Skyping with Chris Grabenstein!

          After reading The Crossroads, the Bookworms had a great time skyping with the author. 

         Chris is smart and funny.  He loved answering questions about his books and his life.  One question was, “Who would star you in a movie of your life?”  He showed us his writing studio and gave some great tips for young writers to follow. He just co-authored a best-selling novel, I, Funny, with James Patterson.  

          We even got to meet Fred, his dog.  

Fred, who was abandoned as a puppy and discovered running around in the Bronx, was placed on Death Row in a kill shelter. Fortunately, he was soon rescued by famed Broadway animal trainer Bill Berloni and trained to star in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG on Broadway. (All of Mr. Berloni's animal stars are rescues.)  Chris and his wife then adopted Fred.



         Here are some pictures from our skype session:

         Bookworms meets every Wednesday afterschool from 3:00-4:00.  We are now reading The Ransom of Mercy Carter.  Any middle schooler is welcome to join us!  Come sign up in the library or just show up on Wednesday.  You won’t be sorry.  We have a lot of fun!

Happy reading,

Connie

Teen Novels that Take Their Inspiration from Shakespeare

        Shakespeare was a really important playwright and poet.  As you go through high school and college, you will run into Shakespeare .   Here are a few really good stories that are either set in Shakespeare’s time or make reference to some of his plays.  These novels give a glimpse into his life and his plays.

Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney

         Inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth, this novel follows the events of the play through the eyes of Lady Mary, the 14-year-old ward of Lord and Lady Macbeth.  After her father is killed as a traitor, Mary becomes vulnerable to the storm of ambition and violence that sweeps through the Scottish court. An engaging historical novel, laced with quotes from the play.

King of the Shadows by Susan Cooper

           In this time travel fantasy, Nat is transported back in time to Shakespeare’s London and the Globe Theater.  Although fascinated with Shakespeare, Nat fears he will never return to his own time.

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

            When orphan Widge joins an acting group in 1601 in order to steal one of Shakespeare’s plays for a rival group, he gets distracted by the lure of the stage.

Shakespeare’s Scribe by Gary Blackwood

            In this sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer, an outbreak of the deadly Black Plague closes the Globe Theatre. William Shakespeare's acting troupe sets off on a tour of England. Widge, the orphan-turned-actor, knows that he'll be useful on the trip, until a mysterious man appears, claiming to know a secret from Widge's past--a secret that may forever force him from the theatre he loves.

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

           This is a funny, modern-day version of  Romeo and Juliet, in which the son of a mob boss falls in love with the daughter of an FBI agent.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

           Holling Hoodhood has to spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But he has bigger things to worry about: a bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights!

Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach

              Starting sixth grade at a new school is never easy, especially when your name is Hero. Named after a character in a Shakespeare play, Hero isn’t at all interested in this literary connection. But when she’s told by an eccentric neighbor that there might be a million dollar diamond hidden in her new house and that it could reveal something about Shakespeare’s true identity, Hero is determined to live up to her name and uncover the mystery.

    All of these books are available in the Youth Services are at the Scarborough Public Library.   Check them out!

Happy reading,
Connie

Read the book before the movie comes out!

      Did you know that, on average, Hollywood releases more than two dozen movies based on books each year?  I like to read the book first and then see the movie.  How about you?  Which comes first for you: the book or the movie?

Here are movies based on young adult books that are due to be released in 2013.  

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl  (February 13, 2013)

       Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (August 16, 2013)
       Percy Jackson - the son of Poseidon - has had an unnervingly quiet school year. But then he discovers that the magical borders protecting Half Blood Hill, a summer camp dedicated to training young demi-gods, are failing. Unless something is done, the camp will be attacked by demons and monsters. The only way to restore power to the camp's borders is to find the mythical Golden Fleece. And the only person who can undertake this dangerous quest is Percy.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (August 23, 2013)
 
       When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

Ender’s Game by Scott Orson Card (November 1, 2013)
 
       In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut--young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (November 22, 2013)
 
       Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

       There are several other YA books that are less set in stone but that may be released as movies next year.  I’ll try to keep you posted.

       All the books listed above are available in the Youth Services Room of the Scarborough Public Library.  If you, like me, want to read the book first, come check them out!

Happy reading,
Connie

Calling all Hobbit Fans!

Hobbit fans!

Did you know that Hobbits eat six meals a day?  They love to eat.  Which Hobbit meal do you think Americans should add to breakfast, lunch, and dinner?  

Second Breakfast
Elevensies
Afternoon Tea

Hit the “comment” button and write in your choice.  If you want you can add why you chose the one you did.

And if you want to learn more about hobbits, check out one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books from the library!

        For all you Hobbit fans, here are the riddles from the book.  Can you answer them?  They are really difficult.  Hit the “comment” button and list your 9 answers, - or however many you can get! You’ll see others’ answers, too.

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.   
________________________________________


What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?    
________________________________________


No-legs lay on one-leg, two legs sat near on three legs, four legs got some.  
 
________________________________________


An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
'That eye is like to this eye'
Said the first eye,
'But in low place
Not in high place.'    
________________________________________


Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking   
________________________________________


It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.   
________________________________________


Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.   
________________________________________


A box without hinges, key or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.   
________________________________________


Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
Toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.    ________________

Good luck!

Connie

Season's Readings

               Every Christmas I re-read Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales.  I love this story of a boy's Christmas memories.  

 

           Recently I discovered a new favorite Christmas book, Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting, by Jim Murphy.  This is the true story of how, during the fighting of World War I, English and German soldiers defied orders and agreed to have a truce for four hours on December 25th.  The soldiers met in No Man's Land, the space between their front lines, shook hands, chatted and wished each other Merry Christmas.  Hundreds of other truces were arranged along the front on Christmas day. What an amazing demonstration of "Peace on earth and goodwill towards men."   

          I recommend this book.  It gives the reader lots to think about in this time of seemingly endless wars in parts of our world.

         What's your favorite Christmas book?
  

        However you celebrate the season, I wish you peace, --and a new year filled with great books to read!

Connie

Bookworms @ the Scarborough Public Library

Bookworms, the Scarborough Public Library’s book club for middle schoolers, wants YOU!

We ALWAYS have snacks and we ALWAYS have fun!  

We meet every Wednesday from 3-3:45 in the meeting room at the library.  We are just finishing our first book, Life as We Knew It, about what happens to Miranda and her family when a meteor hits the moon, knocking it out of its orbit.  Soon there are tsunamis, volcanoes, no electricity, very little food, sickness, and more. Will life ever be like it was before?  We had some great discussions about this book.















We’ll be starting a new book soon and would love for you to join us! Come and help us choose which book we will read.



Stop by the Youth Services Room at SPL and sign up TODAY!

Connie

What Are You Reading?

What are you reading?

I just read a new book and it is so good!  It’s called I Swear and is by Jane Davis. 

      High school senior Leslie Gatlin is bullied by Jillian, Beth, Jake, Katherine, and Macie.  Leslie is bullied to the point that she commits suicide. Her parents bring a lawsuit against the group of bullies.  Suddenly the bullies, who have lots of secrets to protect, are in the hot seat. The story is an edge-of-your-seat page turner, told from the different points of view of the bullies.   Macie Merrick is the manipulative queen of the bullies, and her character, though over-the-top mean, is great fun to hate. While by the end of the story it seems like most of the bullies, with the exception of the evil Macie, will now make better choices, still, Leslie is dead and that can never be changed. A new book on an important topic.

Tell me what you are reading!