Truth

If I ever get discouraged about my job, and the loss of interest in reading and libraries, I have to remember...there are STILL people out there. And we will always have books. Because humans ARE capable.

Book Review: Boundary

Second/Last book of Books of Eva done in less than 24 hours!

Boundary

by Heather Terrell

Eva is now an Archon, the only female Archon in a very long time.  She is determined to find her brother's killer and uncover the truth about New North.  At the same time, she must still act the Maiden, betrothed to her friend Jasper.

Eva tiptoes along the line between Maiden and Archon to search out the real evil in New North, and the real cause of the Healing, the flooding of the world that led her people to this icy island.  When she travels to uncover the Genesis, the ship that brought her people here, she finds the lies buried in the ice.  The evil "Apple" (Apple computer products) was only as evil as the founders made it out to be so that they may remain in power.

But will Eva be able to expose the leaders of New North? And if the people hear her, will they believe her?

This is a great spin on a futuristic outcome of Earth.  When the ice caps melt, covering the world in water, humanity must run to the icy North to survive.  Eva is a strong female character, pulled between two men she loves but determined more than ever to find the truth.  The love triangle is not over the top, yet sweet and subtle.  You can't help but love Jasper, no matter how innocent he is--he will do anything for the truth, and of course, for Eva.

There are twists and turns in this book, and even when you think you know who Eva should trust, you realize that you can't quite be certain.  I suggest Dystopian fans to pick up this book and the first installment, Relic.  It's only a two part series, so it's a quick read!

Book Review: The Novice

A new series, and I have never read anything like it! I love this one!

The Novice 

by Taran Matharu

Orphan child/Blacksmith apprentice Fletcher lives in a village in the North, where it stays cold most of the year.  The kingdom is constantly preparing for the fight against the orcs, and now that the Albino orc is joining the orc clans together, the threat has never been greater.

At the same time, the kingdom who needs aid, mistreats the dwarves and elves, terrorizing them and giving them less than anyone else...Fletcher understands this abuse.

When Fletcher is given a book of spells, he unknowingly captures his own demon from the Ether.  In a land where demons are creatures that fight alongside their owners, rather than Hell-ish ghouls, Fletcher and his demon, Ignatius must travel to Vocans to study to be a summoner.

Vocans, unfortunately, is like any other high school--the rich have everything better.  They have better demons, better weapons, better clothes, and a better chance of having a high rank as a summoner.  Fletcher forms friendships with the other commoners, along with the dwarf and elf that were lucky enough to be invited to the school, but he must uncover who his allies are, and find out just what the nobles are brewing before the kingdom tears itself apart, and leaves itself wide open to an orc attack.

There is nothing in this story I didn't like.  I want to reiterate the idea of demons in this story--don't be put off by them.  You could compare these demons to Harry Potter's owl or Ron's mouse.  They are companions to the summoners, and help them fight against the orcs, or anyone else that might harm them.

With that said, this idea of the demons, along with the power of mana, reminds me of the game Magic: The Gathering.  Demons, dwarves, humans, elves all fight together...or fight each other...to either bring the kingdom together, or destroy it.

I am very happy that this is a series, and it is one for which I impatiently await the second installment of! Only until May 2016!

Family Time = Crazy Time

I love that on Christmas Day, Mitchell and I ride with my mom and stepdad up to my sister's near Chicago to spend the day with them.  It's always a crazy day, filled with presents (of course), snuggles, reading, playing, laughter, and rough-housing.  I hope that today you all find yourself with people you love and you are taking NOTHING for granted!

  

Holidays

To those of you who celebrate Christmas, hooray it's Christmas Eve! 

If you do NOT celebrate Christmas, that's totally fine and fantastic! But still enjoy this beautiful evening!  

Whether you believe in Christmas or not, I always find this time of year special, because we get a little extra time with our families and can really learn to appreciate what we have.  No matter who you are, I urge to take some time and think about what your family and friends have done for you...they may drive you ABSOLUTELY NUTS! but your family especially, loves you unconditionally.  For those of you in broken families or don't know their biological family, I tell you this.  Families can disappoint, but your family doesn't necessarily mean your biological parents and siblings.  Family is a group of people that care about you, love you, and vow to help you in any way possible at any time.  So, you canNOT give me any excuse this December 24! SOMEone out there is crazy about you, and you need to make sure that person knows you appreciate them back!

As for me, I will be celebrating some special time with my fantastic fiance doing wintry things, if I can get him out into the snow...which he hates.

So--MERRY EVE OF FAMILY LOVE!

Library Rules

There IS a system to finding books at the library--especially a way to navigate the sets of shelves.  Here is a simple, yet fancy graphic to explain our shelves...

If you ever get confused, just remember this--all of our shelves are organized this way!

Book Review: Infected

Another virus is killing civilians in this epic story of a race against time!

Infected

by Sophie Littlefield

Summary from Goodreads:
The race-against-the-clock feel of TV’s popular show 24 meets the action-packed romance of the film Run Lola Run. This high-concept teen thriller sends readers on the race of their lives.

Carina’s senior year is spiraling downward. Fast. Both her mother and her uncle, the only two family members she’s ever known, are dead. Their deaths were accidents, unfortunate results of the highly confidential research they performed for a national security organization. Or so she’s been told.

She’s not buying it. 

After finding a unique code hidden beneath the stone in a ring her mother left to her, Carina goes straight to the only family she has left: her boyfriend, Tanner.

The people Carina loved kept dangerous secrets. Secrets that make her question the life she’s been living up to now. Her life is on the line, but more importantly, so is Tanner’s. And if she fails? He dies.

This is a great stand-alone story about a very possible situation in our world today.  Carina is your average teenage girl, who doesn't have a great relationship with her mom, but when her mom dies, Carina struggles to stay afloat. Carina has learned a LOT from her mother and uncle, not only intellectually, but physically and emotionally.  When she starts unraveling information about what her mother and uncle were up to, she learns their deaths weren't accidents--and she's the next target.

Instead of lying down and taking it, Carina is determined to figure out who she can trust, what she can do to stop this research of the virus that makes super-soldiers, then kills them in a matter of days.  And the time is ticking...because she and her boyfriend are next.

This is a high-stakes, action-packed story that will keep you reading from start to finish.  And you don't have to worry about waiting and waiting for the next installment! Littlefield is able to create her WHOLE story in just one book!

3rd Friday is Over--But We Had SUCH a Blast!

Thank you to EVERYone who participated in 3rd Fridays this whole year, both patrons AND my volunteers.  We ended the year on a high note, and I hope that everyone who made crafts at the library had a great time!

We may be back next year; my Teen Advisory Board will be meeting in the next couple of months to decide what we want to do about Craft Night.

In the meantime, here are some great photos of our great community!

Some downtime right at the start...

Hannah drops a beat...???

Taryn's Marshmallow Snowmen

Sid got to be our floater and help everyone!

Santa Claus

Glittery Christmas Tree...First add glue...

....Then TONS of glitter! 

Spin the Dreidel

Adela is our resident crafter/glitter connoisseur 

New and old friends!

Holly and Taryn

Ibrahim got tuckered out...

Helen's Snow Globe craft!

My love of Star Wars

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was. AMAZING! Disney totally kicked butt with the 7th episode of one of the greatest movie trilogies ever! I doubt many of you are part of that fandom--probably too young, but if you are, I can guarantee you this movie is perfect for the Star Wars story.

ALSO, I'm lucky enough to have met Adam Driver, the actor who plays Kylo Ren! He grew up in Mishawaka, and he dated my friend in youth group, so when my church youth group went on a trip to Chicago, he tagged along and I have proof I know him---though I will mention that was the first and only time I ever met and talked to the guy.

 There's no way I'm taking any pictures with spoilers! 

 With my honey and his High School BFF

 Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) is the tall guy, and I'm the one in glasses on the left side of this picture. I'm famous by association!

Aaaaan a close up/side by side for your enjoyment

Book Review: Odette's Secrets

The next Young Hoosier Book Club book is Odette's Secrets--a quick read, but a ton of information from the point of view of a French girl amidst WWII.

Odette's Secrets

by Maryann MacDonald

Odette is a little Jewish girl from Paris, France during the beginning of the German Occupation in the 1940s.  As a little girl, Odette does not quite understand why everyone hates the Jews, but she finds solace with her godmother Madame Marie who teaches her to sew as her neighbors destroy her Jewish friends’ stores.  When Odette’s father leaves to join the French army, and is subsequently captured, she and her mother are devastated.  In order to help fight against the Nazis that captured her husband, Odette’s mother joins the underground resistance and sends Odette to a small country village to try to pass as a Christian.  There, a woman teaches Odette and other Jewish children how to make the Catholic cross sign and recite Catholic prayers to convince the locals they are not Jewish.  But when Odette’s mother is found out in Paris, she must flee to the village, and risk being found out by the villagers.  Together, Odette and her mother fight for their freedom and their secrets that have kept them safe until the war is over.

This story is told in short, almost poetic chapters for each event in Odette's life.  She narrates her struggle to understand what it means to be a Jew in France--not a story we often hear. Another child trying to wrap their heads around why everyone around her suddenly hates her and wants her dead.

This book does not delve too deeply into WWII and what happened in France, as the story has the aura of this young girl--the story is told in a stream of consciousness voice, thus the reader only knows and sees what Odette knows and sees. However, because of this, the author is able to reach a younger group of people to relate the atrocities of WWII.  If you struggle with reading and like information about WWII, this is your book.  If you like historical fiction, you'll love this quick read.  I'm 28 and I thought this book was amazing--so check it out!

Last 3rd Friday

This week we say goodbye, once again, to 3rd Friday crafts at the library.  The town of Middlebury stops 3rd Friday for the winter, but will pick up again, usually in May. Though, I WILL say, there have been talks about only doing 3rd Friday a few months out of the year.  If that's the case, MCPL may continue to have crafts, but if it is May through December, MCPL will be discontinuing this program due to lack of interest, and unknowable attendance month to month.

So get on down to the library this Friday from 5pm - 8pm to make some of these great crafts...FOR FREE!

  

  

 

  

Darth Vader sings "Hello"

STAR WARS COMES OUT TONIGHT!!!! I already have my tickets and will be at the theater for the first showing of The Force Awakens!

Here is a beautiful rendition of Adele's song, "Hello," to get everyone in the mood for Star Wars!

Book Review: Quake

I have finished yet another book series by Patrick Carman! This author is great at writing books that are easy to read, relatively short, but packed with detail and action.

Quake

by Patrick Carman

Faith and Dylan are back! The two each have a second pulse--not only can they move things with their minds, they can block bullets and anything else thrown their way.  However, each Second Pulse has a weakness.  On the other side, Wade and Clara, also Second Pulses are working with the infamous Hotspur Chance, the escaped prisoner attempting to murder half the population of the United States.

Faith and Dylan, along with their friends must band together not only to locate Hotspur Chance, but bring him down, and bring down Wade and Clara along with him.  Now, they have people working on the inside as well as the outside.

Carman brings his Pulse series to a close, and he does one heck of a job of it. He keeps all of his characters solid throughout the story--so there are no new manifesting powers that save the teens in the nick of time, just their own wit and pulse.  There are a few surprises, however, but ones that actually flow with the story.

The addition and loss of characters in this book is overwhelming, and readers better be careful which characters they get close to, because they may not last long! Carman is a great author for those struggling readers that are hesitant to pick up a tiny print, 400 page book.  You have 272 pages jam-packed with adventure and intrigue, and the reading level is a little lower, so you don't have to strain your brain so much to understand what it going on.

Darth Vader with Child Anakin's voice

I'm getting SO pumped for Star Wars to release in TWO DAYS! Here is a HILARIOUS video of Darth Vader if his voice box broke and still has the voice of the annoying child Anakin--for those of you who are die hard Star Wars fans, and realize the mistake The Phantom Menace was, will totally love this!

That is all.  This YouTube-r is genius.

Book Review: When Reason Breaks

GREAT realistic fiction of 2 girls struggling with thoughts of suicide--and how people in their lives help or hurt them...

When Reason Breaks

by Cindy L. Rodriguez

Elizabeth Davis has an anger problem.  Emily Delgado is struggling with her family and personal life.  Both are smart girls, with the potential to be great adults. The two immerse themselves in their English class where they have begun to learn about the poet, Emily Dickinson.

But the struggle with life, love, and identity, the two struggle to find purpose and a will to live.  Thrust together, the girls attempt to help one another through the pain, but by the end of their story, one girl will attempt suicide.

This story is not for the faint of heart.  Rodriguez weaves an incredible realistic tale of two girls, outwardly appearing one way, but struggling to breathe on the inside.  The reader meets emo chick Elizabeth, whose anger gets her in trouble on a daily basis.  One would almost expect that she is contemplating suicide.  And on the other spectrum is Emily--a girl of relative wealth, family power, intelligence, beautiful, and popular.  I love that the author picks BOTH ends of the spectrum to reach out about suicide.

Another great thing about this book is the idea of hope.  The girls' English teacher provides them with hope, and an outlet for their overwhelming sadness.  The girls actually speak to one another, and end up with a strange, unspoken language between the two of them that speak volumes to their characters.  And of course, is there hope for those who do contemplate suicide?

This is a great book for those who have read 13 Reasons Why.  Rodriquez will terrify you, but also show you the light at the end of the tunnel.  I will admit that this book is the first book in years, where I have actually shed tears while reading.

The Librarian Funny Papers

I needed a good chuckle today, and these really do the trick.  

I may or may not do this....

Referencing the book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury--CLASSIC!

LOL!

Hope you got one good "Ha!" at these!

Book Review: Seeker

Here is a new series that combines ancient lore and modern day assassins!

Seeker

by Arwen Elys Dayton

Quin has been training to be a Seeker since she was a child.  Alongside her friend, Shinobu, and her love, John, the three prepare to take their oath as official Seekers.  They will fight against injustice, help those in need, and do good in this modern world, using ancient weapons and lore.

But when John is not offered the chance to become a Seeker, and Quin finds out the truth about what Seekers do...and who they actually hurt versus help, she begins to question everything about herself, her training, and her father.

This is the first book of this series by Dayton.  I will inform you now, so the book is not so confusing when you read it, that the story takes place in modern day times.  The Seekers use ancient weaponry, and fight and live as you might picture of hundreds of years ago, but that is because they are training for an ancient purpose. This will help a lot when reading this story, as the author does not explain, in full, the setting and plot of this story.

The premise of this story is incredible, however, the execution is lacking.  Not only is the time period questionable, the idea of "there" is not fully explained, leaving the reader in an abyss of confusion as they try to work their way through.

Quin is a strong female presence in this story, trying to do the right thing, and for that I commend Dayton as an author.  But despite the plot holes and misunderstandings of the readers, and characters, I'm unconvinced this is literary genius.

Results From Candy Night!

I loooove Candy Night! Thank you to my mother, Cindy, for donating her time, materials, and food to this cause.  And thanks to the teens who absolutely love this and have turned it into a yearly tradition! I think we made even more candy than last year.  As long as the teens want it, and Cindy is able, this will continue every December.  

 The room is all set up and ready to go, with Cindy at the wheel!

 Some of our youngest teens becoming pros at dipping chocolate

 Cindy (mom) shows the girls how to dip turtles

 Sheltin, Sid, and Hannah get the pan of red chocolate!

 One of my fave pictures--they look so happy! They are the 2 craziest of the bunch, and for some reason I thought it was a good idea to put them together. But they did a great job!

 Prep work comes first.

Vicki, Helen, and Taryn owning that chocolate!

The whole spread!

Reaping the benefits of their hard labor!