Read the movie...

Most movies begin with books these days. As much as I enjoy a good film, I have found the experience of reading to be  much richer and more satisfying. If you saw Seventh Son last weekend, you might be interested to know that it is based on an amazing fantasy series called The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney.

Coming this week is another film based on a popular book, The DUFF by Kody Keplinger. This is YA contemporary at its best. It's rare that this novel is on the shelf, so I've responded to the movie by buying three new copies. Here's a peek...

RED RISING by Pierce Brown

It takes some time for a great book to become part of our universal consciousness much like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Divergent. There is a book languishing on the shelf despite the fact that it might well be the best book published last year, and I thought I might give it a push for the students of HPSS. Last fall I recommended Red Rising to a reluctant reader in grade 11; he was back in the library yesterday anxious for the sequel, Golden Son. We talked about the book and his praise reminded me of just how good this series is.

Here is a review.

Sometimes an author comes along and writes a book so fascinating that it takes readers by storm. RED RISING is THAT book. Debut Novelist Pierce Brown blends the past, present and future together in a novel that if you haven't read yet, you'll want to soon because it is all you're going to be hearing about.

Darrow is a Red. He is sixteen years old and a slave. He is what is known as a "Helldiver". He drills deep into the miserable bowels of the planet Mars mining for elements that would make the surface of the planet inhabitable as Earth has become overpopulated and dominated. All Reds are slaves. Only, they don't really know it.

Darrow is married to Eo. They grow up much more quickly living under the surface of Mars. Eo is beautiful, and also a Red. She loves Darrow and has dreams that they will escape this life under the surface. Eo knows they are enslaved. And she's willing to go to her grave for freedom. And she does exactly that in an act of rebellion.

Heartbroken and determined to avenge Eo's death, Darrow allows himself to be recruited by a mysterious faction whose plan it is to infiltrate the Golds. The Golds are those who are the elite; those who enslave the Reds; and those who hold the lie that the surface of Mars is uninhabitable when it is already inhabited. To do this, Darrow must become a Gold. He must undergo a complete and painful transformation to make him stronger, taller and more golden.... And only then, will he be accepted into their "Academy" where he will compete against other Golds for prestigious placement in their hierarchy.

The battle in the academy among the "students" who are separated into 12 houses is brilliant writing. Utterly brilliant. Words form the artwork in your mind that creates vivid canvases that come to life as the battle scenes play out. Many of the scenes are gruesome. All of the scenes are vivid, meticulous and smart.

The characters that are created in this whole new world that takes the mystery of the Roman gods and combines it with the sad history of slavery and class warfare and today's societal ills, are built upon, nuance by nuance, until they seem as if they're fighting for you. Not only are we given the gift of Darrow as our main character, but watch for other players in this game, especially Servo, Mustang and Rogue. These are exciting and complex characters.

This is supposed to be a book for young adults. And it is, I suppose. But don't be fooled by the genre, this book has it all~~the dystopian society, science fiction, romance, mystery and it THRILLS. Though comparisons could be made to THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT and THE PARK SERVICE, this book is somehow different, somehow, more evolved. Anxiously awaiting January 2015 to find out what happens in GOLDEN SON (Red Rising Trilogy #2).

I'll Give You the Sun

For those of you who love originality, art and John Green's books, I give you your next great read, I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. There is a terrific review of this glorious novel on Reading Rants, just click on the link and scroll down a bit.

Another year of great books!

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a chance to spend some of the holiday curled up with a wonderful story.

2015 is already looking like a promising year for lots of excitement in the library. The new bookmarks were revealed on Tuesday and they have flown into readers' hands. Don't worry, I'm getting more printed. For the second time, the drop box was filled to overflowing with students returning their holiday books and there have been long lines of patrons requesting the next in the series or a new series or more books by this author - more, more, more books! Every day new books arrive and many are hotly anticipated. The sequel to Red Rising by Pierce Brown arrived this morning; it is called Golden Son and will be ready to check out tomorrow. Firefight continues the story of Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. A graphic novel series, Gunnerkrigg Court, is now available; it will delight the Courtney Crumrin fans.

There are books for everyone in our library. Come in and browse or ask for some recommendations - matching the right reader with the perfect book is my goal and I have many more hits than misses. (I love a challenge.)

BOOKMARK CONTEST!!!!

This time around, the Bookmark Contest was more successful than ever before. More students participated with an impressive display of artistic skills and imaginative content. As it was too difficult to choose just six entries, we chose nine to be made into bookmarks. The following students will soon see their bookmarks on the library counter:
Abi Seeley
Rebecca Sichon
Hunter Donohue
Joshua Williamson
Chelsea Banman
Kelan Williamson
Joshua Boonstra
Macy Arnold
Aaron Williamson

The overall winner and recipient of the $20.00 gift card to Black Bond Books is Aaron Williamson.
Thanks to all for your terrific work. Look for the bookmarks when we return to school in January.

NOVEMBER BOOK CLUBS

The discussions were awesome! Hopefully, this month's reads will spark so many ideas. Senior Book Club will read the immensely popular The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Junior  students will read and talk about a steampunk adventure story, The Hunchback Assignments, by Arthur Slade.

Newcomers are always welcome! See Ms. Schmor in the library to pick up your copy of the book and the 2 meeting dates.

BOOK CLUBS!

Laurel Bieber, the teen librarian at the Mission Public library, visits HPSS twice a month to co-host two book clubs with me. Junior Book Club is open to students in grades 7 to 9. They meet twice a month at lunch hour to discuss a book that everyone is reading. For October, the book is an exciting action story that explores the issues around anger and violence. It is called Touching Spirit Bear and you can pick up a copy in the library.

Senior Book Club is open to students in grades 10 to 12. They meet Friday after school. The first meeting is to discuss the first half of the chosen book. The last meeting explores the whole book. The October book is an amazing read, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

The first meeting for both groups will be Friday, October 17th. The last meeting falls on Friday, October 31st. We'll decide as a group whether to move the last meeting to a new date or have a mini Halloween party as part of the book discussions.

It'll be fun, energizing, enlightening and surprising! See you in the library for your copy of the book.