Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Shout Out

I'd like to give a shout out to the anonymous poster who commented on The Time Traveler's Wife post. Kudos to you for helping to keep us alive. Although I can't pinpoint your identity exactly, due to your use of the word "tragic", I have a sneaking suspicion that you are my supercalafragilisiticexbealadocious aide, Mizzzzzz M. : )

Also, who will be seeing "New Moon" this weekend? Both hands up for me on that one. Although I make excuses and say I'm taking my niece to be a good auntie or that it is my duty as a librarian to go and see what all the hoopla is about, deep down the teenager in me is counting down the seconds until the show because I love it.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Read. Everybody's Doing It. Pictures

Hello,
I wanted to let you know that I just shared the "Read. Everybody's Doing It." campaign photos on the blog. If you scroll down the left hand side of the blog page, you'll see an image that looks like it's cut off with a turquoise "s". If you click on the "s", you will find yourself at the Photobucket page. Our photos are here. Check them out! They are great. Don't forget to . . . . . . . READ! Everybody's doing it!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Freedom to Read What I Want!

This is just a quick blog post to get things rolling again. We can't let this blog die. Life is very busy with grad school, so I haven't had much time to read materials other than books for class. I am done with the semester after this week and I am so excited to get started on my YA book kick once again. I have a ton of novels on my list-of-things-to-read and I don't know where to begin. Is there anyone out there? If so, please give me a recommendation stat!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Derby Girl by Shauna Cross

I just put two and two together that the new Drew Barrymore/Ellen Page movie "Whip It" is based on the book Derby Girl, which is one of our new books. I finished reading this book last week and I really enjoyed it. Follow along with Bliss, as she moves from feeling great angst at not fitting into the popular crowd at her small, Texas high school, to finding her own happiness filled niche in the world of roller derby. The book is humorous, fast paced, and a testament for unique girls searching to find where they fit in the world. I'm definitely one who likes to read the book before I see the movie and in this case, I did it without even realizing it. I look forward to seeing "Whip It" and I invite you to come check out Derby Girl. You'll be glad you did.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Devour These New Resources in the GKHS LC!

Hello and happy Monday!
Part of our new book shipment arrived today and I'd like to tell you all about our new resources. Since I am trying to update and build a strong nonfiction collection, most of these titles are non-fiction titles. Please feel free to come check them out.

New Biographies
Michelle Obama: From Chicago's South Side to the White House
The Beatles
Bob Dylan: Voice of a Generation

Nonfiction
The Bat Chen Diaries (diaries from Bat Chen, an Israeli girl who was killed by a suicide bomber at age 15. This book contains poems and entries from her 3rd grade classes up until the day she was killed.)
Genocide: Modern Crimes Against Humanity
Digital Art: Painting With Pixels

Fiction
Hunter's Heart
Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You (based on a true story-a young girl's account of genocide in Rwanda.)

Keep your eye out for our new fiction titles, which should be arriving at any moment! One highlight is Ellen Hopkin's new book, Tricks, which is added to the list of her other great books like Crank, Glass, Burned, Impulise, and Identical. As always, happy reading!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New Books

Coming soon to the GKHS LMC . . . . . .

In several weeks, we will be receiving an array of exciting new fiction and non-fiction books for your reading pleasure. I strongly encourage you to come check them out . . . . literally! Please remember that I am always open to book suggestions either in person or on the blog. Don't be afraid to give me your opinion. It makes my job easier when kids speak their minds. Also, please encourage others to join our reading community. Happy reading!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

How Books Saved Me From Commute Madness

As some of you know, on most days, I commute to and from Chicago. Although the commute hasn't been too bad, I am bothered by the thought of wasting so much time in the car. I bring books or magazines with me everywhere and when I find myself in a moment of downtime, I fill that moment with words. I enjoy sneaking in a page or two at red lights; however, once I hit 90, there aren't anymore lights and it's a pretty long stretch from the last light on 47 to home. Since I don't think anyone will be inventing devices that guide people's cars down the road during rush hour traffic any time soon, I have decided to explore the wonderful world of audiobooks. I am always fretting that there is never enough time to read all of the books I want to read, especially the ones from the GKHS collection. I like to be able to talk with our students about the books we have and I have finally stumbled upon an efficient way to be able to review and recommend a lot of them.

After school, I am headed to Sulzer Regional Library in Ravenswood and then Merlo Library in my lovely Lakeview neighborhood, in hopes of scouring their audiobook bin for books that match those in our collection. I feel this is multitasking at its best. Not only will I be able to break up the boredom of the commute, but I will also be better serve our students. Although I'm still old school and feel that nothing beats the feel and smell of a book, I am grateful to audiobooks for helping me out and for making reading an enjoyable experience for readers who may have struggled in the past.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Another day, another movie...

So, I was checking out Yahoo! movies and saw that The Lovely Bones is coming to theaters soon...


Again, I will be missing this movie as its another one of my favorite books of all time and movies always seem to betray the tone of a novel, but I am a bit intrigued as it is being directed by Peter Jackson.


Friday, August 28, 2009

Sold by Patricia McCormick

I highly recommend the young adult book, Sold by Patricia McCormick. Although this book is fiction, it is a jarring and horrifying representation of the child prostitution slave trade in India. The book is written in journal format, in which the main character, Lakshmi, describes the process of being sold by her stepfather to a cruel brothel owner and then becoming her slave. The most heartbreaking aspect, outside of the fact that Lakshmi has her innocence brutally ripped away against her will, is the fact that her naive nature leads her to misunderstand her fate until the grim moment that it's not possible anymore. She is forced to leave the mother and brother she loves and becomes trapped in a nightmare, from which she fears she'll never escape.

While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of the painfully gripping documentary "Born Into Brothels", which focuses on children living in the red light district in Calcutta. Both the book and the movie are a call for people in a position to help to avoid sitting idly by and speak out against this terrible crime against children. I wept as I read Sold, not only because of the terrible things Lakshmi had to endure, but also because her character represents thousands of real girls across the world, who must face the hopelessness of their fate. Somaly Mam, a woman who was forced into prostitution as a young girl, wrote a book called The Road of Lost Innocence, which is a nonfiction account of her life as a child prostitute. Today, Mam risks her own life and the lives of her family members to speak out against the sex-trafficking industry and to help young women escape the misery of the brothels. for more information about Mam and this topic, visithttp://www.somaly.org/ All of these stories mentioned above are heartbreaking, yet resound with hope and reminders to appreciate the good in our lives. If you are interested in reading Sold, it is available in the library.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Welcome Mrs. Beynon!

Hoooooooray! Everyone is catching the blog bug. Thanks for joining Mrs. B. I think we should both go to Sam's, buy Kleenex in bulk, read My Sister's Keeper, and weep and talk about it.

Thanks for helping keep us going!

Thanks to Mr. O for joining us. Hopefully, more people will do the same so we can make this an even more successful than last year.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

My faith is restored in the Twilight series!

I just finished reading New Moon and I must say that I am super duper excited to read the others. I'd like to give another shout out to Mr. Eich for inspiring me to start again. After a year-long break, I decided to get back into the swing of reading the books and I was pleasantly surprised by how hard it was for me to put down New Moon, even while driving. : ) I found Twilight to be drawn out and a little dull, except for the end. Although I still feel that the writing is juvenile at times and the Romeo and Juliet allusions annoy me to no end, I can see what the Twilight hype is all about. The fact that Meyer has been able to get so many kids and adults excited about reading is superb and I'm sure librarians, parents, and teachers everywhere would scream thanks from the rooftops. Go Stephenie, go Stephenie.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Time Traveler's Wife- Does the movie measure up?

Miss Wilkins shouts NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO from the rooftops. Anyone else care to share?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

What are you reading this summer?

Greetings and happy summer. I hope you are all finding time to read good books. Let's get this blog kicking again. I would like to know what you've all got your noses into this summer. We've had plenty of rainy days, so there's no excuse not to read. Unfortunately, most of my reading has been mandatory, grad school reading. However, I recently started to read Devil in the White City once again. It's so densely packed with information that I've started and stopped about four times. This time, I'm going to do it! Now, it's your turn . . . .

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Oldies But Goodies

Please feel free to stop by the library and peruse the old books that have been weeded from the GKHS learning center collection. Although many of them have copyright dates of 1970 and before, they are still valuable books. Some of them are so bad, they're good. Choose from exciting titles like the illustrated Encyclopedia of Exercises, The Complete Guide to Aerobic Dancing, and Jane Fonda's Health Guide for Middle Aged Women. Some of the pictures in these oldies but goodies will keep you entertained for days. But seriously, come take a look. One librarian's trash is another reader's treasure.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

This summer's reading list?

As the school year is coming to a close, I hope I'm not the only one looking forward to reading a few books other than those that are curriculum related.  Is anyone here like me getting together a little stack of books to knock out from June til August?  My list is as follows...

Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
and any others that my mother-in-law recommends.

What are you guys looking forward to reading this summer?

Friday, May 15, 2009

Nonfiction..it's what's for breakfast

If you're one of the hoards of people who are absolutely in love with all things medical when it comes to TV (anyone up for an episode of House?), you might want to try out The Woman with a Worm in her Head: And Other True Stories of Infectious Disease by Pamela Nagami.
For an infectious disease specialist, she's not a bad writer. I will admit she might give too much background/scientific detail for some...but if you can get through that, her descriptions will make you squirm uncomfortably in your seat (think descriptions of worms tunneling through the body with a possibility of it tunneling through your brain causing death). You'll sweat a bit, get a few uncomfortable chills, feel a bit sick to your stomach and generally never want to travel anywhere ever again after reading certain accounts. How fun!

Pamela Nagami has also written another book called Bitten, which is aptly named but which I don't recommend to a casual reader as her background information can sometimes be the equivalent to a course in Entomology. However, if the worm book hooks you... look it up. The description of ants attacking a baby (the baby lives) still haunts me... and if you like that sort of thing, then you'll love this book.

After reading, you can horrify your friends with detailed accounts and giggle with glee at their discomfort, and in that moment, you'll know for certain that nonfiction rocks.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

To see the movie, or not to see the movie?

I just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife per Ms. Wilkins's recommendation and we started talking about the upcoming movie based on the book.  It got me thinking, and thusly, I would like to put out to all of you in the interwebs the following question...  

Do you enjoy watching the movies of books that you have read?

My answer (for all those who care, and even those who don't) is that I generally try to avoid movies of books that I love.  I thought Troy (The Illiad) was fun but not at all respectful to Homer, I thought A Home at the End of the World was the second worst movie of all time (the first being Mortal Kombat II), however, I do think that the movie Whale Rider is extremely close to being just as good as the book.  That's just a sample of my experiences with movies from books, but enough of me, what do you guys and gals think?

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Goooooooooooooo GKHS Library Blog Members

You guys rock. Thank you for adding life to our blog. I hope you all post over the summer as well. Let's keep it a rockin' and a rollin' even when school is not. : )

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Literal Literarium

So, I do a lot of reading. I mean a ridiculous amount.
If their is an author I admire, I am compelled to read (and collect first hardcover editions of)everything by that author.
Stephen King, Clive Barker, Anne Rice(before the religious novels), V.C Andrews(those she published before she died) and Augusten Burroughs round out my top faves.

I am reading through my battered copy of Rocky Hororr: From Concept To Cult, by Scott Michaels and David Evans, it chronicles the creation of the original musical which premiered in 1973 to the cult following of the now legendary movie. The book also contains 16 pages of rare making of photos, and is written in a series of esays and interviews with the cast members (except Tim Curry) and the set designer, director, and producer; everyone who was involved is extensively interviewed. great reading if one is either a die-hard rocky fan, misses dressing up on a saturday night(when you felt alright), or is interested in how a musical is adapted to screen.

pleasant somethings people, ----Martin(who does remember doing the time warp--- in the middle of wal-mart).

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska, by John Greene is a wonderful read and is a part of the GKHS library collection. This book was published in 2005 and won the 2006 Michael J. Printz Award from the American Library Association. This year, it was nominated for the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award and after reading the novel, I can see why the kids voted for it. Miles, the main character, is tired of his mundane life in Florida, so he asks to be enrolled at Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama in hopes of embracing new possibilities. Miles loves to study the last words of famous people in history and the last words of Francois Rabelais's become a model for living his life. When Miles leaves for Alabama, he quotes Rabelais when his parents ask him why he wants to leave home: "I go to seek a Great Perhaps. During his time at this school, he forms a circle of colorful friends that draw him out of his shell and help him reinvent himself, particularly a wild girl named Alaska, with whom he is in love. Although most of the boys at the school feel the same about Alaska, she is perpetually out of reach to everyone, including herself. This novel touches on love, rebellion against authority, loss, suffering, and the human condition of being unable to control life and death.

This book has lots of themes to which high school students can connect and I give it gold sparkles all around. If anyone has any questions about the book, please come in and see me. I'd be happy to promote it or any others that have got you curious.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Currently Reading

I am currently reading White Oleander by Janet Fitch. I've been a fan of Janet Fitch's work when I started reading the first book I found by her (Paint It Black) in 2007 and have been following her ever since.

White Oleander is a twisted tale of Ingrid and her daughter Astrid. Ingrid is a poet that has been imprisoned for murder and Astrid has to go through an abyss of multiple foster homes. Each one is a new foreign environment for Astrid and Ingrid- I should really get to finishing this book...

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Like Sandora I am also a fan of Janet Evanovich and can hardly wait for 6-23 when Finger Linkin 15 comes out! I know it will be full of romance and a lot of laughs and who couldn't use that. The Hot Flash Club books by Nancy Thayer confirm that when a group of girl friends get together they can do anything! I'm sure the Friday night margaritas and the chocolate helped too. The Blossom Street series by Debbie Macomber is also a favorite of mine.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Currently Reading: Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins has got to be one of my favorite authors. She's incredibly talented, her imagery is so smooth it's almost like watching a movie. She's known for her tragic novels, often concerning drugs, teen pregnancy, self destructive behavior, and other controversial topics. The book I've currently got my nose safely tucked in is one revolving around the lives of two identical twin teenage girls, growing up estranged from their mother, and controlled by their father. There are multiple turns throughout the pages of this novel that hit you head on, brights going full blast, and although they can be heart wrenchingly sad, they're still aspects that make it that much harder to put down. So in short, I'd recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind shedding a few tears over text, and who'd be interested into delving into the mind of someone else, who perhaps has even darker secrets than you.

If I Could Only Read One Author for the Rest of My Life . .

It would be David Sedaris. This man is genius. His ability to blend sardonic accounts of everyday life experiences with touching portraits of the common dysfunctional family and upheavals of romantic life is an art form unto its own. No subject is safe from the piercing eye of Mr. Sedaris. I have read all of his books and attended four of his readings, yet his fresh vignettes still manage to evoke work-out worthy laughter every single time. It's not possible to choose a favorite. I'd be buried with them all. A good place to start is Holidays on Ice, an account of Sedaris' cringeworthy experiences while posing as a Macy's Christmas elf. If you're a fan of dryyyyy humor, David Sedaris is for you. Calling Mrs. Fruuuuuuit.

Sandora - Currently Reading

I am currently reading book eleven of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I find myself laughing out loud at the quirky characters and creative writing style. I enjoy romantic comedies and this book series is a perfect fit. My only caveat is that the first book in the series was written in the early nineties, so the descriptions of outfits and hairstyles reflect the era.

Other authors that I enjoy: Nicolas Sparks, Nora Roberts, and Sandra Brown.

Mrs. Sandora

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Welcome Wagon

Welcome to the Genoa-Kingston High School learning center blog. This blog is intended to be a space where students, GKHS staff members, CUSD #424 staff members, and Genoa-Kingston parents can share their thoughts about anything related to reading or information literacy. I would like to encourage everyone to share book reviews, book recommendations, or knowledge they have about authors, books, a particular book series, or even movies based upon books. Remember that you are representing the Genoa-Kingston school district, so keep your posts appropriate and thoughtful. Blog entries that test the limits of appropriateness will not be posted. If you have to question it, don't write it. Now, let's talk books!