Get ready for March Madness with these books about basketball! The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (2014; 237 pages). This novel in verse pops on every page as middle schooler Josh navigates life on and off the basketball court. It's got a special place in my heart since I served on the 2015 Newbery Committee, which [...]
Although just the tip of the iceberg of David West Reynold's Star Wars collection, the exhibit currently on display at the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library tells the story of the history of the film franchise and Reynolds' own life journey. On display are a handful of Star Wars toys, games, and promotional material released [...]
March is Women's History Month, so it's a great time to learn something new about women's history. Check out one of these recent books we've gotten at the library. Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (2017; 416 pages). Some 11,000 women worked [...]
When you read, do you ever find yourself enjoying descriptions of food and cooking as much as the plot or the characters? If so, then we have something in common, and here's a book you might enjoy! What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories by Laura Shapiro (published 2017, [...]
Shane Burcaw answers questions you were afraid to ask about having a disability and he'll make you laugh while doing it. Shane Burcaw was born with a disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which means his muscles do not develop and he uses a wheelchair to get around and relies on lots of help to do [...]
If you have walked into the library within the last month, you can’t help but notice all of the remodeling taking place along with the eye-catching new technology tool that is strapped to the employees, not only for their convenience but for your own. The customer service representatives of the library now have access to [...]
Speak gets an update and it's perfect for introducing this iconic book to a new generation of readers. Speak (1999; 197 pages) by Laurie Halse Anderson was published almost 20 years ago: a dark, intense story about a high school freshman with a dangerous secret she feels she can't tell anyone. It was a National Book [...]
Cobalt Squadron Written by Elizabeth Wein Published 2017 251 pages I am a huge Star Wars fan and can't wait for the next movie. To ease some of my anticipation, I decided to read some of the Star Wars books that take place between the movies. I began this reading quest with Star Wars [...]
Last week, the winners of the American Library Association's 2018 Youth Media Awards were announced. You may know them better as the Newbery (for children's book text), Caldecott (for children's book illustrations), and Printz (for teen books) Medals. If you're looking for the best of the best in children's and teen literature, look no further. [...]
Disney’s adaptation of the Newbery-award winning A Wrinkle in Time hits theaters next month. Madeleine L’Engle’s mind-bending sci-fi tale has attracted many fans since its publication in 1962, as has its sequel, A Wind in the Door. But between the publication of these two books, L’Engle published The Arm of the Starfish, a sort-of sequel [...]