Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
reviewed by Melanie
There is no getting around the fact that you are going to learn a lesson from this book. Once you read Go Ask Alice, you'll never what to do drugs. Ever.
Go Ask Alice is the real diary of a teenage girl as she abuses drugs. This is one of those books that you should read in your lifetime. Her journey is shocking and horrific and heartbreaking and everything a good novel (in my opinion) needs. The fault with this book is it's consistency. Nothing of importance happens for a while in the beginning, though this is probably because Go Ask Alice is a journal.
For many good books, there are always a few things you should be know before you hit up the library...
DISCLAIMER: If you want to be blissfully ignorant to the consequences of drugs, do not read. If you'd much rather read something happy with lots of kittens and rainbows, do not read. I do suggest this book to people who are interested in learning about dangers of drugs from the eyes of an actual drug-abusing teen, as well readers who simply want an intense page-turner.
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
reviewed by Melanie
Go to some peaceful, isolated area and bring this book with you! You won't come out of an oleander-induced trance until you've finished the very last page! White Oleander is about a young girl Astrid, finding herself as she goes though a series of foster homes and struggles to understand her manipulative mother, who is in prison for murder.
Don't let this book throw you off. Yes, it's long. Yes, it's geared towards an adult audience. Does that mean it's boring and can't be read by teens? Absolutely not! White Oleander holds something that many books don't have—depth. The characters are incredibly unique yet very realistic. Every side of every character is shown as the story progresses. The setting is also very interesting because as the setting changes, so does Astrid. I suggest White Oleander to MATURE readers who wants a book that makes you stop and think. There's no way you can read White Oleander without analyzing pretty much everything.
King of the Screwups by K.L. Going
reviewed by Melanie
If your looking for a novel that will make you laugh, question the author's sanity, and stay up all night reading, then this is the book for you!
When Liam, a popular teenager, is kicked out of his house for screwing up again, he goes to live with his "Aunt" Pete in a trailer in New York, where he tries to reinvent himself as a nerd to make his father proud of him. The whole concept of "nerd wants to be a popular kid" has been way overdone. I don't know about you, but I've never read a book where "popular kid wants to be a nerd." The characters in this book are unique and interesting. They will keep you flipping pages. The overall plot was not only original but hilarious and touching. So of you want a story a bit more outside-the-box, pick up a copy!
Room by Emma Donoghue
reviewed by Melanie
The first thing I noticed about this book was that pretty much every magazine and author has reviewed it, using words like, "remarkable," "superb," and "heart-stopping," in their descriptions. All the hype was absolutely right—this book is amazing! Room explains the lives of a mother and her five-year-old son, Jack, who have been trapped inside a small room for all of Jack's life. While Jack is ignorant to the real world, his mother is dying to escape confinement. The best thing about this book is that it is told through the eyes of Jack. Have you ever read a book written in a five-year-old's perspective? I didn't think so. Room truly is "remarkable," "superb," "heart-stopping," and just about every other word to describe an extraordinary novel.
Reminder: we have an extensive collection of gardening books, both reference and check-out-able. Look through the 635s. You also may want to wander over to the 712s for garden design.
We have such a great collection of print materials because of support from the Takoma Horticultural Club.
Magazines? Lots, including Horticulture, Gardern Design, Garden Gate, Mother Earth News and Fine Gardening.
Online? Full text and we've already paid for your access :
at Ebsco (log in with your library card number)
Mother Earth News
Horticulture
Country Living Gardener
at eLibrary (log in with your library card number)
Canadian Gardening
Garden Design
Greenhouse Grower
Grounds Maintenance
at both eLibrary and Ebsco (your choice):
Flower & Garden
Organic Gardening
Note: today, 04/21/12, is Arbor Day in Takoma Park. Come to the library lawn and pick up your free tree.
And tomorrow, 04/22/12 is Earth Day. There will be a huge celebration down on the Mall, and local ones up at both the Co-op and the Farmers Market.
Author Brad Meltzer on public libraries "We didn't have money, what we had was a library"
Neil Gaiman, author, on public libraries "Libraries are also the hub of literacy"