2009 approaches on horseback

at a full gallop!

Teens of Wyckoff, prepare yourself!

AND...we begin on Tuesday January 20 at 6:30-8:00 PM with the Wyckoff Teen Writing Group!

Following closely,

on Tuesday the 27th of January at 7:00-8:00 PM

is the first book discussion of the year.

If you have not yet met Frankie Landau-Banks, get ready!

THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS

by E. Lockhart will amaze, amuze, befuzzle and bedazzle you!

(And you guys who read

THE REDHEADED PRINCESS

thought Princess ELizabeth was

a conniving and clever teen!

Heck, she ain't got nothin' on Frankie!)

Elizabeth Tudor at 13 years of age! (soon to be the Queen)

Many thanks to the eight intrepid teen readers who discussed THE REDHEADED PRINCESS with me yesterday evening.

As usual, surprises abounded as everybody had their (very interesting) say about the young Queen-to-be Princess Elizabeth.

If you have not read this book, there is a copy on the YA shelves at the library right now! You will be as surprised as we were at the strange goings on in the life of this amazing princess. Hoohah!

Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays!

Seems that December abounds in great literary birthdays. *

Today is JANE AUSTEN'S birthday! Check out the following link. It is wonderfully cluttered with very cool information (and interesting fan fic (yes, Jane does have such fans, too!)) about this great lit-lady:

http://www.austen.com/

If you have not read any of Ms. Austen's work, maybe her birthday is the day to start.

*Did I mention my birthday happens to be in December, too (she added, shyly).

...And Emily is as fresh as ever! Check out this NYT article in today's paper:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/arts/music/11ligh.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

It's Emily Dickinson's Birthday! Celebrate by reading her poetry, reading about her (see link below), or writing your own poetry (or prose)!

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=1775

Exhilarated from tonight's Wyckoff Teen Writing Group! The group participants were, as are they always, in prime form, sharing their abundant creativity with us all. More laughter than anything, though, as is our wont. Not to mention the sweet stuff--yum!.

Heck, it's all sweet stuff, though, I be thinking!

It was particularly cool to hear everybody's version of a six-year old's letter to Santa Claus (my "7-minute creative burst" that starts each meeting), but I especially enjoyed everyone able to reach deep into the head of a six year old BOY! The young ladies present were not prepared for that surprise twist, but they did the job, and quite well.

If you weren't there, you should have been. If you were, see you all next month (date TBA!)!