mea culpa

A thousand apologies for my inadvertent misstatement regarding the number of books read by our top reader, Hilary, during our summer reading program.  A gross understatement.  Hilary in fact read and reviewed 9 books, not the paltry 6 I reported previously.   Here’s another of Hilary’s reviews.

Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce

This book was excellent.  It was everything that a fantasy book should be. There was magic, but not magic that was in your face, but subtle magic that felt like a natural part of life.  Every now and then there would be a scene with action not dealing with typical fantasies.  Also, the main character, Beka, is a person that you don’t get tired of reading about.  She has well-thought-out morals and goals, but you don’t get tired of how good she is. Beka’s ways and background are introduced throughout the book, and when struggles and triumphs appear, you follow how she feels.  The plot was fast-paced and there were turns that I didn’t expect.  It was interesting the whole way through.  I wished that the book never stopped, but the way it did was satisfying.  Review by Hilary

New Anime!

Mobile Suit: Gundam F-91 Special Edition release of the 2004 anime classic, screenplay by Tsunehisa Ito, Yoshiyuki Tomin, written and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. After a generation of peace, the Earth Federation has begun to build new space colonies to house humanity's growing population. A new force, the Crossbone Vanguard, plans to seize the colonies of the newly constructed Frontier Side for itself.

 

 

 

 

 

R. O. D. Read or Die Winner of the 2002 Anime Expo by Manga Entertainment, Koji Masunari and Taraku Uon. A sinister plot is afoot and  only one schoolteacher, a special agent with an affinity for literature, can stop it. She is Ms. Yomiko Readman -- better known to her colleagues in Section A of Library Special Operations as "Agent Paper."

 

And the Award Goes to….

As promised, the two students who read the most books as part of the Summer Reading program earned the most coveted prize: a 1GB Flash Drive.  No, they don’t have to share it; we gave them each one.  Jordan read and reviewed 5 books, and Hilary read and reviewed 6!  Congrats to both of them.  Check previous posts to read some of their reviews, and I’ll be posting more later.  Thanks to everyone who participated.

New Graphic Novels

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Bayou, Volume One by Jeremy Love

The first title from the original webcomics imprint of DC Comics!
South of the Mason-Dixon Line lies a strange land of gods and monsters; a world parallel to our own, born from centuries of slavery, civil war, and hate.  Lee Wagstaff is the daughter of a black sharecropper in the depression-era town of Charon, Mississippi. When Lily Westmoreland, her white playmate, is snatched by agents of an evil creature known as Bog, Lee's father is accused of kidnapping. Lee's only hope is to follow Lily's trail into this fantastic and frightening alternate world. Along the way she enlists the help of a benevolent, blues singing, swamp monster called Bayou. Together, Lee and Bayou trek across a hauntingly familiar Southern Neverland, confronting creatures both benign and malevolent, in an effort to rescue Lily and save Lee's father from being lynched.  BAYOU VOL. 1 collects the first four chapters of the critically acclaimed webcomic series by Glyph Award nominee Jeremy Love.

Foiled by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mike Cavallaro

A quirky, fast-paced urban fantasy by esteemed author Jane Yolen.  Aliera Carstairs just doesn’t fit in. She’s always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she’s invisible. And she’s fine with that . . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class. Avery may seem perfect now, but will he end up becoming her Prince Charming or just a toad?

Omega: The Unknown by Jonathan Lethem with Karl Rusnak, illustrated by Farel Dalrymple, colored by Paul Hornschemeier

The story of a mute, reluctant super hero from another planet, and the earthly teenager with whom he shares a strange destiny - and the legion of robots and nanoviruses that have been sent from afar to hunt the two of them down! Created in 1975 by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes, the original Omega the Unknown lasted only ten issues, but was a legend to those who recall it - an ahead-of-its-time tale of an anti-hero, inflected with brilliant ambiguity. One of Omega's teenage fans was award-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, who has used the original as a springboard for a superbly strange, funny, and moving graphic novel in ten chapters.  Collects Omega: The Unknown #1-10.

Young Adult Knitting Program

Looking for something to do this summer?  Would you like to learn to knit, or have a professional help you improve your knitting?  Come join us at the Westwood Library on Tuesday Aug. 3, 10 and 17 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm for a young adult knitting program.  Everyone in grades 6 – 12 is welcome.  Registration is required, and enrollment is limited to 10, so register early!  All material will be provided.  Sign up at the Reference Desk or call 781-320-1045.

New Science Fiction Titles

Fang, A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson

If you are a fan of the Maximum Ride series, you have probably been waiting for this book to come out. 

“Fang will be the first to die.”  Maximum Ride is used to living desperately on the run from evil forces sabotaging her quest to save the world –but nothing has ever come as close to destroying her as this horrifying prophetic message.  Fang is Max’s best friend, her soul mate, her partner in the leadership of her flock of winged children.  A life without Fang is a life unimaginable. “But there will be another…” When a newly created winged boy, the magnificent Dylan, is introduced into the flock, their world is upended yet again.  Raised in a lab like the others, Dylan exists for only one reason: he was designed to be Max’s perfect other half. “To replace Fang.” Thus unfolds a battle of perfection versus passion that terrifies, twists, and turns…and meanwhile, the apocalypse is coming.  --from the book jacket

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Fever Crumb has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the Order of Engineers, where she serves as an apprentice.  At a time when women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only girl to serve in the Order.  Soon, though, she must say good-bye to Dr. Crumb to assist archaeologist Kit Solent with a top secret project.  The assignment involves a mysterious room that once belonged to Auric Godshawk, the last of the Scriven overlords, and Fever must help unlock it.  The Scriven, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people.  As Fever’s work begins, she is plagued by memories that are not her own, and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are.  All Fever knows is what she’s been told: She is an orphan.  But whose memories does she hold?  And why are there people chasing her, intent on eliminating her?  Is Fever the key to unlocking the terrible secret of the past? –from the book jacket

Poetry Writing Workshops with Tom Daley

Tom Daley returns to the Westwood Library!  On April 29, Tom will host 2 poetry writing workshops as part of the library’s Positively Poetry series. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will meet from 2:45 – 4:00, and students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will meet from 4:15 – 5:30. Registration is required. To register, email us at westwoodpoetry@yahoo.com, or call 781-320-1042.  The poems produced at the workshops will be included in the library’s 2010 Poetry Anthology.

Tom Daley teaches poetry writing at the Boston Center for Adult Education, and poetry and memoir writing at Lexington Community Education. In addition, he is a member of the faculty of the Online School of Poetry, serves on the tutorial faculty of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, and has been a guest instructor at Brown University, Stonehill College and SUNY Cobleskill. He has also been served as visiting poets at several schools.

Tom Daley’s own work has been published in numerous journals, including Harvard Review, Prairie Schooner, Barrow Street, Vox, Diagram, and Hacks: The Grub Street Anthology.

Positively Poetry at the Westwood Public Library

Positively Poetry at the Westwood Public Library is a celebration of poetry that includes the publication of an anthology of original poetry by students in grades 3 - 12, a public reading from the anthology, and sometimes a writing workshop or two!

Send us your poems for The Westwood Library's 2010 Poetry Anthology. All students in grades 3 - 12 are invited to send one original poem for inclusion in our 2010 anthology. Poems should be no longer than 30 lines, and must have family friendly language and content. Deadline for submissions is April 16. Email us at westwoodpoetry@yahoo.com and include your full name, grade, name of your school, phone number and email address. Check out our poetry blog at westwoodpoetry.blogspot.com, where some of the poems will be published.

New Books!

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Mystery

The Amanda Project: invisible i  by Stella Lennon

When new and unconventional high school student Amanda Valentino disappears, her three closest friends, who are all from vastly different circles, band together and, using enigmatic clues that seem to come from Amanda herself, try to find her.

Realistic Fiction

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

It's Dade's last summer at home. He has a crappy job at Food World, a "boyfriend" who won't publicly acknowledge his existence (maybe because Pablo also has a girlfriend), and parents on the verge of a divorce. College is Dade's shining beacon of possibility, a horizon to keep him from floating away. Then he meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid. Falling in real love finally lets Dade come out of the closet—and, ironically, ignites a ruthless passion in Pablo. But just when true happiness has set in, tragedy shatters the dreamy curtain of summer, and Dade will use every ounce of strength he's gained to break from his past and start fresh with the future.

Vampires!

The Van Alen Legacy: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa De la Cruz

Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods--an ancient group of vampires--now find themselves in an epic battle for survival following the stunning revelation of a young socialite's true identity and the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods.

Fairy Tale

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

George has always felt burdened by his princely duties, and even more by the need to hide the magic through which he speaks with animals, but when he is betrothed to the strange princess of a neighboring kingdom, his secret, and the persecution of people like himself, must come to an end.

New Books!!

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Check out the latest vampire books:

Vampire Kisses 4: Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber

When 11-year-old Valentine, younger brother of vampires Jagger and Luna, comes to Dullsville looking for them, he threatens goth-girl Raven's younger brother, Billy Boy, as well as her relationship with her vampire boyfriend, Alexander.

Vampire Kisses 6: Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber

While fending off Trevor, her nemesis at school with whom she must work on an important project, sixteen-year-old Raven is distracted by finally meeting her vampire-boyfriend Alexander's parents and trying to foil their plan that could jeopardize her future with him.

Interested in the supernatural?  Take a look at these:

Sorceress by Celia Rees

In this sequel to Witch Child, 18-year-old Agnes, a Mohawk Indian who is descended from a line of shamanic healers, uses her own newly-discovered powers to uncover the story of her ancestor, a 17-century New England English healer who fled charges of witchcraft to make her life with the local Indians.

Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

15-year-old Billi SanGreal has grown up knowing that being a member of the Knights Templar puts her in danger, but if she is to save London from catastrophe she must make sacrifices greater than she imagined.

Or how about a fairy tale?

Ash by Malinda Lo

In this variation on the Cinderella story, Ash grows up believing in the fairy realm that the king and his philosophers have sought to suppress, until one day she must choose between a handsome fairy cursed to love her and the King's Huntress whom she loves

Here’s a new science fiction:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.

And lastly, a spy novel:

Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Sally Carter

When Cammie Morgan arrives at her friend Macey's five-star hotel for the Democratic National Convention, where Macey's father is about to receive the vice presidential nomination, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. But if you're a Gallagher Girl, 'exciting' and 'deadly' are never far apart.

Poetry!

Not sure if you like poetry?  Here are a couple of unusual books to take a look at.

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The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle with art by Sean Qualls

Juan Francisco was born into the household of a wealthy slaveowner in Cuba in 1797, and spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own.  Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry.   His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty.  In this book, Margarita Engle uses her own powerful, haunting verses to evoke the voice of the Poet Slave of Cuba.

The Spoken Word Revolution Redux edited by Mark Eleveld

In the tradition of The Spoken Word Revolution, Redux brings more of the gripping, moving, innovative, often hilarious poetry in the oral tradition.  75 minute CD of live poetry: slam, hip-hop, and musical interpretations.

Read Beyond Reality: Post-apocalyptic Fiction

Post-apocalyptic fiction takes place after some terrible event occurs that alters life as we know it.  If that sort of fiction intrigues you, try these books.  They all take place after some horrible event –plague, nuclear disaster, alien invasion –you name it!

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Juvenile Fiction

• The Hermit Thrush Sings Butler
• The Roar Clayton
• The Last Dragon De Mari
• The City of Ember DuPrau
• The Other Side of the Island Goodman
• Among the Hidden Haddix
• Phoenix Rising Hesse
• Gathering Blue Lowry
• The Giver Lowry
• River Rats Stevermer

 

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YA Fiction

• The Hunger Games Collins
• Catching Fire Collins
• The House of the Scorpion Farmer
• Gone Grant
• Hunger Grant
• Turnabout Haddix
• Hole in the Sky Hautman
• The cure Levitin
• Tomorrow, When the War Began Marsden
• The Host Meyer
• Shade’s Children Nix
• Z for Zachariah O'Brien
• The Transall Saga Paulsen
• Life as We Knew It Pfeffer
• The Dead and the Gone Pfeffer
• The Last Book in the Universe Philbrick
• Nation Pratchett
• How I Live Now Rosoff
• Bones of Faerie Simner
• Welcome to the Ark Tolan
• The Uglies Trilogy Westerfeld

Teen Read Week October 18 - 24

Read Beyond Reality!  Come to the library during Teen Read Week to get books on your favorite fantastical topic: Bio-Engineering and Genetics, Post-Apolcalyptic Fiction, Fairy Tales, Vampires, Fantasy and Science Fiction.

New Star Wars Graphic Novels

Star Wars Legacy Volume Five: The Hidden Temple by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema

Cade Skywalker has escaped the clutches of Darth Krayt and imprisonment in the Sith Temple.  He has faced the teachings of the dark side and returned to his friends with new knowledge and a few secrets, as well.  Cade says he desires only a return to blissful obscurity, but a Sith bounty on his head will force him to decide what it is he truly values, and what he must do to maintain it.  This reluctant heir tot eh Skywalker legacy could end up a hero whether he likes it or not!

 

Star Wars Omnibus: Rise of the Sith

During the time of the Republic, the Jedi Council guided the Jedi Knights as they upheld their values of peace and justice throughout the galaxy –and the Sith waited in hiding for the right time to reveal their existence and take revenge…

Collected here are tales of that time, shortly before The Phantom Menace: early missions of Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi; missions full of foreshadowing and increasing danger for noble member of the Jedi Council Mace Windu and Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi; the Anzati-linked origin of Jedi-assassination specialist and bounty hunter Aurra Sing; and, last, Sith apprentice Darth Maul’s own mission to clear the criminal system of any adversaries who could potentially hamper the rise and return of the Sith!

New Graphic Novels

 

Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood, A Graphic Novel by Tony Lee, Sam Hart and Artur Fujita

The year is 1192.  Prince Johns is getting fat and wealthy on blood money, while the king fights in Jerusalem.  When Robin of Loxley returns home from the Crusade, he soon discovers that things are not as they should be.  The sheriff now governs Nottingham with an iron fist.  In the haunted heart of Sherwood Forest, Robin devises a heroic plan.  He will disguise himself and become an outlaw.  With the help of his men and the beautiful Maid Marian, he will see that justice is done for the people.  But there are traitors in his camp, and it is not long before a hefty price is levied on Robin Hood’s head.

 

World of Warcraft, Book One by Walter Simonson, Ludo Lullabi and Sandra Hope

A human warrior washes up on the shores of Duratar, with no recollection as to who he is, or how he arrived there.  The man is thrust into the thick of battle immediately, and his prize for evading certain death at the teeth of a hungry crocodile is conscription into the gladiator force of orc shaman Rehgar Earthfury.  His first quest is not so simple: with no memory, he must rely on his fighting instincts to stay alive, as he searches for his true identity!  He’s aided in his quest by unlikely allies: Broll Bearmantle –a shape-shifting night elf bound to Rehgar’s service –and Baleera Sanguinar –a blood elf whose childlike form conceals a cunning mind and lust for recognition.  This unlikely trio will try to uncover the secrets of Lo’Gosh’s past, but they must first rely on his instinctive prowess in combat if they are to survive their first challenge: the arena at Dire Maul!

The YA Dept. has Playaways!

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The Young Adult Dept. now has audiobooks in an easy-to-use MP3 format called “Playaways.” The pre-recorded titles come in a credit-card-sized plastic case and come with the AAA battery needed. They're easy to use, and you can pause and then resume listening anytime! You just need your own headphones.

 

Available titles include:

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

The library is open on Sundays!

Oops!  Forget about that assignment due on Monday?  Internet down so you can’t do your usual online research?  The library is open on Sundays from 2 – 5 during the school year, so come in and use our computers, encyclopedias, or check out some books. 

Vacations from Hell, a new short story collection

Ever taken what turned out to be a really bad vacation? You think yours was bad, check out these short stories to read about some really bad vacations! The book includes short stories by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson and Sarah Mlynowski. All of the stories involve the supernatural –witches, vampires, and various other hauntings –and may lead you to rethink that backpacking through Europe idea.

Magazines: Why We Love Them!!

According to Reading Is Fundamental, you’re not wasting your time at all when you’re leafing through your favorite magazines at the library. 

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Why do teens like magazines so much?

• Magazine features are short. Young readers have the satisfaction of finishing an article or story in one sitting.  They don't have to read from cover to cover!
• Magazines grab your attention. Their colorful covers make youngsters want to look inside.
• They're entertaining. The writing style is light and brisk on topics that attract kids.
• They're generally easy to read. Most consumer magazines, for example, are written at or below the reading level of average high school students. Kids' magazines, of course, use vocabulary geared to the younger age groups that subscribe to them.
• They're lightweight and portable. You can roll 'em up, bend 'em, and stuff 'em into a backpack, bike basket, purse, or back pocket.
• They're inexpensive—less costly than most paperbacks. In fact, a full year's subscription to a teen or children's magazine (10 or 12 issues) usually costs less than one hardcover book.
• They offer variety. A single issue usually includes an array of articles, stories, activities, pictures, and styles of writing.
• They often focus on their readers' special interests. Magazines also help readers develop new interests.

Relax in the YA Room after school with a good magazine –improve your reading!

Banned Books Week September 26 – October 3

“A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice. The ALA promotes the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinions even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those viewpoints to all who which to read them” ALA (American Library Association)

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Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2008 and Reasons for Challenges:

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
   Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
2. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
   Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
   Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
4. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
   Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
5. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
   Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
   Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
7. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
   Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
8. Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen
   Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
9. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
   Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
10. Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper
    Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

Interested in where in the US books were challenged in the last 2 years?  Check out: Mapping Book Censorship: Banned Books 2007 –2009   http://bannedbooksweek.org/Mapofbookcensorship.html