Theater Shoes

Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Youth Cd Books - Lower Level - STREATFEILD
Theater Shoes tells the story of Sorrel, Mark, and Holly Forbes. They are growing up in World War II England without their mother and father. Their mother is deceased, and their father is missing in the war. Thus, when their grandfather Forbes passes away, they are sent to live with their mother's mother—their grandmother.


Grandmother is unlike anyone else they have ever met. She is a very eccentric actress and tells the children that they will soon be attending the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. The children have never danced, sung, or acted in their lives, and such a prospect is quite overwhelming. Before long, the children meet their cousins Miranda and Miriam, both of whom are enrolled in the Academy and part of their mother’s side of the family, the Warrens. The Warrens are known as a family of famous actors and actresses, and their lifestyle is very different from what the children always knew. Will the children grow to enjoy dancing, singing, and acting? Can they bond with their aloof grandmother? How will Sorrel cope with Miranda, a bratty girl who seems to be in competition with her? More importantly, will their father ever return?

Set in the 1940s, Theater Shoes touches upon war time issues such as rationing, bomb raids, and poor economic conditions. However, in spite of these heavy issues, the novel is never depressing. In fact, it is a feel good book. It is also quite educational because it discusses theater life in great detail. On a sidenote, Elizabeth Sastre, the narrator of the audio book version, is an absolute delight and truly brings every character to life. Thus, if you are looking for an old-fashioned and sweet read, try Theater Shoes which is just one of the “Shoes” books written by Noel Streatfeild. Others include Ballet Shoes and Dancing Shoes.

Fiber Gathering

Fiber Gathering by Joanne Seiff
New Book Shelves – Upper Level – CRAFTS 746 S

For those who feel passionate about their fiber crafts, there are fiber festivals, all over the country, where the people who use fiber – especially animal fiber – meet with the people who produce it and the tools to work with it. Some are enormous, with people travelling from all over the world to attend them. And some are mostly regional festivals, limiting vendor attendance to locals to provide a show of truly local color. Author Seiff provides descriptions and drool-worthy photographs of eleven fiber festivals from around the country, with sheep and llamas, hand-dyed roving and yarn, and booths of lamb-based food. Each festival is followed by a couple of projects related to the specialty of the gathering just discussed. They are not just knitting projects either – they are projects to knit, crochet, dye, hook, or spin, including very basic spinning, how to clean a raw fleece, and how to help at a sheep-shearing. I’ve never been to the Michigan festival, although it is profiled in this book. I was terribly amused to see the author describe Michigan as a state where August is cool enough that we’re already thinking about wooly sweaters. Not in this part, for sure, but perhaps in Allegan County, where the festival takes place, it’s not quite so sticky. This is a beautiful book, sure to inspire fiber-lovers to seek out their own nearest festival, or perhaps even travel farther abroad.

Phineas L. MacGuire…Erupts!

Phineas L. MacGuire…Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – DOWELL


Phineas L. MacGuire goes by the nickname Mac and his absolute favorite subject is science. He loves everything about science; trying out new experiments, reading scientific journals and he is only in fourth grade! Mac is disappointed because his best friend who is also a science expert moved away 3 weeks into the school year. So not only does Mac not have a best friend anymore he does not have a partner for the science fair that is coming up. Mac gets paired with the new kid who is also named Mac (R.). Mac is not happy about this because no one likes the new kid plus Mac R. loves dinosaurs which Mac thinks is so third grade. As the Mac’s work together for the science fair Mac discovers that Mac R. is not a bad kid and his name really is not Mac. Mac R.’s name is actually Ben. Mac feels bad that no one else really likes Ben so he has this great idea that Ben should have a do-over in terms of meeting his classmates. As the science fair fast approaches Ben and Mac work hard to ensure that they have a great project that will hopefully win first place. Even though the boys are working hard for the science fair Ben is working equally hard to win over his classmates. Frances O’Roark Dowell delivers a fun story that will keep kids laughing. This book is also the first in the series. If you like Mac then check out his other books:



Phineas L. MacGuire…Gets Slimed! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – DOWELL













Phineas L. MacGuire…Blasts Off! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – DOWELL

Hikaru No Go

Hikaru No Go by Yumi Hotta. Art by Takeshi Obata And now, for a change of pace, some manga. Hikaru is a fun-loving, not too serious middle school student. One day, he finds an old go board in his grandfather’s attic. It turns out to be haunted by the ghost of an old and really good go player, Sai, who then takes up residence in Hikaru’s consciousness. This is somehow not creepy, and we are also assured that Sai is male even though has long purple hair, earrings, and a delicate face. Anyway, prompted by Sai, Hikaru starts playing Go. He joins his school’s go team and goes to go salons. At first, he lets Sai tell him where to put the stones. Doing this, he attracts the attention of Akira Toya, the best player from the best middle school go team in town. But before Akira can track him down for another game, Hikaru decides that he wants to play for himself. Over the course of the series (17 books out in America so far), Akira and Hikaru, coached by Sai, climb higher and higher into the go world. Even though this has an improbable premise and is centered on a complicated game I don’t even try to understand, the characters are so well done that the story doesn’t feel silly. Hikaru and his friends are genuinely likeable characters, and the honorable rivalry between Hikaru and Akira Toya is compelling. It’s good story-telling, with large numbers of impossibly innocent-looking wide eyes and a few adorable girls in mini-skirted uniforms thrown in for good measure.

The Weight of Silence

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
Adult New Book Display- Main Level – GUDENKAUF


Early one August morning Martin Gregory wakes up and realizes his 7 year old daughter, Petra, is missing from her bed. He wakes up his wife and they search high and low for Petra. They figure she must be next door at her best friend’s house. The Gregory’s go over to the Clark’s house. This is when Antonia Clark realizes that her daughter Callie is missing as well.

Callie and Petra are best friends which is quite unusual because they have nothing in common. Callie suffers from selective mutism. Petra understands Callie in a way that no one else does. As a result Petra is Callie’s voice, whether they are at school, on the playground or just playing like normal seven year old girls.

The sheriff is notified and soon the FBI is called in to look for the missing girls. The parents know the girls are in the woods that back up to their houses. The woods are a safe haven for the girls and Callie knows her way around the woods thanks to her brother Ben and her mother.

Despite their daughters being best friends the Clark’s and the Gregory’s are not very close. As tensions rise to find their daughters terrible family secrets are revealed including the one that caused Callie not to speak for three years.

Heather Gudenkauf writes a great tale of suspense. Each chapter being narrated by a different character really keeps the reader engaged in all that is going on while trying to find the missing girls, as well as exposing the reader to all the family dynamics and secrets of the Gregory’s and the Clark’s. This book will keep you enthralled until the very last page.