BOOK REVIEW

I've just reviewed the novel Blood Red Road by Moira Young. You'll find the review on the Book Reviews page. If you scroll down that page, you will also find instructions on how to write an informative review. You can also comment on the books reviewed or post your own recommendations. I'd love to hear from you!

I'm back !

After a lovely, lazy July, the month of August begins my transition back to the real world of students
and teachers, bells and books. I hope you have all been enjoying your break from school: spending time with friends, soaking up the sun, reading great books. I've read several novels that I plan to review in the next couple of weeks. I'm also starting to compile lists of new books to order for the opening of the library in September. If you would like some input, now is the time to make some suggestions by commenting on this post. What have you read that you know that other students at HPSS will like?

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

The library needs bookmarks - not any old bookmarks - bookmarks that are unique to HPSS, bookmarks that tell a story, bookmarks that feature the artistic skills of students.  So try your hand at creating a tiny masterpiece.

You can enter as often as you like until the close of the contest on Friday, June 8th. First prize is a $20.00 gift certificate to Black Bond Books, where you can start your summer reading collection. The top 5 most original, interesting bookmarks will be copied and printed and given out to library patrons next year.

Just come into the library and pick up the information sheet which includes a template of the exact shape and size of the bookmark. Here's a chance to create something beautiful and useful that will be seen and enjoyed by dozens, likely even hundreds, of people.

MAY BOOK CLUB/ NEW BOOKS

A small, but deeply insightful, group of grade 7 and 8 students met with Laurel and Ms. Schmor to discuss the first half of When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. It was a lively, far-reaching discussion with no spoilers for the second half of the book. We'll meet to conclude our analysis on Thursday, May 31st and celebrate this amazing book with a pizza lunch! If you'd still like to join this group, there's time to get the book read. Just hurry down to the library this week to pick up your copy.

Laurel and I would like to continue the lunch-time book clubs next year. We'll likely begin with grade 7 and 8 students in September, move to grade 9 and 10 students for October, and then invite grade 11 and 12 students in November.  Let me know if you're interested in participating and feel free to suggest book titles.

There has been some discussion around starting a book club for grade 10 to 12 students. The same group of students would meet monthly after school, discussing one book a month. Laurel would host the meetings. Let me know if there is enough interest and we'll finalize the details.

The last two weeks has been fun as some much anticipated novels arrived in the library. Rick Riordan's The Serpent's Shadow, the third book of the Kane Chronicles, has been in and out and in already. The City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare is, as usual for her books, getting rave reviews. For those who read Divergent by Veronica Roth and were desperate to find out what happens next, we have two copies of the sequel, Insurgent. Although the library has to start shutting down in the next three weeks, there's still time to read a book or three. Don't delay!

The last day to check out books will be Monday, June 4th. The day to bring books back to the library is Friday, June 8th. I know this is not happy news, but I need to get the inventory finished and the library ready for another busy year starting in September. Remember that the warm, freedom-filled days of summer are just within reach. You can spend some of that wonderful time browsing the shelves of the public library!

MAY READING CLUB

During the month of May I'd like to invite grade 7 and 8 students to participate in a book club. We'll be reading a surprising and terrific novel called When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  If you want to know more about the book, just go to the FEATURED BOOKS PAGE.


We'll meet twice. The first meeting will be at lunch on Thursday, May 10th and we'll talk about the first half of the story. Then we'll meet again on the last Thursday of May to share our impressions of the whole novel. A pizza lunch will be provided on the last day.

The last two book clubs were a lot of fun. There is room for about 12 students, so hurry to the library to pick up your copy of When You Reach Me.

SEASON OF SEQUELS

Spring is my favorite season. I love the clarity of the light and the freshness in the air. I love the infinite shades of green; the rich, earthy scent of growing things; the medley of bird calls at the break of day.
And, this spring, in the library, I love the arrival of the sequels.  Any of you who have enjoyed a series, know the thrill of spotting the latest installment on the library shelf. Well, the wait is over and you can finally find out what new complications your favorite characters will experience.
The following sequels are ready to be borrowed.

The Calling: This is the second book in Kelley Armstrong's Darkness Rising series, which began with The Gathering.

Out of Sight, Out of Time is the fifth book in Ali Carter's funny, fast-paced Gallagher Girls series.

The Last Hope is yet another installment of the famous Warriors series by Erin Hunter.

The Last Echo is the third volume in Kimberley Derting's Body Finder series.

Lauren Conrad, writer of the L. A. Candy trilogy, has just published a new, but related book, The Fame Game.

A wonderful dystopian novel, Delirium, is now followed by Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.

Those of you who loved Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Fire will likely be surprised that there is a third book now out, Bitterblue. It's due to arrive in your library any day.

Recently arrived is the ninth volume in the immensely popular manga series, Black Butler.

I just got word this morning that the publisher has released The Serpent's Shadow, the third Kane Chronicles book by Rick Riordan. A lot of readers at HPSS are hooked on this series. I expect the book in by the end of next week.

There are many more sequels being released in early May, so keep an eye on this blog in order to be the first to pick up the latest volume in your favorite series.

COVER LOVE

There are some amazing book covers! Take a look at the alluring cover for the new paranormal romance, When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen.

After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend, Ilven, kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous, wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it.