Meet an author in these upcoming Bay Area events

Who: Cory Doctorow
Where: Kepler's Books and Magazines
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, California
When: October 3rd, 2012; 7:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"From the author of the New York Times-bestselling Little Brother, a new tale of brilliant young people resisting tyranny
Trent McCauley is sixteen, brilliant, and obsessed with one thing: making movies on his computer by reassembling footage from popular films he downloads from the net. In the dystopian near-future Britain where Trent is growing up, this is more illegal than ever; the punishment for being caught three times is that your entire household’s access to the internet is cut off for a year, with no appeal.
Trent's too clever for that to happen. Except it does, and it nearly destroys his family. Shamed and shattered, Trent runs away to London, where he slowly learns the ways of staying alive on the streets. This brings him in touch with a demimonde of artists and activists who are trying to fight a new bill that will criminalize even more harmless internet creativity, making felons of millions at a stroke.
Things look bad. Parliament is in the power of a few wealthy media conglomerates. But the powers-that-be haven’t entirely reckoned with the power of a gripping movie to change people’s minds…."
More: http://www.keplers.com/event/youth-event-cory-doctorow

Who: Annie Barrows
Where: Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925
When: October 6th, 2012; 10:00am
What: (from the site's description)
"Special for kids! Annie Barrows celebrates the publication of Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, Book 9 ($14.99), in which Bean's older sister, Nancy, is set to go to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp, where she will do Crafts and Music and First Aid and other secret things that Bean will never know about because girls have to be eleven to go to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp. But Bean doesn't care."
More: http://bookpassage.com/event/annie-barrows-ivy-and-bean-make-rules-book-9

Who: Mike Jung
Where:  Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts
2904 College Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
When: October 6th, 4:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"Come help Mike launch his new book and see what surprises he has in store for YOU!"
More: http://www.mrsdalloways.com/events/middle-grade-kids-mike-jung

Who: Lauren Oliver
Where: Kepler's Books and Magazines
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, California
When: October 11th, 2012; 7:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different. Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul. She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.
To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests—or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.
From New York Timesbest-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope."
More:  http://www.keplers.com/event/teen-event-lauren-oliver

Who: L.B. Schulman
Where: Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925
When: October 13th, 2012; 4:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"Special for teens! L.B. Schulman reads fromLeague of Strays ($16.95). Come celebrate at the book's release party - with treats, giveaways, and other fun surprises! This suspenseful debut novel follows a group of teenage misfits - a motley crew of loners and an alluring, manipulative ringleader named Kade - in their delicious quest for revenge on those who have wronged them at school. New member Charlotte must choose between the League and her own conscience."
More: http://bookpassage.com/event/lb-schulman-league-strays

Who: Maggie Stiefvater
Where: Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925
When: October 13th, 2012; 6:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"Special for teens! Maggie Stiefvater reads from The Raven Boys ($18.99). “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” From the author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races comes a new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been."
More: http://bookpassage.com/event/maggie-stiefvater-raven-boys

Who: Bob Shea
Where: Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925
When: October 14th, 2012; 11:00am
What: (from the site's description)
"Special for kids!  Bob Shea refereesDinosaur vs Santa ($15.99). Dinosaur is getting ready for Santa! He tackles many challenges--decorating, making presents, trying not to be naughty--and defeats each with his trademark ROAR! But on Christmas Eve, when he hears some rustling downstairs, Dinosaur can't resist a peek. Will our feisty friend meet his match? "
More:  http://bookpassage.com/event/bob-shea-dinosaur-vs-santa

Who: Rachel Cohn
Where: Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925
When: October 17th, 2012; 7:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"Special for teens! From Rachel Cohn, the author of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, comes something different, Beta ($17.99), the first in a dazzlingly original science fiction series. This is the story of Elysia, a teenage clone. She was replicated from another teenage girl, who had to die in order for Elysia to exist. Beta is haunting, an unforgettable story of courage and love in a cor¬rupted world."
More: http://bookpassage.com/event/rachel-cohn-beta

Who: Dav Pilkey
Where: Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925
When: October 23rd, 2012; 6:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"Special signing: Captain Underpants is back! In his ninth epic novel, Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers ($9.99), Dav Pilkey takes readers back in time to the carefree days of kindergarten, when the worst thing George and Harold had to face was NOT evil mad scientists or alien cafeteria ladies but a sixth-grade bully named Kipper Krupp."
More: http://bookpassage.com/event/dav-pilkey-captain-underpants-and-terrifying-return-tippy-tinkletrousers

Who: Danika Dinsmore
Where: Kepler's Books and Magazines
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, California
When: October 26th, 2012; 7:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
"A child born with no destiny: one of many signs that the White Forest faeries had lost touch with the Ethereals, the Ancient Ones. High Priestess Ondelle is convinced by an old proverb that one faerie is fated to travel to the former home of the Ancients, the Ruins of Noe, to find the answer. That faerie, she believes, is Brigitta. Ondelle and Brigitta set off to save their forest once again, but when they arrive in Noe they discover something they never learned from any faerie tale. Why had this dark secret been kept from them? Why in the name of Faweh had the Ancients left some faeries behind?"
More: http://www.keplers.com/event/youth-event-danika-dinsmore

Who: Danika Dinsmore
Where: Kepler's Books and Magazines
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, California
When: October 30th, 2012; 7:00pm
What: (from the site's description)
" YA Spooktacular 
It's that time of year. Join us to celebrate Halloween and some of our favorite new YA titles. Costumes are encouraged. There will be prizes!"
More: http://www.keplers.com/event/ya-spooktacular

It's been exciting to watch the progress of NASA's Mars Rover as it collects data that will improve our understanding of the universe.  We have many books here at the library for aspiring astronomers or anyone who would like to learn more about the universe and our red neighbor.  Upper schoolers who would like the chance to find out more about NASA scientists first-hand should consider entering the Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest being held by NASA. 

You Are the First Kid On Mars by Patrick O'Brien 
This book puts readers in the middle of the action by addressing them directly and describing what it would be like to be the first kid on Mars.  Extrapolation of future advances is combined with facts about Mars and space travel.  The book is beautifully illustrated in the dusty, red palette of Mars throughout.  

If you want to know more about astronomy in general and dispel some popular misconceptions, Is There Life on Other Planets? by Gregory L. Vogt is an excellent choice.   It covers everything from 'are there really UFOs?' to 'is there sound in space?' in an appealing, magazine-like format.

For questions more specific to black holes, A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano is a great resource.  With beautiful illustrations by Michael Carroll, clear descriptions, and clever analogies throughout DeCristofano makes a difficult concept easy to understand even for young readers.  In the process of explaining black holes she also explains gravity, star formation, and many other aspects of astronomy making this a great general overview of the subject as well.  

Moonshot by Brian Floca will inspire young readers to learn more about space exploration by describing the historic flight of Apollo 11 with simple language and engaging illustrations.

For older readers, Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh provides more information about Apollo 11 and includes photographs from the mission throughout.  

If you want to know more about what it is like to work as a scientist who studies these phenomena, The Mysterious Universe by Ellen Jackson follows Alex Filippenko and the High-Z Supernova Search Team as they explore the mysteries of the universe.  Ample photographs by Nic Bishop help readers visualize the life of a scientist.

Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System by Kathleen V. Kudlinski and illustrated by John Rocco teaches readers about the history of astronomy by reviewing some of the theories that have been disproved.  It also shows readers that the important thing is to think creatively and search for the truth, even if that means making mistakes along the way.  

Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Janeen Mason is a basic introduction to the solar system for young readers.  Using rhyming text and colorful illustrations as well as interesting facts, this book will spark children's curiosity.

For those still coping with the re-classification of Pluto, When Is a Planet Not a Planet? by Elaine Scott explains how our understanding of the universe has improved and why that has led to Pluto officially becoming a dwarf planet.

On the bright side as 11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System by David Aguilar explains, we have also gained two other dwarf planets: Ceres and Eris.  So at least Pluto has some company.  This book provides a basic overview of all the planets for those looking for an introduction to our current view of the solar system.  

As Pluto's reclassification has reminded us, our understanding of the universe is always changing and improving.  As Curiosity explores Mars there will be new data coming in daily.  For the latest information, NASA's website is the place to go.

NASA also has a variety of apps to provide the latest news and images directly to your mobile device.  Try the Lunar Electric Rover Simulator app for a chance to see what it's like to control a rover.

Last but not least, if you want to make your own observations by doing a bit of star gazing, the GoSkyWatch app can help guide you.