It's all about reading for the FUN of it. You really don't need to pick a week, a single week?, to give yourself time to read anything you're interested in. It's still pretty cool that there were 4,800 public and school libraries last year that signed up to participate in Teen Read Week. Not so surprising this year's theme, if you read it that way, has a vampire slant to it, with the interest in the Stephenie Meyer series. November 21 just may be marked on some of your calendars, but anyway, the Thumbs Up! list is one place to find some great titles. My favorites these past few weeks have been, Red Glass by Laura Resau, and Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb.
Take this survey Teen's Top Ten, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books.

On Thursday, October 9th at 7pm, bestselling author Ann Packer will make a very special visit to the Downtown library to discuss her 2007 novel, Songs Without Words, and to sign books afterward. Songs Without Words is Ms. Packer's second novel, and it explores the lifelong friendship of two women, the confining roles we sometimes take upon ourselves, and the deep connection in a friendship that is pushed to the breaking point. The Los Angeles Times Book Review says, "Packer writes about adult female friendship with a nuanced understanding of its emotional intensity." She is also the author of The Dive from Clausen's Pier and the short story collection Mendocino and Other Stories, which are available at the AADL. The event will be held at the Downtown library in the Multi-Purpose Room on the Lower Level. It is co-sponsored by Shaman Drum, who will be selling books during the signing.

Today, October 7, is the birthday of two celebrated writers, Diane Ackerman and Sherman Alexie. Diane Ackerman, a poet and naturalist was born in Waukegan, Illinois in 1948. Ackerman's latest book, The Zookeeper's Wife has received accolades for being a unique mix of history of the Holocaust with the story of one woman's rescue of 300 Jews whom she hid at the Warsaw zoo. The New York Times says in their review: "Nature is patient, people and animals fundamentally decent, and the writer, as she always does, outlives the killer — that is the message of “The Zookeeper’s Wife." Ackerman is said to be one of those people who has never lost the wonder of childhood and that is evident in her poetry as well as books like A Natural History of the Senses.

Do you like Chelsea Handler? Have you caught her evening talk show Chelsea Lately on E!? If so, you might want to check out Chelsea's newest book, Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. The book has topics varying from sibling rivalry to parental humiliation, showcasing how smart and witty Chelsea can be, whether rambling about how she's freaked out by red-headed men or bemoaning her arrest and short stint in prison. This book is pure fun and laughs from an over-the-top comedian and a hilarious writer.

Do you remember a time when the sight of ships offshore struck fear into your heart? When vikings invaded England and set about conquering her people? Of course you do not, unless you are many centuries old! But you will feel like you are right in the action when you read the Last Kingdom, the first book in Bernard Cornwell's series about deadly war in England in the 9th century.

Follow Uhtred, a man torn between his loyalties to a Saxon king he despises and the Danes that he respects, in a land torn apart by war and divided between the worship of the old gods and the new Christianity. There is enough blood and swordfighting to satisfy even a viking warlord!

It's a great time of year for hiking at any of the delightful Ann Arbor city parks, as the leaves are changing color and the blood-thirsty insects finally die off. But don't forget about the terrible beauty underfoot: poison ivy, oak, and sumac. These silent pests are some of the first plants to change color, and they thrive where many a "step had trodden black." You can find poison ivy at the edge of footpaths, on the barks of trees, along fences, or at its most vicious, as autonomous shrubs that branch out laterally.

Although not everyone is allergic to the urushiol oil that causes the weepy, itchy blisters, it's important to be able to recognize the three leaf plants on sight, for the oil can seep into the skin within three minutes of contact. All parts of the plant -- including the roots and berries -- contain the poisonous oil, so be careful when digging in the garden as well. If you do make that unfortunate contact, it's best to wash the area immediately with plenty of soap and water. For more information on the poisonous trio, try the Health and Wellness Resource Center database available on aadl.org.

Mary Morgan's transformation into an entrepreneur probably shouldn't surprise anyone, since she started her journalism career as a business reporter. In August, after 16 years as a newspaper journalist, Morgan gave up editorship of the opinion pages at the Ann Arbor News and became the publisher of an online newspaper. The Ann Arbor Chronicle was born Sept. 2, 2008. It features articles written by Morgan, by her husband Dave Askins (host of another well-known site, Teeter Talk), and by other local writers. The site is supported by local advertising.

We convinced Morgan to take a break from writing, editing and managing the business side of the site, just long enough to recommend a book for library patrons. Here it is.

If you missed her in March, here's your chance to meet with Cassandra Carter! This Friday September 26th, author Cassandra Carter will be at Borders to sign and discuss her latest book. Miss Carter is known for her coming of age novels about America's teens which she writes about in her own unique and youthful style. Her latest book, 16 Isn't Always Sweet, is about a teenage girl, Jordan, dealing with sudden popularity after being in the hottest rapper's music video, and the fall out of her friendship to Adrienne, her best friend, whose jealousy is ruining Jordan's life. The signing and discussion will take place at 7:00 pm at the Arborland Mall Borders.

In case you didn't know, today, September 24, is National Punctuation Day. Started five years ago by former newspaper man Jeff Rubin to help businesses, it has become a great opportunity for teachers to celebrate the joys of proper punctuation with their students.

If you think the subject of punctuation is the most deadly topic you can think of, try reading Eats, shoots & leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation by Lynne Truss. You wont (oops! won't) regret it.