storytime for Preschoolers at the Newark Community Center on Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Please come and join us at 35501 Cedar Blvd. in the Meeting Room. We’ll hear some stories, dance or exercise a little then hear some more stories, and I always have stickers at the end. This is for 3-5 year olds and their parents or caregivers.

Call 510-795-2627 x 7 for more information.

BeHealthy5 is a new program series at the Newark Library! We are encouraging everyone of all ages to join in this program and learn all about health. We are focusing on Physical, Mental, Financial, Social and Spiritual health. Each month from now through May 2009, we will focus on one of these five types of health. January is Financial Health month and every Saturday we have a financial workshop or presentation. Upcoming seminars are as follows:

January 24th: Estate Planning Basics, 1-2 p.m.

January 31st: Retirement: Delusion or Dream Come True?, 1-2 p.m.

These workshops are free and open to the public. If you are interested in joining our free programs, please stop by the Newark Library to register for a BeHealthy5 checklist and a chance to win prizes! For more information, please contact Barbara Telford-Ishida, (510) 795-2627 x20 or e-mail btelford-ishida@aclibrary.org.