November Book Bunch
Wednesday, November 15th at 4:30 p.m.
Click here to register.
Join Caroline and Erica for a book discussion and trivia game for 4th through 8th graders! We will be reading Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk.
Crow has lived on an isolated island. Her only companions are Osh, the man who raised her and their next door neighbor, Miss Maggie. When a mysterious fire appears across the water it sets a chain of events that forces Crow to find out about her true identity.
The Trove will provide a free copy of the book for the first eight individuals to register for the discussion. When the books are available, we will email to arrange pickup; please list an email address and phone number when registering. You can also place a hold on the book using our catalog.
Song for a Whale
For Grades 4-8
Library Collection
eBook Libby
“A Deaf girl won’t give up her quest to connect with a lonely whale.
Like many Deaf children, 12-year-old Iris has hearing parents, attends school with an interpreter, and has difficulty communicating with her classmates (especially the girl who believes her own invented gibberish is ASL). She had a close relationship with her Deaf grandparents, but her grandmother has withdrawn after her husband’s death, and Iris’ mom, a child of Deaf adults, has her own anxieties around her daughter’s need for Deaf community. The white girl’s troubles contrast with her black friend Wendell’s, whose hearing family is invested in Deaf language and culture. When Iris learns about Blue 55, a whale who sings at a frequency unintelligible to other whales, she feels an immediate kinship and concocts a plan to create a song Blue 55 can hear. A quick-moving, suspenseful plot takes her from junkyards to a cruise ship as she gains the confidence to stand up for herself and take control of her life. Written by a sign-language interpreter, this story incorporates important elements of Deaf culture and the expansiveness and richness of ASL but makes concessions to hearing readers in its recording of conversations. (ASL dialogue is appropriately rendered in fluent English.) The final suspenseful scenes strain credulity, and lengthy descriptions of frequencies and radio repair drag occasionally, but this remains a satisfying, energetic read. Iris’ adventures will engross readers, though Deaf and hearing audiences will likely experience them differently.” (Fiction. 8-14) –Kirkus Review
November Graphic Novel Book Club
Monday, November 20th at 5:00 p.m.
Click here to register
Join Caroline and Kat for a book discussion and trivia game for 3rd through 6th graders! We will be reading Spy School by Stuart Gibbs.
Ben Ripley is in Middle School and knows his passion is for espionage. However Ben is an awkward nerd who is recruited for a magnet school devoted to science. When he finds out that the school is actually a junior CIA academy can Ben survive spy school?
The Trove will provide a free copy of the book for the first eight individuals to register for the discussion. When the books are available, we will email to arrange pickup; please list an email address and phone number when registering. You can also place a hold on the book using our catalog.
Spy Camp
For Grades 3-6
Library Collection
eBook
“Having survived his first year at the CIA Academy of Espionage (Spy School, 2012), 12-year-old Benjamin Ripley is looking forward to heading home for an assassin-free summer vacation with his family and old friends. That was the plan anyway. Instead, Ben is headed to Spy Camp, a ‘wilderness education facility,’ and the nefarious organization SPYDER is once again hot on his trail. The title of the novel is a bit misleading, as Ben hardly spends any time at the Happy Trails Sleepaway Camp for Boys and Girls. On the day he arrives, Ben receives a mysterious letter from SPYDER offering him the opportunity to lend his ‘special skills’ to their efforts or be killed. And if it weren’t for 15-year-old Erica Hale, Ben’s secret crush and the ‘savviest spy-to-be’ at Spy School, Ben would likely be facing certain death. Gibbs’ screenwriter roots are evident in the explosive action sequences as Erica assumes responsibility for saving Ben and dashing SPYDER’s evil plans. Unfortunately, Ben is often overshadowed by Erica’s fearlessness and superior spy skills. Readers may find themselves scratching their heads every now and again over who is the true protagonist and whether or not Ben has what it takes for a future in espionage. Still, the quirky cast of characters, witty dialogue and high-stakes action make for an entertaining read that will likely satisfy adrenaline junkies.” (Adventure. 8-12)
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