There is a new series that just hit the shelves called the 39 Clues. It's about the Cahill family, the most powerful family in the world. The first book, called The Maze of Bones, is written by Rick Riordan the author of the popular Percy Jackson series. Book Two, One False Note by Gordon Korman, comes out on December 2. Not only are these books, but they are also part of a real life treasure hunt with cash prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize. The books, along with cards that are sold seperately, help unlock the clues to find the prizes. DreamWorks Studio has already bought the film rights and Steven Spielberg is hoping to direct. Check out the 39 Clues website for more details.

A stolen unicorn, one desperate elf and a hard-boiled detective in a fantasy filled Manhattan.
Sounds like an adventure to me!

from your friendly neighborhood librarian

This month libraries all over New York State (and the country), will be putting up displays and posters in honor of Banned Books Week (Sept 27 - Oct 4). The annual event, started in 1982 by the American Library Association, is a celebration of your freedom to read and an important reminder that this liberty must not be taken for granted. Here is a list of the most frequently challenged books of 2007. See how many of them you have read and remember - Free People Read Freely ®.

Everyone is talking about the presidential election these days, but kids have their very own nominations to make for the Three Apples Book Award -- the New York State children's choice award. If you are in grades 3 to 6, come into the library before October 20 to nominate your favorite book for the award. Think about all those great books you read over the summer! If it was up to me, I'd pick Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. The top 15 nominees will be announced in November and then it's time to read some of the books, if you haven't already, and then vote on the winner.

Fans of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle should be very excited! Brisingr, the latest book in the Cycle, comes out this Saturday, September 20. With just under 1 day to go, take one of these quizes to test your Inheritance IQ. For the Inheritance Cycle quiz click here: Download file For the Ancient Language Quiz click here: Download file

Like Harry Potter and Twilight, there will be a release party @ the Barnes & Noble in Carle Place. For more info click here: here

Put your reserve in now for these sure-to-be-popular Non-Fiction books due out this Fall.

Michelle (Michelle Obama) by Liza Mundy
The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan (author of Marley & Me)
How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi (designer @ Target, etc.)
Against Medical Advice: One Family's Struggle with an Agonizing Medical Mystery by James Patterson (best-selling suspense author)
Speaking for Myself: My Life from Liverpool to Downing Street by Cherie Blair (wife of Tony, former British Prime Minister)

Harry Dresden is a wizard, who works as a private investigator in Chicago. When the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends the mortal world, they come to him for answers. The world is actually full of strange and magical things and most of them don't play well with the human population in Chicago.

With all the coverage of the upcoming Obama vs. McCain election, it can get overwhelming keeping track of what really matters. Teen Vogue just made it a little easier. Check out their Political Partier blog: http://www.teenvogue.com/connect/blogs/politics This is a great site to find out where the candidates stand on the big issues & other cool stuff like why election day is on a Tuesday.

Of course you do, it's September. The next time you're stumped on a question log onto our newest service: Live Homework Help from Tutor.com available from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. everyday. Just type in your library card number and start chatting with a qualified tutor. Click on the picture to watch a video that shows how it works.

The kids are back in school, the pools are closed and my favorite time of the year is about to begin - Autumn! Some popular authors have books due out this Fall and now is the time to put them on reserve so you can be among the first to read them. The following is just a small sampling of new releases:

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane - 9/23
One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell - 9/22
Indignation by Philip Roth- 9/16
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly - 10/14
I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass - 10/21
The Gate House by Nelson DeMille - 10/23

NEXT WEEK-- New Non-Fiction Releases

Anyone interested in treasure hunting and monster slaying?

Ask Mr. M at the reference desk for the details.

Drizzt is back and he is going to Luskan to take on the Arcane Brotherhood.....The Pirate King , by R. A. Salvatore is coming to the library in October!

It looks like fans of the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer might be disappointed (again). Meyer had been working on a retelling of Twilight - this time from Edward Cullen's point of view -- until a copy was leaked on the internet. Upset and frustrated, Meyer has decided to call it quits on the book...for now. Read more here:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2008/08/31/meyer-midnightsun-leak.html

Mark your calendars now for the 2008 Brooklyn Book Festival, (Sunday September 14th ) a huge, free event presenting an array of literary stars and emerging authors who represent the world of literature today. The Festival presents exciting and innovative fiction and non-fiction programs with author discussions and readings--all adding up to great day in the great outdoors, thousands of books and a wonderfully celebratory spirit.

Confirmed authors include Joan Didion, Richard Price, Jonathan Lethem, Frank Delaney, Russell Banks, A.M. Homes, George Pelecanos, Terry McMillan, Jonathan Franzen, Noami Wolf, Chuck Klosterman, Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, Nikki Turner, Gail Carson Levine, Cecily von Ziegesar, Jon Scieszka, Mo Willems and many, many more.