“As is the case with other books in the series, the setup is improbable (bordering on bizarre), the characters droll, the prose exceptionally clever and often hilarious and the ‘aha’ moment deliciously unexpected.” — BookPage
Category: Highlighted New Arrivals
“The daughter of New York’s mayor is missing, and Det. Michael Bennett’s son is in jail. So they agree to trade help, with Michael investigating a homicide victim tied to both the computer-smart daughter and an ambitious hacking operation. The string of nasty murders that follows eventually affects national security, complicating matters by bringing in the NYPD, the FBI, and global crime…” — Barbara Hoffert. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2019.
“Contains an implicit analysis and critique of higher education as a system, by acknowledging the inequities that exist at every level from recruitment to admissions to financial aid. It’s a how-to book that will also make you think, ‘But why?’” — New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
“Duel at Araluen” by John Flanagan — “King Duncan and Princess Cassandra are trapped in the south tower of Castle Araluen and under near-constant attack from the Red Fox Clan. Sir Horace and Ranger Commandant Gilan are holed up in an old hill fort, surrounded by the enemy. And Ranger’s apprentice Maddie is the only one who can save them all. With the help of Hal, Thorn, and the rest of the Heron brotherband, Maddie will have to break her father and his men out of the hill fort, but will they reach Castle Araluen in time?” — Publisher Annotation:
“Compulsively readable . . . In exquisite detail, the book describes the devastating dysfunction in Shuggie’s family, centering on his mother’s alcoholism and his father’s infidelities, which are skillfully related from a child’s viewpoint . . . As it beautifully and shockingly illustrates how Shuggie ends up alone, this novel offers a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Very highly recommended.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Beginning with a look at Christopher Columbus’s arrival through the eyes of the Arawak Indians, then leading the reader through the struggles for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and ending with the current protests against continued American imperialism, Zinn in the volumes of A Young People’s History of the United States presents a radical new way of understanding America’s history. In so doing, he reminds readers that America’s true greatness is shaped by our dissident voices, not our military generals.” — Amazon.com
“Jones and Lee, editor and submission reader, respectively, for the New York Times Modern Love column, assemble a charming assortment of brief tales of love from the popular column. Each of the 175 selections distill a story of love into fewer than 100 words. While romantic love predominates, there are stories of love between parents and children, siblings, and even for pets and places. . . . This is a moving testament to the diversity and depths of love.” —Publishers Weekly
“Hannah brings Dust Bowl migration to life in this riveting story of love, courage, and sacrifice…combines gritty realism with emotionally rich characters and lyrical prose that rings brightly and true from the first line”― Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Categories
Become a Magician
The library is pleased to offer a new video series designed to educate and entertain called “Becoming a Magician”. This successful, self-guided course is free. It teaches students ages 8-80 enough magic to do a 30-minute performance and includes, along with teaching the magic tricks, acting and storytelling skills so the performance is fun and entertaining. Props needed for the course are ones most people already have at home or can be purchased at the local dollar store.
The course was tested in ten Vermont communities and was well received by both libraries and students. “The course is wonderfully designed and not only teaches the magic in a marvelous way, but the performance and storytelling skills make the tricks come alive” states a librarian from Vermont. “There are so many things a librarian can do with this course.” A mother of two who accessed the course through their local library said “My son and daughter performed a magic show for their grandfather whom they had not seen in person for months because of the pandemic.
They have missed each other terribly. He kept shouting, ‘I can’t believe it, this is wonderful, how are you doing this?’ He was astonished. What you taught them has already brightened one person’s life.”
Teachers, Tom Verner and Janet Fredericks are founders of Magicians Without Borders (www.magicianswithoutborders.com) and have traveled to over 45 countries bringing love, laughter, magic and hope to hundreds of thousands of refugee and orphan children in many of the most war-torn parts of the world.
“Outstanding . . . A book not only about modern Tibet but one that helps explain the current, poisonous moment in China.”—Financial Times