Youth Services @ Corbin Public Library

Review: Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:24:02 +0000

I have to admit that I approached this series with a lot of suspicion. I’d heard bad things, and figured that the lives of spoiled socialites who lived without consequences would be difficult to relate to for the more normal reader. Since the TV series is coming out this fall, I figured I’d better read a few.

The end of the series is exactly what I was afraid — something that few people could relate to due to the lifestyle of the characters. There is little added value or insight into these shallow people. However, I’ve begun reading the first book and I have to admit that it is so far a better book. Blair, the main character lives with her mother in an apartment in some swanky neighborhood of Manhattan and spends a horrific amount on clothes, while drinking large amounts of alcohol. These are not the aspects I find relatable. I find her coping with her parents’ recent divorce, her struggle with an eating disorder, and her indecision regarding her boyfriend, Nate, all situations that many normal teenage girls can relate to, even if they don’t live on the upper east side or attend exclusive private schools.

Congratulations to Mark Woodsum

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:45:58 +0000

Who won the iPod raffle at our Guitar Hero competition today.

We would also like to congratulate the contest winner, Tyler.

Review materials for Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business by Barbara Park (Middle School Book Club: last week)

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:23:43 +0000

Summaries and things to help you remember

Random House Classroom Clubs’s review of the book
- check this site out for more information on Barbara Park, Junie, and for games
Amazon’s reviews of Junie b. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
LibraryThing’s description of a little monkey business and lists of other books you might like to read if you liked it.
Wikipedia Article about Junie B. Jones
- Biography of Barbara Park

Other books by Barbara Park

SkinnyBones
Don’t Make Me Smile
Mick Harte Was Here
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth
Many other Junie B. books that can be seen at the end of the article in Wikipedia

The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:35:11 +0000

Set in Southern France in both the sixteenth and twenty-first centuries, this novel simultaneously tells the tale of a descendant and her ancestor who are surprisingly alike. The woman of the sixteenth century, Isabelle, is young and recently married — a French protestant. The woman of modern times, Ella, has moved to France from the United States and begins tracing her family history, discovering Isabelle and herself along the way.

This is another good book by Chevalier. If you enjoyed Girl With a Pearl Earring, you will also like this one, though the story is not as original.

CONGRATULATIONS RYAN BURNS!

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:17:09 +0000

who won our second iPod raffle of the summer. Participants in a Dance Dance Revolution Contest held at the Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley were eligible to enter a raffle to win an iPod shuffle this past Friday.*

*Federally funded through LSTA funds administered by the MBLC

Drawing Danny Webster Raffle Winner*

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:49:04 +0000

Congratulations to the winner of the raffle from the Drawing Danny Webster competition for our children’s page mascot. Andrea Freniere has won an iPod shuffle!

*Federally funded with LSTA funds administered through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Review Materials for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Middle School Book Club: week 6)

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:17:06 +0000

Reviews for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Review of the Chronicles of Narnia and summary of the first book
Biography of the author, C.S. Lewis
Podcast reviews of the Chronicles of Narnia from the Lansing Public Library

Other books in the Chronicles of Narnia

The Magician’s Nephew
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian: the Return to Narnia
Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treador
Silver Chair
The Last Battle

Review Materials for The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer (Jr/Sr High Book Club: Week 5)

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:01:13 +0000

Review Materials for The Lost Boy

Review from allreaders.com
Editorial reviews for The Lost Boy made available by amazon.com
Wikipedia article about The Lost Boy
- biography of the author, Dave Pelzer

Other Titles by Dave Pelzer and the Pelzer family

The Lost Boy details Pelzer’s time in the fostercare system.
A Man Named Dave tells about Pelzer’s life as an adult.
My Story this single volume contains all three original stories by Pelzer — A child called it, The lost boy, and A man named Dave.
The Privilege of Youth: a Teenager’s Story fills in Dave’s story during his teenage years.
A Brother’s Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse This book is written by Dave’s brother, Richard. It describes his own abuse at the hands of his mother after David leaves the home for fostercare.
Help Yourself: Finding Courage Hope and Happiness a self-help book that draws on Dave Pelzer’s experiences to help you find the strength to make it through your own difficulties.

Nancy Drew & the Thirteenth Pearl by Carolyn Keene

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:54:58 +0000

The recent feature film of Nancy Drew has sparked some new interest in a series of book many generations of children remember fondly. They were actually the first books that convinced this librarian that reading was an enjoyable activity.
So, having noticed that the Chester C. Corbin Library has one of the few titles in the original 56 books of the series that I never was able to find, I decided to review the fifty-sixth book in the series, The Thirteenth Pearl.

In this adventure, Nancy travels with her lawyer father, Carson Drew to Tokyo Japan to help solve a mystery about a stolen necklace and a missing jeweler, Mr. Moto. She goes with several shakey clues and succeeds in piecing together an elaborate scheme involving the theft of rare jewelry.
Going back to these books, the first thing that struck me was how oddly perfect and easy Nancy Drew’s life was. Despite losing her mother at an early age, there was a noticeable lack of hardship either personal or financial in this teenager’s life. This fact makes me wonder how relatable Ms. Drew is to the youth of today. Despite this flaw, the book was still enjoyable, moved at a quick pace, and is an ideal option for those who are just beginning to read chapter books.

Catalog Record for The Thirteenth Pearl

Review Materials For Ramona & Her Mother by Beverly Cleary(Middle School Book Club Week 5)

chesterccorbinyouthservices — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:22:36 +0000

Review Resources for Ramona & Her Mother

Amazon’s reviews of Ramona & Her Mother
Teacher’s Guide to the Ramona series
Wikipedia article and summary of Ramona & Her Mother
Library Thing review of Ramona & Her Mother

Other books about Ramona and Henry Huggins

Beezus & Ramona
Ramona the Pest
Ramona the Brave
Ramona & Her Father
Ramona & Her Mother
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Ramona Forever
Ramona’s World
Henry Huggins
Henry & Beezus
Henry & Ribsy
Henry & the Paper Route
Henry & the Club House
Ribsy