The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone (Audiobook Edition) Book Review

Nothing exciting ever happens to Ruthie until the day her class visits the Art Institute of Chicago and sees the Thorne Rooms for the first time. The Thorne Rooms are a collection of sixty-eight exquiste and realistic miniature rooms, each designed in the style of a different time and place. Ruthie can't believe how wonderful these rooms are and wants to spend the entire class trip looking at the rooms. The rooms are so realistic that Ruthie thinks it would be wonderful to explore each room firsthand. The unthinkable happens when Ruthie's best friend Jack find a mysterious key which turns out to be magical.

The audiobook edition includes an interview with author, Marianne Malone.

I would recommend this book to readers in 3rd through 5th grade. Readers who have read and enjoyed The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Blue Balliet's mysteries will find The Sixty-Eight Rooms an exciting read.

Computer Tutors needed!

Interested in helping others learn how to use a computer? Willing to commit to one hour per week? Call the library (856) 794-4244 ext. 4243 to learn how to become a computer tutor volunteer!

The library is open 6 days a week and tutors are needed for every one of those days. Help someone learn how to search for a job, email their grandchildren, or learn to type a letter today!

Stotan! by Chris Crutcher Book Review

It's the last swimming season for Walker, Nortie, Lion and Jeff and their swimming coach has asked them to participate in a voluntary weeklong program of four-hour-a-day continual training that will test their self-discipline and swimming skills during their holiday break. This week also becomes a week of bonding between the four friends, learning secrets that they never knew about each other. While it's a difficult week, they come away from it stronger individuals They'll draw on their strengths in ways they didn't know were possible when hit with adversity.

I'd recommend this book to high school students reluctant readers and anyone who likes to read about sports. Chris Crutcher touches on some difficult topics, but the book is very realistic and like his other books, you can't help but root for these four friends.

Top Summer Readers at the Vineland Public Library

Participants of our summer reading program were busy reading this summer! Ninety-five children ages 6 months through 12 years read a total of 2,215 books. Our top reader was Tanisha Mori, age 11, who read 140 books.

In addition, here are the top readers for each age range:

Ages 2 & younger - Akeem Mills, age 2: 72 books
Ages 3-5 - Syerra-Lynn Mills, age 4: 113 books
Ages 6-8 - Anastazja Astacio, age 8: 91 books
Ages 9 & up - Tanisha Mori, age 11: 140 books

Congratulations to our top readers and thank you to everyone who participated this summer!

Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot Book Review

Mia Thermopolis is just about finished her freshman year. Things are looking up: she's passing algebra, she's about to turn 15 and she has a boyfriend! Since Michael is a senior, Mia is very excited about attending the prom. If Michael ever asks her!

As usual, things don't go as expected in Mia's life. Her birthday dinner with her family (her mom, step-father & algebra teacher Mr. G., her dad, her grandmother and Michael) ends in chaos; her birthday party ends abruptly and Mia is starting to think that Michael will never ask her to the prom.

Fans of Cabot's Princess Diaries series won't be disappointed with the fifth book in the series.

Ironman by Chris Crutcher Book Review

Chris Crutcher may be my new favorite author. I'll be the first to admit I'm not a sports fan. I don't have a favorite sport or a favorite team. Usually I don't even know who is playing. Since Crutcher's books revolve around sports, they would normally be the last thing I'd probably pick up to read. But his books are also so much more than about sports. His books are about the characters who participate in sports and it's really the characters that I care about.

Bo Brewster has an anger problem. He is close to being expelled his senior year of high school because he doesn't see eye to eye with his English teacher and former football coach, Mr. Redmond. After his second suspension, the only way to keep from being expelled is to join the school's anger management group which is run by a Japanese cowboy, Mr. Nakatani (Mr. Nak). The anger management group consists of the worse kids in the school and Bo doesn't really believe he belongs there.

Bo is training for an Ironman triathlon,the Yukon Jack, which consists of biking, running and swimming. Despite receiving no support from his father, he works towards this goal. You can't help but root for Bo to succeed.

I would recommend this book to high school students who are reluctant readers. Young adults who enjoy sports books will also enjoy this book.

Review: The fault tree by Ure Louise

Pros                                                                                                    Cons
It's a page tuner                                                                                    It's a little confusing at first
It has lot's of action                                                                            
It's not that long

Reviews by: Lashonda M. as apart of the Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

Review:The Parrot Who Thought She Was A Dog by Nancy Ellis Bell

Sarah, the one legged blue & gold Macaw, Adopted by Nancy Ellis Bell Adjusts to the loving care she is given-enjoys freedom of a careless life indoors & outdoors as she adjusts to people and other pets.

Review by: Jeannette C. as apart of our Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

Review: Girl in translation by Jean Kwok

Chinese girl attends special school in a white SanFrancisco neighborhood. She becomes good friends with a japanese girl & white american boys. Grows up to be acepted at Yale School.

Review by: Jeannette C. as apart of our Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

Review: Swim Suit by Ure Louise

Pros                                                                                                         Cons
Good action book                                                                                    Climax don't get there fast enough
Full of suprises                                                                                         Overall it was a good book

Review by: Lashonda M. as apart of our Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

What I'm Reading

Ever wonder what your local children's librarian is reading? Here's a list of books I'm currently reading in my free time when I'm not working at the library.

Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories by Chris Crutcher - I've heard that Chris Crutcher is one of those authors that all children's/young adult librarians should read. Admittedly, this is the first book I've read by him, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it and will definitely be reading more books by him. In Athletic Shorts Crutcher brings back characters from his novels. In the introduction, he writes that he often gets letters asking what happens to his characters after his books end. He said that once the book ends, he leaves it to the readers to decide that happens to his characters. But sometimes the characters don't leave him and this is how he wrote Athletic Shorts. I would recommend this book to young adults who like sports and are reluctant readers.

Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot - I'm listening to the 4th book in the Princess Diaries series on my way to and from work and on long drives. The narrator is Clea Lewis and while she isn't Anne Hathaway, she does a good job. I've read all of the books in this series except #10, Princess Mia, and I decided to re-read them all before reading the last book. What better way to re-read them but to listen to them! The book starts out with Mia making her debut in Genovia. She can't wait until she returns to New York City to see her new boyfriend Michael.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - I'm reading this on my Kindle. When Ginny's Aunt Peg unexpectedly passes away, she leaves Ginny 13 letters. The first letter begins a scavenger hunt type trip in which Ginny must go to different countries and perform a task as specified by her Aunt Peg. As she completes each task, she can open the next envelope. Her journey begins in London, England and takes her all over Europe. Teens who enjoy Sarah Dessen and Megan McCafferty's books will enjoy 13 Little Blue Envelopes.

How do I keep all these books straight and not get them confused with each other? Good question! I've always read more than one book at a time and I'm usually able to keep them all straight. But sometimes I do get things mixed up, so I just try to read different kinds of books. There's a couple other titles I just recently started, but I'll blog about them another day!

So, what are you reading? Leave a comment and let me know!

Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell book review

Fans of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, particularly girls, will enjoy the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell. This series follows the every day life of Nikki Maxwell as she attends Westchester Day School. Nikki just wants to fit in but popular girl, Mackenzie, whose locker is right next to Nikki's makes life difficult for her. In the third book of the series, Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star Nikki must decide whether to tell her two BFFs, Chloe and Zoey, her deep dark secret. The only person who knows her secret is archnemesis Mackenzie. The only reason she can attend Westchester Day School is because her father is the school's exterminator and he worked out a deal for her to get a scholarship to the school. Her secret may get out when the school becomes infested with bugs. Nikki has a dilemma when the school principal calls and leaves a message for her father. Does she give her father the message and risk everyone finding out her secret or does she hope the school finds another exterminator?

This is a very popular series which will widely appeal to young girls, ages 8-12. Boys who have read Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones series may also enjoy reading this series.

Review: Don't Blink by James Patterson

Pros                                                                                              Cons
It's very exciting talking about the mob                                            It's long in chapters
It was a new suprise at every chapter                                              It's a little boring at the introduction part
It was a great book I would advise someone to read it                     It's not a lot of bad Things

Review: Liars anonymous by Ure Louise

Pros                                                                                         Cons
It's a great book                                                                        It's a long book
It's a page turner                                                                       It's dry
It has lot's of conspiracy

Review by: Lashonda M. as apart of the Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

                                      

Review: Fearless, Imagine your life without fear by Max Lucado

We all live with fear these days, and as we go through life would'nt it be nice to recognize it when it comes. Max exposes the fears and helps us to overcome those fears to have a life filled with joy and happiness.

Review by: Pam C. as apart of our Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

Review: Push (Precious) by Sapphire

The book was great-but graphic. Be prepared for language and sexual content. I watched the movie before/ ordered the book, as usual it was so much better for me the book had to be read in stages. it was to to take in all at once. The characters seem so real and sad. Great book, there is hope at the end.

Available in the fiction section FIC Sapphire on DVD: DVDE 7205, 7206, 7207



Review completed by Mary L. as apart of our Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

Princess in Love by Meg Cabot (audiobook version) Book Review

Mia is back and she finally has a boyfriend! Unfortunately it isn't Michael but Kenny her biology lab partner. Kenny is a really nice guy, but she doesn't love Kenny. How is she supposed to break up with Kenny without hurting his feelings. And she can't tell Michael her true feelings because 1) Michael is her best friend, Lilly's older brother and 2) Michael has a girlfriend, Judith Gershner. At least Mia has a date to the cultural diversity dance. That is if Kenny ever gets around to asking her!

Not only does she have this to worry about, but finals are approaching and Mia is worried about flunking algebra. And after finals, she has to leave for Genovia where she will be officially presented as the heir to the throne. Could life be more stressful?

What's a girl to do and how does she get the boy she really loves to notice her?

Anne Hatheway narrates the third book in this series by Meg Cabot and continues to do an excellent job of bringing the book to life.

Big Nate in a Class By Himself by Lincoln Peirce Book Review

Fans of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series will get a kick out of this new series by Lincoln Peirce. Nate knows he is destined for great things. It might just take him a while to get there. But one day, he gets the following fortune in his fortune cookie: Today You Will Surpass All Others. Nate just knows that means something good is going to happen today, something that is going to be better than everyone else. Maybe his art will be in the spotlight or maybe he'll break a world record. As Nate's day gets worse and worse, he doesn't see how his fortune could come true. Recommended for grades 3-6.

Review: God Ain't Through Yet by Mary Monroe

Pros                                                                                          Cons
Full of love action.                                                                      Didn't like the drama too much cursing this
Good for someone who love romance dramas.                            time, good author though.

Review by: Lashonda M. as apart of our Adult Summer Reading Giveaway.

Scrabble Night!

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Play Scrabble (Doris Tripp Room)

DVDs

July's television series DVD winner is Private Practice! We'll be adding the first 4 seasons of that to our collection over the next few weeks.

August's DVD poll is posted. This month the choices are comedies. Please only vote once for your favorite show.