Programs and events happening at the Ajax Public Library for Teens and Tweens during March and April

1. March/April 2014
WHAT’S ON
Teens & Tweens
Follow Us
Interactive
Employment
Workshop
Wednesday, March 12
1 – 3 p.m.
Main Branch
Are you out of school
and looking for work?
Do you need some
help with your search?
Join representatives
from Northern Lights
Canada for a fun filled
afternoon developing
Job Search Strategies.
Prizes to be won!
For agest 14 to 24.
the future is now
Dystopian novels hit the big screen
There’s no debating the current popularity of dystopian books and
movies for young adults (YA). The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was
one of the year’s top box office draws, and a new crop of dystopian
novels are heading to the big screen this year.
First up is Divergent, based on the book by Veronica Roth, who has
spawned a passionate following of dystopian readers second only to
Suzanne Collins. Other books-to-be-movies include The Maze Runner
by James Dashner, and The Giver by Lois Lowry. If you’re still hungry
for more, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I will be released in
November.
So why have dystopian YA novels become the go-to source material
for Hollywood these days? For starters, they’re action-packed thrill
rides, the literary equivalent of a roller coaster. But more importantly,
they act as social barometers, revealing quite a lot about what we
fear today by showing us glimpses of futures we hope never come to
be.
Find these dystopian books, and more, in our catalogue:
Legend by Marie Lu
Register through Facebook at
www.facebook.com/jsw.facilitator or
call 905-426-1760, ext 5162 or
ext 5168.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiano
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Wither by Lauren Destafano
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Matched by Ally Condie

2. Young Adult
Book Club
The YAB Club is a fun way to read great
new books and hang out with friends at
the same time!
Want to have a say in what we read?
At each meeting members vote for the
coming month’s book choices!
Movies
at the Main
Please note: Our movie titles may change at any time. For the
most up-to-date information, please visit www.ajaxlibrary.ca
or call any of our branches.
Register online at www.ajaxlibrary.ca/events
or by phone 905-683-4000 ext. 8813.
American Hustle
Sunday, March 2 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 6 4 to 5 p.m.
Divergent
by Veronica Roth
Thursday, April 3 4 to 5 p.m.
Looking for Alaska
by John Green
YAB Club meets at Main Branch. This
free program is for Grade 9-12 students
but space is limited to 12.
Register at www.ajaxlibrary.ca/events
or 905-683-4000 ext 8813.
Gamers
Club
March 1 & April 5 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Main Branch
Calling gamers ages 10 to 14. It’s time to
get connected!
Meet other kids your age and compete
in multiplayer tournaments of hit games
such as Skylanders Giants, Mario Kart Wii
and Mario Party 9, followed by free play
of any games the group would like.
Game on!
Free, drop in program.
Rated 14A
Enjoy one of the top Best Picture contenders on the
day of the 86th Academy Awards. A con man, Irving
Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner,
Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent,
Richie DiMaso.
The Artist
Sunday, March 30 1:30 p.m.
Rated PG
Journey back in time and enjoy the ambiance of a
movie theatre in the 1920s as you watch this Academy
Award Winning film. Registration begins March 3.
The Wildest Dream:
Conquest of Everest
Sunday, April 6 1:30 p.m.
Rated PG
A visually stunning documentary film detailing Mallory’s
final attempt to climb Everest intertwined with Conrad
Anker’s 1999 expedition to investigate Mallory’s
disappearance on the famed mountain. Registration
begins March 3.
Saving Mr. Banks
Sunday, April 13 1:30 p.m.
Rated PG
Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after
reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to
adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.
Registration begins April 1.

3. Book REviews
book reviews
The Fault in our Stars
by John Green
live to tell
by Lisa Harrington
T
he Fault in Our Stars is famous YA author John
Green’s latest book. The novel follows the starcrossed love story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16
year old suffering from Stage 4 thyroid cancer, and
Augustus Waters, 17, a cancer survivor and recent
amputee.
Constantly smothered by her mother who only
means well and wants the best for her daughter,
Hazel attends a cancer support group where she
meets Augustus. She learns that Augustus is only at the meeting to
support his friend Isaac, who lost one eye to cancer when he was
younger, and has now learned he must also lose the other, which
would make him permanently blind.
Augustus suffered from Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer which led to the
amputation of his right leg. Augustus instantly takes a liking to Hazel,
and although it takes a while for Hazel to trust him, they begin to form
a beautiful relationship. Augustus and Hazel support each other in
ways that no one else was ever able to. They understand each other’s
struggles and don’t trivialize them like those who don’t understand the
struggles of cancer.
After reading this book, I’m not at all ashamed to admit I shed more
than just one tear. It pulled at my heartstrings and made me feel like
I was actually there with Hazel and Gus as they fought this battle
together. John Green managed to address their struggles without
making either character become their illness. Neither Hazel nor
Augustus ever begged for pity, and they both dealt with their problems
maturely. They accepted their fate and made the best of the little
“infinity” they created together.
The Fault in Our Stars is beautifully written and deals with such a
serious issue like cancer with grace and poise. Hazel and Augustus
are so authentic and raw, and everything that plays out between
them seems natural—like something that could happen in real life. For
someone like me who’s not a huge fan of romance novels, this one
grabbed a hold of my heart and hooked me in. It’s a book I would
recommend to absolutely anyone, but I advise you, make sure to keep
some Kleenex nearby.
Reviewed by:
Candice, Teen Advisory Council Member
L
ive to Tell, by Lisa
Harrington is a
physiological thriller
with many unexpected
twists and turns.
The book starts
off when the main
character, 16-year-old Libby Thorne,
wakes up in the hospital confused
and scared with no recollection
of how she ended up there. After
pleading with her parents, they
hesitantly tell her that she had gone
to a Halloween party where she had
been drinking and then left the party
driving her mom’s car. She caused an
accident in which someone was hit
and is now in critical condition.
She can’t even remember her
boyfriend Cal, whom she’d been
with during the party. She was told
Cal was in the passenger seat when
the accident occurred. Libby feels
embarrassed when Cal gives her
flowers and gifts after the accident.
It is inevitable that there will be
criminal charges brought against
her. Although she was told what
happened that night by both her
parents and Cal, she still doesn’t
remember all of it. Libby isn’t
satisfied. Something seems suspicious
to her. With the help of her best
friend Kasey, Libby pieces together
what happened that horrible night.
Can you figure out the truth before
Libby can?
Reviewed by:
Tanushree, Teen Advisory
Council member

4. teen
writers
circle
TEEN TECH BASH
Saturday, March 8
Main Branch
Video Game Tourney: Mario Kart Wii
Thursdays: March 20 & April 17
4 - 5 p.m.
Main Branch
11 a.m.
Think you’ve got what it takes to compete on our
big screen and race to video game glory? It’ll be
a tire-screeching battle followed by fun, free play.
So grab your friends and get ready to speed your
way to victory and great prizes! Rated E.
Register at www.ajaxlibrary.ca/events or
905-683-4000 ext. 8811.
This group will encourage you to keep writing,
challenge and stretch your imagination and, of course,
discuss what you can do to get published. Also, we plan
to have lots of fun, drink free coffee and eat delicious
cookies.
If you like writing stories, poems, song lyrics, essays,
flash fiction, comics, fan-fic, scripts, blogs, reviews,
articles -- or want to learn how to -- bring along a
notebook, a pen and your imagination!
Free Pizza Lunch
1 p.m.
Grab a free slice of pizza and a pop to recharge before the
movie starts!
At each meeting members will have the opportunity
to share and critique each other’s writing in a positive,
safe environment.
Blockbuster Matinee
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
1:30 p.m.
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become
targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th
Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts
of Panem. Come watch the movie for the first (or
fiftieth!) time on our big screen. Rated PG.
Register at www.ajaxlibrary.ca/events or
905-683-4000 ext. 8811.
This free program is for grade 9-12 students but space
is limited to 12. We will meet on the third Thursday of
every month (depending on holidays) from 4 to 5 p.m.
The Youth Centre
Meet-n-Eats
March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23
11 a.m. – 1 p.m
Main Branch
Youth and young adults between the ages of 13-29 who are
not attending school are invited to join staff from The Youth
Centre for fun, informative sessions and a free lunch!
Topics discussed will include employment, housing, healthy
eating on a budget, family relationships and healthy sexuality.
This is a free, drop-in program.
Hours & Locations
All branches are closed April 18, 20 & 21
Main Branch (905) 683-4000
Village Branch (905) 683-1140
McLean Branch (905) 428-8489
55 Harwood Ave. South
58 Church St. North
95 Magill Drive
Mon – Thu 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri – Sat
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun
1 – 5 p.m.
Mon –Thu 3:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Fri –Sat
11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sun Closed
Mon & Fri
Tue –Thu
Sat
Sun
Textnet (866) 460-4489
Follow Us
AjaxPublicLibrary
@ajax_library
Ajax Public Library
1 – 9 p.m.
10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1 – 5 p.m. (until April 13)
Ajax Library
www.ajaxlibrary.ca