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Moving to a New Library

Today is my first day as a Children's Librarian at Phillis Wheatley Branch Library.

My head has been in 2 places ever since I found out I was leaving Sully. Between programming and the beginning of summer busyness I was found either hyperventilating or whining on more than one occasion last week. I am really excited for the new challenges at my new library (while leaving some challenges behind at the old.) But obviously between summer reading and moving libraries I have been in no right mind to blog. So until I can get comfortable over there, and find a way for both YA and J to be in my life, this blog will continue to take a backseat.

Be back soon, promise :-)

Summer is officially here...

Here is a post from Teens Rock in Monroe County!

That little guy there was made by yours personally :-)

Pre-Summer-Reading-Week

I have been reading all of these summer reading posts, I thought I would join in on the fun. Today was the kids last day of school. Summer Reading officially starts this coming Monday.  I have 1 weeks left at Sully being a YA librarian before moving to Wheatley to be their Children's librarian. Which means at the same time that I am finishing up random projects at Sully, and trying finish up summer reading plans... I am trying to get an idea of what my new library is like (via email) and trying to think of summer programming ideas for children.

The summer reading program at my current library has been outlined  for over 2 months. I collaborated with the Children's librarian to plan activities which was a great idea. The majority of our programs we designed to be all ages. We're doing a different continent/area (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and Space) each week to organize our activities.

Summer Reading Kick Off: Minute to Win it games. We picked about 6 games for an hour long program. It's on Monday, I'm so excited since it's the only program I helped plan that I'll be able to see!

Teen Movie Madness: Our safe to be smart guy mentioned to me that these kids have seen all the new movies, so I should pull out some old ones. So for Asia we're using an old martial arts movie. (I was so mad, the Bruce Lee movies were rated R!) For Europe we are showing one of the older James Bond movies. I picked 10 Things I Hate About You for the United States. Mostly because it's one of my favorites.

There were a few specific activities that I planned and won't be able to do, knitting during Antarctica Week and the origami craft during Asia week. I was also super excited about a Harry Potter Trivia party, but I am going take that idea with me to my next library. During North America Week we planned on doing a 60's party, but my partner in crime and myself are both leaving. I planned nothing for South America Week so I am going to add that to my massive list of "things not to forget to do".

My day was a brain spinning cloud of randomness and running around. I think I did accomplish something... Maybe. I don't remember standing still for more than 10 seconds but I do remember hyperventilating at one point while chugging a diet mt. dew. I collected a good 75% of the summer reading books on the school's list into one spot in the front of the library. Tomorrow I am going to sticker them and write a memo notifying everyone they are there. I helped my boss lady with next year's magazine subscriptions. I sit by our magazines so I took them on as one of my pet projects. I also pulled all of the college prep type and had a clerk sticker them. I was a good delegater.

There are only a couple things left I have to do and they're pretty easy: Put a YA shopping cart together on our vendor's site for them to order. They'll be set until September. Make a list of the books that aren't released yet. My teens read a lot of series! They also tell me a lot about the books they want, I figure I will do the diligence and pass along the release info.

Top Ten Tuesday

Courtesy of The Broke and the Bookish

This week is The Broke and the Bookish's year blogoversary! So in celebration, this week's top ten is list of everything that we love about blogging! 

1. I love blogging because it puts me in a community of like minded thinkers who love YA literature.
2. I love those who want to analyze the literature as much as I do, rip them apart, not like the popular stuff just because it's popular.
3. I love reading everyone's reviews and putting my reviews out there for others to read.
4. I love venting my thoughts on the library community and the YA world.
5. I like the random Meme in this blogging community, especially the ones where we talk about ourselves so I feel like I know a little more each one about the bloggers I follow.
6. I love posting random news/links that I find interesting. I like that maybe some random person is finding it on my blog and found a new random blog because of my link. 
7. I love that blogging, this blog, makes me want to read. I feel like I am not just loafing around, but my reading has a purpose.
8. I love keeping track of what I read and how I felt about it. 
9. I love using blogs as one of my review sources when piking out new materials for my library.
10. It makes me want to read books outside of my comfort zone because these blogs make me away of them!

Links and Miscellaneous Things I Like

Best quote ever:

"Picking on libraries is like picking on premature babies: what sort of person would actually do it?"- Anthony Doerr in his article Learning to Read on Zero Dollars a Day

This is what they have been saying for YEARS! Where is this magical place that there is a growth in the library field?

"Figures compiled in the United States Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition state the potential for future employment in the library sciences is above average, due in part to a large body of current librarians nearing retirement age and to the ongoing modernization of libraries overall." Occupation Outlook Handbook 

Ashford University will be providing a BA program for Library Science... where was this when I was an Undergraduate? It doesn't provide the professional certificate... but still. To be able to take more classes would have been a great opportunity. I felt like I had to put 1.5 billion interests into this small 36 credit bubble. Read the full article here: Ashford University Introduces Bachelor's Degree in Library Science and Media.

Since I am in this boat also, I have really appreciated these articles:

Doing Summer Reading for the First Time

Summer Reading is Killing Me
I have read others, I just can't for the life of me remember where they were!

I have also recently found, on suggestion from boss lady and then by happenstance: Miss Mollie's Storytime Fun. It's amazing what you can do with felt. Librarians never cease to amaze me. Miss Mollie has an amazing blogroll that I have begun reading as well. I love the story time ideas! I'll need them soon enough!

Waiting on Wednesday

 Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine. 

Let us know what your most anticipated releases are!

This week I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in Aimee Carter's Goddess series. 

I have been following her blog + tweets and she released the back cover info this week!!!

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

What are you waiting for?

YA Revolt has a new meaning...

I am still gainfully employed.

I got word this past week that I was going to be bounced to another library in my city. I am truly thankful for it. I get to work with a new group of people, some I have met before so that is exciting. Over all there are way more pros than cons, especially because, well, I still have a job.

Here is the thing. I will be a children's librarian. I have only been a young adult librarian for 6 months but I fell in love with it. One day I'll be back.

Here is my challenge: I have to plan the summer reading program. We are using the collaborative theme, One World, Many Stories that libraries all over the United States. So I have a built in multicultural theme that I find interesting and easy to work with. There is a great educational aspect of it that I admire. Kids don't know there is a whole world outside of their city much less their country. I planned a whole program for my library with the teenagers so that is the sad part, now, to do it all over again with a younger audience. Any help is appreciated.

So here is my second point. I think that I am still going to continue this blog in the spirit of Young Adult. Maybe a little children's once in a while, because, well, kid's books are cute.

I will be revolting against my job. I will be a Children's librarian trapped in the body of a YA librarian.

I look forward to the challenge.

The Books I've Read-May Edition

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

I received an ARC of this book months ago and finally had the time to sit and read it. I took it camping with me and read it in about 3 hours. I used my head lamp by the end of it because it was just getting too dark and I had to know how the story unfolded. 

Things I liked:

For the most part I liked London. She was a little girlier than the characters that I'm used to. Like she kept mentioning the word boyfriend over and over again instead of just saying his name. I enjoyed her relationship with Luke I found myself smiling at their first date, or when he apologizes. I liked the plot... Memory is a complex thing, I think that Cat Patrick did a great job exploring the ramifications of not remembering your own past. 

Things I didn't like:

I didn't like, or maybe, just didn't appreciate her relationship with her mother. I thought they were a little distant, and realistically it seemed like London would have needed her more therefore creating a stronger relationship.... Does that make sense?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

I only liked one thing about this book, the ending. I like that they let us know what happened years later with Katniss.

Everything else: I didn't like.  All of a sudden, it was a change in genres. It wasn't just dystopian, it was action-political.  I couldn't even read it, I found myself skimming the pages and only reading the narration. Eh. Very disappointing for the finale of this disturbing series.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future–and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I love Adam. I love that this story was told from his point of view. He is just pretty damn dreamy. Even more so than in the first novel. 

It was nice to see the characters grow up a bit. I mean, they're growth was still stunted completely by her accident, the loss of family, the loss of each other, but they handled each other so differently in this novel. They no longer took each other for granted. I found this novel to be more of the emotional roller coaster than the first, maybe because it was about love.

I have a hard time reviewing novels that I love. I am realizing this more and more. 

Previously reviewed...

WOW! FIVE BOOKS!!!

I'm pretty proud of myself.

Anatomy of a Librarian

++ Click to Enlarge Image ++

Source: Master Degree Guide

Top Ten Tuesdays

Courtesy of The Broke and the Bookish

Top 10 books that should be in your beach bag

I don't have a typical beach/summer reading list. I used to just be a summer reader (so my life was consistently full of books stereotyped beach reads/chick lit) , this is the first time that I have chance to really take a break from typical reading. I only read YA literature. I feel like I owe to both this blog and my job to do so... plus at the rate I read it's hard to keep up with YA and Adult. So.... My plan was to only read Adult this summer, so let's pretend I'll actually do that :-)

1. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris ( I am deciding summer will be starting tonight, because it just came in for me at the library!) I read the whole series last summer, so it'll be a good beginning of summer book to read!
2. Promises to Keep by Jane Green. I feel like every other one of her books is good, hopefully this is a good one!
3. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger- I had had a borrowed copy of this at home for so long, plus I loved A Time Travelers Wife.
3. Sisterhood Everlasting by Anne Brashares. Literally Can't wait!!! 5 + 6.The Husband Habit + Dirty Girls on Top by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez- I read a couple of her other books a while back, I remember her being fun.
7. Room by Emma Donoghue- I have heard a lot of great things about it!
8. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks- Again, I have had a copy of this book at home for so long, figured it was time to read it.
9 + 10. Rain Village + Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon. I think I read about these books on Goodreads a while back, finally time to check them out!

11. Extra one because I forgot! Sisterhood Everlasting by Anne Brashares 

Long Weekend

I have to say goodbye to my internet world for the next 3 days because I am going camping. I am getting the shakes a bit. I can't go 12 hours much less multiple days.

This is what I plan on reading for the weekend:

These are ARCs sent to me from a Spring Release Webinar back in February.

I figure since I own them I'm not worried about camping damage.

I got into a conversation with a girlfriend this past week about Mockingjay so I decided to check that out of the library. I just need to know what happens!!! I just have to be super careful with it!

And then there is City of Bones...
I am saving it for last because I'm just not sure about it yet. I have heard a lot of hype about it though.

Oh and a pile of Entertainment Weekly's, People and last months Cosmo.

(I may or may not sneak in another book while the BF isn't looking.)

Did I mention yet that I am neither a camper or an outdoor person? 

And it's going to rain all weekend?

AND I'LL HAVE NO INTERNET!!!

Let's hope I make it through this.

Waiting on Wednesday...

Courtesy of Breaking the Spine

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting. 
Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness. 
Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected. 
As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one.

I feel bad for wanting to read this book so much. I feel like I am betraying the YA genre. I never read adult anymore and the book I am second most excited about reading is an adult continuation of a YA series I have never read. It was just too teenage-girl for me.  I can't deal with the insecurity, boy drama and phrases like "the first time" when referring to sex. I am hoping the Adult Librarian has already ordered it!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists! Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists.

My  Top Ten Books I have Lied About:
I can't remember all of the books assigned to me in grad school, I am sure a lot more of them would be on this list... though the majority of this list was assigned reading.

1. Moby Dick. I was assigned this in 20th Century American Novel in undergrad, I will remember this for the rest of my life. The one book I didn't read was the book the stupid professor focused on for the rest of the semester. I don't think I managed more than a C+ that semester. 
2. Ender's Game. It made my brain hurt.
3. Little Women. I probably, really, never finished reading this book. But I love it. And I've seen the movie 5000 times. 
4. Alice in Wonderland. I think I lost this one in book ADD mode. 
5. Siddhartha... I was assigned this in high school and had an on going joke with another girl about how we would never reach enlightenment because we didn't finish it.
6. The Godfather. I tired, it's just too long.
7. The first 2 Harry Potters. They were too much like the movie, this was when the screenplays matched the book length. 
8. The Stranger. Another high school book. Awful class.
9. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Too many names to keep track of. 
10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Loved the movies, just too girlly for me to read. I will read the new adult book in the series though!

NetGalley!

I am posting this for 2 reasons. To possibly win a Nook in a contest. Second reason is for promotion because I think they are awesome!

Visit NetGalley

A Delicate Matter

I eagerly awaited watching the budget unveiling yesterday, here is the summary of that...Proposed Rochester budget juggles cuts, services

I work at the library mentioned. By mid summer, our hours will be cut from a whopping 75 (We had enhanced hours because of the particular neighborhood we're in, and our we share a building with  a recreation center and school) to 40 hours per week, just like the other libraries in our branches. This was the topic of every conversation at work yesterday. And this is what I said: "no libraries are closing down and recreation centers are staying open, over all it was a very good day, if you look at the big picture."

But (because there is always a 'but')... We're losing part time positions. My position is one of the positions on the chopping block. I have spent the last 11 days not knowing if I will have a job come August 1.

When I was told I quickly replied "But... But... my job is needed here! I just got comfortable, the kids just started talking to me... Wait, what about the adult librarian... oh, no, But look at all those teens out there..."

I am heartbroken and frustrated. It's a cycle.

First, it's a pity party. I waited a long time for this job and I enjoy the people I work with. I was looking forward to the future and building these relationships with the teenagers and community I am in... and that is being taken away from me. I have worked for this library system for over 10 years and the hopes I had for a long term career are being dashed.

And then the frustration creeps in... I get that the hours are being cut, but why cut the librarians? I get that we're the newer positions, but why are they making a library populated by the lower level positions? Why did I go to school to get my masters degree when the majority of the people who work at the library don't even need to be college educated? How is this going to fix the big picture?

And the cycle turns again.... back into the pity party because really, I am 28 years old without health insurance and I need to grow up some day...

Then the second round of anger comes back. I was told to stay hopeful, maybe I'll get bounced around. But that is all I was told, 11 days ago. So I am still left in the lurch, not being able to react to this mountain of possible change.

Book Blogger Hop

Question of the week: "If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?"

Answer: I have always been fascinated with the world of Jane Austen. I would have loved to spend a night at a party with the Bennet sisters, or hanging out with Emma at an afternoon picnic. 

Follow Friday

Q. It's circle time. Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

1. I find it really difficult to only do one thing at a time. Like if I am watching TV, I am always on my computer. (Like right now...)
2. I am addicted to snacking. I have a constant fear of randomly being hungry (or thirsty). I spend a lot of money at corner stores on the way to work for this reason.
3. I have never had a full-time job and I am 28 years old. This is the first time in my 12 years of working that I have only had one job (part-time) and nothing else (like school)
4. I can go weeks without reading and then read 3 books in 3 days. Also, when I read a series I tend to space them out (when they're all released) just because I don't want the story to end yet.
5. I am completely OCD. Things have certain places and that's just where they belong!

Waiting on Wednesday...

Courtesy of Breaking The Spine

Wildefire Releasing on July 26, 2011

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

What are you looking forward to?

Top 10 Tuesdays

This weekly feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's theme is: Top Ten Favorite Minor Characters

1. Alcide from The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. Yes, he was kind of a jack ass for a couple books, but he was just to dreamy there for a while.
2. Pam also from The Sookie Stackhouse series. She is so witty, and more and more I am wanting to know more about her past.
3. Mia's friend Kim in If I Stay. She was a very loyal and wonderful friend... I wish I knew more about her.
4. Any professor from Harry Potter. I feel like they need their own adult series. 
5. Rue from The Hunger Games Trilogy.
6. Hana from Delirium. I wish we knew more about her.
7. Grandma Roncalli from Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. Love her. Trigiani always has great grandma characters.
8. Rose from Wither, I wish there was a prequel.
9. Bella's dad from Twilight. He was always consistent.
10. Cinna from Hunger Games. Fabulous!

What Are You Reading?

This week I read:
Where She Went by Gayle Forman

I have started:
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Hopefully this week I will finish that and read...

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

PS I saw Rachel Hawkins speak this weekend, she is soooo super fun! 

And I snagged a free tote bag, 

Top 10 Tuesdays

Courtesy of the Broke and the Bookish

The other week we did top ten mean girls in lit..so now we're on to the biggest jerks..all those jerky guys in books..those who truly WERE asshats and those who just acted like one but could be quite loveable! Check HERE for future topics.

1. This might just be me, but, Gale from The Hunger Games series. I think he has a good heart, but has a hard time being honest and then gets all mad and stupid. 
2. Archer, for obvious reasons, from Hex Hall
3. Anna's bf from Some Girls Are... Stupid boy.
4. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Snob!
5. Douglas from Hold Me Closer Necromancer
6. Tucker Max from either of his books.
7. My Secret Agent Lover Man, only from Weetzie Bat though, not the rest of the series
8. Malfoy from any Harry Potter
9. Edward and Jacob from Twilight. Sorry, they're both tools.
10. Lord something special from Wither, I don't really know his fully story yet, but he'll get what's coming to him.

An Ongoing Post of Random Coincidences in Books

(I know there are more, these are books I've read or come across since December)
*On the list more than once

Private/Reform/Special School
Fallen by Lauren Kate*
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Human in love with an Supernatural being (Vampire, Angel, Werewolf, etc)
Fallen by Lauren Kate*

Main Character is Dead or Can Talk to the Dead
Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride


Greek God/Goddess Mythology
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Sirenz

Celebrated Pregnancy
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Wither by Lauren DeStefano*


Dystopian
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
XVI by Julia Karr
Wither by Lauren Destefano*
Hunger Games Suzanne Collins

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Read this past week:

Currently Reading:

For this week (probably):

I usually top out at 2 books a week...

Link Day

This article was absolutely baffling and frustrating to me: Do we really need our libraries? 

"I approach the book aisles in much the same way I would the alleys behind Uptown bars after midnight. I'm no longer convinced it's safe for a lone female to browse them alone since they are practically deserted and present a great opportunity for ambush."

And in defense of that, an article from our system's fabulous director: The Future According to MCLS


Interesting timeline of Web Sites from Stephen's Lighthouse.  


Great post from the YA 5 about "sexy" YA writing. She speaks the truth...

"Nearly everything I write has sex in it. Why? Because teenagers have sex! They think about it, too!"

'Checking out porn' protected by First Amendment. This happened in Rochester a few years back, I feel bad for any library system that has to deal with it. 

"Library patron Daisy Nazario, 60, said she was grossed out when she discovered she was sitting next to an elderly porn watcher in the Brooklyn Central Library recently. The looker was using library-provided extensions on the sides of his computer to block the view of his screen -- which was featuring a threesome at the time -- "but I could still hear the voices," a disgusted Nazario said."

Waiting on Wednesday...

Courtesy of Breaking the Spine

Sirenz, by Charlotte Bennardo, Natalie Zaman comes out on June 8th. Love the cover!

Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when they find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes—with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades—the god of the underworld—himself. To make them atone for what they’ve done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld any individual whose unholy contract is up.

But just because they have an otherworldly part-time job now doesn’t mean Meg and Shar can ignore life’s drudgeries (work) or pleasures (fashion!). Finding that delicate balance between their old and new responsibilities turns out to be harder than they expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there’s the matter of the fine print in their contracts . . .

What are you waiting for?

Reviews-Week of 5/2

Wither

What if you knew exactly when you would die? 

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. 
When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home. 
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.
So I had a little read-a-thon day and read Wither, and for once I didn't throw it across the room, but I was left with a lot of questions... First and foremost I liked it (I think) and I would recommend it to any teen in my library.  I think I just need to talk it out.


Things I liked about it:

• I liked the story and the separate girl's stories. For the most part, I even liked the girls (There is a 'but' in the bottom section)
• I liked the Jane Eyre feeling of the novel. I had the whole women in the attic feeling throughout the whole novel. It was a haunting story.
• I LOVED the way it was written, no matter if it's within the series, I will read Lauren Destafano's next novel.
• I liked the way the dystopian world was built int he novel. I felt like I know a lot about the world in which they live. 
• I am not trying to be saucy, but I liked that teen sex and pregnancy were apart of the story. It was refreshing that there were no apologies, it was just apart of the characters life.
• Gabriel was dreamy

Things I didn't like:

• Seriously, in Florida it doesn't snow! No matter what the time frame. I wish this was justified.
• Instead of it "just ending" like I usually complain, it ends suddenly. Like after this whole drawn out beautiful 330 pages, she announces it's her last day in the mansion... and then they just leave without anyone finding out, no fight, no confrontation, just happily ever after for Gabriel and Rhine. 
• I am questioning my last remark already but I'll still put it out there. By the middle of this novel I was questioning how it was a series. And by the end I was really wondering... Rhine's story seems complete, but as I look back on my remarks I realize that the other character's story isn't finished. And maybe that's the direction the series will go...
• Cecily... That's all. 
• Linden and Vaughn kind of bored me. Linden revealed little about himself, his father Vaughn is painted as the bad guy and never, truly does anything wrong (at least he isn't confronted, Linden knows nothing of his father's actions). 
• I'll make this point again... There was a general lack of confrontation in the novel. No one was told they did anything wrong, and no one truly changed as a person, they just changed to fit their circumstances.

Catching Fire

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol.

This book is in three different parts and I have to say it I had 3 very different feelings while reading it. 

The beginning I was kind of bored, and then very much on edge and stressed out, even more so when they announced the new rules for the quarter quell. 

When they entered the games, I enjoyed the characters smartassness. Effie and Haymitch left them up to their own devices, so for once you were able to see Katniss and Peeta truly interact without acting a part. I believe they really fell in love in this novel. And they can't even admit it to themselves.

The last part, left me confused, especially the last words of the novel. I didn't know what was going to happen and I still don't fully understand it. But I'm not meant to, that's why Mockingjay exists.

The Month of May

It is Zombie Awareness Month! Read a little about it here: Zombie Research Society. I wandered around work sulking tonight because I have a serious lack in Zombie themed books. Le sigh.

It is also:
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month

I would not know these things if I were not a librarian... (One who has a serious fetish for displays)

Waiting for Superman

Very good documentary, very scary numbers about the education system as a whole... They blame the teachers, the schools, the budget. As I saw it, the only solution they promote is charter schools... and since they run on a lottery system because so many people apply, it still isn't a solution.

I have gotten into this argument before and I am curious about others opinions as well... Is (a good) education a right or a privilege?

We get the products of the school districts, I see it everyday. Little ones looking for The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Parents checking out books for their children for reports. Teens doing research. Tutors clamoring for the quiet tables in the back. And more than anything else, we get the kids, teens, just hanging out. We pick up where they leave off. Try to teach them something else...

Friday Memes

Courtesy of Parajunkee's View

Q. Keeping with the dystopian and apocalypse theme that seems to be running rampant on parajunkee.com, I have one very hard question for you: If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (I am being good and only picking 1)
3. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
5. A Heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
6. Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block (Ha! it's 5 books in 1)
7. What We Carry by Dorianne Laux
8. Are You There God It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
10. The History of Love by Nicole Krause

Courtesy of Crazy For Books

Question of the week: 

 "Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer

 release are you are most looking forward to?"

Surprisingly, I am looking forward to an adult title. I cannot wait to read the newest tale in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead Reckoning. Second is Passion by Lauren Kate, but I haven't even finished Torment yet...

Info

Info

Harry Potter! For the very last time...

That's right, it's budget crisis time!

I feel like I talk about this a little bit each year with colleagues or concerned friends.This year it's constant. That's right, it's budget crisis time!

I was recently introduced to someone going into library school this semester. My first reaction was to ask him why he was doing it (it was a career change). Next I asked if he planned on working full-time when he finished school (valid question/joke).  It ended up being a very interesting conversation: I got to talk about my “library experience” to someone brand new. Somehow, this was the accidental point I got across to him… I have been certified librarian since September 2008 and I did not receive my first professional title until 4 months ago. I know others in a similar circumstance. I don’t mean for this to be a sob story; I do take a burden of the blame. I had a great job while in school and after, I wasn’t in a rush to leave, (seriously, I played with toys). I was also not flexible enough to move to a new city. I'm sure there are other reasons I wasn’t hired at the other positions I interviewed for, I'm not perfect. BUT, I also blame it on the availability of jobs. In Rochester there is a civil service list that feels a mile long. Next, you have to factor in the amount of graduating students every semester. This means that you have a huge pot of competition for approximately 6 jobs a year. Maybe 2 of them are full-time. And here is the second “but”. This is not discouragement to go into this field. Even in Rochester.

The economy sucks. Still. And libraries are still getting sucked into it. Even though more people are using the library because they're becoming money conscious... We’re not getting any more funding because we’re needed more. We're getting it taken away. The scariest thing I have read was an article in which it compared Rochester to Detroit, saying that "quality-of-life services were the first thing to go." It was the beginning of the end for Detroit, does that mean we're next?

I refuse to let myself get in a tizzy about the budget problems. I believe our city will always find a way. Every year there is a scare for the community and library staff and every year they fix it. I'm 10 years in; I am fluent in the language of budget distress. I was all good until one night when I was in a meeting with other YA librarians from the city branches. There are 3 libraries on the chopping block, Highland, Charlotte and Winton Rd. One of Highland's librarians was at that table. Winton Rd is where I grew up, where I went to story time, where I returned my overdue books. It's where I spent almost 5 years working. Where I have always wanted to work again. Charlotte is that library for the other librarian at the table... At the end of the conversation this question crept in... "How would we even dismantle a library?" And my heart broke. 

What I've Been Watching

Burlesque- This was exactly what it was supposed to be, a bunch of people singing and a happy ending. I read a lot of different reviews, but I am suspecting they were expecting more from this movie. It had a great cast to boot.

Tangled-I liked this, good songs and decent amount of adult level entertainment.

Love and Other Drugs- This movie kind of bored me. It was just another love story, I was hoping that the characters would make up for the boring plot, but Anne Hathaway can only do so much.

Did You Hear About the Morgans- This was a decent romantic comedy. Hugh Grant was Hugh Grant, the same character he plays in every movie. And Sarah Jessica Parker was Carrie Bradshaw.

Make it or Break It- I haven't decided if I love/hate this show, or just watch it for the noise. Only thing I am really wondering is what about school? They make mention of home schooling once in a while, but I barely see these girls actively educating themselves in more than tumbling and boys. And Lauren is evil.

Drop Dead Diva- I watched about 10 episodes of this one week. Cuteish idea, that is cutely executed, I guess. I got bored of it though, it fell to quickly into that "legal show" category. It was nice to see Margaret Cho though. And then I immediately got in the mood for my favorite legal show Ally McBeal, so I have been watching that for the last 2 weeks.

I watched The Voice last night and actually kind of liked it. I'm not a huge fan of the generic coaches they picked, they could have done better. I mean really, one country, 3 pop stars (unless Cee-Lo is supposed to be R&B)? I would of like to see more of a rock god, rap god and well, I guess we'll keep Christina for her divaness. No matter how I feel about them (PS I love Adam Levine), I'm still hooked.

Waiting on Wednesday...

Courtesy of Breaking The Spine

This doesn't come out until Jan 2012, but I saw it somewhere during my blogging travels and thought it looked great.

I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really. 
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will. 
It’s probably hopeless. 
But he has to try.

What are you waiting for?