Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone enjoys the day off of work/school! I know I am!

If you don't know the real reason for Labor Day, there is a ton of info here:

http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history.htm

Basically, in a nut shell, it means:
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

so thank you to the first workers of America, who have made this country the great, powerhouse it is! And I hope the next generation can find the integrity, tenacity, and devotion to continuing that work!

Book Review: Captive

I just finished the second book of The Blackcoat Rebellion and it does nothing to diminish the awe of this series!

For Fans of:

Dualed by Elsie Chapman

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Legend by Marie Lu

Captive

by Aimee Carter

Kitty, masked to now be Lila, the niece of the prime minister of this dystopian North America has not played nice.  She uncovered secrets that were best left covered.  Prime Minister, Daxton Hart, must do something with her before the Blackcoats become any stronger.

Thrust into "Elsewhere," a prison village, Kitty must find the strength to survive the beatings of other inmates, to find the correct people to trust and who to avoid, and find any secrets that will continue to help the rebellion.

Those Kitty had begun to like, and even trust, turn on her, and in a place like Elsewhere, where all the inmates will do whatever they can to make their position stronger, Kitty must figure out if any of the inmates or guards are truly trustworthy.

This story is great for multiple reasons.  First, the book picks up right where the first one left off--and Kitty is ready for the next step.  Also, instead of more of the same rebellion, plotting against the government, Carter places Kitty in an entirely new environment--one synonymous with death.  Carter shows the underside of the rebellion and just how widespread it is.  The reader never truly knows who to trust, and we go back and forth hating and loving Knox--and hoping Kitty will be able to count on him in the end.

There are also quite a few jaw-drops.  Secrets are told, past lies are found out, and you are left having to continue turning the page until hours have gone by and the book is finished! I cannot wait for the third installment of this series!

Book #3:

(Comes out November 2015!)

Book Review: Killer of Enemies

I picked this book up a few months ago...never did get around to starting it--wasn't sure I'd like it.  But when I cracked open the spine the other day, the book wasn't put down until 4am and I had finished!  This one is a MUST READ!

For Fans of:

The Living by Matt de la Pena

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Killer of Enemies

by Joseph Bruchac

Years ago, a mysterious cloud settled over planet Earth, wiping out any and all technology, leaving civilization in the dark, to crumble as the ice caps melted and eternal desert swarmed North America.

There were ones, augmented with artificial intelligence that made a way for themselves to rule small enclaves across the country.  But the augmented pets they have were also set loose when the cloud hit. Now, enormous bison bred with armadillos and birds the size of houses roam free and terrorize the small communities of people.

Lozen, a teenage girl, was found to have a knack...and a power, for killing such creatures.  When the Ones found her, they took her and her family and held her family hostage while ordering her out into the wilderness to perform whatever duties asked by the Ones.

But each time Lozen kills a monster, her powers grow. And as she connects with the ancient world and her native heritage, Lozen realizes she may have an ally in the desert--which is good news, as the time has come for Lozen to escape the community with her family before they are all killed.

I cannot stop singing praises for this book.  This book is not part of a series, so there is no worry about waiting around forgetting the storyline until the second book is released.  Bruchac is able to complete an ENTIRE storyline with a plot, strong characters, a crazy dystopian world, and a family element in one 360 page book--genius.  Bruchac also does not center his story--and who Lozen is as a person--on a boy.  Yes, there is a love interest, but it does nothing to cloud the overall sensational plot.

Bruchac adds amazing creatures that Lozen must fight, and describes them with such clarity, you truly feel like you are in every situation Lozen finds herself in.  I highly recommend this book, without a doubt, to anyone--boys and girls, teens, tween, adults, lovers of dystopia, lovers of mystery, everyone!

Nominate Your Favorite Librarian!

Do you have a librarian that sticks out as incredible helpful and wonderful, and you can't imagine a library running without them?! (Note: It does NOT have to be me, but I'd love it if it were!)

I'm thinking Mrs. Schmidt at the Middle School. Or anyone else you think fits the profile.

If you'd like to have a voice and vote for your favorite librarian, please go here:

http://ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian

And click on either public or school librarian--I believe you can vote for both if you'd like!  There are some short answer questions, so it may take you a few minutes to finish it.

I know a lot of you take librarians for granted, and I can understand that--I did too.  But know that there are some librarians out there fighting as hard as they can to make sure you get the information you want, your favorite book series, and the most exciting programs they can create!  If you'd like to identify these librarians, please take the time to fill out the voting ballot!

Science is Cool!--The science behind reading a REAL book!

I stumbled across this great article the other day explaining science behind reading an actual book as opposed to an E-book, or not reading at all!

Some of the findings were that, obviously, it improves your intelligence! Hooray smart people!

Secondly, the physical act of flipping pages can help you remember what you read and get in to the story.

My favorite--reading before bed can help you sleep.  This has been my routine for probably 5 years now. I always read before bed, much to my fiance's disappointment.  This usually gets me REALLY tired, so I conk out pretty quickly and sleep fairly well.  I would highly suggest it!

Click here to see the whole article. Let me know what you think!

8 Science-Backed Reasons to Read a (Real) Book

First Teen Craft Night TOMORROW!

I'm super excited for this year's teen crafts! I have the whole schedule, and we are kicking the school year off with one of my favorites! Tomorrow from 4:30-5:30 pm, we will be making Harry Potter wands! All materials are free, I may or may not have some tasty snacks.  Come hang out, and spend some time in the library!

  

Book Review: Sever

I finally finished The Chemical Garden Trilogy! Lauren DeStefano is such a great author, and I truly hope you take the opportunity to read her work!

Sever

by Lauren DeStefano

Vaughn got to Rhine again...but this time, she has Cecily on her side, and maybe, just maybe, Lindon will believe her.  The two move Rhine to a safe location as she heals and decides how to go about getting in touch with her brother who has become a terrorist, blowing up research labs.

When Rhine finally contacts her brother, the outcome isn't quite what she planned.  Those she thought she could trust with her life have changed, and the people who had previously enslaved her might not be the horrible people she once believed.

The clock is ticking...Rhine must find the answers before the sickness overtakes her.

What a GREAT way to end this series! The cure, while wholly important to this story, isn't the whole drive between this last book.  The cure is more a sideline story, and what is truly important is keeping hope, finding the ones you love, and being a good person despite the past.

Throughout this story, you see Rhine begin as a naive young girl who slowly transforms into a strong, independent woman, who will stop at nothing to find answers and locate her brother she thought was dead and gone.  DeStefano picks up right where her second book left off, and the way she creates her characters is mesmerizing! I can't get enough!