Welcome Back!

We're back at school at raring to go. I've read a lot of great books this summer and am anxious to share them with you. The Rebecca Caudill nominees for 2009 are wonderful books, with lots of variety and different stories. I had several favorites, Heat, Life as We Knew It and Green Glass Sea at the top of the list. Come in and visit us and look at what's new in the library.

I know a lot of you ran to the book store like I did on August 2nd to pick up Breaking Dawn, the 4th book in the Twilight series. I fought with my daughter to read it first. I lost the coin toss, so I had to wait until she was done to read it (twice). Come and say hi and fill me in on what you thought as we wait for the movie to come out.

What's happening in the library when you're not there?!

Did you ever wonder what was going on while you're on vacation. Well, we're inventorying everything! We have summer help who scan every book and textbook, as well as every piece of equipment we own. We clean and dust, move things around, and order new stuff. All to get ready for you in the fall. Right now, it looks messy, but we'll be ready for you come August.

In the mean time, I'm pouring over the new Rebecca Caudill books for next year and I think this year is stronger with better variety than last year. There's something for everybody and I'm enjoying them all. So far my favorite is Life As We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer. It is a compelling story of what would happen if the moon were to be knocked out of its orbit and came closer to Earth. I felt cold and hungry while I read it and really appreciated sunshine!

Take care and have a great month of June!

Hey you Harry Potter Fans

For those of who may not be aware, J.K. Rowling was one of 13 authors (including Margaret Atwood, Doris Lessing and Neil Gaiman) asked to write a postcard-sized story that would be auctioned off for charity. Rowling wrote an 800-word "prequel" to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which went for 25,000 pounds. It has been scanned and is available on the Web at the address above - please note that her penmanship leaves a little to be desired. And she signed it ""From the prequel I am not working on - but that was fun!"

Have fun reading it:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=200000681

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Lunch with Harriet Tubman, Louisa May Alcott and an earnest farmer who braved the perils of the Civil War. That's what my day was like on Friday. I was so moved by these wonderful re-enactors' portrayals. Harriet's beautiful contralto gave us the marvelous spirituals and moving Follow the Drinking Gourd. Louisa told of her role as a nurse during the terrible days in the makeshift hospitals. Our farmer friend told of how terrible it was for the citizens and all that they endured. I was so proud of our students and how respectful they were during the presentations.

It was an exciting day at Station with cannons going off, infantry out back and a cotillion ball in the gym. Huck Finn was seen doing the Virginia Reel with a lovely Southern belle, while Abe Lincoln hoofed it with a sweet Becky Thatcher. All in all it was a satisfying day!

Civil War Days - makes me think

Do you ever wonder if you'd measure up in times of trouble? What would you do if you had to fight in a war, defend your land, fight for your rights? Would you do the right thing? With Civil War Day coming up here at Station, I've been thinking about whether I would have had the courage of my convictions and stand up against slavery. Would I have hid them in my home and save them from bounty hunters? Or if I were a slave, would I have been able to live in such a world, with families being torn apart, little food and long, hard work? We have some great books in the collection, giving you a glimpse into life in the United States during the Civil War.

One of my favorites is Black Storm Comin' by Diane Lee Wilson. 12-year-old Colton takes a job with the Pony Express in 1860 after his father abandons the family on their California-bound wagon train, and risks his life to deliver an important letter that may affect the growing conflict between the North and South.



Another is The River Between Us by Richard Peck. In this book, Peck gives the woman's perspective on the war and what it would be like to be living at that time, when families are divided, races are separated, and your life is threatened if you are seen with the wrong people.

North by Night by Katherine Ayres gives us the journal of a sixteen-year-old girl whose family operates a stop on the Underground Railroad. Lucinda leaves her home to help a neighbor protect nine fugitives (mostly children) on the woman's farm and, in the end, shepherds a newborn to freedom in Canada after the mother dies, thus never seeing her own family again. This is a powerful book telling a brave young woman's story.