Want to join a book club?

The library has a teen book club. If you enjoy reading and talking about the books you've read then this is for you. We meet for one hour. Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 26 at 4 pm. We will be talking about the book, The Thief by Megan Turner.


BOOK SUMMARY: "The most powerful advisor to the King of Sounis is the magus. He's not a wizard, he's a scholar, an aging solider, not a thief. When he needs something stolen, he pulls a young thief from the King's prison to do the job for him.

Gen is a thief and proud of it. When his bragging lands him behind bars he has one chance to win his freedom-- journey to a neighboring kingdom with the magus, find a legendary stone called Hamiathes's Gift and steal it.

The magus has plans for his King and his country. Gen has plans of his own.

The Thief is the first book in the Queen's Thief series. Faced paced, the surprise ending will leave you breathless and reaching for the book two, The Queen of Attolia.

Watch the trailer for The Thief.

If you haven't read The Thief, that's okay. Come and talk about a book you've recently read and enjoyed.

For more information contact the Youth Services Department and ask for Mrs. C

883-4723 extention 6278

Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

The ghost of Jade Green haunts the dark and gloomy home of Judith Sparrow’s Uncle Geoffrey. The townsfolk say that the young Jade cut off her own hand!
Uncle Geoffrey agrees to let penniless orphan Judith Sparrow live with him under one condition: She must NOT bring anything green into the house. Judith thinks that’s a strange rule, but she accepts it. Well, almost. She does bring one green thing in, but it is well hidden. Or so she thought! Could that be the cause of the mysterious happenings? When she hears the clawing and scratching coming from the closet, Judith was very sorry she did not head his warning! Read Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor to find out what happens to Judith Sparrow!

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

I keep thinking I’ll post a film of myself giving a booktalk. I don’t know why I haven’t. It’s almost the end of summer! I think I need someone to come in and hold the video camera.

Instead, I will write out my booktalk.

Small as an Elephant
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Published by Candlewick Press, 2011

Jack love elephants. His first real memory is seeing an elephant at a circus.

Jack was hoping that on their way to their campsite at Acadia National Park, his mom would stop by York Wild Animal Kingdom so he could see Lydia, the park’s elephant.

That is what caused the argument between mother and son. This vacation was supposed to be really fun. A great get-away before Jack starts school. Yet on that first morning when Jack wakes up and walks out of his tent, he discovers his mother has abandoned him. She took the food and left Jack with about $12. That was the money he had saved for souvenirs!

I wasn’t sure I’d like this book because I thought it would be really depressing, but it wasn’t. I was hooked from page 1.

“Elephants can sense danger. They’re able to detect an approaching tsunami or earthquake before it hits. Unfortunately, Jack did not have this talent. The day his life was turned completely upside down, he was caught unaware.”

The story follows Jack as he makes his way from Acadia National Park back to his home in Boston, hoping no one will notice him. All he has for company on his long journey is a small toy elephant. He keeps himself company by remembering facts about elephants.

I’ve been a big fan of Jacobson’s ever since I read Winnie Dancing on her Own. Jacobson is a gifted writer.

What have you been reading?

GAMING NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY!

On Thursday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. the Library will host another GAMING EVENT. We have a variety of gaming devises, both old and new to choose from. Hope to see you there!

Check out the new book display!

Over the past two days there have been a lot of Scarborough middle schoolers rushing into the Library hoping to pick up one of the titles listed on the reading list. It is great to see so many of you wanting to get a jump on the assignment. However, I bet you are finding that most, if not all of the books have already been checked out from the Scarborough Public Library. Holy petunia! There is hope!

Let me take this time to remind you to request the book or books you want to read. If you don’t, you are going to have a l-o-n-g wait until the book is on the shelf.

We understand you really want to read the titles listed, but the assignment states that you can read any title written by those authors. So, We made a display of those other books. Why not give them a try.

For example, Rodman Philbrick (The Last Book in the Universe) wrote an equally compelling story in The Young Man and the Sea. It's boy versus nature. Skiff Beaman undertakes a dangerous trip alone off the coast of Maine to try and catch a bluefin tuna. He’s hoping that by selling the enormous fish, he will earn enough money to take care of himself.

Jerry Spinelli has lots of books to choose from. By far his best is Maniac Magee. Jerry Magee becomes legendary in this snappy story that takes a look at race relations.

A don’t ignore A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle. Vicky Austin, whom we first met in Meet the Austins is spending the summer in Florida to visit with her grandfather, who is dying of leukemia. Vicky is able to find comfort with a pod of dolphins.

These are just a few of the many titles you can find at the Library that will meet the reading list assignment.

Share one of your favorite books written by one of the author’s on the reading list.

The Montmaray Journals, Books I & II

A Brief History of Montmaray: The Montmaray Journals, Book I
and
The FitzOsbornes in Exile: The Montmaray Journals, Book II
by Michelle Cooper

Reading a review of The FitzOsbornes in Exile, the newest book by Michelle Cooper, sent me looking for A Brief History of Montmaray, Cooper’s first book in the series, The Montmaray Journals.

I had shelved A Brief History of Montmaray many times, yet had little interest in reading it. I think it was because of the cover; I just assumed it was another story filled with crumbling castles, vampires, and a long-forgotten mystery. Boy! Was I wrong!

Instead, I stumbled upon a book filled with intrigue and romance. The story is set in 1936 on the remote island of Montmaray, where the last descendants of an impoverished royal family attempt to survive.

Written as journal entries, we are immediately drawn into sixteen-year-old Sophia FitzOsborne’s dilemma: How can she convince her cousin, Veronica, to leave their island home and travel to dazzling London to be presented to society? Both girls are princesses, but Veronica, a year older than Sophia, is determined to stay on Montmaray to continue her research for her massive tome, 'A Brief History of Montmaray'.

Sophia records the day-to-day adventures with Veronica, her younger sister Henry (her real name is Henrietta, but she changed her name because she wanted to be a boy), Rebecca, the often hostile housekeeper who looks after Veronica’s father, John, who is King. Sophia also shares her love for the handsome Simon Chester and her longing to go to London for her debut into society.

Readers will quickly understand that with the instability of a world on the verge of war – Hitler is rising to power – things will quickly change and never be the same again.

Oh, and did I say there is a murder and a mystery!

If you have read, I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith or A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, you will absolutely be enthralled by A Brief History of Montmaray. The sequel, The FitzOsborne’s in Exile picks up Sophia’s narrative five days after A Brief History ends.

Happy Reading… Lire Pour le Plaisir!