Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones
Youth DVD Shelves-Lower Level - S

Inspired by true events, Sticks and Stones tells the story of an American Pee-Wee hockey team caught in the political friction created by the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003.
The Brockton Boxers are on the way to a tournament in Montreal when their bus gets caught in a mob of anti-war protesters. The bus of 12-year-olds draws the attention of the crowd, due to the giant American flag on the bus.The bus is rocked by the crowd, and an American flag is burned, as the young hockey players are forced to watch.

The trip gets even worse when the American National Anthem is booed at the NHL game the team attends later that night.The anti-American sentiment continues during the Pee-Wee tournament when the referee calls the game so unfairly that it catches the attention of the captain of the Canadian team.

Disgusted by the treatment the American team received, the young hockey player is determined to find a way to make it up to the American team.

I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would. The acting was not too bad, considering it is a made for TV movie. The themes of friendship and forgiveness are abundant in this film, promoting good sportsmanship.Good family sports movie!

Child of Dandelions

Child of Dandelions
Teen Zone Fiction-Main Level NANJI

Most historical fiction marketed for popular teen consumption, as opposed to taught in school, falls under the history of the United States or parts of Europe. In trying to find a piece of historical fiction with an intense plot, but where you could really learn about something you hadn't known before, I stumbled upon Child of Dandelions.

Child of Dandelions follows Sabine and her family as they navigate through the ninety days given for Indians to leave the country. Sabine deals with changing rules, changing perceptions of friends, and the harsh reality of what is really going on. I really liked this book because it gives teens a perspective that they would probably not get in school. I'm pretty sure there are no other teen fiction books out there about a girls experiences during the Indian Expulsion from Uganda in the 1970s.

While this book in some ways reads like a book about the European Holocaust of Jewry of the 30s and 40s, it is lighter at the beginning and gives the reader an idea of the mix of cultures and boiling situation Uganda was in, after the British left, and about tensions between the native Ugandans and the Indo-Ugandans.

Not too long, not too violent except a few scenes there were kinda scary! Great afterward that discusses the historical context. Overall a great teen book that's offers historical fiction outside the realm of what we are used to!

Unseen Academicals

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett. Performed by Stephen Briggs.
CD Book Shelves – Main Level - PRATCHETT

I view Terry Pratchett as a fantasy savings account. Not as in money, but as in “If I am ever in the bind for some light but good fantasy entertainment, there will always be a Terry Pratchett I haven’t yet read.” The books are enough part of the world to feel familiar, but free-standing enough that I don’t feel out of the loop for going years between Discworld visits. I had one of these moments recently, and was so happy to find an audio copy of this recent effort. In this book, the wizards of Unseen University discover to their horror that they will lose a good bit of funding if they don’t start playing the game of Foot the Ball. This is a raucous street game, with very loose rules and intensely loyal local teams throughout Ankh-Morpokh. Below stairs, we meet another cast of characters who get caught up in the ensuing madness: Nutt, a very well-educated goblin who is inexplicably working as a candle dribbler; Trev, the head candle dribbler, previously specializing in nothing much but being able to kick a tin can around wherever he goes; Glenda, the large and capable head of the night kitchen; and Juliet, her assistant, whose fairly empty but beautiful and sweet head attracts notice from every male who sees her. There’s some romance, a bit of dwarf fashion, a little reflection on racism, and a whole lot of silly fun, admirably read by the capable Briggs.

Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy

Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy
by Saul Austerlitz Adult Nonfiction – New Book Shelves Upper Level 791.436 A

Comedy is subjective; not everyone agrees about what's funny. Saul Austerlitz understands this, and arranged his book "Another Fine Mess" accordingly. Each chapter covers a different artist in roughly chronological order from Charlie Chaplin to Judd Apatow. If you never quite "got" one artist's work, skip that chapter and go to the next one. I personally skipped Doris Day and Albert Brooks. Each entry relates the artist's work in some detail, along with an analysis of their appeal. No one will agree with every one of Austerlitz's selections, either in the main chapters, or in the short entries at the back. (John Wayne? Really?) But the resulting argument is half the fun!

Picture the Dead

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin
Teen Zone New Fiction-Main Level - GRIFFIN

Picture the Dead presents an eerie image of a haunted United States near the end of the Civil War. This book is part historical fiction, part ghost story, and part diary narrative, creating an interesting read. Each chapter is supplemented with pictures and clippings from the protagonist, Jennie’s diary. The war has taken a lot from Jennie. Both her twin brother and fiancée have been claimed by this war that was the bloodiest in American History. However, when the brother of Jennie’s fiancée returns from the war, Jennie becomes haunted by the circumstances surrounding the account of her beloved’s death. Did this gruesome war, which pinned brother versus brother, turn Jennie’s fiancée into a demon to haunt her after his death?Or is there something more that happened with the Pritchett brothers while attempting to survive the war? Ghosts will appear, mediums will be sought out, and the ending will have a twist, in this multi-genre historical fiction.

While the middle seemed to lag a little, I generally enjoyed this book. It did a great job of capturing the gruesome, unsettling, and extremely creepy, setting of America towards the end of the Civil War. The epilogue does a great job of pointing out the truth behind the belief in ghosts during this time in history. The great loss of life that took place during the war brought
a rise in the spiritualist movement, which provided hope to have contact with loved ones who went away to war, never to be seen again.

Other great books from this time in history:

An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi - Teen Zone Fiction - Main Level RINALDI

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson - Teen Zone Nonfiction-Main Level 973.7092S

The Sherlockian

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Adult Fiction – New Book Shelves Main Level Mystery Moore

Harold White is the newest member of the Baker Street Irregulars, the preeminent Sherlock Holmes society where obsessive Holmesophiles gather to debate and discuss matters concerning the Great Detective. When the society's preeminent scholar announces that he has found the missing volume of Arthur Conan Doyle's diary that has been the holy grail of Holmesophiles for decades and promptly turns up dead in his hotel room, Harold immediately decides to solve the mystery himself using Holmes' methods.

Harold's story is told concurrently with that of Arthur Conan Doyle's during the events in the lost diary, when Doyle himself attempts to solve a crime (with his sidekick Bram Stoker) during the "Great Hiatus" after Doyle killed Holmes off and before resurrecting him eight years later.

The story explains enough to be enjoyable to casual Holmes fans, but hardcore Holmesophiles will love it.

Hiro Dragon Warrior

Hiro Dragon Warrior by Bobbie JG Weiss and David Cody Weis. Pictures by Robbie Short.
Easy Reader Shelves – Lower Level - PHO

Young Hiro is a young dragon has a problem with bullies. Suddenly one day, an ancient martial arts master offers to teach him. But martial arts skills involve more than fighting, and Hiro’s new skills will come in handy in lots of ways. There is even lost treasure to be found! This is an easy reader, comic-book style (the PHO of the call letters stand for Phonics Comics). There are two volumes out right now, each with three shorter stories. Beginning readers eager for excitement will eat this up, and parents looking for books that aren’t tie-ins to big media franchises will be pleased as well.

Left Neglected

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Adult New Book Display Main Level - Genova

Sarah Nickerson has it all: high-powered job, three children, vacation home in Vermont, and a fabulous husband. When she is in a car accident an receives a traumatic brain injury, everything is turned upside down. She has a medical condition called "left neglect" which makes her unaware of anything on her left: the left side of a page, the left side of her body, etc. She has a long road to recovery, and can no longer work, drive, or even walk easily. She can't be trusted to take care of her children, so her mother comes to live with them. Sarah and her mother haven't spoken much in years, so their relationship is difficult at first. This is a fascinating book about re-prioritizing our lives and finding what is truly important, as well as digging deep for the strength to heal and hope for the future.

This book is also available in large print and audio formats.

Hatchet

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Youth Fiction - Lower Level - PAULSEN

Although many people have read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, it is always fun to revisit a favorite book from years ago or maybe even discover it for the first time. Hatchet is the story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson. At the very beginning of the novel, Brian is flying in a small plane to go spend the summer with his father because his parents have recently gotten divorced. The pilot suffers a heart attack and the plane crashes. Although Brian survives the crash, he is now stranded in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. The only tool he has is a hatchet, thus the title of the book. Overall, Hatchet is a great adventure and survival story about a person being forced to adapt to situations he cannot control. Older children, teenagers, and even adults will all enjoy this book.

The Hudsucker Proxy

The Hudsucker Proxy
Dvd Collection-Main Level - COMEDY HUD

Many people are familiar with the works of the Coen Brothers. Some of their earlier works are considered modern classics such as Fargo and Raising Arizona. More recently, they recieved much accolade for their film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. However, their catalogue of films is rather large! While some say they experienced a drought of love for their films in the mid 2000s, during the nineties, they were just as prolific and created many lesser known gems.

The Hudsucker Proxy takes place during the year 1959. It is a period piece in many ways, but also takes into account film styles of the time. Some have said it takes on screwball comedy elements of films of the thirties, as well as the sentimentality of Frank Capra. The story follows a hopeful, naive business school graduate, Norville Barnes, played by Tim Robbins, as he makes his way through the big city at a large, behemoth of a company called Hudsucker Industries. While the story centers around Barnes, the board of directors of Hudsucker Industries are the true string-pullers, their actions revolving around a scheme to take a controlling share of the company.

The film has everything: intensity, drama, comedy, romance (with a "fast talking career girl"), deception, heart. And the sets and costume style is impeccable. Period accurate, but not taking itself as seriously as, say, Mad Men, which is set taking place just a couple of years later. A really great film for lovers of the Coen Brothers, but not a bad place to start for neophytes either!

Kylie Jean

Kylie Jean Rodeo Queen by Marci Peschke
Youth Early Chapter Books- Lower Level– KYLIE JEAN

Kylie Jean by Marci Peschke is the newest series we have added the Youth Early Chapter Books. You are introduced to Kylie Jean in the first book called Rodeo Queen. Kylie Jean has always wanted to be a real beauty queen; she even knows how to perform the proper wave. Kylie Jean wants to follow in her Nanny’s footsteps by being the Rodeo Queen. The catch is that if you want to be the Rodeo Queen you have to be in the Rodeo. Kylie Jean needs to learn how to do rope tricks, bull riding and barrel racing in order to be queen. She thinks that the crown would look perfect with her pink (Kylie Jean’s most favorite color) cowboy hat! Other books include Kylie Jean Blueberry Queen: It is time for the Blueberry Festival and everyone is busy getting ready. Kylie Jean decides that she is going to enter the Blueberry Queen pageant. She enlists the help of some very special people to make sure she completes everything needed for the pageant. Two other Kylie Jean titles have been released: Kylie Jean Drama Queen and Kylie Jean Hoop Queen. This is a sweet series about a spunky 8 year old who is determined to make her dreams happen.

Girl in Translation

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Adult New Book Display - Main Level - KWOK

This is an absolutely unforgettable book! I'm considering it one of my favorites of all time. Kimberly Chang and her mother come to live in New York from Hong Kong. They live in a squalid apartment in Brooklyn and work in a sweatshop. They don't speak the language and owe their family money. When Kimberly starts school, she struggles to keep up. She is used to being the star pupil, but now can barely understand the lectures or read the assignments. She does catch up, though, and gets good enough grades for a scholarship to a fancy private school. Over the years, she manages to hide the poverty she and her mother live in, as well as her sweatshop job. I absolutely loved reading about her journey to independence. Highly recommended!

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Teen Zone Fiction - Main Level - GREEN

This is the story of a group of kids at boarding school who become close friends. Alaska is an impulsive, beautiful, and unpredictable teen girl. Her sidekicks include Miles (called "Pudge"), Miles' roommate Chip (called "The Colonel"), a girl named Lara, and another boy named Takumi. They spend their free time experimenting with everything the school forbids (such as cigarettes and alcohol), and they love to prank their enemies. When tragedy falls on the group, they have to re-examine the limits of loyalty and honor. This is gritty, explicit, and intense, so I recommend it to mature, older teens and adults.