From the library: Metamorphosis at your library this summer

"Metamorphosis" is the word to remember for the Teen Summer Reading Program this summer.

It means a complete change of form, such as the caterpillar when it makes its brilliant change from drab to a beautiful butterfly. It makes me wonder what I would change myself into if I had the choice. Well of course, I already know the answer. I would be a dog, probably a Lab I think, depending on who I belonged to.

We just finished up going out to middle and high schools for National Library Week. We had a great time promoting our new databases, especially Tutor.com where kids get a real live one-on-one tutor to assist them with their homework.

Michael Gunn from Westridge Middle School won an iPod Shuffle for putting Tutor.com to work. Students had to log on to the site and then print out the results from their session. After the printouts were dropped off at the library, one student was picked as the winner of the iPod.

Students wanted to know is the tutor is a real person or is it computer animated. Many kids were excited to get help with their homework for free. And when I asked students if their parents could NOT help them with their homework, there was a healthy show of hands raised high in the air.

Teens are also excite the great books coming out this summer. One favorite is the series of Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer. The series so far includes,“Twilight: A Novel," "New Moon: A Novel" and "Eclipse." The fourth book installment, "Breaking Dawn," is set to be released in August. Another new Meyer's book, "The Host," will be released on Tuesday. Meyer's book goes perfect with our "metamorphosis" theme with vampires and parasites from outer space. Teens love fantasy and science fiction!

Another popular series, especially amongh boys, is James Patterson's fantasy mystery about children who have been "changed," and they now have special powers. The "Maximum Ride" series includes "Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment," "Maximum Ride: School's Out-Forever," "Maximum Ride: Saving the World Forever," and "Maximum Ride: The Final Warning," The children in these books are running for their lives. Patterson called these books the best he has written.

 Patterson also has a new teen book, "The Dangerous Days of Daniel X," set to be released July 21.

Teens are hungry for books. Trust me they might not be foaming at the mouth but secretly many love to read. As the parent of three teenage boys, I remember bringing home stacks of teen books and leaving them laying around hoping they would be picked up. This idea worked quite well and I remember those lazy hazy teen days with my boys camped out with their nose in Harry Potter, Dean Koontz, or some fiction war novel. Hah! I tricked them.

Christopher Paolini was just a teen himself when he wrote his book "Eragon" and then along came his second novel, "Eldest."  Teens have anxiously awaited his third in the "Inheritance Cycle," and it is set to be released in September. You can read more about Paolini at the Web site www.alagaesia.com/christopherpaolini.htm.

There are so many good books out teens can get excited about this summer. If teens or their parents are looking for any recommendations, call me at 385-5333.

This summer is setting up to be a creative one at the library; don't miss out on all the fun.

Celine Stahlnecker is a librarian for the Grand Island Public Library.