Announcement: Kristin Cast has scheduled her appearance due to an emergency. YA Author of "The Ghost and The Goth" Stacey Kade has generously offered to take Kristin's place at The Writer's Yarn, a local author's fair, on Saturday, May 12th from 10 - 3pm at the library.

As an award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead.

From her first childhood scribbles about a magical necklace that would turn people into cats, Stacey has long been fascinated with what happens when the "ordinary" bumps up against "out of this world." What if aliens landed on Earth? What if the afterlife is really just another dimension?

She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and their three retired racing greyhounds, Joezooka (Joe), Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy). When she's not reading or writing, you'll likely find her parked in front of the television with her Roswell DVDs, staring rapturously at Jason Behr.

Her teen trilogy "The Ghost and the Goth" is a popular read!

Alona Dare-Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star...and newly dead.

I'm the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn't perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks-is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes-watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn't believe what they're saying about me now that they think I can't hear them. To top it off, I'm starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don't know where I go when I'm gone, but it's not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

 Will Killian-Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed "Will Kill" by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank...and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn't hard enough already. I've done my best to hide my "gift." After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost-an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around-is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like "temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation," and my principal, who thinks I'm a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?*

*Taken from www.staceykade.com/books

Lots of Events this week at the Library. Hope to see you at one of the events! All are Hi-Lites of the Week!

Wild Card's Annual Talent Show This Week!

Attention Teens! Wild Card's annual talent show will be this Thursday, May 10th from 6:30pm-8:00pm. If you have a talent that you would like to share, this event is for you. You don't have to be a Wild Card regular for this entertaining event. Just show up prepared to wow us with your abilities!

In the past there have been magicians, jugglers, comedians, storytellers, singers, and other musicians. If you can do it well, step up to the plate. There is no signup necessary for this event but this event is for teens only.

The Wild Card group meets every 2nd Thursday of the month. You never know what you're going to get with the Wild Card group. One month they are making smoothies, or having a dance party or talking about a favorite book. It's fun and a great way to spend a Thursday evening. Oh, and there are always snacks and punch at the meetings! See you there!

For more information about Wild Card or other teen activities, email our teen librarian, Steve, at stever@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568 ext. 280.

Chinese Calligraphy Workshop Back By Popular Demand

Professor at Northern Illinois University, Dr. Wang, is back by popular demand. This time he will be giving a 90 minute workshop and demonstration on Chinese Calligraphy on Tuesday, May 8th from 7:00-8:30pm. Participants will be able to scribe their own name and make other symbols using Chinese calligraphy. You will be able to have your own bamboo writing utensil and follow along!

This is a great family event that will infuse some Chinese culture and perhaps even pique your interest in understanding more of this ancient writing technique.

There is no signup necessary to this free event. For more information, contact edithc@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568 ext. 260.

Display Cases for May

The Women of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is having their annual Lobster Boil!   This group has held the annual Lobster Boil since 1969. Half of the profits made are donated to local charities, including Hope Haven, Safe Passage, 4-C, Love Inc., Family Services, American Red Cross, DeKalb County Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, and DeKalb county Rehab & Nursing Center Auxiliary. The Lobster Boil will be May 19th from 4:00 - 7:00pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 

Hope Haven's "Night by Night" campaign kicks off in May. The campaign raises awareness about homelessness, particularly in this community. Last year Hope Haven provided 24,497 nights of shelter to homeless men, women and children living in DeKalb County. Each night of food, shelter and services costs $20. For nine years, community members have sponsored nights of shelter to ensure all our citizens have access to basic needs...one night at a time. 

 Memorial Day Party Food

Grilled Taco-Spiced Chicken

Betty Crocker Ingredients

2 tablespoons Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)

1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons chili sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

tablespoons Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)

Directions

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In a shallow bowl, mix taco seasoning and oregano. Brush chicken with oil, sprinkle with seasoning mixture.

2. Place chicken on the grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 10 to 15 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170 degrees F).

3. Meanwhile, in a small microwaveable bow., mix barbecue sauce, chili sauce, and cumin. Cover; microwave on high 30 to 60 seconds or until hot. Serve sauce over chicken.

Makes 4 servings.

Voila! A different grilled item for your Memorial Day weekend. 

Memorial Day Trivia

The Vietnam Conflict (the U.S. Government has never officially declared it a War), suffered 58,193 of our country's soldiers. 8 of these individuals were women. It was the longest "Conflict" in our country's history lasting 20 years. 

What are We Reading, Watching, Doing, etc.?

•  Edith is reading Cotton Rock by Janet Smith Post, a local author.
•  Megan is reading The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade, another local author (who will be at the library on Saturday!)
•  Star is gearing up for a hula hoop session on Saturday at the library at noon.

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