History Pas de Deux

Each month I get to visit with two high school English classes to talk about books for independent reading. For November's visit I focused on historical fiction matched with a nonfiction book about the same time period, event, or person(s). So, shared here are some of the matched books that I brought to the classes. Fiction covers are on the left, nonfiction covers are on the right.

To Stay Alive: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party, by Skila Brown, 2016. A young survivor of the tragic Donner Party of 1846 describes how her family and others became victims of freezing temperatures and starvation. (Novel in verse.) 

The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party, by Marian Calabro, 1999. Uses materials from letters and diaries written by survivors of the Donner Party to relate the experiences of that ill-fated group as they endured horrific circumstances on their way to California in 1846-47.

Donner Dinner Party, Nathan Hale, 2013. The Reed family struggles to survive the wagon train journey from Illinois to California as members of the ill-fated Donner Party. (comic book format)

Walk on Earth a Stranger, by Rae Carson, 2015. Lee, a young woman with the ability to sense the presence of gold, must flee her home to avoid people who would abuse her powers, so when her best friend Jefferson heads out across Gold Rush-era America to stake his claim, she disguises herself as a boy and sets out on her own dangerous journey. (Historical Fantasy. First book in Gold Seer trilogy.)

Women of the Frontier: 16 Tales of Trailblazing Homesteaders, Entrepreneurs, and Rabble-Rousers, by Brandon Marie Miller, 2013. Drawing on journal entries, letters and song lyrics to evoke the courage and spirit of female pioneers and early activists, a collection of portraits traces the heroic lives of such individuals as Amelia Stewart Knight, Miriam Colt and Clara Brown.

Projekt 1065, by Alan Gratz, 2016. Michael, son of the Irish ambassador to Nazi Germany in Berlin, is a spy for the British Secret Service. He has joined the Hitler Youth, and pretending that he agrees with their violence and book-burning is hard enough--but when he is asked to find out more about "Projekt 1065" both his and his parents' lives get a lot more dangerous.

Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, 2005.The story of a generation of German young people who devoted all their energy to the Hitler Youth and the propaganda that brought Hitler his power, and the youths that resisted the Nazi movement.

Four-Four-Two, by Dean Hughes, 2016. Forced into an internment camp at the start of World War II, 18-year-old Yuki enlists in the Army to fight for the Allies as a member of the "Four-Four-Two," a segregated Japanese American regiment.

Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II, by Martin W. Sandler, 2013. Drawing from interviews and oral histories, chronicles the history of Japanese American survivors of internment camps.

Sweet Madness, by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie, 2015. Bridget Sullivan, a maid in the Borden household, describes the events leading up to the murder of Andrew Borden and his second wife, and how the youngest daughter, Lizzie, was put on trial for the crime.

The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & the Trial of the Century, by Sarah Miller, 2016. Examines the Borden murders, using newspaper articles to recreate the events and the trial and acquittal of Lizzie Borden and exploring Lizzie's story to theorize on what may have happened.

Anastasia and Her Sisters, by Carolyn Meyer, 2015. A novel in diary form in which the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II describes the privileged life her family led up until the time of World War I and the tragic events that befell them.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming, 2014. Traces the story of the Russian Revolution, the lives of the Romanov family, and the story of their tragic deaths, in an account that draws on primary source materials and includes period photography.

X, by Ilyasah Shabazz, 2015. Follows the childhood of the civil rights leader to his imprisonment at age twenty, where he found the faith that would lead him to his path towards activism and justice. 
Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary, by Walter Dean Myers, 1993. Traces the life of the controversial Black leader, describes his involvement with the Nation of Islam, and looks at his speeches and assassination. See also:

Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography, by Andrew Helfer, 2006. A graphic novel that shows Malcolm Little's transformation from a black youth beaten down by Jim Crow America into Malcolm X, the charismatic, controversial, and doomed national spokesman for the Nation of Islam.

The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices From the Titanic, by Allan Wolf, 2011. Recreates the 1912 sinking of the Titanic as observed by millionaire John Jacob Astor, a beautiful young Lebanese refugee finding first love, "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, Captain Smith, and others including the iceberg itself. (Novel in verse.) 

Titanic: Voices From the Disaster, by Deborah Hopkinson, 2012. Tells the tale of the sinking of the Titanic using the narratives of the witnesses and survivors to the disaster.

Top XIII First Quarter Reads

Out of the 41 books I feasted on during the first 3 wintery months of 2014, here are my top of the heap favorites.  If you want a book to take you through spring vacation week, these are just a few choice reads I would hand you. Stop by the library and visit with me if you would like other recommendations. (Descriptions following the book titles are from the Library's online catalog.)  

FANTASY    Our Children's Librarian suggested Revenge of the Witch, to me. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased the rest of the Last Apprentice 13 book series for the teen collection. Delaney's books fit in the fantasy genre but could also be placed in the horror genre due to scary events and dire creatures that appear during the many struggles between good and evil. The most recent book, Fury of the Seventh Son, was just published this month.  Seventh Son, a movie based on the Last Apprentice series, is planned for release February 2015.
Half Bad is urban fantasy, set in England in the present day, and is the first book in a planned trilogy. Besides telling a story about people with magical powers this story is about prejudice.  It is also, at heart, about a boy seeking his father and his place in the world.
It was exciting to finally hold the much anticipated prequel to Throne of Glass in my hands. It did not disappoint.  If you read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, you have to read Assassin's Blade.

Revenge of the Witch, by Joseph Delaney, 2005.  Young Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son, starts work as an apprentice for the village spook, whose job is to protect ordinary folk from "ghouls, boggarts, and all manner of wicked beasties."  Book 1 in Last Apprentice series.

Half Bad, by Sally Green, 2014.  In modern-day England, where witches live alongside humans, Nathan, son of a White witch and the most powerful Black witch, must escape captivity before his 17th birthday and receive the gifts that will determine his future.  First book in planned trilogy.

Assassin's Blade: The Throne of Glass novellas, by Sarah Maas, 2014.  In these five prequel novellas to Throne of Glass, feared assassin Celaena embarks on daring missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and avenge tyranny.


HISTORICAL FICTION   These two books are very different in tone.  Northern Light is the darker of the two with a murder mystery at its core.  A Mad, Wicked Folly, you can just tell from the title, is a lighter, frothier historical tale. Both books concern themselves with balancing independent work aspirations with romance and their heroines expected role in society.

Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly, 2003.  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.

A Mad, Wicked Folly, by Sharon Biggs Waller, 2014.  In 1909 London, as the world of debutante balls and high society obligations closes in around her, 17-year-old Victoria must figure out just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.


REALISTIC FICTION   Panic is a modern day Hunger Games sort of story about facing fears and taking risks. You may ask yourself as I did, "Where are the people who might be concerned about safety, i.e. parents, teachers, police, etc.?!".  Sex & Violence is a psychologically gripping story that although it has a brutal beginning is sure to keep you turning the page.  Winger, set in a boarding school, is by turns funny and serious.  Violence in various forms is a theme in all three of these stories.

Sex & Violence, by Carrie Mesrobian, 2013.  Sex has always come without consequences for 17-year-old Evan. Until he hooks up with the wrong girl and finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. After an assault that leaves Evan scarred inside and out, he and his father retreat to the family cabin in rural Minnesota—which, ironically, turns out to be the one place where Evan can't escape other people. Including himself.

Panic, by Lauren Oliver, 2014.  A high-stakes competition marks a summer in a small isolated community and compels graduating seniors Heather and Dodge to tap inner strengths while hiding dangerous secrets and forging unexpected alliances.

Winger, by Andrew Smith, 2013.  Two years younger than his classmates at a prestigious boarding school, 14-year-old Ryan grapples with living in the dorm for troublemakers, falling for his female best friend who thinks of him as just a kid, and playing wing on the Varsity rugby team with some of his frightening new dorm-mates.

SCIENCE FICTION   Aliens, cyborgs, and video game characters people these futuristic stories in strong feminine roles.

Tin Star, by Cecil Castellucci, 2014. Beaten and left for dead, 14-year-old Tula Bane finds herself abandoned on a space station called Yertina Feray after traveling with the colonist group, Children of the Earth. An alien, Heckleck, saves her and teaches her the ways of life on the space station.

Earth Girl, by Janet Edwards, 2013.  Abandoned on Earth because of her inability to survive on other planets, Jarra crafts a fake background for herself to join a class of norms who are excavating the dangerous ruins of the old cities.  First book in a planned trilogy.



Game Slaves, by Gard Skinner, 2014.  A highly intelligent group of video game enemy non-player characters (NPC) begins to doubt they are merely codes in a machine. Their search for answers leads them to a gruesome discovery.

Cress, by Marissa Meyer, 2014.  Working to overthrow Queen Levana, a fugitive Cinder and her companions search for Rapunzel-like hacker Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood and who has received orders from Levana to foil Cinder's efforts. This is the third book in the Lunar Chronicle series.

NON-FICTION   If you have ever thought you might like to pursue a career in graphic design, or that you would like to improve your skill with creating signs or posters, then this book is the place to start. There are 10 design project exercises included at the end of this informative book, such as creating your personal logo, redesigning a familiar object, and making your own font specimen sheet.

Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design, by Chip Kidd, 2013.  Go, by the award-winning graphic designer Chip Kidd, is an introduction to the ways in which designers communicate their ideas to the world, whether through images, color, text, or placement.

17 Third Quarter-ish Favorites

Here are my top 17 book picks from the 50 I read between July and October.  Out of these, the top two must not miss titles (imo) are Neal Shusterman's lastest book in his Unwind series, which stitches up more adventure with a dark thread of biological engineering horror, and Counting By 7s, by Holly Sloan, a sparkling gem of a story. In August I got hooked on the Forgotten Realms series fantasy books by R.A. Salvatore, thanks to a recommendation from a teen advisory board member.  Give Homeland, the first book in this series a try; it has adventure, battles galore, and intriguing character development. Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas, the sequel to Throne of Glass, arrived at the end of August, which was a squeee moment for me, only now, I again (sigh) must wait for the next book to be published to find out what happens with Celaena.  I am a huge fan of all the Tamora Pierce series so was very excited when her latest book Battle Magic, arrived to continue the story about Winding Circle's ambient magic mages.  Living with Jackie Chan, Pieces, and Rats Saw God, are all realistic fiction on serious topics told with humor from a teenage boy's perspective.  I had not read Jo Knowles, Jumping Off Swings, but after reading Living with Jackie Chan, I had to read that too.  Spirit and Dust is a romping paranormal/mystery road trip featuring ghosts, witches, psychics, and Egyptology.  I was amazed by Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, a well-told biographical narrative by Phillip Hoose, about a girl who ought to be as well known as Rosa Parks.  Relish was delicious graphic format nonfiction, and includes recipes.  If you pick up one of the following to read, let me know what you think.  (Book summaries are from the online catalog, just click on the title to place a hold or to see if the book is on the shelf, i.e. checked in.)

Fantasy

Battle Magic, by Tamora Pierce, 2013.  When messengers arrive in Gyongxe "inviting" Dedicate Initiate Rosethorn and her two young companion mages, Evumeimei and Briar, to court to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor of Yanjing, Rosethorn is eager to go, but Briar suspects that there is an ulterior motive behind the invitation.  (Third book in Circle Reforged series.)

The Bitter Kingdom, by Rae Carson, 2013.  Elisa, a fugitive in her own kingdom, faces great challenges to rescue the man she loves from her enemies, prevent a civil war, and take back her throne but as her magic grows, Elisa discovers the shocking truth about her enemy's ultimate goal.  (Third book in Fire and Thorns trilogy.)

Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas, 2013.  As the royal assassin to an evil king, 18-year-old Celaena Sardothien must decide what she will fight for--survival, love, or the future of a kingdom.  (Sequel to Throne of Glass)



Homeland, by R.A. Salvatore, 1990.  Drizzt the Dark Elf finds adventure, peril, and awesome magical power as he confronts the underground civilization of the evil race of Drow elves. (First book in Forgotten Realms Dark Elf series.)

Shadowfell, by Juliet Marillier, 2013.  Fifteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured, but when she sets out for Shadowfell, a training ground for a rebel group, she meets a mysterious soldier and the Good Folk, who tell her that she, alone, can save Alban. (First book in Shadowfell series.)

Historical Fiction

All The Truth That's In Me, by Julie Berry, 2013. Judith can't speak. But when her close-knit community of Roswell Station is attacked by enemies, Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice.

The Caged Graves, by Dianne K. Salerni, 2013.  Returning to her hometown of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in 1867 to marry a man she has never met, 17-year-old Verity Boone gets caught up in the mystery surrounding the graves of her mother and aunt and a dangerous hunt for Revolutionary-era gold.

Mystery

Spirit and Dust, by Rosemary Clement-Moore, 2013.   Raised in a family of psychics and witches, teen Daisy Goodnight is happy to help local police solve cold cases but when the FBI seeks her talents, she becomes involved in a mess that even has the spirits terrified.

Realistic Fiction

Counting By 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan, 2013.   Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.

Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell, 2013.  Feeling cast off when her best friend outgrows their shared love for a favorite celebrity, Cath, a dedicated fan-fiction writer, struggles to survive on her own in her first year of college while avoiding a surly roommate, bonding with a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words and worrying about her fragile father.

Living with Jackie Chan, by Jo Knowles, 2013.  After moving in with his karate-loving uncle in a different town, Josh struggles with regrets while practicing karate with upstairs neighbor Stella, whom Josh fears will reject him because of her jealous boyfriend and his own checkered past.  (Sequel to Jumping Off Swings.)

Pieces, by Chris Lynch, 2013.  18-year-old Eric deals with the loss of his older brother Duane by meeting three of the seven recipients of Duane's organs a year after his death, and pondering who they are to him, and he to them.

Rats Saw God, by Rob Thomas, 1996.   In hopes of graduating, Steve York agrees to complete a 100-page writing assignment which helps him to sort out his relationship with his famous astronaut father and the events that changed him from promising student to troubled teen.

NonFiction/Biographies

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip M. Hoose, 2009.   Presents the life of the Alabama teenager who played an integral but little-known role in the Montgomery bus strike of 1955-1956, once by refusing to give up a bus seat, and again, by becoming a plaintiff in the landmark civil rights case against the bus company.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen, by Lucy Knisley, 2013.  Presents an illustrated memoir of the author's early life, as she describes key episodes and the foods associated with them, and the life lessons she learned from cooking and eating gourmet meals with her parents and friends.  (Graphic novel format.)

Science Fiction

Rot & Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry, 2010. In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.  (First book in Benny Imura series.)

Unsouled, by Neal Shusterman, 2013.  After the destruction of the Graveyard, Connor and Lev are on the run, seeking a woman who may be the key to bringing down unwinding forever while Cam, the rewound boy, tries to prove his love for Risa by bringing Proactive Citizenry to its knees.  (Third book in Unwind series.)

Fall Programs for Teens

Minecraft Club Meetings
Every Wednesday 2:30PM to 4:30PM

The Minecraft Club is run by teens, for all ages who play well with others.  Bring your own laptop and have an active Minecraft membership.  Beginners and advance players welcome.  Minecraft Resources in the Catalog.

Teen Think Tank Meetings
First Thursday of the month
6:30PM to 7:50PM
The Library's teen advisory board, for ages 11-18, meets 11 times a year, on the first Thursday of the month (except July), for 90 minutes.  The Teen Think Tank works with the Young Adult Librarian to improve collections (books, audiobooks, music, and films), and to create programs and services designed specifically for teens.  Come share your bright ideas!  To participate drop by the Library and talk with the Young Adult Librarian, Kim Claire, about your interest in the TTT, or contact Kim at kclaire@mvlc.org.

PSAT Practice Test
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10AM to 1PM

Take a practice PSAT test, complete with results, provided free of charge by Kaplan.
A full-length proctored PSAT practice test shows students what to expect in a test-like environment. Students will receive a comprehensive analysis of their performance from Kaplan, detailing individual strengths and weaknesses.  Pre-register at the Reference desk, or call 978-468-5577, or email Kim at kclaire@mvlc.org. Bring a pencil and a calculator to use during the test.  The College Board sets the policy for calculators here is the link to the policy:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/calculator-policy

Movie: Bless Me Ultima

Friday, Oct. 1, 3PM to 4:50PM

"A drama set in New Mexico during WWII, centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman who helps him contend with the battle between good and evil that rages in his village".-from IMDb   Rated PG-13.  Based on the book by Rudolfo A. Anaya. Read the book before seeing the movie: Bless Me, Ultima.

College Financial Aid Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 17, 7PM to 8:30PM
College Financial Aid Workshop, for parents & students. Presented by Certified College Planning Specialist Jim Femia. There are billions of dollars available in need-based and merit-based aid available every year to assist students in paying for college. In order to receive financial aid however, the proper paperwork must be submitted accurately and on time. Many of these forms, FAFSA, CSS Profile, Institutional Forms, etc. can be longer and more complicated than the federal tax forms. This workshop is designed to introduce the financial aid process and provide helpful hints to potentially increase your financial aid eligibility.


Lives of Civil War Soldiers
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 3PM to 4:30PM
South Coast Historical Associates takes us into the lives of the everyday soldiers and citizens of the Civil War. Using replica firearms and original artifacts such as medical devices, battle flags and everyday items, experience an interactive and engaging program for ages 10+ and adults.

Keynote Speaker for the Library's 2013 Community Read

Dwight Jon Zimmerman

at the Ken Olsen Science Center

Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Thursday November 7, 2013
Reception @ 6:30 PM
Dwight Jon Zimmerman's Author Talk @ 7:30 PM

No living person has experienced the tragic loss of life, heart-rending decisions and dark days of the American Civil War. Dwight Jon Zimmerman, acclaimed military expert, award-winning author and radio show host, uses his extensive research on Douglass and Lincoln to shed light on our complex past, and invites dialogue about what divides and unites our nation 150 years later.

Click here for a pdf of the many related community read events.

In The Hammer and the Anvil, author Dwight Jon Zimmerman and artist Wayne Vansant recreate the turbulent era of American history that culminated in the Civil War through the lives of two pivotal figures: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Douglass, an escaped slave and brilliant orator, railed against the inequities of human bondage, while Lincoln used his time as a state legislator to try to curb the westward expansion of slavery.
Although the two men had their differences, they had experiences in common as well, and were ultimately united by the same cause. Their dynamic personalities, motives and efforts are skillfully portrayed in this engrossing historical graphic novel.
Reserve your copy of The Hammer and the Anvil today.

NaNoWriMo
Every Saturday in November, 10AM to 3:45PM
NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. This November, people all over the world will attempt to write a 50,000-word novel by midnight, November 30. Local writers will meet at the library every Saturday in November for write-ins. Come when you can! Leave when you like! Brainstorm, socialize, and boost your word count in the company of others who are doing the same. Last year, some authors produced upwards of 3,000 words in a single session. (That's 12 pages in the average printed book!) Call 978-468-5577 or email Sarah at slauderdale@mvlc.org to find out more. Or visit our Library's NaNoWriMo page. 
Click this link for: NaNoWriMo's Young Writers Program webpage

Graphic Novel As Art
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7PM to 8:30PM
Word Bubbles and Thought Balloons: The Graphic Novel as an Art Form 

Montserrat College of Art professors Adam Miller and Blyth Hazen present a brief history of comics and graphic novels, followed by a survey of the artistic styles and subgenres - from fantasy to autobiography and historical fiction - that make up this growing and evolving art / literary form. The presentation ends with examples of their work and process from their own studios, leaving time for Q&A about how to develop a graphic novel from idea to finished product.