A Summer Romance

Someone Like Summer
By M.E. Kerr

Annabel first sees Estaban when he’s playing soccer. Something about him draws her to him, even though she and he are opposites: she tall, blue-eyed and blonde, a well off American with plans for college; he short, brown-eyed and brown-skinned, an un-documented immigrant from Colombia with an uncertain future. He’s the type of guy her dad would hire for his construction business, not the type that he’d ever allow his daughter to date. But date they do. And as they learn about each others culture, their small resort town of Seaview erupts with anti-immigrant sentiment with both sides expressing racist views. This is about their struggle to make their relationship more than a summer fling.


Click here to find Someone Like Summer in the library catalog

Crafty Tuesdays

Every third Tuesday of the month, at 3:30, we have a craft day for Teens. Come check it out sometime. Below are some shots of the journals that folks made at the last Tuesday craft (names have been blacked out). In January we will be making things out of duct tape. Cool!

An Indian Story

Keeping Corner

By Kashmira Sheth

Thirteen-year-old Leela lives a charmed life in the highest class of Indian society. Her ba (mom) buys her what she wants and, even though she was married at 10, she looks forward to moving in with her husband's family because she knows they'll be accepting and good. But then her husband dies and as a widow she must endure the custom of keeping corner. After she's forced to wear a special, mustard-colored sari, shave her head and is confined to her house for a year, Leela begins to question her role in Indian society. The story is told against the backdrop of the Mahatma Ghand's social and political reforms, which Leela soon begins to follow.

Click here to find Keeping Corner in the library catalog

An Oldie but Goodie

Stoner & Spaz

By Ron Koertge

Ben has CP - otherwise known as cerebral palsy. He can't control one side of his body and this makes it difficult for him to relate to people at his high school. He prefers to live in his own world, engrossed in movies. Classmates have taken to calling him Spaz. Then one day he runs into Colleen at the movie theater. She's got problems of her own, namely a raging drug addiction, but the two hit it off. Colleen's one of the first people to talk to him like a normal person. They begin hanging out. Find out if their relationship helps either of them overcome their problems.

Click here to find Stoner & Spaz in the library catalog

Free SAT Practice Test

Be sure to register for the free SAT practice test proctored by the Princeton Review on Saturday, December 15. This is your chance to take an SAT test without having to pay for it and without having it on your record. The Princeton Review will score the test - even the essay - and give you advice at a follow-up program the next Wednesday.

Register for the program at the Children's desk of the main library or call: 510-881-7945.

Here's the details:

Test: Saturday, December 15
9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Strategy Session: Wednesday, December 19
5:30 to 7 p.m.

Both events are at the Hayward Public Library, main meeting room, 835 C Street.

Hope to see you there!

Great book for Middle Schoolers

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period
by Gennifer Choldenko





First there's Kirsten McKenna. It's the beginning of the school year, she's gained 30 pounds, her parents are hardly talking to each other and her bff Rory is hanging out with the popular crowd. Then there's Walker "Walk" Jones. He's new to Kirsten's upscale, private school and only one of three African American's there. As they try to adjust to these changes, the two strike up an uneasy friendship, but why does Kirsten's mom gets uneasy whenever Walk is mentioned? Is it because of his race? The story is told from both characters point of view and is sure to shock at the end.




Click here to find If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period in the library catalog

Alameda County Youth Leadership Academy

Alameda County is holding its 6th annual Youth Leadership Academy starting in December. The Academy is a free, five-session course on County government aimed at high school juniors and seniors. Participants gain leadership skills, learn about public sector jobs and meet county officials. The Academy will meet on various Saturdays from 9 a.m. to Noon at different county facilities.

Find more information about the Youth Leadership Academy at the County's website .

Deadline for applications is November 30, 2007.

The library has a limited amount of applications. See Shawna if you're interested.

Some cool reads

Check out these great books available from the Hayward Public Library:

Marguex with an X
by Ron Koertge

Margaux would seem to have it all. She's the prettiest girl in her Los Angeles high school. She's got plenty of dates and smarts too, but something is bugging her. The guys she goes out with are good looking, but shallow. And her family life is no better. Her dad, a professional gambler, ruined their relationship when she was a young girl. And her mother, a shopping channel addict, doesn't want to hear about it. Then one day she meets Danny, a boy from school who wears over-sized second hand clothing and is far from the good-looking guys she's usually with, but somehow she finds herself drawn to him. As their relationship develops, Marquax comes fact-to-face the demons of her past that helps her move toward a positive future.

Click here to find Margaux with an X in the library catalog

Hell Phone
William Sleater

Nick wanted a cellphone to call his girlfriend Jen. His mom couldn't be depeneded on to pay the bill on home phone, so with a cell phone he was guarunteed to be able to call her. He saved his money and bought the only phone he could afford. It didn't have caller ID, but Nick figured that wouldn't be a big deal. Except, as soon as he gets the phone wierd people start calling him. One is a crying woman and it sounds like she's in danger. The other is a strange man who seems to know details of Nick's life, like the name of his girlfriend. Then the previous owner calls and tells him the phone is dangerous and he should get rid of it pronto. But Nick doesn't want to let go of it so easy and the once good boy, suddenly finds himself doing some very bad things.

Click here to find Hell Phone in the library catalog