What We're Reading: Laurie

The Limit by Kristen Landon.

Matthew Dunston is a 13 year old boy who is a math and computer whiz. He lives with his parents and two younger sisters and does very well in school. The Dunston's live in a society where everyone's personal debt is controlled by the government. Each family gets a certain spending limit, and if that limit is surpassed, the government takes the oldest child to a Federal Debt Rehabilitation Agency workhouse to work off the debt.
Matt is happy and carefree until his parents go over their debt limit. Suddenly, government agents whisk Matt away to a workhouse. Matt is highly intelligent and lands a spot on the "Top Floor" at the workhouse. He enjoys his work, classes and free time until he discovers that his sister has been sent to the workhouse as well. This discovery, along with suspicions of wrong doing, set Matt and his friends on a path to discover what is really happening at the FDRA. JFIC Landon

New Series: Grimm Graphic Novels

We've recently added a new Grimm Graphic Novel series, a set of fresh new retellings of classic fairy tales done in a contemporary comic book style. Titles include:

The Elves and the Shoemaker j398 Powell
The Bremen Town Musicians j398.2 Simonson
The Golden Goose j398.2 Tulien
Tom Thumb j398.2 Sonneborn

It's National Game and Puzzle Week

November 20 - 26 is National Game and Puzzle Week, and the library has lots of resources to help you celebrate!


For the Wii, check out Hasbro Family Game Night, which includes 11 different games. Call number: Game Wii Family.

To find a fun, active game to play outdoors, take a look at 100 Games for Fall, located at J790.1 Allue.

For a fantastical adventure story about a magical board game, try Jumanji or Zathura, by Chris Van Allsburg, both found at JFIC Van Allsburg.

And to learn more about how games help us learn and grow, read Libraries Got Game: Aligned Learning Through Modern Board Games, at CHILD.LIT. J025.2896 Mayer.

What We're Reading: Tracy

I Shall Wear Midnight, by Terry Pratchett.

Great Britain has long produced some of the finest fantasy writers in the world of books. One of my modern favorites is Terry Pratchett, who was recently knighted by the Queen for his "services to literature."

Pratchett's classic fantasy series Discworld is at once original, literate, moving, thoughtful, irreverent, and hilariously funny.
Pratchett has done an equally fine job with his youth series set in the same universe, the Tiffany Aching Adventures.

Tiffany Aching is a young witch charged with caring for the inhabitants of the Chalk, a region reminiscent of southeast England, complete with loads of sheep, colorful villagers, a beneficent Baron, and a fairy mound, or, rather, a Feegle mound. (Those are Feegles on the book cover.) In this, the fourth novel of her adventures, Tiffany must handle the mundane problems of her steading (everything from sick sheep to social work) while trying to defeat a more sinister dilemma: the coming of the Cunning Man, the ghost of a witch hunter who reappears with despairing regularity over the centuries, poisoning the minds of the people and stirring up witch hunting fevers.

Best read in order, the other Tiffany Aching books are:

The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith

What We're Watching: Brenda

Obesity in a Bottle: Understanding Liquid Calories & Nutrition and Obesity in a Bottle II: How to Pick Healthy Beverages by Learning ZoneXpress

These are two great DVDs that will help you and your family make the right choices when selecting a healthy beverage to drink.

The first DVD "Understanding Liquid Calories & Nutrition" is aimed at children in the 5th grade and above. It is definitely corny but has tons of good information in it. It talks about the relationship between weight gain and the empty calories in soda and juices, the increase in serving size over the years, the dangers of diet soda, and the negative effects of energy drinks among other topics. It ends with a segment on the benefits of drinking water.

The second DVD "How to Pick Healthy Beverages" is aimed at children in the 9th grade and above. This DVD is narrated by a nutrition expert and is not nearly as corny. I think it would be better received by older children who may not be able to get past the silliness of the first DVD. It talks about how much sugar is in many popular beverages that most people would probably think are healthy options. It also stresses the importance of looking at the label and checking both the nutrition information and the ingredient list. Finally it discusses what to drink when participating in sports activities and some myths about caffeine.

These are both great DVDs to either watch on your own to make healthy choices for your younger children or to watch together as a family with older kids.

Shark Week 2011

It's back! Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, an annual summertime TV favorite, begins July 31 at 9:00 PM.



The schedule is filled with sharky shows, including seven brand-new episodes:

-Great White Invasion
-Jaws Comes Home
-Rogue Sharks
-Summer of the Shark
-Killer Sharks
-How Sharks Hunt
-Shark City

Plenty of old favorites will be rebroadcast as well, including Air Jaws and Top Five Eaten Alive.

Get all the details at the official Shark Week website.

If you really, really like sharks, remember you can always have your own shark week any time you want with books and DVDs from the Youth Services area, j597.3.

What We're Reading: Tracy

Tentacles, by Roland Smith.

In this sequel to Cryptid Hunters, oceanographer, veterinarian, and cryptozoologist Dr. Travis Wolfe sets off on a quest to capture a living giant squid. Accompanied by his 12 year old daughter Grace and 13 year old nephew Marty, Dr. Wolfe sails for the South Pacific. The trio are quickly beset by dangers: the ship seems to be haunted, someone is trying to sabotage the mission, and a couple of incubating dinosaur eggs are discovered on board. Will they survive the trip, and if they do, will they find a giant squid at the end of the journey?

What We're Watching: Laurie

Temple Grandin directed by Mick Jackson. Starring Claire Danes, Catherine O'Hara, David Strathairn and Julia Ormond.

Temple Grandin (Danes) was diagnosed with autism at age four. Needless to say, life was not easy for Temple or her mother. Temple did not speak until age four and the recommendation to Mrs. Grandin was to institutionalize her daughter. Being a graduate of Harvard, Mrs. Grandin refused to lose hope and believed that Temple had the potential to live a full, happy life. Mrs. Grandin sent her daughter to a private high school and then to college. Mrs. Grandin explained to all of the admissions faculty that Temple was "...different but not less", that she had a great mind and was capable and deserving of higher education. With the love and encouragement of her mother, Aunt Ann (O'Hara) and a few teachers along the way, Temple graduated with a Ph.D. in animal husbandry and is currently a professor at Colorado State University. Fantastic story of courage, love and perserverance. DVD FIC Temple

What We're Watching: Laurie

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World directed by Edgar Wright.
Starring Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Alison Pill, Anna Kendrick, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jason Schwartzman.


Scott Pilgrim (Cera) is an adorable 22 year old bass guitarist with no job and no plans for the future. Scott is in search of the girl of his dreams. Literally. He keeps having vivid dreams of a redhead and thinks that life would be great if she existed and he could actually meet her. And then Scott sees her at a party. He introduces himself to Ramona (Winstead), asks her on a date, and then discovers that if he wants to be with her he must defeat her seven evil exes. What is in store for Scott? Will he be able to handle these battles? Is Ramona worth fighting for? PG-13.

What We're Watching : Laurie

I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store. Written and directed by Brendan Toller.

Toller explores the possible reasons why many of the independent, or "mom and pop", record stores in the United States are closing their doors. Toller visits several independent record stores and lets the owners/workers talk about why they are closing and what owning/working at the store means to them. Interviews with many musicians on independent record labels (Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Ian MacKaye of Fugazi/Minor Threat, Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers, Pat Carney of the Black Keys, Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Group and Legs McNeil co-founder and writer of Punk Magazine and former senior editor of Spin Magazine) help round out this documentary. Independent record stores not only give music fans a sense of community but also help folks discover amazing bands that the national chain stores do not stock. While downloading songs from iTunes certainly is convenient, there is nothing like holding an actual vinyl record or cd in your hand and checking out the liner notes and art work. Support your independent record store!

Some of my favorite local stores:

Car City Records- St. Clair Shores, MI
http://www.myspace.com/carcityrecords

http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Clair-Shores-MI/Car-City-Records/323427069692

The Record Collector- Ferndale, MI
http://www.myspace.com/ferndalerecords

Record Time- Roseville, MI
http://recordtime.com/Home

What We're Reading: Laurie

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.

Naomi and Ely are best friends. They live in the same apartment building and are attending NYU together. Naomi has always been in love with Ely, and has fantasized about their wedding day, but Ely doesn't love her the way she hopes he will. They create a "no kiss list" of people they can't kiss so as not to hurt one another, but Ely crosses the line and things change drastically between them. Will this be the end of Naomi and Ely's life long friendship? Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist will enjoy this teen read.

What We're Reading: Laurie

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino begins her freshman year of high school as a social outcast. She was at a party over the summer and called the police to break it up. Everyone at school despises her because of the incident and no one knows why she did it. Melinda becomes very withdrawn, refuses to speak to anyone including her parents or teachers, and her grades are rapidly slipping. What happened to Melinda? Will life change for her? Will she ever find her voice? This gripping story will have you cheering for Melinda as she tries to find her way out of the darkness and solitude that is holding her prisoner.

What We're Watching: Tracy

A Hot Dog Program: An All-American Celebration of Some Fabulous and Phenomenally Popular Little Sausages in Their Soft Little Buns, narrated by Rick Sebak.

July is National Hot Dog Month, so it's the perfect time to watch this fun PBS documentary all about hot dogs in America. The 60 minute tour takes viewers coast to coast in pursuit of great dogs, from New York to L.A. You'll see a hot dog shop shaped like a giant sausage in California, reindeer hot dogs in Alaska, red varieties in Georgia, and a deep fried variation in New Jersey. So throw some dogs on the grill, get the mustard out, kick back, and enjoy A Hot Dog Program!

National Recreation and Parks Month

July is National Recreation and Parks Month. If you haven't visited a local park yet this summer, there's still time!

Check out your hometown parks with the city website's handy Sterling Heights Park Guide.

For fun further afield, try the Macomb County Metroparks, which offer a variety of experiences from the lake shore at Metro Beach to the farm at Wolcott Mill.

Even more adventuresome outdoor opportunities can be found at the State of Michigan's Nature and Park listings. Visit a waterfall, sand dunes, even a national forest, and enjoy the beauty of our great state this summer!

What We're Reading: Tracy

The Spongebob Squarepants Survival Guide, by David Lewman.

In these trying times, a survival guide can be a very handy thing. This one won't tell you how to increase your 401K earnings, find a new job, stave off foreclosure, or pay for your health care, but if you find yourself trapped in a giant clam, trying to deflate a puffer fish, or needing to remove barnacles, this has got you covered. Plus, it's funny.

A sample:

"How To Avoid Getting Covered In Algae:

1. Move around. The less rocklike you are, the less likely you are to get covered in algae...
3. Make yourself unattractive to algae. Wear mismatched outfits. Don't wash. Monopolize conversations. Talk about yourself constantly. The unfortunate side effect here is that you'll be unattractive to everyone."

Obviously, getting some exercise and being socially adept is good advice even for those of us who live our lives unthreatened by algae.
There are hidden pearls of wisdom (pun intended) like these scattered throughout the book. Highly recommended for anyone who likes Spongebob, and/or those wishing to increase their chances of survival.

What We're Reading: Mary

Albatross
by Jossie Bloss

This young adult novel delves into many current issues teens are facing.
In it, the main character Tess, is dealing with her parents' separation; a move to a new city and school; along with underlying low self-esteem.
How could she not have low self-esteem, when her perfectionist father could only see every little flaw in her nearly perfect performances? He threatened to make her quit the swim team after getting one "B" on an otherwise all "A"report card.
How natural it then felt, to fall head over heals for a guy in love with another girl, who would never see her as "good enough." He says she's only (good enough to be) a friend to him, which he constantly reinforces by calling her "dude," even while lying on his bed kissing her. His "real" girlfriend, however burdensome, would always come first.
A very interesting twist develops at the end of the story, when Tess has a heart to heart talk with the "real" girlfriend, and hears the other side of the story.
This is an excellent, and compelling read for both male and female teens.

What We're Reading: Laurie

Will Grayson, Will Grayson written by John Green and David Levithan.

Two teens, both named Will Grayson, who live on the outskirts of Chicago meet in the most unlikely of places. Their paths cross and their lives become intertwined and take them in unexpected directions. The two Will Graysons learn a lot about themselves, love, friendship and life and get to take part in an epic production of one of the most fabulous high school musicals of all time.

What We're Reading: Laurie

Willow by Julia Hoban

Willow has moved in with her brother and sister-in-law after a terrible accident. She is a 17 year old girl in a new school and is horribly afraid to let anyone into her world fearing that her deepest secret will be revealed. Willow struggles to fit in with her new classmates until she meets a boy who will change her life in a way she never believed possible. This is a very moving story of a young woman who must learn to forgive herself and try to open up to those around her.

What We're Reading: Mary

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee



This Young Adult novel describes a year in the life of an overweight teenage girl.


Feeling very unattractive in her changing and overweight body, what could be worse than working part-time in her Mom's beauty shop, where appearance is everything?
Near the beginning of the book, a small portion of Rosie's sad, earlier school life is presented. It includes the unfortunate sixth grade incident that led to her clinging "artichoke" nickname, issued by the "in crowd" of cool girls. Continuing into a recent time frame, many, often amusing, encounters are described between Rosie and the same teenage girls now known as the "Bluebirds." As Rosie matures, she begins to look at the Bluebirds in a different way. She realizes their shallow values, and hurtful behavior towards other classmates, not in their clique.
In the year surrounding her 16th birthday, Rosie truly begins growing up. She learns to control her eating, loses weight, finds a boyfriend, and comes to terms with her mom's illness. This is a very fitting "Sweet 16" read.

What We're Reading: Laurie

Lips Touch: three times by Laini Taylor

Three beautifully written novellas that all deal with the common theme of a kiss. In Goblin Fruit, Kizzy, a girl who is a social misfit, meets a gorgeous new boy at school. He pays attention to her and befriends her over the more popular girls in her class. Kizzy is immediately smitten with the new boy and wonders what their future holds. Spicy Little Curses Such As These tells the story of a girl who is cursed at birth and falls in love with a soldier as a young woman. She struggles with the validity of the curse and the strong feelings she has for the man she believes to be her soul mate. Hatchling reveals a world full of immortals who raise human babies as pets. On Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue, and Esme encounters a man who introduces her into the world her mother has been trying to shelter her from her entire life. Di Bartolo's hauntingly gorgeous illustrations add depth and dimension to these stories.