Seen the movie? Now read the book! The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Has there ever been so much hype about a book that you just didn’t want to read it? That’s how I felt about The Help when it first came out. So many people were reading it (my mom, my aunt, my cousin to name a few) and saying how wonderful it was that I had no interest in reading it.

Skip ahead two years when the movie was released. I had seen previews for the movie and thought I’d like to see it. My friends and I went to see it shortly after it came out in the theaters and I absolutely loved it. After watching the movie I was determined to read the book.

It would probably be another four months before I would finally read the book. My sister was reading the book while we were on vacation in December and she couldn’t put it down. My sister doesn’t read nearly as much as I do and is known for not finishing books. When I saw her tear through the book at record breaking speed I knew I had to read it.

I finally read it and was so happy that I did. Why hadn’t I listened to all those people when the book first came out? While the movie was good, the book was great. Have you noticed that this is often the case? The book is almost always better than the movie. There are so many details that can’t be included in the movie. But the movie did a good job of bring the book to life.

After witnessing the poor treatment of the “Help” at the homes of her good friends, Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, decides to interview Aibileen, her friend Elizabeth’s African-American housekeeper. Skeeter wants Aibileen to talk about the good and bad parts of working for a white Southern family. At first Aibileen is reluctant to talk to Skeeter, but eventually decides to corroborate with her and even brings in her best friend Minny. During a time in American history where there is much civil disrest, this is a dangerous thing for Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny to do.

So now that I've FINALLY read The Help, I have to read Moneyball and The Descendants, both books that have been made into movies, which I’ve seen but not read. And all former Oscar contenders which I think is pretty awesome.

If you haven’t read The Help, I highly recommend you do. The library has eleven copies! Make sure to check out your copy today. And while you're at it, see if the movie is here too!

What's going on today...

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Baby Time, ages 6-23 months
To register or for more information please call the Children's Department: 794-4244 ext. 4246.

What's going on today...

5:00 – 7:30 p.m. Writer’s Society meeting, all writers welcome (Community Event Room)

If you are interested in writing, join this group for in-depth discussion and writing critiques. The program will be held in the Community Event Room located on the first floor of the library. Registration is not necessary.

If you can't make the whole workshop, that's okay! Join us anyway.

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Play Scrabble  (Doris Tripp Room)
If you like Words with Friends you'll love Scrabble! No waiting for the other person to take their turn.

What's going on today...

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Preschool Story Time, ages 3-5 (Register – Children’s)
To register please call the Children's Department: (856) 794-4244 ext. 4246

4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Teen Volunteer Meeting, ages 13-18 (Community Event Room)
For more information please call the Children's Department: (856) 794-4244 ext. 4246

What's going on today...

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Toddler Time, age 2 (Register – Children’s)
To register please call the Children's Department: (856) 794-4244 ext. 4246

6:30 p.m. Friends of Vineland Library meeting (Community Event Room)
Interested in becoming a Friend of the Library?
Annual membership dues:

• $10.00 for an Individual
• $15.00 for a Family
• $30.00 Patron
• $100.00 Life

Your membership will:

• bring you announcements of fall and spring bus trips and other Friends' events
• help Friends sponsor special library resources, projects and events
• give you discounts on bus trips

Historical Fiction booklist

I've been reading a lot of historical fiction lately. Here is a list of some of the books I've recently read.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis-Orphan Bud Caldwell is tired of being passed from one foster family to another. After a particularly bad experience, he decides to look for his father using subtle clues that his deceased mother left him. With just his battered old suitcase and the clothes on his back, he travels from Flint, Michigan to Detroit looking for his father the famous jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. This book takes place during the Great Depression. (J FIC CURTIS)


The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis-Deza Malone who is briefly mentioned in Bud, Not Buddy returns in a book all her own! Readers will love smart, optimistic Deza Malone. Originally from Gary, Indiana, Deza, her older brother Jimmie and her mother go to Flint to stay with her grandmother while waiting for her father to come home. Unable to find her grandmother, the family winds up in a Hooverville outside of Flint trying to make ends meet. Will her family be reunited? (J FIC CURTIS)


Roll of Thunder, Here My Cry by Mildred Taylor-The first book in the Logan family series takes place in Mississippi in 1933. The Logan family have it a little easier than the other families because their family own the land they live on. Many of the other African-American families are sharecroppers and are dependent upon the white families who own their land. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan's parents have taught her and her brothers the importance of family, land and respect for others and self. Her parents have protected her from the prejudices against black people, but when her family begins being harassed by the night riders, she begins to see the world as it really is. (J FIC TAYLOR)


The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine-Marlee, an extremely quiet and shy girl, is good at math and hopes to one day become a rocket scientist. When new girl Liz befriends Marlee, she helps her come out of her shell and open up. Just when things are looking up for Marlee, Liz disappears. Marlee soon learns that Liz is an African American who is able to pass as a white student. To avoid trouble Liz leaves school. Despite being told by her parents to stay away from Liz, Marlee and Liz begin to meet clandestinely continuing their friendship. This puts Liz and Marlee in danger from those who don't think they should be friends. This book takes place in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958, the year after the Little Rock Nine were allowed to attend Little Rock Central High School. (J FIC LEVINE)

See the Children's Department staff for the exact location of these books.

What's going on today...

10-12 Bayada Nurse
The FIRST Monday of every month a Bayada nurse will be on hand to check your blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood oxygen level.

5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Perfil Latino (Community Event Room)
This is an English as a Second Language course, if you wish to sign up or want more information, please call Perfil Latino at: (856) 825-0654

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease (Doris Tripp Room)
Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory loss or behavioral changes, come to this free program.

What's going on today...

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Meet the Artists reception for Bob Carman and Judy Scull

Carman is a graduate of the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earning his BFA in illustration and graphic arts. An award winning illustrator and water colorist, he was Art Director at the General Electric Space Technology Center in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, prior to establishing his own advertising agency. Copies of his work done for the General Electric Company commemorating space travel are in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Kremlin in Russia. Carman has traveled to the Far East and Europe and spent several years in England with the U.S. Air Force. His years at Bushy Park Air Force Base became the basis for his first novel, “Hampton Wick”, a story of love and war following World War II. Carman is a New Jersey native and currently resides in Upper Deerfield.

Scull attended Glassboro State College and the University of the Arts. She obtained a Masters in Art Education in 1979. Scull taught elementary and high school art and was the Supervisor of Visual Art for the Bridgeton City District. Scull is president of The Society of New Jersey Artists and an Associate Artist at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville, NJ. She has won numerous awards for her paintings, most recently the New Jersey State Senior Citizens 1st Place Award for Pastel in the professional category 2011. Her style of painting is realistic and her subject matter is the environment. Her main medium today is watercolor although she has won awards for oils and pastels.

What's going on today...

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Baby Time, ages 6-23 months
To register or for more information please call the Children's Department: 794-4244 ext. 4246.

Want to borrow e-books?

Did you receive a new Kindle Fire or NOOK for the holidays? Would you like to learn how to download free e-books? Then come to Vineland Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Avenue, on Thursday, March 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to learn how to download free library e-books and have questions answered about your new e-reader.

This event will be hosted by a Vineland Public Library librarian, is free of charge and will be held in the Computer Lab located on the first floor of the library. Registration is not necessary for this clinic.

For additional questions call the library’s Information Desk at 794-4244 ext. 4243.

If you can't make Thursday's workshop, you can set up an individual appointment by calling the Information Desk.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos book review

This 2012 Newbery Award winning book by Jack Gantos is a semi-autobiographical account of Gantos's 12th summer in Norvelt, PA. After accidentally shooting off his father's Japanese sniper rifle, he is grounded indefinitely and only allowed to go to his neighbor Miss Volker's house to help her. Miss Volker is one of the last remaining original residents of Norvelt who acts as the town's medical examiner and obituary writer for the town newspaper.

Norvelt was first established as a town in 1934 during the midst of the Great Depression by Eleanor Roosevelt who belived that "every American should have a house on a large enough piece of fertile property so that during hard times, when money was difficult to come by, a man and woman could always grow crops and have enough food to feed their family" (Dead End in Norvelt, 214).

There aren't too many original residents remaining in Norvelt the summer Jack turns twelve and all of a sudden, they appear to be dropping like flies. Is it coincidence or is someone guilty of foul play?

I would recommend this book to any teen who enjoys reading historical fiction or is a fan of Jack Gantos. Fans of Richard Peck's series about the Dowdel family will also enjoy this book.