Dungeons & Dragons 101: Generating Interest @ the Library

(Just looking for the handouts? Scroll to the bottom of this post)

Once I got wind that there might be interest in starting a teen Dungeons & Dragons group in the library, my D&D nerd brain immediately went into overdrive. What's the best way to introduce them to the basic concepts of the game? How can I avoid scaring teens off with the complicated rules? How can I find an adventure that will be suitable for both our very young 6th graders and our older teens at the same time? Should I gauge interest first and plan accordingly, or throw them in on the first night to see how they REALLY like it?

Here's what I decided:

At Teen Game Night this past Friday, I gave the teens a D&D 101 session where I explained the basic concepts, gave them the "awesome dice" to play with, threw out some basic pre-made characters to get them excited, and used my storytelling skills to present an adventure teaser that I wrote. With that little taste of the characters and adventure, the whole room was dying to create their own elves and wizards and start exploring the world! We're planning a D&D character creation session for next time, since creating a brand new custom character is a fairly-involved process. Still trying to work out how to make that happen, with only one copy of each book.

We now have a very good problem on our hands: too much interest! At last count, there were twelve people who were interested in playing an ongoing D&D campaign, twice the number of players that is really manageable in a  D&D group. There were also a few teens out of town this week that I think were planning to play with us, so it looks like we're going to have to recruit a second Dungeon Master (DM). I'll be training one of our Youth Services staff on DMing, but I'd like a back up as well - perhaps an enthusiastic parent or a really sharp teen who'll pick it up quickly. Some of the interest may die out after they play a session or two, and there may have been a lot of people who only said they were interested because their friends were (which is to be expected!), but for now I'll be planning for two groups of six players each.

Here are the materials I created for our Dungeons & Dragons 101 session and future campaign:

D&D 101 Handout - a few definitions and some basic info
D&D Combat Rules Cheat Sheet  - the basic combat rules condensed into one double-sided sheet for reference during play sessions.
Adventure Teaser -  a few paragraphs to set the scene and whet their appetites for adventure. I'll be continuing this into a full adventure for the teens to play, and I'll be sure to post each installment here.

I may also work up some marketing materials in the future - we'll see what's needed!

All D&D materials shared here may be freely downloaded and used in libraries, education centers, and private gaming. The adventure teaser is my own writing, so I respectfully request that you not alter or redistribute it without my consent. Dungeons & Dragons® is a registered trademark of Wizards of the Coast. 

Dungeons & Dragons Supplies for Libraries

Dungeons & Dragons® can be a great ongoing library program for all ages, though it does specifically support several developmental assets for young people. It builds community, gets youth in a social situation with peers outside of school, and encourages creativity and storytelling - all common targets for planning youth programs in the library. Next week I'll be holding a "Dungeons & Dragons 101" session at our biweekly Teen Game Night to introduce our curious teens to the game and see if there is interest in an ongoing campaign at the library. As a D&D geek, I'm ridiculously excited about sharing my nerd passion.

One of the great things about D&D is that you can really get by with very little in the way of materials; the game becomes richer and more detailed the more “stuff” you get, but the basics are quite inexpensive these days. The must-haves can be purchased cheaply even if there isn’t a lot of interest to start with. The rest can be added on if there’s interest in a regular library gaming group.

Must Haves:
Player’s Handbook (Heroes of the Fallen Lands), $14. This book has everything needed to learn the basic rules and build basic characters to use in the game. This is the most current edition and is designed to make it very easy for new players to learn. Older, more experienced D&D players tend to dislike it because it’s a big change from earlier editions, but this is the cheapest, most readily available, and easiest to learn edition available. This, and all books on this list, are only published in paperback, so I would recommend library binding or laminate covers if you anticipate regular use. If you have high interest or a large player base, it would be worth investing in two or three copies.
Dice, $6-$22. D&D is played with a set of 7 polyhedral dice. You can buy one set for about $6-$8 and have everyone share one set, or you can go with the Chessex Pound-O-Dice for about $22 and likely have enough of each for everyone to pick a color they like to play with. There are also free dice rolling apps available for smartphones, iPads, eReaders, and computers if you have the technology and don't want to keep track of small easily lost items.

Really Nice To Haves:
Player’s Handbook II (Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms), $14. This is just shy of “must-have”. The original player’s handbook provides options for only 4 different types of characters. This book adds another 4 character types which lets the teens build a much more diverse group and get more creative with their characters. It also adds new player races for more customization. If you can swing it, definitely buy this too.
Dungeon Master’s Kit, $27. You can get by without this if you have staff or patrons who are already experienced Dungeon Masters, but this would be really good to have for any sort of ongoing D&D campaign. It would also be awesome for any patrons who want to learn how to DM. Comes with a super useful DM screen, tokens, monsters, maps, and a bunch more goodies.

Good To Haves:
Monster Vault, $20. More monsters to fight, good DM resource. Nice for variety's sake and great for DMs who want to get creative, but by no means essential.
Rules Compendium, $14. Easy reference for all the rules that are spread throughout all the various books. Good for players and DMs alike to make games run more smoothly. One copy per gaming group is enough.

I'm currently writing a handout for D&D 101 that I'll also post here in a few days. Here's hoping our D&D supplies arrive before the game night!

Have questions? Want to debate the above choices? Need some help getting started with D&D in your library? Leave me a comment!

Rainy Day Storytime

It has been pouring buckets here in North Carolina for the past week and a half or so, and every day there are dripping umbrellas and somber faces coming through the library doors. Children sulk in the stacks while their parents wait for the downpour to ease, hoping to keep their carpets at home free from muddy little footprints. This week seems perfect for a rain theme at Friday morning all-ages storytime, and I'm going to try putting a better spin on this whole wet situation. Rain doesn't have to be dreary and boring at all - it can be a lot of fun!

Opening: The Welcome Song
Welcome, welcome, all my friends,
all my friends, all my friends,
Welcome, welcome, all my friends,
to storytime today!

Movement: Getting the Wiggles Out
Let all get to our feet and get rid of aaaaall those wiggles you brought with you today!
Put a wiggle in your head,
Put a wiggle in your toes,
Put a wiggle in your arms,
Put a wiggle in your nose
Put a wiggle in your bottom
Put a wiggle in your knee
Put a wiggle in your whole body
Now sit quiet as can be

Introduction: (ad lib) Good morning, everyone! My name is Miss Megan - Miss Beth is really sorry she can't be here today, but I'm really excited to share some songs and stories with you today. It's been raining an awful lot this week, hasn't it. Do you all like the rain? Hopefully today's stories will make you feel a little better about all this wet and windy weather. Our first story is about clouds, because we couldn't have any rain without clouds!

Story 1: Little Cloud by Eric Carle (sub. Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld if audience tends toward older)

Transition: We just heard about how the clouds get together to make it rain, but what do the animals do when the rain starts to fall from the sky? Let's find out in our next story.

Story 2: Rain by Manya Stojic (lots of opportunity for fun voices and sound effects)

Transition: So it got hot and dry again at the end... but what do you think will happen next? I bet it will rain again before too long. Let's make our own thunderstorm right here in the library! Everyone stand up.

Movement: Make a rainstorm
Make whooshing sounds and wave hands back and forth
Make slow, soft clapping sounds on legs, increasing in volume
Switch to clapping hands, as loud as possible
Switch to stomping feet like a downpour!
Reverse the rainy progression, ending with quiet whooshing sounds in a sitting position

Transition: That was a pretty cool storm we made! One of the best thing about rain is the puddles it leaves behind! The girl in our next story has all sorts of fun with her animal friends in the rain.

Story 3: The Puddle by David McPhail (oral telling, no book)

Song: The Itsy, Bitsy Spider (with easier hand motions for young ones, speeding up with each repetition)

Conclusion: Wow, you all sang really fast at the end there, good job! I hope you all had fun today, and that maybe next time it rains it won't seem so gloomy. Come make a single-file line at the front if you want a raindrop hand stamp, and thank you for coming! Have a great weekend.

Hand stamp: Raindrop or cloud

6 Graphic Novels for Space Heads

Growing up on the Space Coast of Florida with parents working for NASA and its contracted companies, my head has always been among the stars. Being surrounded by amazing technology and the spirit of exploration made me a dreamer, a doer...and a huge science fiction fan, too, but that’s beside the point. I love reading about space exploration and 20th/21st century spaceflight efforts, both fictional and historical. Graphic novel publishers and fans must love them too, because there are some great stories out there in sequential art form. Here are my six graphic novel picks for space heads:


Laika (2007, First Second)
Writer and Artist: Nick Abadzis

10 and up - A blend of fact and fiction, Laika follows three primary characters: Laika herself, the abandoned puppy who became the first living being to orbit Earth; Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika; and Korolev, a top engineer for the Russian space program. Just as interesting a read for it's historical facts as it's deep emotion, Laika is a must-read for dog lovers, space and history buffs, graphic novel fans, and everyone else! The soft color work fits the rough art style well and adds to the emotive quality of the book. Have the tissues handy for this one.

Orbiter (2004, Vertigo)

Writer: Warren Ellis  |  Art: Colleen Doran

16 and up - A scientific mystery with surprising emotional resonance. The Space Shuttle Venture has returned home to the ruins of the abandoned Kennedy Space Center ten years after it went missing. Particularly interesting for anyone who has visited KSC and will recognize the crumbling structures. A strange and powerful story with a hint of the usual Warren Ellis weirdness. The payoff is at the very end.


T-Minus: The Race to the Moon (2009, Aladdin)

Writer: Jim Ottaviani  |  Art: Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon
8 and up - An ambitious book that attempts to chronicle the history of the Space Race. This 128-page graphic novel is an easy pick for nonfiction lovers and fact collectors. While writer Jim Ottaviani does a great job of giving equal screen time to the U.S. and Russian sides of the race, several critical missions are barely mentioned, making this an incomplete history. Though it can be a bit of a dry read at times, readers will indeed walk away from T-Minus having learned much about the Space Race and - hopefully - with a little inspiration from the dreamers that launched us into space.

Twin Spica (Vertical, 2010) [English Translation]

Writing and Art: Yaginuma Kou 16 Volumes
12 and up - This is not the sweet shojo series that the cover seems to suggest. Though the Japanese space program was shut down by a tragic accident ten years ago, one that changed her family forever, 13-year-old Asumi is determined to attend Tokyo Space School and be in the first wave of new astronauts. Twin Spica overflows with poignant emotion as Yaginuma examines the relationship between Asumi and her father, her classmates, her history, and her dreams with an unforgettable bittersweet intensity. Grounded in realism and balanced between dreamer’s optimism and tragedy, Twin Spica is a complex and worthwhile read for all ages.


20th Century Boys (2009, VIZ) [English Translation]

Writing and Art: Urasawa Naoki 22 Volumes

13 and up - Though this complex mystery could be read and enjoyed by younger audiences, 20th Century Boys is really a coming-of-age tale for thirty- and forty-somethings that considers the gap between our adult lives and the people we dreamed we would become as children. Urasawa is masterful at building and maintaining suspense; you are fortunate if you are just learning about this series now, because the final English volume was just released yesterday, no wait required. Be prepared for a marathon, because once you start you’ll want to power through to the end.

Ministry of Space (2006, Image) Writer: Warren Ellis  |  Illustrator: Chris Weston  |  Colorist: Laura Martin

16 and up - An alternate-history version of human space exploration, where America never secured independence from England and the British Empire dominates space travel and colonization. Though the story suffers from being crammed into a 3-issue mini series, the intricate designs, ethical questions, and realism born of attention to detail all make this an important (though often overlooked) addition to graphic novel collections.


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It saddens me that the current generation of children will grow up without shuttle launches to carry their young dreams into space, but hopefully the legacy left by these and other books will keep the dream alive until a new age of space exploration can begin.
This post was written in honor of the Space Shuttle Endeavor's last flight.

Do you know of other great graphic novels about 20th and 21st century space exploration? Please share!

YALSA Literature Symposium Stipend!

I just got the most exciting news - I was chosen for the student stipend to attend the YALSA Young Adult Literature Symposium!

It's in St. Louis, Missouri from November 2nd through 4th, and they have some amazing programs planned. The list of participating authors is very exciting, with names like David Levithan, Ellen Hopkins, and Brian Katcher. There'll be a lot of diversity-related programs and papers that I'm really eager to see, not to mention author lunches and getting to experience a bit of St. Louis! I will, of course, provide updates, news, and reactions from the symposium when the time comes. This will be a very valuable experience for me as a young library professional, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity.

I really needed this good news after a week of dealing with disposing of one dead (cursed) car and buying another one. Thank you, YALSA!

Have E-Readers Killed the Bookcover?

I just finished reading an article on the YALSA blog really struck a chord with me and had to share it. Have E-readers Killed the Bookcover? gives a valuable teen perspective on the e-reader craze and the effect of e-readers on teen book choice.

Ultimately, it seems that many teens don't feel as confident about choosing a book they will like when browsing electronically - they like to come into the library or store and handle the book physically and look at the cover, then go home and add the book to their e-reader. I'm in that camp, myself - despite being Ms. Recycles-Everything-Grows-Vegetables-Save-the-Planet, I just love the physicality of books and I'm having trouble jumping on the e-reader bandwagon. I certainly feel the need to see a physical copy before I read an electronic copy. Call me an old fogey if you'd like. I have an e-reader, I use it very occasionally, but the books just don't grab me in the same way.

I want to like e-books. I think they're a wonderful thing, and I love helping patrons with their e-readers - so what is my issue? I've happily read fanfiction online since the 8th grade, so it isn't a screen problem. There is just something about holding a book in my hands, seeing the cover and feeling its weight, that helps me make my decision. Perhaps that sense will fade with time as e-books take a greater percentage of the market, or perhaps it's a personal thing that will stick with me as long as the physical book remains an option. Either way, I'll readily admit that the cover does play a role in my decision to read a book, and I've included a few images of books that I picked up solely for the cover and ended up loving. Don't let cover-judging guilt keep you from reading a great book!

Master Post: LGBTQ Teen Resources

Whenever I'm not researching customer service in public libraries, I'm researching diversity issues. The public library is supposed to be for every member of our communities, but we do not always reflect that in our services and collections. The particular focus of my research is LGBTQ resources for teenage library users. The reviews below are also found in my master reviews post, but I wanted all of my LGBTQ teen information to be in one place.

LGBTQ TEEN FICTION:

Hero by Perry Moore (review)
I Am J by Cris Beam (review)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (review)
Pink by Lili Wilkinson (review)

LGBTQ TEEN NONFICTION:

Gay America: Struggle for Equality by Linas Alsenas (review)

GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel (review)

LGBTQ TEEN WEB RESOURCES:

It Gets Better Project

The Trevor Project

MY RESEARCH & LISTS:

Megan's Top 10 LGBTQ Books for Teens

Increase Your Library's LGBTQuotient: Collecting across the spectrum (forthcoming research)

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (2012)

Even for teenagers who don't remember the early 90s, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is an awesome book with a main character who'll leap of the page - then steal something when you're back is turned.

Cameron is twelve when her parents die in a car accident, and she is distraught... because she is relieved that her parents will never find out that she had been kissing her best female friend. However, the death of her parents leaves her in the custody of her Born Again aunt and old-fashioned grandmother, a situation that Cameron struggles with as we follow her through age seventeen. The boiling point is reached, though, when beautiful, perfect cowgirl Coley moves to town.

Even if you normally avoid books with religious themes and troubles, I would encourage you to give Cameron Post a try. It is honest to everyone involved and gave me a new perspective on family members who try to "fix" their LGBTQ loved ones. I loved getting to know Cameron, and her acceptance of herself is refreshing.

This is Emily M. Danforth's first novel, but WOW does it not feel like it. You can really feel the setting in this book, taste the dust and suffer the heat in the opening summer scenes. It is long for a YA novel, clocking in at 470 pages, but I promise it is worth it. Take it slow, immerse yourself in the setting, and learn to love the characters. If you're looking for an easy lesbian romance, this is not it, but if you want a thoroughly satisfying lesbian coming-of-age story, don't hesitate to meet Cameron Post.

Other YA fiction with lesbian characters:
Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle
Keeping You a Secret by Julie Ann Peters

Review: Pink by Lili Wilkinson (2011)

There are so few novels out there dealing with bisexual characters that whenever I see one, I have to snatch it up. When I first heard about Pink, I had to read it right away.

Ava attends a crappy high school where no one cares about actually learning anything but her. She wears all black. She's an out lesbian. She dates Chloe, the cool and pretentious feminist queen.

She's sick of it all.

Ava wants to work hard in school without being ridiculed. She wants to see what dating a boy is like. She wants to wear PINK. So she applies to the prestigious Billy Hughes Academy for Academic Excellence where she'll be a complete unknown - where can try on her new life and hide it from her girlfriend and ultra-liberal parents.

This novel is filled with theater tech and broadway musical references, as well as feminist philosophy and literature references. However, knowledge of these subjects isn't necessary to enjoy the book - even Ava doesn't know what they're talking about most of the time. I have to admit that Ava's journey is somewhat painful to watch - mostly because I just wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. She can be profoundly stupid at times. However, I ultimately really enjoyed the book and all the quirky secondary characters. 


Writing about bisexual characters can be difficult; some authors feel the need to come down on one side or the other at the end of the novel, close the book with the character dating either a male or a female. Wilkinson left us with a character who was still questioning, still settling into her sexuality and coming to accept bisexuality as an option, and I found that very satisfying and realistic. This is a great book to give to questioning teens.

Pink is the American debut of Austrailian author Lili Wilkinson and is a Stonewall Honor Book. Full of snarky wit and unashamed geeking, this novel makes for a fun summer read.

Other YA novels featuring bisexual teens:
My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Empress of the World by Sara Ryan
My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

Review: I Am J by Cris Beam (2011)

One of the more recent additions to the small family of transgender teen books, I Am J by Cris Beam is a great read for teens and adults alike. J was born Jennifer, a girl whose parents dreamed of sending her to college, watching her get married, and all the other things parents often want for their little girls. Jennifer, however, hoped that one day, the world would see that there had been a misunderstanding - Jennifer was actually a boy.

J covered himself in baggy clothing to hide the breasts that he wished he didn’t have and tries desperately to stop his monthly period. He has trouble relating to his friends and family, who don’t know his secret and assume he’s a lesbian. J finally runs away from home and enrolls in a school for LGBTQ teens. He learns about testosterone treatments, “T”, a way he can finally become outside what he’s always felt inside and stop feeling the need to hide his body. It is a long and rocky road, though, especially when you’re only 17.

J is a determined character whose troubles are portrayed with depth and sensitivity. Beam’s deep understanding and passion for the struggles of transgender teens shines through in this book, and I would recommend it to... well, just about anyone! Those unfamiliar with trans issues will get an education in this book, and those who are already familiar will find a likeable character to befriend.

Cris Beam is also the author of Transparent: Love, Family and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers, an award-winning YA nonfiction book.

Other YA books featuring transgender teens:
Luna by Julie Ann Peters
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Review: Hero by Perry Moore (2008)

Are superheroes your thing? They used to be almost exclusively contained to the realms of comics and cartoons. Now, superheroes are featured regularly in both hit TV shows and blockbuster movies. However, there is one media that is still relatively superhero-free: the novel. There are a few, sure, but they are few and far between. Hero is one of these magical unicorn books featuring superheroes - oh, and the main character is gay, too.

As a librarian, I understand the critical role that "problem novels" play, but as a reader I'm pretty tired of them. This book is a refreshing change. Thomas Creed is a high school basketball star experiencing the awakening of his sexuality, which he struggles with as an athlete and as the son of a super hero. His father's fall from grace due to a tragic failure and his mother's subsequent abandonment were rough on Thomas, and the mystery of what happened in the past plagues him. He finds himself in drawn into the world of heroes when his own superpowers begin to manifest - just as famous superheroes begin showing up dead all over town. While the novel does address Thomas' sexuality throughout, the main plot driving the story is the mystery of the dead superheroes and Thom's awakening as a superhero.

Hero was written by the late Perry Moore, an openly gay producer and director. Hero was his first and only finished novel. The book has been criticized for choppy writing and thin characterization, but I have to say that I didn't really notice these issues at all when I read it. It's a fast, fun, pulpy read that will satisfy teens and adults alike.

Hero won the Lambda Literary Award in the Children's/Young Adult Fiction category in 2008.

Other YA titles featuring gay male teens:
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Totally Joe by James Howe
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
The God Box by Alex Sanchez
Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

Customer Service in Public Libraries

I'm currently enrolled in a seminar on public libraries where we consider the more philosophical issues of librarianship, along with our place in local politics and the community. When the time came to choose a presentation topic, customer service immediately leapt to my mind. Among my many previous jobs, I have been a customer service supervisor at a movie theater, supervisor at a craft store, and a specialist at a book store - all extremely service-oriented jobs where customer service was not only my top priority, it was my job to make sure it was everyone else's priority, too!

Considering my history, it is not surprising that customer service in public libraries has become an interest of mine, especially in applying retail models of service to public library work. I've been to several libraries where service just isn't a priority - either staff are overworked and cramming to get everything done, or the organization doesn't create a culture of service. I wanted to take a look at the attitudes toward service in libraries, see what others had written, see if there was research proving that retail customer service practices could be successfully applied in libraries.

It turns out that the amount of library-centric service information is smaller than I would have thought, compared to most other research areas in librarianship. After all, we are a service profession at heart! Is it being taken as given that if we become librarians, we automatically care about service and know how best to interact with our customers? It shouldn't be.  It takes awareness, training, and conscious effort to provide world-class customer service, and I personally believe that providing that high level of service should be our number one priority. After all, without the human element of libraries, we are no more than a warehouse of books and computers!

I've compiled some resources on customer service and related topics for my presentation and decided to share them here as well. Much of the best information is in print only, but below I've linked some wonderful web resources to get us thinking about service as an essential part of librarianship.

Best Practices for the Customer-Focused Library
Public Library Customer Service Tips
Love the Customers Who Hate You
Stores and Libraries: Both Serve Customers!
Not-So-Secret Keys to Great Customer Service: perspectives from library professionals.
The Power of Hello: from NPR's This I Believe series.
Am I Obsolete? How customer service principles ensure the library's relevance
Top Ten Customer Service Skills for Library Staff

Sample public library service policies:
North Adams Public Library | Appleton Public Library | Falmouth Public Library | Flagler County Public Library

What else belongs on this list? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Judging the Cover: Cinderella Ate My Daughter

Judging the Cover: 
Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the front lines of the new girlie-girl culture
Author: Peggy Orenstein

Normally I see bright pink frilly covers and immediately run the opposite direction. Yep, I'm an unabashed cover-judger, and it's kept me away from some pretty decent books over the years. I gave this one a second glance, however, because the title seemed to be mocking what the cover was portraying; also, it was in the social sciences area of the dewey decimal section, so I figured there might be an interesting twist at play. It's actually a serious look at the sexualization of young girls through the media, Disney, beauty pageants, and more - a frightening world. How can we help our daughters grow out of the princess phase and love themselves for who they are? Though subject matter is far more intense than the bubblegum pink, lighthearted cover would have us believe. Is it good to have such a stark contrast between cover and content? I don't know, but it caught my eye.

Master Post: Reviews, Lists, & Trailers

I don't post reviews of every book I read, but I try to post as often as I'm able. Here is the master list of all my reviews:

TEEN FICTION:
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (review)
Ash by Malinda Lo
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier (trailer & read-alikes)
Hero by Perry Moore (review)
I Am J by Cris Beam (review)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (review)
Nation by Terry Pratchett (review)
Pink by Lili Wilkinson (review)
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher (review)

GENERAL FICTION:
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (review)
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (review)

GRAPHIC NOVELS:
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi (review)
T-Minus: The Race to the Moon (review) (listed)
Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan (review)
The work of Ariel Schrag (video)(paper)
Channel Zero by Brian Wood (review)
Local by Brian Wood (review)
Demo by Brian Wood (review)

AUDIO BOOKS:
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (review)
Sabriel by Garth Nix (review)
Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi (review)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (review)

NONFICTION:
Veggie Burgers Every Which Way by Lukas Volger


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Review: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (2009)

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Warm. Rich. Satisfying. This book was like a cup of hot cocoa on a chilly fall evening. Erica Bauermeister’s dreamy, succulent prose draws the reader into a place where time stands still and food can heal any soul.

Once every month, Lillian opens her restaurant’s kitchen to the students enrolled in her eight-week cooking class. You won’t find any recipes in this kitchen; in their place is a collection of ingredients of uncompromising quality and the woman who knows how to spin them into magic. Each chapter focuses on one of the students in the class and the dish that Lillian chooses to teach them that evening. Somehow, Lillian always knows what each student needs: a wedding cake for the couple that never had one, a spicy pasta sauce to shake up relationships, or a luscious crab dish to awaken lost parts of the self. Though bittersweet moments abound, each vignette brings a satisfactory conclusion and a healing of old wounds.

If you dislike similes, flowery description, and happy endings for everyone, then stay far, far away from this book. If you want lush prose you can sink into and characters you grow to love, pick up The School of Essential Ingredients.

Review: Nation by Terry Pratchett (2008)

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Nation (2008) is not your typical Terry Pratchett offering. Readers who aren’t familiar with Pratchett’s massive back catalog of works need not worry; this young adult novel is a standalone piece unrelated to his previous series work. The Times Online said of Nation, “Thought-provoking as well as fun, this is Terry Pratchett at his most philosophical, with characters and situations sprung from ideas and games with language. And it celebrates the joy of the moment.”

Nation is an alternate history set in the 1860s, though elements of fantasy are present throughout the book. The primary characters are Daphne, a high-born daughter of British nobility with too many thoughts in her head for society’s taste; and Mau, a young Island man set to complete his right-of-passage to adulthood. When a tidal wave destroys life as they know it, Daphne and Mau are forced to reconsider long-held beliefs and cobble together a community of refugees. They learn from each other, respect each other, achieve great things together — and make the greatest scientific discovery of the century.

The real value of Nation is in its handling of the most difficult issues in life: death, grief, faith, and community. While it may sound exceedingly sad, make no mistake, Pratchett’s dry humor and sense of the joy in life make Nation an inspiring and fulfilling read. No matter what your age, if you love character-driven stories then pick up Nation by Terry Pratchett in the YA Fiction collection.

A Printz Award Honor book.

Review: The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (2011)

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

Books have the wondrous power to free our minds and save us, but life for us is never quite as fanciful and free of consequences as it is for the characters in our books. The Borrower follows Lucy, an accidental children’s librarian with revolution in her blood; and Ian, a 10-year old book lover whose parents heavily censor his reading and force him to attend an anti-gay camp. The two inadvertently kidnap each other and set out on a completely unintended road trip, much to Lucy’s dismay.

Though the premise sounds far-fetched and funny, and there are indeed quite a few funny moments, The Borrower is in fact a challenging read for the ethical dilemmas Lucy faces, her questionable choices, and our view into her slowly crumbling identity. Ian’s sparkling characterization and bright personality shine a bright light into the dark places this novel explores, and the need to see the consequence and resolution for both characters keeps the pages turning. Fans of juvenile and young adult literature will be pleased by the frequent parodies and references to familiar works, though librarians may be offended by gross misrepresentations of library ethics and the profession itself.

You won’t find a rollicking beach read or a neat and concrete ending here, but the character interactions and the exploration of freedom and identity are worth the journey.

New Year's Resolutions @ Your Library

The new year is upon us – the time when we think back on the last 365 days and consider what we did right, what we did wrong, and what our hopes are for the future. Why not include the library in your New Year’s resolution plans? Take a look at some of the resources available at your local library that can help get your 2012 off to a great start!

(Numbers in parentheses are Dewey Decimal call numbers.)

Money: Economically-speaking, times are rough for many of us. The library has a variety of resources to help you stretch your dollars, budget effectively, plan for retirement, spend wisely, and get out of debt.

Personal Finance (332.024), Retirement (332.024 & 646.79), Consumer Report (reference desk)

Health: Whether you’re looking to learn to cook, start cooking more meals at home, drop a few pounds, or manage a troublesome health issue, libraries have you covered!

Diet & Fitness (613.25-613.79), Cooking & Cookbooks (641), Psychology & Self Help (150-158), Medical Sciences (610-619)

Hobbies: Do you have a passion you never pursued, or a craft you’ve always wanted to learn? Maybe you’re just looking for something new and interesting to learn, or something fun to pass the time. We have everything from goat farming and beekeeping to quilting and knitting.

Gardening & Hobby Farming (630-635), Pets & Other Animals (636-639), Crafting (738-746), Music (780-788)

Education: Is your 2012 goal to go back to school, improve your knowledge of a subject area, or make the most of the education you have? Maybe you want to catch up with current technology or learn new software. We can feed your brain and give you the leg up you need.

Standardized Test Guides (378), College Majors (331.7023, 378), Computer & Software Classes @ the library

Career: Is 2012 the year you’ll start a new career? Launch your own small business? Improve your management skills or leadership? We have all the tools you need to set yourself up for success.

Resumes & Cover Letters (650.14), Business, Leadership, & Management (658), Small Business (658.022)

Family: Will you be starting a family in 2012, or perhaps expanding? Are you interested in researching your family history and lineage? See what the library has in store for your family, and don't forget to check out the library's programs for families, children, and teens.

Pregnancy & Fertility (618.2), Parenting (305-306, 649), Genealogy (LGH section), Adoption (362.734)

Reading: Last but never least, the library exists to support reading and literacy. We have books and audiobooks galore in both hard copies and electronic versions available for download. Fiction, non-fiction, books for teens, books for children, practical, fun, informative, frivolous, whatever strikes your fancy. And don’t forget, if we don’t have a book or topic that you’d like to see on our shelves, feel free to fill out a purchase request at the circulation desk!

Fiction (adults, teenagers, children), Books about Books (011, 028, 809-810, 813), Books about Reading (372, 649.58)

Let us help you with your plans for the new year! We hope to see you soon.

Happy New Year from your Library!

(This is an edited version of a post I wrote for the library I work for. All Dewey decimal numbers refer to books as they are classified in our library. Your mileage may very, but they should definitely get you in the right area.)