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June 25, 2007
EDENVILLE OWLS by Robert B. Parker
Robert B. Parker is an award winning New York Times bestselling author, who has just written his first young adult novel, EDENVILLE OWLS. Set immediately after World War II we meet Bobby Murphy, a fourteen-year-old eighth grader. The school year has just begun and Bobby and his friends, Russell, Manny, Billy and Nick, have formed a basketball team. Their dream is to play in the Massachusetts Junior Varsity State Basketball Tournament. With only five players, no coach and only an outdoor court to practice on is it the impossible dream?
Besides basketball Bobby, a budding writing, finds himself in a 1940's kind of detention. Looking out of the window he notices his teacher, Miss Delaney, being pushed around by a strange man. Could she be in real danger, Bobby thinks so.
Finally Bobby is looking at Joanie, a friend from grade school. She is dating his friend, Nick, but for Bobby it just doesn't seem right.
Basketball, teachers in trouble and first love make up an interesting coming of age novel. I also wonder if it isn't autobiographical.
RECOMMENDED FOR TEEN IN GRADES 8 TO 11.
Mrs Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 1:57 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2007
BAT BOY LIVES! by David Perel & The Editors of the The Weekly World News
Once again the YOU NEVER KNOW theme can be found in books. BAT BOY LIVES!: WEEKLY WORLD NEWS GUIDE TO POLITICS, CULTURE, CELEBRITIES, ALIEN ABDUCTIONS, AND THE MUTANT FREAKS THAT SHAPE OUR WORLD is a compilation of stories from The Weekly World News. This newspaper was begun in 1979 and is committed to bringing the truth, from aliens to things that happen on your street.
Some of the stories selected are bizarre, like the woman with built-in high heels or the three-legged model. If you prefer animals, there is a blabbermouth parrot at a divorce trial. You will also find the usual, Elvis Presley sighting and a story about Richard Nixon's ghost wandering the White House. Let's not forget Bat Boy. He was found in a cave in West Virginia. Bat Boy stands two feet tall and weighs 19 pounds. The scientists who found him in 1992 thought he was 3 or 4 years old. As I said before, these are the bizarre truths of The Weekly World News.
But the really strange items are the photographs. Are they real? Some may be, but only you can decide.
THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE OVER 14 WHO WANTED TO LOOK AT THOSE STRANGE NEWSPAPERS WHILE WAITING WITH YOUR MOM ON THE CHECKOUT LINE AT THE SUPERMARKET.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 3:47 PM | Comments (0)
MARTA SHAW'S STAR GAZER by Marta Shaw
The summer reading program's theme is You Never Know. Marta Shaw's book, STAR GAZER: YOUR SOUL SEARCHING, DREAM SEEKING, MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, GUIDE TO THE FUTURE may help you understand what you need to know. If you are psychic and intuitive, you may not need this book, but if you wish to connect with your inner self, try this tiitle.
Astrology, numerology and palmstry can help determine who you are. The chapters relating to tarot cards, dreams and crystals will help you pick out or understand your future paths.
In many chapters Shaw give a great introduction to an area. For example in studying auras or a person's energy field, she explains how to develop your skills, the meaning of color (I wish I had an orange aura.) and how to read your own.
Whatever area you prefer to guide your future MARTA SHAW'S STAR GAZER may help heighten you sensitivity to your inner self. Remember YOU NEVER KNOW what you will find.
THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR TEENS 14 AND UP INTERESTED IN NEW AGE BOOKS.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 8:20 AM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2007
THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Philip Pullman
The trilogy known as HIS DARK MATERIALS was written by Philip Pullman and the first book is THE GOLDEN COMPASS. In this first book of the trilogy you meet Lyra, 11, an orphan living at Jordan College in Oxford, England. In Lyra's world, everyone has a personal dæmon, a lifelong animal familiar. This is a world in which science, theology and magic are closely intertwined.
Lyra spends her days with Roger, the kitchen boy, until she saves her uncle, Lord Asriel, from an assassination attempt. She also knows that children are disappearing and before long, Roger disappears. Her plans to find Roger are postponed, when Lyra is introduced to Mrs. Coulter, a beautiful and bewitching woman. Mrs. Coulter is a scholar and an explorer - seemingly everything that Lyra could ever hope to be.
With of gift from the Master of the Jordan College, an alethiometer, a rare and powerful instrument with the power to reveal the truth in all things Lyra begins her search for Roger and the missing children.
You may wonder why I selected a book more than ten years old. The trilogy has been completed by THE SUBTLE KNIFE and THE AMBER SPYGLASS. Ofcourse, it is a great story, but here is the news flash.
The production company who made LORD OF THE RINGS is releasing the film, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, on December 7, 2007. The teaser for the film is on YAHOO movies. Take a look, but don't forget to read the book first.
THIS IS RECOMMENDED FOR FANTASY LOVERS.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 3:05 PM | Comments (0)
June 6, 2007
CONFESSIONS FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S CHAIR by Anna Myers
If you ever thought running a school would be fun, read Anna Myers' CONFESSIONS FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S CHAIR. It is the story of Robin (a.k.a. Bird) Miller.
Bird, standing 67 inches tall and wearing a navy suit, is mistaken for the new interim school principal, when she goes to register at her new middle school. She is attending a new school, because she and her clique played a cruel prank against a less popular girl in her previous school. Bird's mom would not tolerate such behavior and has moved both of them to Prairie Dog, Oklahoma.
Prairie Dog is a remote town, nothing like Denver, Colorado and Bird is furious, so furious only revenge keeps her going. Her life in Prairie Dog begins with her mother being arrested for kidnapping, when the local sheriff finds a notepad on the ground next to the Miller's car.
The opportunity to be the middle school principal what could not be better; this is real payback, and Bird is determined to make her mark on the school. This will be some prank, but life in the principal's chair is more than even she expected.
RECOMMENDED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL READERS.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 3:36 PM | Comments (0)