The Lost Conspiracy

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge

The setting is a tropical island (very much like Hawaii) with beaches, rocky shores, sleeping volcanoes and straight-laced colonists who impose their alien values onto the native inhabitants.

There are several different tribes of native people on this island, among them the Lace people, so-called because of the labyrinthine coastal cliffs full of caves and crevasses where they live. The colonists and the other native tribes all distrust the Lace, they smile and smile, and no one knows what they are thinking.

In this world, however, there is the phenomenon of the Lost, certain individuals born whose spirits have only a tenuous connection with their bodies. They are able to travel the winds, far and wide, remembering and reporting later all that they have seen and heard.

The Lost Council sends out Lost inspectors to find these children and bring them to the Council for training. They then become valuable messengers and information gatherers for the whole island.

What happens when a Lost child is found among the Lace? And when an Inspector sent to test her is murdered?

Read this enthralling book and find out!

Review by Christine Demarais, Youth Services

Creative Tuesdays

Join artist-in-residence Frank Gonzalez and "sorcerer's apprentice"
Liz Crawford and use your imagination to be creative with recycled materials. Every Tuesday in June, July and August, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Free. All ages, under 10 with an adult. No preregistration needed.

Make a SPLASH, WRITE!

Wednesdays, July 7, 14, 21 & 28 and August 4. 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Do you love to write or want to give it a try? Explore the world of writing poetry and short story fiction in a six-week informal atmosphere. Free. Ages 10 & up. Teens welcome! Please preregister: 865-7216.

Summer Reading is not just for little kids!

Hey Teens, our Summer Reading Program,"Make a Splash, READ!" needs High School age volunteers to help sign kids up and stamp their reading logs. Get your Community Service hours in early! Contact the Youth Desk: 865-7216 if you're interested. Also, check out our Summer Reading Program brochure, for some fun programs that are open to teens!

The Classics

Lately Ive been reading a translation by a man named Robert Fagles. I know when it comes to books focused on greek and Roman mythology many teens are stumped, but not all translations are stale and awkward. If the stories interest you and youre not sure who to read I would recommend Fagles. Previous to reading him my translator of choice was Fitzgerald but Fagles really captures a spark in his translations! To name a few he has translated The Odyssey, The Illiad, and The Aenead. So if you wish your imagination was swept up in the writing of the past but it just never seemed quite right, maybe check him out, the library has plenty of his translations.

for history lovers w/ a sense of humor

For anyone who enjoys history but finds the text book accounts too dry, I would recommend Sarah Vowel. Some of her books are: Assasination Vacation (its about the assasinations of U.S. presidents through history, very good, very funny), and The Wordy Shipmates (about the people who settled in America). I have read both of them and they share her sharp wit and keen eye for our past. She presents an interesting view of history while giving us a piece of herself with it. I would reccomend her to anyone curious!

May 2010 Teen Programs

TAB (Teen Advisory Board) Meetings, Mondays, May 3rd & 17th, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Calling all High School Students! Do you like kids and Books? Are you interested in volunteering a few hours a week at the Library over the summer? We'd love your help as reading mentors to K-8th grade Summer Reading Program participants. It's a fun and easy way to earn community service credit for the following school year! Please attend one of the May TAB meetings to sign up to help, OR call and leave a message for Kaelyn: 865-7216 or send her an email: kmurray@ci.burlington.vt.us.

Teens Read! wednesdays, May 5th, 12th & 19th, 5:00-5:45 p.m. Participate in a book group for Middle & High School students and get started reading! Free. Students in 6th grade & up welcome. Please call the Youth desk for more information or to preregister: 865-7216.

After School Video Gaming for Middle Schoolers. Tuesdays and Thursdays May 4th through 27th, 3:30-5:00 p.m. Join other teens after school and play a variety of Wii and PS2 games. Free. Middle School students welcome. No preregistration needed.

Teen Movie Night! Saturday, May 22nd, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Join us for movies and snacks! Movie options are: The Cat Returns, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away. Free. Middle & High School Students welcome! No preregistration needed.