Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Do you really ever know your friends?  Do they really know you?  Does anyone really care?  Brooke and Kathryn have only one thing in common…opera and the desire to sing sing it.  Otherwise, they are polar opposites.  Brooke is the daughter of a famous singer and an actor who is alone most of the time, now that her older twin brothers are off at university.  Those two older brothers gifted her with popularity beyond belief; popularity = power in high school.  Kathryn is a shy but very beautiful girl whose best friend is Matt, a slightly geeky boy she’s known her whole life.  When the two girls finally meet, each feels a very strong connection with the other.  Friendship with Brooke brings things into Kathryn’s life she’s never experienced before; Parties, lots of friends, handsome boys…it’s almost overwhelming.  Kathryn introduces Brooke to what a functional, happy family looks like.  Soon, however, a rivalry begins between them.  Brooke’s friends accept Kathryn just a little too quickly.  Boys pay attention to Kathryn’s natural and unassuming beauty.  The Honors Choir director gives Kathryn a solo.  One night at a party, things explode.  With one punch, their friendship is destroyed and the true rivalry begins.

Oh my, what an amazing book!  Normally, I’m not all that into girly books (yes, I am aware that I am a girl and a girly one, at that), but this one goes far beyond your average Chick Lit.  These two girls are complicated.  Their families, personalities, and motivations are as varied as the opinions others have about them.  Their absolute love of music, particularly opera, just adds another texture to the tale.  Arias aside, teenagers will identify with their passion for their craft and their desire to fit in (Kathryn) or be loved (Brooke).  Wealer expertly builds the tension so gradually that you almost don’t realized that you are being pushed onward to the heart-wrenching climax and the sweet, believable resolution.  Each chapter begins with a musical term and definition that lets you know, just in case you missed it, what part of the story you are about to read.  Fans of contemporary fiction and/or Chick lit, either teen or adult, should definitely check this one out!!!

This weekend, Lovett School hosted ReImagine Ed: the Next Chapter.  It was an unusual experience; not always comfortable, strangely contentious at times but, ultimately quite rewarding.  Gathered together were librarians, architects, performers, designers and experts from the field of librarianship.  Our task was to design the library of the future with three main guiding questions:

1. Design a successful ‘unquiet’ library
2. What must K-12 libraries do to spur continual innovation, to make libraries the places and spaces our learners crave going forward?
3. Like a city provides a park the people can use in the myriad of ways, how can the library of the future be designed like a park of possibilities

Groups were arranged randomly and were tasked with going through the design process from brainstorming everything, focusing in on things that can be done tomorrow; projects that need more thought and planning and those that are possible in the near future.  We then met together in a larger group to discuss which possibilities we were going to work on for a presentation on Sunday.  We were to produce a product or a concept and “pitch” it to the group in 10 minutes or less.

It was an amazing, frustrating, exasperating, exciting process!  I don’t know how designers do it all the time…taking hundreds of ideas and narrowing them down to a workable plan.  I came away with a head full of ideas (I particularly liked the  one I thought up…a holographic wall on which students could “throw” their ideas, pictures, etc. and manipulate them in many different ways…think the wall that the techies on the show NCIS use).  Some groups presented actual products that could be created now, like the “Flash Cart” that would house many different kinds of technology like iPads, smart surfaces, white board, etc. and would move from place to place, as needed.  The design challenge that seemed to permeate every group was the idea that the library of the future would be flexible, both in space and with regards to technology.

The library of the future would be a wide open space with furniture and even walls that could be moved and manipulated to create spaces that  users need, when they need them.  There would be an array of experts on hand to help answer questions …the librarian, tech people, teachers from different disciplines.  The library of the future would have 24/7 availability of information in an array of tools and technologies.  There would be places for groups and quiet spaces for doing quiet things.  Technology would be everywhere but invisible.  The user becomes the designer because the user is the reason we are all there.

I just loved the constant flow of ideas and imagination that swirled around me all weekend.  In spite of the few negative or difficult people and divisions that arose, the general feeling was very positive and exciting.  As a librarian, I also know that not only does the actual library have to change but so do the people who work in them.  We professionals need training in so many different areas than librarians of yesterday.  We need to be technologists, explorers, archeologists, therapists, but most of all, we need to be just as flexible as our spaces!  So, here’s to flexibility and future and the possibility of the DREAM LIBRARY!!!

Today is a very difficult day for the world but especially for Americans.  It’s been 10 years since one of the worst attacks on American soil in history.  Many authors and artists responded in the years since, with powerful words and images from that terrible day.  Below are just a few of the books that our library has to offer.  On this day, spend time with your family or, if they live far away, call and chat.  Fight the hatred that caused the attack with love and friendship!

    So, one of my 6th graders just informed me that the brilliant minds that brought us the ground-breaking 39 Clues series is at it again! The first book is already out…The Medusa Plot is written by Dan Gutman. Look for the second book, A King’s Ransom by Jude Watson, in mid-December. The series will wrap up after 6 books.

It seem as though a feud is on!  This second series pits the Cahill family against a shadowy group called the Vespers.  Dan and Amy must fight not only for their family’s safety but now the rest of the world is depending on them to win!

The cards are back as is the web content that enhances the book experience.  I just love the idea of combining two of my favorite things…BOOKS and computers!  If you’ve not already read the first series, you’ll just have to catch up!

I’ll bet  you thought that Conspiracy 365 was all done.  Well, you’d be wrong!!!

Cal had been on the run for a year and after claiming the Ormond Singularity, his life seem like it might eventually get back to normal.  He’s home with his family and friends and the news hounds will one day move on to another sensational story and leave him alone.  All in all, though, Cal is pretty happy…until the evening he found the envelope in his room sealed with a drop of blood-red wax, a tattered-wing angel stamped into it.  His body went cold and his heart began to pound.  What was going on?  Who sent the cryptic message?  Is it all just a cruel hoax?

Conspiracy 365: Revenge is the first book, coming out in October 2011 with a total of 13 books, all together.  I’ll be interested to see if Gabriel Lord can keep up the suspense for 13 books, one per month, like she did with the original.  The official web site is pretty cool.  There are contests (with some pretty cool prizes) that you can enter as you read the books.

Enjoy!!!

I’m always looking for ways to get the word out about good books. I do many, many book talks during the year and decided that I wanted to put some of them on the web. How? You say? There are lots of choices but I went with Voice Thread to start with because people can comment about the books I talk! It’s a conversation of sorts. I have created a page on my blog called Bookish Chatter where I’ve loaded my VoiceThread as well as other book talking web sites.  Check back periodically…Podcasts are my next hurdle!

So, it’s Monday, August 8 and I just met some of our new faculty members.  I am excited about the new year and the opportunity to chat with new folks about books!  I didn’t get to read much this summer, though…I forgot to check out the Nook from school:(  I did, however, get the best birthday present ever…my sometimes awesome brother gave me an iPad 2!!!  I’ve already downloaded the Nook and Kindle apps and have started reading!  It’s great fun and so very easy to carry around!  I LOVE IT!!!  I am going to have to get a case like my boss’s that has a built in keyboard because I DON’T like the on-screen keyboard.  Anyway, check back periodically and see how I’m doing with the whole reading from an e-reader and to see when our library is going to offer e-book check out!  It’s coming soon!!!

WELCOME BACK!!!

Well, it’s that time of year again when the world’s heater is turned up to SCORCHING in the southeast and we all find the best way to deal with sweat, humidity, sun…did I mention sweat?  Anyway, I am taking home lots of books to read, though not in the traditional sense.  I’m checking out one of our library’s eReaders so I can take home a very slim machine packed full of books.  Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m not going over to the e-side but, when traveling with a limited amount of space (two cats and their stuff and my stuff takes up a lot of room in a coupe), eReaders are the answer.  I still enjoy the act of opening a book, the lovely paper smell wafting upward, listening to the flutter of turning the pages, hanging onto every word…ah bliss!!!  A computer screen is just not a great permanent substitute.

If anyone reading this blog has any good book selections to suggest, please do so.  I’m always looking for the “next big thing”.  Have a fantastic summer and happy reading!!!

Beach Tables And Chairs. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest.
Web. 31 May 2011.

I had the most amazing experience this past weekend!  I attended the Teen Book Festival up in Rochester, NY and was blown away by it.  Upon arrival, there are 15 or so volunteers in brightly colored t-shirts directing participants where they needed to go.  In fact, there were so many volunteers that you never feared getting lost because there was someone to help you every few feet!

The next BIG thing was the grand entrance of the authors.  They were lead in by a MARCHING BAND (local high school) and  arrived in classic cars and a wonderful 50s era bus.  Once they had disembarked, the drum corp lead the way up the red carpet and into the gymnasium, where opening festivities were held.  What a hoot it was to watch!!!  In the gym, they were lead backstage and the rest of us were entertained first by the amazing drum corp (I do love a great drummer!!!)  then a show choir from a local school.  The general atmosphere felt like a baseball game, complete with huge mascots (an eagle, a pirate and some sort of bird) tossing prizes into the stands.  Speaking of stands…they were filled to the brink with teenagers and a few adults, as well.  There were probably 400 people there and more than 1/2 were teens!  The festival was really all about the young people.  We adults were just along for the ride.

The opening session began with the introduction of the authors, which was very funny.  The creator/organizer, Stephanie Squicciarini, opened each intro. with “This author was named most likely to…”. Some of them were very funny, especially if you knew the authors at all.  Once the introductions were over, the program moved to Q & A.  The Qs came from local teens who turned them in at their public or school libraries.  Then the breakout sessions started.  All the authors presented three times so that you could get to see your favorite author at least once.

I sat in on the Bullying and Body Image panel where three young female authors spoke about their experiences with bullying.  Heather Brewer, author of the Vladimir Tod series, spoke about being bullied mercilessly at school.  Heather’s series is about a male vampire who just doesn’t fit in anywhere. Jackie Kessler, author of the Hunger trilogy, spoke about her experience with her family who were constantly telling her that “she’d be so beautiful if only she’d lose 10 lbs”, which caused her to be very insecure and, eventually, she became bulimic.  A. S. King is a very confident woman who had some issues with boys who bullied her about sex. A.S. writes contemporary fiction with a very sardonic voice.  These ladies were so passionate about this topic and surviving it.  They gave some really great resources for kids to use if they knew anyone in crisis and one young girl was in tears because of a friend who had attempted suicide and all three ladies gave her a hug and took her aside later to chat with her about it.  I was so touched by their spirits!

The next session I sat in on was with Terry Truman, author of the Michael Printz Award novel Stuck in Neutral about a young boy with sever Cerebral Palsy.  Terry is an absolute hoot to watch and listen to!  I think he deals with the difficulties in his life with his totally wacky sense of humor.  Stuck in Neutral’s central character is stuck inside of a body that doesn’t work properly at all.  People have no idea that inside, he has a brilliant mind and great sense of humor…he just can’t communicate at all.  Terry’s oldest son suffered a severe brain injury during the birth process.  Another of his books deals with suicide, which he experienced first hand when he and another son came home to find that his step-son, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, had hanged himself.  Even while telling of these horrible things, you got the sense that Terry felt them very deeply and his way of dealing was to find something to laugh about.  In most of his books, there are laugh-out-loud parts.  You almost feel guilty laughing but Terry said that his main purpose for writing these stories was to give people another perspective on other’s lives.  It’s hard not to look differently at someone in a wheel chair after reading about Shawn McDaniel.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go to this festival was to hear Ellen Hopkins speak.  One of my students who shall remain nameless (she’s an amazing swimmer, is a rising 8th grader and her first name starts with S) bugged me for a full year to read Ellen’s books.  I was hesitant because I knew the subject matter was very intense and serious…drug addiction.  It’s not a subject I enjoy reading about because I lived it with my brother but, I finally relented (after S. promised to read 2 books I recommended).  I don’t think I’ve ever been so powerfully and profoundly affected by a book in a very long time.  Crank was a very thick book but written in free verse (poetry) so it was very easy to read but also incredibly difficult.  It probably should be required reading for any at-risk teens because the main character’s experiences were so horrific that no one in his/her right mind would ever think about trying drugs after reading about it.  What made it even more powerful is the fact that all of the books are based on Ellen’s own daughter!  She is the main character.  Ellen’s way of dealing with all of it was to write these books (Crank, Glass, Fallout) so that she could try and process what happened through her daughter’s eyes.  It’s not a happy or easy ending, either in the books or in Ellen’s real life but she has a great personality and sense of humor as well as an  understanding family to talk to so she’s working through it.

All in all, the festival was well worth the very quick trip and even the VERY late plane (I didn’t get to my house until 1:00 am…weather delayed my plane for 5 hours!!!).  If it is at all possible, I highly recommend anyone interested in teenagers and the books they read to attend this festival!