Deciding the Next Title for PVTRAC Book Discussion

Hello Everyone!

First off, it may be a little late saying this, but better late then never, thank you to all the participants who came to the very first Official PVTRAC Book Discussion for Twilight.

After such an amazing and successful discussion I know everyone has been waiting for the announcement for the title of the next book.

The officers of PVTRAC will have a meeting to discuss titles for the next PVTRAC Book Discussion.

If anyone has any suggestions just let one of the officers know-- myself, Diana, Kelly, Monica, or Vinny. We will note it down and deliberate what titles to read. Once we have decided a couple of potential titles there will be a poll on the blog to vote for the title you wish to read.

So just hold on a little longer, and the next title will be announced soon!

Yours truly,

Krista
Co-president of PVTRAC

p.s. Has anyone already seen the Twilight movie?
You can post your thoughts on the blog. We are all happy to know what your thoughts are.

Twilight

Thank You!

Kudos to everyone that stopped in to volunteer at the Alfred Baumann Library last night. The adults in charge were so impressed with all of you and commented on what hard workers you were! I understand there will be a thank you pizza party, compliments of Ms. Robin Capoor and Ms. Dora Davenport!

Remember, it's not too late to help or you may come back again if you already volunteered. They are looking for volunteers for Saturday 10:00 am to about 4:00 pm. You do not have to be there the whole time, stay as long as you would like. They may also need volunteers for Sunday as well. If you need any paper work signed, see Ms. Capoor or Ms. Davenport.

Thanks again!
Mrs. Hoffman

Time Change for Volunteers

If you are volunteering at the Alfred Baumann Library tonight, please be there at 7:00 pm. I will not be there due to a previous committment, so ask for Ms. Robin Capoor or Ms. Dora Davenport. They are in charge of the book sale and will let you know what to do! Thank you for your time! If you need paperwork, please let me know and I will take care of it. Have fun!

Mrs. Hoffman

Volunteers Needed

The Alfred Baumann Library is looking for volunteers to help out with the Friends of the Alfred Baumann Library Book Sale. We need people on Thursday evening at 7:30 to help bring books into the library and also Saturday anytime between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you are interested please call Mrs. Hoffman at 973-345-8120.

Thank you!

Congratulations on Club Status!

Congratulations! PVTRAC is now an official club at PVHS. All new members have been sent an invitation to the blog. If you have any questions or are having any problems please contact Krista, Diana, Monica or Mrs. Hoffman. Just a reminder, the new book selection is Twilight by Stephenie Myer. Mrs. Konzelmann has ordered additional copies and all three libraries own this title. The discussion meeting will be on Tuesday, November 11th after school. Don't forget to use the blog! It's a great way to keep in touch in between meetings!

Have a great day!
Mrs. Hoffman

First Meeting

The book club is meeting for the first time this year on tuesday, October 7th, after school in the library. We will be discussing the first read and plans for other meetings.

I need ratings and comments!!!!

I'm published on the TeenInk Raw website, but I need ratings and comments on my poem, so it could have a better chance at being published in the magazine! All it will take is a minute or two at the most! Please, rate it!

Here's the website:http://www.teenink.com/raw/Poetry/article/54856/Running-Away/

Can't wait to see you all again!

Hope everyone has had a great summer! I can't believe it's Labor Day weekend already. Where did the summer go?
If you get a chance, stop by at Little Falls and let me know how your summer went or just post to the blog.
The hilight of my summer was the kids in Little Falls reading more than 3,000 hours. Since the summer reading club theme was "Catch the reading bug," I promised them that I would eat a real bug if they read more than 1,000 hours. Needless to say I found myself eating fried larva in August. Even I have to admit this is probably the craziest thing I've ever done as a librarian. IT WAS SO WORTH IT!
Lastly, our library is having a big celebration on Saturday September 13th. Stop by and see the new look in our Young Adult section.

Happy Summer!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer! I have been trying to catch up on all of my favorite authors, as well as rereading some of my favorite books that only get better the more you read them. Jane Austen is always a favorite and the Bronte sisters never disappoint! Do any of you have favorite authors or books that you like reading over and over again?

Mrs. Hoffman

Quote that relates to Hannah Baker from ThRW

"Sometimes people put up walls, not to keep people away, but to see who cares enough to tear those walls down." -One Tree Hill

After seeing this quote, I realized how much it related to Hannah Baker. I remember at one point in the Thirteen Reasons Why: Book Talk someone mentioned Hannah putting up a wall and not wanting anyone to open up to her. I now think after seeing the quote that maybe she was just waiting to see who would want to tear that wall down and help her out from behind it. At some point though she was through with waiting for someone to come along and tear it down, so she ended her life. Just something I wanted to mention. I seriously have too much free time this summer.

Welcome New Officers

Co President: Krista
Co President: Diana
Sergeant at Arms: Vin
Treasurer: Kelly
Secretary: Monica

-Tell me if any of this information is wrong so I can fix it at some point.

Here's a video blog by Hank Green brother of John Green(YA Author) about "Where books go?" ~

Book Talk: Full Tilt

I'm sorry this has been posted so late. I'm just super busy.

Cassandra
Someone mentioned that Cassandra wanted to feel fear.
She was a balance of some sort between life and death.
She was both hot and cold to show the extremes.
At some point in the book talk someone said that Cassandra's target was Blake, and Quinn could have been bait to lure Blake there.
Quinn
"I Go Places Sometimes."
One of us thought this saying meant that Quinn was already depressed throughout most of the book.
He was looking for attention.
When he removed his earring, it was almost as if he accepted his mom's boyfriend.
Minor Characters
Russ only wanted a girlfriend as a trophy.
Symbols and Strong Moments
One of us noticed that everything went back to the yellow, school bus.
Yellow was a symbol of caution, Cassandra a bit of a symbol for death, and Blake was a symbol for life.
A very powerful moment, as one of us pointed out, was when Blake hugged his 7 year old self. It was almost as if he was accepting the past.
Favorite Parts
A lot of us liked the sarcasm in the book.
One of our favorite parts was the last ride, where things were flying out at them when they were trying to get out.
Questions Asked
What really happened to Cassandra?
Where do all the kids come from?
What happened to the Carnival?
Cover and Title
Some thought that the cover should have had more feminine eyes.
Most believed that the cover had more of an appeal to boys.
The symbol on the back cover made us think of the devil's tail, a black hole, or a balance.
The title made some of us think of a pin-ball machine or a tilt-a-whirl.
Last Thoughts
Facing yourself is sometimes the scariest part of life.
You have to stick with things till the end.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN LITTLE FALLS

HI EVERYBODY! Hope finals are going or have gone really well for all of you. In the hopes of seeing you over the summer, I've planned the following activities for our group:

Hoopwizard basketball show:
July 16, 3p.m. at The Little Falls Public Library.

Necklace and bracelet making craft:
July 23, 7p.m. at The Little Falls Public Library.

Tips on how to decorate your room:
July 30, 7p.m. at The Little Falls Public Library.

Of course we'll be serving munchies as well.

Everybody is invited and you can bring friends, as well.

Metamorphosis @ Your Library

Book Discussion

Just a reminder...our meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th @2:45pm. Remember to bring some questions, comments, quotes, etc. for our discussion. Also, we are going to vote for officers, so it is very important that you attend this final meeting of the school year.

Have a great day!

Mrs. Hoffman

Copies Still Available

For those of you that may not have picked up your copy of "Full Tilt," there are copies available at the following libraries: Little Falls, Wayne and Clifton. You can place a hold on-line, visit or call your library to place a hold. Our meeting is only a couple weeks away!

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Mrs. Hoffman

The Next Book

The votes have been counted and everyone agreed! The winner is Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman!! :]

So far, Little Falls has one copy. Totowa has one, but currently it has been checked out. More information will fly in soon.

For now here is an excerpt from the book, just click on read a chapter ~

http://www.buy.com/prod/full-tilt/q/loc/106/39737730.html

Don't Forget to Vote

The poll is at the bottom of this blog. Voting ends on April 29th! Please spread the word!

Book Summaries for June Discussion

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
In this exquisite fantasy, Bella adores beautiful Edward, and he returns her love. But Edward must control the blood lust she arouses in him because--he's a vampire. This deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful novel captures the struggle between defying instincts and satisfying desires. ~ OPAC

Remembering Raquel by Vivian Vande Velde
Various people recall aspects of the life of Raquel Falcone, an unpopular, overweight freshman at Quail Run High School, including classmates, her parents, and the driver who struck and killed her as she was walking home from an animated film festival. ~OPAC

Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
When sixteen-year-old Blake goes to a mysterious, by-invitation-only carnival he somehow knows that it could save his comatose brother, but soon learns that much more is at stake if he fails to meet the challenge presented there by the beautiful Cassandra. ~OPAC

Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman
After losing her entire family to the Nazis at age 13, Alicia Appleman-Jurman went on to save the lives of thousands of Jews, offering them her own courage and hope in a time of upheaval and tragedy. Not since The Diary of Anne Frank has a young voice so vividly expressed the capacity for humanity and heroism in the face of Nazi brutality. ~Barnes & Noble

Northern Light by Jennifer Donnely
In 1906, sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of her father and fiance, takes a job at a summer inn where she discovers the truth about the death of a guest. Based on a true story. ~OPAC

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
This is the tale of family, memory, love, and living told by 14-year-old Susie Salmon, who is already in heaven. Through the voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and builds out of her family's grief a hopeful and joyful story. ~OPAC

The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer
Wanna-be Washington power brokers devise a game in which staffers bet on which bills will become law and where money will be spent. The game turns deadly as its players become pawns, with the fate of the hero and the world resting in the hands of a teenaged intern. ~Amazon

Club Officers

If you would like to run for one of the following positions, please see Mrs. Konzelmann in the library for an "Official Ballot":

President
Vice/Co President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant at Arms

I will post all of the candidates when I receive all of the ballots. Voting will be at our next PVTRAC meeting on June 4th.

Mrs. Hoffman

13RW Discussed.

Hannah Baker
We agreed that Hannah was a bit selfish in sending the tapes. It was almost as though she wanted a bit of revenge. She tended to over-analyze things and everything that happened was magnified in her eyes. That led to the conclusion that she was probably already depressed and had a low self-esteem.
Whenever someone tried to reach out to her, she pushed them away. She didn't allow anything good into her mind, all she remembered was the bad.
Someone brought up the fact that she never talked to any of her friends about what was happening. She didn't have anyone she could trust and always had her guard up.
Someone also realized that Hannah sort of walked into the last reason, like she was looking for another reason to kill herself.
Characters
Clay actually asked most of the questions we were thinking while reading the book.
Justin was probably looking to build up his own reputation, and probably didn't realize what he did to Hannah, as said by someone in the group.
Jessica and Hannah were friends in the beginning. We all agreed that Jessica should have trusted Hannah more than the rumors. Rumors aren't always true.
We all thought that Courtney managed her reputation and image in everything she did. Some of us thought Hannah sort of tested her friendship with Courtney by waiting for her to say good-bye, while she herself didn't say good-bye. And, Hannah was able to have full control, when the picture was taken at the party.
Some of us thought that Marcus was dealing with his grief with anger.
Tony was considered like a big brother character, who took care of Clay, when he was listening to the tapes.
When the publisher of the Lost and Found printed Hannah's poem, we all considered that the ultimate betrayal.
No one in her peer communications class tried to help her.
Everyone agreed that Mr Porter could have done something more to help Hannah, and played a big role in Hannah deciding to kill herself.
Symbolism
One of us pointed out that there might be a deeper meaning to the feet. Hannah had big feet, because she wanted to be on the ground.
The word 'sorry was also important. As one of us said it was as if the whole book was sorry.
Hannah described the things that happened to her as a 'snowball effect'. It all just started from one thing and then piled up.
When Clay reached out to Skye in the end of the book, it showed that he was going to be okay. Someone mentioned that it was a hopeful message, showing that Clay was going to be okay.
Reactions
Throughout the story most of us wanted to reach out to Hannah, and we wanted to remind her that it's not all bad.
In some of the situations, a couple of us could relate to her.
Some of us are now watching what we say and the impact we have on other people.
Comparison to Speak
We realized, that in both books the parents didn't know what was going on in their daughter's life.
The Cover and Theories
Everyone agreed that the cover drew them in.
Most of us are waiting for a sequel, where the 13 people get together.

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY Website

Hi everyone!

Only one more day! I just wanted to tell everyone while looking for some info on the the author of our book selection, Jay Asher, I came across the website for the book "TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY." There is some bio info about the author as well as an "interactive map," the same map that Hannah refers to in the book. It's cool, you should check it out http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/. I have been corresponding with the author via e-mail; nice guy! I told him I would ask all of you to post some comments about the book after our discussion tomorrow, in case he wanted to take a look. So feel free to comment, I'm sure Jay will appreciate hearing what you think of his book.

Have a great day!

Mrs. Hoffman

Book Discussion

Just a reminder...we meet this week! Please try to come in with a question, comment, quote, etc. Write it down on a piece of paper and bring it with you. Also, bring any recommendations for our next selection.

Don't forget we will be voting for officers...so if you are interested, be ready to tell us why you would like to run for the office.

Have a great day!

Mrs. Hoffman

Operation Teen Book Drop

I came across this website and thought this was a pretty cool idea. Here is the link in case anyone is interested. http://www.readergirlz.com/tbd.html

This is an excerpt from the site, however, please visit because there are many other activities you can participate in.

Drop a Book on April 17th
" Leave one copy of your novel, with a TBD bookplate pasted inside, in a teen gathering spot in your community. Place it where the book will be found, taken, and read. (i.e. a coffee shop, the park, your school, a bus stop.) Imagine the fun someone will have when they find your donation! This is the same day all 10,000 publisher-donated books will be dropped in pediatric hospitals across the country, and it is the same day authors and readergirlz worldwide will release their own books into their communities just as you have."

Mrs. Hoffman

Winner

And, the winner is....*Monica slowly opens envelope, someone throws a tomato, envelope is ripped in half so it would be quicker, and she put the two pieces together, reading* Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher! Congradulations to the winner and I hope to see everyone at the next meeting. There might be a suprise waiting for all members!!



I hear the Little Falls library will have 3 copies soon, but I don't know about the other libraries. I have a copy that I am willing to let someone borrow.

Someone Needs to Break the Tie!

So far, Th1rteen R3asons Why and Twilight both have the same amount of votes! Both have 3 votes(42% each)!

Here are two sites that might help the undecided break the tie:

http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/# (click on the book to get a beginning of the 1st chapter/you can also listen to the author talk about the book/there is also a map of the town and some of the recorded tapes you can listen to)

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html (everything about the book(s) is on here/it has an auto reading that you can play on the bottom/first chapter is also there)

WE MADE THE FRONT PAGE!

How exciting! We made the front page of the Passaic Valley Today newspaper. Tina Pappas wrote a very nice article about our group. If you get a chance, check it out!

Mrs. Hoffman

VOTE EXTENDED TO SATURDAY

I extended the vote to Saturday, March 1st, 8:00 pm. Please try to pass the word along to everyone!

Mrs. Hoffman

Warning!!!

Everyone listen up! The poll for the book we are picking to read till the next meeting will end in just FIVE DAYS!!!! Only TWO people have voted! So, vote if you didn't and remind people if you see any members in the halls or in class!!

It's going to be a tough one. I have already changed my vote once, and I am trying to stop myself from changing it again. :D

TAG posters will be up around PV soon. Hopefully we might have some more new members in April. :]

Vote Begins Today

The poll is posted at the bottom of the blog. It will be open until February 28th at 8:00 pm. Please encourage all members to vote.

Book Summaries

Here are some short descriptions of the books chosen yesterday. Again, it's going to be tough!

Th1rteen r3asons why : a novel
Asher, Jay.
When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death. ~OPAC

Twilight
Meyer, Stephenie.
When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human. ~OPAC

Nobody's Princess
Friesner, Esther M.
Determined to fend for herself in a world where only men have real freedom, headstrong Helen,who will be called queen of Sparta and Helen of Troy one day, learns to fight, hunt, and ride horses while disguised as a boy, and goes on an adventure throughout the Mediterranean world. ~OPAC

Side Effects
Koss, Amy Goldman.
Everything changes for Isabelle, not quite fifteen, when she is diagnosed with lymphoma--but eventually she survives and even thrives. ~OPAC

Anne Frank and Me
Bennett, Cherie.
After suffering a concussion while on a class trip to a Holocaust exhibit, Nicole finds herself living the life of a Jewish teenager in Paris during the Nazi occupation. ~OPAC

Story of a Girl
Zarr, Sara.
In the three years since her father caught her in the back seat of a car with an older boy, sixteen-year-old Deanna's life at home and school has been a nightmare, but while dreaming of escaping with her brother and his family, she discovers the power of forgiveness. ~OPAC

Sloppy Firsts : a novel
McCafferty, Megan.
When her best friend, Hope, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, 16-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. Jessica is a fish out of water at school, a stranger at home, and now -- with the only person with whom she could really communicate gone -- more lost than ever. How is she supposed to deal with the boy-and-shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad's obsession with her track meets, and her nonexistent love life? Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica's predicament, from the dark days following Hope's departure to her hopelessly mixed-up feelings about the intelligent and mysterious bad-boy who works his way into her life. Sloppy Firsts is right in line with some of the great teen crossover works of popular culture, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and is sure to appeal to readers of all ages who appreciate the inherent humor of high school angst. ~OPAC

The Seeing Stone
Crossley-Holland, Kevin.
In late twelfth-century England, a thirteen-year-old boy named Arthur recounts how Merlin gives him a magical seeing stone which shows him images of the legendary King Arthur, the events of whose life seem to have many parallels to his own.~OPAC

At the Crossing-places
Crossley-Holland, Kevin.
In late twelfth-century England, the thirteen-year-old Arthur goes to begin his new life as squire to Lord Stephen at Holt, where crusaders ready themselves. ~OPAC

The Zero Game
Meltzer, Brad.
Wanna-be Washington power brokers devise a game in which staffers bet on which bills will become law and where money will be spent. The game turns deadly as its players become pawns, with the fate of the hero and the world resting in the hands of a teenaged intern. ~Amazon

If I Should Die Before I Wake
Nolan, Han.
As Hilary, a Neo-Nazi initiate, lies in a coma, she is transported back to Poland at the onset of World War II into the life of a Jewish teenager. ~OPAC

Having Our Say : the Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Delany, Sarah Louise.
In this remarkable and charming oral history, two lively and perspicacious sisters, aged 101 and 103, reflect on their rich family life and their careers as pioneering African American professionals. Brief chapters capture Sadie's warm voice ("Now, I was a 'mama's child' ") and Bessie's fiestiness ("I'm alive out of sheer determination, honey!"). The unmarried sisters, who live together, tell of growing up on the campus of a black college in Raleigh, N.C., where their father was an Episcopal priest, and of being too independent for the men who courted them. With parental influence far stronger than that of Jim Crow, they joined professions--Sadie teaching domestic science, Bessie practicing dentistry. In 1920s Harlem they mixed with black activists and later were among the first to integrate the New York City suburb of Mount Vernon. While their account of the last 40 years is sketchy, their observations about everything from black identity to their yoga exercises make them worthwhile company. ~Publisher’s Weekly

Lunar Eclipse Today!

I know this has nothing to do with the book club, but I just thought it was kind of interesting. There is going to be a lunar eclipse today, and you will also be able to see Saturn and the bright start Regulus!

Info from yahoo:

The last total lunar eclipse until 2010 occurs Wednesday night, with cameo appearances by Saturn and the bright star Regulus on either side of the veiled full moon.

Weather permitting, the total eclipse can be seen from North and South America. People in Europe and Africa will be able to see it high in the sky before dawn on Thursday.

As the moonlight dims — it won't go totally dark — Saturn and Regulus will pop out and sandwich the moon. Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo.

Wednesday's event will be the last total lunar eclipse until Dec. 20, 2010. Last year there were two.

The weather could be a spoiler for many in the United States. Cloudy skies are expected for most of the Western states with a chance of snow from the heartland to the East Coast, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service.

Wednesday's total eclipse phase will last nearly an hour. Earth's shadow is expected to blot out the moon beginning around 7 p.m. on the West Coast and 10 p.m. on the East Coast. West Coast skygazers will miss the start of the eclipse because it occurs before the moon rises.

Unlike solar eclipses which require protective eyewear, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye.

Later this year, in August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.

---

~Happy Star Gazing!

Book discussion notes on Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Well, it was unanimous--Everybody loved the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
We all thought that Melinda's parents should have realized that something was wrong with their daughter. Both librarians and students felt that Melinda should have had a relationship with her mother that would have allowed her to tell her mother what happened. One person said that she thought they had had a good relationship in the past as evidenced by the surroundings and "girly" decor of Melinda's room. One of the librarians thought that perhaps Melinda didn't feel she could tell her mother what happened because Melinda had allowed herself to get into a bad situation and was blaming herself for what happened and was embarassed or felt she had been really stupid. A number of people found it unbelievable that Melinda's parents didn't realize she had a problem, and several of our student book club members thought that a teacher should have picked up on the fact that Melinda had a problem. A couple of our librarian members pointed out that because she was a freshman, they may have just thought she was shy, and since she wasn't a behavior problem didn't bother to try to figure her out.
We all liked her art teacher, and realized that she grew through expressing herself through her art. As her inner self improved so did her artwork, and it was somewhat difficult to tell which was helping which at times.
We felt that her art class and the closet she fixed up for herself were safe havens. Nobody liked the fact that Melinda's best friend had dumped her over the summer without even asking for Melinda's side of the story.
We also really disliked the new girl in school who, when she got in with the popular crowd, pretty much dropped Melinda like a hot potato.
It was noted by many of the book club members that everybody in high school is just trying to be popular or fit in somewhere.
Everybody pretty well figured out early on in the book that Melinda had suffered some sort of trauma, but didn't know exactly what until a little later in the book.
A couple of our book club members wished that they could have spoken for Melinda.
We all thought there was also a lot of humor in the book that helped relieve the tension of the story and that the book would have been too dark without it.
Overall, a very satisfying read.
If anybody has anything else they wanted to say about the book, please add comments. The more, the merrier.

Secretary of foreign affairs needed

If you'd like to be our secretary of foreign affairs, (responsible for building and maintaining book club membership) post here and tell us why you're the best for the job.

Sergeant at arms--office open

If you think you can help our book discussion group maintain order when the discussions get too heated, or when just too many of us are talking at once, post here telling us why you're the best person for the job.

Duely noted--we need a secretary

If you're a good note-taker and would like to post our discussions to the blog, post a comment here telling us why you're the best person for the job.

So you want to be the president of TAG

If you would like to be the president or co-president of our book discussion group, please post information about yourself, why you would like to be elected to the position, and what you think you can do for the group.

BOOK DISCUSSION TODAY!

I can't believe today has finally arrived! In just one hour and forty five minutes we will hopefully all be engaged in a lively discussion about Laura Halse Anderson's "Speak." There are so many topics that we can discuss with this book and remember anything we can't get in at the meeting, we can continue on the blog. I added a website to our "Cool Teen Websites," it's called TeensHealth and has a lot of great topics that you may be interested in. See you all later!

Mrs. Hoffman

BOOK DISCUSSION DATE SET

Just a reminder...we will be meeting on Wednesday, February 20th at 2:45 pm in the PVHS Library to discuss "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson. Remember to bring your ideas and suggestions for future book discussions and activities.

Mrs. Hoffman

Groundhogs & Romance

Hi all,
Just thought you might like to know that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2nd and is predicticting 6 more weeks of winter. Staten Island Chuck, however, did not see his shadow and is prognosticating an early spring. Let's hope Chuck is right. Incidentally, the real reason the groundhogs come out this time of year is that they're looking for a mate.
With Valentine's Day coming up I hope you're looking for a date, too. If you need some inexpensive gift ideas for your special someone, try these:
1. Make some heart shaped cookies
2. Download a special song from i-tunes
3. Make a bookmark with hearts and love stickers
4. Decorate their locker.
5. I love you helium balloons
6. Write a LOVE poem

Hey people!

I recently found out that we can post blogs here! With we I mean other than the awesome librarians that started this book club! So, I have finished Speak, and the book has now landed in the large group of my favorite books. After, reading Speak I read this other book that was kind of like Speak. But, this book wasn't about rape, it was about suicide.

It's called Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. The book happens in the present but always goes back to the past. This guy named Clay receives a shoebox with seven cassettes. And, when he starts listening to them he realizes that a girl, Hannah Baker who two weeks ago took her own life, recorded them for thirteen people. These thirteen people had some part in why Hannah commited suicide, hence the title of the book. Clay realizes that he is one of those reasons. So, he "borrows" his friend's portable tape player and walks around town with a map, going to each of the places Hannah describes on the tapes. I don't want to give any more away, but once you start reading the first chapter the book grabs you in and you can't put it down til you finish reading.

I can't wait until the next meeting! See you all there!

2008 Michael L. Printz Award

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean has won the 2008 Michael L. Printz Award. The Michael L. Printz Award is given by the American Library Association for excellence in young adult literature.

About the book: Fourteen-year-old Symone's exciting vacation to Antarctica turns into a desperate struggle for survival when her uncle's obsessive quest to find the legendary Symme's hole (which is supposedly an entrance to a hollow Earth) leads them across the frozen wilderness into danger.

ONE BOOK YA SELECTION

One Book New Jersey
Featured Young Adult Book
Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam

About the Book
Teen conservationists Semi, Miranda, and Arnie board a plane bound for the Ecuadorian rainforest. As part of a prize-winning team gathered by the TV show Planet Savers, they begin an amazing hands-on ecology experience. But their trip-of-a-lifetime quickly becomes a fight for survival as they find themselves on a remote island, the only survivors of a devastating plane crash. And this is no ordinary island - it is the home of a mad scientist, anxious for subjects for his ghastly experiments. Unfortunately for Semi, Miranda, and Arnie, the three teens are the perfect candidates for his interspecies tests.

About the Author
Ann Halam (a pseudonym used by Gwyneth A. Jones) is a prolific author of fantasy and science fiction for readers of all ages. Born in Manchester, England, she has been writing since the age of fourteen, when she won a writing competition run by the Manchester Evening News. She has won numerous awards, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of her books, including Dr. Franklin's Island, were named ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She now lives with her husband and son in Brighton, England.
More information about Ann Halam/Gwyneth A. Jones and her books can be found on her website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gwynethann/.

www.onebooknj.org

ONE BOOK NEW JERSEY

Press Release:

The One Book New Jersey program is a fun and exciting program sponsored by the New Jersey Library Association with generous support from the New Jersey State Library. The goal of the program is to bring people together by encouraging them to read and participate in discussions and other events about the same book. Although this program is modeled on other "One Book" programs throughout the country, New Jersey's program is rather unique. We involve not just one community, but the whole state. We also felt it was important to reach people of all ages, so although we still call our program "One Book," it is in fact four books: an adult selection, a young adult selection, a book for older children and a read-to-me selection.

This year, 2008, will be our sixth year.
The selected books this year are:

Adult: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
Young Adult: Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
Middle Grade: The Sisters Grimm: Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
Read to Me: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Janet Stevens

In the past, over six hundred programs or events were held in every county of the state at a majority of the 464 public libraries in New Jersey. These events ranged from book discussions to storyhours, from contests to film showings for people from preschoolers to senior citizens. One Book New Jersey selections for the past five years have been:

2007:
Adult: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Young Adult: So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
Middle Grade: Whales on Stilts! by M. T. Anderson
Read to Me: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

2006:
Adult: The Ditchdigger's Daughters by Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D.
Young Adult: Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald
Middle Grade: Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
Read to Me: Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

2005:
Adult: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Young Adult: Dunk by David Lubar
Middle Grade: The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater
Read to Me: Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini

2004:
Adult: The Pine Barrens by John McPhee
Young Adult: The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
Middle Grade: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Read to Me: How the Cat Swallowed Thunder by Lloyd Alexander

2003:
Adult: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Young Adult: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Middle Grade: Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
Read to Me: Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

More information about the One Book New Jersey program can be found on ourwebsite: www.onebooknewjersey.org

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Hopefully, the New Year will bring everyone happiness, good health and good fortune. I sat down with my family yesterday and we all wrote down three goals that we would like to accomplish in 2008. It was a great way to start the New Year and will hopefully keep us all focused and on the right track. One of the goals that we all wrote down was to read more; not school or work related reading, but reading for pleasure. Does anyone else think about or write down goals for the New Year? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this topic!

Also, if anyone is having any trouble with this blog or if you know anyone that hasn't been able to access it, please e-mail me @ mrs.hoffies@gmail.com.

Have a great day!

Mrs. Hoffman