In search of Sasquatch

In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls

I'm not sure whether it was all the creepy stories my brothers told me about mysterious creatures lurking in the dark and the shadows or if it's because it's Halloween night. But as I sat curled up reading this book, I couldn't help but wonder if there really is or could be such a thing as Sasquatch.

This book takes a look at the native american myths and legends of Bigfoot, current scientists that are actively researching and investigating any evidence that comes up, as well as debunking some stories that have circulated. It was fascinating to hear of real science being applied to these investigations. The question is do you believe? and if not maybe this book will convince you for the next time your out in the woods.
Oh Yeah, this book even references an article from the Lethbridge Herald of 1959. And I especially love the end papers featuring a deep dark forest and quotes Hall has collected during her research of the book.

The Always War

The Alway War by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I'm a big fan of Magaret Peterson Haddix, her books are always thought provoking, what would life be like it??? And she once again has created a story where we ask that exact question. What would life be like if your entire life your country has been at war, how about not just your lifetime but also your parents lifetime, what if this war had been going on for as long as people could remember? Interesting and a scary thought.

Here's the summary from the back cover.
For as long as Tessa can remember, her country has been at war. When local golden boy Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal for courage, it's a rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa's town - untile Gideon refuses the award, claims he was a coward, and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and can't help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. But Tessa is in for more than she bargained for. Before she knows it, she has stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that will change the world. But is Tessa strong enough to bring it into the light?

Teachers got caught reading

Can you guess who's reading what? All these readers are from our G.S. Lakie staff. Check out the bulletin board in the library to enter the contest and win fabulous prizes.

Pie

Pie by Sarah Weeks

This book will have your mouth watering with all the talk of pie, but I think you'll also enjoy the tasty mystery and colorful characters Sarah Weeks has created in her latest novel.
"Polly Portman was a natural born pie maker. When she was little, even her mud pies were a cut above what anyone else in the sandbox was doing."

I enjoyed how each new chapter starts out with a recipe card for a pie, and how each of these pies is meant for a particular person of the story. Wonderful, charming read - and now I think I'm off to try my hand at one of the recipes.

Case closed?

Case closed? nine mysteries unlocked by modern science by Susan Hughes

This was a fascinating read suggested by one of our students. The nine mysteries are: ancient eypgtian female pharoh Hatshepsut -was it murder?, Could early explorer Hsu Fu reach North America in a bamboo boat?, What happened to the city of Ubar? Where did the Anasazi people disappear to? What happened to the men of  Sir John Franklin's mission to find the North West Passage?, Could Russian princess Anastasia escaped ?,  Did George Mallory summit Mt. Everest first?,   What happened to the airliner Stardust?,  Where did INS Dakar go?,

These mysteries are researched and debunked with the use of modern science. I learned alot and found these cases to be filled with intrigue, some of them get completely solved, others are still part mystery. 

Dark Eden

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

I've had the good fortune of receiving the advanced reading edition of this one and having been consuming it for a couple of days and I have to admit to being caught right up in the scary side of phobias. And of course Patrick Carman is still on the cutting edge of bringing his books to life this time with an interactive apps for your iphone / android phone / ipad / ipod / techno gadget. It will make it way to our library soon, get your name on the hold list.
Summary.
Fufteeb-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares - with the help of the group facilitator, Ransford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains ... What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?
  Heres the book trailer and some info from Patrick Carman

The Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

What if fairy-tale magic really existed?
Elizabeth has just started working as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repostitory, a lending library of objects - contemporary and historical, common and obscure. And secret, too - for in the repository's basement lies the Grimm Collection, a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brothers fairy tales. But the magic mirrors and seven-league boots and other items are starting to disappear. And before she knows it, she and her fellow pages - handsome Marc, perfect Anjali, and brooding Aaron - are suddenly caught up in an exciting but dangerous adventure.

Trailer.



60sec recap

Blizzard of Glass

Blizzard of Glass : the Halifax Explosion of 1917
by Sally M. Walker

Summary from back cover:
December 6, 1917, started lie any other day in Halifax, but everything stopped shortly before 9 a.m., when two ships collided in Halifax Harbour. One of those ships was loaded with munitions and the other held medical supplies, both intended for war-torn Europe.
The resulting disaster was the largest man-made explosion until the detonation of the atomic bomb in 1945. The blast flattened two towns, Halifax and Dartmouth, and killed nearly 2,000 people. As if that wasn't devastating enough, a blizzard hit the next day, dumping more than a foot of snow on the area and slowing much needed relief efforts.
Packed with period photographs, Blizzard of Glass is just what today's young nonfiction lovers are looking for: a fascinating true story and a gripping read.

Back in 2004 Cathy Beveridge wrote a fiction story based on the Halifax explosion titled : Chaos in Halifax, it's a great book and this is also a great book filling in some details about this harrowing event in Canadian history. I liked how the book followed the story of several young people (survivors) as they started their day and the aftermath that followed. The photos from the Nova Scotia archives also provide the reader with a true sense of how forceful the blast and the following tsunami was on the towns of Dartmouth and Halifax.
I can't wait to share this narrative non-fiction with G.S. Lakie students.

Son of Neptune

Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Yes, it's finally here! and we have a couple of copies, and our first folks on the holds list are fast readers, so your turn will arrive quickly (I hope?).

Here's the cover summary.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demi-gods, revies fearsome monsters and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a  demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells for him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

Book trailer.

Losing Joe's Place

Losing Joe's Place by Gordon Korman

I love so many of Gordon Korman's books that they're getting hard to list, and here's another one to add. Quirky characters, unbelievable events and laughs - what more could you ask for?

Summary:
"Whatever you do, DON'T lose me this lease. It's the best deal in town. Sell your friends, but hang onto the apartment."

Jason and his two best friends are about to have the ultimate summer experience in the big city. And they get to use Jason's brother's apartment for the summer. All they have to do is be sure to pay Joe's rent each month. No problem, right?
Wrong.
They didn't count on dealy with the sleazy landlord, or Joe's strange friend, Rootbeer. And they certainly weren't expecting Joe's Camaro to go missing. Keeping Joe's place turns out to be way harder than they'd expected.