Songwriting with Patricia Cruzado

The Dubbo Branch Library held a Songwriting workshop with talented local songwriter Patricia Cruzado on Wednesday 6 January. The young people who attended had great ideas and were very creative.

The Dubbo Branch Library has activities for young people during all school holidays. For more information, contact 68014510.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise is the fourth in the Vampire Academy series. I believe it helps if you read the books in order, but due to random circumstances I have managed to skip from book 1 (Vampire Academy) to book 4...

Blood Promise continues the story of Rose, Lissa and Dimitri. Apparently (spoiler alert) in book 3, (Shadow Kiss) Dimitri has met a fate worse than death - he has become a Strigoi - basically a blood-sucking killer vampire. Rose, whose job is destroying Strigoi, is understandably upset that her honey has crossed over to the dark side. Rose sets off to Russia, to hunt Dimitri down and kill him. Once she gets there, chaos ensues and Rose finds herself in great danger...

The Vampire Academy series is well written and compelling. Richelle Mead writes believable characters and her world of dhampirs, Moroi and Strigoi will entertain any Twilight fans who are looking for something new to read. Even if you are not a Twilight fan, give this series a try.

Blue Noise by Debra Oswald

Blue Noise is about people letting you down, how to survive your family and the amazing thrill of making music with your friends.

Ash is drooling over his favourite guitar - the one he can't afford - when he meets Charlie Novak. One jam session later and Charlie convinces Ash to play in his band. But it'll never work. Bands never do.Erin is wandering down a corridor at school - overthinking things as usual - when she runs into Charlie. Literally. The guy is a fruit loop with his weird hair and hyperactive rantings. When Charlie invites her to be the band's keyboard player, Erin can't get a word in to say no. She's a classical pianist. It'll never work.But maybe this time things will be different. Maybe blues music is just what Ash and Erin need.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - Twilight Edition

The Dubbo Branch Library has a new Twilight-inspired edition of Wuthering Heights - Bella and Edward's favourite book. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, why not have a read, and get some insight into the world of your fave vampire and his girl...

Love the Twilight books? Then you′ll adore Wuthering Heights, one of the greatest love stories ever told.
Cathy and Heathcliff, childhood friends, are cruelly separated by class, fate and the actions of others. But uniting them is something even stronger: an all-consuming passion that sweeps away everything that comes between them.
Even death...
"My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks," said Cathy. "I am Heathcliff."

Conspiracy 365 - January by Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 is a new series written by Gabrielle Lord - one of Australia's leading and best-selling crime writers. This new adventure series for younger readers consists of 12 books released over 12 months. The first in the series January, is available now from the Dubbo Branch Library.

On New Year's Eve Cal is chased down the street by a staggering, sick man with a deadly warning...

'They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days!"

Hurled into a life on the run, with a price on his head, the 15-year-old fugitive is isolated and alone. Hunted by the law and ruthless criminals, Cal must somehow uncover the truth about his father's mysterious death and a history-changing secret. Who can he turn to, who can he trust, when the whole world seems to want him dead? The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Micah Wilkins admits she's a liar. But will murder be enough of a reason to stop lying? An extraordinary and original story that will have you grasping for the truth until the very last page.

Secrets, lies, murder and betrayal. Micah Wilkins is a liar. But when her boyfriend, Zach, dies under brutal circumstances, the shock might be enough to set her straight. Or maybe not. Especially when lying comes as naturally to her as breathing. Was Micah dating Zach? Did they kiss? Did she see him the night he died? And is she really hiding a family secret? Where does the actual truth lie? Liar is a breathtaking roller-coaster read that will have you up all night, desperately seeking for something true.

Vote and Win stuff

Don't forget to place your vote in the Inky Awards! The Inky Awards are international awards for teenage literature voted for online by readers of http://www.insideadog.com.au/. Readers also have the opportunity to enter the Inky's Creative Reading Prize - entrants need to submit a creative response to a book they love. It could be a short story, video trailer, poem, song or illustration - or any format you choose. The winner gets to choose their prize - it's between a digital stills camera, a digital video camera or an Ipod touch. There are heaps of runners-up prizes as well, including books and insideadog t-shirts.