Have you ever wondered how mad scientists got to be mad? There’s Perecelcus, Dr. Strangelove, Dr. Faustus but the most famous mad scientist of all is Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Victor began life as a normal boy growing up in Victorian England with his twin, Konrad, two younger brothers and Elizabeth, a distant cousin taken in when her parents died. Konrad, Victor and Elizabeth are inseparable. One afternoon, completely by accident, they discover a secret passageway that lead to a mysterious and unused library. The books that are housed there none of the children have ever seen or heard of before and they wonder why the library was hidden away. Dr. Frankenstein, Sr. finds out about the discovery and forbids them from ever using the books again. The are all about the occult and alchemy, philosophies that have gotten people killed. The books are forgotten until the day that Konrad becomes desperately ill and none of the doctors seem to know what is wrong or how to treat him. Victor becomes obsessed with a tantalizing item he saw in one of the books. Something called “the elixir of life”. He makes several forays into the library to learn more but his search is cut short when the instructions for the elixir are in a language he does not recognize. It isn’t long before the cold trail heats up again and he stumbles upon Polidori, who seems to want to help. Elizabeth, Victor and friend Henry embark on a dangerous quest to gather all of the ingredients but is Polidori telling the everything? What are his true motives? What must Victor sacrifice to save his brother?

What an exciting and unique story! I’ve never felt much sympathy or empathy for Dr. Frankenstein. He was always just creepy. Oppel, however, casts him is a completely different light. He boy with feelings, passions, and foibles. The characters are interesting and the development of the conflict, while predictable, is scintillating. It’s also interesting the differences between the identical twins. One tends to assume that they are as similar in personality as they are in looks but Konrad and Victor definitely prove that assumption wrong. It’s a great historical novel but Oppel keeps the pages turning with taut suspense and thrilling action. It is obviously the start of a series and the ending leaves you knowing that there is much more to come.

The Secret Journeys of Jack London

Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon have taken the adventurer Jack London’s life to a whole different plane!  We know much about his life and times but this book explores his youth.  Jack is 17-years-old as he boards a vessel with his elderly and ailing brother-in-law.  The two are heading for Alaska in search of all mighty GOLD!!!  Upon arrival, the two men stand at the foot of the Chilkoot Trail.  Shephard blanches, realizing that this trail, alone, will kill him.  Jack looks at it filled with awe and excitement.  Shephard turns back, leaving Jack to his adventure.  At once, Jack is a boy embarking on his first big adventure and a wizened man looking at the world with the knowledge that life isn’t always easy and is often filled with misfortune.  The  danger he finds is like nothing he could have imagined.  He is kidnapped by murderous, greedy men and forced to mine for gold.  He is attacked and nearly killed by a mysterious creature that feeds on humans. His savior ends up being another kind of captor from whom he must escape to survive.  Amidst all these pitfalls and snares, Jack holds onto his spirit and strength and they are the only things that will get him through the worse days in The Wild!

Christopher Golden is a prolific writer of adult and young adult fiction.  He writes in just about every genre…fantasy, historical fiction, murder mysteries.  His imagination is astounding and his research thorough, interesting and often frightening.  Tim Lebbon describes himself on his web site as a horror and dark fantasy author.  Put these two together to write a book and you have some wacked out stuff!  Just imagine all of the legends that swirl around the snows of Alaska, brought there by the many and varied peoples seeking adventure and gold.  Now, imagine them all coming to life in the pages of this book about one of the greatest adventurers of all time!  If you’re a fan of historical fiction, horror, adventure or Jack London, this is a must read!!!  And stay tuned…there’s more about Jack to come!

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.