New Sarah Dessen Book

       Over the weekend I read Sarah Dessen's new book What Happened to Goodbye.  If you are a fan of Sarah Dessen, this book will not be a disappointment.  As usual, she creates a realistic high school experience with a well-developed character that teenagers can relate to. 

       Mclean is a high school senior who, after her parents very public and embarrassing divorce scandal, decides to live with her dad who has moved 4 places in the last two years.  Each town she moves to she reinvents herself with a new name and persona, knowing that she will soon be moving.  However, when she moves to Lakeview things are different.  She is making friends she cares about, seems to be connecting with Dave her next door neighbor, and is being herself.  Mclean needs to find out who she is and resolve the complicated issues with her mom, before it is time for her to move again.

ICCSD Author Visit

       For my practicum class this semester, I was able to spend some time at Wickham Elementary in their library with Mrs. Kunde.    I really enjoyed working with the younger students and I even got to be there when MJ and Herm Auch came to speak in the library.  It was so fun to meet the authors and hear them talk about their books.  They do not just write books for younger students though, we have quite a few of Mrs. Auch's books in our library as well: Ashes of Roses, Guitar Boy, Wing Nut, and Journey to Nowhere.

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

  

Colasanti's new book follows Brooke, a high school senior, who moves to New York City for her crush, Scott, because she is convinced that they are meant to be together. She also has to adjust to a new school, make friends, and navigate her way around the city she has always wanted to live in.
     This book is primarily about relationships and I think that some of my Sarah Dessen fans will enjoy the lighthearted story.  My only problem with this book is that the main character, Brooke, was a little undeveloped and I never could quite figure out exactly who she is.  Her personality and interests were changing throughout the novel.  That being said, So Much Closer, is an enjoyable and easy read.

How I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt

     I hardly ever read and blog about books in our library that I do not think are worthwhile books and that somebody will enjoy them.  That being said, this book is something special.  It had great characters, an interesting setting and a wonderful story - I really loved this book.
      Drew Solo used to be named Robin until she was 3, her father died and her mother had her name legally changed to her dad's name.  Since then it has just been her and her mom and the cheese shop they own.  Drew has never made very close friends until the summer when this story takes place and she meets Emmett.  Emmett leads a mysterious life, she does not know where he lives, but only that when she leaves the day-old cheese outside of her mother's shop, he takes it. As she gets to know Emmett better, she learns about him and his story  makes her first true friend. 
      I will save the rest for you to read about if you come check out this book!

'Udderly' Great Farm Books!

  
        Living in Iowa means that most of us know somebody who lives on a farm, have family member's who are farmers or have at least visited a farm.  Farms and farming are part of the unique culture of our state!  Inspired by a new poster from the Walker Art Center, we have created a display of library books surrounding this common theme.  All of these books take place on a farm or feature some aspect of rural culture.  Some of the books you have probably heard of like Dairy Queen and Harris and Me, but the display also features some classics like John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, and even a fantasy novel How I Live Now. If you are interested in this topic, check out some of these books!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

I realize that I am one of the last people at this school to read Collins's The Hunger Games, but that will not stop me from blogging about how much I love it!  Not only is this book incredible popular amongst the students here at NCJH, but I was hearing about it from my friends and coworkers as well! I was not disappointed.  I simply could not put the book down. (Don't you love it when that happens?)

Katniss Everdeen, a citizen of District 12, has volunteered to fight in the Hunger Games in order to spare her younger sister Prim.  The Hunger Games, designed by the government to keep the citizens of Panem in line, are a televised battle between 24 tributes from all of the districts.  The participants fight to the death, as the rest of the country watches on TV. Katniss, considered an underdog, is determined to win despite her growing disdain for the government and leaders that are forcing kids to compete.   

This book is fast-paced and full of action, but here is also a little romance and some really great characters - something for everyone.  I can't wait to start Catching Fire and to see how the movie compares to the book!  Let me know what you love most about the Hunger Games.

Banned Books Week September 24-October 1!

We are celebrating Banned Books Week in the North Central Library by displaying some of our library books that have been banned or challenged in the past.  The First Amendment protects our rights as readers to read what we choose and have unrestricted access to information. All of the books on display have been the target of censorship and banning at some time.  This means that somebody or a group of individuals has tried to keep these books from being read because they do not believe in the ideas portrayed in the stories.

Come check out the display in the library! Have you read any of these books?  Are you surprised that some of them have been banned from other school libraries?  How would you feel if somebody wanted these books taken out of your library?

Seaborn by Craig Moodie

       The night before Luke leaves on a summer sailing trip with his family, his mother, without explanation, leaves his father.  He and his father decide to go on the trip, but Luke is left with feelings of anger and resentment toward him, blaming him for his mother leaving.  However, a few days into the trip a storm leaves Luke stranded on their severely damaged boat alone and not knowing if his father is dead or alive.  It's up to Luke to try and repair the boat, find his father, and survive.
        This book is an excellent survival and adventure story, especially if you like sailing and know anything about boats.  I didn't know anything about sailing, but I definitely learned a few things!

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Ever since the Iowa Teen Award nominees for 2011-2012 came out, Alex Flinn's Beastly has been hard to find in the library.  Although, it might also have something to do with the recently released major motion picture based on the book starring some exciting young actors including Mary-Kate Olsen...

Flinn gives readers a modern-day retelling of the classic story of Beauty and the Beast set in New York City and featuring a group of high school students.  Kyle Kingsbury is popular, rich, and perfect looking until one day a witch casts a spell on him turning him into a hideous beast.  She tells him that the only way to reverse the curse is to get a girl to fall in love with him despite his looks.  However, his appearance makes it difficult to meet anybody or leave the house and his father has exiled him to a sheltered apartment in Brooklyn.

The book stays true to the original story while putting a contemporary spin on the classic tale. Readers will be captivated by the twists and turns the story takes.  Try and read this book before you see the movie!

Girls in Sports: Boost by Kathy Mackel and "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

 I recently read two really great books whose main characters were female athletes.  The first one, The Running Dream, is about a star track athlete who has to have her leg amputated after her school bus crashes on the way home from a track meet.  When the story opens it seems like Jessica will never be happy again because she will not be able to do what she loves, run.  However, through the support of her family and friends she begins to recover and realize that she may be able to run again.  Jessica's story is truly inspiring (I even cried a couple of times) and is a great read for track season!

The second book is Boost by Kathy Mackel and is one of the Iowa Teen Award Nominees for 2011-2012.  This story features Savvy who is 6 foot 2 inches tall, and a little uncomfortable being so tall, but very comfortable playing basketball.  She is only 13, but makes it onto a highly selective basketball team with girls who are much older.  However, somehow she gets accused of using steroids and has to figure out who planted the pills in her gym bag if she wants to clear her reputation.  This one has a surprise twist at the end and if you love basketball I think you will find this book to be a really exciting read!

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden has spent the first 18 years of her life staying indoors, studying, preparing for college, and trying to keep up with her mother's extremely high expectations.  The summer before she goes to college, however, she makes a last minute decision to live at the beach with her father, her new stepmother, and newborn baby sister for 3 months.  There she meets a group of girls, that she becomes unexpectedly good friends with.  She also meets a boy, Eli, who she has an instant connection with and is trying to recover from the loss of his best friend.  Auden spends the summer trying to make up for all she missed out on during her childhood, while developing relationships in unexpected places.

I loved this book!  It was an easy read and if you like Sarah Dessen, you will not be disappointed.   A word of advice: the book reads quickly, but pay attention as Dessen sometimes jumps between  conversations Auden has with different people with very little warning.  This book can be found on our ITA Nominee 2011-2012 display shelf.


If you are interested, here is a interview with Sarah Dessen about how she came up with the story:

'The Things A Brother Knows' by Dana Reinhardt

Levi and his family wait for three years for his brother Boaz to return from serving in the war in the Middle East. When he comes home though, he is different.  Bo never leaves his room, will not talk to his family, and refuses to ride in a car.  Weeks after returning, Bo announces that he will be leaving for the summer to walk the Appalachian train.  However, Levi starts snooping around on Bo's computer and finds out that he has much different plans.  Levi decides to walk with him in an attempt to understand his brother and what happened to him when he was overseas.

Dana Reinhardt does an excellent job of showing the psychological effects war can have, not only on soldiers, but their families as well.

"The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie" by Tanya Lee Stone.

Since her creation in 1959 Barbie has been a source of controversy.  Her creator, Ruth Handler envisioned a trendy doll for girls to play with and dress when they grew out of their "baby-doll" phase. However, Barbie has been criticized for creating an image of perfection that is just too difficult for girls to attain.

Tanya Lee Stone addresses all of this controversy in her new book The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie by presenting multiple views on the popular doll.  Although some believe that Barbie is teaching girls that physical beauty is the most important thing, others celebrate the way Barbie was able to do whatever she wanted and choose whichever career she pleased.  In addition, Ruth Handler is an icon for young women in that she created a huge toy company and a name for herself in an industry that has always been dominated by men.

If you have ever played with Barbies, you will be interested in this book.  There are great photos of Barbie, the way she has changed over time, and been modified by others.   I especially like that the author addressed many different ways to look at Barbie, both good and bad.  Even if you do not like nonfiction, this book is an easy read.  There is historical information but also funny stories and quotes from people that the author interviewed about their experiences with Barbie.

ITA Nominess 2011-2012

We have got some exiting new books in the library!  Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham was named the Iowa Teen Award Winner for 2010-2011 and the nominees for next year have been announced. 

Some of my favorites?  Beastly by Alex Finn is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Walter Dean Myers's Sunrise Over Fallujah tells the story of a teenager who after graduating from high school enlists in the Army and is deployed to Iraq. Lastly, and my personal favorite, Red Glass by Laura Resau, follows Sophie and her family who take in a 6 year old boy that crossed the Mexico/Arizona border one night with a coyote, losing his family in the process. When they find his family in Mexico, they hit the road with Sophie's aunt, her aunt's boyfriend, and his son in order to return Pedro to his family in their village.

Check out the new ITA display in the library and get a head start on your ITA award reading for next year!

'If I Stay' by Gayle Forman

     
       Mia is left in a coma after a devastating car crash that kills her mom, dad, and brother. In If I Stay readers watch as Mia recalls memories about her eccentric family, her journey as a talented cellist, and the boyfriend she is deeply in love with. She also overhears the honest words her family, friends, and boyfriend have with her comatose body.  Mia, deeply sad about the loss of her family, is forced to make a decision about whether she will give up, or regain consciousness and live without them.

         Forman's novel is incredibly sad and very powerful   If you are looking for a light read, this is not the book for you. However, Mia's character is very easy to relate with and interesting, and you will be captivated by the situation she has been faced with.

Future Prom Dress?

Gown made from Golden book illustrations! NEAT!

Poetry Month

   April is Poetry Month! All over the nation Americans are celebrating poetry and poets in different ways.  If you want to be a part of the celebration, check out some of our poetry resources in the library.  A number of poetry collections are on display and many others can be found on the shelves.

Here are a few  links to check out if you are interested in poetry:

• An online collection of poetry recordings read by their poets http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/home.do
• An interesting idea for creating and submitting poetry  http://newspaperblackout.tumblr.com/
• LitWorld's Global Poem for Change! http://litworld.org/

'Borderline' by Allan Stratton

       Sami Sabiri has a lot of trouble fitting in.  He adheres to a strict diet, prays five times a day, and is bullied for being one of the only Muslim kids in his school. Things get much worse for he and his family when suddenly his father becomes the center of an international terrorist investigation.  The FBI is trying to prove that his father is part of a group of terrorists trying to unleash biological warfare on the United States. Sami begins to wonder if he can trust his father but it eventually becomes his responsibility to prove his father's innocence.

       This book is a quick and compelling read and it is easy to sympathize with Sami and his struggles.  More importantly, Borderline addresses discrimination issues, and makes the reader think about stereotypes and labels and how harmful they can be.

Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month and I can not think of a better way to spend it than in the library! Check out some of our excellent books about the history of women in America.  You can find books on our display  about the first women Olympians, first politicians, members of the military, crusaders for womens' rights,  the right to vote, and Title IX (which allowed girls to play sports in public schools).

There are many other interesting titles and things to learn.  Did you know that a woman invented windshield wipers? White-Out? Paper Grocery Bags? March is a great time to read and try to understand all of the many contributions that women have made  to the world we live in today!

Bluemoon

In Alyson Noel's second novel in the 'Immortal Series' Ever tries to save Damen from the Immortal Rogues that are trying to take away his powers.  He is growing weaker and becoming disconnected with Ever.  Ever is faced with a decision to either save Damen and their relationship or return to her family before the accident that killed them happened.

Although I thought this was a pretty good read, I did not like the second book as much as Evermore.  The plot was repetitive and I wanted more of the mystery from the first book.

Even though I wanted more from this book, I hear that the rest of the series is better!  For now, we only have the first two books of the series in the library, so you will have to check the next three out at your public library.

Evermore

One of our students recommended Evermore to Mrs. Corbin-Muir and I.  Evermore is the first book in Alyson Noel's 'Immortal Series' and features Ever, a teenager who lost her family in a car accident and now has psychic abilities, can see people "auras", and is able talk to the ghost of her dead sister.  The only person's mind she can not read is Damen's, the mysterious new guy at school. Once she realizes who Damen really is, she has to decide if she wants to become an immortal like him, or return to her normal life.

Normally, I am not a huge fantasy fan but I could not put this book down. There is a little bit of mystery and magic, and also a romance.  If you are a person who really liked Twilight (or just want a fun read), I think you will really like this book.  I can't wait to start the second book in the series, Bluemoon. Stay tuned!

Alyson Noel has a cool website: http://www.immortalsseries.com/.  You can watch trailers for all 5 books in the series, find out your aura, and read about other books Noel has wrote.

A Long Walk to Water

A Long Walk to Water is written from two different perspectives.  Salva and Nya are both young people living in Sudan at different times.  Nya lives in a rural village and has to walk hours everyday just to get water for her family.  When Salva is 11, his village is attacked and he flees with other villagers to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya where he lives until he is 20. He then flees to America with thousands of others known as the "Lost Boys of Sudan".  When Salva is older he eventually returns to Sudan and starts a non-profit organization that brings water to remote villages and Nya and Salva's stories come together.

A Long Walk to Water  is based on Salva Dut's amazing true story.  It was very sad at times, but the ending was hopeful.  If you are interested in some more information about the Lost Boys and the crisis in Sudan, we have some good non-fiction books in the library.



Also, check out the book trailer:

90 Miles to Havana

In 1961, many Cubans who opposed Fidel Castro's new government were worried their children were not safe in Cuba and may be sent away to Soviet work camps. Many sent their children away to live in America. Over 14,000 Cuban kids left for Miami in a mass evacuation called Operation Pedro Pan.  90 Miles to Havana is about a young boy Julian, who leaves Cuba with his two older brothers and is sent to a refugee camp in Miami.  Here they are bullied by a gang of boys that seem to be controlling the whole camp and eventually are separated from each other.  His brothers are sent to an orphanage and Julian escapes and goes to help a friend he has met rescue a family from Cuba. 

I really liked this book!  I did not know a lot about Operation Pedro Pan and it was interesting to hear about this part of Cuban and American history from Julian's perspective.  The author, Enrique Flores-Galbis, was a child refugee and much of what happens to Julian is based on his own experiences.  There is something for everyone in this book, but students who like historical fiction will really like this book.

African American History Month Display Now Up!

We just finished putting up our African American History Month Display for February.  We  featured a few popular African American, young adult authors and some interesting non-fiction about historical figures and the Civil Rights Movement.  Come check it out!