In the Hand of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce - Volume 2 of the "Song of the Lioness" series.
In this marvelous fantasy, Alanna, still disguised as a boy, becomes a squire to Prince Jonathan. When his life is threatened by a mysterious sorcerer, it will take all her wits to save him without revealing herself. We have about 8 copies of this in the system - it has checked out over a hundred times, and there's also an audio CD at Central with 6 checkouts.
Chosen - Ted Dekker - Vol 1 in the "Books of History Chronicles". Four teens are chosen to search for the Lost books of History in hopes of finding a way to fight the Horde that is invading the Forest Realms. This book has just come off "new" status, and has already checked out 9 times.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - this sad, almost too-real account of a young woman deals with death, loss, anorexia, and survivor's guilt. It is by the NYT best-selling author of "Speak". It has barely arrived in the library, but has already been out once. Be the next to read it!
Sugar Princess: Skating to Win - Vol 1 by Hisaya Nakajo - Maya discovers almost by accident that she both loves - and is very good at - ice skating. Can she turn her natural talent into a winning edge? 17 circs promise that this manga is a good one.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Teen Top Ten books are trickling in!
Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted on Support Teen Literature Day during National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen can vote online, anytime between Aug. 25 and Sept. 18; the winners will be announced in a webcast featuring WWE Superstars and Divas during Teen Read Week.
The link to the site where voting will occur will be posted here, by me, but right now, if you want to participate, you need to start reading the books. You can find them here, in our library catalog. We don't (yet) own every book on the list, but we will, fairly soon. At Central, we will have a sticker on each and every book, so they're easy to identify. Just make sure you're getting this year's books, not previous ones.
So start reading now, and be prepared to vote in August!
The link to the site where voting will occur will be posted here, by me, but right now, if you want to participate, you need to start reading the books. You can find them here, in our library catalog. We don't (yet) own every book on the list, but we will, fairly soon. At Central, we will have a sticker on each and every book, so they're easy to identify. Just make sure you're getting this year's books, not previous ones.
So start reading now, and be prepared to vote in August!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
What I did today
Well, today, in preparation for Saturday's program, I mixed up SIX GALLONS of bubble solution. Three of them are a solution that is supposed to be excellent for giant bubbles - and I have a giant bubble wand... so I'm looking forward to making some 20' long tube bubbles, after a bit of practice.
I also mixed up a lighter, more bouyant formula with glycerin instead of corn starch - it should make nice floaty bubbles that the wind can carry away!
If you love bubbles, I plan to have at least 5 different types of bubble-blowing "equipment" at hand (the aforementioned giant tool, paper towel tubes, paper cones, standard and giant wands, straw-and-yarn contraptions, and a wire hanger loop are in my plans). So come on out and watch to see what happens!
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the rain holds off...
I also mixed up a lighter, more bouyant formula with glycerin instead of corn starch - it should make nice floaty bubbles that the wind can carry away!
If you love bubbles, I plan to have at least 5 different types of bubble-blowing "equipment" at hand (the aforementioned giant tool, paper towel tubes, paper cones, standard and giant wands, straw-and-yarn contraptions, and a wire hanger loop are in my plans). So come on out and watch to see what happens!
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the rain holds off...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Volunteen Fair and Kickoff Party
Saturday afternoon is the big day!
2:00 - 4:00 at Central Library
Sign Up to be a Volunteer at the Library this summer. Eat Popcorn and Snowcones. Play with giant Bubbles! Find out what will be going on ALL SUMMER LONG.
2:30 - 3:30 Science at the Movies with Steve Wolf
Learn how stunt men use the laws of science to create movie magic.
Sign Up to be a Volunteer at the Library this summer. Eat Popcorn and Snowcones. Play with giant Bubbles! Find out what will be going on ALL SUMMER LONG.
2:30 - 3:30 Science at the Movies with Steve Wolf
Learn how stunt men use the laws of science to create movie magic.
Classic Reads
Hey, here are three fantasy novels, each at least 10 years old, which I have always loved.
Is Underground by Joan Aiken - one of the "Wolves of Willoughby Chase" series, this book is quite readable as a stand-alone novel. Is, one of the younger members of the Twite family, goes to London to look for her lost cousin Arun, only to discover that more than half the children of London have gone missing, including the King's son. This Victorian-era adventure mixes humor, cleverness, fantastical elements and plain good writing into a blend of story that will please anyone who loves "A Series of Unfortunate Events", "The Mysterious Benedict Society" or other similar twisted tales.
A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond - this novel follows an English boy, Peter, from modern day back through time to the 1500's. There, he meets Taliesin, one of the greatest minstrels who ever lived. Mingling modern-day life, Welsh mythology and time-spanning adventure, this story never dulls. If you like "The Dark is Rising" series, or Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, give it a try.
Forerunner Foray by Andre Norton - one of the greatest SF writers of all time, Andre Norton started writing in the 40's, and wrote up until her death just a few years ago. Forerunner Foray is a blend of SF and fantasy, in which Ziantha, a sensitive (and thief!) who finds a strange green stone artifact, is drawn into the past and trapped in another woman's life. Together, they must hunt for the mate to Ziantha's stone, and use it to restore themselves to their separate times and lives. Nobody else writes quite like Andre Norton, but if you enjoy Mercedes Lackey or Anne McCaffrey, you may find yourself devouring Andre Norton's many books.
Is Underground by Joan Aiken - one of the "Wolves of Willoughby Chase" series, this book is quite readable as a stand-alone novel. Is, one of the younger members of the Twite family, goes to London to look for her lost cousin Arun, only to discover that more than half the children of London have gone missing, including the King's son. This Victorian-era adventure mixes humor, cleverness, fantastical elements and plain good writing into a blend of story that will please anyone who loves "A Series of Unfortunate Events", "The Mysterious Benedict Society" or other similar twisted tales.
A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond - this novel follows an English boy, Peter, from modern day back through time to the 1500's. There, he meets Taliesin, one of the greatest minstrels who ever lived. Mingling modern-day life, Welsh mythology and time-spanning adventure, this story never dulls. If you like "The Dark is Rising" series, or Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, give it a try.
Forerunner Foray by Andre Norton - one of the greatest SF writers of all time, Andre Norton started writing in the 40's, and wrote up until her death just a few years ago. Forerunner Foray is a blend of SF and fantasy, in which Ziantha, a sensitive (and thief!) who finds a strange green stone artifact, is drawn into the past and trapped in another woman's life. Together, they must hunt for the mate to Ziantha's stone, and use it to restore themselves to their separate times and lives. Nobody else writes quite like Andre Norton, but if you enjoy Mercedes Lackey or Anne McCaffrey, you may find yourself devouring Andre Norton's many books.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
New Books coming up!
Alligator Bayou by Donna Jo Napoli - as a Sicilian immigrant in 1890's Louisiana, Calogiro and his family find it hard to fit in.
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
Pirates of Crocodile Swamp by Jim Arnosky- kidnapped by their father, two boys escape into the magrove swamps of Key Largo, Florida, and learn to survive on their own.
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison - big sister Annika tries to help cheer up her sick younger brother by bringing home his favorite TV star, Teen Robin Hood.
Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee - 17 year old Maybe runs away from home when life with her ex-beauty queen, alcoholic mother becomes too much for her.
Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry - Orphaned at age five, Lucinda, now fifteen, stands with courage against the man who took everything from her, aided by a thief, a clever goat, and a mysterious woman called the Witch of Amaranth, while the prince she knew as a child prepares to marry, unaware that he, too, is in danger.
Brutal by Michael B. Harmon (also in audio) - Forced to leave Los Angeles for life in a quiet California wine town with a father she has never known, rebellious sixteen-year-old Poe Holly rails against a high school system that allows elite students special privileges and tolerates bullying of those who are different.
Sucks to be me: the all-true confessionsof Mina Hamilton, teen vampire (maybe) by Kimberly Pauley - Mina must take classes to learn whether she wants to become a vampire and must decide between her best friend and her life-long love or new vampire buddies.
Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Adel-Fattah - Lebanese-Australian Jamilah (Jamie) tries to "pass" as non-muslim by dying her hair and wearing blue contacts, until her feelings overwhelm her.
Stone Light by Kai Meyer (also in audio) - Dark Reflections volume 2
Jumped by Rita Garcia-Williams - The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and Trina are irrevocably intertwined through the course of one day in an urban high school after Leticia overhears Dominique's plans to beat up Trina and must decide whether or not to get involved.
Wake by Lisa McMann - Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people's dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power.
Surface Tension: a novel in four summers by Brent Runyon - during the four summers of his 13th - 17th years, Luke realizes that the more things stay the same, the more they change.
Ripple Effect by Paul McCusker - Elizabeth finds herself in another world, in the body of another young woman, Sarah, while her own body lies in a coma in her own world.
Out of Time by Paul McCusker - Elizabeth meets a man who claims to be King Arthur, riding down the street of her modern-day town. Is he insane, or another world-traveler?
Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel - Kate and Matt face life-threatening risks as they become part of the first crew of Astral-nauts and journey into outer space.
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey - Seventeen-year-old Jessica, adopted and raised in Pennsylvania, learns that she is descended from a royal line of Romanian vampires and that she is betrothed to a vampire prince, who poses as a foreign exchange student while courting her.
Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford - Jazz vocalist Billie Holiday looks back on her life in this novel-in-verse.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - Eighteen year old Lia battles anorexia and struggles to come to terms with the death of her best friend from the same disease.
Girlwood by Claire Dean - Polly's older sister Bree runs away. Polly and her eccentric grandmother become convinced she's living in the nearby woods, and try to aid her in surviving there.
Shooting the Moon by Frances Dowell - when her older brother is drafted to fight in Vietnam, twelve year old Jamie begins to question the army world she has grown up in.
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
Pirates of Crocodile Swamp by Jim Arnosky- kidnapped by their father, two boys escape into the magrove swamps of Key Largo, Florida, and learn to survive on their own.
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison - big sister Annika tries to help cheer up her sick younger brother by bringing home his favorite TV star, Teen Robin Hood.
Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee - 17 year old Maybe runs away from home when life with her ex-beauty queen, alcoholic mother becomes too much for her.
Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry - Orphaned at age five, Lucinda, now fifteen, stands with courage against the man who took everything from her, aided by a thief, a clever goat, and a mysterious woman called the Witch of Amaranth, while the prince she knew as a child prepares to marry, unaware that he, too, is in danger.
Brutal by Michael B. Harmon (also in audio) - Forced to leave Los Angeles for life in a quiet California wine town with a father she has never known, rebellious sixteen-year-old Poe Holly rails against a high school system that allows elite students special privileges and tolerates bullying of those who are different.
Sucks to be me: the all-true confessionsof Mina Hamilton, teen vampire (maybe) by Kimberly Pauley - Mina must take classes to learn whether she wants to become a vampire and must decide between her best friend and her life-long love or new vampire buddies.
Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Adel-Fattah - Lebanese-Australian Jamilah (Jamie) tries to "pass" as non-muslim by dying her hair and wearing blue contacts, until her feelings overwhelm her.
Stone Light by Kai Meyer (also in audio) - Dark Reflections volume 2
Jumped by Rita Garcia-Williams - The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and Trina are irrevocably intertwined through the course of one day in an urban high school after Leticia overhears Dominique's plans to beat up Trina and must decide whether or not to get involved.
Wake by Lisa McMann - Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people's dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power.
Surface Tension: a novel in four summers by Brent Runyon - during the four summers of his 13th - 17th years, Luke realizes that the more things stay the same, the more they change.
Ripple Effect by Paul McCusker - Elizabeth finds herself in another world, in the body of another young woman, Sarah, while her own body lies in a coma in her own world.
Out of Time by Paul McCusker - Elizabeth meets a man who claims to be King Arthur, riding down the street of her modern-day town. Is he insane, or another world-traveler?
Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel - Kate and Matt face life-threatening risks as they become part of the first crew of Astral-nauts and journey into outer space.
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey - Seventeen-year-old Jessica, adopted and raised in Pennsylvania, learns that she is descended from a royal line of Romanian vampires and that she is betrothed to a vampire prince, who poses as a foreign exchange student while courting her.
Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford - Jazz vocalist Billie Holiday looks back on her life in this novel-in-verse.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - Eighteen year old Lia battles anorexia and struggles to come to terms with the death of her best friend from the same disease.
Girlwood by Claire Dean - Polly's older sister Bree runs away. Polly and her eccentric grandmother become convinced she's living in the nearby woods, and try to aid her in surviving there.
Shooting the Moon by Frances Dowell - when her older brother is drafted to fight in Vietnam, twelve year old Jamie begins to question the army world she has grown up in.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Book Review
Eager by Helen Fox - first in a science fiction series about a funny, almost-human robot by the name of EG3R (Eager). Gavin's family can't afford a sleek new robot, even though their old model, Grumps, doesn't work very well any more. So when a friend of their father's offers them an experimental model, they are happy to accept. But Eager is different from any other robot they've seen before; he seems to be able to sense their emotions, and to experience his own emotional responses to the world. And then odd things begin happening; the BDC4 Robot owned by a friend almost attacks her - against every law of robotic behavior that exists. Only Gavin recognizes that Eager holds some of the answers to what is happening, but can they discover them in time?
This book is very well written, funny and serious by turn, and in the right amounts. Even the snotty best friend seems like a real person, not just a cardboard story figure. Eager is charming, and the world is just real enough to seem threatening. And even by the end, it is clear that Eager (and Gavin's) story isn't over. I look forward to the next tale...
This book is very well written, funny and serious by turn, and in the right amounts. Even the snotty best friend seems like a real person, not just a cardboard story figure. Eager is charming, and the world is just real enough to seem threatening. And even by the end, it is clear that Eager (and Gavin's) story isn't over. I look forward to the next tale...
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