Graceling up for top ten vote!

In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore got starred reviews in Booklist and Publishers Weekly when the book debuted in 2008. Imagine if while everyone else was born with an endearing "Grace", your gift was the grace of enforcing death. Lady Katsa uses her unusual gift under the tutelage of her uncle, King Randa. But she begins to question his orders to kill or maim the disgruntled pawns of his kingdom, especially when love comes knocking at her door. The introduction of Po, yes the young and handsome prince from a far off land, makes Lady Katsa question her past actions and wonder, "Hey, there must be a better way".

But can she stand up to her evil uncle while embarking on a quest for self worth and justice? Romance and believable characters highlight this fastasy drama. Check it out, and if it's one of your favorites, make sure and vote for your choice of the Teen's Top Ten!

2009 Teens' Top Ten Pick

Fans of Ellen Hopkin's (Crank, Glass) will appreciate the continued use of free verse as she tells the story of two identical twins as they struggle with explosive secrets that has torn their family apart. The sixteen-year-old identical twin daughters of a district court judge and a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, Kaeleigh and Raeanne Gardella are on the track to self destruction.

While the girls do well in school and the family appears to be normal, mom is running for Congress and dad is a prominant judge and pillar of the community, everything changes after an accident. The story proceeds to uncover deep family secrets, including sexual abuse, through the use of poems that sometimes mirror the feelings of each girl laid out on facing pages.

Like a television drama, no topic is left untouched. While one teen turns to drug abuse the other struggles with binging and cutting. This shocking book will have Hopkin's fans anticipating a tidy conclusion but the climactic ending will still be a surprise.

Identical is a nominee for the Teens Top 10. To request it from the library, click here. If it’s your favorite, don’t forget to place your vote during Teen Read Week, October 18-24, 2009. Follow the Teens Top 10 link

Awfully Beastly is Right

An Awfully Beastly Business: Werewolf versus Dragon
Authors: David Sinden, Matthew Morgan, Guy Macdonald

Suggested Grades 3 - 6

Reviewed by: Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, Amherst, Ohio


The RSPCB, or the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts, is the setting for this series where Ulf, a budding werewolf, is the assistant to Dr. Fielding, a cryptozoologist , who takes in and protects all sorts of beasts in a sort of “Jurassic Park” type setting. Gargoyles, jeepers creepers, electrodactyls, and a jellystoats all share this scientific protected haven until they are able to be released back into the wild.

Ulf appears to be a normal boy as he travels around the compound on his all-terrain vehicle at the bidding of the good Dr. Fielding. But one curt line, “Ulf was beast blood”, lets you know he has a darker calling as the pressure builds leading up to his rib-cracking “transformation” as predicted by the lunar calendar. He sleeps on a bed of straw and keeps friends with a tiny fairy named Tiana and a giant named Orson who help him as he tries to be a hero and do the right thing in a fantasy world where evil, and the odd, coexist.

While the format is styled similar to say the Spiderwick Chronicles or even a Snicket book the underlying theme here is presented in a way that crosses the line from fiendish fun over to the macabre. When a baby dragon is found dead Dr. Fielding performs an autopsy using a chainsaw. With blood spattering her lab coat and descriptions like “It opened like a zipper, and its guts spilled out..”, I’m wondering if the audience being targeted by the cartoon like characters and the larger print and line drawings is somehow being forgotten.

Poachers are setting up a “Ring of Horrors”, beasts fighting to the death amidst a crowd eager to place their bets is not unlike a gladiator scene. The mother dragon is lured into the fight and Ulf must work to save his friend Orson while protecting the mother dragon at the same time.

A spooky library scene offers answers in a book that might shine a light on the nature of some of the beasts involved and gives Ulf the inside information he needs to help solve the mystery behind some of the strange behaviors.

An ornate cover and lots of line illustrations will draw in even reluctant readers but better choices abound for this age group and I’m wondering if this series by three British authors plays better across the ocean. An additional purchase for most libraries, at best.

Horsing around with Doug Kane and Kedja

What a beautiful day it turned out to be as more than 150 people came to the Amherst Public Library where Doug Kane and his horse Kedja set up to promote their book, Ariel's Journey: Book 1 of the Ice Horse Adventures".

Kedja enjoyed all the attention and kids had fun feeding her bagel snacks.

Ariel's Journey follows five teenage girls as they embark on an overnight trail ride in present-day Pennsylvania and emerge in 1200 A.D. Iceland, pulled back in time by their magical Icelandic Horses.

For a moment there we could almost imagine Kedja with her magical wings.

LifeShare Blood Services was also onhand and many people stopped by to donate blood. It was a great day to be outside and many people passing by stopped to check out the activity at the library.

We're looking forward to the next book in the series. In the meantime, pick up your copy of Ariel's Journey at the library or for sale at area bookstores.

An interview with Mike San Giacomo

Local author, Mike San Giacomo, stopped by the other day and spoke with us about his graphic novel “Tales of the Starlight Drive-in”. Of course we always talk to authors who bring us free books.

Mike: I’m very excited that my book was nominated for the Best Graphic Novel of 2008 by the Comic Buyer’s Guide.

Book Blogger: For those who have never read your book, can you tell us something about “Tales of the Starlight Drive-in”?

Mike: I wrote all 31 stories in Starlight, all set in a mythical drive-in theater. The stories take place over 50 years and can be read separately, but when read together form a giant novel. It's a giant novel of life, love, failure and redemption.

Book Blogger: Can you tell us about the Comic Buyer’s Guide so we get an idea just how big an honor this is.

Mike: Comic Buyers’s Guide is the second longest-running periodical that reports on the comic book industry and the only one based in the United States. If you’re a writer or illustrator in the comic industry you follow Comic Buyer’s Guide.

Book Blogger: Sort of the Academy Awards of the Comic Book Industry.

Mike: Yep, and here I am shamelessly begging for votes.

Book Blogger: Wow, it’s quite an honor to even be nominated.

Mike: It is very cool to be nominated. Winning would be even cooler.

Book Blogger: So how can we help.

Mike: Anyone can vote in the contest and votes from you and your friends would be nice. I’ve included the link here to the site where you can sign up to vote.

Book Blogger: Wait a minute. I don’t want to have someone calling me or putting me on a mailing list of some sort just because I registered on their web site.

Mike: You won’t be put on a mailing list or anything. It’s a very straightforward contest.

Book Blogger: So why do they need my address?

Mike: You have to submit your name and address because you can only vote once, but husband and/or wife/ mom and or/ dad can also vote if they care to. A win would be great, and you all can help. Voting only takes a minute

Book Blogger: So everyone can vote once and voting continues through May 31.

Mike: Thanks for your help.

Click here to vote

Click here for more info on the book

Check your friendly library shelf

Voting is now open

Vote now for your choice for Teen Book of the Year. Up for the 2008 award are Breaking Dawn (Stephenie Meyer), The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), Lock and Key (Sarah Dessen), Paper Towns (John Green), and Airhead (Meg Cabot).

Voting is easy, just click and submit. What, you haven't read one of these? Then get to the library and pick up a copy.

VOTE HERE

Earthworm farming!

So mom won't let you have a pet? Start a worm farm and convince her that this is a hands-on ecology lesson. Use a 2-liter plastic bottle with the top cut off, or maybe you have an old aquarium or clear plastic box. A few drain holes in the bottom, sand, dirt, shredded newspaper that you've soaked in water and squeezed out the excess, and PRESTO! You're a worm farmer.

I used worms that I picked up after a recent rain but some websites suggest red wigglers. Whatever worms you use, keep them fed, moist but not wet, and most important - they love to be in the dark. Simply wrap a piece of construction paper around the outside and tape. Mine slides off for easy viewing. After a few days you'll be able to see the worm tracks and castings as they work the soil and recycle their lunch.

For more info check out a book at the library.

Deadline to Read

Imagine what you would do if you found out you had only one year to live? For Ben Wolf, a high school senior, this was reality and what he chose to do changed the way he saw his family, his friends, and even uncovered some secrets about his small hometown of Trout, Idaho.

Ben chose to keep his eminent death a secret from his friends and even from his brother, Cody. The fear of our personal mortality keeps us all on a sort of moral leash, but undone from this boundry of fear of the unknown, Ben was able to question everything from his history teacher's blessed text book to understanding how his own death would impact those he loved.

Chris Crutcher’s books always take readers on an emotional journey, and DEADLINE is no exception.

The goal of "Choose to Read Ohio", sponsored by the State Library of Ohio, is to encourage the reading of books written by Ohio authors together across Ohio communities. The Amherst Public Library encourages Ohioans to Read Together, Read Ohio, and Read for Life.

For more information on "Choose to Read Ohio" visit their website for a full list of titles for children, teens, and adults. Find Deadline by Chris Crutcher (2007, Harper) at the Amherst Public Library in our Young Adult section (call number YA CRU).

Go Green

Maybe it was just the recent St. Patrick's Day celebrations or maybe the realization that there is more than one way to "go green" led me to the book "Green For Life" by Victoria Boutanko.

Always looking for a healthier, yet easy, remedy to what ails us, "Green For Life" begins by comparing the normal human diet to that of the chimpanzee. Okay, so I almost returned the book right there but I'm glad that I didn't.

The descriptions of various case studies and people's responses to drinking one quart of green smoothie a day for a month were inciteful and the recipes at the end were great.

I do prefer the sweet versions as opposed to the recipes for savory smoothies. I don't care if one is described as "Igor's Favorite", the addition of red onion and plum tomatoes and garlic were just a little much for me. After trying a few of the recipes though I became comfortable with winging it. Pretty much fill your blender with half greens and half fruit, two cups of filtered water and turn it on. Romaine, turnip greens, and yes, even kale are wonderful examples of cheap greens to use and apples, kiwi, red grapes, and even frozen fruit like bagged strawberries are great to use as long as there's no added sugar.

So drink up.

Never to Early to Get Creative

Never to early to cook up some plans for the summer. Right now the Amherst Public Library is planning their next "Great American Bake Sale" as part of Share Our Strength's fundraiser to end childhood hunger.

This year you can bring items in for the bake sale that takes place on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are looking for donations of baked goods that can be brought to the library before closing on Friday, July 10 before 5 p.m.

But wait! Why not get creative and enter out Creative Cupcake Contest. Yes you could win one of our coveted Golden Spatula awards. Bring in one dozen cupcakes (or the equivalent) for judging and one dozen for the bake sale. Have all items at the Amherst Public Library before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Judging will be after the library closes that Friday and winners will be announced at the bake sale on Saturday.

Judging this year's contest is a special team from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

You can also donate to our virtual bake sale by visiting our team page. Visit Share Our Strength on line to learn more about this organization's fight against childhood hunger.

While the boss is away...

When all you do is look at metadata all day you need to take a break. And that's just what happened yesterday as blenders whirred and fruit concoctions like Strawberry Surprize and Mango Mania were downed by thirsty guests.

In reality the guests were teens taking part in the Amherst Public Library's Teen Beach Day. Thirsty students were thankful for the fruity refreshment that went along with beach buckets of popcorn and lots of Guitar Hero on the library's two X-Box 360s.

"This was the best teen event ever" replied on happy guest who even stayed to run the vacuum cleaner. Hey when you can get a teenager to clean up then they must have had fun.

Of course some of the librarians were more than happy to test out some of the recipes before the program began. What exactly was in the blender you ask? Hey, what happens at the library, stays at the library.

The library has books on smoothie recipes and other refreshing drinks to that anyone can replicate the fun at home with just a few simple ingredients. Check out some of the great books we offer here at the library.

Cynthia Clark's 60 Smoothis Sensations

by Cynthia Clark

and Punch

by Colleen Mullaney

Books are Magically Delicious

It's never too late to learn.

I took a magic class at Jinxed Magic in Brooklyn, Ohio. Located off of Ridge Road this shop specializes in costumes and has a fantastic collection of items for sale and rent. But recently my friend Zap the magician held a five week workshop for anyone interested in magic.

The small group that collected there on Saturday mornings varied greatly in age, say 8 to 88, and there were also a wide level of magic know-how.

If you can't make it to a magic lesson near you, head to the library where videos and books are just waiting to help you with that card trick, disappearing coin, or vanishing rope. Look for books and movies under the call number 793.8. That's Dewey for "Magic".

Oh, and that book on cup and ball tricks....I still have that out.

Nuevos Libros!

Hola amigos! Me llamo Cheryl and I've got news about some new resources at the Amherst Public Library. We've added a small collection of Spanish language reading materials. Multi-linqual families as well as students and home schoolers are always looking for materials to help them retain and learn Spanish. Now we offer some reading materials that go beyond the regular language tapes.
The library has always had a variety of language books to teach different levels of Spanish, Italian, German, French and even Japanese, Chinese, Hungarian....well, as you can see the list goes on and on.

Visit the children's department of the library to check out some of these new titles:

Diario de Greg un Renacuajo (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Ramona la Chinche

Scooby-Doo! yel Castillo Hechizado

Stuart Little

Winny de Puh

Stink el Increible Nino Menguante

El Gran dia de Lily

The Storyteller's Candle La velita de los cuentos

and a great magazine, Iguana, filled with stories, cartoons, puzzles, and great articles about kids from around the world.
If you have ideas for future titles please let us know.
Buenos dias!