Great Book Series

By Melissa J. Oleen Rowan Public Library

                I love a great book series.  The joy of discovering there are already multiple titles in the series.  The angst experienced when halfway through a beloved collection.  The dread that comes with finishing the last installment knowing there is no release date for the next one.  The delight in finding a book in the series that you missed. 

I do not love authors that take series characters from the literary cannon and write new books for them.  The blasphemy!!  I am pointing my finger at you Seth Grahame-Smith and Linda Berdoll.

This love-hate relationship finds a compromise with authors that take a beloved character and incorporate them as a supporting character, muse or write about them at a different age.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is a perfect example.

For elementary age readers, author Nancy Springer has created Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes’ much younger sister.  In the first book, The Case of the Missing Marques, Enola is determined to prove she is every bit as capable of detecting as her distant older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft.  She is also determined to avoid them as their plan upon the mysterious disappearance of their mother is to send Enola to boarding school.   Enola’s plan is to find her missing mother.  You will find yourself nodding your head knowingly at her exasperation with Holmes. There are six books in the series to date.  This is a great way to introduce children to Sherlock Holmes.  Children who enjoy this series will soon be ready to read the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries.

Author Shane Peacock introduces Holmes as a young boy.  The first book in this young adult series, The Eye of the Crow, is set in London in the 1860s.  A thirteen year old Holmes struggles to fit in and comply with his parent’s wishes.  His poverty stricken parents are from diverse backgrounds . His father is a struggling Jewish scientist.  His mother, a talented singer, was disowned by her aristocratic parents upon marrying his father.   Holmes would much rather try to solve the gruesome crimes reported in the London papers than attend school.  This interest becomes all too real when he finds himself drawn in as a murder suspect.  Peacock has created a believable back-story that supports the man Holmes matures into in Doyle’s stories.  There are six books in this series and the library has them all, but I must warn you – the final installment was published in 2012.

Author extraordinaire Laurie R. King had me worried at first.  King writes about Mary Russell, Holmes’ wife.?!?!?   This exceptional series is true to Doyle’s vision.  In Mary Russell, King has created a suitable and believable literary partner for a retired Holmes.  The series opens in 1915.   “I was fifteen when I first met Sherlock Holmes, fifteen years old with my nose in a book as I walked the Sussex Downs, and nearly stepped on him. In my defence I must say it was an engrossing book...”  The first books in the series, Beekeper’s Apprentice, A Monstrous Regiment of Women and Letter of Mary,  have a reluctant Holmes taking on Russell as an apprentice.  It isn’t until seven years after they meet that Russell decides they should marry.   If you could care less about Sherlock Holmes, King’s mysteries are reason enough to try out this series.  As King herself has said “I did not write Sherlock Holmes stories, I wrote Mary Russell stories.”  The library has all the books in this series and the NC Digital Library, which your Rowan County Library card provides you free access to, carries many as eBooks.

So there you have it.  Stories connected to Sherlock Holmes that are true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character.    And better yet, the next Mary Russell installment is slated to hit shelves February 2015!

“Boom! Boom! Boom! Clap!”

by Jennifer Nicholson Rowan Public Library

“Boom! Boom! Boom! Clap!”

 If you are familiar with this phrase, then you probably know the song “Boom Clap” by Charli XCX; which is a popular song from the movie “Fault in Our Stars.”  Based off of the popular book by John Greene, this movie has been sweeping the box office and has been the source of excitement for many readers. 

            If you have been to the movies lately you probably have noticed several of these movies “Fault in Our Stars,” “The Maze Runner,” “The Giver,” and “If I Stay,” are just a few to mentioned that are based on books, Young Adult books to be exact!  So, why Young Adult (YA) books, what is YA?  While many readers have their own reasons for reading YA; this collection is really books that are written for and read by teens, ages 13-18. However, many do include some titles that are aimed at middle school, ages 11-13, into the YA collection as well.  The YA collection does include many different genres: romance, graphic novels, non-fiction, dystopian society, mystery and thriller, and even realistic fiction. 

The Rowan Public Library offers a great collection of YA books.  A few new titles and series to consider are:

Throne of Glass series (Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight) by Sarah Maas- If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and love fantasy; this is the book for you!  Celaena Sardothien is a trained assassin, sent to prison in the salt mines, she expects to end her days there.  Yet, when the Crown Prince Dorian and his Captain of the Guard, Westfall, come with a proposition, she jumps at the chance.  If she survives the challenges set by the King and win the competition, she could win her freedom.  This book is full of danger, challenges, magic, and is a complete page-turner!

Lux series (Lux: Beginnings, Lux: Consequences, and Opposition)- Katy has moved to West Virginia, with her mother for a new start after the death of her father.  There she meets Dee and her infuriating brother, Daemon; except they are not human, they are aliens.  Follow Katy as she tries to not fall in love with Daemon, out smarting the government, and saving the ones she loves from an alien invasion.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson- Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are extremely close, that is until three years later.  Something happened to destroy the twins’ relationship.  Written in dual point of views, the reader will discover what happened, and learn that everyone always has half of a story to tell.

This Star Won’t Go Out by Esther Earl- This biography is the story of Esther Earl, and is the dedication for Fault in Our Stars by John Greene.  At age 12, Esther was diagnosis with metastasized papillary thyroid cancer.  This book contains her journal entries, letters, fiction stories, photos and drawings done of and by Esther.  Her energy and spirit will completely inspire you. Check out her website at www.tswgo.org, to learn more!

I Hunt Killers series (I Hunt Killers, Game, Blood of My Blood) by Barry Lyga- Jazz seems like a normal teenager, except his father is one of the most famous serial killers ever.  Having first hand knowledge of his dad’s behavior, Jazz is considered an expert.  After a series of murders, that leaves Jazz wondering if someone is copying his dad, he joins the police and helps investigate the murders.  This thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Come into the library to check these titles out, or visit our catalog online at http://catalog.rowanpubliclibrary.org, to reserve your copy!

Monsters, Aliens, and Ghosts, Oh My!

by Dara L. Cain Rowan Public Library

Halloween is right around the corner and that means a whole lot of spookiness is sure to be had.  Halloween is a chance for kids to use their imagination and have lots of fun.  It’s an exciting time for choosing costumes, attending parties, and trick-or-treating with friends.  What better way to get in the holiday spirit than to spend time with your child at Rowan Public Library where you will discover children’s books from the scary to the not-so-scary to help get everyone in the holiday mood. 

If your child loves monsters and spooky tales definitely checkout Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex.  This book is a series of short poems that is sure to have your child laughing and giggling.  How could you not after reading about the invisible man that gets a haircut, the mummy who won’t go to his eternal rest without a story and some cookies, and the Godzilla that pooped on My Honda.  This is a book not just meant to be read for Halloween but to be shared all year long.  The comical illustrations alone are an attention grabber.  The best part, the fun doesn’t end with this title.  Rex followed up with the book Frankenstein Takes the Cake.

What is it about aliens, extraterrestrials, and visitors from outer space that have kids so intrigued?  Discover some stunning secrets in the book Alienology: The Complete Book of Extraterrestrials by Professor Allen Gray.  The Professor will take you on a fascinating mystery tour of a world where space creatures mingle with earthlings. This book will enlighten you on the location of many alien worlds, alien biology (because who wouldn’t want to learn about that), their technology, and how to identify aliens living right here on our planet. 
If sitting around a camp fire telling ghost stories sounds like a great time definitely check out The Revolt and 28 More Original Uwharrie Ghost Stories by Fred T. Morgan.  Morgan is a true believer in ghosts and has written some spine tingling stories based in North Carolina.  This book is not for those who mind a little heart racing excitement.  If you prefer more mystery and history and a little less scary you may want to check out The Devil’s Tramping Ground and Other North Carolina Mystery Stories by John Harden.  Quite interesting is the historical mystery surrounding Peter Stuart Ney, the mysterious schoolmaster of Rowan County.  Was he a supreme imposter or a renowned Marshal of France?

Why is it that some of us enjoy stories that have the power to frighten us while others do not? Have you ever thought about the science behind it?  The book Are You Afraid Yet?  The Science Behind Scary Stuff by Stephen James O’ Meara takes a look at this interesting topic.  This unique book uses comic-book style panels and brief facts to investigate the science behind the what, why, and how of everything scary.  Learn about the things that have frightened people for centuries, and uncover the truth behind UFO’s, vampires, King Kong, haunted houses, and more.  O’Meara includes first person and historical accounts as well as expert scientific opinions.  Be prepared to be scared.

Don’t forget to check out these howlin’ good children’s book at Rowan Public Library this season!

Love is All You Need

by Pam Bloom  Rowan Public Library

My six year old granddaughter, Gracie, spent the weekend with me recently.  While we were outside she ran up and whispered, “Pretend I’m your new neighbor.” After discussing the merits of the neighborhood and promising to get together soon, she ran back and whispered, “Check your mailbox.” Inside I found a scrap of cardboard with the following note from my new neighbor.  “Dear Pam, Love is the best thing in life.” How true.

When’s the last time you read a love story? Not a bodice-ripping novel of lust, but stories of true love, stories for all ages. The following books found in the Children’s Room are much more than chapter books for children.  These books remind you why some books stay with you always and why stories can make the world a better place.  Don’t let the seemingly simple plots dissuade you from enjoying the complexity of the themes. Like many of today’s Young Adult selections, these books aren’t just for kids.

Instead of 50 Shades of Gray, read Carolyn Reeder’s book, Shades of Gray, set right after the Civil War. Young Will, now an orphan, has lost his father and brother in battle and his mother and sisters to typhoid.  Sent to live with his mother’s sister, he’s appalled to learn his Uncle Jed refused to fight the Yankees and is initially consumed with anger.  This is a great story filled with compelling themes of family, duty and love.

Jake, a novel by Audrey Couloumbis, also has a youngster dealing with unknown family. Jake’s widowed mom is in the hospital and he needs help from the granddad he only knows through two phone calls a year. This short novel is a great read aloud book and the story of family and human connections is a treat.

In The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang, Lucy believes her life is ruined when she has to share her bedroom for the next several months with her great-aunt visiting from China. The author weaves an interesting story of the many walls we build in our lives and how we overcome them.

Another book about the importance of family, Al Capone does my Shirts by Jennifer Choldenko is definitely more than a story set at Alcatraz. Moose’s family lives on the island where his father is a guard. Along with the subplot of trying to see Capone, Moose begins to understand that “When you love someone you have to try things even if they don’t make sense to anyone else.”

Additional titles of love that may have escaped your reading list include: Free Baseball by Sue Corbett, Operation Yes by Sara Holmes, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea, The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier, Jessie’s Mountain by Kerr Madden, Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson and Whirligig by Paul Fleischman.

According to Gracie, love is the best thing in life. It’s a universal theme. Check out some juvenile fiction books from Rowan Public Library.  You may just find the love you need.