Marching to her own ukelele

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a story about a girl....a girl named Stargirl. That may seem like an odd name but it's no stranger than Mudpie, Hullygully, and Pocket Mouse, which are other names Susan Carroway has named herself.

From the moment she arrived at Mica High, Stargirl was the topic of conversation, both negative and positive. She roamed the halls in outfits that resembled Halloween costumes and played "Happy Birthday" to fellow students during lunch while accompanying herself on the ukelele. At first Stargirl seemed to start a revolution of individuality. Stargirl's new-found popularity vanished overnight after a disastrous basketball game.

Now Stargirl has to decided whether to listen to her boyfriend Leo and try to fit into the Mica High mold or be the one-of-a-kind girl she has always been.


Check out Stargirl today. Don't forget about the sequel, Love, Stargirl.

AVATAR! in full color, and thicker than ever!

The newest issue of AVATAR! is out for viewing, and it is in full color!

Cool features of this issue include:

• Sudoku Puzzle
• Summer Writing Group Special Entries
  
• Invention Challenge
• Teen Artwork

The invention challenge - a new section - gives you until Thursday September 20th to create an invention using a Shoe Box, Rubber Bands, String, Cardboard and Masking Tape.

What does the invention have to do?

Pick up the AVATAR! to find out!

Or read it online!

Rage like a runaway train

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn

Nick Andreas made a mistake. Now he has to live with the consequences.

At the beginning of the school year, Nick notices Caitlin. Caitlin is the girl of Nick's dreams. After living his whole life in the shadow of his rich, abusive father, Caitlin seems like the only good thing in his life. The relationship starts off fairly normal with both parties head over heels in love. As time goes on, Nick starts tapping into a side of himself he never noticed before. A temper, similar in every way to his father's, erupts from Nick and falls in the closest target, Caitlin.

One night things got a little out of control and Nick must obey the restraining order instituted by the judge. He also has to attend anger management classes taught by patient, yet firm Mario. Mario insists that everyone in the class keep a journal to record the events in the way they saw them happen.

After the incident with Caitlin, Nick has nothing left except the group. His friends won't talk to him and school in a nightmare. Nick turns to the journal and other members of the group for comfort and uses it as a way to learn more about himself. The book is written in the present with journal entries that show the events that led up to the fateful night.

Check out Breathing Underwater in the novel form or on audio cassette!

Graphic Novel of a Classic

It is one of those stories that your teachers tell you that you have to read and they all think it's pure genius, but it's a little bit over your head and should you pretend that you get it and just write a bunch of mumbo jumbo or should you be honest and tell them that you just DON'T GET IT...

NEITHER. With this graphic novel as a secondary source, you can not only get BEOWULF, but you can get into it too. This is not a replacement for the copy your teacher tells you to read. But it is something you can and should read either before or after the other. It can really help you visualize what is going on.

With really cool pictures, this is totally a modern graphic novel. The fight is harsh and the creature is ugly. Cool.

check it out! BEOWULF - by Gareth Hinds