Help the Slave Lake Public Library

As many of you know May 15 saw a huge forest fire enter the town of Slave Lake, about 40% of the town is now gone, including a beautiful new public library which just opened in 2010. Support for the victims of the fire are being assisted by the Red Cross and other organizations. Support for the library is also pouring in. Libraries, bookstores, publishing companies and other library associations have been in touch with the Peace Library System to see how they can help the library rebuild.

Here's what you can do:
Donations of new or nearly new books (no more than two years old) can be shipped to Peace Library System headquarters where they will be catalogued, processed and stored until a temporary library opens in Slave Lake.

I will arrange to collect your donations and look after the shipping.

Cash donations can be made by going to the libraries webpage at
http://www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca/
and clicking on the make a donation link.

We can help make a difference to the people of Slave Lake. I can't imagine my life without a library in it.

A Long Walk To Water

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park - based on a true story

Wow! what a powerful little book, each of its 120 pages speaks powerfully. This is truely a book that won't leave you right away - you'll think about this story, you'll think about your next glass of water, you'll remember Nya and Salva long after the story is finished. And hopefully you'll be inspired by this story or one like it, inspired to persevere during a hard time like Salva, or perhaps you'll be inspired to make a difference in someones life a world away from yours. It doesn't matter how you are inspired just as long as you know that you as one person here in this place we inhabit that you can make a difference.

A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond everyday. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from lonliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya's in an astonishing and moving way.

Here is an author interview.

They broke the law - you be the judge

They broke the law - You be the Judge : true cases of teen crime by Judge Tom Jacobs

Teens often hear about other teens who get into trouble with the law. But their seldom asked what they think should happen next and why. A unique introduction into the juvenile justice system, They broke the law - you be the judge, invites teen to preside over a variety of real-life cases.
They meet Adam who makes a threat in school; Erica, who assults another student; and more young students who commit crimes and are caught. Like a judge, readers learn each teen's background, the relevant facts and the sentencing options available. After deciding on a sentence, they find out what really happened - and where each offender is today.
Along the way, readers learn Judge Jacobs' concerns about each case, reflect on probing questions and discover that they can't jump to conclusions.
Thought provoking and eye-opening, this book is for all teens who want to know more about the juvenile justice system and the laws that pertain to them and their peers.

Grand Opening

Today's the day of our big Grand Opening of the Library Cafe & Lounge.

Congratulations! to all students from G.S. Lakie who worked so hard during the Fall Fundraiser ~ this project couldn't have gotten off the ground without you.
Also Bravo! to students who took part in the design challenge. Your inspiration, creativity and excitement led the way in designing the amazing space we are celebrating today.

Thank you to the G.S. Lakie staff who have been patient and supportive throughout the year as the place seemed to be in a constant state of transformation.

And last but not least, THANK YOU to Mr. James for helping to understand our vision and see it through to completion.

I'm in the mood for food

I'm in the Mood for Food : in the kitchen with Garfield by Jim Davis ; recipes by Barbara Albright

Over the years, Garfield the cat has struck a chord with readers who can identify with his laidback, shall we say lazy approach to life. The famous feline - whose passion for food and sleep is matched only by his adversion to diet and exercise (he prefers lie-downs to sit-ups) - has become the poster cat for all kinds of people none of whom would ever describe themselves as "Type - A's".

Chock full of tasty recipes, the cookbook also features spot art and food related Garfield comics in colour. Includes chapters on Family Food, Party Food, Pasta, Outdoor cooking, Kid recipes, Snacks, and Desserts.

13 Words

13 Words by Lemony Snicket ; illustrations by Maira Kalman


Let's say I gave you 13 randomly chosen words and asked you to write a story using them. Let's say those words were: bird, despondant, cake, dog, busy, convertible, goat, hat, haberdashery, scarlet, baby, panche, and mezzo-soprano. What kind of story would you come up with? Do you know what all these words mean?
Here's what Lemony Snickets version of the story looks like.
P.S. I love picture books, and think you're never too old to enjoy them.

Troubletwisters

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams


From the inside cover:
Are you a troubletwister?
Jaide and Jack Shield's lives are changing in a very, very strange way. The weather is turning against them. Magical disasters occur when they're around. And a mysterious explosion has just destroyed their house... from the inside.
Without knowing why, the twins are stolen away to live with Grandma X - a relative they've never, ever met. At Grandma X's house, things are even stranger. Weather vanes point in the opposite direction of the wind. Doors appear and disappear. Cats talk.
Jaide and Jack Shield don't know the reason behind all this strangeness. They don't know that they're troubletwisters, and that they must defend the world against a dark, evil force. The time has come for them to discover the truth - and the powers that come with the truth.
Are they ready?


I have both an author interview and a book trailer for you.

Shadow Wave

Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore - Cherub Book 12
From day one, I have loved this action-packed, adrenalin junky, rollercoaster ride of a series. And the disclaimer on the back cover - not suitable for younger readers, well for some of us the more we're told not to do something, read something the more we must try it out (evil grin :-}. Cherub agents are highly trained professionals with one essential advantage: adults never suspect that kids are spying on them.
From the back cover --
After a tsunami causes massive devastation to a tropical island, its governor sends in the bulldozers to knock down villagers, replacing them with luxury hotels. Guarding the governor's family isn't James Adam's idea of the perfect mission - and then retired agent Kyle Blueman comes up with an unofficial and highly dangerous plan of his own. James must choose between loyalty to CHERUB, and loyalty to his oldest friend.


Here's author Robert Muchamore speaking about book 12 Shadow Wave.

Maximum Ride : the manga 4

Maximum Ride : the manga 4 / story by James Patterson ; art by NaRae Lee

This graphic novel adaptation has been a huge success, and so in volume four we should expect nothing less. Here's the write up:
Despite their initial hesitation, living with Anne has softened the flock, so Max is keenly aware that it's time to leave, iwth Thanksgiving so near, though, all of them want to stay. At least until they've had their first ever Thanksgiving turkey. But danger is on the horizon as Jeb's plan advances, and while the flock's new school seems normal and safe, secrets are hidden beneath its prestigious facade....

If you can't get enough of this series or of manga style graphic novels try visiting
www.yenplus.com
this site will give up some of the latest chapters for this series as well as others. Or if you're one of the lucky people who have an ipad try downloading the
yenpress app and read full volumes of  your favourite manga series.

One further note - it looks like this series will be making its way to the big screen with a possible release date of 2013.

Warrior vs Warrior

Warrior vs. Warrior by Catherine Brereton, Philip Steele, and Hannah Wilson What would happen if a gladiator fought a samurai warrior? Who would win, and why? Warrior vs. Warrior recreates five deadly battles ; Viking vs. Aztec, Samurai vs. Gladiator, Spartan vs. Mongol, female ninja vs. female gladiator, Knight vs. Zulu. Data files compare and contrast weaponry, armor, tactics, codes of honour, while background spreads provide historical and cultural content. And at the end of the book, one of the ten is crowned histories ultimate warrior.

Shimmer

Shimmer by Alyson Noel

From the back cover.
Having solved the matter of the radiant boy, Riley, Buttercup and Bodhi are enjoying a well-deserved vacation. When Riley comes across a vicious black dog, against Bodhi's advice, she decides to cross him over. While following the dog she runs into a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca's sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she is not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, she is furious about being murdered during a slave revolt in 1733. Mired in her own anger, Rebecca is lashing out by keeping ghosts who died along with her trapped in their worst memories. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive and forget without losing herself?
And a book trailer.
Read On.

Reaching for sun

Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Josie Wyatt knows what it means to be different. Her family's small farm house seems to shrink every time another mansion grows up behind it. She lives with her career-obessed mother and opinionated Gran, but has never known her father. Then there's her cerebral palsy: even if Josie wants to forget that she was born with a disability , her Mom can't seem to let it go. Yet when a strange new boy - Jordan- moves into one of those houses nearby, he seems oblivious to all the things that make Josie different. Before long, Josie finds herself reaching out for something she's never really known,  a friend and possibly more.

Interlinked free verse poems tell the beautiful heartfelt story of a girl, a family farm reduced to a garden and a year of unforgettable growth.

Fang by James Patterson

Fang by James Patterson - Maximum Ride #6

Being a kid with wings - constantly on the run, has never been easy, and Max and her flock are getting tenser than ever. First, on a trip to Africa, they meet a mysterious billionaire whose intense scrutiny of the flock makes her fear the worst. And as if an impending apocalypse weren't bad enough, canny birdlike kid Angel makes a dire prophecy about Max's soul mate : Fang will be the first to die. Max's desperate desire to protect Fang brings the two closer than ever. But can the team weather the storm, or will the turmoil rip them apart for the last time.
Here's the book trailer.

Dewey the Library Cat

Dewey the Library Cat by Vicki Myron
In the tradition of Marley a Dog Like No Other, this is the story of a cat who was more than a pet, and the amazing effect he had on the people around him. Abandoned in a library book drop in the dead of winter, this remarkable kitten miraculously endured the coldest night of the year. Dewey Readmore Books, as he became known, quickly embraced his new home inside the Spencer Public Library, charming the struggling small town library goer's young and old. As word of Dewey's winning tail, or rather his tale  spread, the cat gained worldwide fame as a symbol  of hope and proof positive that one small cat could change a town, one reader at a time.

Here's the trailer.

Art to the extreme

Hey these are photos that I took over the Easter break. They are from a personal residence in Ellensburg, Washington. These folks have dedicated they're life, yard and house to art. They want to make people think about art, and beauty, and fun, that is all around us. Most of the sculptures are made with found pieces, many feature pieces and parts from old bikes.  Life is what you make of it, these people choose colourful, quirky, humourous art.

The Throne of Fire

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan - The Kane Chronicles Book 2

Ever sine the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister, Sadie, have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command; but the devious gods haven't given them time to master thier skills at Brooklyn House, a training gound for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet - the Chaos snake, Apophis  - is rising. If they don't prevent him form breaking free ina few days' time, the world will end. In other Words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.
To Have any chance of battling the forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god, Ra. But that would be a feat more difficulet than any magician has ever accomplished. First they have to search the world for the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh- and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is, exactly?
Narrated by two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment of the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

The Raven

The Raven by Patrick Carman - Skeleton Creek Book 4

Part text, part video, all spine-tingling mystery.

Strange things happen in Skeleton Creek - and when they do, Ryan writes them down and Sarah captures them on video. They've solved old mysteries. They've followed clues all over the country and underground.  They've investigated secret societies. They found their answers. Or so they thought. Because there are still some secrets that Ryan and Sarah haven't uncovered yet. And there's still a shadowy figure standing in their path... someone who doesn't want Ryan and Sarah digging up more of the past.

I can't wait to dive into this next installment of Skeleton Creek. Sorry guys, but I took it home with me, but I promise to have back to the library soon.
In the meantime, here's a teaser.

May

From the back cover-
The sound of screaming fills the air, Cal's identity has been stripped from him and he's been locked up in an asylum where danger lurks on both sides of the bars. He has no idea who's put him there, but the doctors are convinced Cal - Ben Galloway - is delusional, and have no intention of setting him free.
Cal can't reach Great-uncle Bartholomew or solve the Dangerous Mystery of the Ormonds when he's wearing a straightjacket...
No one believes a word he says - no even the truth can save him now.
The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last. Callum Ormond has been warned. He only has 245 days left.

Great fast paced, loads of action, and intrigue. If you liked Alex Rider series or the Cherub series, this might suit you.

Here's the book trailer.

Dead is Not an Option

Dead is Not an Option by Marlen Perez

This is book number 5 in the Dead Is series, and it has been a popular series with our paranormal, vampire, werewoves and zombies fans (that encompasses a large portion of you.) Anyway in Dead in Not An Option, Daisy a senior at Nightshade high is getting ready to move on to bigger and better things, but so far no word from any of the colleges she's applied to. Strange - yes, but also strange is the thought of how she and boyfriend Ryan will maintain their relationship. But that's not the only thing happening in Nightshade, there's also a war going on between the vamps and the shape-shifters and things are getting so tense that there's talk of cancelling prom. Could some of these problems be linked to the mysterious new-comers in town? Daisy will have to use all her skills in order to restore the peace of Nightshade.

Here's the book trailer for Book 4 in the series Dead is Just a Rumor.

Graphic novel Parodies

Parody.
Webster's dictionary defines parody as 1.) a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or music. 2. ) to imitate for purposes of ridicule or satire.

Both of these new graphic novels are parodies, and funny ones at that. Joining the ranks of Weird Al Yankovic, This Hour has 22 Minutes and SNL - Papercutz publishing is amusing us with parodies of some of our favourtie books. Have a look, maybe you'll be inspired to draw a parody comic of your own.
Read On

Amelia Earhart : this broad ocean

Amelia Earhart: this broad ocean by Sarah Stewart Taylor & Ben Towle

Amelia Earhart developed a love of flying at a very young age. What began as a simple joy became something much deeper - a commitment to open doors for all women. As Amelia builte a name for herself in the field of aviation - breaking numerous records along the way - she inspired future trailblazers to soar to new heights.

In Amelia Earhart : This Broad Ocean, Taylor and Towle focus on Amelia's triumphant crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1928 , offering us a glimpse of her relentless ambition and her tireless will to promote women's rights. But above all, author and illustrator leave us with a sense of her deep-rooted desire to touch the sky.

The art work is tri-coloured, black, white and a beautiful torquoise.The panels of great action are and then given relief by double page spreads of landscapes which remind us how turbulent and calm Mother Nature can be. This is a terrific graphic novel biography, with most of the story taking place in Trepassey, Newfoundland

The Big Time

The Big Time by Tim Green


Things couldn't be going betterfor Troy White. The Atlanta Falcons' football genius is at the top of his game, helping the team get to the playoffs. Agents and lawyers are knocking on his door with big-money offers for the upcoming season, And his own football team has just won the Gerogia State Championship! Troy's celebrating with his friends at Linebacker Seth Halloway's mansion when another lawyer comes knocking - and he says, "I think I'm your father."
In that instant, Troy's life is changed.


This is the sequel to Football Champ.
Here's Tim Green speaking about writing and the Football Genius books.

Fire World

Fire World by Chris D'Lacey -- The Last Dragon Chronicles Book #6

David and the dragons are back in the latest installment of the Last Dragon Chronicles. After destroying a trace of dark fire, David, Zanna and the Pennykettle dragons vanished. In a brand-new world Co:per:nica, which runs parrallel to that of Crescent Lane, firebirds roam the anicient librarium, a museum for books. But when twelve-year-old David and Rosanna accidently injure one of the firebirds, they are suddenly thrust into a remarkable adventure. The evil iX have taken over one of the firebirds, turning it to the side of darkness, but the birds have a secret: They know about the existence of dragons. And from across the universe, one may come to their aid....

Read On

The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie

The Good, the bad, and the Barbie by Tanya Lee Stone

I don't often post non-fiction books for girls, let alone biographies about dolls but today is the day. How many of you have played with Barbie's? She's been around for awhile and still going strong. Just a couple weekends ago, I was at Toys R Us and there seems to be two whole isles dedicated to Barbie and her extended family and accessories for them. What's her history? Why is this toy still popular when others have faded off the store shelves? Is she a positive roll-model or a negative one? Well, be prepared to learn the answers to some of these questions and more, in this biography of a doll - Barbie.

From the back cover:
During her unparalleled fifty year history, Barbie has been the doll that some people love - and some people love to hate. There is no question she has influenced generations, but to what end? Acclaimed author Tanya Lee Stone takes an unbias look at how Barbie became the icon that she is, and the impact she's had on our culture (and vice versa) . Featuring passionate ancedotes and memories from a range of girls and women, this book explores the Barbie phenomenon in a brand new light.

The Black

The Black by D.J. MacHale

At the end of The Light, Book One of the Morpheus Road Trilogy, Marshall learned the truth about what happened to his best friend Cooper. Now in Book Two the POV switches and we get to see his side of the mystery. What does his story have to do with Marshall and the journey along The Morpheus Road? It's time to learn more...

Here's D.J. MacHale giving a short description where this all came from.

Rules to rock by

Rules to Rock By by Josh Farrar


Summary from back cover:
You'd never guess it now, but Annebelle Cabrera used to be a rock star. And not like her mom or dad called her a "total rock star" after she won a spelling bee or something. She was a real rock star, the bassist of Egg Mountain, the most popular band in the New York music scene. But when her parents uproot her from Brooklyn and move her to Rhode Island so they can record their own album, Annebelle feels lost. Starting a new band isn't as easy as she hoped, the school's rival band is a bunch of bullies, and her parents are so immersed in recording that they're completely neglecting Annebelle and her little brother. How can Annebelle make herself heard.


The reviews on this one are great - unfortunately for me - I have a stack at home that I'm working on, so this one is up for grabs.

Read On