Worst of Friends
by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain
In this age of political awareness, this book is a great reminder for big and little kids of how two important American presidents weathered their friendship.
Thomas Jefferson was a tall, quiet man while John Adams was short and talkative. Their friendship was based on agreeable differences, until they became political rivals--eventually becoming the 2nd and 3rd president of the United States.
Time passed, allowing both to leave their respected offices, creating a new space that often time comes with age. On January 1, 1812 John decided to write his old friend a Happy New Years letter, unsure whether he would receive a response. Of course Tom wrote back and their friendship was rekindled, both acknowledging each had a right to their own opinion.
Amazingly these lifelong friends both passed away on the same day, July 4, 1826...the 50th anniversary of American independance.
----------Though a picture book written for younger readers, a good introduction to history for any age.
Without Tess
by Marcella Pixley
When I was little I loved to play all things make-believe.
I played Barbies, cops and robbers, house and school. At a certain age though, most of us stop playing make-believe. We stop believing in the magic of being someone or something else. But what happens when you don't stop believing? What if you grow up believing you have wings that help you fly or you become a seal in water?
In Without Tess, we discover that Tess, Lizzie's sister and best friend, is unable to grow out of her magic. Tess is gently shown as having a mental illness that the family seems unaware of until it's too late. The neighbor friends offer an honest voice, bringing the girls back to reality or showing the difference between realities.
At the beginning of the book I enjoyed the childhood make-believe, but found the sadness creeping in as I realized Tess was delusional. There are not many YA books written about mental illness from such a young age, but it is a reality that should be shared.
Always enjoying a happy ending (without spoiling it), I was pleased to see Tess let go and move on to the next phase of her teenage life.
Teen Psychic
by Julie Johnson
Author, Julie Johnson, does a wonderful job exploring ancient stories with current teen stories. From the first page, you receive an open, honest message from a teen who needed to explore her voice...her communication--hoping the reader will discover their inner voice.
Filled with information about listening to your own intuitive voice, chakras, shamanism and more, the reader--whether a teen or adult, are offered meditations, breathing exercises and ancient stories to help the reader listen to themselves. To become more sensitive. More psychic.
Since I'm on a zombie kick, I thought I'd add a few new titles hanging out on our shelves.
Jack and Jill Went Up to Kill by Michael Spradlin
Need a refresher course on your nursery rhymes? This book will offer you an undead, twisted version of the originals.
The Walking Dead, Volume 3 Safety Behind Bars by Robert Kirkman
We have the first three volumes in graphic novel print. Whether you're a fan of the TV series or simply love zombies, these books will leave you wanting more.
The Walking Dead Chronicles The Official Companion Book by Paul Ruditis
This is the official guide to one of the most popular shows on AMC right now. The story tells of a sheriff deputy who leads a group of survivors in a postapocalyptic world. Full of colorful graphics.
The Cellar by A.J. Whitten
Though this book has been out since the spring of '11,
it JUST caught my eye as I was glancing
through our newer younger adult titles. I'm not sure what
compelled me to physically pick it up, other than the reference
sentence leading into the title:
"Romeo and Juliet meet the living dead in..."
Really Romeo and Juliet meet the living dead?
Zombies?
Hmmm...Though I'm a fan of watching Zombie TV, I generally don't read zombie books, but I'll give any book a few chapters.
Initially, the voice of the book--Meredith--seemed rough in flow. But as I took myself 'there' as a teen, the voice made perfect sense. It sounded as if a teen was actually telling the story--not an adult in teens clothing. And then I was off....
I surprised myself by getting caught up in the main characters, Adrien--the 'Romeo-Zombie', Heather--his unknowing,angsty Juliet, and the families who don't want to see them together. The author did a great job adding in enough gruesome detail in the filler paragraphs and chapters, that lead the readers wanting more zombie action.
My heart was racing as the book had a shocker ending I never saw coming! Whether you're adult or teen who's looking for a quick zombie read, this book will keep you entertained. You may even find yourself wondering what your neighbor is keeping in their own cellar.
Grades 6- 9
Teen Advisory Board meeting
Thursday, November 17, 4pm – 5pm
Please attend the meeting for your specific grade.
Are you interested in becoming a Teen Advisory Board member? If so, register and come to this meeting.
TAB Meetings are for teens who want to get involved. We'll come up with ideas to encourage teens to visit the library more often for programs and services that better suit their needs and interests.
The group's purpose is to help make the library more interesting, fun, and friendly.
With all the basement remodeling, we've decided to expand our graphic novel section.
In the near future you can find the GN's next to the Manga section, but until then
you'll have to check out some of our new selections:
Blood Work
by Kim Harrison
Detectives Ivy and Rachel, vampire and witch, fight the evils of Cincinnati's
supernatural life. Part of The Hollows Series, Blood Work is the prequel to
Dead Witch Walking.
Castle: Richard Castle's Deadly Storm
by Brian Michael Bendis
"Castle's hero, Derrick Storm, comes to life in the pages of this
all new graphic novel. This 'adaptation' of derrick Storm's first novel
takes our hero from the gritty world of the private eye all the way
to the globe-hopping intrique of the CIA."
On your mark
Get ready
Set
Go!
If you haven't heard, November is national novel writing month.
You are either thinking:
Woo-hoo!
So what?
Or oh, that's nice (with alittle sarcasm thrown in)
What I like about the Young Writers Program is that
YOU, yes YOU!, get to decide what you want your goal to be.
Do you want to write the next exciting novel or
do you want to finish a short story?
Completely up to you!
Even if you don't call yourself a writer, you have the
ability to write--even if that means journalling your day.
Good luck and enjoy.
One of the many new titles I JUST checked in to circulate from our library is
"Wonkenstein: The Creature from my Closet" by Obert Sue.
If you are the tiniest bit a Diary of a Wimpy Kid fan, then hands down you will enjoy this book. Written in a similiar middle school boy voice, 12 year old Rob will leave you laughing from the beginning. You meet his sister, who when asked in the spelling bee to spell 'beautiful'--spelled her own name--Libby; his dad, mom and little brother Kevin, aka Tuffin.
Interspersed with cartoonish drawings throught out, this is an enjoyable read--no matter your age.
Reading through Book Page this morning, I was drawn to the question regarding parents asking about their daughter writing fan fiction.
The website Fanfiction is referenced--so I thought I'd hop on the bandwagon and head over to this cite. I've heard of fan fiction, but hadn't gone any further. All I can say is WOW!
As a self-proclaimed writer from kindergarten, I fell in love with the fact that there is a ton of writing going on --and with teens!! I haven't delved in completely, but enough to see that there is a place for writing teens (and adults) to share their interests--whether it be a certain character or character setting.
What character would you write about? Or setting?
Interesting.
With the trend of dystopian YA fiction, I wasn't surprised that how easily I was captured into Delirium. I fell in love with the snippets of 'rules' beginning each chapter...a poetry between religiousity and governmental regulations, deemed to keep us safe.
Safe from the each other.
Safe from ourselves.
Safe from love.
The biggest killer of them all.
Lena is set to have her procedure, so she can be 'cured' in 95 days, safely dreaming of never falling in love. Unlike her mother, who had the procedure 4 times and continually loved with her entire being. Loved so deeply, that it killed her. Lena wants nothing of the sort.
But then she meets Alex. Alex opens her world up to new possibilities, new truths--leading her to wonder what is truly reality. Lena will have many struggles and action to figure out if love is worth living or dying for.
Addie Carle is not shy. At all. She speaks for the unspeakable. The inside of the jacket cover describes her as "outspoken, opinionated and sometimes
obnoxious." As a reader, I would agree with that sentence.
What I like about Addie is that she cares about the world and the people around her.
You learn that in the first few pages when she describes all the things she worries about.
She has empathy.
So, in a world of mean girl books and movies, this book offered a glimpse of hope
of the other side of humanity--feelings and growth.
Of course, she's in 7th grade so there's THAT--but she sees the bigger picture...even with her boyfriend, Dushawn.
The story read quickly, being in poetic-diary-like form--which made
Addies voice even more authentic.
Thanks for some substance in a world of fluff.
A big congrats to Katie for winning the top 10 summer songs at TCPL!!
A BIG congratulations to our "Design a Poster Contest" winners!
First place goes to Selena Polisetty, winning $50.
Second place goes to Catherine Timmons, winning $25.
Third places goes to Claire Culpepper, winning $10.
Our poster contest is sponsered by Friends of the Tipp City Library.
Thanks to all who entered.
Hugging the Rock
by Susan Taylor Brown
Beginning on the first page of the story, you instantly see what Rachel is up against.
Her mom consiously decides to run away from home, packing up her
guitar, some books, all her CD's, clothes, music box and quilt from the bed she shares
with her dad.
Rachel doesn't understand what she could've done differently.
She knows her mom sometimes forgets to take her pills and cries alot,
but doesn't understand why.
As the story progresses, Rachel discovers her dad, the rock of the family, protected
Rachel from much of her mothers mental illness...bi-polar.
Written in verse form, this book reads quickly and deeply from the heart of a young girl discovering the bonds that create a family.
Mercury
by Hope Larson
Set in French Hill, Novia Scotia, we meet two different girls, Josey and Tara, in two different time periods
Josey lives in the year 1859, while Tara lives in the present. Each living on the same plot of farmland, but in alternate time periods with different destinies, shown in a graphic novel style.
Young Josey meets a man, Asa, with a sneaky past, leading her father to believe he is able to find gold. Ending in tradegy, Josey learns not all people are meant to be trusted.
While Tara, in the present, is living with her Aunt and cousin, recovering from her house burning down and her mom working in a different state to earn more money. She is learning to trust situations and life all over. Given a gold necklace from her Aunt, reminding her of her mothers love, Tara emerges with great hope with this simple heirloom.
Chicken of the Family
by Mary Amato
You're never too old for a great picture book, especially if it'll make you laugh!
Henrietta's two older sisters make fun of her. They tease her. They pick on her. So when they told her she was really a chicken, Henrietta dismissed them--that was until the evidence started piling up--like the feather she discovers in her bed.
Convinced she is a chicken, Henrietta leaves her family to go to the farm, so she can be with the other chickens-- her real family.
Told with a youthful humor, you'll discover what a joy it is be to a chicken--and to find you're home.
Mythology for Teens
by Zachary Hamby
Whether you're a teacher or someone who enjoys mythology, this book will bring the lessons from mytholgy to life. Each of the 6 Chapters includes a play to act out the story, discussion questions to think about, and supporting facts about the characters and Greek history along with present culture.
The Secret Under My Skin
by Janet McNaughton
Blay Raytee is a government work camp orphan. It is the year 2368 and the entire world is struggling to recover from a technocaust that left a generation of orphans alone. When Blay is chosen in a special mission to help Marella, a guardian of the environment, she could have no idea what this will set in motion. Not only will she help Marella study, she will uncover a key to her past that will allow her to join those who want to restore democracy and discover who she really is.
I enjoyed this disutopian story, again seeing hints into this could-be future, set across any nation.
Science and poetry...two things that we may not think go together, but Jon does an amazing job pulling off this with his great sense of humor!
One of my favorites:
Mary hhad a little worm.
She thought it was a chigger.
But everything that Mary ate,
Only made it bigger.
It came with her to school one day,
And gave the kids a fright, Especially when the teacher said,
"Now that's a parasite!"
Let's listen to the CD too!!
"Penelope Grey knew she was lucky," begins Penny Dreadful. You soon discover Penelope is so lucky to have two wonderful parents that love her very much and lots of toys to play with, but unfortunately her parents were home very much and she didn't play with her toys.
Still--she knows how lucky she is to have a personal chef and personal tutor, and no siblings to complain about...but all this good luck left her feeling one word:
BORED.
She tried reading to feel less bored, but only discovered bored little girls are usually very spoiled...and she didn't want to be spoiled.
When she complained to her dad how bored she was he simply told her, "...can't blame boredome on anyone but yourself. You can't just wait for things to happen to you . You have to do things."
So from that day on, she tried to do things everyday...but it wasn't much help. Until one day she wrote:
I wish something interesting would happen when I least expect it, just like in a book.
And tossed it into a well.
Well--what happens when you make a wish?
Have you heard, be careful what you wish for?
Well--Penelope was on her way to find out.
Soon enough, Penelopes dad quits his job and her mother inherits a house from an aunt she never met. So, the family leaves the city and finds themselves the property owner of Whippoorwillows in the small town of Thrush Junction.
Here her father tinkers in the garden and bakes for the locals, never working on his novel.
Her mother can only get a job as a garbage lady.
And Penelope decides to change her name to Penny.
Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream
by Jenny Han
Clara Lee.
First and last name.
Everytime.
Everyday.
By everyone at school.
Clara Lee is Korean American and lives with her parents, Korean grandfather and sister. Grandpa calls Clara, Clara-yah, because in Korean when you add the 'yah' it is like saying--hey there Clara...showing how close you feel to someone. It is very evident Clara has a close connection to her grandpa. You learn that whenever Clara has an interesting or scary dream she tells her Grandpa before anyone else, because her Grandpa is a dream genius.
So when she dreams that her Grandpa dies, she is afraid to tell him the dream...afraid it may come true. Because of her little sister she is coerced to share the dream--and thankfully she does, because she discovers that a death dream is actually good luck!
And what good luck she discovers!! So much that she decides she will enter the Little Miss Apple Pie contest...but does she win?
Read the book to find out!
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger
Dwight does a lot of weird things, like wearing the same t-shirt for a month or telling people to call him "Captain Dwight." One cool thing Dwight does though is make an origami finger puppet named Yoda, who can predict the future. Is Yoda tapping into the force? Tommy, Dwights lunchtime friend, wants to figure out this mystery.
Read alikes: Meanwhile by Jason Siga, Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce, Justin Case by Rachel Vail
The Secret Life of Ms Finkleman
by Ben H. Winters
Bethesda is convinced her mousy music teacher is hiding a secret life and she's determined to figure out what it is. No one though is prepared for the answer:
Ms. Finkleman used to be a ROCK STAR. Soon the whole school goes rock crazy, but there's still a mystery Bethesda needs to solve.
Read alikes: Guys Read: Funny Business by Jon Scienzska, How Angel Got His Name by Gary Paulsen, A Whole Nother Story by Dr. C. Soup
I, Emma Freke
by Elizabeth Atkinson
When a mysterious letter comes inviting Emma to the Freke Family Reunion in the wilds of Wisconsin, Emma thinks she may finally discover why she is the way she is. But once she meets her fellow Frekes, things aren't what she expected at all. Maybe she's better off being her own freak, rather someone else's Freke.
Read alikes: Saavy by Ingrid Law, From Alice to Zen and Everyone Inbetween by Elizabeth Atkinson, Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Under Siege
by Andrea Warren
Meet Lucy, Willie and Frederick, three children who survived the Civil War Battle for Vicksburg. In this dramatic non-fiction account, you will see both sides of the most crucial campaign of the Civil War through the eyes of ordinary people, but mostly 3 brave children.
Read alikes by Andrea Warren: Orphan Train Rider, Surviving Hitler, Pioneer Girl
Lucy Long Ago
by Catherine Thimmesh
At first they spotted just a little bit of the elbow jutting out of the sediment...but as they continued they discovered a thighbone, ribs and a vertebrae lying in the gulley. Scientists from around the world began to question what this was, how did it walk, was it a man or woman...could it be human?
Read alikes: Written in Bone by Sally Walker, The Frog Scientist by Pamela Turner, Bodies from the Ice by James Deem
