new book clubs! interested?

Vacation is over - and too short, as usual...

Nevertheless, we have some good things in store for the library.

First - Our book club read and discussed The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett. Next, we expect to read Flowers for Algernon, a combo of sci fi, emotional realism, love story, and 4-hanky tearjerker. (Okay, if you're like me, maybe it's a 10-hanky tearjerker...)

We'll also be starting 2 new book clubs, one for the 7th grade and one for the 8th grade. Our school has received a non-fiction book grant, and part of the bequest is a 10-book set of two titles, which will be used for book clubs. I'll be speaking to English teachers; extra credit will be involved for those participating! The books are: Born on a Blue Day; inside the extraordinary mind of an autistic savant, and Yell-Oh Girls; emerging voices explore culture, identity, and growing up Asian-American. I chose these two titles because they seemed fascinating to me.

But we've been given (and will be getting more - speak to me!) such a wide variety of books that there is sure to be something that will appeal to everyone,

Just a sampling:

Three Wishes; Palestinian & Israeli children speak

Paleo Bugs; survival of the creepiest (quite vividly illustrated!)

The DNA Gave It Away; teens solve crime

Hip-Hop; a short history

Life on Earth - and Beyond; an astrobiologists quest

American Shaolin

Boys of Steel; the creators of Superman (yes, of course it's a graphic format!)

Chill; stress reducing techniques for a more balanced, peaceful, you

Hurricane Force; in the path of America's deadliest storms

Media Madness; an insider's guide to media

Stop by to take a look at our new collection.

Bog Child

Just finished Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd. I was never particularly knowledgeable about the IRA and the troubles in Northern Ireland, but reading this is both an education and an incentive to learn more. This is a combination of mystery, romance, and historican fiction, with a dash of the unexplainable thrown in, and it is a wonderful read! This takes place in the 1980's in Northern Ireland; a teenaged boy finds a preserved body in a bog - about 2000 years old. The past and present mingle, merge, and teach hard lessons. This book is both thoughtful and beautifully written. It's a heartbreaker, too. Highly recommended!!

Wintergirls

Wintergirls is Laurie Halse Anderson's latest novel, and I think it is her best work since Speak. It deals with anorexia, bulimia, and cutting; it's not emotionally easy to read, but she captures something very real about the thoughts and feelings of girls who need to hurt themselves in these ways. The writing itself is at times sensitive and beautiful, at other moments brutally honest. I found myself holding my breath as I read. It is still running through my mind.

Bullies and Bullying

For all of us - parents, students, and teachers - bullying looms as a terrible problem. Recently there have been many books, both fiction and non-fiction, dealing with the issue. I'm appending a list of books that touch on bullying and its various consequences.

book clubs

This spring we'll be starting a few book clubs. We have one making its debut this Friday, with Terry Pratchett's The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents. That group is filled up, but anyone interested in starting another should speak to me.

Also, we've received the 8 Million Reasons to Read grant, and the school will be getting a number of outstanding nonfiction works. These have been chosen to great extent for their readability and high interest level. I'll post when they arrive, and list the titles. This
grant also involves putting together a non-fiction book club. The library will provide the books. Again, I'll let you know when I know for sure which titles we're receiving. And I'll be speaking to teachers about some extra credit for participants. (although the joy of reading should be sufficient motivation...) Let me know if you think you might be interested.

Today's recommendation: What I Saw and How I Lied, by Judy Blundell. It's a National Book Award winner - a coming of age novel replete with mystery, romance, and betrayal. This one grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the end, and afterwards you'll have plenty to think about. Really outstanding! (Cool cover, too!)

Me, the Missing, and the Dead

That's a book title, not a statement of personal crisis...
The author is Jenny Valentine; she's a British writer and this is her debut novel. I suspect she'll be someone to watch out for. This is a coming-of-age novel. The writing is clever, the plot is entertaining, serious issues are handled with a light touch, and the ending has a very snazzy twist!

signing off...

New Database!!

We have an excellent, award winning new database available to Sage students, called Teen Health and Wellness. It is available both at home and at school, and offers credible, trustworthy health information on subjects such as stress, peer pressure, divorce, suicide, etc. A 24 hour hotline for teens in crisis is provided.
Parents and teachers will find a wealth of information, as well, so check this out.

go to: http://teenhealthandwellness.com/
username: russellsage
password: health