Free Audio Downloads from SYNC

Once again, this summer you can get free audio downloads of YA contemporary and classic titles from this amazing program called SYNC: Sync YA literature into your earphones.  The program is sponsored by audiobook publishers and Audio File Magazine.   Their goal is to introduce teens to listening to audio books by giving away two books each week all summer.

Details:  Each book is only available for download for one week, but can then be listened to when you want.  The downloads are in the MP3 format , compatible with both Macs and PCs.  The titles are downloaded through the Overdrive Media Console app, the same one used by the Berkeley Public library for audio and e-books.  Although the first download is a little tricky, it’s easy once you get the hang of it.  Here is their link for very simple download assistance!  (The beauty part is that then you can use it to get e-books for your smart phone, iPad or computer using the same app!)  The weekly downloads will be a pair of related current YA and classic novels.  You can also  sign up at their website for for text or email reminders when new books are available for free download.  Can you wait to get started???

June 13 – June 19, 2013
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Will Patton (Scholastic Audiobooks)
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, read by Robert Ramirez (Recorded Books)

June 20 – June 26, 2013
Once by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman (Bolinda Audio)
Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Dion Graham (christianaudio)

June 27 – July 3, 2013
Rotters by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne (Listening Library)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Jim Weiss (Listening Library)

July 4 – July 10, 2013
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford, read by Nick Podehl (Brilliance Audio)
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

July 11 – July 17, 2013
The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann, read by Peter Altschuler (HarperAudio)
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance (Tantor Audio)

July 18 – July 24, 2013
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, read by Erin Moon (Recorded Books)
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

July 25 – July 31, 2013
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade (Scholastic Audiobooks)
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, read by Steve West (Blackstone Audio)

Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2013
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, read by Dan Weyman (Macmillan Audio)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Ralph Cosham (Blackstone Audio)

Aug 8 – Aug 14, 2013
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren (Brilliance Audio)
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, read by Miriam Margolyes (Bolinda Audio)

Aug 15 – Aug 21, 2013
Sold by Patricia McCormick, read by Justine Eyre (Tantor Audio)
Let Me Stand Alone by Rachel Corrie, read by Tavia Gilbert (Blackstone Audio)

Movie Monday, June 10, 2013

The lastest production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing opened on June 7 to good reviews.  You know me…I can never get enough good Shakespeare so this is high on my list of must-see summer movies.  But makes it interesting is that it’s directed by Joss Whedon, known for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly TV series.  What I also think is interesting, is that Whedon has done it in modern sets and costumes, and sets in in Southern California (his own house to be exact!).

Here’s a trailer you can watch from home:

TV Thursday

More Zombies; YEAH!!!

This is from the network”

“Zombie teenager Kieren Walker isn’t comfortable in his ‘undead’ state. He didn’t want to come back – he wanted to be dead. After his suicide four years ago, his friends and family thought they’d never see him again

But then, shortly after his funeral, thousands rose from the dead; and after months of rehabilitation and medication, the zombies, now known as PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) sufferers, are gradually being returned to their homes.

When Kieren returns, he is forced to confront his family, the community that rejected him and haunting flashbacks of what he did in his untreated state. Johnny Campbell directs, Ann Harrison-Baxter produces and Hilary Martin is the executive producer of the three-part series.

“In the Flesh” will premiere June 6-8 at 10pm/9c.”

Be warned that the trailer is graphic and gruesome!

Go HERE for a preview of the first three minutes

Electronic Flash Cards

If you love using flash cards to help you review for exams, here’s a way to do it on your phone.  The free app, developed by David Skelly, can be found at both the itunes store and the android marketplace.  The site looks pretty helpful, offering a tutorial, FAQ’s and example cards.  Find more information at: http://www.freezingblue.com/iphone/flashcards/index.php?page=appstore.php&title=Get%20Flashcards

                    

Movie Monday June 3, 2013

Zombies.  Brad Pitt.  World War Z.  What else do I need to say?  Honestly, though, it doesn’t look like the movie is following the book as written.  As the book is written, it is a series of first person accounts of the decade long war against the zombies. It’s told from perspectives of people of different personalities and ages.  Guess they thought that wouldn’t work too well for an action picture, so they revamped it with hunky Brad Pitt as the protagonist hero, instead of simply the narrator as in the book.  We’ll see how that works out, but you can be sure I’ll still see it when it opens on June 21.

Winding Down for the Year

 

As you probably already know, we’re done checking out books for the year.  It makes sense then when I tell you that we’ll  be holding off on new book reviews until next fall.

Please, please return your books to the library ASAP.  We are busy taking inventory and deciding what lost books to reorder in the fall.

We’ll continue posting Movie Mondays as long as there are movies we think have YA interest debuting.  We’ll also try to post some last minute assists for our teens–finals prep, works cited help, and the like.

Monday Movie, May 27, 2013

Coming out in less than a week, “After Earth” looks like it might be one of this summer’s blockbusters.  Starring Will Smith and his son Jaden, it’s directed by the well-known M. Night Shyamalan.  Looks like the perfect film for us sci fi geeks!