Get those books in!

It's sad but true, the end of the year is almost here! And that means I need to start gathering books and other items back into the library.

All materials checked out from the school library need to be returned by Friday, June 13^th. Notices about overdue items have been sent to student advisories. If you have lost or severely damaged the item, it will need to be paid for or replaced. If you think you returned the item and it still shows on your record, please see me immediately.

Last day to check out books from the school library will be Friday, May 23^rd. After that date, you may come to the library for computer use or to select a free book from our donations.

Through the summer, please use your local public library to keep on reading!

Just Added: Street Pharm

Title: Street Pharm

Author: Allison van Diepen

Format/Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: "If a brother wanna get ahead, he gotta use every minute to better himself. Everything I did made me better -- tougher, stronger, richer, smarter -- or I didn't do it.

Take high school. A waste of time. Nobody there taught me what I needed to survive on the streets...."

Ty Johnson knows survival. Since inheriting his pop's business at sixteen, Ty's developed smarts, skills, and mad discipline. The supply game's in his blood. And life is pretty sweet when you're on top.

But one slip -- or one serious competitor -- and life turns ugly fast. Suddenly, Ty's got to rethink his whole strategy. And for the #1 dealer on the streets, strategy is not just about staying ahead. It's about survival.

Ms. Evans says: If I'd known how popular the author's other title would be, I would have bought more than two copies! Let's hope Ms. van Diepen will publish another novel soon.

Just Added: 24/7: Science Behind the Scenes

Series Title: 24/7: Science Behind the Scenes - The Forensic Files collection

Titles: Bullet Proof!: The Evidence That Guns Leave Behind; Do You Read Me?: Famous Cases Solved by Handwriting Analysis!; Dusted and Busted! The Science of Fingerprinting; Guilty by a Hair!: Real-life DNA matches!; Gut-eating Bugs: Maggots Reveal the Time of Death!; Have You Seen This Face?: The Work of Forensic Artists; Killers at Large: Criminal Profilers and the Cases They Solve!; Killer Wallpaper: True Cases of Deadly Poisonings; Shot and Framed: Photographers at the Crime Scene; Skulls and Skeletons: True-Life Stories of Bone Detectives; Toe Tagged: True Stories from the Morgue.

Format/Genre: Non-fiction

Reading Level: V to X

Summary: The 24/7: Science Behind the Scenes series is a line of dynamic, non-fiction titles. The books tell riveting stories and describe cutting edge technologies and scientific techniques used by real life crime detectives. Written for struggling and reluctant readers, the series will inspire students to open books by delving into the captivating case files of real experts.

Using charts, timelines, maps and Q & A interviews to create powerful visuals, the books are meant to inspire even low-level readers. The series introduces students to vocabulary that is crucial to their development as readers, and gives them practical knowledge on a topic – science – that educators and businessmen are prioritizing more and more in an age of global competition.

The first collection in 24/7, “Forensic Files,” available this spring, draws upon the popularity of crime-drama television and demonstrates how topics like chemistry and dentistry enter into riveting real life investigations.

Ms. Evans says: I have to confess that I'm not much of a non-fiction reader, but these books totally suck me in. The layout and style of writing keeps you reading.

Just Added: Snitch

Title: Snitch

Author: Allison van Diepen

Format/Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: "In a school run by gangs, staying out was harder than joining. We knew who our friends were, and were careful what we said. If people thought we were haters, it would only be a matter of time...."

Lines are clearly marked at South Bay High School. It's mixed territory for the Crips and the Bloods, which means the drama never stops. Julia DiVino wants none of it. No colors, no C-Walks -- it's just not her thing. But when Eric Valienté jumps into her life, everything changes. Lines are redrawn. And then they're crossed.

Ms. Evans says: I picked this one up because I knew our students would be interested in the topic. But I couldn't predict its popularity! I can't keep it on the shelf and certainly haven't had a chance to read it myself. But everyone tells me it's great, as well as the author's other book (see a future post!).

Just Added: Eclipse

Title: Eclipse

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Format/Genre: Paranormal Romance

Reading Level: Y-Z

Summary: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob--knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Ms. Evans says: I can't believe how much I love this book series. I was reticent to try it last year, but when I did I got hooked and good. Ms. Meyer's writing just gets better and better. And the characters of Bella, Edward and Jacob are so rich. This third book shows even more complexity in each of them, as well as characters such as Rosemary. Ms. Ayer is hooked on the series now too and you will be next!

NEW BOOKS!

I'm so totally impressed with how excited our students get over the newly arrived books. I purchased several new series for a variety of reading levels. Check back here for more information about recently added titles!

What's Up with the Free Stuff?

If you've been in our hallway lately or popped into the library, you may have noticed a box that says "Free Books." I'll bet some of you are thinking, "Why is the library giving away books, I thought they needed books?"

Yes, of course we need books. But we need books that people want to read. Believe it or not, a book, like most physical objects, has a limited life span. To be part of a library where lots of people will use it, it needs to have a strong spine and all its pages. Over time, after many students have had the chance to enjoy its contents, a book starts to fall apart. At that point, it can't hold up in a library setting, but could find a home in the hands of an individual person.

Another reason we remove books from the library is that the information inside is outdated. I recently found a biology book on the shelves from the 1960's. While the basics remain the same, there have been many new discoveries in the last 40 years which a student might want to know about. So, I pulled it from our library and put it in the free box. While I wouldn't recommend it for finding biology information, someone might want to use the illustrations for a project. In fact, there are people who collect old books for the illustrations, which they remove and frame as art!

So next time you stroll by, check the box and maybe you'll find a book you want to take home.