Magical Performance Kicks Off Teen Summer Reading Program

The Teen at the Somerset County Library officially kicked off this week with a special “Phe-Nom-Enon.”

Amore [also known as James Lazzarini] shared the mysteries of magic, illusion and the power of the mind, as well as some of “the stories people have told me,” with about 15 youngsters entering grades six through 12 at the Monday.

Amore amused and amazed the audience with his ability, for example, to correctly name the cities on luggage tags seen only by three audience members.

In an example of how the imagination works, Amore asked a young girl to “imagine” a book, a specific page within that book and then a specific word on that page. A collective “woo” arose from the audience when a piece of paper enclosed in an envelope before the performance revealed the girl’s word—house.

Members of the audience participated in handwriting analysis. Upon reading one sample, Amore asked a youngster in the audience if she had a frog for a pet. She said she used to. When he asked if it was named Flippy and she said “yes,” an audience member screeched, “That’s creepy.”

Throughout the show, Amore continued to shocked the youngsters with revelations of information, such as correctly identifying one girl's birth date.

Amore used body language to help discern which “assistant” was holding the lone black marble and explained how, at one point in time, individuals were able to read actual writing with their fingertips. To demonstrate, he correctly identified a letter, word and picture written on pieces of paper while blindfolded.

The program was the kick-off to the summer reading for the older children, with its theme of "You Are Here," and the goals to read as many books as they can to earn prizes and raffle tickets.