DHS Library News
November 2021
By Alice N. Johnson, Library Media Specialist | ajohnson@dedham.k12.ma.us
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm | DHS Library Website
By Alice N. Johnson, Library Media Specialist | ajohnson@dedham.k12.ma.us
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm | DHS Library Website
Greetings! I hope you all had a restful, relaxing Thanksgiving break. I know I enjoyed having some extra time to sleep late and to read (of course!). I encourage you to a take a few minutes to read our newsletter and hopefully find some inspiration for a book to read (print, ebook, or audiobook). Check out the list of staff favorites or browse our catalog to see what's new. We have lots of great titles to explore and we're always ready with a suggestion. Don't be afraid to ask us for some ideas! Also, take a look at our upcoming December makerspace activity - stop by soon to participate!
― Mrs. Johnson
― Jorge Luis Borges, Argentine writer (1899-1986)
We asked DHS staff members to suggest favorite books that they would recommend to high school students and created a display based on those suggestions. If you're in search of a good book to read, take a look at this list below. Stop by or contact us if you would like to borrow anything; these books are all available in the DHS Library. What books are YOU thankful for?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Ms. Leonard-Schaffstein, World Languages teacher
Alexander Hamilton : the graphic history of an American founding father by Jonathan Hennessey
Mr. Medeiros, Social Studies teacher
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Dr. Callahan, Psychologist
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ms. Nichols, English teacher
Born to run : a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen by Christopher McDougall
Mr. Weschrob, Special Education teacher
David and Goliath : underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants by Malcolm Gladwell
Ms. Fares, Library Assistant
Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario
Ms. Guifarro, World Languages teacher
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Ms. Castagnola, ECEC Library Media Specialist
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Ms. Antonuccio, Health Services Director
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
Ms. Whittemore, Math teacher
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Ms. McGrann, Guidance counselor
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ms. Casali, Science teacher
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Mr. Zinchuk, Science teacher
In the Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman
Mr. Willey, Technology teacher
Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell
Mr. B. Geary, Custodian
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Ms. Bissonnette, Psychologist
Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Dr. Dudley, Social Studies teacher
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Dr. Young, English teacher
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Ms. Jacques, English teacher
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Ms. Rocha, English teacher
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Mr. Nadeau, World Languages teacher
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Ms. Johnson, Library Media Specialist
― Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady of the United States, diplomat, and activist (1884-1962)
Our puzzle table has been moved to a more prominent location, just inside the main entrance to the library, and has since seen an increase in activity. Also, our resident puzzle fan, 11th grader Finn Radner, came up with a great idea for selecting our next puzzle. After completing the last puzzle (Fenway Park), Finn wanted to be sure that other students had an opportunity to help choose the next one. He created a brief Google Form with photos of two puzzle choices. He then made a QR code to access the form and posted it at the puzzle table. Students had a few days to cast their votes between the "mountains" puzzle or the "windows" puzzle. The 1000 piece "mountains" puzzle won and is now in progress. It's a tough one, but a good number of students are determined to complete it! Anyone is welcome to work on the puzzle -- stop by before/after school or during directed study to add a piece or two.
Our most recent completed puzzle:
550 piece - Rainbows Over Fenway, July 2, 2000
In progress . . . it's a challenging one!
1000 piece - Yosemite Winter
― Jhumpa Lahiri, American author (1967 - )
Our library catalog is accessible through a new interface called Destiny Discover. Search this site to see what books are available, view books in curated collections, read book reviews, and more.
When you log into Destiny Discover with your school email address there are some additional features available:
Checkouts - View a list of the books you have checked out and see when they are due.
Renew - If you are not done with your book, you can extend the time of your book's loan period.
History - See a list of the books you have borrowed in the past.
Holds - If a copy of a title you are looking for is not available, you can place a hold and be notified once the book is ready for you to borrow.
Favorites - Mark a books as a favorite. This can be for books you have read and enjoyed, or for books you want to read in the future.
Reviews - Write book reviews to be shared in our library's catalog (once approved by library staff)
Visit the Help Center or contact the DHS Library for more information.
-- Available to all DHS students & staff --
You can READ or LISTEN to books on your Chromebook, or on a personal device such as a phone or tablet. Use your school email account to log in to either the website or free app.
― William Hamilton Gibson, American illustrator, author and naturalist (1850-1896)
Coming soon in December --
Create your own snowflake! Use paper! Use string! Use craft sticks! Use any of the available materials; the choice is yours. All supplies will be provided. All YOU need to do is stop by our makerspace table, use your creativity, and have some FUN! The only requirement is to keep your design symmetrical, just like actual snowflakes. More details coming soon!
Historical Fiction
FIC CAM
Bluebird by Sharon Cameron
In 1946, Eva leaves behind the rubble of Berlin for the streets of New York City, stepping from the fiery aftermath of one war into another, far colder one, where power is more important than principles, and lies are more plentiful than the truth. Eva holds the key to a deadly secret: Project Bluebird -- a horrific experiment of the concentration camps, capable of tipping the balance of world power. Both the Americans and the Soviets want Bluebird, and it is something that neither should ever be allowed to possess.
But Eva hasn't come to America for secrets or power. She hasn't even come for a new life. She has come to America for one thing: justice. And the Nazi that has escaped its net.
—from the publisher
Thriller / Suspense
FIC BOU
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.
Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.
Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.
Now, as the deceptions—and deaths—keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
—from the publisher
Military / Historical Fiction
FIC ARA
Enduring Freedom by Jawad Arash
September 11, 2001
Two young men on opposite sides of the world
One war that will change their lives forever
Baheer, a studious Afghan teen, sees his family’s life turned upside down when they lose their livelihood as war rocks the country.
A world away, Joe, a young American army private, has to put aside his dreams of becoming a journalist when he’s shipped out to Afghanistan.
When Joe’s unit arrives in Baheer’s town, Baheer is wary of the Americans, but sees an opportunity: Not only can he practice his English with the soldiers, his family can make money delivering their supplies. At first, Joe doesn’t trust Baheer, or any of the locals, but Baheer keeps showing up. As Joe and Baheer get to know each other, to see each other as individuals, they realize they have a lot more in common than they ever could have realized. But can they get past the deep differences in their lives and beliefs to become true friends and allies?
—from the publisher
Fantasy
FIC SHU
Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
All it takes is one hit on the football field, and suddenly Ash's life doesn't look quite the way he remembers it.
Impossible though it seems, he's been hit into another dimension--and keeps on bouncing through worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own.
The changes start small, but they quickly spiral out of control as Ash slides into universes where he has everything he's ever wanted, universes where society is stuck in the past . . . universes where he finds himself looking at life through entirely different eyes.
And if he isn't careful, the world he's learning to see more clearly could blink out of existence . . .
—from the publisher
People with Disabilities / Essays
305.9 DIS
Disability Visibility : 17 first-person stories for today edited by Alice Wong
Adapted for young adults from the critically acclaimed adult book, Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century.
The seventeen eye-opening essays in Disability Visibility, all written by disabled people, offer keen insight into the complex and rich disability experience, examining life's ableism and inequality, its challenges and losses, and celebrating its wisdom, passion, and joy.
The accounts in this collection ask readers to think about disabled people not as individuals who need to be “fixed,” but as members of a community with its own history, culture, and movements. They offer diverse perspectives that speak to past, present, and future generations. It is essential reading for all.
—from the publisher
Food & Recipes
641.3 WON
Gastro Obscura : a food adventurer's guide by Cecily Wong & Dylan Thuras
A Feast of Wonder!
Created by the ever-curious minds behind Atlas Obscura, this breathtaking guide transforms our sense of what people around the world eat and drink. Covering all seven continents, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders. Ready for a beer made from fog in Chile? Sardinia’s “Threads of God” pasta? Egypt’s 2000-year-old egg ovens? But far more than a menu of curious minds delicacies and unexpected dishes, Gastro Obscura reveals food’s central place in our lives as well as our bellies, touching on history–trace the network of ancient Roman fish sauce factories. Culture - picture four million women gathering to make rice pudding. Travel – scale China’s sacred Mount Hua to reach a tea house. Festivals – feed wild macaques pyramid of fruit at Thailand’s Monkey Buffet Festival. And hidden gems that might be right around the corner, like the vending machine in Texas dispensing full sized pecan pies. Dig in and feed your sense of wonder.
—from the publisher
WWII Spies / Biography
940.54 DEM
Code Name Badass : the true story of Virginia Hall by Heather Demetrios
When James Bond was still in diapers, Virginia Hall was behind enemy lines, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Hitler's henchmen. Did this shero have second thoughts after a terrible accident left her needing a wooden leg? Please. Virginia Hall was the baddest broad in any room she walked into. When the State Department proved to be a sexist boys' club that wouldn't allow her in, she gave the finger to society's expectations of women and became a spy for the British. This boss lady helped arm and train the French Resistance and organized sabotage missions. There was just one problem: The Butcher of Lyon, a notorious Gestapo commander, was after her. But, hey — Virginia's classmates didn't call her the Fighting Blade for nothing.
So how does a girl who was a pirate in the school play, spent her childhood summers milking goats, and rocked it on the hockey field end up becoming the Gestapo's most wanted spy? Audacious, irreverent, and fiercely feminist, Code Name Badass is for anyone who doesn't take no for an answer.
—from the publisher
WWII / Military History
940.54 GLA
Bomber Mafia : a dream, a temptation, and the longest night of the Second World War by Malcolm Gladwell
In The Bomber Mafia, Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history.
Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought. But a small band of idealistic strategists, the "Bomber Mafia," asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal?
In contrast, the bombing of Tokyo on the deadliest night of the war was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay, whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives, but may have spared even more by averting a planned US invasion. In The Bomber Mafia, Gladwell asks, "Was it worth it?"
Things might have gone differently had LeMay's predecessor, General Haywood Hansell, remained in charge. Hansell believed in precision bombing, but when he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam, LeMay emerged victorious, leading to the darkest night of World War II. The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence, innovation, and the incalculable wages of war.
—from the publisher
Fantasy / Folklore Fiction
G FIC BA
Djeliya by Juni Ba
Inspired by West African folklore and stories handed over centuries, this unique graphic novel follows the adventures of Mansour Keita, last prince of a dying kingdom, and Awa Kouyaté, his loyal Djeli, or 'royal storyteller' as they journey to meet the great wizard who destroyed their world and then withdrew into his tower, never to be seen again.
On their journey they'll cross paths with friend and foe, from myth and legend alike, and revisit the traditions, tales, and stories that gave birth to their people and nurture them still. But what dark secret lies at the heart of these stories, and what purpose do their tellers truly serve?
—from the publisher
Civil Rights (Nonfiction)
G 328.73 LEW
Run. Book One by John Lewis, Illustrated by Nate Powell
First you MARCH
Then you RUN
Told in multiple parts, Run is the next chapter of John Lewis' involvement in the civil rights movement and public life after the March saga (G 323.41 LEW). The books bring to the page the true story of John Lewis and many of his colleagues in the movement after the historic success of the Selma campaign. Opening two days after the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, John Lewis and his colleagues are arrested and taken to jail in Americus, Georgia, as the largest hooded Klan march in years takes shape on the courthouse steps. Run: Book One takes readers through the behind-the-scenes struggle to exercise the hard-won rights of people of color to register, vote, and secure equal representation in their elected leaders, all the while facing escalating tensions over continued American involvement in Vietnam.
—from the publisher
Historical Fiction
G FIC GEN
The Waiting by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
The story begins with a mother's confession . . . sisters permanently separated by a border during the Korean War
[Author] Keum Suk Gendry-Kim was an adult when her mother revealed a family secret: She had been separated from her sister during the Korean War. It’s not an uncommon story―the peninsula was split across the 38th parallel, dividing one country into two. As many fled violence in the north, not everyone was able to make it south. Her mother’s story inspired Gendry-Kim to begin interviewing her and other Koreans separated by the war; that research fueled a deeply resonant graphic novel.
The Waiting is the fictional story of Gwija, told by her novelist daughter Jina. When Gwija was 17 years old, after hearing that the Japanese were seizing unmarried girls, her family married her in a hurry to a man she didn't know. Japan fell, Korea gained its independence, and the couple started a family. But peace didn’t come. The young family of four fled south. On the road, while breastfeeding and changing her daughter, Gwija was separated from her husband and son.
Then seventy years passed. Seventy years of waiting. Gwija is now an elderly woman and Jina can’t stop thinking about the promise she made to help find her brother.
Expertly translated from the Korean by the award-winning translator Janet Hong, The Waiting is the devastating follow-up to Gendry-Kim’s Grass (G 951.9 GEN), which appeared on best of the year lists from the New York Times, The Guardian, Library Journal, and more.
—from the publisher
Identity Fiction
G FIC MCK
Nubia. Real One by L. L. McKinney, Illustrated by Robyn Smith
Can you be a hero . . . if society doesn't see you as a person?
Nubia has always been a little bit . . . different. As a baby she showcased Amazonian-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor's cat. But despite her having similar abilities, the world has no problem telling her that she's no Wonder Woman. And even if she were, they wouldn't want her. Every time she comes to the rescue, she's reminded of how people see her: as a threat. Her moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can't deny the fire within her, even if she's a little awkward about it sometimes. Even if it means people assume the worst.
When Nubia's best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all -- her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class -- to become the hero society tells her she isn't.
—from the publisher
― Arnold Lobel, American author of children's books, including the Frog and Toad series and Mouse Soup. (1933-1987)
We would love to hear from you.
If you have any questions about our library program and/or any suggestions on what we can offer, please let us know by completing the appropriate form.