June 16, 2009
CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER by James Swanson
Perhaps you are bored to death from studying the Civil War in school. Well brace yourself, this non-fiction, yes I repeat NON-FICTION reads like a thriller.
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer gives a detailed account of the murder of Abraham Lincoln and a thorough account of the 12-day hunt that lead to the capture of the murderer and his accomplices. Okay, so I will admit that you may be learning about the conflicting feelings of the time. On the up side you will also be placing yourself smack in the middle of the most massive man-hunt in U.S. history. This new book includes reprints of original photographs and documents of the time to help you connect to the events. You may not believe me, but I promise you will love this book.
I recommend this book to students in grades 6 and up.
Mrs. Sayan
Young Adult Services
East Meadow Public Library
Posted by fjacksonem at 3:33 PM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2008
2008 3 APPLES TEEN BOOK AWARD
The book, A CHILD CALLED IT: ONE CHILD'S COURAGE TO SURVIVE by David Pelzer, is the winner of the 2008 3 Apples Teen Book Award, a New York State Teen Choice Award. This title was selected from teen nominations from across the state, when New York State teens voted during January, 2008. (For a complete list of the nominated books see the entry dated May 6, 2007.)
A CHILD CALLED IT chronicles one of the most severe child abuse cases in the state of California. David Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his alcoholic mother. He played his mother's sadistic games and dreamed of the day when someone would love him. He was saved by an alert school teacher and lived to write this book.
This is a particularly brutal and savage tale. IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 12:55 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 (1)
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)
April 12, 2007
DIGITAL PHOTO MADNESS
MAY is PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH but April is the Young Adult Services 18th Annual Photography Contest for Young People. On Thursday, April 26th we will be announcing the winners of this year's contest. Since this event is limited to teens 15 to 18, younger teens may get a headstart with this new book, DIGITAL PHOTO MADNESS!; 50 WEIRD & WACKY THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA, by Thom Gaines.
As the back cover tells you, "Sure, you can see your pictures right away, print them on your home printer, and post them on the Internet, but did you know you create really coool effects using the latest software?" With this book you could give someone a facelift, or create patterns from a single shot. You are the designer of your own world. It will be lots of fun.
RECOMMENDED FOR TEENS AND ADULTS INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 6:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2007
THE NOTEBOOK GIRLS: FOUR FRIENDS, ONE DIARY, REAL LIFE by Julia Baskin,Lindsey Newman, Sophie Politt-Cohen and Courtney Toombs
The Notebook Girls is the real life diary of four friends who attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. Jula, Lindsey, Sophie, and Courtney became close friends their freshmen year and decided to start the notebook as a way to stay in touch. The girls write about the pressures of school, boys, family, and friends. In addition to sharing their thoughts and experiences the girls put pictures and drawings into the notebook. Readers will laugh and sometimes relate to the experiences the girls write about in this black marble notebook.
RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 10-12.
Miss Samuel
Young Adult Librarian
Posted by fjacksonem at 2:11 PM | Comments (2)
December 11, 2006
THE POET SLAVE OF CUBA by Margarita Engle
Monty Python made a movie called, "And now for something completely different." Well, I have just finished a book that is something completely different. THE POET SLAVE OF CUBA: A BIOGRAPHY OF JUAN FRANCISCO MANZANO by Margarita Engle is a biography in verse. Juan, a slave, was born into the household a wealthy family in 1797. As a young child his extraordinary intellectual powers, made him and his family a favorite of the slaveowner's wife, but with her death his fortunes changed. His new mistress was cruel and revelled in his humiliations. Though beaten, locked in shackles and almost left for dead his voice was never silenced, and finally at nearly 16 he escaped from slavery.
The biography is told by several different people, Juan, his owners, his birth mother and a white boy living on the plantation. I wish more information was available, but as the author writes any material on slavey in Cuba was banned. It was only by chance Manzano biography found its way on a ship to England, but only the first half of his life discovered and published.
Even though the subject of slavery is an dark time for humanity, it is interesting to see how it was practiced in a country other than the US. This book is recommended for young people in grades 8 to 11.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 3:15 PM | Comments (1)
November 6, 2006
THE 2006-07 NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Occasionally a book comes into the Young Adult reference collection that needs to be seen by many teens and the following title is one every student athlete may need to look at.
Planning to play sports in college, you might want to look at the reference book commonly known as THE YELLOW PAGES OF COLLEGE SPORTS or THE 2006-07 NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS, the Men's Edition. This spiral bound directory lists 2090 junior and senior colleges that compete in intercollegiate athletics.
Each entry lists the name, address and telephone of the college, affliliation to the NCAA, conference, enrollment, colors, nicknames, college president,stadium and arena. The important facts come next. Athletic Director list name, telephone number and email address. Each sport is listed alphabetically with the coach's name and telephone number. If the sport is really big at the college you might find the assistant coaches listed.
When I checked out my alma mater, the University at Albany, I discovered the university had a Director of events management and operations, a media relations individual and a football team. I did graduate in the last century, before it became known as the University at.
There is one interesting advertisement. The Hilton family of hotels lists hotels by state, city and approximate mileage to different colleges from a particular hotel.
This title is held at the Young Adult Services desk and will require a library card.
Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 2:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 3, 2006
TEENS COOK DESSERT by Megan and Jill Carle
With their Mom, a cookbook editor, and their Dad, a true lover of desserts, two teen sisters created a dessert cookbook for teens. It is a step-by-step guide to baking covering cookies, cakes, pies, puddings and other stuff, from quick and fun to more involved and dazzling.
There are more than 75 recipes including 120 photos showing step-by-step procedures and finished desserts. All the recipes are real teen favorites like peanut butter and jelly cookies and banana splits. There is a wonderful section called Things you should know about ingredients. It is things they don't say in the recipes like wash all fruit before using them. Simple, yes, but some people don't know this.
My favorite section is the Holiday Stuff, because some of the recipes could make really terrific holiday gifts. How about some Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread or Snowflake Cookies wrapped in a box with a fabulous bow or what about Gingersnaps with Pumpkin Dip for Thanksgiving. According to the Carle sisters, "This is a required snack in our house on Thanksgiving. I think everyone wants a little pumpkin fix without waiting until after dinner for the pie."
Anyone who love to cook should check out TEENS COOK DESSERT.
Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 10:16 AM | Comments (1)
October 29, 2006
HOW TO SURVIVE IN ANTARCTICA by Lucy Jane Bledsoe
With the days getting shorter and temperature dropping I know that winter is on its way. I guess we are lucky to have only 13 weeks of possible snow and freezing temperatures, but imagine living, or I should say surviving in Antarctica. Lucy Jane Bledsoe, a photographer and writer, went on exploratory trips to Antarctica sponsored by the Antarctic Artists and Writers Program of the National Science Foundation, and learned how to survive.
Ms Bledsoe took three trips to Antarctica. She learned how to build a snow shelter, what to do if you fall into a cervass; and most important learning to listen to other people, it could save your life. The book also contains a complete guide to the wildlife of Antarctica, the weather code, the different kinds of ice and a history of the explorers who faced the hardships of this icy continent.
Antarctica is a place I have always wanted to visit, but since that is no longer possible Lucy Jane, guest author, gives the best travel guide I have ever read.
I would recommend this book for anyone going to Antarctica, but if you are really interested in builing snow shelter I think grades 6 to 8 would enjoy, HOW TO SURVIVE IN ANTARCTICA.
Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 1:23 PM | Comments (4)
October 5, 2006
BIG SNACKS, LITTLE MEALS
As the days grow shorter and darker, you may be spending more time at home and that might mean more trips to the refrigerator for a snack.
A cookbook has just arrived in the library called BIG SNACKS, LITTLE MEALS: AFTER SCHOOL, DINNERTIME, ANYTIME by Rose Dunnington. This book tells you everything you need to know to make a sensational snack, from measuring ingredients to mastering basic cooking techniques. According to the author, "This is a book about real cooking, not some little kids' book about making PB & J sandwiches that look like bunnies."
If you are into salsas, burritos, trail mixes, pancakes, chowder and all other kinds of foods, there are 50 tasty recipes any teen would love.
Submitted by Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 6:58 PM | Comments (0)