September 2018
Read a New Book Month
"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." - Albert Einstein
Welcome back!
Welcome to all students new and old to another exciting school year!
Please refresh yourself with the expectations of library behavior during study hall periods on the Library Info page!
Important dates:
- September 5th - First Day of School
- September 10th - Summer Check Out Books Due
- September 13th - Back to School Night
- Tell your parents to stop in the library!
- September 23rd-29th - Banned Books Week
- September 24th - Picture Day
Featured Book
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Goodreads Choice 2017 Winner
"Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right."
"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."
New in 2018-2019!
Fiction Genres
Our fiction section is now organized by genre! Each genre has an assigned sticker designation, and some may even have an extra sticker (or two) with a secondary genre. Within the genre section, the books will still go in order by author's last name, just like in the other libraries around our district. The library's goal is to make it easier for students to find the books they enjoy reading, and connect them with books they may have missed in previous library shelf browsing. What are those genres? Here is a list, but to get the full experience come check out it out at the library!
Reading Olympics 2019
The Reading Olympics is a Quiz Bowl style competition with questions on each book about plot, summary, characters, etc..
Students wishing to be a part of the team should do the following:
- Speak with Miss Maney or Ms. Bracken
- Come to Reading Olympic team meetings on Tuesdays from the end of school until 4pm in the library - First meeting will be September 25th @ 3:15 in the Library!
- Read 5+ books off of the 2019 Reading Olympics Book List leading up to the competition
- Books will be divided up based on the team members with the intention that at least 2 people will read each book on the list
Banned Books Week 2018 - September 23rd-29th
Banned Books Week began in 1982 in response to the sudden number of challenged books in schools, libraries, and bookstores. The week highlights the value of free and open access to information, while bringing together the entire book community in support of the freedom to seek and express ideas. Yes, even those ideas some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country. The Top Ten Challenged Books of 2017 are:
- Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher - Originally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie - Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit.
- Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier - This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.”
- The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini - This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”
- George written by Alex Gino - Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child.
- Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth - This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex education and is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.”
- To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee - This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word.
- The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas - Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.
- And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole - Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.
- I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas - This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.